Once you lock in the HOTSEAT Flight Sim, which offers the full flying experience in a chair, and put the throttle to full, you really feel like you're flying around the world.

A Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound system, with 5 speakers positioned strategically throughout the seat and subwoofer below your duffer, rumbles like a jet engine sending vibrations up and down your spine. (And with two rudder pedals for your feet, I was left with the impression that this flying simulator is like a flock of ducks swimming: It looks graceful, but there's a whole lot of kicking and maneuvering under the water.)

The steering was a bit too sensitive -- at least that's what I'll blame my rough crash landing on -- but other than that it was a ton of fun. Plus, it folds up so you can hide under your bed in a dorm room.

I'd fly it again, but I don't think I'll cough up 900 bucks anytime soon just to have one at home.

From Michael Pakula, our 17-year-old Digital Life reporter.

People might say that the true meaning of holidays like Christmas has been lost, but that doesn't worry the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). This year it's expecting consumer electronics to account for a quarter of all holiday gifts. So MP3 players and plasma TVs are right up there with Elmo and Barbie as things that will soon have bows on top. 

Results from the CES's recent 13th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns study indicate that gifts that fall into the consumer electronics category could reach as high as $21 billion this holiday season, up from $17 billion in 2005. The study also suggests that holiday spending (and probably post-holiday debt) may be up by as much as 14 percent this year. The survey tracked what will be on everyone's must-have list, and there is plenty to keep the Grinch away!

Lucky gift receivers will open a lot of digital devices, games and gadgets. TVs in all shapes and sizes will be under the tree. From LCD to DLP, all to see the marvels of HD. With camcorders, camera phones and Webcams to capture the glee. There will much playing on MP3, DVD,  PS3, Xbox 360 and just a bit of Wii.

As long as a fruitcake is nowhere in sight!

Post by Peter Suciu

 

We had a great time at the Digital Life tradeshow in New York City this weekend, although it was hard work setting up, tearing down, and being at the ready for product demonstrations and more. But we were very excited to meet readers and non-readers (future readers, we hope) of PC Magazine and Gearlog. It's always a great thing to get feedback from gaming and electronics enthusiasts who really know their stuff.

On Saturday night we had our first official meet-up, and more than 200 people showed up. Granted, most were there to meet rock stars Patrick Norton and Robert Heron of DL.TV, and to chat up PC Magazine Editor-in-Chief Jim Louderback (who was pouring beer right alongside the bartender). But there were a few diehard Gearlog fans who made their way to our gathering. And on Sunday, we met several more Gearlog readers and radio listeners, and we've got the PICTURES TO PROVE IT!

Also in attendance at Digital Life (though inexplicably not at our meetup) was rapper Saigon (pictured at left). Lacey Chabert (Party of Five, Mean Girls) was there to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog's 15th birthday--unfortunately we didn't get a picture of Lacey. Dustin Diamond, or Screech to most, was supposed to be at Ageia's booth on Sunday but he "missed his plane." Based on his recent extracurricular activities, it's anyone's guess what made him late to the airport.

I don't have any kids (it's too early folks!), but watching my cousins grow up has made me realize how much smarter kids are these days. Why wouldn't they be, with all of the technology around them! Still, when it comes to video games, TV shows, computers, and the like, they can spend all day on them without realizing it. That's why Hopscotch developed BOB--a device that enables parents to limit the time their kids can spend on an appliance.

BOB works with any device that plugs into a power outlet. It contains a locking compartment that houses the plug of the appliance your son or daughter is watching/playing, and you can control the appliance with BOB's LCD screen, numeric keypad, and backlit keys. Then you plug BOB into an AC outlet, create users and assign PINs, and then setup the amount of time per day or per week that your child can use that appliance. Of course, this is any child's nightmare, but it's every parents' dream!

Our former Technology Editor Ben Gottesman reviewed BOB. He found it to be simple to set up and use, and that it effectively controls time spent on an appliance. However, he did discover several drawbacks to BOB, such as it's not networkable and it provides limited reporting.

BOB is available at Target and JR.com for $99.

For his extensive review, check out PCMag.com.

This little gizmo is one of the more impressive of those I saw at DigitalLife last week. It's a wireless presenter (2.4-GHz RF), with Gyration's patented in-air cursor control (also used in the Nintendo Wii's controller, I'm told). It's small enough to carry on a keychain and has a detachable USB receiver, so you can connect it up with any laptop. And the receiver has has 1GB of Flash memory onboard, so you can carry your presentation or any software you may need to use on the road, right on the device. A button called Swipes lets you use hand motions to activate dynamic software activities including PowerPoint™, multimedia, and special effects tools.

It's small, but the price befits all the technology built in. It's available now for $199 direct.

Remember taking ducks out with a hip shot and jumping through tubes like it was your job? Ainol does, and it's bringing those old-school console-game days back. Only this time, it's mobile.

The V1000 is an NES emulator, but it's also a one-stop shop for music and movies. The PMP will play AVI/MP4 videos on its 2.5-inch QVGA screen and play MP3 or WMA music files; it supports FLAC lossless, too. The V1000 is powered by the ADI Backfin processor, which  clocks in at 400 Mhz, and it comes with 512 MB or 1GB (for the high-end model) of storage.

The device will have a sleek, silver design, and a manageable five-button layout; it may appeal to consumers who are looking for simplicity and gaming in a nice-looking package. But with pricing or availability unknown at this point, the only thing we have is a concept. So don't put your NES away just yet.

Via The MP3 Players

Post by Don Reisinger

Our security series continues. This time, Series Producer of Cranky Geeks, Annaliza Savage, is enlightening us with her review of a safety device that protects the whereabouts of children.

Product: The Mommy I'm Here Child Locator ($29.95) is a great little gadget for parents with Tots on the Go! Anyone with a toddler knows they can disappear in nought minus 5 seconds. My 2 year old has scared me on numerous occasions, so when I heard about the Mommy I'm Here Locator I couldn't wait to try it.

How It Works: Attach the locator device (designed in the form of a cute little teddy bear) to your child. It has a clip on the back that you can stick on a belt loop or through a Velcro shoe strap. The parent carries the beeper on a keychain. If your kid goes out of sight, you simply push the button and follow the sound. The tone is loud, at 56db.

Apple has partnered with (PRODUCT) Red, a project of The Global Fund, to fight AIDS in Africa. When you purchase the striking iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition, $10 will go towards helping women and children fight AIDS in Africa. Not a bad way to spend your money. . .

The 4GB red nano retails for $199 and is available exclusively through Apple's Web site and store locations. 

Check out our review of the 8GB iPod nano.

Veloform, the maker of the Bicy-Taxis shown at Ecofest last September, has announced the release of a new fuel-cell-powered, three-wheeled bicycle called the City Cruiser II. The design is much the same as the Bicy-Taxis, but the City Cruiser II offers almost unlimited cruising range and an extremely positive environmental balance.

The City Cruiser II runs on a methanol EFOY fuel cell made by SFC, Smart Fuel Cell. The fuel cell will power the motor, lights, radiator, and communication equipment of the vehicle. Also, the fuel cell continuously recharges the battery, so the Cruiser does not have to be charged at a power outlet and can be used without interruption.

The City Cruiser II achieves stellar fuel consumption, using only 0.3-liter fuel equivalent per 100 kilometers (62.13 miles). The EFOY fuel cell runs silently, with very low, environmentally friendly emissions. The only by-products produced are water and carbon dioxide (comparable to an adult's breath, according to Veloform). With emissions so low, these vehicles could possibly be operated inside buildings such as airports or fair halls.

Via Fuel Cells Works.

At the DigitalLife show over the weekend, Parrot introduced its MK6000 hands-free car kit that not only lets you make calls, but also stream audio through your car stereo.

How It Works: Start your car, pair your Bluetooth A2DP-enabled phone/PDA/MP3 player to the MK6000, and voila! You can listen to all of your music through your car's sound system. The device's controls allow you to play, fast forward, and select tracks. And when a phone call is coming in, the music will automatically mute.

It also features "beamforming" technology for great voice quality while making calls and a new text-to-speech synthesizer function that reads the phone book listings to you. It stores up to 8,000 contacts (whoa, who knows THAT many people?!?!) and 150 voice tags.

The MK6000 will be available in Q1 2007 for $239.99.

Ever have those moments when you wake up and it takes you a couple of minutes to figure out where you are and what time of day it is? I tell ya, losing track of time can be scary. Even more so, hearing spooky sounds coming out of your clock can be even more frightening!

The Halloween Wall Clock with Spooky Sounds measures 8- by 8- by 2-inches and makes spooky sounds on every hour! There is a light sensor that deactivates the sounds when the room is dark (so that you don't wake up wondering if someone is in your home!). It requires 3 AA batteries and is on sale now for $9.99.

Another freaky wall clock is the Skull Clock. It features a winged skull design with gold roman numerals. I'm a bit weirded out by this clock though. What human skull would you know of that has fangs?!?! It sells for $9.99.

Did you know that it's quite rare for a full moon to occur on Halloween? There's only been a full moon in 1925, 1944, 1955, and 1974. The next time we'll see a full moon won't be until October 31, 2020! No wonder I haven't seen too many werewolves...

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Scarelog: Freak Out Your Friends and Coworkers, Remotely

Welcome to Scarelog: The Thirteen Days of Halloween