GeekSugar

Happy Crank Up Your Stereo Day

GeekSugar — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:01:23 PST

National geeky holidays are the best. And who knew that there's one that gives you total permission to go nuts and blast your stereo? Yes, January 18 is Crank Up Your Stereo Day. So maybe your landlord and neighbors might not approve, but for one of your favorite songs, just go for it!

The Sounds Like and Feels Like Bamboo Stereo

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:01:00 PST

I think the idea of nature meeting technology is great. . . wood gadgets, you name it, I'm all for it. However, when I came across this "Bamboo" stereo system on Yanko Design, I couldn't help but ask the what's and why's surrounding this product's inception. Picture a real bamboo stick, its make-up, its sound and try imagining its base features integrated into a stereo system. And in comes the cylindrical "pink" Bamboo stereo. . .This concept design stereo, which has been designed by Soohyuk Im, is through and through high-tech boasting WiFi capability, wireless speakers, an integrated LED screen, remote desktop syncing, a radio and a cd player. The stereo can be used without the connected side speakers or taken apart to have two wireless speakers. It'll be interesting to see if this concept idea ever takes off.

Luxurious Geek: $860,608 Stereo

GeekSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:00:32 PDT

Have you ever wondered what a stereo that costs about eight times the average college tuition looks like?

This stereo system, which was recently featured at Berlin's IFA trade show, touts a price tag of $860,608. Yes, you read that right.

In the center is a Clearaudio "Statement" turntable (that costs about $137,000), two subwoofers by JBL "Project Everest" (they're about $68,700 a pair) and four Velodyne subwoofers that total $52,000. Of course we can't forget to mention the Krell amps that are worth $163,000, a Mark Levinson pre-amp that costs $54,000 and some miscellaneous obscenely - and pricey - add-ons.

While there is always an air of mystique surrounding luxury gadgets, this set is just another example of how geeks can go terribly wrong creating intricate and painfully expensive devices. No one with $860,608 to burn on a stereo wants it to look like a machine that makes hubcaps. I'm just sayin'.

Source: Crave

Love It or Leave It? Hello Kitty Stereo System

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 12:00:44 PDT

I know there's a good mix of you who like pink gadgets and adore Hello Kitty accessories, so I figure this one will have, at the very least a cult following. What's great about this Hello Kitty stereo system, is the fact that it doesn't scream 'Hello Kitty' and it is a subtle shade of pink.. which I can totally handle. For the Hello Kitty fanatics, don't worry, you'll find the signature Hello Kitty logo on top of the mp3 player. Featured on Gizmodiva, this USB stereo system can play mp3's as well as CD's. Priced at $370. How are you feelin' about this Kitty inspired stereo?

Dress Up Your Home in Geek Pride All Year Long

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:27:57 PDT

In celebrating Geek Pride Day, we noticed that our own homes could use a bit of Spring geek-ifying. No, we're not talking the latest HDTV or WiFi stereo - just some low-key and quirky essentials to make a normal-seeming abode into a home that speaks to our sci-fi and tech passions. Take a look at our housewares finds, and yes, you are allowed to go crazy for that iMac lamp!

Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Novogratzes' New Family Collection For CB2

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:11:48 PDT

They've been called "the coolest family in the world," but for Bob and Cortney Novogratz, just being family is enough. The stars of HGTV's Home by Novogratz and mom and dad to seven kids ranging from 3 to 15 have made family their mantra and are now putting it on their designs. The founders of Sixx Design have partnered up with CB2 for a line of products, aptly named FAMILY, that reflect their signature style. According to Bob, "We came up with the idea of FAMILY a long time ago. Maybe six, seven years ago we got some light boxes and made the letters ourselves. We have a big family, so we thought we should really create a family brand, because we didn't feel like there was anything out there like that."

The first piece, a colorful rug emblazoned with the word FAMILY that appeared on the show last season, will be available at CB2 stores and online in July (starting at $399). We were invited to the Novogratzes' home along NYC's Hudson River as the family posed with the rug for CB2's Summer catalog. With Justin Bieber and Fun blasting on the stereo, Cortney negotiated her teenagers' wardrobe issues, separated bickering twins, and goaded all seven kids into smiling for the camera (and yes, plenty of jellybeans and promises to play with her iPhone were used). Between shots, Bob discussed the collaboration with CB2 and decorating with kids.

11 Tech Items to Consider For Your Wedding Registry

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:55:12 PDT

Technology may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your wedding registry, but the gifting possibilities go beyond traditional fine china, fancy flatware, and bedding. If you depend on geeky gadgets on a day-to-day basis, feel free to add a few to your list. This isn't to say that you should go nuts at Best Buy scanning each and every dream gift, but it's important to include items that you genuinely want and need.

A good place to start: learn the proper registry protocol. Etiquette experts at Emily Post offer smart wedding registry rules to help you navigate the formalities. Anna Post confirms that it's perfectly OK to create a more unconventional registry with camping or tech items, but you should also provide guests with a more traditional list, too. Hoping to include some technology, but not sure where to start? Here are a few basic items to consider:

DSLR camera, like the Nikon D800
Laptop computer
iPad
Flatscreen TV
Record player, like this affordable Wood Turntable
iPod speakers
Blu-Ray player
Gaming system
Stereo system with surround sound
The Nest Thermostat
High-tech washer/dryer

Current and former brides-to-be: Did you include any technology on your registry? If so, which items? Share your suggestions in the comments below!

Geeks We Love: An MP3 Maker of History

Anna Monette Roberts — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:53:05 PDT

Arguably one of the most important tech inventions of our generation, the MP3 player didn't just invent itself. For that, we can thank Kane Kramer. He may not be a household name, but Kramer developed the first portable digital audio player 20 years before it became industry standard. In 1979, he designed the IXI digital audio player, the first of its kind to transfer and store music to-go. The player contained a credit card-sized IXI chip that held between 30 minutes to an hour of music, depending on the audio system (mono or stereo). All of this in 1979!

Kramer told us in an email that before the age of Internet, he imagined the "idea and concept of delivering music, data, and video down telephone lines on demand" via a small, portable device. Kramer's sketches, which are over 40 years old, very closely resemble what we now know as the iPod and iPod Mini. In 2008, Apple admitted that Kramer is the true genius behind the iPod technology.

The players that Kramer developed fit in the palm of your hand and featured a small LCD screen and a central navigation control panel. Despite several websites claiming the player only held three and a half minutes of music, Kramer insists the IXI held one hour of mono audio, half an hour of stereo, or 16 tracks of master recordings. He even thought of attractive aspects that we often take for granted, like having the ability to "select any track in any order" or download new content onto the device "in a matter of seconds."

It's truly fascinating - and almost unbelievable - how many trends Kramer invented almost 20 years before MP3 players would hit the mainstream market. In his 1979 proposal for IXI Systems, Kramer predicted that MP3s would "replace the heavy costs of distribution of records and tapes," would provide "immediacy of delivery," and "eliminate the need for retailers to carry any inventory." Sure enough, in the past two decades, almost every music store has closed down, while online MP3 sales have skyrocketed. If you're wondering what music will look like in the next 20 years, you better turn to Kane Kramer.

Source: Kane Kramer

High-Tech Atomic Audio in a Lo-Fi Retro Package

Anna Monette Roberts — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:52:52 PDT

Don't be fooled by its gorgeous retro design, this Rubicon Atomic AD/DA Preamp is one high-tech audio hub. With a vintage feel and craftsmanship, the preamp is as sleek on the outside as it is on the inside. We've got three reasons you need to hear this high-resolution audio system for yourself:

According to the manufacturers, the preamp is the first of its kind to use an atomic ticker in its clock. While almost every clock in the market uses quartz crystals as oscillators, atomic tickers are 100,000 times more stable. Hello, atomic power! The clocking technology is also used to protect music files from jittery playback.
Forget about wire transfer, this stereo wirelessly streams audio from phones and PCs.
One of the greatest features is the preamp's ability to convert vinyl into digital tracks, while maintaining the warm, crackling depth of the original analog recordings.

You'll have to wait until May to purchase one of these beautiful preamps. Rubicon plans to introduce it at the Munich High-End show.

Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: "Signal 30"

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:49:04 PDT

It's all about Pete Campbell on Mad Men this week, as we get a little more insight into what's making him so miserable. Though he's guilty of a few despicable acts, we also get to see Trudy in her best form, plus the added bonus of seeing Pete get put in his place in a very unexpected manner.

The Campbell comeuppance isn't the only twist: there's also an awkward kiss that takes place within the walls of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and some great zingers from Don. Is it just me, or is Don funnier than ever this season? Just another reason why I'm a fan of the Megan effect. Let's break it down when you

The company you keep: Despite his resistance, Don and Megan get roped into a dinner party at the Campbells' new suburban home at Trudy's urging. Don's the man of the hour, as Pete can't stop brownnosing, and Don comes to the rescue when the sink starts flooding. The real hilarity is that no one can remember poor Cynthia's name (Don gives a classic "Hello, you" when he arrives, and Megan even blurts out Cynthia's name during her "eureka" moment). It's a nice insight into Pete's seemingly perfect life, complete with an adoring wife, cute daughter, and of course, a brand-new stereo.
Hail to the king: We've known that Pete's been unhappy for quite some time, but his issues with both work and his home life come to a head this week. First off, he's taking driver's ed, but he's learning a lot more about a fellow teenage student than he is about the rules of the road. His blatant ogling is enough to make my skin crawl, but then he takes it up a notch by actually asking her out on a date. Multiple times. (Even she appears to be a bit weirded out by the situation). No matter though, because she finds herself a suitable lad her own age, and Pete turns to a hooker for a self-esteem boost, but more on that later. The real bottom line here comes from Pete himself, who says to Don, "I have nothing."
Big leagues: After a jolly good World Cup outing, Lane befriends a fellow Brit named Edwin, who's interested in using Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce to represent Jaguar. Even though he's not an account man, Lane wants to wine and dine Edwin on his own, and Roger even preps him for the dinner. Unfortunately, Lane can't deliver the goods, so Roger, Don, and Pete take over. They court Edwin with a lobster dinner, but he's got more sinister ideas on his mind. He asks the SCDP guys to show him a good time, which is essentially code for a prostitute party. Everyone wastes no time shacking up - except Don, who seems to be sticking to his guns and staying faithful to Megan. Everything seems to be well and good, until Edwin's wife finds some chewing gum in an, um, unfortunate area, and Edwin pulls the plug on working with SCDP.
Dukes up: Lane's furious about the guys going behind his back, and puts all the blame on Pete. Pete insults Lane in return and they settle the score with a legitimate fist fight right there in the meeting room. Bert, Don, and Roger can't help but watch as the two throw punches, and Lane eventually knocks Pete out. Pete's obviously mortified, and even Lane doesn't get much time to celebrate his victory, since he makes a fool of himself a few minutes later. When Joan comes in to talk about the situation, he makes a pass at her. Lucky for him, Joanie just sweeps it under the rug and it doesn't seem like it'll affect their friendship.
Writer's block: Ken and Peggy seem to be butting heads a little, until we learn that they've got a secret pact: if either of them leave, they'll bring the other one along. It's not a main focus of the episode, but it's definitely something that will likely pop up again later this season. What is a major focus of the episode is Ken's writing career. Posing as his alter ego "Ben Hargrove" (so clever, Kenny), Ken's been getting his sci-fi works published under the radar. At least he is until Cynthia spills the beans at the dinner party and Pete reports the information back to Roger in no time. Ken claims that he's giving up to "leave the writing to the writers," but it's clear that he's still indulging in his passion at the end of the episode - and perhaps using Pete as inspiration?

Were you surprised to see Lane and Pete come to blows? How much longer do you think Don can stay faithful?

Photo courtesy of AMC