gdgt

It's been far too long since we posted a changelog, but as you'll soon see, we've been anything but idle! A few of the more noteworthy new features below:

• Introduced gdgt news
• Story selector and URL submission
• Story voting and tagging
• Added news module and sub-page to product pages
• Introduced like/dislike voting for gadgets
• Includes module on reviews page showing who likes and dislikes a gadget
• See which gadgets your friends are liking / disliking in your gdgt stream
• Redesigned button and nav layout on product pages
• Two major site framework overhauls (one last November, one in February) for dramatically faster page load times
• Enter additional details about your gadgets including date of purchase, serial number, and warranty info
• "Add to list" buttons around the site now indicate if the associated gadget is on one of your lists
• Introduced user activity XML feed

Read on for more changes and fixes!

e're getting ready for our big Austin event on Monday, and to celebrate we're blowing it out with giveaways from five of the companies that'll be there.

It's easy to enter, all you have to do is:

• Connect your gdgt account to your Facebook and/or Twitter account.
• Then add the products you want to win to your Want list. You can add as many or as few as you'd like, obviously you should only add products you actually want, since those'll be the ones you're entered to win!

Here's what we're giving away:

• Logitech Squeezebox Radio
• Sling Media Slingbox Pro-HD
  
• Roku HD
  
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX7
  
• Western Digital WD TV Live

You have until 11:59pm EST on Friday, March 19th to enter. We'll pick a winner at random for each product from all qualified entries (if you've already added a product to your Want list and linked up your Twitter or Facebook account you are already entered to win that product). Sorry, this contest is only open to US residents. (Note, our last contest was open internationally, and we'll do more in the future!) Good luck!

Prize shipping courtesy of Incipio (the company that made those gdgt iPhone cases for us).

We have one more Sonos S5 to giveaway! We're gearing up for our big event in Austin next week, and since Sonos is going to be there showing off their new S5 wireless music system, they thought it'd be great to offer one more to give away.

In case you missed the description from one of last month's giveaways, the Sonos S5 is an internet-connected stereo speaker system that lets you stream your music library, internet radio, and music services like Pandora and Rhapsody all over your house. Best of all, you can even control it using your iPhone or iPod touch.

To enter all you have to do is:

• Connect your gdgt account to your Facebook and/or Twitter account.
• Then add the Sonos S5 to your Want list.

Just do both of these by 11:59pm EST on Thursday, March 11th and you're automatically entered to win. (If you've already done both, don't worry, you're already entered!) We'll pick a winner at random from all qualified entries.

Oh, and like last two times the good people at Sonos are doing two more awesome things to sweeten the deal: they're going to throw in a ZoneBridge, and they're willing to ship your prizes anywhere for free, including internationally, which means this contest is open to pretty much everyone! Good luck!

UPDATE: We have a winner! Congrats to user nachomp!

Big movement in the gadget world this week: just before announcing the iPad's April 3rd launch date, Apple called out HTC in a massive 20 patent lawsuit (which we've brought on our old pal Nilay Patel from Engadget to help us dissect). TiVo also announced its completely overhauled Premiere and Premiere XL DVRs, while Microsoft let loose some new details about Windows Phone 7 Series. Turns out this week was also a little trying for PS3 users, but we were stoked to finally try out Palm's webOS 1.4, as well the Fitbit. By the way, have you heard we're coming to Austin in a little more than a week? Because we are, and you should definitely come out for this one: details here!

Download: MP3 | AAC
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | MP3 | AAC
Music: Mux Mool - Night Court | Michna - Triple Chrome Dipped

Much as we hate to say it, you need the dreaded Adobe Flash to listen to the embedded podcast player.

Texan nerds and South By-goers: gdgt is coming to Austin on March 15th!

The party is all ages and open to the public. First attendees will walk away with some great swag -- but everyone who shows is eligible to win some gear (and we've got plenty).

We're taking over the Austin Music Hall at 7pm and bringing along some twenty of the best electronics and tech companies in the business, including:

Title: DivX
Platinum: Logitech, Incipio
Gold: Dell, Roku, Sony, Sling Media, Windows Phone
Silver: AMD, Anyclip, Aviary, Boxee, Buffalo, Bug Labs, Chinon, Clear, FLO TV, HTC, Mimoco, Pandora, Pogoplug, Popbox, Sonos, Western Digital

Special thanks to Waggener Edstrom!

Details and RSVP on Facebook! Let us know if you're thinking of dropping by! (Oh, and we posted a map to the venue after the break.)

Well, by now you've likely heard Palm isn't having the best go of things lately, but on the brighter side, Windows Phone 7 Series looks like it's going to have some sweet launch hardware, Vudu got picked up by Wal-Mart, and PMA saw some interesting devices, like the Samsung NX10 and Sony ultra-compact DSLR concept. Oh, and let's not forget about the imminent release of the Nintendo DSi XL here in the US.

Download: MP3 | AAC
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | MP3 | AAC
Music: Mux Mool - Night Court | Michna - Triple Chrome Dipped

Much as we hate to say it, you need the dreaded Adobe Flash to listen to the embedded podcast player.

This week we're giving away four Zune 8 portable media players! And these aren't regular Zunes, either, these are limited edition Zunes that come with the gdgt logo etched on the back.

To enter all you have to do is:

• Add the Zune 8 to your Want list
• Then post a review of any product you own on the site. Just make sure you post the review on the page for that product (i.e. NOT in the comments here).
• Your review can be of a new gadget or an old one, doesn't matter, just has to be a proper review (that means you can't write "I love this!" over and over again -- yes, we'll be checking). And no, it doesn't have to be positive -- just be honest.
  

Just do both of these by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, March 2nd and you're automatically entered to win. We'll pick a winner at random from all qualified entries. Sorry, this contest is only open to US residents, we will have another contest open to everyone soon! Good luck!

Prize shipping courtesy of Incipio (the company that made those gdgt iPhone cases for us).

UPDATE: Ok, we have our winners! Thanks to everyone who entered.

It's Mobile World Congress week this week, so it might not be much of a surprise that we've got scads of mobile stories: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Series finally launches, Symbian S^3 shown off for the first time, Maemo and Mobilin merge, becoming MeeGo, Skype gets free calling via Verizon (we think), and a bunch of carriers join forces to take on the App Store with the Wholesale Applications Community. Oh, and we got some hands-on time with the Xbox 360's Project Natal, you don't want to miss that.

Download: MP3 | AAC
Subscribe: iTunes | Zune | MP3 | AAC
Music: Mux Mool - Night Court | Michna - Triple Chrome Dipped

Much as we hate to say it, you need the dreaded Adobe Flash to listen to the embedded podcast player.

The giveaways keep on coming! This week we're giving away not one, but THREE HTC Snap smartphones.

To enter all you have to do is:

• Add the HTC Snap to your Want list.
• Submit a link using the News system we're testing out. You can select a story from one of the sources listed or you can submit a link from another site altogether, either one will work. Just make sure you tag the story properly!
  

Do both of these by 11:59pm EST on Thursday, February 25th, and you'll be automatically entered to win. We'll pick three winners at random from all qualified entries. Unfortunately this giveaway is only open to US residents, but we'll have more giveaways open to international users soon. Good luck!

Prize shipping courtesy of Incipio (the company that makes those rad gdgt iPhone cases for us).

Want to know more about Boxee? Thinking about putting the Boxee Box on your Want list, but have a few questions you'd like answered first? Well, we have a special treat for you. Boxee founder Avner Ronen is taking questions on the site right now, and will be doing so for the rest of the afternoon, so get on over and ask your question now!