TIME: 25 Back-to-school gadgets for the dollar tree families

Every geek big or small, young or not so young may use the back-to-school season as an excuse/reason to splurge on that new gadget they’ve been waiting on or holding out for. Even if you’re not a student, there are often some great deals to be had as companies and manufacturers far and wide want to cash in on the spending spree that takes place every year ’round the time the bell’s start to ring. Since we live in the digital age, it seems fitting that as we move towards more and mroe digital devices, a gadget back to school list be created. Time magazine has done just that, though, some of the options are rather pricey meaning only those with hard to find money trees will complete the list.

ChromePlus: Adding IE-tab support and so much more to Google Chrome since…NOW

Even though Google Chrome doesn’t enjoy as much success as IE or Firefox, it is still a very capable browser that in it’s current Beta 3 form is of the quickest browsers around. It’s lightweight while still looking relatively stylish. I personally like the style though some may find the playskool-ish style a bit to childish for their tastes. Moving on, one thing that draws people to Firefox are extensions, extensions, and more extensions which allow you to customize Firefox to the moon and back with all sorts of goodies. For some, the full move to Chrome will finally be complete once more popular and just more plugins in general become available for the Google based browser. However, while we wait, a great little “special build” of Google Chrome called ChromePlus will help ease us into full Google Chrome plugin support.

Is “PC World” a new Macworld competitor?

Now I know PC World is not turning anytime soon. They started as a PC oriented magazine many years ago and to this day still are for the most part. Though a website with “PC” in the title and one that has had such a high focus on PC’s and Windows related content declaring OS X 10.6 as the “brainiest, brawniest, and most beautiful consumer-oriented OS available anywhere” brings a chuckle to my lips. Even though Windows 7 isn’t publicly available in final form yet, anyone that’s a geek, especially those at PC World I’m sure have been using near final or final builds of Windows 7 for some time now. The mere fact that they’re even reviewing Apple software is weird. It just strikes me as odd that they wouldn’t talk up Windows 7 (they’ve obviously used it for a while now) and/or compare the two. Maybe they’ll repeat those words when Windows 7 is released. But for now, according to PC World, the Microsoft/Windows mecca site, Apple’s Snow Leopard is the cream of the current crop.

Weird?

PC World article praising Apple and OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, Image Source

Want a list of incompatible software for OS X 10.6? [Updated]

Many Apple fans alike will be upgrading their systems to Apple’s new operating system, OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard today. While it will be a joyous occasion for most, some may be disheartened to know that some of their software titles may cease to work after the ‘ol switcheroo. Just which Titles don’t work? Well, you could check out the support document on Apple’s site, or you could just Look at the image below and see for yourself. Did your favorite application make the cut?

Of course more than the few apps Apple listed are having issues. For a complete list of horror and pain, check out the Snow Leopard Wiki

**Bigger Images after the inside after the jump

• Software restricted during installation and migration

• Software restricted from opening

Atari noise maker helps you relive the classic days of 8-bit goodness.

For some, the games of today while visually dazzling and at times deeply involved just don’t have the same pick-up-and-playability of the classics. Back in the 8-bit day, sitting down and starring at a dude on the screen comprised of a dozen blocks was high tech back then. Similarly, the sounds and “music” that accompanied these wonders of science were something else themselves. If those beeps, bops, bams, and slams were sweet sweet music to your ears, the Atari Noise Maker may be just the device to make your life complete once again. Carry it with you and annoy your friends. Show off at family events. The possibilities are endless. All you need is $45 and long enough to stop by Etsy in which that $45 magically disappears never to be seen again. However, in return you get some sweet old gaming music. Ya dig it?

Source: Geeky-Gadgets, Technabob, Coolest Gadgets

2 is always better than 1 [GScreen Dual-Screen Laptop]

For most valuable or lusted after objects, two is always better than one. If one of any particular object gives you great joy, than two can only double it right? While it doesn’t always work like that, I’m pretty sure the effect the GScreen Dual-Screen laptop has on you will be at least 50% more favorable than a competing single screened model. Such a design requires extra special attention be payed to the construction of the housing around the screens as even a slight bump could render the screens scratched, cracked, or completely shattered. Because of this, expect this beaut to weigh in at 12+lbs. Though I’m not about to complain. If you really have a hard enough time carrying around 12-15lbs, you need to get help and/or quit at life because you have issues.

On a lighter note, the company says that they plan on having 16″ or 17″ screens available at launch with 15.4″ and 13″ dual screened models before 2010! Following soon thereafter, 15.4″ and 13″ models should drop giving those of you who want some smaller glass an option in life. Picking one of these up for Christmas won’t require a trip to any brick and mortar store. Instead, cuddle up with a computer, a cup of hot chocolate, maybe a snuggie or two and head on over to Amazon.com to get your order on.

Wrapping up, the spec’s to accompany such a wonderful machine(s) aren’t bad at all: Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 4GB of RAM, Nvidia GF900M GT discrete graphics, 7,200 RPM hard drives, and six or nine-cell batteries. Not bad eh? Obviously, if you’re even thinking about a netbook, the gScreen isn’t exactly something you should be looking at. But, if you want a beast of a mobile machine that will make passerbys and other mere mortals drool, the gScreen will be just the machine for you. Oh yeah, with all of this new found geekiness on display with such cool features as dual displays on a laptop, look for the monetary weight to be pretty hefty…much like the physical weight — starting around $3,000 means you’re definitely going to want to save up a few pennies before Christmas. Speaking of that, with the final design of the power cord still in question and with Christmas quickly approaching, do you think they can make a pre-2010 deadline? Let’s hope so!

So, are you going to get one or two?

Source: Gizmodo

Facebook 3.0 live!

The Facebook 3.0 iPhone app is now live!!! Fire up the App Store app and get your download on.