I have a very unimpressive record with raising tamagotchis, but the just-announced software version for cell phones apparently will be "resilient enough to withstand prolonged neglect". Starve it for four days and it will still be there, emaciated and weak, but still begging for attention. The now less tubercular little pet will be available in early summer. (via Engadget).

I didn't sense any excitement about the second-generation tamagotchi when it was released here last year, but if the plethora of tamagotchi products flashing around on the Bandai site is any indication, it's still like 1996 in Japan.

You can get garish nail tips to match your tamagotchi...

..keychains/bag charms...

...somewhat smaller, more pendant-style versions...

..and my favorite: the just over one-inch long chibi-tamagotchi that can be used as a cell phone charm.