New Lithium Battery Flight Restrictions to Begin

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
As if your traveling experience isn’t bad enough already, here come new battery safety requirements from the DoT. The new rules ban packing of spare lithium batteries in checked baggage, and go into effect on Jan. 1, 2008.
New rules from the Transportation and Security Administration that take effect on January 1 [...]

10 Simple Tips For Getting Organized

While most of us jot down our New Year's resolutions in low tech notebooks and organizers there are billions of helpful websites and handy tech tips that can help us reach our goals.

If you spend your whole day in front of a computer or carry a PDA in your pocket or purse (meaning you have constant web and calendar access) you really don't have an excuse to be disorganized.

To check out my list of tips (and goals!) for keeping your schedule and life on track this year

read more

End of an Era: Netscape Browser Development to Cease

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
It’s a sad day and the end of an era. Development is to cease on the Netscape browser, which at one time held the largest market share of all browsers, and was the first browser to gain mass popularity.
However, it had been evident for a while that this move was [...]

Colorful Pacman Pillows: Geeky or Geek Chic?

As old school as Pacman is, the classic gaming ghosts seem to never go out of style! I can't decide whether or not I like these Pacman pillows as much as the geek-chic Pacman video game scarf (minus the hat, of course). Each pillow below is handcrafted with special stitching to look liked the classic pixelated characters in the game. Maybe a neat idea for a gaming room or living room, but too over-the-top for a bedroom (unless you like eyes staring at you while you sleep)! This entire set is available on Etsy for $90. What are your thoughts? Geek or geek chic?

Wal-Mart Quietly Drops Video Download Service

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Wal-Mart quietly closed its video download service on 12/21, so quietly that no one noticed it — perhaps because no one used the site in the first place.
The store first opened last November, though it didn’t really get moving until early in February. Ironically, the first line of the NY [...]

Daily Tech: The DS Tops Lifetime Sales of PS2 in Japan

• The Nintendo DS which launched in 2004 is so popular in Japan that it has already outsold the Playstation 2 which launched in 2000. — Kotaku


• The first app for Googlephones has just launched in beta, and it's called WhatsOpen.com. — Valleywag


• FYI: The TSA isn't allowing any more loose non-rechargeable lithium batteries in checked luggage. . . good times. — The Consumerist


• A girl unwraps an Apple box on Christmas to find a random note instead of an iPod. — Engadget


• Check out a full video demo of Apple iPhone firmware 1.1.3 features. — Gizmodo

“Amazon MP3″ Store Adds DRM-free Warner Music

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
iTunes, Wal-Mart, and Amazon’s “Amazon MP3” service sell DRM-free music downloads, but so far only from EMI (along with a “test” by Universal Music Group). Today Amazon.com announced it has beaten Apple (!) to the punch; it’s signed a deal with Warner Music Group to sell MP3 downloads, giving customers [...]