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Breville brings FM radio to your toast

We're not sure if home appliance companies are taking a cue from their multi-purpose cousins in the consumer electronics world, but this is one of the best-looking toasters we've seen.

The Breville 2 Slice Radio Toaster does exactly what it says--it's a toaster and a radio. The two-slot toaster features a retro-looking design as well as a built-in AM and FM radio tuner. While this product does have the makings of a belated April Fools' joke, it does seem to be pretty good at its core competency. The Slice Radio accommodates a variety of bread slices, has the ability to defrost frozen bread, and also boasts a reheat button that warms cold toast without burning it.

The radio, on the other hand, appears to be quite standard with no detailed specifications given. So we have no clue how loud Rick Dees would sound while we wait for breakfast.

If you're interested, the U.K. brand lists several online stores that stock their products on its Web site. Although prices may vary, online retailer Argos sells the Slice Radio for 49.99 pounds ($82).

(Source: Crave Asia via Uncrate) … Read more

The 404 799: Where Natali whips her hair back and forth (podcast)

It's Natali Morris' second-to-the-second-to-the-last appearance on the show before her departure from CNET on April 29, but today she turns the studio upside down when she tells us she disliked "Batman Returns." After we finish putting the studio back together, we also chat about the effects of Coldplay on your romantic life and play a couple Calls From the Public.

The 404 Digest for Episode 799

Coldplay fans are least likely to have sex on first date? Never say anything bad about " Batman Returns." One of today's Calls From the Public references this NHL promo commercial.

Episode 799 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Last.fm player for Chrome

Last.fm is one of the largest and most popular music sites online. Google Chrome is one of the fastest and most flexible browsers available. Seems like a natural match, doesn't it? It is, thanks to Last.fm's free music player extension for Chrome. Last.fm's "scrobbling" feature tracks your listening habits and recommends music you might like. It tracks what you listen to on Internet radio as well as on your portable player via a plug-in and compiles the information into your profile. Last.fm's free Google Chrome extension simply lets you play … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1414: Will Verizon doom the Xoom? (podcast)

Donald Bell joins us today to show off the Xoom in the flesh ... and yes, it's gorgeous, but is Verizon going to ruin it with high carrier prices and contracts? Molly lays down some shocking advice. Also, the new MacBook Pros have Light Peak, called Thunderbolt, Breakup Notifier gets the cold shoulder from Facebook, and the loosest adaptation of a true story we've ever heard. Good try, Battle L.A.

Last.fm to charge for mobile app

Last.fm is introducing a charge for the streaming functions in its mobile app. We had a chat with Matthew Hawn of Last.fm to find out what the change means.

The various versions of the mobile app stream a personalized music feed of your favorite music and related recommendations. Up until now, this has been free, but it will soon be chargeable. The ad-free subscription costs $3 a month.

The radio service will become a paid feature on February 15. The Web and desktop versions of the radio will still be free. It will also be free on Xbox … Read more

Insignia NS-HD01: HD Radio to go

HD Radio sounds better than satellite, Internet, or analog AM and FM radio. Have you heard it yet? Chances are a few of your local AM or FM stations broadcast HD Radio signals, but they probably don't mention that fact on the air. To find out if your local stations are HD, check with iBiquity Digital, the company that licenses the technology. HD Radio--unlike digital satellite radio--has no subscription fee.

The Insignia NS-HD01 ($50) portable HD Radio's sound quality is a big step up from most mini radios, and it's the least expensive way to listen to … Read more

Chevy brings in ham radio expert to engineer hidden antenna

The 2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible boasts new AM/FM antenna technology, thanks to its fans and one ham radio operator.

Fans spoke out after leaked photos of the new Camaro revealed an AM/FM whip antenna on the rear deck lid.

Chevy turned to ham radio operator and antenna expert Don Hibbard to help redesign the car's antenna. Hibbard and colleague Gregg Kittinger were challenged to conceal the AM/FM antenna without sacrificing radio reception.

"We weren't sure that it would be possible," said Kittinger. "Typically antennas are hidden in a vehicle's rear window, … Read more

Car tech stocking stuffers by Dexim

Dexim--manufacturer of accessories for iPhones, BlackBerrys, and other smartphones--has sent us a pair of devices from its car solutions line of products.

The first is the DFU012 Touch Screen FM Transmitter, a universal adapter for smartphones and MP3 players that takes an audio signal and broadcasts it over a low-power FM channel to be picked up by a nearby car stereo.

The device runs on a single AAA battery and should work with any device that features a 3.5mm headphone jack or audio output. At an MSRP of about $30, an FM transmitter such as this is one of … Read more

Insignia gives portable HD radio second chance

Last year, Best Buy's Insignia brand made a minor splash by introducing the first portable HD radio player, priced to fly out the door at $49.

For the second-generation of the player (NS-HD02), Insignia is giving its HD radio the Nano treatment by switching to a 2.5-by-3-inch capacitive touch-screen interface and introducing a Live Pause feature that can cache up to 15 minutes of a live broadcast. The NS-HD02 will also serve up "Artist Experience" content, available in 10 to 20 markets, allowing album art and artist photos to be transmitted along with audio and ID … Read more

Get a loaded Garmin 4.3-inch GPS for $98

Much as I'm a fan of GPS apps for smartphones, I usually prefer to use a standalone GPS so I can keep my phone available for, you know, phone calls.

Today only, Wal-Mart has the Garmin Nuvi 855 4.3-inch GPS for $98 (plus $1.97 for shipping and sales tax in most states). It's a new unit (though not exactly a new model), and it's loaded.

In addition to the usual navigation goodies--text-to-speech, lane assistance, and optional traffic updates.--the Nuvi 855 offers a feature I'm surprised you don't see in more nav systems: … Read more