Are Newspapers Doomed?

Ponca City, We love you writes "James Surowiecki has an interesting article in the New Yorker that crystalizes the problems facing print newspapers today and explains why we may soon be seeing more major newspapers filing for bankruptcy, as the Tribune Company did last week. 'There's no mystery as to the source of all the trouble: advertising revenue has dried up,' writes Surowiecki, but the 'peculiar fact about the current crisis is that even as big papers have become less profitable they've arguably become more popular,' with the blogosphere piggybacking on traditional journalism's content. Surowiecki imagines many possible futures for newspapers, from becoming foundation-run nonprofits to relying on reader donations to deep-pocketed patrons. 'For a while now, readers have had the best of both worlds: all the benefits of the old, high-profit regime — intensive reporting, experienced editors, and so on — and the low costs of the new one. But that situation can't last. Soon enough, we're going to start getting what we pay for, and we may find out just how little that is.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 21 Dec 2008 | 1:11 pm

NASA To Continue Apollo 8 Tribute - AHN

World Air Sports Federation

NASA To Continue Apollo 8 Tribute AHN - 52 minutes ago The International Space Station crew, paving the way for NASA's return to the moon, will continue to honor the first humans to journey there 40 years ago with a special message, according to NASA. NASA Celebrates 40th Anniversary Of Apollo Mission CBS 4 40 years ago, Apollo 8 lifted spirits Pittsburgh Tribune-Review WWSB ABC 7 - BurlingtonFreePress.com - Boston Globe - ScienceBlogs all 45 news articles

Source: Google News - Sci/Tech | 21 Dec 2008 | 12:59 pm

Boom in music video games helps original artists (AP)

AP - "This song is dedicated to Debbie Harry," flinty-eyed Lisa Hsuan purrs into a microphone on the red-lit stage of Hyperion Tavern. It's a cozy dive where patrons drink Coke and beer from bottles and a fading chandelier dangles overhead.

Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 21 Dec 2008 | 12:37 pm

Severed cable disrupts net access

Internet and phone communications between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia have been seriously disrupted after submarine cables were severed. Experts warned that it may be days before the fault is fixed...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 12:16 pm

OGCC Day 21 - Virtual Fireplace, Now In Blu-ray HD!

By Andrew Liszewski Well, there won’t be any HD-DVD players under the Christmas tree this year. Although, with the price of coal, they could make for a cheap stocking stuffer for all those bad boys...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 12:12 pm

Need a Ride? Check Your iPhone

Soon you may no longer need to stick out your thumb to catch a ride. Instead, you may get one by tapping your fingers on your iPhone, writes The New York Times. Avego, based in Kinsale, Ireland, is demonstrating...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 11:51 am

Scientists Hack Cellphone to Analyze Blood, Detect Disease, Help Developing Nations

A new MacGyver-esque cellphone hack could bring cheap, on-the-spot disease detection to even the most remote villages on the planet. Using only an LED, plastic light filter and some wires, scientists at...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 11:40 am

Voyeuristic Pop Art - Shags Peeping Toms (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) California artist Shags latest series of acrylics includes a number of voyeuristic images and a plethora of peeping Toms. Hes renamed them, however; Shags peepers are are named Troy,...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 11:19 am

Fastest Text Messaging While Skydiving

Samsung attempted to establish the Guinness World Record for "Fastest Text Messaging While Skydiving." A team of professional skydivers text messaged while freefalling from 12,000 feet outside the...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 11:03 am

Artistic TV Screensavers - Detour Design Animates Piero Fornasettis Work for Flat-Panels (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Fans of Piero Fornasettis artwork will love the animated interpretations Detour Design has put on DVD for what is essentially an animated screensaver for flat-panel televisions. Most...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 10:59 am

Calendars for Makeup Brands - V Magazine Goes Behind the Scenes at Maybelline Shoot (GALLERY)

(TrendHunter.com) Maybelline, the drugstore cosmetic favorite, is sexing it up with a limited-edition calendar featuring models Julia Stegner, Adriana Lima, Anna Wang, and Jessica White. V Magazine went...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 10:39 am

Suggestive Gayvertising - The Black Tulip Gay Hotel's 'Anal' Floor Map

(TrendHunter.com) The latest ad for Amsterdams Black Tulip Gay Hotel is a bit, well, anal. On the floor map is the outline of a man bent over with a red arrow and a caption stating You Are Here pointed...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 10:19 am

Warner Music videos removed from YouTube - Los Angeles Times

eFluxMedia

Warner Music videos removed from YouTube Los Angeles Times - 3 hours ago By Dawn C. Chmielewski Warner Music Group's videos began disappearing from YouTube this weekend, the casualty of a contract impasse between the music company and the Internet's dominant video site. Warner Music Content Disappears From YouTube Wall Street Journal Warner Music pulls videos from YouTube Reuters All About Jazz - CNET News - BloggingStocks - InformationWeek all 136 news articles

Source: Google News - Sci/Tech | 21 Dec 2008 | 10:05 am

Abit To Close Its Doors Forever On Dec. 31, 2008

ki1obyte writes "Earlier this year the Taiwanese firm Abit, once a leading-edge maker of computer mainboards and other components, was slated to shut down motherboard production by the end of 2008 and focus on consumer electronics devices. Now X-bit labs reports that Abit will cease to exist entirely after midnight on the last day of 2008 because the owner of the brand, Universal Scientific Industrial, is in the process of restructuring and cutting their costs."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 21 Dec 2008 | 9:25 am

This season, try another kind of bird hunt - The News Journal

This season, try another kind of bird hunt The News Journal - 5 hours ago If you look out your window and see a northern cardinal or red-breasted nuthatch this morning, the Delmarva Ornithological Society wants to know about it -- but only if you live in Middletown, Odessa, Townsend, Delaware City or the section of Bear near ... Christmas Bird Count Ukiah Daily Journal Bird count flushes out Oklahoma City area nature devotees NewsOK.com Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Macon Telegraph - Dayton Daily News - Cameron County Endeavor all 35 news articles

Source: Google News - Sci/Tech | 21 Dec 2008 | 8:48 am

Fear Kills Businesses, Dead

Its official. Were in a recession. Recessions naturally inject fear and panic, which is only heightened by every discussion of market losses, layoffs, bailouts, and somber predictions. Were only human...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNBlogTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 8:09 am

Fear Kills Businesses, Dead

It’s official. We’re in a recession. Recessions naturally inject fear and panic, which is only heightened by every discussion of market losses, layoffs, bailouts, and somber predictions. We’re only human after all; of course everything affects us personally and emotionally.

Fear is not a catalyst for productivity however.

With valuable advice pouring in from concerned and sympathetic entrepreneurs and proven leaders, businesses are indeed responding quickly to make decisions that equate to a secure and prosperous future—hopefully.

This constructive advice has helped businesses focus and weigh difficult decisions sooner than they might have without it.

However, over time, productive guidance has mutated into a glut of negative forecasts and grim predictions that pillage precious and vital airtime from contributing to the resolution of our financial predicament. Simply said, fear, and the dissemination of distress, slowly erodes hope, vision, and ambition, ultimately killing businesses instead of guiding them.

Fear inspires desperate actions. Hope (combined with clarity and inventiveness galvanizes action and engenders opportunities.

Opportunity vs. Emotion

These are emotionally charged times which only fuel emotionally-driven decisions. Unfortunately, the advice shared from many experts now and in the past is subjected to both literal and open interpretation, and thus guiding or misguiding the next steps of established businesses and emerging startups.

Don’t worry about getting ahead, instead, just survive…Cutting deeper and quicker is the formula to survive. - Sequoia Capital

There’s a distinct difference between mere survival and succeeding in real world business.  Many companies may unwittingly lock themselves in an isolated panic room instead of taking strategic steps to evolve and grow the business opportunity that exists today.

General advice is just that, general. One prevailing set of strategies and recommendations doesn’t apply to all.

In a conversation with veteran CEO and financier Steve Larsen, currently co-founder of Krugle, he advises:

Of course, don’t be stupid. Have enough cash to run your business, but I think the doom and gloom crowd are getting too much airtime. Look for opportunities. Difficult times are when they’ll most likely occur. When we’re at ‘steady state’ and things are normal, good opportunities are much harder to find with GREAT opportunities nearly impossible. It is during periods of tumult and transition when you can spot things that lead to the greatest returns—if you are alert. So be alert.

In every recession, abundant opportunities are inherently rife. To simply believe that this is a generic time to step off of the playing field to warm benches or take a seat in the spectator bleachers in the hopes of emerging once again to readily have a shot at winning the game is illogical. Businesses, and customers, do not stop making decisions—they’re just more discerning during volatile economic climates. But make no mistake, if you choose to stop vying for customer attention, the world will move ahead without you.

This is your time to vault in front of your competition, to earn rapid and sweeping visibility, for a fraction of the time and money that was required to excel during the “good days.”

Your rivals are retreating right now, so what are you going to do about it?

Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu advised in The Art of War:

When weak, feign strength…Attack him [your enemy] where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

Whoever inspires you, remember, tomorrow’s leaders are born, tested, and proven, today. This is your moment.

Development vs. Revenue Generation

As a startup, you are now, officially, on your own. You can’t count on your VCs saving you or some magical offer from Yahoo or Google showing up to bail you out. — Jason Calacanis

If your company is guided by a board of advisors or group of investors that are not actively in tune with the real world opportunities and hurdles of your business, then their advice and direction may be questionable. Either they’re investing in the development of a product/service or they’re investing in the development of a commercial business or acquisition opportunity.

Depending on goals and milestones, there’s a stark difference in not only how the company is run, but also how its leaders assess and implement critical cost-cutting measures or where additional investment may be required. And, if users or customers are involved, the process of cost cutting isn’t necessarily a sweeping solution.

If resources are dedicated to research and development, assess the state of progress coupled with the runway of current cash and expectations. The key question is, “how can you get from here to there with less than what you’ve already been spending or planned on spending this year?”

For those companies who rely on customers to market products and either hit profitability or simply attain proof of concept through adoption, customers are not expendable. Cutting or freezing any program that connects your solution to your customers is dangerous and requires careful consideration. This IS the time when businesses must invest in the transcendence from survival to market leadership. This recession is temporary, but business is constant.

Do Not eliminate marketing or sales efforts. Okay, I’m biased here, but cutting marketing and sales has a direct and reverberating impact on future income, so don’t be surprised if next quarter’s numbers are down. Without support, sales will continue to trend downward.

Be wise as you evaluate your sales and marketing efforts. With the right team, you may want to consider maintaining or increasing financial support in order to excel while your competition retreats.

Do create an innovative and cost efficient formula for running a concentrated, sustained, and proactive outbound marketing program that effectively creates a bridge between your core customer’s needs and your product.

While companies are cutting costs to extend their runways, consumers and businesses are reducing spending in parallel. However, it’s important to remember that customers are not freezing spending altogether. They are and will continue to research, invest and procure the solutions, services, and products that will help them succeed, offer entertainment, or streamline aspects of their day-to-day workflow. And, they’ll also continue to make impulse decisions just for the hell of it.

Building Your Business in a Recession

Obviously, capital preservation and cost cutting do not equate to sustenance or growth. The driving factors are poles apart when striving to merely stay alive vs. building a business.

If you’re sheltering cash to focus on development, then cut the services and expenses that will not impede your ability to cross the threshold to market success. If you’re conserving funds to prolong life, then realize that the only fountain of youth is cash itself. Focusing energies on generating revenue, increasing visibility, and enhancing customer loyalty are the most effective strategies for underwriting longevity, and hopefully growth, especially during an economic downturn.

The real question you have to ask yourself is, “How will my customers find me today and tomorrow?”

I’m not sure if this is a newsflash or not, but customers do not typically go out of their way to “discover” your products and companies. They have choices and it’s the job of any marketing and sales-centric business to reach their customers where they go for information—otherwise, they’re out of the decision making process by default. Marketing and sales are the conduits for connecting prospects to your business.

In a down economy, tomorrow’s leaders are born today. It takes vision, focus, and a hyper-connected sense of what customers are seeking, why, and where.

The reality is that there are hard costs tied to customer acquisition and retention. The key is to observe and listen to your customers to ascertain the most active and direct channels to reach and engage them.

Here are several, targeted and affordable suggestions:

1. SEO – Customers actively use search engines to find relevant solutions. Keyword and organic search optimization is an inexpensive and effective means for gaining strategic presence.

2. Blog Relations – It’s not just about news and pitching the A-List, creating a consistent and visible brand requires the inclusion of the authoritative, peer-to-peer blogs that your customers and influencers read for information, help and perspective. Oh, and be wise about using embargoes.

3. Media/Analysts – Reporters and analysts cover your space and by simply writing about your company or product, they can position you as an option among your customers; especially when they’re researching options to validate decisions.

4. Direct Sales – Some of the most successful companies right now are concentrating on direct outreach to the decision makers instead of hoping to influence them from the sidelines.

5. CRM – Building a customer-focused business saves money and increases revenue. Focusing on customers and empowering them improves business processes, product development, and also offsets marketing expenses as “involved and participatory” customers transform from a cost-center into an active surrogate sales force.

6. Participate – Social networks are much more than mere time killers. Participating across the social communities where you’re customers and prospects are active and vocal provides a looking glass into their thoughts, requests, opinions, dislikes, and recommendations. It also provides you with priceless opportunities to combat negative perceptions while also positioning your company as a resource.

7. Thought Leadership – One of the best ways to demonstrate thought leadership is to actively share your thoughts where they count. Contributing articles and posts to industry publications, forums, and blogs increases visibility and unobtrusively contributes to your sales strategy by helping customers find you.

8. Blog and Blog Comments – It may seem trite or perhaps even worthless, but I can guarantee that finding the time to host and contribute to a blog that demonstrates the expertise of you and your team is priceless. People are looking for information and direction, not just from your blog but others as well. Go where they are and offer counsel, contribute to the dialogue and establish trust and authority in the process. Why wouldn’t you position yourself as a resource for your customers or prospects? Too busy you say? Empower your staff. Contract outside experts to contribute to creating a one-stop-shop for insight and direction—just be transparent about their involvement. It costs less than you think to build a community around your product, or at least what it stands for.

9. Network in the real world – Participation isn’t solely relegated to online networks. Opportunities to meet and cultivate relationships in the real world are abundant. Meetups, industry events, groups, unofficial lobbycons associated with your favorite events are continuous and more valuable with your involvement.

10. Involve Your Community – Save money and time by involving your customers in the development process of your new and iterative products as well as your go to market strategy. Alpha customers are often ready to assist with the validation of your business model and also the honest feedback associated with your product benefits and features.

11. Websites are not Just Web Pages – Your Website must make an emotional connection with visitors, while also conveying stories and value propositions that specifically capture the attention of your customers – otherwise, all of your hard work and investment of time and money in sales and marketing campaigns will generate traffic, but lead to a dramatically reduced conversation ratios.

12. Innovate – Always learn and improve everything in order to stay relevant.

Buy When No One Is Buying

If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it, is the surest path to obsolescence. Equally, swinging the axe without accuracy and grace will also send you packing. Constraint forces and inspires creativity. Operate not from fear, but from vision, determination, and ingenuity.

In a down market, generally speaking, this is the time to strategically cut dispensable expenses, but also invest in growth. It may appear as common practice, however, current actions demonstrate counter intuitiveness. You sell when people are buying, not when people are selling. You buy when no one is buying, not when everyone is frantically bidding the price up. These are indeed the times to invest in the success of your business and your personal brand.

Remember, the economy is a yo-yo on an escalator. It might go up and down, and down some more, but eventually, it’s always going up (once we fix it, this time).

Any company that intentionally pulls itself from the radar screens of potential and existing customers will find itself on a direct path to the Deadpool.

It is during these most difficult times when character is truly tested and defined.

To paraphrase Al Pacino from Any Given Sunday, the inches we need to be successful right now are everywhere, and it’s up to us, and only us, to fight for them. And when we add up those inches, it will make the difference between winning and losing. Find and keep the people who will fight for those inches with you. That’s a team. Either you win as a team or you all lose as individuals.  But fear will not help you win at all.

(Photos by Stuant63 and Sam UL).

Crunch Network: CrunchBoard because it’s time for you to find a new Job2.0

Source: TechCrunch | 21 Dec 2008 | 8:09 am

Cyberspace Security: Latest Trend in Economic Development

DALLAS, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Even with the latest downturns in the economy and the entrance of President-Elect, Barack Obama, the upturning trend in employment will be
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 6:29 am

Chinese internet porn sensation detained by police (Reuters)

Reuters - A Chinese woman who became an online sensation after posting a homemade pornographic film of herself on the internet has been detained in Shanghai, according to state media.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 21 Dec 2008 | 6:19 am

New Contest Will Seek the Best "I'm Linux" Video

LinuxScribe writes "From Apple's ubiquitous 'I'm a Mac,' to Jerry Seinfeld, to Microsoft's 'I'm a PC' retort, operating system commercials have been flooding the airways. Except that Linux is the one OS that has been notably absent. Now the Linux Foundation is launching a video contest on their new video site to fill this void. The winner gets a trip to Tokyo next year to participate in the Linux Foundation Japan Linux Symposium, and some serious geek cred." The contest doesn't officially open until late January; the blog post has an email address to contact if you want to get a head start.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:38 am

Cyberspace Security: Latest Trend in Economic Development

DALLAS, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Even with the latest downturns in the economy and the entrance of President-Elect, Barack Obama, the upturning trend in employment will be in the area of cyberspace security.
Source: RedOrbit News - Technology | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:29 am

A laptop equivalent of a two-headed snake (CNET)

CNET - Lenovo is apparently planning to unveil a ThinkPad notebook with a dual display.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:27 am

Music sales rise in harmony with game appearances (AP)

AP - Artists who have released songs on its "Guitar Hero" platform have seen separate sales of those tracks triple on average, according to Activision Blizzard Inc.
Source: Yahoo! News: Technology News | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:01 am

AT&T U-verse TV Arrives in Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets today announced the Dec. 22 launch of AT&T U-verse(SM) TV and AT&T...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:01 am

AT&T U-verse TV Arrives in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets today announced the Dec. 22 launch of AT&T U-verse(SM) TV and AT&T...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:01 am

Music sales rise in harmony with game appearances

Here's a sampling of how some songs have fared after appearing in versions of Activision's "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band," from Viacom Inc.'s MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 5:00 am

Ukrainian Teen Serial Killer Gang Document Their Crimes on Cellphone Video

I'm not convinced this isn't a hoax or viral marketing campaign, since "strange news blackout" can also mean "didn't actually happen." Even if it's fictional internet lore, it's notable as such. (Appears to be real). An anonymous friend of BB says,

There seems to be a strange news blackout around the horrifying story of the "Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs", three Ukranian teens who apparently recently performed a series of staggeringly violent serial killings and recorded them on cellphone video and then attended the victims' funerals. Supposedly this is some of the first actual video of this kind of crime that has made it into the wild of the internet - the perspective of the deranged killer.

If you Google-news "Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs," little if anything comes up, but the video and story is all over the gore/shock sites, putting them ahead of the news organizations here in the US.

I can't watch the video, and only came across the story by cruising Encyclopedia Dramatica for teh (non-violent, tsk-tsking) lulz, but I glimpsed some stills and felt a little more heartsick about humankind because of it.

Purported Translation of cellphone video dialogue. See also dnepropetrovskmaniacs.com. [warning: links include graphic violence]. Link to video of teens in Ukranian court [does not include video footage of the attacks, thanks leriseux]

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A NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR: I don't want to see any more comments from people who read Xeni's description, watched the video anyway, and are complaining about how horrifying it is. Yes! It's horrifying! If you don't want to see that, don't watch the video. Furthermore, those of you who feel that stuff like this should not be given attention are hereby invited to (1.) not watch the video, and (2.) not post comments about it, either. (Ignoring: ur doin it rong.) Thank you.

p.s.: There's a large stash of unicorn chasers further down the thread. Use as needed.

--Teresa Nielsen Hayden

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UPDATE: An anonymous commenter in the discussion thread for this post writes:

Hello all. I am from Ukraine, I live in Kiev, but at that time i worked with a girl whose family lived in the same entrance of the multistoried building as one of those teenagers. I remember the horror when she was speaking about what was going on and the shock when she knew it was her neighbor. What we know from the news is... they were 3. One of them was likely an initiator (his surname was Supruniuk) and second one supported him. The third one was kinda acting under the pressure. Nobody knows what moved them, because they rarely robbed. They just liked to kill, those who were weaker than they. It is totally sick, totally criminal. Some newspapers wrote that they might have been under the cover of the dad of this Supruniuk...that he kinda was selling those videos online. N tht he was trying to hide the evindece (smb threw mobile phones in the lavatory)... Some say that they got more pending crimes imposed upon them by police. They are very calm during interrogation, etc. Their parents can not believe. In the phone of one of them police found some nazi images... What can i say... I dont want to ever watch anything about that or know anything more than i know. Their souls are sick. May God do something to that.. Regards, Margaret

Source: Boing Boing | 21 Dec 2008 | 4:23 am

So Hot Right Now: Top 10 Gadgetell posts for the week of December 14, 2008

Section:

Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week?  Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• 10 Ways to Make Your Cell Phone Battery Last Longer!
  “It’s no secret that cell phone batteries typically suck, sometimes not even lasting us until we get home in the evening.  What’s the secret to good battery life?  The general rule of thumb is that…“ MORE »
• Gadgetell Guide: Finding a camera to fit your lifestyle
  “ When it comes to cameras, there is a great big variety to choose from, from camera phones to point and shoot to those fancy SLRs.  It seems like every company is trying to sell you on the fact that you need their…“ MORE »
• Last day to enter the HP Magic Giveaway!
  “ Alright folks, here goes.  On Tuesday, December 16th, we will be announcing the winner of the HP Magic Giveaway.  How do you enter?   All you’ve got to do is create an account right here.  Sign up for a Dabbledoo account/profile to enter!  Also…“ MORE »
• HP Magic Giveaway: You could win this HP HDX18
  “ Yep, you can win this HP HP HDX18 as part of the HP Magic Giveaway.  All you’ve got to do is sign up for a Dabbledoo account!   Take a look at some of its features: Intel Core…“ MORE »
• Gadgetell Review: Flip Mino HD
  “Quick Review What is it? The Flip Mino HD is a tiny, pocketable, HD camcorder by PureDigital. What’s Cool: Very easy to use. Form factor makes it easy to carry around. HD video quality is okay.  What’s Not: …“ MORE »
• Last call for the HP Magic Giveaway!
  “ We’re picking a winner for the HP Magic Giveaway tonight!  We are also allowing you til 3PM Eastern TODAY to register for a Dabbledoo account.  By registering for a Dabbledoo account you are entered into the contest (you don’t have to do anything else). …“ MORE »
• HP Magic Giveaway Winner: Check your e-mail
  “ A quick update, folks.  We’ve sent out an e-mail to the winner of the HP Magic Giveaway.  Go check your e-mail and see if you won!  We’d like to thank everyone for signing up with Dabbledoo—stay tuned, because there will be more details.“ MORE »
• AT&T, Radio Shack offering $99 3G-equipped Acer Aspire One netbook
  “ AT&T and Radio Shack have recently announced the availability of a 3G-equipped Acer Aspire One netbook for $99.  Of course, that low price comes with a bit of a catch—in order to get that…“ MORE »
• Orby:  iPhone for the house?
  “ There are a bunch of iPhone knock-offs out there, but there is this one product from a Brazilian company that is sort of like the iPhone, but meant specifically for the house.  There to parts to the product, the base unit and…“ MORE »
• AT&T offers up the sapphire blue BlackBerry Curve 8320
  “ Despite the originally rumored date of September 23, AT&T has officially released the BlackBerry Curve 8320.  So, while the release date was quite a ways off, the Curve 8320 should…“ MORE »

Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

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Source: Gadgetell | 21 Dec 2008 | 3:32 am

Mac Mini "leak" causes excitement, ennui

Macenstein receives a pic from an anonymous sauce, and the internet goes OMG. Then someone points out the problem: why would a Mac Mini have a lid? Why would it be made of MacBook?

To my mind, the marketing line is unappealing ("World's smallest potato") and lacks Apple's characteristic wordplay. 9to5mac reader Sverkel does a prettier photoshop using the same source material.

There needs to be a new word for the state of disappointment brought on by image manipulation. I propose photoshopathy.

Is this the new Mac mini? [Macenstein]

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets | 21 Dec 2008 | 3:27 am

How To See In 3D On Your iPhone

waderoush writes "Some of the coolest media technologies predate the Web and the PC — in fact, they predate the 20th century. My column in Xconomy explores the world of 19th-century stereoscopes and stereo views, which are the all-but-forgotten forerunners to anaglyphic 3D, VR goggles, and other modern stereo vision systems. As it turns out, it's pretty easy to 'free-view' vintage stereo images on an iPhone or other small screen, getting the full 3-D effect without any other viewing aids. The article has instructions for accessing a collection of old stereo images using the new Seadragon Mobile iPhone app from Microsoft Live Labs." The stereoscope, that killer technology of the last century but one, was invented in 1859 by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., who gave it away and never made a dime off it. If you don't have an iPhone and want to get the feel of free viewing on a computer monitor, start here at Roush's Flickr photostream.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 21 Dec 2008 | 3:27 am

Whispers of the G2 Android phone grow louder - VentureBeat

NewsOXY

Whispers of the G2 Android phone grow louder VentureBeat - 10 hours ago Yesterday, the T-Mobile blog CellPhone Signal published a list of new features it claimed would be in the G2, the second HTC-built phone built for the T-Mobile network running Google’s Android platform. Android potential in 2009 CNET News A Year For Smarter Phones, ... InternetNews.com TopNews - SlashPhone - PC Magazine - NewsOXY all 90 news articles

Source: Google News - Sci/Tech | 21 Dec 2008 | 3:12 am

The Zombies Look Better Every Year - New York Times

TrustedReviews

The Zombies Look Better Every Year New York Times - 11 hours ago Rockstar Games/AP By SETH SCHIESEL THE video game industry has never been more reliable in producing high-quality mass entertainment for a variety of audiences with a variety of tastes. Best video games of 2008 Seattle Times Holiday Deathmatch: Microsoft's Xbox Fighting Well PC Magazine Ars Technica - 1UP.com - Gamasutra - Gameinfowire.com all 80 news articles

Source: Google News - Sci/Tech | 21 Dec 2008 | 2:40 am

Google dominates ad server market, study shows - CNET News

eFluxMedia

Google dominates ad server market, study shows CNET News - 11 hours ago It will surprise no one that Google accounts for a lion's share of the ad server market. However, it may come as a shock that Microsoft holds only the equivalent of a lion's paw. Google Continues March To 80%-90% Search Share CNNMoney.com YouTube overtakes Yahoo, Microsoft in US search ZDNet InformationWeek - VON - TechCrunch - Search Engine Land all 52 news articles

Source: Google News - Sci/Tech | 21 Dec 2008 | 2:15 am

Ariane rocket launches satellites for Eutelsat

KOUROU, French Guiana (Reuters) - A European Ariane-5 rocket blasted off from French Guiana on Saturday putting into orbit two satellites for Europe's telecoms operator Eutelsat, officials...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNewsTech | 21 Dec 2008 | 2:13 am

Diskeeper Accused of Scientology Indoctrination

touretzky writes "Two ex-employees have sued Diskeeper Corporation in Los Angeles Superior Court after being fired, alleging that the company makes Scientology training a mandatory condition of employment (complaint, PDF). Diskeeper founder and CEO Craig Jensen is a high level, publicly avowed Scientologist who has given millions to his Church. Diskeeper's surprising response to the lawsuit (PDF) appears to be that religious instruction in a place of employment is protected by the First Amendment." The blogger at RealityBasedCommunity.net believes that the legal mechanism that Diskeeper is using to advance this argument ("motion to strike") is inappropriate and will be disallowed, but that the company will eventually be permitted to present its novel legal theory.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 21 Dec 2008 | 1:20 am

Appletell reviews the Hercules XPS 2.1 50 Speaker Kit

FROM APPLETELL - The Hercules XPS 2.1 50 Speaker Kit may bear the name of the Greek god, but they’re not exactly a champion of speaker systems. MORE »