The Gadgetress blog launched five years ago as a spot to post my high-tech musings. It evolved into a gadget-review column, then a how-tech-saves-money site and finally a blog dedicated to reporting the latest on local TV and mobile services.

But all good things must come to an end and the Gadgetress blog is retiring. That’s because after nearly 10 years at the Orange County Register, I’m leaving this great gig — and Orange County — for that mysterious “to pursue other opportunities.”

It’s really a mystery to me what I’ll be doing next. I’m taking a break for a few months. Seriously. I may return to the world of tech journalism. If you want to keep track of what’s next for me, just head to my personal site at tamara.net.

I enjoyed every minute, especially the interaction with readers. Thank you readers, fans, critics, the companies and even Time Warner Cable. I’ve learned a lot from all of you and hopefully vice versa. I’ve updated the story archives so if you’re looking for an old post on TV service, here’s where to go:

• Time Warner Cable
• Cox Communications
• Verizon FiOS
• AT&T U-verse

For all other tech-related stories and questions, here are a few people who may be able to help you:

• The PC Club Q&A will continue. Readers can still submit questions to gadgetress@ocregister.com with “Help Me” in the subject head.
• John Dunphy, OC Register editor who oversees technology coverage: jdunphy@ocregister.com
• Ian Hamilton, OC Register reporter who covers tech in Irvine and has a soft spot for all-things Apple: ihamilton@ocregister.com

Farewell good readers. I’ll be on Twitter, Facebook and who knows where else? May we meet again!

Signing out,

Tamara “The Gadgetress” Chuang

Hard to miss the news this week that Apple’s new iPad computer goes on sale today. All sorts of apps were announced and reviews started coming in.

This morning, O.C. Register reporter and Mac fan Ian Hamilton heads to the Irvine Spectrum Apple store to grab one of his own. He’ll be blogging about it right here later today.

As of 8 a.m., there are 40 people in the pre-purchase line and 30 others wishing they had pre-ordered. The first person was in line since 3 p.m. Friday.

If you’re standing in line too (or have been all night), he wants to hear from you. Tweet him at @hmltn or e-mail him at ihamilton@ocregister.com.

	Read Ian’s latest posts:

The iPad is Apple’s first tablet-like computer. It’s a touch-screen marvel with Wi-Fi and option to add 3G wireless. Its pièce de résistance? It can access thousands of apps from the iTunes store.

Some prices: $499 for the 16 GB version, $599 for 32 GB and $699 for the 64 GB. These are all Wi-Fi versions. With 3G, add $130 to each model so the prices jump to $629 $729 and $829. Data plans start at $14.99/month for 250 mb of data or $29.99 for unlimited data. AT&T is providing the service plus offering free Wi-Fi hotspot access.

More specs: It has Internet, of course. There’s also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11n), some will have 3G wireless service built in (see prices above). All 3G models will be unlocked.

It’s very slim at 0.5-inch thick and weighs 1.5 pounds. There’s a 9.7-inch LED-backlit display and it has a virtual keyboard. It’s powered by a  1 GHz Apple A4 chip. It will be available in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. There’s an accelerometer, compass and microphone. As for battery life? Apple says it can get 10 hours.

The iPad comes with a dock connector to USB cable, a 10W Power Adapter and documentation. Additional accessories will include a dock, a keyboard dock, a full-sized keyboard and cases. Full specs now on Apple’s site.

It’s on sale today at Apple stores.

Related:

	Another image: (larger)

Spotted: Just learned that Sprint’s first Google Android phone will come from Motorola and include push-to-talk capability, a.k.a. a Walkie-Talkie.

The Motorola i1 will also have a 3.1-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, 5-megapixel camera and microSD slot. Plus, it’s one of Motorola’s rugged phones so it’s built to Military Spec 810F and can stand some dust, shock and “blowing rain,” says Motorola.

No price was announced, but expect monthly fees to be around $70 if you opt for Sprint’s Everything Data 450 plan (unlimited calls to U.S. wireless users, unlimited Direct Connect, unlimited texting, e-mail and Web and GPS).

Sprint will start selling the i1 this summer. More details at www.sprint.com/motoi1. Here’s Motorola’s press release. Full specs listed in the chart below:

Motorola i1
Talk and Standby Time3	Up to 4 days standby; Up to 210 min talk time
Bands/Modes	800 / 900 (i) 2400 (w)
Weight	131.26 grams, 4.63 oz.
Dimensions	58mm length 118mm depth 12.8 mm
OS	Android 1.5
Battery	1400mAh
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth2 2.0 micro USB; Over the Air Sync, 2.5mm headset jack
Display	3.1” display 320×480 HVGA  265k TFT
Messaging/ Email	MMS, SMS,  corporate, Gmail IMAP, POP3, Attachment and document viewer
Audio	Adobe Flash, MP3, WAV, WMA, WMV, MIDI, MP4
Video	H.263,  H.264, WMV
Camera	5MP, auto-focus, LED flash, 4X digital zoom
Browser	Opera Mini 5 Browser, Android Webkit w/Adobe Flash Lite®
Memory	Removable 2GB memory card included, up to 32GB supported
Form Factor	Full touch screen
Antenna	Internal

More cell phone coverage:

A special new phone charger from AT&T could help customers save money on their electric bill and waste less energy to boot.

The AT&T Zero Charger automatically senses when a mobile phone is no longer plugged in and cuts off power from the wall socket. Another eco-friendly aspect? It has a mini-USB port so it can be reused with a customer’s next phone.

AT&T worked with Irwindale-based Superior Communications on the charger, which will sell for $29.99 beginning in May. Interested customers can sign up HERE to be notified when it becomes available.

The world will likely see more of these chargers. It’s part of an effort by GSM World, a global organization supporting wireless technologies used by companies like AT&T. The Universal Charging Solution Initiative, which launched in February 2009, aimed to create a universal power supply for all cell phones (thank goodness!). No more searching for the right cable or adapter.

The new universal charger standard, approved last October, relies on USB technology to connect a phone to a charger. The technology inside reduces standby energy consumption.

Of course, iPhone owners won’t be able to use it unless they buy a micro-USB adapter cable. Perhaps Apple will join the effort and offer a universal power adapter as well.

More on AT&T cell, mobile services:

Faster wireless Internet — up to 21 Mbps — from T-Mobile is around the corner and expected to be available nationwide by the end of the year. It could launch even sooner here in Orange County. We’ll find out in two weeks when T-Mobile offers an update during the upcoming CTIA mobile show.

To get ready for the speed jump, T-Mobile announced today that it now offers an HSPA+ USB Laptop stick, the webConnect Rocket. The company says that it’s also the nation’s first HSPA+ device, but that’s because the only other company going this speedy route is AT&T. Verizon Wireless and Sprint are working on faster 4G wireless technology like LTE (Long Term Evolution) and Wimax.

HSPA, short for High Speed Packet Access, is sometimes called Turbo 3G and offers wireless Internet speeds of up to 7.2 mbps. But add a plus sign and the speed jumps to 21 Mbps. T-Mobile is upgrading its 3G cell towers nationwide to add the faster technology.

I’m sure T-Mobile smartphone users everywhere are ready for the speed jump because the existing 3G Internet is more like 1 Mbps or slower. But if you feel 3G Internet is still slow, here’s some bad news: T-Mobile has already enabled HSPA 7.2 across its entire 3G network nationwide. The company, however, says it is still working to put the “necessary backhaul in place to support these faster speeds.” (AT&T, by the way, has also upgraded all of its network to HSPA and is working on upgrading to 4G technology.)

Nevertheless, many of T-Mobile’s newer smartphone users will reap the benefits of HSPA+ when it does become available because the phones and devices are backward compatible.  Here are T-Mobile’s existing 3G phones and devices that are HSPA capable:

1. T-Mobile G1
2. T-Mobile myTouch 3G
3. T-Mobile myTouch 3G LE
4. Motorola CLIQ
5. HTC TouchPro 2
6. T-Mobile Dash 3G
7. Samsung Behold II
8. T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick
9. T-Mobile webConnect Jet
10. HTC HD2

The Rocket goes on sale Sunday, March 14, for $99.99 with a 2-year contract. New Internet plans will be available beginning this weekend. Here are the new “Even More” plans and prices:

2-year contract:

• $59.99/mo. for 5GB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
• $29.99/mo. for 200MB per month ($0.20/MB overage)

No contract:

• $49.99/mo. for 5GB per month ($0.20/MB overage)
• $19.99/mo. for 200MB per month ($0.20/MB overage)

Unlimited nationwide T-Mobile HotSpot access is included in both plans and doesn’t count toward monthly data usage.

More on 3G, 4G wireless service:

Noted: Pioneering DVR company TiVo has updated its devices but many in the industry are saying Ho Hum.

The new TiVo Premiere adds a wider-screen menu to fit HDTVs better and also offers shortcuts and a powerful search function that hunts down videos on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand or Blockbuster On Demand. And there’s a nifty remote with a QWERTY keyboard inside.

But other then that, there aren’t too many changes from the last upgrade. Technologizer laments the lack of video-on-demand, access to online TV site Hulu.com, and a TiVo that works with all TV services, including satellite.

While over at Zatz Not Funny, Dave Zatz writes, “The TiVo Premiere isn’t the home run I was hoping for. In it’s current form, and for potential upgraders, the Premiere basically offers the same core features of a TiVo Series 3 or HD.”

Two versions are available beginning April: the TiVo Premiere, with 320 gigabytes for $299.99; and the $499.99 TiVo Premiere XL,  with 1 terabyte, a backlit remote and THX-certified audio and video technology. As before, the box supports cable TV and Verizon FiOS users, but not satellite TV or AT&T U-verse.

Other key features: It supports E-SATA technology to users can add an external hard drive if they run out of storage space. It also uses the faster Wireless N Wi-Fi connection.

As more consumers ponder about cutting down their monthly TV bill by looking for cheap TV viewing online, TiVo won’t help much with that. Besides the upfront cost, there’s a monthly $12.95 fee for service even if you opt for basic broadcast TV service. If you want regular cable channels, you’ll need a limited cable TV subscription and a CableCARD. Plus you’ll still need broadband Internet, which can be another $30 to $50 a month. Netflix, Amazon and Blockbuster also charge for online rentals.

Read more about the new boxes and see more photos at TiVo’s site: TiVo Premiere, press release, official video

More reviews:

• The TiVo Premiere is here! (That’s it?) (Zatz Not Funny)
• Live from TiVo’s ‘one box’ press event (Engadget)
• TiVo unveils Series4 ‘Premiere’ DVRs with enhanced online integration (CNET)
• New TiVo DVRs Built for Web & Cable Content (Light Reading)

AT&T said today that its first Google’s Android phone, the Motorola BACKFLIP, joins the company on March 7.

The Motorola Backflip will be one of AT&T’s few HSPA 7.2 capable phones so it can take advantage of the faster Internet speeds of up to 7.2 mbps.

AT&T has been upgrading most of its cell sites in Orange County to add this faster technology. This will be AT&T’s 6th HSPA phone. Others include the iPhone 3GS, HTC PURE, HTC Tilt2, Samsung Jack and the LG eXpo.

It’s called the Backflip because underneath the 3.1-inch screen is a full QWERTY keyboard that flips out so the phone looks like a mini laptop. The keyboard can also flip around to prop up the phone like an alarm clock.

Also, directly behind the screen is a touchpad, dubbed the “‘Backtrack,” (image on left) that lets you move around the screen with your finger touching behind it without smudging the actual screen.

Hard to imagine? Watch the AT&T’s demonstration video of the Backflip below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Adding Android to its lineup isn’t much of a surprise, though it is the last of the big four mobile carriers to do so. AT&T also expects to add Android devices from HTC and Dell.

But being the only place consumers can buy an Apple iPhone makes the Android addition especially interesting. It’s been rumored for years that AT&T’s exclusive contract with Apple is set to expire this year and Verizon and others could be adding its own iPhone soon. But that’s all rumorville. (Separately, Microsoft has made AT&T its premier partner for the new Windows Phone 7 devices.)

Also, being a Motorola phone, it has MOTOBLUR, which syncs your Internet life with your mobile phone. Motoblur scans personal accounts on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Gmail, Picasa, Last.fm and other e-mail with the phone. Remember the Megan-Fox-in-the-bathtub Super Bowl ad?

There’s also a 5-megapixel camera with flash and zoom, Wi-Fi (includes free access to AT&T’s hotspots nationwide)  and, of course, access to the Android Market’s 20,000-plus apps.

The Backflip is $199.99 with a 2-year service contract. A $100 mail-in rebate is available to get the phone down to $99.99. Service requires a $30/month data plan.

One more photo:

Photo of Motorola Backflip showing off its social skills.

More on new phones, gadgets:

	D-Link’s 3G door bell, actually called the D-Link Door Phone, is a home security system with a camera built inside the bell. When someone pushes the bell, the camera starts streaming video online, which can be viewed by a 3G wireless phone so owners can see who is at the door even when not home. The door phone comes out in the second quarter of 2010 for $199.99.

At the recent Consumer Electronics Show, D-Link Systems showed off its core product: a wireless router.

But then the Fountain Valley firm pulled out a device mixing Web TV and social networking. And an eReader. And a … doorbell!

There have been major changes inside the company. Last May, it reorganized, letting go of CEO Steven Joe, who has since resurfaced over at Irvine’s hot HDTV company Vizio (read earlier story: “D-Link replaces president, announces reorganization“). Nick Tidd, pictured below, stepped in as vice president of marketing. This week, Tidd was named president of D-Link North America.

Tidd answered some questions to give readers insight into what D-Link is all about today.

Question: With some major management shifts behind it, how has D-Link changed as a business?

D-Link’s Nick Tidd: The most significant changes have come since last May when we had a complete reorganization of our North American and Pan American operations. We’ve made a number of changes to the organization in order to optimize and leverage resources across North America. We’ve built teams and budgets for areas which were lacking and built structure and systems so we’re better equipped to compete in a fast and dynamic marketplace. But overall, we’ve tried to instill the sense of fun and empowerment among our employees needed to achieve the next level of success as a company. We are aggressively driving into new markets, while solidifying our presence in existing markets where we have a very compelling value proposition to companies with constrained budgets and consumers looking to get more out of technology and their connected devices.

	D-Link’s Boxee Box is the first device built just for Boxee software and service, which anyone can download to a PC and then watch online video. The new box lets users watch on a TV. The Boxee twist: It allows users to share what they’re watching with friends. Read:  ”D-Link boxes in Web TV’s Boxee“

Q: D-Link showed a diverse set of products at CES (doorbells, Boxee, eReader). Is this part of some new strategy by the company? What is the strategy?

Tidd: D-Link is a network solution provider, for both home and business markets. We are extending beyond infrastructure of Wi-Fi and wired connectivity to offer customers intriguing ways to leverage their network and a broadband connection for enabling next-generation applications. These applications include solutions for complete monitoring of your home with sensors, cameras, door phones and door locks, etc. You will soon be able to monitor how green your home is to better understand and optimize your power usage. With the introduction of our Boxee Box and the Pebble – both solutions for getting all of your local media and the best of what the Internet has to offer — we’ve made it incredibly simple to navigate content on your television. At the same time, we’re bringing in the social aspect of how you enjoy your entertainment, so you’re not in an isolated one-to-one viewing behavior, but interacting with your media and your social network directly on the TV.

Q: How has the wireless networking industry changed?

Tidd: The networking space has always been very crowded, but this is a key part of our business where we’re driving the next-generation of speeds and range, including our recent announcement of the industry’s first 600 Mbps Wi-Fi solution. In order to deliver many of these future applications, such as the strong connection of your TV to your home network, it is imperative you have a strong Wi-Fi platform to do so in order to move high-definition signals and more throughout the home.

	D-Link’s Pebble is a shiny media player that will stream HD videos, photos and music from home PCs, media cards and hard drives to the big TV. Includes 2 USB ports plus HDMI output. Expected to launch in the first half of 2010 for $119.99.

Q: What should we expect from D-Link this year?

Tidd: More evidence that we’re improving our ability to compete, making the right investments needed to grow, while increasing the range and depth of solutions aimed at consumers, the enterprise and service providers. When you look at our engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, distribution with the leadership and determination to realize the next level of success, you can see why we’re excited about the potential we have in 2010 and beyond. We’re looking to be aggressive and have fun doing it.

Q: Has the company been growing? Is the company profitable?

Tidd: Yes, we’re growing steadily, but most impressive is how we’ve systematically improved our operations and resulting profitability over the last nine months.

(According to D-Link’s parent in Taiwan, the company posted a net income of $260 million (New Taiwan dollars) on revenues of $8.3 billion (NT) in its third quarter 2009 compared to $219 million (NT) in the second quarter. More details are available HERE.)

	The D-Link Rush (DAP-1560) is D-Link’s fastest wireless device meant for HD video transfer all over the home. It uses a 4×4 antenna to boost the power of any existing 802.11 a, b, g or n router with speeds up to 600Mbps. No need to replace the existing router. Available later this year.

Q: How many employees are in North America?

Tidd: Over 345.

Q: Tell us more about yourself.

Tidd: I’ve recently moved from Canada to Huntington Beach, which I love. But, I have to admit, it is a bit surreal at times in terms of weather and lifestyle compared to what I’m accustomed to. I’m recently married and have three kids. I’m typically all over the news sites, including the Toronto Star website which keeps me plugged in to what is going on up North and the National Hockey League site, nhl.com, so I can follow my favorite sport. My favorite gadget is my Garmin GPS, which I’ve found invaluable when facing a tough shot on the golf course.

Social networking has truly changed the way we interact with the Internet and each other. Where we used to get breaking news and trusted information from traditional sites and programs, we now get information from friends, family, experts and others you may be following via Twitter, etc. Social media has changed both the speed of delivery and nature of the information we consume. One other aspect of how social networking has changed society is entertainment and media.

	D-Link’s eReader prototype showed a collection of children’s stories. No further details were available. Click HERE for another photo.

Now we’re fluidly sharing and enjoying music, movies and more that are not recommended by a label, but by your social network. With the Boxee Box, for instance, this type of interaction is now available on the television, where when turning on the box lets you see and enjoy all of the recommended entertainment from an extended group of social acquaintances. This in itself has the power to change the way we consume media in the home, and we’re excited to be a part of it.

Recent gadget news:

Want this? This is the 2 GB USB drive from D-Link that includes the company’s complete CES product line. Leave a comment below and I’ll pick a random winner on Feb. 1, 2010.

Now that the Apple iPad is official (read the details at “Apple announces its first tablet computer: The iPad“), the skinny little machine is getting all sorts of reviews from folks who had the chance to play with it and others who’ve only read about it.

Here’s a collection of observations from the Web and the newsroom:

>>This just in: Ken Brusic, editor for The Orange County Register and an iPhone user: What they did was really smart. We will order one to see how it might help us think of producing content in the future and see what our web site will look like on such a thing. The thing that I think is really smart is … instead of creating something new, they’ve created something that is really useful and continued along the same path that they started with the development community and the millions of ( iPhone and iTouch) users. I think it probably won’t be as useful as a Kindle for reading a book. eInk technology is really great for reading books because it uses so little power and the reading experience is really great. … I think magazines and newspapers will be great on the tablet. But 10 hours worth of battery life? I’ll have to see it to believe it.

► Brent Chow, Yorba Linda resident via Twitter: the iPad could rev the use of portable comps. Y buy a macbk pro when u can get a more powerful imac & ipad for about the same $

► OCMarisa on Twitter: I’ve been hoping for this. Been holding off on a netbook. I’ll get this with the 3G

► Peacekeeper357 via Twitter: Meh. Not bad, but not great. I’ll wait 4 next rev. I waited until 3G iPhone, I’ll wait on this.

► Jon Lansner, OC Register real estate blogger at Lansner on Real Estate (and an iPod Touch user): I’m not sure this is the game changer, technology wise. But packaging-wise — assuming it delivers the expected high performance — this seems like the “next big thing.” And to bring technology up a notch to the masses, It’s always been about the packaging — not the science anyway. This may indeed be the start of the  ”paperless” society many have dreamed of.

► Engadget, tech news site: “The screen is gorgeous, tilting is responsive, and the thing is super thin. Still, if you’ve used the iPhone before — and you can see the two devices side-by-side here — there’s not a lot of surprises here so far. …It’s not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.” (Read more)

► Leo Malone, Gadgetress commenter: Sadly it’s just a big iPod Touch. If it won’t run normal Apple laptop apps then it’s really just a toy. And when you consider it, a big uncomfortable one.

► Sonya Smith, our own beloved iGirl and major Apple user, via Twitter: The ipad has arrived. Now back to trying to sleep off this cold.

► Jason Joo, Irvine student and gamer, via Twitter:OH GOD, AT&T. NO NO NO NO. #ipadfail

► Gary Robbins, the OC Register’s “Sciencedude” blogger and iPhone owner: I recently bought a Kindle, which I like. But I’ll chuck it for an iPad because it looks like the device can do everything I want to do. Namely, surf the web, read e-books, text, email, watch movies and listen to music. I want one. Now. Today. This minute.

► Roxanne Hack, Web guru and iPhone owner here at the OCRegister, via Twitter: one way to get you boys to stop talking about iPad as if it’s a feminine product: we could actually start talking about feminin products

► Jezebel, a women-centric blog: Apple’s iPad announcement earlier this afternoon prompted a score of WTFing across the internet, prompting many to ask, “Are there any women on Apple’s marketing team?” Answer: Apparently not. (Period.) (Read more)

► David Pogue, New York Times tech columnist: Until I saw the demo, I wondered why you’d want an iPad instead of a laptop. After all, the price is about the same. And once you add a carrying case to the iPad—wouldn’t you worry about that glass screen bouncing around in your briefcase or backpack naked?—it’s about the same bulk and weight as a laptop. Now, though, it looks like Apple really has created something new. Criticisms of“Like a laptop” and “a big iPod Touch” don’t really do justice to the possibilities. (Read more)

► Adam Fucci, over at tech blog Gizmodo: My god, am I underwhelmed by the iPad. This is as inessential a product as I’ve ever seen, but beyond that, it has some absolutely backbreaking failures that will make me judge anyone who buys one (Read more at “8 things that suck about the iPad“).

►Jeremy Horwitz, editor at Apple reviews site, iLounge, who played with the iPad: The lack of an obvious tethering option for those who are already shelling out money for their iPhone service is a big miss, as well, but one that could possibly be addressed before launch. Here’s hoping. (Read more)

Recent iPad comments from blog readers:

Send me your own iPad thoughts via e-mail or Twitter or, of course, comment below.

It’s official. Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs has announced the company’s first tablet computer: the iPad.

What can you do with it? Surf the Internet, send e-mail, share pictures, watch videos, listen to music, plays games and read eBooks, Jobs told the media crowd who showed up in San Francisco for this morning’s big announcement.

This is definitely what was rumored. And it does look like a giant iPhone. Jobs went on to show numerous publications that have built content fit for the iPad including the New York Times (which also made an appearance on stage), Time and  National Geographic.

UDPATE: Some prices revealed: $499 for the 16 GB version. The 32GB is $599 and 64GB is $699. These are all Wi-Fi versions. With 3G, add $130 to each model so the prices jump to $629 $729 and $829. Data plans start at $14.99/month for 250 mb of data or $29.99 for unlimited data. AT&T is providing the service plus offering free Wi-Fi hotspot access.

The iPad begins shipping in 60 days for the non 3G versions. The 3G versions will ship in 90 days.

>> Watch Apple’s iPad video HERE.

It has interesting tweaks on the usual computer/phone features like calendar, Google Maps, contacts. Some featured services already built for iPad: Fandango movie tickets and MLB.com‘s baseball videos.

Jobs had a whole segment on, what else, iBooks. Harper Collins, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan are some of the publishers named. It uses the ePub format, an open format so you might be able to upload your own books. According to iLounge.com, Jobs said:

Apple will go further than Kindle with a full-screen eBook reader called iBooks. iBooks has a bookshelf that inclues covers on a shelf. You can see two pages or one page at once as you prefer, and there’s a button at upper left to access the new iBook Store. Fully integrated with app to let you discover, purchase, download eBooks right on your iPad.

SPECS: It has Internet, of course. There’s also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (802.11n), some will have 3G wireless service built in (see prices above). All 3G models will be unlocked.

It’s very slim at 0.5-inch thick and weighs 1.5 pounds. There’s a 9.7-inch LED-backlit display and it has a virtual keyboard. It’s powered by a  1 GHz Apple A4 chip. It will be available in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. There’s an accelerometer, compass and microphone. As for battery life? Apple says it can get 10 hours.

The iPad comes with a dock connector to USB cable, a 10W Power Adapter and documentation. Additional accessories will include a dock, a keyboard dock, a full-sized keyboard and cases. Full specs now on Apple’s site.

But what’s this? The iPad syncs over USB like the iPhone, iTouch. No wireless synching?

Big app news for iPhone fans: It can run all 140,000 iPhone apps unmodified out of the box reports Engadget. Apps can also be enlarged to double the pixels. Games also are expected to be big. Gameloft and Electronic Arts officials were invited on stage to show what they can do with the iPad. “Need for Speed” on the iPad anyone? You can also sync all the iPhone apps you own so you don’t have to pay twice.

Also works with iWork, Apples software for spreadsheets, documents and other office stuff. Interestingly, there’s a special data-entry keyboard with just the number pad a few key buttons to input spreadsheet data easier. See photo. The work apps will be $9.99 each.

What it doesn’t have: No Web cam, no memory card slots (not a surprise), no multi-tasking so you can’t stream radio while working on a document. And it’s not a 3G phone, but it has 3G data service. No mention of a Verizon/Sprint-compatible 3G chip. What else, anyone?

Official images below, click to enlarge:

(I’m not in San Francisco and am monitoring the live coverage from the major tech news sources. I’ll be updating this post as the news comes in. Stay tuned.)

Earlier:

On Twitter: Search for the tags #apple, #appletablet, #itablet Click HERE for a stream of Tweets about the pending Apple news.

If you want to catch the coverage live, here are some live blogging options:

• iLounge
• Cnet
• Engadget
• Gizmodo
• AppleInsider
• All Things D
• Wired
• MacNN
• Ars Technica
• AppleTell
• SlashGear
• CrunchGear
• Financial Post
• The Apple Blog

If you’re planning to buy the new “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” movie, out today on DVD and Blu-ray, true fans may want to consider the movie on a USB drive.

It’s  not  high-definition, and it can only be played on a Windows PC. And the movie is all that is included on the 2 GB drive.

But each of the “This is It” USB drives from Fountain Valley’s Kingston Technology is numbered, up to 75,000.

Kingston, which has released three other movies on USB drives, said this one is the first that will let owners share the movie on up to 3 computers. Kingston’s previous movie USB releases, which included “Star Trek” and “Transformers,” required the USB drive to remain plugged into the computer.

“It really is new territory for us.  It’s a way for a memory company like us to work with a big movie company,” said David Leong, Kingston’s spokesman.

Leong said that the $19.99 drive targets devices like netbooks, which don’t have an optical drive. But beyond the PC, many users may not be able to watch the movie on their big screen TV or other USB-friendly player because the movie only works with Windows Media Player.

“It’s for Michael Jackson fans,” he said.

But another feature of the USB version of the movie is that it can be shared with 3 computers.

Kingston, which sells all sorts of computer and flash memory devices, has mixed memory and entertainment before. In 2008, it released a microSD card with Ricky Martin songs. The card did sell in the U.S. but it sold much better in South America where the singer is more popular. Music USBs never really caught on because of the ease of buying and downloading songs from iTunes and other sites.

But movies could be different because of the anti-copying Digital Rights Management, Leong said.

Each drive has a voucher code, which must be entered into a PC before the movie is played for the first time on a machine. Once the code is entered, the license is downloaded and the movie can play an unlimited number of times on that machine. But after three uses, there is no way to rest the voucher to add a fourth machine.

“With movies and DVDs, there’s always the sense that things can be pirated” so movie studios haven’t embraced the digital download as much, he said. ”…But with a USB drive, the way the DRM is set up especially with Michael Jackson, this movie can be stored on three different computers and you have a licensing key on each one. After three, you can’t make another backup copy.”

Recent gadget reports:

Vizio conquered the LCD HDTV market last year. Now it wants a piece of the TV accessory market.

While the Irvine TV company unveiled its first Blu-ray Disc player, sound bar and cables last year, this year’s show had many nice surprises as well. It not only showed its latest TVs, including a 3D model and a super skinny HDTV, but it offered up a bunch of interesting TV accessories. I’ve highlighted the following, with pictures of course:

Universal remote control with built-in LCD – Two of them are coming but the more interesting one is the XRT100 touchscreen remote control has a 3.5-inch LCD display to control the home’s entertainment system. It will work with Vizio’s upcoming (and delayed) Internet TV, as well as older audio and video devices. Unlike the Samsung Wi-Fi remote with the built-in TV display, this one works over Bluetooth. Click photos to enlarge.

Headphones with built-in LCD — Why does one need an LCD screen on a set of headphones, I’m not quite sure. But it was cool to see. Vizio added a round LCD display to the outer part of each earpiece. Users will be able to see the album cover or personal images on the screens. These are future products with no price or availability date available. Watch the video I took inside Vizio’s dark CES suite:

Click here to view the embedded video.	Vizio’s LCD headphones

Fashion-minded headphones — Vizio hired fashion designers to come up with its new home theater Europa Bluetooth wireless headphones. With a touch of color, these fashion-minded headphones look like a headband and come in textured finishes and hand-stitched leather. As part of its new move into fashion, Vizio also added singer Beyoncé Knowles – Carter as its new face (see earlier story “Vizio hires Beyoncé as new spokesperson“). The company wanted to go beyond the basic black headset. Other in-ear headphones are simple and sleek. These are future products with no price or availability date. Some images:

And what are headphones without music? Well, there won’t be a Vizio MP3 player, but there’s going to be a new iPod/iPhone docking station with attached speaker. The VHP100 is a Bluetooth wireless home-theater headphone set with an iPod dock. It uses 2.4 Ghz to wirelessly connect with a Vizio soundbar or older soundbar systems (it accepts SPDIF and RCA inputs). There is active noise cancellation, five-hour battery life and a 3.5 mm audio jack if you want to take the headphones on an airplane.  This should be available in May for $299.99. Click image on right to enlarge.

Again, not an MP3 player, but Vizio also plans to launch two Internet radios with iPod docks. The $189.99 VIR100 (below left) Wireless Internet Radio with iPod Dock has a 7-inch touchscreen, includes FM radio and, of course, access to Internet radio stations via Wi-Fi wireless technology. The pricier $299.99 VOR 200 (below right) has the same display and Wi-Fi access but adds a better 2.1 audio system with subwoofer and audio processing from SRS Labs. Both radios are expected to ship in the fall 2010.

A Vizio Internet router? Yup. Vizio wanted to make sure its users get the best wireless HD video experience  so it’s launching the XWR100 HD Wireless Internet Router. This is an 802.11n dual-band wireless networking router with a 4-port 10/100 switch and a USB port. This should launch in April 2010 for $99.99. Separately, Vizio also will offer a four-port switch to extend the Internet signal to the living room. Its XWH100 Wireless HDMI Adapter is a four-port switch that uses SiBEAM’s 60 GHz technology, which is supposed to interfere less with other wireless technologies. The switch also offers communication between devices of up to 30 feet without needing to be in the line of sight. This is expected to go on sale in summer 2010 for $249.

Whew! What a show for Vizio. Don’t forget to check out other posts I wrote about the company’s new TVs:

One-third inch? Ha! Vizio TV is even skinnier

Vizio takes battery-operated TVs to new level

Vizio hires Beyoncé as new spokesperson

Vizio announces biggest, priciest HDTV (yup, it’s 3D)

For more CES 2010 coverage, visit the Gadgetress CES page at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/ces2010.
Most recent headlines:

Couldn’t resist taking this photo:

Yes, that’s an LCD HDTV shaped like a fuzzy, wuzzy bear. It comes from none other than Hannspree North America, which is headquartered in Irvine (and mentioned previously on this blog).

I remember Hannspree most for its kidilicious TVs shaped like apples, basketball and even an order of fries. When I last spoke to the company, they had decided to keep cute relegated to its boutique stores because they didn’t sell well to a mainstream customer.

But now, according to Hannspree’s press release, the company is continuing to offer the novelty TVs to “hit the hearts of those seeking a completely different approach to design in consumer electronics.”

The Apple comes in 28 and 55 inches.

Speaking of Hannspree, the company also says new 10- and 12-inch netbooks are coming out this year. Plus there will be some 8-inch animal-shaped digital photo frames and alarm clocks.

For more CES 2010 coverage, visit the Gadgetress CES page at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/ces2010. Most recent headlines:

Another contender is jumping into the pretty crowded area of Web TV in a box. Popbox, from Fremont’s Syabas Technology, is a small black box that uses an Internet connection to stream videos and other content to a home’s TV.

This device — like the Roku, the Boxee Box, networked TVs…  — appears to have many of the same content partners as everyone else: Netflix, BlipTV and Revision 3. There are also a bunch of widgets available, including Twitter, WeatherBug.

Here is Popbox’s full list of content options. The box also can stream photos, videos and other media stored on computers in the home.

And possibly due to the fact that Syabas has facilities in China and Malaysia, its partner list includes CCTV “the largest media content and television programer (sic) in China,” and MalaysiaKini: Streaming video Malaysian news and views.

When asked if it had any content partners that no one else had, the company said it was too hard to say since everyone is getting new partners all the time.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what is exactly in the Popbox when it becomes available at the end of March 2010. The box plus software is $130 with no subscription fee to maintain (other than separate fees charged by content partners). A box with Wi-Fi will be $149.

For more CES 2010 coverage, visit the Gadgetress CES page at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/ces2010. Most recent headlines:

I’ve got to admit, watching 3D shows on TV is very cool. But the experience is hard to capture in print and on a blog. I stopped by chipmaker Sensio Technology’s table during a pre-CES event Tuesday evening.

The Canadian firm, which happens to be providing the 3D decoder into new 3D TVs from Irvine’s Vizio, had plenty of cardboard glasses for attendees to try on and take a peek. Images really did appear to hover out of the TV. I didn’t feel like Bono was reaching out to touch me, but his hand did seem to stretch three inches from the TV screen.

I did my best to capture the experience. The left image below is the raw 3D video on a TV. The right photo is, obviously, the same image through special 3D glasses. Click either image to enlarge.

It made me get excited about U2 again.

Maybe 3D will be in my next TV even if I have to spring for some extra glasses?

For more CES 2010 coverage, visit the Gadgetress CES page at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/ces2010. Most recent headlines:

The best part about the Consumer Electronics Show is seeing crazy new gadgets that you won’t find at a Best Buy or even Fry’s Electronics.

First up: The Flipower touts itself as a plugless USB charger, which was the first thing I spotted during the CES Unveiled Event in Las Vegas.

The Flipower, also called the Slim USB Charger, looks like a finger-sized USB card reader but instead of a card slot, there’s a USB slot. And instead of a USB prong, there’s a thin plastic power-outlet cover that flips out. Underneath the outlet cover is the sensor that sends the charge to the USB port, thus charging whatever USB device is plugged into it.

Handy? Sure, if you don’t have a spare USB port on a PC or tend to turn off your computer at night. It also outputs 5V/750 mA of power, for anyone willing to translate the effectiveness of such power.

Powertech Industrial Co. is the Taiwan manufacturer who is looking for distributors to sell the product in the United States. No price has been set.

More images below (click to enlarge):

For more CES 2010 coverage, visit the Gadgetress CES page at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/ces2010. Most recent headlines:

Corrected, 12/8/09: D-Link plans to launch the box in second quarter 2010 (not 2009)!
___________________________________

D-Link Systems is jumping on the two hottest tech trends of social media and Web TV with … a box.

Not just any box. The Fountain Valley company is teaming with Boxee, an open-source software developer of free software that lets computer users watch favorite Web TV shows and videos on their home TV —  and share what they’re watching with friends online.

Here it is, the Boxee Box by D-Link:

This little black box — about 5 square inches — will let Boxee subscribers forgo connecting cables and laptop to a TV. Instead, the box sits next to the TV and pipes in Internet video to the TV. No need to remove it when done, as one would a laptop. Click photos on right to enlarge images.

A lot of geeks like Boxee because it lets them watch only the TV they want to watch via sites like Hulu.com, CBS.com, Netflix, etc.

Boxee adds a simple directory so it’s easier to browse what TV shows are available online. Also, since the box lives on the home computer network, Boxee can build a digital library of digital movies and music found on any computer connected to the same network.

To get all those nifty thumbnail images of movies (see image below) and related video information, Boxee grabs information available on sites like the Internet Movie Database at IMDB.com

But the big difference with Boxee and other Web TV devices, like the Roku, is social networking. Boxee lets users share their viewing habits automatically with friends on Twitter, FriendFeed, Netflix, Flickr and others. Just watch the movie “Step Brothers?” Boxee will send the update to your Twitter account for all your friends to know.

“By pairing Boxee’s innovative social media platform with D-Link’s award-winning ability to design powerful connectivity products we’re taking media enjoyment and sharing to a new level in the living room,” said Daniel Kelley, D-Link’s senior director of marketing.

D-Link is the exclusive manufacture of the Boxee box. But it’s not the first time D-Link has offered a device for viewing Web videos on the home TV.  It also offers the PC on TV media player, which streams movies and music from the Web or a computer  to the TV. Several years ago, the company offered the Media Lounge, which was updated in 2007.

For now, D-Link plans to start selling the Boxee box during the second quarter of 2009 2010 (corrected 12/8/09).

I haven’t seen it in person (pics are courtesy D-Link) but the company will have one to demonstrate at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show. No price has been announced yet. Boxee software is available for free HERE.

Boxee unveiled the news during tonight’s special event in New York. More details are coming.

Some specs of the Boxee Box:

1 HDMI Port
1 Optical Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
Composite Audio Ports
Ethernet Port
USB Port
SD Card Converter

Miss the gadgets? If 500 people sign up, I’ll bring them back. Just click the blue image on the right to sign up. (This takes you to Feedburner, where you can subscribe by e-mail or an RSS reader. All who subscribe will be notified if regular gadget coverage returns.)

Noted: The tablet computer was going to have an interesting year as influential tech news site TechCrunch decided to use its resources to build the perfect tablet, the CrunchPad.

But today, TechCrunch founder and co-editor Michael Arrington blogs that the CrunchPad is dead after shareholders for a partner on the project demanded a bit more.

…the entire project self destructed over nothing more than greed, jealousy and miscommunication.

Arrington lays it all out and it’s fascinating to read some of the behind the scenes of what brought down a tablet that geeks everywhere were looking forward to. He concludes:

“It’s a sad day at TechCrunch HQ. Hitting the publish button on this post, which makes all of this so … final … is a very hard thing to do. I’m enraged, embarrassed, and just … sad.”

Read Arrington’s post about the demise: “The end of the CrunchPad.”

Most laptop stands aren’t very interesting, especially ones for PCs. But a new one from Costa Mesa-startup AViiQ, which launched this week, manages to look nice, offer an innovative design and win a national award. Plus, the stand is not just for higher-designed Macs.

The company’s plain-named Portable Laptop Stand is made from a thin slice of aluminum that folds up like an accordion when done. Last night, it was named an International CES Innovations 2010 Design and Engineering honoree, joining a bunch of other companies.

You really have to see how it works to understand why a laptop stand is getting noticed by the tech industry. Here’s the YouTube video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

The stand works with all laptops, up to 17 inches. The company says it also decreases screen glare because of the 12-degree angle. Like most laptop stands, this props up the computer to dissipate heat. When folded, the stand is a mere 1/4-inch thick.

AViiQ was founded by Alan Yeung and Chris Bryce, who came up with the idea because they traveled a lot and needed something portable. Yeung, a producer at Costa Mesa’s CRISP brand agency, brought in the agency’s senior product designer, Cezanne Farris-Gilbert, to help create the product.

While no electronics are inside the stand, this is really a gadget’s gadget. Also interesting to me is that this reinforces Orange County as a hub for gadget companies, with leaders like Targus and Mobile Edge calling Anaheim home.

Miss the gadgets? If 500 people sign up, I’ll bring them back. Just click the blue image on the right to sign up. (This takes you to Feedburner, where you can subscribe by e-mail or an RSS reader. All who subscribe will be notified if regular gadget coverage returns.)

Sneak Peek: Since Boost Mobile calls Orange County home, the Irvine prepaid wireless provider wanted to give its neighbors the first look at the new  Motorola Debut i856w, a phone targeting women that comes out this week.

It’s far from the fanciest phone out there and the female-friendliness appears limited to subtle swirly designs on the back and front. But it’s also a thin, sleek phone — and Boost’s first slider phone, says the company. (And it’s Motorola’s first slider phone using the iDen Walkie-Talkie technology).

Some features: a music player, threaded text messaging (shows the history of messages from the same person), 1.3-megapixel camera with video capture and playback on the phone. There’s also stereo Bluetooth, Walkie-Talkie, removable memory slot (up to 8 GB microSD card), speakerphone with voice-activated dialing, and it’s GPS and web enabled if you purchase the service. More details at Motorola’s i856w site.

The phone starts shipping Nov. 11 for $149.99. For those unfamiliar with Boost, once you buy the phone, you then buy minutes when you need them. There’s no monthly contract for the phone. Boost is part of the Sprint phone company.

It’s not the first time Boost has built special phones for women. Three years ago, staff designer Gina Scollick prettied up the Motorola i835. And during an office tour, I spotted several female friendly phones. Check it out at “New ladies line from Boost Mobile.”

More pics of the new Motorola Debut i856w (click to enlarge):

More on cell, mobile services:

Check out the Gadgetress Guide to local cell phone services

I, for one, am very glad that there is more to mobile phones than the iPhone, which is a very nice phone. But if the world only wanted an iPhone, gadget geeks everywhere wouldn’t have much to look forward to. And today, we’re looking forward to the new Motorola Droid, on sale today from Verizon Wireless (There are 40 Verizon stores within 25 miles of Santa Ana. Here’s a store locator).

After a week with the Droid, I’m seriously digging its Google Android 2.0 operating system, which will pop up in more phones from Verizon Wireless and other carriers. While I wouldn’t call the Droid a game changer for the industry, it’s a game changer for Verizon Wireless because for the first time the company let outsiders help develop the phone. Even tinkerers who want to develop Android apps can  influence the Verizon phone in a way that was prohibited before.

The phone itself is an improvement over the original Google phone, the G1 (my current phone), with a sleeker shape and better internal technology. A 3.7-inch screen makes it the largest smartphone screen out there. The slide-out keyboard is a bonus. But, as with any gadget, I have an opinion. There are features I love, like and hate. Let me start with what I don’t like.

5 things I don’t like about the Droid:

1. Screen sensitivity: Nice big screen, but not as responsive and smooth as the iPhone. Not sure if it’s a glitch, but sometimes shortcuts I placed on the main screen did nothing when pressed. Other times, one touch popped up the application. Also, when scrolling on the Web, it can be jerky as images load. Reminds me of pre-broadband everywhere days.

2. Battery life: Like everyone, I want a GPS, Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth-enabled smartphone with a battery that lasts for a week. Turn all those wireless tools on, and the Droid’s battery is dead after a few hours. Motorola didn’t make any advances in this department. The big positive though: It charges up fast! Plugged into the wall, the battery was fully charged in under an hour. One other big plus over the iPhone: You can replace the battery.

3. The camera: The 5-megapixel camera is probably better than your camera phone but it’s on the slow side for me — for a camera. It won’t replace my Canon point-and-shoot camera. Yes, I have high expectations for a camera in a phone but only because the companies continue to improve the optics (this one has flash, scene modes and white balance, autofocus and image stabilization). They lead me to believe that one day, I will get a phone with a camera decent enough to haul to gadget shows to get pretty pictures for my readers. Yes, I know. It’s like comparing home broadband speeds to wireless mobile Internet. There’s no comparison. UPDATE, 11/10: Reader Jason Spielfogel, who has a background in imaging and happens to be a product manager at Sanyo, offers his take on why a camera phone just can’t be compared to a digital camera.

4. Web zoom: Because the screen is so large, the Internet browser opens a Web page at full width. Touch the screen twice to zoom in. Touch it twice again to zoom out. This I like. What was annoying was zooming in, selecting a link within the same site, and pulling up a page that zoomed out, thus defaulting to full width. I wish it would remember that I was zoomed in, at least if I’m on the same site.

5. No Bluetooth file transfer: One of the great things about Google phones is you don’t have to sync contacts, calendar or e-mail. This is done automatically when you first sign into the phone with your Google account. However, all the photos or other files you create on the phone don’t automatically transfer to a PC via the Web or vice versa. Or via Bluetooth, as I found out. Verizon and other mobile providers are notorious for blocking Bluetooth file transfer. In this case, Verizon says it’s Android’s fault. Android doesn’t support Bluetooth tethering for transferring files. Bluetooth is only good for headsets, stereo headphones and phonebook access. One other auto-syncing disappointment: Droid didn’t pull over any of my apps from my G1.

5 things I love about the Droid

1. Speakerphone & voice quality: You’d think this feature would be a given. But my current phone is just OK, verging on poor some days. The Droid kicks the G1′s butt when it comes to hands-free chatting over a speaker. First, the Droid’s speakerphone is far superior. With the phone in speaker mode and sitting on my lap while I drove, no one on the other end noticed that I wasn’t holding the phone to my mouth. When connected to my car’s Bluetooth speaker (an expensive after-market addition from the dealer that is terrible), there was some static but I could hear people clearer than on my own phone. Motorola really toned down background noise — an excellent feature for all of us hands-free drivers.

2. Google Navigation: The audible street-by-street directions can replace your in-car GPS but Google Navigation is definitely not ready for prime time. It’s the potential that I love. Verizon does offer a window mount for the Droid so it even looks like a portable car GPS. While the navigation did get me to the street I wanted to go to, it left me hanging by not saying what side of the street was my final destination. More stuff that needs work: Sending a Google Map from PC to phone, which is available for certain cars and some portable GPS brands; ability to add traffic alerts so you can avoid bad roads; more warning when an exit is nearby (seemed to tell me only when it was a quarter-mile away. And wouldn’t it be cool if Google navigation synced with your Google calendar so when heading to a meeting, navigation to the meeting immediately shows up on screen?

3. Multiple apps: Droid’s got a big one over the iPhone here. I can’t imagine living without access to multiple apps at the same time. Android allows you to switch between six at the same time.

4. Multiple sources for contacts. I loved the Palm Pre’s mashup of various social networks to create the ultimate address book, which Android didn’t offer previously. With Android 2.0, the phone pulls phone numbers from your Gmail contacts, Facebook friends and your corporate Exchange account. No updating or syncing necessary.

5. Voice search. Hands down, this is my favorite feature. I am trying to figure out how to get out of my two-year contract with T-Mobile because of this feature. Hit the “Voice Search” and just say exactly what you want. Navigate to a restaurant? Map of a store? Look up a phone number? This is like having your own personal concierge. (Added 11:56 p.m.: The G1 has Voice search too but it isn’t as robust.) On the down side, Droid doesn’t always understand your command. You have to say it clearly into the phone. However, I would guestimate that it was correct four out of five times, which was totally unexpected based on my experience with any sort of voice-activated technology. Google has a good video example of how this works.

More on Droid
On sale: Nov. 6, 2009 Price: $199.99 with 2-year contract Screen: 3.7-inch Processor: Cortex A8 Storage: 16 GB installed, slot for up to 32 GB card Wireless: 3G, Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev.A More info: Verizon’s Droid page Motorola’s Droid page

There are other features of the phone that I don’t feel too strongly about. As mentioned, it has the largest smartphone screen out there, at 3.7 inches. But the size wasn’t noticeably different from my G1′s 3.2-inch screen (maybe because I wear glasses, so everything looks small compared to my 24-inch monitor).

The Android apps market has grown to 12,000 paid and free apps. While that pales in comparison to Apple’s iPhone apps, which is now over 100,000, 12,000 is still a lot of apps and there are new ones out every day. So, Androids apps — or small supply of them — isn’t a negative for me. At least there are 12,000 Android apps!

My conclusion: I love Android 2.0 more than I love the Droid. Yes, it’s a nice phone, but what I love is what its software can do. More Android 2.0 phones are surely on their way. However, the big benefit to Droid? It uses Verizon Wireless’ network, the company I hear the fewest complaints about. As for the iPhone vs. Droid debate? You can’t compare them. One is with AT&T, the other is Verizon. It’s not like we have a choice anyway between an iPhone and Droid. That’s the real issue.

Earlier on Droid:

• Do I have the only Motorola Droid in Orange County?
• We’ve got Verizon’s new Droid! Watch the video

Recent Gadgetress headlines:

Spreading the word: Apricorn just announced a two-terabyte DVR expander. The catch: It’s for DirecTV DVRs.

The Poway-based Apricorn says that two terabytes can boost a DVR’s capacity by 250 hours of high-definition recordings or 1,124 hours of standard definition video. (Just did the math — you can record TV 24/7 for nearly seven weeks!)

The DVR Expander is available in capacities of 1 TB for $129; 1.5 TB for $199; and 2 TB for $259.  It plugs into the DirecTV DVR’s eSATA port. But when you power it up, you won’t be able to access recordings on the actual DVR. To do so, users must disconnect the DVR Expander and restart the DVR.

Apricorn tells me that the new device is not compatible with TiVo. It was released specifically for these DirecTV DVR receivers: HR20, HR21, HR22 and HR23. More details at Apricorn’s site HERE.

The company does offer DVR expanders for other DVRs that have eSATA or USB ports. But those devices only go up to 1.5 TBs. Here’s a link to other models.

Other companies that offer DVR expanders include Lake Forest’s Western Digital, which has expanders for DVRs with enabled eSATA or USB ports. That pretty much excludes cable TV company DVRs but does include TiVos. Seagate Technology also has a 1-TB DVR expander that works with Dish Network receivers.

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