doorbell

First off, congrats to Harold M. of Charlotte, N.C., for winning a pair of San Francisco-themed V-Moda Crossfade LP headphones in last week's Crave giveaway. And now... ding-dong! Who's that at the door? Why, it's this week's prize, a Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell. The wireless, customizable gadget turns any song you want into your doorbell chime.

The product has two main battery-powered components: a doorbell unit backed with double-sided tape for easy mounting in your doorway and a speaker unit for mounting with the included screws up to 330 feet away. The bell comes with 32 built-in tones, and you can add a removable SD card up to 32GB (not included) to store up to 10,000 tracks, transferable via the included USB cable. You'll also get editing software so you don't have to listen to every last note of "Ring My Bell."

Normally, a Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell would cost you $49.99, but you have the chance to score one for free. So how do you turn your doorbell into a personal DJ that caters to your every musical mood? Well, there are a few rules, so please listen up.… Read more

I'm looking at my hopelessly low-tech 1940s-era doorbell. Its most impressive feature is a light-up button outside. If only I could make it play "Friday" instead of "ding-dong."

For $50, I can upgrade to MP3 doorbell technology, thanks to Swann's MP3 DJ Doorbell. The wireless design makes installation easy. It consists of a speaker unit that you mount inside and a push button doorbell unit that you mount outside. … Read more

Pocket Doorbell (app store link) is a pretty dumb app. Or so it appears at first. Actually it's fun and kind of useful, and part of a major trend: The virtualization of the world.

I just invented that trend. Hang on and I'll explain it. First, more on Pocket Doorbell.

This little app is a button on your iPhone that you press when you arrive at a friend's house and want them to come open the door for you. Instead of pressing the doorbell, and disturbing the whole house or apartment, and instead of bothering to look … Read more

This week was FILLED with conceptual ideas that were sometimes pure genius, and sometimes pure WTH. Seriously, Pornisonic, we are talking to you! Natali Del Conte and Gknee join the party to make this extra-long episode 80 percent female, 20 percent male. Has this ever happened at CNET before?!

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The doorbell may be the next ring tone. Already we've seen a way to customize the otherwise boring chime with your own MP3s, and now there's more elaborate hardware coming out to match this ill-advised home accessory.

The "iChime " is a unit that can be programmed to play either a choice of about 50 pre-loaded songs and sounds or your own tunes, tranferred from an iPod or computer. (Just a wild guess, but you'll probably want the latter.)

Gizmodiva says all it takes is "an easy two-wire replacement," though we're skeptical given … Read more

This ringtone business has gone too far. It's one thing for everyone to have a "signature" tune for the cell phone, and we can even live with customized land lines. But doorbells? Enough already.

What used to be a DIY thing has now gone mass market with the "USB Doorbell," a device that lets you play any MP3 file instead of the usual chime for up to 30 seconds, according to Everything USB--which, depending on your taste in music, could easily seem like an eternity to an unsuspecting visitor. For just $100, you too can … Read more

In the Digital Age, the postman never needs to ring twice. That's because of inventions like the "GSM Doorbell" from Dutch start-up Waleli, which will automatically call your mobile phone if you're not immediately available to greet visitors--and you can unlock the door remotely just by punching in a designated number.

As Gearlog points out, it's really more of a smart system that includes an intercom, electronic lock and SIM card for your handset. Waleli says the system, which works with any phone on an international GSM network, has already been on the market in … Read more