Gadgets Blog

Home theater in a box really isn’t. It’s a surround receiver, some cheap speakers and a DVD player, sure, but there’s way more to the equation than just audio. And Epson is betting that with the transition to HDTV in full swing, people looking for an all in one solution to transform that den into a serious home THEATER will be looking their way. Enter the new Ensemble HD Home Theater kits.

Ranging from $5,000 and up, the new Ensemble HD home theater kits come with literally everything you need to turn that extra room into more than just a TV unit, but a silver screen theatrical experience. The bargain kit comes with a 720 front projector, while the $6500 and $8,000 model enjoy Epson’s 3LCD 1080p front projector systems. Also included in the kits are motorized 100-inch screen, integrated surround sound, AV controller with built-in DVD player, universal remote, and installation kit to get it up on the wall and hooked together.

Now sure, that sounds like a bunch of coin. But when you consider that piecemeal, this would probably all run nearly twice that (those 100 inch screens really aren’t cheap) even the bargain basement $5 grand kit amounts to a screaming good deal for those who like both pro sports and action flicks. The only thing really missing is the popcorn.

Hat Tip - Oh Gizmo

Sure, you can get an attachment for that Kitchen Aide mixer which will allow you to make your own fettucine, but short of cannibalizing your kids Play Doh pumper number 9, you won’t get the chance to make elbow pasta or wheel pasta or those cute little bow ties. If you could do that, then making pasta would be something more interesting as there are literally hundreds of styles of pasta that can be made by pushing your semolina through a die cast mold. This Japanese model, called “Pasta Pasta” does just that.

Okay, the Pasta Pasta only makes just eight different kinds, and you have to hand crank it, but still, it can be fun. You just mix up and refrigerate some pasta dough, and when it’s firm enough, roll up some into a tube and place it into the canister. Rig that into the pumping mechanism, and start cranking. The dough gets forced through the die cast molds and then all one needs to do is cut off the shape when it makes the required thickness. Lather, rinse, repeat.

In addition to fettucine, the Pasta Pasta makes bowties, elbows, wagon wheels, twirls, raviolis, medallions and what looks to be a shell like pasta.

Cool “as seen on TV” video here.

All parts are made of ABS plastic and clean up is promised to be simple. Cost is about $155 US from Japan Trend Shop.

Hat Tip â€" Random Good Stuff