Thanks for the Flash memories. A little more than five years, Microsoft has pulled the plug on both the Zune Original and one of my favorite pieces of tech Zune HD. Yes, I am the proud owner of what was yesterday the gadget of a conscientious Apple objector and today a piece of obscure and obsolete tech. In a short paragraph on Zune.net, Microsoft announced that going forward their mobile music and video strategy will be focused on Windows Phone.

They went on to reassure me and other  Zune HD holdouts in glib fashion that the change means “[a]bsolutely nothing” since our devices will still work and they’ll still honor our warranties. In the meantime, they’re going to highjack our beloved Zune Pass subscription service and make it more Windows Phone-friendly. As I listen to Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones” on my Zune HD, I can’t help but look back on all the good times. Read the rest of this entry »

California State Legislators just passed a new law that makes it illegal for a police officer to search a suspect’s cellphone without first obtaining a search warrant. According to CNN, the law was passed in response to a January ruling by the California Supreme Court, which found that a police officer could search a suspect’s phone without a warrant.

In handing down its decision, the court said that, “the loss of privacy upon arrest extends beyond the arrestee’s body to include ‘personal property … immediately associated with the person of the arrestee’ at the time of arrest,” CNN wrote. That included smartphones, tablets, and any other mobile devices and the data stored on them. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re anything like us, your computer’s desktop is awash with open Word documents, PDFs, e-mails, and at least 30 to 40 web pages. And while having a dual screen setup helps eliminate the clutter, it’s not always a viable option if you’re working on your notebook from the road. That’s where AOC’s new 16-inch portable e1649fwu LED USB monitor comes in. By sucking up juice from and running data through a single USB port, the $139 AOC monitor can help give your cramped desktop a bit more space. Read the rest of this entry »

Though the iPad 2 is great at many things, one area where the popular tablet can’t compete is external audio. Enter the Logitech Wireless Boombox and Wireless Headset, two new Bluetooth audio accessories that work with the iPad (and any other Bluetooth-enabled device) for the respective prices of $179.99 $149.99 and $69.99.

Update: The price of the Logitech Wireless Boombox was incorrect in the original press release. The correct price is $149.99.

Let’s start with the gadget that churns audio out and not in. The Wireless Boombox can pair with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet to kick out mobile tunes, podcasts, or video content as far as 33 feet away from the source device. There’s no mention of weight or other dimensions, but this is one boombox that public partiers won’t need to cart on their shoulders. The Wireless Boombox can slip into any medium-sized duffel or notebook bag with ease.

The Wireless Headset packs up easily too, thanks to a collapsible design that lets the earpieces fold up when it’s time to hit the road, Jack. When the mouthpiece isn’t rotated upward in its hiding position behind the adjustable headband, users can take advantage of the microphone’s background noise-isolation technology to make FaceTime or voice calls even in slightly noisy environs.

Both pieces of hardware include rechargeable 6-hour batteries, and the BoomBox includes a 3.5mm jack for wiring in audio from a notebook, smartphone, tablet, or any other gadget, as well as a 6-foot power cable when the rechargeable battery can’t dance anymore. Speaking of a dance, here are links if you feel like cutting in for one with the Logitech Wireless Headset and Boombox.

It may be Labor Day weekend here in the U.S., but over in Berlin, Germany, the IFA trade show is still in full effect. As part of the weeklong festivities, XtremeMac, a maker of chargers, cases, and audio units for Apple devices, has unveiled four new speaker systems for use with the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and iMac. 

‘The first device, XtremeMac’s Luna Voyager II allows users to set dual independent alarms and wake to their iPod, iPhone, iPad, FM radio, or a standard buzzer.  In included app also provides users with an FM radio tuner controller and multiple channel preset. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s an old, and all too often told story: Airline passenger checks bag with expensive electronics equipment, arrives at destination sans expensive electronics equipment thanks to a grabby TSA screener. Often these cases don’t end the way they did last week, with the culprit being caught red-handed with an iPad that he’d stuffed down his pants. (Must have been some loose pants…) Turns out that screener, Nelson Santiago-Serrano, had stolen over $50,000 worth of merchandise in his time working at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

How is it that Mr. Santiago-Serrano  hadn’t been caught up until now? Possibly because the process of reporting stolen items is labyrinthine, confusing, frustrating, and sometimes not even worth the effort. First, it’s not clear who’s responsible: the TSA, the airport, or the airline? If the TSA, just looking at the claims page gives the impression that getting your claim resolved could take weeks or months, and that’s if you file it correctly. Airlines limit their liability for theft and sometimes exclude items like jewelry, cameras, and laptops.

Artist Shaenon K. Garrity had her $2,000 Macbook Air stolen from her luggage while traveling on US Airways. The bag was misrouted to begin with, left in unsecured areas for hours, and generally mishandled. “I contacted the airline immediately and filed a complaint,” she said on ComplaintsBoard.com. “After keeping me waiting for a month, U.S. Airways sent me a form letter telling me that it does not compensate for laptops. If they have a policy of not compensating for stolen laptops, why couldn’t they have told me this a month ago instead of making me jump through all these hoops?” Shaenon also contacted the TSA to file a complaint but they didn’t help.

Getting the TSA to take responsibility is an ongoing issue in these cases.

The 4th of July is coming up and many Americans will head out into the summer sun to enjoy a three-day weekend and to celebrate the birth of our country. There are plenty of flag-inspired gadgets you can whip out to show your patriotism, such as the Coloud Flag Series pair above, but don’t forget to snag a few others that will make your weekend celebrations a true success. We’ve picked out five must-haves for the weekend.

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Canon PowerShot S95 - $399

Taking pictures of fireworks can be tricky, but if you're looking to up your photography game this holiday, consider the PowerShot S95, which is a star when it comes to low-light images. Straddling the fence between a mid-grade point-and-shoot and a DSLR, the PowerShot S95 takes great shots, comes packed with features, yet will still fit in your pocket.

Get the Canon PowerShot S95 @ Amazon

Father’s Day is June 19th. Have you found the perfect gift for him yet? If you order now, you can still get dad a great gadget. Whether he’s a geeky dad, barbecuing dad, travelling dad, or musically inclined dad, we have something for every kind of pop on the planet. So check out our top 15 Father’s Day Gadget Gifts, from a universal charger that fits around his wrist to a rough-and-tumble iPad case. There’s even a wireless thermometer that works with an iPhone/iPad app so he’ll know when those steaks are done.

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Be A HeadCase Bottle and Can Opener Case for Apple iPhone 4 ($9.69)

Make your dad the hero of the party with this iPhone 4 case that doubles as a can and bottle opener. Designed for both the AT&T and Verizon Wireless versions, this rubberized case will protect the iPhone from minor bumps and shocks while adding an extra bit of fun. But what would a bottle opening case be without an accompanying app? The Be A HeadCase App plays a song or sound when you open a bottle and keeps track of how many you've opened.

$9.69 @ Amazon

After 25 years, the final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show aired today. Over the years, Oprah delighted her audience members with lavish and expensive gifts such as ceramic knife sets, diamond earrings, copies of her magazine, and most famously a trip to Australia. While a copy of O’s Guide to Life issue is cool, Oprah has also given the gift that keeps on giving — a good piece of tech. We’ve compiled a list of 10 of Oprah’s best tech giveaways to commemorate 25 years of gift-giving from the Mighty O.

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iPad (2010)

Dubbed Oprah's "Most Favorite Thing Ever," audience members received an Apple iPad, complete with Oprah's favorite game: EA's Scrabble.

When it comes to noise-canceling headphones, one size, one style, and one price does not fit all. Some may prefer oversized cans that practically swallow your ears, while others may be looking for a foldable model with a little more flair. While all of these headphones promise to drastically reduce the din around you, there are plenty of varieties to choose from. One model in our roundup even lets you take phone calls between songs. Whether you’re on a tight budget or willing to pay top dollar for top-notch audio quality, there’s a pair of headphones here for you.

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Under $100: Able Planet Extreme XNC230

The Able Planet Extreme XNC230 ($99) offers effective noise cancellation and plenty of style for an affordable price, but you'll have to be willing to compromise just a bit on comfort.

Read the Full Able Planet Extreme XNC230 Review