BuyMeGetMe.com

According to a new iSuppli teardown, it reportedly costs Amazon.com just under $200 to build a Kindle 2 for you. $185.45 to be exact (minus R&D, marketing, distribution, etc.)

When you add up the prices for all the materials (such as the printed circuit board: $9.83, display screen: $60, Qualcomm processor: $13.18, rechargeable battery: $7.50, etc.) you come up with a number a lot less than the $359 that Amazon charges for it. Actual 49-percent less.

To be fair, Amazon’s asking price includes free data connectivity via Sprint’s wireless, 3G data network. Kindle doesn’t use much of Sprint’s EV-DO resources and free wireless is a terrific selling point.

My favorite fact is that the RAM and flash costs less than the outside enclosure ($4.45).

Do you feel bad about not owning an iPhone? Is it that you don’t want to be like everyone else? Or maybe you’d rather not switch carriers. Or you don’t want to spend $200-$300 – plus nearly $100 per month – for a cell phone? Then again, maybe you refuse to use a cell phone at all.

Have no fear, the i-wood is here. Not to be confused with the late, great Elwood (my sadly-missed Weimaraner who actually had his own personal Website/blog back in 1997) the i-wood is exactly what it looks like: a piece of wood!

Model number is 3B — which is super, secret code for 3 layers of bamboo. When everyone else around you takes out their iPhones you can whip out your i-wood and tap along with them.

i-wood’s marketeers put it this way:

“With our exclusive 3B technology, fast connection speeds, support for those of us who live in reality, and our all new applications, i-wood is the all-in-one solution you have been looking for. It will help you redefine your relationships wih people by showing them how truly irritating they, and their portable devices, have become.”

The i-wood weighs next to nothing and costs about the same: $10 via the Website’s PayPal shop.

just

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxteKOLo6s4]

It’s just what everyone needs: a smart faucet!

It’s a bathroom water tap that comes standard with built-in face recognition. The idea here is that you walk over to the sink or tub and your faucet recognizes you and automatically remembers your water temperature and pressure likes and needs.

Light emitting diodes actually let you know the temperature of the water coming out of the spout — blue for cold and red for hot. And, if that’s not enough, there is a built-in touchscreen allows you to set the faucet’s parameters as well as deal with your e-mail and appointments. Add a remote control and you’re all set.

A lot of Websites are writing about this device – but no one has seemed to find a price for it. The audio on the promotional video is no help either. I’m sure it’s not cheap.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxteKOLo6s4]

It’s just what everyone needs: a smart faucet!

It’s a bathroom water tap that comes standard with built-in face recognition. The idea here is that you walk over to the sink or tub and your faucet recognizes you and automatically remembers your water temperature and pressure likes and needs.

Light emitting diodes actually let you know the temperature of the water coming out of the spout — blue for cold and red for hot. And, if that’s not enough, there is a built-in touchscreen allows you to set the faucet’s parameters as well as deal with your e-mail and appointments. Add a remote control and you’re all set.

A lot of Websites are writing about this device – but no one has seemed to find a price for it. The audio on the promotional video is no help either. I’m sure it’s not cheap.

Broadcasters, and the people who follow them, are gathered in Las Vegas for the spring NAB Show. The industry is desperately looking for the “next big thing” due to the fact that new generations of TV and radio watchers/listeners are going elsewhere for their entertainment.

One new frontier: cell phone broadcasting. Problem is — just like the Betamax/VHS wars of yesteryear there are two major competiting formats for “broadcasting” television feeds over cell phones.

One format, Open Mobile Video Coalition’s MPH, is receiving lots of press at the moment. National and local broadcasters are embracing the format and are about to go live in a number of big cities including Washington, D.C. The coalition is composed of U.S. commercial and public broadcasters.

The other major format, Qualcomm’s Media-FLO has the backing of AT&T and Verizon and streams a bunch of cable-TV channel favorites but has yet to make a dent in providing network/local TV station cellphone video.

The solution could be a scenerio like XM and Sirius joining forces — but don’t count on it at least in the very near future.

Back to NAB. Rumors have it that there will be a number of MPH devices announced at the show including handsets, netbooks and even solutions for watching TV in your car.

Engadget reports Chysler’s upcoming electric go-cart will allow you to use your iPhone or iPod Touch as the ignition key.

Chrysler’s Peapod EV (electric vehicle) is capable of a maxmum speed of 30 mph. The fully-electric vehicle is actually recommended for use inside gated communities and small towns (depending on local laws). Here in New York they need license plates from the State Motor Vehicles Department.

Engadget reports that the built-in iPod dock will let your Apple device act as the vehicle’s entertainment system and also double as the ignition key – once you download/install the proper iPhone applet.

The system would also be able to integrate with your iPhone’s built-in navigation system. How cool is that?

Chrysler thinks we can expect the first Peapods to roll of the assembly line late this year. Price tag expected in the $12K range – making it a very expensive glorified golf cart.

Here in New York City, just 2 or 3 years ago it used to be that if you found yourself on a city bus when middle or high school let out you would be beseiged by kids who would be talking to and messaging each other on their cell phones. Overwhelmingly, that phone was a T-Mobile Sidekick. If you timed it just right it could seem like you were a part of a giant, global TV commercial for the phone.

These days, pre-teens and teens (and everyone else) have other popular options – like the iPhone, Palm Centro and dozens of other youngster-friendly designs. But, you still see a lot of Sidekicks among the younger set.

So, it’s not surprising that T-Mobile has updated the handset to work on their new 3G network. The just announced Sidekick LX also has a 3.2 MP camera, GPS searching capabilities and provides one-click access to the most popular social networking sites. Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can be accessed through customized applications that update automatically and put notifications directly on the Sidekick home screen. They know their audience.

Pre-orders are available now at sidekick.com. The LX officially goes on sale May 13th. Price TBA.

Here in New York City, just 2 or 3 years ago it used to be that if you found yourself on a city bus when middle or high school let out you would be beseiged by kids who would be talking to and messaging each other on their cell phones. Overwhelmingly, that phone was a T-Mobile Sidekick. If you timed it just right it could seem like you were a part of a giant, global TV commercial for the phone.

These days, pre-teens and teens (and everyone else) have other popular options – like the iPhone, Palm Centro and dozens of other youngster-friendly designs. But, you still see a lot of Sidekicks among the younger set.

So, it’s not surprising that T-Mobile has updated the handset to work on their new 3G network. The just announced Sidekick LX also has a 3.2 MP camera, GPS searching capabilities and provides one-click access to the most popular social networking sites. Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can be accessed through customized applications that update automatically and put notifications directly on the Sidekick home screen. They know their audience.

Pre-orders are available now at sidekick.com. The LX officially goes on sale May 13th. Price TBA.

The newly announced Rong Zun 758 is a quad-band GSM world phone. It has a 2.6-inch screen, Bluetooth, 0.3 MP camera, MP3-MP4 music file support, video recording capabilities, FM radio, stereo speakers and a microSD card slot.

The handset also handles two SIM cards at the same time so you can use the phone here on your U.S. carrier’s network (AT&T or T-Mobile) and also access much lower calling rates by using a “local” company’s SIM overseas.

Oh yes, in addtion to the cell phone features the Rong Zun 758 is also an electric shaver! I can’t make this stuff up. When you open the bottom cover you’re greeted by electric shaver blades.

One retailer suggests you can shave, take a photo of your clean face and send it off to your friends. Insert your own smart comment here.

The Rong Zun 758, reportedly marketed by China Mobile, is physically quite small and inexpensive. Prices buzz-in between $125 and $175, depending on where and how many you buy.

But buyers beware. Retailer ucables.com, warns that the phones does not come with CE certification marking. Any purchase is at your own risk.

There’s no warning about using the shaver and talking on the phone at the same time.

At Radio Shack of all places!

If you have a closet or drawer full of old laptops, digital cameras, monitors, video games, GPS devices, MP3 players iPods and more you can now cash in.

Radio Shack has launched an online electronics trade-in service which lets you exchange some of your old, used portable electronics for a Radio Shack Gift Card.

As you might imagine – prices for your old stuff varies – depending on age and current condition. An iPod nano 2G might be worth upwards of $63, an iPod touch nearly $200, or a first-generation Zune (their best sounding model ever) could go for more than $55. Trade-in value is at the sole discretion of Radio Shack.

Once you accept the company’s online appraisal they send you a pre-paid shipping label. Mail back the goods and they’ll send your gift card. Couldn’t be simpler.

If you\’re interested you can check out the process here.

BTW: Nowhere does it say what Radio Shack intends to do with the all the old stuff being traded-in.