Hawt Gadgets

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Microsoft_offers_44_6_Billion_for_Yahoo'; Microsoft just announced what has been rumored forever: a formal offer for Yahoo. Microsoft's proposal to Yahoo's board of directors represents $31 per share (a 62% premium over yesterday's closing price) or about $44.6 Billion. Steve Ballmer, CEO and big fan of developers, says, "We have great respect for Yahoo!, and together we can offer an increasingly exciting set of solutions for consumers, publishers and advertisers while becoming better positioned to compete in the online services market." Apparently, the deal was laid out in a letter sent by Ballmer to Yahoo's board just yesterday. Seriously. The letter confirms that the two giants have been discussing the topic since late 2006. It also appears to be a direct response to the Google threat as outlined in the following paragraph:

"Today, the market is increasingly dominated by one player who is consolidating its dominance through acquisition. Together, Microsoft and Yahoo! can offer a credible alternative for consumers, advertisers, and publishers."

The deal, of course, rests with the two coming to a "merger agreement" and Microsoft (and Yahoo to a limited degree) having the time to conduct the required due diligence. Microsoft is ready to begin immediate discussions and have a draft merger agreement ready for consideration. So Yahoo, ball's in your court. The world is wondering... what will you do?

 

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Filed under: Laptops

It's that time of the product cycle again, the teardown. This time, iFixit's applying the Xacto to Apple's MacBook Air. Notable discoveries are an easy to disassemble chassis just big enough for Samsung's 1.8-inch, 80GB disk but not the relatively chubby 160GB variety found in the iPod classic. They also found the new multi-touch trackpad using the same control chip as the iPod touch and iPhone -- the Broadcom BCM5974. That leaves Apple plenty of room to grow the gesture options via software updates. Want to remove the battery? Go ahead, 19 screw removals (in addition to Apple's non-removable feebie) will get the job done. Mmm, silicon and aluminum carnage, smells like... victory. Now hit up that read link IEEE types, where it's high-res all the time.

 

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Kodak wasn't showing off too much new product at this year's show -- or if it was, none of the gear was stuff we follow -- but can you really get a good feel for a trade show without touring the booth of the company whose name is synonymous with photography? Of course not, which is why we gathered together a gallery which pretty well represents everything you'd see had you been here yourself. Isn't that great? We trudge out to Las Vegas so you don't have to.

 

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Firmware version 3.07 just went live over at Samsung's download center. This is the 2nd firmware update for Sammy's slick little P2. Word on the street has it delivering on the promises already peeped in the video preview. Just be sure that you're downloading the newest version as Sammy's site seems to have cross-linked v3.07 with the older v2.08 download. Nevertheless, between this and the PSP 3.90 M33 release, our weekend is pretty much set.

Download
Alternative download links

[Via 4th Dimension Thinking, thanks Oscar M.]

 

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Hello daddy! Meet Sigma's new APO 200-500 f2.8 ultra telephoto zoom lens. Weighing 16kg (35-pounds), it's the world's first to offer a F2.8 aperture at 500mm focal length. A dedicated F5.6 attachment ensures autofocusing at 1000mm while an internal Li-ion battery powers the zooming and AF mechanics. Available for Sigma and Nikon mounts in June or Canons in April for ¥2,500,000 or nearly $25,000. So ask yourself, just how deep does your love for the bird go?

[Via Impress]

 

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Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Mmm, nothing tastes quite like a fresh batch of homebrew hacks on day-old firmware. PSP owners yearning to get their Skype on need wait no more. The M33 team has released a custom version of Sony's 3.90 firmware available via the new Network Update or directly over that interwoven web of glowing tubes. Really, what more could you ask for on a Friday?

[Via PSP Fanboy]

 

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon's got a lot of product to fit under its umbrella, so the booth is quite the monster. Just about everything in the digital photo workflow is covered here, from the cameras (duh) right up to the final print. All interest/skill levels from amateur to pro are covered too. Check out all those lenses, only to be topped by what looked like a museum collection of Canon point-and-shoots. And yet, Canon found time and space to put in some really big, beautiful prints just to get you back to what photography is all about.

 

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Those of you looking for a hybrid camera could do a lot worse than Kodak’s new EasyShare Z1012 IS: besides the handy optical image stabilization, you’re also getting a 10 megapixel sensor and whopping 12x optical zoom. Not too shabby for a $300 cam, not too shabby at all. Check out the gallery below for all the angles.

 

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Don’t have a fireplace like you used to as a kid? Or don’t have central heating like most of Japan? Well those wacky Japanese are taking care of that with this digital space heater that actually shows wood burning as it gives off its live-saving heat.

Unfortunately, the little bugger goes for 25,800 yen ($242).

Take a looksee for yourself at Hammer Price

Filed under: Laptops

That special Intel processor found in the MacBook Air could be getting a lot less special. PC Advisor, citing "a source familiar with Intel's plans," claims that a pair of PC makers will use the MBA processor. Not that this would be unexpected. The custom-built 1.6GHz and 1.8GHz Intel procs remember, are 60% smaller and consume less power than the typical Core 2 Duo while using the same 65-nm manufacturing processes. Of course, with Intel's 45-nm Montevina platform scheduled to ship as early as May, the advantages gained by the processor will likely be short lived, though glorious if a PC maker can dethrone Apple of its claim to the world's smallest thinnest laptop.

 

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Filed under: Wireless

With weeks still to go, your dysfunctional Uncle Sam is briskly rubbing his hands at having raised more than $10 Billion from the 700MHz auction. This, after just 16 rounds of bidding. But we're not happy to say the least. The all powerful, all propagating 700MHz "C" Block continues to stagnate at a bid of $4.3B -- unchanged since round 13. Perhaps the other contestants are waiting to see if Google carries through with their $4.6B pledge to trigger the open-access rule. Round 17 begins in just 3 hours and requires a minimum bid of $4,713,823,000. So let's get the lead out bidders, what's another $400 million compared to our undying loyalty?

 

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Tidy, huh? If you're an iMac or Apple Studio Display owner then you'll see the immediate appeal of this LowKey Stand from Macessity. Constructed of 0.1085-inch thick steel "power-coated" to match your rig, it neatly hides your new slim Apple keyboard from view. There's also a powered 4-port USB port up front which helps to offset the stand's $60 price a tad.

 

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