This makes me want to get rid of my cable service, but who knows what will happen if and when Apple releases a new update? Let’s not think about that now. This is indeed a major step forward in integrating all the media you would ever want into one place. And as far as installation and usability, I have no complaints. I mean it is still in alpha and it is this good! The install was not bad at all as long as you follow the instructions on the Giz, and make sure that you update all the components of Boxee before running it. So take a look at the video below, as I detail the install and the usage of Boxee on the Apple TV.

So as you might have heard Circuit City is not doing too well. And though I prefer them to Best Buy, it looks like the time for CC might be coming to an end. Last week they announced they would be closing 20% of their stores, just days before announcing that they would be filing for bankruptcy. Ouch.

Well one of the stores being closed is the one near me, and they have 10% to 30% off of most things, so I thought I would go and see what kind of open box goodness I could enjoy. A few weeks back I reviewed the Flip Video Mino camera, take a look here. I love that little camera, and the video quality is pretty nice for something that fits in your pocket. The downside? It can’t read displays or text off of my computer or iphone or anything printed at all. It just won’t focus on it. So that is the only disappointment in a pocket sized video camera, fine with me. But still I had a gap to fill. 

I walked into circuit city and it was a mad house. I saw a nice little flash based camera that would be fine for recording short blurbs and it would certainly be able to zoom in on small text of all kinds. It was open box and was going for around $150. It still had the battery, charger and manual; just no box. I thought about what a great deal I was getting as I took it up to the counter…

Anyway, I paid and I was on my way. Once home I pulled out the manual to check out the functions, and noticed a second battery in the plastic bag. Score! Free spare battery! Then I saw something wasn’t right, the model number on the manual did not match the model number on my camera.

It turns out they had this camera grouped with the wrong set of cameras. They were trying to keep all the same model open boxes together, however a lot of the Samsungs use the same casing, and you have to check the model number on the inside of the screen to tell the difference. Well I paid about $150 for a $400+ HD (720p w/ HDMI) Camera. Not the top of the line by any means, but way above what I paid for!

I thought this was a nice change after years of being over-charged by retail, now it is my turn to taste a little victory.

Thank You Veterans!

Take a look at how easy it is, and how bad I am at it!

This is a great free application! (although the Sonos system comes at a price) If you have a Sonos and an iPhone this app is indispensable.

And think about this, a 1st generation iPod Touch is under $200 used, instead of one Sonos remote for $399, get 2 iPods and put this free application on them.

Update: I am finally blanking and restoring my firmware 1.1.1 iPhone 2G. Now that I have a 3G and the app store, I don’t need a jailbroken 2G. I will be using it as a Sonos remote from now on!

Click to purchase in the App Store.

In this case I didn’t even trust my normally trustworthy Amazon ratings which gave it an average score of 4.5 stars out of 5; 234 people surveyed.

Greyscale Goodness

Now here is your chance to relive your old days of greyscale global domination…except now in color on your iPhone. The game is Lux by SillySoft, and it is already poplular for the Mac and PC. They now have a free version for the iPhone, and I can’t get enough of it. 

This version Lux Touch is what they are calling the free version for the iPhone. The company says that they will be coming out with Lux Dlx (deluxe) in the near future which will have more levels and better AI. I can’t even imagine Risk on any other playing field besides the continents, but it is on its way to the iPhone. 

For more, take a look at the video review below:

 

Click to Purchase in the App Store

Zones is a Sonos remote control application for the iPhone. Although it is not perfect yet, it is functional and only $14.99. Still that is priced on the high side for an iPhone application. But the idea of having a Sonos remote integrated into something I always have in my pocket made me take the plunge.

I am impressed with the functionality so far. It runs very smoothly, and like the Sonos, setup is effortless. It is missing a couple of core functions for now, but there are work arounds. Take a look at the video below to the see the rest of the review.

Click to purchase in the App Store