TechBytes: eBay Deals App
In TechBytes, new Kindle upgrade, tracking kids on cruises and more.
Nov. 25, 2009— -- Ebay is making it easier to find deals for the holidays by launching an iPhone app that helps shoppers find the best buys on the auction site. Customers can pick from a stream of hundreds of millions of listings or search across eight categories including apparel, computers and electronics. Ebay's daily deals can also be found online at the site's deals page.
Kindle Upgrades
Amazon's Kindle e-book reader is getting two new improvements. Amazon has found a way to increase the battery life by 85 percent, which means Kindles can stay on for about a week before they need to be recharged. The gadget can also read PDF documents now. The best part about the upgrades is that Kindle owners won't have to do anything because their devices will be automatically updated.
Tracking Kids on Cruises
When the world's biggest cruise ship takes its maiden voyage next month, parents will have a new way to keep tabs on their kids. According to USA Today, all young children on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas will wear an electronic wristband that tracks them in real time. Parents will be able to rent a special smart phone that allows them to follow their kids and communicate with others on the ship. This new system is only available on the Oasis for now.
'Star Wars' Uncut
A new Web site lets "Star Wars" fans experience the movie like never before. "Star Wars" Uncut lets fans re-create their own version of the movie 15 seconds at a time. The project includes more than 1,600 re-interpreted snippets from the original film. Some of the clips are animated, some done with toys and others with people.
Once the scenes from the movie are re-created, fans will get to vote on their favorite versions of each one. The winning clips will be combined to create a full-length movie. Once "Star Wars" is complete, there are plans for a sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back."
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