The Xbox Wireless N Adapter is still overpriced, but at $79.99 it's slightly less outrageous.
(Credit: Newegg)Microsoft has some nerve charging 100 bucks for its new Wireless N Xbox adapter, what with virtually identical Wi-Fi gear selling for as low as $20.
Yeah, I'm mad, and not just because today's earlier deal sold out in 27 seconds. (And then the backup deal went 27 seconds after that.) Well, OK, that's the main reason--but come on, Microsoft! $99.99?!
If you're really itching for one of these adapters, look to Newegg. It's got the Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter for $79.99 shipped. Not a huge bargain, but the lowest price I've seen.
CNET hasn't reviewed it, but you can get some hands-on feedback from Gizmodo. Bottom line: It's way faster for video streaming, but doesn't offer much of an impact on gaming.
Of course, if you really want a cheap way out, you can turn a cheap router into an Xbox Wi-Fi adapter. Cheaper still, use your laptop's Wi-Fi connection to feed your Xbox.
Me, I'd love to have the Wireless N adapter for my 360. But it'll be a cold day on the sun before I drop $100 on one. Or, for that matter, $80. Get a clue, Microsoft.
On Sale Now: $87.99 - $99.99
View the latest prices for Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter
(Credit:
Gizmodo)
Sony is recalling 69,000 Vaio AC adapters, the company announced Wednesday. Insulation inside some VGP-AC19V17 adapters can fail over time, Sony said, posing an electrical shock hazard.
The Sony VGP-AC19V17 AC adapter shows up in computers from the company's VGC-LT, VGC-JS240, VGC-JS250, VGC-JS270, and VGC-JS290 series sold after September 2007. The adapter also appears in VGP-PRBX1 and VGP-PRFE1 notebook docking stations sold after September 2005.
Sony said it has received four reports of adapters short-circuiting, with none of those incidents occurring in the U.S. No injuries have been reported, Sony said. The recall only relates to adapters with certain serial numbers; you can enter your number on Sony's site to see if your product is impacted.
The company said consumers with affected devices should turn off their computers, unplug them, and stop using the recalled AC adapters immediately. They should also contact Sony to arrange for a free replacement of the affected product.
Sony can be reached toll-free at 877-361-4481, or online at esupport.sony.com/ac19adapter.
iLuv iEA15 adapter
MP3 Mailbox Monday has had quite the hiatus, so I've selected a healthy mishmash of questions that should satisfy the span of curiosity about recent (and not-so-recent) goings on in the digital audio domain. For example, do you have to replace your headphones to get integrated iPod controls? Plus, what's the deal with the iPod and subscription music? And of course, what is sure to be an age-old question: which is better, the Zune or the iPod? Oh, and yes...one other thing, too. Read on.
Q: I was wondering if you could recommend any second-gen iPod Touch headphone remote adapters that I can use with my current earbuds (Shure SE210s). Ideally, it would have the same functionality as Apple's headphones (play/pause, skip forward/backward, volume control, and a built in mic). I love the Shures and would prefer not to get a new pair of 'buds just to get remote-control functionality.--Tyson, via e-mail
A: Absolutely. Check out the iLuv iEA15 adapter. It will only set you back about $15 and offers all the functionality you're after. (Buy.) Another option is the Griffin SmartTalk, which costs $19.99.
Zune HD is great for music.
Q: I wanted to ask you whether the music I could get from a Zune Pass can be imported to iTunes, and then be played on a third-gen iPod Touch.--Adrian, via e-mail
A: No, it cannot. The iPod is not compatible with the music rental model. Similarly, the Zune Pass is only directly compatible with the Zune. Other subscription services, such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody To Go, can be used with a variety of non-iPod and non-Zune devices, such as the Sony Walkman line and the Creative Zen line.
Q: Which is the better player, the iPod Touch or the Zune HD?--Anonymous, via e-mail
iPod Touch: a top chioce for podcasts
A: My opinion is that it really depends on what you're using it for. If you want an app powerhouse with plenty of gaming capability and a larger screen for video viewing, go with the Touch. If you want a top notch MP3 player with excellent sound quality and some compelling extras, go with the Zune HD.
Q: I am looking for a player to replace my Ibiza Rhapsody. The only thing I don't like about it is the battery life, but I still need a player that can sync and download podcast over any Wi-Fi hotspot.--Benton, via e-mail
A: There are two players that will satisfy that need, and unfortunately they're both quite pricey: the iPod Touch and the Sony X-Series Walkman.
(Credit:
Ars Technica)
We're just about ready to post our PSP Go review but we couldn't wait to share this accessory with you. This absolutely ridiculous-looking contraption is the Sony PSP Go Converter Cable Adapter, a device you'll need to buy for your PSP Go if you don't want all those PSP 1000 - 3000 accessories to become useless. That's right, almost all of the original PSP accessories will not work with the Go.
Judging by the photo, we're not sure why this gadget needs to be mounted on the top and bottom of the PSP Go, and we can't imagine having a comfortable grip on the device when the screen is slid open.
We also agree with the Ars Technica blogger who pointed out that this basically negates the PSP Go's main attraction, its slim and sleek form factor. Of course, you'll be able to purchase all new PSP Go accessories when they go on sale alongside the new handheld on October 1.
The PSP Go Converter Cable Adapter goes on sale in Japan on December 24 for around $21 and should show up in the U.S. in January.
Hardly any laptop computers come without built-in wireless nowadays. However, if yours lacks Wi-Fi, or if you want to quickly upgrade to Wireless-N without something sticking out of the USB port, Trendnet has something to offer you.
The TEW-648UB Wireless-N USB adapter from Trendnet.
(Credit: Trendnet)The networking vendor announced on Tuesday what it calls the "world's smallest Mini Wireless N USB Adapter," the TEW-648UB. This ultracompact adapter is just slightly larger than a quarter in size, measuring merely 1.3 inches in length.
What's the catch? It's a single-stream adapter, meaning it supports speeds up to only 150Mbps (as opposed to 300Mbps of regular dual-stream Wireless-N devices). Nonetheless, this is still a big upgrade from Wireless-G, which caps at 54Mbps, and you can enjoy the other major benefit of the Wireless-N standard, which is its long range.
Despite its tiny size, according to Trendnet, the TEW-648UB supports One-touch Wi-Fi Protected Setup, which lets the adapter connect to a secure wireless network without you having to type in the encryption key manually. It also offers a Wi-Fi multimedia quality-of-service feature that prioritizes bandwidth based on the content you are using with it, such as video, audio, or gaming traffic.
The new 150Mbps Mini Wireless-N USB adapter works with Windows XP and Vista (both 32-bit and 64-bit) and is available now. Its estimated price is $25.
(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)
The requisite "what's in my gadget bag" feature is a mainstay of consumer electronics coverage these days--we now know what David Pogue (The New York Times), Joshua Topolsky (Engadget editor-in-chief), and Dave Zatz (tech blogger extraordinaire) tote around with them on a daily basis. But I wanted to get a bit more granular. If you want to know which laptop, camera, media player, or phone to buy, there's an app a site for that.
But what about the accessories you need to keep all of those gadgets juiced up and ready for action? Or ways to avoid traveling with three or four proprietary AC chargers stuffed into your bag? That's what I'd like to focus on: some tips that should help anyone who's traveling with multiple portable gadgets, whatever they may be.
First, a few ground rules: ... Read more
(Credit:
Hercules)
For this week's installment of the weekly Crave giveaway, we're offering up the Hercules ePlug 200 Duo. The product is an Ethernet-to-powerline adapter set, and it's ideal for anyone who wants to extend a home network into another room of the house without running extra wires or setting up complicated wireless bridges. Just plug one of the ePlug units into the electrical socket near your router, and put the other one near the destination device (a game console, DVR, set-top box, or any other networked product), and you should be good to go.
Normally, this package would cost around $150, but you have the chance to get the whole thing gratis.
So, how do you try to win a free Hercules ePlug 200 Duo package? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test.
- Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, no need to register again.
- Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
- Leave only one comment. You may enter this specific giveaway only once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
- The winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Hercules ePlug 200 Duo (which consists of separate source and destination modules). Approximate retail value is $150.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries can be submitted until Monday, August 31, at noon EDT.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 12 PM EDT on August 31, 2009. See official rules for details.
Good luck.
For anybody who complains that Sony's Memory Stick Duo memory cards are too expensive compared with other forms of flash memory, DealExtreme has a solution. It's the StarJade SDHC microSD to Memory Stick MS Pro Duo Adapter Sleeve, which retails for a mere $2.85, including free shipping. Unfortunately, the only problem is that it's illegal (see "update" note at the bottom of the post).
A quick comparison on Amazon for prices of microSD and Memory Stick Duo reveals that an 8GB microSDHC card costs around $20 (with shipping), while an 8GB Memory Stick Duo card comes in around $34 with shipping. (Yes, the adapter supports higher-capacity SDHC microSD cards). Step up to a 16GB card and the delta is about $25, with entry-level 16GB microSDHC cards retailing for around $50.
The description on the product page says the adapter works with a wide variety of portable electronics devices, including cameras and audio players. We can't vouch for the reliability of the adapter but we did order a couple to test out, which we now realize may have been a no-no.
Note: This adapter won't work with the new PSP Go, which uses Sony's Memory Stick Micro (M2).
Update: Mike McCarthy of SanDisk writes: "The microSD-Memory Stick adapter is illegal, unlicensed and infringes on Sony Corp patents. Maybe it's cool to promote this stuff as a 20-year-old blogger, but I thought CNET would have higher standards." As a result of Mike's comment, we have summoned some maturity and edited the post.
(Credit:
Komodo/Innex)
Sure, we really liked the Nyko Wing Wireless Classic Controller for use with the Nintendo Wii, but if we could choose any controller to use with Virtual Console games, it would be the originals themselves.
Developer Komodo may have come up with a device that could pacify these desires. With the Retro Adapter (to be distributed by Innex), you'll be able to use original NES, Super Nintendo, and Nintendo 64 controllers with Wii Virtual Console games.
The adapter itself resembles that of a Nintendo 64 console and has three female ports for each system. It connects to your Wii via an open GameCube port. What's even better, the Retro Adapter will work with both first- and third-party accessories, so that no-name Nintendo 64 controller you have laying around may just do the trick. In case you're wondering, yes, you'll be able to use an analog control on the N64 controller as well.
Innex plans on officially announcing the Komodo Retro Adapter at E3 2009. While retail availability isn't yet solidified, you should be able to grab the accessory online by mid-June for around $20.
The Harmony Adapter for PS3 will retail for $59.99.
(Credit: Logitech)A few months ago, we reported that Logitech was getting ready to launch an accessory that would allow its IR-based Harmony remotes to control the PS3, which only has a Bluetooth wireless interface. Well, according to Logitech, the Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 is a couple of weeks away from hitting stores in North America. Europe will see a July launch, while Australia will get it any day.
Logitech has a blog post up that offers a full FAQ on the $59.99 adapter, but the long and short of it is the accessory simply converts your Harmony's IR commands to Bluetooth signals. For better or worse, unlike some PS3 IR dongles already on the market, the adapter requires an AC adapter. But Logitech explains that it not only didn't want the adapter to use up one of "your valuable USB ports," and without an external power source, you wouldn't be able to power on your PS3 using the adapter because the PS3's USB ports are dead when the unit is powered off.
While we still think it's tragic and outrageous that Sony failed to include IR, Logitech's entry into the PS3 adapter arena is good news for home-theater fans and Harmony owners. In case you're wondering, no, it doesn't work with non-Harmony remotes--and no, it isn't compatible with the Wii either.
The underside of the adpater.
