The S Series also has a recordable FM tuner (with 30 presets), and a Lithium Ion battery rated for a 42 hours of audio, or 6.4 hours of video playback. That's pretty decent...unless you use the built-in stereo speakers. Rocking out loud will drop music listening to 17 hours, and video playback to 5 hours.

As expected, format support includes JPG photos, MP3/WMA/AAC audio and H264/MP4/WMV 30fps video.

Though the E-Series has a similar design, it ditches speakers, and the screen has been shrunk to 2-inches (still QVGA). It also has most of the same file format support but H.264 is noticeably absent. It does do 30fps WMV video, though. How much will these cut backs save you? The 8GB model is $80; the 16GB is $100.

Both Walkmans have a variety of color options, and support iTunes 8.1 and Windows Media player. [PR Newswire]

Gaming:
• Rock Band 2 on Xbox 360 for $29.99 (normally $59.99 - valid until 1/29. Use coupon code " SHP47HTL88M9CC").
• Disney Sing It on Xbox 360 with microphone for $19.99 (normally $39.99 - valid until 1/29. Use coupon code "ZHSFSX$LLVGJ40").
• Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 for $29.99 plus free shipping (normally $59.99).
• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller for $32.99 plus free shipping (normally $49.99).

Personal Portables and Peripherals:
• Polaroid HD Digital Camcorder for $129.99 (normally $249.99 - valid today only).
• Canon PowerShot A470 7.1MP for $79.95 plus free shipping (normally $99.99).
• Unlocked Motorola MOTOFONE F3 for $24.99 plus free shipping (normally $49.99 - use coupon code "DNEWSF3").
• Plantronics Discovery Bluetooth headset for $19.99 plus free shipping (normally $59.99).

MP3 Players and Peripherals:
• iPod Touch 32GB for $329.99 (normally $399).
• Philips 4GB Go Gear MP3 Player for $44 plus free shipping (normally $99.99).
• SanDisk Sansa 1GB MP3 Player with Expandable Memory (recertified) for $12.99 plus free shipping (normally $54.99).
• Centon 2GB MP3 Player for $14.99 plus free shipping (normally $29.99).
• iPod Nano 3rd Generation Hard Case for $0.99 (normally $9.99).

Computing Peripherals:
• Iomega eGo 1TB Desktop Hard Drive for $103.99 plus free shipping (normally $149.99 - use coupon code "C2$F7S4W96J$T1").
• Epson Stylus All-In-One Printer (refurbished) for $32 plus free shipping (normally $44).
• Epson Stylus Multifunction Color Printer (refurbished) for $29 plus free shipping (normally $42).

Movies:
• Extra - The Complete Series on DVD for $14.99 (normally $39.98).
• Monty Python's Collector Set for $79.95 (normally $159.95).
• Buy 1 TV on DVD Box Set get one free (all with free shipping).

Miscellaneous:
• Inflating Pump for $2.20 plus free shipping (normally $9.95).

Hobomodo:
• MultiSet 6.3 Software for $0 (normally $99.95).
• 6 Personalized Valentine's Day cards for $0 (normally $5.34 - use coupon code "valentine").
• Crest White Strips Sample for $0.

Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.

Amen.

Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. That being the case, the issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on. If you're a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

Customers can continue to stay informed via the support page on zune.net (zune.net/support).

We know this has been a big inconvenience to our customers and we are sorry for that, and want to thank them for their patience.

Q: Why is this issue isolated to the Zune 30 device?
It is a bug in a driver for a part that is only used in the Zune 30 device.

Q: What fixes or patches are you putting in place to resolve this situation?
This situation should remedy itself over the next 24 hours as the time flips to January 1st.

Q: What's the timeline on a fix?
The issue Zune 30GB customers are experiencing today will self resolve as time changes to January 1.

Q: Why did this occur at precisely 12:01 a.m. on December 31, 2008?
There is a bug in the internal clock driver causing the 30GB device to improperly handle the last day of a leap year.

Q: What is Zune doing to fix this issue?
The issue should resolve itself.

Q: Are you sure that this won't happen to all 80, 120 or other flash devices?
This issue is related to a part that is only used in Zune 30 devices.

Q: How many 30GB Zune devices are affected? How many Zune 30GB devices were sold?
All 30GB devices are potentially affected.

Professor Zhong Lin Wang and team of the Georgia Institute of Technology coated kevlar strands with zinc oxide nanowires, protecting the bushy wires with a polymer and adding gold to other fibers to act as a conductor. The piezoelectric power-generating action comes when the nanowires bend as two fibers rub together, translating bending of the material into electricity which flows along the gold fibers.

Professor Wang says that across several square feet of fabric the nanowire fibers can generate power adding up to tens of milliwatts, which is not a huge amount, but is certainly enough for a dribble top-up charge for your portable devices.

With a little more power, the idea could be great in smart fabrics for consumers, or even for medical or military use, but it's clearly an invention in its infancy—as Wang notes, "What we've done is demonstrate the principle and the fundamental mechanism." For the time being it also has a fundamental flaw: it's not waterproof, and putting your smart clothes in the wash would dissolve the nanowires. [BBC News and Reuters]

Compatible with all MP3 players, the cardboard mini boombox is out in September, but no details on price, as yet. Think of the fun you could have customizing it. [Suck UK via 7Gadgets]

A high-end fancy car like a Lexus is usually stoked with all the latest tech stuff such as hard drives, but now Chrysler has gotten into the act, offering MyGig, a 20GB hard drive that you can order as an option. Our grease-monkey brothers at Jalopnik tell us the hard drive is embedded in the dashboard, and not only stores navigation data but lets you rip CDs as they're inserted, filling that sucker with your own music. It will also find out the artist, track and title info for you on the Gracenote lookup engine.

That's just the beginning, though, where Chrysler, the old fuddy-duddy of car tech, seems to be making a major push toward gadgetization. For instance, there's also an AUX input for rocking your iPod into the system, embedded Sirius Satellite Radio, a USB jack to play music off a thumb drive, hands-free Bluetooth phone calling, and separate audio outputs—one for the car speakers and another for listening to headphones if you want to watch a DVD on the rear-seat LCD display. Snap.

This tech will emerge on midrange models such as the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Nitro and Jeep Wrangler. Looks like that merger between Chrysler and Mercedes, resulting in DaimlerChrysler, is starting to pay off for the Detroit end of that equation. – Charlie White

MyGig Has A Hard Drive, How About Yours? [Jalopnik]

MP3 players are moving underwater, and now here's a completely submersible player and earphone, the Fusion DMP from Freestyle Audio. Available in a Hobson's choice of 256MB ($160) or 512MB ($200) capacities, it has a rechargeable battery that will give you 40 hours of underwater music goodness, where you can dive to 10 feet deep without ruining it. It's lightweight, too, weighing just over an ounce. It includes a neoprene armband and a USB cable that looks like it might get in the way.

We've been experimenting with underwater audio, namely the H2O Waterproof Headphones we told you about two months ago, along with an OtterBox iPod nano waterproof enclosure. The OtterBox performed beautifully, keeping the nano dry underwater, although it can't go deeper than 3 feet. The H2O Waterproof Headphones were another story, however, sounding scratchy with no bass response. Let's hope the Fusion DMP fares better. – Charlie White

Product Page [Freestyle Audio, via OhGizmo]