John Podesta, co-chair of the Obama-Biden transition team, requested that "the cut-off date for analog signals should be reconsidered and extended". The letter was sent this Thursday to the chairs and ranking Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and Senate Commerce Committee.

Probably realizing that the Roman Emperors were right with their "bread and entertainment" policies, Podesta also argues that Americans can't wake up 28 days after the inauguration "to find their analog TV's no longer able to receive an over-the-air signal".

Indeed. I can see exactly what he means here. Not only it is true that the analog to digital TV program is broken, but I can already imagine people getting up in arms, thinking that the world is over after "the muslim" got into the White House: "Whar's mah TV? This ain't wawkin'! ah knowed thet guy warn't enny fine! Fry mah hide! Kids, t'th' shelter! Git mah rifle!"

So yes, this is a wise move that would benefit everyone until the issues with the program—funding and public education on the analog-to-digital transition—are solved. [Broadcasting Cable]

After seeing white bread wrist rests I’ve learned not to question the motivation behind the creation of some things, so as to prevent bits of my brain from trickling down my nose. Sanity and rationale are rarely welcome here.

As you can see it’s encased in clear plastic so you can see its innards. If I ever encounter this hand in a dark place I’m going to drop dead out of sheer shock. Even if it’s playing Happy Birthday on a toy piano. Especially if it’s playing Happy Birthday on a toy piano.

You can buy it at Stupid.com for $13 USD. I wish it could also play this.

via [Random Good Stuff]

Yes, that's right: Sony's high-end XBR9 TVs—at 52, 46, 40 and 32 inches—ditch the Bravia Internet Module ridiculousness and have it built-in. While it's no LG Netflix TV, you can stream Amazon Video on Demand and YouTube out of the box. The other notable notableness is that they blaze past 120Hz to 240Hz—also behind LG, who's claiming 480, booya. The Z-series is similar, but without the XBR9's wide color gamut cold cathode fluorescent backlight that makes it gives the XBR9's colors that extra pop.

On the low-end front, the V-series TVs coming it at 40, 46 and 52 inches, are getting Sony's 120Hz Motionflow and Bravia Engine 2. The S-series crams 1080p into increasingly smaller sets: 52, 46, 40 and 32 inches. And the L series is for your kitchen or bathroom—I don't really see what high end trickle down they are the beneficiary of though.

SONY DEBUTS INTEGRATED NETWORKED TELEVISIONS
Latest BRAVIA Models Offer Interactive “Widgets” and Streaming Internet Video

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH #14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony is bringing built-in, interactive entertainment directly to your television.
The company today announced the first new networked BRAVIA® LCD HDTV models with Internet applications called “widgets” that deliver real-time information, as well as streaming video capability via integrated BRAVIA Internet Video Link capability.
Sony’s new XBR9 and Z-series models feature an Ethernet connection, allowing the sets to directly access Sony BRAVIA Internet Video content using an existing broadband connection. The service offers one of the largest selections of free and premium movies, TV shows, sports, music and more from an array of partners like Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube®, Yahoo!®, Slacker(sm), and others.
Bravia Internet Widgets, powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, expand and personalize the TV experience by adding on-screen applications that provide such real-time information as weather reports, stock ticker updates, financial news, Yahoo! Video, Flickr® images, and additional content.
“Internet-based content is driving the evolution of home entertainment,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division. “Our new networked BRAVIA models deliver streaming videos, access to digital files, and real-time information that transforms the television into a true multimedia hub.”
The XBR9 and Z-series models are also Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA®) compliant, enabling easy access to digital photos, music and video stores on a PC or other DLNA server using the XMB® interface and the TV’s remote control.
Sony’s full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive (1080p) 52-inch KDL-52XBR9, 46-inch KDL-46XBR9 and 40-inch KDL-40XBR9 televisions (screen size measured diagonally) feature a wide color gamut cold cathode fluorescent light (WCG-CCFL) backlight providing a broader color palette. This results in on-screen images with more vibrant, “life-like” colors.
The XBR9 models also include Sony’s new Motionflow™ 240Hz technology, which delivers exceptionally crisp and detailed images with natural motion. The Motionflow algorithm goes beyond traditional 120Hz technology by quadrupling the frame rate of conventional LCD TVs and interpolating three new frames..
The models also offer a USB input for displaying digital photos or playing digital video and audio files from a USB storage device.
These models also feature:

• The BRAVIA Engine™ 3
• 24p True Cinema™
• XrossMediaBar™ (XMB)with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
• Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen

• BRAVIA Sync™
• BRAVIA Link Compatible
• 4 HDMI inputs
• Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs

Also new to the XBR line is the 32-inch KDL-32XBR9 (31.5 inch diagonal). The full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive model features Motionflow 120Hz technology for improved sharpness and detail in fast-moving images. This model also offers a USB input so you can play audio files from a USB storage device or connect a compatible digital camera to display photos.
Other features include:

• The BRAVIA Engine™ 2
• BRAVIA Sync
• BRAVIA Link Compatible
• 24p True Cinema

• 4 HDMI inputs
• Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs
• Favorites menu

Sony’s new Z-series models include the 52-inch KDL-52Z5100, 46-inch KDL-46Z5100, and 40-inch KDL-40Z5100 (screen size measured diagonally). The models feature full HD 1920 x 1080 progressive resolution and Motionflow 240Hz technology.
Other features include:

• The BRAVIA Engine™ 3
• 24p True Cinema
• XrossMediaBar (XMB) with enhanced 3D favorites Menu
• Internet powered TV Guide Onscreen

• BRAVIA Sync
• BRAVIA Link Compatible
• 4 HDMI inputs
• Single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs

The XBR9 and Z-series models exceed Energy Star® 3.0 requirements with the assistance of Sony’s LightSensor™ technology and dynamic backlight control that helps save energy and reduce the user’s overall carbon footprint.

The BRAVIA Link modules are currently available online at www.sonystyle.com and at retail outlets including Sony Style® stores and other authorized dealers across the country.
The new XBR9 and Z-series television models will be available this spring online and at and at similar retail outlets, in addition to military base exchanges. More information about all of the new models is available at www.sonystyle.com/TV09.

SONY BRINGS ADVANCED FEATURES TO CORE 2009 TV LINEUP

LAS VEGAS (CES BOOTH 14200), Jan. 7, 2009 – Sony announced its core BRAVIA® LCD television models with numerous advanced features here today at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show.
Ranging in screen sizes from 52 to 26 inches diagonally, the nine new models from the V-, S-, and L-series offer high-definition performance at reasonable prices.
“We’ve migrated features like full HD 1080p and Motionflow™ 120Hz technology down to our entry level models, while also keeping in mind that people are seeking versatile, smaller screen sizes for second rooms outside of the living room,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of Sony Electronics’ Home Products Division.
Sony’s new V-series models include the full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution progressive display (1080p) 52-inch KDL-52V5100, 46-inch KDL-46V5100 and 40-inch KDL-40V5100. The sets feature Sony’s BRAVIA Engine™ 2 and Motionflow™ 120Hz technology for improved sharpness and detail in fast-moving images. Additionally, they offer the BRAVIA Engine 2, four HDMI inputs (seven total HD inputs), BRAVIA Sync™ for simplified control of compatible devices, and a USB input for viewing digital images or listening to digital music stored on a compatible USB mass storage device.
The V-series also includes Sony’s LightSensor® technology and dynamic backlight control to help save energy and reduce the TV’s overall carbon footprint.
The S-series includes the 52-inch KDL-52S5100, 46-inch KDL-46S5100, 40-inch KDL-40S5100 models, and the 32-inch class (31.5 inch diagonal) KDL-32S5100 unit. These models also feature 1920 x 1080 progressive video resolution along with the BRAVIA Engine 2, resulting in outstanding full HD picture quality.
The S-series all offer three HDMI inputs, as well as single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs. They also employ Sony’s LightSensor® technology and dynamic backlight control.
The versatile BRAVIA L-series models include the 32-inch class (31.5 inch diagonal) KDL-32L5000 and 26-inch KDL-26L5000. These models offer 1366 x 768 resolution and are good options for the bedroom, kitchen or office. Connectivity on the sets include three HDMI inputs, along with single PC, component, composite and S-video inputs.
The V-, S-, and L-series models exceed Energy Star® 3.0 requirements and are compatible with Sony’s BRAVIA Link modules, including the BRAVIA Wireless Link, BRAVIA Input Link, and BRAVIA DVD Link.
The BRAVIA Link modules are currently available online at www.sonystyle.com and at various retail outlets, including Sony Style® stores and other authorized dealers across the country. The new V-series, S-series, and L-series televisions will be available this spring online and at all the same outlets, in addition to military base exchanges. You can find more information on the models at www.sonystyle.com/TV09.

by Daniel Dumas

Get ready for an onslaught of the cheap. With the economy more unstable than Plaxico Burress' mental state, electronics manufacturers are putting the e-brakes on their budgets, flattening their costs, and rolling out their cheapest, most practical gadgets. You know, the ones that people like you and me can afford.

You'll get a glimpse of this "fashionably cheap" approach to gadgets at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The show, which runs from January 6 to January 11, is the electronics industry's biggest North American conference. This year's tradeshow will no doubt feature some excessively large HDTVs, as it has in the past. It will still attract more than 100,000 attendees, mostly members of the electronics industry, plus a few thousand journalists, though CES attendance will be down a bit compared to last year. And it will still have its celebrity appearances (including Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Akon), paid for by companies hungry for publicity.

But behind the glitz, companies will be showing their bread and butter for 2009: A lot of inexpensive, no frills devices designed to perform expertly without sucking up the last remaining drops of your severance package.

Cell Phones

Convention show speculation will invariably focus on what form the next the iPhone will take. Be like Public Enemy; don't believe the hype. There are other cooler, better, and yes, more capable handsets out there.

Shredding a path through the tangled cellular jungle is, surprise, Palm. The company everyone thought had flatlined is taking the defibrillator to itself with the potentially awesome Nova operating system. The Linux based OS -- which will launch at an undisclosed date in 2009 -- is being pimped as "a next-generation operating system with much more capabilities, driven around the Internet and Web-based applications," by Palm CEO Ed Colligan. We know it's all marketing hype, but Palm's seemingly endless financial woes might be just enough to spark a minor revolution in cell software. With the company's declining market share, it's a sure bet that Nova-based Palm phones will be cheap buys in 2009. And fans of the OG Palm OS need not fret, both of you can still pick up a Centro for just $99 well into the New Year.

Notebooks and Desktop PCs

Netbooks netbooks netbooks! Yes, these wee wonders have broken into the mainstream and are now considered legit devices. Look for refreshes on existing netbook lines from Dell, HP, Asus, and MSI. We expect one from Sony too: We're predicting Sony will show a fully-featured netbook, with its trademark Vaio styling, in the $500 to $700 range.

Also expect to see a lot of all-in-one desktops that are less about design and more about functionality. We've seen iMac clones like the beautifully rendered Dell XPS One and the Gateway One before. Those days are over. In their stead will be ugly, obtuse, yet practical all-in-one boxes that trade a slim profile and processing power for a sub-thousand-dollar sticker.

Televisions and Displays

The schoolyard contest of who can build the biggest TV won't exactly stop mid-shove. Sharp, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony will roll out some retina-searing, 100-inch-plus LCDs, but behind the big screens there will be more of an emphasis on screens that can deliver bang for the buck. Third-tier manufacturers like Vizio, Westinghouse, and Sceptre will be offering screens that have just as much resolution, color, and calibration options as their second- and first-tier brethren. They'll just cost thousands less.

Miniature pocket projectors will be huge. Instead of dropping ten thousand ducats on a 1080p home cinema caliber projector, corporate VPs will be pocketing portables like the Toshiba Pico to project their PowerPoint presentations on the go. We've already seen a chorus line of projectors like the Pico emerge in recent months. The G-Lab crystal ball predicts more of these handhelds at cheaper prices.

Cameras and Camcorders

A few titanic, feature-heavy SLRs (Exhibit A: Canon 5D Mark II) will sail through CES but so will a fleet of thrifty shooters that anchor cheap thrills by way of thoughtful touches. Look for small shooters that incorporate printers, Wi-Fi, and web browsers.

Also gaining a deep foothold will be mini video cams like the Flip Mino and the Kodak Zi6. Designed to upload footage to the web (alright, basically just to YouTube), these devices record in hi-def and often cost less than two hundred bucks. Until now they've been the pet projects of borderline boutique manufacturers like Pure Digital. But now mainstream camera companies will be rolling out their own versions of pocket video cameras, putting still more price and feature pressure on this category. And you know what that means: Cheaper, better products for you and me.

Wired.com is sending a 9-person team to cover CES with news reports, photos and video. Follow all the latest news at wired.com/ces.

Photo of CES 2008 by mobil'homme/Flickr

Baking

• Sante Cabin Kitchen Muffin Topper Pan
• Monkey Bread Baker

Bowls

• Joseph Joseph Nesting Bowls

Coffee Makers

• Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home-Brewing System
• Bodum Chambord 8-Cup French Press with Pavina Thermal Glasses

Food Processors

• KitchenAid 9-Cup Food Processor with 4-Cup Mini Bowl

Kitchen Gadgets

• Palm Zesters by Chef'n
• Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator
• Chef'N FridgeFork Condiment Fork
• 'Slider' Mini-Burger Tools
• Progressive International Tower Slicer - Hands Safe Slicing

Serving Wares

• Air Fork One - Fly Some Food Into Your Mouth

Small Appliances

• Under-Cabinet Wine Cooler
• IQ Innovations Fine T 4-Cup Gourmet Tea Machine
• Margaritaville Tahiti Frozen Concoction Maker
• Waring Popcorn Maker
• Cuisinart SmartStick Hand Blender - Perfect For Holiday Gift Giving

Storage

• Magic Cover Lids - Transparent Cover Goodness

Trash Cans & Compost

• Three Section Recycle Bin

This delicious Bento box was created by flickr contributor AnnaTheRed, and features completely edible versions of  Big Daddy and his faithful (and creepy) companion, Little Sister.

If you happen to read Japanese, Anna has provided a detailed diagram which gives you a virtual “paint-by-numbers” to create your own. Best I can tell, Big Daddy is comprised primarily of seaweed, sticky rice, bread, sesame seeds, and eggs. Lil Sis appears to be more of a ham (and cheese).

Unfortunately, there’s no ADAM or EVE in the recipe, so you won’t get any special genetic powers (other than the special “food coma” plasmid) from chowing down on this happy meal.

Bioshock isn’t Anna’s only video game inspired Bento lunch creation. You can check out her whimsical edible tributes to Super Smash Brothers Brawl, Portal, Katamari Damacy and Shadow of the Colossus, among others on Anna’s Flickr photostream.

An economic crisis changes the way you think about gadgets. Is a $400 game console bundle really what you want to be spending your hard-earned money on, considering that you could be out of a job in six months?

Maybe not — though we're sympathetic to the idea that the recently unemployed might need to blow off steam with a few rounds of Wii Boxing. If you're spending your gadget dollars cautiously, you'll pick gadgets that:

• don't cost a huge amount,
• have lasting utility,
• aren't likely to break or wear out quickly, and
• will continue to be useful even when the infrastructure around them is crumbling.

With that in mind, here's our list of gadgets that will be handy in case the economic recession becomes a full-blown depression and turns iPhone lines into bread lines.

The guidelines we used in assembling this list: These are tools that will be useful in the event of a major economic slump that puts a lot of people out of work and affects basic services — like road maintenance or the reliability of the electric power grid — without plunging the country into total civil chaos. If it's the latter you're planning for, check out our gallery of crazy survival gear for some inspiration, or read up on some more-practical survival skills and survival kits.

Also, we've limited ourselves to gadgets that have a substantially legal use (skipping, for instance, the Slim Jim for breaking into cars). We also haven't recommended guns, since frankly we don't know much about them, and there are plenty of other blogs where you can read about firearms.

Having never actually lived through a major economic depression, this list is our best guess at what will work. Got better ideas? Let us know in the comments.

Multi-Tool ($50)
If times get tough, you're going to have to get used to fixing things on your own. A full set of tools is your best bet if you've got to do heavy construction or car maintenance, but for basic fix-it tasks, an ordinary multi-tool is a seriously handy gadget. It also comes in handy for opening cans and bottles, cutting things, prying open packages and a variety of other tasks. While Leatherman pioneered this type of tool, Victorinox makes multi-tools that are sturdier and longer-lasting; the Victorinox SwissTool is available for about $55 on Amazon.

Self-Powered Radio ($35)
If something happens to the electrical grid, you might have to go without power for several days. If things really get bad, you might see power rationing, where electric power is only available for certain hours of the day. A solar- and crank-powered radio is the best way to stay informed about what's going on in that kind of situation. And if nothing's going on, you'll at least be able to tune in some radio shows to keep you entertained while you sit in the dark. Our pick: the $35 Freeplay Companion, which doubles as a flashlight and a cellphone charger and can be charged up by hand crank, solar power or standard USB cable.

OLPC XO ($400)
It's lightweight, durable, runs for nearly a full day on a single charge, and can be recharged with a solar panel — the XO is the perfect laptop for the developing world, and might be an excellent choice in a developed world that's fallen on hard times, too. Whether you're sending out resumes from the public library's free Wi-Fi network or setting up an ad hoc electronic bulletin board in a refugee camp, the XO has you covered. Currently the only way to get one is through One Laptop per Child's "Give One, Get One" program.

GSM-Based Cellphone (prices vary)
Cellphones are not built for the ages. My first iPhone went on the fritz after just one year, and I've had just one phone that remained continuously operational for more than two years (a Nokia 3595). When your phone dies, the easiest and cheapest way to replace it -- without signing up for another 2-year contract -- is to buy a second-hand phone, then pop in the SIM card from your busted handset. That kind of identity transplant is only possible with GSM phones; phones for use on Verizon or Sprint/Nextel's CDMA networks require a trip to the store before you can start using them. Oh, and that Nokia 3595? You can get one for less than $10 on eBay.

HDTV Antenna ($20-$50)
Cut the cable service: plenty of high-definition TV is available for free, over the air. Any TV antenna will do, but one optimized for pulling in HDTV signals should help you get the appropriate frequencies better. Don't have an HDTV? Buy a digital TV converter box before February 2009, when TV signals go all-digital, and don't forget to take advantage of the U.S. government's DTV coupon subsidy, which will cover up to $40 of the cost for you for up to two converter boxes. Thanks, Uncle Sam!

Voltaic Backpack ($250)
If you're on the road, off the grid or just trying to power up your PSP when the power's off, the Voltaic Backpack's embedded solar panels are your friend. They'll generate up to 4 watts of power in direct sunlight, and the pack includes almost a dozen adapters to accommodate a variety of electronic devices.

USB Thumb Drive ($10 and up)
A tiny USB thumb drive is probably the most practical infotech gadget you can own. It can help you download your contacts on the afternoon you get laid off, store your resume in between internet cafes, or even hold an entire mini-operating system so you can have your own desktop and applications on any borrowed computer you can lay your hands on. A larger external hard drive will store more data, but spinning-disk media is more vulnerable to damage from shock and vibration than flash memory is, so it's not the best choice if your future includes traveling with a bindlestiff on your shoulder and a boxcar for your bed.

Pocket Camcorder ($180)
A video camera might not be any longer-lasting than the typical cellphone, but at least you'll have something left when the camera goes kaput: Namely, all the videos you shot with it. And once the hard times are past, you'll be looking with ever-rosier glasses back on these times, so it'll be good to have some videos to remind you of how things really looked. Our pick: The Kodak Zi6, which is a bit clunkier and bigger than the more popular Flip Mino, but takes better video and costs less.

Multi-Fuel Camp Stove ($150)
If the gas and electricity get shut off, you'll still need some way to cook the rice and beans you've hoarded, right? The best bet is a camp stove that accepts a variety of fuels, from kerosene to white gas. That way you'll be cooking no matter what kind of flammable liquid you can lay your hands on. A good pick is the MSR XGK EX ($150), which can even burn unleaded gasoline.

Water Filter Bottle ($12-$35)
Finding clean water to drink can become a major problem in the event of a natural disaster — or a breakdown of the public water-processing system. A simple water filter can get rid of most of the nasty microbes — but not toxic chemicals that may be dissolved in the water. Bottles with built-in filters, like the Katadyn Micro Bottle, are the most convenient option.

Bicycle (prices vary)
There's no better way than a bicycle for getting around without much money. Add a trailer or an Xtracycle conversion, and your bike can even transport furniture. Get a bike that's sturdy, with fat tires (better for pothole-strewn roadways) and learn how to do basic maintenance on it. Although fancy bikes can cost $3,000 or more, you'll do just fine with a $400 model from your local bike shop — or a used, $25 bike from your local thrift store.

Portable Musical Instrument (prices vary)
After your entertainment budget dries up and blows away, you're going to be spending a lot more time at home. Don't blow your savings by downloading tunes for $1 apiece on iTunes: Learn to make your own music. It's cheap entertainment, and it'll work even if the lights go off and stay off. 

Thanks to Priya and Mat for helping compile this list.

Bread line photo, circa 1930-1934: Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division,       FSA-OWI Collection, reproduction #LC-USZ62-91536 DLC. Ukulele photo: midnightcomm/Flickr.

Creative marketing company AKQA set up 49 microwaves to play Jingle Bells, one note per microwave. They sound a bit silly at the start, but… just watch it. Then hug your microwave.

For some reason the video reminded me of The Brave Little Toaster. It’s like being next to a new loaf of bread.

[via Mark's Technology News]

The Armadillo Breadbox, a real, purchasable product ($90), will store your bread in a segmented, brushed aluminum shell. Then, when you are hungry for some carbs, just fold back the sneeze/bullet shield and eat the delicate product of flour, yeast and baking that's sustained Man for centuries.

If food isn't your thing, we also think this breadbox could be an excellent means to store a small baby. You might need some air holes. [Wheredidyoubuythat via cribcandy]

Alltel Wireless customers going over the river and through the woods can now also go wireless. Outdoor enthusiasts can now take full advantage of advanced GPS features directly on their GPS-capable phones with the Trimble Outdoors application from Alltel Wireless.

The Trimble Outdoors application turns a wide range of Alltel GPS-enabled handsets into a versatile, off-road navigation and journaling tool for hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, hunting and many other outdoor activities.

The application, available for a daily rate of $1.99, allows customers to review and plan trips online. It also enhances user safety and navigation by sending trekking routes, maps and waypoints wirelessly to the phone for use as a guide during trips. Customers can track their current and previous routes with a GPS “bread crumb trail,” mark and edit waypoints during their journey, and utilize a built-in digital compass to display coordinates, speed and heading.