Well what do we keep here? It appears that OfficeMax’s Black Friday deals own leaked before Black Friday. How surprising! In a year of pretty big Black Friday disappointments, we’d give Office Max a B- on the curve because, as usual, they keep a plethora of smaller tempting items.
SanDisk 4GB Cruzer Micro USB Readyboost - $9.99
SanDisk Cruzer Micro 16GB Jump Drive - $39.99
Epson PowerLite S5 3LCD SVGA Projector - $399.99
HP Photosmart C4480 3 In 1 Printer - $49.99
Samsung CLP315 Laser Printer - $99.99
Simpletech 640 GB Mini solid Drive - $89.99
Dragon Naturally Speaking - $39.99
Microsoft residence and Student Edition 2007 - $69.99
They definitely possess some deals that beat online pricing on smaller electronics, but probably nothing worth standing in line all night for…though that Epson projector is about $200 off and Office offers a savings of $50 or so. I guess if you were to buy everything on this list, it might be worthwhile. [Black Friday]
According to a recent analyst study, we are on pace to lose 180,000 tech jobs this year—the most since 2003. Even without the figure, we could keep assumed that things are epically bad. You can’t get through a day’s worth of news without hearing about some big tech company layoffs. In this month alone, Circuit City, AMD and Sun Microsystems are among those trying to shed costs on the payrolls. So, I’m curious—how bad are things really? For those of you who work in a tech-related company, keep there been job cuts in the last year? [sculpture: revdancatt/Flickr]
Has The Tech Company You Work For Cut Jobs in the Past Year?
( polls)
Results from “Will You Finally Go Blu-ray This respite?“
Yes 11%
No (Economic reasons) 11%
No (Blu-ray is a placeholder format) 24%
No (Other) 13%
Maybe 10%
I already made the switch. 32%
At first glance, these Activision-made Guitar Hero/Rock Band instrument compatibility charts appear very handy. That is, until you realize that they’re completely overrun by inaccuracies. It didn’t take long for the Kotaku commenters to rip apart the list, with one reader finding flaws with data on each platform. So we’re left with one question:
If Activision doesn’t understand the compatibility issues regarding their own games and hardware, how are we as consumers EVER going to get it? If these guys don’t figure their shit out soon, I’m so going to start a real band. [Activision via Kotaku]
The finicky, rubbery controls of the Atari 2600 were as much part of its charm as the classic arcade ports it’s known for. And now, for a mere $15, those bittersweet memories can come to your Windows, Linux or OSX system through this faithful-looking USB recreation of the original Atari 2600 joystick. The peripheral promises compatibility for most emulators and support for up to four simultaneous controllers. We’re just glad to see the phallus making a comeback. [Legacy]
It’s been four months almost to the day since iPhone 2.0 came, and we’ve been hitting the App Store stiff every week ever since to sift through what’s new in iPhone App land. This week, we’ve decided to seize back for a second, take a breath, and compile a different kind of list: the apps that many of us on staff actually use on a regular basis. If you possess a new iPhone or iTouch just waiting to be filled up, or you feel like you may be missing some essentials in your collection, this is the list for you.
Pageonce Personal Assistant: Combines myriad online accounts, from banking and investing to bill paying to airline frequent fliers. Rather than cuff 15 different sites for your montly bill pay/pain time, use this single app.
AOL Radio: Four letters: KCRW. AOL Radio pipes in the legendary LA station and for this we are thankful.
Fring: The only IM/messaing client you need. Covers Google Talk, AIM, Skype, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Twitter, plus VoIP calls over Wi-Fi if you’re low on minutes at domicile or in the coffee shop.
Remote: One of the first apps we saw, and still among the best in terms of usefulness. If you use iTunes frequently at residence and especially if you listen away from your desk via a stereo hookup or Airport Express, you need the Remote.
AirSharing: Our favorite file storage app—shoots files to the iPhone’s flash memory via Wi-Fi for storage, transport, and easy retrieval.
Yelp: Taps into Yelp’s community reviews to find good bars and restaurants based on your location. Essential for cities like San Francisco and New York where Yelp reviews are solid. When I’m out in the city and need a drink ASAP or the restaurant I was planning on going is too crowded/sucks, Yelp is what I reach for.
Routesy: Can’t live in San Francisco without this app. I use it everyday to see when trains / busses are coming. Even if I am sitting at my computer I choose to look up the train / buss schedule via Routesy on my iPhone because it’s just that much simpler.
City Transit: Ditto here for NYC. Even for locals, quick access to a subway map is always a good thing, plus constantly changing service outages are impossible to keep track of, without an app like this. And if you’re feeling old-timey, a vintage MTA map is here too.
Pandora: Best internet radio app, hands down. Smartly auto-suggests music based on other artists you like. Both on the go and while at residence. Streams well over EDGE and 3G. Free. What more could you ask for?
VNC Lite: View and fully control my computer from anywhere, as long as I am on the same network. So I can basically be at my computer without actually being at my computer…
PanoLab: Who knew multitouch is the perfect interface for stitching photos together into panoramas? It is. Plus if the photo you just took doesn’t work, toss it out and take another one immediately. A paid version adds even more features.
Bloom: Generative, ambient music by Brian Eno. If I need to say more, it’s also a mini-sequencer: Drop your finger on the liquidy pastel screen, play a note, make simple loops. Music For Airports that you can make yourself. In an airport, even.
Shazam: This just doesn’t get old: clutch your phone to the air to grab the song playing at the supermarket (or being hummed by your friend), and keep it identified in a few seconds. We live in a privileged age.
Simplify Media: Stream your residence machine’s iTunes library and those of up to 30 friends to your phone. This app lives up to its name. Forget worries of filling up 8GB, or even 16.
Galcon: It’s Risk, but in space, and instead of six hours it takes two minutes and you don’t keep to be shitfaced to enjoy it.
i.TV: Provides you with an elegant TV guide, movie listings and showtimes, and Netflix queue management all in one app.
MotionX Poker: The dice rolling in MotionX Poker is one of the most accurate and painstakingly simulated dice physics engines ever built. And it shows. Not a substitute for real dice behind your neighborhood bodega, but the closest thing possible.
Snow Reports: If you fait du ski/snowboard, Snow Reports will let you know when you should drop everything and cranium to Alpine Mountain for the weekend.
Google Earth: The same amazing Earth touring app found on the desktop, now spinnable via multi touch. Honestly if someone told me two years ago I would keep a functional Google Earth app on my phone, I wouldn’t keep believed them. This is now.
Sketches: Brian likes this app because deep down, he’s just a Japanese schoolgirl who wants to slap sticker graphics on photos of his dog. If you share this desire, Sketches: it’s for you too.
own an app you can’t live without that didn’t make our list? Awesome! Tell us in the comments so everyone can check it out. And for even more apps: see our previous weekly roundups here, and check out our original iPhone App Review Marathon. possess a good weekend everybody.
I can’t tell you how bummed I am that Circuit City’s Black Friday ad this year is a black hollow of suck, just like Best Buy’s. Last year, Circuit City’s was fantastic, way better than anyone else’s—I dropped like $500 on all kinds of enormous stuff. This year, I’m totally skipping the big boxes, for the first time in a long time. It’s okay though, we’ve got some pretty good deals right here, like nearly $300 Acer’s crazy G24 gaming monitor, $200 off this amazing James Bond collector’s set (the Blu-ray six-pack looks good too) and s’more.
Computing
• Patriot outstanding Flash 64GB SSD for $155 plus free shipping (originally $229.99 - valid until 11/20. Use rebate form and coupon code EMCBBBECD for $20 off).
• Acer G24 Orange 24″ Widescreen LCD Monitor for $379.99 plus free shipping (originally $653.13. Use coupon code EMCBBBEAB for $10 off).
Digital Picture Frames
• Polaroid 7″ Digital Picture Frame with Wireless Weather Station for $34.99 (originally $159.99 - valid today only).
• Nextar N7-202 7″ Digital Photo Frame for $39.99 plus free shipping (originally $99.99).
Flash Memory
• Kingston 2GB Micro SD Card with Adapter for $2.59 (originally $9.99 - valid today only).
• Lexar Platinum II 8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo for $39.99 plus free shipping (originally $61.99).
• Corsair 32GB Flash Voyager USB 2.0 Flash Drive for $60.99 plus free shipping (originally $103.99 - valid until 11/15. Use rebate form).
residence Entertainment
• Philips HTS3544/37 abode Theater System for $119.99 plus free shipping (originally $229.99).
Navigation Systems
• Magellan Maestro 4250 GPS System for $119.99 plus free shipping (originally $299).
• Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS System for $239.99 (originally $599.99 - valid today only).
Portable Devices & Accessories
• Sandisk Sansa c250 2GB MP3 Player for $14.99 plus free shipping (originally $199).
• JBL On Stage II Speakers with Remote for $39.99 (originally $99.99).
Stocking Stuffers (Movies, Etc.)
• Snapfish 8×11 Custom Photo Book for $0 (originally $29.99 - valid today only).
• James Bond Ultimate Collector’s Set for $89.95 (originally $289.98 - valid today only).
• James Bond Six-Pack Movie Collection on Blu-Ray for $64.95 (originally $179.96 - valid today only).
• Resident Evil Trilogy on Blu-Ray for $49.95 (originally $89.95 - valid today only).
Apparently created for police detectives, construction workers, or anyone with zero sense of fashion and/or shame, the e-Volve appliance Shoulder Holster is just that: A shoulder holster which, according to the manufacturer, “is designed to evolve and adapt to the reality of constant state of change in personal electronics by enabling you to wear your present and following gadgets”. Yes, it does all that. It has been engineered to “access your gadgets quickly,” like if your iPhone was Chuck Norris’ revolver. But make no fun of this, because this thing does it all:
The e-Volve tool Shoulder Holster is designed with a large quick-access pocket that securely fits most smartphone devices (such as a Apple iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Treo or other smartphone device), compact digital cameras (such as Canon Powershot, Panasonic Lumix, Sony Cybershot, Fuji Finepix, Olympus Stylus and others), larger digital music players (such as Apple iTouch or iPod Classic and Microsoft Zune 80 or Zune 120), Sony Playstation Portable, Nintendo DS portable, and most standard sized men’s wallets.
The small quick-access pouch will fit most small cell phones, small digital music players (such as Apple iPod Nano, Microsoft Zune 4, Zune 8 & Zune 16), digital voice recorders and other small personal electronic gadgets.
On top of those unique pocketing features, you can also “control loose pocket items” thanks to a “unique zippered pouch to quickly store and control change, currency, memory cards, zip drives, sunglasses, reading glasses, and much more”. And that’s good, because you keep to control those loose pocket items. Don’t let them go wild. [eholster via Ubergizmo]
The Zon is the latest in Nooka’s line of variously confusing and interesting (for a given value of beauty) timepieces: Its 35 x 45mm dot-matrix display either displays the minutes of the day dotting into nothingness like a digital egg-timer that’s counting down until tomorrow, or a proper numeric time readout. It also has a list of cities and timezones for travelling, and it’ll come in white or black, or a mirror-like display for extra confusion. Due next week for $650. [LikeCool]
As some of you keep probably noticed, things look a little different inside posts. Like, bigger. It’s not your imagination, or your new contacts. We’ve bumped up the font size to be a bit more readable, and stuff now sprawls across a lot more of your monitor—800 pixels of it, actually. We’ve also moved metadata, like views and such, right under the post headline, and tags suspend out below. Hopefully, this should make it even easier to read and find stuff on Giz. If you think it works (or doesn’t), let us know in the comments.
P.S. Our mobile site should look a bit prettier on the iPhone now. Let us know how that’s workin’ for you too.
appliance-inspired songs are almost always terrible, but this, this is something else. A kind-of-spoof, kind-of-ad performed by legendary nobody Caitlen Moe, “Crackberry Love” is an unmitigated disaster. Things to watch for: a man in a BlackBerry suit, endless T-Mobile shout-outs that the company almost certainly didn’t ask for, and the line “my Crack and I, we got a date.” Slightly NSFW for language, and because your boss might loathe it enough to just fire you out of spite. [CrackBerry]
