Despite the DVR market being usurped by cable companies, TiVo has managed to keep going and trying to bring new ideas to market. Today they announced TiVo Stream, which will allow owners of TiVo Premiere boxes ($150-250, $15/month) and an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to stream video or transfer it directly to their device:

TiVo Stream seamlessly delivers the content available on a consumer's TiVo Premiere or Premiere Q DVR to alternative screens such as iPads and iPhones. Unlike similar offerings in the market, this is the first product to enable streaming or download of shows simultaneously to multiple portable devices without interrupting what's playing on the television. The power of TiVo Stream enables users to quickly transfer shows to their mobile device for viewing outside the home.

This is a pretty cool upgrade for iOS and TiVo users if it works as well as described.

TiVo Expands Whole-Home and Multi-Screen Offerings | TiVo via MacWorld

Despite the many technological advancements we've had over the past few years, interlaced video seems to have stuck around. Interlaced is the "i" in 1080i and the reason it's not quite as good as 720p. It's in your cable, your televisions, and your camcorders. You should stop using it. Benjamin Higginbotham, the Technology Evangelist, explains why in the above video.

Essentially, when you're dealing with interlaced video you're really only seeing half the resolution because the image is split into two fields that alternate very quickly. This tricks our eyes into seeing the full image even when it's not being displayed at the same time. This was very useful for overcoming bandwidth limitations in the early days of standard definition. Now we can display progressive video (the "p" in 720p and 1080p) which shows us the full image in every frame. With 720p video, you get 720 lines of horizontal resolution in each frame. With 1080i video, you only get half of 1,080 lines of resolution (meaning 540) in each frame. In many cases this isn't a big deal, but it starts to show up in interlaced artifacts during high amounts of motion in any given frame. Basically, objects in fast motion will look like they're smearing cross the screen instead of looking natural. There are also numerous issues that can arise when displaying interlaced footage on progressive displays like HDTVs, for example. For a full run-down of what is a pretty complicated subject, be sure to watch the video above. While 1080p is definitely your best bet in terms of highest resolution, don't think that 1080i is just as ideal because the number's the same. Choosing a progressive resolution like 720p will look a lot nicer.

720p vs 1080i HD Explained (HQ) | YouTube via PetaPixel via Apartment Therapy Tech

IKEA's new UPPLEVA entertainment center promises the holy grail of home theaters: a fully integrated, organized TV, stereo, and peripherals. If you'd like something similar but with a bit more choice, you can built it yourself. Here's how.

IKEA's famous for making attractive, functional furnishings…that you'll find in every other house on the block. Going the DIY route may be more work, but it allows you to incorporate these ideas in any home theater furniture (and gear) of your choosing. Plus, while the UPPLEVA is coming to Europe within the next few months, US tech heads won't be seeing it until at least next Spring. So, if you like the idea of a unified entertainment center but want to add a bit of individuality (not to mention get it now instead of next year), here's a look back at some our favorite solutions for doing just that—as well as a few we haven't featured before.

One Set-Top Box with All the Media You Need

The first point IKEA makes is that you have a ton of things connected to your TV—cable boxes, DVD and Blu-Ray players, DVRs, video game systems, and whatever else you may want. These days, that number's probably gone down quite a bit, but there are a lot of devices out there that will help you consolidate even more—like the Boxee Box, Apple TV, or even a home-built media center. In fact, if you built your own home theater PC, you could toss XBMC on there with a few add-ons and get everything you could ever want, from Blu-Ray to video games to Netflix and other streaming video from the web.

Now, you're still dealing with a big ugly computer in most conventional cases, but if you really wanted to fit perfectly into your entertainment center, you could. Obviously, the best way would be to build that entertainment center yourself from the ground up—as described in this Instructable—but that isn't ideal for everyone. If you have an entertainment unit you already like, you can build that home theater PC right inside its cupboards so it's actually part of it (you could also try this method if you have drawers instead of cupboards). If your unit is open, you can add your own doors to keep it a bit cleaner, and armed with an infrared repeater, you could control them without ever opening up and exposing your electronics—just like IKEA boasts in their product.

One Remote Control to Control Everything

Speaking of controlling your electronics, IKEA also mentions that their unit has one master remote control for everything, but these days, that shouldn't be considered a huge feat. If you aren't using a universal remote for your entertainment unit, you should be—check out our top 5 choices of universal remotes to find the right one for you. Of course, if you want something cheaper, you can always buy a good universal remote for $15 at your local electronics store, and it should still do a good job of controlling everything. You can even use it to control that home theater PC with LIRC. In a nutshell: if you have more than one remote on your coffee table, there's no reason you can't consolidate them down to one.

Small, Wireless Speakers

If you want better sound than your TV gives you, you have two choices—you can go big (ugly) or go small (less ugly). However, high quality small speakers can be harder to come by, so we'll defer to our gadget-obsessed friends at Gizmodo for this one: they recommend the Audyssey Media Speakers for true space savings, or if you're looking for a more intense 5.1 setup, you can grab a space-efficient systems without spending a ton. And, while some good cable management is all you need to get everything neat (see below), you can also go completely wireless with any set of speakers using an adapter like the previously mentioned Audioengine W1.

Cable Clutter Solutions

The real draw of IKEA's system is how clean it looks—there are no cables to be found anywhere on that thing. Chances are you have a ton of cables cluttering up your living room, especially if you're doing awesome things with the unused ports on your TV. However, if you're willing to work at it, you can get the same effect on nearly any entertainment center yourself. You could even go completely wireless if you want—though that can get expensive quickly, so if you want to try hiding your cables first, we have suggestions for that too. In fact, we've done a whole start-to-finish guide on decluttering your entertainment center, from shortening your cables to hiding your power strip (ironically, IKEA already offers a lot of great cable management pieces, too). And, if all else fails, you can embrace your cables instead of cursing them.

Obviously, the main appeal of IKEA's setup is that it's hassle-free: you buy the unit, bring it home, and it's pre-designed to be clean, organized, and unified. But chances are you already have a lot of things you don't want to get rid of, like your 50 inch TV or home-built media PC. With the above tricks, you should be able to take the things you already have and get a similar, if not almost identical setup to the IKEA one. Got any of your own tips for decluttering and unifying your entertainment center? Share them with us in the comments.

If you're a fan of technology, chances are you've retired a few gadgets over the years and they're sitting in a box in your closet. Today's the day to dig out your leftovers and start thinking about what you can do to let them live and breathe again. Here are ten of our favorite ideas to get you started.

10. Repurpose Your Old Computer in Many, Many Ways

Repurposing an old computer is awesome but it's obvious, so let's get this one out of the way first. There is so much you can do. Laptops can become tablets, desktops can become powerful storage devices, and much more. Old computers are just slow computers with an outdated selection of ports, less storage and RAM, and generally paltry graphics cards. All you need is something else that has those minimal requirements and there's plenty you can do. Web servers, media centers, retro arcades, a kitchen computer that can get a little messy because it's old and you don't care,

9. Create Audio-Visual Mixes for Parties with a Digital Photo/Media Frame

The digital photo frame is something we've all gotten as a gift or bought with hopes that it was going to take us into the future of photo displaying. In the end, I think most of us feel like we were sold storage box filler. If you actually use a digital picture frame, you get the added bonus of paying more money for it for the rest of time. These things draw a reasonably large amount of power for something nobody is looking at most of the time, especially considering their analog predecessors—you know, normal picture frames—don't have that downside and can still display whatever photo you want. I could go on complaining about the downsides of spending tens of dollars on one of these basically pointless devices, but let's not and focus on the positive instead.

You don't want to be running your digital picture frame 24/7 (unless you love paying for wasted energy), so your best bet is to start looking at the thing as a device for specific events. Instead of loading it up with photos, stock your frame's internal storage (or SD card) with art that you like. If it can play video, put music videos on it or just find some awesome motion graphics on Vimeo (that's what I did). Hook it up during a party and you've got something cool to display (instead of photos of your tame vacation to Southern Florida). If it handles audio, too, hook up some speakers and you'll essentially have an audio-visual party mix.

8. Make a Clock, Smartphone Stand, or Laser Show with a Dead Hard Drive

What can you do with a dead hard drive? A lot, apparently. For example, you can turn it into a laser light show projector, make a steampunk clock, or turn it into a smartphone stand. Hard drives, even when dead, always seem like such a substantial thing to throw away. Instead, just make something cool and let it's spirit live on against the wall, on your desk, and in your heart.

7. Lose an Old Laptop, Gain a Second Monitor

Yeah, yeah, we've technically looked at things you can do with an old computer but those were all things that didn't involve taking them apart and actually turning them into new things. If you've got an old laptop that you never use but wouldn't mind having a second display for your desktop computer (or newer laptop), you're in luck! This Instructables post will teach you how to take your laptop apart and make the display usable with another computer. You could even use the bottom half of your laptop to do any of the old computer uses we mentioned earlier. It's a win-win.

6. Create the Best Keychain Ever with Old Cables

While old cables are nice to have around in case you need them someday, there isn't much you can do to repurpose them into something better. Nonetheless, there is one really awesome option: the Ethernet cable keychain. (See the photo to the right if you're not sure why this is so awesome). Technically you could do this with other types of cables, but Ethernet has the distinct advantage of being both thick and locking into its port. Other cables might not hold the weight of your keys or stay in quite as well.

5. Turn Your Nintendo Entertainment System, Controllers, and Games into Several Awesome New Gadgets

The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) will live on forever as so many different items. You can turn it into a DVD player, make a game cartridge a wireless router, repurpose a controller as an MP3 player or remote control. If you're not ready to part with your NES, you can also just give it an upgrade and, therefore, a bit more life. Just don't let it go to waste.

4. Use Those Unused Ports on Your TV to Charge Your Phone, Set up a Security Camera, and More!

The ports on the back of your TV are often under-appreciated. Most of us plug in an HDMI box or two and call it a day, but the old school ports (and even some newer ones) let you do all sorts of neat things. The service USB port on most flatscreens is one of the most fun, allowing you to power all sorts of USB devices. This means you can plug in backlighting, or charge your smartphone or game controller. Video out ports can output what's on your television to another monitor or device so you can view from multiple locations or record what you're watching. A port or two on your television can probably host live video input from a camera you own, which can work as a makeshift security monitor or even a fun display at a party. For a whole bunch of ideas, and a primer on all the ports you've got, check out this post.

3. Turn Your Router into a Wireless Radio

Although I've been with the same router for four years now (aww), before I decided to settle down with my DD-WRT-ed LinkSys 310N I went through routers like toilet paper. If I hadn't given them all new homes before learning I could turn one of them into a wireless radio, I'd have done that in a heartbeat. Although this is one of the more complex DIY projects you can take on, it's also one of the coolest. Just check out the video to the left to learn how it's done. It's definitely a weekend project, but when you're done you'll have a wireless radio for the price of a router you weren't even using.

(Pssst! If that's not your style, try this bonus option: turn your router into a home automation server.

2. Use a Mobile Device as a Dedicated VOIP Phone

iPod touches make great iPhones when you add Skype, or any other VOIP service, to their array of apps, but any old device will do. Even if you've got a tablet you're not using anymore it can make a great phone (if you add a headset). Just keep it around the house and you've got a great makeshift home phone line (especially when you get Google Voice involved). Tablets also make great video conferencing devices (assuming they're sporting cameras). If you'd rather not sell yours because it isn't worth much anymore, use it solely for communication. It's remarkably helpful if you don't get great (or any) cellular service in your home.

1. Upgrade Your Crappy Headphones

When you're spending under $50 on headphones you're generally not going to get the greatest pair, but there is a lot you can do to make them worth far more than their price tag. Replacing the drivers yourself can net you audiophile-level sound on the cheap. You can also splice them with a headset to give them a few extra superpowers or even turn them into a noise-isolating headset (in some cases). If you've got a crappy pair and some time, these upgrades will give you a better sound and features without the associated cost.