Amazon Kindle, the wireless eBook reading device has taken the conventional method of book reading to a whole new level.  The Kindle was released late in 2007 and to the amazement of everyone was completely sold out soon thereafter.  Debuting at a price point of $399, Amazon just couldn’t make enough of them.  I will describe the pros and cons of the device and let you decide if it suits your needs.

POSITIVES
1- Wireless connectivity with automatic delivery of newspapers and blogs from around the world.
2- Instant download of more than 140,000 books.
3- Small, light weight form factor that easy to carry around.
4- Email documents and images to the device.
5- Integrated memory that stores approximately 200 books.
6- Rechargeable battery that is user replaceable and lasts on average for a week.
7- Free book samples that you can download and read the first chapter before deciding to buy it.
8- Built-in keyboard for notes, email and searching.

NEGATIVES
1- Wireless Internet connection limited to the United States.
2- Books, newspapers and even blogs cost money.  Most of the books run between $5-$10, which is a savings compared to buying a paperback or hard cover.
3- No back light for the screen.  You must have ample light just as if you were reading a regular book.
4- Awkward design results in various buttons being pressed while reading.
5- Price! Extremely expensive for a device that has a grayscale display.

The Amazon Kindle would be best suited for people that read a lot and want a quick and effective way to store and download a vast array of reading materials, with no need for a computer.  Travelers would also be likely to enjoy the product if they wanted to fork out the dough.  Amazon has recently dropped the price of the Kindle to $359 since it was released.

Weighing in on all the advantages and disadvantages makes me wonder how long this technology will last.  I think it is too soon to decide if the Amazon Kindle and other eBook readers will survive.  For this device to become mainstream, the price must plummet to about $100 and then I still don’t know if this would become a product every household will have or even want.  With the explosion of the Internet, the iPhone and Ultra Mobile PC’s, I would predict this device is headed for extinction.  Only time and demand will tell.

If you’re a fan of the iPhone already, a new version of this fun gadget has hit stores just this week, and everyone is buzzing about it. The iPhone 3G is the latest from Apple, and when it comes to fun gadgets Apple has certainly put something out there that people will want. Current iPhone users will be able to do more, and this fun gadget costs even less.

You can do everything from listen to music to go online with your iPhone. You can blog from your phone, talk to your friends and get all the latest information from the world right in the palm of your hand. Are you on Twitter? You can send messages straight from your iPhone to your Twitter using Twitterific. The new iPhone is faster, and with the apps store, you can make your phone do whatever it is you want to do. Everything from buying and selling on eBay to playing fun games. Talk about your fun gadgets!

This is more than just another phone. The cons to this new phone? None. Other than the fact you might end up playing more with your phone than actually working! Now that is a problem! The new iPhone starts at $199, which I know is no small number, but with the amount of things you can do with your new iPhone, it might just be the right price for you. If you can’t upgrade your current iPhone now, you can always upgrade your current phone, but why wouldn’t you want to buy the new iPhone 3G? It is the latest of fun gadgets in the marketplace, and you just know everyone is going to want one! You can get yours today.

This wireless data exchange concept is very similar to a few designs we’ve seen already, but Postmachina is going to be manufacturing a wireless device called Project E that holds your personal information and swaps it when it comes into contact with another, similar device. In essence, it can hold all the info on your business card, plus other data (maybe even social networking information) and transfer it to other people you meet at trade shows or other events.

After doing tests with Bluetooth, Postmachina’s director, Renato Valdes Olmos, decided to make their own set of wireless protocols in order to swap information—which can then be synced with a computer and imported into various social networking sites like LinkedIn or Twitter. If this Project E can be made robust and foolproof that it will work without even thinking about it, we could see a huge market for it everywhere. But if Postmachina can take this tech and insert it into cellphones, something people already carry on them, that would be a revolution.

Since the 1980s, cities like Guiyu, China, have been taking in electronic waste from other countries for dismantlement and processing. It’s great for other countries, but takes a huge toll on the people managing the effort because of the “metal extraction of circuit boards” and “open dumping of waste and ash residue into open water”. It’s made the well water and ground water of Guiyu undrinkable, and has to be trucked in from other villages. The lead poisoning level in children is 69%.

After some delays, the iPhone Pwnage tool—which is used to flash your iPhone with hacked firmware that will allow you to run any application, use it unlocked in any compatible cellphone network, and basically do whatever you want do to with it, is now available for download. I have been testing this and previous versions for a few weeks now and it works well, but you will need a 2.0 version of the iPhone firmware to try the latest and greatest.

Pwnage is extremely simple to use. First you have to back up your iPhone data using iTunes.

Then, connect the iPhone, select the firmware from your hard drive and iPwn the iPhone. Pwnage will upload the new firmware to the iPhone and that’s that: the tool will take care of everything and, in a few minutes, your iPhone will be ready to go.

I tried this with the latest modified version of iPhone firmware update 1.2.0 and it works as good as with the previous version. So go ahead, punks, and make Steve’s day.

Note: if by any chance you come across a pwned version of the latest 2.0 firmware, my advice is to use this version, as this Apple beta is not as stable as I wish. Instead, use the previous beta, which worked perfectly.

Sony Ericsson may not be good at delivering promised goods in a timely manner, but when it does finally deliver something—say, its first HSDPA phone for the US market—it does it with style and a shockingly low price. The Z750a is hitting AT&T for just $50 (after a $100 mail-in rebate that you damn well better fill out). The clamshell with the signature-Sony OLED see-through exterior will come in three colors: Mysterious Purple, Phantom Grey and Rose Pink. US availability details and bonus pic after the jump.

Sony Ericsson Blends Style, Sophistication and Speed with New Z750a Clamshell 

New Mobile Broadband Handset Available in the U.S. Only from AT&T
RALEIGH, N.C. —(Business Wire)— Mar. 31, 2008 Mobile phone owners no longer have to decide between high performance and attractive design when choosing a new handset with the new Sony Ericsson Z750a. Available in the U.S. exclusively at AT&T, the Z750a is an affordable and stylish handset with a mirrored clamshell design and a hidden exterior display that illuminates when the phone is in use. As Sony Ericsson’s first 3G/HSDPA handset for the U.S. market, the Z750a features mobile broadband for a high-speed Internet(1)connection and access to multimedia content that complements its multimedia player, 2.0 megapixel camera, Internet(1) browser and e-mail(2) capability using AT&T’s Mobile Email application.

“Sony Ericsson continues to expand its North American portfolio with a distinctive and signature design that combines entertainment, style and speed in a sleek device,” said Karen Morris, vice president of marketing for Sony Ericsson North America. “Representing one of our most distinctive and colorful 3G clamshells, the Z750a will appeal to those who want to do more with their phone - share music, high-quality pictures, browse the Internet - and project a sophisticated image all their own. We are delighted that AT&T will offer this device in the U.S. along with the hugely successful W580 Walkman(R) Phone.”

The Z750a works hard, offering features such as data download transfer speeds from 600 to 1400 kbps from AT&T’s High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) 3G network, support for AT&T’s Mobile Email, a 2.0 megapixel camera, full HTML web browsing(1) capabilities and stereo Bluetooth(R)(3) support (A2DP). The Z750a also plays hard with 3D gaming capabilities, a media player that supports numerous media file types for listening to your favorite music tracks and video. The phone has up to 26MB(4) of internal memory and is Memory Stick Micro(TM) (M2(TM)) compatible - currently upgradeable to 8GB(5) - providing ample storage space for photos, videos, music, games and more.

No matter how smart and powerful the Z750a may be on the inside, it still dares to be sleek and sophisticated on the outside. The Z750a has a reflective mirror clamshell casing and hidden organic light-emitting diode (OLED) reflective display screen on the front of the phone that discretely illuminates when receiving a call, displaying caller identification. When active, it also displays battery life, text message alerts and other useful information. To match anyone’s personal style, the Z750a launches in three tantalizing color choices: Mysterious Purple, Phantom Grey and Rose Pink.

The Sony Ericsson Z750a will be available at AT&T stores and authorized dealers in early April for $49.99 after a $100 mail-in-rebate and new two-year service contract.

Z750a Phone At-A-Glance

Sony Ericsson packed innovative features into the Z750a, but didn’t compromise looks or quality to get the job done.

— Weight: 3.9 oz

— Size: 3.8 x 1.9 x 0.8 inches (approx.)

— Talk Time(6): Up to 9 hours GSM; up to 3.5 hours UMTS

— Standby Time(6): Up to 400 hours GSM; up to 350 hours UMTS

— 2.0 megapixel camera

— PictBridge(TM) compatible

— Media Player

— AT&T’s Music ID music recognition application

— AT&T CV video service

— Memory Stick Micro(TM) (M2(TM)) support (up to 8GB(5))

— Tri-band HSPDA (850/1900/2100)

— Quad-band EDGE (850/900/1800/1900)

— Bluetooth(R) stereo (A2DP) support(3)

— USB 2.0 capable

— Full HTML browser

— AT&T Mobile Email

— 2.2″ QVGA 262k Color TFT display

— OLED External Sub Display

Who would have ever thought that there would ever be a market for gaming mice? I guess no one ever thought World of Warcraft would ever take off the way it did. I never did like the controls on those MMORPG games, and it’s only natural someone made them simpler.

For example, Belkin, a company famous for tech accessories, has created the n52te, a gaming mouse with tagline of “Built for speed. Built to Dominate. Built to Destroy”. Dang! It sounds like the n52te is designed for MMORPGs, but it is also created for FPS or RTS games.

The n52te has 15 fully programmable keys that are completely customizable, so a gamer can do very quick things at the touch of a button. There is also a programmable 8-way thumb-pad with a removable joystick. The user can also easily toggle between 3 keymap states.

In short, this lets a gamer really get into the game. It appears that ergonomics were also in mind in this design. There is an adjustable soft-touch wrist pad for comfort, and nonslip rubber pads to grip in place.