Technology Madness

Dell Mini 9 for $199, only today

Happy Friday to all deal hunters. I got this deal in my e-mail. Do you have an extra $199? You can purchase DELL Mini 9 laptop (netbook) for just $199, only for today (Feb 27, 2009)

Today is the day to get your grubby little hands on one. Dell is offering a one-day only deal for the base model of their highly-rated Inspiron Mini 9 netbook computer for just $199 bucks! May be a good start for your 4th or 5th grader kid.

The Mini 9 runs on…

• Ubuntu Linux and
• features a crisp 1024 x 600 resolution
• 8.9″ color LCD screen, wireless connectivity,
• Intel Atom N270 processor (1.6GHz)
• and a 4GB solid state drive
• 4-cell battery

The special deal is good from 12:00am to 11:59pm Central Time, today, Feb 27, 2009.

Tax-free Internet shopping coming to an end

Don’t know how many of you are aware of his, but there was a law recently passed in New York State requiring amazon.com and all other internet vendors to collect Newyork state sales tax on behalf of the NY state. For the longest time, only those companies who had a physical presence in the state had to collect tax, but this law put an interesting twist on this by also including, any/all small in-state (here , NY state) vendors, affiliates, associates who sell their goods or promote amazon.com business via referral links or website, in the new law characterization. In other words, if an online vendor has even one affiliate in New York State, it must collect sales tax on everything sold in the state, even if the goods aren’t bought from New York affiliate. (That’s why some of the major internet retailer store, like Overstock.com, cancelled affiliation memberships for those are from troubled (Tax hungry) state, like NY State)

Amazon.com is doing a counter attack in different ways: Amazon filed a suit challenging this new law in a court. (If you are interested in reading court document, find it here ) One thing is clear; the days of tax-free online shopping are coming to an end. Amazon.com already declared that even while they are fighting this law in court, they are going to start collecting sales tax of everything shipped to New York starting June 1st.

Via [Nytimes.com technology blog and cnet.com news blog ]

Jeff Bezos: Amazon.com Kindle- price break

Jeff Bezos: Amazon.com Kindle- price break

Extra reading:

Bezos On Kindle: ‘We Would Love To Have Color’—And Every Book Ever, Interesting interview with J Bezos by Staci Kramer. Read it here: paidcontent.org

Apple Macbook air - La-la-la-la-la-la-la- Yael Naim

You might have seen latest “Apple Macbook air” commercial. It seems “Macbook air” is less popular than its commercial. According to Yahoo buzz news, her (Yaël Naïm) buzz has scaled up 550% in the past week. Yaël Naïm, Israeli singer is the latest to sing sweet song for the company’s newest product – Apple Macbook air. The tune itself, “New Soul,” has hit the top 50,000 in Buzz terms, and more people are still seeking out what that “macbook air commercial song” (+117%) is. It seems New Soul created more buzz than product itself. No matter what, song is really sweet and beautiful. All credit goes to David Donatien, Yael Naim and band- http://yaelweb.com/ (and Apple too!)

Via [Yahoo buzz]

Links:
New Soul lyrics by Yael Naim

Yael Naim Band website Yael Naim On Wiki

Yael Naim On Myspace

New Soul CD on Amazon.com (opens in a new window)

Apple MacBook Air commercial

Introduction of the Apple MacBook Air (MacWorld 2008) - Part 1

Introduction of the Apple MacBook Air (MacWorld 2008) - Part 2

Just in case if you are interested, here is Walt Mossberg’s First Impressions of Apple’s MacBookAir: Link

Unboxing a MacBook Air

Related tags: mac apple osx software howto news ipod video design apple mac macbook macbookair laptop air hardware design review technology

Technorati Tags: mac, apple, osx, software, howto, news, ipod, video, design, apple, mac, macbook, macbookair, laptop air, hardware, design, review, technology  

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High-tech USB Christmas tree - Yego Drive

The RIDATA Yego Drive is now available in 8GB capacity. This is the first USB storage drive which can be linked with other RIDATA Yego to extend its capacity. Think of it as a high-tech Christmas tree.

Harvey Liu, Advanced Media president explains “It allows easy connection of additional USB devices. Users now have access to a virtually endless stream of data, photos, or music without running out of USB ports or continually changing devices. Additionally, units may be linked together for even greater USB connectivity and storage capacity.”

The RIDATA USB Yego Drives are now available in 1GB to 4GB capacities and “are competitively street priced”. The YEGO features true Plug & Play technology, is USB 2.0 compliant, transfers data up to 480Mbps and is powered via USB port.

Features:
• Novel Design with two additional ports
• Tie-style LEDs light independently to indicate usage status
• USB drive plus two extra USB ports
• Capacities: 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB
• Compliant to USB 2.0 specification with full-speed transfer up to 480Mbps
• True Plug & Play USB connectivity
• Powered via USB port so no external power or battery is needed
• Power saving mode reduces power consumption

Via [RIDATA Yego Drive and Ritekusa]

Zune 2 Announcement - Quick video walkthrough

Microsoft has unveiled the second generation of its wireless-enabled Zune music player, adding more storage in its flagship model and introducing a smaller player to compete with Apple’s iPod nano. Here is a quick walkthrough of new zune 2.

• The newest additions are smaller 4gb and 8gb players with flash memory with sport video playback and wireless functionality.
• They are priced at $149 -4gb and $199 -8gb.
• Currently the small Zunes come in red, pink, green, and black.
• An updated hard drive model will have 80GB of storage and come in black at launch.
• New Zunes are due to release around November 13th.
• New Wi-Fi features will include wireless sync with PC. Shared songs will no longer have a 3 day limit for use, but the 3 play rule remains in effect.
• Photos as usual have no restrictions at all when shared Zune to Zune.
• To improve on “the social” online Zune Cards will be introduced. Each card can be personalized based on unique interests.
• Zunecasts (podcasts) are coming to the Zune marketplace along with video content. TV shows recorded on Windows Media Center can also be synced up with the Zune devices.

via [here]

Contextual Advertising Now Available To Amazon Associates

Contextual advertising is now available from the Amazon Associates program too and the possibility of its use next to Google AdSense contextual ads may reserve you some interesting surprise. This program labelled Omakase Links, where Amazon associates can automatically display products that visitors to their pages would be most interested in buying. Just like what Google AdSense does. Omakase is a Japanese word that stands for “leave it up to us”, “make the decision for me”, “chef’s choice”. Just like for Google AdSense ads, you leave it to Amazon to select and fire the most appropriate ads next to your content.

Here is Amazon own announcement on the new service:

“Omakase Links let Associates automatically feature products that visitors to the page are most likely to buy. With Omakase Links you do not need to chose which product, product line or even keyword that best fits a page. Our algorithms will optimize product offerings based on what the Associate has been successful with in the past; what that user has been interested in; as well as what the site is about. Omakase Links - leave it up to us! At present we are offering Omakase Links as a BETA to our Associates.“

Dave Taylor reports about the details of this with some interesting details, find it here

I haven’t tested the efficiency of the Omakase links but the main difference between this and google AdSense is, you will get a commition only if someone click and buy the stuff from Amazon.com during the same window session of the browser while in case of adsense, you will get a small commission regardless of user’s action on destination site.  

Via [http://www.masternewmedia.org and http://www.techarchives.net]

Stuck in traffic? Google Maps service may help you.

Google announced a new addition to the Google Maps service,
the traffic levels can now be displayed with a click of a mouse. There
are 30 American cities that work with the new tool, some examples can
be seen at: New York and Chicago and Seattle

However there no legend explanation on which color is what. Later I found from their site: if your route shows red, you’re looking at a stop-and-go commute;
yellow, you could be a little late for dinner; green, you’ve got smooth
sailing. At lest  they should have made it with mouse hover. But Anyway, its another cool functionality on top of finest mapping tool.

Via googleblog.blogspot.com

HydraCoach Water Bottle, It thinks while you drink

The HydraCoach is the first water bottle I’ve ever seen that incorporates an LCD screen, the purpose of which is give feedback on your personal hydration needs. I often realize that I haven’t drink water since long time. I hope this water bottle reminds me, hey, its time for drink (water :))

Our Doctors, Nutritionists and Fitness Trainers all recommend that we drink more water yet there has never been a device to help individuals
adhere to the expert’s recommendations. It calculates your personal hydration needs, tracks your real-time fluid consumption, paces you throughout the day and motivates you to achieve and maintain optimal hydration.

Product features:

Get it from Amazon.com: Sportline HydraCoach Intelligent Water Bottle - Select From 3 Colors

Also, see this safety product for joggers: Sportline Walking Advantage Reflective Vest

1,000 brand new XBox 360 core systems–each for just $100 Amazon.com ThanksGiving Deal

Amazon is going to sell XBox 360 @ $100.00 Starting from Thanks giving day AT 11.00 PST time. here is the info about it. You will see $299.00 if you are looking this ad before ThxGiving day 11.00. Good Luck and happy thanks Giving

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