sonic

Crave giveaway: Sonic-connect 2 portable media alert

If you're the sort who likes (or needs) to be connected to the goings-on at your desk all day, this week's prize will help ensure you never miss a message from your important contacts.

The Sonic-connect 2, a portable USB device from Sonic Alert, functions like caller ID for your computer, alerting you to select Skype, e-mail, instant messaging, and MS Outlook calendar and task notifications via any combination of customizable alert options, such as flashing lights, rings, or vibrations.

Chances are your mobile devices already keep you plenty connected to e-mails, IMs, tweets, Facebook messages, Instagram photos, and interstellar transmissions from exoplanets. Using Sonic Alert software, this device lets you cut through all the random pings and pongs, and rank contacts so you can be alerted to only those from certain VIPs, like your boss. The gadget is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. … Read more

Crave Ep. 116: Bubba Watson's BW1 hovercraft golf cart

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Oakley and golf champ Bubba Watson have teamed to build the world's first hovercraft golf cart. A physicist invents a way to write e-mail using a guitar, and a "Star Trek" phaser rifle from the original series sells for a staggering sum. … Read more

Trigger a beer bubbles explosion at the push of a button

When I pour a beer, I'm always aiming to minimize the mound of foam on top. Apparently, there are people who covet that foam, who can't get enough. Those are the same people who can't wait to buy the $40 Sonic Hour, a new gadget that ramps up the foam factor at the push of a button.

Sonic Hour appears to be the work of the same people who created the Professional Beer Foam Making Mug. They've just gone a little more high-tech this time. While the mug used a little hammer to physically excite the beer bubbles, Sonic Hour uses the power of ultrasonic oscillation.… Read more

T-Mobile announces Sonic 2.0 4G LTE mobile hot spot

In addition to unveiling its contract-free data plan, T-Mobile announced a number of devices that will be available on its 4G LTE network, including the Sonic 2.0 mobile hotspot.

Available now for $149.99, the Sonic 2.0 is the carrier's first LTE hot spot and it can connect up to eight devices.

The device is manufactured by ZTE and features a 1.77-inch color screen (which displays information such as signal strength, battery level, and number of connected devices), a microSD card slot that is expandable up to 32GB, and it works with both Windows 8 and … Read more

Convert audio to multiple formats with iSonics for Mac

A number of programs exist to allow users to convert files between the different audio formats available. For those users who want the capability to change files between most audio formats, iSonics for Mac is a good option that performs well.

This program comes as a trial version. While there are no listed restrictions, the developer indicates a payment of $8 is needed for the full version. iSonics for Mac does have technical support and it installs quickly and easily. The interface is thoughtfully designed and should not be difficult to interpret for average users of audio files. Conversion options … Read more

Crave Ep. 109: The greatest drinking game ever

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This week on Crave, William Shatner has some choice words for J.J. Abrams, and we toss one back in the greatest drinking game ever invented. Cheers! Plus, we dodge a bullet the size of a football field as an asteroid nearly collides with Earth. Phew. … Read more

Sonic Wallets scream, moo, hurl insults when opened

Wallets usually aren't the most exciting accessories. They hold your money and cards in place and pretty much stay quietly out of sight. If you have a Sonic Wallet, however, your wallet will be making a racket every time you open it.

Sonic Wallets come in eight flavors: American flag, baseball, Buddha, drum machine, Jesus, moolah, The Scream, and Shakespearean insults. A small sound device in the Tyvek wallet is triggered on opening. The American flag wallet plays "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "The Star Spangled Banner." The Jesus wallet gives you the sounds of harps and angelic choruses.… Read more

The 404 1,194: Where we have NEStalgia (podcast)

The flu has finally struck down our very own Justin Yu, but luckily the much more attractive Bridget Carey is available to fill his tiny men's size 6 shoes. Bridget and Jeff get uber-nerdy today, discussing all things Nintendo nostalgia including what games they used to rent repeatedly and the current state of gaming as it exists in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Finally, we'll noodle over the fact that older brains can't remember a lot of new stuff because they're too "full." All this and more on today's show!… Read more

Viewsonic introduces series of Windows 8 touch displays

LAS VEGAS--ViewSonic announced its new series of Windows 8-certified touch displays. The TD40 series consists of the 23-inch TD2340, the 27-inch TD2740, and the 32-inch TD3240 monitors. The IPS panel displays have a 1,920x1,080 HD resolution and were announced at CES 2013, along with ViewSonic's 24-inch VSD240 smart display.

The TD40 series monitors are designed to maximize and enhance the use of Windows 8 on the touch displays. In addition to the professional grade IPS panels and full HD resolution, the monitors use 10-point projected capacitive touch technology that is designed to make the touch-screen interaction … Read more

ViewSonic introduces 24-inch Smart Display tablet

LAS VEGAS--ViewSonic introduced a new member of its budding Smart Display product family at CES 2013. The VSD240, which will be available in April for $499, has a 24-inch 1,920x1,080-pixel-resolution HD LED screen, ships with Android 4.1, and runs on a 1.7GHz Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

The 24-inch Smart Display joins the 22-inch VSD220 in ViewSonic's Smart Display family. These boundary-blurring products have the standard functionality of Android tablets, but with a larger display. The VSD240 includes HDMI and USB ports, SD card storage, and a 1.3-megapixel camera.

The VSD240's features make … Read more