Dave Zatz, Author at Zatz Not Funny!

Is It Lights Out For Vizio?

A year after announcing intentions to bring their high tech, low cost approach to home lighting, Vizio has yet to deliver on their LED promises: The company’s eco-friendly line of High Efficiency LED bulbs are recyclable, do not contain mercury and boasts a glass-free design to prohibit shattering. With the longest lifespan of any source, including incandescent … Read more

If At First You Don't Succeed, Google TV Again

The latest generation of Google TV hardware is poised to launch, featuring devices from the likes of Vizio and Sony. And it appears Sony’s second generation “Internet Player with Google TV” (NSZ-GS7) is up first — hitting store shelves next month and available for pre-oder now ($199). Unfortunately, it looks to be more of the … Read more

Amazon Lockers Arrive In Washington DC Suburbs

While the benefit of Amazon’s Locker service remains unclear, 7-Elevens in the Northern Virginia suburbs outside of Washington, DC have started receiving walls of the package delivery/storage units. And, as you can see from the photograph I snapped, they’ve received something of a facelift since their Seattle launch (and compared to the spartan grey edifice … Read more

Belkin Launching @TV Placeshifter Next Month

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Looking for a Slingbox alternative? Belkin could have you covered when they launch @TV next month. Like Slingbox, Belkin’s upcoming $150 hardware relays audio and video from your DVR or other set-top to computer or mobile around the house or anywhere the world. Computer and iPad or Android tablet viewing software will be free, but the smartphone client will run you $13.

While it’s not clear if this hardware actually streams in HD, it’s entirely apparent who’s producing the box for Belkin… as I turned up this very same Vulkano product via FCC filings last fall. Further, a quick Google search of “Belkin” and “Vulkano” points us to Android Marketplace and iTunes App Store clients (that have been active for months). Monsoon, the maker of Hava and Vulkano, has been down this OEM path before with Pinnacle and Linksys — and here’s to hoping they have better luck with Belkin’s brand awareness and retail shelf space. Assuming consumers are still interested in roll-your-own placeshifting given all the mobile media alternatives.

Underwhelmed By Apple's New iPad Smart Case

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Amongst Apple’s WWDC announcements and product releases, a smaller ticket tablet accessory was introduced. The iPad Smart Case ($49) builds on Apple’s Smart Cover ($39) by kindly adding protection to the rear of your iPad 2 or New iPad 3. And, at first blush, it looks pretty sharp. Which just goes to show, one shouldn’t judge an iPad case by it’s cover.

The Smart Case is sleeker than Apple’s first attempt at an official iPad case, but it retains that model’s pointy side seams – making it somewhat uncomfortable to hold as a book or magazine. Conversely, when folding the cover into a triangle as a stand, the iPad angle is too steep for comfortable usage and better suited for passive viewing. Further, and more importantly, the iPad is unstable in this upright position. While the iPad certainly is secure within the case, it can slide around a bit and reveal gaps between tablet and the polyurethane which makes it all seem a bit unrefined and cheapy.

TiVo Advertisers Gain PayPal Payments

TiVo’s previously provided their advertisers and partners the ability to sell products to us DVR subscribers, but come this fall instead of mailing an invoice, linking an Amazon account, or sending the Dominos guy, they’ll now be able to complete transactions via PayPal: TiVo Inc. and PayPal announced they have teamed up to provide TiVo users … Read more

Download iOS 6 Now

iOS 6, the next iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system, was announced at their Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). Early notable new iPhone and iPad features include Passbook, native Facebook integration, turn-by-turn navigation, store enhancements, and the Blackberry-esque Do Not Disturb. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like new forms of glanceable info, via widgets or new badges, have made it in. Further, folders appear to retain the same limitations of iOS 5. But it is early. In fact, only developers have access to iOS 6 until its Fall release. Or do they?

TiVo Premiere Elite On Sale For $350

The four tuner, 2TB TiVo Premiere Elite is on sale today for a low $350. To sweeten the deal TiVo is offering free shipping and a free 6 months of Hulu Plus (which we’ve been using to watch three seasons of Community). Of course, TiVo DVRs also require a service subscription that runs $13-$15/month or … Read more