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Last-minute laptop stocking stuffers

Laptops are, by definition, pretty self-contained. After all, they've got a keyboard, display, and touchpad built in, as well as (in most cases) an optical drive, speakers, and a Webcam.

Still, there's a whole industry built around aftermarket accessories for your laptop, from the sensible to the ridiculous. We've covered mice and laptop bags extensively, so for this mini roundup of last-minute laptop stocking stuffers, we'll look at some other noteworthy categories, including laptop stands and A/V accessories.

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Leaked accessory hints WebOS tablet is near

The pieces seem to be falling into place for HP's first WebOS-based tablet.

Executives have confirmed several times that there will be a touch-screen tablet featuring Palm's mobile operating system released sometime between January and March, though little else is known about it. HP has trademarked "PalmPad" and an exec has even publicly referred to an upcoming tablet as such, but it's not clear that will be the product's actual name once it starts shipping to customers.

Today Engadget got its hands on an internal HP slide that shows not a tablet, but what … Read more

Gaming preview

While we haven't really been impressed with gaming's presence at the last few CES shows, there does seem to be some evidence that 2011 might be different. Given the news that Nintendo will be making an appearance in Las Vegas, we're anxious to see if the company will be offering a more in-depth look at the next portable gaming system to hit around springtime, the 3DS.

There is also a growing buzz surrounding what's arguably 3D's best platform: video games. Expect to see more 3D HDTV manufacturers showcasing their products' prowess while hooked up to … Read more

Brookstone iPad pinball accessory goes MIA

Gizmodo and few other blogs have posted images of a rather cool-looking iPad pinball table accessory from Brookstone. Alas, for some reason Brookstone's site says the $80 accessory is no longer offered and no free Pinball Magic iPad app for the iPad is currently available in the Apple App Store.

We're not sure why the accessory has disappeared, but we did see it in the most recent Brookstone paper catalog. On the other hand, if you want New Potato's iPhone/iPod Touch pinball accessory (see video below), that's in stock for $30. While the free Pinball … Read more

Kinect officially a hit with 1 million units sold

The million mark is a big milestone in sales, and today Microsoft announced that its Kinect system has joined the list of products to get there in short order.

The $150 motion control camera accessory for Microsoft's Xbox 360 landed on shelves in North America 10 days ago and in Europe just last week, and, according to Redmond, it has just hit that magic million number. Microsoft says that puts it well on track toward reaching the company's estimated 5 million units by the end of the year.

One thing Microsoft is not saying is how the million … Read more

Joby brings its flexible tripod to the iPhone 4

Joby, the maker of the fun and versatile Gorillapod flexible tripods and other related products, released Gorillamobile for iPhone 4. It's a complete redesign of its product for the iPhone 3G/3GS, mainly switching from a full case that protected the sides and back to a simple bumper.

For $39.95, the kit includes a black, two-piece polycarbonate plastic snap-on bumper case, a 6.7-inch high Gorillapod flexible stand, and a universal camera adapter clip with screw so you can use the stand with a camera.

There are cutouts in the case for the dock connector, mic, speaker, headphone … Read more

Stupid cell phone accessories

One of the best things about flying is the chance to leaf through the Skymall catalog. Indeed, there's no better celebration of our nation's obsession with consumerism. Where else can you find a tacky table-and-chairs set that's disguised as a bookcase or a quirky baking pan that ensures everyone gets an end piece?

Gadgets have also made their way into Skymall in the past. We've seen a floating speaker for your swimming pool, and last year the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 graced the cover of the February issue for $799. But even gadgets and absurdity can … Read more

iPhone 4 case includes removable tripod mount

About a month ago we first saw the Glif, a cleverly designed tripod mount and stand for the iPhone 4. But that seemingly can't be used with a case and is still preorder only with no real availability date. The XShot iPhone 4 Case, on the other hand, is a two-piece, slim hard case that protects the back and sides of the device, but also comes with a removable tripod mount and will be shipping soon.

To use it, you just snap the case on and slide the mount into notches on the bottom or lower left side of … Read more

Speck A-Line Bag is functional and fashionable

Despite the emphasis on convergence for certain tech categories, the sheer number of gadgets many of us continue to schlep around can be rather astounding. I can tell you from experience that carting devices around in bags specifically designed to organize and protect them makes the whole task less daunting (the Built Travel Organizer has saved my sanity on more than one trip). Plus, if you're a woman who has been using a standard purse to carry a vast array of heavy items, I'm sure you've had your fair share of visits to the cobbler.

But hey, … Read more

Breffo Spiderpodium lends a hand (or eight)

The Breffo Spiderpodium is a simple, yet effective way to hold your small gadgets in place during any of a variety of activities ranging from driving to biking to just watching a movie, but only if you have the imagination to make it work for you.

The Spiderpodium consists of eight flexible, rubber-coated wire arms protruding from a rubber center. These arms can be bent and posed in pretty much any direction, orientation, or shape and will hold their position. Breffo's plan is that you'll use the arms to wrap around your small electronic devices, holding them in the orientation of your choosing.

We were able to, for example, attach a smartphone to a vehicle's dashboard air vents for easy access to the screen for selecting music, answering calls, and viewing maps for turn-by-turn navigation. People who use their GPS navigator in multiple vehicles can leave the bulky suction cup cradle in one vehicle and use the Spiderpodium to hold their device in place in other cars.

We were even able to successfully suspend a GPS device and a smartphone from our vehicle's vents during testing. The Spiderpodium's stability during spirited driving will ultimately depend on your skill in positioning the spindly widget, and the anchor to which it is attached, but we experienced no catastrophic failures with a variety of devices.… Read more