Netbooks are the bestselling class of notebook PCs, and there’s little wonder why; they’re affordable, small and very handy.  These systems make a great gadget gift for all of these reasons and more.

We often recommend netbooks for younger users.  Not only are they easier to carry around, but they’re also more kid-friendly than other notebooks because if they get smashed or dropped, the monetary loss is much less. 

The Acer Aspire One AOD250-1633 Netbook is a current favorite.  The $350 system comes with Windows 7 Starter, a battery that lasts up to 9 hours, and a stylish design that boosts the sometimes toyish-looking netbook to a more professional level. System specs include an N280 Intel Atom CPU, 1GB of DDR memory, a 250GB hard drive, a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a multi-touch trackpad, Bluetooth 2.1 peer-to-peer wireless, an integrated web cam and a built-in LAN card.  All of these features come in a light-weight, 2.8 pound system.

Young or old, anyone who needs a mobile computer will appreciate this netbook.

Tower defense games have been around for multiple platforms for years.  Made popular in recent years in the web browser and on the Apple iPhone, Tower Defense is now a mobile favorite.

And now Tower Defense for Windows Mobile is here.

“Build your defense in this best selling real time strategy game and try to block the massive amount of enemies running for your base. Includes Hummers, B2 bombers, spy drones as part of 17 different units. Use 6 different towers with 3 upgrade levels. Play on two battlegrounds with totally different strategies. Choose easy, hard or unlimited mode.”

Requires a Windows Mobile 6.x powered touchscreen smartphone or PDA.

In case you don’t know, tower defense games involve using towers of different types to kill hordes of invaders before they can make it to your protected base.  The strategy involves placement of the towers, the types of towers you place (different towers have different effects on your enemies), and how you manage your upgrades.

It’s difficult to imagine a gadget lover who doesn’t have an MP3 player — so quality earbuds make a safe and thoughtful gift for any techie in your life.

The Sennheiser CX300 Earbuds are an impressive and affordable option ($25), and make a great addition to any digital audio player.  They can also be used with smartphones, portable DVD players, laptops, etc., with 3.5mm headphone jacks. 

Includes a carrying case and small, medium and large ear adapters.  Available in black or white.

Some Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid users are reporting that they’re now seeing an Android OS update available for their smartphone.  The AP:ESD56/BP:C_01.3E.01P update contains the following updates and fixes:

– OS stability is improved.
– Battery life is improved.
– Camera auto focus functionality is improved, and time between shots is reduced.
– Enhancements for three-way calling.
– Audio for incoming calls is improved.
– When receiving a call on call waiting, the speakerphone now remains on.
– Bluetooth functionality is improved; background echo is eliminated.
– Improved Bluetooth phone book transfer of contacts to in-vehicle Bluetooth solutions.
– Users can now receive SMS and MMS messages after an EMS message is received.
– SMS and MMS may now be sent to seven-digit addresses.
– Google contact merging has been updated to accommodate seven-digit numbers.
– Visual Voice Mail notices now arrive instantaneously.
– The corporate calendar widget user interface is updated.

As of this posting, we have not yet been able to upgrade our Droid.  To check if the update is available for your Droid, go to Settings > About phone > System updates.

Resource: Verizon Wireless Droid Update Page

Thanks, Rob!

Some Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid users are reporting that they’re now seeing an Android OS update available for their smartphone.  The AP:ESD56/BP:C_01.3E.01P update contains the following updates and fixes:

– OS stability is improved.
– Battery life is improved.
– Camera auto focus functionality is improved, and time between shots is reduced.
– Enhancements for three-way calling.
– Audio for incoming calls is improved.
– When receiving a call on call waiting, the speakerphone now remains on.
– Bluetooth functionality is improved; background echo is eliminated.
– Improved Bluetooth phone book transfer of contacts to in-vehicle Bluetooth solutions.
– Users can now receive SMS and MMS messages after an EMS message is received.
– SMS and MMS may now be sent to seven-digit addresses.
– Google contact merging has been updated to accommodate seven-digit numbers.
– Visual Voice Mail notices now arrive instantaneously.
– The corporate calendar widget user interface is updated.

As of this posting, we have not yet been able to upgrade our Droid.  To check if the update is available for your Droid, go to Settings > About phone > System updates.

UPDATE: According to BGR, Verizon is putting the OS update out in stages.  If you haven’t yet received the update, you’ll have to wait a couple of days for the next update cycle.  Read more…

Resource: Verizon Wireless Droid Update Page

Thanks, Rob!

The first half of 2010 will be a busy time for HTC if newly-leaked documents prove genuine (and we believe they are).  The documents lay out the company’s Android and Windows Mobile smartphone roadmap through June of next year.

In the Windows Mobile space, HTC is apparently readying three handhelds: the Trophy, the Tera and the Photon. 

The HTC Trophy (due in May) is a Messenger-class smartphone with a front-facing QWERTY keyboard and a 3-inch capacitive VGA touchscreen.  The HTC Tera (April) is a sort of miniaturized Touch Pro2 with a 3.2-inch tilting resistive screen and sliding keyboard. Last, but not least, the Photon (April) looks like a smaller HD2 with a touch-only interface, a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen, and an FM radio.  Each of these devices runs Windows Mobile 6.5, has a 600MHz Qualcomm CPU, and includes 512MB of flash ROM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS.

On the Android side, HTC has five new Google-powered smartphones planned: the Legend, the Salsa, the Buzz, the Tide and the Bravo. 

The HTC Legend (March) looks a lot like the first Hero, complete with the “chin,” and features a 3.2-inch AMOLED capacitive display and an optical mouse.  The Salsa (June) is a Messenger-class device with a 2.6-inch touchscreen.  The HTC Buzz (May) has a 3.2-inch capacitive QVGA touchscreen, a rounded, slab design and a 528MHz CPU.  HTC Tide (April) looks more like a dumb-phone with its alphanumeric keypad and 2.68-inch touchscreen.  Finally, the HTC Bravo (April) looks to be the most interesting of the bunch with a 1GHz CPU, a 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 720p video capture and an “optical joystick.”  Each new Android smartphone will presumably run Android 2.x at release.

None of the information posted above has been confirmed by HTC, and even if true, some models may never reach the market and/or may not be sold in the U.S.  We will, of course, bring you more about each device as new information surfaces.

Sources: Engadget, Android and Me, &  PocketNow.com

Know anyone who would enjoy a game system, a Blu-ray player, a Netflix streaming set-top box and a home media center in their living room?  If so, the PlayStation 3 is the only all-in-one solution for ‘em.

At $299, the newest 4th Generation PS3 “Slim” is a bit pricey, but when you consider the cost of the individual devices you’d need to fill all of these multimedia needs, it actually looks more and more like a bargain. 

A top-notch Blu-ray player costs about $200.  A Netflix streaming box like the Roku HD Digital Video Player is $99.  The least-expensive game console, the Nintendo Wii,  is $199.  That’s $500 and you still don’t have what you need to do everything the PS3 does.

The PS3 is also an excellent video file and photo viewer for your TV with a built-in TV show and movie store, 120GB of internal storage, and frequent software updates. Throw in the optional PS3 Blu-ray Disc Remote and the console becomes even more of a living room multimedia powerhouse.

Know anyone who would enjoy a game system, a Blu-ray player, a Netflix streaming set-top box and a home media center in their living room?  If so, the PlayStation 3 is the only all-in-one solution for ‘em.

At $299, the newest 4th Generation PS3 “Slim” is a bit pricey, but when you consider the cost of the individual devices you’d need to fill all of these multimedia needs, it actually looks more and more like a bargain. 

A top-notch Blu-ray player costs about $200.  A Netflix streaming box like the Roku HD Digital Video Player is $99.  The least-expensive game console, the Nintendo Wii,  is $199.  That’s $500 and you still don’t have what you need to do everything the PS3 does.

The PS3 is also an excellent video file and photo viewer for your TV with a built-in TV show and movie store, 120GB of internal storage, and frequent software updates. Throw in the optional PS3 Blu-ray Disc Remote and the console becomes even more of a living room multimedia powerhouse.

Have too many icons on your Android smartphone’s home screen?  Want to thin things out a bit?  In our latest tutorial, we show you how to quickly and easily delete an icon from your Android phone’s home screen.

This Help Center tutorial is based on a question we received from a reader.  As we continue to build our Android Help Center (which is still in beta) please keep the excellent Android-related questions coming.

Read: How to Delete an Icon from an Android Smartphone Home Screen

LG’s second Windows Mobile-powered smartphone – the LG eXpo – is coming next week. 

Several features set the new LG handset apart from all current U.S. competition. First, it’s powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, which will make it the fastest smartphone on the market when it debuts.  Second, the eXpo has an optional 1.8-ounce, snap-on Pico Projector which can project an image onto a surface up to 8 feet away.  Third, the smartphone includes a biometric fingerprint scanner for security purposes; there hasn’t been a consumer handheld with a built-in fingerprint scanner in years.

Other specs include Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, a slide-to-hide QWERTY keyboard, HSPA 7.2 3G mobile broadband, and a microSDHC flash memory card slot.

AT&T will release the LG eXpo on December 7 for $199 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract.

AT&T LG eXpo Press Release

Learn more about the AT&T LG eXpo Windows Phone…