If you’ve been looking for a sleek Blu-ray drive to compliment that overpriced laptop you’re running, this Amex looks to fit the bill. Just 15mm thick, the USB drive burns single layer BD-RE/-R discs at 2X speed and dual layer discs at 1X speed, along with standard DVDs in every shape and colour. And it draws enough energy from the USB port to power itself without the need for the 5V DC power adaptor. Priced at $US289, the Amex drive is available in black or white. Wait, no silver? But everything I own is silver!! [AMEX via I4U]
Amex‘s new RM-MP1 Media remote is designed to work with your Windows media centre system and also to run your presentations in a business setting… and it’s rather elegant, compared to some of the offerings out there. That simple design conceals a touchpad mouse, laser pointer, multimedia controls and it functions via a wireless USB dongle. It’s just 10 x 3.8 x 1.3 cms in size, and comes in black or white. No info on pricing or availability yet. [Akihabaranews]
Amex Digital’s iMON HD seems a pretty unusual beast: it’s a “portable media center” that acts as an IR receiver to control your PC, and also has a built-in VFD screen. This can display an equaliser or streams of useful info, like weather reports, news, your email and so on— a little like a low-graphics Chumby perhaps? There’s not much more info than this, so we can tell you it supports Windows Vista Media centre, it’ll come in black and white colours and has a remote controller, and that’s about it. [Akihabaranews]
We just got the advance word on the American Express holiday My WishList deals, running from November 27 to December 13. If you recall, Amex sells certain hot products for super cheap in very limited supplies, but you have to go to the site and try to buy it on a certain day (and yes, with an American Express card). It’s really just a game, because demand always comically dwarfs supply. But there are other products that go on sale immediately, and are available at low but not necessarily insane prices until they sell out. And they always sell out. Before you go and shoot your wad during the Black Friday frenzy, you might want to check out this year’s lineup, edited down to the most Giz-appropriate selections (i.e. no spa retreats or studded mini clutches):
AU: I don’t own an Amex, but if you do it might be worth looking for an Aussie equivalent? The tie-in with the pre-Christmas sales is probably US specific. Of course, here in Australia it’s all about post-Christmas sales. Which are obviously better for retailers than consumers. -SB
If you purchased an iPhone on a credit card with a price protection plan, you can call them up and see if they will honour their return policy protection with the iPhone price drop. In our case, we’ve personally confirmed that American Express is offering the drop. All you have to do is call their return number.
As long as you’re under the 90 days that their plan covers (which is everybody right now), just call 800-297-8019 and tell them that you’re inquiring about the iPhone price drop. They should know what you’re talking about, since they’ve been getting so many calls the past two days. The service representative we spoke to was extremely nice, only asking for some details like when you purchased the phone, whether you bought it at an Apple store, and how much you paid for it.
The rep said it wasn’t usually covered under their plan, but since they love their customers so much, they’re going to honor it this time. And that’s why we love American Express. [Amex]
Okay all you rich bitch American Express cardholders, you don’t have to worry about leaving home without it because you can stay seated, participating in the wealthy man’s Woot-off where dream products are suddenly unleashed at crazy low prices. You have to have an American Express Card and it’s a bit like those “first person to call” radio contests, but some of the prizes include perks that can’t be bought anywhere.
For example, today at noon Eastern, if you click fast enough, with a lot of luck you’ll get a 65-inch Sharp Aquos 1080p LCD for $3,000 that usually retails for $15K. That includes two round-trip tickets to New York City and three hotel nights, along with a visit to the set of the NBC series 30 Rock. The trick is, there’s only one of these available, and it’s more like winning a prize than buying something. There’s a lot more on the way today, too. Check out some of the products offered:
