Apple TV seemed to have taken a back seat because of all the hype that surrounded the launch of the iPhone so heavily reported by the media.

This product is seen as a conduit between the computer and the TV, which will give the viewer a whole new range of TV viewing entertainment. The box is like an advanced DVD player which will enable the playing of music, movies, pod casts and photos. In fact, everything that you associate with the iPod and now the iPhone can be effortlessly played on your TV via a wireless connection.

With a 40 GB hard drive, the Apple TV unit can store up to 50 hours of video, 25,000 photographs, 9,000 songs or any combination of each. The Apple TV can link up to five computers and has a remote control that is supposed to work from 30 feet away.

The unit requires HD television, will cost around $299 and should be available to purchase in February.

Product Page [Apple TV]

When it comes to syncing your PC with your television there are some good options around, but none too easy on the pocket. Honest Technology have come up with this device which looks easy to use, versatile and most importantly, cost-effective.

MY-IPTV Anywhere enables you to send your television signal to your computer via an analogue feed. Not only that; you can change channels, burn DVDs and fast-forward/rewind live TV - all with an MPEG-4 H.264 quality image.

What’s the best part? With an internet connection, you can watch what your home computer is watching from any other PC in the world [peer-to-peer], plus schedule recordings with an internet based programming tool.

Because we’re talking about an analogue feed, you can plug anything in there, for example your home security camera to keep tabs of your home while you’re away. Plans are to support digital inputs and lacking Mac OS support in the future.

At around $100 for the box and software, we’re looking at good option. If the internet system runs smoothly and maybe some other functions are included [your DVD collection, music files etc] then this is a clear winner.

Product [HonesTech] Via [Boston]

It’s no secret that Amazon offers a 30-day price refund if you make a purchase from them. The programs works easily enough: you find a lower price on an item within 30 days of your purchase and Amazon refunds the difference. The trouble has been actually finding those prices to watch for.

Now you don’t have to.

You just submit your Amazon purchase to Refund Please and they’ll email you if the price drops within 30 days of your purchase. One cool item on their site is located at the top of the page. You can see the total amount of refunds that Refund Please has been able to get for people, along with the largest single refund to date. Somebody got really lucky and got a credit of over $3,000! I’m just wondering what they bought to get that massive amount of shekels back…

If you’re like me and you did some last minute online Christmas shopping, Refund Please might help you pay for some of those credit card bills that will be coming in over the next month or so

Read [Refund Please] Via [LifeHacker]

If you are big on recycling, you may like this one. The design company Passchal, creates bags of all shapes and sizes from discarded tires. Popular bags they have made so far range from laptop bags to iPod cases.

Made from inner tubes from tire centers, the bags are finished off with non leather colored trims. Every bag is made by hand and has a simple guarantee 50,000 miles or life!

Product Page [Passchal]

Sometimes you may find that using a laptop all the time for work and play can have an effect on your health. You may find that you get back pain, headaches and even problems with your hands, that is apart from the spelling mistakes from using the small keyboard. Yet most of us would not use anything, the laptop is the best thing around, we can work anywhere and at anytime, so what can be done to make things easier.

The guys at Logitech have developed a cool idea that may help with these problems. It is called The Alto, and it is similar to a docking station. However the Alto has more features including a full size keyboard, the screen is raised to eye level, hot keys and up to three USB ports which is really handing for the mouse and for printing etc.

The Alto works with Windows and Mac OS and will start with a price of around $100; the Alto will become available in the early part of 2007.

Product Page [Logitech]