KEF's HTB2SE-W wireless subwoofer can be vertically or horizontally oriented.
(Credit: KEF)KEF's HTB2SE-W wireless subwoofer is first and foremost, a great subwoofer. The fact that it's a wireless design is icing on the cake.
The HTB2SE-W is a marriage of two existing KEF products--the HTB2 subwoofer and the Universal Wireless Kit--and I have reviewed both of them for CNET.
The subwoofer is a round design, a mere 7.7 inches thick, and yet it still manages to go deep into the bass. When it's vertically oriented, it stands 15.4 inches tall, or if you prefer, it can be horizontally oriented.
The subwoofer sports front- and rear-mounted 10-inch woofers. However, only the front woofer is powered by the 250-watt onboard digital amplifier; the rear woofer produces bass passively, motivated by the internal air pressure created by the movement of the front woofer. I think it's one of the coolest-looking subwoofers around.
Thanks to HTB2SE-W's wireless design it can be placed anywhere in the room, but it does have to be plugged into an AC power outlet. Yes, the wireless sub has wires, but you don't have to run a cable back to your receiver or surround processor.
The KEF HTB2SE-W has a suggested retail price of $1,200. It will be shipping next month.
This week was a pretty diverse one here at Crave. We covered all the mobile news out of the CTIA 2009 trade show thoroughly, but there was plenty of other stuff going on.
• On Thursday, we brought you news of a robot that came up with its own genetic hypotheses--and then tested them on its own. If they call it Skynet, we're screwed.
Not your grandma's sewing machine...
(Credit: Brother)• We also told you that AT&T would start selling subsidized Netbooks for $50, which is something I modestly predicted last year.
• We had some fun with Nintendo's new DSi, and marveled at how Nintendo is aiming at devices like the iPhone with the console's new functionality.
• And we had good news for those who like their iPhones jailbroken: the Dev Team has done it again, this time opening up iPhone's OS 3.0 beta 2 with a software hack. Personally, I'm very excited about this.
• Oh, yeah, and a very high-tech sewing machine.
(Credit:
Brother)
Seamstresses may find themselves out of job soon if Brother continues to develop sewing machines like the Innov-is 6000D. This multitalented gadget commemorates the Japanese company's 100th anniversary, and is probably what clothes makers and fashion designers dream of at night.
The Innov-is 6000D can not only sew, it is also capable of embroidery, quilting, and crafting. But what really sets this machine apart from its competitors are the advanced technologies that aid users in operating it.
(Credit:
Brother)
The Innov-is 6000D has three USB 2.0 ports to attach compatible peripherals (such as a computer mouse, which we will touch on later) or to plug a USB stick in to transfer downloaded stitching patterns or upgrade the firmware. It also has an 8.5-inch touch-screen LCD where the menu can be navigated by using a mouse.
There is a camera built-in near the needle which gives you a closeup look at the stitches on the screen if you need to reposition or make amendments to the work piece. Brother has also incorporated a row of LEDs below the sewing arm to illuminate the work space and to facilitate the view for the camera.
... Read more
(Credit:
Reprodepot.com)
Standard black laptop cases: boring. Fancy laptop cases: expensive. Sewing your own laptop/iPod case: Probably totally inconvenient, but in the end perhaps rewarding--if, that is, you like bobbins and seam rippers, or even know what they are.
Still not convinced? You probably can't buy a laptop case in crazy tattoo-inspired fabric (see below), but you could make one. And because this is a family friendly-ish blog, you'll have to click through to some of the other, ahem, interesting fabrics you could pick. Of course, sewing your own will require a few hours of precious time and owning a sewing machine. Or maybe, if you're lucky, you could sweet talk a crafty friend into sewing a case for you.
Wouldn't your laptop look fierce in this?
(Credit: Reprodepot.com)If you do decide to get all crazy creative, Reprodepot.com is selling this Amy Butler pattern, which includes instructions for both laptops (adjustable for most sizes) and some MP3 players (namely: iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPhone and the Zune).
(Credit:
Bernina)
On-screen instruction for household activities has been around for years, especially in the kitchen for cooking and such. So Bernina got the bright idea to apply the concept to other domestic chores--namely, sewing.
Its "Artista 730E" has a color touchscreen built right into the machine at eye level and is loaded with Windows software, according to Chip Chick, to help with sewing patterns, quilting and embroidery. It even has a "stitch library" that includes 850 stich types and more than 100 embroidery patterns.
All of this is well and good, but don't think you'll be saving money by making your own clothes with this machine. It goes for $8,200. Wouldn't it be easier (and cheaper) just to buy a new wardrobe?
The idea of a fabric keyboard sounded kind of nutty to us until we saw the photos of this one on Engadget. jkOnTheRun reports that Glen Evans of PocketPC Solutions has tried out this working model from Eleksen, which doubles as protective case, and found it "very usable on a daily basis"--despite its decidedly weird look. It's not that we have anything against this concept, but what's with that electric lime color?
(Photo: jkOnTheRun)
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