The Price: $949 as configured.

Form Factor
The Studio Hybrid is small, no doubt about it. A little heftier than a Wii, its color comes from a removable outer case that, in person, is far more transparent than the advertising art would have you believe. You can't really make out the color unless you're looking for it. In our cabinet, we'd ditch that sleeve to make the case even smaller. (Dell confirmed that the PC can run just fine on its side, too.)

Web Browsing
It was a joy, really. I used the bundled wireless laser mouse right on my couch. And the keyboard is light and comfortable.

Television
While web browsing, in another window, I watched NBC over my HD antenna with a USB coax adapter. The computer could handle the task fine, though when you changed channels, it wasn't quite as smooth as your HD box would be. But the bigger problem I had—one that is not specifically Dell's fault—is that the entire desktop didn't make it to my television (the edges were cut off a bit, a common problem for TVs displaying computer content). This is something to keep in mind before buying a media PC to use on your television (buy with a good return policy), and it wasn't ideal for TV.

Blu-ray
Dell's integrated Blu-ray drive...really isn't too shabby. Even on my 720p test display, I'd have to say my PS3 is rendering images with less noise and more color—Dell's integrated Blu-ray player warns that it doesn't support the full Windows color space—but loading times were reasonable, picture quality was passable and, let's just say it worked better than original DVD drives did in PCs...though not by a lot. Still, the biggest downfalls are Dell's lackluster integrated controls and when fast forwarding you realize that the system does have its limits (one time our screen stopped previewing the video altogether until we hit play again).

Verdict
Most will say the Studio Hybrid is overpriced. I'm not sure if that's the case. While the system starts at $500 and the unit I tested—one that I'm actually pretty pleased with—ballooned to $1000, the PC is pieced together from mostly laptop parts so you'll pay a laptop price. That's the cost of the form factor, and an unfortunate reality of the media PC market as it stands today (you'll crush the Studio Hybrid's performance for the dollar, but it'll look like there's a computer sitting next to your TV.)

Still, $1000 is a lot to ask for a computer using integrated graphics.

All the same, I'd argue that the Hybrid's flaw isn't its potentially high price, but its target market. The computer is trying to be a general purpose system when Dell should have simply tricked out its media center capabilities to their max, or at least allow such an option. Integrate the digital tuner instead of making me stick dongles out the back and give me a remote to control everything from Blu-ray to Hulu, and I'm sold without seeing the sticker price.

But until then, I'd say the Studio Hybrid is just alright—not quite the media PC for everyone I'd hoped it would be. (You can't turn it on from your couch, you know?) The prospect of web browsing and Bittorent can't pull me away from watching media on my PS3 or Xbox 360, and my stock DVR will probably handle video recording with a lot less hassle.

Then again, if Dell ever makes a Studio Hybrid 2, I'll be anxious to see the improvements. [Dell]

It has a SIM card inside just like a real cell phone, and even stores four speed dial numbers, accessed through paw-squeezes. Awww. It vibrates and makes noises when you have incoming calls. When you get a call, just answer by gripping the bear’s tail and end the call in the same way. The Kuma Phone hopes to see the light of day at $500 a unit. I’m not sure how I feel about it. On one hand we’re talking a $500 cuddly bear phone. Which is insane of course. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to deny any bear it’s obvious pleasure interacting with a lovely Asian girl.

[The Raw Feed]

Debuting at the 2008 Good Design Expo, cellular provider Willcom's Kuma Phone has a SIM card inside just like a real cell, and it can store up to four speed dial numbers — one for each paw-squeeze. It'll vibrate and make noise for incoming calls, which are answered and ended by gripping the bear's tail.

The Kuma Phone hopes its cuddly factor will help it cash in (and we hope it won't actually surface for this price) at $500 a unit.

Trends in Japan, via The Raw Feed

Source: Techchee

The rabble-rouser turning my principles upside down is this cuddly stuffed robot — endearingly named "Polar-Roid," made by Etsy seller Littlbrownbyrd, whose specialty appears to be heart-stealing stuffed robots. Little Polar-Roid is my favorite though; look at that face (if you can call it that)!

For $23, I have to pick her up, even if I do cave and give it to one of my deserving nieces eventually.

Does a child in your family have a rough time falling asleep without their cuddly teddy and a night light? They’re not alone. In fact, I’d still sleep with my childhood teddy bear if it wasn’t for the wear and tear it’s taken over the years, which now means I keep it in a special hyperbaric chamber.

While this teddy might not be the best stuffed animal to snuggle with in bed, it does offer both a cuddly exterior and an extra glow of light to protect you from the boogie man. This Teddy Bear Lamp replaces the head of a teddy with a lamp shade and bulb.

It’s going to be kinda tough to explain to your children why the teddy bear is missing their respiratory-essential head, but maybe you can just tell them the teddy’s father was a chandelier or something. But I thought the stork brought babies to mommies and daddies? Whoops, just opened a new can of worms.

You might want to point out to the kids that now the teddy bear is extra “bright”. It could help heal the scar of stuffed animal decapitation. Or maybe just don’t get this lamp if you have kids in your home. You can grab your own Teddy Bear Lamp for £59.99 ($114) from Drink Stuff.

Product Page
[ Teddy Bear Lamp might scar your child for life copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Stress is a major problem, and with time can actually become a killer, but a new device on the market is here to reduce your stress levels via its cuddly heart!

The beating heart stress relief pillow sounds like a stupid idea at first, but since there is medical proof to the fact that hearing another person’s heartbeat reminds us of our time in the womb, and calms us down even aiding in peaceful sleep.
As you clutch the beating heart to your chest it vibrates rhythmically as a heart would, calming your nerves and de-stressing you instantly, what’s more the pillow isn’t a recording, it actually changes over time, and as your heart syncs with the pillow you feel calmed and relaxed.

•    Plush heart pillow relaxes you by its rhythmic vibration
•    Every time you turn on the pillow an entirely unique heartbeat rhythm is created
•    Heartbeat vibration changes slowly over time to better mimic a real heart
•    Auto shut off mechanism
•    Large Pillow measures 14″ x 14″ x 4″, Small Pillow is 9″ x 9″ x 3″
•    Powered by one 9V battery (included)

I remember the Japanese Pokeman characters from an addictive cartoon show which featured the just-too-cute-for-words yellow Pikachu, but as my daughter became older, he lived primarily on her DS. She should have entered the Pokeman Video Game showdown; she's been playing it long enough.

Over the past two weeks, more than 1,000 Pokemon fans swarmed Los Angeles and New York, for the chance to become the ultimate Pokemon Video Game Champion. From as young as 6 to 43, contestants vied across the nation for their title, with the decision to be made in Florida.

Competing on Pokemon Diamond or Pokemon Pearls Nintendo DS ( who wouldn't want one of those?), the Japanese finalists will take on the American winners August 16th at Orlando's Disney World.

Winners receive: A trip for four to Tokyo, New York, or Oahu (Hawaii); a custom Nintendo DS game system, and a Pokémon prize pack. Valued at $10,000.

My cuddly 5' tall Pikachu doll would have enjoyed the trip.

Posted by Evan    Category: contests | current affairs | gaming
Tags: nintendo ds  pokemon
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