Archive for the 'Gadgets' Category

Few things are more annoying than dealing with a weak or spotty cell signal. Firstly, it makes you drop calls in the middle of a conversation, which is obviously a pain. Secondly, it makes you miss calls completely with some calls going straight to voicemail even when you’re right by the phone, which can cause you to miss important calls. And lastly, it sucks up your battery life as your phone searches in vain for a decent signal at all times.

What’s one to do when they live or work in an area with mediocre cell coverage? Well, it’s time to take matters into your own hands. This Wi-Ex YX300-PCSCEL zBoost zP zPersonal for Personal Cell Zone will boost your cell signal in a six foot radius, making your desk a place where you can actually make and receive calls without dealing with the hassle of a weak signal. You’ll enjoy calls that don’t drop, calls that come right through to you, and a battery life that’s noticeably longer than before. And since it’s small, you can take it with you when you travel to make sure you always have decent coverage. Problem solved.

In case you missed it the first time it aired back in early January, the “What’s Age Got to Do with It?” episode of Dr. Phil will be reairing on June 25th. The episode featured tips on how to look younger, feel better and get healthy. And what better way to do all that than with the help of the latest gadgets?

Featured on the show were the 4GB Silver iPod Nano, a Belkin Neoprene Armband for 3G iPod Nano and a Belkin iPod FM Tunebase II, all provided courtesy of J&R.

So just how will these products help you get in shape? Well, you’ll have to tune into Dr. Phil to see!

Check your local listings for the time and station.

Ever wish that someone would design a truly waterproof iPod case? Well, wishes come true. Atlantic Inc. has designed the EGO iceBar2, a rugged waterproof case with speakers, designed for the iPod Nano.

When we say rugged, we really mean it. The iceBar2 is actually bulletproof! This tough little case is made of a clear polycarbonate material with reinforced corners and a shock-absorbing compartment for your Nano (second or third generation). A silicon O-ring is positioned along the seam to make sure water does not come in. Full-range neodymium speakers are built into the case. The headphone port is waterproof, but you need to supply your own waterproof headphones. A click-wheel membrane allows you access even in the water. Transparent plastic construction allows you to easily see the screen and controls.

The iceBar2 is waterproof, shockproof, and even bulletproof. So, if you’re looking for a really tough iPod case, look no further.

While some people think that a gigantic flat panel TV is the be-all end-all of home theatre supplies, real connoisseurs know that isn’t the case. The ultimate screen for your ultimate home theatre isn’t a TV at all; it’s a projector. Projectors allow you to create an image far larger than any TV, and good ones provide brighter, sharper picture than LCDs or Plasmas.

One of the better projectors out there is the Panasonic PT-AE2000U High-Definition LCD Home Theater Projector, capable of putting a full HD 1080p image up on your wall at sizes of up to 180 inches diagonal. Sure, you’ll need a high quality screen for it, and to get the best quality it need to be in a room that you can make completely dark, but if you’re looking to really bring a movie theatre experience to your home rather than just a gigantic normal TV, you really can’t beat the projector setup.

Nothing ruins a nice European vacation faster than accidentally insulting your waiter’s daughter when you’re trying to just order the duck. How were you supposed to know that word meant something so horrifying in local slang? You, with your standard issue American monolingualism, don’t speak the native language. What’re you supposed to do?

Well, you could travel equipped with the tools to keep you from putting your foot in your mouth. Carry around a Franklin TG-450 European Language Translator and you’ll always know what to say. It’ll translate English into 12 different languages for you, and vice versa. This’ll allow you to handle your transactions with ease in the native tongue rather than your previous pointing and gesturing method, which is seriously awkward.

High speed broadband connections to the internet are pretty much everywhere these days, as most people have them running into their homes or apartments. But they’re not portable. If you step out of range of the wireless router you have hooked up to the cable running into your wall, what do you have? Nothing, that’s what. We’re still tethered to those cables, despite the feeling of freedom WiFi might give you. That’s not so if you connect to a wireless EV-DO network rather than to a cable modem. These so-called 3G networks are offered by carriers such as Verizon and Sprint as an alternative or addition to traditional broadband, offering quick speeds wherever you go.

So how do you get on board? Well, you’ll need a way to pull down those signals. Something like this D-Link DIR-450 802.11G Mobile Router for EV-DO Wireless Networks will do the trick. Once you have an account with a provider, this will connect to the wireless network and let you get online on your computer. Stick it in your laptop bag and you’ll be able to get the internet anywhere, be it an airport, a hotel, or the back of a cab. It’s the truly universal wireless, finally freeing you from the tethers of wired broadband. Doesn’t it feel great?

Picture yourself on your refrigerator. No really, on your refrigerator. The new Audiovox Audio Homebase Message Center can be mounted on your fridge or anywhere that your family congregates.

A central location is necessary because of the many common uses of the Homebase– digital picture frame, digital voice recorder, calendar & clock, and memo pad. The border is magnetic, so you can put up notes, coupons, business cards, etc. And you can leave a personal note, either spoken into the built-in microphone or written on the erasable whiteboard or jotted on a Post-It note. There’s an LED message indicator, too. And don’t forget the picture part. The 7-inch color LCD screen has 512MB flash memory, which will store over 125 high-res photos. Rotate snapshots and portraits of your fabulous family, your car, your house, your pet, or whatever.

The Audiovox Audio Homebase Message Center does lots more than just display your pets. But if you want to display your pets, go ahead, just don’t expect them to leave a response. The Homebase is expected to be in stock in June.

Running out of juice when you’re out and about is terrible, be it for your cell phone, portable media player, or any other gadget you rely on to get through the day. Sure, you could carry around a tangle of cables and plugs to give yourself an emergency recharge when necessary, but sometimes you’re not near an outlet and even that isn’t an option. What’s a freewheeling gadget addict to do?

Just carry around one of these Ecosol Powerstick USB Powered Universal Portable Chargers and you’ll be all set. All you need to do is plug your gadget into it and it’ll charge it right back up. It’s got an LCD gauge on the front that lets you know how much juice it still has on board, and it’s small enough to keep in your purse or bag without adding any discernable weight. Never again will you be stranded with dead gadgets. You’re welcome.

Here’s a thoughtful gift for that person you know who is not quite computer literate. Presto Printing Mailbox delivers email, photos, and printed documents to those who don’t have a computer or Internet connection. The technology is not intimidating, which is perhaps its greatest feature.

Rachelle Friedman, co-CEO of J&R, said it best: “Presto is a breakthrough product that connects J&R’s ‘tech-savvy’ customers with their ‘tech-shy’ family members, bringing them into the electronic family loop.”
How many people do you know that stay in touch with digital photos, email, cell phones, text and instant messaging? Well, many people don’t, including my 90-year-old mother.

The Presto Mail service converts email and attached photos or PDF documents from any computer or email-capable mobile phone into documents that are automatically printed by the Presto Printing Mailbox. Presto connects through an existing phone line. It does not require a computer or Internet connection. Presto subscribers receive their own personalized email address and unlimited email from authorized senders.

So consider the Presto. And keep technophobes in the loop.

You’ve all heard of social networking, right? Well, JR.com has too. There are a couple of networking sites that we’re using that we’d like you to know about, too.

Register and visit our Facebook group. Let us know what you think. And check out Want It!, a Facebook application that is really very cool. Want It! is an app that allows you and your friends to add any of the products we sell on JR.com to a wishlist you can all share with each other. If you have a Facebook account, follow this link and click on the Add Application button. That’s all there is to it.

Twitter is another site that people everywhere are joining to stay in touch. We suggest you explore Twitter. On our page, you’ll find some special offers that are recommended by our buyers. These are added daily.