Spy Sunglasses, LED Showers--Putting Skymall Gear to the Test

View this newsletter online | Newsletter Services | More Newsletters » Follow @geektech on Twitter August 6, 2011 PCWorld.com Talk Nerdy to Me

Before airplanes had in-flight Wi-Fi and seat-back TVs, it was up to Skymall magazine to keep you entertained during a long flight. Leafing through its pages transported passengers to a fantasy world of magical products, where dogs relieved themselves on indoor mats and men wore combination sunglasses-hats. We decided to find out how a few Skymall products performed back on terra firma, and the result is this eight-product testbed of odd-but-interesting gadgets. --Senior Editor Tim Moynihan Top Story The Treasures of Skymall Tested One of the guilty pleasures of flying is thumbing through the Skymall magazine to see what funky tech products are featured. But does any of this stuff actually work? We tried eight Skymall specials, from the Magic Wand TV remote to the LED showerhead. Top Tweets From @PCWPluggedIn You can finally buy shows on Apple TV At long last, Apple figured out its service's core competency. AT&T data throttling is a political stunt I'm glad that real politicians don't grandstand over artificial limits. Graphics card museum opens in Ukraine Conveniently located two doors down from the heat sink museum. Follow us every day on Twitter: @PCWPluggedIn Spotlight on Geek Tech 9 Geeky 80s Gadgets We Loved Take a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s with this list of cool retro gadgets and computers. Browse this week's Geek Tech. Download of the Week WallpaperPRO Create personalized 3D slide shows for your desktop with this inexpensive program. Fun & Games Graphics With 'Unlimited Detail' Could Soon Be Reality 3D graphics have, for many years now, been based on the idea of polygons--flat shapes fitted together to form objects. The iCade, an Arcade Cabinet for Your iPad Hankering for the days of pumping quarters into games at the local arcade? Check out the iCade, a tabletop arcade cabinet for your iPad. Places for Fun Stuff on PCWorld.com Fun and Games Downloads Shop for Video Games and Hardware PC World videos How to Build a Home Entertainment Network Learn to use your computer network as a next-generation entertainment hub. Get started. Advertisement Free Trial of Trend Micro Internet Security Pro Download Free 30-Day trial of full version, includes all security features of the regular product. Most Popular Searches Android Freeware Windows 8 Google Tablet PC Product Reviews Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2011 93 Pros Good interface; Strong malware detection Cons Scan speeds lag behind top performers Read Complete Review » Top 10 Paid Antivirus Programs for 2011 » Top 5 Paid Antivirus for 2011 » Barnes and Noble Nook (second generation) 87 Pros Facile touchscreen interface; Easy-to-hold thanks to light weight and texture; Great software design Cons Physical buttons are stiff and too hard to press Read Complete Review » Top E-Readers » Toshiba Thrive 4 Pros Removable battery, replaceable back cover; Sturdy design; SDXC Card slot, plus USB, HDMI, and mini-USB ports Cons Feels heavy, and stands thicker than most; Stereo speakers lack fullness, sound tinny Read Complete Review » Top 5 Tablets » Get Big Savings When you Shop at PCWorld.com Shop online at PCWorld.com, where you can compare product information, read trusted reviews, and find the best prices on consumer electronics. Portege R835-P56X 13.3" Black Notebook Price: $799.99 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review ProBook 4530s 15.6" Silver Notebook Price: $429.99 No User Ratings Yet Be the first to review Browse more Best Prices on Laptops, Notebook Accessories, Wireless Networking, Desktops Top News on PCWorld.com Free Firefox Tool Fights Search Hijacking The tool, called HTTPS Everywhere, helps prevent your search results from being hijacked and redirected. Share: Why Facebook Facial Recognition is Creepy: Redux Researchers take available Facebook photos and use facial recognition technology to identify the subjects. I told you so. Share: Top Reviews on PCWorld.com Tests Show HP TouchPad Update Falls Short HP's first major firmware update does little to improve the overall performance and usability of the TouchPad. Share: Laptop Refresh: Six Ways to Revitalize an Older Notebook Save money and bring an old laptop back to life with a few quick software and hardware upgrades. We show you how. 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