GeekSugar

Will You Buy an Upgraded PSP 3000?

GeekSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:00:09 -0700

I'm a fan of the PSP. It's got some amazing graphic capabilities, and since one of my favorite games is on the PSP, it's totally handy to have with me when I travel. But if I'm being honest, the PSP does have its drawbacks; most notably being the screen glare! I love that I can watch movies more comfortably than I could with my iPod, but contorting the console to get the best angle while on the go is kind of a bummer.

So the announcement of the spruced-up PSP, called the PSP 3000 – which will hit European markets in October – has me anticipating an upgrade. The $250 dollar PSP 3000 will have an improved LCD screen with reduced glare, so I can play games and watch videos outside comfortably, and will also boast a built-in mic for all those Skype calls I'll be making.

Since I'm still not sure how many of you own a PSP, tell me, will you buy a PSP 3000 when it hits the States?

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Insignia Portable DVD Player Reviewed

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:00:38 -0700

I've never been the target customer when it comes to portable DVD players because I hardly ever watch movies on small screens and when I do, I'm happy just using my laptop. Having recently spent some time with my friend's four-year-old, I learned that some people - particularly those who haven't lost their two front teeth yet - rely on portable DVD players for entertainment in planes, trains and other boring locations.

I got a chance to take the Insignia 10.2" 16:9 Widescreen LCD Portable DVD Player for a spin and was pleasantly surprised. I often think of Insignia as an "inexpensive" or "affordable" alternative to more pricey gadgets, but I was immediately intrigued by the player's compact size, light weight and sleek body.

To check out additional pictures of the player and read my full review, read more

I was most impressed with the player's design and usability. It features a fool-proof control wheel (yes, it vaguely resembles the iPod's clickwheel), as well as a small remote that fits into the body of the device for storage. It weighs 2.6-pounds, which is notably lighter than my laptop. While I'm still not sure I would travel with a portable player instead of my laptop, I see where this could be good alternative for keeping yourself or the kids entertained or even as a gift for a Luddite who wants to watch DVDs but doesn't want to deal with connecting a player to a TV (say maybe your great-grandama...).

The Insignia DVD player plays DVD, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and JPEG formats, which means you can watch videos stored on your iPod on a slightly larger screen. You can also connect to video game consoles. It ships with an A/V cable, car power adapter, AC/DC adapter and remote. At first I thought the price tag of $190 was a little steep, but discovered most of the other portable players on the market are 8-inches or less. For comparison, the Panasonic 8.5" Portable DVD Player with 12 Hour Battery is $260.

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Coolest Portable Digital Video Player In the World?

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:01:38 -0800

I know people often expect the "best" gadget in a category to be universal, however it seems each country's portable player tastes are as unique as their native cuisine.

This month's WWD Magazine featured a fun insert with a list of the coolest portable digital players from around the world. Italians pick the Zen Vision M by Creative as the coolest portable player.

The Zen Vision, $374, has long played second or third string to the iPod and other portables in the US, but apparently, Italians love the player's 2.5-inch high res LCD screen and the freedom to download videos and music in various formats.

Japan picked the Phillips PET725/44, Australia goes ga-ga for the fifth generation iPod, Brazil likes the Philips PET725/44, Japan loves the Sony DVP-FX810 and the US apparently adores the Panasonic DVD LS 91. To each his own, right?

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Love It or Leave It? iSound Audio Portable Speaker

GeekSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:00:06 -0700

This pink iSound audio portable speaker could be a mini me twin to the iHome 19 portable iPod speaker. This battery-powered cute speaker/case combo lets you play music or watch movies right from the front see through window. And you don't need to have an iPod to use it as it is compatible with any audio devices that has a standard headphone output. If you aren't on the go, you can also plug it in with the 12V AC power adapter. I'd say for $30 this multi-functional case is quite the deal. Would you consider using one of these speakers? Leave your comments below!

Do You Prefer Portable or Console Systems?

GeekSugar — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:10:42 -0700

I've always thought of portable gaming systems like the Nintendo DS or Sony PSP as substitutes for the real thing. Don't get me wrong, I always slip my DS into my purse when I know I am going to have to wait for a plane, train or automobile, but it's just not as engaging and exciting as playing the game on a console like the Wii or Xbox. It's the big sound. It's the vibration. It's the big screen. When it comes to gaming, do you prefer one or the other or do you love them equally?

Portable Home Sauna: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:35:50 -0800

There are few things I love more than a nice steam - in fact, when I'm lucky enough to get a massage, I won't choose a spa without a steam room. Those 15-minute sessions before and after the steam are sometimes more relaxing than the massage itself!

I would love to be able to get a steam without paying the price for a massage, but Steam Spa's Portable Home Sauna is way too goofy to be my replacement. Where would I even put that in my little apartment?! In front of the TV? Actually, that doesn't sound so bad. . . A good steam and Gilmore Girls DVDs? Ooooh!

Flask Style Pink Portable Hard Drive by Iomega

GeekSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:03:51 -0800

You may remember this pink eGo portable hard drive by Iomega from my Must Haves list for February, but because it's so darn cute, and because of all the backing up talk last week, I knew I had to elaborate a bit more on its awesomeness!

To put into perspective how much this beauty of a hard drive can hold, picture this: 640,000 photos, over 2,900 hours of music and 240 hours of video, for a total capacity of 160GB -yes, it's a decent size! The eGo is USB powered so you don't need to drag around an external power supply and it features drop guard for added protection if it were to ever fall off a desk or table.

The eGo hard drive can be used with Macs or PCs and costs only $100. Check out the gallery below to see just how pretty it really is!

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Love It or Leave It? Roxy Portable Speakers

GeekSugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:00:47 -0700

Anyone who has a bit of surfer girl in them is probably going to love these Roxy i-P22 Portable Speakers by Sonic Impact. Featured on paperclippy, this speaker system will blast tunes from your iPod in a cute compact Roxy case. I'd say a great accessory to take to the beach or when traveling. Each costs $100 and includes an inside storage compartment for your earbuds. What are your thoughts? Do you love it?

Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive w/ Protection Suite (320GB, midnight blue)

GeekSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:41:11 -0700

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Portable Beverage Heater

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:00:07 -0700

The Portable Beverage Heater allows a sleeker, cleaner alternative to heating up your coffee with a USB pad. It also solves the constant reheating the cup issue that us tea and coffee drinkers tackle far too often. It's made of a molded plastic, but it's a single-use device that can be clipped to the side of a mug. According to its designer, Seungheon Lee, it creates heat from solid and organic body form using fuel cell and its thermographic ink changes color to indicate when the beverage is hot. Portable Beverage Heater will keep your coffee warm, until your long and tired conference is ended. I could use a handful of those.

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