Stuff Geeks Want

We already get a lot of streaming video on handheld devices, but in the U.S. at least we now have FLO. It’s real-time audio and video now streamed to a dedicated FLO device.

The MediaFLO system transmits data on a frequency separate from the frequencies used by current cellular networks. In the U.S., the MediaFLO system uses frequency spectrum 716-722 MHz, which was previously allocated to UHF TV channel 55.

What do you get for your $9 a month subscription fee? 10 basic channels including ESPN, Comedy Central, NBC 2Go, MTV, CBS Mobile, Fox News Channel, CNBC and more. On Verizon and AT&Ts cellular network you’ll get an additional four channels.

The device has a 3.5-inch touchscreen with a built-in stand and stereo speakers.

Buy for $250 from Amazon

Samsung’s 46″ LN46A850 LCD TV is our current pick for a mid-range TV for a few reasons:

• 120Hz refresh rate
• 50,000: 1 contrast ratio
• 3 HDMI inputs
• 1.9″ thickness (Samsung’s slimmest TV with a built-in tuner)
• touch-of-color styling

But most of all, we like it because Fry’s is selling it for more than $1,000 off retail this week as part of its anniversary promotion, making it the best value for your money by a mile.

Buy for $1,398 with free shipping from Frys.com or Buy for $1,788 from Amazon if you hate saving money (or Fry’s)

The “limited edition” marketing behind this monster TV amuses me, as I picture old Japanese men in 40 years paying millions of dollars for a chance to relive the “limited edition” experience of TV in 2008.

Right.

To be fair, this TV no doubt is a limited edition (like everything out there, really—nothing is made forever) because so few people can afford it.

I’d never even heard of it until American Express decided to toss 5 of them up My WishList today for the bargain price of $5,000.

There’s no word on what this thing actually retails for, but it has all the best numbers you’d want in a TV, like 1080p HD, 10-bit advanced Super View/Black panel, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 120Hz picture, and 7 HDMI ports.

It’s also bananas thin (as in, “it’s as thick as a banana” or “it’s so thin, it’s bananas”) and has an LED backlight, which is unheard of for a TV this size.

So try for one in 20 minutes with your AMEX card (as if anyone reads these posts as soon as they’re written), or try to get take one home on your next travel to Tokyo.

Just don’t try to find anything else about it, as it seems information on it is also “limited edition”, save for this small post Engadget made.

Let me save you some time: I already know Logitech’s Harmony 880 Universal Remote is one of the best out there because I spent copious amounts of time last year shopping around for a universal remote, and finally settled on this one as having the best features for the price.

Last year, this remote sold for $200 ($250 retail). This year, Circuit City is dishing them for just $99 for a limited time. Update 12/1 Amazon has it for just $79.99 at the moment!

At that price, I’m not even going to see what the competition looks like in the single-Benjamin category because I have better things to do, like finding other great deals out there for us to spend our money on.

Having said all that, if you’re looking for remote controls that don’t have fancy LCD screens and other features, check out The Register’s recent group test of some remotes. They range from cheap $25 models to $500 ones.

Sanyo recently announced a new full-HD home projector that’s undoubtedly the one we’d pick up if we were in the market for one. Here’s what makes the PLV-Z700 so great:

• 1080p support
• displays up to 100-inch screen at either 3m or 6.1m away
• electronic lens-protecting shutter
• virtually silent (21dB) operation
• wide-area lens shifting (up to +/- 100% vertical, +/- 50% horizontal)
• Inputs: HDMI(x2), Component(x2), S-Video, Composite, RGB
• 1,200 ANSI lumens

In other words, it’s got everything you’d really want and nothing that you don’t. That includes its price tag, which might seem steep at $1,995 from B&H but is actually very reasonable full-HD projector.

Looking for a sweet 23″/24″ display that can pump out an HD-happy 1920×1200 resolution? You could spring for Apple’s classy 23-inch Cinema HD Display for $899… or you could grab Dell’s budget 24-inch E248WFP for a scant $389 (after instant savings).

What does spending 65 percent less cost you? Not much, apparently, apart from Apple’s stylish aluminum digs:

A minority of owners of Dell’s display have complained of poor out-of-the-box color, an area Apple is particularly strong in, but with some adjustments pleasing results can be achieved.

And the extra $500 in your wallet is also pretty pleasing, if you ask me.

Want something a little higher-end from Dell? The 24-inch 2408WFP supports 6 video inputs (S-Video, component, composite, HDMI, DVI-D, VGA), has a better panel, height-adjustable stand, built-in 9-in-2 card reader, and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

And at $619 (after instant savings), it’s still got the Apple display nicely beat on price.