Gear: A Baker's Dozen of Hot New Products

by
June 2000

Now Surfin’ the Tube AOL Style

With the free standing AOLTV Set-Top Box from Philips, you can send and receive e-mail, surf the Web

, join an AOL chat, shop on-line and more. The AOLTV Guide provides you with TV listings and show summaries and will even remind you to record or watch your favorite show. Picture-in-picture viewing allows you to minimize your TV screen while maximizing a Web site. The AOLTV package includes the set-top box, IR keyboard and remote, 56k modem, a quick setup guide and instructional video. AOLTV may also come to provide AOL-enhanced TV programs.
(800) 531-0039
www.philips.com

Suggested retail price:(Not available at press time)

A Game to Get Into

Mattel and Intel have launched their second product under the Intel Play brand. The Intel Play Me2Cam Computer Video Camera with Fun Fair CD-ROM actually puts children into a computer game. The camera takes a picture of a child’s environment. The computer then replaces the environment with one of five animated worlds. When the child steps in front of the camera, he appears on screen inside the animated world. Body movements control all the action in the on-screen games. Could be a good application for the living room PC/TV.
(888) 628-8359
www.intelplay.com
Suggested retail price: $99

VideoDisc Recorder

Amoisonic Electronics has teamed with Stream Machine to produce the home VideoDisc Recorder. Stream Machine’s MPEG-2 digital video real-time encoding and decoding technology enable the Recorder/player. The VDR is similar in features and functions to a traditional VHS VCR but has the interactivity of digital video technology. For recording, the VDR uses CD-RW drives, and CD-R and CD-RW discs. Amoisonic’s VDR can play pre-recorded Super Video CD titles, Video CD titles and audio CD’s as well as create discs in these formats. (408) 435-7107
www.amoisonic.com
Suggested retail price: $299

E-mail for the Masses

The TVEmail from eNote.com provides e-mail, but not Internet access. Complete with a small set-top "mailbox" and a full-sized, color-coded wireless keyboard, eNote.com designed TVEmail for the non-technical consumer. TVEmail supports up to five users with a password protected e-mail account for each. In addition to e-mail the set-top box also supports ZIP Code based TV listings and personalized information services. An optional ink jet printer costs $100 and unlimited e-mail service costs $9.95 per month.
(802) 288-9000
www.eNote.com
Suggested retail price: $80

Never a Busy Signal

The RCA DCM105R cable modem operates through your existing cable TV networks so it’s always on with no dialing or busy signals. You get unlimited Internet access to online multimedia services. The RCA cable modem supports DOCSIS baseline privacy to help provide for safe information and data exchange. The RCA cable modem supports two-way cable transmission of up to 38Mbps downstream and 10Mbps upstream. It is compatible with PCs with Pentium equivalent or better and Macintosh 601 or higher. (317) 587-4450
www.rca.com
Suggested retail price: $379

It’s Personal

Philips Consumer Electronics and WebTV Networks have announced plans to develop and deliver a set-top box incorporating the new WebTV Personal TV service. Features include digital video recording capabilities, allowing simultaneous recording and playback of full-quality digital video to an internal hard drive without a VCR or videotape. The TV pause function will allow you to freeze a live TV program and instantly replay or rewind a program as you watch, as well as skip ahead in a recorded program. The Philips Receiver with WebTV Personal TV service will also include the WebTV Plus Interactive service, which offers interactive television programming and Internet access. (800) 531-0039
www.philips.com
Suggested retail price:(Availability and pricing not available at press time)

The Reception-ist

The Terk TV42 VHF/UHF antenna attaches to any 18-inch satellite dish and delivers clear, powerful off-air reception of local broadcasts. The built-in 10dB amplifier promises improved picture quality, and is ideal for multiple TV installations. (800) 942-8375
www.terk.com
Suggested retail price: $80

Cool in the Kitchen

Since many important decisions regarding shopping and finances are made in the kitchen, CMi has developed a tool to further enhance those decisions with convenience and ease: the The iCEBOX CounterTop Kitchen Infopliance. The device looks like a small white TV. It receives TV programs like a normal TV and is cable-ready, but also provides Internet access and a video-CD drive. Both the remote and the keyboard are waterproof, as they should be for kitchen use. CMi plans to sell this kitchen unit (and a higher-end FlipScreen model that mounts under a cabinet and will contain a DVD player in place of the video-CD drive ) as part of various packages. These will include a series of kitchen-centric video-CDs (such as cooking and health tips) and access to CMi’s kitchen-centric Web portal (still under development at press time). (800) 897-8554
www.cmiworldwide.com
Suggested retail price: Approx. $499 CounterTop, $2,200 FlipScreen;
Portal Service fee $19.95/month,
$9.95/month with current ISP
CMi’s video CDs will sell for from $19.95 to $29.95 each

Takin’ it to the MAX

The MAXi.c.Live Video Communication Station is an Internet appliance about the size of a DVD player that operates using a connection to a broadband Internet source and a display device, like a television or a computer monitor. The MAXi.c.Live VCS comes with a camera, a microphone, a remote control and an on-screen menu for selecting services. The device transmits full-motion, two-way synchronized video and audio over the Internet enabling video conferencing, video streaming, video Internet browsing, video mail and DVD output. (214) 891-0773
www.maxic.com
Suggested retail price: $1,495

The Magnificent Seven

The PC-DEC System 7 from IDM Corporation is a PC-based digital entertainment console. It combines a multimedia computer, Internet browser, video phone, video gaming device, Fm tuner, TV tuner, DVD, CD player and digital surround sound home-theater system into one interactive control center. The PC module runs all standard Windows-based software programs. The PC-DEC System 7 connects to the TV and can be controlled by a wireless keyboard or remote control. (888) 272-348
www.idmcorporation.com
Suggested retail price: $2,495

Control Freak

Peracom Network’s Avcast Multi-Room Media Kit is a system that uses existing cable-TV wiring to unite audio and video components through an integrated home entertainment network. Avcast allows you to view and control VCRs, DVD players, DSS systems, premium cable boxes, video game systems and even camcorders from any room in your house. (919) 379-2705
www.peracom.com
Suggested retail price: $299

Set Phazers to Zap

ZapMedia.com’s new ZapStation set top box offers a variety of electronic media and connectivity features. With the ability to connect to the Internet via 56k modem or broadband connections, ZapStation supports streaming video, e-mail, Web browsing, Flash animations and more. It has the ability to hold up to 7,000 MP3 music files and can record MP3s or video directly to the ZapStation hard drive from it’s internal CD/DVD or external video connectors. The set top box offers an MP3 Jukebox with database support and the ability to download music to portable MP3 players via parallel and USB connectors. (404) 875-8550
www.zapmedia.com
Suggested retail price: $299 (monthly service price to be determined)

You’re Watching PCTV

The USB version of Studio PCTV lets you watch TV and create your own videos on your PC. Because this new external version of PCTV uses a USB interface, you don’t have to open the PC case and install cards. Studio PCTV USB integrates a 125-channel TV tuner, an FM radio tuner, PCTV Vision viewing and recording software and the Snapshot feature. Snapshot gives you the ability to capture stills from a TV show or video source with the click of a button. PCTV USB includes Pinnacle Systems video editing software enabling you to add music, titles, special effects and more to your home videos. (650) 237-1800
www.pinnaclesys.com
Suggested retail price: $99