Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

It seems like just yesterday this thing went for $199 and you could easily justify that cost.  But at $49.99, it is a whopper of steal.  Today, at woot.com, they are selling it like hotcakes, or so I imagine.

This player is unique in that it saves Slacker’s Internet radio stations (up to 15 stations on this model) for playback when you are even out of range.  Come back within range and the device updates itself with new music.  The software allows you to customize the experience by banning songs you hate and letting it know the songs you love.

There is no monthly fees unless you don’t want to hear the commercials, which are minimal (two or so an hour).  The premium service is $7.50 per month.

Our resident Slacker expert, Robert Nelson, had this to say about getting some hands on time with this model:

“Slacker was set up at CES and we were able to get a little hands on time, which just made us want one a little more.“

Check it out now before this one disappears : [woot]

• Walmart’s Cyber Monday 2008 video game deals
• Cyber Monday 2008 deals round-up
• MacSales has some great Cyber Monday specials

Sections: Audio, Portable Audio, Web, Websites

This is where we call out the tech moves that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin’ crack.  This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity. 

Here’s what caught my eye this week:

• Zune Phone inbound?
• Kindle 2 sucking life out of holiday sales?
• 7-11’s new video section
• HDTVs for pennies?

Follow me into the madness.

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This is where we call out the tech moves that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin’ crack.  This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity. 

This close to the holidays, everyone is hoping what is bolted down to the table withstands the storm.  (No, not that Storm). Here is what caught my eye this week:

Crazy texts from AT&T Marketing
Music sold on media
Apple’s lacking 2.2 update
BB Storms underwhelming intro
Touch on HP’s laptop

Follow me into the madness.

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Being a CEO of a major brand on the net isn’t easy.  Getting the job is even harder, that is where Gadgetell comes in.  By entering our contest, you’ll earn our public recommendation to Yahoo!‘s board for the open CEO position.  Warm up those golf clubs, here is what we think Yahoo! needs:

To be the next CEO at Yahoo!, we believe the company needs a big personality.  Google has the rollerblading wonder twins, MS now has almost larger-than-life Ballmer and Apple’s got a guy with a closet full of black mock turtlenecks.  While we don’t believe having rollerblades, being nutty or sticking to one outfit is a prerequisite, here is what we do think is. . .

Follow to find out more and to apply to Gadgetell’s Be the next Jerry Yang contest.

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Sections: Web, Web 2.0, Websites, Features, Contests

As a frequent traveler, I am awash in trip confirmations, hotels, and rental car info.  I often forget who I’ve told I am going away and who I’ve not.  TripIt aims to change all that.  By simply forwarding them your confirmation emails, they scan the doc and import in the pertinent information into their system and put it out there for you and anyone you give access to.  Talk about handy.

I’ve been using TripIt for a bit now and must say it works as promised.  It takes email forwarded from sites like Travelocity and Expedia as well as from the airlines directly and travel agents.  Entering in new trips was effortless and the data entered was spot on.  Even when JetBlue changed a flight time on me, I forwarded the email wondering if it would throw their system for a loop; nope, it changed my data just as I hoped.

My contacts could easily find my trip info and when i was on the road, accessing the data was a snap.  I enjoy the service but had some questions.  Luckily, Gregg Brockway, CEO and founder of TripIt was willing to answer my questions.  Gregg comes out of the travel industry and seems to know his stuff.

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Sections: Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Transportation, Web, Web Apps, Websites

Sweet.  That is how I’d describe this camera.  I am not sure if it is me getting used to their “Best Shot” system or what, but dialing this camera in for use seems super simple.  Really, my only complaint is with extreme close up focusing (I love artsy pics) since I was unable to get anything but a blur. 

Small, inexpensive at $179 in fashion colors.  It is a winner in my book.  Check out the video review and some sample images after the break. 

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Despite uneasy feelings on Wall Stre5et, electronic gadgets are predicted to gain in sales by 3.5 percent over last year’s Q4.  While overall spending is set to decline on holiday shopping, gadgets are somewhat immune.  According the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association), specific gadgets will still do extremely well this holiday season.

Smartphones

Any product that increases connectivity with friends and loved ones will be spent on more heavily according to the CEA report.  Consumers will forgo other luxury spending to get smartphones that can handle e-mail, texting, phoning and even Internet browsing.  Consumers can justify the expense easier as the phone becomes integral to daily life.

See what other electronics can withstand this economy after the break.

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Tough times call for tough actions.  It seems in light of all the economic bad news, lower income folks are ditching gadgets to have just one: the iPhone 3G.  Who needs two iPods?  Who needs a netbook?  Who needs a home phone line?

Indeed, one could argue the iPhone is just a tethering application away from ditching your home line, your broadband connection, your cable or satellite company, heck—even books are not able to escape all the niches Apple’s wonder child can get its hands on.  My thinking here is tethering would allow you to use your laptop/desktop via the iPhones 3G connection, so you can ditch the $25 per month + for broadband.

See how many folks continue to flock to the iPhone, ditching other gadgets.

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This is where we call out by names the actions and companies that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin’ crack.  Technology is an odd realm where PR speak doesn’t hold a lot of water if the 1s and 0s don’t line up.  This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity.  Here is what caught my eye this week:

Follow to see my rant on:
• The not so Bold.
• Windows XP or bust.
• Google’s got waaay too much free time.
• Verizon thinks they know a smartphone when they see one.

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The crushing economic pressure here in the USA is feeling its weight around the world and is going to impact us all.  Tech companies often feel their products are luxuries and could be the first thing consumers avoid, potentially making their big time of year: the holidays, a bust.  So what is a tech gadget maker to do?

Find out what iLuv did.  Hit the jump for more.

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