Whether you just bought a Canon DSLR or received one as a gift, chances are good you don’t have much money left over from the holidays for lenses. Unfortunately, the stock glass that come with these cameras can only go so far. To get the most out of your new DSLR, you need to upgrade the lens. In the spirit of post-holiday penny pinching, here are five amazing Canon EOS-mount lenses that will improve your shooting experience without burning a hole in your pocket.

Note to Nikon users: Don’t fret, your guide will be posted next week.
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Earlier this week, we covered the story of two Mac users whose AppleCare warranty was voided simply because it was used in a smoking home. In one instance, Apple said the presence of cigarette tar presented a biohazard. In the other, it claimed that the substance caused damage to an iMac’s hardware. Is there any proof behind this claim?

In short, no, but cigarette computer smoke isn’t exactly the best thing. While smoke itself usually flows up away from the system unit, over time the air in the room housing it will become full of contaminants. This dirty air will then enter the computer through the intake fans. Eventually, the components will be covered in a small layer of sticky tar.

It’s not the tar itself that causes problems, but the the dust it attracts. Computers operated in the homes of smokers tend to gather dust and dirt more quickly. This isn’t likely to cause major damage, but dust can trap heat and slightly decrease hardware life span.

As far as I’m concerned, there’s no need to worry about smoking around a computer. Smokers might want to clean the inside of their machines regularly to mitigate the effects of cigarette tar, however.

Launched yesterday on AT&T, the Blackberry Bold 9700 is RIM’s replacement for the wildly popular Bold 9000. New changes include the inclusion of an optical touchpad and removal of the traditional trackball, a smaller screen, and a smaller form factor overall. I went over to my local AT&T store yesterday and decided to upgrade my aging flip phone to the new Blackberry. Does it live up to its expectations? Continue reading to find out.

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There’s no getting around it. The economy is in a recession, and the computer industry is being hit especially hard. Even companies as big as Google have announced layoffs, and who doesn’t know about Circuit City going under? Despite the bad news, the entire industry isn’t doomed. Here’s a list of five technology companies that stand a good chance of making it through these bad times alive.
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A new tradition has just begun. Many things happen on a daily basis across the web that are deserving of mention, but not important enough to warrant a story. Here’s to Links of the Week, a sampler of bits and bytes from around the web all on one plate.

Google Flags Whole Internet as Malware
22 Most Used Free Fonts By Professional Designers
How Gmail Destroyed Outlook
20 Amazing Images that Could be HDR- But Are Definitely Not
Creative 404 Error Pages

And finally…

Think the budget cuts at your workplace are bad?

Just about every major site on the web has posted its own technology gift guide for the holiday season. Comprised mainly of mainstream gadgets like iPhones, camcorders, and netbooks, it’s almost as though every tech writer has been using copy and paste a bit too much lately. Not only that, but any real geek will already own the most popular gizmos.With that in mind, here’s a real holiday gift guide with the products your special geek really wants

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Lately it has been all the rage to talk about the advent of USB 3.0, the first update to the USB specification in eight years, and one that promises tenfold transfer speed improvement.  And certainly that’s something worth talking about.  But what many authors are failing to mention is that the Apple to USB’s Microsoft, which is FireWire, is also working fervently on a specification update of their own called FireWire 3200.  Although USB 3.0 products are expected to be quicker off the production line, both standards have already been ratified, and we could see both USB 3.0 and FireWire 3200 merchandise in production sooner rather than later.  This naturally begs the question: So which is better?
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A Korean company by the name of NanoVision is breaking grounds with its latest product, the MIMO UM-750. The device, which features a 7″ touch screen, TV tuner, and webcam, is available for 183,000 KRW ($147.25 USD). However, Americans and our friends across the Atlantic will be out of luck as the product is only available in Korea.

The MIMO will connect to any Windows XP/Vista computer via USB 2.0. OS X drivers are currently being developed, and the 800×400 resolution LCD also features a stylus for use with the touch screen.

A release date has not yet been set for the MIMO, but the first orders should be shipping soon. For our penny-pinching readers, a less expensive version with no touch screen or TV tuner can be had for $87. Both versions are currently up for preorder at Funshop, a Korean electronics retailer.

While the MIMO only has a 7″ inch screen, its possibilities are exciting. The device would make a great second or third monitor for IM chats, Photoshop palettes, and even maybe iTunes. If only it were available stateside…

Yesterday Dell unveiled it’s latest in a long line of desktop computers, the Studio Hybrid. Catering to the green crowd, the system offers energy-efficient computing in several cool colors. Starting at $499 and a little bigger than an external hard drive, it is both priced and sized to compete with Apple’s Mac Mini.

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First introduced in January 2005 by Apple, the iPod Shuffle has been popularized as Apple’s attempts to reach to the low-end market. In reality, the Shuffle is just the stunted half-brother of the iPod Nano, lacking a screen and any real features for that matter. Though the postage-stamp sized MP3 player has received quite a bit of fanfare for its compact size, who would buy something so crippled and stunted? The answer is no one. Additionally, competition in the low-end market from the likes of Creative and changes in the iPod line Apple will make in the coming months give the Cupertino company good reason to change their ball game. Consequently, Apple will drop the Shuffle from their line and replace it with something with more features by the post-holiday season.

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