One new, popular utility that could be useful for students is Convert, a 99-cent unit calculator that's currently the no. 2 best-selling app in the App Store.

It converts dozens of unit types, ranging from measurements you might use in math class — angles and area; to science class — temperature and force; to design class — typography and computer file sizes.

It's also been a big hit. The app's developer Tap Tap Tap tells us that it's sold 100,000 copies of Convert since it went on sale in mid-August. After Apple's 30% cut, that's about $70,000 in sales so far, in less than a month. Not bad!

Other interesting apps for students include several digital organizers, which could replace a paper calendar and assignment notebook.

The free app MyHomework is one popular example, and it's currently the no. 2 most downloaded education app in the App Store. It lets students keep track of their classes, homework assignments, projects, and tests, with a fun, simple user interface.

College students may be more interested in iStudiez Pro, which seems more tailored to the nature of university studies, helping you keep track of lecture and lab sessions, tasks, homework, scheduling, etc. At $2.99, it's currently the no. 1 most popular paid education app in the App Store.

One apparent disappointment: An iPhone app that hooks into the Blackboard software that many schools and colleges use, which seems like it could be a great help. But we stop short of recommending the free "Blackboard Learn" app that's in the App Store.

Why? Reviewers have given it terrible grades — a 1.5 star rating out of 5 possible stars, complaining about all sorts of shortcomings and bugs. We don't have access to a Blackboard server, so we couldn't try it first-hand. But it sounds like it could use an update.

Have any favorites for students? Let us know in the comments section and we'll add the best to our list.

Joanna comes to Gizmodo from Laptop Magazine. She is here to illuminate us about all things netbook, notebook, and whatever other tech stuff that comes across her laser eyes or under her razor-sharp claws. Yes, Joanna is really a robot ninja. With a lot of class, as you can see in the video, but a fearless robot ninja nonetheless. One made with adamantium, and runs on cookies and vodka. Welcome to the team, señorita Stern. [Giz's Back-to-School Guide]

WHAT YOU NEED

Value-Priced Laptop
If you were thinking about getting a desktop, STOP. Laptops are the perfect library or couch companion and even the best laptops on the market have come down in price. Apple's MacBook is one of the best laptops for students, and if you want the nice unibody aluminum one, you can pick it up refurbished for $900. If you opt for Windows instead, this Dell Inspiron 15 is solid for as low as $500. Take it from Prof. Dealzmodo, you don't have to be scared of buying refurbs, as long as it's through the manufacturers themselves.

WHAT YOU NEED

All-in-One Printer
You'd think in this day and age you'd be able to email your papers, but lots of college professors still require you hand in your masterpieces on dead trees. An all-in-one printer gives you the vital copy and scan functions, too, so there's no point in buying a single-function printer. The Canon MX860 (on sale for $160 on Amazon) packs wireless printing and prints on both sides of the page. The $100 HP PhotoSmart C4680 focuses on your photos, with its LCD screen and fast color-printing times.

WHAT YOU NEED

iPod Dock/Alarm Clock
Waking up for class to your music rather than a crappy local radio station is going to be way easier on you (and your hangover). Winner of the eight way iPod Dock Battlemodo, the $200 JBL OnStage 400p is one of the best-sounding choices, though it doesn't have its own clock-radio built in, so you'll have to set your iPod or iPhone. Looking for something a tad cheaper? Try the $130 Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2. If you are really worried that an iPod alarm won't wake you, try the iLuv iMM153. Its sound quality might not be on par with the above docks, but its vibrating ring will actually shake the bed.

WHAT YOU NEED

Point-and-Shoot Camera
Believe me, one day you'll want to remember the "best years of your life" in something better than the grainy blurry shots you get from your cellphone. Today's cheapest point-and-shoots let you capture stunning still pictures and quality video, too, in case your bud does something College Humor worthy. The 12-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 will cost you about $200 and shoots 720p video with a 4x zoom. Canon's $180 PowerShot SD1200IS will give you great still shooting performance for the money, and its 640x480 video is good enough for YouTube videos. Don't forget a big SD card—8GB or so.

WHAT YOU NEED

Gaming Console
Making friends in college is way easier when you can lure them into your room for a RB jam session. A game console can also serve as DVD player, music jukebox and streaming media receiver, so there's a lot of value in one box. Understanding that dorm rooms are cramped, Sony's new PS3 Slim is smaller than the original and cheaper with its $299 price tag. And with 120GB of space you'll have more than enough room for storing movies and music. And if you want something even more affordable and can hold out for a few more weeks, the Xbox 360's price is rumored to drop. No matter what system you choose, make sure to grab extra controllers.

WHAT YOU NEED

Headphones
Whether you are trying to block out the sounds of your roommate's squeaking bed or the non-whispering library voices, a good pair of headphones is a must. While a pair of noise canceling headphones will run up the bill, Shure's $99 SE115s isolate background noise really well with rubber or foam, not expensive circuitry. If you're trying to keep it on the cheap but can't stand free-with-purchase earbuds, Altec Lansing's Backbeat Plus for $50 aren't too shabby.

WHAT YOU NEED

HD Monitor or Cheap HDTV
If you have that all-powerful game console, you'll need something to hook it up to. Many kids split up the responsibility with a roommate, a good friend—or a spendy parent. One buys the console, the other buys a display. We recommend either a larger monitor, like Dell's 24" S2409W with HDMI input. Or you could go with a budget 32" HDTV. It may not have the best picture, but this 32-inch 720p Insignia is a great deal at $380. (Don't waste money on 1080p TVs if the screen isn't at least 40".)

WHAT YOU NEED

Mini Fridge
Here is a gadget you don't see on Gizmodo every day (except maybe ones powered by USB), but a mini-fridge is a must-have for a dorm room. The Emerson 2-Door Compact Refrigerator has enough space in the fridge for leftover Easy Mac, and a separate freezer for keeping that non-freezing liquid and some hotpockets. The Haier fridge microwave combo also is a good bet for those that can't live without popcorn or instant soup.

WHAT YOU NEED

Notebook Bag
Picking a notebook bag can be more personal than picking what goes inside it. Not only do you want something protective but something that also sticks with your own style. Timbuk2 makes some of the best on the market, and though they will cost you north of $60, they are known for having a decent warranty policy—send in pics to see if your damage is covered—and random acts of consumer kindness. The Laptop Messenger is now $65.

WHAT YOU NEED

Reliable Cellphone The dorm room has a landline jack but you will never use it. Make sure you have a good cell on a carrier that gets service at your school. Though we'd love to say, "Buy an iPhone 3GS or Palm Pre," the fact is, they come with costly monthly plans. Depending on your budget, you may just want to go with one of the newest messaging phones from Samsung or LG—with an unlimited messaging bundle. (You may also want an iPod Touch running on Wi-Fi, so you don't miss out on the 99-cent apps.)

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

Laptop Lock Every retailer recommends you buy a laptop lock for your dorm room, but the reality is you will never use it. Now, we care about your laptop's safety, but the answer is being smart about where you leave it: Lock the door when you go out, have a friend watch it at the library or meal hall, etc. And for the insanely paranoid there is always this.

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

Camcorder
Forget the Flip Mino, the Creative Vado or even the Kodak Zi8, since the functionality is essentially what you already have on a point-and-shoot. Unless you are a film student, you aren't going to be making documentaries. Just keep that still camera handy to catch drunken clips of girls crying or your friend puking.

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

Bluetooth Headset
Unless you are majoring in douchebaggery, a Bluetooth headset should not be on your shopping list. It is nice that Motorola is lowering prices on some headsets for back-to-school, and those should be snapped up by drivers who need them in the car. But if you are walking and talking, you can hold the phone up to your ear. If you are in your room, crank up the speakerphone. Seriously, having a headset in your ear all the time is no way to make friends.

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

Ebook Reader
Devices like the Kindle DX are fun, and Sony's new affordable readers are looking nice too, but for a student heading off to college, ebook readers are still an unneeded expense. Digital textbooks just aren't widely available yet, so you'll still have to buy a backbreaking amount of old-world books. Plus, what are you going to do when you accidentally drop it in class and it shatters? So try and ignore the hype this year, and maybe next year, McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall and the like will come through for you.

WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

Anything Too Expensive, or Not Rugged Enough Mark my words, what doesn't get stolen will surely be barfed on.

The offer expires on September 8th, and rebates can be claimed for a month after that. [Apple, Rebate Terms (PDF)]

Lighting:

The first thing you need to do is set an erotic mood. This giant bustier lamp should do the trick. [Japanese Bustier Lamp]

We all know that kids tend to wander back to the nest when the food and money runs out. That means you need a backup plan to protect your privacy. The "Sex in Progress" lamp will ensure that you kid will be running back to the dorm as fast as possible. Available for $25. [Baron Bob via Link]

The Bed:

Now it is time to focus on the most important part of the room—the bed. One option is to go with the Private Cloud—a patented rocking bed by German designer Manuel Kloker. Legend has it that a couple was so intense that they managed to complete one full revolution. Think of the possibilities. [Manuel Kloker via Link]

Prefer something a little...rougher? No problem. Try Master R's Dungeon quality BDSM play frame. To the naked eye it looks like an innocent four-poster frame, but it features special fittings for slings, mirrors, stocks and other restraints for weird, painful fun. Available for $2655. [Master R's]

No matter what bed you choose, the Karmasheetra is a good accessory. It's like an even more perverted version of Twister. Available for about $35. [Shiny Shack]

Furniture:

No room would be complete without a few pieces of furniture, and the Adult Fun Stool is a must-have for any adult hideaway. The chair is spring loaded, so it will bounce up and down with you as you make good use of the attachment on top. Speaking of that, it is fully removable so you can use it like a traditional stool when not "in use." Just make sure to keep plenty of bleach on hand. Available for $315. [AFB]

Unfortunately, the legendary Vagina Couch was an art project sold on Craigslist earlier this year, so you may not be able to get your hands on the version pictured here. However, it could give you some good ideas if you are handy with a sewing machine. [Craigslist]

Accessories:

Now that you have the major components of the room down, it is time to start adding some finishing touches. If you simply must have a landline phone in the room, the Bona Phone is the only way to go with its patented "touch bone dialing" and orgasm ringtone. What you choose to do with it beyond making phone calls is your business. Available for $27. [Sensual Universe via Link]

If you and the Mrs. enjoy a game of chess now and then, this erotic version is sure to satisfy on multiple levels—especially if you are into some weird stuff. The pieces in this set get really freaky. [Russian Mammoth]

The last thing you need when you finally have the house to yourself is another kid cramping your style. It's always safety first with the condom-dispensing panic button. [Link]

Bonus: Finally, what intimate evening would be complete without taking a drag on that after-sex cigarette? Therefore, it is only fitting that we conclude this journey into the nether regions of the soul with what is undoubtedly the most offensive ashtray ever conceived of by man. [Link]

Product Page [Hawkin's Bazaar, via OhGizmo]

Like a girl who teases you by flashing one boob quickly when your back is turned—what, wait, I didn't see it!—these chats only last a short time. A half hour each on three days? You'll probably only get 5, maybe 10 questions answered during that time if you're lucky. If you're unlucky and the guy types as fast as Brian Lam—Mavis Beacon V 17 is out buddy, get it—it'll be more like 3 to 5 questions.

Q: Why are your USB cables 10x MSRP?
A: Well...uh...

– Jason Chen

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