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Watch your back, Kindle. According to reports, an Iranian inventor named Ramin Sedighi has created a “talking” e-book, which utilizes a stylus that can be moved across words and then pronounce them out loud. The system can also apparently “explain” pictures, though it’s unclear whether or not it uses image recognition or some type of embedded data. The device includes a USB port, audio out, the aforementioned stylus, 512MB of memory, and an SD card slot. The laptop-sized unit is aimed at educational applications for children 4 through 16, and will be available sometime in early 2008. No word on manufacturer or pricing.

[Via The Raw Feed]

Sony’s got a new basic camera in the works to flesh out its line of compacts. The Cyber-shot DSC-S730 brings 7.2 megapixels of resolution, a 2.4-inch LCD, ISO 1250 and 3x zoom. The high-ish ISO is ostensibly there to fight camera shake, but we’d rather Sony sprang for some image stabilization — we get the basic specs, but why not toss in some extra silicon to sweeten the package? As it stands, we’ll need a bit more info before we can really differentiate this new camera from Sony’s DSC-S700 from last year, but we’ll be finding out soon enough when Sony debuts the S730 in January. So far only a Europe launch is confirmed.

Via Akihabara]

Although Netscape was once a mighty pioneer in the world of internet browsers, it didn’t take long for Microsoft’s Internet Explorer to overtake it and squash its dreams of market dominance. Granted, we highly (and we stress “highly”) doubt any viewers reading this now are relying on Netscape Navigator as their primary browser, but seeing it finally bow out is a bit surreal. According to a post on the Netscape Blog, support (and subsequent updates) for it will no longer be provided by AOL (disclosure: AOL is our parent company’s parent) after February 1, 2008. Sure, old versions will still be available for those who just hate to move on, but the team is suggesting that any remaining Netscape users (a show of hands, anyone?) make the leap to Firefox, and they even point you in the direction of a Netscape theme should you find yourself uncomfortable with change. Rest in peace, dear Netscape — it’s about time that last heap of dirt was finally flung.

[Via BlogRunner]

In this season of rumors, we were trying to take it with a pinch of salt; we ended up with enough salt to make some Margaritas here at TUAW HQ, such was our skepticism — and we were, it would seem, quite wrong to have doubted.

Thankfully Gear Live’s Andru Edwards & Nate True decided to show us all what we can expect, with a full-blown video of the latest firmware, embedded after the break (all 8 minutes of it) with their permission. There’s a tonne of exciting stuff shown off — saving of pins on Google Maps, cell-tower triangulation with a single click (sweet!) and the long-missed hybrid Google Map (my preferred view). Throw in the re-arranging of the home screen and multiple SMS recipients (something we’d quite like to use over the holiday period) — my iPhone is feeling very inadequate already.

I never understood why parents wouldn’t want to pass down their amassed fortune to their children, but that’s exactly what Paris Hilton’s grandfather is doing. Barron Hilton announced on Wednesday that he would donate 97 percent of his $2.3 billion fortune to charity.

Is a sex tape and a couple weeks in jail for drunk driving that bad? I guess for Barron Hilton it is.

Dating someone is as hard as actually finding a date. To some finding a date is like a needle in a haystack; to others it is like a mountain flowing with honey. When a person is on the actual date, he tends to forget what the main point of the date is all about. People date to know more about one another and find out if they are right for each other. Thats how I view dating in my very idealistic world.

For some reasons such as sheer joy, beauty or awe of the person you are dating. The dater may tend to forget all about the characteristics or traits he or she looks for. The daters may just suddenly like the person for the simplest reason of being pretty or being able to make you feel good because she looks like a model. You must try to avoid falling into a relationship where only the surface matters.

You might be pretty vain if you do think youre happy with a relationship based on the surface only. Who wouldnt want a good looking person for a date or a relationship? However these things might fail in the long run because you havent based what you really want in the characteristics of the person. Lets just say that being beautiful is an advantage that makes a person stands out from the crowd. However it is really the characteristic and attitude of a person that should make you decide if the person is right for you.

Here is another common misconception about people. If you have the looks you are considered to be having some kind of attitude. This is because you wont need to rely having a great attitude to find yourself a date. While the people who look like the average Joes and Janes would need to have a great attitude. It may be true but not for all. We should never stereotype because by doing so, will also limit a persons chance of finding a date.

Here are the usual things or characteristics that are important to some people.

Humor is a great thing to look for in a person. Being with a humorous person helps ease the tension of the date a bit. It also makes the date more fun and enjoyable.

The eyes are the windows of the soul. Eye contact would be a great way to learn more about the emotions the other person is conveying. A person can also see the truth, honesty and understanding of a person through the eyes.

We should also look for a partner that is very understanding. It would be pretty irritating to find a judging partner. The partner should learn to accept the mistakes of the other in some cases and support him or her. This could be commonly displayed among the simplest of things. Such as where to dine, what to do or even having a great conversation.

The important thing to look for is the honesty and truth of a person. A relationship will not last very long when it is based on hidden agendas and lies. One partner may feel very jealous or have doubts about the relationship. So honesty is very important and is a hard one to develop.

It is a common misconception that people look for people like them. This might be true for some, but the more general truth is that we all just want a person that can be able to understand our own personality. (drdating)

Zi Lin Zhang ,The 23 year old and 5 feet 9 inches tall beauty was born in Shi Jia Zhuang City in Hei Bei Province, China. When she’s not traveling or reading, she’s at the track keeping fit with 100 meter jump & hurdles and triple jumps. Talk about a workout regime!

With the 2008 Olympic Games being in Beijing, she’ll play the perfect hostess and face of China in it’s first foray as host city of the international sports competition.

Located in Tokyo Midtown is HLam’s first and only flagship store. Hlam is a superniche Italian fashion brand who’s every product is made of either cashmere, alpaca or egyptian cotton. How’s that for high-end?

The store’s interior has classic polished wood floors, fluffy cream-colored carpets, two giant mahogany tables, and giant-curved edge shop windows that give it a 21st century contemporary vibe.

Address: Tokyo Midtown - 9-7-4 Akasaka - Tokyo 107-0052
Telephone: +81 3 54133063

Located on the 7th floor of the Shin Marunouchi Building in front of Tokyo Station is the splendidly designed Henry Good Seven cafe lounge. The kitsch yet cozy interior was designed in contrast to this Marunouchi business district .

Uniquely different designed areas create independently different atmospheres with the intention that it would encourage interaction amongst the customers.

Think of Henry Good Seven as an extension of your living room. A place where you can let your creative mind flow free while enjoying the nice atmosphere, food and friendly people.

There, I’ve admitted it for the whole world to read. I really don’t enjoy talking on the phone. It bores me. So it’s really rare that I have phone conversations just for the sake of having a conversation. If I really want to exchange “catching up” information with someone, I usually revert to emails or instant messengers or social networking site comments. And when the rare phone conversation does occur, it’s usually because I’ve initiated it since I don’t ever pay attention to my phone when it rings. I’m usually doing something else.

But when you’re involved in online dating, you inevitably get to the part where the other person wants your phone number. Many people feel that in between the online connection and the face-to-face meeting must lie a medium ground and they resolve that with the phone conversation. The phone chat lets you put a voice with the name, weed out people whose conversational style gives you the creeps and make the whole thing a little more “real” so you’re both more likely to show up.

So the phone conversation before the first date is a good thing. Except if you hate the phone. I’ll openly admit that I’ve never met people who would probably have been good dates because they insisted on a phone conversation first and I didn’t want to bother. The way I see it, if they really place that much importance on the phone, they can find a gal who likes to talk their ears off. It just ain’t for me.

But I’ll also admit that my approach is somewhat extreme. Most people who don’t like phone chats will find that a really quick conversation to confirm meeting times and places isn’t so bad. So, I don’t really think that the pre-date phone conversation is necessary. But I do think that most people will find the dating transition to go more smoothly if they do the phone thing every now and then.

I just don’t take my own good advice.

Note: If you want to do the phone thing but don’t want to give out your number, try using CallDigits. This service gives you an anonymous number for the purpose of dating.

Question of the Day: Is it a deal breaker if someone from online won’t talk to you on the phone?