yhadz, suya-on shopaholic

Apple iPad Available to the Public on April 3

2010-03-05T23:23:00.000-08:00

Just slightly delayed versus plan, the most-awaited Apple iPad tablet computer will go on sale in US stores on April 3 and in other countries in late April

I was never too impressed with Apple iPad when it was introduced since it seems to fall in between the already innovative iPhone/ iPod vs. the netbook

But the iPad runs more than a hundred thousand applications that already operate on iPhone & iPod. The slight delay in availability did not appear to concern investors on Wall Street and Apple shares hit a record high of 219.70 dollars at one point.

AFP reports, the iPad has a 9.7-inch (24.6-centimeter) color screen and resembles an oversized iPhone. It is 0.5 inches (1.3 centimeters) thick, weighs 1.5 pounds (0.7 kilos) and comes with 16, 32, or 64 gigabytes of memory.

Toshiba Notebook Limited Time Offer Starting at $449 Up to April 22 Only

2009-04-20T07:40:00.001-07:00

Toshiba launches a limited time promo for their laptops & notebooks starting at only $449

Just go to Toshiba Direct to get your new Toshiba laptop on sale until April 22 only

Manny Pacquiao Memorabilia - Just in Time for the Pacquiao - Hatton fight

2009-04-20T06:52:00.000-07:00

I got this email today. I figured it was spam but it sold some interesting Nike products that were dubbed Manny Pacquiao memorabilia. If you're looking to support Manny Pacquiao, then get one of these

Sino si Manny Pacquiao?

Si Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao, (ipinanganak Disyembre 17, 1978) kilala sa palayaw na "Pacman", ay ang kasalukuyang WBC Super Fetherweight Kampeon ng Mundo at The Ring Super Featherweight Kampeon ng Mundo. Siya rin ay dating People's Featherweight Kampeon ng Mundo (mula 2003 hanggang 2005), dating Kampeon ng IBF Super Bantamweight (2001 hanggang 2004), at dating Kampeon ng WBC Flyweight Champion (1998 hanggang 1999). Sa gulang ng 25 taon, nagkamit na siya ng 41 mga panalo, 3 mga talo, at 2 mga tabla, kasama ang 30 panalo na knockout ang kalaban.

Mula sa Lungsod ng General Santos, Pilipinas, ang boksingero na kilala bilang The Destroyer ng kanyang mga kasama sa mundo ng boksing dahil sa paraan na ginagawa niya sa pagpigil at pagwasak sa kanyang mga katunggali at naghahamon. Mayroong siyang nakakasirang kaliwang buntal na may kakayahang matapos ang isang laban sa isang iglap.

Watch Pacquiao vs Hatton May 2, 2009!

First Superman Comic Sells For $317K

2009-03-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

Wow and who said reading comic books was a waste of time? Collecting comic books seems like a worthwhile investment from where I'm standing. It's a shame I used to have the "Death of Superman" now I think I should probably hunt for it and see if it has some market value.

A rare copy of the first comic book featuring Superman has sold for $317,200 - one of the highest prices ever paid for a comic book, in an Internet auction. The previous owner had bought it secondhand for $0.35, now that's a great deal if I do say so myself.

If he had waited a few more years, this might have reached half a million! But still I have to say this was a good price altogether

Have you seen the new iPod Shuffle?

2009-03-12T05:06:00.000-07:00

Half the size and still less than $100, the iPod shuffle just keeps getting better and better... or is smaller and smaller?

What's cool here is that it stores 4 gigabytes which is equivalent to about a thousand songs. It also has a voice over feature now that tells you which song is playing as well as how much battery you've got left. They're calling it the new Apple virtual DJ - that's quite cool, it should sound like Apple's Mac, he's quite cute.

The new iPod shuffle can do this in 14 different languages too! Beat that! I can barely speak the one that's supposed to be my native tongue. It should though, given that there's no space for a screen since it's now really really tiny. It comes in silver or black which is nice and safe

Banning Barbie. Will it work?

2009-03-05T03:30:00.000-08:00

A West Virginia lawmaker wants to ban Barbie in some lame attempt to "save" kids from the image influence of Barbie

"I just hate the image that we want to give to our kids - that you're beautiful - you're beautiful - you don't have to be smart," West Virginia Delegate Jeff Eldridge says of Barbie.
Well it's too late for that. Fifty years later, Barbie is hotter than ever. Although it's true and sad that sometimes it has to come to those perfect pouty lips, shapely breasts and perfectly proportional figure - but we can't do much anymore. Barbie is Barbie. The brand has withstood the test of time

"Barbie is really a longstanding, and sort of complicated cultural icon and I think there are many ways Barbie could be viewed," Frayda Cohen, a professor of women's studies at the University of Pittsburgh, said.

Parents: Protect Your Kids Online With PG KEY

2009-02-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

Here's a new product that aims to protect kids online. With instances such as cyber-bullying, internet predators and inappropriate social networking becoming more and more rampant online, it gets much more difficult or impossible to prevent filtering what children see unless parents are sitting right beside them. There are many methods to block websites and content, but most of these solutions only address a small part of the problem.

According to a recent study, children and teens spend an average of 3 hours a day on the internet - in an online world where you, as a parent, are mostly excluded. The FBI and parenting experts have been very clear on the subject - parents MUST become more involved and aware of what their kids are doing online.

PG Key plugs into any USB port on the computer in use. Similar to a car key, the key must be inserted in order for the child to "drive" onto the internet.

When PG Key is in the computer, a combination of content filters, activity recording and alert notifications are enabled for the internet session. These features allow parents to enforce the rules they set for their kids' safe computer use.

Such concerns as Key's unique recording feature allows parents to playback any internet session. PG Key puts the "parent in the room" even when they can't be there. It's like breaching your child's privacy. Available for $59.95 at www.PGKEY.com

My question here is, what prevents the child or teen from just unplugging the PG key from the unit?

The Solar Powered Phone by Samsung

2009-02-22T05:43:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting gadget from Samsung with a model made from recycled plastic with a solar panel on the back for charging. Samsung said in a statement its "Blue Earth" solar-powered model had a touch screen and was made from plastic taken from used water bottles. It did not give pricing information or say when the phone would go on sale.

Hotness of Barbie - even at 50

2009-02-15T04:39:00.000-08:00

Did you catch the Barbie Valentine Fashion Show? It was apparently the first ever runway show but also one of the hottest fashion shows around - showcasing the ultimate stereotype for women - the hot sexy leggy blonde!

From this

To this

The Cheapest eBook Reader In The Market

2009-01-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

With Kindle running low on supply to accommodate the orders for the holidays and Sony's reader being quite expensive, some companies have launched their own versions of the eBook reader. Some have called them ugly... yes, but they're dirt cheap and sometimes when the economy is this difficult practicality will have to matter more. Function over form I say!

From Foxit, the company that has brought us that light-weight PDF reader, Foxit is set to launch eSlick. Foxit's eSlick will cost $230 (rising to $260 after the initial promotion) and seems to get the basics right: It has a screen similar to that of the Kindle (6-inch, 600-by-800-pixels) and with it the monster battery life of e-ink displays (Foxit claims 8,000 page turns). The reader also comes with an MP3 player, 128MB internal memory and a 2GB SD card in the box.

You can also play MP3s on the eSlick; it has a headphones port and ships with a set of headphones. Foxit says it anticipates adding wireless, an even better screen, and/or perhaps content syncing in a manner similar to AvantGo at some point in the future.

It's almost the same in most ways only that it has no wireless connection. This is still the edge of Kindle, being connected to Amazon and all. eSlick will need to be docked like an iPod.

Another competitor is MiBook (pronounced "my book"), a book-sized white slab with a 7-inch color screen. Its "books" are memory chips with instructional videos. The MiBook, from Ohio-based startup Photoco Inc., is also considerably cheaper than Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle or Sony Inc.'s Reader, which start at $300.

The list price for the MiBook is $120, but it's available for as little as $75 online, including two books. Extra books are $20 each. It uses a very conventional liquid-crystal display. Since it uses much more power than electronic ink, the MiBook is designed to be used at home, connected to a power supply. It has a fold-out stand, so it can be placed upright on a kitchen counter, and comes with a small remote. But it also has a rechargeable battery, so it can be used untethered.

For Those Watching Out For Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

2008-12-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Nothing much to say here, if you're watching out for Victoria Secret's upcoming fashion show with Adriana Lim, Heide Klum and the rest of the Victoria Secret Angels in skimpy underwear and the sexiest lingerie, here's the latest news and behind-the-scenes gossip brought to you from Victoria Secret

Adriana Lim Models The $5M Victoria Secret Fashion Bra

2008-12-05T15:56:00.002-08:00

Here's a two-in-one special: First we have hottie Adriana Lim, now the new face of Victoria Secret's Miracle Bra. She's 27-year-old Brazilian actress (played a role in Ugly Betty) and model who is just delicious.

Second, we have a five million dollar undergarment - the gem-studded Fantasy Bra. The bra is encrusted with 3,575 dazzling black diamonds, 117 certified one-carat round diamonds and 34 rubies, and nearly 3,900 stunning gems.

Adriana’s new advert comes ahead of preparation for the underwear label’s highly anticipated fashion show, which will also feature fellow ‘angels’ Heidi Klum, Miranda Kerr and Marisa Miller.

You Better Watch Out You Better Not Cry, You Better Not Pout I'm telling you Why... Google Knows What You're Getting This Christmas

2008-12-03T04:24:00.001-08:00

Yes Google has aggregated all the most popular gift searches on the internet and came up with Google Holiday Shopping 2008. It's a little bit cool and a little bit creepy.

Google used its search technology to plot down the season's most wanted gifts by putting together search queries.

Visit the Google Holiday Shopping Page and find Special offers as well from Starbucks, JR.com, Petco.com, Shoebuy.com, Sierra Trading Post, HBO Shope, Jockey.com, Shopecko and hundreds of other stores.

Get discounts on items such as

Guitar Hero World Tour for Wii
Women's North Face Jacket
Digital Picture Frames
Wii Music
Men's Burton Jacket from Surfside Sport
Little Big Planet Play Station 3
Mini Chocolate Fountain (my personal favorite)
Men's Houndstooth Sport coat
Apple 8GB iPod Nano
Gears of War 2 Xbox 360
Falllout for Windows
Women's Leather Jacket

Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from Fisher-Price a top seller for Toys R Us Black Friday

2008-11-28T08:13:00.001-08:00

I've been reading on updates of the Black Friday phenomenon where all these buyers line up for great deals during the Thanksgiving weekend, and I wasn't disappointed. As expected - even with the economic slowdown, consumers still flocked to their trusted wholesale shops to find items on sale.

One thing surprisingly noted on CNN Money today was that one of the first things to go in ToysRus is the $139.99 Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from Fisher-Price, which is far from a cheap toy - if not it's pretty expensive. Parents must be getting ready with Christmas gifts. Taking the sale opportunity of Black Friday to get the best deals just before the holiday season

Here's a short description of Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from the Fisher-Price website

Meet Spike, the dinosaur that kids bring to life at the touch of a button! He walks, he stands on his hind legs, he blinks, his mouth opens and closes, his spikes light up—and you make it happen with the easy-to-use remote control! Spike makes lots of fun sounds, too. He growls, he snorts , he roars and more—he’s Spike the ULTRA DINOSAUR! Spike stands 27” tall. Requires 3 AA alkaline batteries. Rechargeable battery included (9.6 Volt) NiMH—a $25 retail value!

This makes me think, people do have money to spare when they perceive the value of what they are buying to be higher than the actual cost. Marketing and selling even in difficult economic times is still very important. Although it becomes more difficult for people to part with their money - for the right reason at the right time, they will.

Lego expands from Toys to Video Games

2008-11-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

Lego usually partners with upcoming movies so that they launch the action figures or corresponding play sets just as the movie comes out. The advantage is that it piggy backs on the marketing campaign of the movie. The disadvantage is that when the movie hype dies down or when the movie stops showing in the theaters, the revenue from the toys also declines.

But video games have a longer shelf life and so in 2005, Lego expanded on its relationship with Lucas Films (it sells Lego’s brick sets based on Star Wars and Indiana Jones) by partnering with game developer TT Games to create Lego Star Wars: The Video Game, released at the same time as Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

United States Of America 2008 Presidential Election Results - Who Got Which States?

2008-11-05T04:27:00.001-08:00

I don't think I've ever been this engrossed in any election, even one for the Philippines where I live. This has been one fo the best campaign runs. Both candidates were very entertaining. They both stood for something too. It's sad that the US economy is as bad as it is, I do hope the newly elected officials will live up to the standards of a world superpower as America used to be.

Mercedes Benz SCL600 - Drive With No Steering Wheel, No Pedals!

2008-11-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

Here's the new Mercedes Benz SCL600

It's state of the art

The coolest thing about this new Mercedes Benz is that it has no steering wheel and no pedals either. It's driven with a joy stick just like one of those video games

Halloween's Sexiest Costumes

2008-10-31T01:48:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of really sexy skimpy costumes at Costumes Super Center. Whether you want to get dressed as a gangster, sailor, cheerleader or nurse, these costumes that range from $48.99 to $79.99 make anything look sexy - even a bee costume! And they're all at 20% off just right in time for some last-minute Halloween shopping

This 3-piece bad nurse costume includes a black pleated skirt, zipper front corset with boning and hat to make any patient get a fever.

Nothing like a 2-piece Mafia mama costume to heat up the family. This ensemble features a black and silver long zipper front robe and shorts. You should get the hat, leggings and shoes too for the complete look. They're sold separately.

If you'd like to feel the glory of Manny Pacquiao but still retain the hotness factor, get this costume that comes with a stretch gold foil micro fiber bra top, satin skirt with stretch back and stretch multi needle gold lame' waistband, matching hooded robe with "World's Greatest" screen print on front and matching gold foil boxing gloves.

Nothing kinkier than a sailor costume. This double layer mini dress, with a removable collar and a sailor hat.

This fabulous bee costume features a three piece set that includes a fully reversible Bumble Bee/Lady Bug stretch knit dress with removable clear shoulder straps and tutu hem detail, antennae headband and wings. You know it's a good costume when a bee can be this attractive!

A Mouse You Can Wear On Your Finger

2008-10-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

The computer has changed a lot over time and it has gotten as small and personal as people needed it to be. The mouse though hasn't changed much. Although there have been advancements in terms of the touch screen that makes the mouse virtually useless.

Here's a new twist on our old mouse though, the Magic mouse is a computer mouse worn on the finge rlike a ring. The electronics in the prototype fit in a space one inch square and weigh less than 10 grams. The band of the ring is a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that can power the transmitter continuously for over two weeks.

Designed by a team of five WPI undergraduates, is one of 10 inventions honored with the inaugural PopSci Invention Awards, it is quite cool. According to their website,

Users can move the cursor about the screen simply by pointing and moving their index finger. Zooming is achieved by moving the hand nearer to or farther from the screen. Since both actions can be done simultaneously, the mouse makes it possible to work easily in three dimensions to pan and zoom through 3D maps, for example, or manipulate objects in computer-aided design (CAD) drawing packages. The mouse could also make game play more realistic and interactive, much as the novel 3D remote on the new Nintendo Wii game console has done. For more routine applications, like word processing and web surfing, the WPI students note that controlling a computer with hand gestures should make computer use more intuitive and less intimidating.

I'm not particularly interested, the mouse isn't really that big of a deal to me. Improvement on the keyboard would be much more appreciated

Buy Your Celebrity Dolls Now! Shockingly Lifelike Dolls Of Angelina Jolie and Daniel Craig

2008-10-05T06:23:00.000-07:00

Noel Cruz has become such a sensation recently for her Angelina Jolie Dolls that fetched more than three thousand dollars on eBay. The features are amazingly alike and beautiful. If you don't know Noel Cruz, he's a Filipino artist based in America who makes these celebrity dolls that are just precious. They come with wigs. Clothing is usually sold separately and so are additional details like Angelina Jolie's tattoos for instance, they would have an add-on cost

These dolls usually go on auction from Noel Cruz and start as low as $15.00, but they're so good they usually fetch no lower than $600! The Angelina dolls apparently sold for thousands. Another one was purchased for two thousand pounds.

Here are some of his other dolls - Nicole Kidman, Orlando Bloom and Daniel Craig

Top 3 Sexiest School Girl Costumes For Her

2008-09-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a sexy school girl costume if that's your type. I'm not fond of the black stockings and jacket, but if you are it's available on Buy Costumes for $38.99

A lighter version of this school girl costume, with pink and white highlights. I like that way it accents the neck without showing too much chest. This school girl costume can be found on eBay for $32.97

This third and final school girl costume might just be the winner for most guys out there. It comes with a nice blazer to complement the skirt. This outfit is available in Costume Hub for only $55.99

Sony -- DSC-T77, world's thinnest digital camera

2008-08-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

There has been a lot of buzz about the Sony DSC-T77, claiming that Sony's new launch is just about the world's thinnest digital camera with optical image stabilization as part of its Cyber shot T series. Just the right size for the palm of your hand, it only weighs 151 grams. It also features

10.2MP resolution
Carl Zeiss Barrio TESSA lens
4x optical zoom
3 inch screen
ISO3200 max. sensitivity
Sony's Smile Shutter technology
15MB internal memory
anti-blink, red-eye reduction technologies
HD AV output

Sony DSC-T77 will be sold in black, silver, green, pink, and brown starting on September 5th for $299

A Shower Head That Tells You If The Water Is Hot Or Cold

2008-07-25T05:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a really cool item I found on Perpetualkid.com. It's a shower head that lights up to let you know if the water is hot or cold. When you turn it on, a blue light emanates from the shower head. But once the water's temperature reaches 89 degrees F/ 32 degrees Celsius - LED lights change from blue to red. Now that's cool!

Plus you won't need batteries because there's a internal turbine that generates the power for the LED light when water flows through it

Available now from Perpetualkid.com for only $39.99

Get Your New Xbox 360 At $50 Discount - Xbox 360 Cuts Prices From $349 to $299

2008-07-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

There have been reports going around that price of the Xbox 360 Pro (Premium) console – Microsoft’s volume system – will drop by $50 from $349.99 to $299.99, and I guess it's true! On Best buy, KMart and GameStop - people have been posting the reduced prices all over. All this begins today! July 13 Sunday. The $450 Elite system though will remain at the same price.

Two possible reasons for the price cut may be

Competition - it can't be helped Wii and PlayStation is just kicking ass! The innovation and marketing may just be too much for Microsoft to handle, a price cut might give them a spike in terms of sales.
Lower costs - production costs have said to go down recently, enabling them to lower selling price as well. This was also the supposed reason for Apple price cut some months ago

Whichever is accurate, for sure consumers will gain from being able to purchase the Xbox console at the discounted rate. So get your own Xbox 360 today

Kodak EASYSHARE Z1015 IS Digital Camera With 10 Megapixel Shooter

2008-07-12T22:02:00.000-07:00

The new Kodak EASYSHARE Z1015 IS Digital Camera allows you to zoom on far away images to take the perfect picture. Available in September for $349.95 -- Here are some of its features

15X SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON Optical Zoom Lens with image stabilization with image stabilization, automatic adjustment of camera settings based upon a scene and an ISO setting of up to 6,400. That's a 10-megapixel shooter.

Other features of this new Kodak Z-Series digital camera include a “click-to-capture” speed of less than 0.22 seconds and advanced settings such as program, aperture and shutter priority, as well as full manual mode (PASM).

28 mm wide-angle lens
Smart Capture feature
Best-in-class* click-to-capture speed (<>
High ISO (up to 6400**)
HD pictures and videos and optional KODAK EASYSHARE HDTV Dock

You Can Now Charge Your Cell Phone By Dancing

2008-07-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

A company called Orange announced today that they have made a mobile phone charger prototype that is powered by dance energy. The ultimate in go green strategies has arrived. I do admire what they've done. In this day and age when gasoline and oil prices are just soaring. Alternative power sources are truly a dire need.

The Dance Charge prototype weighs only 180grams and measures 4¼” x 2½”, approximately the same size as a pack of cards and the same weight as a mobile phone. The Dance Charge unit comes encased in an elasticated, black, neoprene strap with Velcro attachments which is attached over the wearer’s bicep in a similar fashion to a runner’s arm-mounted mp3 player according to the press release

As users move their arms along with the music, a specially designed system of weights and magnets creates an electrical current that gets stored as charge in a reserve battery. That energy can then be used to recharge a mobile phone. Reportedly, Orange tested the Dance Charge out at Glasto by employing a "Dance Charging Man" at the festival who was on duty to dance (for free) with those in need of some recharging.

MacBook Air Prices Discounted by $500!

2008-07-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Although the base model for Macbook Air with a slower processor and a traditional optical disk drive instead of the solid state drive, remains $1,799 - to everyone's surprise the high-end version supermodel-thin MacBook Air laptop is now, to $2,598 from $3,098. That $500 is about 16% off the retail price! Great for bargain hunters looking to buy a Macbook

And why is the sudden $500 discount on the high-end Macbook just 6 months after its release? Well according to Apple spokesperson Bill Evans, apparently the options to upgrade a MacBook Air to a faster Core 2 Duo processor and a 64 gigabyte solid-state drive are now more affordable. Falling NAND flash memory prices is certainly benefiting customers then or maybe Apple just wants to sell more of their units - who knows.

Apply did right by their already loyal customers though, those who purchased the unit at full price will actually get a $500 refund! Isn't the just nice? I truly appreciate a company who wouldn't rip people off like that. That's absolutely outstanding of Apple.

I personally think a Macbook is sexy. But I went with Lenovo on my unit, because I thought the Mac was too expensive for me and my usage.

Diablo III Is Out!

2008-06-29T05:49:00.000-07:00

I've tried playing Warcraft and Counter Strike, but no other game has endeared to me more than Diablo. I think it's the super power theme and the cool animation combined that makes it such a fun game to play - for a girl anyway.

The website is up and there's a cinematic release as well as a game player view. Learn about the world of Diablo or read about the characters in play

One way or another, although it's not really finished yet, I bet it will be one fun game to play. I can't wait for the formal release. In the meantime, visit the Diablo III website on Blizzard.com

MOTOZINE ZN5 - Motorola's First Kodak 5-megapixel Camera Phone

2008-06-24T05:44:00.000-07:00

In partnership with Kodak, Motorola just unveiled its first 5-megapixel camera phone, the MOTOZINE ZN5.

The camera auto-focuses faster than other camera phones. Special algorithms reduce noise, and Kodak's "Perfect Touch" software fixes exposure problems. A special playback button on the keypad lights up in camera mode, giving you one-touch access to reviewing your images. You can also upload them to the Net with one button press, or play them on a TV through the TV-out jack.

Here are some of the Motozine ZN5 feature:

dimensions are 4.7" x 2" x 0.63"
4 ounces
music and video players
3.5-mm headset jack
FM radio
Bluetooth stereo audio

Here are some qualities of the camera phone. Of course being partners with Kodak does have its advantages:

panorama mode that automatically takes shots and stitches them together as you move the camera sideways with your hand
320x240 movie-recording mode
350MB of onboard memory, or on a MicroSD card up to 4GB in size
no optical zoom because the optics involved are too fragile and expensive for this initial product

Newest PDA Phone In the Market: Samsung Instinct

2008-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Very similar to the iPhone - it actually looks and feels like an Apple iPhone, Samsung's Instinct is the spitting image of iPhone, I'm the one worried about patent issues and stuff like that. It has a touch-screen interface, wireless internet, multimedia functions, bluetooth, camera, camcorder, expandable memory, GPS, email and web browsing, with other features that may put it just a short step above Apple's iPhone.

Instinct also comes with first-rate voice-command features. Simply press the voice-input ('Speech to Action') button on the right side, and you can initiate calls or text messages to contacts in your address book, or launch key applications.

Nokia Launches Nokia 6205 "The Dark Knight" Edition

2008-06-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

Nokia just issued a press release of the Nokia 6205 "The Dark Knight" edition has a generous set of features designed to enhance the mobile lifestyle. Touch sensitive external music keys make it simple to access tracks purchased from Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music service, while the crisp two-inch display that supports up to 262,000 colors, makes watching news, sports and entertainment content from V CAST Video entertaining. In addition, the Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition includes:

1.3 megapixel camera with flash and 4x digital zoom
58 MB internal memory expandable up to an additional 4 GB with an optional microSD memory card
Support for text, picture and video messaging
Get It Now® capable for downloading games, ringtones, wallpapers and other mobile content
VZ NavigatorSM-compatible for audible turn-by-turn directions and location information
Mobile Web for access to the latest news, sports, weather and more
Voice dialing and voice commands for touch free phone operation
Built-in speakerphone
Bluetooth-enabled for Wireless Headset Support

The Nokia 6205 The Dark Knight edition will be available online for $69.99 after a $50 online instant rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Following the premiere release of The Dark Knight edition, the standard edition of the Nokia 6205 phone - containing all of the same features and a striking metallic blue and silver color scheme - will be available both online and at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores next month.

Voodoo Envy 133 laptop

2008-06-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

Voodoo Envy 133 laptop weighing less than 3 1/2 pounds sits on the red corner to battle Apple's MacBook Air. Being only half an inch thick I think makes it a worthy contender with carbon fiber shell. Hewlett Packard (HP) I guess has been trying to be more competitive in this market

Highlights:

133 stands for 13.3” display
0.7” thick
Carbon Fiber casing
WiFi N (100+ Mbps)
Starts at $2099

Even At This Day Ang Age With Prices Going Up - The Rich Still Want Their Luxury Yachts

2008-05-31T23:38:00.000-07:00

Yes even with gas prices so high and people starving in different parts of the world, the filthy rich still want the ultimate status symbol - the luxury yacht. Luxury goods are seeing double digit growth in revenue numbers year on year specially as the wealthy in new markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East set sail.

"If we talk about boats of 45-80 meters, we're taking orders for 2012 to 2013. It's a segment that's going very well," said Cannatelli, who keeps a Riva yacht in Tuscany and also likes to sail in the Caribbean and the Seychelles.

In the business year that ended on August 31, 2007, revenues grew 21 percent to 933 million euros. Core profit came in at 158 million euros.

LayAway Payments For Online Products With eLayAway Automatic Payments

2008-05-29T19:00:00.000-07:00

Wondering how you'll ever finish paying that anniversary gift or holiday you've been planning for the longest time?

A new alternative payment option is presented by new-comer eLayaway™ that aims to make the process convenient through shopper-defined automatic payments. Also more efficient by allowing the merchant to define the terms, including which items to make available through eLayaway.

eLayaway™ allows you to buy the products and services that you want by paying for them through manageable monthly payments that you set.

Your order can be broken down over 3 to 13 monthly payments. These are automatically deducted from your checking account and you will receive your order once its paid in full.
So the requirement her of course is a valid checking account

They even have this cool calculator that lets you see what your monthly payments will be for a specific amount. You even get to set the payment schedules. It's so cool. There's a fixed 1.9% fee for the service, but would be worth it I think compared to a credit card

Do You Want A $10 "Anti-iPhone" Disposable Cell Phone?

2008-05-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

Hop-on just released a $10 pre-paid cell phone. I was pretty interested when I heard about it because that is dirt cheap, imagine paying only $10 for a cell phone and having talk time of up to 4 hours and a standby time of 150 hours - that's decent if I do say so myself. It's dual band as well. Plus although the phone is considered disposable, the company Hop-on is offering a $5 rebate for returning the phone to encourage recycling the phone to “Keep it Green”.

It actually looks like a pretty good product until I started to do some research. And I found this on Techdirt

Hop-On's "disposable phones" were really Nokia phones with their own plastic casing put around them. At first Hop-On tried to get around this, but finally admitted that they were repackaging the Nokias - but just for the prototypes. Their "real" phones would show up soon enough. Hop-On also has some legal problems. A few years ago they were associated with a venture that was charged with "fleecing investors out of as much as $20 million". The company also recently lost their corporate status for not filing a tax return for the past two years.

That's quite scary. Their phones still look good, but now I doubt the credibility. But I do still think it may be worth a shot if you've got an extra $10 to burn. The phone is available now “to retailers such as drug and convenience stores, big box retailers and to businesses looking for a unique branding opportunity,” so you may see this around town if you haven’t already.

Napster's New MP3 Store FREE For 7-Days Plus Get A Chance To Win A Zen V MP3 Player

2008-05-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Well Napster has just joined the association against Apple iTunes when it opened the world's biggest MP3 download store with more than 6 million songs last Tuesday

What makes this idea brilliant is that the music store is web-based (http://free.napster.com/) and has digital songs from all major music labels as well as thousands of independent labels.

The MP3-format songs will be compatible with the vast majority of digital media devices and mobile phones including Apple's popular iPod as well as its iPhone according to Reuters

Most songs on the service will be available for 99 cents each and $9.95 an album.

Napster's special promotion for the Zen V MP3 Player is right here too if you want to win just join in!

New Jawbone Bluetooth Headset

2008-05-17T05:24:00.000-07:00

The new Jawbone is slicker, lighter, and more comfortable to wear, all the while retaining the two best virtues of the original: amazing noise suppression and great sound quality. The Noise Assassination technology actually works - it cancels out noise from the outside

Jawbone's NoiseAssassin offers a patented Voice Activity Sensor (VAS). The Jawbone headset uses the VAS to distinguish the sound of your voice from ambient noise and then uses proprietary Digital Signal Processing (DSP) algorithms to subtract the noise so only the sound of your voice comes through.

NoiseAssassin was originally developed by Aliph for DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), which creates and delivers technology for the U.S. military.

It's 50 percent smaller than the original Jawbone and features noise-elimination technology that promises better voice quality. The new headset is available exclusively at AT&T retail stores and at Jawbone.com.

Jawbone comes in matte black, with silver and gold versions planned. So it'll come out just like an earring. Talk about being fashion conscious!

The new Jawbone is designed to look and feel like an accessory along the lines of jewelry and eyewear. It offers a customized fit with three sizes of earbuds and four ear loops that can be worn on either ear -- two sizes of soft, stitched leather ear loops and two sizes of slim ear loops, ideal for use with eyeglasses according to NewsFactor.com

Apparently the only down-side is that it has poor battery life. But other than that it's being called an essential lifestyle accessory. It sells for $129.99 in matte black. Silver and rose-gold colors will soon be added.

Buy your very own right here - Jawbone.com

Watch HBO movies on your Apple iPod

2008-05-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

HBO episodes from "Sex and the City," "The Wire" and "Flight of the Conchords" will cost $1.99 per episode, the iTunes standard price for individual TV shows. But other shows - "The Sopranos," "Deadwood" and " Rome " - will command premium prices of $2.99 per episode.

The iTunes store, which offers downloads of 800 TV shows, has so far sold 150 million episodes.

Visit the Apple iTune store now

Boom Blox! Steven Speilberg's Genius Plus Electronic Arts Equals One Gret Game!

2008-05-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, Boom Blox was officially launched in a partnership with Steven Spielberg. Boom Blox can be played on Nintendo's Wii and on major carriers' mobile phones.Boom Blox will task players with navigating nearly 400 levels of "strategic destruction."

In addition, players will be able to use the game's editor to craft their own levels. The best part of this sounds like it will be the way the editor lets players take existing levels and elements from the game--props, characters, blocks, etc.--and incorporate them into all-new levels.

Essentially, Boom Blox is a strategy game that confronts players with no end of puzzles and challenges, all of which they can solve in single-player or multiplayer modes.

The game will cost $50.

Can't Think Of Anything To Get Your Mom This Mother's Day? Try This Pearl Bracelet, It's Timeless And Doesn't Look Cheap

2008-05-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's so hard to buy something for you mother. They either have everything or are too picky to begin with. It would be embarrassing to get her something cheap but it would also drain your bank account to buy something expensive. So what will it be?

Try this pearl bracelet. It's got 2 strands of freshwater cultured pearls and a (sentimental) sterling silver double heart clasp. It works with both office and evening attire, and costs just $55 available on Blue nile

Give Your Mom A Trench Coat For Mother's Day

2008-04-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a great mother's day present for the stylish woman in your mom. The trench coat is practical and stylish. It keeps mom from the elements while keeping your bank account in tact.

Michael Michael Kors presents stylish outerwear that's simple enough to be worn every day and chic enough to keep the cloudy days away. Bluefly Specs are as follows

Color: Black
Lightweight water resistant cotton blend
Double breasted six button front with wide lapel
Front welt pockets and buckle straps at cuff
Button shoulder epaulets and button flap at back
Stitched belt with silvertone single prong buckle
Fully lined in black sateen
True to size fit
37'' from base of back collar to hem, 24'' sleeve length from top shoulder seam
Approximate measurements taken from a size S/P, and may vary by size

Available on Bluefly for only $120.00

Van Der Led WM2 mobile phone watch

2008-04-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Van Der Led WM2 mobile phone watch has

1.3-inch 260k color touchscreen display
Stereo Bluetooth
240 hours standby
300 minutes talk time
1GB of memory
quad-band (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) watch phone

The keypad embedded in the wrist-strap is a little worrying for those of us that like to geek-out on the down-low, but the rest of the Van Der Led WM2 is quite striking and sleek in black

Details via Intomobile.com

If I Buy This Necklace, It won't Be For The Actual Product But Because Of The Model - Hot Momma!

2008-04-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

This product didn't really attract me as anything special. It's a necklace 15.5" long including chain and clasp - big deal right? Well look at the model! She has 2 big deals in fact! I was looking for a mother's day gift and this is what jumped up at me. Wow!

Anyway if you can still see it, there's a rhinestone drop 6" long. with an Austrian crystal on titanium post.

This beautiful necklace though would still be great as a gift for mother's day. It's available on Amazon for only $14.26

Nikon Launches Three New Digital Cameras - Pictures Here!

2008-04-12T23:54:00.001-07:00

Nikon on Thursday introduced three new models to its Coolpix digital camera line. The P80 will be released in April for US$399.95. The S52 and S52c are coming in May for $249.95 and $299.95, respectively according to PC World

The P80 is a 10.1 megapixel model featuring an 18x optical zoom lens that offers a 27 - 486mm focal length (35mm equivalent). It also features optical vibration reduction. Other features include an all-new Sports Continuous Mode, which lets you shoot up to 30 consecutive pictures at four, six or 13 frames per second (depending on resolution). It has light sensitivity up to ISO 6400 and a 2.7-inch LCD monitor with anti-reflective coating and 230,000 pixel resolution.

The S52 and S52c both sport 9.0 megapixel sensors, 3x 38-114mm zoom lenses, optical vibration reduction and ISO 3200 sensitivity. They also have 3.0 inch LCD displays and use Nikon's "Expeed" image processing, which the company claims reduces noise in images.

The S52c can send images through e-mail using a built-in Wi-Fi connection and supports Nikon's "My Picturetown" online service and Flickr. The S52 uses USB 2.0 to connect to a host Mac or PC, instead. The S52 will be available in red or black; the S52c will come in black only.

Check them out for yourself on Nikon's website right her e.

Get Your Mom A Gucci Watch For Mother's Day

2008-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Pretty in Gucci... described in Amazon.com as a new, highly stylized women's bamboo bangle watch is ultra-chic, sophisticated and at the fashion forefront. Modern, contemporary lines offer a stylish blend of lustrous steel and bamboo. Highly polished steel case is accented by dramatic arched shaped lugs.

Case is presented on the pink finshed, wood bamboo bangle bracelet. Integrated polished steel bezel frames the fluted white dial with silver colored hands. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Bangle bracelet has a jewelry clasp with the engraved Gucci logo. Water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet). Precise Swiss Quartz movement. Case is 17mm wide and 6mm thick.

This is truly something special to splurge on for your mom! She deserves the best you know! Only $344 on Amazon.com!

HP's New $499 Mini Notebook Out Now!

2008-04-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice review from PC World's Glen Fleishman

HP announced a $499 laptop today targeted at the education market. The HP 2133 Mini-Note PC seems remarkably underfeatured to me for the price: it has no DVD or even CD drive; no hard drive (a 4 GB flash module is included); an 8.9-inch display; just 512 MB of RAM, and the Linux operating system (SuSE Enterprise Desktop 10). What gives?

It's all about the weight, durability, and market segment. I could go and buy a Dell Inspiron 1525 for $499 and get Windows Vista Home Basic, a CD burner/DVD writer, 2 GB RAM, an 80 GB hard drive, and 15.4-inch screen, among other features.

When I drill into the details, too, I find a lot about the HP model that's particular to this market as well. It's got a sudden-motion sensor for drive safety built into the models with hard drives that start at $549; Dell offers that only as a $150 capacity/feature upgrade on the 1525. The small screen is WXGA--least 1,280 by 768 pixels, which means images and video should be crisp, not blocky. A built-in VGA camera on the HP 2133 costs $25 more to add to the Dell unit.

But the biggest tradeoff is weight and size: the Dell starts at 5.9 lbs (2.7 kg); the Mini-Note PC, just 2.8 lbs (1.3 kg). For students and staff alike, that's a lot less to carry, and may be a big part of its appeal, just like Apple's somewhat less-than-fully-equipped MacBook Air that sheds 2 to 3 pounds off similar devices from Apple and other makers.

The Mini-Note PC is quite small, too, measuring 10 by 6.5 by 1 inches (25.5 by 16.5 by 2.7 cm) to the Dell Inspiron 1525's wedge of 14 by 10 inches (36 by 26 cm), with depth tapering from 1.5 to 1 inches (3.7 cm to 2.5 cm).

For a little more, you can get something like a "regular" laptop: $599 gets you Windows Vista Home Basic, 1 GB of RAM, and a 120 GB hard drive, as well as 802.11a/g networking instead of the plain 802.11g found in both the Dell and Mini-Note.

It seems that for an increasing number of users, less may be much more.

Get Your Own Diamond Thong For 61 Thousand Pounds! Triumph's Luxurious 30 Carat Diamond Thong

2008-04-06T05:31:00.001-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, here's the ultimate luxury item in lingerie from Triumph -- the Triumph Luxurious Diamond Thong with 518 brilliant-cut diamonds (WOW!)

A diamond thong worth S$168,000 (61,000 pounds) was the highlight of a lingerie fashion show in Singapore on Thursday.

The Triumph Luxurious Diamond Thong had 518 brilliant-cut diamonds, totalling 30 carats, studded into the front of a black lace thong in a floral pattern. The skimpy underwear that left little to the imagination also had 27 white gold tassels hanging off it.

Danielle Luminita, a brunette model from Romania, was carried down the runway on the shoulders of two male models wearing only the diamond thong.

"It is very comfortable, it's not heavy or scratchy or anything," Luminita told Reuters backstage.

A spokeswoman for Triumph International, the lingerie company that commissioned the thong, said that the thong would be dry cleaned before going on display.

"It's a signature piece, obviously we aren't going to sell it," she said.

From Reuters via Yahoo News

The Next iPhone Challenger -- Samsung's Instinct

2008-04-02T06:29:00.000-07:00

There's a new line to challenge the touch-screen iPhone competitor from Sprint and Samsung called Instinct according to ZDNet-- this apparently from Gizmodo

Announced at CTIA, the 3.1-inch touchscreen Instinct has a few things that iPhone doesn’t, namely localized haptic feedback, EV-DO Rev A, GPS, microSD slot, and three (count ‘em) hard navigation keys.

There’s also voice activation, Sprint TV (live and on-demand programming) and Pocket Express, which gives up-to-date information on sports, weather, news, movie times and other customized options based on the user’s zip code.

Instinct measures 2.17 inches by 4.57 inches by 0.49 inches, weighs under 4.5 ounces and will be available in June.

via ZDNET

Earphones With Style - Gold Plated Earphones With Swarovski

2008-03-30T04:54:00.000-07:00

Not your ordinary ear pieces, these ear phones are powerful 9mm neodymium drivers with comfortable Soft-fit Silicone Ear Tips in a Compact Earphone Design and are embellished with Gold-plated plug for superior sound transfer

MUZX Series earphones were created especially for women to provide them with the ultimate in comfort, fit and style. After all, you have higher expectations when it comes to fashion, and Altec Lansing delivers with the MHP206 earphones. They feature sparkling, precision-cut Crystallized Swarovski elements: jeweled flowers on the earbuds and a stunning butterfly on the choker. What’s more, the MHP206 earphones are beautiful to listen to. Their snug-fit design provides passive noise reduction and great Sound at lower listening levels. So now every time you listen to music, it can be an elegant, luxurious occasion! A true expression of who you really are.

Available on JR.com for only $34.99

Game Traveler Brunswick Travel Bag - Take Your Game Anywhere!

2008-03-30T04:50:00.000-07:00

For the avid gamer who also wants to travel, take along your game consoles and remote with this Game Traveler Brunswick Travel Bag that can carry a Nintendo Wii console, games, Wii Remote, Nunchuk controller, sensor bar and AC adapter. You'll be thankful for the full padding that gives you maximum protection as you transport your Wii and related items.

The zippered bottom section easily holds a Wii console and an A/V cable. Inside pockets are designed to hold all of your other Wii accessories. There is even a separate mesh pocket especially for the sensor bar.

Product Features

Capable of carrying a Nintendo Wii console, games, Wii Remote, Nunchuk controller, sensor bar and AC adapter (not included)
Fully padded to keep your gaming equipment safe
Provides useful inside pockets, including a separate mesh pocket for sensor bar (not included)

Available on Best Buy for only $44.99

Dash Express - GPS Dash Navigation For Your Car

2008-03-28T00:38:00.000-07:00

One of the most eagerly anticipated aftermarket car tech gadgets at this year's CES is the Dash Express from Dash Navigation. Dash Express is the first portable navigation system to have built-in two-way connectivity (cellular and Wi-Fi), giving drivers access to a whole new world of information via the Internet and the network of other Dash-connected users.

The system display real-time traffic data, which comes from the network of other Dash drivers, while Web connectivity gives drivers a points-of-interest database served up by Yahoo Local, with whom Dash announced a partnership last week. Here are some of the major functions of the Dash Express:

Dash Network Traffic: The Dash Express takes a two-pronged approach to traffic information. First, the system comes preprogrammed with historical traffic flow data for all major roads, so it has an idea of what the road conditions are like in the area during all times. The real-time traffic data comes from the network of other Dash drivers out there who anonymously report their traffic conditions to other devices in the area. With this information, Dash Express can select the best of three recommended routes.

Destination Search: Sure, all in-car GPS navigation devices today have a points-of-interest (POI) database, but the advantage of the Dash Express system is that you have access to all the resources of the World Wide Web. You're not limited to just what's preloaded on the device, so you can input a generic or specific term such as "surfboards," and you'll get a list of shops in the area that sell surfboards. Plus, the Dash service will also be able return up-to-date information, such as movie times or the gas prices at all the gas stations.

Send to Car: With this feature, you can send an address from your computer's Web browser or Microsoft Outlook, eliminating the need to manually enter addresses on the device.

In addition to these functions, you get all the standard navigation features, such as turn-by-turn directions including text and voice guidance (no text-to-speech functionality in the first iteration), and as a bonus, all map and POI updates are done automatically and over the air, so you don't have to do a thing. Dash Express will be available in March, and we hear that it will be priced "competitively with other high-end navigation systems," which means that it will likely be in the $600 to $800 range.

via CNET

Summer Shades By Jimmy Choo

2008-03-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought sunglasses couldn't get any bigger or any more over-the-top, leave it to Jimmy Choo to come out with a glam version with almost goggle-like proportions.

It's no wonder that these face obscuring glasses are being worn by Jennifer Lopez - they're perfect for remaining incognito (if that's even possible anymore for someone like J. Lo).

The new sunglasses - the "Boo" - are a part of the latest addition to the Jimmy Choo accessories empire, a full sunglass and eyewear collection created with Safilo Group (who also just produced frames for Balenciaga) that launched this March.

Inspired by oversize frames from the '70s and '80s like Linda Farrow, they're perfectly in keeping with the Jimmy Choo vibe of fame and fabulousness, being one of Hollywood's favorite labels for completing a red carpet look. Other fans include Jessica Alba and Kerry Washington.

Best-seller the "Rock" - Sharon Stone wears them - comes embellished with a huge Swarovski crystal on the side of the frame, in black, topaz or rosy pink. Retailing at $430, it's the most expensive pair in the collection.

All pairs come in a slick metallic case that doubles as a clutch bag. So really, it's like getting two accessories for the price of one.

via Yahoo News

Interested In A FootBall Urn?

2008-03-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

Vienna's leading funeral company, steeped in tradition, is moving with the times: the bereaved can have their loved one back in a cremation urn in the shape of a football, from AP via Yahoo News.

The black and white urn joins more conservative containers in sombre and art-deco designs in the range offered by Bestattung Wien just as Austria prepares to co-host the Euro 2008 soccer championship.

"We are doing this as it is European Championship year," said Wittigo Keller, curator of the funeral company's museum. No one has yet ordered the 362 euro (281.57 pounds) urn, which has been available for two weeks. Maybe they should market more to soccer enthusiasts?

FREE US$50 gift cards For HD DVD Buyers! Find Out How To Claim It Here.

2008-03-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

Best Buy said Wednesday it will offer US$50 gift cards for FREE to U.S. consumers who bought HD DVD players and accessories, a month after the retailer abandoned HD DVD to push the rival format, Blu-ray Disc.

As noted by this IT World article, the gift card will be available starting March 21 to consumers who bought HD DVD players or accessories before Feb. 23, Best Buy said. The gift card can be used to make in-store or online purchases from the retailer.

Best Buy expects to distribute more than $10 million in gift cards to U.S. customers, the company said.

The offer comes after Toshiba and movie studios abandoned the HD DVD format, conceding to Sony's Blu-Ray Disc format. Video rental companies like Netflix and Blockbuster and major electronics vendors including Wal-Mart and Circuit City have already abandoned HD DVD, expressing preference to distribute Blu-ray Disc products.

"The DVD format war has divided our customers in a way we haven't seen since Betamax took on VHS more than 20 years ago," said Brian J. Dunn, president and chief operating officer for Best Buy, in a statement.

Best Buy will mail cards to customers that purchased HD DVD players, the company said. The company may not be able to identify all customers, but a user can call Best Buy with a proof of purchase.

Owners of Toshiba HD DVD player models including the HD-A1, HD-A2, HD-A20, HD-XA2, HD-A3, HD-A30 and HD-A35 qualify for the offer. Users who purchased the Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD player accessory model 9Z5-00013 also qualify for the offer, according to Best Buy.

The offer does not extend to HD DVD-equipped computers and laptops, or "the so-called 'dual-format' or 'universal' high-definition disc player models designed to play both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD media," Best Buy said.

Newest Smart phone -- BlackBerry Pearl 8120

2008-03-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

Information Week just posted that AT&T on Friday said it has combined business-grade communication and multimedia functionality, with built-in Wi-Fi access as a kicker for its latest BlackBerry smartphone

The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 features the usual e-mail and messaging capabilities, including a SureType keyboard enhanced with word completion, built-in spell-checker, and user-customized dictionary. The new smartphone can also handle simultaneous voice and data access when connected to a Wi-Fi network, AT&T said. The new Pearl can connect to Wi-Fi 802.11b/g networks.

The phone's display has 240-by-260 pixel resolution that supports more than 65,000 colors. The phone is also equipped with a 2-megapixel camera with video recorder, media player, 3.5-mm stereo headset jack, and an externally accessible MicroSD/SDHC memory slot for additional storage. It's built with Bluetooth 2.0 support to work with headsets, car kits, stereo headsets, and other Bluetooth accessories, the carrier said.

AT&T also touted the globetrotting features of the new Pearl handset. The smartphone can keep users who are abroad connected with wireless e-mail, Internet access, and other mobile applications in more than 145 countries, AT&T claimed. Users can make or receive voice calls in more than 200 countries.

The Pearl 8120 is available now for $200 with a two-year contract, unlimited data plan, and $40 voice plan, AT&T said. Customers who want personal e-mail access and Web browsing will pay an additional $30 a month for the BlackBerry Personal Unlimited, with a qualified voice contract. Unlimited corporate e-mail and data access via BlackBerry Enterprise Server are available for as low as $45 a month when a qualified voice plan is also chosen. Customers who travel overseas will need the BlackBerry International Unlimited data plan, starting at $65 a month with a qualified voice plan.

The new phone also supports AT&T Mobile Music subscription services and AT&T unlimited Push to Talk for an additional $10 a month.

2008-03-14T10:53:00.000-07:00

Canon just announced the launching of not one, not two but THREE Digital ELPH point-and-shoots

PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH Camera
PowerShot SD790 IS Digital ELPH Camera
PowerShot SD770 IS Digital ELPH Camera

Integrated Canon technologies such as Motion Detection Technology, Optical Image Stabilization, Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology, and Canon's proprietary DIGIC III imaging processor, along with the inherent style of the ELPH line; make them the ideal accessory for capturing a night out on the town or an intimate social gathering.

"The Canon PowerShot SD890 IS, SD790 IS and SD770 IS Digital ELPH cameras carry on the trend-setting traditions and extend the boundaries of technological ease and the individual sense of style that has always been at the heart of the ELPH line up," states Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "Canon continues to draw upon its 70 years of imaging excellence and photographic expertise to develop new technological advancements, as well as create stylish form factors as seen in the iconic box and circle design of ELPH cameras."

More specifically Canon provides these new models have the following advancements:

Beating The Blur
Among the significant technological advances shared on the new PowerShot SD890 IS, SD790 IS and SD770 IS Digital ELPH cameras is Canon's intelligent anti-blur system. Developed by linking four of Canon's most cutting-edge achievements: Optical Image Stabilization, Motion Detection technology, Hi-ISO Auto and Noise Reduction technology, the result is consistently sharp and clear pictures, even when the shooting conditions and circumstances may not be ideal.

Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology
All three PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras feature the latest and most advanced generation of Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology, thus ensuring that up-to nine forward-looking faces in the frame - whether posed for a family portrait, candidly capturing friends and fun, or spontaneously snapping a toddler's expression of triumphant glee as two halting steps - are in focus and properly exposed, with or without flash. In addition to focus and exposure control, the camera's Face Detection feature captures truer, more accurately lit skin tones (and hence more beautifully rendered pictures) thanks to Canon's improved Face Detection White Balance. There's also a new optional "AF Point Zoom" feature that digitally enlarges the face of the main subject on the camera's LCD screen to make it easy to determine the optimum timing for clicking the shutter to capture the moment.

In-Camera Image Enhancement
Canon Digital ELPH cameras offer an array of in-camera processing features that once required tweaking with computer-based photo software. Now, newly developed Automatic Red Eye Correction can be engaged while shooting, minimizing the need for correction before printing or sharing images.

DIGIC III Imaging Processor
The "brain" in every new Canon digital camera is Canon's proprietary DIGIC III imaging processor. This exclusive chip is responsible for the camera's higher performance levels including faster start up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long lag competitors far behind. What's more, the DIGIC III processor improves both the image quality and the cameras' power consumption, extending the battery life under typical shooting conditions.

In the Boxes
The PowerShot SD890 IS, SD790 IS and SD770 IS Digital ELPH cameras are scheduled to be in stores early April, end of March and mid-April respectively. Each of these new, camera kits include a battery pack and charger, a 32MB SD memory card, a USB interface cable, an AV cable, a wrist strap, and Canon's software suite. Each kit carries an estimated retail price of $399.99,^* $349.99^* and $299.99^* respectively.

First Ever Ruggedized Notebook By Dell

2008-03-05T05:07:00.000-08:00

This laptop is built for rough terrain. The first of its kind. If we have gone through life, pampering our laptops from heat, rain or impact - Dell has revolutionized laptop hardware to withstand all these...

Rugged and Ready

The Latitude XFR D630 is Dell’s first fully ruggedized notebook. Designed for outstanding performance in virtually any environment, the XFR meets strict military standards for extreme conditions, MIL-810F.

Die cast magnesium alloy chassis
Sealed keyboard and door covers
Shock isolated hard drive and display protection
Patent pending thermal management system

The Latitude XFR D630 meets environmental challenges by offering a variety of innovative usability options, including:

Industry's first fully rugged 14.1" wide-aspect LCD with DirectVue(tm) technology
Optional touch screen supports finger, gloved or passive stylus inputs
Next generation performance with Intel^® Core^TM 2 Duo processors

Built on the successful Latitude D family, the Latitude XFR D630 laptop maintains commonality with the Latitude D630 series and offers all of the quality, reliability and support offered by an established platform.

The Full Bottle Wine Glass From Hammacher Schlemmer

2008-02-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

Ideal for all wine lovers out there, here's a hand blown Italian wine glass from Hammacher Schlemmer that can hold an entire bottle of wine. An entertaining way to decant your fine wine. The glass makes a fun gift for wine lovers, or a great way to shock your dinner guests.

Known as The Full Bottle Wine Glass. It's described on the Hammacher Schlemmer website as a favorite gift among our customers, this seamless mouth-blown wine glass from Italy can hold an entire bottle of wine, or serve as an impressive display for olives, candies, or floating candles, and is available only from Hammacher Schlemmer.

Although it holds two liters of liquid, the classically-shaped glass allows users to assure that they, in all honesty, had only one glass of wine. Hand wash. 13 1/4" H x 4 1/4" Diam. (1 1/8 lb.) available on Hammacher Schlemmer for only $24.95

The New Lenovo Ultrathin ThinkPad X300 Laptop To Challenge Apple's MacBook Air

2008-02-26T01:25:00.000-08:00

Lenovo today launched the much-anticipated ThinkPad X300 ultraportable, challenging Apple's MacBook Air (read a Marketing Critic's Review of MacBook Air) as the lightest and thinnest notebook available today, as announced on PCWorld.com

Weighing started at 2.93 pounds. Lenovo claims ThinkPad X300 is more feature-rich than Apple's 3-pound MacBook Air. Lenovo has included three USB drives and an ultrathin DVD burner, while MacBook Air has only one USB drive and no optical drive. With a DVD-RW drive, the X300 weighs 3.13 pounds, Lenovo said.

The laptop measures 0.73 inches at its thinnest point by 0.92 inches at its thickest point, bigger in comparison to MacBook Air, which measures 0.16 inches at its thinnest part and 0.76 inches at its thickest part.

Targeted at business users and consumers, the laptop uses 25 percent less power than previous ThinkPad models with a 64G-byte solid-state storage drive for data storage, a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display and use of a lithium-polymer battery, Lenovo said.

The lithium-polymer chemistry provides better battery life than standard lithium-ion batteries found in most laptops today, said Tom Ribble, director of Thinkpad product marketing at Lenovo. The system supports up to 4G bytes of memory and includes integrated graphics, a digital camera, and wired and wireless networking. It includes both touchpad and trackpoint scrolling capabilities.

The system will come with WiMax capabilities later this year with Intel's updated Centrino platform, according to Lenovo. The buyer may choose that the machine come preloaded either with Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista.
The ThinkPad 300's Processor

The X300 is powered by Intel's Core 2 Duo SL7100 LV low-voltage chip, operating at 1.2GHz. Like the Core 2 Duo processor specially developed for Apple's MacBook Air, Intel shrunk the SL7100 LV processor to make it 60 percent smaller than standard-sized processors belonging to Intel's Merom family. The chip is manufactured using the 65-nanometer process, like other Merom processors.

Although the size is the same, the SL7100 LV chip consumes less power. It uses 12 watts of power, according to processor details provided by Intel. The Core 2 Duo processor for MacBook Air uses 20 watts of power, while operating at 1.6GHz to 1.8GHz. Fujitsu also uses the SL7100 LV chip in its ultraportable LifeBook P8010 laptop, which started shipping in the U.S. this month.

Lenovo has pumped the latest technology into its laptop that both consumers and business users will appreciate, Ribble said.

Prices for the X300 start at $2,799, and it is available through Lenovo's Web site and through retail partners.

(image from Slashgear.com; article via PC World)

Nokia's Luxury Phone

2008-02-24T03:29:00.000-08:00

Nokia's N95, a luxe phone with a silvery front, beige back and two-way sliding top. Everything's in here: MP3 player with stereo speakers, a 5-megapixel camera, DVD-quality video, GPS maps, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, high-speed cellular, spreadsheets, e-mail. It's basically a laptop in your hand. via Forbes.com

MetroNaps - The Travellers Refuse. Eliminating Jet Lag Forever?

2008-02-21T17:46:00.000-08:00

The MetroNaps EnergyPod solves a contemporary problem:

For travellers it gives them a quick and affordable refuge from jet lag while providing a quite place to rest for those waiting for their next flight.
Most work spaces do not offer their employees a place to rejuvenate. The result is that people seek rest in places not intended for it: at their desk, in a conference room, a parked car or even the bathroom.

Based on years of research and thousands of design hours, the MetroNaps EnergyPod is the perfect place to quickly and effectively enhance your energy. Designed to be installed almost anywhere, the EnergyPod is a self-contained productivity device.

Key features include:

Ergonomic Perfection - The contour of the EnergyPod takes pressure off the cardiac system with the elevation of the feet and relaxes the muscles of the back with a slight bend in the knees.
Comfortable Privacy - The EnergyPod’s sphere provides semi-privacy without overly enclosing.
Soothing Sounds - A built-in music player with headphone jack helps eliminate surrounding distractions
Gentle Waking - A timer found in the arm rest prevents overnapping and wakes the user gently with a combination of lights and vibration.

For more information, visit the Metronaps website

The Most Expensive Toilet In History

2008-02-18T05:29:00.000-08:00

Would you believe that one of the most overpriced items in the world is actually a toilet? Yes. A toilet people poo on and pee on. Care of Forbes.com's Most Outrageously Priced Items, here's the most expensive toilet bowl in history - the Toto MS990CGR-12 Neorest Toilet

Toto's sleek and elegant appliances are certainly extravagant. The Neorest toilet has an automatic lid opener, automatic flush and automatic air purifier. It also features a heated seat with a remote control. Retail price: $5,980. For this price, I thought it would be made out of gold or something

No Boyfriend? Try the Boyfriend Pillow!

2008-02-14T18:43:00.001-08:00

Missing your boyfriend this Valentine's Day? Or don't have a boyfriend to share this special occasion with? Here's the solution to your bed time problems. Well... the wholesome solution to your bed time problems anyway.

The Boyfriend Pillow is a soft and pleasurable body pillow that resembles the torso of a big strong man with a comforting arm that cuddles you. Feel his safe and warm embrace while comfortably resting on his chest.

This fun and cozy snuggle pillow is great for people whose partner is away on military leave or work absence. Singles who wants to feel the touch of a man without actually having to have one love it too.

This novelty pillow makes a great gift for a friend or relative with a good sense of humor that would love to have a little more cuddling at night. You will love how this boyfriend arm pillow is so soft and warm, and the way that he wraps around you and holds you all through the night with out saying a word. It is as if he knows exactly what you want.

Available on Amazon.com for only $39.95

Unusual Valentine's Day Gifts

2008-02-11T19:07:00.000-08:00

Instead of the usual flowers and chocolates, here are some unusual Valentine's Day gifts from Amazon.com

Amazon.com Widgets

Jewelry For Your Mr. Or Ms. Right This Valentine's Day? Make Sure They Say "I Love You"

2008-02-08T03:35:00.000-08:00

From Forbes.com's Jewelry that says "I love you" here are some luxurious pieces that might just be right for your Mr. or Ms. Right this Valentine's day. Whether you're looking at getting him/her a ring/ watch or bangles, bangles & bracelets or colored stones. These gems are sure to brighten up your loved-ones Valentine's Day.

Simon G Vanity Fair Ring for $4,750

Despite rising gold prices, yellow and rose gold baubles are back in style. The Vanity Fair ring by Simon G combines white, rose and yellow gold accents with white and canary yellow diamonds. Pricey, yes, but it's versatile; pair with jeans and a white shirt on the weekend or with a silky gown to a black tie event.

For more information, visit www.simongjewelry.com.

Ballon Bleu Cartier Watch (Prices available upon request)

The 18-karat white gold and diamond Cartier Ballon Bleu watch combines masculinity and femininity in one extravagant timepiece. Curved on top and bottom, the case is designed to fit naturally and sit lightly on the wrist. The winding mechanism is decorated with a sapphire cabochon, around which the dial orbits. This blue gem is protected by a metal arch.

For more information, visit www.cartier.com.

Francis Mertens Tanzanite and Diamond Cuffs ($495,000--sold as a pair)

These Francis Mertens titanium tanzanite and diamond cuffs will bring a sparkle to your loved ones' eyes. While they feature 69 total carats of diamonds and 15 carats of tanzanite, you're also paying here for craftsmanship; they took four months to make.

For more information, visit www.francismertens.com.

Harry Winston Pink Diamond Ring (Prices available upon request)

Want to make a statement? There's likely no more gorgeous a gift than this 5.96-carat, cushion-cut, fancy, pink diamond ring set with trapezoid-shaped diamonds in 18-karat rose gold and platinum.

For more information, visit www.harrywinston.com.

(images and descriptions care of Forbes.com)

Introducing the Slanket - Blanket With Sleeves!

2008-02-06T18:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a quaint gift for this coming Valentine's day. If you're keen on snuggling, then this Slanket is just the right thing for you. It's an oversized fleece blanket with loose-fitting sleeves that keeps you warm even when reaching for the remote or indulging in your favorite snack. Easily slip in and out of the sleeves to suit your needs as you stay snug and warm on those long, cold nights. Colors come in Hunter Green, Chocolate, Ruby, Blue, or Pink.

Measures 97" x 58"
100% polyester
Machine wash, tumble dry
Made in China/USA

It's available online through QVC for $29.96

Swarovski Fashion Rocks Headset

2008-01-31T19:07:00.000-08:00

As lifted from Forbes.com's Style Gadgets is probably one of the most extravagant headsets you could find... the Swarovski Fashion Rocks Headset, estimated at $1,963

Luxe gadgetry knows no bounds, as shown by Swarovski's exclusive "Fashion Rocks" 2007 jewelry collection. Released in October, these compact, folding headphones, completely encrusted in amethyst crystals, come with a single-sided, specialized cord for low-loss conductivity and a stereo unimatch plug.

For more information, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.swarovskisparkles.com.

BlackBerry's New Click To Call Feature

2008-01-23T04:49:00.001-08:00

Via PCworld.com, Research in Motion(RIM) relayed one of its new capabilities to be added to the already famous BlackBerry unit, and that's merging voice with instant messaging. Users who run IBM Lotus Sametime or Microsoft Live Communications Server will be able to click on an instant-messaging (IM) contact on the BlackBerry phone in order to call them, or convert an ongoing IM session into a voice call. They will also be able to check whether their colleagues are going to be available before they send out meeting requests. Now that is just cool, combining the features of internet connectivity with the convenience of the telephone.

Many have said that online communication (email, and instant messaging) are missing the personalized touch of traditional means of communication like the phone or the snail mail. However, RIM seeks to introduce unified communications by putting together technologies advantages to provide people with more ways to communicate and interact.

Research in Motion pioneered enterprise handheld connectivity with the BlackBerry's push e-mail system and BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). Competitors have since muscled in on this territory, while RIM has invested in software and devices to expand its appeal to the consumer market. With the new features, the company is looking toward a future in which almost all communication capabilities on the desktop are available on the road through a set of capabilities often called unified communications.

(image from ITreviews.co.uk)

Forbes' Hottest Cars For 2008

2008-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

From Forbes.com, here are some of the hottest vehicles to watch out for in 2008

Hyundai Genesis
On sale early 2009

The Korean carmaker is moving into premium territory with this 3.8-liter V6 with a six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and limited slip differential. It promises to be an affordable 300-horsepower sports car.

BMW 1-Series
On sale this spring

This model slots below the popular 3-series, but still packs a punch. The base BMW 128i comes with a 3.0-liter, 230-horsepower, in-line six-cylinder engine. It starts at $29,375, while the 135i, which has a twin turbo-charged 300-hp engine, will sell for $35,675. Convertible versions of the 1-series--to be revealed for the first time in Detroit--will sell for $33,875 to $39,875.

Subaru Forester
On sale this spring

This is the third-generation of the iconic all-wheel-drive crossover. The new design is bolder and more SUV-like, but engineering improvements allow for a better ride and handling.

Ford F-150
On sale this fall

No vehicle is more important to Ford Motor than the F-series, which is the best-selling vehicle in America. For 2009, it is redesigned with a bolder, brawnier look and new technologies that control stability, even when towing a trailer. The truck comes in a dizzying array of choices: three cab styles, four box options and seven trim levels, including a new Platinum series--35 different configurations in all. Cool features include Sirius Travel Link, which provides real-time traffic and weather, and can even direct you to the service station offering the cheapest gas. Three V-8 options are available, but diesel and Ecoboost gas turbo direct-injected engines won't arrive until 2010.

Honda Pilot
On sale this spring

Honda's car-based SUV is redesigned for 2009, featuring a bolder design and more refined handling, along with more interior space and seating for eight. Safety features include a specially engineered body structure to mitigate crashes with vehicles of all sizes, and a pedestrian safety system that absorbs energy in the event of a collision. Its V6 engine features the latest version of Honda's fuel-saving, variable-cylinder management system, which shuts off half the car's cylinders at highway cruising speeds.

Ultimate Traveller's Gift - De Gualle Briefcase

2008-01-17T20:59:00.000-08:00

In Forbes.com's Gifts for Travellers

I came across this thing of beauty. Made from water-resistant, full-grain leather, the handcrafted De Gualle briefcase from Want Les Essentiels De La Vie can withstand the wear and tear of frequent travel.

With a padded gusset pocket for laptops, one for a passport wallet and another for a cellphone, the briefcase combines traditional style with modern functionality. It's $975 and available through www.southwillard.com

Piaget Polo Chronograph

2008-01-08T03:11:00.000-08:00

From Forbes.com's hottest luxury watches, here's the first self-winding movement in Piaget's 133-year history, this 18-carat pink gold watch boasts a 52-hour power reserve. It will debut at SIHH.

For more information, visit www.piaget.com

Here are more specs from Worldtempus:

Large model
18-carat pink gold case
18-carat pink gold bezel with alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces
Silver-colour dial, applied 18-carat pink gold hour-markers
Manufacture Piaget 880P mechanical self-winding chronograph movement
Hour, minute, small seconds (counter at 6 o’clock), double time zone (24-hour indication at 9 o’clock), flyback chronograph function (30-minute counter at 3 o’clock)
Movement thickness: 5.6 mm
Casing diameter: 12''' (ø 26.80 mm)
Number of jewels: 35
Cadence: 28,800 vph (balance with screws)
Approximately 52-hour power reserve (double barrel)
Sapphire crystal case-back
Bridges bevelled and drawn out with a file
Finishing: circular Côtes de Genève, circular-grained mainplate, blued screws
Brown alligator leather strap
18-carat pink gold folding clasp

Lenovo Set To Challenge HP And Dell In Consumer Notebooks

2008-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

An article from Information Week reports that Lenovo last Thursday officially entered the U.S. consumer notebook market with three products for people willing to spend more than the basic-notebook price in order to get better entertainment features.

The notebooks fall under the new IdeaPad brand, which will be the consumer side of Lenovo's mobile PC business. The Chinese company is best known in the United States for its ThinkPad line of business notebooks.

The IdeaPad Y510, Y710, and U110 models are powered by Intel's dual-core Centrino mobile platform, use facial-recognition technology in combination with a 1.3-megapixel embedded camera for security, and have five Dolby Home Theater speakers. In addition, the notebooks have Wi-Fi support, DVD/CD recordable combo drives, touch-sensitive control surfaces, textured outer cases, and frameless screens. "They look very smooth, sleek, and clean," Craig Merrigan, VP of global consumer marketing for Lenovo, said of the screens.

This new product is meant to go head-to-head with Hewlett-Packard's Pavilion entertainment notebooks and Dell's XPS line. Both combine sleek design with features for playing and organizing music and video, as well as editing and showing photos.

Lenovo is hoping its notebooks' design, VeriFace Face Recognition software, and Dolby Home Theater system will help differentiate them from rivals. The VeriFace software uses the notebooks' embedded camera to recognize a user's face for login, making it unnecessary to remember passwords. "Your face becomes your password," Merrigan said.

The sound system includes four speakers on the top of the machine -- front, top, and each side -- and a subwoofer underneath. The systems also include Lenovo's Multimedia Control Center software, which the company claims makes it easy to play movies, listen to music, and view photos. The notebooks also have touch-sensitive controls for choosing multimedia files and for setting volume and the built-in equalizer.

All I Want For Christmas -- Emme Tall-Shafted Boots From Kohls

2007-12-26T01:16:00.000-08:00

Here's a really sexy pair of boots from Kohl's only$26.99
Trend-setting. Set the fashion bar high with these sleek and stylish tall-shafted boots. In black.

3 1/4-in. heel
Faux-leather upper
Durable outsole

Available at Kohls.com

They're giving away 50-70% on boots

Tales of Beedle the Bard By JK Rowling Purchased by Amazon At $4M

2007-12-18T17:02:00.001-08:00

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is extensively illustrated and handwritten by the bard herself--all 157 pages of it. It's bound in brown Moroccan leather and embellished with five hand-chased hallmarked sterling silver ornaments and mounted moonstones. Only seven copies exist in all the world and each of the never-before-told tales is handwritten and illustrated by J.K. Rowling herself (and it's quite clear from the first few pages that she has some skill as an artist).

For reviews of the stories within check out Amazon's Tales of Beedle the Bard page like:

1. "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot" [CAUTION: SPOILERS WITHIN!]

2. "The Fountain of Fair Fortune" [CAUTION: SPOILERS WITHIN!]

3. "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" [CAUTION: SPOILERS WITHIN!]

4. "Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump" [CAUTION: SPOILERS WITHIN!]

Here are some pictures care of Amazon:

Here's a sample of an inside page hand-written by none other than JK Rowling herself - author and creator of the Harry Potter series

Here it is again in all it's glory - moonstones, sterling silver and Moroccan leather. What do I have to give for a reprint of this book? Doesn't it make you think that if Amazon bought it, they might opt to print it one day? Hmmmm...

Luxury Tequila For The High Class Alcoholic

2007-12-13T23:46:00.001-08:00

For alcohol lovers out there, Partida Tequila Elegante sold at $350 now part of the high end liquor market of premium tequilas. This is an authentic, natural, estate-grown premium Tequila made from 100% blue agave in Amatitan, Mexico. Only less than 1,500 bottles available worldwide, LifeOnTop.com says Partida Tequila Elegante is the perfect gift for the Tequila aficionado.

Each bottle is individually numbered with a silver charm -- an elegant Mexican sterling silver Partida Tequila Spirit Bird necklace, and crystal bottle top. For more information, please visit their website.

(image from Time.com)

Ever Wanted A Jaguar Ring?

2007-12-11T04:39:00.001-08:00

From French jeweler, Inde Mystérieuse, Cartier launched a new collection this year that draws inspiration from India and includes this jaguar ring (price upon request), a daring three-finger piece that plays on the contrast of a tiger's stripes with onyx and yellow diamonds. For more information, visit this article from Biosstar International

(image from Time.com)

Party In These Hesler Pumps

2007-12-06T04:00:00.000-08:00

While looking through Forbes Fashionable Gifts For the Luxury Lover, I noticed that most items didn't really stand out to me. Most of them looked rather gray and boring... and oh yes... expensive too. The list included a handmade suit for men, a fringe scarf, cashmere gloves, merino wool, a rather extravagant Devi Kroell Large Crystal And Wooden Clutch, a Prada wallet, cashmere cardigan, Brooks Brothers Muskrat Trapper and a wool parka.

I only found one item that is worth having. And these are Rupert Sanderson Hesler Pumps for $575. They're just divine fuchsia metallic leather open-toe pumps with a cone-shaped heel that gives the shoe a vintage flavor without sacrificing modern appeal. Available at www.net-a-porter.com.

Blackberry 9000 Image & Specs

2007-12-03T03:43:00.001-08:00

Stephen Wellman of Information Week provides his speculations about the upcoming Blackberry 9000, taking his cue as well from Boy Genius Reports (image from them).

Apparently the BlackBerry 9100 will sport a screen with the dimensions of 480 x 320 (or maybe that's 320 x 480), 1 Gbyte of on-board memory, and anIntel (NSDQ: INTC) XScale PXA270 processor at 624MHz, clocking in slightly faster than the 620MHz ARM 1173 processor found in the iPhone. The BlackBerry 9000 will sport the dual-threat of GPS and WiFi as well as introducing 3G support (multiband HSDPA) to the GSM carrier family devices, answering the prayers of many of us. At this point in time, there's no update to the camera, which remains at 2 megapixels, although we're hearing there is the possibility of seeing a 3.2 megapixel camera at launch.

Santa Claus Painting Sold For $2.17 Million

2007-11-30T03:40:00.000-08:00

A Norman Rockwell painting of Santa Claus perched on a stepladder sold for $2.17 million to an anonymous buyer at Christie's on Thursday according to Newsday.com

The painting, "Extra Good Boys and Girls," is the original of a Saturday Evening Post cover from 1939. It shows Santa going over his book of good boys and girls and planning his Christmas Eve route. A world map is in the background.
Santa must be some model to fetch $2.17 million.

18ct White Gold Pack Of Lucky Strike For $100,000

2007-11-25T15:34:00.000-08:00

If you want to try the ultimate luxury in cigarette smoking, check out the limited edition of Lucky Strike in 18 carat white gold embellished with a diamond and ruby. Designed by El Ultimo Grito and goldsmiths Richard Fox Associates, that retails for $100,000. They’re only being sold in selected European airports. Image and specs via Gush Magazine

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Give Me My Text Messages

2007-11-23T02:54:00.000-08:00

I think this may be inspired by the mirror from Disney's Sleeping Beauty. This mirror on the wall can tell you who's the fairest one of all, , if it's via a text or SMS message. This mirror can receive text messages (SMS) from a mobile phone. It can show the message in luminous text running on the mirrors’ surface when one gets close to the mirror.

This is the +336+, designed by Robert Stadler (of the French design group Radi Designers)

Limited edition of 20. For those who can't live without a mirror or those who can't live without receiving their text messages, this tech savvy device is also for the ridiculously rich at the same time, as it runs at $10,000 each from Generate.

A Castle Of A House At $138 Million

2007-11-21T23:49:00.000-08:00

I'm renting an apartment right now in the city. It's cramped and neighbors are noisy. I've always wanted my own house so I decided to look around. My ambition led me to start the search but my expensive taste led me to stop. I ended up gazing in envy at this house from Forbes.com Most Expensive Homes 2007

This house at $138 million located in Updown Court, Windlesham, Surrey is bigger than Buckingham Palace. It has 103 rooms with several ballrooms and a garden that's 58 acres. The spiel mentions that it is an idyllic English country home for those flush with cash. The grand entrance is just enchanting. It also has a panic room (just right for the ridiculously rich and paranoid).

The house also boasts an indoor squash court, bowling alley, 50-seat cinema, helipads, space for eight limousines and a heated marble driveway. For more information contact Savills, Beauchamp Estates or Hamptons International.

Top 10 Toys For Boys 2007

2007-11-19T17:09:00.000-08:00

Last year's TMX Elmo lost to Transformers, and the autobots was made popular by the movie of the same name. Techie toys have ranked higher for boys toys this year, coming second on the boys' wish-list was video games overall and the top 10 also included two games consoles -- the Nintendo, Wii and Microsoft's XBox 360 according to Reuters. Here's the top 10 list for boys:

Transformers (image of Bumblebee $119.95 on Amazon)

Video Games

Nintendo Wii

Cars (generic)

Spider-Man

LEGOs

Thomas the Tank Engine

Xbox 360

Elmo

Remote Controlled Vehicles

Most Wanted Toys 2007 - For Girls

2007-11-17T04:36:00.000-08:00

According to oll of 7,982 U.S. consumers by the company BIGresearch, Barbie is still rules girls' wish list as reported by reuters.

If you're looking for what a little girl is most likely to want this Christmas, The list is as follows:

Barbie
Bratz
Dolls (generic)
Dora the Explorer
Disney Princess
Disney Hannah Montana
Nintendo Wii
Webkinz
Elmo
American Girl

Barbie has been on the top of this list for 5 years now, followed by Bratz dolls and other generic ones. I guess girls still want to play with dolls. Stereotypical yet true. Newcomers to the girls' list this year were toys involving Disney singing star Hannah Montana, who is currently on a sold-out U.S. tour, and the popular Webkinz animals that come with a special code to give access to Webkinz World online.

(image from My Barbie)

Amazon.com Widgets

Buy a Laptop at $100

2007-11-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

The One Laptop per Child association (OLPC) from Delaware, USA aims to design and make available to the public a laptop with a retail price of $100. Their website - laptop.org isn't exactly pushing it to sell, I think it's more of a public service for less privileged children. That's what I get from their mission statement anyway.

Would be quite difficult to set up in that I don't think anyone wants to marginalize the ongoing retail costs for laptop. The design and functionality of this laptop should be at par with its price, not hurting current laptop prices and product lines. So we should expect the $100 laptop to not be as hot as current laptop models and only enough for children's use.

Watch Borat, Read Borat, Live Borat

2007-11-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

Borat has taken the world by storm, ironically his humber is so satirical it sounds so honest. His adventures are now immortalized in print in his new book. And if you haven't seen the film yet, this product commentary should start you along the right path.

Amazon.com Widgets

The Ultimate Cinematic Experience Seen Through Glasses

2007-11-07T05:30:00.001-08:00

Ideal accompaniment to iPod video - allows you to take your favorite movies and television shows anywhere in wide-screen through a pair of glasses that offers 4 times the resolution and 4 times the pixels (922,000), and it now simulates a 60-inch virtual screen as viewed from 8.5 feet weighing only 60 grams with built in stereo earphones. You can enjoy your favorite films in privacy

The rechargeable lithium battery gives you more than 5 hours of viewing time. Compatible with Apple iPod, DVD players, MP4 players, Zen Vision M, Zen Vision, VCRs, TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, Game Cube, and more.

ezVisionX4 takes the home out of home theater and makes a portable big screen experience. It's like having a portable 60 big screen TV. Comes with all the cables that you need to connect to your video source, DVD player, or iPod video.

This is currently at 58% off on Amazon, the ezGear TH200 X4 - ezVision X4 Video Glasses is available for only $375.36

The Smart Keyboard That Lights Up

2007-11-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

The Optimus Maximus Keyboard by Art Lebedev Studio allows you to configure your keyword by programming every buttom to reproduce a sequence of symbols and editing the image separately for each lay-out. I just found it cute because it lights up, but apparently it can do more. Every key of the Optimus Maximus keyboard is a stand-alone display showing the function it is currently associated with.

Try their demo. They're currently accepting pre-orders at $1564.37

A Handset For Your Cell phone?

2007-11-04T04:59:00.000-08:00

When the cellular phone first came out, I was very impressed. I was in high school then. It's quite slow here in the third world. But just when I thought technology was moving us so far ahead that we are able to combine a whole lot of things into this tiny device (which as by the way getting smaller and smaller as the years passed).

We managed to fit inside the cell phone - a camera, an MP3 player, different kinds of games and videos, not to mention internet connection (blackberry). Enabling business people (or anyone in fact) to have the world at their finger tips. The cell phone is more than just a medium of communication, it is an organizer, a camera, MP3 or even MP4 player that can fit in your pocket.

But then her comes Yubz with a mobile handset that brings us back to the age of bulk. It's ironic how we arrived at something so retro. But at $44.95, there's nothing cheap about it.

Personalized Laptop Bag By Skooba

2007-11-02T02:46:00.000-07:00

These days everybody owns a laptop. Even my 14-year-old sister carries one around already. Ever noticed though how most laptop blacks come in either black or blue or.... black?

Anyway Skooba solves the no-personality laptop bag problem by launching a "do-it-yourself" DIY case that you can decorate yourself. So your back will be fully personalized, fully customized, one-of-a-kind. Of course if you've got no artistic side to you, you might end up with yet another black one.

Apparently with this case you can use sharpies, paint, markers, glue and even glitter if it is to your liking. You can start with a bare one from eBags at $19.99

CNN's Best Cars of 2007

2007-10-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

Among CNN's best cars of 2007 are 3 Hondas, 2 Infintis, 4 Toyotas and rounding up the list is my personal favorite - the Mazda Miata. All of which fall within the range of $14,000 to $40,000 . There's a minivan, a couple of SUVs but mostly Sedans.

Budget Car, subcompact -- Honda Fit Cost: $14,000 to $16,000 (featured photo in blue)

Sedan, less than $20,000 -- Honda Civic Cost: $17,000 to $23,000
Sedan, less than $20,000 -- Honda Civic Cost: $17,000 to $23,000

Sedan, $30,000 to $40,000 -- Infiniti G35 Cost: $35,000 to $39,000

Sedan, $30,000 to $40,000 -- Infiniti G35 Cost: $35,000 to $39,000

SUV, less than $30,000 -- Toyota Rav4 Cost: $23,000 to $27,000 (featured photo)

SUV, more than $30,000 -- Toyota Highlander Hybrid Cost: 35,000 to $40,000

Minivan -- Toyota Sienna Cost: $26,000 to $28,000

Green car -- Toyota Prius Cost: $23,000

Fun to drive -- Mazda MX-5 Miata Cost: $21,000 to $27,000 (featured photo in red)

For Heroes Fanatics

2007-10-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

I've only started to follow the television series "Heroes" on NBC. Amazing how they have these seemingly ordinary people acquire powers. It's like a version of Smallville with less teenage angst or an adult version of the Justice League (non-animated I mean). My personal favorites are the cheerleader, Claire Bennet played by Hayden Panettiere and Niki Sanders played by Ali Larter - mostly because they're hot.

Amazon.com Widgets

Funny Halloween Costumes For A Change

2007-10-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to go about dressing up for Halloween and with approximately 8 more days and counting, it would be a good idea to start hunting them down.

If there's a costume contest you'd like to win, better lose the Dracula impersonation or the bed sheet you used last year. Try not to go with the passé.

Bring out the funny side of Halloween.

Amazon.com Widgets

The Little Black Dress

2007-10-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

A must-have for any woman, the little black dress never goes out of style. It has transcended decades of fashion ups and downs. The black dress has established itself as a timeless classic.

A designer friend of mine said though that these days, only big people wear black to hide their fat or to get away with having no originality. I agree on both counts. I think that's how the little black dress has retained it's overall popularity.

The problem now though is that there are so many going around, how do you decide which little black dress is right for you? One page from Edressme.com New York has more than 80 design variations on the little black dress with prices ranging from $100-$500.

My favorite here though has to be the dress posted here by La Femme. It's $178. Note the halter design and the semi-see through material from the mid-rib to the lower back gives it just the it the right hint of sexiness. It can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Compliment with a jacket during the day or trade that for sparkling drop earrings for a night in the town.

If on a shoe string budget though, there's always Amazon starting at $5. Requires a little bit more patience though to go through Amazon's list. But here's a knit baby-doll dress with an empire waistline (best for trying to hide the belly while still showing off some curves) from Mossimo

Amazon.com Widgets