Screw G.I. Joe and Barbie, Gimme an iPod

There was more to electronics show than TVs

(NEWSER) - This year's Consumer Electronics Show had the predictable high-tech TVs and other conventional items—but the 3,100 exhibitors also showed off some rather bizarre devices. A few highlights:

• Solowheel. An electric unicycle with no seat and footboards that allow riders to stand and lean in the direction they want to go. The 26-pound, $1,800 machine goes 10mph on its battery-powered motor, and has a 15- to 20-mile range.

Veteran Claus reveals kids' secret desires

(NEWSER) - A 28-year veteran of the Santa Claus role has finally revealed in a blog what we already knew: Kids can be hilarious and heartbreaking. But he's got some perfect tales to illustrate it. Beyond the expected requests for the latest Barbie and video game, kids have whispered into Santa Carl Anderson's ear their desire for world peace and their pain at their parents' breakups, notes ABC News . "Kids see Santa as someone they can confide in," observes Anderson, 57. One little girl simply wanted a chair so she could write in a "little diarrhea" at her desk. "Of course she meant diary, but the misspeaks are pretty funny," said Anderson. More»

If your kid absolutely needs one, you may be out of luck

(NEWSER) - Every year, there’s some toy that—often inexplicably—leaps off the shelves long before Christmas. This year, it’s the Squinkies. Toymaker Bill Nichols developed the tiny, squishy rubber characters (which come packaged vending-machine-style, in plastic bubbles) last year, figuring they would sell well in a struggling economy. And they did: The toys, which cost $10 for a pack of 16, are sold out at Wal-Mart and other stores, and Nichols is having a hard time meeting demand. More»

Adoption rate the fastest ever

(NEWSER) - Apple sold 3 million iPads in the first 80 days of its shelf life, and is currently selling about 4.5 million a quarter, making it by far the fastest-adopted piece of technology in history, CNBC reports. Its nearest competitor is the iPhone, and that sold a mere million units in its first quarter. The fastest non-phone device, the DVD player, sold just 350,000 units in its first year on the market. More»

Online spending surge fuels modest recovery

(NEWSER) - Retail holiday sales ticked up this year for a 3.6% improvement over 2008's disastrous showing. The modestly improved overall picture included a 15.5% surge in online shopping, thanks in part to snowstorms that stranded many shoppers at home the week before Christmas, as well as an almost 6% rise at specialty electronics chains, Reuters reports. More»