Most analog-to-digital audio ripping devices hardly warrant mention these days. But the PlusDeck Ex’s ability to record MP3s to analogue cassette is so odd, I can’t help but be amused.
The government has been handing out $US40 DTV converter coupons left and right—so many, in fact, that they may reach their $1.34-billion budget cap before the transition happens February 17th.
Chances are, if you have an iPod integration system from a year or two back, it will not be compatible with the iPhone 3G, Nano 4G, or Touch 2G. The Scosche Passport is the first solution to this problem, an adaptor that negotiates power, audio and video from new iPods to car iPod hookups. That purpose alone is pretty cool, but we think that it might work to make old iPod docks compatible as well. We’ll get our hands on one to test, but until then, you can preorder yours to ship later this month for $US30. [Passport]
Somehow I doubt that many Gizmodo readers are concerned about getting a DTV converter before the February 2009 cutoff date–but then again, I’ve been surprised before. If you or someone you know falls into this category, Sound & Vision has taken the liberty of pitting the top three DTV converter boxes against one another to find out which one will be worth dropping your voucher on. These three boxes include: the Digital Stream DTX9900, the RCA DTA800, and the Zenith DTT900.
Goofy gadget masters Hammacher Schlemmer are back at it again with a Photograph-to-Digital-Picture Converter that takes your old paper snapshots, and well, digitises them. Now we know what you’re thinking—isn’t this just a scanner with a more complicated name?—and at first, I was inclined to agree. But digging deeper I found that this may not be a bad specialty box for US$150.
The HXC5 HDMI-over-CAT-5 system is being billed as a simple “plug and play” solution for sending HDMI signals over large distances —164 feet (50 meters) to be exact. The manufacturer also claims that this signal is “virtually loss free.” The device utilizes balanced/unbalanced signal processing to ensure full hi-def signal integrity for all video formats up to and including 1080p and it is HDMI v1.2 / HDCP compliant.
The HXC5 requires a double-run of standard CAT5/5E/6 network cabling and it is packaged as a complete, ready-to-connect system —including a compact “balun” transmitter and receiver. Could definitely be a valuable problem-solving tool for anyone setting up a serious home theater. Available now for $600. [Tributaries]
Earlier we showed you the finished look of the RCA DTA800, one of the “digital switchover” converter boxes your stubborn granny can buy early next year with her $40 coupon from the government, in lieu of getting a new goddamn TV. The CES folks have praised the other box too, a Zenith-branded DTT900 digital-to-analog converter box made and marketed by LG. Anyone who thinks we’re being a little reductive take note of the old-people branding. RCA? Zenith? Where’s the Philips-made Magnavox converter? That would complete the trio. [CES]
We kinda forgot all about this little box for old folks with old TVs that was announced way back at CES and promised by the end of this year. It’s got a fresh paint job and later street date (January), presumably because analogue support’s been somewhat extended through 2012, with cable operators performing the conversion voodoo themselves or giving you a free box. If you’re not getting the freebie, or rolling down to Best Buy, you can knock $40 off the DTA800 and keep on trucking with your grandma TV. More pictures:
