Super Bowl 2013: party tech ideas that cost less than a ticket
Here's what you'll need for the Harbaugh Bowl
It packs twin 75 Watt speakers into the discrete sound bar, and comes with a conveniently wireless 150W subwoofer. Two HDMI inputs are hidden in the back of the bar, while Bluetooth brings even more wire-free functionality to the SBX 4250 and pairs with smartphones, tablets, and computers.
You'll also be pleased to know that because this is a wall-mounted sound bar, you'll be able to do your own end zone dance without tripping and making a complete fool of yourself.
TiVo Premiere XL4 DVR
When controversial calls aren't sent to the review booth right away, you can do your own instant replay with a DVR. That's become standard practice for sports fans over the last decade, and in that time, TiVo has remained the best device for personalized "unofficial booth reviews."
The TiVo Premiere XL4 is the DVR mogul's most sophisticated Series4 model, with four tuners to record four different shows at once, THX Certified audio, a backlit remote, and 300 hours of HD recording. That's enough to fit the entire Super Bowl and the post-game show, and have enough room left over for about a week's worth "Law & Order" reruns.
With apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, YouTube, and now Spotify, there's plenty else to listen to if you're still sore at Beyonce and want to skip out on the halftime show.
Interactive Toy Concepts RC Cooler
Saying "beer me" during the Super Bowl elicits an entirely different response when owning Interactive Toy Concepts' RC Cooler. This remote-controlled bucket of brews was designed with wheels on the bottom so that no one has to get up off of the couch.
The RC Cooler holds at least 12 cold adult beverages, works indoors and outdoors, collapses for easy storage, and even has a bottle cap-shaped controller. More than a novelty cooler, it enables you to be a good host without forcing you to get off the couch between every whistle.
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NewAir AI-100BK 28-Pound Portable Icemaker
One of the most overlooked items when preparing for a Super Bowl party - and any party for that matter - is ice. There's some in your freezer right now, but there's never enough. Remember, buying bottles of water once seemed ridiculous but is now commonplace. The same applies to frozen water, aka ice. You just plain need it.
The NewAir AI-100BK Portable Icemaker solves this age-old dilemma with its ability to make 28 pounds of ice per day. The first batch can be ready in 15 minutes and the entire setup fits on the countertop. If more people owned a portable icemaker, no one would have to go out and buy bags of ice again, and warm beer would finally be a thing of the past.
RCA ANT751R Antenna
Looking for the best HD picture for Super Bowl 2013? The $80 RCA ANT751R Antenna delivers just that via an over-the-air signal that's completely free. That's right, you don't have to pay out the nose for local channels like NBC, ABC, Fox, and home of this year's Super Bowl, CBS.
This rather large VHF or UHF antenna is able to capture high-definition signals from up to 40 miles away, and some owners have reported luck from even greater distances. It's supposed to be installed either outside or out of sight in an attic.
Once installed, you'll notice that the signal is even better than the compressed quality that cable and satellite companies put out there. There's no better or cheaper way to watch the game.
RCA TVPRAMP1R Outdoor Antenna Preamplifier
Outdoor antennas are powerful, but being out of range of broadcast towers or having obstructed lines of sight for a perfect signal can interfere with certain channels. There'd be no bigger Super Bowl party foul that having CBS break up on you when guests are expecting to watch the game from kickoff to the final whistle.