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Obviously, these tests arent scientific, but now that FaceTime has some real competition from the biggest name in video chat, we thought wed do a quick comparison of the two. We know there are other apps out there, but since these are by far the most well-known, were just covering these for now. For frame of reference, the tests were performed with either an iPhone 4 and an iPod touch 4G or an iPhone 4 and a Hackintosh running OS X with a Logitech Pro 9000 webcam.

via Battle of the iOS Video Chat Applications: FaceTime vs. Skype.

Natural and elegant. BoxWave’s True Bamboo iPad Case provides your iPad with sturdy protection from real bamboo in this refined slim hard case. Each eco-friendly bamboo case is unique in appearance and offers a modern look for storing your Apple iPad everyday.

The Apple iPad True Bamboo iPad Case is designed with two interlocking pieces for easy installation, and a complete open front for optimal access to the touch screen as well as maintaining the same tactile feel as using the Apple iPad without a case.

via True Bamboo iPad Case – Geniune bamboo, precisely crafted into a truly naturally beautiful iPad hard case.

At CES this week, Microsoft will be unveiling new software to run on set-top boxes, offering an enhanced, connected TV experience, according to a report from The Seattle Times.

The Times reports that these boxes will be running on Microsoft’s Windows Embedded platform and use the Windows Media Center interface. Aimed at a $200 price point, these boxes could challenge efforts from Apple, Google, Boxee and others.

This isn’t the first time that Microsoft has shown off Windows TV boxes — as the Times notes, Microsoft showcased some of this functionality in April and November.

I have long wished that Microsoft would embrace the power of Windows Media Center, releasing extender devices or stand-alone set-top boxes. Aside from the Xbox 360, the company has failed to effectively execute in this space.

That’s a shame because when it comes to a remote friendly, cohesive HTPC experience, Microsoft has a terrific offering. Windows Media Center in Windows 7 blows away Apple’s Front Row experience. It also rivals the offerings that Boxee, Plex and others are putting forth on various set-top boxes. The downside has been that you need to actually connect a computer to your television (or buy an Xbox 360).

If Microsoft does end up unveiling a new Windows TV set-top box — and if the price and featureset can match the offerings of its competitors,

via Microsoft to Reveal Windows TV Set-top Boxes [REPORT].

A few months ago, it looked like Lenovo’s crazy-neat dual-processor U1 hybrid was pure vaporware. Turns out it just needed a little retooling. The U1 Hybrid is back, giving Lenovo’s LePad Android tablet a Windows 7 dock. So what’s new?First and best, Lenovo’s smartly ditched the proprietary interface that made the U1 Hybrid and Skylight smartbook untenable last year. In its place, the multitouch, (mercifully) 10.1-inch, 1280×800 LePad tablet will sport Android Froyo, with a Lenovo skin that loosely resembles their plans for a four-paned UI last year. Oh, and full Flash 10.1 support is planned as well.Android 2.2 may put Lenovo a step behind competitors from Motorola, LG, Toshiba, and others who’ve embraced the tablet-friendly Honeycomb, but at least you’ll have access to the Android Market. And who knows? Maybe Lenovo’s custom spin on a tablet OS will come out ahead regardless of what it’s built on.

via IdeaPad U1 Hybrid and LePad Tablet: Lenovo’s Voltron Re-forms.

I think were all in agreement that styluses are stupid objects designed for products unworthy of our time. Now thats settled, lets take a look at one Id actually buy—its cute, and even comes with a Crayola app.There are plenty of coloring-in apps for the iPad already, but ask any kid and theyll tell you that its gotta be Crayola. The Crayola ColorStudio HD has heaps of art for kids to color in, in various themes like oceans and jungles. They can be colored in digitally, using Griffins Crayola stylus, or printed out and colored in with actual crayons.50 activities and games are also included, for coloring in and playing with, and proud parents can share them instantly by emailing them to Gran, or posting them on Facebook. Theres another “type” of Facebook friend youre going to have to hide soon.The UK price for the stylus is £20 / $30, but unfortunately it wont be available for another few months. [Griffin]

via The One iPad Stylus Well Allow You to Buy: Griffins Crayola.

job converting pictures into cartoon versions for those times you want to customize an avatar image or otherwise “cartoonize” a picture. Visit Cartoonize.net and input a picture (either by uploading it or plugging in an image URL#. Click “Cartoonize Now” and wait for a moment, Cartoonize spits back an image that looks like it has been run through the paint and relief filters in an image editor. Some things, like the highlights in the dashing Harry Potter photo we selected for testing, trip it up. Photos with even lighting and lower contrast seem to work better.Visit the link below to take it for a spin or, if you want to get hands on, check out this tutorial on achieving the same effect #with more control) using GIMP.

via Cartoonize Converts Photos into Cartoons.

Sharing your photos across multiple social networks is a major pain. Dropico makes sharing as simple as dragging and dropping your photos to share them across networks, directly to friends, and without clicking your way to carpal tunnel syndrome. Dropico takes the hassle out of sharing your photos. Instead of uploading to multiple individual services, Dropico helps you pool your photos in one place and share them with drag and drop ease across networks. You spend less time wrangling with the interfaces of individual services and more time sharing your photos with friends.Dropico currently supports Facebook, Myspace, Picasa, Twitter, Flickr, Photobucket, and Foursquare. Check out the video above to see it in action or visit the site below to sign up for a free account and take it for a test drive.

via Dropico Organizes and Shares Photos Across Social Networks.

Gmail Labs. The list is pretty massive, so we’ve narrowed down our 10 favorite labs to help increase your email productivity. We’ve actually gone through our 10 favorite labs before, back when Labs was a bit younger. Now, many of those features are part of Gmail itself, so we’ve decided to revisit the labs and see what else Gmail has cooked up. To access these features in Gmail, just hit the green flask icon next to “Settings” in the Gmail web interface.

via Top 10 Gmail Labs You Should Enable.

Space elevators are incredibly tall theoretical structures that stretch beyond the earth’s atmosphere to transport satellites and shuttles into outer space without the cost and environmental impact of rocket fueled launches. The idea has always been more science fiction than science fact, however a team from King’s College London could change that — they claim that advances in carbon nanotubes could make it ‘theoretically’ possible create a tether that would be strong enough to stretch more than 22,000 miles into space.

via Carbon Nanotubes Could Create World’s First Space Elevator | Inhabitat – Green Design Will Save the World.

Addressing growing concern over climate change and the rising level of the world’s oceans, Russian architectural firm Remistudio has designed a massive hotel concept that can endure extreme floods. The arch-shaped building, dubbed the Ark, has a structure that enables it to float and exist autonomously on the surface of the water. The Ark was also designed to be a bioclimatic house with independent life-support systems, including elements ensuring a closed-functioning cycle.

via Remistudio’s Massive Ark Building Can Save Residents From Flood | Inhabitat – Green Design Will Save the World.