By Evan Ackerman

This necklace is giving me a serious headache. I imagine it’s because I write the occasional website, and broken images feel like a punch in the gut, and punches in the gut always give me headaches. No matter how many times you refresh the page, the image on this plastic pendant simply will not load properly. The necklace is leather with a silver clasp, and at 17″, should be long enough to strangle nearly everyone. $20 at Thinkgeek.

You know, I don’t remember what particular browser this iconic broken image symbol first came from… Anybody know?

[ Broken Image Necklace ]

Wearable

Want the Internet in your pocket? Good, because that’s what LG is offering to South Koreans with its new LG-LH2300 Touch Web phone. This ain’t your father’s baby Internet mind you, the LH2300 features a new “Hello UI” riding atop 800 x 480 pixels spread across a 3-inch touchscreen LCD. LG didn’t stop with the web though as the LH2300 also packs T-DMB mobile TV, Bluetooth 2.0, microSD memory, and a jog wheel for easy page scrolling. Its 3 megapixel camera sports face recognition and anti-shake tech. No specifics on the included “high speed” data service. Nevertheless, that front facing camera’s a pretty good clue that this pup won’t be riding EDGE when it launches in Korea next month for a mere $600 US equivalent.

[Via AVING]

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Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

A recently unearthed patent filing shows Apple is thinking beyond its current living room video vending machine, the Apple TV. Among a number of new features, the design specifies how DVR information could be sent to a portable remote control similar to Apple’s existing iPod and iPhone, taking integration among its products to a new level.

And it’s not just working together for the sake of some superficial “better together” marketing angle. How many times have you heard friends discussing some great new show that you missed? With the capabilities Apple illustrates, one could perhaps call up the TV listings right from their iPhone and schedule to record the next episode. What’s unknown is how Apple would transfer recorded DVR shows to an iPod or iPhone — would recordings by synced through iTunes? And, if so, would they be tied to an authorized account to discourage internet redistribution?

In fact, while the addition of DVR features might raise questions about Apple retreating from selling TV shows, it would really reflect the reality of these show purchases being opportunistic (as well as perhaps serving as a tactic to bring NBC back to the bargaining table). Besides, DVR integration with the iTunes store could lead to more revenue opportunities. In the aforementioned scenario, the DVR could offer the opportunity to buy the episodes missed so far.

Continue reading Switched On: Apple DVR could find its calling in iPhone

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Ah, after long last, HTC’s first UMPC, the Shift, is finally making its debut in the US. The early results are in: the keyboard and the Sprint EV-DO are good, but the $1,500 price tag might be a bit heavy to swallow — especially considering our European counterparts are paying about $400 less, and we also get to tack on another $60 per month for the 3G.

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