With iPhone users now being treated to a desktop like web experience on a portable device, jealous Windows Mobile users have had to cough up twenty-five smackers for Opera Mobile to get a mediocre (but at least functional) mobile web browser. But it looks like Opera’s stranglehold as the only decent mobile web experience may be coming to and an end when Skyfire makes its first public appearance. Promising a desktop like browsing experience, complete with support for flash, YouTube, ajax, and more, Skyfire looks to be heaven sent for Windows Mobile users.

Check out a video demo of Skyfire and get more info at TechLore.com.

This convenient Gizmo converts old 35mm slides and film negatives easily into digital images. While you could preserve your memories using a conversion service, you might have to ship off your precious photos and you’ll definitely have to turn over custody to an unknown source not to mention the cost involved. For less than $100 you can do it yourself.

Slides and negatives are placed into a tray that aligns each properly; the touch of a button scans the image instantly. It has a 5MP CMOS sensor that provides 10 bits per color channel for data conversion and uses fixed focus and automatic exposure control and color balance, resulting in clear digital images without loss of quality. It can scan images up to 1,800 dpi and uses three white LEDs as a back light source. For photo transfers and power, it has a USB cable that plugs into a PC running Windows XP (requires USB 2.0) and includes software that allows you to edit, cro p, and resize your slides as well as convert your negatives into positives.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $99.95

Yup, if you guessed this was a UFO, crazy new portable grill or drug paraphernalia, you are wrong.  This funky looking Gizmo is called the Swiss Hot Steam Humidifier.

This compact humidifier boils water eliminating waterborne bacteria and viruses before pouring hot steam into the air improving air moisture in warm but very dry winter homes. The unit fits just about anywhere and is a conversation piece but actually works and can produce steam in as little as three minutes. You can adjust the output from one to two gallons per day and adjust the power consumption from 150- to 300-watts at the touch of a button. An LED illuminates when the humidifier requires additional water and the reservoir removes for ease of filling under a faucet.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $99.95

The Geeks came across an interesting site for Geeks with too many Gizmos and Gadgets that they no longer need. MyBoneYard.com allow eco-conscience consumers to recycle userd and newly upgraded Gizmos in a simple and safe way.

Using MyBoneYard.com, consumers can recycle those computers that are far less hip than today’s flat-screens and those cell phones that have been replaced by Blackberrys or iPhones…for FREE while getting rewarded for their eco-friendly efforts.

Check out www.myboneyard.com to learn more about the newest revolutionary way to recycle used electronics, and how consumers can get rewarded in the process.

This week Microsoft Powershell gets put under the spotlight in Power Shell. If you’ve heard of PowerShell (it used to be called Monad) or you haven’t but you are using Microsoft server systems then you really should be reading more about it so pop it onto your radar now. Powershell is an interesting technology that on the face of it doesn’t indicate much but lift the lid and it really is a revelation. The power of the thing and extensibility is surprising – you’ll soon be loving cmdlets. Here is a little tip if you have been receiving the Event 400 Powershell message in the event logs.
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In the week following Warner Home Video’s surprise defection from the HD-DVD camp, sales of HD DVD hardware has come to a virtual halt dropping from 14,558 the week before to 1,758 whereas the Blu-ray players rose from 15,257 to 21,770. Granted this is only the first week of data following the HD-DVD defection, but those numbers must have the HD-DVD group members talking. These numbers are tracked by NPD who tracks sales figures of roughly two-thirds of consumer electronics hardware sales.

The defection coincides with promotions from both Sony and Sharp which are bundling Blu-ray Disc players with sales of their HDTVs. While these two factors are important, this Geek thinks Warner Home Video may have ended the battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD. Only time will tell…

Techware Labs test drove a SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 Player recently with high praise and mention that if you are looking for a cheap and small MP3 player, check out the review of the SanDisk Sansa Clip. TechWare Labs compared the Clip against the ever so popular iPod on several levels and put the results in a nice and neat table for you.

Is the SanDisk Sansa Clip worth your money? Read the review.

Toys are not only for the little boys. There are toys that could fascinate adults as well. Just take a look at this cool new toy called the Transforming Death Star. The idea of the toy is simple – and that is to mesh the powers of Darth Vader with the skills of the Transformers. This toy is so amazing that robot fanatics, regardless of their ages and preferences, would definitely want to own one.

The Transforming Death Star has the ability to change from a Death Star into the feared Darth Vader, and then back again. But if you think that that is everything the toy can do, then you’re terribly mistaken. The toy is also created with movie-accurate speech, lights, and sounds, to say very the least. The toy follows a remarkable transforming action, complete with all the effects necessary to make everything seem real to you.

Darth Vader, which stands approximately 11 inches tall, transforms into a spherical death star that in turn, measures 6.72 inches in diameter. The toy also includes three mini figures that are 1.5 inches tall each. The package also comes with three mini ships that span one a half inches in length.

Darth Vader makes a deep breathing sound during and after his transformation. His weapon also goes off on his right hand, complete with the light and sound effects programmed to it. You are free to choose what weapon Darth Vader will hold during the transformation. He can have either a light saber or a firing blaster pistol. You’ll be amazed at how intelligent the toy is because it knows what Darth Vader is holding. It never fails to load the right sounds and lights for the chosen weapon.

Suggested Price: $49.99
Gimme!

Information Architects have just released the 2008 version of their ‘map’ of the Web that looks and reads like a subway map. You can either take a look at the clickable online version or the downloadable PDF one. It may be useful to compare it to the 2007 version to see how their opinions of whether sites are moving ‘up’ or ‘down’ have changed or to see what new sites are on there and which ones dropped off.

Are you looking to give your pets something new and useful? Some people celebrate their pet’s birthday. And if you’re one of them, the Auto Pet Bowl is one of the best gifts you can give. This gadget is an electronic bowl designed to keep your pet’s food and water free from debris and contamination. It makes sure that your pet’s food is always clean, up until the time that your pet is ready to eat it.

The Auto Pet Bowl’s cover is equipped with proximity sensors that are powered by an infrared device. The lid stays on until your pet goes near the bowl and is ready to eat. The bowl can be used by cats, dogs, and other small pets you might have around the house. The bowl would automatically open the moment it detects the pet’s presence. And it will close when your pet leaves.

The compact design of the Auto Pet Bowl is so convenient and durable. The real bowl where the food is placed is made out of pure stainless steel and it can be removed for cleaning purposes. The bowl’s compact design also effectively keeps the bugs and the dusts away from your pet’s food, ensuring them of good health all the time.

The Auto Pet Bowl is best used for free-feeding pets or for giving them access to a fresh supply of water during the night. The circular bowl measures six inches across and three inches high. It can hold one and a half cups of pet food or water. The gadget runs on 4 double-A batteries.

Suggested Price: $34.99
Gimmie!