Trying to get a jump on my IT gift giving, I hit ShowStoppers Digital Holidays to see what was cool. As my wife put it, there were a lot of things to stuff in your ears (Bluetooth headsets) and stuff to play in your ears (audio things). Nestled in between were some interesting items any IT geek could use.

Web 2.0 ventures have discovered a simple formula for success: encourage users' conceit that what they say, do and think is interesting enough to share with others. This is how Twitter, a hot startup, turns a stream of drivel into cold hard cash.

Arguably, you can say that RIM has had Wi-Fi in its portfolio since 2004 when it introduced the Wi-Fi only 7270 into the market. However, where the real rubber meets the road for Wi-Fi and handheld devices is in the "dual mode" category that incorporates both Wi-Fi and cellular technology in the same device. Competitors like Nokia and HTC have offered dual mode devices for some time; today, RIM has finally provided its answer: the BlackBerry 8820

You've heard us say it before so forgive us for sounding like a broken record, but Vista? She ain't going nowhere -- except maybe your desktop. Sure, no one's jumping out of their seats to have the new OS installed on their PC, but eventually it's going to find it's way there. Believe us, it's a matter of when -- not if.

It was a whirlwind, roller-coaster week for cell phone users, gadget buffs and curious onlookers as Apple's CEO Steve Jobs introduced the world to the iPhone. With its futuristic, flat screen panel and promises of music playing, phone service and internet connectivity, the iPhone was the talk of CES. But as the week passed, there was a bevy of interesting developments including concerns about the iPhone's performance and (gasp) a possible lawsuit by Cisco over the product name.

Here's a recap of some of those news stories. No doubt there will be plenty more in the weeks ahead.

Apple Reinvents The Phone Apple's CEO Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone, which he says is an iPod, a mobile phone, and an Internet communication device.

iPhone is Beautiful, But it's Also Slow
Cingular is working on technologies to speed up its network, but no significant breakthroughs are expected in time for the formal delivery of the iPhone in June.

Cisco Sues Apple Over iPhone Name Cisco, which recently introduced its own Wi-Fi phone with the iPhone brand, says it's owned the trademark since 2000.

Apple Unlikely To Go To Court In iPhone Trademark Dispute, Experts Say By going to court, Apple would have to spend a lot of money defending what appears to be a weak position, lawyers argue.

NWC Editor Art Wittmann's Initial Take on the iPhone

Apple has always managed to keep itself financially strong despite its propensity for locking consumers into its peculiar view of the world. But this probably goes just a bit too far...

There's got to be a better way to keep your system free ofspyware than the scan/clean/remove method. Aluria Software thinks it's got one.

I just flew back from CES and boy do my arms hurt. Ouch, so does that joke. But my brain really does hurt, at least a little bit. Days of wandering around show floors, careening from booth to booth for vendor meetings, and running to press rooms to file stories (I did have a WiFi connection once, for about 30 seconds), certainly takes its toll on a gal.

I've had a couple days now to reflect on our future in the relative peace and quiet of my home (if any home with a child under 18—make that 30--can be considered peaceful or quiet), and the thinking has me excited, yet a bit apprehensive. I know the revolution in digital entertainment and "the digital lifestyle" has been coming for the past few years now, but this time it seems like all the pieces really are in place for it to take off. What will the consequences be?