Gizmodo: USB Doorbell

YourBell USB Doorbell Lets You Choose Your Chime

Charlie White — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:00:00 EDT

Doorbell technology is in growth mode, as evidenced by YourBell, yet another USB-connected doorbell that stores and plays MP3 and WAV files and uses your existing doorbell button. It's similar to that ReBell we showed you yesterday. This one has a 4-inch speaker for so-called "CD-quality sound," and it's made out of your choice of a variety of real wood species. Never mind that its 7.5-inch case looks like it was designed back in 1932—this clunky thing can store 30 different sounds, and a total of around four minutes' worth of audio. And hey, at $89.99 it's $10 cheaper than that strange-looking silver ReBell MP3 doorbell we showed you yesterday. Finally, doorbells are starting to catch up with cellphones. [BCS Ideas]

ReBell Lets You Customize Your Doorbell Sound

Charlie White — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:33:45 EDT

We've shown you plenty of doorbells before, but here's ReBell, the first one with a USB port that lets you load up whatever 30-second sound effect you'd like to be summoned by. Of course, if you follow the example of this video and load up Darth Vader's entrance music, you'll never get laid again, but the choice is yours. After you've selected your fave sound and transferred it into the ReBell, connect the silver horn-like device to your existing doorbell chime, and whenever someone pushes your existing doorbell button, the MP3 or WAV file of your choice begins playing.

Since it uses two AA batteries, if you have lots of guests or like to ring your doorbell a lot, you might want to have that ladder handy for replacing the batteries on a regular basis. It lets you choose three volume levels, and there's a hook on the back that lets you remove the unit to change out the sound files or batteries. Too bad it doesn't use the power from the low voltage circuit that runs your doorbell chime. This customizable doorbell idea better be important to you, because the thing costs $100. [Think Geek]

Ring the Changes (and Scare the Neighbors' Kids) with a USB Doorbell

Addy Dugdale — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:36:31 EDT

Got a fever? I have, and the only prescription is DOORBELL—namely, this USB one from ReBell. Connect it up to your laptop or PC and download whatever sound you want to hear when your bell is pressed. Then fix it to the wall and connect it to your existing low-voltage doorbell wiring system.

Quick question. What would you have to herald the arrival of The Fuzz/Your Mom/Repossessions-R-Us at your door? Would it be Ring My Bell by Anita Ward? Jack Nicholson doing "Heeeere's Johnny!" in The Shining? Something from Ringo Starr's solo oeuvre? Personally, I'd have another Jack—White Stripes' Jack White—doing My Doorbell if I bought this—but then again, I wouldn't shell out, because it's $100 and I'm a tight-fisted git. – Ad Dugdale

USB Doorbell [Think Geek]