Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Let’s say for whatever reason, you need some cash and have some iPods you are hoarding in case the economy crashes and they are used as currency.  As an economist (in my free time) I can tell you that day isn’t coming - at least the part about using iPods as currency - and it is time to get rid of them.  One easy way: NextWorth.

Find out how by clicking to follow the story.

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Sections: Audio, Portable Audio, Web, Websites

I’d rather not tell you how I found this exclusive deal that will save you $29.99, but I can tell you to thank Oprah.  It seems odd to talk about her again after doing so a couple of weeks ago when she was pimping out the Kindle reader from Amazon.  This time, Snapfish.com was on her show on ways to unclutter your messy home.  Oprah touts getting rid of all your kids artwork and putting them into a keepsake book.

Um, sure Oprah, that is what I am going to do.  Nope, I am half way through making a book from the thousands of images my digital camera took on summer vacation.  Thank God for digital film.

So how do you get your free 8"x11” book free?

Here is the deal:

• Visit this link.
• Create an account or log in
• The credit will be added to your account, so you’ll see it at check out.
• upload photos, arrange, slap in some text
• click “order this book”
• pay shipping.  Sorry, Oprah doesn’t have any connections at the USPS.  Bummer.
• get book while reveling in the fact you beat the man this one day.

The catch

Sweet, right (aside from paying for shipping)?  You must visit this link and get the coupon added today.  You have up to Sunday to create and order the book.  Not a huge catch, but act now.

I’ve made photo books with Snapfish before and have been happy with the results.  I’ll be even happier not shelling out $30.  A big thanks to Snapfish and Oprah!

• Deal of the Day: Buy 2 select games at Amazon and get $25, buy 3 and get $50
• Free Spore Patch 3 adds 24 limbs
• Gamefly offering pre-Thanksgiving discounts on select games

Sections: Imaging, Accessories, Web, Websites

PhoneFusion announced yesterday that their Fusion Voicemail + is coming to the Android platform that will allow users to view their voicemails and listen to them in any order they choose.  This was a big selling point of the original iPhone and now it is coming to the Android platform.

Currently, PhoneFusion offers this software for free to Windows Mobile, BlackBerry, Linux, Palm and Symbian phones via their downloaded application.  PhoneFusion announced the addition of the Android to their compatible platforms at the Under the Radar: Mobility event.  The company says the application will be available before the end of this year.

Find out more about this app.  Click more to follow.

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Yesterday,  Google let loose their video chat to the masses.  If your account doesn’t have the option yet, Google promises within a day or so you will.  The new option for video is very simple and many users are wondering, how does this differ from other online video services like Skype?

Skype is a full-featured video calling program.  It is easiest to think of Gmail voice and chat as augmenting their instant messaging chat rather than something completely new.  One of the biggest differences is Gmail’s version only allows video chatting with other Gmail users who have downloaded the plug in (about 2MB).  With Skype, users are allowed to contact both online and offline numbers, albeit for a fee.  There is not an option to go offline with Gmail voice and chat.

See what else Gmail voice and video users won’t be doing anytime soon.

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Sections: Communications, Email / IM, Web, Web 2.0, Google

Many users of AVG 7.5 and AVG 8 were stuck with Windows systems that didn’t operate after the AVG security scanner software mistakenly identified a necessary Windows component as a Trojan virus. 

The file user32.dll was tagged incorrectly as a banking Trojan after a signature update on Sunday.  The AVG scanner then advised users to delete the “harmful file.“  So, of course…many listened.  And when they did, they were stuck with a system that either would not boot or else was knocked into a continuous reboot cycle.  Continued after the break.

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Sections: Computers, Security, Software / Applications, Web, Downloads, Web Apps, Websites

TeleNav, the on-phone GPS provider that I rely on, announced this morning they are in the connected GPS game.  This news comes on the heels of Dash GPS announcing they were done making their stand along connected GPS device.  Let’s get to it: how good is this GPS device?

From the looks of it, pretty good.  A connected GPS device is the way to go.  Static data trapped in a box isn’t helpful.  What is helpful is a device that reaches out to get new info, expand its searches.  And that is what the TeleNav Shotgun is.

Check the connected features of this GPS device.

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Just Wednesday, Microsoft announced a site set up exclusively for tech startups.  No, working with startups isn’t a new concept for Microsoft.  But often, the programs weren’t very well known, and the scope was rather narrow.  This latest launch, BizSpark, is a different story. 

First off, when joining, you get the what you might expect—Microsoft products.  Of course, there are the obvious Office, Visual Studio, Sharepoint, as well as both Windows and SQL Server.  But that isn’t all.  BizSpark works with over 300 Network Partners who can offer the program right to startups.  The really big bonus?  There is absolutely no upfront cost to join.  You do however, have to pay $100 when you leave the program.

Learn more about what you can do with Microsoft’s help after the break.

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Laptops, Networking, Security, Software / Applications, Wireless, Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

When Google started its Google Book Search Service a few years ago, it annoyed a number of people.  Those people included “the Authors Guild, the Association of American Publishers and a handful of authors and publishers.“  On Tuesday the groups involved reached an agreement, and have submitted it to the court. 

The agreement would see Google paying $125 million, but allow them to add millions of books both in- and out-of-print.  Of course, most people won’t be able to read entire copyrighted texts before actually buying them, but they will be able to see a few pages of the book.  Plenty more information after the break.

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Sections: Web, Google

With the release of the iPhone App Store and the Android Market, a lot of apps are trying to become the next social networking app.  E-ventr for Android tries to accomplish this goal by managing your free time.  With E-ventr you can create ope events, or join open events that your friends that are attempting to do something.

Sure, E-ventr requires everyone else to have the same app, which as of now means they also need to have a G1 phone.  So, assuming that is the case, you’ll be able to coordinate events easily. 

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Sections: Communications, Cellphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Web

Disney movies, independent films, anime and Bollywood flicks have something in common – starting soon, you’ll be able to download them directly to your TiVo.  TiVo has struck deals with Disney, CinemaNow and Jaman.com to get new downloadable content to TiVo boxes everywhere. 

The content will be rolled out over the next couple of weeks.  Stuff from Jaman.com, like indy films, anime, and Bollywood flicks, will be available today.  CinemaNow brings the Disney content and that won’t be available until next week.  More information, including pricing, after the break.

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