05. 2.2008

See exclusive clips of Baz Luhrmann's new film - and win a trip to the set - thanks to Apple

Baz Luhrmann, the creative brains behind Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! is innovating again: in an exclusive deal with Apple, the director has arranged for a series of video podcasts (I'm sorry, I can't bring myself to use the term 'vodcast' - it always sounds like there's something stuck in my throat) from the set of his new film, Australia.

The podcasts will feature Aussie actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman talking about making the film and are part of a bigger promotion, which includes the chance for students to win a set visit to Oz to learn all about movie production. Talk about the trip of a lifetime!

If you're interested in watching the v*dcasts and entering the competition, see the Set to Screen series on Apple's site for more details.

Via The Australian.

Posted by diane Category: contests | entertainment
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04.16.2008

One-stop shopping for laptop bags at Career Bags - and contest

If our recent Laptop bag bonanza - Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 - has left you dizzy with choices, here's a suggestion: check out Career Bags. With the exception of the Zegari, they sell all the bags we've previewed, including Abbi New York, Casauri, Diane Von Furstenburg, and McKlein, and have the best stock of anyone on the web, including this beautiful red GOLLA bag from Finland.

The self-made executive and owner of Career Bags, Ellen Hart, echoed the other women we talked to when she told us, "I originally designed business cases for women in 1989 because they didn't exist." The modest entrepreneur doesn't volunteer at first that she designed the Veronica London, a very popular handbag design that she sold to Hartman luggage and still sells on her site.

"I thought about three different archetypes as far as personal style: classic; funky, chic and cool; and casual. My goal: to help every woman bring out her personal style in her business life."

Continue reading "One-stop shopping for laptop bags at Career Bags - and contest"

04. 2.2008

Laptop bag bonanza - best of the best, part 3 (and another giveaway)

LUXURY "MINIMALIST" LAPTOP BAG BY ZEGARI

If you're wearing your Chanel suit and your Manolo's, then this is the luxury laptop bag to carry. The elegant "Minimalist" by Zegari is made of beautiful leather in a classic design, and is loaded with features: lots of pockets, including special holders for your mobile phone, PDA, and MP3 player; organizational features for pens, cards, keys, and olders/papers; a twist-off key fob for your keys; a protected laptop compartment; tiny metal feet to keep it off the ground; wonderful soft-cushioned handles; a removable shoulder strap. And did I mention it's beautiful in a minimalist, understated way?

It costs less than your shoes at $285 but screams success, even if you're doing the old "fake it until you make it." (Fits 15" MacBook Pro and most laptops with 15" screens.) Don't miss this week's Popgadget Drop email - Zegari is giving one of these lovely numbers to one of our subscribers. Not subscribed yet? Sign up here.

COMPUTE WITH COLOR - "FLICKA"

The Flicka story began like most fairytales, with a "big city girl reporter who couldn't find a laptop case that didn't look like it belonged to a boy so she stiched up one of her own." That would be one Alice Cervantes who gave up journalism to make bags full-time when friends asked to buy her colorful laptop sleeves and bags.

As the name suggests, the Flicka "Brief" bags, priced at $80, are just that -- slim and lightweight with just room for your computer. There's an outside zippered pocket for mouse and power cords but I only use that when I really have to, as stuffing it breaks the line of the bag. It's perfect for a day trip or for school.

What's to Love:

- Fanciful patterns
- Weighs almost nothing
- 360-degree padding
- Waterproof, stain-resistant fabric
- Foam-filled shoulder pad for cushy comfort and grip.

Sized to fit laptops measuring up to 15.4", including wide screen displays, but Alice tells us she's working on a 17' model. And btw, "Flicka" means girl in Swedish. Perfect Fairytale ending.

Continue reading "Laptop bag bonanza - best of the best, part 3 (and another giveaway)"

03.26.2008

Laptop bag bonanza - best of the best, part 2 (one of these could be yours for free)

"CARRY WITH FUNS" (Look for this one as a giveaway in this week's Popgadget Drop email. Not a subscriber yet? Takes only a second to sign up here.)

You can't help but smile when you see an E.Square Bag - the bright colors, the cheeky designs - but hiding under all that fun is a meticulously crafted, functional bag. I've been carrying my MacBook around in it for a week, and it's comfortable (has a padded shoulder strap which I've come to learn is essential for a 13 lb.laptop). It sports padded pockets for all your electronics, plus essential outside pocket for easy access to travel docs.

Kristina Kim, who founded the company with her husband says they "put fun prints on the bags in order to add splashes of colors" into our lives. "We know the designs are very bold and in very eye-catching colors, no one would ever think to have YELLOW on a laptop bag, but we did it and together with some other bold colors and big retro flower prints. AND hey! It's working and actually is very very well received in the market. So, we know tech cases (are) missing some colors, we will continue to put fun prints and bold colors on the bags."

Continue reading "Laptop bag bonanza - best of the best, part 2 (one of these could be yours for free)"

03.18.2008

Laptop bag bonanza - best of the best

When I started out in business (dinosaurs still roamed the earth), women had no choice in laptop bags; you had to use a "man" bag, a boring black utilitarian-looking thing. Thank goodness that's all changed.

Today we have choices of laptop bags that look like stylish, expensive handbags: fun, flirty ones that weigh nothing yet cradle your laptop, rock n' roll choices, retro bags, functional yet pretty roller bags. Your bag says as much about you as your FaceBook page these days.

In our ongoing effort to narrow down choices for our discerning readers, we present a round-up of road-tested laptop bags. (For those of you taking notes, our scientific study utilized a 15-inch MacBook, with all the peripherals, and unless otherwise noted, all tested fit a 15.4 inch laptop.) And we will be giving away one of almost all these bags, so make sure you're signed up to our newsletter!

MADDIE POWERS by Mobile Edge for Her

No one is going to mistake you for a staid executive with this sassy laptop bag called the "Maddie Powers," which holds up to holds up to a 15.4" laptop. You probably already know Mobile Edge for their superior bags, but recently they decided to start designing for women. As the company spokesman says, "We knew we were missing something. We then decided to break down our collections into two categories, one 'For Her' and one 'For Him.' It is that simple. Our women’s Collection was designed by women for women." As you can see, the Maddie Powers collection (priced at $90) showcases the covers of authentic pulp magazines & digest novels from the 1940s and 1950s.

What's to love about this bag:

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02.29.2008

Pink Palm Centro winner!

Okay, so being the winner of our "Pink Palm Centro Misery Giveaway" means you've been a big loser at love, at least once during Valentine's Day, but now you're getting the messaging phone extraordinaire and you can send hate messages to the one who wronged you. Only kidding....

The winner will be receiving the Pink Centro, valued at $399.99 (or $99 with a 2-year Sprint contract).

And the winning/losing story:
M & I had been dating for 7 years. Valentines Day was a huge day for us, as we had been set up on a blind date on V-day 2000. A mutual friend set us up & we hit it off immediately. We got close quickly, but were both happy with keeping our separate living arrangements as we were both professionals with busy work schedules. We had always talked of getting married at some point and having kids. We had similar ideas & ideals about marriage & families. Back to V-day. M always put a huge effort into making our V-day celebration special. I never knew from year to year what he would plan. One year, he whisked me away to NYC in a limo to an intimate dinner & then to a show that I had wanted to see. On the way, he took me to my favorite SoHo boutique to buy a new dress & beautiful shoes.

Don't be too jealous, see the misery come in after the jump...

Continue reading "Pink Palm Centro winner!"

Posted by Mia Category: contests
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02.27.2008

BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone - giveaway exclusively for email subscribers

This week, Verizon is giving away one of these gorgeous pink BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphones to one of our email subscribers. If you're not subscribed, sign up here.

02.15.2008

Misery deserves a pink Palm Centro!

Did you get to your office on Valentine's Day only to find all your co-workers cradling roses and chocolates and boxes from Tiffany while all you held near your heart was rage and loneliness? Did you spend the last week making a 7-hour audio/video retrospective of your relationship only to find out today that you are no longer your valentine's valentine?

On this day which celebrates romantic love, we want to honor the real people, the ones filled with resentment and gut-wrenching jealousy- our people. Just send me an email with a tale of Valentine's Day woe, and we will pick the best (the most painful) and send you a beautiful new Palm pink Centro, worth $400 (but as low as $99 with a 2-year Sprint contract). We will pick a winner on February 20th, so if your V-day 2008 was disappointing, then there's still time to tell us all about it. We will publish the winning story, but will not reveal names, email addresses, or other information you wish to remain private. But otherwise, lay it on us!

The Palm Centro is a perfect tool for those in search of love (or a better love). It's filled with communication features: IM, threaded SMS messaging, 3G browsing speeds, and a 1.3 MP camera with video recording.

You have to be on our email list, so please subscribe before entering the contest. Good luck and happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by Mia Category: cell phones | contests
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