November 2009 Archives

Barnes-and-Noble-Nook-Held-By-One-Hand.jpg
Just because I write about gadgets doesn't mean I'll get all the cool ones I want for Christmas.
 
Unfortunately, one of the toys topping my wish list - the Barnes and Noble 'nook' e-book reader - is out of stock. But you can still get (and give) a specially made 'nook' e-coupon (at least it will save on wrapping paper!).  
 
At Amazon, some of the big deals of the day include 40 percent off the EyeClops Mini Projector, Sennheiser RS 130 Wireless Surround Sound Headphones for $199.68 (normally $380.61) and the 2G Apple iPod touch 8 GB for $158.
 
And at Buy.com, the $82 pricetag on the TomTom One 130 Portable GPS with Preloaded Maps and a 3.5" Touchscreen is certainly enticing (as I always get lost driving around my new home state of Connecticut).
 
Then again, I should probably get in the true spirit of the holiday and shop for someone else, like my fiancĂ©, who really wants the new Beatles Rock Band for Wii (on sale for $40). At least that's a gift that'll benefit the both of us.  
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cheetahprintII_HD_1000x1000.jpgWhat do screen savers, ring tones and what you're wearing to dinner have in common?
 
All three things can be personalized!
 
If you're known to love (and lose) pricy gadgets, chances are you're a fan of personalization, whether it's the tropical screen saver that graces your PC/Mac or a slick black skin that covers your iPhone.   
 
And if you're the animal-loving type, today's Flip MinoHD is available in the coolest cheetah-print you've ever seen.  
 
 
Or, if you're the creative type, upload your own graphic or image to TheFlip.com and create your own design using the pattern generator. Choose from psychedelic swirls or slick, linear montages.
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I live in Connecticut, but I'm from Washington, D.C., which means six-hour train rides back and forth for the holidays. Though I love my BlackBerry Curve, there are days I wish my Mac had a built-in wireless network access thingie so I could surf the 'net while cruising down the mid-Atlantic. 
 
So when I heard about AT&T's HP Mini netbook with built-in access to the AT&T's 3G and WiFi networks, my ears perked up. 
 
This new, light, 2.57-pound 'book features Microsoft Windows 7 operating system, a 10.1-inch LED anti-glare widescreen display, 1G of memory, a 160GB hard drive and is only $199 after mail-in rebate via an AT&T promotion card. There's just one catch: You have to buy a two-year data service contract, and pay $35-60 per month for service. All for the benefit of getting to use AT&T WiFi wherever you are. 
 
Still, making a commitment to shell out another $35-60 a month is difficult - I wish you could just rent netbooks for $20 per train trip (hint, hint Amtrak)! That would make those monthly train rides go a whole lot more smoothly. 
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Thumbnail image for Jabra Stone_1 Hi-Res.jpgI've never been a fan of Bluetooth wireless headsets.

 

Freakish extensions of the ear, the few headsets I've tried been a pain to put on, and an even greater pain to use correctly. Like bicycle helmets, they're not terribly sexy, either.

 

Until now. 
 

 

The task of charging up the new Jabra STONE for a product test was met with far less enthusiasm than getting a Motorola DROID.

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Okay, I admit it.

 

I almost jumped out of my seat when my new Motorola Droid got all robot-like on me, announcing "Droid!" in  a dark-electro freaky alien voice when I first turned it on. But as soon as I charged that baby up, easing into life on Android turned freakishly easy. 

 

It's pretty amazing how well the Google Android-infused Droid capturing the gorgeous, full-color images embedded in my Gmail messages. That -- plus the easy-to-scroll Facebook app -- makes my BlackBerry Curve 8520 seem so archaic.

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It's been a almost a week since Verizon Wireless unveiled its first-ever cell phones based off the much-fussed-about Google Android platform -- the DROID by Motorola and the DROID ERIS by HTC - so TMCnet decided to visit to a Verizon Wireless store in Norwalk, Conn., to get a closer look. Boy, was it worth it! 
 
We were ushered in by a Verizon spokesman, along with sales guy Jared Fixler, who navigated some of the phone's most-talked-about features. 
 
I'm a bit obsessed with fashion, so my first Google search on the Motorola DROID's voice-activated search was for "Vera Wang." Within seconds I was presented with a map to the designer's flagship New York City store. 
 
It's been said by some that the iPhone has better resolution than the DROID, but I honestly could not tell the difference. The DROID slightly heavier than the iPhone or my BlackBerry Curve, thanks to a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. But having access to hundreds of widgets, GPS directions and my Facebook page makes the weight worth it.
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