iPhone Facebook app updated to 3.1.1

2010-01-08T04:42:00.000-08:00

Facebook this week issued two updates for its native iPhone App Store application. Version 3.1, released Wednesday, added push notifications for seven different categories, and included address book syncing. Thursday, a small update was issued in version 3.1.1, which includes bug fixes in address book syncing.

Push notifications can now be received for new messages, wall posts, friend requests, friend confirmations, photo tags, events and comments.

Version 3.0 of the popular Facebook application was released in August. It allows users to see upcoming events and friends' birthdays, post updates and photos, write notes and read friends' notes, upload videos from an iPhone 3GS, change their profile picture, zoom into photos, access the same news feed as the Web site, and more.

Colt Mccoy Injury

2010-01-08T04:41:00.001-08:00

What's the latest update about Colt Mccoy's Injury? Will it cause severe effects to their team game? This is a very sad story to the rest of the Texas team. Will they still win the game? I have the actual video of the time when he was injured. Watch that video now at the link below and post your comment.

Colt McCoy's injury has left the Texas offense struggling. And Mark Ingram's 2-yard TD run gave Alabama the lead on the second play of the second quarter.

McCoy's injury has shell shocked the Longhorns offense, who produced only Hunter Lawrence field goals despite moving to the Alabama 1 on the first drive and the Crimson Tide 25 on the second possession.

McElroy applying to be a Rhodes Scholar

2010-01-08T04:40:00.000-08:00

Much was made last season of Florida State’sMyron Rollebecoming a Rhodes Scholar and putting off his potential NFL career. Of course, the team he was playing on wasn’t that good, and Rolle seems to be applying for sainthood through the number of things he’s doing and his ambitions for the future.
Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy isn’t quite setting himself up for canonization, but he is a damn good student, already graduating with another year of eligibility left. He has made all As and one B in obtaining his degree in marketing. He also appears to plan on returning for his last year with the Crimson Tide. But, that doesn’t mean that he’s not already thinking of the future. He wants to study at Oxford.

“I’m actually applying next year,” McElroy said. “I didn’t want to apply and miss a year of football if I was picked. But we’ll see what happens. I wanted to obviously approach it and look into it because it is such a great honor.”

Obviously, it isn’t easy. Only two people drawn from Alabama, Florida and Tennessee will get the coveted scholarship any given year. But if Mark Ingram can win the Heisman, who says McElroy can’t snag a Rhodes Scholarship next year?

Audra McDonald

2010-01-08T04:39:00.000-08:00

Audra McDonald was very famous in the Internet today. She was actually nominated for NAACP awards. This is a very successful point of her career. Have you seen one of her videos lately? She was really amazing, watch it now at the link below!

Oumou Sangare and Audra McDonald have each been nominated for NAACP Image Awards.

Oumou has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album for her latest World Circuit/Nonesuch release, Seya. The album had already been nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary World Music Album and was named among last year's best albums by the New York Times, Boston Globe, and Mojo, among others.

Lee Corso Stroke

2010-01-08T04:38:00.001-08:00

Leland “Lee” Corso, who suffered a stroke in May 2009, may be a little slower but there is still no stopping him.

Sports broadcaster and football analyst, has featured on ESPN’s Colleges Game Day program. Lee Corso also appears annually as a commentator for the EA Sports NCAA Football.

When he is not doing all of that he serves as the Director of Business Development for Dixon Ticonderoga, a Florida based Pencil making company.

Corso who was born in Lake Mary, Florida attended the Miami Jackson Senior High, where he also played quarterback.

Anonymous Quickie

2010-01-07T00:49:00.000-08:00

Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) visited the Anonymous Quickie - AQ website that says "log on, hook up, get off." Morales (Joel de la Fuente) says that the information was not in a text, it was in a phone app. Anonymous Quickie uses the phone as a geo-locator to track people nearby looking for anonymous "Quickie."

What you just read is part of the Law and Order SVU "Quickie" episode. "Quickie" Season 11 Episode 11 aired tonight, Wednesday January 6, 2009 on NBC.

Episode Synopsis Law and Order SVU, Season 11 Episode 11:

LAW & ORDER SVU "Quickie" Season 11 Episode 11 - When seventeen year-old Andrea McWilliams is found strangled and beaten to death in an alley, her ex-boyfriend leads the cops to a website that McWilliams used to meet up with random men . Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) decides to create a user account for the site and finds womanizer Peter Butler (guest star Brian Geraghty), the man who met up with McWilliams. The case is closed when a different suspect is proven guilty of her murder, and a new one opens when McWilliams rape kit tests positive for HIV. Not only is HIV spreading as a result of countless attacks, but now the detectives must also catch a rapist on the loose. Also starring: Chris Meloni (Detective Elliot Stabler), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Hagen), Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch), Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Stephanie March (ADA Alexandra Cabot), B.D. Wong (Dr. George Huang), Tamara Tunie (M.E. Warner) and guest star Jack Larson (Dewey Butler).

Apocalypse Man on History Channel

2010-01-07T00:42:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, January 6, 09:00 PM, History Channel features the Apocalypse Man.

Synopsis:
Government authorities say it's "not if... but when"...a moment in the future when, just as it has in the past, some catastrophe sparks mass destruction, leaving humans challenged to find shelter, heat, food, water and defense. If that happens, would you know what to do? Survival expert Rudy Reyes journeys through abandoned buildings showing us some surprising survival techniques, including making fire from steel wool, finding safe houses and creating shortwave radio transmissions.

Apocalypse Man TV Schedules:

Thursday, January 07 01:00 AM
Friday, January 08 11:00 PM
Saturday, January 09 03:00 AM
Saturday, January 09 12:00 PM

the Burj Dubai : world's tallest tower

2010-01-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

Even as Dubai faces its greatest ever financial crisis, the city skyscape will now stretch into the clouds with the grand opening on Monday of the world's tallest tower, the Burj Dubai.

Nicole Henry

2010-01-06T00:20:00.000-08:00

What's the latest news about Nicole Henry? She will be singing at the Orange Bowl. I love the way she sings jazz and makes the ears fly away with inspiration. Watch her video at the link below for you to comment how good she is.

Read more about her from the article of gather.com:

Nicole Henry performed The Star-Spangled Banner at the Orange Bowl tonight. Jazz singer Nicole Henry is from Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Miami. Nicole Henry, now based in Miami, sang before more people at the Orange Bowl than ever before in her career.

Watch the full videos of Nicole Henry at the URL below, just copy and paste the URL below to your address bar now:

doiop.com/NicoleHenry

Chris Dodd Flames Out, White House Visitor Info Materializes in Capital Eye Opener: January 6

2010-01-06T00:17:00.000-08:00

DEMOCRATS CHRISTOPHER DODD, BYRON DORGAN TO QUIT SENATE: Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is expected to announce he won't run for re-election this year, the Washington Post and other media outlets are reporting. Dodd, first elected to Congress in 1974, faces a difficult campaign this year and is widely believed by Republicans and Democrats alike to stand among the most vulnerable Senate incumbents. While Dodd reported more than $2.2 million cash on hand through September, challengers such as Republican Linda McMahon and Robert Simmons have each already raised millions. If Dodd doesn't seek re-election, it'll mark a precipitous fall for his political fortunes. In 2008, his presidential campaign fizzled before it ever started, with Dodd abandoning the Democratic nomination after the nation's first caucus in Iowa. Accusations of too-cozy relationships with executives from embattled Countrywide Financial and American International Group have also dogged Dodd, who nonetheless served as de facto chairman of two Senate committees this year and solidified himself as a major, if contentious player in health care and financial reform negotiations. Dorgan (D-N.D.) also faced a potentially troublesome re-election campaign against the state's Republican Gov. John Hoeven, deciding to retire instead. Dorgan in September reported more than $3.9 million cash on hand -- much of it coming from out-of-state donors.

CRASH THE WHITE HOUSE VISITORS' PARTY: So, no. Tareq and Michaele Salahi, White House party crashers extraordinaire, are not on this list. Not yet. But as you'll see here, the Sunlight Foundation has created a fascinating database that crosses the White House's initial visitor log release with a variety of other sources -- including the Center for Responsive Politics donor database -- that together feature a bevy of information about these rarefied folks. To be sure, the Sunlight Foundation acknowledges the database has its limitations. For example, the White House delays its visitor log releases several months and withholds the names of some people for security, privacy and political concerns. The foundation also notes that "there's no guarantee that a John Smith listed in the White House's log is any given John Smith," meaning that users should be vigilant in their research. But this tool will allow viewers to quickly access useful information about White House visitors' federal and state campaign contributions, backgrounds and connections.

CRP, IN THE NEWS: In this column by the Wall Street Journal's Thomas Frank, the author uses our data in making points about Republican Party populism and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) ... Lauren Kirchner of the Huffington Post quotes us and cites our research in writing about how lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry affected federal health care reform ... Northrop Grumman is shifting its corporate headquarters to the Washington, D.C., area next year, and Jen DiMascio at Politico augments her story on the move by noting out research on the defense contractor's robust lobbying efforts.

Tila Tequila: Johnson Died From Drugs

2010-01-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Tila Tequila: Johnson Died From Drugs

With the death of heiress Casey Johnson, fiancé Tila Tequila says it was most likely caused by a drug overdose.

The “A Shot at Love” babe reportedly told friends that she was worried about Johnson’s indulgence in prescription medications and believed that it led to her death.

ESPN, Discovery launching 3D television networks

2010-01-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

UPDATED: ESPN and Discovery Communications announced plans Tuesday to launch the industry's first 3D television networks.

The sports programmer will introduce a 3D network this summer, while Discovery is joining forces with Sony and Imax for a 3D network to launch in 2011.

The announcements represent a potentially game-changing addition to the TV landscape, which only recently fully embraced another technological shift to high-definition programming.

The Walt Disney-owned unit said Tuesday that its new channel -- ESPN 3D -- will feature at least 85 live sporting events during its first year, beginning June 11 with the first 2010 FIFA World Cup match South Africa vs. Mexico.

"ESPN's commitment to 3D is a win for fans and our business partners," said ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer. "ESPN 3D marries great content with new technology to enhance the fan's viewing experience and puts ESPN at the forefront of the next big advance for TV viewing."

On the Discovery front, the joint venture of the three firms doesn’t have an official name for the network yet, although it has created a logo that says “3D TV."

The dueling announcements have both companies claiming to have the first 3D network. ESPN has an earlier launch date, but the network will go dark when not airing 3D programming. Discovery says its channel will be the first dedicated 3D network on the air 24/7.

“Discovery’s business strategy has always focused on delivering groundbreaking content through new platforms, including the first suite of digital channels launched in 1996 and the first 24/7 basic cable HD channel in 2002,” said Discovery Founder and Chairman John Hendricks. “Now, as Discovery celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2010 as the world leader in satisfying curiosity and bringing audiences the most realistic viewing experience, we continue to change the face of television with the launch of the first-ever 24/7 dedicated 3D television network.”

ESPN has been testing ESPN 3D for more than two years. For example, it showed a USC-Ohio State college football game in select theaters and on USC's campus. Other 3D events will include up to 25 World Cup matches, the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, college basketball and football, and the Summer X Games.

To watch the content, viewers must have a 3D-ready TV set, and might need a new set-top box. And yes, viewers also must wear 3D glasses.

Plus, the added cost of producing content in 3D will likely get passed onto the consumer, resulting in another cable pay tier similar to current high-definition packages.

That ESPN would be one of the first networks to announce a 3D channel is no surprise. Sports was a key driver in viewers embracing HD, while ESPN constantly explores new technological advances to enhance its content. ESPN is also the most widely distributed cable network.

"This is a turning point for 3D," Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro told USA Today.

The recent box office success of "Avatar," which recently passed $1 billion worldwide and is set to become the #2 movie of all time behind director James Cameron's own "Titanic," has helped prove the 3D format can draw a stunning number of viewers.

The Live Feed's semi-annual live blogging coverage of the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena begins Saturday with CBS and The CW and continues Sunday with NBC.

Sons of Steve Garvey

2010-01-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

January 5, 2010 | 8:58 am

Rory Markas, one of the Angels' play-by-play announcers since 2002, has died. The Angels' team-owned radio station, AM 830, announced his death this morning. The station did not announce a cause of death.

"I think now everybody should just celebrate what a good person he was," broadcast partner Terry Smith told AM 830.

Markas, 54, made the memorable call of the final out of the 2002 World Series, as Darin Erstad camped under a fly ball in centerfield: "Erstad says he's got it! Erstad makes the catch! The Anaheim Angels are the champions of baseball!"

Markas had returned to the Angels' booth this season after suffering a blood clot in his brain in November 2008, as discussed in this story by Diane Pucin.

"We're not going to be together -- traveling together, getting a bite to eat together, in the booth together," Smith said. "I just can't believe that's not going to happen."

Markas, a longtime Southern California broadcaster, also had announced games for USC and the Clippers and had worked for Channel 2, Channel 11 and Prime Ticket.

Boise State Cowbell Girl And Her Chocolate Lab Guide Dog

2010-01-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

Brit Hume: Tiger Woods should turn to Christianity for forgiveness

2010-01-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

Buddhism is inferior to Christianity when it comes to forgiveness of sins, according to Fox News pundit Brit Hume. Tiger Woods should turn his back on Buddhism and become a Christian to be forgiven for cheating on his wife, Hume told Fox News Chris Wallace Sunday.

The extent to which he can recover seems to me depends on his faith, said Hume. He is said to be a Buddhist. I dont think that faith offers the kind of redemption and forgiveness offered by the Christian faith. My message to Tiger is, Tiger turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.

Research Consolidation: Gartner Acquires Burton Group For $56M In Cash

2010-01-05T10:23:00.000-08:00

Big news in the research world today: Gartner has announced that right at the end of 2009, it acquired competitor Burton Group for approximately $56 million in cash. Gartner financed the acquisition through the use of cash on hand and borrowings under its existing line of credit.

Burton Group is a Midvale, UT-headquartered research and advisory services firm that focuses on providing advice to IT professionals. According to the statement, Burton Group has approximately 41 research analysts, 40 sales and client service associates, and projected 2009 revenue of $30 million.

Gartner expects the acquisition of Burton Group to be accretive to its revenue, earnings and cash-flow over time. On a GAAP basis, the transaction is expected to be dilutive to income per share by ($0.12) – ($0.10) in 2010 and accretive to income per share by at least $0.00 – $0.03 in 2011.

Gartner’s stock is up a bit in early trading on NYSE.

Brian Cushing

2010-01-05T10:22:00.000-08:00

The Associated Press has voted Texans SLB Brian Cushing the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He won in a landslide, getting 39 votes to Jairus Byrd’s six, Clay Matthews‘ three, and Brian Orakpo’s two

Johnson & Johnson Heiress Dies

2010-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

Casey Johnson, an heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, has died .. TMZ has learned.

She died in L.A. We're told the body was discovered this morning.

She was 30 years old. Her father is Woody Johnson -- owner of the New York Jets.

Johnson was arrested in November for grand theft -- the alleged victim was a former girlfriend.

Johnson was reportedly engaged to Tila Tequila. We spoke with Tila a few minutes ago. She says they were fighting last week and that Casey stayed at Tila's house on the 28th. Tila tried contacting Casey on the 29th because Casey had left her dogs behind. Tila says Casey's phone has been shut off since the 29th and she was not able to make contact.

Johnson -- who tweeted frequently -- last tweeted on December 29 at 1:13 AM.

The cause of death is undetermined.

UPDATE: A law enforcement source tells TMZ it appears Johnson had been dead for several days before her body was discovered.

UPDATE: The LAPD has opened a death investigation.

Google's Nexus One Smartphone Announcement Set for Today

2010-01-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

Joshua Topolsky has written an excellent, in-depth review on Engadget of Google's new Android-based smartphone, the Nexus One. The "Google Phone" has been eagerly awaited by those who look forward to its official announcement today at an "Android Press Gathering" in California.

Key points, a la Topolsky:
- A 'lustworthy" design
- Solid layout.
- 5 megapixel camera with flash takes sharp, detailed photos.
- Runs atop the Snapdragon CPU
- Speedy, but not much speedier than the Droid
- Excellent touch sensitivity
- Problems with the screen's color balance, especially reds and oranges
- Hard to read the screen or take photos in bright sunlight
- Loud, clear sound quality through the earpiece; the loudspeaker, however, sounds tinny
- Reviewer's phone, connected through T-Mobile, couldn't always get a signal as well as a Droid connected through Verizon
- Download time 559Kbps
- Operating system very similar to the Droid with a few helpful improvements
- Underwhelming music player
- No multitouch. One finger only.
- No physical keyboard like the Droid has. Bummer.
- Battery performs admirably
- Pricing: $529.99 unchained, or $179.99 with a two-year agreement with T-Mobile (this is based on leaked documents and may change).

According to TMO News, the Nexus One can be ordered through Google only as of Jan. 5 at 9 a.m. This is unconfirmed.

What Your Car Says About You

2010-01-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

by Zack O'Malley Greenburg
Friday, October 9, 2009provided by

Education level, tech smarts and wealth are just a few traits your ride can convey

Porsches smack of success. Hondas preach practicality. And, according to a recent report, Chevys proudly proclaim of their owners, "I don't use the Internet."

Your car implies more about your life than you might think. While 13% of Chevy owners don't use the Web, by contrast, less than 3% of Honda owners remain in the technological Stone Age. The antithesis of flashy, Honda owners are usually pragmatic and well educated; 70% boast a college degree or higher, compared with 35% of Chevy owners and 45% of Ford owners.

The data was released in the spring as part of this year's New Vehicle Experience Study by San Diego-based market research outfit Strategic Vision.

"Honda buyers buy primarily for the trust and dependability they find in our vehicles," says Honda spokesman Chris Naughton. "Typically, highly functional vehicles deliver less image because customers didn't purchase for image."

Education level and computer savvy are just a couple of the things your car says about you. We collected demographic data on 10 prominent auto brands from the manufacturers themselves, as well as from neutral sources like Strategic Vision. It turns out, your wheels also give clues to your age, gender, income level and marital status--even your political leanings.

Mini Mindset

If you'd like to cultivate an image of sophistication, try buying a Mini Cooper. The line of Lilliputian hatchbacks appeals to urbane buyers with median incomes of around $125,000. But aside from wealth, Mini owners are a tough bunch to pin down, demographically speaking, since the car has broad appeal.

"It's a certain mindset," says Nathalie Bauers, spokeswoman for Mini USA. "People who relate to the brand, there's no age to that."

Bauers says Mini owners fall into four categories: brand enthusiasts, who relish the car's British racing roots; design aficionados, who like the car's simple elegance; social butterflies, who want to be part of the Mini community; and gas misers, who crave the Mini's fuel efficiency.

Some of the latter group trade down from trucks and SUVs not because they feel financially crunched by high gas prices, but because they want to be conscientious and reduce their impact on the environment. These "right-sizers" like the Mini's eco-friendly image; all Mini models get at least 34 miles per gallon on the highway. Says Bauers: "Many of our customers are people who get a smaller car because it's the right thing to do."

Gray Area

While Minis appeal to several different types of people, owners of the classic English luxury vehicle Rolls-Royce can't be pigeonholed beyond the fact that they're rich.

"As you can imagine, our customers do not really take surveys," says Rolls-Royce spokeswoman Karen Vonder Meulen. "The one common thread that all our customers share is a passion for life and most truly love cars."

Indeed, well-known Rolls owners range from royal families to rappers. Recording artist T-Pain, who ranks No. 9 on Forbes' Hip-Hop Cash Kings list, owns North America's first Rolls-Royce Drophead. The fire-engine-red coupe boasts a 12-cylinder, 453-horsepower engine and a top speed of 150 miles per hour. Base price: $435,000.

Similarly, the Bentley trademark screams wealth--typically at least $5 million in investable assets, to be precise--but in a softer voice than some of its competitors.

"Our cars aren't as brash as some other performance-car manufacturers," says Stuart McCullough, a Bentley board member. "We tend to be understated, quintessentially English. That reflects the mood and style of our customers."

Such restraint can be considered especially important in the current climate. With unemployment rates skyrocketing around the world, many auto enthusiasts would rather drive an understated gray Bentley than a flashy red Ferrari.

"The most opulent part of a Bentley is on the inside," says McCullough. "Rich people are very aware of how others see them at the moment, the choices they make. Now is not the right time to be seen to be spending money when you're laying people off at your factory."

A note to those wealthy employers: Think twice about splurging on even an understated new car. If you see scads of Hondas in your company parking lot, their savvy owners may be wise to your ways. If you only see Chevys, you might be able to get away with it.

In Depth: What Your Car Says About You

1. Bentley

The Bentley trademark screams wealth, but in a softer voice than some of its competitors. "Our cars aren't as brash as some other performance car manufacturers," says Stuart McCullough, a Bentley board member. "We tend to be understated, quintessentially English. That reflects the mood and style of our customers." A Bentley also reflects its owner's bank account: typically flush with at least $5 million in investable assets.

2. Buick

Known as one of Detroit's geriatric brands, Buick is trying to shake its reputation with splashy vehicles like the LaCrosse. Owners of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse are 13% younger as a group than owners of the 2009 version, according to Buick reps. But on the whole, the sedan's owners remain a stodgy bunch: two-thirds are older than 55. They're also reasonably affluent, with a median household income of $75,000.

3. Chevrolet

On top of all the challenges facing Detroit automakers, Chevy must find a way to deal with the fact that its owners have a reputation for being behind the times, to put it nicely. Strategic Vision's 2009 New Vehicle Experience Study found that 13% of Chevy owners have never used the Web. By contrast, only 3% of Honda owners remain in the technological Stone Age. While 70% of Honda owners boast a college degree or higher, only 35% of Chevy owners can say the same.

4. Ford

Like Chevy, Ford faces a few unfavorable demographic trends. Only 45% of Ford owners have a college degree and 12% don't use the Internet. To combat this image and appeal to a younger, more tech-savvy group, Ford has introduced features in its cars such as Ford Sync, which allows drivers to play music from an iPod on the auto's sound system using Bluetooth technology. Drivers can request songs by voice command; Sync will even read text messages aloud.

5. Honda

The antithesis of flashy, Honda owners are usually pragmatic and well educated; 70% boast a college degree or higher. "Honda buyers buy primarily for the trust and dependability they find in our vehicles," says Chris Naughton, a Honda spokesperson. "Typically, highly functional vehicles deliver less image because customers didn't purchase for image." Honda users also tend to be tech-savvy--only 3% of owners don't use the Internet, compared with 13% of Chevy owners.

See the full list of What Your Car Says About You

10 Things Not to Buy in 2010

2010-01-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

10 Things Not to Buy in 2010

by AnnaMaria Andriotis
Friday, January 1, 2010provided by

Ten years ago, most homes relied on dial-up connections to access the Internet and iPods, flat-screen TVs and the Nintendo Wii didn't exist.

In 2010, consumer should expect to see more revolutionary products supplanting old mainstays. In media, DVDs, books, newspapers and magazines will continue to lose ground to services like in-home movie rentals and gadgets like the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle. In big-ticket items, the push for energy efficiency will continue to influence consumer decisions on cars and home upgrades.

As a result, some consumer products appear poised for a dip in sales, which could be a prelude to obsolescence. Here are 10 items not to buy in 2010.

DVDs

The days of going to a video shop to rent a movie are at an end. In September, Blockbuster (BBI) said it plans to close roughly 22% of its stores by the end of 2010; meanwhile, third-quarter revenue was down 21% from the year-ago period. (The company didn't return calls for comment.)

Looking ahead, DVD purchases could turn cold, as well. On average, DVDs sell for at least $20 each. That's pricier than signing up for Netflix (NFLX) or renting movies from cable providers' on-demand channels. Netflix charges as little as $8.99 a month to rent one DVD at a time (with no limit to the number of monthly rentals).

Time Warner Cable offers thousands of movies on demand for around $4.99 each. Verizon Fios cable service charges $5.99 a month to download unlimited movies.

Home telephone service

It will probably take a while, but home landlines could become as archaic as the rotary phone.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, more than one in five U.S. homes (22.7%) had cellphones — and no landlines — during the first half of 2009, up from 10.5% during the same period in 2006.

Ditching your home phone is easier now than it has been in the past, as cell phone companies compete for greater market share and alternatives to the home landline continue growing. For example, magicJack provides phone service when it's plugged into a computer's USB port and a home phone. It costs $39.95 and includes a one-year license for calls in the U.S. and Canada; after that, service costs $19.95 per year. (By contrast, Time Warner Cable's digital home phone service costs $39.95 per month.)

And, consider Skype, which is free when you communicate with other Skype users; this software application uses the Internet as a platform to make calls, hold video conferences and send instant messages.

External hard drives

Consumers who keep their computers for years and upload thousands of songs, videos, movies and photos will need to get more space at some point.

External hard drives are one option, but an up-and-coming alternative might be simpler and save you another transition down the road. Online backup services, like Carbonite.com or Mozy.com, allow users to back up data over the Internet.

These services are more expensive than purchasing an external hard drive, which typically starts at around $70. At Carbonite.com, a one-year subscription starts at $54.95, and at Mozy.com monthly subscription costs total $54.45 for a year.

Smartphone also-rans

In the past few years, several smartphones hit the market with similar features to the iPhone and BlackBerry, but they haven't generated the same buzz. As a result, fewer developers are likely to create applications and other products that cater to those phones.

Today, the BlackBerry dominates the smartphone market with 40% market share, followed by the iPhone with 25%, according to data released by ComScore in December. In the near term, both are expected to stay at the top. ComScore found that most consumers who'll be shopping for smartphones in the next three months plan to purchase a Blackberry (51%) or an iPhone (20%).

By contrast, only 5% of respondents said they planned to purchase T-Mobile's MyTouch. The Palm Pre and Palm Centro received 2% and 1% of the vote, respectively.

A possible upcoming competitor that could shake up the space is Google's (GOOG) Android. According to ComScore, as of October, the Android's market share had doubled to 3.5% in the past year.

Compact digital cameras

For nearly a decade, digital compact cameras were must-haves for most consumers.

But during the past several years, another type of digital camera has been slowly rising in popularity: the single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, from manufacturers including Nikon, Canon (CAJ), Sony (SNE) and Olympus. Although bulkier, these cameras produce pictures that more accurately represent what's in their viewfinders than those that use older technology.

They're also pricier. For example, Canon's digital compact cameras start at $110, while the SLRs start at $570.

Newspaper subscriptions

The past few years have been unkind to the publishing industry.

In 2008, newspaper advertising revenues declined by 17.7%, according to the Newspaper Association of America. Meanwhile, average daily circulation at 379 newspapers fell 10.6% from April through September 2009, compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Magazines haven't fared any better. In 2009, more than 360 magazines shut down. During the first half of 2009, ad pages fell 27.9% when compared to the same period in 2008, according to Publishers Information Bureau.

The morning newspaper has been replaced by a growing online media presence — much of which is accessible for free. The Amazon Kindle — even with its price tag of around $250 — and other eBook readers could increasingly become one-stop sources to access newspapers, magazines and books.

CDs

When was the last time you bought a CD or even walked into a record store?

The past decade was one of the worst for the industry. In the beginning, there was Napster. Then came iTunes, which was introduced in 2001 and offered affordable pricing and easy accessibility. Face it, CDs aren't coming back.

Record stores are feeling the pinch. Most Virgin Megastores in the U.S. have shut down following declines in sales and revenues. In 2004, Tower Records entered bankruptcy and by 2006 most locations had closed.

New college textbooks

Unless a student absolutely needs brand-new textbooks, they can use several alternatives to save.

Shop for used textbooks, which can help you save 70% to 90% off the retail price, says Mike Gatti, the executive director at the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, a trade group. Check out web sites like CheapestTextbooks.com, Booksprice.com or Amazon.com. Many college bookstores also sell used texts.

Another option is downloading books online. Sites like Coursesmart.com sell subscriptions to digital copies of more than 7,000 textbooks. TextbookMedia.com allows students to download textbooks for free. You can also rent textbooks on Chegg.com.

Gas-guzzling cars

Skyrocketing gasoline prices dominated headlines during most of the decade, and they remain volatile.

The Energy Information Administration estimates that crude oil prices will average around $77 a barrel for the fourth quarter of 2009, up from $42.90 in the first quarter. The EIA also projects prices will rise in 2010 to their highest point in more than two years: $81.33 a barrel.

Recent announcements by car manufacturers to mass produce fuel-efficient cars could help push consumers away from gas-guzzling vehicles.

According to the Department of Energy, the most efficient cars include the Honda Civic Hybrid, which gets 40 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, the Volkswagen Jetta and Golf (both run on diesel), which each get 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, and the Toyota Prius hybrid (51/48 mpg).

Energy-inefficient homes and appliances

Ten years ago, shopping for home upgrades involved looking at a product's functionality and aesthetic. Now, there's another component: energy efficiency.

Today, the products most touted by manufacturers and retailers are those that are Energy Star certified and those that meet new federal environmental standards — most of which have higher price tags than their counterparts but help to lower heating and cooling bills.

The government is offering a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades through Dec. 31, 2016. But many are set to expire by Dec. 31, 2010; these include eligible insulation, roofs and windows and doors.

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