day

So let's say you waited till the last minute and, in a panic, caved and got a pink Nano to give for Valentine's Day. Fine. Just don't get too carried away with accessories for it, because this is living proof that there's definitely such a thing as too much pink.

U.K.-based Intempo has created a 12-watt speaker dock to go with the latest iPod, according to Tech Digest, but--judging by the photos--it has taken the pastel palette in a disturbingly neon direction. We pray that Apple isn't planning a kelly green version for … Read more

Some of us who are averse to alarm clocks believe that the "Clocky" is an invention from hell. This, you'll recall, is the dastardly device that rolls around the room blaring its alarm until you get out of bed and track it down.

Well now it's trying to pawn itself off as--get this--a Valentine's Day gift, in a special raspberry edition. "There's nothing that says 'I love you' more than our mobile alarm clock," Nando Home gushes in its press release. Let's see a show of hands: How many people think … Read more

Sony is really trying to outdo itself this Valentine's Day. Not only is it pushing its "Red Collection," but it's gone back to the well with its eBook promotion from last year. Fortunately since that campaign, which was decidedly unromantic, Sony seems to have gotten a little clearer on the concept. Instead of the stodgy leather-bound Dooney & Bourke version, this time it's going with a SkinIt "Cross Your Heart" cover--in pink, of course. But the real kicker is 14 free downloads of Harlequin romance novels. Now all it needs is some Fabio … Read more

It's only been a few days since this season's Valentine's Day products began appearing in earnest, and we're already thoroughly nauseated. In fact, given the selection offered so far, we're surprised it took this long. Here's one that certainly doesn't help the cause: the "Heart Mouse" from, of all places, the Victoria and Albert Museum. (At least it doesn't profess its love for you, as did the last one seen in this space.) It's products like these that make the "FPS Gun Mouse" look better all the … Read more

Just after Dell and Microsoft introduced a line of crimson PCs for (Product) Red, Sony is using the same color for its own limited-edition laptops--but for Valentine's Day instead.

Despite the unfortunate juxtaposition of the two campaigns, Sony can hardly be singled out for the superficial marketing ploy of its "Red Collection." February is barely a week away, and companies will be coming out in droves to peddle their wares as Valentine gifts. (Apple announced its own entry with a new Nano, albeit pink instead of red.)

Sony's offering is a $1,000 package that comprises … Read more

Now that CES and Macworld are over, gadget makers are turning their attention to--what else?--Valentine's Day marketing. And that means pink is back, as if it had ever left.

Apple's suggested sweetheart offering is its brand-new pink 8GB Nano "perfect for people who are searching for a special Valentine's Day gift," which follows the pink Shuffle that was released in September as part of an industry-wide campaign against breast cancer. Unlike the special-edition Shuffle, however, the pink Nano appears to be a permanent addition.

Sammy Hagar must be smiling: Microsoft is adding red to its line-up of 80GB hard-drive Zune players. They're marketing it as a tie-in to Valentine's Day, complete with Valentine-themed playlists, including one that features all Barry White songs with spoken intros. 20 new engraved designs are also available from ZuneOriginals.net.

I said it before, I'll say it again: great device, poor software. Seriously, Microsoft, can you imagine this kind of post appearing on an iPod fan forum? Here's hoping Microsoft sends Zune users a Valentine in the form of a software update.

In the seemingly waning days of the U.S. government's antitrust review of the Google-DoubleClick union, consumer groups are lodging a last-minute plea: don't forget about privacy.

That was the message during a conference call with reporters Tuesday morning hosted by the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital Democracy.

The directors of those groups, who predicted a decision by the Federal Trade Commission is "imminent," voiced concern that the FTC may overlook the potential privacy implications raised by the combined user massive data stores of the two prominent companies. (The two Washington-based groups, … Read more

Updated at 3:00 p.m. PST with additional legal ethics expert opinion.

FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras said Friday that she will not recuse herself from hearing the Google-DoubleClick merger case, arguing that the fact her husband's law firm is representing DoubleClick doesn't merit her recusal.

In a statement posted Friday to the FTC's Web site, Majoras said that her husband's law firm, Jones Day, is not representing DoubleClick before the FTC and noted that her husband is no longer an equity partner in the firm, meaning that his pay will in no way be … Read more