http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/articles Latest articles, updated every five minutes http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/603767.html Before you get ready to line up in the freezing cold and risk being trampled over in search of a great Black Friday deal, here are a few things to keep in mind Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:42:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/hemag/articles/21395 The solution for an exceptionally large theater: towering speakers and towering amplifiers, all artfully concealed. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:03:11 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/173752 It's a tabbed, tabbed, tabbed world, so why doesn't Google use tabs to deliver amped-up search results? Firefox add-on SearchTabs does exactly that. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:34:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/138 Wine lovers have Napa Valley. Fashionistas have Paris. And Elvis diehards have Graceland.Devotees visit them sample the finest, see the latest in the industry, and soak in the history of the greats. But where should geeks book their tickets to when it's time to get out of the cube and pursue their own niche interests abroad?We found out where. Whether you want to stock your gadget pile, express your fandom with a visit to your favorite company headquarters, or experience some of the most important scientific and technological sites in the world firsthand, we've sifted through the options, talked to the experts, and selected 10 of the coolest science and tech destinations in the world. So open a new browse...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/137 Attendance at the just-concluded CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association) Expo, held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, was down for the second straight year to around 20,000, and the number of exhibitors shrunk from 500 to 400. But the good news for home theater enthusiasts is as follows: What the various exhibitors that remained actually exhibited was a considerable amount of ingenuity.Amid the myriad goods being shown including high-end projectors...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/171529 Emma email marketing service cuts your hassles and enables more features than running email campaigns yourself. Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:16:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/294 The Snow Leopard cometh. After a modest demonstration alongside a hopped-up iPhone and slightly revamped MacBook at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, the long-awaited update to OS X finally gets its time to shine on August 28. While Apple has shied away from painting the new Mac operating system (OS) as a landmark release – even the name implies that it's just a revision – Snow Leopard will bring with it a slew of upgrades that Apple fans have long awaited, and many that should pave a path to unlock even more p...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/talk/313 I’m kind of surprised it took so long for a major retailer to chase after Amazon and its unique Kindle. Up until now, the only real competition so far has come from Sony’s incredibly lame Readers, which have neither the ease of use, nor the available library of books to have any fighting chance against the Kindle.But Barnes & Noble is a credible book retailer, and even though it entered and exited the eBook market earlier this decade, now that Amazon has shown that a market for these devices actually does exist, the company is now apparently going after it with a venge...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/279 Your new home office has fresh drywall from floor to ceiling, a fragrant new patch of short-nap carpet, and a window that looks out on the backyard garden. Now you just a need a spot to put that computer. And the printer. And all those papers. And the phone.Maybe it’s time for some furniture.But before you make a trip to the local office store and come back with a minivan full of flat-packed particleboard, it’s worth doing a little research and planning. We’ve broken down the key elements to any office, explained some of the key factors you should weight when picking them out, and given a few of our favorites....Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/272 The old axiom that you can’t upgrade a laptop has never been less true. Sure, your nay-saying, desktop-bound friends who repeat it have a basic kernel of truth in their favor – the core guts of a mobile machine are pretty much set in stone. But if you’re not looking to completely revamp a computer (which can hardly be called an upgrade anyway), aftermarket manufacturers have found plenty of clever ways to skirt the issue of expandability, and slap new parts onto your aging laptop, giving it new functionality that may not have even been possible when it was built. So if your $2,000 wonder machine from three years ago doesn’t seem quite so wondrous any more, but another two grand for a new model isn’t in the b...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/116 Before even discussing the most influential, important developments of the technology age, the simple transistor must claim its rank near the top. Or, more accurately, the incredible shrink-ability of said transistor.In 1947, the world's first working example of a transistor, a crude-looking assembly seemingly made up of various bits of wire, assorted spare parts, ample doses of solder, and what looks like an ancient Indian arrowhead, sprang to life in a nondescript room at Bell Labs' Murray Hill, New Jersey facility. That transistor would evolve – and shri...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/264 Before even discussing the most influential, important developments of the technology age, the simple transistor must claim its rank near the top. Or, more accurately, the incredible shrink-ability of said transistor.In 1947, the world's first working example of a transistor, a crude-looking assembly seemingly made up of various bits of wire, assorted spare parts, ample doses of solder, and what looks like an ancient Indian arrowhead, sprang to life in a nondescript room at Bell Labs' Murray Hill, New Jersey facility. That transistor would evolve – and shri...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 28 May 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/568486.html Thu, 14 May 2009 05:07:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/250 Henry Ford famously joked in 1909 that customers could order their Model Ts in whatever color they wanted – so long as it was black. And about ten years ago, that was pretty much the status of the notebook industry. Buying a laptop meant picking out a boring grey slab with the best bundle of specs. But as this particular segment of the market has blown up, so too, have your choices. Once-grey slabs now come in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials, making them as much an expression of individuality and fashion as cars have become. Take a look at the apex of modern-day laptop design with 10 of the finest examples on the market today....Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 06 May 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/244 In November of 2008, Circuit City, just a few years earlier one of the top dogs in the entire retail landscape, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed 155 of its 722 stores in a desperate, last-ditch bid to remain afloat. Facing heightened competition, pressure from vendors, a severely troubled economy, and, some say, problematic management that refused to adapt to the times, the company did what it could in the following few months to stave off eradication. But despite its best efforts, Circuit City permanently...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 21 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/163078 There's a big difference between targeted, effective e-mail marketing and useless, annoying spam. Here are ten tips to waging a better e-mail campaign. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:42:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/161706 In humanity's darkest hour, Admiral Adama faced the ultimate leadership challenge. Here's what every business leader can learn from his example. Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:25:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/210 Radio certainly has come a long way since the days of the dial. Aside from fancier presets, and the presence of pushbuttons, free music is no longer constricted to the car or a tiny transistor set. Don’t worry about huddling around a boombox or even the computer. Thanks to advances in technology, there are now plenty of ways to listen to radio, without having to sample the snaps, crackles and pops that are a trademark of the medium.HD RadioDespite what many people think, the HD in HD Radio does not stand for “high definition.” However, like its TV counterpart, this is a digital format, with the HD meaning “hybrid digital.” That means that HD Radio stations br...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/208 You’ve no doubt connected your digital camera to your computer to download photos or have inserted a little black thumb drive to store or retrieve files. But rejoice – the USB port can be used for so much more, thanks to its ability to suck electricity through your computer, powering some of the world’s strangest devices. Following are ten of the cutest, silliest and most useless examples we could find. As a fun game at home, try playing along by suggesting your own examples: You’ll be amazed at mankind’s capacity for ridiculousness. Oh, how we cry for the poor children…...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/talk/282 3D Gaming: World of Warcraft, etc.Like a lot of you I waited to see the 3D Super Bowl ads and then watched Chuck in 3D (well the first 10 minutes anyway) and was disappointed with the result. The 3D Monsters vs. Aliens ad just sucked too: I mean, do we really need any more cute monster and alien movies? Bring back the real Aliens – you know, the ones that Sigourney Weaver used to fight, and put them up against the Vampires and Werewolves from movies like Underworld or Blade. Now that would be cool.So why even bring this up? Because I was testing NVIDIA's 3D gaming setup on an AMD/NVIDIA gaming rig at the same time and my wife, when I let her try it out, said it best:  "That...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/106 Remember the days when articles about high-tech hotels included such bleeding-edge technology as ubiquitous Wi-Fi, or (gasp!) flat-panel TVs? Now, those technologies are not only preferred, they are required by the savvy traveler.Here we take a look at some hotels and manufacturers that are doing some exciting things in technology to attract new customers – from business travelers to nerds who just want to play video games.Opening in late 2009, Las Vegas’ CityCenter will debut some of the most advanced guestroom technology available. Control4 is on the scene, providing personalized automation for every guestroom. For example, as guests nea...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/203 Best of 2008: Digital PhotographyKodak Zi6, $180This inexpensive little camcorder took us off guard with its stunning video quality and ease of use. Yes, it’s a little on the chunky side when you pocket it, but the tradeoff in quality, LCD size, and even the benefit of using standard AA batteries is well worth it. We can only hope they gain in popularity so that YouTube trampoline accident footage looks even sharper down the road....Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/202 So you couldn’t cough up $3,100 for Super Bowl XLIII tickets and another grand for a flight to Tampa Bay. Looks like the Steelers will have to battle the Cardinals without their number one fan in the stands. But don’t lose hope for an amazing Super Bowl. A few wisely spent bucks can turn your disheveled living room into the place to be on Super Bowl Sunday, and you when it’s all over, you can doze off peacefully in the comfort of your own recliner with a Bud in your hand that you didn’t even pay $10 for. From beer-cooling gadgets to even bigger TVs to shout at, here are a few Super Bowl tech essentials.TiVo...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/guide/201 Look up the definition of “hype” and you’ll find the phrase “home automation” listed as a usage example. So many manufacturers have made so many promises to create the ideal automated, or “connected,” home over the years that many people just roll their eyes when they hear the term. Thankfully, we’re here to tell you that the hype is finally coalescing into reality.There are still a few kinks that need to be worked out, but here’s the situation in a nutshell: There are enough viable products on the market to turn your home into a tech Mecca. You’ll need a substantial budget to go whole hog with a system that controls everything from your lighting to your climate...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/feature/102 Best of 2008: Digital PhotographyKodak Zi6, $180This inexpensive little camcorder took us off guard with its stunning video quality and ease of use. Yes, it’s a little on the chunky side when you pocket it, but the tradeoff in quality, LCD size, and even the benefit of using standard AA batteries is well worth it. We can only hope they gain in popularity so that YouTube footage of trampoline accident footage looks even sharper down the road....Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:00:00 -0500