Gadgets Blog News

In a recent letter to the Yahoo! board of directors, Steve Ballmer has set an ultimatum upon the company behind the most visited site in the world, according to traffic ranking site Alexa. On January 31 of this year, Microsoft made its $46 billion dollar offer to takeover the Sunnyvale internet giant, which was 62 percent more their market value on that day.

Ballmer, in his letter, was hoping for a “speedy and ultimately friendly transaction.” However, Yahoo! has vehemently resisted the takeover, had declined the hefty offer.  Well, Steve “Developer” Ballmer will not be denied, and has stated that he believes the time “is now” for the two companies to carry through with the merger.  Thus, Ballmer has given Yahoo!

(Read the full post about ‘Microsoft rears head, gives Yahoo 3 weeks to go Quietly’…)

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Craigslist launched its official blog several days ago, giving itself a new way to reach out to users, other than through founder Craig Newmark’s own personal web site. Basically, it’s a stripped down version of a blog with a very minimalist design, rudimentary comment system, and it doesn’t even have its own RSS feed. Now this event in itself would’ve been news-worthy right off the bat, but something else in relation to this is happening at the same time in the Interwebs, and causing CL quite a hassle. This “something else” is the existence of an unofficial Craigslist blog, called CraigslistBlog.org, which recently added the moniker “unofficial” at the end of its name to appease CL CEO Jim Buckmaster’s pleas. (Read the full post about ‘Craigslist learns to blog, tries to shut down evil twin’…)

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The folks over at the se-nse blog have leaked yet another image of the sweet looking Paris handset from Sony Ericsson. The latest image comes as a follow-up to the original two leaked images and shows off a video being played in landscape mode. Just to recap the details that we know so far, the P5 will feature: UIQ 3.3 QWERTY keyboard that will slide-out below the display Large touchscreen display 3G support Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g Bluetooth USB Built-in GPS 5-megapixel camera on the back with a second front camera for video calling Opera Mobile 9.5, Google Maps and possibly WayFinder 7.0 pre-installed. Aside from the features, the P5 is expected to be announced this May with retail availability late in Q3 2008. (Read the full post about ‘Sony Ericsson P5; aka Paris; yet another leaked image’…)

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Just as the Creative TravelSound i50 for the iPod shuffle undermined the player’s most compelling feature (its size), the newly announced TravelSound i80 pounces on the iPod nano and negates its thinness. That Creative agreed to begin making iPod accessories only after Apple was forced to pay them $100 million in 2006 (lawsuit recap here) makes their “excess-ories” seem like rubbing salt into the wound. I mean, does equipping the i80 with a USB port, volume rocker, and power button justify the fact that it makes the nano about three times thicker and adds 3.2 ounces to its 1.7-ounce frame?

Thanks for joining the Made for ipod gang, guys.

(Read the full post about ‘Creative TravelSound i80 for iPod nano’…)

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My birthday’s in May, and already my loved ones are asking what I want. So I’ve got a moral dilemma. I don’t really need an audio player because I’ve got two perfectly good iPods. OTOH, they are elderly and not equipped for video. I really would like a handheld video player, and I would like to have usable handheld Internet access. I don’t need an iphone because I adore my Centro, which combines a decent phone with the Palm PDA software that’s kept me in approximate order for years. It was also really, really cheap: $99 plus the inevitable 2-year contract. My adoration, however, doesn’t extend to the Centro’s screen, which is really, really tiny, no good for either videos or the Web. (Read the full post about ‘Cool (and cheaper) alternatives to the iPod Touch’…)

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Wish you could keep a close eye on your pooch, and at least have a good idea of where it is after being dog-napped? The GPS Dog Tracking System might be able to help you out.

This is the dog tracking system that employs a small GPS receiver attached to your dog’s collar that alerts you when he goes missing or leaves a defined area and notifies you via text message or e-mail. You can then instantly pinpoint your dog’s whereabouts through the manufacturer’s tracking service (12 month subscription required) that provides unlimited on-demand reports of your pet’s current location 24 hours a day via toll-free phone, web maps, e-mail, or cell phone text alerts.

(Read the full post about ‘GPS Dog Tracking System’…)

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What better way to lower your monthly electricity bill than rely on good ol’ solar power that never runs out (at least until our sun decides to explode)? The Torpedo Solar Spotlight makes a good candidate to spruce up your garden long after sundown at an affordable price.

Make a walkway safer, uplight a tree or highlight garden art without the hassle of running extension cords or digging trenches for wiring. These garden spotlights are solar powered! Each 2¼” reflective lens has three bright LEDs that never need replacing, and an integrated solar panel that pivots and swivels to catch the best rays. Lights come on at dusk and shine for up to eight hours.

(Read the full post about ‘Torpedo Solar Spotlight’…)

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Is the plural of thermos “thermoses” or “thermice”?

While you’re pondering that, allow me to introduce you to this fabulous new food thermos from Plastica. The problem with storing soups and stews in a traditional thermos is that the top is never wide enough to pour out a decent portion - leaving your chicken noodles or chunky vegetables languishing uneaten at the bottom of the flask.

Plastica’s Thermos Food Jar costs $30 and is made especially to store and pour any kind of hot food. It will keep your stew steaming for 12 hours and chill your gazpacho for 20.

(Read the full post about ‘Plastica makes a thermos for food (at last!)’…)

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How many times have you sat and pondered whether or not it was daylight outside? Unless you spend the better part of your days living underground, chances are that you don’t think about this very often. Sure, when you’re sitting in a cubicle after hours it may cross your mind, but is that enough to justify a watch that solely tells you whether the sun is up or down? Apparently for some people it’s worth coughing up $300,000 for a watch that does just that. Part of the reason that it is so expensive is that it is a unique timepiece that used Tourbillon movement, which is supposed to overcome the limitations imposed on the accuracy of watches by the earth’s gravity. (Read the full post about ‘Day & Night Watch only tells you if the sun is up’…)

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We first featured the AeroGarden a looong time ago when they essentially only had 1 model and since then AeroGrow, the manufacturer has launched a number of additional models including this new $100 model. The AeroGarden 3 has everything you need to grow your own organic herbs and vegetables, using CFLs and less energy than a single 60W bulb. Using its built-in computer, the AeroGarden monitors and adjusts the nutrient delivery, light and water for specific plants. There’s also a reminder system to tell you when you need to add more water and nutrients. (Read the full post about ‘Aerogarden 3 Starter Kit (Aeroponic Gardening)’…)

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