Get your clicking fingers ready! These boys are going to go fast.

Starting Sunday, December 11th at 6:00 p.m. Central time, 16GB and 32GB Touchpads will be available on HP’s ebay store. A $79 accessory bundle will also be available, which includes a case, charging dock and wireless keyboard. Look for them in the laptop section. As you would expect, there are some caveats with this deal with the main disappointment being these are refurbished TouchPads rather than the brand new models sold during the first firesale.

The refurbished 16GB and 32GB models will be available in an unannounced quantity. Sales will be limited to just two SKUs per ebay member and PayPal must be used to complete the transaction. All sales are final and the product only comes with a 90-day warranty. HP wants these things gone.

HP employees also have a chance to snag a TouchPad but they’re going to have to wait in line as well. An internal HP memo received announced the sale to employees. It states that the TouchPads will be available starting at the aforementioned 6:00 p.m. time but the public announcement will not be made until a little later, allowing employees first shot at the discontinued tablet. Guess I messed that up, eh?

In an effort to give HP employees first chance at a very limited supply of refurbished TouchPads, there will be a short delay between when the product is posted live for sale on eBay and when the general public is notified of the sale.

This might conclude the TouchPad’s sad story. The product was pulled after just two and a half months on the market. HP quickly turned around and sold most of the available inventory while promising more were on their way. This supply slowly appeared at retailers but were only available with the purchase of an HP computer. But with this sale, HP is making good on its promise and likely closing the book on the TouchPad. Its development will likely be in just the hands of the TouchPad’s capable fanbase.

Good night, sweet TouchPad.

To: U.S. HP Employees

HP employees will have a chance to purchase a refurbished HP TouchPad via eBay before the sale is announced to the general public. Specifically, the TouchPads will be offered through one of HP’s newest marketplaces for close-out and refurbished HP products, the new HP eBay Store.

This product will NOT be available through any other HP stores, such as the Home & Home Office store, Small & Medium Business store, HP EPP or the HP Business Outlet. PLEASE DO NOT CALL ANY OF THESE CALL CENTERS BECAUSE IT DISRUPTS REGULAR SALES ACTIVITIES AND THEY’RE UNABLE TO PROCESS AN ORDER FOR THE TOUCHPADS ANYWAY.

In an effort to give HP employees first chance at a very limited supply of refurbished TouchPads, there will be a short delay between when the product is posted live for sale on eBay and when the general public is notified of the sale.

Refurbished HP TouchPads, both 16GB and 32GB versions, will be posted for sale through the HP eBay store at: 6:00 p.m. (Central Time), Sunday, December 11th. If you are interested in purchasing a refurbished TouchPad, please make yourself a reminder to log-on to eBay a few minutes before the sale starts to make your purchase.

The TouchPads will be available for sale here (under “Laptops”):

http://stores.ebay.com/hewlettpackard

Important information about this sale:

•
There will be both 16GB and 32GB versions available, selling at a fixed price of $99 and $149 respectively…while supplies last.
•
There is also an optional 3-piece Accessory bundle with a Case, Charging Dock & Wireless Keyboard for $79 (est. value $199.97).
•
Purchases must be made through the HP eBay store via PayPal only. If you do not have eBay or PayPal accounts, create your accounts before the sale begins to avoid delays.
•
The product offer will be announced to the general public on Monday morning and is expected to sell-out quickly thereafter, so don’t delay.
•
There will be a limit of two (2) TouchPad SKUs per eBay member, sold on a first come, first served basis.
•
This sale is not associated with any HP-sponsored employee purchase program and there are no additional discounts for HP employees off the HP eBay store price.
•
All sales are final. There are no returns unless product arrives defective.
•
The refurbished TouchPad product comes with a 90-day limited warranty.
•
Please note that eBay orders only allow one ship-to location per order.

Thank you for your cooperation, good luck to you and don’t forget to mark your calendars for 6:00 p.m. (Central Time), Sunday, December 11th.

Best regards,

They call themselves "carnivores" and "meat aficionados," but there are other names for the vegetable-phobes in your life: "children," "cave dwellers," "people who will probably contract gout or cancer," and possibly "young-diers." Eek! More »

If you're stuck deciding between two products but can't really tell the difference between them—whether it's two video game systems or two pieces of software—web site GetComparisons will compare product reviews side-by-side to help you find the right one. More »

As a commuting or exercising must-have, earphones are an essential part of modern life. If you’re in the market for a new pair then look no further — we’ve found 10 excellent options for you.

Rather than go down the standard route though, we’ve searched long and hard to find earphones that look good as well as sound good. From dashing designer products to cheap and cheerful choices, there’s something here to suit all budgets.

Take a look through the photo gallery below for our eclectic mix of fun earphones. Let us know in the comments which pair you prefer — and why.


1. Altec Lansing Muzx MHP136



Boasting a warm sound from the natural wood chamber, these earphones are perfect for people who are looking for something more than cold metallics or impersonal plastic.

Cost: $15.95


2. AIAIAI Pipe Earphone


Designer Danish brand AIAIAI's unusual Pipe Earphones are available in a "sunset" (pictured) and "petroleum" gradient, offering a different angle on colorful headphones.

Cost: Approx $55


3. Sony PIIQ Clip-On Earbuds


We think Sony's design department have scored a big win with these rad Eighties-inspired earbuds..

Cost: $24.99


4. Monster Butterfly by Vivienne Tam


These high-end headphones get a subtle, pretty designer touch with Vivienne Tam's lovely butterflies.

Cost: $199.95


5. Frends The Clip


Designed for "the person who wants to be different" The Clip from snowboard brand Frends offers a rectangular splash of color and a funky fabric cable.

Cost: $40


6. Altec Lansing Bliss Platinum Series


Specially sized for women's ears, Altec Lansing's Bliss Platinum Series manages that tricky balance between making something that will appeal to women and not being overtly girly.

Cost: $69.95


7. Philips Color Tune In-Ear Headphones


For anyone who'd like colorful earphones but doesn't have the budget to splash out, Philips' Color Tune product line is ideal. Available in a variety of color combinations, a pair will set you back less than $10.

Cost: Varies (typically less than $10)


8. Harajuku Lovers Super Kawaii In-Ear Headphones from Monster


These might tip the balance from "novel" to "novelty" but, as they're made by cable company Monster, the sound quality should be decent.

Cost: $59.95


9. Skullcandy INK'd Paul Frank Earbuds


Paul Frank's famous marsupial, Julius the Monkey, adds a cheeky touch of fun to these great earbuds.

Cost: $10.95


10. Sony PIIQ Bass Earbuds


With an affordable price tag, a bonkers "gas mask" design, range of bright colors and the promise of "big beat bluster" there's nothing not to like about these funky earbuds from Sony.

Cost: $14.99

More About: earphones, gadgets, gallery, Lists, Tech, trending
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Writing and sending postcards is a traditional vacation ritual and, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, can cost you no more than a little time and energy.

Don’t be forced to choose among cheesy print postcards at your vacation destination — use your own iPhone photos with one of these fabulous, free apps that creates electronic postcards you can email.

While your dear old grandma may still prefer a card of the paper variety, next time you’re on a trip away from home, why not drop a line to your friends, family and colleagues using one of these apps?


1. SodaSnap



SodaSnap offers a simple app interface that matches the simplicity of the final product. To get started, choose an image. You can either select a photo from your iPhone's camera roll, snap a pic of your surroundings, or use your location.

Using your location brings up the maps app from which you can screengrab. This doesn't make the most compelling picture postcard, but it may be a useful tool for meetings and invitations.

Once you're happy with your image, you can add text and hit the "Share" button. The way the app is designed, it's pretty much what you see is what you get, so you'll have a good idea of what the recipient will see in the inbox. As well as email, there are options to share to Twitter and Facebook.


2. Photocards


The Photocards app allows you to snap a pic or grab one from your camera roll. When you've sized the photo to fit the frame, you can choose a background.

The available backgrounds display classic stock photography — the sky, greenery, sand, landscapes, etc. — but the pleasant surprise is that the images are actually decent quality. The not-so-pleasant surprise is that you have to pay for some of them.

With your background and picture in place, it's just a matter of penning a few lines before emailing your creation.


3. Montager


Montager is a little different because it acts as more of a photography tool. However, we really like that it lets you get creative with your pics.

It offers a number of templates that allow you juxtapose three images into a mini-montage. You simply double-tap the empty space you want to fill, and then create your triptych either on-the-fly with photos taken with the iPhone's camera, or from pics saved to the camera roll.

Although there's no built-in text options, you can email from within the app, so add your message there.


4. Current Postcards


Once you've snapped a photo or grabbed one from your camera roll, the Current Postcards app lets you select a font (a big bonus in our book) before opening the theme gallery.

Themes categories include Birthday, Special Events, Holidays, Everyday or Just For Fun. While we'd struggle to pick a theme from most of the clipart-esque options, the simple postcard in the "Everyday" category (as seen above) is quite classic.

You can send your Current Postcards creations via email or post to Facebook.


5. Postino


Creating a postcard with the Postino app is a four-step process. First upload a photo from your camera roll or capture one anew with your iPhone.

Next write the message, and then you're onto the really fun step — adding your signature.

You can scrawl your John Hancock on your iPhone screen with your finger. We think this would be a really nice touch if you're sending postcards with a child — although, if your finger writing skills are as rubbish as ours, your signature may end up looking like a child's anyway!

Once you've added that personal touch, email your postcard.

Thumbnail image courtesy of Steve Moses

More About: app store, apple, iphone, iphone apps, iphotography, List, photography
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As the weather heats up for summer, we’ve taken a look at some laptop cooling solutions to help keep your portable PC nice and chilled.
Whether it’s a full-on fan stand or simply a pad to prevent your thighs from getting too toasty, there’s something for everyone. And with prices starting under $10, there are options for every budget as well.
If you’re looking to avoid the burn, take a look through the slides. Let us know in the comments your tricks to curb notebook overheating as the weather warms.
1. Targus Lap Chill Mat With an ergonomic tilt and rubber stops to keep your laptop in place, Targus' Lap Chill Mat boasts a built-in USB-powered fan and an open design to help keep things nicely ventilated.
Cost: $39.99

2. iLap The iLap, specifically designed for MacBooks, is made up of three components: aluminum stand, swivel base and detachable velvet cushion. It's a great solution for both lap and desktop working.
Cost: From $49.90

3. Logitech Cooling Pad N100 Logitech's sleek Cooling Pad comes with a bold stripe of green or pink for a contemporary solution. Its USB fan claims to distribute air "quietly and evenly" under your laptop.
Cost: $29.99

4. ThermaPAK HeatShift This simple solution is more concerned with protecting your lap from scorching than with keeping your computer cool. The fabric pad contains cooling crystals which absorb heat. You can just roll it up and stuff it in your bag when on the go. Now that's portable.
Cost: From $24.99

5. Antec Notebook Cooler to Go The travel-friendly Cooler to Go feeds cold air into your laptop while slightly raising it to expel the hot stuff. Two settings mean you can choose between maximum cooling or minimum noise.
Cost: $34.95

6. Xpad The Xpad is a power-free base for your laptop. It boasts thermal insulation for your lap with air pockets in the construction to help dissipate heat. Simple, but effective.
Cost: $24.95

7. Microsoft Notebook Cooling Base Microsoft's Cooling Base is a competent all-rounder. The flip-up stand has a comfortable typing angle for desk use. Turn it sideways to use on your lap.
Cost: $29.95

8. Bluelounge Cool Feet Bluelounge's "Cool Feet" are perfect for desktop laptop users. The removable feet attach with suction cups and raise your machine at just the right height to allow for better airflow.
Cost: $12.95

9. HandStands Cool Lift Pad Designed for desktop use, the HandStands Cool Lift is a budget way of increasing the airflow around your portable PC.
Cost: $8.99

10. Belkin Cooling Strip Belkin's fun Cooling Strip is another simple solution that will give your laptop the lift it needs to avoid overheating. The spiky design also allows for improved cable management.
Cost: $8.57

More About: accessories, gallery, laptop accessories, List, Lists, office
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Even with the recent news that sitting down will kill you, most of us are unable to make major changes to our workspace set-up. To help you stay healthy, we’ve taken a look at some alternatives to the traditional office chair.
Trying to stay healthy despite a sedentary desk-based career is all about better posture, circulation and most importantly moving more.
We would of course advise seeking expert opinion before you make any major changes to your sitting setup, especially if you’re not in the best of health, but if you do decide to make a change, here are five options to inspire you.
1. Saddle Seats A backless "saddle stool" stops you slumping back in your chair, lowers your thighs, opens up your hips and gently puts your spine into a "healthy lordotic curve." Plus, anything that makes you feel like you're in a Western (rather than the office) can only be a good thing.
2. Kneeling Chairs A kneeling chair is said to help promote an "open and dynamic" sitting position that keeps your spine in its natural curvature, your back and abdominal muscles working and improves breathing and circulation. This is called "active sitting" and fans of the system claim it helps concentration and creativity.
3. Stand Up Stools Stand-up stools have been around for years to help take the weight off workers' feet. The muvman is a modern version aimed at office workers. "The main point is that you keep moving," explains the company behind the stool. Ideal for those who want to alternate sitting and standing, the flexible stool is height-adjustable so you can perch high or low and tilted forward to put you at an optimum distance from your work station.
4. Balance Ball Chairs A bouncy balance ball chair is all about strengthening your core muscles, improving spinal alignment and reducing nerve compression. The balance ball can also be removed and used for in-office exercise, if that's appropriate in your workplace. Whether or not you can also play super-sized office soccer with the ball is for you to find out.
5. Active Dynamic Stools The Swooper promotes "active sitting" by moving in different dimensions -- backward, forward, sideways and up and down too. It's all about moving your muscles with ever-changing positions. Scientific studies suggest you move twice as much on an active seat as on a conventional one, which has got to be a good thing.
Interested in more Health & Tech resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics. Thumbnail image courtesy of Victor Bezrukov
More About: ergonomics, furniture, gadgets, List, Lists, office, sitting
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There are three distinct advantages to making your own drinks from the comfort of your desk. First, it’s cheaper than buying out all the time. Second, there’s less waste and litter. And third, it saves time on fetching and carrying.
Whether you take tea, can’t live without coffee or are partial to pop, we’ve found 10 solutions that will help you provide your own liquid refreshments throughout the working day.
Have a look through the gallery to find your perfect desktop beverage maker and let us know which one it is in the comments below. Cheers!
1. Hamilton Beach Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer For the ultimate in desktop coffee convenience, this mini machine uses Senseo coffee pods, so you don't even have to fuss with measuring out the required amount.
Cost: $14.99

2. IngenuiTEA Teapot If tea is more your thing, then this clever 16oz teapot will let you enjoy the finest of fresh brews at your desk. You simply add loose leaves and hot water, wait for it to brew, put the pot over your mug and hit the spring-loaded valve to pour.
Cost: $18.99

3. LED Beverage Cooler This dinky-looking USB-powered fridge boasts cool retro styling. It will chill one can of drink and even has a blue LED light that turns on when you open the door!
Cost: $19.99

4. Aeropress Coffee Maker If plugging in a coffee machine at work isn't an option for you, then consider the Aeropress. It promises to make your coffee less bitter. You simply spoon in your preferred coffee, add hot water, wait a few minutes and then press the plunger for your java hit.
Cost: $25.99

5. Cola Coke Vending Machine Are fizzy drinks your beverage of choice? Then this retro vending fridge has you covered. It can chill and hold 10 12oz cans, ready to be dispensed at the press of a button.
Cost: $179.95

6. Brookstone Single Cup Coffee Maker With a reusable mesh filter and a coffee scoop that's just the right size for one cup of coffee, this machine is ideal for anyone who likes fresh, ground coffee. It comes complete with an insulated mug to keep your coffee warm.
Cost: $39.95

7. Water Cooler-Style Desktop Water Dispenser Save on trips to the water cooler with this mini desktop version that will help remind you to drink your daily water quota.
Cost: $17.45

8. CafeXpress Single Pod Brewer Using Wolfgang Puck coffee pods, this single cup machine will take up little space on your desk and ensure you have a piping hot supply of the good stuff just a few moments away.
Cost: $29.95

9. Sodastream This soda maker will save you money with one bottle of flavor mix making about 12 liters of soda, the equivalent of about 33 cans. It's also kinder to the planet than getting your cans from a vending machine. Plus, it's fun to use -- just remember to put the flavor in after you add the fizz.
Cost: $99.99

10. Margaritaville EXPLORER Cordless Frozen Concoction Maker Finally (and we're kind of having fun with this one), if your office is the kind of cool place that turns from workplace to social club when the clock hits six, then this portable cocktail maker could really liven things up.
Cost: From $269.95

More Tech Resources from Mashable - 10 Boredom-Busting USB Desk Toys - 5 Beautiful Keyboards to Spice Up Your Boring Desk - Top 10 Geekiest Decorations for Your Home or Office [PICS] - 6 Great Gloves for Touchscreen Gadget Lovers - 5 Stylish Computer Mice for the Design Aficionado
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, fotosipsak
More About: accessories, Food And Drink, gadgets, gallery, List, Lists, office gadgets, tech, trending
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Time to get organized? Here’s the Plug Hub, innovatively designed to hide that rat’s nest of cables, wires and plugs underneath your desk.

Run your power cords through one of the three holes in the top, then you can plug them into a power strip sitting on its shelf below. I especially like the way you can mount it on a wall or under the desk, where all of those power adapters and wires can be hidden away where people can’t see them unless they’re crawling on the floor.

I’ve tried a similar organizer before, and while the Bluelounge Mini did the job of hiding away cables, it wasn’t as compact as the Plug Hub, nor could it be side-mounted to a desk, or possess a “cord anchor” inside where cables could be wrapped around. Now all this needs is a power strip with room for those huge “wall wart” power adapters, and it’ll tidy up the messiest part of my house.

Why is this organizer so well designed? More than 568 people helped influence this product, according to Quirky, the site that uses crowdsourcing to develop products. If enough people preorder this $24 Plug Hub, it’ll actually be manufactured and shipped. Like that super snow scrapin’ Snowdozer we showed you the other day from Quirky, this one gets my vote.


Plug Hub


In the real world, you'd probably turn the box around the other way so you don't see the power strip.

Plug Hub


You can wrap your excess cable around the three reels inside.

Plug Hub


Not a bad-looking design.

Plug Hub


Here's the Plug Hub mounted under a desk. Wait, is that power strip defying gravity? The power strip can be attached through holes in the bottom.

Plug Hub


Sure looks better than a chaotic mass of tangled cables to me.

More About: crowdsourced, design, organizer, Plug Hub, Quirky, trending
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This post is part of the Mashable 10, Mashable’s gift guide of the 10 hottest gadgets that our editors think should be on everyone’s wish lists this holiday season. If you were lucky enough to receive one of those gifts, our handy quick start guides should get you up and running. To view the entire gift guide, click here.

Lucky You. Someone was generous enough to give you a shiny new laptop, maybe even that swanky HP Envy 14 we were raving about a few weeks ago. So now what?
We’re here to help you welcome that new machine into your home in grand style. So go ahead, here’s the top gear and software you’ll need to make that lappie feel right at home.
Ninite App Installer

There are loads of small apps you have to install when you get a new PC, including your favorite browser, chat software, and various utilities. With Ninite, you can install them all in one click and save yourself hours of tedium.
Go to the Ninite website, choose your favorites by clicking checkboxes, and then download your own customized installer that places all those software picks on your new machine.
What to choose from this cornucopia of freebies? Might we suggest Dropbox, the easiest file synchronizer in the world? In addition to that, all the usual suspects are there, including Adobe Flash, Chrome, Firefox, Skype, Security Essentials and even iTunes. Out of 81 choices, there’s bound to be a few in there you’ll need. One click and you’re done.
By the way, Ninite’s install routine doesn’t surreptitiously add any of those pesky toolbars or any other junkware. Try it out — you’ll love it.
Belkin Easy Transfer Cable for Windows 7

Transfer all your precious pics, flicks, tunes and docs from your old computer to the new one with this $20 USB cable. This unusually high-priced length of wire also lets you transfer your applications from one PC to another (sorry, it’s not for Macs).
If you’re not a fan of fiddling with software peculiarities, you’ll be happy to learn that there’s no clunky driver installation required when you’re using the Belkin Easy Transfer Cable, according to Belkin. Aimed at novice users, the cable is ideal if you don’t have a fast network to transfer multiple gigabytes of data.
Call of Duty: Black Ops

If you followed our buying advice and picked up that sweet HP Envy 14 laptop, you’ve got enough horsepower to leap into the gaming maelstrom. Indeed, you’ve now got a 1GB Radeon HD 5650 video card inside with enough juice to run the hottest game on the planet, Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Go for it, soldier. Although that 14.5-inch screen is outstanding, cranking out sharp-looking video and wide viewing angles, do the game justice and get yourself an external monitor for a bigger view and extra immersion. Don’t go for resolution over 1920×1200, though — we tried running the Envy through a 2560×1600 display and it couldn’t handle that, instead stepping down to a lower rez.
Finally, the Envy rocks the Beats Audio, and the Call of Duty: Black Ops soundtrack will do it justice, with big-time Hollywood actors Ed Harris and Gary Oldman manning the big guns. Lock and load!
More Gadget Resources from Mashable: - So You Got an Amazon Kindle This Holiday Season: Now What? - 5 Stylish Computer Mice for the Design Aficionado - 5 Beautiful Keyboards to Spice Up Your Boring Desk - 10 Crazy Gadgets for Cats and Dogs - 10 Comfortable Lap Desks for Cozy Computing
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, bluestocking
Reviews: Chrome, Dropbox, Firefox, Ninite, Skype, iStockphotoMore About: gift guide, Gifts, HP, hp envy, laptop, mashable 10, mashable 10 quick start
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This post is part of the Mashable 10, Mashable’s gift guide of the 10 hottest gadgets that will be on everyone’s wish list this holiday season. We’ll be publishing one new post each weekday until November 26.
It’s the holiday season and you know what that means — gift guide time! At Mashable, we decided to streamline our guide this year and focus on 10 gizmos and gadgets we think will please you and yours well into the new year. We call it, the Mashable 10.
Undoubtedly one of the hottest consumer electronics this holiday season is still the Apple iPad. First announced amidst a flurry of rumors, speculation and skepticism back in January, the device has gone on to sell millions of units over the past seven and a half months.
The device — available in Wi-Fi only and 3G enabled varieties — weighs just 1.5 lbs, has a 9.6 inch backlit IPS multi-touch display and manages to last at least 10 hours per charge. With storage capacities of 16, 32 and 64GB available, you can spend as little as $499 on an iPad (for the 16GB Wi-Fi only model) or as much as $829 (for a 64GB Wi-Fi and 3G model).
Before its release, a lot of people focused on what the iPad isn’t. It doesn’t support Flash. It doesn’t have a built-in camera. It can’t do your laundry. This is all true; the iPad is not a replacement for your primary computer. However, the iPad is more than just an oversized iPhone (as many critics first pegged the device). Read on for our thoughts on the device.
Why We Love It

Here are some of the reasons we’ve come to love the iPad:
It’s a top-notch video player for streaming services (Netflix, Hulu Plus, ABC.com, YouTube, Vimeo, and an increasing number of HTML5 video sites), as well as downloaded or purchased content.It’s an e-reader, with support for third party apps from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, plus Apple’s own iBooks library.It’s a great way to play games.Reading magazines, children’s books and cookbooks is a joy.You can do real work too.You can create music.It’s a great way to surf the web.The iPad is about to get even better. Apple is about to release iOS 4.2, which will bring the iPad in parity with iOS on the iPhone. It will also bring in support for AirPlay and Apple’s new AirPrint feature. This is a free software update that will be available to all iPad owners.

While the iPad was hard to come by for its first few months, Apple appears to have opened the floodgates. In the United States, you can now pick up the iPad at Walmart, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Target, AT&T stores and even at Verizon stores (alongside a Verizon Mi-Fi card), in addition to Apple stores and Apple.com.
Although 2010 was poised to be the “year of the tablet,” the iPad is one of the only devices that has actually managed to make it to market. Not only that, the iPad is competitive — price wise — with its rivals, even though the rivals often feature smaller screens, shorter battery life and lack tablet-optimized applications.
The fact that you can grab an iPad today, it’s affordable and it’s just straight-up fun to use makes it one of our 10 big gadget picks for the 2010 holiday season.
Is the iPad on your wish list this year? Let us know in the comments why you can’t wait to own one.
Reviews: Apple Ipad, Mashable, Vimeo, YouTubeMore About: apple, Christmas, gadgets, gift guide, Gifts, Holidays, ipad, mashable 10, wish list
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Comcast has just released its new Xfinity TV app for the iPhone and iPad. The app, which will be demoed Monday at the Web 2.0 Summit, acts as both a remote control and a TV guide for your compatible Comcast set-top box.
Right now, the Xfinity TV app [iTunes link] doesn’t let you watch video content on your device, but Xfinity TV content will be coming to the iPad next month. We took some time to play around with the app and we’re really impressed with what the Comcast team has accomplished.
The Xfinity TV app — which is free — works by connecting to your compatible DVR or cable set-top boxes. When you log in to the app, you’re presented with what boxes you have that are compatible with that service (some boxes aren’t compatible) and you can test and name the boxes and DVR units that you can control.
Once you enter in your zip code and choose your channel offerings, you are presented with an interactive, searchable TV guide. Selecting the program gives you the option to watch it on TV or to set a recording.
When you click on “watch on TV,” your channel changes. You can find a variety of information, such as when the show is on again, if episodes are available on On-Demand and episode descriptions.

What we really appreciate is that you can restrict your channel listings to only stations in HD or only stations of a certain type. You can even create favorite channels.
The app also allows you to browse the On-Demand listings available through the Xfinity TV service. This is nice because it’s faster than using On-Demand’s remote-based setup and provides the choice of watching programs directly on TV. Future updates will allow users to access content directly on the iPad, much like the rebranded Xfinity TV service (formerly Fancast) that Comcast rolled out a few months ago.
You can also manage your DVR recordings from the app — although at this time, the iPad version takes you to a web page where you can control your recordings and rearrange or reschedule shows. An iPhone app that lets you manage your Comcast DVR already exists.
We were impressed with how quick and responsive remote controls were on the app. We also appreciate the ability to switch between rooms and to assign DVR recordings to various devices in the house.
As a free offering for all digital cable subscribers, the Xfinity TV app adds a real sense of value. The next question is: Will Comcast consider bringing live TV streaming, akin to what Verizon demoed this August, to the iPad or other devices?
Oh and for Android fans — Comcast says it plans to bring the Xfinity TV app to the Android Market sometime next month. It’s not clear if any of those apps will support streaming video playback.
Startup Screen This is where you locate and name your various DVR or set-top boxes.
Getting Started This is the navigation help screen.
On-Demand Selection You can select specific TV shows or movies and then select content to watch on your TV.
TV Guide The TV guide uses a traditional grid and also makes it easy to watch or record a program.
Program Information You can choose to record a current or future broadcast or watch the TV show or movie immediately on your TV.
Reviews: Android, Android MarketMore About: comcast, internet tv, ipad, ipad apps, television, tv, tv guide, xfinity tv
For more Mobile coverage:Follow Mashable Mobile on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Mobile channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Here at Mashable, we’ve been putting the iPhone 4 through its paces, and have come up with some handy tips and tricks that can help you get more out of your Apple-flavored mobile.
We’ve covered all kinds of basics, like making search results more relevant, creating shortcuts for your favorite websites, better organizing your apps, and making the most of Maps.
And, as ever, if you’ve got suggestions for more iPhone magic not covered here or in our previous Keyboard Shortcuts post, you know we want to hear them in the comments below.
1. Change the Spotlight Search Result Order

The iPhone’s Spotlight Search functionality is a great improvement from early incarnations, but you can make it even more relevant to you just by tweaking the settings.
In the “Settings” menu, go to “General,” then select “Spotlight Search.” You are then presented with a list of categories. By touching the three bars icon next to each category, you can change the order of how the phone presents search results.

This feature can be an extremely useful time saver, as it prioritizes search results based on what you’re most likely to look for (e-mails, apps, contacts, etc.).
2. Lock the Screen Orientation

A great feature for anyone who reads iBooks in bed, you can now lock the screen on your iPhone to stay in the portrait orientation and avoid that annoying wobble between portrait and landscape you can get in certain situations.
To activate the lock, tap the home button twice, then scroll to the screen on the left, at which point you’ll see a square gray icon with a circular arrow on the far right. Tap this to lock the screen (you’ll see a locked icon in the top right of the display now) and unlock by tapping again.
3. Change the Display to White on Black

This one falls under the iPhone’s Accessibility features as it offers a high contrast, more easy-to-view display, but it can also be employed just to make your phone look a little different.
To make the change, head to “Settings,” then “General,” then “Accessibility” and then toggle “White on Black” to “On.”
The colors on your phone’s display are now inverted, however, the Apple magic that makes this happen must have something to do with the phone’s display, rather than a software change, as you can’t export screen grabs showing this setting. To see the effect in action, you’ll have to make do with our real-life photos.

4. Create a Homescreen Icon for Any Website

This is a really nice option for anyone who regularly visits websites that don’t offer their own app. You can easily add a one-touch shortcut for any webpage to your homescreen in the iPhone’s Safari browser.
Simply load up the site you’re interested in and then press the “+” on the bottom of the screen. Select the “Add to Home Screen” option.

You can then label it something appropriate. Now, as the screenshot below shows, there will be a shortcut icon to the site on your homescreen.

5. Use the Front-Facing Camera for More than FaceTime

The iPhone 4’s front-facing camera isn’t just about FaceTime. You can also use it to snap quick portrait pics (as above) and even record video of yourself.

To access the front-facing camera, go to the main camera and then hit the camera with an arrow icon on the top-right corner. This switches the view to whatever the front-facing camera sees, meaning you’ll be able to see yourself on the screen to press the shutter at the correct moment.
To toggle between capturing stills and video, it’s the same as the main camera — slide the toggle from either icon at the bottom of the phone’s screen.

6. Open and Save PDFs in iBooks

The iPhone offers handy “Quick Look” functionality for viewing PDFs, but what’s even cooler is that you can auto-save them into iBooks and then access and view them from there.
Simply press and hold on the PDF icon and you’ll see the option to “Open in iBooks.” Hit this, and the PDF will be ported over, and be available to view in the app from then on.

7. Turn iBooks Into Audio Books

Another one of the iPhone’s Accessibility options for the visually impaired, the “VoiceOver” feature is a gesture-based screen reader.
Using slightly different controls (double tap to select and three fingers to scroll), VoiceOver essentially reads aloud what is on the phone’s screen.
Aside from the obvious uses for the visually-impaired, this also means that iBooks can become audio books. To activate it, go to “Settings,” then “General,” then “Accessibility” and toggle VoiceOver to “On,” at which point you get options to tweak the settings (the speed of reading) and try out the new controls.
Once activated, if you head over to your iBooks app, VoiceOver will read your selected texts to you. It might not be something you want to employ that often, but tired eyes might appreciate having a book read to them at certain times.
8. Manually Add Pins to Maps to Mark Locations

In the iPhone’s Maps app, you can add pins which make navigating to a point or sharing your location super easy to do.
In Maps, you’ll see a blue Post-It-style note icon on the bottom-right corner. Tapping this will give you the option to drop a pin. Selecting this drops a purple pin in the map, which you can drag to exactly where you want it.

Now that you’ve placed your pin, you’ll see a label that hovers over it. This leads to even more functionality.

Clicking through on the label gives you the options to get directions to that point, from that point, and also share that location via e-mail or text message as well as bookmark it. We think this functionality could be super useful for navigating your way back to your car, or a camp site, for example.

And while we’re on the topic of Maps, here’s a bonus tip. Did you know that hitting the arrow-shaped icon on the bottom-left of your display will activate the phone’s compass and show you on the map exactly which direction you’re facing? Clever, huh?
9. Swipe to Delete

There are some handy features for deleting messages more quickly. The most common way to delete multiple messages in e-mail is to hit “Edit,” select the messages you want gone, and then hit the big, red delete button. Alternatively, you can simply swipe to bring up a delete option.
In your inbox, swipe your finger from right to left across a message and you’ll see a delete button appear. Press it and the message is toast.
Gmail users, however, may only get the option to “Archive,” so if you’re using Gmail you’ll have to tweak your settings first. To do this, go to “Settings,” “Mail, Contacts, Calendars,” “Google Mail” and then toggle the “Archive Messages” option to “Off.” This will now reveal that delete option.
This swiping trick can also be used for phone messages, Notes and more.

10. Add Folders to the Dock

The ability to create folders is one huge improvement brought with iOS4, and is a very popular feature when it comes to organizing and accessing apps. In using folders, there’s a neat trick that will let you have all your most-used apps on your phone’s homescreen.
To create a folder, just press and hold any app until it starts wiggling. Then, drag the app into another app that you’d like to include in the same folder. The iPhone will automatically generate a name for the folder based on its contents. You can edit this name by pressing and holding the folder icon.

Once you’ve got your folders made, if you clear something less useful out of the dock (you can only have four things in at a time) you can drag and drop your folder into the dock for super-fast access.
With clever folder creation (Work, Play, Phone, Tools, etc) you could pretty much have everything you need one tap away from the homescreen, rather than scrolling through endless screens of apps.

More iPhone Resources from Mashable: - HOW TO: Make Free iPhone Ringtones - 10 Useful iPhone Keyboard Shortcuts, Tips and Tricks - 10 Incredible iPhone Portrait Photographs - 10 Incredible iPhone Photographs - 10 Ridiculous iPhone Accessories [PICS]
Reviews: Gmail, SafariMore About: apple, how to, how tos, iBooks, iOS, iOS4, iphone, iphone 4, iphone apps, List, Lists, tips and tricks
For more Apple coverage:Follow Mashable Apple on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Apple channelDownload our free apps for iPhone and iPad

Star Wars Talking Plush Keychain – $9.95

Just landed at the NeatoShop from a Galaxy far, far away are some really nifty 4" Star Wars Talking Plush Keychains. Featuring your favorite cast of characters, from Darth to Yoda to Artoo and Chewie: Link

Preparing for college is not only daunting but expensive, but it doesn't have to be. We've got some tips and tricks to help make the whole process easier. More »

Sure I SHOULD be able to read the time even without solving the equations, but that wouldn't be giving the booze enough credit. One time I set the kitchen on fire because I couldn't figure out how long to put a 5-minute meal in the microwave (I opted for 2 hours). Joking, I passed out on the couch with the stove on, but still. The Pop Quiz clock costs $30 and makes the perfect Father's Day gift provided you don't care enough to get the ol' man something good.

Product Site
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The clock you need an engineering degree to read [dvice]