By: Co-Editor, RB:
There are a whole host of “Home Theater Consultants” in my neighborhood. They come to your home and help you set up your home theater from start to finish including the purchase of equipment. Magnolia Audio Video stores, for example, operate primarily on the West Coast but they are also operate out of in select Best Buy stores.
Now comes a Galveston, Texas based startup that is putting its own spin on this service. ElementMyPc.com or Element, launched in January of this year, is a new innovative operating system for Home Theater or Media Center Personal Computers, featuring an unique across the room ten-foot interface that is designed to be connected to your HDTV for a digital media and internet experience within the comforts of your own living room or lounge area.
Element comes stacked with the software you need to manage your music, videos, photos, and more. They also include a number of applications that provide many of the same functions as your desktop pc, from web browsing to instant messaging and playing games.
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By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
As my readers know, this space does not focus solely (or even primarily) on gadgets or the latest technology craze. We focus on startups and issues affecting startups and small business. However, I was recently tipped of to the latest offering from Skullcandy.com. The company that recently launched new earbuds, and based on the fervor in which people espouse the “coolness” of Skullcandy’s other products, this interested me.
As an iPhone user and a user of many things Apple, I am consistently intrigued with how other users defend and protect their mode of headphone (be it earpuds, noise cancellers, etc.). Moreover, the type of headphone (or earbud) one uses can apparently say something about one’s style. Skullcandy has been wildly successful reaching that market.
Skullcandy is a privately held company based in Park City, Utah. Skullcandy designs headphones, mp3 player watches, audio accessories and other audio-enabled lifestyle products, such as backpacks with built-in speakers and iPod controls. Skullcandy also collaborates with select brands to integrate its audio technology into products from snow helmets to outerwear, apparel, packs and bags. Skullcandy gear is sold worldwide through top retailers, specialty outlets.
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By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
Zero Motorcycles Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells high performance electric motorcycles. The company, formerly known as Electricross, was started in 2006 near Santa Cruz, California. The company was founded by Neal Saiki who was a former NASA engineer and has also won numerous design awards in the sports world.
They are known for their line of dirt bikes and most recently the popular Zero X. They have begun branching out into the street world with a motorcycle called the Zero S (Zero S) which began shipping in 2009.
The Zero S shares some of the same styling cues as its off-road little brother, the previously mentioned Zero X. The motorcycle has highway appropriate tires and a “projector beam” headlight. With a peak horsepower of 31 and 62.5 lb-ft of torque, the clutchless one-speed “Zero S” gets to its top speed of 60 mph in no time. Its four kWh battery can keep you going for up to 60 miles. The intergrated charger allows you to fully charge in less than four hours.
It is very light, and therefore very quick. The battery warning light goes on with about 20 miles to go.
By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
There are people who you know that are obsessed (not merely interested) with the latest technology releases be it the latest iPhone, Nokia Booklet, or video game release. Some of these people have buyer’s remorse the minute they pick up the latest gadget thinking about the next upgrade.
There is a new site out of St. Petersburg, Russia called PreOrder.it launched in January that has been created in order to give people who are interested in latest novelties in the world of electronics, mobile systems, photo and video equipment a possibility to contact manufacturers directly and leave an order for a product in which they are interested before the official sale starts.
This site would obviously interest any techno-savvy consumer, but the obsessive described above will really enjoy it.
The site actually has two types of users: merchants and customers. Customers can go to the site to access company’s press releases to find out new models, their characteristics, types of set and future price. If the client gets interested in something he can leave a pre-order that goes directly to merchants. Merchants can sell in advance and receive orders directly from loyal and future customers.
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By: Co-Editor, Bobby B:
We have not spent too much time on this blog talking about gadgets. This space has mostly focused on service related Internet sites. However, today we have something very interesting to show you. Anyone who has dropped his or her phone in a pool, toilet, or puddle will be able to relate to this.
Karen Wildman and Lisa Holmes are sisters originally from Oregon. The idea for their product was conceived when they saw a sad boy who dropped his gameboy in a pond. The sisters realized that since electronics are everywhere and people take them everywhere, a product that protected against water damage would be great. So they set out to invent a solution… and they did!
Karen Wildman has struggled with hearing loss since she was a baby. She knew a lot about drying out hearing aids from sweat, rain and other moisture. But when she realized she could apply her drying technique to other small electronics and started saving her children’s and friends’ gadgets, she knew she was on to a big idea.
Starting small and funding the project themselves, Karen and Lisa took five years to develop their product, which is now being sold online and in retail stores — including at major outdoor supplier REI. The two mom inventors are currently reveling in hearing about the countless iPods, cell phones, digital cameras and other gadgets their product has saved.
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