FakeTV emulates human watching the tube, supposedly discourages thieves
[Via BoingBoing]
Filed under: Misc, Displays, Other hardware
[Via BoingBoing]
Relevant Posts
- Charter fails to deliver 65-inch HDTV to contest winner, sends 19-inch box instead (21 days ago - 33 Comments)
- Charter sends contest winner two smaller TVs, plays "miscommunication" card (15 days ago - 18 Comments)
- HD premiere of South Park's Imaginationland airing on DirecTV's The 101 (55 days ago - 10 Comments)
- Sanyo now buying LCDs from Sharp, partnership could spread to kitchen appliances (61 days ago - 0 Comments)
- HD DVD holding its value in Dominican Republic (84 days ago - 23 Comments)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthew Brundage @ May 21st 2008 12:28PM
Judging from the picture, it looks like the ghost of Elliott Smith has returned and is now dabbling in petty crime.
Big Wizz @ May 21st 2008 12:32PM
Didn't expect to see this one on EngadgetHD.
Just because TV is in the tagline?
kcjones @ May 21st 2008 1:09PM
What's funny is how the light from the strobe is bluish color, like the output of most TVs, The alarm function of most TVs will serve the same purpose. Set the alarm and the TV will turn on at the preset time, then turn off after a certain amount of time has elapsed. My 20 year old 19" tube will turn on and stay on for 1 hour before turning off with its alarm function.
Wryker @ May 21st 2008 1:16PM
you guys miss the point - for those that have an LCD, Plasma or DLP TV; these sets have 'limited life spans' for bulbs, screen life, etc - so why reduce the life of your TV when you can use this? i think it's a great idea.
jrtallen @ May 21st 2008 1:26PM
You know what else can do this? AN ACTUAL TV SET, which I already have.
Andy Anonymous @ May 21st 2008 11:50AM
Way to miss the point...unless you really want to leave your TV set on while you're on vacation. This thing presumably uses less power and doesn't wear out your flat panel faster.
Frank Furter @ May 21st 2008 12:32PM
I don't think he missed anything. I could stick a $5 lamp timer on my LCD TV in the bedroom and the energy consumption would be barely noticeable, if at all. Genius? I think not.
Randy @ May 21st 2008 1:08PM
@ Andy Anonymous,
Some TV's have auto on/off timers.
Brian @ May 21st 2008 1:45PM
So, your on vacation and instead of running a cheap $49 low power lamp for 8 hours during the middle of the night, your would rather use your actual TV?
And I hate to break it to you, but not all TV's have timers. Go troll elsewhere.
Frank Furter @ May 21st 2008 2:06PM
Let's say you're on vacation for 5 nights. 8 hours of timed TV a night would be 40 hours of TV. So you believe that 40 hours of TV shortens the TV/bulb life enough that a $60 investment (product, tax, S&H), will make up for that?
W.C. Fields was right.
Wryker @ May 21st 2008 4:46PM
Err - yeah, using your LCD TV using the same power consumption as this device?! Where did you study electrical engineering - from a cracker jack box. And buying an old tube TV uses a ton of electricity too! And it's also NOT good for new TVs to be flipped on and off several times a day - do some research.
Ron @ May 21st 2008 1:44PM
People are talking about buying a small old tv and leave it on. You can get them for 10-20 at your local St Vincent.
To me as I walk by a house at 2AM...nude of course is Hey....looks like they own a tv...might be a good place to break into!
Frank Furter @ May 21st 2008 2:07PM
Yes, because we know how rare it is to find a home with a TV......
Achilles @ May 21st 2008 3:31PM
DAMN!!! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SimbaDogg @ May 21st 2008 5:43PM
umm...am i the only one thats scratching my head at the price? i mean..at $50 bucks i'm sure you could find 2 used 19-20 inch tvs at a garage sale in a weekend.
nathan @ May 21st 2008 5:58PM
Guys, this thing eats of 3 watts of power when operating at full output. The money savings along, versus a TV eating up 100 or 200 watts, is pretty worthwhile -- and it's even more pleasing if you are trying to be green.
jrtallen @ May 21st 2008 9:17PM
Estimated cost per month of running a flat panel TV is about 5$.
So, lets say it costs $1.25 per week (on average). Assuming a week-long vacation, at 1 vacation per year, it would take 48 years for this thing to pay for itself in energy savings (assuming it costs $60, and its power consumption is negligible compared to a TV.) Two vacations a year and you cut that down to a mere 24 years!
That is all leaving aside the fact that you have this dumb THING that you would haul out once a year from the attic or wherever you put it after your last vacation (hopefully you can remember.)
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/S-v8UcaH8Quvb/learningcenter/home/TV-power.html
duzzyman @ May 21st 2008 10:04PM
Just hook up your TV to those dang light timers for 10 bucks
Pain @ May 22nd 2008 1:04AM
Many of us work the night shift. So it's not just for when you go on vacation. This could be a good thing to get to make it appear someone is home when you're away at work. It's a good idea. For everyone?? Well, no. But, it's a good concept and a lower power consumption than TVs.