coyote

It's widely expected that tomorrow in New York, Amazon will unveil its much-anticipated tablet, the device many headline writers promise will at least maim the iPad, if not commit a full-blown 187 on its ass. So why does it feel like the year the Sega Genesis came out and I got a clearance-shelf Sega Master system for Christmas?

Probably because the tablet that we'll reportedly see Jeff Bezos introduce this week--the Kindle Fire, a 7-inch, backlit tablet modeled after RIM's PlayBook with Wi-Fi only and no camera--is not the coolest tablet Amazon has been working on.

Since the spring, we've heard rumors, tips from anonymous sources, and analysts all describing Amazon's work on two tablets--a 7-incher and a 10-inch version that could feature all sorts of goodies, including free 3G, free Amazon Prime, and a dual-mode option that makes it possible to flip between a backlight and e-ink.

But for the past month, it seems that Amazon has decided to turn its attention to getting out only the smaller tablet for the holiday shopping season. Unfortunately, the tablet/e-reader/whatever that will be introduced tomorrow will likely be the one we've known all summer by its code name, "Coyote"--a scavenging canine that feeds on nature's scraps in its most harsh environments--and not the larger one with all the sweet goodies code-named "Hollywood"--the center of all that is decadent and glamorous in our universe.… Read more

It's not much of a stretch to say that the Amazon tablet has become one of the worst-kept secrets in the Android universe. These last few months have seen rumors and hints coming from all angles, including a coy statement from CEO Jeff Bezos.

As we move into the second half of the year, when the tablets are expected to launch, additional details are beginning to fall into place, and over the past few days, we've gone from expecting a single tablet to various reports indicating that Amazon is working on both a 7- and a 10-inch tablet. … Read more

What's worse than a garish, tasteless mouse covered in fake diamonds? A garish, tasteless mouse that's accompanied by matching accessories.

As if this pink and white crystal-encrusted optical mouse weren't bad enough, it's offered with a calculator in the same ill-advised motif. Uber-Review suggests this ensemble as a possible gift for Mother's Day. We'd agree only if you had a miserable childhood.

Lest there be any doubt about the convergence of digital technology and the human body, consider this: a "bio-inkjet printer."

Carnegie Mellon scientists working on stem-cell research have developed a printer that uses "bio-ink," which Popular Mechanics describes as "solutions of hormones that alter cell behavior." In an article that sounds like natural sci-fi fodder, the magazine says the machine uses a custom-made nozzle that prints highly accurate patterns "to create a blueprint for cells to grow and differentiate into the various types that scientists want to create."

And why not? Manufacturing … Read more