NEW YORK (Reuters) – As the bikini turns 60, it’s entering the electronic age with a new model featuring a built-in alarm to warn wearers to get out of the sun — and ease concerns that the scanty swimsuits damage the health.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Facebook, the No. 2 online social networking site, on Tuesday said it would give away 10 million music samplers to Macintosh and PC users from the iTunes Music Store in a back-to-school promotion.

courtesy: yahoo tech news (click image to see entire story)

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Motorola Inc. introduced two additions to its Razr phone family at its annual analysts’ meeting, hoping they will be hits during the end-of-year holiday shopping season.

Courtesy: Forbes.com – click image to read entire story

If you haven’t yet directed your Web browser to MySpace.com or a site of its ilk, you’re late to a very crowded party. More than 70 million Americans visited a social networking site in April, according to Nielsen NetRatings–that’s nearly half of the U.S. Internet audience.

These sites, which consist of blank profile canvases that users personalize and then share with friends and strangers, are poised to carry the tech sector through a sustained boom. There’s money and eyeballs coming at these sites from all directions, but because there isn’t much money flowing back out again, some wonder whether we’re in for another bubble.

courtesy: Apple News

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Apple today announced that classic hit programming from Warner Bros.’ vast television library is now available for purchase and download on the iTunes Music Store. The new content features favorites such as the hugely popular sitcom “Friends,” sci-fi epic “Babylon 5” and some of the most popular sketches from “MADtv,” as well as animated classics including “The Jetsons” and “The Flintstones.”

Verizon launches Chocolate July 31st
Posted Jul 25th 2006 1:23PM by Ryan Block

It’s laid so bare at this point it’s almost kind of an open secret, but contrary to what we’d heard earlier (which was a week off), we’ve got launch dates and prices for Verizon’s LG VX8500 Chocolate phone. Starting July 31st you’ll be able to snag the phone online, and come August 7th you can get it in stores. The price? Not too terrible: $359 without contract, $249 with 1 year, and $199 for two years committed to the carrier. Might be a little more than we’d originally expected, but outside the Q you’re not likely to see a sexier EV-DO device on Verizon for a little while yet….

courtesy: Neil Young (wired)

Google Maps has updated their Mobile service to include real-time traffic data. Google Maps Mobile now offers traffic info for 30 cities across the United States.

A Java-based plug-in for your cell phone or mobile device is required to use Google Maps Mobile. It’s a free download, but you’ll be responsible for any data service fees that your mobile carrier charges.

To get the real-time traffic data, load up a Google Map of your city and hit the pound key. You’ll see traffic conditions in three colors: green for clear, yellow for congested and red for bumper-to-bumper. In addition to the traffic data, Google Maps Mobile also provides directions (for driving and walking), local search and satellite images. Google has a browser-based demo that you can try out.

If you’re curious to test the new Google Maps Mobile, here’s a list of compatible devices. You’re in luck if you have a BlackBerry or if Cingular is your carrier, because Google Maps Mobile doesn’t work on Palm devices, and major carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile don’t offer support.

No Tail Required
With its secure, reliable Bluetooth technology, the wireless Mighty Mouse goes wherever you do. Pair it with any Bluetooth-enabled Mac and wireless keyboard to work untethered and uncluttered at your desk, or take your show on the road. Mighty Mouse lightens your load on the go by operating with either one or two AA batteries. That’ll save you lugging a bulky dock around.

read the entire story at: www.apple.com

We guess it was inevitable — long the bane of landlines, the novelty phone has finally found its way to VoIP, with the Verballs line of animated Skype phones set to invade desktops and annoy co-workers this fall. Available in five different characters, the Verballs flash and wave their hands when a call comes in and, most disturbingly, sync their lips to the callers voice — which could well cause you to never look at your friends the same way again. In addition to acting as a handsfree speakerphone, the Verballs also include headphone and mic ports for more discreet conversation, and can be used in conjunction with MP3s and text to speech software, if you’re so inclined. Plan on dropping £30 (about $55 US) when these critters launch in September.

read the entire story on: www.engaget.com

A new strain of spam popping up in e-mail boxes is confounding consumers and corporate security officials.
The spam contains images spouting everything from stock scams to Viagra, and its volume has more than doubled since April, according to analysis by anti-spam vendor IronPort Systems.

Image-based spam accounts for 21% of all spam, compared with just 1% in late 2005, IronPort says.

read the entire story on: www.usatoday.com