Latest in Home Theater, Cool Homes and Home Electronics

Q. I need a receiver to handle my 8 Boston Acoustic VRi565 speakers (4 pairs, each pair on a separate volume controller). Should I go 5.1, 7.1 or 8.1? Keep in mind I’m looking for an inexpensive solution. - Blake A. From your description it sounds like you have these speakers in a number of different rooms. If that’s the… View this story

Have an energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) that needs recycling? Home improvement retail giant The Home Depot has launched a free in-store CFL recycling program at all of its U.S. locations.  CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, a hazardous substance, so they should not be disposed of in your trash. However, CFLs are many times more efficient than traditional… View this story

Here we were… touting the fun and function of Sony’s 2.40 firmware update for the PS3, only to have the rug ripped out from under us. Sony has announced that the download is gone—for now. Apparently, “a limited number of calls” have come in from customers complaining that the update was wreaking havoc on their gaming systems. Apparently those “few”… View this story

Anakin Skywalker is in the dune race of his life. His pod is dipping and twisting and when he’s bumped by a Tusken Raider, so am I. The announcer shouts, “Skywalker is spinning out of control,” and I whirl right along with him in front of a 13-foot screen. A shot ricochets off the pod’s windshield, and the headrest of… View this story

I remember the first time I experienced stereo sound while watching a movie at home. My parents had just purchased a stereo from Sears. I wasn’t older than 13 but I distinctly remember hooking up our Hi-Fi VCR to the new stereo and marveling at the sound of the jets moving from one side of the room to the other… View this story

Need a switch for your home or office setup? D-Link wants to double your networking pleasure with a buy-one-get-one-free promotion. The company just announced the BOGO promotion, which includes models from its award-winning xStack series. The promotion will save you anywhere from $700 to $4,000, so now is the time to stock up for your home and/or office. Those interested… View this story

PlayStation 3 gamers should be giddy today. Sony has released its latest firmware update—2.40. Available on the PlayStation Network, Gizmodo says that the new update adds the Trophy system, in-game XMB support, and a Google Search Bar to your daily PS3 use. XMB (also known as XrossMediaBar) allows gamers to change settings and send messages to friends, without having to… View this story

If you don’t want to get locked into a 2-year contract with that new iPhone, it’s going to cost you—about the same as another two iPhones. Apple recently announced a better, cheaper iPhone, coming on July 11 for $199 (8GB) to $299 (16GB). However, users will need to lock into two years to get that deal. Reuters says that the… View this story

You may have heard that you can save energy by plugging your electronics into a surge suppressor and switching the surge strip off when you’re not using your gear. This stops vampire or standby power from being consumed by your electronics when they’re not “on.” There are now smart surge suppressors that shut the power completely off to your electronics,… View this story

Shopping for a new in-dash car stereo and want some sweet sounding music? Satellite radio is an option, but if “free” sounds better, you should consider HD Radio. HD Radio allows any AM or FM station to broadcast their programming (and for FM, up to 2 alternate channels), in a pristine digital format. AM HD sounds as good as regular… View this story

Need to free up some living room space? Still relying on those built-in TV speakers for your TV and movie audio? Maybe you’re not headed for full 5.1 or 7.1 surround, but there’s a reason soundbars are a pretty hot category these days—a noticeable jump in audio quality, convenience and aesthetic appeal. Count the new YSP-3050 Digital Sound Projector from… View this story

I hear it all the time: “I have a basement or garage filled with old electronics, and I don’t know what to do with them.” Bring them to an electronic recycler, or course. So how do you find one near you? There are some web sites that provide e-cycling listings, such as the CEA’s mygreenelectronics.com. Now the Telecommunications Industry Association… View this story