This October is the 25th Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and everyone is coming out in support of the cause. The NFL donned bright pink accessories for last weekend's games as a BCA 'Kick-Off' -- and we at Byte-Sized want to help as best we can!

For the duration of the month, we'll be highlighting pink products whose profits (or a portion of profits) go to support breast cancer research, prevention and promotion!

Now, all of us gadget-aholics know that every one worth their salt comes in a shade of the girliest pink. Don't be fooled! It might be great to should your support with the color alone, but if you're gunna spend the money, why not go for something that actually helps make a real difference?

Today, we're tackling e-readers -- a topic near and dear to my little pink heart :)

Sony is offering a special Sony Reader Breast Cancer Research Foundation bundle that includes the pink Reader Pocket Edition, a gold clutch cover accessory and a Sony eBook Store coupon code for the free download of a four-book collection about the disease and the women that have overcome it, all for the price of the Reader Pocket Edition. The company is also offering a pink Vaio laptop with pink mouse and carrying case.

Sony will donate $110,000 to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in connection with the sale of these products. To purchase either of them, visit SonyStyle.com.

On the Kindle front, in direct contradiction with my above statement on color variations, my favoritest of all gadgets still comes in minimalist white, but what about a fashionable case with a conscience?

M-Edge Accessories, a developer of protective covers and accessories for eReaders like Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader, has just launched a new light pink Kindle Prodigy jacket created specially for this month. The company will donate 10% of each sale of the light pink jacket to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It retails for $44.99.

If you're interested (can you say *early Christmas pressents?!*), click on the below link to Amazon.com!



Thanks everyone, and have a great weekend!

Labels: Amazon.com, Amazon.com's Kindle 2, ereader, Sony

Good afternoon, all! Tonight is LOST night -- can I be more excited?! Although recent events have left my theories and arguments of the nature of time travel hanging in the precarious balance -- can't wait to see what the show will come up with next!

Now, as I get my feet wet in the wild world of the web over here in Captivate land, take a peek at these top headlines:

It's embarrassing but true: I, who blasts everyone for not being literate of computer security measures, caught a virus last week. Thank goodness it wasn't Conficker, which is still terrorizing computers everywhere. Watch out. Constant vigilance. And no online computer games. Sigh.

A new CT scan has revealed a different face lives under the ancient bust of Nefertiti -- a prized piece of ancient artwork. Apparently, underneath the stucco exterior is a highly detailed stone carving of the queen. How cool! And how weird that scientists though to look!

The Supreme Court has freed a spammer by not re-instating a Virginia antispam law, saying in its decision that the law was too broad and denied spammers their First Amendment right to free speech. Yeah, right. Thanks, Supreme Court. I mean, the guy didn't deserve to be jailed, but that really sends the wrong message to other spammers, doesn't it?

Fictionwise, bought by Barnes and Nobles late last year, has announced an eReader application for the BlackBerry! I can smell some competition for my darling Kindle... and you know what competition brings? Cheaper prices and better devices! Yay!

Is Facebook going public? After the social networking site's CFO left, rumors are running rampant the company will take over Wall Street.

Remember the Microsoft/TomTom suit we mentioned a while back? It's over, and Microsoft won pretty decisively.

Finally -- my wonderful wizard of Woz has been put to sleep. And, he took a Playmate with him. Hehe ... It'll be a long season in the Chemerkovski/Smirnoff household, though.

Our friends at CNet have a cute list of 4 cheap ways to entertain yourself (no), and one if them is my favorite as well! (No.)

PlayStation2 is getting a price cut -- sorry for all those who thought it was PS3. That's still the most expensive Blu-Ray player you'll find -- oh, and it apparently plays games too. Who knew.

Want to embrace Twitter? USAToday's story can tell you how to use the service (cough) to promote yourself and your business.

OK, that's all for me today -- check back here Friday for a recap of the week's top stories and maybe even some LOST theories!

Labels: Amazon.com's Kindle, antispam laws, BlackBerry, Conficker, ereader, facebook, Fictionwise, Nefertiti

Good morning everyone! I didn't make good on my promise yetserday to post a list of the day's headlines, so here is an emergency dose of Byte-Sized to clear away the pre-holiday jitters and cobwebs!

Huge, industry shaking news out of (who else) Apple today: Book publisher Random House has announced that it is pairing with Apple to offer books on the iPhone and iPod Touch -- effectively turning the ultra-popular device into an e-reader! What this mean for the market? It adds legitimancy to a budding industry lead right now by Amazon.com's Kindle (a fave of this blog) and the Sony e-Reader. But, will it put these two out of business?

I'm excited and scared about the implications of such a partnership... The industry does not have a standard format for digital books at the moment, and it's a totally odd puzzle peice that Apple wants to delve into the battle. Of course, it could also be a brilliant move and a nod toward standardization.

Ehhhhh I'm not sure, but this is the first time I've ever honestly considered buying an iPhone. It's almost too good a proposition to be true -- the internet, an eReader, a phone and an MP3 player? Eek. Of course, there are people wagging their fingers at Apple for making a dumb move. Our own Dee Murray (ecstatic owner of a gen-one Kindle) insists no one will want to read a book off such a tiny screen... I'm not sure if I hope she's right...

OK, so thanks for tuning into today's random Byte-Sized! I'll be back tomorrow with the wrap-up of the Byte-Sized Holiday Gift Guide, where I'll name my gadget of the year!

Just a reminder, we are off the rest of this week after tomorrow, so have a wonderful holiday season!

Labels: Apple, ereader, iPhone, iPod touch, Random House