I use my T-Mobile MDA like Mr. Spock (or Mr. Data if you're younger than 40) used his tricorder: I keep it with me all the time, and I use it to look things up at a moment's notice.  However since I also use the MDA as a phone it annoys me to no end that the screen tends to grab facial oils from being pressed up against my face during calls.  While I own a microfiber chamois to clean it, i'm not OC enough to keep it with me all the time, so I end up using my shirt tail or some other handy cloth to wipe it when the screen gets smudged.  This can't be good for it, since rough cloth or paper towels can easily scratch it.

ShieldZone has a product they call the Invisible Shield, which is made of the same clear polymer film that our military aircraft crews in the Gulf are using to keep their helicopter rotor blades from wearing out too quickly.  The ShieldZone folk have this fun demo where they ask you to try to punch a hole in a screen protector with a Bic pen: the pen will break before you can make that hole. 

I'm a veteran of screen protectors on previous PDAs and other portables, and I found the Invisible Shield to be a joy to install since the packaging comes with a quick drying lubricant and squeegee to help get the bubbles out.  I would recommend anyone trying this at home to keep a can of compressed air handy like I did, to take care of annoying dust particles before installation.  It took about 5 minutes to get it installed and squeegee all the bubbles out, but I hear that a iPod nano cover can take over 25 minutes to install since it covers the whole iPod, not just the screen.

Ever since I installed the Invisible Shield, I don't worry about scratching my MDA's screen anymore.  Invisible Shield also has screen and full body protection for a multitude of portable electronics, including the iPod, iPod nano, Motorola Razr, Sony PSP, and many many more.

Car buying online isn't a new concept: According to J.D. Power and Associates, 68 percent of new vehicle purchases in the United States are preceded by shopping and research online. But an innovative technology platform is poised to make the experience much easier and more transparent for the potential buyer. It's called Zag, and its CEO is Scott Painter, the founder and former CEO of CarsDirect.com.

Zag is a B2B service provider, building car-buying services for affinity and membership organizations such as Capital One and the AAA. The way most current car-buying sites work is that you check prices for car models in your area through the site. The next step is to wait for a dealer to contact you with a quote; everything else happens off line.

Where Zag's platform differs is that everything you need to buy a car—researching, configuring, selecting, pricing, searching inventory, accessorizing, and financing—is done online. Once you've decided on the car you want, complete with any aftermarket accessories you'd like to have installed, you instantly get a price quote from one of the many dealers that have signed up with Zag. If you like the price, you can accept it right then and there, with no haggling or pressure from a salesperson

Zag takes special precautions to ensure a fair upfront price for consumers. It requires the dealers in its network to set a definite price. The technology filters out overpriced cars, so cars priced above their true market value won't even show up in searches. Dealers also are required to give Zag their DMS keys, which let the service keep track of their entire inventory. Zag also requires dealers to deliver your chosen car in 90 minutes, and it expedites the administrative process by letting you handle insurance, title, and financing online.

Right now Zag is active in just a few markets, including Los Angeles and Atlanta. According to Painter, as Zag brings more and more dealers on board, the service will move into most major metropolitan areas within the next 6 months or so.

Want to know how to buy a hybrid car? Click here.

At Gearlog, we don't always like to bring you the coolest gadgets. It's just as fun to bring you the corniest ones, too! And since this is Fourth of July weekend, I couldn't help myself. Some of these gadgets you've already seen on Gearlog; others are totally new, just for you!
 
So Rad Fourth of July Gadgets...

Cal Flame Smart Grill (CalSpas, $2,999)
One thing you'll catch most people doing this weekend is grilling up a storm. The Cal Flame Smart Grill is controlled by using a touch interface made up of digital controls that automate the grilling process. It will be available in the Fall.

AlcoHAWK ABI (Target, $99)
We all know that during long holiday weekends there will be plenty of boozing going on. So make sure you're safe to drive (or walk in a straight line) with a digital breathalyzer. The ABI is one of the best digital breathalyzers that we at Gearlog tested. It can detect BAC levels up to .4 and comes with five mouthpiece covers, a hard shell carrying case, soft zipper cover with wrist strap, and a 12 volt AC adapter for charging in the car.

Porta-Blend Portable Blender (Vector Store, $24.99)
While you're getting ready to watch the fireworks, why not sip a margarita or smoothie in the meantime? The Porta-Blend Portable Blender plugs right into your vehicle's cigarette lighter. It can crush ice, chop nuts, mix frozen drinks and more.

Wireless BBQ Thermometer (Amazon $24)
I can be a bit impatient when it comes to waiting for my food to be done. The Wireless BBQ Thermometer made by Oregon Scientific lets you know when your food is ready to eat from up to 100 feet away with the remote wireless transmitter. It alerts you when your food is: Almost ready, Ready, Overcooked, or Out-of-Range.

AquaPub (Price varies)
Why have your dinner on the ground when you can eat on a table in the pool? The AquaPub is a floating table for six with seats attached by a black leg. It's made of wood and plastic and weighs 90 pounds. It features six glass holders and two removable containers on the top of the table to keep your food and drinks fresh. You can also attach an umbrella to shade yourself from the sun.

Ball Park Hot Dog Grill (Walgreens, $50)
This is for those who don't have a grill at home. Made by Home Pride, the Ball Park Hot Dog Grill is made of stainless steel and not only grills your hot dogs to perfection, but also keeps buns warm. And I love me some nice, warm buns! Powered by an AC adapter. Just wait 8 to 10 minutes for the grill to heat and you're ready to prepare your Fourth of July barbecue!

And so bad...

LED Grill Light (Sharper Image, $49.95)
A portable, clamp-on, 4-LED Grill Light for nighttime grilling! What's the matter, does the porch light hurt your eyes?

The Wave (Toys R Us, $29.99)
Wouldn't you be cool if you showed up at your town's Fourth of July parade with the first windless, self-waving flag? Just press the button on the flagpole's base and the flag will start waving on its own. Not to mention, it also plays three patriotic songs: The Star Spangled Banner, My Country 'Tis of Thee and Stars and Stripes Forever.

Aquasonic Underwater Speakers (INYO Pools, $595)
Unless you're a synchronized swimmer or David Blaine, why would you need the Aquasonic Underwater Speakers? I guess we're that bored underwater, eh?

Flashlight Grill Tong (Red Envelope, $50)
I think you'd be attracting a lot of mosqitoes with these Flashlight Grill Tongs. They're made of stainless steel with a built-in LED flashlight.

Super Soaker Oozinator (Hasbro, $24.99)
The Super Soaker Oozinator is supposed to be for kids, but why would Hasbro market a product with white ooze coming out of it? That's just nasty!! It lets you blast your opponents from 35 feet away with a 27-ounce water-supply capacity or up to 20 feet away with a 10-ounce bio-ooze capacity. Comes with 10-ounce cartridge of bio-ooze.

USA Fourth Of July Flappy Cap (FourEyesJokeShop, $19.95)
Show your patriotism with the USA Flappy Cap, a cap with hands and American flags. Be prepared to also scare away your friends and family, because I doubt they'd want to be seen with you wearing this! To operate the flappy hat, pull the string.

Electric Fly Swatter (Shop.com, $9.95)
What's wrong with a standard fly swatter? The Electric Fly Swatt

Earlier this week Google rolled out Google Checkout, its competitor to eBay's PayPal. (Read Davis Janowski's report on new service at pcmag.com.) Google has already signed on a few notable online retailers including Buy.com and RitzCamera.com. To help Checkout get some momentum, several retailers are offering one-time use $10 off $20 coupons. I went searching at one of these stores, eCost, to see how you could combine the coupon with items that cost more than $20 before rebate to buy items for next to nothing...or even less than nothing (before shipping). Here's what I found.

• Cables to Go iPod Compatible Retractable Travel Kit: Compact kit includes AC charger and DC car charger, USB 2.0 sync/charger cable; Firewire charger cable, earbuds: $28 less $20 rebate less $10 coupon = you're ahead $2.00
• Ultra 1GB SecureDigital (SD) card: $38 less $30 rebate less $10 coupon = $2 to you
• TRENDnet High-Speed (108 mbps) 802.11g router: $49 less $40 rebate less $10 coupon = $1 back in your pocket
• CP Technologies Wireless G USB network adapter (802.11b/g) = $24 less $15 rebate less $10 coupon = you net 100 pennies
• Patriot Memory 1GB USB 2.0 flash drive: $43 less $26 rebate less $10 coupon = $7
• Verbatim 1GB USB 2.0 flash drive: $32 less $15 rebate less $10 coupon = Also $7
• Kingston 1GB Data Traveler USB 2.0 flash drive: $24 less $5 rebate less $10 coupon = 9 bucks

Move quickly. Most of these are pretty limited quantity. Oh, and if you're one of the masses who likes burnt coffee, you can also get $10 off $20 at Starbucks.

For years, only race cars could generate 100 horsepower per liter of engine size, and then only exotic sports cars. Now, a station wagon can: the subcompact Audi A3 2.0 T. Thanks to a powerful turbocharger, the 2.0-liter engine produces exactly 200 hp, and this little rocket ship carries four (somewhat snugly seated) adults to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, using one of the most sophisticated transmissions ever seen. The car is so much fun to drive, you may eventually forgive Audi for making its MMI controller harder to use.

Audi's 2.0-liter four cylinder engine is one of the most sophisticated powerplants you'll ever drive. Ward's Auto Reports says it's one of the world's ten best engines. Audi combines direct injection of gasoline (DIG) into the cylinder (as opposed to spraying fuel indirectly into the intake manifold) with a compact turbocharger to generate 200 hp.

Power transfers to the front wheels through the Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG), a manual transmission that is automatically controlled by two paddle shifters behind the steering wheel or by the car (just put the console shifter in Drive). It's an auto-shifting manual transmission because there's a solid coupling (clutch plates) and a computer-controlled microprocessor that actuates the clutch, instead of your left foot. In comparison, an automatic transmission, even one you can shift manually, has a fluid coupling (torque converter) that costs you a bit of fuel efficiency.

Most automatic manual transmissions, called sequential manual transmission (SMT) or sequential manual gearbox (SMG), can be jerky when shifting, enough to annoy passengers, so they've been relegated to the sportiest models only. You can adjust the smoothness by extending the shift duration at the cost of acceleration.

But the dual shift gearbox (DSG) developed jointly with BorgWarner comprises two half-transmissions, one with gears 1-3-5 and the other with gears 2-4-6, allowing for lightning-fast, smooth shifts in about 10 milliseconds (1/100 of a second), versus 150 milliseconds for a Ferrari SMT, and the better part of a second for a normal driver who's shifting manually.

When the A3 shifts from first to second, it's engaging the second gearset. And once in second gear, the other gearset uncouples first gear and prepares third gear for the next upshift. DSG works so well that we wish more cars than just Audi and parent VW used it; reportedly, famed German transmission maker Getrag is preparing a version that can be used on hybrid cars.

The A3 is sensationally fast once the turbocharger kicks in. It works very well for merging on crowded expressways or passing on two-lane roads. Despite the one-two punch of DIG and turbo technologies, though, you'll still notice a lag when you start up from a stop. If you're trying to get away from a stop sign with crossing traffic bearing down, you may experience a few white-knuckle moments until you acclimate to the turbo lag.

Overall, expect a reasonable fuel economy of 25 mpg (city) and 31 (highway). And even though the A3 is small, it's comfortable in front for all-day driving. Smaller adults and kids will be fine in the backseat.

Among cockpit controllers, including those from Acura, BMW, Infiniti, and Mercedes-Benz, Audi's MMI (multimedia interface) is the best, hands down. The MMI has hard-coded buttons you use to select functions, which you can then further modify with the controller knob. MMI has just enough hard-wired (single function) buttons to complement the controller without cluttering the dash.

Because of the smaller cockpit of the A3, its center console is already crammed with the transmission selector, parking brake, two cupholders, and an ashtray, Audi moved the MMI controller to the face of the dashboard, right of the LCD. Bad move. The controller is farther away from the driver; there's no place to brace your wrist while driving; and the hard buttons no longer frame the controller, but run in a row below the display. Audi partisans may get used to the relocated MMI, but they're not going to like it.

The MMI belongs back on the console in the A3, even if it means relocating other components, such as the ashtray or parking brake. The transmission selector could go on the dash, as Toyota does with the Prius—except other versions of the A3 have a manual gearbox, and that requires a console-mounted shifter.

To read more about cockpit controllers, click here.

Good Entertainment

Audi offers a navigation and entertainment upgrade package for the A3 ($2,850, or $900 for audio alone) and satellite radio ($350). The Bose audio upgrade includes a six-disc MP3/WMA/CD changer in the small glovebox, premium speakers, and even better sound, but no DSP sound-shaping. Behind the LCD panel is a pair of SD slots used for playing MP3 or WMA files you've stored on SD cards.

A3 buyers can choose either Sirius or XM satellite radio, but Audi has said that future cars will restrict buyers to Sirius only. Dealers offer two audio accessories: a rudimentary iPod adapter that accommodates just five playlists (much like the first-generation BMW iPod adapter), and the 20GB PhatNoise hard-disk jukebox with a removable cartridge that you can sync at home, with a docking module. (GM offers a version of the PhatNoise device with video as well as audio on its minivans.)

The navigation system works fine, once you've entered your destination. (Voice input is a separate option from the navigation option.) To do so, press the Nav button, then using the MMI, dial in the state, city, street, and street number. Letters and numbers appear onscreen in a circle, like a 36-digit rotary phone dial, which is quaint on other Audis but a bit cramped on the A3's smaller 6-inch color display.

You can enter a business phone number and get the address if the map database contains it, but that's hit-and-miss: For instance, the main hotel in Newport, Rhode Island (the Hyatt Regency) is among the missing. For cities with a prefix—say, West Kingston—you enter West first; for streets, you enter West second. Go figure.

Most A3s come with a driver information display (DID), a small readout between the speedometer and tachometer that summarizes key information: navigation, audio, and telephone. It's useful, particular the navigation arrow pointing to your next turn with a distance-to-turn readout. The satellite radio readout shows the channel, though not the song and artist.

The leather-wrap steering wheel has Audi's wonderfully rollers for volume and channel selection, which works much better than Up and Down buttons. Audi offers xenon headlights ($800) that are self-leveling. Bluetooth runs $435. Six airbags come standard, and rear side airbags are optional; don't get them if you have kids who fall asleep leaning against the doors.

The cockpit is beautifully finished, although the all-black interior is a bit austere. The center console has two grab rails that look cool, keep assorted stuff that shouldn't be there from falling off, but also press uncomfortably against the driver's knee.

Audi's Web site works well, though we wish there was a bit more product information: Just try to find out the size of the LCD, whether the A3 has a line-in jack, how many more speakers you can get with premium audio, or whether the A3 supports an iPod connector.

The My Audi section lets you track a bit of information about the Audi you own or hope to buy, but like most automaker sites, it's not highly developed. Nine manuals and pamphlets come with the car, totaling 828 pages, including useful quick-start guides for the car and for navigation.

The A3 is a jewel of a car, and it's priced accordingly. The turbo A3 we tested costs $35,200 with every available option, such as things as the premium or sport package and dual moonroof. Opt for all-wheel drive and the 250-hp V6 engine of the A3 3.2 Quattro, and it's even faster (0 to 60 in 5.9 seconds) with more standard equipment, but the cost can surpass $42,000.

My recommendation: The A3 is great if you need a compact (169 inches) vehicle with superb handling, quick acceleration, and good storage room. But choose your options carefully: The A3 makes more sense when you keep the price closer to $30,000 than $35,000. You'll save about $5,000 over Audi's compact A4.

Play Slide Show/All Shots (12)

$26,940.00 - $36,000.00

Price: $26,940 to $36,000
Turbocharging technology and an automatically controlled manual transmission make this premium compact sports wagon shine. But the dashboard placement of the MMI controller doesn't work.

Powerful four-cylinder turbocharged engine. DVD navigation system, Bluetooth, and Bose premium audio as options. Smooth-shifting DSG gearbox. Luxurious interior.

Awkward vertical mounting of the MMI joystick controller. Cramped legroom for the driver. The car stumbles when accelerating hard from a standstill.

Cingular just launched their 3G HSDPA network in a small part of the New York City metro area. Their bizarre, patchwork coverage map looks a bit strange, so let me explain it for you. The network covers:

• The bottom half of Manhattan, home to a lot of major national media (read: technology product reviewers) and big Wall Street/Fortune 1000 companies with Cingular corporate contracts.
• The three major airports. Ya gotta do airports.
• A smidgen of Jersey City, specifically the smidgen to where certain large investment banks have moved their office towers.
• Now here's the interesting part: White Plains, NY. White Plains is the US headquarters of Nokia, who have been strangely silent on release dates for 3G handsets on Cingular. Does Cingular lighting up Nokia's HQ with high-speed presage a better relationship, and high-speed Nokia handsets coming soon? Maybe it's Kremlinology to say so, but I think it does. (Some of those big financial companies also have their back offices in White Plains.)

On Cingular's planned coverage map for September, they have a big splotch around Parsippany, NJ, which is the home of some major Cingular Wireless offices (the former headquarters of AT&T Wireless) and some big industrial parks.

It's very nice that I won't have to travel to Baltimore any more to test Cingular high-speed devices, but their coverage map is still lacking compared to Verizon's and Sprint's. And where are the phones? Cingular is now down to one 3G phone, the nondescript Samsung ZX10. They need to bring up their game several notches if they want to be anything better than a faint #3 in the 3G world.