Mark Raby

For the 22nd United States Census report, field workers will be equipped with wireless, handheld computers for the first time, in a move that will try to save the government time and money, and also to bring up the accuracy from the 99.5% level that has been historically achieved.

Alienware, a specialty maker of top-end gaming PCs, has thrown its hat into the big Vista ring, now offering the new operating system on its compatible PCs as part of the large-scale Vista launch.

Highlighting a big Microsoft launch while trying to set itself apart from another, Electric Rain has announced Standout, a presentation slideshow application for Vista that aims to be a better offering than the new Powerpoint available in Office 2007, which also launched today.

One of the big changes to the interface in Windows Vista is the addition of Mac OS-like gadgets, which offer increased functionality for the dekstop screen.

XM is getting in on the big Vista launch today, due to a stake it has in Microsoft's new operating system. One of the channels in Vista's preinstalled media hub is XM Radio online, in a deal that XM hopes will open up its widely disregarded online streaming service.

While retail employees were busy stocking shelves and setting up displays during the early hours of the morning, some customers were already purchasing their copies of Windows Vista and Office 2007 without leaving their computer chair, as the two new applications have joined Xbox 360 and Zune content at the Windows Marketplace. Extra: Slideshow

An independent businessman from Miami has developed a pair of shoes with a built-in GPS sensor, which can be used to send a distress signal in case the wearer gets lost or cannot get to his cell phone. The shoes are planned to be available in March.

Second Life has moved beyond the novelty of playing host to virtual ad space for companies, with an entire country now vying for attention in the online world. A virtual Swedish embassy will be making a presence in the game, with full support from the country's government.

Musical group Nine Inch Nails has announced a release date for its "Beside You In Time" DVD, which will be simultaneously be released on HD DVD, Blu-ray, and DVD, which they claim is a first for a next-generation music title.

2006 was the year of online social networking, and the list of top search engine results showed that Myspace not only became the most popular site in its category, it also rose to the top of online searches throughout the year. IMDB, ESPN, and American Idol also earned the top honors in their respective categories.

Specialty promotional group Seeview has announced a new kind of DVD case that would allow consumers to get a better preview of the movie or game content on the disc.

The cliched phrase "Honey, I'm home" may now actually be addressing the household computer, as a new survey by Kelton Research shows that the majority of Americans spend more time with their computer than they do with their significant other.

New York will soon be getting a new system that could be one of the biggest advancements in emergency call centers since the creation of 911 over 35 years ago. In his State of the City speech, mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city has plans to allow callers to send cell phone pictures and videos to local 911 dispatchers.

A new foot scanner, which premiered yesterday at the Orlando International Airport and was supposed to allow travelers to keep their shoes on when going through security, hit a few glitches, as nearly half of the scanned passengers ended up needing to put their shoes through the regular scanner as well.

For the first time, Internet users are able to get a good look at Virgin America, the new US airline from corporate giant Virgin, as the official site for the new company launched today. The luxury airline borrows many features from international versions like Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Blue Airlines.

At CES this year, the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center is home to most of the companies showing off automotive technologies. From radio to speaker systems to video players, the underlying theme at CES of digital multimedia content is in full swing in the car market as well.

1080p is really what you should be looking for in a new high-definition HDTV, but the next generation is just around the corner: Westinghouse showcases a 2160p - commonly referred to as a Quad HDTV. If you think this TV is expensive, you are absolutely right. Extra: Slideshow

During a press conference at CES, DirecTV made several few announcements, including the introduction of a portable satellite system and pending agreements with new channels for HD broadcasts. By the end of the year, DirecTV will be offering more than 100 HD channels to its customers.

Hitachi began the first official CES day with a press conference that took place a couple hours before the show floor officially opened. Among the key topics covered were its flagship HDD/DVD hybrid camcorder as well as a 50" LCD for less than $2500.

Strategically scheduled right after the Sony press conference, which for all intents and purposes was the main Blu-ray event, the HD DVD conference wrapped up a long day of major press events. Talk about the next-generation HD DVD software and hardware, along with carefully worded attacks against Blu-ray, comprised the hour-long event.