Modding consoles is quite the risky business. After all, whenever you take apart a console by yourself, you're voiding the warranty and it may not work after you put it back together. Ben Heckendorn (or Ben Heck, as he is more commonly known) is not that kind of modder. He is the modder that modders all aspire to be. Check out why and what he just did to a backwards-compatible Sony PS3 in the full article.

  

If you think that the TuneBuckle for your iPod looks fun albeit a little loony, maybe you oughta cast a fresh look on a quite similar product dubbed as the BeatBuckle. This one is a clear plastic case designed to house the already axed first-gen iPod nano, among other iPod models. And in case you're wondering about it, yes, it will hold your pants up very nicely since it is an actual belt buckle that just happened to have an iPod.

You'd have to get your own belt or you can buy one from the same company for USD$ 10. It seems that the creators of the BeatBuckle were somewhat inspired by the case latching mechanism of the Apple-created iPod shuffle Sport Case. Plus, it would also provide access to the iPod's headphone and Dock Connector ports. Simplicity is beauty as they say, and for the price of USD$ 30, a lot of simple people might consider buying one or two.

A website called Advanced MP3 Players released some information about the new StormBlue A9+ Bluetooth portable media player. Like most new DAP and PMP players (and the Wii), you will be able to expand the memory with an SD memory card, which can go up to 4GB.

The most innovative/cool thing about StormBlue's A9+ though, is that you'll be able to make and receive calls through your cell phone because of its Bluetooth support. Obviously there is also Bluetooth headphone support. Besides that, it'll have your standard 7 equalizer modes plus a custom one.

Not much is known about video playback (it must be simple), although it has a 2" 220x176 LCD screen that can produce up to 20 FPS. The software that will be included can convert MPG, ASF, DAT, AVI and WMV files into a format compatible with the A9+. It also has an FM radio, voice recorder, alarm, a text file and a JPG viewer.

The 2GB version carries a price tag of £109 (US $207), while the 4GB one costs £149 (US $283). Launch date is still on "To be announced" status.

It's always nice to reflect on what we have now compared to what technology was like in another period, and with all of the latest technology being spoon-fed into your brains here at QJ Gadgets we thought we'd give you a change of scenery with this vintage gadget. The Sony Portable CD-I IVO-V11 Intelligent Discman is a very rare gadget that basically turned out to be a flop. The device was released in 1990/1991 and plays a format known as the CD-I/CD-Interactive format.

Games such as Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon came out on the CD-I format as well as movies and other video content. The player has a built-in LCD screen as well as a headphone jack and S-Video jacks for hooking this device up to a TV. The Sony CD-I IVO-V11 is incredibly rare and has been valued at prices between $150 and $400. This wonderful gadget is up for auction on eBay, with the auction finishing in 6 hours from now. This is the first one of these we have seen for sale ever, and will probably be one of the last, so get moving if you want to snag it!

 

Even for those of you with "wireless" systems, chances are the back of your computer area is an unholy mess of tangled cords. Just keeping a set of headphones in your pocket, you'll often wind up with a Gordian Knot that would have frustrated the great Macedonian general himself.

How many of you have spent a half-hour or more untangling headphone cords? Ummm...ALL of you...?

So - what's the best solution? There are two approaches: one is to neatly wind the cord around one's finger. The other is just to stuff  'em in your pocket.

A contributor to a British science column tried both of these. His results were counter-intuitive: oddly, stuffing them randomly into your jeans seems to make them less likely to become tangled. This would seem to go against the common wisdom that neatness makes for better organization. The best theory as to why random stuffing works better is because by doing this, one part of the wire is less likely to cross another at an angle and thus pass under it to form a knot.

Other possible strategies: fold the headphones and tie the cord in place using the end of the lead. The danger is that the wire may break. Another might by to simply let the cord hang straight down outside your pant leg, but then there's the danger of stepping on it and tripping - damaging both your headphones and quite possibly, you.

So...anyone else have some experiences with this issue? And, how might you apply it to the dusty, tangled mess under your computer station? Let's hear from you!

We know you've all been wondering how Zune will fare against Apple's iPod in terms of features, interface, screen layout, etc. We got tidbits on some of the major features that Zune will have and allow me to go through a few of them as quick as i can:

The scroll thing in the middle that looks like a wheel: Unlike its rival, Zune doesn't have the touch-sensitive scrolling feature. It looks like a wheel, but it is really just buttons placed on the four sides. Left button lets you access the menu, and the play/pause button is on the right one. The buttons on the top and bottom of the 'wheel' lets you scroll up and down menus. On top of the player, near the headphone port, is a hold switch just like the one you have in your iPod.

General User Interface: White text on black screens and a visual effect of a white and gray-colored highlight bar that fades in and out as you scroll through the menus. The wallpaper for the screen is user-customizable, and the screen itself is bigger than the one in your 30G iPod. Album art can be viewed in a full screen mode but also leaves room for track details and battery life indicator at the bottom.


More of the Zune features after the jump!

On the 27th of June, RCA brought three new MP3 player models into the market - the 4GB RCA H100 ($139), the 6GB RCA H106 and the H116 (both $169 each). All models are available to purchase right now, but lack features such as an FM tuner, recording capabilities, photo support, and video support.

The RCA H100 series is compatible with WMA subscriptions and audible files. Although it is much bulkier than an iPod Nano and lacks the flamboyance of a Creative Zen V, so those looking for an affordable medium-capacity player with no extra features at all should check this player out. That will do it for the H100, next is the H116.

While the H116 series isn't ugly, the lack of a glossy high-tech appeal and prominent branding gives the lightweight player a very generic buzz about it. Holding it in the hand comes natural, and at its thinnest point on the player the device measures 3.5 by 2 by .5 inches. It's not as skinny as a Nano nor the Creative Zen V Plus, but that doesn't take away from the overall user experience.

As RCA representatives have stated, the H100 series is "so small, that it can hide behind a business card." RCA reps have also confirmed that there isn't a difference between the H106 and H116 models- in fact, all of the series models are practically identical from the outside.

The full review awaits after the jump!

Levi Strauss has once again proven why it remains to be the leading name in the denim industry. Setting a new definitive standard for innovation, Levi's has announced that it will soon be launching its newest line, the Levi's Redwire DLX Jeans. This product is no ordinary denimwear, for it showcases the unlikely marriage of fashion and technology.

The Redwire DLX Jeans is specifically designed to cater to the fast-growing iPod-toting global population. Fit for both men and women, the iPod Jeans allow music-loving fashionistas to enjoy their tunes on the go, and hands-free. This is made possible by the built-in iPod docking cradle hidden from view within a side pocket. The pocket design promises to eliminate that "iPod bulge", thus maintaining a clean, cramped-free look. Adding funk to the design is the red conductive ribbon, which allows the user to easily pull out the iPod from the pocket.

Particularly astonishing is the existence of a special joystick remote control housed in the watch pocket to ensure maximum operation of the tunes without having to remove the iPod from the pocket. Through these "Hip Controls", it becomes easier to fast track or play back or even to adjust the volume of the music being listened to.                          

The new Levi's jeans also have a headphone unit that is retractable to get those annoying tangled earphone wires out of the way.

Coming out this fall of 2006, the Levi's Redwire DLX Jeans is sure to rock not only the world of music, but also the world of fashion.

Oh, and it is totally safe for machine wash--provided that you take out your iPod first, of course.

Water and MP3 players? Doesn't make sense. Before, listening to your MP3 player near a body of water, say in the pool for example, is a big no-no. You just can't afford to have your player and the speaker get wet or else...But now you can, with iFloat.

iFloat is a waterproof case and speaker designed for MP3 players. Now you can enjoy music under any weather condition. You can even take your player with you as you lounge in the pool during hot summer days for iFloat can literally float! It has a reliable hard-shell case with secure, rubber gasket seal that is completely waterproof. See the case in action by plugging it in your MP3 player of choice, as long as the player's compatible with a 3.5mm headphone jack. All it needs is a 9-volt battery and it's ready to serve your listening pleasure.

If you have $35 to spare, you might want to check out this Brookstone product. We must mention though, that there's a note in the product that says it's "not intended for prolonged swimming or underwater use." So just how long can iFloat really be "waterproof", we don't know.

If your iPod isn't making a statement anymore because every other person you meet has one tucked in his or her pocket, you know it's time to switch to something that will set you apart from the MP3-worshipping bunch.

Why not try a little old school approach and grab a Spirit of St. Louis MK II Field Radio Portable Unit? Obviously, it won't fit in your pocket, but it'll surely make heads turn when this contraption starts blasting music. Even the b-boys will pause from their breakdancing to get a glimpse of your new airplane-inspired sound machine.

But this device isn't just an interesting conversation piece. It features an AM/FM radio, a programmable CD player, a tape deck, twin speakers and a headphone jack - all housed in a good old-fashioned polished oak chest. It's something your grandpa might be proud to call his own - and for a whopping £299.99 ($558), it better be lasting quality.