Gadgets

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  Engadget

• Mangrove WinMo tablet rough-handled, teased for being 'tubby'

  Joseph L. Flatley

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:46 pm

  Not too long ago C-motech popped up on our radar with Mangrove, the 7-inch touchscreen tablet that's been tragically saddled with Windows Mobile 6.5. The kids at SlashGear have just had a chance to play with the device, and to be honest they don't seem too terribly impressed. When stacked up against the Quanta Android Smartbook, for instance, the form factor was deemed unimpressive and "tubby," while the 1GHz Snapdragon seemed lackluster compared to the similarly powered HTC HD2. And it doesn't seem that the 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen has won many fans. But who knows? Maybe at the right…

• The Engadget Show tapes this Sunday with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq!

  Joshua Topolsky

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

  The Engadget Show is happening again, humans! This Sunday, November 22nd, we'll be bringing that live magic back to the stage as we sit down with Drew Bamford (you can read a bit about him here), director of HTC's Innovation Center (the place where things like the Sense UI are born). We'll also be joined by Joystiq's Editor-in-chief Chris Grant for a special roundtable discussion focused on gaming. As a bonus, we've got giveaways for everyone in the audience, plus one of the lucky attendees will walk away with that Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundle we just got our hands on! The show takes…

• Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Cellphones

  Chris Ziegler

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:36 pm

  Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. True smartphones like the Palm Pre, Motorola Droid, and iPhone are all chewing up a majority of wireless mindshare these days, which makes it particularly easy to forget that there's this…

• Entelligence: Chrome OS, babies, and bathwater

  Michael Gartenberg

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:14 pm

  Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide. In an age where products that have never been announced get coverage and even critiqued over rumored shipping delays, it's no surprise that Google received a lot of coverage this week with an update on its Chrome OS strategy. While…

• Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive

  Joseph L. Flatley

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:46 am

  We've ridden our fair share of electric bikes and motorcycles, but we've yet to get our hands on one that's been hand assembled in Berlin/Biesenthal. Grace boasts a water-tight / ultra-light CNC-Aluminum frame, a 1300-watt motor, lithium-ion batteries, a 40 30 MPH speed, a range of up to 31 miles, and a one-hour recharge time. Looks good enough for a Kraftwerk video, although you'd better steer clear of the Autobahn with this thing. The bike starts shipping in January for €5,877 ($8,760-ish).Video after the break. Gallery: Grace street legal e-bicycle [Thanks, Christopher]Continue…

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  Oh Gizmo

• HUBO Stabs Self In Head With Foam Sword

  David Ponce

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:08 am

  By Evan Ackerman Could someone please explain to me why, exactly, roboticists seem to think that it’s such a good idea to give their creations swords? Like, I get that it’s a way to demonstrate grasping and dexterous movements, but if you start with robots demonstrating swords, you move on to robots fighting each other with swords, and this will be our terrifying future. And swordplay seems to be a bad idea for HUBO here more than most, since it repeatedly hits itself in the head with a sword that is thankfully not made out of anything dangerous… Read more at BotJunkie…

• Imation Pro WX Wireless USB Hard Drive

  David Ponce

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am

  By David Ponce As Uncrate points out, being the “world’s first” often results in your having to charge an obscene amount for your wares. That said, we kind of like Imation’s wireless USB hard drive, if only because once again, any effort to ditch wires is welcome by us. Featuring transfer speeds of 15MBs/second and a range of 30 feet, the drive can store up to 1.5TB of whatever you think worthy of keeping around. If your main workstation is a mobile computer you can see how this setup can be useful as you won’t have to actually walk to your drive and tether your…

• Pogoplug 2 Includes More Pink

  Evan Ackerman

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  By Evan Ackerman Cloud Engines has unveiled a new version of their Pogoplug hard drive mobile access networker sharing thingy. Um, let me take another stab at that: Pogoplug (which we first saw last year at CES) is a little tiny computer that talks to USB hard drives and makes their content accessible from anywhere, and easily sharable with anyone. It doesn’t do anything that you couldn’t do with all kinds of major networking headaches, but that’s exactly why it’s so useful: you just plug it in, it works, and you’re done. Version 2 of the Pogoplug features a…

• Bamboo Pen & Touch Comic Edition Aimed At Japanese Manga Artists

  Andrew Liszewski

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:14 am

  By Andrew Liszewski There’s no indication it will be made available in North America, but as November 16, Japanese manga artists have been able to buy a special version of Wacom’s Bamboo Pen & Touch tablet (reviewed here) called the ‘Comic Pen & Touch’ that includes comic book specific software such as “the pixia painting program, the CG illust 4.5 paint program demo from manga supply maker Deleter, the Comic Studio Mini manga layout program, and the Comicworks manga creation program demo for new artists.” And given a lot of the software appears…

• Best Buy Now Offering 32-inch 720p LCD TV For $300

  Chris Scott Barr

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:08 am

  By Chris Scott Barr Black Friday is only a week away, which means people will be lining up outside stores to get their hands on the cheapest gifts for the holiday season. HDTV’s, laptops and digital cameras will all be flying off the shelves only a few short minutes after the doors open. However, if a new TV is on your list, you might not need to fight the crowds for a good deal. I usually don’t make it a habit of writing about a sale that some particular store is having, but this is too good to pass up. Best Buy has announced that they will be offering 32-inch 720p Dynex LCD…

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  MSN Tech & Gadgets Highlights

• Car gadgets galore

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

  A sampling of the best tech from the annual SEMA Show.

• Get the most out of Black Friday bargains

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

  Scoring the best tech buys on the biggest shopping day of the year requires a little preparation and research.

• The PC World 100: Best products of 2009

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

  A laptop that recharges wirelessly, a CPU that leaves the competition in the dust and a top pick that's changing the face of computing -- these are just three of the items in our PC World Top 100 list of the best products of the year.

• Evolution of the MP3 player

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

  Portable digital music players have evolved through the years, from hulking $800 devices to tiny $60 iPod Shuffles. Here's a look at how MP3 players have changed over the past decade.

• Free tools for fine-tuning your Windows 7 setup

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

  No-cost apps and Web services help you set up your Windows 7 computer just the way you want it.

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  Walt Mossberg (Wall Street Journal)

• Intel Makes Leap in Device to Aid Impaired Readers

  Walter S. Mossberg

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:03 pm

  Despite all of the advances in digital technology, too few high-tech products have emerged to help the blind read books or other paper documents, or to make reading such texts easier for people with impaired vision or language-related learning disabilities. A few years back, a breakthrough was made with text-to-speech software that could be installed on a specific mobile phone, but with limitations due to the phone’s small screen and buttons, and restricted processor power. [ See post to watch video ] Now, Intel (INTC), the giant chip maker, is attacking this problem with a new product:…

• Price Is Heavier, but These Laptops Are Very Sleek

  Walter S. Mossberg

  11 Nov 2009 | 6:03 pm

  PC makers this fall are trying to get consumers who want small laptops to move up from low-profit netbooks to larger, costlier models called “ultrathin” or “thin and light.” These models are lighter and thinner than many regular laptops, but they have bigger screens and keyboards than most netbooks do. The slim portables tend to start at around $500 and many fall into the $600 to $900 range. You can easily find bigger, heavier laptops for less. But the manufacturers are hoping mobile consumers will be willing to pay a premium for sleekness and long battery life. [ See…

• Motorola's Droid Is Smart Success for Verizon Users

  Walter S. Mossberg

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:10 pm

  Verizon Wireless customers tend to love the company’s fast 3G network. But many tech-oriented Verizon loyalists gripe about the carrier’s high-end smart phones, which haven’t matched the cachet and versatility of the Apple iPhone sold by AT&T (T). In fact, some Verizon customers have switched to AT&T simply to get an iPhone. [ See post to watch video ] But this week, Verizon (VZ) is rolling out a device that finally gives it a more credible alternative. This new $200 phone is the Motorola Droid and it’s the first Verizon model to run Google’s (GOOG)…

• Operating Systems Offer New Choices in PC Shopping

  Walter S. Mossberg

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:02 pm

  Now that both Microsoft and Apple have finally shipped the new versions of their operating systems, Windows 7 and Snow Leopard, respectively, it’s time for my annual fall computer-buying guide. This guide stresses laptops, which have become the prevalent choice, but most of its specs also apply to desktops. As always, it is aimed at average consumers doing typical tasks, such as Web surfing, email, social networking, word processing, photos, video and music. It doesn’t apply to businesses, hard-core gamers or serious media producers—groups that need specialized or heftier…

• Apple's New iMac, MacBook Grow Better, Brighter

  Walter S. Mossberg

  21 Oct 2009 | 6:02 pm

  This is the week when Microsoft finally starts selling Windows 7, its much-improved successor to the disappointing Vista version of Windows. PC makers, who have suffered from Vista’s poor reputation, will begin touting models that come with Windows 7, which I praised in a detailed review earlier this month. But Microsoft’s (MSFT) historic rival, Apple (AAPL), isn’t sitting still. After releasing its own new operating system, Snow Leopard, in August, Apple this week is rolling out new versions of two of the best- known Macs: its iconic all-in-one iMac desktop, and its…

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  Larry Magid (LA Times)

• Should we consider a news tax?

  larrymagid

  15 Nov 2009 | 3:09 pm

  This article originally appeared in the Nov 16, 2009 San Jose Mercury News by Larry Magid Most newspapers are declining in circulation, and the Internet is partly to blame. I make part of my living writing for newspapers, but even I am less likely to subscribe to or buy the print edition now that I can get my news for free on my PC and my cell phone. But now some media moguls are talking about shutting off that free spigot of news and information. News Corp. boss Rupert Murdoch said in August that he plans to charge for content for all his online newspapers, including The New York Post, the…

• Treating kids on the Web in a new way

  admin

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  I spent part of last week in Washington, D.C., attending a gathering that turned out to be a watershed moment in the 16-year history of online safety education. The third annual conference of the Family Online Safety Institute brought together about 400 Internet safety advocates around the theme of “Building a Culture of Responsibility: From Online Safety to Digital Citizenship.” The event, which drew participants from 15 countries, was different from previous years in that young people were viewed less as potential victims of online crimes and more as participants in a global…

• Putting Tech Life on Silent

  admin

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:11 pm

  There is too much noise in my life, and technology is partially to blame. Let’s start with cell phones. When I enter a theater or a meeting, I try to remember to put it on vibrate, but other times I let it ring. Mine uses a generic tone, and I try to keep the volume at a moderate level. However, as I go about my day, I notice all sorts of loud and sometimes obnoxious tones. One trend is for people purchasing their choice of music as a ring tone. Hey, I’m all for people expressing their tastes, but do they have to do it in front of me? I was at a coffee shop the other day serenely…

• CLIQ suffers from TMI, or Too Much Information

  admin

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  There is such a thing as too much information, especially if it’s all coming at you all at once. That’s how I felt when I started using the new Motorola CLIQ from T-Mobile — the latest smart phone to feature the Google Android operating system and the first Android phone from Motorola. Don’t get me wrong, this is a terrific phone with some unique and worthy features. But there is one “feature” that can be a bit overwhelming. The phone is designed to keep you ultra-connected to your social networking buddies whether they be on FaceBook, Twitter or MySpace. By…

• Navigating personal finance services

  admin

  29 Oct 2009 | 8:06 pm

  I admit it. I’m a procrastinator. It was just a couple of weeks ago that I got around to finishing up my 2008 tax returns, which should have been filed in April. Fortunately, the IRS and California allow extensions until Oct. 15 — as long you file a request and pay taxes owed by April 15. Because I am partially self-employed and I own a rental house, it’s in my interest to make sure I uncover every legitimate expense so I can deduct them on my return. To make sure that I have a record of business expenses, I typically put them on a credit card, use an online bill payment service…

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  gdgt - new in gadgets

• [big debate] Nintendo Entertainment System : Best Game for the System?

  ElCid

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:18 pm

  I wanted to see what everyone's picks for the best NES game is. My personal pick is for the original Contra. I still remember the first time I learned about that cheat code. U, U, D, D, L. R. L. R. A. B. Ahh... those were simpler days.

• [popular now] RIM BlackBerry Curve 8300

  ryan

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:15 am

  The BlackBerry Curve is the smallest, lightest BlackBerry ever with a QWERTY keyboard. It features a liquid silver finish with clean lines, curved edges, and easy-to-use trackball navigation. The sleek design balances both personal and work needs with the perfect blend of performance and usability. The Curve is the first BlackBerry to support AT&T Mobile Music, an enhanced media player, and stereo Bluetooth headset capabilities. Snap crisp photos on the 2 MP camera with 5x zoom and flash. Need...

• [support alert] Microsoft Windows 7 : USB Device & Restart Problems

  JoshTurner

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:21 am

  I've been having two serious problems with Windows 7 since the day it was released. One being that if I try to move content to or from a USB device (external hard drive, PMP, etc.) the process will eventually freeze & become unrecognizable to my computer. None of my USB ports works afterwards. The USB ports will still charge a product if possible, but actually moving data will not work. The only fix I know at the moment is restarting my computer. Which brings me to my next problem. My...

• [useful tip] Motorola DROID : Easier way to unlock the display?

  jefff

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am

  Currently i have to press the tiny power button then swipe the lock screen to begin interacting w/ my Droid. That is rather annoying when i'm sitting at my desk going through podcasts. Is there a way to simplify that process aside from just increasing the screen timeout minutes? I'd like to be able to disable the screen lock ?app? altogether so I can just use the power button to turn off the display and turn it back on (without having to swipe).

• [popular now] Sony PlayStation 2

  ryan

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:14 am

  The PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system is small, slim and network ready. And it has an enormous game library - over 1,400 games - to choose from. The redesigned PlayStation®2 (70000 series) inherits the basic functions and design philosophy of earlier PlayStation®2 systems, but the internal design architecture has been completely overhauled to include the latest technology. Games, Games, Games! Over 1,400 PlayStation®2 games. Slim & Lightweight The PlayStation®2 is...

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  Gear Live

• Google Chrome OS revealed - take a look

  Andru Edwards

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:25 am

  Google has finally taken the wraps off of Chrome OS, its new Linux-based operating system that is all Internet-centric, running the Google Chrome browser as its main application. Yeah, the whole point of the Google Chrome OS is that it is web-based, and you interact pretty much exclusively in a browser window. The way Google sees it, you spend 95% of the time you are on a computer living in your web browser anyway, so Chrome OS is built to optimize that experience. Nothing is actually stored on the computer itself, as everything is stored, instead, in the cloud. Hit up the video above for…

• Black Friday 2009: Walmart ad leaked: $78 Blu-ray player!

  Andru Edwards

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:27 am

  We knew that Walmart would be bringing the heat for Black Friday 2009, but we didn’t know they’d be going all-out with the Blu-ray goodness. Seriously, if you are looking for the most inexpensive Blu-ray player on Black Friday 2009, it looks like the Magnavox NB500 will be your best bet, because it’ll cost just $78 at Walmart. Oh, and if you need an HDTV to go with that deal, they’ve got you covered there as well. Check out the entire contents of the Walmart Black Friday 2009 sale after the break. Continue reading Black Friday 2009: Walmart ad leaked: $78 Blu-ray…

• PlayStation 3 3.10 firmware brings Facebook to PS3 today

  Andru Edwards

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  Did you think the Xbox 360 would be the only console to integrate Facebook functionality? If so, Sony has another thing coming for you, as they are launching firmware 3.10 for the PlayStation 3 today, and, you guessed it, Facebook integration is included. Check out the video above to check out how it works, but in a nutshell, you’ll be able to have the PS3 post different events to your Facebook feed, like purchases, trophies, and in-game happenings. Other changes in PS3 firmware 3.10: You can choose a color for your PSN ID badge Photos are now displayed in a grid rather than a single…

• Black Friday 2009: MacMall ad

  Andru Edwards

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:16 am

  Here at Gear Live we’re big fans of MacMall. Why? Because they consistently beat Apple in terms of pricing, by way of rebates - and their rebates don’t take forever to process.  MacMall will be having a fairly nice Black Friday 2009 sale on a bunch of Apple gear, as well as a few surprises, like a GPS navigation system, video game consoles, Blu-ray players, and more. Hey, when you can pick up a new 13.3-inch MacBook Pro for $1099, you know something special is happening. We’ve got the full list of the MacMall Black Friday deals for you, after the jump. Continue reading…

• Bleeding Edge TV 325: HP Envy 13 and Envy 15 notebook computers

  Andru Edwards

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:18 pm

  In this episode, we give you a look at the HP Envy 13 and HP Envy 15 notebooks. These are the flagship, top-of-the-line HP notebooks, incorporating great displays with a clickable trackpad (although, it doesn’t support multitouch gestures.) The Envy 13 also has a ridiculous 16-hour battery life. For those of you audiophiles out there that need something with a bit more punch, you’ve got the HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition, which comes with the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones, DJ tools software, and a few custom settings as well. Want one? You can find all three models on…

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  Stephen Wildstrom (BusinessWeek)

• Is MySpace Buying Imeem?

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:04 pm

  The expected purchase price of just $10 million bodes ill for ad-supported online music services

• Dell Stock Gains May Slacken

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:30 pm

  The rally that's lifted the computer maker's shares 55% this year may lose steam after a report indicated corporate demand for PCs isn't as robust as hoped

• The King of the Cloud

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff's book is a fun, user-friendly guide for entrepreneurs and spectators

• Can Adobe Beat Back the Hackers?

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  As its software becomes a major means of attack, security experts wonder if it can fight hard enough

• Cisco's Extreme Ambitions

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  CEO John Chambers is now chasing market share in 30 different categories—and making powerful enemies

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  Pocketables

• Camangi WebStation Android tablet launching next month

  Jeremy To

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:32 pm

  Previously only a concept, a Taiwanese company called Camangi is now on the verge of launching its WebStation MID in early December according to the official website. Featuring an Apple-esque design, much like the Boeye MID 700, the WebStation is also an Android tablet running version 1.5 of the mobile OS. The device features a 7-inch, WVGA (800x480), glass touchscreen, and comes with a choice of either a black or white bezel. Other known specifications include 802.11 b/g WiFi, Bluetooth...

• Sony Ericsson's Android UI called Nexus, coming to more devices

  Jeremy To

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:24 am

  When the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 was unveiled, one of the things that stood out for me was the new UI that SE had created running on top of Android, much like HTC's SenseUI system. The company has now christened the new system the Nexus UX platform and has suggested plans to bring it to other devices, including the possibility of introducing it into Symbian and Windows Mobile phones. A WebSDK has been released online allowing developers to create applications...

• Limited-edition UMID mbook Pink now available from Dynamism

  Chris King

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:59 am

  As of today, there is now one more variation of the UMID mbook M1 that we have reviewed a few times, and it comes with limited-edition appeal and color. Yes, the picture to the left is correct. That is the new mbook Pink, not to be confused with the pop artist of the same name. Even though we have seen this color before, since there originally was going to be a rainbow of colors, this is the first time the...

• Google working on its own Android phone?

  Jeremy To

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:21 pm

  Before the announcement of the Android OS, when everyone was talking about the rumored "Google Phone" or "G-Phone," I remember thinking that Google would follow Apple's lead in creating both the hardware and software elements of a phone. This mythical device never materialized when Android was announced, and Google stated that it was staying firmly on the software side of things, leaving the established phone manufacturers to create the devices that would use its operating system. A new report on...

• Nokia N-Series will likely switch from Symbian to Maemo by 2012

  Jeremy To

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:24 am

  Nokia has been holding a series of meetups across the globe over the past month as part of its efforts to support the launch of the new N900 smartphone and Maemo 5 operating system. At yesterday's meetup in London, members of the Maemo marketing team unofficially revealed Nokia's plans to drop the current Symbian (S60) OS from the flagship N-Series range of smartphones and switch to the Linux-based Maemo OS. Symbian will be retained, likely to be used in second-tier...

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  Gadgetell

• AT&T creates Verizon attack ad. Could this get any better?

  NEWS

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:06 pm

  FROM APPLETELL - I’m sure the advertising departments at both Verizon and AT&T are having a lot of fun with this battle over each company’s 3G service, and AT&T has just fired back. MORE » Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

• Wine the geek way: mini-survey+QR code+iPhone app=wine for you

  JG Mason

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:39 pm

  Section: Communications, Smartphones, Gadgets / Other, HouseholdIf you are like me, you can’t remember what wines you love and what you just end up pouring down the sink.  94 Wines looks to solve that problem by offering 94 different, purportedly high quality wines and an ultra-geeky way to find out which you might like. 94 Wines uses a quick 6-question survey that pits flavors and textures against one another.  Questions like sorbet or ice cream? Tapas or full meal?  Butter or olive oil?  The questions end result is three wines that would suit your tastes.  But…

• So Hot Right Now: Top 10 Gadgetell posts for the week of November 15, 2009

  NEWS

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am

  Section: Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week?  Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles! Radio Shack slashes netbook $100 for Black Friday” Now preferred to be known as the Shack, Radio shack is offering the Acer Aspire One, A0751h-1279, for $100 less on Black Friday.  This netbook will sell for $249 instead of $349.  This model has…” MORE »Black Friday 2009: Office Depot’s Black Friday deals leaked” Office Depot’s Black Friday ad had been leaked. Here’s a look at some of the deals they…

• Amazon to offer a better Kindle library content management system in first half of 2010

  Robert Nelson

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:07 am

  Section: Gadgets / Other, ebooks As many people who use a Kindle have most likely realized—the management of your books on the device is less than stellar. Personally, I have taken to just removing books after I have read them in order to keep my reading list manageable, or at least a little nicer to look at. And with that it looks like I am not alone in that thought and it seems that Amazon has some plans to address this issue. The details were announced by way of their official Facebook page, but unfortunately those details are pretty light. What we do have is that Amazon is…

• Who’s on Crack in Tech: 11.20.09

  JG Mason

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:04 am

  Section: Video, Portable Video, Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Computers, Gadgets / Other, Features, Originals, Columns, Who's On Crack This has got to stop. Holidays have got to stop creeping further and further toward summer.  The nutjobs that scheme, “well, if we get our sale out first we’ll be the richest in the tri-state area” are morons.  Seriously, the ABC Family channel is doing a countdown to the 25 days of Christmas.  A frickin’ countdown to a countdown?  Could it get more ridiculous?  Here are 4 entries that attempt…

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  Alice Hill's Real Tech News - Independent Tech

• This is Colossal News: OCZ Technology Announces 3.5″ 1TB Colossus SSDs

  Martin

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:23 am

  By Martin Regtien Contributing Writer, RealTechNews We love a scoop and they don’t come much bigger than this Ben Hur of SSD drives: OCZ huge 1 Terabyte Colossus. We’ve been promised a review unit within the next couple of weeks — the first one in Australia. We’re cleaning out our biggest test machine to make room for this [...]

• Casio Exilim EX-H10 Mega Zoomer - First Impressions Review

  Martin

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:17 am

  By Martin Regtien Contributing Writer, RealTechNews One of the most successful product ranges in the point and shoot category has to be the Casio Exilim.  We’ve done a few reviews in the past few years but it’s been a while since the last one, which we still use on occasion. But when they announced the EX-H10 some months [...]

• On Its Verizon Lawsuit, AT&T Tries To Set The Record Straight

  Michael Santo

  15 Nov 2009 | 2:11 pm

  By Michael Santo Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews AT&T continues to blast (and sue) Verizon over its recent ads, which make a point of hammering home the 3G coverage holes in AT&T’s network. AT&T has said that the ads are misleading, and on Friday, AT&T said it wanted to set the record straight regarding its lawsuit. In its press release, [...]

• The New Popcorn Hour C-200: Massive Review

  Martin

  13 Nov 2009 | 3:56 am

  By Martin Regtien Contributing Writer, RealTechNews Since early 2008 we’ve been keenly interested in Syabas’s Popcorn Hour units. Shortly after our review of the ground breaking A-100, we took a look at the refined A-110 along with its somewhat confused sibling, the B-110. With the new Popcorn Hour C-200 however, Syabas is looking to change the media streaming [...]

• Search on Bing, Get Some Free Wi-Fi

  Michael Santo

  10 Nov 2009 | 8:26 am

  By Michael Santo Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews Microsoft has resorted to Bing bribery before, but now it’s using free wi-fi minutes instead of cashback on shopping. The program, which actually began in September, relies on users liking Bing after trying it once, and returning to use it. Bing and JiWire announced the program on Monday. Consumers gain free [...]

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  Gizmodo

• 8 Examples of How NOT to Fix Your Gadget Problems [Tgif]

  Sean Fallon

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pm

  Our Friday lists are all about gadgety fun and leisure, but sometimes technology can be frustrating—and there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to handle it. This is definitely the wrong way. If you have a problem with you TV, like a certain 70-year old Missouri man did with his converter box during the DTV transition, DO NOT get loaded, shoot it and engage in a standoff with the police. [Link] If you work in a tech-related retail store, DO NOT do what 29 year old Aaron Seiber did and stab yourself so you don't have to go. Making up a phony story about a skinhead attack to the…

• The 5 Best TVs You Can Buy [TVs]

  Gary Merson

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  We've teamed up with the HD Guru himself, Gary Merson, to publish the absolute best five TVs you can buy right now. As you'll see (and might already notice above), there are some surprises on the list. Panasonic Z1 Panasonic's flagship HDTV is its thinnest 54-inch plasma HDTV ever, with only 1-inch depth. They did it by eliminating a third sheet of glass found in all other plasmas except Pioneer's Kuro, and bonding the anti-reflective coating directly top glass. The Z1 employs SiBEAM's 60GHz 1080p for wireless glitch-free images sent via the included transmitter/media box from up to 30 feet…

• Hansa Smart Shower Has Three Options For Your Head and One For Your Crotch [Showers]

  Sean Fallon

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:19 pm

  If you can't afford a ridiculously tricked out shower, the next best thing might be a Smart Shower from Hansa. It has a standard shower, cascade and hand shower mode for your head an a pivoting spray for your crotch. Well it could be used for your crotch if you are tall enough, or you have a weirdly high crotch with a weirdly short torso. Either way, it's a sweet-looking fixture with a lot of options. [Hansa via Trendir]

• Camangi WebStation: 7 Inches of Android Tablet for $400 [Tablets]

  Mark Wilson

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  The Camangi WebStation has been floating around for a few months now in little more than proof of concept form. Now, it's on the cusp of being a real product, released next month for $400. The system runs Android 1.5 through its 7-Inch (800×480) glass touchscreen display, plus you get Wi-Fi (b/g), GPS , microSD reader, 2MP camera, .3MP webcam and a USB port that can always add 3G (though, the whole idea becomes sort of silly at that point). Plus, a built-in stand on the back means it can double as a picture frame. Yes!! My only concern is the bit of lag you notice in this video. If the final…

• YouTube Shuts Down API Access, Leaves Set-Top Boxes High and Dry [YouTube]

  John Herrman

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:59 am

  There are two ways for a device to access YouTube: either through the regular web interface, i.e. Flash, or for cleaner integration, through its back end APIs. As of December, Google is shutting off the tap. The news comes from the COO of Syabas, the company that makes the Popcorn Hour set-top box. Up until now they'd had a loose agreement with the 'Tube: They can stream video from YouTube for free, but YouTube can change the terms of the deal whenever they want. Which they did!: YouTube has always retained the right to change its terms of service in the future should it ever wish to do so.

• 
  Wired: Gadgets

• How LED Tattoos Could Change Face of Humanity

  Charlie Sorrel

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm

  In Ray Bradbury’s book, The Illustrated Man, the title character is covered with moving, shifting tattoos. If you look at them, they will tell you a story. New LED tattoos from the University of Pennsylvania could make the Illustrated Man real (minus the creepy stories, of course).

• Flip Mino Wannabe Is a Catastrophe

  Steven Leckart

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:22 pm

  Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Not when that imitation takes horrific video with terrible sound. Meet the Memorex Mini camcorder, a pale and warped copy of the Flip Mino.

• Hi-Def DSLRs May Be Cheap, But Talent Is Priceless

  Brendan Seibel

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:11 pm

  Whatever happened to that indie film revolution the new generation of DSLRs was supposed to start? Turns out even cheap filmmaking isn't as easy as it looks.

• Nokia Makes Dumb Move With Its 'Smartbook'

  Christopher Null

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  Slow speeds, high prices and intermittent service can be all yours if you sign up for a two-year contract with this netbook.

• Partition Your Hard Drive to Boost Speed and Performance

  How-To Wiki

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Maybe your hard drive is twice the size, but only half as useful. Splitting it in two allows you to install multiple hard drives, create impenetrable RAM disks, or just organizes your data. Here are some tools you can use to partition your hard drive.

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  MSN Shopping: Results for Electronics & Photo

• Olympus EVOLT E-500 - digital camera - from $399.00

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Premium picture quality and superb performance come easy with this comfortable to handle digital SLR. At a time when everyone wants complex things to become simple, the EVOLT E-500 succeeds in doing so with a sleek, lightweight design for...

• AT&T 1719 - answering machine - digital - from $19.95

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  PRODUCT FEATURES:19 minutes digital record timeCall screening/interceptMemoMessage guard memoryRemote accessStand-alone answering systemVoice prompts

• Garmin GPSMAP 276C - GPS receiver - from $599.00

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  The GPSMAP 276C is an all-in-one, versatile, color chartplotter and automobile navigator - perfect for land or water. This portable GPS navigator features a 256-color TFT display that's easy to read in bright sun along with a built-in...

• Garmin zumo 550 - GPS receiver - from $592.77

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Customize your ride with Garmin zumo 550 - the rugged motorcycle navigator that's born to ride. Designed by bikers, zumo's motorcycle-friendly features make it easy to operate while in the saddle. From back roads to rallies, its preloaded...

• Sharp LC 32SH12U - 32" LCD TV - $699.95

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Sharp's LC-32SH12U HDTV LCD-TV provides a slim, versatile high-definition television solution with a distinctive design. The LC-32SH12U feature a high-performance LCD panel for high-brightness, a high contrast ratio, low-reflection glare...

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  HotHardware.com Article Rss Feed

• ATI Radeon HD 5970 Dual-GPU Powerhouse Review

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:01 pm

  AMD's "Sweet Spot" GPU strategy over the last few years has been fairly predictable. Instead of producing the biggest, most powerful GPU possible--yields be damned--the company sets out to produce a relatively high-end GPU, using a cutting edge fabrication process, that hits a proverbial sweet spot between cost and performance. Then derivatives, and even multiples, of that GPU are used to flesh out a top-to-bottom line-up of graphics cards, that hit a broad range of price points.It began with the RV670, which

• Zotac GeForce GT 240 AMP! Edition Review

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:01 am

    NVIDIA is launching a new mainstream graphics card today, aimed squarely at consumers in the market for a relatively low-cost upgrade from an integrated graphics solution or older entry-level GPU. The new GeForce GT 240, features a GPU outfitted with 96 processor cores, 8 ROP units, and 32 texture filtering units. In addition, the GT 240 GPU is manufactured using a 40nm process, it features a GDDR5 memory controller (that's also compatible with GDDR3), and unlike NVIDIA's current high-end GPUs, the GT

• Fusion-io ioXtreme PCI Express SSD Review

  16 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

    It's rare we get genuinely excited around here about a product.  To be honest, likely we're spoiled by all the bleeding-edge technology we have the great opportunity to look at week in and week out.  Or perhaps it's just that we're jaded a bit and have heard one too many marketing pitches, but truth be told it takes a lot to get us fired up about a new product or technology.  Sure we can appreciate and will occasionally hand out high praise for a major evolutionary advancement but we honestly

• What Happened To Apple's Software Quality?

  12 Nov 2009 | 2:00 am

  Apple is a funny beast. We say "beast" because it's hard to deny that this company is ripping through the tech world like no other that we've seen in the last decade. Our television programs are laden with Apple ads poking fun at Windows and seducing you into buying yet another iPod, and every quarterly earnings report is filled with optimism. Even in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, Apple was breaking profit records left and right. The company has continued to sell millions

• Lucid Hydra 200 Multi-GPU Performance Revealed

  11 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  About a year ago, Lucid started making waves in the graphics space with claims of being able to revolutionize multi-GPU computing. It promised consumers the ability to add any graphics card, unrestricted by model or vendor, to an existing set up and achieve highly efficient load balancing with near linear performance increases. This option presumably provides consumers the flexibility to buy an ATI graphics card, install it next to an NVIDIA model on the same motherboard, and see a boost in graphics

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  HotHardware.com News Rss Feed

• Imation Unleashes Wireless USB External Hard Drive

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:59 am

  Imation's new Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive is now available in the U.S. This hard drive is built on Imation’s external hard drive products and is said to be the world's first Wireless USB external hard drive. The Imation Pro WX drive offers a Wireless USB data transfer rate of up to 15MBs/second and 1.5TB of storage capacity. The Imation Pro WX wireless USB hard drive comes with an MSRP of $449.99. Imation Ships World's First Wireless USB External Hard Drive Pro WX hard drive offers secure, continuous backup

• TomTom Brings Navigation App To iPod touch

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:57 am

  Up until now, TomTom's iPhone GPS application was, well, only for the iPhone. It required iPhone OS 3.0, and for obvious reasons surrounding a physical GPS module, it wouldn't work with the iPod touch. Today, all that changes.TomTom has just released its newest version of the GPS app, and with it comes support for the iTouch. The only stipulation is that a car kit dock be used, since the touch has no internal GPS chip. Thus, TomTom is simultaneously announcing its new TomTom car kit for iPod touch, which does

• California Demands TVs Suck Down Less Power

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:46 pm

  Love the Earth? Sure, we all do--after all, we live here. Love it enough to throw out your current TV and buy one that meets heightened energy requirements? Um....Just this week California regulators adopted the "nation's first energy-efficiency standards for televisions," with hopes of reducing energy drain during a period where many Americans are looking to buy larger, more energy-dependant sets. Of course, the Golden State has always been one to watch energy usage, and the 5-0 vote by the California Energy

• Sony's Reader Daily Edition Up For Pre-Sale At $399

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:27 pm

  It may have been Kindle's world for awhile, but that's hardly the case any longer. Amazon has seen stiff competition from both Barnes & Noble (with its Nook) and Sony (with a variety of Readers), but the latter is finally stepping up its game in a big way. The Reader Daily Edition, which is Sony's most serious rival in the connected e-reader market, is now up for pre-sale at SonyStyle.com.The Daily Reader includes integrated 3G from AT&T, giving users the opportunity to download books over the air so

• CDRoller 8.61 Recovers Lost Files On Discs

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

  Digital Atlantic Corporation released CDRoller 8.61. CDRoller 8.61 is able to recover lost files on CDs, DVDs, flash memory cards, and Blu-ray discs. This program boasts of a friendly and easy-to-use User Interface with an intuitive list of data recovery commands and built-in adviser with basic recommendations for beginners. The software is able to recover lost files on discs created by drag and drop CD, DVD, and BD writing software such as Roxio and Ahead Nero. CDRoller 8.61 has a fault-tolerant UDF Reader

• 
  David Pogue (NY Times)

• A $25 App Phone? That's Crazy Talk.

  By DAVID POGUE

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:16 am

  This week, Palm released a follow up to the Pre, a cheaper, thinner, lesser phone called the Pixi. The official price is $100 with a two-year Sprint contract, but Amazon is selling the thing for - are you sitting down? - $25.

• Crowdsourcing Comedy on Amazon Reviews

  By DAVID POGUE

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:07 am

  Some unexpected humor can be found in the reviews of the world's largest online retailer.

• It's Q & A With DP!

  By DAVID POGUE

  13 Nov 2009 | 11:14 am

  Why I use URL shorteners-even when not on Twitter.

• Verizon: How Much Do You Charge Now?

  By DAVID POGUE

  12 Nov 2009 | 9:29 am

  Verizon's cellphones are designed in such a way that you can almost never avoid getting $1.99 charge on the bill for its mobile Web services, even if you immediately cancel the action.

• Fun With Google's Auto-Suggestion Feature

  By DAVID POGUE

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:06 am

  Start a phrase in a Google and who knows how the search engine will complete it?

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  iPod Touch Hacks

• Apple News

  rooster

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:42 pm

  So here are just some recent interesting news bits about Apple and its products: Apple will be focusing on a more gaming oriented device in the future. This is not to say that the iPhone’s and iPod Touch’s other capabilities will be degraded but rather that Apple plans on putting special emphasis on graphic development and other important gaming related aspects. Apple released its web-based iTunes preview so you no longer need to launch iTunes immediately just to listen to some songs or watch a video preview. Apple Tablet rumors are running high: If the rumors are true, the…

• S’more Snow

  rooster

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:58 pm

  Thanks to George Hotz and his creatively-named “blacksnow” unlock, ALL iPHONES & iPOD TOUCHES ARE JAILBREAKABLE!!!! Geoshot has done a wonderful job of making this hack easy and simple to use. Here it is! Instructions and tips: Clean firmware 3.1.2 and baseband 05.11.07 are recommended. Blacksn0w is also available on Cydia, add blackra1n.com as repo (requires firmware >= 3.1 and baseband 05.11.07) Windows Tutorial Mac Tutorial Known Issues and fixes: There is currently an issue with “push” and “youtube” but the dev-team will release a fix shortly.

• PwnageTool 3.1.4

  rooster

  21 Oct 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Dev Team has released PwanageTool 3.1.4. Unfortunately, there is still no support for the iPod Touch 3G. But for the majority of users their latest release will do. Here is summary by the Dev Team: iPhone 3G Use PwnageTool to do the magic and then restore with iTunes using your newly created .ipsw iPhone 3G(S) Use PwnageTool to do the magic and then restore with iTunes using your newly created .ipsw iPhone 2G (1st Generation) Use PwnageTool to do the magic and then restore with iTunes using your newly created .ipsw ‘nuff said, you don’t need to worry about anything, the baseband will be…

• 3.1.2. Not yet, for you

  rooster

  9 Oct 2009 | 5:29 pm

  So iPhone OS 3.1.2. is out and according to the Dev Team, its not wise to update yet. So just be a bit patient and the Dev-Team will release the respective Pwnagetool and RedSn0w. rooster Share This

• Tablet News, New iMacs, & New Macbooks

  rooster

  4 Oct 2009 | 8:52 pm

  So, first things first: Apple was recently granted a patent for a touch device which supports handle two hands… sound like a iTablet touch keyboard to me!! Second: the new iMacs are supposed to be very slim and also undergo a price decrease. Third: The new line of Macbooks are supposed to be redesigned polycarbonate slimmer versions of the older models. Fourth: New Mac Minis are also supposed to be released soon. These are expected to have minor speed boosts. Fifth: The mighty mouse is getting mightier. Apple is also releasing a new model of their mouse as well as keypad. The keypad…

• 
  The Top Rated Gadgets at Wize.com

• Best Digital Cameras for Vacations

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:10 am

  #1 Nikon D40 Digital Camera with G-II 18-55mm Lens #2 Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS / Digital IXUS 80 IS Digital Camera #3 Canon IXUS 80 IS Digital Camera #4 Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital Camera #5 Canon IXUS 960 IS Digital Camera #6 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX150 Digital Camera #7 Nikon D80 Digital Camera with 18-135mm Lens #8 Canon EOS 30D Body Only Digital Camera #9 Canon PowerShot SD770 IS / IXUS 85 Digital Camera #10 Nikon D200 Digital Camera with 18-200mm Lens

• Best Plasma and LCD TVs for Movies

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:21 am

  #1 Toshiba 15DLV505 TV #2 Sony BRAVIA KDL-46W4100 LCD TV #3 Panasonic TC-P50X1 TV #4 Panasonic TC-P50G10 50 in. HDTV Plasma TV #5 Toshiba 15LV506 TV #6 Panasonic TC-P42G10 42 in. HDTV Plasma TV #7 Samsung PN42B450 42.3 in. HDTV Plasma TV #8 Sony Bravia KDL-40W4100 TV #9 Samsung LN52A850 TV #10 Toshiba 40RV525U TV

• Best GPS Devices for International Travel

  9 Nov 2009 | 7:49 pm

  #1 Garmin nüvi 275T GPS Receiver #2 TomTom GO 920 #3 Garmin Nuvi 760 (760T) Car GPS Receiver #4 Garmin nuvi® 255W GPS Receiver #5 Garmin nuvi 260W Car GPS Receiver #6 Garmin nüvi 265T GPS Receiver #7 Garmin nuvi 205W GPS Receiver #8 Garmin nüvi 265WT GPS Receiver #9 Garmin Nuvi 265W GPS Receiver #10 TomTom ONE 125 GPS Receiver

• Best PC Laptops for Business Use

  1 Nov 2009 | 10:16 pm

  #1 Samsung NC10-14ROBL 10.2" Netbook - Royal Black (NP-NC10-KA03US) PC Notebook #2 Acer Aspire One AOA150-1359 8.9-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Ha... PC Notebook #3 Acer Computer AOA150-1505 Aspire One 8.9" Netbook - Seashell White PC Notebook #4 Acer Aspire One AOA150-1553 8.9-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Ha... (LU.S410B.067) PC Notebook #5 Acer Aspire One AOA150-1784 8.9-Inch Netbook (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Ha... (LU.S050B.225) PC Notebook #6 ASUS Eee PC 904HA (884840343271) PC Notebook #7…

• 
  Gear Diary

• The Mega Mini Spy Camera Ultra: Smaller is Better–No, Really!

  Douglas Moran

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:25 pm

  When it comes to video cameras, some of us here at GD are old enough to remember when they were practically the size of shoulder-mount 3/4″ tape video cameras. (Well, some of us are old enough to remember movie film cameras that you had to wind up with a key, but I digress.) But we are in the 32-Gigabites-in-your-phone era, and so digital video cameras have been shrinking and shrinking.  While they’re not quite the size of hiding them in your shirt-buttons yet, Brickhouse Security has taken the idea a long way in that direction with their new Mega Mini Spy Camera Ultra. ……

• Hit the Movies This Holiday Season With Poynt

  Jason Reese

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:24 am

  With Thanksgiving right around the corner, you may be spending copious amounts of time with the family.  After you’ve polished off that second — or sixth – helping of turkey, watched the last of the football games on television, and heard all of Uncle Tommy’s old college fraternity stories, you may want to get out of the house for a while.  Why not go enjoy a movie?  The holiday season will have more than a few flicks that you can take in with the family…and guess what?  You can use one of our favorite BlackBerry apps, Poynt, to take care of all the hard…

• Cold Weather Electronics Saving Tips

  Carly Z

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  image courtesy of my-pc-nerd My heat broke a few weeks ago; luckily it wasn’t too cold in New Jersey and the heating company fixed it quickly. After worrying about keeping everyone alive in the house warm, I did worry about what would happen to the various electronics. Fortuitously, Drive Savers has released a list of tips on how to keep your electronics from getting frostbite. … [visit site to read more] Related posts:When “backup” is a relative term…Plan Z: Backing Up Your Mobile Data Tags: Backups, Carly Z, Tips & Tricks Related posts State of the eBook:…

• Everything Goes Better with a MiFi

  Jason Reese

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

  A few weeks back I finally broke down and got a MiFi.  Yeah, you’ve certainly read plenty about the  mobile hotspot device.  I got to put the MiFi to the test over the last few weeks.  While I own a … [visit site to read more] Related posts:Review: PlanOn Printstik Bluetooth Printer for BlackBerryIs Barnes & Noble working with Sprint on a Kindle-killer?Belkin Introduces New Comfort Mouse Line Tags: Jason Reese, Laptop Gear, Mobile Phone Gear, WiFi and Wireless Gear Related posts Think Your Calls Are Safe? Think Again. Securing Mobile Voice with Cellcrypt (0) The Ugly…

• Take note this holiday season with myNotebook for DSiWare

  Michael Anderson

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  One of the cool things about the new Nintendo DSi is the DSiWare feature that allows you to run apps and expand the functionality. As I mentioned in my ‘After a While’ Review, so far I have been largely underwhelmed with the releases, but it looks like things are starting to pick up! Read on for more details! … [visit site to read more] Related posts:Nintendo DSi Sells 600,000 in Opening WeekendNintendo Announces New Larger Screen DS Gaming DeviceMySims Agents available tomorrow for Wii and DS Tags: Games & Gaming, Michael Anderson, Nintendo Related posts Where Can You…

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  Lifehacker: Gadgets

• Gadget and Gear Deals of the Day

  Jason Fitzpatrick

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

  Buy three 24" monitors get one free? Buy a 1TB hard drive and get a free HDD dock? Buy a media player and get a free 640GB matched hard drive? We've got these awesome combos and more inside. Computer Gear! Lenovo IdeaCentre Q700 Desktop PC for $349.00 + Free Shipping (Regular Price: $499 - use coupon code: USP30151A) 15.6" Dell Inspiron 15 4GB/320GB Laptop for $479 + Free 1-day Shipping (Regular Price: $958.00 - use coupon code 1R$ZL9Q7CFG69V) 15.6" Dell Inspiron 15 3GB/250GB Laptop for $399 + Free 1-day Shipping (Regular Price: $743 - use coupon code 40M?6?W03KFH93) 11.6" Dell Inspiron 11z…

• Gadget and Gear Deals of the Day

  Jason Fitzpatrick

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:00 am

  We've got HDTVs, laptops, and electronic gadgets galore in today's deal roundup. Can't be parted from your cold hard cash? Grab a coupon for some free cake and a Beastie Boys album. Computer Gear! Gateway ZX4800-02 Desktop with 20" Touchscreen LCD for $599.99 (Regular Price: $649) 18.4" HP dv8t i7 Laptop for $1,099.99 with free shipping (Regular Price: $1,499.99 - use coupon code NBTY349821) 15.6" HP dv6t i7 Laptop for $914.99 with free shipping (Regular Price: $1,314.99 - use coupon code NBTY349821) 15.6" Gateway MD7309u Laptop for $399.99 (Regular Price: $459.99) 13.3" Dell Inspiron 13…

• Repair or Replace Chart Helps You Determine What to Do with Broken Gear

  Sarah Rae Trover

  13 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  When your electronics break, do you consider a repair, or do you immediately start scouting for a replacement? Consumer Reports' simple Repair or Replace chart is designed to help you in your decision making process. (Click the image above for a closer look.) Covering digital cameras, televisions, and computers, the chart is based on readers' experience with products that broke outside their warranty and how much repairs cost. Using that info, the chart indicates when it makes sense to repair, when it makes sense to replace, and when one option is probably just as good as the other. The dark…

• Hanging Lego Recharger Holds Your Keys, Charges Your Gadgets

  Adam Pash

  12 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  We're suckers for any project that involves Legos, and the DIY gurus at weblog Make play to our weaknesses with this saucy Lego recharger and key holder. All you'll need is the appropriate Lego bricks (naturally), some screws, your devices' chargers, and a few common tools. The guide actually takes the process a little further than we would, cutting the ends of each device charger and fastening them to a Lego brick that, when connected to the base brick, completes the circuit and starts charging. (The process requires some wire stripping and soldering.) If we were to tackle this one, we'd…

• Gadget and Gear Deals of the Day

  Jason Fitzpatrick

  12 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  Discounted HDTVs, laptops, and bluetooth peripherals are today's order of business. Tired of waiting for an Apple Tablet? You can save $500 off a Mac-based "ModBook" tablet. Computer Gear! Axiotron Modbook Mac-based Tablet for $1599 (previously $2100) HP TouchSmart IQ500t All-in-One Desktop with 22" LCD for $699.99 + Free Shipping (Regular Price: $899 - use coupon code: DTML3847389) HP TouchSmart IQ800t All-in-One Desktop with 25.5" Touchscreen LCD for $1049.99 + Free Shipping (Regular Price: $1049 - use coupon code: DTML3847389) HP Pavilion Elite e9280t Desktop for $924.99 with free shipping…

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  CraziestGadgets.com

• It’s a Monster, It’s a Sink

  Jeff

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pm

  It’s a Monster, It’s a Sink We’ve covered some crazy and cool sinks here on the big site before but never a sink as “out there” as this one. The Mons Lavabo is an eco-friendly sink concept design controlled by an automatic hand sensor that’s designed to be appealing to children. It’s colorful and fun design (a bit Ikea-esque if you asked me) is made to be used by children of all heights unlike normal sinks that might be difficult for smaller children to reach. And the automatic sensor means kids won’t waste water. Of course none of this is…

• Lightbulb Turned Oil Lamp

  Jeff

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:03 pm

  Lightbulb Turned Oil Lamp Sergio Silva has created this beautiful looking oil lamp called Oyule using a regular incandescent lightbulb. This is a great adaptive reuse for those old burned out light bulbs instead of just throwing them away. It turns a modern lighting source into an older one, elegantly. There is a “rare earth magnet” as one of the components which is used to keep the bulb upright on the base which has it’s own magnet too. These lamps are gorgeous but hella pricey at over 600 bones at 66degrees shop for a set of two.

• Bread Buddy is Like a Bread Pez Dispenser

  Jeff

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:35 am

  Bread Buddy is Like a Bread Pez Dispenser I’m really trying to avoid writing it’s the best thing since sliced bread here…dang! Did it anyway, couldn’t resist. The Bread Buddy keeps your bread fresh and dispenses it out one slice at a time almost like a Pez dispenser. Maybe not exactly but you don’t have to stick your hand all the into the keeper to get a slice of bread- the bread rises to the top. This simple bread box works like this: you slip your bag of bread into the keeper and then fold the top of bag over the outside of the Bread Buddy. Then as you use up…

• StairSteady Helps People Walk Up Stairs

  Jeff

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:56 pm

  StairSteady Helps People Walk Up Stairs The StairSteady was invented by Ruth Amos when she was just 16 years old (pictured!) to help those with limited mobility walk up and down stairs easier. The StairSteady can either replace or supplement your existing handrail on your stairs. It consists of a fold out metal bar that provides stability while climbing or descending the stairs for those with limited mobility. The bar allows you to hold on with both hands which is a great advantage for those with less strength on one side and only one banister. The StairSteady can be configured to fit winding…

• Leaning Tower of Pisa Shelves Don’t Actually Lean

  Jeff

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:24 pm

  Leaning Tower of Pisa Shelves Don’t Actually Lean This relatively normal looking wooden box transforms into the Pisa Tower shelving unit named after the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa. Unlike the Romanesque structure, these shelves don’t actually lean (nor are they Romanesque). Each shelf is however on a angle from the one below it and is actually balanced upon the top edges of it’s downstairs neighbor. An elastic rope through the middle adds to the stability. The Pisa Tower was designed by Milica Nešovanovi to be a multi-functional piece of furniture. It works as shelves…

• 
  Ed Baig (USA Today)

• FLO TV Personal Television leaves a little to be desired

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:27 am

  You have to really love TV to spring for a portable TV like the FLO TV Personal Television that tech writer Ed Baig has been testing.

• Windows 7 could hasten touch-screen computers

  12 Nov 2009 | 11:02 am

  As part of Microsoft's recent launch of Windows.7, the company hopes to usher in a new era for touch-based computing.

• A look at 3 multitouch models by HP, Lenovo and Dell

  11 Nov 2009 | 7:21 pm

  A quick take on "multitouch" capabilities on three new Windows 7 computers.

• TwitterPeek, WikiReader not worth the loot

  11 Nov 2009 | 2:45 pm

  Not everyone has to have a feature-rich smartphone. Some people want devices that are simple, cheap and dedicated to a single purpose. That's the pitch, anyway, behind the two gizmos I've been testing, TwitterPeek from Peek Inc., and the WikiReader from Openmoko.

• Eager to upgrade to Windows 7? Be sure your PC can take it

  14 Oct 2009 | 7:45 pm

  You're tempted by Windows 7, the superior operating system Microsoft delivers next week. But you're not sure if your computer can run the latest software, or if you can avoid the palpitations that typically accompany the upgrade ordeal.

• 
  Geek.com

• Hackintosh back from dead: A hack re-enables the Atom processor support in OS X 10.6.2

  Christian Zibreg

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:14 pm

  Fans of the Hackintosh project will be delighted by this new hack that re-enables the Atom processor support in Snow Leopard 10.6.2. However, it isn’t a point-and-click affair like before and involves the command line, Unix commands, and replacing the OS X’s kernel with a hacked version, ruling out beginners. The full instructions can be [...]

• What will Google’s 2010 holiday Doodle look like?

  Christian Zibreg

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pm

  As we’re all collectively counting down the remaining days before 2010, Google’s Dennis Hwang is busy tweaking the Google logo to mark the occasion, a job the talented designer has been enjoying since 2000. Unlike the vast majority of companies who never tinker with their visual identity, Google is well-known for playing with its brand logo [...]

• Nokia announces it may layoff up to 330 R&D employees

  Doug Osborne

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:52 pm

  Looks like AOL isn’t the only company handing out bad news this week when it comes to workforce reductions. Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia also stands ready to do a little restructuring and is expected to trim the size of its research and development staff in order to streamline operations. In a statement made Friday, Nokia said [...]

• Viper SmartStart lets you turn on your car anywhere on the planet with your iPhone

  John Brownlee

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:49 pm

  Those automatic car starters have always seemed like a delicious luxury to me. A winter day crusted with snow, so cold that death seems warm. The long march to the car, the long wait for it to warm up, all solved by the single push of a keychain button. Surprisingly, there’s an App for that. [...]

• How to get rid of ghost icons in the Windows 7 taskbar

  Christian Zibreg

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm

  The new taskbar in Windows 7 is awesome, but it has its quirks. One of them are ghost icons of pinned programs that won’t flush out. Luckily, there’s a fix for that. A revamped taskbar with Dock-like icons is one of the prominent user interface enhancements in Windows 7. It’s a crossover of OS X’s [...]

• 
  Boing Boing

• USB grenade flash drive

  Mark Frauenfelder

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:47 pm

  Do you think the TSA would let you past security with this USB memory stick in the shape of an itsy-bitsy grenade?

• All-in-one ectoplasm measurement device

  Xeni Jardin

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:35 am

  "Designed exclusively for paranormal investigators, this incredible tool has everything you need to track and detect the presence of ghosts."

• How to destroy the market for used gadgets

  Rob Beschizza

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:23 am

  Microsoft permanently banned about a million hacked Xbox 360s from its online gaming network. Amid uncertainty--you can still play offline--the price of a used 360 collapses. Ebay's warning people not to buy them at all. But so far, some sellers are being honest: is $40 not a great deal for an otherwise working Xbox 360 that can't go online?

• 100-word fiction competition — win an HP MediaSmart EX495

  Rob Beschizza

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:46 pm

  The prize is a $700 HP MediaSmart EX495 PC, set up as a Windows home server, with 1.5TB of storage and Mac/Time Machine support. The winner shall be chosen at arbitrary whim. Runners-up get something random from the gadget dungeon. The theme is "Found in Space." 100 words long. Go!

• MAKERS US launch at Harvard Bookstore tonight, 7PM

  Cory Doctorow

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:47 am

  Hey, Bostonites! I'll see you tonight at the Harvard Bookstore (1256 Mass Ave) at 7PM for the US launch of my new novel, Makers! (New Yorkers, and Philadelphians -- see you later this week!) US/Canada tour

• 
  Geekologie

• They're All The Rage: On/Off Head Switches

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

  Want to look like you're a cyborg or some shit? I couldn't imagine why (unless you want me to brain you with a crowbar), but if you do, just glue an on/off switch to the back of your head like Dominic Wilcox did. But, WARNING: your hats won't fit the same! Neat idea, Dominic, but this is exactly the kind of thing that'll get you killed if you roll with the crew that I do. THAT SAID, I JUST I JUST HOOKED MYSELF UP WITH A VOLUME KNOB. WHAT? OH SORRY -- SOMEBODY TURNED ME UP TO 11!! Hit the jump for a picture of the installation process.

• Holy Grail? You Decide: A Bacon Chalice

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:30 pm

  I can't even imagine weaving bacon so tight as to not let liquid (well, molten cheese) through, but apparently somebody did. My hat oven mitts are off to you, bacon mug maker. Cause one time I tried weaving bacon and it didn't even make a solid placemat. It did, however, make a solid after-school snack. Kidding, I'm vegetarian. Did you feel that? That was your head imploding. Bacon Beer Mug [thisisfreakingridiculous] Thanks to Profound, mike469x, Dominican Joe, Freedom and KilgoreTrout XL, one of which is Kurt Vonnegut's plus-size alter-ego, the other three of which are fighting over who gets…

• For The Dapper Dog: Humunga Staches

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

  The Humunga Stache is a $12 piece of molded rubber. One side's a ball, and the other is giant freaking mustache. So when your dog bites the ball, guess what happens! (Hint: you take pictures and post them Facebook with clever captions). Add some low-cost laughs to your frequent frolics with Fido! This shiny black toy is a ball on one end, and a giant cartoon mustache on the other. Dogs naturally pick up the ball...which leaves the outrageously funny mustache sticking out! Dogs also love to hold the ball in their mouth, and shake the mustache back and forth! Not a bad idea. Of course, my dog…

• Whaaat?: Sand People Like Scooby Snacks?

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  In a mash-up of universes that's about to make my head explode, it turns out Tusken Raiders love Scooby Snacks. And speaking of which -- I'd like to see Scoob and the gang try pulling THAT dude's mask off. Ruh-roh is right -- you gonna die! Sand People like Scooby Snacks [tk8247's deviantart] Thanks to sham, who only tried Bantha fodder once and didn't like it.

• Wow, Video Game Religion -- Mass: We Pray

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:30 am

  Mass We Pray is a video game to get that Holy Spirit all up in your system and have fun with the whole family at the same time. With fun interactive mini-games like 'Conduct the Choir' and 'Genuflecting', you're sure to make Jesus proud (who's ALWAYS watching, BTW). Looks fun, doesn't it? That said, this is viral advertising for Dante's Inferno dropping in February. But I want to see how many people didn't bother reading this far and think it's real and then make comments about it. Because you know there's gonna be some. Then they're gonna wish they could delete their comments but they won't…

• 
  Cool Tools

• Overland Journal

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:54 am

  Last month I helped out a guy stuck on Tioga pass get his vegetable oil powered Gelaendewagen back on the road. He showed me a copy Overland Journal and I was so impressed I subscribed and ordered all the back issues once I got home. To give you an idea of the flavor of the magazine, one of the contributing editors is the author of my previously reviewed Vehicle Dependent Expeditions book. For anyone who does car camping, 4x4 exploring, vehicle trips abroad, or just enjoys armchair exploration, I cannot recommend this publication enough. It has amazing comprehensive comparison reviews of the…

• Neti Pot

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  My brother-in-law introduced me to the neti pot, for nasal irrigation, about three years ago. He had had chronic sinus infections that have largely stopped since he started using it. Since I began using it, I’ve had fewer illnesses and just breathe easier. I used to take decongestants regularly in order to sleep soundly (due to mild allergies), but haven’t in the past three years, since the neti pot became part of my daily routine. My sinuses don't dry out as much during winter anymore, and my wife says my snoring has decreased. The neti pot flushes your sinuses of pollutants,…

• Printed Space

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  My initial experience with Printed Space came about when family in England bought my wife and I a couple of canvases that used photos from our wedding. An artist at Printed Space worked with my brother to edit a batch of 300 photos down to 60, then cropped and arranged them and gave my brother various digital proofs, from which he selected the one he thought we'd like the best. The canvas was shipped from England to our home in San Francisco in a custom-made picture-frame box, in perfect condition. When we found out that Printed Space also puts your images (or stock images) on blinds and…

• All-Clad Roaster

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Last year, Williams-Sonoma released a line of exclusive All-Clad flared roasters. They are expensive, but well worth it if you do a lot of oven cooking. I cooked a 27lb turkey in the extra large one for Thanksgiving last year, and have since been using this pan for all kinds of things. The design makes for very even cooking, especially if you don't have a convection oven: the low flared sides give good heat exposure, so you get excellent browning on the underside of roasts, and the aluminum core provides outstanding heat distribution. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how much of a…

• Chaco Sandals

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  When weather permits, I live in sandals. Over the years I’ve tried all the major brands. A few years ago a friend suggested that I try a brand, Chaco, that I had never heard of. Initially I balked at the price, but when I found a pair that was closeout priced I decided to give them a try. I’ve never looked back. While I own a variety of Chaco sandals, I primarily wear the general purpose Z/1.The primary advantage of these sandals is their unique means of attachment to your foot; a single slide buckle. The strap for the front of the sandal is one continuous length that is threaded…

• 
  jkOnTheRun

• Lost Intel Atom Hackintosh Support Hacked Back In

  Kevin C. Tofel

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:07 am

  What the hackintosh community brings, Apple taketh away. And the hackintoshers then put it back. With the 10.6.2 Mac OS X update, Apple removed support for Intel Atom CPUs, so all of those netbooks running Snow Leopard lost their spots. A modified kernel brings back support, says MacWorld, although I’d be pretty leery of said kernel. Put another way: I’d live with OS X 10.6.1 on my netbook — but that’s just me. Even though I had fun running OS X on a both a netbook and a touchscreen UMPC, a couple of weeks with the operating system turned semi-frustrating. Ironically,…

• How to Get a Magic Mouse to Touch-scroll in Windows

  Kevin C. Tofel

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am

  I tested Apple’s Magic Mouse with Windows 7 not long after I bought the device a few weeks ago. It paired through Bluetooth with no issues as expected, and works well, but lost was the scrolling I enjoy with a finger flick on my MacBook. Obviously, it’s a driver issue and I never thought twice about it — why expect a Mac-specific function to work in Windows, right?  Luckily, someone else looked into it and hacked a method to get the magic on Windows. UNEASYsilence peeped a pair of modified bits from Apple’s latest Bluetooth Update and word is that they add touch…

• MobileTechRoundup 190 — HTC H2 Hands-On and a 3.5G Secret Revealed

  Kevin C. Tofel

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:33 am

  MoTR 190 is 37:49 minutes long and is a 34.7 MB file in MP3 format. CLICK HERE to download the file and listen directly. HOSTS: James Kendrick (Houston), Matthew Miller (Seattle) and Kevin C. Tofel (Philadelphia) TOPICS: Matt’s back from möbius with a handset rundown Maybe Pocket PC isn’t such a bad name, after all Hands on with the HTC HD2 Kevin has a 3.5G wireless broadband secret he’s been holding out on Google’s Chrome OS explained CONTACT US: Email us or leave us a voicemail on our SkypeLine! SUBSCRIBE: Use this RSS feed with your favorite podcatcher or click…

• New Pogoplug Adds File Synchronization, More USB Ports

  Kevin C. Tofel

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:01 am

  Earlier this year, I got my hands on a Pogoplug. This small device aligns with my “personal cloud” theory by easily turning any USB drive into a hybrid device — data is available locally on the drive and remotely over the web. Today, Cloud Engines introduces the next-generation Pogoplug for $129, with availability in time for the holidays. This new version adds three more USB ports, bringing the total to four. That allows for the addition of multiple USB drives — traditional drives or flash memory-based — to your personal cloud. Along with easier sharing on…

• This Week in Mobile Tech Manor #66: e-Book Readers Are Coming

  James Kendrick

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:11 am

  Friday is here, time to take a step back from the hurried happenings in Mobile Tech Manor and look back at the week. Some gear went back where it came from and other gear arrived for play evaluation. I experimented with alternative e-book readers to get a feel for what I like best before all the “real” readers hit early next year. Step into the Manor and let’s shoot the breeze. On the way out I sent out (or am sending back today) a couple of gadgets that I’ve had fun working with. The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s played a useful role for me and the multitouch screen was a lot…

• 
  Etan on Tech

• Game on! Social site Foursquare now available in Orlando, Tampa and many other cities

  Etan Horowitz

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:40 pm

  One of this year's hottest social networking sites is now available for use in Orlando. Foursquare lets you "check in" from different restaurants, bars, shops and other locations in different cities and share that information with friends. When you check in, a notification is automatically posted on your profile as well as on other social sites including Twitter and Facebook.   The idea behind Foursquare is that if you and I are friends, and you see me check in from a local restaurant, such as the Tijuana Flats in Thornton Park, if you are in the area, you might stop by…

• AT&T boosts 3G network capacity in North and Central Florida

  Etan Horowitz

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:52 am

  As AT&T continues to take shots from Verizon over the strength of its 3G network, the cell carrier that offers the iPhone announced on Tuesday that it has boosted its 3G capacity in North and Central Florida.The 3G network is what enables fast Web browsing and e-mailing on phones such as the iPhone or BlackBerry. But AT&T's 3G network can sometimes be unreliable because of all the strain these devices are causing.AT&T said it has added a second layer of capacity or "second carrier" to more than 260 cell sites in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia and Brevard…

• Bright House adding 24 HD channels in December to reach goal of 100 by year's end

  Etan Horowitz

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am

  At the end of last year, Bright House officials announced that by end of 2009, customers would have 100 high definition channels to choose from. It was an ambitious pronouncement at the time because Bright House only offered 37 HD channels.But on December 17, if everything goes as planned, Bright House will indeed have more than 100 HD after it adds another 24 on that day.Here's how the math breaks down. Bright House currently has 67 HD channels. On Thursday, the service plans to add another 12, bringing the total to 79. Finally, on December 17, another 24 HD channels will be added, to…

• Tweeps come from around the world for NASA Tweetup at Kennedy Space Center

  Etan Horowitz

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:33 am

  Generally, you don't hear a lot of cheering here at the press site at the Kennedy Space Center. But there's a whole different vibe today thanks to the 100 Twitter users NASA is hosting for a tweetup.The event began on Sunday when the group heard from astronauts, NASA officials and others.For today's 2:28 p.m. launch, the tweeters are set up inside a giant tent in the parking lot of the press site. They're seated at long rows tapping away on laptops and cell phones, snapping photos and shooting video. There's Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets, making it easy for the group…

• NASA gearing up for #nasatweetup at Kennedy Space Center on Sunday and Monday

  Etan Horowitz

  13 Nov 2009 | 11:13 am

  On Sunday and Monday, NASA will host about 115 of its Twitter followers for a Tweetup at the Kennedy Space Center. This is the fifth tweetup NASA has held, but it's the first one in Florida and the first where attendees will get to watch a launch in person. All of the available slots of the tweetup were taken within 20 minutes of registration opening. The launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) is scheduled for 2:28 p.m. on Monday. “It’s a unique opportunity especially because there are only six launches left and obviously not everyone in America can come to a launch,” said…

• 
  Automated Home

• RUVO MiniCap 7 - Tiny Fanless 1080P HDMI PC

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:00 am

  Back in September we brought you a review of the ASRock, an Atom powered NetTop PC running 1080P out to HDMI using XBMC. Now the LinITX guys are at it again, this time with an even smaller, silent fan-less design that does the same job, but at £210 costs even less...

• New Z-Wave Smoke Detector and Siren

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:08 pm

  Like torturing yourself with more Z-Wave goodies you can't buy in the UK? Here's two interesting new products equipped with the wireless home automation system...

• Crestron Integration by Custom Controls

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:23 pm

  Here's a set of three videos from Custom Controls showing recent integration projects for smart home lighting and security systems as well as the Spotify streaming music service. Watch the other two videos after the jump... FS2kPQuZQ_UUsing a Crestron touchpanel to select mood lighting scenes as part of a Crestron Greenlight system. Also shows how easy it is to create custom mood lighting scenes and instantly recall at the touch of a button.

• New Apple Remote Review

  15 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Apple's diminutive infrared remote control was replaced a few weeks back (along with a raft of other new hardware). The new unit leaves the old white glossy plastic look behind and adopts the brushed aluminium finish of the rest of the modern Mac range...

• MegaView61 HDMI Extender over CAT5 with Infrared Return

  10 Nov 2009 | 12:14 pm

  Marmitek have just added new wired video extender products. The range topping MegaView61 is an affordable £90 and sends 1080P HDMI signals over 2 CAT5 cables. It includes an IR return to control the source equipments too...

• 
  Great Demo!

• Mikogo – New Web Collaboration Tool

  16 Nov 2009 | 3:40 pm

  Mikogo (www.mikogo.com) is providing a free web collaboration tool, for sessions with up to 10 users. My understanding is that they currently support Windows and have Mac support in beta testing.Free? Yes – they are offering Mikogo free, in the hope and expectation that customers will move up to their for-sale BeamYourScreen offerings.Mikogo appears to offer many of the “standard” capabilities you’d expect for Remote Demos – including, I believe, the ability to annotate over the live application being demonstrated. This appears to be part of their “Whiteboard” functionality –…

• DimDim NOT Recommended for Remote Demos

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pm

  Another new player to the web collaboration tools space is DimDim (www.dimdim.com), who offer a range of web presentation and webinar tools. While part of their positioning is as a low-cost provider, which can be attractive, they do not offer the ability to annotate over a live application (e.g., the product you want to demo). This is an important limitation which prevents me from recommending it for use with Remote Demos.They do offer a free version of their tool, but I’ve yet to see it in use. Interestingly, I was unable to find out if they support annotations over live apps from…

• Great Demo! Implementation Tactic - Weekly

  9 Nov 2009 | 2:10 pm

  For Presales Managers:Hold weekly progress calls with the presales team to encourage and uncover success stories, Illustrations, tips, etc. and to reinforce the key ideas. Teams that do this (or similar) report excellent success with the method for individuals and appear to achieve high implementation rates for their teams as a whole.This shouldn’t be a surprise… Management support (particularly first-line management) is typically very important for achieving substantive change with personal skills and processes. Management support, however, can be passive or active. Passive support is…

• Manager “Chaperone” for Demo Prep Calls

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:39 am

  Here’s a terrific implementation tactic, suggested by a Great Demo! Workshop manager: Join pre-demo discussions (via phone, for example) between sales people and their presales counterparts as a “chaperone”. The idea is to both facilitate the conversation between the sales and presales participants, and to guide the discussion as necessary or appropriate.Additionally, this approach can help identify those sales people who need more “encouragement” to gather discovery and qualification information that might be needed before a delivering a demo. Similarly, this tactic helps to train…

• Public Great Demo! Workshop – San Francisco Bay Area – November 19

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:05 am

  [Warning: Shameless self-promotion alert!]In conjunction with the 280 Group, we are offering an Open (public) 1-Day Great Demo! Workshop in San Jose, California on November 19th.You can find more information including an overview, agenda, location and pricing at the 280 Group website. Registration for the event is available here.This is a terrific opportunity for individuals or small groups.[And this should be the last posting for this event on this blog...]

• 
  Crave

• Is that really a camera bag?

  Leonard Goh

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

  One photographer/blogger saw the need for a more fashionable alternative, and worked on a line of bags for female photographers who want both style and function.

• Small Samsung LCD TV earns budget laurels

  David Katzmaier

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:04 pm

  Although not as feature-heavy as some models in its class, Samsung's LNB360 series takes the picture quality cake among entry-level LCDs.

• Imation ships first wireless USB hard drive

  Dong Ngo

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:45 pm

  Imation ships world's first wireless USB external hard drive that offers 1.5TB of storage and a speed of 15MBps at up to 30 feet away.

• Nook sold out for the holidays

  David Carnoy

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:36 pm

  Barnes & Noble has announced on its Web site that its much-anticipated e-book reader, the Nook, is sold out through 2009. Is that good news for Amazon?

• Grand Theft Florence: Hands on with 15th-century Italy in Assassin's Creed II

  Scott Stein, Jeff Bakalar, Dan Ackerman

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:09 pm

  Ubisoft's sequel to their 2007 parkour/virtual reality adventure changes landscapes to Renaissance Italy with great success.

• 
  Simply Stated

• When shopping online, do you use live chat?

  KristinBrandt

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  With the holidays fast approaching, my thoughts turn to gifts. Or, more to the point, how to get all of my shopping done with everything else that is on the to-do list. The answer, of course, is that I'm going to be doing most (all?) of my shopping online. And while shopping from the comfort of my living room may be the greatest invention known to a time-starved mom, that doesn't mean it is without problems. Problems, that often can be resolved with the help of another great invention – live chat with a customer service representative. The first time I tried live chat was while…

• The Search for The Perfect Vacuum, Part II

  ErinKane

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:27 am

  A few weeks back I wrote that I'd started my search for the perfect vacuum. Since then I've been reading user reviews, researching vacuums online, and asking almost every woman I know what she uses to clean her floors. Since writing my review of the Roomba, I've spoken to several women who swear by their little robot. And I've met several more who swear by their Dyson. Check any number of shopping Web sites and you'll see Dyson vacuums are almost uniformly top-rated. There are several Dyson models and they are not inexpensive. I wanted to review one of the upright models,…

• Are CD players obsolete?

  KristinBrandt

  13 Nov 2009 | 1:16 pm

  My son loves to listen to Magic Tree House, the audiobooks featuring the stories of Jack and Annie, read by Mary Pope Osbourne. He also enjoys the adventures of Little Proto as performed by "Odds Bodkin." But here's the thing . . . He listens to his stories on CDs. That's right. He, the boy who's mother owns more than one type of MP3-playing device including a Shuffle, a "sad" 2nd generation iPod and an iPhone, listens to his stories on a CD player I bought at Target. At the time, I bought his sister the same player. Which is probably why when one broke, the…

• Free Airport WiFi This Holiday Season!

  ErinKane

  11 Nov 2009 | 7:54 am

  Now this is exciting holiday news for business travelers: Google announced yesterday it is working with with airports across the country as well as Boingo Wireless, Advanced Wireless Group, Airport Marketing Income and others to provide free WiFi as a holiday gift now through January 15, 2010. The plan currently includes 47 airports, including Las Vegas, San Jose, Boston, Baltimore, Burbank, Houston, Indianapolis, Seattle, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, St. Louis and Charlotte. According to FAA estimates, over 100 million people will pass through the participating airports between now and…

• Tech Delight

  ErinKane

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:41 am

  One of my all-time favorite shopping Web sites is Delight.com. Whenever I am on the hunt for something special or unexpected—mainly to give as a gift—I shop here first. Every day features a daily delight: a discount or product that's available in limited quantity. This week they've been showcasing some cool tech gadgets and accessories that are making it on to my holiday shopping lists. Yes, I do realize it was just Halloween. But once they start playing Christmas tunes 24/7 on the radio, I start making lists. This year I plan to have the majority of my shopping done by December first and…

• 
  eHomeUpgrade

• YouTube Stops API Access to Non-Licensed Connected CE Devices

  Alexander Grundner

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:00 am

  Oh, boy… YouTube is pulling a Hulu. According to Syabas Technology COO, Alex Limberis, the company has received notice that Popcorn Hour’s media streamers will no longer be able to access YouTube’s API due to a change in the Terms of Service. What’s interesting is that Alex says Syabas tried to negotiate a deal with [...]

• Second Generation Pogoplug Unveiled

  Alexander Grundner

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:55 am

  I was lucky enough to attend Cloud Engine’s launch party for the second generation Pogoplug on Thursday night and came away impressed by the device’s potential. The new direction, we were told, for the Pogoplug is for it to become more of a Internet media streaming and sharing storage device with social networking features. The first [...]

• ASUS Launches the TS Mini Windows Home Server

  Alexander Grundner

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:57 pm

  Windows Home Server and its related products have been a big hit for Windows PC users since its inception in 2007. Now, ASUS is getting in the game and is introducing the TS Mini to the world. This little energy-efficient, powerhouse packs a 1.66Ghz Intel Atom N280 processor, 1-2GB of DDR2 memory, Gigabit Ethernet, 6 [...]

• ViewSonic Enters Mini HTPC Market with the Blu-ray Equipped VOT550

  Alexander Grundner

  18 Nov 2009 | 12:47 pm

  Well, what do know? ViewSonic is spreading its wings into the mini HTPC market. The company today is announcing the availability of the VOT530 and VOT550 with Blu-ray. Both models, spec-wise, share a 2.2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, eSATA, SPDIF, line in/out jacks, and a pre-installed copy of Windows [...]

• Addonics Mini NAS Enclosure

  Alexander Grundner

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:59 am

  While this isn’t the first NAS product we’ve seen that doesn’t come with a hard drive, the $69 Addonics Mini NAS is the first to offer the flexibility to use a 2.5-inch SATA, 2.5-inch Solid State Drive, 1 x Compact Flash (adapter req.), or 2 x Compact Flash (adapter req.) drives for storage. The Addonics [...]

• 
  MAKE Magazine: Gadgets

• Make: Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Gifts for dads

  O'Reilly Media, Inc.

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:01 am

  There's a funny thing about dads' toys. Very often, kids borrow dad's supposedly grown-up toys and dad plays with toys designed for a much younger demographic. With that in mind, we present the Gifts for Dads list, filled with stuff that may appeal to more than one generation in your household. And you may also want to check out the holiday gift guides over on the GeekDad blog. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Gift Guides | Digg this!

• NEC announces universal translator … sorta, kinda

  O'Reilly Media, Inc.

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  NEC announced what could be an early, real-life version of the universal translator -NEC said the Tele Scouter was intended to be a business tool that could aid sales staff who would have information about a client's buying history beamed into their eye during a conversation. But, it said, it could also be put to a more exotic use as a translation aid. In this scenario the microphone on the headset picks up the voices of both people in a conversation, pipes it through translation software and voice-to-text systems and then sends the translation back to the headset. […] NEC said the Tele…

• How-To: Custom wooden case for wireless charging mat

  O'Reilly Media, Inc.

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pm

  Instructables user jvalal didn't like the look of his Powermat inductive device charging station, so he stripped out the guts and "re-skinned" it with a handmade wooden case. Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Instructables | Digg this!

• Arduino in Unity3D

  O'Reilly Media, Inc.

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  Unity3D hacker Pieter Floris writes in to say that he's Patrick Gutlich has finally got his Arduino connected compass controlling a camera in Unity3D. The barrier of entry continues to be lowered by projects like this. Kudos, Patrick! More: Updated Power Glove with Bluetooth and Arduino Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Arduino | Digg this!

• Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest launches today!

  O'Reilly Media, Inc.

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:01 am

  It's here! The Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest launches today! Put on your thinking caps and dream up some awesome gadgets! To celebrate the release of the newest Alex Rider book, Crocodile Tears, and the Kids of All Ages edition of MAKE (both at bookstores today), we're thrilled to be running this contest. All of you adventure-seekers and gadget lovers out there are invited to join in. If you were Alex Rider, what gadget would you want in the upcoming adventure "Crocodile Tears"? Design your dream Alex Rider gadget, inspired by an everyday object (i.e. an iPod, toothpaste, a pen). The…

• 
  Phones Review

• Video: Samsung Flight on AT&T gets Reviewed

  James

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:58 pm

  Today we bring you a video review of the Samsung Flight; the smartphone that isn’t a smartphone. The Samsung Flight apparently looks and feels like a smartphone, it has a full resistive 3.2 inch touch screen and shortcut menu, full QWERTY keyboard but is a low end slider feature phone. The Samsung Flight is a vertical slider with GSM/850/900/1800/1900, TouchWiz 2.0 user interface, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, a 2 megapixel camera, 3G, music player, and microSD expansion, measures 106 x 56 x 12.7mm and weighs in at 136 grams. The Samsung Flight video which can be viewed below courtesy of Noah at…

• Canada’s Telus and Rogers go at it like AT&T and Verizon

  James

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:51 pm

  It appears that the AT&T vs. Verizon row over 3G coverage has spilled north of the border into great white Canada with Canadian carrier Telus mounting a lawsuit against Rogers Wireless over network coverage reports an article on the globe and mail. Apparently senior communications manager for Telus, Shawn Hall as stated that Rogers has no network advantage and shouldn’t be misleading the Canadian populace with “false superiority claims,” although it has to be said that up until Telus launched their HSPA network Rogers claims were probably accurate. Apparently Rogers turned down a…

• Best Buy Black Friday Deals 2009: DLO Jam Jacket For iPhone

  James

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:34 pm

  Continuing to bring you the Best Black Friday deals we can, we have another Black Friday Deal from Best Buy in the DLO Jam Jacket for the iPhone which currently commands a price tag of $18.89 but watch that iPhone jacket price fall. The Best Buy deal on the DLO Jam Jacket for iPhone tumbles down from $18.99 to a much better $9.99 bringing the customer a great Black Friday saving of $9.00 which makes the jacket virtually half price. The DLO Jam Jacket for iPhone is compatible with the iPhone 3G 8GB and 16GB and the iPhone 3GS, is constructed from silicone and protects your iPhone from…

• Best Buy Black Friday Sale: Jabra BT-2080 Bluetooth Headset

  James

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:21 pm

  On the lookout for a new Bluetooth headset at less than half the price? Well Best Buy Black Friday Deals has just what you are looking for in the Jabra BT-2080 Bluetooth headset that currently retails at Best Buy for $49.99, but you just know that price is going to tumble down. The Best Buy Black Friday Sale sees the Jabra BT-2080 Bluetooth headset rocket down from that $49.99 to below half price at $19.99 giving the customer a great saving of a cool $30.00. The Jabra BT-2080 Bluetooth headset is compatible with Bluetooth enabled mobile phones with specs of 1.1 and higher, sports a durable…

• Motorola Ventures and Alcatel-Lucent to Fund Sequans LTE Development

  James

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:11 pm

  Leading 4G chip maker Sequans Communications has apparently raised funding for their LTE development program from both Motorola Ventures and Alcatel-Lucent and existing investors according to an article posted on earth times. Sequans Communications is a leader in WiMAX solutions and has stated their intention to develop WiMAX and LTE solution in parallel. Sequans CEO, Georges Karam has said that their expansion into LTE has been their long term strategy and is a natural progression for them. VP of End-to-End Solutions for Alcatel-Lucent, Doug Wolff has said that they are confident their…

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  Luxist

• Thakoon Mirror Mosaic Strappy Sandals

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:02 pm

  The holidays are all about glitz and glamour -- even for those who glam it up year round, Christmas and New Years are a time for stepping it up a notch. Consider these Mirror Mosaic Strappy Sandals by Thakoon to be your over-the-top statement splurge this season. Dazzling slip-on style in silver mirrored leather with brick-effect paneling, black suede trim, cutout effect, and angled peep toe opening. The heel measures a sky-high 4.5 inches and the price checks in at an equally high $1,150.Like 'em? Then you should also check out these Mirror Mosaic Ankle Boots.Filed under: ShoesThakoon Mirror…

• 25CPW: Artists Turn Empty Upper West Side Space into Den of the Aesthetic

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  Ten artists found a way to make vacant commercial space incredibly exciting. I wandered by 25 Central Park West on a walk in my neighborhood a few days ago and saw artists inside. They were hard at work cleaning, preparing and hanging their pieces. Tapping on the window was one of my smartest moves this week. By doing so, I learned of a new exhibition, which opened Wednesday night. The show, 10 from 25: Emerging Artists using Photography, is set to run through December 13, 2009. It includes flat art and video, bringing to life an empty space in a part of Manhattan generally forgotten by the…

• Luxist Gift Guide 09: FitzGerald Coleman Curated Desk Sets

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:01 am

  Building the perfect stationery set can be a real challenge. To build the ideal collection, you want to find pieces that both reflect your personality and pull from a wealth of design sources. Fortunately FitzGerald Coleman has come to the rescue this holiday season, and done all of the work for you. Introducing curated desk sets, each three-tiered secretary box is expertly filled with elite paper goods from brands like Herman Yu, Pancake & Franks, Paper & Cup, Snow & Graham, TokyoMilk, and John Derian. Choose your personality: the Romantic, Minimalist, Innovator, Traditionalist,…

• The Estate at Turks and Caicos, Estate of the Day

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am

  Today's estate is an idyllic retreat in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This home is on 2.5 acres with an additional .68 acre available. It is located less than two miles from the Grace Bay Beach area which offers access to restaurants, golf, casinos, resorts, shops and more. This home is gated and has its own private road and waterway access. The property includes a spectacular main house with a glass bottom pool, commercial restaurant quality kitchen facilities, three master bedrooms with en-suite baths, library, sitting room, living room, screening room, secret stairway, cigar/wine room,…

• Montblanc Star Pluie d'Etoiles Watch For The Ladies

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  Asymmetric diamond layouts are in. Harry Winston showed us this here on the Talk To Me, Harry Winston Snowflake watch, and not Montblanc gives us a taste of what this design aesthetic can produce. coming in January, Montblanc will reveal the new Star Pluie d'Etoiles watch for women. I do quite like the look. The case and dial work together harmoniously, as the watch wouldn't be what it is without both. The case is 36mm wide and in 18k white gold. The out bezel is lined with baguette cut diamonds, while the inner side of the bezel is done in what looks to be round cut diamonds. The diamonds…

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  Uncrate

• Victorinox Recycled Ripstop Down Vest

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:05 pm

  Keep yourself warm and your conscious clear with the Victorinox Recycled Ripstop Down Vest ($200). Made with a shiny recycled polyester outer, down fill, and nylon lining, this close-fitting quilted...Visit Uncrate for the full post.

• Nespresso CitiZ

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:24 am

  Grown tired of the lines at your local Starbucks, or simply tired of paying for it? Check out the Nespresso CitiZ ($350). For the cost of around 100 coffee shop...Visit Uncrate for the full post.

• Star Trek

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:11 am

  Leave it to LOST and Alias mastermind J.J. Abrams to reboot one of sci-fi's most beloved franchises without too much bitching from the diehard Trekkies. Star Trek ($13-$20) was easily...Visit Uncrate for the full post.

• Under Armour Key Pocket ColdGear Gloves

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:48 am

  Made from nylon, polyester, and spandex, the wind- and waterproof Under Armour Key Pocket ColdGear Gloves ($35) are ready to keep your hands warm and your small valuables secure. They...Visit Uncrate for the full post.

• Imation Pro WX Wireless USB Hard Drive

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:41 am

  Being the "world's first" often means two things: a potentially small target market, and a high price tag. Still, if you've got the cash and the components necessary to own...Visit Uncrate for the full post.

• 
  TechBlog

• Such a shiny, shiny (but limited) Chrome OS! [Updated]

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:04 am

  On Thursday, as Google gave the tech press its first real look at its upcoming Chrome OS, I was as much interested in the reaction to the operating system as I was in the product itself. Google, like Apple, is a darling of the geekerati, and almost anything the company does gets more than its share of ink and pixels. For example, take a look at the coverage the Chrome OS announcement had on Techmeme about seven hours after the dog-and-pony was over. I thought about joining the fray, but I decided I want to sit back and think about what I saw in the webcast. I'm in the process of downloading…

• Open comments on parade

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Happy Friday, TechBlog folk! Here's your weekly open-comments thread. If you're a veteran around these parts, you know what to do. If you're not, here's the drill: You leave a comment related to anything about personal tech. I'll approve it. Then, you come back often to see what others said about what you said. Simple, right? Go ahead. You go first.

• Linkpost | 11.20.2009

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:36 am

  • Everything You Need To Know About Chrome OS - Gizmodo has an excellent primer on Thursday's Chrome OS news. Also Want To Try Out Google Chrome OS For Yourself? Here's How. • Google News Revamps Mobile Site for iPhone, Android, and Palm Pre Users and Droid, iPhone, and Pre: meet the new Techmeme Mobile - Techmeme and Google News redesign their mobile sites. Both are excellent. • Microsoft finds security flaw in Google Chrome Frame - There's a serious bug in the plug-in for Internet Explorer that lets Chrome run as the rendering engine. It's already been patched, and users should get an…

• What are the basics of computer literacy?

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:35 am

  Recently, I helped a very smart friend with a computer problem. She was having an issue with the application she used most and asked me for some assistance. The problem was fairly simple. For some reason, she had two copies of a document. One was in the Documents folder, and the other was in a folder she had not yet named on her Windows Vista machine. She'd been opening her application, going to "Recent documents", making changes and saving them, with the changes going into the New Folder version. But sometimes she'd go to the Documents folder and double-click on the original…

• Linkpost | 11.19.2009

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:34 am

  Updated 2:11 p.m. • Liveblogging The Google Chrome OS Press Conference and ChromeOS Source Code - Where To Download Google provides details on its Chrome OS. Thin client, all apps live on the Web, will require specific hardware (you can't install it on your current machine) and it devices with it will be out this time next year. • Office 2010 beta goes public - Along with SharePoint 2010, Visio Viewer and a version of Office 2010 for Windows Mobile phones. Also Coming Soon: Your Professional Network within Microsoft Outlook • 64-bit Windows safer, claims Microsoft - Both the 64-bit…

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  CoolBusinessIdeas.com

• Cookie Diets In Demand

  Steven Teo

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:22 am

  Four popular "cookie diets" are the latest quick-fix weight-loss fads. Followers eat special cookies about six times a day, and sometimes an additional "normal" meal of low-fat foods, for less than 1,000 calories total per day. Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet has been endorsed by Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson. The treats contain protein, amino acids for appetite control, and cellulose for satiety. The plan includes a daily multivitamin. Smart for Life not only sells cookie kits, but other prepared foods. The Hollywood Cookie Diet serves up a proprietary mix of protein and fiber…

• Unique Coffee Bags

  Steven Teo

  18 Nov 2009 | 3:16 am

  Inhabitat: This smart Upcycle Ottoman by Gus* Modern is made of repurposed jute bags that were once used to carry organic fair trade certified coffee. Produced in a limited quantity, each piece is unique and shows the branding and markings of the bags used in the process. No word if they still carry that wonderful coffee scent, but you can still identify which company produced the beans and where they came from. Upcycled Ottoman Made From Coffee Bags [Inhabitat]

• Unlock the Door with FaceID

  Marcel Sim

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:37 am

  Unplgged: When we read about this, we thought that this was a concept, but no, it's actually something that you can buy right now. All over the world, people are using magnetic and RFID cards all over the place in order to get into their workplaces. There are a few different option available for homes, but they are costly. The FaceID system wills tore up to 500 unique faces in its database and will unlock the front door to anyone in there. A pair of digital cameras allow the system to recreate a 3D image of your face. It runs this rendering through a face-detection algorithm to match the…

• Lifeblogging on Wearable Camera

  Marcel Sim

  15 Nov 2009 | 7:26 am

  New Scientist: A camera you can wear as a pendant to record every moment of your life will soon be launched by a UK-based firm. Originally invented to help jog the memories of people with Alzheimer's disease, it might one day be used by consumers to create "lifelogs" that archive their entire lives. Worn on a cord around the neck, the camera takes pictures automatically as often as once every 30 seconds. It also uses an accelerometer and light sensors to snap an image when a person enters a new environment, and an infrared sensor to take one when it detects the body heat of a person in front…

• Stila Soothing Makeup

  Marcel Sim

  13 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

  Coolest Gadgets: When women travel, their makeup case goes with them, wherever they’re getting ready, that case is typically right there. Having a simple case always makes getting ready far less chaotic. Then if you add your favorite music to the combination, it makes for a more soothing morning. This Stila case manages to give both by having speakers actually built into in order to hook up your MP3 player. The Stila case has plenty of compartments to keep your makeup where you can actually find all of it. To top things off it actually includes some makeup, like foundation, eye shadow, lip…

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  Mine Your Own Business

• Hiring and Firing

  Randy Alletag

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:04 pm

  We've done a lot of posts on the importance of good employees for any small business and just a few days ago we did a posting on the kinds of workers a business could hire as the economy improves in...

• More Timely Advice

  Randy Alletag

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:04 pm

  Small business owners face the daunting tasks of working at their business and in addition must take care of the overall management of their business. Good employees can help tremendously and in fact we did a posting on May 9th...

• What Kind of Employee?

  Randy Alletag

  16 Nov 2009 | 12:45 pm

  One of the few positive aspects of our current economic downturn and dismal unemployment figures is that it means the pool of high quality workers is much greater than usual. An article from the Associated Press discusses the many employment...

• Pricing Dilemna

  Randy Alletag

  12 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  Small businesses are all well aware that price has always been a major concern with any prospective customer and in the past few years it seems that it has become more important than ever to many people. We ran across...

• Increased Business Spending

  Randy Alletag

  9 Nov 2009 | 1:47 pm

  An article in USA Today reports that after reduced business spending for six quarters in a row that businesses increased spending on new computers and software at an annual rate of 1.1%. That may not sound too impressive, but after...

• 
  Coolest Gadgets

• Vote and Win $50 in Coolest Gadget of the Week

  Al

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:04 am

  Win $50 at Think Geek by browsing, voting and commenting for what YOU think is the coolest gadget. Digital Video Memo The Digital Video Memo is the future in leaving people messages no more using mass amounts of paper and scribbling down notes. You can now talk into the Digital Video Memo and leave someone a 30 second video message reminding them to do something or maybe just telling them to have a lovely day at work. This is very simple to use and it won’t have you reaching for the instructions everytime you want use it. The Digital Video Memo might make a very handy Christmas stocking…

• Learn and Grow Robot

  Edwin

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:45 am

  Kids just want to have fun, and what better way to learn than through toys and play? After all, don’t deprive your little one of his/her childhood with just books and more books – let them run wild at some point in order to go through the school of hard knocks. In the meantime, the Learn and Grow Robot might be just the thing to help them develop their mental faculties. The Learn and Grow-Bot is soft and cuddly and packed with features for baby to explore. Each of the four buttons on his chest emits a different silly robot sound. Your geekling will learn cause and effect every…

• Shirt soothes stressful wearers

  Edwin

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  You know how times have changed when you see that clothes are no longer just fashion statements that help keep you warm while looking sharp, as they have evolved to pack in technology that will help soothe you whenever it detects that you are suffering from tension and stress. This is made possible via its double layers which houses bio sensors inside the shirt that picks up the wearer’s stress levels, sending signals to corresponding LEDs connected to the shirt. The higher the stress levels, the faster the LEDs will blink, where therapy will then be recommended via stimulation of…

• Imation offers Pro WX first wireless USB external hard drive

  Edwin

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:15 am

  Imation has always been at the forefront of things where storage medium is concerned, and their latest release is yet another first (and possibly another feather in the company’s cap) – the Pro WX wireless USB hard drive. Based on Imation’s platform of external hard drives, the Imation Pro WX drive – despite not being tethered to your computer, will still be able to offer the convenience of fast data transfer rates, speed and capacity required in today’s graphics and data intensive environments, maxing out at 1.5TB of storage space. Great news for everyone, but we…

• Lexar Memory Stick Micro (M2) and SDHC memory cards

  Edwin

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am

  Lexar continues its march in the world of storage space where memory cards are concerned, and this time round they will target hardcore gamers or just casual gamers who are looking for a reliable data storage solution of all their important gaming data. After all, wouldn’t it be a real damper to find out that the hundreds of hours you’ve spent investing in playing an RPG to bring your party up to near deity-like powers disappear in a puff of smoke just because the game data stored on a particular memory card is corrupted due to a hardware defect? Lexar hopes to prevent that…

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  Gizmos for Geeks

• Webcast of Google’s intro of Chrome OS and open source announcement

  Chief Gadgeteer

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:49 pm

  No, not a release of the much blogged about Chrome OS, but a webcast given by a VP of Product Management, Sundar Pichai. He starts off by talking about Chrome, the browser, then gets into Chrome OS itself. Perhaps the biggest news of all is that the Chrome OS has been open sourced. Kudos again Google. Just one little detail, the open source version is called Chromium OS. If you don’t know what Chrome OS is, then take a look at this entertaining video which explains what it is, and more importantly why.

• Review: iTech SolarCharger 906 – portable solar charger

  Chief Gadgeteer

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:56 pm

  There are numerous portable battery backup solutions out there that come in various sizes, shapes and function. iTech makes one that falls into the ‘green’ category. How? By being rechargeable via solar energy. The SolarCharger 906 is a compact iPhone-sized (approx 4″ x 2.5″ x 0.6″) solar panel that holds 1,260mAh of power. You can either charge up the 906 via a USB cable but of course, its star power (pardon the pun) is to be recharged via the sun’s rays. The 906 comes with a clear plastic cradle that is very securely connected and suction cups that you…

• There may be a Google data-only phone in early 2010

  Chief Gadgeteer

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:14 pm

  Michael Arrington of TechCrunch is reporting that a Google Phone is imminent, possibly in early 2010. However, it may be a data-only VoIP ‘phone’ but what would be cool is if Google issues Google Voice phone numbers to those phones. About the only bad piece of news here is that it may end up initially only on AT&T with other GSM carriers being maybes. The hardware would in all likelihood be produced by some other hardware vendor but only have Google branding.

• Finis 3.1Gb waterproof MP3 player

  Chief Gadgeteer

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:10 pm

  Here’s another water-related product from FINIS, a 3.1Gb MP3 player that can be submerged in water, so you can use it for swimming. The SwiMP3 player works like the Audio Bone Headphones and transmits the sound to your cheekbones by vibration. Sound strange, but it works surprisingly well. The SwiMP3 plays MP3 and WMA files and has basic controls embedded in one of the sides. Buy now! Price: $121.99 (Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

• The beginning of the end? AOL to go its own way Dec 9

  Chief Gadgeteer

  17 Nov 2009 | 5:52 pm

  Back in the mid-90s, I really thought that AOL (America Online) couldn’t keep competing against the tidalwave of new ISPs that were offering Internet connectivity for much less, not to mention without the horrible bandwidth-sucking AOL application in an age of dial-up modems. I was quite wrong. Relatively few knew about those ‘other’ ISPs and AOL thrived. In what may retrospectively be seen as hubris, AOL merged with media giant Time Warner and the company was even know for a few years as AOL Time Warner. The merger was a mess. The 2 companies never really merged and…

• 
  MuzGadgets

• Google Chrome OS

  Pete

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:48 pm

  Just watched the (over 1 hour long) Google Chrome OS webcast. Today Google released it to Open Source and gave a demo. It looks interesting and really fast, simple and secure to use. It won't be available for a year and then you'll need a supported device to run it, but it looks very promising.The "What is Google Chrome OS?" video below is a much shorter intro:

• Google Wave Invites

  Pete

  10 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pm

  I've got some spare Google Wave invites if any of the Muzgadget Bros or our readers are curious to use this technology. See my earlier post Google Wave : Communication revolution for a long video introduction to Google Wave. Or to save time see this much quicker and funnier introduction: What is Google Wave?

• Digital Camera Kit for Kids

  Pete

  10 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

  As seen on Make : Bigshot, an amazing educational digital camera kit that teaches kids how the camera works and helps them discover photography.

• under $10 webcam

  Pete

  21 Oct 2009 | 4:40 pm

  I got a cheap webcam from a small supermarket today because they had a special price 9.90 Turkish Lira (about 6.75 USD). It is the art1300t webcam from artes and features a built in microphone, 10x digital zoom, face tracking, some tacky frame effects and reasonable basic picture quality. A picture of the webcam box (it is tricky to capture a picture of a camera with the same camera) with the

• Need a part-time balcony?

  Pete

  11 Oct 2009 | 2:37 pm

  This fold out balcony from Bloomframe morphs from a window to a balcony. These innovative building components are now in production and available in a variety of colors and materials as well as custom designs to match new and existing buildings.

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  Digital Tech News - Digital Technology & Consumer Electronics

• Verizon Wireless Motorola DROID Phone Reviews

  Tony E

  8 Nov 2009 | 3:01 pm

  Now that Verizon Wireless’ Motorola DROID phone has finally landed on Earth (nice DROID Ad!) and available in over 2,000 Verizon Communications Stores since Friday Nov. 6, customers will probably want to know all there is about this new Google...

• HP Vivienne Tam Digital Clutch Netbook PC Hits The Runway

  Tony E

  14 Sep 2009 | 5:12 am

  Designer Vivienne Tam teamed-up once again with HP to unveil the new "digital clutch" at Tam's Spring 2010 fashion show during New York's Fashion Week at Bryant Park. Merging fashion and technology, the chic HP Vivienne Tam digital clutch mini...

• Nokia Erdos Phone Concept - Sleek, Stylish, and Wanted

  Tony E

  14 Sep 2009 | 3:58 am

  We've seen futuristic concept phones from Nokia in the past, but this sleek and luxurious Nokia Erdos phone concept will probably make it all the way to customers this time. As you'll see in the presentation video below, the Erdos...

• Yamaha BD-S1900 and BD-S1065 Blu-ray Players Announced

  Tony E

  14 Sep 2009 | 3:33 am

  Yamaha Electronics' introduced its new BD-S1900 and BD-S1065 Blu-ray disc players, which were designed to complement the company's new and existing AV receivers. The BD-S1900 Blu-ray player is equipped with custom installation features to match Yamaha's higher end AV receivers,...

• LG-GW620 - LG’s First Android-powered Smartphone

  Tony E

  14 Sep 2009 | 3:08 am

  LG Electronics' first Android mobile device is the new LG-GW620 Android-powered smartphone featuring a 3-inch full touchscreen, a slide out QWERTY keypad, and access to Google mobile applications and services. LG has not offered much more details on the device...

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  CyberNet News

• Growl Becoming a Must-have App on Windows?

  Ryan

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:37 pm

  Windows-focused Having bought my first Mac about a year and a half ago one app that I quickly started to love was Growl. It brought a universal notification system to the operating system that any application could make use of, and the cross-program uniformity made the OS experience that much better. Then came along Growl for Windows, which was something I took a quick liking to once the Prowl iPhone app was released. I wasn’t sure what kind of future Growl had on Windows since we had already seen other apps like Snarl start to fade out despite being updated regularly. It just…

• Regular Expression Generator and Tester

  Ryan

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:51 am

  Windows only I always find myself using regular expressions (a.k.a. regex) in my programming because they are often the best way to parse out bits and pieces from blocks of text. Ever since I discovered the online RegExr that has been my tool of choice, but sometimes it’s nice to have a dedicated application. Programs like RegexBuddy are awesome, but aren’t free. When I came across an app called The Regulator I was pretty surprised to see that the developer wasn’t charging for it. Sure it didn’t look as powerful as RegexBuddy, but I had yet to come across a regex…

• Quickly Add Media to iTunes When It’s Not Running

  Pieter

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:59 am

  Windows; Mac Sometimes, Apple sneaks in new features into their software without ever making a big deal out of it. When iTunes 9 was released, they made it possible to add files to iTunes without even launching the app. The secret to this trick not as far-fetched as you might think… The key to this feature is a subdirectory of the folder where iTunes keeps your data. Depending on your OS, your iTunes library has a different default location: Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\your username\My Documents\My Music\ Windows Vista and up: \Users\your username\Music\ Mac OS X: /Users/your…

• WrapUp: Office 2010 Beta Available, Legal Usage of Windows 7 OEM Copies, and More

  Ryan

  16 Nov 2009 | 2:02 pm

  Welcome to the WrapUp by CyberNet. This is a collection of news stories, downloads, and tips that we have collected over the last few days, but never got around to writing about. Don’t forget to send in your own tips, or just leave a comment on this page if you think you’ve got something we should include. –News– Office 2010 Beta Available Microsoft has posted the Office 2010 Beta for MSDN and TechNet subscribers, but not before it had already been leaked. It was already appearing on your favorite BitTorrent search engine last week, but now there is some legitimacy to…

• How to Reduce Firefox’s Memory Usage

  Pieter

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:47 am

  It’s a common problem among Firefox power users: you’ve been surfing the web for some time and all of a sudden Firefox’s memory footprint goes through the roof. And although Mozilla’s developers do their best to ensure that Firefox is stable, many people play a part in the browser’s memory leaks without knowing it. So how do you get Firefox to run smoothly again? Do you really need that Firefox extension? In my opinion, Firefox’s support for add-ons is one of its most valuable features, but there’s a catch: the longer Firefox has been installed on…

• 
  Darren Herman

• Challenge to the Dave Matthews Band and review of Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King

  Darren

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:23 am

  For those of you who do not know me too well, I’m a huge fan of the Dave Matthews Band.  I’ve been to more shows than I can reasonably count, have gigabytes of their live shows, my living room has a framed DMB art collection, and my son is aptly named David Matthew Herman. For those of you who do know me well, you’ve probably traveled with world with me to see the band in one random location or another. This post has two parts.  Read both because they compliment each other. Challenge: Go back into the recording studio and re-record songs from previous albums.  Why am I…

• Black November – Holiday Shopping Has Officially Begun

  Darren

  15 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

  Holiday shopping mayhem used to begin on Black Friday.  Many of us all have our own crazy shopping stories and there are even some YouTube videos of people filming their Black Friday shopping experiences.  For retailers, this marked the official date to begin holiday displays and holiday discounts and for American consumers, it was the “unofficial but official” nod to take out the plastic and start purchasing gifts for friends and loved ones.  If you go into a retail store during this time of the season, you can almost be guaranteed that there will be a musical bell in the song…

• Advertising Industry Presentation – Need Your Help

  Darren

  9 Nov 2009 | 10:26 am

  I’m taking a cue from Fred Wilson on how he crowdsourced his Web 2.0 Keynote presentation.  The wisdom of all of you are much smarter than myself, so why not work together on this upcoming presentation.  What presentation you might ask? Announced today, I am the keynote speaker at the Admonsters Ad Ops Forum on December 3 here in New York City.  I am excited about this forum because the people who will be actually going to it are the people who actually pull the “levers” in the industry.  Not that I ever “BS,” but this audience is a very wise one and…

• Small Focus Group on Digital but Interesting Nonetheless

  Darren

  1 Nov 2009 | 5:58 pm

  I spent last Thursday afternoon and all day on Friday up at my alma mater, Skidmore College.  The reason I went up was to attend a few meetings and to give a presentation to their Marketing/Advertising and Entrepreneurship classes.  The point of this post is less about the presentation but more about my lunch afterward with a handful of students at Scallions in downtown Saratoga Springs. While the ~6 students I had lunch with were hardly a legitimate focus group, it did give me some directional thoughts to ponder on my 2.5 hr trip home. Cable in the dorm is rare.  Television viewing is now…

• Great Presentation: Evolution of Digital Communications

  Darren

  25 Oct 2009 | 8:28 pm

  Saw this presentation on my friend Fred’s blog this morning and thought it was perfect for here.  Of all of the parts of the presentation (which I believe can be done in 120 slides rather than 200+), the slide that talks about data+insights hits really close to home during this part of my career and passion.  Check it out. Digital Strangelove (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Internet) View more documents from David Gillespie.

• 
  Geek News Central

• Google, Google Chrome, and the Cloud

  susabelle

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:43 am

  This past week, I attended and presented at a conference for Adaptive Technologists. This is my official geek-tech title. I work with people, primarily students, with disabilities, providing technical solutions to their accessibility needs. This is the premier conference for geeks like me, and I spend the entire week networking with others who do what I do. Usually our keynote speaker is someone from the disability services community — a counselor at a school, or head of a deaf institute or something along those lines. This year, we had Dr. T.V. Raman, Research Scientist, from Google,…

• Fighting Fires Instead of Preventing Them

  susabelle

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:04 am

  “There are businesses that want to make sure they keep making money by having cures that fix the last one, but not the next one.” The above quote is from Dr. Fred Cohen, President of the California Sciences Institute, and inventor of the first ever computer virus over 26 years ago. He was speaking specifically about how virus prevention software builders are working only towards having cures, but not really towards prevention. This got me to thinking. How many of the patches and upgrades we install are done as an eye for fixing an existing problem, rather than preventing future…

• GNC-2009-11-20 #529 Get ready for the 24hr Podcast

  geeknews

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:27 am

  I have announced my tentative date for the 24hr Podcast, lots to cover between then and now. But as always it is my pleasure to do that 24hr show. Need to pick a charity for this year. Suggestions are welcome. Production of the video portion of the show is really improving, have a few more things to work out but I am happy with process. Back to a normal show flow next show. Ongoing support by these fine sponsors keep the lights on your support is appreciated! [Save 15% on orders $20.00 or more at >GoDaddy.com!] use Code Geek5 [GotoMeeting Hold your meetings online for just $49/mo. Try…

• Mophie Juice Pack Air Lost Confidence

  geeknews

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:22 pm

  Over the past 6 months I have been an proponent of the Mophie Juice Pack Air. For those that do not know, your iPhone slides into the Juice pack and when you are getting low on power you throw the switch on the bottom of the Juice Pack Air and your phone starts charging. They are not cheap they run about $80.00 dollars. All was well up to last week when my Juice Pack Air that is less than 6 months old stopped taking a charge. It was good in the morning bad in the evening. I had not dropped the phone or had anything similar happen to it. I use the Juice Pack Air on a daily basis as I am always…

• Paying for Online News

  KL Tech Muse

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:43 am

  Are you willing to pay for the news. That is what Rupert Murdoch maybe betting on. Rupert Murdoch is the owner of a media empire which includes the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. Lately he has been talking about removing his news empire from Google Search and putting them behind a pay wall Clearly for this to work it would depend on if people are willing to pay for their news. I found an article on Technologizer that said that 45% of people surveyed were willing to pay for news. When I saw this article red flags immediately went up in my head, based on what I had…

• 
  The Bleeding Edge

• Bleeding Edge TV 325: HP Envy 13 and Envy 15 notebook computers

  Gear Live Media

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:18 pm

  In this episode, we give you a look at the HP Envy 13 and HP Envy 15 notebooks. These are the flagship, top-of-the-line HP notebooks, incorporating great displays with a clickable trackpad (although, it doesn’t support multitouch gestures.) The Envy 13 also has a ridiculous 16-hour battery life. For those of you audiophiles out there that need something with a bit more punch, you’ve got the HP Envy 15 Beats Limited Edition, which comes with the Beats by Dr. Dre Studio headphones, DJ tools software, and a few custom settings as well. Want one? You can find all three models on…

• Bleeding Edge TV 324: Limited Edition CoD:MW2 Xbox 360 console giveaway!

  Gear Live Media

  13 Nov 2009 | 12:47 am

  We’ve got one of those fancy Limited Edition Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 console bundles, and we are giving it away to one of you readers. In this video, we give you a look at the console, which is designed to look like something straight out of Modern Warfare 2, and also features the exclusive 250GB Xbox 360 hard drive. It also includes two wireless controllers, along with the rest of the standard Xbox 360 fare. Interested in winning? Check out the video, then head on over to the official Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 giveaway page to enter by showing us your pwned face! Here's…

• Bleeding Edge TV 323: A look at Verizon FiOS TV with Twitter and Facebook integration

  Gear Live Media

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:26 pm

  We’ve been fans of the Verizon FiOS Internet service for about two-and-a-half years now, and as soon as FiOS TV was available for Gear Live HQ, we were first in our area to subscribe to that service as well. Aside from the uncompressed signal that they send through, the service has some features that make it truly unique, like the integration of Facebook and Twitter right on the DVR. I had some of my friends over to show off FiOS TV, and we had the cameras going to capture it all. Hit play for a look at what went down. If you’re curious about Verizon FiOS, be sure to hit up the…

• Unboxing Live 053: DJ Hero Renegade edition

  Gear Live Media

  9 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pm

  In this episode we open up the DJ Hero Renegade edition set. DJ Hero is the new turntable-based rhythm game featuring hip-hop, electronic, and rock music, and the Renegade Edition has a bunch of premium touches, and is also available just for a limited time. We show it all in this edition of Unboxing Live. By the way, if you like music and haven’t played DJ Hero, you owe it to yourself to check it out. In our opinion, this is better than any Guitar Hero or Rock Band game that has come before it, in the way that you interact with the music, and the totally unique pairings that they throw…

• Bleeding Edge TV 322: Motorola DROID Review

  Gear Live Media

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:43 pm

  Yes, we definitely hit you with our full Motorola DROID review, but many wanted to see a bit more video of the device. That being the case, we recorded this episode of Bleeding Edge TV to show off the different features of the Motorola DROID smartphone. We give you a look at the hardware, some of the Android 2.0 features, Google Maps Navigation, and more. All in all, it’s a twelve-minute walkthrough of the DROID, the smartphone that has grabbed the attention of the industry, giving Google, Motorola, and Verizon Wireless a lot of attention. If you are at all curious, be sure to hit the…

• 
  Unboxing

• Sonos S5 unboxing gallery

  andru@hex.gearlive.com

  13 Nov 2009 | 4:51 pm

  After reporting on the existence of the Sonos S5, we were immediately excited to get our hands on a unit to see how it stacked up against the rest of the lineup. If you’ve followed us for any length of time, you know that we at Gear Live are huge Sonos fans, so it makes sense that our unit arrived as soon as they were available, and we had it set up within minutes. Literally. The S5 is the easiest way to get up and running with Sonos. We had it unboxed, plugged in, and playing music in under five minutes, controlling it with an iPhone. The price is right too, something we’ve…

• Unboxing Live 053: DJ Hero Renegade edition

  andru@hex.gearlive.com

  9 Nov 2009 | 5:02 pm

  In this episode we open up the DJ Hero Renegade edition set. DJ Hero is the new turntable-based rhythm game featuring hip-hop, electronic, and rock music, and the Renegade Edition has a bunch of premium touches, and is also available just for a limited time. We show it all in this edition of Unboxing Live. By the way, if you like music and haven’t played DJ Hero, you owe it to yourself to check it out. In our opinion, this is better than any Guitar Hero or Rock Band game that has come before it, in the way that you interact with the music, and the totally unique pairings that they throw…

• We open up Verizon’s Motorola DROID

  andru@hex.gearlive.com

  30 Oct 2009 | 1:54 pm

  We were able to get our hands on the Motorola DROID a few days early, and we’ve got to say, this thing is a beauty. Android 2.0 is responsive and crisp, especially on the fantastic DROID display. We are going to be diving into the DROID a bit more in-depth in our full review, and we’ll have a few videos up as well, but in the meantime, please enjoy our Motorola DROID unboxing gallery. We’ve got a bunch of pictures up that’ll give you a nice look at the device. Gallery: We open up Verizon’s Motorola DROID            …

• Zune HD unboxing gallery

  andru@hex.gearlive.com

  14 Sep 2009 | 11:30 pm

  That’s right, y’all. It’s Zune HD day, and Microsoft’s newest portable PMP is ready to make its debut. Of course, we’ve got your hook-up, and have put together an unboxing gallery looking at the Zune HD, as well as everything else in the box. We must say, we were definitely stoked about this. For gadget lovers and lusters, the Zune HD is an adrenaline rush, what with its thin profile and gorgeous screen. Be sure to check out the full Zune HD unboxing gallery for all the goods. {embed=“unboxing:inc/gallery_strip” category_id=“147”} We…

• iPod shuffle Special Edition stainless steel gallery

  andru@hex.gearlive.com

  14 Sep 2009 | 1:24 pm

  You know that new iPod shuffle that Apple was gushing over during their “It’s Only Rock and Roll” event? We were able to get our hands on one of the stainless steel beauties, and have given it our gallery treatment. If you’re interested in an inexpensive iPod that can hold a couple thousand songs and keeps a low profile, this might be the one for you. Check it out, it’s definitely slick. Gallery: iPod shuffle Special Edition stainless steel gallery                        …

• 
  GigaOM

• 4 Big Gambles Google Is Taking With Chrome OS

  Sebastian Rupley

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm

  You’ve gotta hand it to Google: The company is never shy about throwing the proverbial spaghetti against the wall to see if it will stick. Over the years, it’s introduced countless projects that have gone through long beta cycles only to fail miserably — or achieve a degree of success far below what was expected. Google Docs, for example, was supposed to topple Microsoft Office, and is still predicted to do so, but if that ever happened, I missed it. Next year, Google will introduce one of its most ambitious projects yet: Chrome OS. There are quite a few misconceptions going…

• Air Canada Will Offer In-Flight Wi-Fi, Too

  Stacey Higginbotham

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:48 am

  Air Canada is testing an in-flight Wi-Fi service from Aircell on its flights between Toronto and Los Angeles and Montreal and L.A. From now until Jan. 29, passengers can plunk down $9.95 per flight to surf on a laptop and $7.95 to access the Internet on smaller devices such as a smartphone or WiFi-enabled media players like the iPod touch. AirCell also provides its GoGo in-air Wi-Fi service on Delta and American Airlines flights in the U.S. And because Aircell currently only has regulatory approval and the antenna coverage that enables airlines to offer Wi-Fi in the U.S., Air Canada…

• What to read on the GigaOM network

  Edit Staff

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:34 am

  BitTorrent after The Pirate Bay: Do you still need trackers? (NewTeeVee) 3 next-gen applications for Smart Grid 2.0 (Earth2Tech) Microsoft’s bad image should be a warning to Apple (TheAppleBlog) 4 open-source file shredders that delete data forever (OStatic) How to get a Magic Mouse to touch-scroll in Windows (jkOnTheRun) Finding web worker gear deals on Black Friday (WebWorkerDaily)

• Twitter: “Really Cool” Ads and Commercial Accounts Coming Soon

  Liz Gannes

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:26 am

  Twitter COO Dick Costolo, speaking today on a panel at TechCrunch’s Real-Time CrunchUp event in San Francisco, shed some light into the micromessaging service’s revenue plans, promising that it will begin taking a cut of its partners’ advertising revenues “early next year.” Meanwhile, it will “foster mechanisms that allow partners to do more sophisticated things” with its APIs. Twitter also plans to offer commercial accounts that contain premium features like analytics dashboards and multiple authors, according to Costolo. Achieving the seemingly…

• Windows 7 Will Throw Down, But Not Just Yet

  Sebastian Rupley

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:04 am

  The Windows 7 trumpets are blasting with gusto, with Steve Felice, president of the small and medium-sized business (SMB) division of Dell, claiming that Microsoft’s new operating system is fueling a surge in demand for PCs, according to Computerworld.  “As soon as Oct. 22 hit, both our consumer business and our SMB business had a very healthy increase in demand,” Felice is quoted as saying. Meanwhile, David Coursey reports that with Vista on the sidelines and a well-reviewed new OS, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer “has a new ‘f’ word” to describe…

• 
  Newsweek Columnists - Steven Levy

• Can Apple Out-Innovate Microsoft and Google?

  11 Nov 2009 | 6:20 am

  Apple is innovating like its old self once again. But can the company avoid repeating the mistakes that forced it to play catch-up in the '90s?

• Why Microsoft's Steve Ballmer is No Bill Gates: Lyons

  29 Oct 2009 | 6:51 am

  Why Steve Ballmer is no Bill Gates.

• Apple's Tablet PC Will Reinvent Computing

  14 Oct 2009 | 6:33 pm

  Apple's tablet will reinvent computing.

• Green Energy Should Trump Politics: Daniel Lyons

  1 Oct 2009 | 3:14 pm

  Clean energy should trump politics.

• Twitter's Popularity: Users Love Stupid Content

  17 Sep 2009 | 8:19 am

  Twitter shows that stupid stuff sells.

• 
  Geeky-Gadgets

• Last Chance To Win An 8GB iPod Nano – Geeky Gadgets Giveaway

  Roland Hutchinson

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:12 am

  Just a quick reminder to all our readers, there are just two days left to enter this weeks Geeky Gadgets giveaway, this weeks prize is a brand new 8GB iPod Nano (5G), you can even choose what color iPod you want. The contest is free to enter and open to readers worldwide, all you need to do to enter is follow the instructions on the contest page (link below). Win An 8GB iPod Nano – Geeky Gadgets Giveaway The contest will close at 5PM (UK) on Sunday the 22nd of November. Good luck everyone! This is a post from Geeky Gadgets, who bring you the latest cool Gadgets.Last Chance To Win An 8GB…

• The Coolest Gadgets We Missed This Week – 20th November 2009

  Roland Hutchinson

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:47 am

  We are almost the end of another week here on Geeky Gadgets, as usual in our search for the geekiest gadgets, coolest gizmos and  fun geeky gear we can find, we have come across lots of cool stuff. We didn’t have time to post them all, so here is our round up of the coolest gadgets, gizmos and geeky gear we missed this week. Grace Electric Bike Is Part Motorcycle, Part Race Car and Part Fighter Jet Space Invader Alien Snow Sculpture ‘Acoustic cannon’ used to fend off Somali pirates How Star Wars Computer Graphics were made glowing gaming pc for a good cause Stantum Slate PC…

• Solar Powered Robot Ball

  Roland Hutchinson

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:37 am

  Here is another fun project from the guys over at Instructables, the Solar Powered Robot Ball. The Solar Powered Robot Ball uses a solar engine circuit, and a capacitor which stores the power, when enough power is stored in the capacitor, a burst of power is released to the motor which makes the robot ball move. The Miniball itself was originally invented by Richard Weait of North York, Toronto.The Miniball is a amazing robot – it uses a simple circuit and the robot itself proves to be very capable, rarely getting stuck. The Miniball is mechanically complex and electronically simple.

• Ctrl Alt Delete Cups

  Roland Hutchinson

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:19 am

  Some of our readers will remember the cool Ctrl, Alt, Delete cups that we featured on the site back in September 2008, when we featured these geeky cups there were just a design and there was no word on when we were likely to see them in the shops. The good news is that you can now get your hands on a set of these geeky cups, as it seems there are a number of websites selling them, and the cups come as a set of three, with a tray to place them on. If you want a set, the Ctrl Alt Delete cups are available in a choice of colors including black and white for $19.00 from Brando. via Le Journal Du…

• Cisco iPhone Security App

  Roland Hutchinson

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:07 am

  Cisco has launched a free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch, that is designed to provide you with customized alerts of new security threats and more information on safe web browsing. The Application is powered  by Security Intelligence Operations, and it is designed to inform, protects, and enables you to respond to alerts and real-time threats to your network and users. Customized threat alerts, new security signatures, mitigation bulletins, all the up to the second info you need delivered right to your iPhone in real time. The App is called Cisco SIO To Go, and it is available now…

• 
  Istuff

• Google Now Provides New Site Hierarchies In Search Results

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:58 am

  When you search something on Google, Google usually shows a green web address, or URL, at the bottom of each search result to let you know where you're headed. Today Google is rolling out an improvement that replaces the URL in some search results with a hierarchy showing the precise location of the page on the website. The new display provides valuable context and new navigation options. The changes are rolling out now and should be available globally in the next few days. Some web addresses help you understand the structure of the site and how the specific page fits into the site hierarchy.

• HP to Acquire 3Com for $2.7 Billion

  14 Nov 2009 | 11:07 pm

  HP and 3Com Corporation today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase 3Com, a leading provider of networking switching, routing and security solutions, at a price of $7.90 per share in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $2.7 billion. The terms of the transaction have been approved by the HP and 3Com boards of directors. This combination will transform the networking industry and underscore HP’s next-generation data center strategy built on the convergence of servers, storage, networking, management, facilities and services. The…

• Apple TV 3.0 Software With Redesigned User Interface

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:16 pm

  Apple introduced new Apple TV® 3.0 software featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster, and makes enjoying the largest selection of on-demand HD movie rentals and purchases, HD TV shows, music and podcasts from the iTunes® Store even better on your TV. You can now enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system. The new Apple TV software is available immediately free of charge to existing Apple TV owners, and Apple TV with…

• Google Introduced AdWords Comparison Ads Making Comparison Of Multiple, Relevant Offers More Easy

  30 Oct 2009 | 11:00 pm

  Google announced a new feature of AdWords called AdWords Comparison Ads, which lets users compare multiple, relevant offers more easily. Comparison Ads is part of Google’s continuing effort to make ads more relevant and useful to users and to help you, advertisers, reach the people who are most interested in your products and services. AdWords uses a host of targeting and relevancy signals to determine the best ads for each query. However, sometimes a user's query doesn't provide enough information to confidently predict what they want. For example, users who search for…

• Twitter Is Going To Add Support For More Language

  10 Oct 2009 | 6:23 am

  Twitter is growing very fast. Twitter is currently available only in English and Japanese. To attract more users, twitter will soon be rolling out support for French, Italian, German, and Spanish. These languages are commonly referred to using the acronym FIGS and are often the starting point for services like Twitter when its time for more language support. Later, Twitter will add support for several other languages. Starting from yesterday, Twitter is offering a simple tool for people with experience in other languages to suggest translations for the Twitter web site. Twitter is inviting a…

• 
  Operation Gadget

• The Limits of My Support for Cyclists

  Dave Aiello

  17 Nov 2009 | 7:14 am

  Here's an article from Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer about recent accidents between cyclists and pedestrians in Philadelphia that have resulted in deaths and serious injuries to pedestrians.At least two Philadelphia residents died last month after cyclists hit them: Tom Archie, 78,...

• Operation Gadget Allows Comments to Be Posted Again

  Dave Aiello

  7 Oct 2009 | 10:16 pm

  Thanks to the Movable Type upgrade that I just performed, Operation Gadget can accept comments again. Now all this site needs is a few timely posts.......

• The Tour de France on the iPhone: Updated for 2009

  Dave Aiello

  24 Jul 2009 | 9:28 pm

  Just in time for the 2009 Tour de France, Operation Gadget has updated one of its most popular articles of all time: The Tour de France on the iPhone. The article now includes the following topics: Twitter, Mobile Web Sites,...

• Comments Not Working on Operation Gadget at the Moment

  Dave Aiello

  23 Jul 2009 | 1:15 pm

  Stuart Tevendale from iSmartTrain and a couple of other readers have reported that there is a problem with posting comments in response to articles published on Operation Gadget at the moment.This is a known problem that I will resolve as...

• Tour de France 2009 Podcasts Review

  Dave Aiello

  22 Jul 2009 | 5:44 pm

  Two years ago I reported on the Podcasts That Can Help You Follow the Tour de France. I thought that article provided a lot of good information, but it's dated now. I'm still listening to podcasts about the Tour, but...

• 
  Ubergizmo

• Blackberry Storm 2 for 99c at Wirefly - Black Friday only

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:24 am

  For those interested in the Blackberry Storm 2: Wirefly has just announced that it will sell the phone (with a new contract). If you already have a Verizon contract, you might be eligible for a $29.99 upgrade. From Wirefly: "Verizon is waiving the activation fee, as well. And additional savings of $35 for one line. And up to $135 for 5 lines." Our advice: check the Motorola Droid first. Permalink: Blackberry Storm 2 for 99c at Wirefly - Black Friday only from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

• Bandit To Help With Your Exercises

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:52 am

  Are you too busy to find a gym partner? Well, the folks over at the University of Southern California Center for Robotics and Embedded systems have pulled in the stats (and we’re fairly sure everybody is busy). The robot called Bandit is now offering Robotics and Embedded Systems exercise training. This certainly seems suitable in the gym, though you had to admit the fact that the it’s so huge would probably deter a lot of people from checking it out. Permalink: Bandit To Help With Your Exercises from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

• Liquid metal battery being developed

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:45 am

  A group at MIT led by Professor Donald Sadoway is busy developing grid-scale storage solutions for times when electricity is scarce. They’ve come up with a rather novel way to keep things running, which is by using high temperature liquid medals. The team has even had time to award a grant from ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency and Energy. We’re not too sure how getting high temperature liquid metals will be feasible, but we’ll leave that to the experts for the moment. Permalink: Liquid metal battery being developed from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

• Steering Wheel With Integrated Desk

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:37 am

  Ever needed a place to write or doodle some stuff while you were waiting in your car? Well, with the steering desk wheel, you’ll certainly be reclaiming a little bit of space that was initially yours. Would you attach this innovative table to your expensive car? Permalink: Steering Wheel With Integrated Desk from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

• Leica M9 Ready For Pre-order

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:25 am

  Are you a camera aficionado? You know, because if you are, you could drop $7000 to pay for the Leica M9 B&H preorder. Of course, for that price, you would probably get a half-decent car, not to mention in home air conditioning. If megapixels is your thing, you would be glad to know that the Leica M9 sports an 18-megapixel resolution. Permalink: Leica M9 Ready For Pre-order from Ubergizmo | Hot: Motorola Droid Review

• 
  PR News:

• Google Chrome OS: How to Download and Run Now

  Peter Chubb

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:02 pm

  We have known about Google Chrome OS for some time now, but we only got a detailed look at the new operating system at a Google event yesterday. We learned a lot from the event, the thing that shocked us the most was how you will not be able to download Chrome OS onto any machine. We know that Google have partnered with a number of computer manufactures, only these netbooks and laptops will have the new OS installed. However, we did learn that an open source version of Google Chrome OS was made available for download on Thursday. PC World reports that those who know there way around a…

• Black Friday: Look for ‘Doorbuster’ deals

  Peter Chubb

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:14 pm

  As we get ever closer to Black Friday 2009 there will be a phrase that you will be hearing all the more, ‘Doorbuster’ deals. These deals are specials for each retail store; these could be from TVs, Laptops, Cameras, Washing Machines, Toys and much more. Stores have limited stocks of these, but can have massive price drops. The big four retail giants, Best Buy, Kmart, Target and Wal-Mart will all be offering some amazing doorbuster deals, let us take a closer look at each retailers ads to see what we think will be popular this Black Friday. The first up is Best Buy; we can already…

• Vizio lacking in Black Friday ads from Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart

  Jamie Pert

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:06 am

  Over the last few weeks we have posted a lot of Black Friday deals for HDTV’s however we have not heard about any deals regarding Vizio displays. It seems that all of the Vizio deals will be available from warehouse chains such as Costco and Sam’s Club, instead of the other popular outlets like Best Buy, Walmart and Target. The majority of the deals will take place at Costco, according to a recent article posted on ZDNet it seems that they will be offering a wide-range of products. One of which is Vizio’s first Blu-ray player, the Blu-ray player is called the VBR110 and will…

• Firefox PS3 Rumors: Mozilla Responds

  Peter Chubb

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:59 am

  We recently reported that Sony were in talks with Mozilla to implement its Firefox browser on the PS3. We had all assumed this rumor to be true as it did not seem that too far fetched, but Mozilla have responded. Bored of all the rumors ps3center.net thought that they would go direct to Mozilla and ask them directly, just to see if there was any truth to the rumors. They replied by saying “Nope - not sure how that rumor got started but it’s been keeping us busy all day :)” Well it seems that this is one of the latest rumors to be found untrue, I wonder what rumor will be next,…

• Facebook: PS3 vs. Xbox 360

  Jamie Pert

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:50 am

  With the recent console updates which have enabled Facebook on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, we are starting to see peoples likes and dislikes about the new additions, and there does seem to be quite a few dislikes. One of the first complaints we have heard was recently posted on IGN, this particular writer hates the way that Sony have integrated the PS3’s Trophy system with Facebook, the article writer also feels that the limited functionality for the PS3 version is frustrating. In Sony’s defence they have stated that this version of Facebook for the PS3 is the…

• 
  Personafile Products

• FAQ: Buying the right Windows 7 upgrade

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:55 am

  When I wrote on Monday about the ins and outs of what counts as proper licensing of Windows 7, I was worried that it might turn into a flame war. But, instead, readers sent in a whole bunch of really good questions on the intricacies of licensing Windows 7 that went beyond the basics I had covered. ...

• Leaked docs confirm Droid Eris details: November 6, $99

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:59 pm

  (Credit: Engadget) New leaked documents suggest all the Droid Eris grumblings we've heard were true: it should launch November 6, and it will supposedly run $99 after rebate. That's pretty cheap considering it matches the specs of the $180 Hero. What we've heard about the HTC Eris ...

• J.D. Power smartphone study ranks iPhone #1 in customer satisfaction

  11 Oct 2009 | 8:22 pm

  Filed under: Enterprise, Wireless, Odds and ends, Surveys and Polls, Apple, iPhoneI don't know about you, but when I hear the name "J.D. Power and Associates," I think of customer satisfaction for automobile manufacturers. The company also does customer satisfaction surveys in a number of other industries, and yesterday they released the 2009 Wireless Consumer Smartphone Satisfaction Survey and the 2009 Wireless Business Smartphone Satisfaction Survey. As you might not expect after all of the commenter griping we see about the iPhone, Apple nabbed the number one spot in customer satisfaction…

• iPhone's Google Maps app now shows ads

  11 Oct 2009 | 8:21 pm

  Filed under: Software, iPhone, iPod touchHave you noticed the new "Sponsored Link" search results showing up when you search in Google Maps on your iPhone? These new search results are ads. They're easy to pick out, because they use a customized icon instead of the typical push pin icon. While it's not surprising that Google is going to want to find every way possible to monetize its mapping service, it's still a little disconcerting to see these results popping up. Given this obvious new revenue stream, it makes us wonder whether Apple wants to get in on the lucrative mapping action. Their…

• Sneak peek at Dell's even-slimmer new Adamo

  22 Sep 2009 | 9:09 am

  (Credit: Dell) Dell offers a tantalizing sneak peek at a revamped Adamo laptop today, with a photo and brief teaser description of the new system: 9/9/09 comes only once and today Dell is offering a glimpse of its highly stylized, thin 9.99-millimeter Adamo By Dell concept that'...

• 
  Home Theater Blog | Home Theater News & Reviews

• Blu-ray Review: Lie to Me Season One

  B.Greenway

  25 Oct 2009 | 6:03 am

  Lie to Me season one on Blu-ray was my first look at a high definition television series on Blu-ray, I didn’t see the first season as it aired but I was curious to see what TV on Blu-ray had to offer.Blu-ray Review: Lie to Me Season One

• CEDIA 2009 Wrap-Up

  B.Greenway

  16 Sep 2009 | 2:49 pm

  Overall CEDIA 2009 was a great show this year, of course I'm looking forward to the size/shape of years gone prior but all in good time.CEDIA 2009 Wrap-Up

• CEDIA 2009 Wrap-Up (Continued)

  B.Greenway

  16 Sep 2009 | 2:49 pm

  Overall CEDIA 2009 was a great show this year, of course I'm looking forward to the size/shape of years gone prior but all in good time.CEDIA 2009 Wrap-Up (Continued)

• CEDIA 2009 Preview

  B.Greenway

  27 Aug 2009 | 4:28 pm

  The 20th annual CEDIA Expo (Atlanta September 9-13) may be our first look at some of the biggest CE introductions of 2010, or second looks at products introduced in years past, polished off with a few revisions. The cynic in me suspects the latter, but I'm ready and willing to be pleasantly surprised.CEDIA 2009 Preview

• Twitter Roundup for the Week of 8/03/09

  B.Greenway

  12 Aug 2009 | 6:26 am

  So sad to hear John Hughes passed away, what a legacy though Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.. LG Electronics First to Bring VUDU HD Movie Service to Broadband HDTV’s http://cli.gs/n5dB1X Comcast Nears ‘Wideband’ Halfway Mark http://cli.gs/mMdyRt Saw 500 Days of Summer last night, good flick but they weren’t kidding with the tag-line [...]Twitter Roundup for the Week of 8/03/09

• 
  gadgetsandgizmos.org

• iPhone Apps of the Month November 2009

  Whether you are itching to blast off and explore deep space or need to get your feet back on the ground and sort your finances, the iPhone Apps of the Month this November are guaranteed to please. Lets explore the best on offer in the iPhone store, from games to ...

• Games of the month November 2009

  November may be a cold month, but the new releases on the PC, Xbox, PS3 and Wii are looking scorching hot and are sure to keep you warm this winter. Get out your Christmas wish lists and get ready to pencil down any of these exciting new games that are ...

• Blu rays of the month November 2009

  It's winter, it's cold and we all want to be tucked up in bed rather that outside in the grim weather, preferably with some of the hottest Blu ray releases (and some warm buttered popcorn!) Luckily, there are some absolute scorchers due for release on Blu ray this November, so ...

• Wii Fit Plus Review With Video

  The Wii Fit balance board and the accompanying software caused quite a stir when it was released last year. Now the Wii Fit Plus has hit the stores, but will it be able to coax Wii owners into dusting off their neglected peripherals and get back on the path to ...

• Casio Exilim EXH10 Hi zoom Digital Camera Review

  The marriage of the compact camera with the pretentions of a high-spec digital SLR has been an uneasy one in recent history. It has been difficult for manufactures to justify the high prices that ultra-slim, high quality compacts with extensive optical zoom levels fetch. However, the Exilim EXH10 is not ...

• 
  Ponoko - All items

• Turtle Dove Decoration

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:52 am

  Just in time for Christmas, a stylish and elegant turtle dove decoration. Available in tinted red or frosted white both colours are semi transparent. Making it perfect for hanging from a window or a Christmas tree. turtle Dove measures 20.5cm wide and 17 cm high. I have no true idea what a turtle dove looks like, but i figure a turtle style beak and a dove type wing is a good start and my Turtle Dove is the end result. Each Turtle Dove comes with both ribbon to hang from a tree and a clear suction cup for hanging from a window or wall. this privce is for single Turtle Dove, to order multiples…

• HOW Design - White Acrylic Trophy

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:34 pm

  White trophy for HOW design. No branding on the trophy, it is smooth, glossy white. Made from 9mm thick, opaque white acrylic

• Brooch Ocean - Long

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:30 pm

  A very delicate piece that symbolises the New Zealand ocean and it's waves. A stud is glued to the back that closes with a little round plastic disc.

• Earrings - New Zealand

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:29 pm

  Little shiny black earrings made out of 3 mm acrylic that have the shape of New Zealand and are glued to a stud on the back. They measure 30 mm x 20 mm.

• golden ratio spiral acrylic earrings (black)

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:58 am

  ***SOLD OUT. making more. email if you would like to be put on the waiting list.**** the golden ratio is said to be the perfect proportion for aesthetically pleasing objects. these earrings are a rendition of the golden spiral which is based off the golden ratio. math and design nerds alike will love these earrings. others will love them but not know why! (that’s the beauty of the golden ratio — you like what you see but you aren’t sure why.) cut from 3mm black acrylic and hanging from silver earwires, these earrings are 1.6" tall and 1" wide. thanks for looking!

• 
  Electronista | The Macintosh News Network

• PS3 to support stereoscopic 3D

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:25 pm

  Sony recently announced to its investors that it will add 3D stereoscopic capability to the games on its PS3 gaming console via a future firmware update. The presentation (pdf) contains the line "all PS3 units will be firmware-upgradeable to 3D," and that the company plans to lead the 3D market, though no timelines were revealed. There was, however, an indication that Sony will offer 3D-specific tools to developers of its games....

• Motorola confirms Droid camera fix coming

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:15 pm

  Motorola today confirmed it will soon fix the problems with its Droid phone's camera by releasing an automatic over-the-air update to the handset. The Android handset's 5-megapixel camera has been said to have trouble focusing and producing red corners in images when photos are being taken. The intermittent problem has been blamed on an unusual timing bug where particular states of the clock create problems with the autofocusing system. Users can simply change the date on the phone to resolve the issue, although a permanent fix is apparently due soon....

• Microsoft fights claims of NSA backdoor in Win 7

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:10 pm

  Microsoft in a response late Thursday rejected assertions that it has put in a security "backdoor" at the request of the National Security Agency. The denial comes after the NSA's information assurance lead, Richard Schaeffer, told a US Senate terrorism subcommittee that the agency had worked with Microsoft to improve Windows 7's "security guide" and sparked fears that the government had deliberately left a secret window the NSA could use to spy on users....

• Pegatron shows Ubuntu-based smartbook

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:00 pm

  A 10-inch smartbook from Pegatron was spotted at the Connected Community Technical Symposium on Friday. It runs on Linux Ubuntu and is powered by an ARM processor, though other details are scarce. The sighting comes just one day after Pegatron GM Chou Biao Sheng said the company will bring out a smartbook in the first quarter of 2010, priced at less than $200....

• Motorola Crush reaches US Cellular

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pm

  US Cellular has added the Motorola Crush to its lineup on Friday. The handset is unique in its placement of the lock and call buttons above its 2.8-inch, 240x400 resolution touchscreen instead of below it, as is usual. There is also a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth support and a microSDHC memory card slot....

• 
  ThinkGeek :: What's New

• T-Shirts & Apparel : Airdrop Babydoll

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  Also available in a babydoll. Tetris blocks don't just appear out of thin air. Actually, wait. Maybe they do. This shirt solves a great mystery, proving that Tetris blocks skydive out of airplanes before you guide them in for a landing on your computer screen. $19.99

• T-Shirts & Apparel : Refill Required

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  Bring the crash cart and 100 mgs of caffeine STAT! Sound the warning beep! Your caffeine delivery system is dangerously low on fuel! Get thee to the nearest coffee pot with haste to refill your power supply before your system begins to shut down for hibernation. $19.99 - $21.99

• T-Shirts & Apparel : Airdrop

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  We use our mad Tetris skillz to fill the fridge for parties. Unfortunately, clearing a row is messy. Tetris blocks don't just appear out of thin air. Actually, wait. Maybe they do. This shirt solves a great mystery, proving that Tetris blocks skydive out of airplanes before you guide them in for a landing on your computer screen. $19.99 - $21.99

• T-Shirts & Apparel : Melting Babydoll

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  Also available in a babydoll. After many, many frustrating hours twisting and turning until we got ONE side completed, we have a love/hate relationship with the Rubik's Cube. Since the cube has spent over 20 years melting our minds, we figured it was time for payback. $19.99

• T-Shirts & Apparel : Melting

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:42 am

  There is no "gleaming" involved here. Promise. After many, many frustrating hours twisting and turning until we got ONE side completed, we have a love/hate relationship with the Rubik's Cube. Since the cube has spent over 20 years melting our minds, we figured it was time for payback. $19.99 - $21.99

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  JAPAN TRENDS - LIVE FROM TOKYO

• Car Singing Auditions Promote Navigation System Online and on TV

  William

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:27 am

  SONY has launched a campaign to get us all singing in our cars. “Singing in your car” takes an activity that we all do (often to the annoyance of fellow passengers) and turns it into an interactive TV and online contest. You can send in your auditions (posted to YouTube) and some of the best (what is the criteria?!) get featured in the TV CM! Susan Boyle eat your heart out! The first group of auditions has already been selected and their entries are up for all to see. The second wave of entries, where drivers and passengers sing “Easy Rider” (by Tamio Okuno) for a TV…

• Telefork Merges Phones with Dinner

  Michael

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:21 pm

  Japanese innovation in telephony is clearly ahead of the rest of the world, but did you know about the coming convergence between phones and silverware that was predicted years ago? Tsubame-Sanjo station in Niigata prefecture is home to an early prototype . In case you can’t tell, the rest of the final sentence should say “a knife”. Get ready world.

• Mugen Tokoroten makes for Infinite Snack Squeezing

  Michael

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:40 am

  If you’re anything like me, you just can’t get enough tokoroten. All summer, every day, I’m just fiending for the sweet, sweet product of sea algae. Luckily, Bandai Asovision is adding yet another item to it’s mugen (infinite) series of toys that started with the infamous PuchiPuchi infinite bubblewrap and moved upwards towards infinite beer cans. Now the Mugen Tokoroten let’s you squeeze out the agar-based snack over and over and get some smiley faces in return. The previous mugen offerings have been incredibly popular, both as a novelty and stress reliever of…

• Obama Bows to Emperor, Embarrasses Nation

  Michael

  16 Nov 2009 | 2:27 am

  Without adding any kind of judgement for or against Obama (this video says it all), his recent visit to Japan stirred up the silliest controversy ever. The other day the Drudge Report ran a headline showing the Leader of the Free World bowing to the Japanese emperor, who is clearly not bowing back (and doesn’t…ever, apparently). The reaction? HORROR! There was even a micro discussion on Fox News Sunday where the panelists (pro-State hacks from both political parties) actually criticized the president for bowing because (and I’m paraphrasing) “American presidents just…

• NicoNico Douga Video Drives Out of the Window

  William

  13 Nov 2009 | 1:31 am

  We’ve previously reported on this site about the official Rakuten Auction channel on NicoNico Douga. Now here’s another corporate-endorsed video, one that appears to smash, literally, out of the screen. Get in the driving seat for the Need For Speed: Shift video, a showcase for the Electronic Arts racing video game. On top of the usual user comments scrolling across the screen, you will soon notice the damage caused by the reckless driver: grass spraying to the left, the screen “windshield glass” smashing, the text boxes collapsing… It is interesting to note here…

• 
  Born Rich

• 4 Fitness fuses a gym into your decor

  Nandini

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:56 am

  For the fitness freaks who prefer to exercise in the convenience of their personal gym, we have earlier inundated you with some of the finest home gym units, which even merges into your decor to give you the freedom of working out just about anywhere in your home, including the Otto-Bench, Fusion HG6 and Ferrari Unica gym. The latest compact yet fully functional gym is “4 Fitness,” a concept training system designed for the living room. The all-in-one gym unit integrates fitness equipment to train in four areas (endurance, strength, agility and mental fitness). Depending on the…

• Opale by Sand Birch is a gem of a wine cellar with hi-tech features galore

  Nandini

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:05 am

  Sand & Birch’s previous wine cellar design “Wine bag” for Ellemme was distinct in its design, and the latest from this luxury design studio sets a new example in merging technology with great design. The Opale wine cellar looks more like an art piece than a wine cellar with its elliptical shape, flushed with a huge black stone set in a white, smooth base like a jewel. A masterpiece, this wine cellar stands two meters tall and can contain more than 100 hundred bottles of wine. The hi-tech features include its automatic door, which can be activated by a remote control-zapper, or even…

• The Vintage Box H. Blin, enjoy blue nights at home and elsewhere

  Pankaj

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:02 am

  The House of H. Blin boxes has launched a new genre in champagne case by using a toolbox. The unusual style with its bold shape and color makes it stand out among all the quality boxes. The enticing blue night outside and revealing a deep purple inside along with carefully arranged flutes of champagne and glasses makes the Maison H. Blin one of the oddest but most elegant luxury cellars. Via: Vodka and Co.

• Swarovsky-studded bike is gem collector's delight

  Pankaj

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:35 am

  Milan personifies distinctive style and fashion that sets ever new standards of opulence and class in each product category sans run of the mill bicycles. Well, that would be history now because Mast has introduced a whole new range of bikes that are a unique work of art and astutely combine detail and creativity to lend life to an object that only passed time until now. The super luxury model of mast production features a coating of gold leaf and leather trim python and 8000 Swarovsky crystals. The authoritative beauty definitely adds to a stylish man’s dress code while presenting a mix of…

• Flare - A wind-sensitive electronic dress for a great show on a windy day

  Nandini

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:21 am

  For the geeky fashionistas, who love to be on the pulse of fashion, hi-tech clothing is the buzz of the season. We have recently told you about CuteCircuit’s “Galaxy Dress,” and another refreshing design in the hi-tech wardrobe is Flare, a wind-sensitive electronic dress by Dutch designer Stijn Ossevoort. This beautiful dress is embroidered with wind sensitive dandelions, which “blow” when wind caresses the dress or if you “blow” on the dandelions themselves to create a pattern of lights. No other information is yet available on this electronic dress, but it looks good…

• 
  TheTechLounge - Recent News and Articles

• Modern Warfare Hacked, Restored

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:55 pm

  "Yup. You read that right. Modern Warfare 2 PC now has dedicated servers. Wait, PC gamers! Before you send Bobby Kotick a thank you letter, know that it wasn't they who did it, but rather the gamers who took Infinity Ward and Activition's attempts to lock down the game as a challenge. And bring it those gamers did, managing to hack in the developer console and enable the ability to set up dedicated servers. Keep in mind, the game hasn't even been out a week. Perhaps some of the boycotters caught playing the game were not being hypocrites, but rather hard at work t...

• App Records Everything Just In Case You're Funny

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:56 pm

  "Careful what you say — that iPhone over there could be a live microphone. Which is to say there’s a new, free iPhone app called Soundbiter designed to monitor the world’s audio and upload it to Twitter and Facebook with the push of a button. When running, the Soundbiter app is constantly recording, keeping an audio buffer of a minute or so. Then when you hear a good joke, a fine guitar riff or a politician’s slip-of-the-tongue, you hit the apps’s only button, which saves the last 60 seconds of sound. From there, it’s a cinch to edit, upload, title and publish the sonic snippet…

• Boycott Averted

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pm

  @ RockPaperShotgun "Just as a FYI. (Click for the full thing)" @ Kotaku "According to "internal Activision estimates", Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 didn't just have a good launch, it had "the biggest launch in history across all forms of entertainment". This claim is based on sell-through sales, with Activision bean-counters reporting the game managed to pull in $310 million in its first 24 hours on sale. And that's not a worldwide number, that's just in North America and the UK. $310 million. In a single day. In three countries. Sure, games cost mor...

• In A World Where My Mom Kicks Your Ass

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:42 pm

  " Think you can type? Now's your chance to jump in the ring — err, take a seat at your keyboard — and go head-to-head with the fastest typists around. Put your fierce typing skills to the test for a chance to win $2,000 and be crowned the first-ever Ultimate Typing Champion. " The current dude is leading at 171 WPM, which, actually probably beats her. But she can still blitz the rest of you. I mean, c'mon, she was a legal secretary, she doesn't break keyboards so much as punch them through desks. Still, 171... HAX

• Chicken Little: Chipmaker Lawsuits Dropped

  16 Nov 2009 | 9:33 pm

  @ Ars Technica "Intel and AMD are fierce competitors in the world of chipmaking, but in recent years they've taken the fight to the courtroom. AMD has sued Intel for antitrust violations (allegations that have been picked up by a number of governments), while Intel fired back by claiming that AMD had violated a licensing agreement for x86 technology. This morning, however, the two companies made a surprise announcement: they've reached an agreement that settles all legal issues between them. " @ AnandTech "Out of this settlement come four major things for AMD: ...

• 
  TechJaws.com

• How to Speed Up WordPress

  Frank J

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:13 pm

  WordPress at times, (depending on your host) can be a resource hog if you have too many queries going on at once. A Query is a precise request for information retrieval with databases. In the header.php template there are many PHP calls (Queries) that are unnecessary. The PHP queries can be changed to plain html, thus reducing load times for a given page. An example of unnecessary php queries in the header.php template include; Title: <title><?php bloginfo(’name’); ?> <?php bloginfo(’description’);?></title> Fav Icon: <link rel=”shorcut…

• How to Fix Firefox from Freezing

  Frank J

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:13 pm

  Ifyou are having problemswith Firefox Freezing, it could be an issue related to an extension or theme (Add on) that is incompatible with the Firefox version you’re using, or conflicts with another add on. The current version is 3.5.5. As a quick fix, switch to the default theme or, if the problem appeared after installing a new extension or after upgrading Firefox, use the Add-ons manager (accessible from the Tools menu) to update or disable your extensions, before going through the diagnostic steps below. It’s impossible to know which extension is causing the problem. You will…

• Fake Antivirus Scams Slow, But Beware

  Frank J

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:46 am

  It has been more than a month since the last Fake Antivirus scam showed its face. The one that made the most impact was the Security Tool Virus. As I stare at my radar, it makes me wonder why things have slowed being so close to the holiday season. Than it came to me, the cybercriminals are planning on bigger and better things. What could they be planning? Cybercriminals are in the process of creating fraudulent websites in order to steal customer’s money by selling products that don’t even exist. This is nothing new during this time of year. How will they promote this scam?

• Free Virtual Puppy App for iPhone

  Frank J

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:43 pm

  Are you allergic to dogs? You can now have hours of fun with your own virtual puppy and share it with your friends! Touch Pets is a Free iPhone app that was released November 17th. I know my wife will just love this app! Adopt your very own touchable, love-able, lively puppy from seven popular breeds! You can spoil your puppy with the coolest clothes, accessories, toys and grooming gear. You can be a Dog Whisperer by training your puppy to perform tricks. It’s your puppy and it’s up to you on how well your puppy grows and behaves. Take your puppy online with the Plus+ Network to meet…

• Safe Online Holiday Shopping Tips

  Frank J

  16 Nov 2009 | 1:54 pm

  Tis the season for cyber-criminals to start making big money at your expense. Online shopping can lead to a number of risks, such as; viruses, spam and phishing attacks. These risks can be severe, and could result in identity thief. All the Anti-Virus and Anti-Malware software in the world can’t protect you 100%. You are your best defense! Cyber Monday, which falls on November 30th this year, is one of the busiest days for online shopping. I recommend that you follow the tips below before you start your holiday shopping. Tips for online shoppers Know your Merchant: It’s important…

• 
  The Mobile Gadgeteer

• Sony Reader Daily Edition now available for pre-order

  Matthew Miller

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:11 am

  Back in August Sony announced the Reader Daily Edition with WiFi and 3G wireless support, along with a touch interface. Today, Sony announced that the Sony Reader Daily Edition can be pre-ordered over on the Sony Style store for $399.99 with shipping scheduled for December through January.

• 3D gaming comes to the Zune HD, video of all 6 new games

  Matthew Miller

  11 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  This past weekend I mentioned the Zune HD firmware 4.3 update that added predictive text and a better browsing experience. As part of that update, Microsoft announced that support for 3D games and apps was added as well and it didn't take long for them to deliver as we now have six new games in the Zune Marketplace. You will find Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Audiosurf Tilt, and Vans Sk8: Pool Service for 3D gaming and Checkers, Lucky Lanes Bowling, and Piano for more standard gaming

• Zune HD firmware 4.3 adds predictive text and desktop mode

  Matthew Miller

  7 Nov 2009 | 8:02 pm

  I was messing around with adding devices to my GDGT list today and discovered this discussion about new Zune HD firmware. I then fired up my MSI Wind with Zune desktop software, connected my Zune HD and walked through the 4.1 (191) upgrade. A couple of the key upgrades include a much faster web browser, desktop or mobile controls in the browser and predictive text support with the keyboard.

• Review: tapSTICK gives you back control of your iPod shuffle

  Matthew Miller

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:49 am

  Apple recently launched a new iPod shuffle, but made a major design change that limits you from using your own personal headphones. They moved the basic controls from the device to the headset so you have to use the Apple headphones or buy some made specifically for the iPod shuffle with integrated controls. Scosche has a solution for new iPod shuffle owners so you can use your own high end headphones without having to buy another expensive set with the controls. The tapSTICK is a slim, sleek case that slides over the iPod shuffle to give you back controls on the unit so you can use ANY…

• Holiday Gift Guide 2009: E-book readers

  Matthew Miller

  1 Nov 2009 | 9:21 pm

  In the second half of 2009 we saw some major updates to the market leading ebook readers, followed by announcements of new products coming at the end of 2009 and into 2010. We now see wireless and touchscreen functionality being added to these electronic readers, as well as access to more content. With some of these readers you can now check out electronic copies of books from your local library and have access to thousands of books for free. Adobe Digital Editions PDF and ePub are becoming content standards that are rolling out across most of these readers so you won't be limited by access…

• 
  Gadgetizer.com

• Amazon Offering Nokia N900 For $480

  Johnny

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:24 am

  Amazon has recently dropped the price on  Nokia’s N900 from $650 to $480 with mail-in rebate and a two-year contract of course. The N900 will impress you with a vast array of handset features including but not limited to 32GB of flash, sexy  5 megapixel camera,  ARM Cortex-A8 and a chic body.  What more can you ask?

• Free-Based Sony Playstation Network Coming 2010

  Johnny

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:20 am

   Well it looks like Sony is going to move forward on the fee-based Playstation Network. Coming in either 2010 or early 2011, this new network would not take the place of the current free interface, but would instead aim to compliment the already existing frame.   No word as of yet on what the new network would bring to the table.

• WiFi War Continues, Google Offers Free Virgin America Service

  Johnny

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:14 am

  In the continuing battle-off of free WiFi between giants Yahoo! and Google, Google has added a “check” in this epic battle of techie chess. Google recently previewed their new and free, of course, WiFi on Virgin America flights.  The Internet service will be available free of charge until January 15, big sigh there.  Guess we’d better get jetting then.

• Palm Pre Now Just $80 With Contract

  Johnny

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  Just in time for the holidays, the Palm Pre is now just $80 on Amazon with a 2-year contract, of course, but take comfort in the $36 activation being waived just for you. You’re going to buy like 12, aren’t you?

• 13.3″ Lenovo ThinkPad Edge Gets Leaked

  Johnny

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:57 am

  Say hello to the new 13.3″ Lenovo ThinkPad Edge.  You love it, don’t you? Featuring a sleek 13.3″ display, 500GB hard drive, 4GB RAM and up to eight hours of battery, we’re pretty excited to see this little guy debut at the upcoming CES 2010.

• 
  Liliputing

• Imation unveils new 2.5″ SATA SSD upgrade kit

  Lee

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pm

  Looking to replace that “vintage” SATA HDD in your netbook? Why not upgrade to a snazzy new SSD? Imation wants you to, and they’ve got a host of new upgrade kits designed for just that purpose. The kits include either a 64 or 128 gigabyte 2.5″ SSD as well as an external USB enclosure into which you can slide your netbook’s existing HDD. It’s a thoughtful inclusion as it allows you to get some use out of the hard drive you’re replacing, but I’m not sure the pricing makes these kits an attractive buy. The 64Gb variety is retailing for $211.99 over…

• ASUS Eee PC 1005HR Netbook unboxed with 1366 x 768 pixels of HD display

  Lee

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pm

  Brad’s written before about the Asus EEE 1005HR – it’s the first of the 10″ Seashell netbooks to feature a high-resolution 1366×768 display. Other than that, the hardware under the hood remains the same as its siblings: an Atom N280 processor, 1GB DDR2 ram, 250GB SATA hard drive, 802.11b/g/n wireless, bluetooth, and a .3 megapixel webcam. Netbooked has gotten their hands on one, and as Peter points out it might actually be a bit too much resolution for some users on a 10″ screen, but there will certainly be plenty of buyers. Personally, I’d love the…

• Inventec Smartbook almost makes me think Smartbooks have a shot

  Brad

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:59 am

  There’s no question that PC makers and wireless carriers are getting ready to unveil a whole slew of low power smartbooks with ARM processors and Linux, Google Android, or Windows CE operating systems. What is still in question is whether there’s any real demand for these devices. I still kind of think that if you hand somebody a device that looks like a cellphone they won’t care what OS it runs as long as it does what they expect it to (make calls, maybe surf the web, take pictures, etc). And I think the same holds true if you hand somebody a device that looks like a…

• Deals of the Day

  Brad

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:21 am

  Netbooks and Notebooks ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Atom 1.66GHz 10″ Netbook for $290 after rebate + free shipping – Adorama Samsung N110 10.1 inch netbook w/6 cell battery, Win XP for $314.95 + free shipping – Amazon Asus Eee PC 1005HA-VU1X-WT w/8.5 hour battery, Win XP for $319.99 + free shipping – Amazon Acer Aspire One AOD250 bundle with wireless mouse, USB optical drive, protective bag for $329.99 - TigerDirect Refurbished Gateway LT3103u 11.6″ w/1.2GHz AMD Athlon CPU, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Vista for $299.99 – Buy.com Accessories IOGEAR 4 Port Ultra-Wideband…

• Introducing guest blogger Lee Mathews

  Brad

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:08 am

  I’m going to be traveling over the next few weeks and my friend and colleague Lee Mathews has agreed to step in and help me run Liliputing over that time. Lee and I have worked together on Download Squad for some time, and long-time Liliputing readers may recognize his name, as Lee has written a few articles in the past, including one of the earliest articles about installing Windows 7 on the MSI Wind U100. I’ll still be popping in as frequently as I can. You can’t get rid of me that easily. But you’re going to start seeing a lot more of Lee starting today. And while…

• 
  Decide What to Buy

• Reevoo Deals on Aerials

  Reevoo Deals

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:21 am

  Reevoo’s having a television aerial party - the food wasn’t up to Reevoo Santa’s standards, but the reception was excellent!  Thanks to this bargain One For All SV9360, down to £20 at Amazon Marketplace.

• Reevoo Deals on Televisions

  Reevoo Deals

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:52 am

  Amazon have got a cracking deal on the Toshiba 42AV635D, down from £479 to £450 with FREE delivery by DHL!

• Reevoo Deals on Ovens

  Reevoo Deals

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:53 am

  Time to start the winter bake-off with this deal on the Hotpoint HW170E oven, down to £266 with voucher discount at Lasksys, and FREE delivery.

• Home Cinema Systems under £150

  Kat

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am

  We’re all feeling the pinch in the run up to Christmas, but with all the great movies coming on TV it’s still the best time of year to upgrade to a home cinema system.  In a gesture of seasonal goodwill, major manufacturers like LG, Sony, Samsung and Philips all have cheap home cinema systems on the market suitable for the budget-conscious.  Although you still won’t be able to pick up a Blu ray system for much less than £350, there’s lots of choice in DVD home cinema systems under £150. Here’s the pick of the bunch, plus one to avoid.* (*we’re basing…

• Reevoo Deals on Dishwashers

  Reevoo Deals

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:07 am

  We’re having a Reevoo tidy up, with this bargain Indesit IDL40 White Dishwasher, down to £207 with free delivery at Currys.  Make sure to use the promotional code to get this great price!

• 
  Retro Thing

• The Economics of Pinball

  James Grahame

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am

  Jeff Ely, an economics professor at Northwestern, reveals a few of pinball's profitable secrets: "In 1986, Williams High Speed changed the economics of pinball forever.  Pinball developers began to see how they could take advantage of programmable software to monitor, incentivize, and ultimately exploit the players.  They had two instruments at their disposal:  the score required for a free game, and the match probability.  All pinball machines offer a replay to a player who beats some specified score.  Pre-1986, the replay score was hard wired into the game unless the operator manually…

• Blackbird, Fly: A Slightly Weird TLR Camera

  James Grahame

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:25 pm

  Don't let the awkward name scare you off. The Blackbird, Fly is a rather nifty little plastic Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) from Japan. A TLR has two objective lenses. One captures the photo, while the other projects almost the same image onto a matte focusing screen surrounded by a hood on top of the camera. If you don't wish to hold the camera self-consciously at waist height, you can also use the gunsight-like finder on top to line up your shot. Unlike most TLRs which require hard to find medium-format film, the Blackbird, Fly uses standard 35mm rolls. There are three image masks which let you…

• Club Nintendo Resurrects The Game & Watch LCD Handheld

  James Grahame

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:09 am

  Japanese Club Nintendo members who have reached Platinum status will receive a brand new Game & Watch LCD game. Well, it's not actually a new game. It's a reissue of Ball, the very first G&W title to hit shelves way back in April, 1980. It's powered by a CR2032 watch battery which should be good for months of simulated juggling. Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of the early single screen Game & Watch series. I think they hit their stride when Nintendo unveiled dual screen games like Donkey Kong (1982) and Mario Bros (1983). Still, this is a nice perk for Japanese Nintendo…

• Beretta Minx - The Gun That Tucks Into Your Purse

  bohus

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:51 am

  My father wasn't a violent man. Taciturn, unsympathetic, relentlessly Eastern European, but not violent. So it was strange to learn that he carried a gun. Not all the time, and not a big gun, but there were definitely times when my old man was packin' heat. The gun he carried was a tiny thing. I remember finding it among his things after he died, and was astonished at how miniature it was. The 4 inch gun was the beguilingly named Beretta Minx, and given the galling cutesiness of the ad copy above (you've got to take the time to  read it!) it seems like everyone knew what an odd little gun…

• Original Apple 1 Computer For Sale

  James Grahame

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:57 pm

  Here's your chance to own an Apple 1. All you need is $50,000 to score the opening bid. The Apple 1 was Wozniak and Jobs' first crack at creating a true mainstream personal computer. Woz's revolutionary approach involved placing everything onto a single circuit board, rather than in a huge box full of backplanes, connectors, and tangles of wire.  Only a few were made, but everything they learned from their first machine went into making the Apple II an earth-shattering success.  Woz & Jobs chose not to use an Intel 8080 processor because, at $175 a piece, they couldn't afford it. …

• 
  SlashGear

• Chrome OS: Waiting Is The Hardest Part…Though Necessary

  Joanna Stern

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:33 am

  Google has more than emphasized that its Chrome operating system will be super speedy; it will boot in only seven seconds and surfing the web will be just be quicker. The irony is that you will actually have to wait for Google’s OS to arrive and for a pretty long time in the technology world.  After giving a preview yesterday of what is in store from the Internet giant’s computing platform, Google’s Sundar Pichai said that they are “a year away” from releasing products with the operating system. Yep, we are going to be waiting for a solid 365 days! When it comes to technology I’m…

• Intel Cedarview 2011 Atom platform detailed: 32nm & DDR3 support

  Chris Davies

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:53 am

  We’re only now seeing the first Pineview netbooks – based on Intel’s next-gen Atom platform – begin to show themselves, but details are already emerging about the silicon company’s intentions for the platform after that.  Come 2011, say Fudzilla, Intel are expected to out Cedarview, a 32nm processor with a new, DDR3-compatible memory controller. That DDR3 compatibility is particularly interesting, as it will put Atom’s RAM support on a par with what Intel’s Core i7 – Bloomfield processors can utilize.  However Intel will limit supported memory…

• Standalone PNDs to peak in 2012; 88% to be wirelessly-connected by 2015 say analysts

  Chris Davies

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am

  The arrival of Google Maps Navigation was enough justification for many to declare that standalone PNDs were dead and buried, but according to Berg Insight there’s still some way to go before the devices peak.  The research firm estimate that dedicated PNDs will peak in 2012, with sales around the 50m units per year mark, after which they’ll decline.  They also suggest that connected PNDs will have a slightly longer grasp on the market. Such devices – which can generally access live traffic and weather information, together with speed camera locations and other route…

• Pogoplug updated: Twitter & Facebook integration, more USB ports

  Chris Davies

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:06 am

  Pogoplug have announced their second-generation device, and it aims to build on the usability of the original multimedia sharing brick.  As well as a new hardware design, with four USB 2.0 ports versus the first-gen model’s single port, there’s also new software with better integration with social media and online galleries such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.  The core concept, however, remains the same: a sixty-second setup, basically amounting to plugging in at least one hard-drive, an ethernet connection and power, and registering the Pogoplug serial number to a free…

• Pegatron Smartbook caught in wild (again)

  Chris Davies

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:50 am

  We were only talking earlier on today about Pegatron’s Smartbook plans, and then along comes Shanzai with a quick hands-on report with one of the company’s first models.  There’s no telling whether this is merely a prototype or something we’ll see in Q1 2010 with a brand-name plastered across it, but we do know it was featured at ARM’s “Technical Symposium 2009″ in Taipei this week. According to Shanzai, it’s a 10-inch unit with a fanless ARM processor – no word on whether that’s Qualcomm’s Snapdragon – that the company…

• 
  bookofjoe

• TechnoDolt™ Certification Program

  bookofjoe

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:01 pm

  Suggested by Ray Earhart, who wrote, "I'm thinking you need to develop a TechnoDolt™ certification program. The fun part would be scoring it. Nobody who scores over 30% or anyone who quits in the middle of the test gets certified."It's on.

• Inflatable Hanger

  bookofjoe

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:01 pm

  "A must for drip-dry garments and fabrics. Separates front from back, improving air flow for faster drying. Rounded edges prevent 'hanger crease' at the shoulders. Swivel hook for easy hanging. Deflate to pack flat."Two for $2.89.

• Thomas Jefferson's Monticello — from 423 miles up

  bookofjoe

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:01 am

  Half-meter resolution photo taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite on July 25, 2009. [via James Thornburg]

• A watch no amount of money can buy

  bookofjoe

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:01 am

  It's the limited edition Bremont MBI with a red anodized case (above and below).Why isn't your money good enough?Because this special model of the MBII is available only to those aviators who have been saved by a Martin-Baker ejection seat.Wrote Simon de Burton in a June 13, 2009 Financial Times story about the timepiece, "At the time of writing, the tally of ejectees, which is kept at Martin-Baker's UK headquarters in Buckinghamshire, stood at 7,280 since the first seat was put to use in November 1946, just four years after Sir James Martin penned the…

• Quantum Woman 2 — by Julian Voss-Andreae

  bookofjoe

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  The German-born Portland [Oregon]-based sculptor began as a painter, then changed course and studied physics at universities in Berlin, Edinburgh and Vienna. He pursued graduate research in quantum physics, participating in a seminal experiment demonstrating quantum behavior in buckyballs (C60). He then moved to the U.S. to pursue further training in art, graduating in 2004 from Pacific Northwest College of Art. The stainless steel sculpture above is 69"H x 19"W x 16"D. Below, an interview with the artist. [via Marshall Minshew]

• 
  SolSie.com

• Susan Boyle Pulverized Amazon’s CD Pre-Order Record History

  SolSie

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:21 am

  Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer who became famous after  the Britian’s Got Talent has seen her new album become the biggest CD pre-order in Amazon.com’s history. Her album entitled “I Dream a Dream” will be released on Monday, November 23rd has surpassed the previous record set by Japanese rock group Mr Children’s Supermarket Fantasy in [...]

• Slacker Radio Mobile App Delivered to T-Mobile USA Customers on BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphones

  SolSie

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:23 am

  Slacker, today announced that T-Mobile USA customers using a BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone will be given easier access to their favorite music through the free Slacker Radio Mobile application, as an icon for the application will be pushed directly to their smartphone. Already broadly available on BlackBerry App World(TM) to T-Mobile USA customers using BlackBerry® [...]

• Google News Optimized for iPhone, Android and Palm Pre

  SolSie

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:06 am

  Google just announced a completely new revamped Google News site formatted for iPhone, Android, and Palm Pre users. (Google already offer a mobile-optimized version of Google News for Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and S60). Google News for mobile is now available in 29 languages and 70 editions. The mobile site http://news.google.com displays more stories, sources, and [...]

• Fring is Available on Android

  SolSie

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:45 pm

  fring™, a VoIP mobile app that enables users to place VoIP calls especially for international calling alternative to their carrier’s expensive per-minute charges. In addition of its VoIP, the app also offers a unified instant messaging. You can live text chat/voice chat with MSN Live Messenger, Skype, ICQ, Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo, as well as  [...]

• Google Chrome OS Summary

  SolSie

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:43 pm

  Today, Google delivered technical concepts of the Chrome OS and promises its launch in about a year. Google is basically trying to simplify the personal computing experience based on the following principles: The OS will be hardware dependent. It requires a Netbook like device equipped with solid state drive and WiFi (801.11N) as a minimum. [...]

• 
  Go Gadgets: Popular Tech Gear

• BlackBerry

• iPod

• PDA

• Nuvi 350

• Cell Phones

• 
  Yahoo! Shopping: Most Popular PDAs

• ASUS MyPal A626 PDA

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  $249.99 - $290.87 from 6 stores. User rating:3.4 out of 5. The ASUS A626 perfectly combines versatility and style. This palm-sized marvel matches high quality with an impeccable standard of design and caters to the user's expectations for personal handheld accessories.Exceptionally slim at only 1.57 cm, the ASUS A626 really stands out from most of the other PDAs on the market. The casing is made of stainless steel and the whole PDA is less than 158g in weight. The 3.5" anti-glare touch screen completes the outlook of the A626 and provides the feeling of a solid and high quality luxury…

• HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion PDA

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  $349.00 - $558.99 from 2 stores. User rating:3.5 out of 5. Navigate, stay connected, and be entertained when you travel for business, for pleasure, or both. The HP iPAQ rx5915 Travel Companion helps you make the most of travels ranging from walks around the block to jaunts around the world. This thin, stylish GPS navigation system guides you virtually anywhere with ease.

• Sony CLIE PEG-NZ90 PDA

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  $16.95 - $34.95 from 3 stores. User rating:4.3 out of 5. The newest addition to the family of CLIÉ handhelds continues the Sony tradition of creating new product categories. Its effective two-megapixel digital camera features built-in flash and auto-focus capabilities, helping to ensure that candid moments will be captured in bright, vivid and clear resolution. Additionally, the CLIÉ NZ90 model features a Wi-Fi (802.11b) communications slot and integrated Bluetooth wireless connectivity options. "Rivaling the gadgetry found in modern day spy movies, the CLIÉ NZ90 handheld integrates a…

• HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion PDA

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  $315.00 - $449.99 from 2 stores. User rating:4.5 out of 5. Overview The HP iPAQ 310 Travel Companion is a sleek personal navigation system that provides a unique 3D travel experience. The high-definition 4.3-inch touch screen display and high-performance GPS technology make it as beautiful as it is helpful. Features- Know about where you are going: View your maps in 3D for more true-to-life navigation. Locate restaurants, museums, shops and other attractions from millions of points of interest pre-loaded on the device. Put your travel experience in overdrive: Put your travel experience in…

• FranklinCovey eBookMan PDA

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:00 am

  $79.95 - $94.95 from 2 stores. User rating:2.9 out of 5. The eBookMan EBM-900 Portable Multimedia Reader and Content Player allows you to download books to read or listen to audio books -thousands of titles are available now. It features a large 240x200 pixel LCDs that display 87% more information than some of today's most popular handhelds. Users can adjust the font size or switch the display to landscape mode for easy reading. The EBM-900 includes a Franklin eBook Reader, an audio book player, an MP3 compatible music player, address book, date book, to-do book, and memo book, all using…

• 
  Popular Science - Gadgets

• The Future of Snowsports Tech

  Megan Michelson and the Skiing Magazine staff

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Bright ideas and products in skiing and snowboarding, from a Norwegian hotel built into a mountainside to an inflatable pack that can save you from an avalanche Skiing and snowboarding have always been cutting-edge sports, thanks to renegade personalities and high-tech gear. But this ski season, designers are stepping it up to a whole new level. Here, take a look at some of the finest in snowsports tech—and enter to win some gear of your own. Want to score your own high-tech snowsports equipment? It's easy: Visit our sister site Skiingmag.com (we share owners, and a love of playing in the…

• Intel's E-Book Reader For the Blind Is Awesome, But Will Publishers Accuse It of Stealing?

  Clay Dillow

  10 Nov 2009 | 2:07 pm

  Intel threw its hat into the e-reader ring today with the release of the Intel Reader--which, unlike any other reader, is built specifically for the blind. With an onboard camera, Intel's device can convert text from any page photographed by a user into audio, which is read aloud through headphones. Which will surely upset someone, somewhere. The Intel reader is designed for the 55 million people in the U.S. alone that suffer from some kind of vision-related ailment that impairs their reading. And on top of the photo text recognition feature, a separate content capture station can convert…

• Dell's Adamo XPS is Thin in Design (and Specs)

  Corinne Iozzio

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:39 am

  In the realm of beautiful, shiny things Dell's new Adamo XPS is among the shiniest and most beautiful. And, if we were in the business of judging (note)books by their covers, we'd leave that at that. That's not our business, though; the Adamo XPS is a gorgeous conversation piece, but a computer worth $1,800 it is not. At 0.4 inches thick, the XPS is the thinnest notebook you can buy. It pulls off its trim profile by incorporating a new hinging kickstand configuration. The keyboard folds out about a third of the way up on the body from inside the recessed 13.4-inch display. When open, the…

• Olympus Updates PEN with EP-2, Still Chases Panasonic

  Corinne Iozzio

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:01 pm

  Olympus today continued the game of cat-and-mouse that is the land of Micro Four Thirds cameras with their new PEN EP-2. The new shooter, which comes on the half-iversary of the EP-1, is chasing Panasonic's much-lauded GF1 but feels unlikely to overtake it. The EP-2 is makes a few improvements over the EP-1, minor though many of them are. First, it's black. Cosmetically, everything else looks the same, save for a new port underneath the hotshoe accessory slot up top. The port is designed to work with Olympus' new VF-2 viewfinder (bundled), which replicates the 3-inch LCD when connected at…

• Please Hold, Windows: I'll Patch You Through To the USB Bus

  John Mahoney

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:38 pm

  We've come along way since the age when every office's communications nerve center depended on its switchboard operators tucked discreetly inside a windowless room somewhere. Or have we?. I love the juxtaposition of new and old tech here. If you've had a slow computing day like I have, this might explain your conundrum. [via FFFFOUND]

• 
  Mr.Gadget

• Blackberry Bold 9700 Video

  Mr.Gadget

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:04 pm

  As the new Blackberry Bold 9700 (Blackberry Bold 2) rapidly makes it way to shelves across the United States, I thought I’d share this informative video by the Phonescoop guys that I found on Youtube with my maybe not so informed Aussie readers. Phonescoop dude shows just how much effort Blackberry have gone to, to improve this already successful device. This post is also in response to some of my Twitter followers saying that I only post about iPhones and related gadgets these days For those who are keen to grab hold of the new Blackberry Bold 9700, contact your local Telstra dealer to…

• Leatherman Super Tool 300 Review and Giveaway

  Mr.Gadget

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:28 am

  I was quietly agog, when I heard that I was going to get another Leatherman multi-tool to review. This time it was none other than the Leatherman Supertool 300! One thing for sure, this tool is not for the faint-hearted – it’s larger than most pocket knives / pocket tools on the market due to the serious quality of the inbuilt tools. This would suit someone who spends a lot of time outdoors who wants a quality heavy duty tool with all the major functions. I particularly like the length of the saw which means you can effectively cut branches for a fire, pruning or even carving up a…

• Canon G11 Digital Camera Unboxing Video

  Mr.Gadget

  18 Nov 2009 | 4:16 am

  Around 2 weeks ago, I blogged about the superb time we had at the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2009 where we were awarded Best Geek Blog. To this very day, I think I am still recovering from the hardcore partying we did! One thing that I forgot to mention is what accompanied the beautiful glass Nuffnang Award was an equally lovely Canon G11 Digital Camera. The funny thing was, I just bought a Canon G10 camera for my wife only 3 weeks earlier! All good though – I sold the G10 for half the price to a now very happy friend Thank You Canon for Your Generosity Then And In The Future I…

• Motorola T505 MOTOROKR Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway

  Mr.Gadget

  16 Nov 2009 | 1:50 pm

  Earlier this month, new road rules in Victoria came into effect that may result in hefty fines for people who use their mobile phones / GPS devices while driving (press release below). In a nutshell, you cannot handle your device while driving – you can only touch your device to make, receive a call or to activate audio settings. If you don’t comply, you’re in for a whopping $234 fine plus penalization of 3 demerit points (you only have 12 in Victoria). To help you with your telephone calls in your car, we recommend the Motorola T505 MOTOROKR Bluetooth Speaker Handsfree.

• CoPilot Live GPS for iPhone Review

  Mr.Gadget

  15 Nov 2009 | 4:42 am

  Yes! As mentioned a couple of weeks back (CoPilot Live GPS for iPhone Announcement) CoPilot Live GPS is now available at the Australian Apple Appstore. ALK were kind enough to give me a copy for review and I would like to thank them for allowing me to try their superb GPS software which I have come to love for many years. To date, I’ve only used GoogleMaps and TomTom as my two GPS apps on the iPhone. As some of you may have learned, I was very anxious to get my hands on a true turn-by-turn GPS app ever since getting the iPhone 3G in July last year. TomTom did the job, but now having…

• 
  Popwuping

• Link Love: Taiwan, Bangkok, and Collaborative Systems

  kelake

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:28 pm

  Small pieces, loosely joined. Some of my favorite links of the week found on twitter and elsewhere. Some thoughts on Biking (in Taiwan). Michael Turton's excellent article on what biking means to him.Biking Weekend: Biking in TaiwanOne Taiwanese Would Kiss All of ParisCultural and Art Map of BangkokParc Paragon takes on new colours for the next fortnight, evolving into a hip vodka bar as darkness falls. Leave it to Siam Paragon to come up with something more exclusive, expensive, and hip than your typical beer garden.How to Choose the Right Collaboration Software. Although e-mail remains the…

• Wytze's graduation project for Cannondale

  kelake

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:05 pm

  Wytze van Mansum's student graduation project at the TU Delft for Cannondale.

• What a Nokia product designer thinks about the iPhone

  kelake

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm

  Nokia, the leading mobile phone producer, uses exploratory design research in an almost anthropological approach to study user behaviour in order to get fresh ideas for new products and applications. We talked to the product and interaction designer Younghee Jung, leader of one of Nokia's global research teams, about the difficulties of exploring future trends in the mobile communication, the importance of local user behaviour and she finally confessed that the iPhone was actually, a positive thing to happen -- both, for Nokia and the entire mobile phone industry.

• A Litl netbook

  kelake

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:00 am

  A new netbook ideally suited for those living and working within an urban network topology that supports always on connections. If your mobile lifestyle means computing in your kitchen and then moving to your living room than this may be of interest to you. Litl is an innovative new web computer, or webbook, that marries the communication functions of a laptop and TV. Small, portable, and equally at home on a kitchen countertop or a living-room coffee table, the webbook is designed for families with multiple users who like to keep in touch and socialize. Litl is always connected to the web…

• Blauvent Parachute Backpack

  kelake

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:43 pm

  Great combination of materials, color, and pattern in this unisex backpack from Blauvent. The Parachute Backpack takes its' inspiration from, yes, parachute bags and is the ideal bag to carry your laptop, a4 sized materials and more. It's fairly economical in size but should allow you to carry most of what you will need through-out the day. Lots of original and beautiful design coming from this Spain based company. Love it. Blauvent Parachute Backpack

• 
  Pixel-Shack

• Gerbil Shirt!?!

  Sly

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:22 pm

  I was completely prepared to do some run of the mill post about LCD tvs but then I saw this awesome Gerbil shirt. The first thing that I thought of when I saw this (after “LOL” and “Awesome”) was:”wouldn’t that be a stinky shirt”? I believe that the answer is yes. Also- would this keep [...]

• Youtube Goes Full HD… Soon

  Sly

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:31 pm

  Youtube has announced that they will son support streaming content in full 1080p HD. Now if only they had more content that was worth watching in Hd… like TV shows and movies… granted, they get the occasional Indie project, but we all know that youtube is to Hollywood what chatroom spamming is to directory [...]

• The Stig Flash Drive

  Sly

  11 Nov 2009 | 3:15 pm

  In case you don’t know who The Stig is… he’s the pro driver on a British show called Top Gear. The video above is a compilation of intro quotes about him. These aren’t the best quotes ever, but you can get an idea. The above is a photo of a USB flash drive that is [...]

• Roomba PacMan!!!

  Sly

  10 Nov 2009 | 3:05 pm

  This seems really awesome. I haven’t even watched the video, and I thought it warranted a triple triple triple exclamation mark!!!1!!!!!!11onethouasandonehundredandeleven. Okay, now I will attempt to watch the video, but I’m afraid I may be literally blown out of my seat by the sheer volume of the awesome that I am about to experience, [...]

• Wimshurst Machine

  Sly

  10 Nov 2009 | 6:34 am

  I’ve never heard of a Wimshurst machine before, but apparently it was pretty popular among the electrostatic crowd from the late 1800’s till 1930-ish. My inner DIY-er wants to make one of these, but something tells me that I’d Best Buy a kit and save my record collection from an untimely demise. File this one [...]

• 
  Live From The Wire

• Last Flight Halloween Comic Strip

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:33 pm

  Our comic strip that was published exclusively by IGN.com last week. Enjoy.   Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Another day at the office...

  4 Sep 2009 | 5:09 am

  Listened to my father and gave up "stupid games development" to do something "serious", srsly. See and download the full gallery on posterous Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Good old days

  5 Jul 2009 | 8:26 pm

  I've read today that games PR/Managament/Marketing don't know a thing about games and/or geek culture. Dudes, we've been there, we've done that.Srsly See and download the full gallery on posterous Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Canary Wharf, London

  2 Jul 2009 | 4:56 pm

  Was on my way home and thought it looked quite cool: such a big ship in the centre of London. [] See and download the full gallery on posterous Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Birthday cake ;-)

  8 Apr 2009 | 3:57 am

  My girl definitely gets it :-) Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 
  Digital Home Thoughts

• Giving SixthSense Technology To Everyone

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/p...technology.html"At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data -- including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper "laptop." In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he'll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all."For those of you who do not know, TED is a series of conferences that explore the grander concepts behind Technology, Entertainment and Design. Guest speakers cover a wide range of topics, and in this particular video, you…

• ASUS Prepares To Release Dual Core Goodness

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:30 pm

  http://blog.laptopmag.com/asus-eee-pc-1201n"Today we got a first look at the Eee PC 1201N, which will sell for $499 with Windows 7 Premium. This 12.1-inch system looks a lot like a larger 1008HA, a design we like. It’s a sleek 1.3 inches thick, only 3.2 pounds, and sports the same dimpled trackpad as the 1008HA but the chiclet-style keyboard seen on the 1000HE."With a 12.1 inch screen, I am not quite sure that I would consider this a netbook, but it certainly contains the guts of one. The big difference here, of course, is that this is the first ION based netbook that also offers a dual…

• Warner Offers to Swap Your DVDs to Blu-ray

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:00 am

  http://www.dvd2blu.com/"Upgrade your Warner Bros. DVD titles for new industry-leading Blu-ray discs and unleash the power of your HDTV through the WBshop.com DVD2Blu program. Blu-ray disks as low as $7.95 and free shipping on orders over $25."I was pretty excited when I first saw this. But then I looked at the details. There are not a huge number of movies offered. Out of my collection, I only had 4 eligible movies (technically 7, but I'd already purchased the Blu-ray disk for the other 3). Of those, most were only a couple buck extra to just buy the Blu-ray directly from Amazon which, given…

• AT&T and Samsung Partner Up with the Go

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:00 pm

  http://www.samsungusanews.com/2009/...the-samsung-go/"Samsung today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Go™, a compact and lightweight netbook with instant access to broadband speeds powered by the nation’s fastest 3G network and the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition operating system. The Go will be available beginning Nov. 22 through AT&T retail locations or online at www.att.com/netbooks for $199 after a mail-in rebate and with the purchase of a 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, with pricing starting at $35 per month."Not clear which OS this…

• Big(ger) Screen Entertainment For Your iPod With Panasonic

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:30 am

  http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wc...102009045823696"Sporting an elegant silhouette, the MW-10 sounds as good as it looks. It pumps out audiophile quality sound from its built-in CD player, and its FM/AM radio tuner has 45-station (30-FM/15-AM) Preset Memory. The speaker is constructed with rigid, low-density bamboo cones to achieve pure sound and crisp dialogue."No matter where I go, everything has an iPod dock. Alarm clocks, charging stations, speaker systems; they all have iPod docks. I wouldn't be surprised if I felt around the back of my head and found an iPod dock. It was only a matter…

• 
  BestStuff

• Imation Pro WX is World's First Wireless USB Hard Drive

  jessica

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:11 am

  Imation is now shipping what they say is the world's first wireless USB external hard drive, the Imation Pro WX. It gives you 1.5TB of storage and has a wireless USB data transfer rate of up to 15MBs/second. That said, the product can back up a standard CD in about 50 seconds, and store up to 300,000 photos or 750 hours of video. The Imation Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive has a built-in stand and can be placed either horizontally or vertically. It also has a built-in sleep mode to save energy, as well as one-touch, backup sync buttons. Data can be backed up whenever it is within 30 feet,…

• Best Buy Announces Pre-Black Friday Deals

  jessica

  20 Nov 2009 | 7:58 am

  Best Buy just announced that they are now offering Black Friday pricing on several models of flat panel televisions as well as home theater products. The company also lowered the price of entry level Dynex LCD HDTVs – the 32-inch Dynex LCD HDTV is now $299.99 and the 40-inch Dynex 1080p is $499.99. Black Friday pricing will be available on several Samsung models, including a 32-inch 720p LCD HDTV for $397.99, as well as a 50-inch plasma 720p HDTV for $697.99 starting Sunday, November 22, 2009. "Best Buy is committed to continuing to offer a superior shopping experience this holiday season,"…

• Review: World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend for iPhone

  Justin Hubbell

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:06 am

  World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend System: iPhone/iPod Touch Date: October 31, 2009 MSRP: $4.99 There's not really a lot to do to a poker game. So what has Glu Games done with their version of Texas Hold'em? Graphics For starters, the graphics are very nice and crisp. You'll also notice in World Series of Poker - Hold'em Legend (WSOP: HL) that there are cutscenes that will play out showing the venue you will play at and a rival at the table. Also, you'll see cutscenes when you have an incredible hand. - 19/20 Sound The sounds that you will hear are similar to other poker titles. When you…

• Protect Your BlackBerry Storm2

  jessica

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:32 pm

  Do you have the new BlackBerry Storm2? Protect it with a case from OtterBox! The company just announced the Impact, Commuter and Defender Series cases for the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone. The Impact Series case includes inner coring on the corners and back of the case for extra protection, and includes a self-adhering clear protective film to safeguard the screen from scratches. MSRP: $19.95 The Commuter Series for the BlackBerry Storm2 has a durable silicone mid-layer, a one piece custom molded polycarbonate shell and exposed silicone corners to protect it from impact. A self-adhering clear…

• enTourage eDGe E-Reader/Netbook Coming in February 2010

  jessica

  19 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

  Well…this looks familiar. Similar to the Barnes & Noble nook and Spring Design's Alex is the new enTourage eDGe. This device is not only a dual-screen hybrid e-reader, but a netbook, note pad, A/V player and recorder. It's made up of a Wi-Fi enabled 9.7" diagonal e-paper screen for reading e-books and taking notes with the stylus, as well as a 10.1" LCD touch screen used to surf the Internet, watch movies, listen to MP3s or record audio and video content. It runs on the Android OS and all documents are backed up to enTourage Systems' servers. It folds a full 360 degrees and can be viewed…

• 
  Spot Cool Stuff: Tech

• Working iPhone Costume? There’s an App For That

  Spot Cool Tech Stuff

  25 Oct 2009 | 12:47 pm

  Looking for something to wear to your next costume party? If you have a car battery, spare 42-inch LCD TV—and a whole lot of time—you could go as an oversized working Apple iPhone. That’s what Reko Rivera and Bobby Hartman did. Two years ago they developed an iPhone costume that simply played a looped video of an iPhone on a wearable TV screen. Not content with that, the duo recently decided to set about creating a “working” wearable iPhone that would respond to user input. Their ingenious solution for doing that: Modify the software on a real iPhone to allow a live dual…

• A Better, Gentler iPod Lamp & Alarm Clock

  Spot Cool Tech Stuff

  21 Oct 2009 | 6:24 am

  Spot Cool Stuff does not understand why most of the world’s alarm clocks wake their owners with a jarring buzz or annoying beep. We can imagine some worse ways to be awoken—eg. via cobra bite, bucket of cold water or missile attack—but not many. Imagine instead being woken by the sound of birds chirping, wind chiming, jungles jungling (or by the radio playing or whatever tune you wish from your iPod) as a soft bedside light gradually brightens over a period of several minutes. That’s how one starts one’s day with the Philips HF3490 iPod clock radio. In essence, the…

• The Kindle Goes Global

  Spot Cool Tech Stuff

  7 Oct 2009 | 9:31 pm

  Regular readers of the Spot Cool Stuff Tech blog know what huge fans we are of the Kindle. They also know that our Kindle enthusiasm comes despite harboring a few gripes about Amazon’s e-book reader. Well, today that list of gripes grew shorter by one: The Amazon Kindle is now available in an international version. Previously you could only purchase a Kindle if you had a U.S.A. credit card and a U.S.A. address for Amazon to send your purchase to. After obtaining a Kindle you could only download books from Amazon while inside the U.S.A.. Getting magazine and newspaper updates, or…

• The Future of Robotics Is In the Gutter

  Spot Cool Tech Stuff

  27 Sep 2009 | 9:12 am

  We were very skeptical that the Looj would be able to get our gutters anything close to clean. Household robotic machines, after all, are best at routine tasks like making your coffee or grinding your beans to put into the coffee maker. Cleaning gutters is anything but predictable. There aren’t only loose leaves up there but packed pine needles, twigs, rodents (both alive and not), sticks, mud, Frisbees and an old set of our car keys. Enter the Looj from iRobot. The Looj is a miniature light-weight tank-like device fronted by a bristle capable of rotating at 500 RPM. The Looj’s…

• Today, Touchable Holograms. Next, a Holodeck?

  Spot Cool Tech Stuff

  22 Sep 2009 | 11:32 am

  If the world of Star Trek were real Spot Cool Stuff would probably spend the majority of our time in a holodeck—a computer generated world fantasy world in which everything feels real. So it is probably for the best that holodecks are fictional. Or, at least, fictional at the moment. Researchers at Tokyo University have come up with a technology that makes holodecks a step closer to reality—”touchable” holograms. We have to qualify the word “touchable” because these new holograms offer no tactile experience; you can not feel them. However, while holograms until now…

• 
  DVICE

• Sony's Digital Copy: Transfer Blu-ray movies to PSP

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:56 pm

  Even as Disney plans to put its movies on any device anywhere, Sony is bringing us its own new-and-improved method of multiformat content delivery. The first-ever Digital Copy of a feature film — specifically for use on the PSP — is accessible directly off of the Blu-ray disc, via a connected PlayStation 3, with no computer required.The first two movies to get the feature are Godzilla (yeah, the God-awful one with Matthew Broderick) and a new release, The Ugly Truth.

• PogoPlug lets you access media files worldwide

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:02 pm

  Gather round, those of you with networked computers, and gaze upon one of the best ways to attach storage to that network and share files at home or anywhere on the Internet. Behold PogoPlug, a $129 network attached storage (NAS) device that was already well worth its relatively low price, but now it has four USB ports, making it even more useful. If you can get over its hot pink color, you'll be amazed at what it can do. Plug up to four external hard drives into this baby, and it automatically synchronizes photos, video, music and other content with any computer connected to it. It's easy to…

• Augmented reality, coming soon to a Coke can near you

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:44 am

  Now that the super-animated almost-real movie Avatar is about to roll out (in theaters 12/18/09), here come the advertisers with spectacular new types of techno-toys to accompany the flick. For instance, if you hold a tricky Coke Zero can up to your webcam, it sprouts a controllable helicopter. Click the frame above to see a video of that. Hey, this looks like fun. This augmented reality (AR) juju will, be plastered on 140 million bottle-shaped cans, some 30 million fridge packs, as well as bags, bottles, popcorn bags and fountain drink cups. You'll also be able to pick up a card at…

• Intel researching channel surfing with your brain

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:57 am

  Using a remote control to change channels is just such a pain. I mean, what with you needing to push buttons with your fingers and all. If only there was a better way! Intel is working on it. More specifically, they're working on brain implants that would let you change channels and surf the web using your brain, no remote controls or keyboards needed. Sounds scary yet also convenient! We're still pretty far off from this being a reality, but it's kind of exciting that it's being worked on, no? Computerworld via io9

• Spectacular animation shows off YouTube HD

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:14 am

  While you watch this gadget-laden gem entitled Pidgeon: Impossible, notice the exquisite quality of YouTube's HD. As we mentioned to you earlier this week, YouTube video has been been improved once again, and the company is now calling it "1080p." We're not so sure if it's that same 1080p you've grown to love with Blu-ray discs, but one thing's certain: Streaming video has certainly come a long way since the early 320 x 240 days just a couple of years ago. This 6-minute animation itself is remarkable, taking writer/director Lucas Martell five years to complete. Released on May 7th of this…

• 
  Coated dot Com

• Wooden Chess Board With Bowling Pin Like Pieces

  Angela

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pm

  When you think of a luxury chess board with pieces, you may conjure up images of fine crystal pieces with hand detailing and gold trimming with a chessboard made of marble squares. Opulent Items has other thoughts and has released their Wobble Chess Set. With this chess set, the 15″ by 15″ board is made out of walnut and maple wood but what’s interesting about the board design is each square has a concave space which is quite unique. The reason for this unusual design is the chess pieces themselves, from the King all the way to the lowly low man on the totem pole, the pawn…

• Hacked Mac OS X 10.6.2 Enables Atom Processors

  Mike

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:42 am

  When Apple announced Mac OS X 10.6.2, one of the notable changes was the loss of Intel Atom processor support. This was a blow to the Hackintosh community that typically ran Snow Leopard on cheap netbooks. What this meant was in order to continue to use OS X on a netbook, the Hackintosh community would have to remain at OS X 10.6.1 or wait for a fix before upgrading the OS. It appears that a Russian hacker group called “teateam” have restored functionality by creating a kernel patch, just days after the release of the Apple update. Many in the community have had success with the…

• BlackBerry Pearl 9100 Leak

  Mike

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:27 am

  Research In Motion (RIM) may deny the existence of the Blackberry Pearl 9100, their latest edition to the Pearl series, but Crackberry has managed to capture a couple of snaps of the “secret device.” Designed like the slim down Pearl 9700, the new design includes a SureType keyboard as well replaces the problematic trackball with a nifty new optical trackpad. That’s got to be good news considering some models such as the Blackberry Tour 9630 had a 50% return rate due to problems with the trackball. The Pearl 9100 also appears to run on the 3G network which will hopefully…

• Asus Eee PC 1201N Netbook

  Mike

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am

  Asus has added a new machine to it’s Eee series, this time the Asus Eee PC 1201N netbook. The new netbook claims to offer significant multimedia performance gains due to a couple of new enhancements such as an Intel Atom 330 dual core processor and a dedicated Nvidia ION graphics card that supports HD video. Other standard features on the Asus netbook include 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive along with 500GB of online data storage through Asus, Windows 7 operating system and a 12-inch screen display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution. The netbook is thin (1.3-inches thick) and light (3.2 pounds)…

• Second Generation Pogoplug Sharing Device

  Mike

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:27 am

  The second generation Pogoplug was announced today and it seems to have taken a page out of a trendy fashion magazine, adding a splash of bright pink to it’s design. The Pogoplug, one of the first products to be based upon the SheevaPlug, allows you to access digital content stored on USB devices across an internet connection. Retailing for $129, the unit includes iPhone support as well as Twitter and Facebook integration. There are also 4 USB 2.0 ports allowing up to 4 USB drives to be connected simultaneously. The units work equally well with Windows and MAC and can be used to share…

• 
  The Gadget Cube

• Government should open bid for health information exchange technology

  Kelly Lewis

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:41 pm

  The Governor's Office of Health Care Reform Wednesday announced its intention to enter into a contract worth at least $10 million with Medicity without the benefit of an open and transparent bid,...

• Using tech, other channels to market your message

  Treff LaPlante

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  A budding entrepreneur recently asked me, "How much time and money do you spend marketing?"As I thought about ways we're taking WorkXpress to market, I realized most of them were invented within the...

• FCC to advocate for broadband expansion

  Andréa Maria Cecil

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

  More government control of the Internet, but cheaper broadband Internet service. I'll be interested to see how this ones shakes out.Today, the Federal Communications Commission is expected to...

• Google 'hierarchy' means more specific Web addresses in searches

  Andréa Maria Cecil

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:17 pm

  Oh, Google. You're so smart.Just in from The Official Google Blog: The search-engine/advertising/navigation/will-one-day-rule-the-world giant says it added an improvement to Web-search results....

• Technology at work vs. technology at home

  Andréa Maria Cecil

  16 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

  Most of us who work in an office are familiar with the experience: lethargic technology at work, fast technology at home.It can be a highly frustrating experience, says I as my computer mulls whether...

• 
  Wize.com: Top Rated MP3 Players

• Best MP3 Players for Kids

  8 Nov 2009 | 11:04 pm

  #1 Microsoft Zune HD Platinum (32 GB) MP3 Player $289.00 at eBay#2 Microsoft Zune HD Black (16 GB) MP3 Player $219.00 at eBay#3 Sony NWZ-E438F (8 GB) MP3 Player $69.99 at TigerDirect.com#4 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (32 GB, MB533LL/A) MP3 Player $263.99 at MacMall#5 Apple iPod classic 6th Generation Silver (120 GB) MP3 Player $205.99 at eBay#6 Microsoft Zune 120GB (Black) MP3 Player $194.55 at CompuVest#7 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (16 GB, MB531LL/A) MP3 Player $222.00 at eBay#8 Apple iPod nano Fourth Gen. Silver (8 GB, MB598LL/A) MP3 Player $119.95 at RefurbDepot.com#9 Apple iPod nano 8 GB…

• Best MP3 Players for Audio Books

  8 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am

  #1 SanDisk Sansa CLIP MP3 Player + FM Radio - 8 GB MP3 Player $58.99 at eCOST.com#2 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (32 GB, MB533LL/A) MP3 Player $263.99 at MacMall#3 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (16 GB, MB531LL/A) MP3 Player $222.00 at eBay#4 Apple iPod nano Fourth Gen. Silver (8 GB, MB598LL/A) MP3 Player $119.95 at RefurbDepot.com#5 Apple iPod nano Fourth Gen. Silver (16 GB, MB903LL/A) MP3 Player $124.99 at Target#6 Apple iPod Nano 16gb - Orange MP3 Player $165.00 at eBay#7 Apple iPod nano 16 GB orange (neu) Digital Media Player $165.00 at eBay#8 Apple IPOD NANO 16 GB PURPLE MP3 Player $129.99…

• Best MP3 Players for Radio

  8 Nov 2009 | 4:10 am

  #1 Microsoft Zune HD Platinum (32 GB) MP3 Player $289.00 at eBay#2 Microsoft Zune HD Black (16 GB) MP3 Player $219.00 at eBay#3 SanDisk Sansa CLIP MP3 Player + FM Radio - 8 GB MP3 Player $58.99 at eCOST.com#4 Microsoft Zune 120GB (Black) MP3 Player $194.55 at CompuVest#5 Microsoft Zune120 Black (120 GB, H3A-00001) Digital Media Player $194.55 at CompuVest#6 Microsoft Zune 120 Red (H3A00008) MP3 Player $209.00 at CompuVest#7 Sony NWZ-E438F (8 GB) MP3 Player $69.99 at TigerDirect.com#8 Slacker 902600007 (4 GB) MP3 Player $116.99 at eBay#9 Apple iPod classic 6th Generation Silver (120 GB) MP3…

• Best MP3 Players for Pictures

  7 Nov 2009 | 10:44 pm

  #1 Microsoft Zune HD Black (16 GB) MP3 Player $219.00 at eBay#2 Microsoft Zune HD Platinum (32 GB) MP3 Player $289.00 at eBay#3 Microsoft Zune 120GB (Black) MP3 Player $194.55 at CompuVest#4 Apple iPod classic 6th Generation Silver (120 GB) MP3 Player $205.99 at eBay#5 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (16 GB, MB531LL/A) MP3 Player $222.00 at eBay#6 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (32 GB, MB533LL/A) MP3 Player $263.99 at MacMall#7 Microsoft Zune120 Black (120 GB, H3A-00001) Digital Media Player $194.55 at CompuVest#8 Microsoft Zune 120 Red (H3A00008) MP3 Player $209.00 at CompuVest#9 Apple iPod nano…

• Best MP3 Players for Working Out

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:01 am

  #1 Apple iPod classic 6th Generation Silver (120 GB) MP3 Player $205.99 at eBay#2 Microsoft Zune HD Black (16 GB) MP3 Player $219.00 at eBay#3 Microsoft Zune HD Platinum (32 GB) MP3 Player $289.00 at eBay#4 SanDisk Sansa CLIP MP3 Player + FM Radio - 8 GB MP3 Player $58.99 at eCOST.com#5 Sony NWZ-E438F (8 GB) MP3 Player $69.99 at TigerDirect.com#6 Microsoft Zune 120GB (Black) MP3 Player $194.55 at CompuVest#7 Apple iPod touch Second Gen (16 GB, MB531LL/A) MP3 Player $222.00 at eBay#8 Apple iPod nano Fourth Gen. Silver (8 GB, MB598LL/A) MP3 Player $119.95 at RefurbDepot.com#9 Apple iPod nano…

• 
  Digital Signage Universe New

• Applied Green Light (AGL) Introduces Full HD Outdoor LCD Digital Signage Displays

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:41 am

  HSINCHU, TAIWAN — Applied Green Light, a Taiwan-based LCD solutions provider, has introduced a series of high definition outdoor LCD displays are direct sunlight readable with high brightness and long service-lifespan.

• Panasonic Launches New Plasma Displays For Digital Signage

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:40 am

  WIESBADEN, GERMANY — Panasonic Professional Projectors and Displays Europe (PPDE) today announced the launch of the first three models from its 12 series range of plasma displays. Aimed primarily at the digital signage, rental, and presentation markets the new large format displays incorporate Panasonic’s NEO PDP technology to offer double efficiency and improved image quality within a thinner and lighter display.

• NXT Licenses Immersion’s Technology to Drive Touch Feedback with Audio Solutions

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:03 am

  SAN JOSE, CA — Immersion Corporation, a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, today announced that NXT plc, a provider of unique sound solutions, best known for its flat panel loudspeaker technology, has licensed Immersion’s TouchSense haptics technology. The agreement will enable NXT to integrate touch feedback effects in audio-haptic solutions offered to original equipment manufacturers for touchscreen and touchpanel applications.

• Voice-Activation Used to Control Search on Signs in Times Square

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:03 am

  NEW YORK, NY— To promote the launch of the new DROID mobile device, R/GA partnered with Verizon Wireless to create “DROID Does Times Square,” a first-of-its-kind interactive campaign to showcase the phone’s built-in location-based voice-search feature. The digital out-of-home signage experience enables a passerby to control two of the largest digital signs in the world—Thomson Reuters and Nasdaq—using only voice commands in real-time.

• Arbitron Study Shows EYE Digital Advertising Stands Out at Malls

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:02 am

  NEW YORK, NY— Seventy-one percent of Mall Shoppers reported that EYE’s digital advertising units, known as Eyelites, stood out amongst other advertising at the mall

• 
  TechFresh, Consumer Electronics Guide

• Pocket-sized iPod Video Projector

  Johan

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am

  The iPod Video Projector from Hammacher Schlemmer projects a 60-inch image from an iPod, iPhone, or any video source with composite outputs onto a screen or wall. This portable projector utilities Digital Light Processing Technology to produce sharp 480 x 320 resolution with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 3:2 aspect ratio. The iPod Video Projector also features a manual focus dial, an adjustable volume control for its 1/2-watt internal speaker, and a headphone jack. Its rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of viewing time and can be recharged using the included AC adapter or a USB…

• AlestRukov’s Wooden PC Mouse

  Johan

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:37 am

  AlestRukov’s Wooden PC Mouse is an eco-friendly alternative to plastic gadgets that are harmful for the environment and can’t be recycled. Each mouse has been handcrafted from sustainable woods, and then carved sanded and polished with linseed oil and carnauba wax as a finishing protective coat. Unfortunately, there is no info on pricing at this time. Stay tuned for more updates. [Behance]

• Lite-On Rolls Out New 24x External DVD Writer

  Isaiah

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:25 am

  Lite-On has rolled out its latest external DVD writer ‘eHAU424′ for the mass market. Measuring 168mm x 57.5mm x 197.71mm and weighing just 1.1kg, this new portable drive makes use of both the LightScribe (disc labeling) and SmartErase (data erase) technologies. Apart from that, the drive also features a USB 2.0 connection interface, a 2MB of buffer memory and provides write speeds of up to 24x for DVD+R/-R, 12x for DVD-RAM and DVD+R/-R DL, 8x for DVD+RW, 6x for DVD-RW, 48x for CD-R and 24x for CD-RW. The eHAU424 retails for $49.99. [Product Page]

• Watch Out For Alien Invasion on Your Desk

  Johan

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:49 am

  Can’t get enough of those Alien movies? Complete your favorite figurines with this new Alien USB hub. What’s great is that you can match this with the Alien USB Flash drive that we mentioned back in September. The new Alien USB hub comes with a creepy yet cool figurine with a red illuminated tongue that will pops out randomly. Measuring 138mm x 85mm x 240mm, the Alien USB hub retails for 6,450 Yen or around $72. [GeekStuff4U]

• AOpen Unveils XC Mini GP7A-HD Barebone PC

  Isaiah

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:28 am

  Here’s a look at AOpen’s upcoming barebone PC, the XC Mini GP7A-HD. This new computer supports an Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo Penryn (Socket P with a 667/800/1066MHz FSB) processor, up to 4GB RAM (1066MHz) and features an integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9300M graphics card, a 2.5-inch SATA HDD or SATA SSD, a card reader and a DVD SuperMulti drive. In terms of connectivity ports, it offers 6x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, eSATA, D-Sub, VGA and HDMI. The XC Mini GP7A-HD will hit Japan in mid-December for unannounced price yet. [AOpen]

• 
  The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia

• Iceotope – Smart server cooling with liquid

  Dan

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:53 am

  Computer server rooms are the ecological equivalent of storing a bunch of blower heaters in a giant coolroom. But people [...] 301 words | permalink | No comments | digg this

• USB Whirl Wind Warmer Cup – No more stirring your coffee

  Dan

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:24 am

  Oh Brando, you’re pushing the friendship here. You’ve gone and stocked a USB powered drink mixer and warmer and I [...] 169 words | permalink | No comments | digg this

• Olive 4HD – Very hi fi music server

  Dan

  20 Nov 2009 | 1:15 am

  The Olive 4HD is a Hi Fi media server for the CD-collecting generation and music connoisseur. The 4HD plugs straight [...] 174 words | permalink | No comments | digg this

• XO2 Urban Transformer – Brilliant folding electric scooter

  Debra Atlas

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:40 pm

  The XO2 Electric Scooter does what folks have dreamed about since we first saw the Jetsons cartoons – it [...] 224 words | permalink | No comments | digg this

• Boxing Alarm Clock – Wake up ready to go nine rounds

  Dan

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:30 pm

  How much boxing blurb can I squeeze into one article? Well, you’ll definitely wake up swinging with this Boxing Alarm [...] 155 words | permalink | One comment | digg this

• 
  Pocket-lint

• NEWS: INTERVIEW: Just how big is Movember?

  Dan Sung

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:04 am

  "You'll see Obama with a mo. You'll see it. It's going to happen." Back in the southern-hemisphere summer of 2003, a gang of Antipodean gents came up with the idea of growing a moustache for a month. Six years on and nearly a quarter of a million men around the globe are cultivating face fur on their upper lips all in the name of charity - well, and because it's kind of fun too. To tell us some more about the background of the annual event and where it's at today, Pocket-lint measured up mos with JC, the man in charge of Movember for Europe. So, how much money have you guys managed to raise…

• NEWS: Windows Live Messenger hits Nokia Messaging

  Amy-Mae Elliott

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:32 am

  Nokia E72 first to get IM app from homescreen Windows Live Messenger is now available via the Nokia Messaging Chat application straight from compatible phone's homescreens. This first instalment of Windows Live Messenger for Nokia Messaging includes tabbed chat windows, the ability to call directly from the buddy list, and notifications of new messages that pop up while the application is in the background.Features include an appear offline login option while grouped contacts, emoticons and sounds are also available. ?The Nokia E72 is the first device that comes with support for Windows Live…

• NEWS: Philips announces 9704 range of "LED Pro" televisions

  Amy-Mae Elliott

  20 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  40- and 46-inchers from ?1799 Need another televisual tech phrase to add to the mix? Sure you do, and today's word comes from Philips with its new 9704 TV range that offers "LED Pro" technology. Clearly better than just TVs marketed as LED sets, the "Pro" 9704 range offers "sensational black levels, brilliant whites and an incredible contrast level of 5,000,000:1 – while consuming up to 50% less power than conventional LCD TVs".The LED Pro bits come in with the 224 LED segments, each of which can be independently dimmed or brightened - or even turned off completely - greatly improving…

• REVIEWS: Creative Zen X-Fi 2 MP3 player

  Paul Lester

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:49 am

  Can Creative crack the touchscreen market? It seems strange to think that one-time MP3-player market leader and current "catch-up merchant" Creative has only just arrived with its first touchscreen player, but in an attempt to appeal to the tactile generation it has upgraded its impressive Zen X-Fi for just this purpose. The X-Fi 2 ditches the keypad that used to sit alongside the display and now simply offers a "home" button to return to the main menu. The rest of the controls are?operated via the touchscreen interface and aside from a microSD card slot for expanding the generous internal…

• NEWS: Asus G51J Nvidia 3D Vision notebook announced

  Amy-Mae Elliott

  20 Nov 2009 | 8:26 am

  New laptop offers three dimensional display with help from special glasses Asus has announced the launch of the world's first Nvidia 3D Vision notebook, the G51J, that offers a 3D experience on the small screen with the help of special glasses. A niche offering to say the least, it's notable for offering a 120Hz 3D Vision-capable display for on-the-go 3D, although how much the bragging rights to owning that tech will cost when it goes on sale in December is still TBC.The Nvidia 3D Vision set-up comprises of wireless glasses, a wide-range IR emitter, and what's said to be "advanced software…

• 
  Ideaity.com ::: The Best Ideas Around

• USB Flash Drive Lighter: Here’s an idea…

  Lightbulb

  1 Nov 2009 | 11:49 am

  The perfect gift for a burgeoning arsonist who likes to keep their data storage handy. Oh great. Another USB combo device. Like the world needs more of those. Except this one is actually pretty cool. Some of our favorite products on this site are the combo items. Samurai sword mates with umbrella? Excellent! Jane Austen’s gentry class coupled with zombies? Sold! Brass knuckles on my coffee cup? Yes please! And now you can add another one to the list — an 8GB USB flash drive hidden in a very fashionable lighter. The lighter features an embossed cow skull in a bronze finish and has…

• Jolicloud Netbook OS: Here’s an idea…

  Lightbulb

  5 Sep 2009 | 8:42 am

  Make a netbook OS that’s not only cool to look at, but is much simpler to use. Netbooks are no-nonsense internet surfing devices with limited storage and power. So why do they keep coming reinstalled with Windows? Wouldn’t it make sense to create a simple, gorgeous operating system that uses the concept of SaaS (software as a service) cloud computing? That’s what the makers of Jolicloud thought. And that’s what the makers of Jolicloud created. Jolicloud is an OS that uses SaaS cloud computing. The programs you use don’t actually exist on your netbook’s hard…

• Logictec iPhone Mic Recorder: Here’s an idea…

  Lightbulb

  4 Sep 2009 | 2:18 pm

  Use your iPhone to launch your professional music career. In a perfect storm guaranteed to get you your major record deal Logitec (note the absence of the “h”)has released the LIC-iREC03P just as the “I Am T-Pain” application (which autotunes your voice — boat not included) was released for the iPhone. If this isn’t a sign that you should redub all those songs you posted to your YouTube using these two things I don’t know what is. Here’s what Red Ferret said about the device: Logitec (not the mouse and keyboard people) make this Logitec…

• Slip Grips: Here’s an idea…

  Lightbulb

  31 Aug 2009 | 4:40 pm

  Help the weak handed get a grip. About a year ago I started getting numbness in my dominant hand. After a few months the numbness became a noticeable weakness and I was having trouble using a pencil (which for a graphic designer isn’t the best think), mouse or even trying my shoelaces. After visiting the neurologist I was diagnosed with Ulnar Neurosis. My ulnar nerve was being pinched near my elbow and it delayed nerve impulses in my wrist and hand. With no nerve communication telling my muscles to move they had begun to atrophy at an alarming rate. Now I’m not asking you to play…

• Steampunk Wacom Tablet: Here’s an idea…

  Lightbulb

  25 Aug 2009 | 3:23 pm

  Design a steampunk graphics tablet fit for the queen herself. Steampunk designers have brass balls. They also have brass gears, frames, dials, handles, knobs and all other manner of parts. Steampunk revolves around the concept of slapping brass on something, paint it up a bit and glue some gears on the outside. Well, at least bad steampunk does. This steampunk tablet, however, not only looks phenomenal (biggest word I could think of), but it works too. It’s a double threat! Plus, it would go nicely with the steampunk keyboard — currently being used in Warehouse 13 on the Sci-Fi…

• 
  OnlyGizmos

• I tried to blow some candles, ended with a burnt iPhone :(

  Annkur

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:04 pm

  I was naturally excited about the new Blower App for the iPhone. This thing uses the iPhone speaker to blow out air that as per the app description Blow out candles, Blow herbs away, Refresh your skin during hot summer nights! And seeing the youtube video demonstrating how the app works wasn’t enough for me. So I decided to put this thing to test myself. Here is the result. Note: I tried this with my 2G iPhone. Will try to do this with a 3G if I get a volunteer – Video of this attempt is coming on YouTube shortly below (though the camera memory gave up on me, I have a few seconds…

• Review: Sony Ericsson MS500 Wireless Speaker

  Annkur

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:45 pm

  Sony Ericsson is rolling out some extremely cool accessories (wish the cellphones were equally good) and after the fantastic IS800 Bluetooth headset, we now have our hands on the MS500. SE MS500 is a 2 watt, Bluetooth 2.1 wireless speaker that promises easy listening to music on the go. We tested this with a range of devices and it connected with all of them flawlessly, but the sad part is that the iPhone or any Nokia won’t be the right companion to this. You need a Sony Ericsson device to get the most out of this. Using a N72 or Nokia 6700 gives lesser audio output than the integrated…

• Chrome OS officially previewed by Google, launch in 2010

  Annkur

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:52 pm

  “The day broadband is down at my place, I hardly switch it on my computer.” – that’s what I said back in July and with today’s preview of Chrome OS, that’s exactly what inspires Google to work on this project. We are about to use Netbooks as NETbooks finally. Here are a few notes from what Google revealed about the Chrome OS today: All data will be on the cloud. Anything on the device would just be a local cache It’s all about web apps Security is priority. All apps being web apps, they will talk to the OS like a browser. Checks the OS for any…

• X10 for $880 :(

  Annkur

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:03 am

  Just before the Xperia X10 went official we ended with a cry “don’t over price it please!” and our worst fears come true. Gizmodo reports that the Xperia X10 is priced at $880 by Sony Ericsson. Whenever SE comes up with a good touchscreen, they over price is to such an extent that it automatically puts the competition several steps ahead. Except the P990i I don’t remember any other touchscreen offering from them retailing below Rs 15000 in India. While I am disappointed, even the HTC HD was priced similarly in India when launched and we can expect similar from the HD2,…

• Google Phone may be a reality by early 2010

  Kunal

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:26 am

  There have been enough rumours, and an equal number of ‘NO’ responses by Google. But somehow the keen interest by Google in the mobile phone industry (more than half of Google’s web products are available for handsets – case in point: the Android) makes me ask: what’s next? Somehow, all roads (or more roads) are leading up to a Google Phone. All the work Google has put into the Android OS with the Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Eris, and other Android phones appear to have just been a warm-up for the Google Phone. Rumour has it that the Google Phone will only be…

• 
  Internet Siao

• Strapya Music Card Mp3 Player

  Dennis Yeo

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:01 am

  Now this is definitely an MP3 player that fits in your wallet, the Strapya Music Card MP3 player is shaped like a common credit card in every aspect except that it comes with a 5mm width. Packed into this Japanese-made credit-card size MP3 player is a 2.5mm earphone jack, meaning most of the common 3.5mm earphones can’t be used unless you use the adaptor included in the package. The Music Card MP3 player also comes with 2GB worth of memory compatible with both WMA and MP3 formats from both MAC and Windows PC. Here comes the best part: The music player’s internal battery boasts a running…

• Super Mario FPS Half-Life Mod

  Dennis Yeo

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:53 pm

  Ever wondered how it will look like to play Super Mario in first-person 3D view? Here’s a video of a playable Half-Life fps game mod that models the first level of the classic Super Mario game.   Looks like the main differences are the limitations of the game engine where the mod was created from contains some differences compared to the original, which has Mario holding a crowbar and shooting at enemies instead of jumping on them. Even the power-up mushroom comes in the form of a suit, but hey this classic Super Mario game does look interesting when viewed from a different…

• Laser Engraver Plays Super Mario Game Music

  Dennis Yeo

  15 Nov 2009 | 6:17 pm

  The Super Mario theme is one of the most favorite classic geek game music tunes floating around in cyberspace. How much so does this get even more geekier when hacklab member Jed came up with a program to get his laser engraver to play this awesomely popular Super Mario game music in all its 8-bit glory? Watch the video to find out.   Laser engraver plays Super Mario theme Now that’s some cool game music for the geeks. I must say the music produced from the laser engraver doesn’t sound bad at all, maybe second to tesla coil music. Related posts:Amazing Mario Level That Plays…

• Super Mario Bros. NASCAR Racecar

  Dennis Yeo

  13 Nov 2009 | 8:21 pm

  A nicely decorated NASCAR racecar with the likes of the new Super Mario Bros. game sponsored by Nintendo and Gamestop for the Able Body Labor 200 race on November 14. This post was originally published from internetsiao.com. Bringing you the coolest stuff from the Net! Related posts:Uber Geeko Super Mario Car Spotted In SingaporeSuper Mario Piranha Plant CakeSuper Mario FPS Half-Life Mod

• Transformers Jaguar USB Flash Drive

  Dennis Yeo

  12 Nov 2009 | 7:15 pm

  This looks like a great idea for a Transformers USB flash drive. When the storage function is not in use it plays like a toy but when you need it, it folds into a flat USB drive for use. A nice looking storage accessory for the Transformers fan. $45, Brando. This post was originally published from internetsiao.com. Bringing you the coolest stuff from the Net! Related posts:Hacked USB Cord Flash DriveRadical Flat Light Bulb Design11 Addictive Free Online Flash Games

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  GadgetyNews.com

• Flip Wi-Fi Camcorder Coming in a Few Months

  Jay Garrett

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:54 am

  Cisco bought out Pure Digital in a multi-million dollar deal earlier this year and they intend to use their networking know-how to launch a new Wi-Fi-enabled Flip digital camcorder. Those lovelies over at Pocket-Lint had a chat with a Cisco spokesperson who said that the new range would feature “a large screen that slides to reveal the record and menu buttons underneath” allowing users to see what is going on when they are recording video. Cisco wants to keep this in the pocket-friendly region in cost as well as size so don’t go dreaming about touchscreens and the like! The…

• Colour e-Book Reader Seeks OEM – Qualcomm Mirasol Display

  Jay Garrett

  18 Nov 2009 | 9:56 am

  Qualcomm’s Mirasol displays have appeared in mobile phones, Digital Audio Players (DAP) and GPS devices but now it seems that its going to join in on the latest craze. E-book readers The full colour, 5.7 inch display touting prototype just needs a friendly, loving and understanding OEM partner to take it home and nurture it – and soon. That is if it’s to meet Qualcomm’s ambitious target of getting it on the market in the “latter part of 2010.” Going on looks alone I really can’t see it having any problems with getting lots of love from gadgety readers…

• Etch-A-Sketch Freestyle – Fun Without The Challenge of Curves

  Jay Garrett

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:45 pm

  Were you one of those that sat for hours and painstakingly worked on drawing curved lines with your Etch-A-Sketch? Just to prove that the kids these days get everything waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too easy there’s a new Etch-A-Sketch on the block and it goes by the trendy name – Freestyle. Yup, this fresh, new version of the classic has taken any remote challenge out of making a decent picture on the graphic toy. Remember using the two dials that controlled the AB and XY axis in order to guide the drawing tool around? You see I don’t. I never had one. I just used to watch the other…

• 3 in 1 Ghostbusting Paranormal Tracking Instrument

  Jay Garrett

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:09 pm

  If you’ve seen the film ‘Paranormal Activity’ you will have noticed that having a video camera isn’t the only thing you really need. Any budding ghost-hunters will need an array of scientific instruments in order to prove and find the gad-about ghosts. Thankfully, the folk over at Scientifics Online have just the very thing. This spectre-finder has the 3 most useful tools wrapped up in one handy device. You get an EMF Meter, Ambient Temperature Gauge and a……. errrrrrrr…….. flashlight. “Designed exclusively for paranormal investigators,…

• Star Trek and Transformers Films Released in Collectors USB Editions

  Jay Garrett

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pm

  We like Sci-Fi don’t we? So when there’s a gadgety release of two of this years Sci-Fi hits it needs to be written about. The two flicks in question are Star Trek and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Paramount Digital Entertainment is releasing 20,000 of each movie on a 4GB USB drive (leaving around 3GB free space) with each one getting its own identification number. The USB’s come in fancy tins with a one-off print. If you opt for the robot and Megan Fox fun of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen you get it on a limited edition Autobot device while Star Trek fans get a…

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  Smokeless Delite

• Smokers Delight- Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes

  Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes

  18 Nov 2009 | 11:05 pm

  Some consumers are confused about the name of Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes and often search for that search term instead of Smokeless Delite. If you have come across this venue, you can go directly to Smokeless Delite E Cigarettes web site and web store where you can get all e-cigarettes, electronic cigarette cartridges,  and e-cigarette accessories. Thank you for looking, Smokeless Delite United States E-Cigarettes www.smokelessdelite.com

• Lose Weight with Irvingia Plus when you Quit Smoking

  Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes

  12 Nov 2009 | 5:27 pm

  Congratulations on your purchase of Irvingia Plus and your decision to lose weight and live a healthy life. Irvingia Plus is a revolutionary new diet product that will revolutionize the weight loss industry and help you on your way to losing weight in a healthy and controlled manner. Irvingia Plus is more than a weight loss product, it is a company developed to truly help you succeed and help you achieve your weight loss goals. Irvingia Plus will give you tips and tricks when it comes to your nutrition, exercise, and diet, to help you fully understand everything there is to know and…

• individual health insurance

  Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes

  12 Nov 2009 | 11:56 am

  For the best deals on individual health insurance check out the great deals at- http://www.healthinsurancefinders.com/individual-health-insurance-plans.html. Smokeless Delite E-Cigarette Company www.smokelessdelite.com

• Quit Smoking- Leads to Weight Gain- E-Cigarettes

  Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:47 pm

  Studies have proven that when a person quit smoking, that they will experience weight gain. Smokeless Delite has realized this venue and has acted on it and created a weight loss supplement that can combat weight gain when using the e-cigarettes instead of traditional cigarettes. If you would like more information on the newest weight loss supplement to sweep the nation- go to- www.irvingiaweightlosspills.com. Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes www.smokelessdelite.com

• Smokeless Delite Reviews- E-Cigarettes Review

  Smokeless Delite E-Cigarettes

  10 Oct 2009 | 12:42 pm

  Smokeless Delite has had many positive reviews for the their e-cigarettes. Here is an unbiased review for the Smokeless Delite Pen Style e-cigarette. You can also check out some of Smokeless Delite’s positive testimonials from the customers who use and love the electronic cigarette by Smokeless Delite. You can also read other e-cigarettes reviews at www.smokelessdelite.com. If you are one of the valued customers for Smokeless Delite, fell free to leave a comment or review based on your experience with Smokeless Delite’s e-cigarettes.

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  Electronic Cigarette Review

• 3 Types of Electronic Cigarette Kit Easy as 1, 2, 3

  Sparky

  18 Nov 2009 | 12:29 pm

  There are 3 different types of electronic cigarettes you should be familiar with before you buy your first electronic cigarette kit and fortunately they are as easy to remember as 1-2-3. They are: 1 Piece Electronic Cigarette Kit 2 Piece Electronic Cigarette Kit 3 Piece Electronic Cigarette Kit These 3 types of electronic cigarettes shouldn’t be confused with the 4 different styles of electronic cigarettes I wrote about in another article. The difference between the 4 styles and the 3 types is that the term “type” refers primarily to function and the term “style” refers primarily to…

• Governator Terminates Proposed Electronic Cigarette Ban

  Sparky

  12 Oct 2009 | 11:02 pm

  An official press release from the California State Governor’s office announced yesterday that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 400 that proposed electronic cigarette ban in the state of California. The latest revision of SB 400 did not propose a complete ban on electronic cigarette use, but rather to, … authorize action to halt the sale, distribution, or offering for sale of electronic cigarettes. The famous actor and now Governor of CA had this to say in his official response letter to justify his veto: To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate…

• ECR CTA – Ask Governer Schwarzenegger to Veto SB 400 Which Would Ban the Sale of eCigs in CA

  Sparky

  8 Oct 2009 | 11:33 am

  I know this is short notice guys but I just found out about SB 400 yesterday which would ban the sale of eCigs in California. SB400 was originally an alternative energy bill, but was strangely amended to only ban electronic cigarettes and no longer makes any mention of energy. If Governor Schwarzenegger does not veto this bill by close of business tomorrow, Friday 10-9-2009, it will become law automatically next week! It is important that you act on this immediately even if you are not a California resident because if SB400 is allowed to pass in California it will set a bad precedent for all…

• What are Electronic Cigarette Review Calls to Action (CTAs)?

  Sparky

  3 Oct 2009 | 4:09 pm

  On the Electronic Cigarette Review’s newsletter subscription form there is a checkbox titled “Send me CTAs.”  CTA is an acronym for Call to Action.    If you elect to receive CTAs from the Electronic Cigarette Review by checking the box, you will receive the newsletter whenever it comes out, AND you will also receive somewhat more frequent e-mails asking you to take some action.   These actions are designed to forward the cause for electronic cigarettes that I outlined in a previous article here. The point of my previous article is that people in positions of great power such as…

• Why Your e Cig Smoking Habits will be Different

  Sparky

  2 Oct 2009 | 7:02 pm

  SNL's Hans and Frans Ok, I know that title of this article sounds a little arrogant, but I just got done talking to one of my e smoker friends about how our smoking habits have changed since we started smoking the e cig. We also noticed that this seems to be a common theme of conversation among veteran e cig smokers. So, as Hans and Frans used to say in those old SNL skitts, “hear me now and believe me later,” if you start smoking e cigs for any length of time your smoking habits will be different! How so? Well, if you start smoking e cigs and stick with it your smoking habits will…

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  Perfect Electronic Cigarette

• Envy Electronic Cigarette Review Video

  9 Nov 2009 | 11:33 am

  The Envy Electronic Cigarette Review Video This is Perfect Electronic Cigarettes video review of the Envy electronic cigarette. The Envy...

• Eko Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit Review (like Blu Cig)

  9 Nov 2009 | 11:04 am

  Eko Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit Pack Review, Just Like Blu Electronic Cigarette!This is Perfect Electronic Cigarettes official review of the Eko Electronic...

• How To Refill A Titan 510 / Joye 510 / TECC 510 Electronic Cigarette Cartridge

  9 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am

  How To Refill A Joye 510 / Titan 510 / TECC 510 Electronic Cigarette Cartridge In this video we are...

• Green Smoke Massive Vapor!

  9 Nov 2009 | 10:39 am

  Green Smoke Electronic Cigarette Massive Vapor!How To Get An Even Bigger Hit Off A Green Smoke Electronic Cigarette! ...

• Titan 510 Joye 510 TECC 510 Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit Review

  3 Sep 2009 | 4:11 pm

  Titan 510 / Joye 510 / TECC 510 Electronic Cigarette Starter Kit Review  Visit our electronic cigarette forum for information on...

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  e-Cigarettes

• What If There Were an Alternative to Smoking?

  Instead E-Cigarettes

  13 Nov 2009 | 11:26 am

  What if you could have a cigarette without the 4,000 chemicals and toxins? (Electronic cigarette vapor is comprised of propylene glycol, water, glycerin, flavoring, and nicotine.) Of the 4,000 chemicals in cigarettes, 60 are known to cause cancer. (Studies done on electronic cigarette vapor to date show either no cancer causing chemicals or only trace [...]

• Gift Idea for the Smokers You Love

  Instead E-Cigarettes

  13 Nov 2009 | 8:10 am

  What to get your smoker loved one is always a question that comes up around the holiday season. Do you get them a new lighter? A new ashtray? What about a carton of tobacco cigarettes? Been there, done that. And each year, they say thank you, add their new gift [...]

• New Invention of 1963: The Smokeless Non-Tobacco Cigarette

  Instead E-Cigarettes

  7 Nov 2009 | 10:12 am

  Many people wonder about who actually invented the electronic cigarette. Most don’t know, while others would claim it is Hon Lik from China. But in 1963, Herbert A. Gilbert filed his patent on a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette. Two years later his patent was accepted. The whole patent issue becomes somewhat complicated [...]

• To Regulate or Not To Regulate….That is Not The Question

  Instead E-Cigarettes

  5 Nov 2009 | 3:22 pm

  The question is ‘What kind of regulation?’ Some opponents of electronic cigarettes have stated they believe those who manufacturer and sell electronic cigarettes are trying to skirt regulation by the FDA. They ask “why don’t they just go through the normal NRT process like the nicotine gum or patch?”. I will answer these questions from [...]

• An Analogy To The Electronic Cigarette Debate

  Instead E-Cigarettes

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:08 am

  Electronic cigarette debates often become heated because both sides feel very passionately. The anti-smoking groups claim this is too much like smoking and say “we just don’t know what’s in it”. The e-smoker says “If I can smoke tobacco, why can’t I vape an e-cigarette? I can choose what is best for [...]

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  Electronic Cigarette News

• Big Tobacco and the E Cigarette

  admin

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:36 pm

  Well we knew it was bound to happen eventually and it seems as if the news many have been dreading is on the horizon. Nothing is even nearly settled at the moment but it seems that there have been talks going on between Phillip Morris and the Ruyan E Cigarette Company. After a couple of years of the major players in the tobacco and pharmaceutical industry doing all they can to beat the electronic cigarette to death they know want a piece of the pie. Arthur Schopenhauer once said that “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third,…

• Where Can I Buy E Cigarettes?

  admin

  30 Oct 2009 | 6:01 am

  I’m not sure if people visit this blog to read about the latest e cigarette news or if you are searching Google looking to buy e cigarettes but since there seems to be so many e cig retailers out there I though it might be a good idea for me to recommend what I believe to be the best product on the market. The problem most of us have is that we don’t know anyone personally who uses an electric cigarette so it can be hard to get the information we need about what devices are good and which are nothing but junk. There are so many places that re brand Chinese imports and try to pass…

• Electronic Cigarettes, The FDA And E Cig Safety

  admin

  22 Aug 2009 | 5:52 am

  I read an outstanding article about the FDA’s quarrel with e cigarette manufacturers the other day and thought I would post it so visitors to this page could find it as its somewhat hidden from the view of most e cig smokers. You can find the article on this blog about interesting news, entertainment and television. Unfortunately I can link to the specific article so you are going to have to search down the page until you find the one called “Recent Studies Indicate That the FDA May Contain Trace Elements of Bos Taurus Egesta” If you haven’t heard, the FDA issued a…

• Electronic Cigarettes – Stop Smoking Aid Or Cigarette Substitute?

  admin

  2 Jul 2009 | 4:52 pm

  The last post I made about the research regarding the possibility that nicotine replacement therapy might cause cancer or make it worse seemed to have brewed up a bit of a storm. I put the article up as I like to show both sides of the story in regards to these devices, nicotine is not a health product after all and its highly addictive properties mean that we would all do well to remove it from our lives if at all possible. How detrimental it is to our health may be open to some argument but at the end of the day we’re better of without in in our body for our physical and mental well…

• Stop Smoking With The Help Of The NHS

  admin

  25 Apr 2009 | 6:14 am

  Anything you can do to help you quit smoking for good gets the vote from me, whether its joining a support group, getting hypnotherapy or replacing your cigarettes with the e cigarette. There are even herbs to quit smoking available these days and I’m sure they are as effective as anything you will get from your doctor. But according to the UK’s national health service you’re up to 4 times more likely to stop smoking if you get NHS support and use nicotine replacement therapies. Not really sure what they mean when they say you are ‘up to’ 4 times more likely to stop though, and…

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  Custom USB Flash Drives - Premium USB Blog

• Why choose Custom Flash Drives over Traditional Media

  USB Expert

  20 Nov 2009 | 11:56 am

  Custom flash drives are relatively new compared to traditional media such as CDs, DVDs, or BDs, and have been improving as technology advances. Technology has advanced so much that many consumers and companies alike are having to face the very difficult decision; whether to go with custom USB drives or traditional media for their next promotional campaign. CDs and DVDs have definitely made their impact on the promotional world; nearly 3 decades later they are still going strong. However with the advancement of the USB and soon to be USB 3.0, traditional media is having a hard time competing.

• The Who, What, Where, When, and Why to Custom USB Drives

  USB Expert

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:20 am

  Custom USB Drives have become one of the most popular promotional gifts on the market today and with the holiday season quickly approaching their popularity is rising. It’s not surprising to see why either, USB drives are handy, practical, and easy to use. Tech savvy audiences are always on the lookout for new and interesting promotional items, and custom USB drives are at the top of their list! Custom USB flash drives are marketing gold because they make extremely effective advertising items. A USB drive has much higher impact and longevity due to the nature of the USB. Pens, mugs, and…

• Cost Effective USB Copying

  USB Expert

  18 Nov 2009 | 8:43 am

  Not everyone can afford to buy an expensive top of the line USB drive duplicator, but still need USB duplication equipment for his or her production needs. For this reason PremiumUSB stocks an entry-level line of AV Pro USB Flash Drive Duplicators at a lower cost. With the AV Pro Series duplicators, you can now get a USB duplicator no matter what your budget is. At PremiumUSB we stock AV Pro USB duplicators, which range from 3 to 11 USB drive ports. Each model is designed to duplicate in the most cost efficient manner possible. This means that no only do you get reliable high-performance…

• Non-erasable Content with USB Data Lock

  USB Expert

  17 Nov 2009 | 2:59 am

  Don’t let your data be erased this holiday season with PremiumUSB’s USB Data Lock service. With our USB Data Lock services, you no longer have to worry about having potential clients delete your promotional material again. This is especially important because the holiday season is vastly approaching and there will soon be deals so good that people will be lining up in front of retail stores at 3am to get them. With competition this intense, you’ll need a promotional product that will put you over the top. One such promotional item this holiday season will be a custom USB flash drives…

• DIY USB Printing made easier with TEAC USB Printer

  USB Expert

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am

  Do it yourself USB drive printing has never been easier thanks to TEAC’s new P55C-ST USB flash drive printer. The P55C-ST is the latest version of TEAC’s best selling USB drive printer, the P55B-ST, and allows for more USB drives to be printed at once than ever before. The old days of outsourcing USB printing jobs over seas is a thing of a past thanks to this new printer. TEAC’s P-55C-ST USB drive printer expands on the previous technology of the P-55B-ST and brings the total number of USB flash drives that can be printed on at one time up to 6. With a 6-drive capacity, you can now…

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  Retro Thing

• The Economics of Pinball

  James Grahame

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:52 am

  Jeff Ely, an economics professor at Northwestern, reveals a few of pinball's profitable secrets: "In 1986, Williams High Speed changed the economics of pinball forever.  Pinball developers began to see how they could take advantage of programmable software to monitor, incentivize, and ultimately exploit the players.  They had two instruments at their disposal:  the score required for a free game, and the match probability.  All pinball machines offer a replay to a player who beats some specified score.  Pre-1986, the replay score was hard wired into the game unless the operator manually…

• Blackbird, Fly: A Slightly Weird TLR Camera

  James Grahame

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:25 pm

  Don't let the awkward name scare you off. The Blackbird, Fly is a rather nifty little plastic Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) from Japan. A TLR has two objective lenses. One captures the photo, while the other projects almost the same image onto a matte focusing screen surrounded by a hood on top of the camera. If you don't wish to hold the camera self-consciously at waist height, you can also use the gunsight-like finder on top to line up your shot. Unlike most TLRs which require hard to find medium-format film, the Blackbird, Fly uses standard 35mm rolls. There are three image masks which let you…

• Club Nintendo Resurrects The Game & Watch LCD Handheld

  James Grahame

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:09 am

  Japanese Club Nintendo members who have reached Platinum status will receive a brand new Game & Watch LCD game. Well, it's not actually a new game. It's a reissue of Ball, the very first G&W title to hit shelves way back in April, 1980. It's powered by a CR2032 watch battery which should be good for months of simulated juggling. Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of the early single screen Game & Watch series. I think they hit their stride when Nintendo unveiled dual screen games like Donkey Kong (1982) and Mario Bros (1983). Still, this is a nice perk for Japanese Nintendo…

• Beretta Minx - The Gun That Tucks Into Your Purse

  bohus

  18 Nov 2009 | 1:51 am

  My father wasn't a violent man. Taciturn, unsympathetic, relentlessly Eastern European, but not violent. So it was strange to learn that he carried a gun. Not all the time, and not a big gun, but there were definitely times when my old man was packin' heat. The gun he carried was a tiny thing. I remember finding it among his things after he died, and was astonished at how miniature it was. The 4 inch gun was the beguilingly named Beretta Minx, and given the galling cutesiness of the ad copy above (you've got to take the time to  read it!) it seems like everyone knew what an odd little gun…

• Original Apple 1 Computer For Sale

  James Grahame

  17 Nov 2009 | 4:57 pm

  Here's your chance to own an Apple 1. All you need is $50,000 to score the opening bid. The Apple 1 was Wozniak and Jobs' first crack at creating a true mainstream personal computer. Woz's revolutionary approach involved placing everything onto a single circuit board, rather than in a huge box full of backplanes, connectors, and tangles of wire.  Only a few were made, but everything they learned from their first machine went into making the Apple II an earth-shattering success.  Woz & Jobs chose not to use an Intel 8080 processor because, at $175 a piece, they couldn't afford it. …

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  netbooknews.com

• Hands on & boot up of the Inventec Smartbook

  Nicole Scott

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:14 am

  Inventec has come out with a new smartbook. Take a closer look at the boot up time of this unit with the Nvidia Tegra T600 chipset.

• Choiix Netbook Sleeve: Fashionable Design For $15

  Nicole Scott

  19 Nov 2009 | 2:40 am

  Unique Netbook Sleeve design, great for business people at a very affordable price. Chirstmas is coming and we are looking all looking for affordable stocking stuffers. Compatible with: acer Aspire one 8.9”, Gigabyte M912, HP 2133 mini-note, Lenovo IdeaPad S9, ASUS EeePC 1000, ASUS EeePC 1000H, acer Aspire one (6cell)10”, acer Aspire one (3cell)10”, BenQ Joybook Lite U101, Samsung NC10, ASUS EeePC S101, MSI Wind NBU100, Lenovo IdeaPad S10, HP mini 1001, Toshiba NB100

• Viewsonic VPD500 Unboxing & Hands on with the VPD400

  Nicole Scott

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:27 am

  Unboxing with the Viewsonic VPD500 5" multimedia player and get a hands on with the 4" VPD400 unit with a slightly different non glossy display. The players offer 720p HD playback and offer 8G of onboard storage for a wide range of multimedia file formats.

• H1 Touch Unboxing & Hands on

  Nicole Scott

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:25 am

  Unboxing of the H1-Touch, iphone, ipod touch or smartphone stand. Check out its aluminum body build quality and its ability to swivel vertically 300° to ensure a great viewing angle.

• Netbook Nation Vodcast #10 Christmas 09 Netbook Buyers Guide

  Nicole Scott

  15 Nov 2009 | 11:32 pm

  Buying a Netbook for Christmas this year? Find out our picks for the best Budget Netbook, Overall Design, Netvertible, Battery Life, Fashion, Business & Ion Netbooks. We will give you some tips on picking the perfect netbook. Also stay tuned for reasons why you should not get Windows 7 Starter Edition.

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  FFWTech.com

• Review: Microsoft Lifecam Cinema 720p Webcam

  Hunter

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:11 pm

  Just recently I had the privilege of receiving the new 720p webcam from Microsoft and I must say, it’s weird seeing myself in HD, at least through a webcam. First Impressions When I first unboxed the Lifecam, I was pretty stunned to find how tiny it is. All of the high resolution photos can really sway your perception of this device. The Lifecam itself is only 2″ tall and 1.81″ long making it a bite-sized camera that will sit quit nicely on your monitor. Despite the small stature, the device seems very sturdy to hold, unlike many cheap webcams that often feel like they can…

• Apple’s App Store is 100,000 Strong But Is It Really?

  Hunter

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:28 pm

  If you haven’t heard already, Apple has announced that it has over 100,000 apps that you can go try out on the app store at this moment. “The App Store, now with over 100,000 applications available, is clearly a major differentiator for millions of iPhone and iPod touch customers around the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. I’ll give it to the Apple exec., Apple has established itself as a near invicible force when it comes to their app store. However, this “huge announcement” about them having 100,000…

• Cable’s Slow Death Accelerated By Apple

  Hunter

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:39 pm

  It’s always a bad sign when Apple or Google jump in on your business; and today, the entire cable industry is seeing some very bad signs.  While there have been talks in the past about Apple, has just recently gotten into some meetings with TV networks on the possibility streaming TV through iTunes. So far the rumored price is $30 a month for the service to be streamed through your house. Luckily Apple has made it easy on you and not required that you own an Apple TV (in fact I think they want to pretend that never happened), and instead, can be viewed as any other video in iTunes.

• Look At The Next iPhone Killer! Oh Wait…

  Hunter

  28 Oct 2009 | 6:25 pm

  The more and more I hear about the iPhone the less and less I want to own it. Maybe it’s just me but I feel like the amount of money that Apple funnels into the iPhone ad campaign is inversely related to my urge to buy one. But it’s not only Apple that is bothering me at this point. It’s the entire wireless industry. Let me start by saying I believe the iPhone deserves the title it has received. There have been few gadgets that have been so widely used and loved as the iPhone. However, all of the other cell phone manufacturers seem to measure their place in the world by how…

• Mionix Saiph 1800 Gaming Mouse Review

  Drew

  4 Oct 2009 | 8:29 am

  The Mionix Saiph 1800 is a high quality gaming mouse with astounding precision and an unique ergonomic design. Hardware When you receive the Saiph 1800 you are given a very unique box. Open it and you are given the mouse and a story as to how the mouse was named. The design of the mouse allows it to fit into the natural position of your hand. On the bottom of the mouse there are 3 pads which allow the mouse to glide smoothly along the pad surface. The mouse connects to the computer through a 2 meter long cable. When plugged in, the scroll wheel turns on into the color that you were last using…