In so many words, Gizmodo blogger Kat Hannaford suggests that the free Kindle app for Blackberry is a stupid idea.

Actually, those are Hannaford’s exact words.

A Blackberry user herself, Hannaford argues that unless you’re using a Storm, a Blackberry’s screen is way too small for more than occasional eBook reading, particularly since you’ll need press the “next page” button so often. She also questions what the frequent scrolling will do to the device’s battery life. She concludes with the suggestion that “really, it’s about time the industry takes a leaf out of the Blu-ray Disc Association’s book, and explores the idea of providing digital copies with every paperback sold.”

Matthew Miller over at ZDNet is more bullish about the app becoming available, noting that it’s basically about time, since Kindle for the iPhone has been around for a while and he says “it is great to see Amazon expanding to other popular smartphones. I would love to eventually see an Android application as well since I still have Kindle books I purchased back when I owned a Kindle and would love to read them on all my smartphones.”

Miller goes on to note that the Kindle app — which you can download from Amazon or directly to your Blackberry by typing “amazon.com/kindlebb” into your Blackberry browser – permits you to shop for books in the Kindle store (magazines and other content are not currently supported), about which Hannaford raises the question about whether Kindle book downloads for the Blackberry ought to be cheaper than they are for the actually Kindle – many New York Times best sellers and new releases currently sell for $9.99 for both devices.

Is the ebook user experience on a Blackberry too frustrating for a significant investment in ebook costs, or would you be willing to get used to the expeience? And what do you think about the pricing scheme? Should downloads be priced differently for different platforms? What do you think? Your comments about this post are most welcome.

Image source: Amazon.com via CNET

The short answer, unfortunately, is no. And we all know this. So why do scientists keep pointing out all the ways in which an invisibility cloak wouldn’t work? Can’t they let us dreamers have our fun? Well, no, frankly, and here’s the latest of reasons why not. First, an invisibility cloak would only be able to block out specific wavelengths – and those wavelengths are far from the full spectrum of visible and non-visible light. But for those of you looking for a lower-tech way to kill the invisibility joy, the same scientists have noted that you could “throw a stone at” an invisibility cloak in order to detect it. Which is still nicer than their other detection method…

Original URL: http://gizmodo.com/5419819/scientists-thwart-the-invisibility-cloak-again

If someone told you could get Internet service on your laptop without connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot, purchasing a cellular Internet card, or paying additional fees through your Blackberry’s wireless network you’d want to know the catch, as well as the cost.

The only catch is that you need to already have a Blackberry with a flat-rate data plan, the USB cable that came with it, and fifty bucks. That’s how much it’ll cost you to download Tether, an app that once installed on both your Blackberry and laptop, will permit you to tether the two devices with the USB cable and start surfing the Web on your laptop.

Seriously. It works. Simply connect the two devices with the cable – make sure your laptop’s wireless card is disabled, because you won’t need it – and fire up the app on both devices. Status windows on both will acknowledge the connection and you’ll be ready to surf. That’s it. Tether connects via Bluetooth, too, but the wired way yields a more reliable connection. So Tether up and enjoy the ability to surf anywhere where your Blackberry already gets service. The first place we’d recommend? On a quiet bench at the park, blocks away from that stuffy coffee shop with its pay-per-minute Wi-Fi.

Image source: Tether.com

The tech media seldom get more excited than when the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) comes to town, and that was certainly the case this year when Oh Gizmo helped lead the charge, no pun intended, with news of the RCA Airnergy WiFi Hotspot Power Harvester.

Simply put, it’s a free energy game changer. The battery, about the size of a shoe brush, harvests WiFi signals from the air and converts them to DC power. A USB cable attached to the top of the battery can them be plugged into your power-needy smart phone – BlackBerry users appear to be the target demo here.  According to the rep Oh Gizmo interviewed at CES, as your phone is charging, the tethered battery starts recharging itself with WiFi signals even as it’s draining. How well and how fast it works depends on how close you are to WiFi signals, says the rep.

While detractors including Slashdot are skeptical about the harvester’s effectiveness, gadget hounds may find one aspect of the product hard to resist: the projected price point. Oh Gizmo reports that “the USB charger will be available this summer for $40, and a [smaller, OEM-sized] battery with the WiFi harvesting technology will be available soon after.”

RCA isn’t the only manufacturer to attach itself to cool green products, of course. The iGo family of chargers is certainly worth a look, especially if you’d like the luxury of leaving some of your gadgets’ device chargers at home. And if you enjoy the news and buzz that comes from shows like CES, bear in mind that the Greener Gadgets Conference hits New York City’s McGraw-Hill Conference Center at the end of this month.

Image and video source: Oh Gizmo

With high flexibility thanks to its dual-handle design, the Nova DSLR Camera allows me to explore a whole new level of mobility. It makes for a great family camera, since its dual handles let both right- and left-handed people use it with ease. I found it simple and intuitive to find many buttons and features thanks to great positioning near my fingertips, which allows me to take pictures at the same time I’m adjusting my camera’s features and configuration. Whether I’m taking photos for a family album or trying to take a daredevil shot while I cling one-handed to the side of a mountain, this hardy and well-built camera is exactly the tool I need to take amazing photos while avoiding the aggravations I’ve encountered using more standard camera body designs. Plus, using the Nova DSLR is fun, thanks to the futuristic design that stands out wherever I go.