If you’ve ever gazed at the Archos 604 and longed for wireless connectivity, you can want no longer. Reviewers at CNET got their palms on Archos’ latest gig, the 604 WiFi model, and gave it the usual rundown. Mimicking the review given to the 802.11-less flavor earlier this year in a myriad of ways, reviewers felt that the “awesome video playback,” removable battery, built-in kickstand / speaker, and “vibrant widescreen display” were all unsurprisingly top notch, but the web browsing itself (along with opening files and navigating around the GUI) was deemed “sluggish” due to the lackluster processor speed. Apparently, however, Archos didn’t learn from the previous gripes regarding the lack of extra accessories right in the box; the WiFi unit requires additional purchases to get a power adapter, recording equipment, and plug-ins for certain types of video files. Furthermore, reviewers felt that the inability to “feed the device content in an easy way” (considering the Linux-based environment), the meager 30GB hard drive, and the “substantial hit” that enabling wireless took on the battery were all disappointments. Overall, however, the Archos 604 WiFi got dinged on details that won’t matter much when you experience all the things it does well, and it was deemed the “the answer to many mobile users’ idealistic dreams” if they don’t mind waiting around a bit for the GUI to catch up.

[Thanks, Nanatech]
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from engadget

Turn any notebook computer into an HDTV with RCA’s upcoming MPC4000 “telereceiver.” Setting up this device couldn’t be easier: simply plug it into a standard USB port, clip the antenna, and you’re ready to go. Expect to shell out $199 for the MPC4000 when it hits stores next year.

Not content with merely bringing in HD shows, the tuner also receives standard analog broadcasts and combines all the data into an onscreen program guide. The included software uses the laptop’s hard disk as a PVR, so you can pause live TV, save shows, even schedule recordings and engage parental controls — basically turning virtually any Windows machine into a Media Center PC

[via SciFi]
from techeblog

This custom-built golf club puts a new twist on POV (Persistance of Vision) systems. If you want to build your own, you’ll need a CUBLOC CB220, CUBLOC CB220 proto-board, 8 high-output blue LEDs, 1 empty semiconductor sleeve, 8 100 Ohm resistors, 9V battery, golf club, and a couple wires.” Full instructions here. Video after the jump.

As you can see, the letters will go backwards on the backswing and forwards on the forwardswing. Ben Hogan’s “Five Lessons” has a good picture of correct swing arc for a golf swing

[via HackedGadgets - zedomax]
from techeblog