Review: BlackBerry Bold 2 9700

By techradar.com (CLICK to read more)

NerdBoyTV NOTE: Here's a very thorough review of the Blackberry Bold 2 9700 posted by techradar.com. My daughter got this phone for Christmas and couldn't be happier!

"RIM has updated its flagship model with a sleeker and more powerful model – the Bold 2 9700. Featuring an improved processor and latest UI, the phone certainly has the specs but can it stop the iPhone and Android onslaught?

The BlackBerry Bold was one of the standout devices of last year “ it was RIM's statement that it was coming for the consumer market.

And while it was successful, there always comes a time for a refresh, and that's where the new BlackBerry Bold 2 9700 comes in."

5 tips for fixing your Facebook page

By Doug Gross / CNN.com (CLICK to read more)

"With more than 300 million active users, Facebook has come a long way from its roots as a way for Harvard students to keep in touch.

Teens, grandmas, musicians and politicians have all joined those early college students, making the social-networking hub one of the most heavily trafficked sites on the Internet.

But for some users, the site's popularity -- and the periodic tinkering with 'the old Facebook' -- means growing pains, too.

More friends means more people to spam up your news feed with links, photos and update boxes from the applications they use. Sure, you're happy to be in touch with Aunt Ethel -- but do you really need to know who she just murdered in Mafia Wars or which member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials she is? (Yes, that's a real quiz.)

And then there are the changes. Last month's switch to two distinct feeds -- a 'live feed' offering constant updates and a 'news feed' featuring what Facebook considers highlights from your friends' activities -- still has some users baffled.

'Like you, we know it can be disruptive when things are moved around, but we hope that these changes make Facebook a more valuable experience for you,' wrote Raylene Yung, a blogger for the site. 'We put a lot of thought into all the changes we make to the site and do a lot of testing before releasing anything.'

Many users are warming to the changes. But in the days that followed the switch, others were confused, or worse.

'I personally think facebook shouldnt [sic] have changed our news feed,' one user wrote in reply to the blog post. 'Why do we only get to see what fb 'thinks' we'll enjoy. Half the stuff on my live feed and news feed is stuff I dont care for. I really dont care who is friends with who and who is a fan of what.'

And this from another: 'I hate the new home page. The live feed has too much content, and the news feed has too little content.'

Those switches also mean that more details about your activities are being broadcast to your network. Just became friends with someone? Joined a group? Commented on a discussion board? Your friends get alerts about all that.

Some friends also may have slipped off your e-radar. If you have more than 250 friends, Facebook decides which of them you really want in your feed and which you don't.

A spokeswoman told CNN the site chooses the 250 based on several factors, including who the user interacts with the most. 'This 250 default limit is an attempt to show users engaging content without overwhelming them with updates from people they don't interact with on a daily basis,' she said.

But the good news is that Facebook makes it possible to change just about all of those settings, and to do some basic retooling to increase privacy and get rid of annoyances.

In the attached tutorial, we outline a few fixes that will help you customize your Facebook page and improve your social-networking experience."

#%*@#! The top 10 tech 'fails' of 2009

By Doug Gross / CNN.com (CLICK to read more)

"It was a big year for technology: Twitter and Facebook's popularity exploded, while new smartphones, e-readers and a host of other gadgets cropped up to compete for our plugged-in affection.

But into each electronic life a little digital rain must fall.

We polled a handful of the most tech-savvy folks we know for their thoughts on the worst moments in technology from 2009 -- the most epic 'fails' of the year.

Your mileage may vary. If you think something doesn't deserve to be here, or think we missed a noteworthy clunker, let us know in the comments section. And now, in no particular order, our 2009 Tech Fails ..."

Tech Deals & Shopping Bargains - Shopper.com

Tech Deals & Shopping Bargains - Shopper.com (CLICK to read more)

If you STILL haven't finished all your Christmas shopping, Shopper.com has found some of THE BEST deals you're gonna find on the Internet. Everything from refurbished Logitech X-540 5.1-channel speaker system for $45 to a 1-year subscription to "Everyday With Rachael Ray" Magazine for only $5. Check these deals out by clicking on the link above.

And the most pirated movie of 2009 is ...

By Ben Patterson : Yahoo! Tech (CLICK to read more)

"TorrentFreak had just come out with its annual list of the most downloaded movies of the year ... and no, we're not talking movies from iTunes. So, which summer blockbuster took the dubious honor of most pirated film of 2009? Tell 'em, Mr. Spock.

Yep, that's right: This year's hit reboot of the 'Star Trek' franchise (and one of my favorite movies of 2009, by the way) tops TorrentFreak's list, with a whopping 10.9 million downloads on BitTorrent in 2009—a figure that handily rises above last year's high-water mark of 7 million (for 'The Dark Knight').

Nipping at 'Star Trek''s heels with 10.6 million downloads is 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' another big summer blockbuster that'll probably end up as the biggest U.S. box-office draw of the year (to the tune of $402 million).

And which movie came in at number three? Could it be 'Up,' this year's masterpiece from Pixar (which earned $293 million at the box office)? Or wait ... don't tell me: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' right?"

Lavish gadgets for those with rich taste

By Scott Taves / Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com (CLICK to read more)

NerdBoyTV NOTE: Now we here at NerdBoyTV are not saying to run out and buy these extravagant trinkets, but we can dream, can't we?

"Is there a technophile on your list with tastes that run a little rich?

Maybe they don’t want to wait until 2011 or 2012 for the $200,000 space vacation thing, or spend $109,000 for a Tesla Roadster Sport electric car.

Needless to say, a Best Buy gift card isn't going to cut it.

The prices of Blu-ray players and 42-inch flat-screen TVs might be falling through the floor, but some tech remains dearly expensive.

Armed with our guide to luxury tech gifts, all you need is your AmEx Black Card. Click the 'next' arrow above to at least window-shop."

Do You Really Need That Warranty?

By Scott Budman / NBCBAYAREA- msnbc.com

"So you found the right music player, or computer, or television. You checked under the hood, looked at the specs and you're ready to buy. But now, you have to make a 'snap' decision: do you buy the store's extended warranty or not?

But Consumer Guy Ellis Levinson, a long time consumer reporter, says to think twice before re-opening your wallet

'The reason (stores) want you to buy the warranty is because they make a lot of money on them,' he said. 'The odds are you won't spend as much money to get the thing repaired, as you would for the warranty itself.'

So what does he suggest doing with the money instead?

'Every time you think of buying a warranty, don't buy it,' Levinson says. 'Put it into, let's say, a conservative bond mutual fund, and start your own warranty fund, that's the money you use to pay for any repairs you might need.'

But retailers say a warranty is not about making money it's an investment for piece of mind.

'We're gonna cover a lot more than the manufacturer does,' Best Buy's Dallas Carter said. 'We cover accidents. Things we can help cover, where a manufacturer wouldn't.'

It can be a tough call depending on who you trust. On the one hand, extra security for you, or the person you're shopping for.

On the other hand, you've already spent a bunch of money and the extended warranty can range from $10 to $400."

How To Buy an HDTV (Digital Landing)

Since I'm in the market for a HDTV, I had to research features and options. This video from Digital Landing is very good for the basics.

Microsoft Lifecam Cinema HD Vs Logitech Quickcam 9000 Pro (Side by Side Review)

Andrew Zarian from the Guys From Queens Network provides the first ever side by side review of the Microsoft Lifecam Cinema and the Logitech 9000 pro. He hopes this Video helps you in making up your mind on which camera to get. Please check out his website http://www.guysfromqueens.com.

CNET Prizefight: Zune HD vs. iPod Touch 3G

Once again, CNET does an excellent (and thorough) job of reviewing gadgets—this time, a prizefight extravaganza between the Zune HD and the iPod Touch 3G. Excellent review!

PCMag: Zune HD vs. iPod touch

The Zune HD sure looks pretty, though I've always had my eye on the iPod Touch 30 or 60 gig. Now that I have Christmas money to spend, what to buy? What to buy? ;-)

Apple set to take on Amazon, Kindle with (rumored) tablet

By Ben Patterson : Yahoo! Tech (CLICK to read more)

"We've seen neither hide nor hair of the oft-rumored Mac tablet, but at least one analyst claims that not only will the device launch next spring, but also that Apple is positioning it to book publishers as a Kindle killer. What's the supposed killer feature, you ask? Apparently, it's all about the money.

AppleInsider reports that Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner told investors in a note Wednesday that production is ramping up for the long-rumored but as yet unseen Mac tablet, which could arrive in stores with a 10.1-inch LCD screen (not OLED, as some have speculated) and a $1,000 price tag (ouch) as soon as March or April.

Of course, Apple tablet rumors are a dime a dozen; by now, we've heard that the tablet (which Apple hasn't even announced yet) could be anywhere from $500 to $2,000, run on Verizon Wireless (or not), rang in size from four to 11 inches, and even potentially sprout wings and fly. (The tablet-looking thing pictured here is just clip art, by the way.)

More interesting, though, is Reiner's claim (according to AppleInsider) that Apple is actively shopping around a 'very attractive proposal' for a new 'e-book platform' to take on the Kindle."

Amazon's latest DVD offer: Buy a disc, stream it instantly

By Ben Patterson : Yahoo! Tech (CLICK to read more)

"The giant online retailer is clearly looking to boost sagging DVD sales with its new 'Disc+ On Demand' program, which lets you instantly watch selected purchased movies over Amazon's Video on Demand service. It's a tempting offer for movie lovers like me, but as usual, there's a catch (or two).

So here's the scoop (courtesy of NewTeeVee): If you buy a movie (and/or TV show) from this list of 300-odd titles, Amazon will immediate add the Video on Demand version of the movie to your Amazon digital locker for instant viewing over the Web, TiVo, or any other TV set-top box that supports Amazon Video on Demand.

The titles include both DVD and Blu-ray discs, ranging from new fare such as 'Land of the Lost,' 'Funny People,' and 'Bruno' (sorry, no 'Star Trek' or 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince') to old favorites like 'Goodfellas,' 'Cool Hand Luke,' '2001,' and 'North by Northwest.'

That's kind of a cool deal; indeed, I'd been meaning to pick up the Blu-ray of 'Silence of the Lambs' to replace my old, non-anamorphic DVD from Criterion, and hey ... $9.99 for the 'Lambs' Blu-ray, plus a streaming copy in my Amazon digital locker? I was seriously considering it this morning.

But, as I said, there are a couple of catches involved."

Barnes & Noble Nook (CNET Product Review)

When Barnes & Noble unveiled the Nook, the first Android-powered e-book reader, a lot of people were excited, because it appeared to offer some key competitive advantages over Amazon's Kindle e-reader.

First and foremost, while the Nook features the same 6-inch E-ink screen (600x800 pixels; 16 shades of gray) as the Kindle, it includes a separate color capacitive touch screen (144 x 480 pixels) that allows you to navigate content and use a virtual keyboard for typing searches and annotations. Furthermore, on top of its free AT&T 3G wireless connection, the Nook packs in Wi-Fi connectivity and a memory expansion slot; you get 2GB of internal memory, but can add up to an additional 16GB via the microSD card slot. And finally, Barnes & Noble offers an e-book-lending option (for participating titles) and the capability to browse the full text of e-books on your Nook if you're in a Barnes & Noble brick-and-mortar store (the latter feature is due to launch in early 2010). Unfortunately, both the lending and in-store browsing features come with some significant restrictions, which we'll detail below.

Caveats notwithstanding, those features are nice extras, but the big questions are: how much of a difference do they really make in the overall user experience, and are they enough to push the Nook to the top of the e-book reader heap? Alas, the answer, you'll soon find out, isn't as clear cut as it might seem.

Your Motorola Droid questions, answered

By Ben Patterson / Yahoo! Tech

"I asked in yesterday's hands-on post if you had any Droid questions I hadn't addressed, and you hit me with some good ones. Read on for the answers.

Note: Click here for details on Verizon Wireless's Motorola Droid announcement from yesterday, including info on specs, pricing, and release date; then click here for my initial hands-on impressions of the Droid."