dream

HP has one big request for when you're talking about its new DreamScreen product line: don't call it just a digital photo frame.

Fair enough. The DreamScreen can display your photos effortlessly, but that just scratches the surface of what it can do. Available in 10.2-inch and 13.3-inch versions (both 800x480 resolution), the DreamScreen offers 2GB of onboard memory, plus slots for all standard flash media card types as well as USB storage. If loading your digital media via flash memory is too old-fashioned for you, the DreamScreen can also connect to your home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and--according to HP--the included software lets you drag and drop the files you want to move to it via the network.

Beyond photos, the DreamScreen can also play videos (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264) and music (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV) through its built-in speakers (or you can use the headphone jack to connect to an outboard stereo); it can also play music in the background while displaying a slideshow. But if you don't have a single audio file, you can instead opt for one of thousands of Internet radio stations or Pandora's streaming audio service instead.

But wait, there's more!… Read more

It's been a long time coming, but British company PrintDreams reckons it's ready to unveil what it calls the world's smallest printer: the PrintBrush.

The PrintBrush will print to A4 size, in black and white, at up to 600dpi resolution. As you can see from the video, you sweep it across the paper by hand, which means you can print on notebooks, greetings cards, boxes, sleeping midgets, and other things that won't quite fit into a traditional printer no matter how much you maneuver them. It's also supposed to be silent, so you can use … Read more

Solar System 3D Screensaver lets users view the solar system and see detailed information about each planet. We're kind of geeky about space-related stuff, so we were looking forward to trying out this screensaver. Unfortunately, it leaves a lot to be desired in both content and performance.

The first problem that we ran into was that the screensaver was slow and jerky. We've never had this problem before with graphics-intensive programs, but we gave the screensaver the benefit of the doubt and took a look at its built-in Help file, which suggested that we update our video card … Read more

If you're a musician looking for a cheap way to create wacked-out rhythm samples--or just an audio nut who wants a new toy on your iPhone--check out the new JR Hexatone Pro app for iPhone. Created by Amidio, the company behind the wicked-fun and surprisingly powerful StarGuitar app I tried earlier this year, Hexatone was coproduced with Jordan Rudess, who plays keyboards for prog-metal giants Dream Theater.

Like StarGuitar, it comes with a bunch of built-in samples, but it also lets you import your own. The trippy honeycomb pattern is basically a six-dimensional controller, letting you manipulate up to … Read more

MB Dream Interpretation Software lets users keep a journal of their dreams and have the program automatically analyze keywords within the dreams. Like many products from Mystic Board, the program is better in theory than in execution.

The first screen of the software is a clutter of Mystic Board advertisements. On the next screen, users make their dream diary entries. This is simple enough to do; users type their entry into a text box and save it, and entries are arranged by date in a tree formation, making it easy to find previous entries. Users can select an entry and … Read more

Acme Photo Screensaver Maker provides users with an excellent tool for creating a personalized screensaver. With simple commands and great results, this is a download everyone can enjoy.

The program's interface is so simple that users will most likely not need to take a trip to the Help file and Guide. With large command icons and an intuitive flow to input data, customizing your screensaver could not be easier. Users can choose individual photos to input or select entire folders with the program's photo tool that operates using addition and subtraction symbols in tandem with a file tree. … Read more

It's Wilson's turn again to choose The 404 semi-weekly audio draft sponsored by Beck's Beer in conjunction with Last.FM, a subsidiary of CBS Interactive and CNET News and Reviews 5000, so naturally we're a little skeptical (but not nearly as skeptical as we are about the moon landing), but Mr. Tang comes through again with the beautiful music of Priscilla Ahn, a young singer-songwriter with a light, ethereal voice that drifts through the layered atmosphere of her acoustic folk melodies.

Like many of the artists featured on our Draft Pick, Ms. Ahn also brings several instrumental talents to her songs, incorporating her harmonica and even a kazoo on top of the gentle plucks of an acoustic guitar.

Today's featured song, "Dream," was recently featured in an episode of "Grey's Anatomy," and with good reason: the layered harmonies make the perfect soundtrack to quiet, rolling landscapes...also, I think it's pretty cool that's she's on Blue Note Records, the jazz label responsible for putting out albums by John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Miles Davis.

She put out her first record last year called "A Good Day," and is currently touring Japan and Korea before heading back to Los Angeles on August 1 to play at the Troubadour. Give her a listen and let us know if you're in love with her as much as I am!

As usual, this episode is also jam-packed with current newz, including MCA's YouTube announcement (get better soon!), Facebook self-love (not like that, dummy), and another Facebook story about the most EPIC PARTY EVER!

One final note: does anyone have the original text/code for our Wikipedia page? I know it's been awhile, but somebody must have it, right? Our intentions are secret for now, but we definitely have a stew a-brewin', so hit us up at the404(at)cnet(dot)com if you have a copy of it!

We take a walk on the virtual side in today's Gadgettes. Virtual reality museums, robotic kittens, and fusion in your pocket!

Household gadgets we’d like to see

A propos (of) nothing Vroom: Surf the Web with a Ford GT

It's About Time Eris Planetary Sphere watch goes anywhere but the wrist

Pink Watch Juicy Couture goes geeky

Tool Time Ript Fusion body-shaping undershirt (thanks, Sam!)

Reverse Gender Gap Ostrich three in one chair for sunbathing bookworms

BlingRX Russel Hobbs RHG2TSW crystal encrusted bling toaster (thanks, Colleen!)

Kill Me Fantasy coach bed for the budding superiority complex… Read more

T-Mobile has finally unveiled its second Android phone, but how does it stack up with the carrier's first release? If you purchased a G1 back in October, is it time to upgrade? How were the major concerns of the first phone addressed?

The MyTouch 3G won't launch in the United States until August, but the phone has been available in other parts of the world for months. The Google Ion, which made the rounds at the Google I/O conference last month, is a limited edition version of the HTC Magic, and shares the same hardware and many features with the MyTouch 3G.

Battery life One of the biggest complaints of the G1 concerned its limited battery life. Users were forced to disable many features in order to prolong use. Indeed, on my G1, I routinely had to disable Wi-Fi, GPS, and other features that I wasn't using. Normally, my phone would normally survive the day, but it was near dead when I placed it on the charger at night.

Luckily, the battery life is no longer an issue on the second Android phone. The Ion's 1300mAh battery offers increased capacity over its predecessor. Though it's only 13 percent larger than the G1's 1150mAh battery, it feels as if it has twice the capacity. Even if I leave all features turned on, my phone is still going strong at night. There have even been a few nights where I skipped charging the Ion, which is something that I could never do with the G1.… Read more