Gadgets

Apple has finally given up on their deal with NBC Universal after several disputes over the price of their television shows. Apple officially announced that they would no longer be offering any NBC programs for the fall season through their iTunes ... downloading service. NBC has fired back at their former partnering company, claiming that Apple was solely responsible for the downfall of the agreement. According to NBC affiliates, they had given Apple sufficient notice that their programs were not to be sold via iTunes after the end of the previous season. (Source: usatoday.com ) The quarrel is ... (view more)

After weeks of rumors regarding an impending iPod announcement, the day has come. Late Tuesday, Apple sent out invitations to a media event on Wednesday, September 5 in San Francisco called "The Beat Goes On." Although the company did not explicitly ... reveal the event's focus, the silhouette of a dancing iPod user left a big hint. "The Beat Goes On" was the final phrase used in The Beatles' last news release in 1970. Rumors have been swirling that Apple will soon reveal the availability of the entire Beatles catalog at the iTunes store. In a report released Wednesday, analyst Gene Munster said ... (view more)

It seems just about every week our lovable Bill Lindner discovers a new "Big Brother" plan in the tech universe. Most of the time, it has something to do with Microsoft or Windows Vista, but in this case the culprit is rather unexpected. Global ... Positioning Systems, or GPS, have been devised to help people, not hurt them. Right? Not according to New York City's abundant taxi driver population. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), comprising some 10,000 cabbies, alleges that GPS allows management to spy on drivers. They're threatening to strike unless GPS technology is removed forever ... (view more)

Can't afford one of those flashy new iPhones in the window? Try a refurbished version of the device, now being offered by Apple Inc. itself for $100 less than retail. The service has been available since last Monday, when Apple began displaying the ... popular iPhone (4GB edition) for just $399. Those customers interested in a bit more space can also save $100, with the 8GB version knocked down to $499. It's not a new business practice for Apple, which typically sells its wares second-hand for discounted prices. Most, such as the iPod, Apple TV, and its computer hardware come with a one-year ... (view more)

In recent weeks, we've heard a lot about Apple's iPhone. We've heard so much about it, in fact, that few of us remember the sleekest cell before it. That of course, was the Motorola RAZR. Desperate to regain some of its past glory, Motorola will ... release its slim handheld in an entirely new version. It's unsurprisingly (and un-originally) called RAZR 2. This weekend will mark the release of Motorola's new device, a rather desperate attempt to remind consumers that extremely thin cell phones, and not extremely expensive and feature-laden devices, were once the toast of the market. Behind the ... (view more)

Although we've all been entranced with the beauty and sheer media power of the Apple iPhone, it's hard to imagine all that innovation could have come from just one tech company. Well, it might just be too good to be true, according to a recent suit ... alleging that the phone's maker lifted its whimsical keyboard design. SP Technologies argues that it has held the patent rights to the iPhone's keyboard since the year 2000. The popular touch-screen feature, which has been responsible for much of the materialistic fanfare behind the device, was apparently developed seven years ago. That's clear in ... (view more)

There are two types of people in tech: those who craft it, and those who hack it. Apple and its loyal customers (who braved long lines to get their hands on the device) have had weeks to enjoy the rosy glow emitted by the iPhone. Now, it's the ... mischievous hacker's turn to enjoy the media spotlight, as word comes that a hole exists in the defenses of Apple's communicator. Luckily, many hackers have abandoned their basement apartments for white collar jobs in software security companies. In fact, it was a security expert team at ISE (Independent Security Evaluators) that discovered a glitch ... (view more)

Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) has fared worse against Nintendo than its PlayStation 3. And, that's saying a lot. In release for a few years now, the PSP's once-glowing potential has been lost amidst the sticky goo of good intentions from Sony's ... executive branch. Although the stylish black handheld boasts a far more attractive appearance and superior graphics, the PSP has been thoroughly trounced by Nintendo's handy DS. What's so "handy" about the DS? Well, it is extremely portable. The most recent edition of the DS, the DS Lite, is un-surprisingly lightweight and durable for a handheld ... (view more)

Intel has finally agreed to join the One Laptop Per Child campaign, after months of publicly stating that they had no intentions of ever doing so. One Laptop Per Child is a non-profit, internationally-recognized program that aims to supply the ... developing countries of the world with inexpensive laptop computers. Ironically, before Intel had joined One Laptop Per Child, the campaign had been referred to by many as a plausible Intel rival, since most of the processors used in the inexpensive computers were supplied by industry opponent Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). (Source: itweek.co.uk ) In a ... (view more)

Let's face it, up until this point the Apple iPod has been the golden boy of modern electronics. By comparison, everything else in the tech realm seems to fall apart: Xbox 360s overheat, laptop batteries catch fire, and everyone hates Windows Vista. ... Well, Apple's no longer safe, and neither are the iPod's users. At least, that's the case if they decide to listen to their tunes during a lightning storm. The warning comes from north of the border, where a Vancouver, British Columbia doctor has launched a crusade to keep MP3 fans safe from Mother Nature. Dr. Eric Heffernan has found that digital ... (view more)