What are the must-have apps for a new iPad owner? You see, it finally happened: I’m the proud owner of Apple’s much-ballyhooed tablet. No, I didn’t win a contest or rip one out of some poor guy’s hand. I actually plunked down some cold, hard cash. As readers of my Cheapskate blog know, that’s something …

Is it just me, or does the planet seem really angry these days? Earthquakes galore, tsunamis, and now this ash-spewing volcano! We’re doomed, I tell ya. Doomed! Anyway, pity the poor traveler who’s stuck in Europe until flights can resume. As we reported Tuesday, to help make those folks’ lives a tiny bit easier, travel-guide publisher Lonely Planet is offering …

The board game Blokus has long been a family favorite in the Broida household, but there’s just one problem with it: to really enjoy the game as it’s meant to be played, you need four players. Consequently, either everyone plays, or no one does. Blokus for iPhone adds AI to the mix, meaning you can finally go it alone if …

This iPad contest from tech-blog Erictric ends tomorrow, so get your entry in fast! Erictric If you’re anything like me, you’d really, really like to have an iPad–but you don’t have an extra $500 lying around. (Or $600. Or $700. You get the idea.) Resorting to crime is not an option, so that leaves just one other possibility: contests. With …

It may seem crazy at first, but talking into the Novophone is actually a lot more comfortable–and fun–than holding your cell phone to your ear. Novophone The first time I saw the Novophone, I laughed. Then I mocked. Then I got a little thirsty. Finally, after thinking about it for a while, I started to develop some genuine interest in …

If you ask me, the iPad’s prowess as an e-book reader lies not in pulp fiction, but in kids’ books. Think about it: the latest Grisham novel is just raw text, which any old Kindle can deliver. But children’s books are all about big, splashy pictures and wild colors–elements perfectly suited to iPad screens. And needless to say, the iPad …

Looking for 5 minutes of fun? Then look elsewhere, because this week’s new iPhone/iPod games are likely to consume considerable chunks of your time. You’ve been warned! Babylonian Twins — The Quest for Peace in Ancient Iraq: If you like running, jumping, puzzle-solving platform games (I know, are there any other kind?), you’re sure to get a kick out of …

MobiTV offers eight channels of live TV and more than 30 on-demand channels. Rick Broida Hulu who? If you’ve been waiting to watch your favorite shows on your iPhone, wait no more: the new MobiTV app streams both live and on-demand television content. What kind of content? Oh, let’s see, there’s “Caprica,” “Castle,” “The Colbert Report,” “Community,” “Cougar Town,” and …

Apple wants how much for the portrait-orientation-only iPad Dock? $29? Sorry, but I’m tapped out after spending $500 on the iPad itself. What do you have in the $5-$10 range? Nothing, of course. (Does Apple sell anything in the $5-$10 range?) Fortunately, if all you want to do is prop up your iPad for movie viewing, recipe reading, photo slideshow-ing, …

What iPhone OS 4 feature do you want the most?answers Tomorrow’s the big day: At 10 a.m. (PT) Thursday, Apple will give the world a sneak peek at iPhone OS 4. Exciting, no? Earlier today, CNET’s Erica Ogg offered her take on what’s in store for OS 4, including both expected additions like multitasking and longshots like Flash support. Once …