Be Smart

Granny doesn't want to stream music, surf, play games, check directions or update her MySpace page on her cell phone. She just wants to make calls and she's pretty cranky about it. "Is that too much ask?" she petulantly asks every relative who passes through her door. (That is not to say you should ever underestimate Granny; she is sharper then most people half her age, razor wit, and more spirit than a racehorse.)

Fortunately, gadget girl came to the rescue, with the Jitterbug, designed "for Boomers and Beyond." (That sure beats branding it the "Senior Phone.") There have been some changes since we first reviewed it, such as the Roadside Assistance Program for an extra $4 per month and more operator features. GreatCall now offers the Jitterbug Dial in a graphite color (for Grandpa?), and while the company hints at more features, "simplicity is still key."

With its big easy-to-read 12 numbers, (or the even simpler 3-button model), it comes pre-programmed and ready to use right out of the box. Push "YES" to call from your personal phone list and you'll hear a familiar dial tone, which a separate Volume Up/Down button on the cover. An operator is always standing by to help, and 911 emergency calls are always free.

Granny likes the ease of use, the soft ear cushion, and the friendly operators. And something I didn't notice - she likes that the instructions are written in big letters. Smart. Service plans start as low as $10 a month, and there's no contract required $147 for a handset. GreatCall has made deals with CDMA carriers across the country and numerous regional service providers, so no matter where you live, they can provide great coverage for Jitterbug customers nationwide.

We're going to start calling Granny "tech head." She loves that.

Ya know, as I type this from my bed, I'm thinking it might be time to admit that an old upturned tray with a corner missing (where someone - not me! - dropped it on the floor and it cracked) might not be the best stand for my laptop after all.

This feeling was solidified by seeing something called the Stiletto Laptop stand. Inspired by the shoe (although not really looking very shoe-like, it has to be said) the Stiletto stand holds your laptop safe, and can also elevate it to your eye level. Even handier, there's a space for papers and pens. Setting it up involves some self-assembly -- but not the type that calls screws or glue guns into action (thank goodness). You can also have your name or logo engraved onto the stand for an extra charge, if you wish. It costs $48.50 excluding shipping from John's Showroom on Ponoko.

Via Mighty Goods.

Earlier this week, New York hosted the glittery Vivienne Tam runway show at Bryant Park . . . gorgeous, bright dresses in delicious fabrics, but what caught our eyes was the matching HP notebook, only slightly smaller than a conventional clutch!

We asked Ms. Tam about the parntership with HP: "The design blends Asian & Western cultures, antiquity and modern styles, technology and fashion – it’s my personal mantra to both live well and be beautiful."

With gleaming red peony flowers, it is totally a designer original, but with the guts of an HP notebook. The HP Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook is expected to be available early next year, but no word yet on the pricing.

The dresses? If you have to ask, . . .

My daughter's friend, Bella, loves the design and feel of her iPhone so much that she often carries it around without a case, which gives me palpatations. This is the case for her - the new NuTouch "Crystal" case, which just as you'd think, is transparent.

While I doubt it's going to give her enough protection from drops, it can withstand scratching, dust and minor bumps.

If you can't bear to cover up your 3G iPhone either, the NuTouch is $29.95 at Fommy or Amazon.

Call me crazy but if I want to go out to dinner I usually go with someone I already know, or at least someone I've been introduced to before. Or someone who isn't just in it for a free meal.

But new dating site Take Me To Dinner aims to cut out all of that tricky "meeting someone before you decide if you want to date them" business. Instead, you set how much you want someone to spend on your meal out (or how much you would be willing to pay -- if you're a woman it's usually the former) and then you get matched up with someone who's willing to go out with you.

You'll be no doubt devastated to discover that it's only open to UK daters so far, but if you want to replicate the site for yourself, why not stand on a street corner wearing a sign saying "will date for food"?

Via Shiny Shiny.

I've just updated my iPhone 3G with the just-released free upgrade to firmware 2.1 and while the interface looks the same, no cosmetic changes, there have definitely been some improvements in performance. Backing up the phone is much, much quicker, I have two additional bars of reception, and the battery life is supposedly much improved as well. That we'll have to see, but just the reception boost alone is enough to warrant doing the update. A listing of the fixes:

- Improved call reception and fewer dropped calls.
- Better battery life
- Faster and more reliable email fetching
- Improved SMS performance
- Fewer crashes and freezes in 3rd party apps
- Faster installation of 3rd party apps
- Faster backup of iPhone when syncing

Also: Genius, the playlist creator, is included and creates on the fly playlists from music that's on your iPhone. Pick a song, hit Genius, and you'll get a playlist of songs that Genius thinks will sound good together. So far, so good. Works quickly and is fun, especially if you don't have a lot of playlists and resort to using "shuffle" mode most of the time.

I've never had 3G reception in my home, and now I get two solid bars. Yay! Wait, wait, make that three bars! No, two. Uh oh, just one. Well anyway, I've never seen the 3G signal at all before in this location, so the reception is much improved, I think.

No apparent upgrade in the Maps app, but there are still rumors that full function turn-by-turn navigation is possible, either through a future upgrade or through a 3rd party app like Telenav.

If you've had any issues with bugs or slowdowns, run, don't walk to iTunes to the upgrade. Just hook up your iPhone, open iTunes, and hit "check for upgrade." It's a fairly large download, over 200 MB, so it might take a while and make sure you let iTunes do a backup before upgrading so you don't lose any settings or data.

Here at Popgadget we get hundreds of press releases each week. But recently I got one that I not only read all the way through, I laughed my head off. It's for the new BT530 Jabraheadse,t but the "headsetetiquette" is for all of us (kudos to Mike Rush at 360 PR):

Sure Bluetooth headsets increase efficiency, but how do you know you or your loved one won't be an abuser? By following a few simple rules, you can be hands-free and stylish without being "that guy" :



1) Never incorporate your Bluetooth headset into your hairdo
2) Keep the hand waving and shouting to a minimum in public to avoid looking crazy
3) Never whisper sweet nothings into a loved one’s ear while someone is talking into your own
4) You or your dentist can sport a headset, but never psychiatrists
5) Ditch it at wedding ceremonies, but feel free to tune out during divorce proceedings

The new titanium, lightweight Jabra headset features their proprietary "Noise Blackout technology" which uses dual-microphones, DSP technology and Audio Shock Protection to cancel out background noise and preserve voice quality in the process.

On a busy street I could hear my girlfriend clearly, and when she yelled "@#$ up to 5 1/2 hours talk time; 250 hours standby time. $99.

And don't get caught looking like Princess Leia. Enough said.

I love artistic innovation: the world would be a much more boring place had people like John Lennon, Frida Kahlo or Andy Warhol never been born.

Having said that, I don't always understand where artists/innovators are coming from, and that's the case with this design...

Francesca Lanzavecchia has designed something called the LightMate. According to her website, "LightMates are soft anthropomorphic pillows and warming lamps. Their different sizes answer to everyone's need of heat; a mate to hug or a huge companion you can lay on."

Miss the slots? Get 'em on your iPhone. Griffin's latest iTunes app, Double Bonus Slots, - takes off from their initial two offerings, Lucky 7 Slots and the poker app 5-Card Touch, which were hugely popular (compatible with iPhone and iPod touch).

Double Bonus Slots tracks winnings and starts each person off with 1,000 credits. Gamers place their bets then tap the screen to set the reels rolling. Griffin added "wilds and variables" to double the chances of winning big.

Double Bonus Slots Features:

Easy to play slots simulator
Fast animation and graphics
Large, wide-screen view in landscape mode
Keeps track of your winnings won and lost
Compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch
Requires iPhone 2.0 Software Update

$1.99 at iTunes. Now if they could just deliver a cocktail with an umbrella in it . . .

I admit it, I'm one of those people who has to park my car in the same place at the mall every time or I'll forget where I left it. My husband thinks this is the silliest thing he's ever heard of but apparently he was born with a built-in GPS, not to mention a calculator. It's really annoying.

So this new compact GPS gizmo from Bushnell called BackTrack is the is perfect gadget for me. It basically combines advanced GPS technology with a digital compass. Simple and easy to use, it's small enough to hang on your purse. With just two buttons, an easy to read screen and the ability to save up to three key locations, anyone can use it. Key in your location with one button and once it's recorded, just push a button to navigate back to where you started so you never get lost again.

Available in pink or black, the suggested retail is $69 and you can get yours this fall at Amazon.

The Shemergency Survival Kit from

Using lightweight, reusable shopping bags made of recycled materials is pretty standard practice these days, but it's nice when bags you use all the time have a bit of style too. I like these bags made of recycled newspaper (from the Arts and Leisure section, so they're colorful too). They're made to be water resistant and have double straps and velcro closure. At $52 each, they're not cheap, but if you use the same one for years of trips to the farmer's market, the grocery store, and the library, then the per use cost could be almost nothing. And each one is unique.

Wallets of similar design are $30 each. Both are available at Uncommon Goods.

Three years ago, we brought you news of the Nabaztag, the little WiFi rabbit from France which can read your emails to you, play music, give you the weather forecast and do all manner of magical things. Not to mention looking mighty cute.

Now the Nabaztag has more features than ever, including a little sniffy nose and a a navel (!) and oh yes, a cool new designer look. Or several. Nabaztag will be debuting some dandy new designs at Paris' fashion week in October, before heading off to New York and Toyko. After all their travels, the new designer rabbits will be exhausted auctioned off for charity.

New Nabaztag is available at Dynamism.

Via Chip Chick.

The last time a friend was ill and I was inspired to send an e-card, I was quickly uninspired by the range on offer. Either I had to pay for a quality card, I had to sit through minutes of advertising to get to the good stuff, or I had to settle for something a little low on the artistic scale. I ended up sending a 'hope you feel better' email instead.

So I was excited to read a post on Lifehacker about a company called Postcard.fm. Go to their simple-to-use website (no registration required) and just upload a picture, a sound/music file and a message, and your personalised e-card is good to go and beats a hastily-drawn cartoon any day of the week.

For all you pervs out there (you know who you are), Microsoft has added a new, uh, tool called InPrivate Browsing, to the second Beta version of Internet Explorer 8, which is handy if you don't want your wife, girlfriend or daughter to see where you've been when you said you were paying the bills. This feature will not save your browsing or search history, cookies, form data, or passwords, and will clear its cache when you're, uh, finished. No wonder it's nicknamed "Porn Mode."

Via ComputerWorld.

Come October, you will be able to monitor your home with your cell phone. No kidding. And that’s because a company called Schlage is all set to launch its latest line of doorknobs and deadbolts that can be operated over the Internet and even checked via mobile.

The locks, which use SSL protection and 128 bit encryption, can be operated directly through buttons on the doorknob with a single access code - which means you don’t have to carry your key around anymore. No worries about losing your precious key, and none about distributing duplicates for family/friends either. And the good news doesn’t end there – every time a person enters the house, you are notified through text and email alerts, which means you can monitor every entrant to the house remotely. Now assume that you want to prevent a certain person who knows the access code from entering the house. All you need to do is to change the 4-digit code online and you are done.

The Schlage starter kit (with one lock and the necessary setup hardware), due to hit stores by late October, costs $299 with a monthly subscription fee of $13. And you will have to shell out an additional $199 for every extra lock that you purchase. Pretty hefty on the wallet, but nonetheless a sensible investment if you need tight security for your home.

Via The Raw Feed.

If you guessed "an old book" you're a lot more design savvy than I am. Books are one of the hardest items to recycle, due to the glue used to bind them, so it makes sense for designers to find new ways to re-appropriate them. The very inventive Laura Cahill has turned her old unwanted books into little benches and stools that actually look like recycled books, but she also came up with this clever design, which she makes by cutting up old books with a saw, then arranging the spines around test tubes to make a modern, environmentally-friendly design.

Maybe not something for beginners to try to replicate, but pretty nonetheless.

Via Boing Boing.

Perhaps a little too late to generate any significant excitement, all of which has already been consumed by the iPhone 3G, ASUS on Friday announced its P552w touchscreen phone. And the phone’s USP seems well-worn too - a 3D-like touchscreen interface that utilizes “Gester” technology, allowing the user to control the touchscreen via “glides” of a finger. Remind you of HTC Touch ? Us too.

Going under the hood, however, there are a couple of features where the ASUS definitely scores over (or is nearly as good as) its competition. Take the knockout processor speed at 624MHz, for an example. Or the unique ASUS SMS Location Link feature which will allow users to communicate their location easily via Google Maps. The device also includes a custom software kit nicknamed “Multi-Home” containing applications, that ASUS claims, make for easy music and video/photo-viewing.

If you do decide to go for the ASUS P552w what you get is 256MB of RAM, 128MB of DDR, an expansion slot for microSD / SDHC cards and a 2.0-megapixel camera. Connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 2.0, USB 1.1 and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi.

And you might have plenty of time to change your mind too, as the pricing and availability of the phone is yet to be divulged.

Via Engadget.

An Apple event always inspires feverish speculation and the "Let's Rock 2008" was no exception. There were rumors of touch-screen Macbooks and ultra-tiny sub-Macbook Air sized UMPCs and of a new iTunes subscription plan which would give you unlimited music downloads for a monthly fee. And of course, iPods galore. What actually happened? New iPods, a new version of iTunes, and the announcement of an iPhone firmware upgrade which will bring significant improvements and enhancements.


The new Nano got the biggest makeover, going back to its roots as the tall, skinny model. It has curved angles, and the slimmest profile ever. While there isn't a touch screen, there is now an accelerometer like the one on the iPhone and the Touch, so you can turn it sideways for a Cover Flow view of your music or to watch video in widescreen mode. You can also shake it to shuffle your songs. There are nine bright colors, more than ever before. 24 hours of battery life for audio and 4 hours of video. Comes in 8GB and 16 GB, at $149 and $199 respectively. The 8GB model is shipping/available now and the 16 GB within a couple of days

The Pew Internet and American Life Project has been undertaking research into US Internet habits for a few years now, and according to its latest information, podcasts are increasing in popularity, with 19% of web users downloading them (but more of those are men than women: 22% versus 16%).

The Pew Internet and American Life Project has been undertaking research into US Internet habits for a few years now, and according to its latest information, podcasts are increasing in popularity, with 19% of web users downloading them (but more of those are men than women: 22% versus 16%).

As much as I love my laptop, with its WiFi and kick-ass battery life and portability and up-to-date functionality and all, I still get nostalgic when I see a beautiful old typewriter. I think a lot of writers feel the same: we've all seen those Hollywood films (from His Girl Friday to All the President's Men to 84 Charing Cross Road) where writers bashed out their masterpieces the old-fashioned way, with paper, an extra ribbon and a pile of carbons beside them.

As much as I love my laptop, with its WiFi and kick-ass battery life and portability and up-to-date functionality and all, I still get nostalgic when I see a beautiful old typewriter. I think a lot of writers feel the same: we've all seen those Hollywood films (from His Girl Friday to All the President's Men to 84 Charing Cross Road) where writers bashed out their masterpieces the old-fashioned way, with paper, an extra ribbon and a pile of carbons beside them.

As much as I love my laptop, with its WiFi and kick-ass battery life and portability and up-to-date functionality and all, I still get nostalgic when I see a beautiful old typewriter. I think a lot of writers feel the same: we've all seen those Hollywood films (from His Girl Friday to All the President's Men to 84 Charing Cross Road) where writers bashed out their masterpieces the old-fashioned way, with paper, an extra ribbon and a pile of carbons beside them.

Ever wonder why your dog barks for no apparent reason, thinks the UPS guy is an ax murderer, and howls when you leave?

Thanks to a Japanese toy maker, you can now now use his "Bowlingual" gadget to translate dog barks into human language. Frankly, I don't need this device; I know what my dogs are saying most of the time. (Note: that's Izzy pictured above, a beautiful bulldog we took care of for a few days when we were on the Cape. We own two rascally doxies.)

"Feed ME!"
"PLEASE take me for a walk!"
"Squirrels are attacking the house!"

Bowlingual supposedly works through a 3-inch long wireless microphone attached to a dog collar; the microphone transmits sounds to a palm-sized console that is linked to a database. The console then classifies each woof, yip or whine into six emotional categories - happiness, sadness, frustration, anger, assertion and desire - and displays common phrases, such as "You're ticking me off," that fit the dog's emotional state.

Tokyo-based Takara Co. Ltd. says that about 300,000 of the dog translator devices have been sold since its launch in Japan last year, and with the United States being home to about 67 million dogs - more than six times the number in Japan - you can see why they think we're panting in expectation. For $120 you can buy it this summer .

I can hear my dogs now:

"You could have bought a lot of dog kibble with that!"

Via CNN.

Ever wonder why your dog barks for no apparent reason, thinks the UPS guy is an ax murderer, and howls when you leave?

Thanks to a Japanese toy maker, you can now now use his "Bowlingual" gadget to translate dog barks into human language. Frankly, I don't need this device; I know what my dogs are saying most of the time. (Note: that's Izzy pictured above, a beautiful bulldog we took care of for a few days when we were on the Cape. We own two rascally doxies.)

"Feed ME!"
"PLEASE take me for a walk!"
"Squirrels are attacking the house!"

Bowlingual supposedly works through a 3-inch long wireless microphone attached to a dog collar; the microphone transmits sounds to a palm-sized console that is linked to a database. The console then classifies each woof, yip or whine into six emotional categories - happiness, sadness, frustration, anger, assertion and desire - and displays common phrases, such as "You're ticking me off," that fit the dog's emotional state.

Tokyo-based Takara Co. Ltd. says that about 300,000 of the dog translator devices have been sold since its launch in Japan last year, and with the United States being home to about 67 million dogs - more than six times the number in Japan - you can see why they think we're panting in expectation. For $120 you can buy it this summer .

I can hear my dogs now:

"You could have bought a lot of dog kibble with that!"

Via CNN.

Call me childish, but anything that’s good enough to interest a kiddo would probably have a like effect on me. I sometimes get as excited over my little son’s toys as he gets over my gizmos. Since the latter happens more often than I can tolerate, giving him his own gizmos (that are good imitations of mine) is something that I am constantly trying.

A toy camera perhaps? Or a toy cell phone? What about a toy laptop? Been there, done all of that. Which is why the Crayola EZ Type keyboard goes right into the list. This colorful USB keyboard will ensure that your little one can only perform some limited operations with your PC (it doesn’t have all the keys of a "professional" keyboard) and have fun as well. Definitely worth the $29.99.

Via Slippery Brick.

The word 'pizza' always piques my interest. Add the word 'stonebaked' in front of it and resistance is futile. But I always thought the only option for make-your-own stonebaked pizzas was a huge expensive oven, and even if I had the cash, I'm not sure I'm so pizza-obsessed that I'd get a special oven just for one food stuff. (Ah, who am I kidding, I make my first million and it's the first thing I'll do!)

The word 'pizza' always piques my interest. Add the word 'stonebaked' in front of it and resistance is futile. But I always thought the only option for make-your-own stonebaked pizzas was a huge expensive oven, and even if I had the cash, I'm not sure I'm so pizza-obsessed that I'd get a special oven just for one food stuff. (Ah, who am I kidding, I make my first million and it's the first thing I'll do!)

Almost anything can be improved by adding a remote control. Check out this sleek door design of the future, which comes with a remote control.

Designed by Brazil based design group Nódesign, the modern device also comes with a digital door bell, number lighting, and as you see in the photo above, a place for the mail.

Though it comes with a one week battery power supply, I would worry about forgetting to charge the thing and having to resort to climbing in a window, which somehow negates the new technology, no?

Now, where did I put the remote control for my husband?

Via Tuvie.

Almost anything can be improved by adding a remote control. Check out this sleek door design of the future, which comes with a remote control.

Designed by Brazil based design group Nódesign, the modern device also comes with a digital door bell, number lighting, and as you see in the photo above, a place for the mail.

Though it comes with a one week battery power supply, I would worry about forgetting to charge the thing and having to resort to climbing in a window, which somehow negates the new technology, no?

Now, where did I put the remote control for my husband?

Via Tuvie.

Geeksugar has posted a review of a new email-only device called The Peek, which will be available at Target for $99 this fall.

At first I wasn't sure I was interested in a gadget that only handles email: smart phones offer much more, and the latest laptops are so little you can stash one in all but the smallest of purses. Plus, the Peek's keys seem kinda petite...

COMA, an original seven-episode web series which premiered last week on Crackle

It's always amusing to see the frivolous designs for something as practical as a USB thumb drive. These "fashionable" jewels from USB Brando are designed to wear around your neck (necklace included) or on your cell phone strap.

A little too drag queen for me, they scream "Steal me"! Each to her own, however. Supports Window 2000/XP/Vista or MAC OS; 81 x 24 x 10mm (approx.); Weight: 20g.

$39.00 for the 4G.

If your phone is on this list, then the answer to that question would be “no.” And your question would probably be, “What the heck does SIMable mean anyway?”

SIMable is a thin chip that can be attached to your SIM card to fool your mobile phone into thinking that it has been unlocked. The price you pay? Apparently around $37, plus a hole that you have to cut out in your SIM card for aligning the SIMable chip. The company even puts to rest your doubts on how to accomplish that by “including a free cutting tool with every purchase.”

In the market since April of this year, the company now boasts success with the cracking of even the latest iPhone 3G. Watch the video demonstration here.

Via Jason Langridge's WebLog.

Sometimes technology can be put to really great use. Sometimes it can just be used to spy on us.

Researchers Nitesh Dhanjani and Akshay Aggarwal are developing a tool which allows them to create a real time picture of how an Internet user is feeling, based on their profile on a series of social networking sites.

"It will tell you what's going on in your brain," says Dhanjani.

I know super-geeks can be a bit clueless about emotional stuff, so I'm going to spell this one out: I already know how I'm feeling. (I know a lot more about myself than Facebook does).

So if you want to know how I'm feeling, ask me. And if I want you to know the answer, I'll tell you. Otherwise, stop the stalking. Sorry, I mean 'profiling'...

Via CNET news.

Wouldn't it be great if a special pillow could get rid of wrinkles while we sleep (and exercise for us while it's at it)? Researchers have purportedly developed a pillow case which diminishes wrinkles. They believe that copper ions contained in the fabric have an impact on all lines, but especially the fine lines. Moisture from the skin is said to release copper ions from the pillow cases which stimulate the production of collagen below the surface of the skin. In studies, after a few days of lying on copper pillows, lines on the faces of the subjects started to soften. (Clinical trials, supervised by a dermatologist, were carried out on 57 volunteers for four weeks, with the volunteers given either an anti-wrinkle pillow, which feels no different from normal fabric, or a similar conventional pillow.)

Jeffrey Gabbay, the owner of the Cupron company, which makes copper medical dressings, came to this invention in a roundabout manner: "The surgeon doing our wound-healing trial remarked how an increase in collagen was helping to heal wounds. We wondered if it might work on fixing wrinkles and lines on the face. So we had some copper woven pillows made up and noticed that over a few days of lying on a copper pillow, lines on the face started to soften."

For more information, and those fascinating before-and-after photos, click here.

The pillow is priced at $29.99 at Cupron Cosmetic Products. Hey, I'll try anything that involves sleeping, so I'll let you know in 4 weeks if it works.

Via MedLaunches.

Camera manufacturers are always thinking of ways to make their products stand out, so I guess the combination of Canon, tennis star Maria Sharapova, and 2.22 carat white diamonds was inevitable.

To celebrate the launch of their new limited edition range of cameras, the Canon Powershot Diamond Collection, Canon is giving away five of the dazzling gadgets via their website. They all feature 88 white diamonds around the lens which... well, it serves no purpose at all, let's be frank, but it looks pretty.

Via Geeksugar.

Nokia have just announced that the sequel to their N95, the N96 dual slider (has there ever been a more exciting turn of phrase than dual slider?) will be released in North America before the end of the year.

The sleekly gorgeous cell packs an impressive 16MB plus a micro SD slot, 5 megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss lens, 2.8 inch display and an integrated DVB-H mobile TV tuner.

The only downside? Expect to pay (wait for it...) $895. It's not yet legal to sell organs for tech, right?

Via Engadget.

When I received the Air Jacket from Power Support I swear I thought they had sent me an empty case. Inside, however, there's an almost invisible hard backing that fits snugly to the back of the iPhone 3G and an anti-glare screen for the front.

Virtually thin as "Air," the Air Jacket measures .7mm and is said to protect from scratches, dust and impacts. While it certainly compliments the iPhone's aesthetics, I'm not so sure it would protect your baby from anything more than a dust bunny. $34.95 from Power Support.


On the other end of the spectrum, we have the iFrogz Treadz, with it's 100% silicone rugged tire tread design. As with all the iFrogz cases, it's treated with a proprietary anti-dust technology to help it repel lint and dirt (that's what gives it the smooth feel, even after months of wearing.) It certainly provides more protection than the "invisible" case, but I'm still not testing it by dropping my 3G. Sorry, there's only so far I'll go to test gadgets for our Popgadget readers.
$14.99 at iFrogz.

Remember the Folderix flash drives from Art Lebedev that we were eagerly waiting for? The wait now ends - the drives are up for sale and look every bit as cute as they did during the concept phase.

Available in purple, blue and yellow, the charmers are priced rather steeply at $55 for 4GB. But don’t mind - that’s the price you pay for innovation.

Via DVICE.

Remember the Robosapien? That impressive (male) robot which could do all manner of cool things, from marching about in a dominant manner to throwing things and um... burping.

Well, it was about time manufacturers WowWee brought out a female version with similarly gender stereotypical specifications. The Femisapien can dance with you, blow kisses and pose in an impressive manner. So basically, she's a beauty queen in robotic form.

Pointless and regressive technology, much?

Via Shiny Shiny.

When we first saw the Zeppelin iPod speaker system from Bowers & Wilkins at CES, we weren't sure if it was a piece of art or functional technology. We were happy to report it sounds as good as it looks, as you'd expect from the British company which started out by making studio-quality speakers. (Abbey Road still features their 800 series speakers.)

There's a sound reason (pun intended) for the shape - one of the reasons the tweeters are so small is that they disperse the tiny high-frequency waves over a wider area than larger drivers, so the size of the enclosure housing the tweeter also affects this dispersion, and that's why Zeppelin's body narrows as the drivers get smaller.

While still out of most people's price range ($599), you can now buy the Zep at Apple stores worldwide.

Although we were excited about its launch, we're not exclusively about the iPhone 3G here at Popgadget. We are just (okay,almost) as excited about the sexy new BlackBerry Bold, with its large screen, WiFi, GPS and, um, John Mayer endorsement.

So when I saw these fabulous hand-made Blackberry earrings on Etsy, I thought they would be the perfect way to declare brand loyalty until the Bold is available next month. But they're sold out.
However, there's nothing to stop you from buying up some Fimo and making something similar yourself (using the phone or your choice as your inspiration).

Nothing but the limits of your craft skills, that is...

Via Shiny Shiny.