Microsoft is thinking warm thoughts this season and offering their Bluetooth 5000 mouse for Mac users. They've updated the packaging and drivers to work seamlessly with Macs and are offering an olive branch to Mac users by pricing this laser mouse at $49.95. After all, isn't the holiday season all about sharing SKUs?

The folks at Canary Wireless captured the interest in 2004 of Wi-Fi spotters--folks trying to find scarcer Wi-Fi hotspots than exist today--with their first Digital Hotspotter. The handheld, battery-powered device went far beyond the other signal detectors of the day when it was introduced in Dec. 2004. The small LCD screen showed channel number, signal strength, network name, and security method, scrolling through the networks found in the area. read more...

Pinnacle Systems makes a number of products related to digital video recording, viewing and editing. Their primary products are editing software and tuners and they have a whole line of HD products that make it quick and easy to view and record HD over-the-air (OTA) programs. read more...

The Dash Express is more than just another automotive navigation system: it's a peer-to-per network with social components that can use cellular and Wi-Fi networks for communication. read more...

When the site for a product is unusably hip, you have to remember: It's for the kids. The Zipit site gives me a headache every time I view the Flash-only crazy navigation screen, but the product is compelling. The Zipit Messenger 2 ($150) includes Wi-Fi access for unified instant messaging--single buddy list--with AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, and MSN Messenger, as well as photo viewing, local music playback, and music streaming, all in a compact form factor. There are no fees for IM usage, and free access at 9,000 U.S. McDonald's locations (via Wi-Fi network operator Wayport) is included. read more...

One of the most sought-after presents this holiday season was Asus' Eee Pc. It's a sub-notebook with a tiny footprint, and an equally tiny price. While it is intended to compete with the OLPC XO-1, it isn't meant to be sold only to developing nations: you can get one too... if you find stock somewhere. read more...

The Chumby has been a tinkerer's must-have gadget for over a year, even though the Wi-Fi-enabled squeezable device hasn't yet shipped. Available in a preview version for $179.95, the Chumby has captured so much interest because it's a home appliance for showing useful information in the right size--and can be tweaked and programmed for to customize. read more...

CNN had a front page story the other day on the Commodore 64, which turns 25 this week. This was a cool machine. I remember our computer lab at school was full of them. We replaced the aging VIC-20s and Commodore PETs. read more...