This morning, a select number of Netflix’s 6 million subscribers will have access to a new Watch Now product that will stream television shows and movies to a Windows PC. The remaining members will be given access over the next six months. About 1,000 movies and tv shows will initially be available (including some hits – NBC’s “The Office” is included, for example). Studios contributing to Netflix’s new service include NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate and New Line Cinema.

The best part – it’s free.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/16/netflix-i-was-just-kidding-about-breaking-up-with-you/

This in-vehicle technology eliminates the need to have dedicated power cords for each portable device in the vehicle. The user simply places the device on Visteon’s charger and power is wirelessly transferred by electromagnetic induction from the charger to the user’s portable device at a rate comparable to a plug-in power cord. The wireless charger contains intelligence that can determine if an object is in close proximity to the charger and whether the object can be charged (similar to electric toothbrushes and similar devices).

http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3539

SimulScribe converts your voicemail into text messages and then sends them directly to your mobile phone, Blackberry, Goodlink enabled phone and/or your email account.

https://apps.simulscribe.com/products/

Indeed, just yesterday we gushed about CrossLoop, and we’ve long been fans of LogMeIn. iRemotePC beats them both in the feature department, offering chat, file transfers, folder synchronization, PC monitoring (as opposed to control) and even guest access (meaning you can invite others to connect to your PC for live presentations, demos, etc.

http://lifehacker.com/software/remote-control/download-of-the-day-iremotepc-windows-227271.php

A lot of people are wondering just how big this thing is. Using the technical specs from apple.com, I grabbed some cardboard, scissors, and glue and made a scale model of the iPhone. Here it is:

http://www.kottke.org/07/01/the-apple-iphone

Well, game over. Gizmodo today leaks that new XBox 360 services will include full IPTV, downloadable content, video on demand, DVR functionality … smack. When somebody smarter than I am writes the book ten years from now, this’ll be the opening chapter hook. Chimp-easy download, no Bittorrent clients, no futzing with Divx files and home networking, that content smacks into my living room and the living rooms of, by the end of this year, somewhere around ten million people (assuming the 360 sells the projected 4 odd million this year.

http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2007/01/4gm-and-network-television-dies-right.html

According to Microsoft, the market for WHS is quite big: There are over 40 million people worldwide that have broadband access and 2 or more PCs at home. They’ve got important data stored on those PCs, including digital memories (photos and videos), work and personal documents, financial data, and more.

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_preview.asp

A year ago I wrote a post called “Web 2.0 Companies I Couldn’t Live Without” and listed thirteen startups who’s products made a real impact in my life. Those were the products that I loved, and used every day. I enjoyed sorting through the hundreds of startups that we had written about, and picking just a handful that made a real impact on my life. It was so much fun, actually, that I’m updating the list this year.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/01/02/2007-web-20-companies-i-couldnt-live-without/

The offering allows users of Web-enabled phones to post and read blog entries, upload photos and respond to comments on major blog services including Blogger, WordPress, Typepad, Xanga, AOL Blogs and Livejournal. Mdog’s technology formats the content for mobile phones; media companies including Forbes and The Wall Street Journal have licensed the software to bring their Internet sites to wireless users.

http://crstage.us.publicus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061229/FREE/61229001/1012/rss01

http://forums.cingular.com/cng/board/message?board.id=samsung&message.id=18529

But recently Blockbuster changed the service in a way that can really hurt Netflix. Movies received by mail can be returned directly at any Blockbuster store. You get a free rental on the spot, and Blockbuster still sends out the next movie in your queue. And yesterday they announced that the monthly coupon for a free rental can be used for movies OR video games.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/12/20/why-i-am-breaking-up-with-netflix/

Sony VGX-XL2 Intel PD920 2.8GHz(viiv) / 1GB DDR2 / 320GB(2×160 RAID 0) / DVD±RW DL / 200 Disc Changer / Flash Reader / Gigabit & Wireless LAN / NTSC & HD TV Tuners / Media Center Digital Living System

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2737314&…

This app allows your Windows Mobile device to automatically respond to a missed call with a custom text message and optionally with your current calendar information. You can customize the messages for various groups of people as well. What if someone calls from their home phone number? Well, as long as you have a contact’s various phone numbers in your contact database, the text message will always be sent to their mobile phone.

http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/archive/2006/10/23/the-mobile-secretary.aspx

The iProjector is a unique video projector that lets you view video and pictures from your iPod, DVD player or computer. It also features multiple video inputs so you can attach game consoles and play just about anywhere.

http://consumerelectronicsdaily.typepad.com/consumer_electronics_dail/2006/12/iprojector_to_m.html

Short demonstration of the new 3d window layering plugin in beryl. This was captured in realtime while playing a 1080p trailer in the background …

Other demo videos:


And you can try it with a livecd. Check out Sabayon linux.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpIhoLzDOTY

UPDATE: I tried out the Sabayon mini livecd, and it worked great on my eMachines Laptop.  It booted quick, I got the 1280×800 resolution immediately.  And the special effects worked well.  Even with all the 3d effects this is one of the better performing live CDs I’ve used.

Everyone’s favorite embedded video site YouTube has unleashed a new Quick Capture feature that allows users to record video directly from your webcam.

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/youtube/youtube-adds-onthefly-recording-220349.php

In the first quarter of 2007, Road Runner will be doubling the download speed for its residential customers to 10 Mbps. Our Time Warner Cable Business Class customers will experience similar increases in speed.* The same monthly price that you’ve been paying will stay the same.

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/road-runner-service-to-double-download-speed-in-q1-2007-220409.php

The Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver will begin shipping later this month and essentially makes a PC fully capable of accepting any and all first-party Xbox 360 wireless peripherals. The dongle connects via USB and can manage 4 wireless 360 controllers and headsets at a time, as well as the new 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and any future 360 controllers from MS. Installation is a simple driver install, and the dongle has a sync button that ties it to a controller much like the Xbox 360.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/749/749090p1.html?RSSwhen2006-12-04_181200&RSSid=749104

PullBoxOnline.com is the premier online site for affordable, high quality downloads of your favorite comic book product. It is created by people who truly understand the comic book community and embrace the lifestyle, hence our name, referring to the thousands of customers who reserve their comics in a “pull box” every month. We understand how the community of comic book downloaders enjoy reading their comics as well. Our philosophy revolves around simplicity. While the rest of the world attempts to create online comic content with unnecessarily complicated, animated “page turning features” and overly secure DRM features that hinder the downloading process, the goal at PullBox is to be the EASIEST place to shop for PDF and CBR formatted comics, and to offer the best selection.

http://www.pullboxonline.com/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=1

Newsarama also has an interview up with one of the creators.  Its an interesting read if you care about that sort of thing.

JB: We are not going to overload the site with tedious DRM
features. After a lot of consideration and study, it was decided that
it’s more important for Pullbox to be the easiest place to download a
comic. We want to embrace the currently existing online community of
downloaders, not exclude them. Most of these communities are looking
for a cheap legal alternative and we’re providing it.

People are already sending them around via scans from print comics, so
if they’re determined to do that they’re going to do it anyway. And to
be frank, if Pullbox can sell 10,000 downloads of a title and reach a
new audience, we don’t care if 100,000 people are reading that same
product. That will just make us try to get the circulation up to
1,000,000 so we can be selling 100,000 downloads.

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=93092

there’s only one noise canceling headset that’s under $50 that works, and you make it yourself… The Jackhammer headphones… These home-made hifi headphones work as well or better than Bose noise-cancelling headphones.

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/12/the_best_noise.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890