Dear Mr. Sorrell [sic]

In these troubled times, Canon has decided to weather the financial storm with an innovative new pricing model. With the release of our hotly anticipated new EOS 5D Mark II, we intend to adopt what is commonly known as the "razor blade model". In the North American market, the 5D Mk II will carry an aggressive suggested retail price of $2700.

However, the accessories will be marked up to a rather higher price point. For example, the Car Battery Charger CBC-E6 will be listed at $270, fully $190 more than than the regular battery charger (actually included in the box with the camera). What do you get for this extra $190? A cable to plug it into your car.

Further, the Battery Grip BG-E6, which adds both bulk and battery life to the camera, will cost $380, which is just about the same as the cost of our DSLR, the Rebel XT, in many online stores.

As you can see, we are leveraging the excitement around our forthcoming new camera to improve revenue. We have a new name for this project which should be used in all discussion. It's called the "Nickel and Dime" initiative.

The imaginary email also had something about a Nigerian prince, but I left that out -- you get the idea. These prices are crazy.

5D Mk II Accessories [Canon via Photography Bay]

I’m sure there are many Coolest Gadget readers who can’t live unless there is a Bluetooth headset attached to your ear. I’m sure that you have noticed a few problems that come attached to them, like mild discomfort and bad reception.

Fortunately, Ditech is on the job and worked to improve Bluetooth headsets with VQABlue solution. VQABlue is software available to headsets, and the user does not have to increase the memory of his or her headset for it.

VQABlue also improves the dual-microphone design, and now users can wear headsets in a way that is most comfortable to them. That means no more fiddling around with the headset until the caller actually has to be uncomfortable to hear his or her calls.

Ditech has also created “bi-directional algorithms” which can actually improve voice quality on both ends of the call. Many of the audio improvements on headsets today can improve the quality on the other end of the call, but not the sound for the caller.

Other dynamic features include Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Acoustic Echo Control, Enhanced Voice Intelligibility, and Adaptive Listener Enhancement.

VQABlue is available directly from Ditech, and can be downloaded from CSR’s website as a plug-in. As for the price, you can send an email to info@ditechnetworks.com or call 1-800-234-0884.

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TeamSpeak is similar to Ventrilo as it is also used to enable people to communicate with each other over the Internet. It comes with a client and a server program. The server acts like a host to several users available in different parts of world. It allows different users to get into a conference and communicate with each other while they are connected to the same server.

Like Ventrilo, which is run on the Ventrilo servers, the TeamSpeak also requires a server for its execution. The server version of the program is installed on the TeamSpeak servers which are configured to run TeamSpeak in order to allow people to communicate with each other through Internet. It is mainly used by gamers while playing multiplayer games.

You would require a web host which allows TeamSpeak on the server, and you can find such web host on Internet. TeamSpeak server hosting is not much different Ventrilo server hosting, and that’s why you can easily find a web host which allows you to run TeamSpeak. As always, make sure to compare prices so as to get the best value for your money.

Do you or your kids have some valuables that need stashed away and kept safe?  Well Discovery has a safe that can only be opened by the sound of your voice. Which would be handy for hiding things away from either your spouse or your siblings.  Hopefully though this safe offers better voice recognition than the diaries that get released every so often that claim the same things.  To crack those diaries all you have to do is hear the person say whatever it is to open it.  Then match the ups and downs in their voice and you’re in.

Not that I would ever do that to my younger sister or anything.  I don’t see this safe being much better, but it would be a great toy for a younger child.  Once it recognizes your voice it will automatically pop open.  It has a shelf inside as well as a drawer to keep you valuables in.  If someone tries to physically crack the safe it will set off an alarm.  The Discovery Voice-Activated Biometric Safe will cost you $24.99.

Source: Gizmodiva

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Barack Obama may have to relinquish his ever-present blackberry for security reasons when he becomes U.S. President in January, but no way will he give up exploiting the digital technology he built his election campaign on. Obama has launched brief weekly talks and will be posting them on YouTube. Among his promises in the first chat: putting $150 billion toward creating 5 million jobs by creating a new green energy economy.

Your response may depend on your politics. You can look at this reaching out as transparency in government - or as plain old politicking, notes Lidija Davis on ReadWriteWeb. Find the video and a link to the transcript of the 3 1/2-minute talk there too.

CNN has put up a sneak peek at the fascinating technology being developed by creative geniuses around the world - technology having the potential to offer products that will soon become the coolest must-haves. All of the featured designs are either working prototypes or are expected to become actual products in the next five years.

The well-rounded list includes gadgets that not only suggest great utility and impeccable design, but possess great looks as well. Some of the gadgets that have made it into the list: the Voicestick - a portable text-scanning device that can convert any text on paper into voice information, the iBangle - a portable mp3 player that doubles up as a bracelet, the Lego-James - a GPS bracelet that allows parents to keep track of their children even as it entertains, the Origami phone and DVD - technology that uses the art of origami for the display screens of phones and DVDs. Superb stuff, this.

Lap it all up at CNN Technology.

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• TV Tuner And USB Drive From Buffalo

Here's the thing about this review: If you're the sort of person who doesn't get a deep satisfaction out of holding and using a perfectly crafted object, no matter how humble, you're probably going to think I'm crazy.

But if you know the joy I do when you encounter an elegant, well-balanced knife, or a pen that fits your hand just right, or an operating system that just makes sense -- well, you'll understand it when I say that this torque wrench from the Italian firm Effetto Mariposa is just a sheer joy.

Bikes these days, constructed as they are out of carbon fiber and other exotic materials, practically require the dedicated home mechanic to invest in a torque wrench. There's are few sounds in the world more depressing than the sickening crack of your new $300 handlebars being broken by over-enthusiastic tightening. A torque wrench insures that every fastener on your bike is as tight as it should be, and no more.

The Guistaforza is simple and elegant -- a knurled handle with a receptacle for quarter-inch bits at one end, and a knob for torque adjustment at the other. The torque scale is metric, so it's newton-meters all around, which isn't an issue for bike folks, as that's how most specs are published. The adjustment range is from 2 to 16 Nm, which is perfect for most of the small bolts on a bike, although it won't handle things like bottom brackets that require much more torque.

Use couldn't be easier. Find the right bit from the included set (which should cover most cycling needs), stick it in the holder, use the knob to set the desired torque, and start to tighten. When you reach the specified level, there's an audible and tactile "break" that signals it's time to stop. Clean and easy.

We got the red pro model for testing, which the company says is good for 5,000 clicks before it needs to be recalibrated -- which is free for the pro model. Most home mechanics won't tighten that many bolts in a lifetime. Just remember to dial the torque setting to its lowest level after you use it to keep things calibrated.

But beyond the function is just the sheer beauty of this thing. It's extremely solid, and a little smaller than many torque wrenches. There's just a feeling of pleasure that comes from picking this little guy up and using it, and a piece of mind that comes from knowing you're not about to ruin your ride.

It's not cheap: $250 for the pro model. But bikes aren't cheap either, and this will pay for itself the first time it keeps you from totally screwing up. I'd also prefer if it ratcheted, which can speed up your work.

But overall, the Giustaforza wrench is a tool that's earned a permanent place in my toolbox, and one that I'll love to pick up each time I need it.