Doug Aamoth has worked for just about every consumer electronics store in the history of retail but have you ever worked in one of those stores around the holidays? It takes the fun out of gadgets! Also, after he graduated from college a long time ago his parents were like, "Now you should go get a real job. Like blogging, for instance. That's so hot right now. You'll make thousands of dollars."
Twitter: @daamoth
by Doug Aamoth on November 4, 2009

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can use your computer to watch TV now? These machines can do anything! To prove that point, Woot.com is selling the ATI TV Wonder USB Digital HDTV Tuner for just $20 plus $5 for shipping.

by Doug Aamoth on November 3, 2009

Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata said recently that his company would be testing out demo downloads of certain WiiWare titles this month. It’s unclear if this test program will only be for Wii owners in Japan or if those of us here in the U.S. would be able to participate as well.

by Doug Aamoth on November 3, 2009

Although previously targeted for launch on October 22nd with a price tag of $500, it looks like Archos’ 9-inch tablet is just now available for pre-order on the company’s web site and priced at $550.

by Doug Aamoth on November 3, 2009

Acer’s new 18.4-inch AS8940G-6865 is a desktop replacement. And by “desktop replacement” I mean that you could attach four legs to it and use it as your desk. It’s big, is what I’m trying to say. Don’t actually attach legs to it, but I guess take with you the impression that this is a large laptop. Also, it’s powerful, so keep that in mind as well.

by Doug Aamoth on November 3, 2009

Well what have we here? It seems that a “retail tipster” sent Kotaku the following inventory screen showing this potentially enticing deal: an Xbox 360 Arcade system for $199 “with $100 GC.” Let’s pretend for fun that “GC” means “gift card” shall we?

Kmart Black Friday ad
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by Doug Aamoth on November 3, 2009

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Kmart’s Black Friday circular has found its way to the series of interconnected tubes that we all know and love. Here’s a list of the electronics deals you can expect to find.

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by Doug Aamoth on November 3, 2009

VIA has introduced its updated line of Nano processors, built for netbooks and all-in-one computers. The 3000 series promises a 20% performance boost over existing Nano CPUs while managing to reduce overall power consumption by 20% as well.

Help Key: How to use Windows Remote Desktop Connection to connect to computers without user passwords
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by Doug Aamoth on November 2, 2009

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Gather round, everyone. Gather round. I’m going to show you a trick that 98% of you will never use. But for the 2% of you that actually use the information contained herein, I hope you’ll consider removing at least part of the CrunchGear staff from your “People to Punch” list.

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by Doug Aamoth on November 2, 2009

These $90 neckties are made from 50% cotton and 50% old audio tapes. There’s more, there’s more. If you have the time, interest, and/or wherewithal to take apart an old tape player, you can actually run the tape head back and forth over the tie to kinda, sorta reproduce the sounds originally found on the cassette.

by Doug Aamoth on November 2, 2009

This is still a rumor at this point, but Phone Arena is reporting that Verizon may soon be offering Sony’s 8-inch “not-a-netbook” VAIO P for $300 with a two-year data contract.

by Doug Aamoth on November 2, 2009

wiibabyShocked? Not me. The constant one-upsmanship inherent in the weirder-than-weird world of Wii accessories and software will never, ever, ever end. Take this new entrant, due out in Australia next month. It’s called Baby and Me and features, you guessed it, an actual doll with a snap-in port for a Wii controller.

by Doug Aamoth on November 2, 2009

The only thing that scares me more than cleaning is robots, so I’m gonna sit this one out. But if you’re not afraid of robots or refurbished technology products, then $130 for an iRobot Roomba 530, charging station, and virtual wall unit is a wheel of a deal.

by Doug Aamoth on November 2, 2009

u230It looks like MSI is getting set to launch a 12-inch Windows 7 netbook from its U200 series. You’ll recall that the company released the Vista-based U210 back in mid-September, and this new one, the U230, appears to be very similar with the exception of the newer operating system and a bumped ATI Radeon GPU.

Sunday CrunchWord Puzzle!
by Doug Aamoth on November 1, 2009

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It’s back! Here’s the latest CrunchGear-themed crossword puzzle. You can find the answers to the clues spread throughout this week’s posts. Enjoy!

CrunchWord Puzzle for Sunday, November 1st

The Back Burner: Things we didn’t post this week
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by Doug Aamoth on October 31, 2009

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A big thank you to everybody for filling our tips-at-crunchgear-dot-com inbox with wonderful, unique, and newsworthy items. Here are a few that we missed.

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by Doug Aamoth on October 30, 2009

There are a few areas of concern to point out about this $24 “USB Paw Heating Slipper” from Brando. For starters, you’re sticking both your feet into one giant slipper. What happens if you get an e-mail saying that there’s free bagels in the break room? In your haste to save $2, you could very easily trip and fall down.

by Doug Aamoth on October 30, 2009

Here’s a little heads up on Target’s upcoming Sunday circular: if you buy any two Wii games at $50 or more, each, you’ll get a third game free from “a choice of over 80 Wii titles.” The deal will start this Sunday, November 1st, and run until next Saturday.

by Doug Aamoth on October 30, 2009

If you’re dedicated to smoking or camping (or smoking while camping), then there’s a good chance you’ve purchased a nice refillable metal lighter in the past. But the past is the past and sooner or later you’ll need to step into the future (which, coincidentally, will almost immediately become the past). Whatever happens, please take with you the knowledge that there exists a refillable metal lighter that doubles as an 8GB flash drive.

by Doug Aamoth on October 30, 2009

Friday, huh? Just got paid, did you? Why not divert $250 of that check toward this 11.6-inch netbook?

Come on, you’re making good money now right? When’s the last time you bought something nice for yourself? Think of this as an investment! With the portability that this netbook provides, you’ll finally be able to start up that emu farm that you’ve always been talking about.

by Doug Aamoth on October 29, 2009

In the cutthroat (?) world of wall outlet covers that feature built-in gadget holders, this $6 option might just be a contender.

by Doug Aamoth on October 29, 2009

Previously available to law enforcement officials and government agents, you can now get in on the fun as well with the $200 Invisible Bluetooth Earpiece from BrickHouse Security.

Video: Kohjinsha dual-display netbook
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by Doug Aamoth on October 29, 2009

I actually like this idea. Kohjinsha recently showed off its dual-display 10-inch netbook, which runs Windows 7 atop an AMD Athlon NeoMV-40 CPU at 1.6GHz. The machine can be used as a netbook with a standard 10-inch display (it’s a swivel, screen) or a second 10-inch display can be slid out from behind the first to be used together for double the desktop real estate.

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by Doug Aamoth on October 29, 2009

If you long for the ability to watch high definition TV on a seven-inch screen that’s resolution is a mere 480×234 but you also want to have the option to watch standard definition DVD’s as well, then here’s your next purchase.

According to Hammacher Schlemmer, this is “The First Portable HDTV And DVD Player.”

by Doug Aamoth on October 29, 2009

Bad news, you guys. If you were thinking of dropping $120 on TomTom’s iPhone car kit and then another $100 on TomTom’s navigation app for use with your first-generation iPhone or second-generation iPod touch, it now looks like you’d to run into some compatibility issues.

AppleInsider is reporting “that although the Car Kit dock is compatible with all iPhone models, the TomTom application will only work with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G – even with the dock connected to a first-generation iPhone or iPod touch.”

by Doug Aamoth on October 28, 2009

The future, ladies and gentlemen. ThinkGeek has invented a tee shirt with a built-in playable guitar that uses a magnetic pick and included miniature amp to belt out any and all major cords. There’s a drum shirt, too, in case you’re more into rhythm.

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