Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

New domains are always exciting, and if you can remember the most recent major one (.me) you will remember the vast amounts of money are usually spent as people bid for the best of the selection.  However .tel will not involve vast amounts of money or even much media coverage, because it is something different and a new way of looking at domain names.

These domains will not be about websites, but more of a way of sharing the information of the domain owner, and will not involve any building, hosting or managing.  They are effectively domains that tell you all about the domain owner, such as their business, their address and their phone number: a bit like an online contact card.  Keep reading after the break.

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Sections: Web

It seems fairly common recently for parents to yell at their teenagers for spending possibly too much time on the Internet or computers in general.  I know I’ve heard it enough, directed both at myself when I was in high school and to others.  Some parents like to complain that teenagers aren’t spending their time well on the Internet when they could be reading or playing in traffic.  I’ve never believed the arguments against the Internet for teenagers, and now there’s actually a study that proves it for me.  Read about the study after the break.

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Sections: Web

My, my Google.  That was quick.  I’ll just bet you’re a ton of fun on a date.  Launched just this past July, Google’s “Lively” program (in hindsight, one can’t help but chuckle at the name they chose), is already being killed off.  I can hear the trumpets in the background as I type.

I guess all those risque room names and sex rooms weren’t even enough to keep you afloat, though they did cause quite a stir.  But, even that wasn’t enough to keep the public’s interest focused on this dying program.  Poor Google.  I guess you aren’t the King of All things Internet after all…at least not when your “idea” is one you pretty much just copied.  Continued. . .

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Sections: Computers, Gaming, Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Websites, Google

Microsoft just announced that they are giving Windows Live a major face lift.  They plan to debut a whole bunch of new beta Windows Live features to help users combine all parts of their online life.  These features are not going to just be Microsoft services either.  But they will all be under the Windows Live umbrella page.

Even though they already hold the title of the most used messenger program; they obviously want to reach even farther into the online cookie jar.  Microsoft wants to offer competition with the popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.  Whether or not they can actually provide any kind of competition coming into the game this much later remains to be seen.  What’s Microsoft’s plan?  Keep reading.

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Software / Applications, Web, Downloads, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

So, you’ve found and purchased the camera that is just perfect for you. (If you haven’t, check out The Gadgetell guide to finding a camera)  You’ve been been playing with it, experimenting with it, and taking a ton of shots. Now what?  Well, there are quite a few options if you want your work seen or even sold.

There are lots of places on the ‘net that allow you to post your photography work.  Of course, there is the well known flickr, which seems to be used by everybody and their brother to post everything from little Johnny’s 4th birthday party to girls showing off their ass-ets, to some photos that really do have photographic merit.  But, if you are looking to have your work seen and critiqued by other photographers, you may want to look into some other sites as well. 

Read about all the options you have to get your work seen and even get paid for your photos after the break. 

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Looking for something to set you apart on MySpace?  Need a funky-fresh, dressed to impress photo?  Head on over to Pixisnap and use there free service to create your very own mosaics and Polaroid images.  The site is just a web application so there is no downloading.  Getting images to look cool is super easy.

This morning, I created the image above.  The site does not make users sign up, so it took all of two minutes for me to be in and out.  Simply upload a photo, choose the design (you can pick from several choices on the Polaroids, each choice adding more glimpses of the photo), then pick a background and decide where you want the image to go.  The site interfaces with MySpace so you can send it right there.

As a quick, easy to use photo generator, this site is great.  It does all that it says and does so well.  I am pretty sure a cat could get this site to work, it is just that easy.  The site is in beta, but worked without a hitch in my trial.

Head over and try it out: [pixisnap]

• Glimpse at the iPhone of 2012
• New .tel domain opens up
• Sony’s Home beta temporarily shuts down for maintenance

Sections: Imaging, Web, Web Apps, Websites

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

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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If there ever was two things that go great together, it is peanut butter and chocolate.  If ever there were two things that go great together, it would be the aforementioned peanut butter and chocolate and then GPS and cell connection.  The pair are a regular Batman and Robin of the gadget world.  Now, they want to save your watercraft.

Maybe you remember this dude?  He owned a motorcycle that apparently, everyone wanted and it kept getting stolen.  So, the dude went out and purchased a GPS snitch so the next time it was stolen, the cops tracked it down.  And then the next time it was stolen yet again, the cops tracked it down.  All thanks to GPS and a cell connection.

Check out the Harpoon, a GPS device that does a bunch of tricks to keep your boat safe.

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Kids love those darn ringtone and ringback tones.  Imagine if those same kids could share their favorite web clips just by phoning someone.  Vringo is turning a simple phone call into an expression of self that can change by the hour.

A Turkish carrier has become the first to venture into a subscription model for video ringtones.  Not only can the Turks with this service enjoy a web clip when their phone rings, they can push out these clips to others, making something that was somewhat personal (setting ringtones for your friends) into a very social party.  Users can push these clips to show on their friends phones when the user calls them.

Learn more about Vringo.

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