Not sure what to buy your Valentine? How about a something that literally shows him/her how they light up your life–or shirt–when they’re in the room. Think Geek got all, mushy on us with a pair of LED shirts that have a heart meter. Gamers know the lifeline meter all too well, and the 8-bit shirt is something like that. You basically buy one for yourself, and one for your lover. When he/she is near, the shirt lights up. When he/she ditches you to go play games, your little heart meter is reduced to only two and a half pixelated hearts. I guess this is supposed to remind him/her that being far from his/her loving embrace breaks your heart, or that you’re both dorks who desperately need cool friends. Whatevs, we won’t judge you, but if you want to show your true geek colors go order yours now before the rest of the geekdom discovers them.

Popularity: 61% [?]

One of the biggest challenges employers face today is the abuse of Internet use during working hours. We’ve all heard that complaint before, and it seems Microsoft is planning to do something about it in the near future.

According to the The  London Times, Microsoft has filed a patent application for a “unique monitoring system” that could keep tabs on a worker’s productivity level, physical well-being, and competence. The patent mentions wireless sensors that could read “heart rate, galvanic skin response, EMG, brain signals, respiration rate, body temperature, facial movements, facial expressions and blood pressure.” I’m guessing workers get to wear said sensors on their bodies.

Oh, and don’t even think about acting crazy because the software will automatically detect your level of stress and frustration, then offer and provide assistance accordingly. What type of assistance? Who knows. I suppose the system will place a call to the workplace psychologist, then one to human resources to schedule your exit interview. Leave it to Microsoft to develop something like this. Hopefully, this office spyware never sees the light of day, but you gotta wonder how long before something like this creeps into our dysfunctional place of employment.

Popularity: 55% [?]

I’m not one to keep up with fashion, but when designers send sexy models down the runway carrying mini-LCDs on their handbags, I pay attention. The Trendhunter says that during a Louis Vuitton fashion show, Marc Jacobs himself walked down the catwalk carrying a mini-trunk with an LCD screen that was playing Sponge Bob Square pants. Why? Well, Trendhunter speculates that in the future, whatever is playing on your handbag is what will be making a fashion statement. Could this be the future of mini-trunks face?

Popularity: 57% [?]

Move over Prada and Armani handsets, because according to Trading Markets, Japan’s Softbank Mobile will be collaborating with luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. to produce a handset decorated with 400 diamonds. The 10 million yen ($94,000) cell phone will be on the market sometime between February and March.  As far as features go….who cares? We all know phones covered with read diamonds are just for show and tell.

Popularity: 65% [?]

People out there are serious about their bling, so Tokyo-based Zeus Computer covered two of its models in pure platinum and gold. To complete the look on both the “Jupiter” and “Mars” models, the company added diamond-lined zodiac signs all over the luxury PC cases.  The cases are selling for $760,00 and $570,000, but something tells me not even the stars know the fate of these two.<Pink Tentacle>

Popularity: 57% [?]

Are Macheads as arrogant as they’re portrayed in those “Get a Mac” ads? Apparently so! According to Mindset Media, who conducted a survey at of 7,500 respondents at Macworld earlier this month, Macheads tend to be “highly open-minded, more liberal, less modest, and more assured of their own superiority than the population at large.” What do you think? <PR Newswire via Engadget>.

 AdAge broke it down further in the illustration below:

Popularity: 54% [?]

I love, love, love how Sony keeps re-inventing its VAIO laptops. The latest pics come from Akihabaranews, who says Sony is boosting the CPU from a Core 2 Duo  U7500 (1.06GHz) to an ULV Core 2 Duo U7600 (1.2GHz). I’m not sure these are skins like the article suggests, but actual designs on each laptop. No other specs are mentioned, but I’m sure we’ll see more of these babies the closer they get to the US.

Akihabara News via Gizmodo

Popularity: 62% [?]

Everyone’s favorite alarm clock just got a makeover to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The not-so-sweet in the morning alarm clock runs and hides from you as you struggle to find the snooze button. It’s a genius idea for those who have trouble waking up in the AM, especially if you have trouble getting to school or work on time. You can actually find Clocky in other colors, but the new Raspberry hue is seriously sweet!  You can find Clocky over at Nanda Home for $50.

Popularity: 58% [?]

If you haven’t seen the movie Juno, then you should probably watch it before the Oscars since the movie has been nominated four times. I absolutely love Ellen Page, who plays Juno, but I especially love the retro hamburger phone she uses in the movie. If you were born after 1995, then you probably don’t get the hamburger phone non-fashion statement, but those of us who suffered through the 80’s-early 90′ remember those burger phones all to well, and guess what? They’re making a comeback on eBay. Pop Candy says sales have jumped 759% after the movie’s release. About 773 phones have been sold, for an average price of $10.45. Hmmm, I wonder who’s buying them, especially now that the number of households with actual landlines keeps declining.   

Popularity: 43% [?]

A timely report came out today about experts addressing what they now call “technology overload.” I say timely, because it’s close to Valentine’s Day and you know, technology always gets blamed for making “WoW widows” out of some, or Crackberry addicts out of others. It’s your typical “you might be an tech addict if you…” article that is careful not to label everyone as a “addict” per se, but instead resorts to language that suggests you might be too plugged in. John O’Neill, Director of Addiction Services at the Menninger Clinic in Houston, TX, says those who spend unhealthy amounts of time checking email, surfing the web, or texting on their phone are at risk of ruining their relationships with others. This obsessive behavior is now labeled as an addiction by psychologists, much like alcoholism, and drug abuse, because it’s socially damaging to the person. Socially damaging indeed. One of the tell-tale signs of tech overload includes resorting to email or texting to avoid face-to-face interaction with others. But what else is an indication that you might be an addict:

• Spending more time tending to email or surfing the Web than with friends or family
• Inability to be without a cell phone, or computer for too long
• Paying more attention to gadgets than your surroundings (accidents happen this way)

What’s funny is that no one can really say when technology overload becomes an addiction or if it’s the same thing. I see these articles all the time, but are they talking about extreme cases like when parents neglect their kids to play video games or are they talking about the average Joe who happens to have a demanding job that requires him to check his Blackberry every minute.

I guess what upsets me is that these type of articles tend to be vague, and make us worry about nothing.

I can honestly say I’ve done all of the above, not because I’m addicted, but because it’s convenient. I mean, who hasn’t called or texted someone in the next room, because it was easier to do than getting off your chair. Do I spend too much time online? Sure, but that’s part of my job. Have I listened to my iPod while I’m out running oblivious to my surroundings (ok, not safe but it happens)? Who hasn’t. I think it’s time the good Doctors came up with some concrete evidence or at least narrow their addiction labeling down just a little bit more.

It all kinda makes me wonder what they said in the past about people’s obsession with records/CDs, television, or phone use. Should people who recognize that technology is now a huge part of our lives be labeled as tech addicts? What do you think?

Popularity: 42% [?]