AppleTV is a must have for those households with an iPhone, iPod Touch or an iPad. It enables seamless audio/video streaming to your HDTV from your iDevices.

AppleTV (2nd Gen) Price Drops to $89.99 with Free Shipping (Amazon) - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/11/16 (RSS)

47″ model costs $679 and the 55″ model costs $999 with free shipping.

LG 42LV4400 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED-LCD HDTV $550 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/11/13 (RSS)

Are you sick of the wait for the Apple iPad 2  tablet or just looking for an Android tablet?

I just came across this Android tablet sporting Froyo 2.2 in Amazon.com.

Enspert Identity Tab E201U Android 2.2 Froyo Tablet 7" Multi Touch Capacitive Screen. Certified Google Marketplace for $349.00.

Identity Tab E201U Features

• Android 2.2 Froyo – Adobe Flash 10.1 support
• Samsung C110, ARM Cortex-A8 1GHZ "Hummingbird CPU), PowerVR SGX 450
• 512MB RAM and 8GB built-in Nand Flash
• 7" Multi-Touch Capacitive LCD
• 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR
• 3MP Camera
• G Sensor, Digital Compass, Light Sensor, Digital Magnetic Sensor, DLNA

Accessories
- Earphones, Pouch, USB Cable, Quick Start Guide, S/W manual, ConvergenceOne PC Program, AC/DC Adapter

If you have been looking for an Android Tablet, this looks like it’s worth a look.

Looking For iPad 2 Alternative? Check out Enspert Identity Tab - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

I posted on a Canon Rebel T1i deal recently very similar to this one from Amazon and we bought our first DSLR from that!

Canon Rebel XSi is one of the top best selling DSLRs around. Usually the Canon Rebel XSi with the 18-55mm kit zoom lens and a $300 Canon 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens cost you around $820+.

Amazon has this rare promotion where you instantly get $200 off of this whole purchase. Instantly. No mail in rebates.

This could be your first entry-level DSLR purchase too. Read on!

For full details on this deal, go to this Canon Rebel XSi DSLR deals page in Camerani.com.

This is an incredible deal for an awesome entry-level DSLR kit along with a 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens for $620.00.

We bought the Canon Rebel T1i in a similar deal and couldn’t be happier with our purchase. For more information, check out this Canon EOS 500d buying guide.

Best Canon Rebel XSi DSLR with EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens & 55-250mm IS Lens Deal $620 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

My 17” Dell Vostro notebook at work is a nice and powerful machine for the tasks I run on it. It has one problem though. It gets hot where I place my left palm beside the trackpad.

I had been using a cheap notebook cooler from meritline but it broke within a few months and the fans started rattling.

So, it was time to invest in a better laptop cooler. After a bit of research, I found one that was pretty decent in price and had great reviews from people who used it.

Cooler Master NotePal U2 Notebook Cooler

This laptop cooler is unique from the rest in many ways.

First off, it is made of a single composite element with a curve to angle the laptop. Just this design would give nice airflow to alleviate heat problems. It has nice rubber edges to give the stand a good grip on smooth surfaces.

You get 2 fans with the U2 model and there is a U3 model with 3 fans if you want more fan power. Again a another unique feature with this stand is that the fans are detachable. When I say you can remove it, it doesn’t take a mechanical engineering to do it. You just press on a plastic part and pull. To attach it back, you just press again and place it anywhere in the cooler.

The fans are USB powered and the USB adapted actually has a USB portt for you to use. So, if you are short on USB ports on your laptop, you won’t lose anymore by adding the cooler.

This can be incredibly useful as different notebooks have heat problems in different areas. This design lets you place the fan you most need it.

The stand is designed in such a way that you can insert your laptop to the bottom side and store it in your laptop bag. (fans removed of course).

I am extremely satisfied with this cooler after using it for a few weeks now. I can rest my palm without it starting to get misty with sweat.

Now, a few cons with the laptop so you make an informed decision buying it. The laptop angle on the stand is a bit too high compared to others. It took me a few days to get adjusted to seeing the laptop like a desktop monitor.

Cooler Master NotePal U2 Notebook Cooler is available on Amazon for ~$19 for the 2-fan model and around $35 for the 3-fan model.

Cooler Master NotePal U2 Notebook Cooler Review - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

Originally posted 2010-01-02 17:38:29.

That’s exactly the question my friend asked me last night.

Apple just released a new round of iMacs recently refreshing their successful all-in-one desktop computer line.

I have been considering purchasing an iMac for my wife some time soon and have been researching a little on the options.

When my friend asked me which Apple iMac should I buy, I realized I had the same questions and figured I’d share what we ended up finding here. May be it will help you if you had the same question.

Apple iMac Options

iMacs are now available in 21.5-inch and 27-inch.

21.5 inch 3.06GHz iMac Version 1 $1199.00

• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4 GB memory
• 500 GB Hard drive
• 8x double layer SuperDrive
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

21.5 inch 3.06GHz iMac Version 2 $1499.00

• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4 GB memory
• 1TB Hard drive
• 8x double layer SuperDrive
• ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 256MB

27 inch 3.06GHz iMac Version 1 $1699.00

• 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2560 x 1440 resolution
• 4 GB memory
• 1TB Har drive
• 8x double layer SuperDrive
• ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 256MB

Apple 27-Inch 2.66 GHz Quad-core iMac Version 2 $1999.00

• 2.66 GHz Intel Core i5
• 2560 x 1440 resolution
• 4 GB memory
• 1TB Hard drive
• 8x double layer SuperDrive
• ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB

As you can see the most important decision you would want to make is the desired size. I think the 27” looks nice and could be used as a secondary monitor for viewing video but sitting less than a foot away it might be a little too big for regular work. If there is such a thing as ‘too big’.

So, now that we have narrowed it down to the 21.5” iMac it still was a tossup between the iMac with NVIDIA card that costs $1199 and iMac with the ATI Radeon 4670 card that costs $1499.

So, its a $300 difference for the ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics card with 256MB dedicated memory and 500MB more hard disk space. Is it worth it?

Luckily, I came across an article on MacWorld which had benchmarks for all the new iMac lineups. They in fact have compared with the earlier versions of iMacs that came out in early 2009.

The 27-inch i5 processor hasn’t come out yet so it is missing in the comparison.

In most instances, the 21.5-inch with NVIDIA card is comparable to the ATI card but where the ATI 4670 smokes the Nvidia card is in the Call of Duty 4 frame rate test. The ATI card is almost 3 times faster.

So, if you are planning to play video games a lot the extra cost could be justified. Also, video editing could see a great performance boost with the dedicated memory. And if you could use the bigger screen size for another $200, you could get the 27” iMac with the same specs as the high-end 21.5” iMac.

My friend ended up buying the iMac with the ATI card in it and I found that Amazon’s iMac pricing were the best compared to Apple’s or Best Buy’s because of the tax savings (no tax for most US states) from shopping at Amazon.

If you are considering buying an iMac, which one of these seem the best to your for their price and why? Share it with us in the comments.

Which Apple iMac Should I Buy? - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

It’s Tax season!

Amazon has H&R Block At Home 2009  Tax Preparation Software (formerly TaxCut) in Deluxe and Premium versions as CD or Download for $19.99 & $18.99 respectively.

Here are the links to the software CD version and the download version

• H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile CD $19.99
• H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Federal + State + eFile [Download] $18.99
• H&R Block At Home 2009 Premium Federal + State + eFile CD $39.99
• H&R Block At Home 2009 Premium Federal + State + eFile [Download] $37.99

Looking for an alternative? Check out the Best-sellers in Tax preparation software.

Update: 4/4/2010

If you still haven’t filed your taxes yet or looking for another tax software solution, check out Tax Central 2009.

H&R Block At Home 2009 Deluxe Tax Software $20 (Updated) - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

Amazon is offering a Nintendo DSi trade-in and gives you Amazon gift cards in exchange and may be get the iPod Touch 4G you have been wanting to buy?

You can also trade-in your old DSi & other console games for Amazon gift cards.

For example, here are a few trade in values

• Nintendo DSi XL – Burgundy/Bronze – $100
• Nintendo DSi XL – Matte Black – $75
• Nintendo DSi Pink – $75
• Nintendo DS Lite – Metallic Rose – $50

You can use these credits towards the pre-order the Nintendo 3DS console.

And here are some video games trade-in prices

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II PS3 – $18.50
• The Sims 3 – XBox 360 – $30.75
• Sesame Street: Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure – Wii – $15.50

If you have a Nintendo DS or DSi lying around, this is a great opportunity to upgrade your console or purchase anything else you have been wanting from Amazon.

Trade-in Your Old Consoles and Get a $100 Amazon Credit - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

Roku’s HD version of their streaming device dubbed XR has gained 1080p video streaming. With the most recent firmware update 2.9, Roku XR has gained full HD streaming capability.

This update also has bug fixes including Hulu optimization for all devices. Here is the full list

- Enabled 1080P support for XR units.
- Hulu application optimizations for quicker trick play navigation and start of playback.
- Hulu application optimization for improved playback performance on networks with higher latencies.
- Fixed a bug that could result in a crash if an app tried to load an image that was too large (greater than 1280×720).
- Fixed playback of poorly interleaved video streams which resulted in rebuffers around the 25 minute mark in Roku Newscaster programs.
- Fixed a remaining case of playback at the incorrect aspect ratio.
- Changed option menu action name from “change order” to “change position” for re-arranging channels.
- Fixed a bug in channel re-ordering related to presence of screen savers.
- Modified channel store “go to channel” behavior to launch the selected channel instead of only focusing the icon on the Home screen.
- Added screensaver preview and set options to the channel store springboard.
- Fixed a subtle audio playback issue in UFC streaming.

How to Update Roku Firmware?

Here is how to update your Roku firmware.

• Go to Settings in home page
• Go to Player info
• Check for updates

That’s it.

You can check out the current Roku prices on Amazon here – Roku SD Player – Roku HD Player – Roku HD-XR Player.

Roku XR Gains 1080p Streaming in Firmware Update - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

Originally posted 2009-12-19 12:09:25.

Are you doing your last minute Christmas shopping? Read on and see how you can get a free 2-day shipping for this amazing Superzoom camera.

I am a big Canon fan and own a Canon Rebel T1i and a Canon Powershot SX10 IS. I have written several posts on camera deals here.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 holds its own ground when it comes to features and picture quality and is now available in an excellent deal at Amazon!

You can get Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10.1MP with 12x Wide Angle Mega Optical Image Stabilized Zoom for $241.25. Plus you get a free 2-day shipping. Perfect for those looking for a last minute Christmas gift.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Features

• 10.1 MP Camera with 3-inch LCD screen
• 12x Optical Image stabilized zoom
• 25-mm ultra wide angle lens
• Capture HD videos in AVCHD Lite format
• Intelligent Auto mode with face recognition features
• Works with SD/SDHC cards
• Weighs 7.2 ounces

Panasonic ZS3 falls in the super zoom or mega zoom category of digital cameras that offer an exceptional range within a small camera body. Such cameras are excellent ‘bridge camera’s before you move on to a DSLR category.

If you prefer the Canon family, I highly recommend checking out the Canon Powershot SX20IS boasts 12.1 MP and a 20x wide angle zoom.

And for the Nkon fans, Nikon CoolPix P90 offers a 12.1MP and a 24x Wide angle zoom lens.

All 3 of these Superzoom digital cameras boasts exceptional zoom range but as you can see the Panasonic is the smaller zoom of the 3 but the price difference is huge. Whichever camera you might choose, you will really blown away by the extra zoom range in these cameras.

Also, remember Amazon doesn’t charge sales tax so you will be saving quite a few bucks more. Oh and don’t forget to pick up a SD memory card for the camera. Here is a cheap one – Transcend 8 GB SDHC card.

Oh and don’t forget to check out this amazing Canon Rebel XS DSLR deal.

[Source: Panasonic DMC-ZS3 deals]

Best Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Mega Zoom Camera Deal - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/08/02 (RSS)

One of the first things to do with your new Magicjack voip number is to setup your voicemail.

Here is how you can setup your Magicjack voicemail

1. You can call your Magicjack number or press the VMAIL button on the Magicjack software.
2. When you hear the automated voice, press the * key.
3. If this is the first time you are here, just enter the default password 1234 or enter your password.
4. Now, Press 0 for mailbox options. You now have 3 options.
   1. Change your unavailable message
   2. Change your busy message
   3. Record your name
   4. Record a temporary greeting
   5. Change your password – change it now if you have the default 1234
5. Once you finish recording, press the pound/hash (#) key
6. You can now listen to your recording and then accept or re-record your greeting.
7. Now, just hang up or press * to go back to the main menu.

That’s it. That’s how you set up your Magicjack voicemail. One thing that irks me about this service is that there is no magic jack customer service phone number. You can only do a live chat with them.

Some more topics I am planning on writing about Magicjack are

• Magicjack faxing
• Magicjack sip settings
• Magicjack android

Do you have your own tips and tricks regarding Magicjack? Give me a shout out on twitter @KIntheHouse or on ShanKrila facebook page.

How to Setup Your Magicjack Voicemail? - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/06/10 (RSS)

I had brought the Iomega Prestige 1 TB hard drive in a great deal couple of months back. Storage prices are dropping so fast.

I just saw that Amazon has dropped the price of Iomega Prestige 1.5 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive to $119.99 with free standard shipping.

The Iomega Prestige external USB hard drives are stylish and durable. Seriously, they are built like a tank in a sturdy yet stylish aluminum construction and includes a stand.

You get 3 years warranty with product registration. Plus, it comes with a license for EMC’’s Retrospect Express software. You also get a Mozy Home Online Backup with 2GB of free online data storage.

It works on Windows 2000 Professional, XP Home/XP Professional, Windows Vista, 256MB RAM or higher, Mac OS X 10.3-1.05, 128M RAM or higher.

Amazon has a 4 star rating and you can check out the user review here for the Iomega Prestige 1.5TB USB Hard Drive.

It’s a pretty good deal for a 1.5TB drive, isn’t it?

Iomega Prestige 1.5 TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive $120 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/05/27 (RSS)

• Vivitar VIV-VPT-1250 Professional Series 50-Inch Tripod and Carrying Bag – $8.20 with free shipping
• Lodge Logic L10SK3 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet – $17 with free shipping
• Radio Flyer Retro Rocket NEW VERSION – $41.48 with free shipping.
• James Bond 007: GoldenEye for Wii – $19.99 with free shipping.
• Circulon Contempo Hard Anodized Nonstick 8-Inch and 10-Inch Skillets Twin Pack – $26.99 with free shipping
• Guide Gear 10 foot Cantilever Umbrella, KHAKI – $99.97 with free shipping.
• Stanley TR150 SharpShooter Heavy Duty Staple Gun – $18.90 with free shipping.
• Kershaw Ken Onion Black Blur Folding Knife with Speed Safe – $31.88 with free shipping.
• PlayStation 3 Move Sharp Shooter – $39.99 with free shipping
• Minnesota Fats Vegas 7.5-Foot Billiard Table with Precision SL8™ Play Surface – $569 with free shipping.

Tech Deals of the Day 05-20-11 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/05/20 (RSS)

Fantastic price for a compact digital camera with 12MP CMOS sensor, full 1080p HD video, GPS tracker, 14x Optical zoom with OIS and a 28mm lens.

It has a 4.5 star rating.

Canon Powershot SX230HS Digital Camera $279 Shipped - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/05/16 (RSS)

Plus, Mother’s Day is next weekend so you could score some brownie points if you order a gift on time.

Here we go

Too many remote controls? Logitech Harmony 700 Rechargeable Remote with Color Screen for $89 with free shipping. Rechargeable and supports over 5000 brands.

For the gamer: Amazon’s Video Games Deal of the Day has some cool games like Shift 2 for Sony Playstation 3 and PC for $39.95 with free shipping.

Mother’s day special: Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" Display, 3G Works Globally + $25 Free Gift Card

Another one: Tommy Hilfiger Luggage Global Sport Duffel Bag – $27.99 + shipping. Was $140!

Another one: Ginsu Kotta Series 04897 20-Piece 420J2 Stainless Steel Cutlery Set with Hardwood Block – $29.99 with free shipping.

iPhone/iPod user? iHome iP28 Portable Travel Alarm Clock for iPod and iPhone (Black) – $45 with free shipping

Shopping for an Android Tablet? MOTOROLA XOOM Android Tablet (Wi-Fi) $589 with free shipping

Getting lost? Garmin nuvi 1690 4.3-Inch Portable Bluetooth Navigator with Google Local Search & Real-Time Traffic Alerts – $139 with free shipping.

For the PS3 gamer: PS3 Move Charge Station Quad Port Charging Dock – $14.99 with free shipping

Free Android App: Fast Food Calorie Counter (was $2.99)

Fitness: Bowflex PR1000 Home Gym – $449. (was $799)

Tech Deals of the Day 04-29-11 [Mothers Day Gift Ideas] - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/04/29 (RSS)

With the holiday season approaching, this is the best time to shop for gadgets with prices plummeting. I hope to bring you daily tech deals I come across in a quick short post.

Here are a few deals I saw today that may interest you

• Sony Walkman NWZ-S544 Series 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Red) – $69.99 with free shipping
• Sling Media Slingbox PRO-HD -  $219 with free shipping (this one will go fast as its part of Lightning deals – $265 after that)
• Altec Lansing M202 Altec Lansing Dual Charging iPod dock – $85 with free shipping

Tech Deals of the Day: 10-04-10 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/04/29 (RSS)

This deal is still alive:

Xbox 360 4GB Console and a $50 Amazon Credit for $199.99 with free shipping

For the Star Wars fans

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Collector’s Edition for $31.34 with free shipping for PS3 and Xbox 360.

An Android tablet

ViewSonic gTablet with 10" Multi-Touch LCD Screen, Android OS 2.2 for $299.99 with free shipping

Buy a Qualifying Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Player, Get Two Qualifying Blu-ray Discs Free

Panasonic DMP-BDT110 Wi-Fi Ready 3D/2D Blu-ray Disc Player until April 23 2011

Many of you liked the Logitech webcam deal, here is a wireless keyboard deal

Logitech K350 2.4Ghz Wireless Keyboard for $49 with free shipping

If you want to contribute to this tech deals section, you can always tip me on twitter @Kinthehouse.

Tech Deals of the Day 04-18-11 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/04/18 (RSS)

• Apple earphones w/remote & Mic for $2.99
• Kindle Lighted Leather Cover – Amazon Warehouse deals
• Shimano Xtreme Fishing for Wii – $9.09 with free shipping
• Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Bundle (Black) – $139.99 with free shipping (Free Remote, Tripod + 4GB SDHC card)
• Meguiar’s 7-Piece Paint Correction Kit – $28 with free shipping
• FlingSmash with Wii Remote Plus – Black – $29.99 with free shipping
• Logitech 720p Webcam C310 – $29.99 with free shipping
• Xbox 360 4GB Console and a $50 Amazon Credit for $199.99 with free shipping
• Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6″ Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology – includes Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers – $114 with free shipping (NEW)

Tech Deals of the Day 04-13-11 - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/04/13 (RSS)

If you already own a Kindle, you may easily find New York Best Sellers and other popular books.

But, how can you find price drops on ebooks and know eReaderIQ when your favorite title just was made available for Kindle?

eReaderIQ is a free service that is a complete database of Amazon Kindle eBooks. The service lets you

• Find free ebook
• See recent ebook price drops
• Track favorite title price drops
• Watch your favorite title to get notifed when it’s available on Kindle
• Advanced search engine to filter by price range, reader age, language and more
• See recent titles converted to Kindle

This is an excellent way to find reading material for your Kindle. My only gripe is that this site looks so 1990 and wish they can give it to a decent web designer to make it pleasing for the eyes.

Visit eReaderiQ

Find Free eBooks and Price Drops for Amazon Kindle - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/04/12 (RSS)

It has a 4.5 star user rating.

• Fluid 720p HD video recording and video calling in 16:9 widescreen
• Vibrant 5 MP photos
• One-click upload to Facebook and YouTube
• Auto light correction for dim and harsh lighting, and built-in noise-cancelling mic
• Works with Logitech Vid HD, Skype, Yahoo® Messenger, Microsoft Live Messenger

It also has the advanced features such as Face tracking, built-in mic with noise cancellation, auto light correction, etc.

If you want a few more features, check out the higher end cousins – C510 ($39.99), Pro 9000 ($59.99) or the Pro C910 ($78).

Deal: Logitech 720p Webcam C310 $29.99 Shipped - Originally published at ShanKrila.com on 2011/04/08 (RSS)