April 29, 2008 2:17 PM PDT
Podcast: Advice for America's amateur inventors
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The Electronic Frontier Foundation says Microsoft has betrayed its customers; and disappearing ink is back again, this time with real-world uses.
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Have you ever heard of bird diapers? What about a kosher lamp? Or perhaps you've always longed for the day your toilet paper dispenser could talk. OK, probably not. But that hasn't stopped people from inventing these bizarre products. Reporter Steve Greenberg writes about many of the wacky products featured in his new book Gadget Nation. CNET News.com's Leslie Katz talks with Greenberg, who has some advice for America's many amateur inventors.
Wigix Chief Executive James Chong thinks he's got an idea that just might be good enough to take on the likes of eBay. His Internet marketplace, which launched in beta form Tuesday, is similar to eBay, but it specializes in people selling very specific items, like game consoles, digital cameras, or other mass-manufactured products. Can it take on the Web auction giant?
Business owners frustrated with anonymous people spouting off on Yelp will now have a voice. The business review site has announced a program that gives business owners access to analytics, sends e-mail alerts when they have new reviews, and allows them to update public data and send messages to people who have reviewed their business.
Today's stories:
A journey through the 'Gadget Nation'
Start-up eyes eBay turf with online market
EFF: Microsoft betrayed MSN Music customers
Senators, states beat up on Real ID plans
Software monitors the weather in your data center
Yelp to businesses: Deal with our users yourselves!
New way to save energy: Disappearing ink
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