Although this "Manhattan" Wide Screen GSM Dual Card Mobile phone doesn't rip-off any logos, it most certainly is more than "inspired" by T-Mobile's Dash. You probably won't want to pick up this $224.99 model, unless you don't mind living without any internet access at all (it doesn't even do GPRS), but if you need a phone that does two SIM cards -- we can't imagine what for -- then you're in luck. Then again, if you live in the US or Canada, you're out of luck again, because apparently this doesn't work there. Double lame.

Sure, we're all well aware that surveillance practices have been ratcheted up a notch or two since six or so years ago, but a judge in Manhattan has recently rebutted his own go-ahead from four years back to give the NYPD "greater authority to investigate political, social and religious groups." The most recent ruling states that by "videotaping people who were exercising their right to free speech and breaking no laws," the cops had ignored the milder limits he had imposed on it in 2003, seemingly squirming out from under his own misjudgments and placing the blame elsewhere. Nevertheless, he was clear that the voyeuristic limits only applied at events where people gather to exercise their rights under the First Amendment, while bridges, tunnels, airports, subways, and street traffic points could maintain their current level of surveillance -- and we thought this would mean those lamppost cameras couldn't pick us off whilst crossing the street with our iPod jamming.

[Via BoingBoing]

It can be confusing and a little bit scary when big-name manufacturers decide to delve into new product categories. Case in point: whenever we're in the market for a new operating system, Microsoft is always right up there among our top three finalists; however, when we're trying to pick up a new laptop bag for our sweetheart, a "Made in Redmond" label would have little to do with our purchasing decision. Actually, the trio of new female-focused bags that the software giant is kicking out on the 15th probably aren't made in Washington or even the US for that matter -- Microsoft has teamed up with luggage manufacturer Samsill to bring its Madison, Manhattan, and Monticello totes (pictured left to right) into the world. This all-leather nylon and "leather-look" vinyl lineup handles laptops up to 15.4 inches (sorry, XPS M2010 owners), and contains all the amenities you'd expect from a modern notebook tote: padded internal sleeve, zippered compartments, and, um, shoulder straps for convenient transport. Other nice features include built-in file compression (looks like you could cram a whole ream of paper into the Manhattan), advanced search capabilities (simply stick your hand in and dig around), WGA security (you have to bring the bag in for "patching" once a month or it falls apart), and Microsoft's proprietary ReadyZip technology (for opening 'em up 30% faster). Prices range from $50 for the Monticello to $70 for the Manhattan, although no matter which one you order, all three models are shipped in the same package -- simply call up customer service for a license to use one of the other bags.

Read- Monticello
Read- Madison
Read- Manhattan
[Via Crave]

Those crazies over at LAPTOP Magazine got it in their heads to do a bit of social experimentin' with one of Dell's 18 pound XPS M2010 monstrosities. They lugged the 20-inch system through the subway, a Starbucks and a park in search of reactions from Manhattanites, and while we won't spoil all the surprises, the fact that they even got noticed on the subway is quite a testament to the fact that this thing just doesn't belong off a desk. (We even got mugged and beaten for our RAZR one time, and not a person batted an eye.) In summary, you'd have to be a bit off your rocker -- and/or an editor at a consumer tech magazine with way too much free time -- to attempt a portable lifestyle with the M2010, but we're guessing you could've figured that one out one your own.