If you’re having trouble with digital-TV reception, maybe you should try a coat hanger.

One thing that came out of the DTV switch is that an antenna is really important for over-the-air reception. This seems reasonable, but it came as a surprise to many viewers, who found that their previous antenna setup no longer was effective. Many people have reported going through several models trying to find the right one for their digital-reception situation. Well, now, an enterprising do-it-yourselfer in Kansas has created a video showing how to create an HDTV antenna out of coat hangers, wood, coaxial cable and other cheap parts. Here’s how:

Does it work? High Def Digest, where I first learned about it, says, “While results are mixed as compared to a store bought antenna, the general response seems to fairly positive.” That, of course, depends on whom you talk to. Comments at YouTube include: “Awesome! Five dollars and two hours later, this antenna has had absolutely NO effect on my reception whatsoever.” As well as, “Just a quick fyi, this video makes this look incredibly simple and quick. I’m an hour and a half into making this thing, and it’s very frustrating.”

Here’s the reality: This setup probably isn’t better than other options. If it works for you, chances are many other store-bought models would, as well. The key here is that this DIY version is cheap. If it works, you run around telling everyone how you got over-the-air HDTV reception using a coat hanger. “It’s amazing!” If it doesn’t, you’re out a few bucks and you wasted a few hours making the thing — and you probably don’t brag about it much.  

So, are you going to raid your closet for your next antenna?

It turns out you were getting a deal when the PlayStation 3 sold for $599. It actually cost $840 to make, according to Business Week (via ZiggyTek, via friend Steve Hopstaken). That was for the 60GB model. The $499 20GB version? It cost Sony $805 to make. Similarly, the originally $399 Xbox 360 really cost $470 for Microsoft to make. 

Why? The companies were hoping for long-term sales to make up for the initial loss. Since both companies also develop games for their systems and, more importantly, earn money from licensing, accessories and related services, such as Xbox Live, it’s a bold business model that’s not uncommon in the industry. With estimated worldwide console sales of close to 31 million for the 360 and 23 million for the PS3, it seems to have worked. And as the systems have become more popular, they’ve also become cheaper to produce from the early days, when these figures are for. “Falling prices on components turned [Microsoft’s] $71 per-unit loss of 2005 into a $76 per-unit profit by the end of 2006,” Business Week says.

Here, according to Business Week, are other popular gadgets and what they cost when they were introduced vs. the actual cost of their components:

iPhone 3G S
MSRP: $199 (starting)
Actual cost:  $179.16

Palm Pre
MSRP:  $200 (after rebate)
Actual cost:  $137.83

Amazon Kindle 2
MSRP:  $359
Actual cost: $185.49

BlackBerry Storm
MSRP: $249
Actual cost: $202.89

iPod Touch (1G)
MSRP: $299 (8GB), $399 (16GB) 
Actual cost: $147, $179

iMac
MSRP: $1,299 
Actual cost: $898

Finally, the first HD DVD player cost Toshiba $700 in components. It sold the model, the HD-A1, for $499. Talk about an uphill battle. Toshiba didn’t even stand to profit from selling discs. Sure, it would have benefitted in other ways and manufacturing costs would have declined, but it sure put a lot of money on the line in backing the high-def disc format. And now you can find the HD-A1 — with 10 movies on HD DVD! — for less than $35 shipped on eBay.

TAKE THE TECHNOBABBLE MP3 CHALLENGE!
Can you tell the difference between MP3s and the original CD?

The Palm Pre just came out this weekend, yet Rapid Repair has already posted an online guide showing how to take the iPhone challenger apart. It looks complex, judging from the disassembled device shown below. I like the part in the last step where it says, “Reverse this guide to put it back together” — adding dryly, “good luck.”

With Circuit City filing for bankruptcy and closing 20 percent of its stores, Dealnews offers an important reminder to avoid deals that include a mail-in rebate from the retailer (as opposed to a manufacturer) and to avoid buying the store’s gift cards. The struggling retailer is bound to offer lots of deals on electronics, video games and DVDs (although its selection on the last two has never been stellar) as the holidays approach, but be wary of ones that don’t have an immediate payoff. By the way, based on this list of Circuit City store closings, none appears to be occuring in Minnesota.

Now, you can get an 8GB iPod Nano (3rd gen) for only $99 shipped, directly from Apple. That’s $30 lower than when I wrote about Apple’s new lower prices on its previous-generation iPod models in the wake of its new line of players. Dealnews has an overview of all the deals, which include a 1GB Shuffle for $39 and an 80GB iPod Classic for $169.

There really is little fine print here. These are refurbs, but they are straight from Apple and carry the same 1-year warranty as a new iPod. (Most other iPod refurb “deals” online come with only a 30- to 60-day no-name warranty provided by the retailer.) Actually, the Nano I just got for my daughter wasn’t even packaged as a refurb; I think it was just overstock as a result of the iPod models that just came out.

If you don’t need the latest candy colors and whiz-bang features, these are excellent deals.

I ordered an iPod Nano Monday night. Of course, Apple introduced a new model Tuesday. But the company clearly took pity on me. Let me explain.

When I order an iPod — three in the past year — I always buy  refurbished models directly from the Apple Store. They’re certified to be good as new — and, in fact, look no different than a new store-bought model. They also are significantly cheaper, with free shipping. For example, the third-generation 8GB iPod Nano refurb (pictured) that I ordered Monday night was $149, $50 off the retail price, with free FedEx shipping.

I got an e-mail saying that the item had been shipped and that my credit card had been charged early Tuesday afternoon, about the same time that Apple was announcing its new iPod lineup, which includes a fourth-generation makeover for the Nano and pricing of — you guessed it — $149 for the 8GB model. Oh, well, I thought, the iPod is a birthday gift for my soon-to-be 13-year-old daughter, and she’ll be happy with her first iPod whether it’s a 3G or 4G.

But then late last night, just before midnight — again, after the item was shipped and my card charged — I got another email from Apple:

“Apple has announced a price drop for the refurbished iPod Nano that you recently ordered. We have automatically adjusted  your order to reflect the new lower price. … Thank you for shopping at the Apple Store.”

Wow. Just wow. I am no Apple disciple, but that is surely impressive customer service. And the new price? $129. Not the steepest discount, considering the new Nano price, but entirely unexpected — and appreciated.