In recent years, if a gadget could be "jailbroken" or hacked to run code that the manufacturer or provider didn't approve, it instantly gained geek cred. T-Mobile's newest smartphone, the G2 is receiving large heaps of praise for its solid and spacious keyboard, smooth Android OS and a solid camera with flash. Techies have now learned that when you try to modify its software, the phone automatically resets to factory settings.

The feature that was originally supposed to keep the iPhone from winning in Japan--lack of an electronic wallet function common to most Japanese phones--proved to be meaningless in the end. Nevertheless, KDDI is hanging the fortunes of its new Sharp IS03 on the fact that it is the country's first smartphone with an electronic wallet feature.

Japanese electronics giant Sharp has unveiled its iPad competitor tablet called the Galapagos, and in the process managed to simultaneously release a copycat device and tag itself with moniker that is Japan's longest running embarrassing nickname.

Computers don't get much cheaper than this: Kmart is now selling an Android-powered netbook by Augen for a mere $190. With a 10.2-inch screen, 1024x600 display and weighing in at 1.8lbs, it looks about how you'd expect a netbook to look.