It looks like RCA is trying to best their own high marks with the Small Wonder EZ300, an HD-capable pocket camcorder that's seriously cheap. In addition to shooting 720p HD video (and along with Kodak's Zi6 making HD the pocket cam standard), the EZ300's 2GB internal memory is expandable by 16GB via SD slot, which gets you 10 hours of hi-def footage. RCA says it's optimised for low-light, hopefully a major improvement over the EZ210, but I'll have to see it to believe it. The EZ300 runs on a Li-ion battery and doesn't shoot macro, but at $US160 it's cheaper than the Zi6 so you've got a tough choice to make. [RCA]

Read More »

I've had a lot of success with RCA's A1500, a flat, living room friendly UHF/VHF antenna that's capable of receiving OTA HD. But it's not amplified, meaning it won't be right for many viewers who want to pump their signal a bit. Now RCA is expanding their flat antenna line with amplified and "smart" antennas. The amplified antennas look identical to the A1500 of yore, but start at even smaller sizes and come bundled with removable low-noise amplifiers to boost signals (these start at a palatable $US45). The smart antenna ($US100) is designed for urban areas where buildings block/redirect signals, so it uses a set-top converter box to best tune the antenna to desired frequencies. All new models appear to be available now. [RCA]

Read More »

Back in 1969 RCA made an attempt at a high-end TV that was a vision of the sets of the year 2000. The Two Thousand was even made in a limited run of 2,000 and cost US$2,000. That's around US$12,000 in today's money, but for that price you got a 23-inch Hi-Lite tube that had "such a vivid, detailed picture" you could "even watch it in a brightly-lit room." There were even "computer-like "memory circuits" that stored your fave channels, and preserved settings for volume and picture control. That must've seemed like the future indeed in an era of dial-twiddle-tuning to find the right VHF channel. The full advert page makes fascinating reading.

Read More »

Ever since the world caught wind of the Pure Digital Flip cam's success, super-cheap digital pocket camcorders have sprouted up everywhere. With everyone and their mother trying to become the next Lil Show Stoppa or Soulja Girl, people need a cheap and easy way to capture those magic moments. I tested six of these cams—from Creative, RCA/Audiovox, DXG and Pure Digital—all US$180 or less. Here are samples of all of their videos in various conditions, and an overall look at how they stack up:

Read More »

RCA is refreshing and expanding its line of Small Wonder mini camcorders, positioned to compete with the wildly popular Flip Ultra. The new cams feature upgraded video quality, storage and skins, though unfortunately no rechargeable battery. The Pocket and MyLife models don't offer anything too revolutionary, but keep the same fold-out screen of the original, while the more rugged Traveler claims water resistance and shock-proof battery contacts, though the screen is built in to the body.

Read More »

RCA was nice enough to sit down with us and justify one of the most pointless car modifications we've ever seen: an LCD screen on the lower trim/bumper of a car. I mean, seriously?

Shooting/Editing by Eric Sheline.

The Pitch: RCA is releasing four new models its super-simple Small Wonder video cameras, including one that shoots in 720p HD. Other models include smaller and more rugged versions designed for YouTube uploaders on the go, all for pretty reasonably prices. The Catch: Just because a camera can shoot HD resolution doesn't mean it'll look all that great, and this line of cameras is know for its small size and price rather than its quality. Hit the jump for the full pressers.

Read More »

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:

Read More »

We just got our fingerprints all over the strangely enticing RCA Jet Stream: a sporty, rubber edged MP3 player with a pair of wireless headphones that sound surprisingly pristine.

Read More »

Wired magazine just wrapped up its Greatest Gadget of All Time contest where readers voted for their favorite gadgets in a bracket-style elimination tournament, and the winner was the RCA CT-100 color television from 1954. Runner-up was the John Bird Sextant from 1757, a navigation device responsible for helping many of our ancestors find their way across the Atlantic Ocean. These two classic gadgets beat out the iPod, the iPhone, lots of different computers and everything else. But when you think about it, that RCA color TV was a truly revolutionary gadget.

Read More »