Neo

LAS VEGAS--Netgear's NeoTV player's feature list just went up a notch today.

Netgear announced at CES 2013 that it has added Sling Media's SlingPlayer to its line of NeoTV players: the NeoTV (NTV300), NeoTV Pro (NTV300S), the NeoTV Max (NTV300SL), and the just-announced NeoTV Prime with Google TV (GTV100).

The addition of the SlingPlayer means that now those with a Slingbox can use the NeoTV as a set-top box for streaming live TV shows, sporting events, recorded programming, and even movies on any TV via the Internet. It also means you can extend TV viewing to a … Read more

To put it lightly, something sensational happens upon feeding large concentrations of toxic gold chloride (also known as liquid gold) to the bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans. After about a week's time, the bacterium creates a 24-karat gold nugget from the digested toxins.

"Microbial alchemy is what we're doing, transforming gold from something that has no value into a solid, precious metal that's valuable," said Kazem Kashefi, assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at Michigan State University, where the research is taking place. … Read more

Monday's top-story rundown knows where you live:

Just when you think it's safe to tweet, here comes WeKnowYourHouse.com. The site is a social media experiment designed to show how easy it is for tweets to be used against you. If a Twitter user has location turned on, and they send a message with the word "home" in it, then the site will display it along with a Street View image of the location. Similar to PleaseRobMe.com, it showcases how some users may not be aware of how much information they are sharing.

But you … Read more

Sony today announced that it plans to begin issuing Android 4.0 updates to its 2011 Xperia smartphones beginning in mid-April.

The first models expected to see Ice Cream Sandwich will be the Xperia Arc S, Xperia Neo V, and Xperia Ray. These updates should take around four to six weeks to complete and will depend on the various markets and carriers.

Jumping ahead to May and early June, Sony expects to deploy Android 4.0 to the remaining models, including the Xperia Arc, Xperia Play, Xperia Neo, and Xperia Active. Sony's new Xperia S won't be upgraded … Read more

It was just a few months ago that talk of a new Neo Geo handheld game player surfaced. Now, we can confirm it will.

Dubbed the Neo Geo X, the upcoming portable won't attempt to compete with 3D features in the Nintendo 3DS or the PlayStation Vita's horsepower. Instead, the device will give old-school gamers the chance to play some of their favorite Neo Geo classics while on-the-go.

According to Tommo and Blaze, the companies that will be distributing the device in the U.S. and Europe, respectively, it'll come with a 3.5-inch LCD and stereo … Read more

About 15 years ago, I bought a Neo Geo at an antique store. I paid $1. And I still think I overpaid. But SNK Playmore, an Osaka-based game company, must believe that there's some value left in the Neo Geo name, if the latest reports are to be believed.

According to Japanese gaming site Famicom-Plaza (Translate), as well as U.S.-based game site Kotaku, SNK has developed a portable Neo Geo device that will launch with a 4.3-inch LCD display, 2GB of memory, an SD card slot, and 20 Neo Geo games preloaded.

Those of us old … Read more

Two Sony Ericsson Android phones made their debut in the U.S. today, although they are only available through the Sony Store.

The handset manufacturer unveiled the Xperia Arc S and the Xperia Neo V. The Arc S is $549.99 and the Neo V is $349.99, and both come unlocked.

That the two phones are hitting the U.S. shores only through Sony's stores is indicative of Sony Ericsson's recent struggles in the U.S. Smartphones that are sold without carrier support typically languish in the market or remain niche items for gadget enthusiasts.

A representative … Read more

Move your butt over, Prius. Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto has a new take on a green driving machine. The Toilet Bike Neo combines a three-wheel motorcycle with a latrine. The kooky contraption runs on biogas.

Biogas is just a fancy way of saying poo power. In case you were wondering where the source of the stool is supposed to come from, the bike's built-in toilet should answer your question. It doesn't leave much to the imagination. Could we get a privacy screen, please?

According to coverage by Spoon & Tamago, the rolling toilet can play music, write messages in the air using residual light imagery, and talk. There's no word on what exactly the toilet says, but I imagine it has an extensive repertoire of potty humor.… Read more

The Roku 2 XS is currently our pick for best media-streaming solution under $100, but today Netgear looks to stiffen the competition with NeoTV, the company's latest Internet-connected TV add-on for just $80.

Using an HDMI and Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) connection, NeoTV offers up a handful of media channels including the standard Netflix and YouTube portals as well as Vudu, Pandora, Napster, Picasa, Revision 3, and more. Users can also use their iPhone or Android device as a remote control.

We'll have a full review of the NeoTV later this month when it's also set to hit stores. Click through for a quick video demo of NeoTV.… Read more