Slingbox

The Slingbox TV signal sender / media streamer is the most impressive gadget I have had the pleasure of stumbling across in 2008, having marvelled at the way such a simple device could reduce arguments over who's turn it was to choose the channel in a TV-obssessed family household.

The Slingbox allows you to stream TV programs directly to an internet connected PC using your broadband connection. The streamed TV signal is delivered by connecting the Slingbox directly to your TV, satellite receiver or cable box. This sounds far too simple to be true, but it genuinely is. The Slingbox is a dream to setup and use, I’ve even heard rumors that my wife was able to configure our device in my absence, but I’m not convinced she didn’t call a ‘techi friend’ to do this for her! It is also an incredibly reliable device for this type of media streaming and can even send freeview TV signals without the need for direct connectivity to a TV. Although it's a superb innovation which delivers clean, seamless images from your TV to PC straight across your broadband connection, the Slingbox does however come with only one minor flaw. It would be even more impressive if 'version two' came with one-to-many connectivity.

Sling Media, the maker of Slingbox, says it's all about staying connected to your favorite programs, wherever your life takes you. Choose the SlingboxTUNER, SlingboxAV, or SlingboxPRO, depending on your needs, and the type of programming and equipment you have at home.

How Slingbox Works

The Slingbox device plugs into your television source (cable, satellite, set-top box or DVR) using a coaxial, component, composite, or S-video cable. The network connector on the Slingbox then connects to your Internet router with a standard ethernet cable, or wirelessly with a special bridge adapter. An infrared cable from the Slingbox, pointed at your TV or DVR gives you the ability to remotely control them from your computer. No matter how you connect the Slingbox, you'll need to install the SlingPlayer interface software on your computer or portable wireless device, in order to view the video programming remotely.

Technical Communication - Truecall call screener

Specifications:

• Recording software requires Windows XP or Vista
• USB SD card reader supplied
• Web access facilitates configuration but not absolutely necessary

Pros: Easy preliminary setup. Neat and effective

Cons: PC users might prefer local control rather than via a server at a small but not insignificant cost

Overall: Fine-tuning messages and configuration will take time but is worth the effort. Works well as a smart answering machine and (optionally) call recorder

The need to screen unwanted phone calls was once largely restricted to celebrities and victims of malicious or demented callers.

Telephone add-on blocks calls you don’t want and optionally records those that you answer

The need to screen unwanted phone calls was once largely restricted to celebrities and victims of malicious or demented callers.

Now junk calls are becoming almost as overwhelming as spam email and are equally tricky to block. The Truecall system is designed to do so with the minimum of hassle.

The basic setup could hardly be simpler. You plug a lead from the little Truecall box into your main phone jack and your phone or Dect base station into the box. After a few seconds your phone rings and you are prompted to record a greeting message for callers.

Options too numerous to list here are designed to deal with just about any conceivable type of telephone nuisance. Configuration can be done on the keypad, or rather more easily via an indirect web interface on Truecall’s remote server, which carries an annual charge of £15 after the first year. This also allows you to simply paste in a list of Star or Zap numbers. Holding down a button on the Truecall box sets up a dial-up link that synchronises data with the server.

You can pick up your messages remotely by calling your own number and calls can be recorded with the aid of an optional module.

Kozo Lamps made out of pipes

Every time I glance at this lamp it reminds me of Runaway Bride. In that movie the main character creates lighting out of hardware typically meant for other tasks, such as pipes and that sort of thing. I thought it was a brilliant idea when I saw the movie and I still think it’s a great idea. I’m glad to see someone making something like this in reality, instead of just in Hollywood.

Although it’s not entirely reality, since these are in the design stages still. The designer David Benatan works for a design company in Tel Aviv. Which is where he makes these interesting lamps made out of pipes. The best part of the whole lamp is that it can be turned on and off by turning the faucet handle. Part of the fun of the design is also that many of the lamps don’t appear to be stable, they look as if they might tip over. They are thankfully perfectly secure though and won’t go tipping over. The pipes are left completely authentic, they still have rust on the joints and marks from hand tools that were used to assemble them. Hopefully these will make it to stores sometime soon.