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A keyboard that may outlast its owner

Gaming is serious business, of course, and the line can often seem to blur between console gear and military-grade hardware. The latest example of this potential convergence may be SteelSeries' 7G professional gaming keyboard.

We're not sure if it's as tough as the survivalist-oriented M779, but the 7G claims to be 10 times more durable than conventional keyboards. That means 50 million keystrokes, according to the company, thanks in part to mechanical switches that are plated in 18k gold. The no-click switches would probably come in handy for covert operations as well. No word, however, if it's … Read more

Motorola to adopt NextLink's Invisio Q7 Bluetooth headset

One of our Best of CES nominees this year was the NextLink Invisio Q7 Bluetooth headset, which promised voice transmission via a one-of-a-kind bone-conduction technology and without the use of microphones. It also has a nice discreet design with a Soft Spring ear bud that fits right in the ear. However, the Q7 has been vaporware for quite some time now--it was first announced two years ago and was slated to finally debut in February of this year, but it still has yet to materialize in the market. Today, we heard some news from NextLink via PhoneArena that NextLink is … Read more

Webware 100 winner: Internet Explorer 7

Internet Explorer is Microsoft's latest Web browser and the most dominant Internet browser on the market. In version 7, Microsoft has added tabs and extensions, letting users add additional features and functionality. It's also been given a face-lift that brings it a bit closer to the look and feel of Windows Vista.

Internet Explorer 7 is also the first version of Explorer to handle RSS feeds, the popular Web content syndication standard.

Internet Explorer comes as the default browser on all PCs that ship with the Windows operating system and has been the target of nearly all security … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 707: Space is cancelled

The Russians have canceled their space tourism program, because space is too serious to monetize. Also, Skype offers unlimited long-distance on...phones. VoIP is so dead. You heard it here first. In other news, Microsoft bonanza: Windows predictions, welcoming ethical hackers, and burning down your house. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 707

Skype offers unlimited long-distance plan http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN2141013920080421

Google tops Microsoft, Apple in brand power http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9924273-7.html

Britannica makes content free with widgets, publisher registration http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9923867-7.html

Hackers cancel attack on CNN http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/144850/hackers_cancel_attack_on_cnn.html… Read more

Brennan's technophobe-ready hard-disk jukebox

For those who don't want to spend $1,400 on the Philips WACS7500 or splash out on one of Sony's Giga Jukes, you could try the HDD-based JB7 from market newcomer Brennan. There are no speakers, no Wi-Fi, no radio, no big colorful display, and no lush extra features. Instead, it's a compact unit with a simple purpose: to aggregate your CD collection with minimal fuss.

Technophobes may appreciate its simplicity--we'll know when we've had a play ourselves--and anyone without a computer will undoubtedly find it a convenient way to break into the jukebox market. … Read more

Microsoft working hard on Windows Mobile improvements

Microsoft just held a summit on the next version of Windows Mobile, and one attendee is excited about the product, but worried about the timing.

Brandon Miniman of PocketNow posted a recap (thanks, Gizmodo) of his trip to Redmond for the Microsoft MVP Summit to check out Windows Mobile 7. He couldn't get into details, as he had signed an NDA about the event, but hinted that the leaked screenshots earlier this year are pretty close to what you should expect from Windows Mobile 7.

Microsoft just released Windows Mobile 6.1 at the CTIA show on April 1. … Read more

Why HP chose Via chip over Intel for Mini-Note

Hewlett-Packard (HP) chose a relatively obscure processor from Via Technologies for its high-profile Mini-Note 2133. An HP marketing manager explains why.

The Via C7-M offered what HP needed now, according to Robert Baker, a notebook product marketing manager for HP. "Via gave us that right mix of performance and price for the type of environment that this product is going into--content consumption." And the chip's low power requirements were a plus too. "Their power (efficiency) is where we needed it to be for this platform. Web surfing, creating Power Points," Baker said.

CNET Reviews said … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 698: Beacon will kill you

Today, Buzz is on your side, with such gems of wisdom as "don't shop at Staples," "bacon will kill you," and "how to opt out of Beacon." I guess that last one is pretty helpful. In other news of the day, we refuse to talk about the Google App thing, unless you can prove to us why we should. Thanks in advance. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 698

Google App Engine Blog: Introducing Google App Engine + our new blog http://googleappengine.blogspot.com/2008/04/ introducing-google-app-engine-our-new.html

California Lawmaker Proposes Music … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 697: Men behaving badly

In the news today, men are scamming and being scammed online, Jerry Yang (Yahoo) and Steve Ballmer (Microsoft) are getting nasty (in a legal-sounding way), the official Craigslist blog calls the unofficial Craigslist blog a deceptive text-ad-runner, and we ladies are just over here in the corner being nice to each other. Er, except the ones with the AVPR1a gene. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 697

Yahoo versus Microsoft: Thanks for the letter Steve; Now give us more money or get lost http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8396 http://www.nypost.com/seven/04072008/business/ yahoo__sets_reply_to_microsoft_attack_105424.htm … Read more

Gates: Windows 7 may come 'in the next year'

MIAMI--Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Friday indicated that Windows 7, the next major version of Windows, could come within the next year, far ahead of the development schedule previously indicated by the software maker.

In response to a question about Windows Vista, Gates, speaking before the Inter-American Development Bank here, said: "Sometime in the next year or so we will have a new version." Referring to Windows 7, the code name for the next full release of Windows client software, Gates said: "I'm super-enthused about what it will do in lots of ways."

Most of … Read more