Droid Smartphone Takes #1 Spot for Best Gadget

Have you been debating if you should get a Motorola Droid or an iPhone? Have you made your purchase already and now maybe you're having second thoughts? 




Well, Time Magazine is either here to help you out or add salt to your wounds. They've released their Top 10 Everything of 2009 list and guess what's up top. That's right... the Motorola Droid is #1. I'm excited about this because I am FINALLY due for a Droid come Christmas (thanks to my girlfriend--thank you and love you baby!)

Take this iPhone!

Time Magazine: Everybody likes Android, Google's open-source smartphone operating system. But a smartphone operating system isn't all that satisfying without an actual kick-ass smartphone wrapped around it. Now Android has one: The Droid is a hefty beast, a metal behemoth without the gloss and finish of the iPhone, but you don't miss it. The Droid's touchscreen is phenomenally sharp and vivid, it has an actual physical (not great, but good enough) keyboard, and best of all, the Droid is on Verizon's best-of-breed 3G network. It's Android's first credible challenge to the iPhone. Price: $200 with a 2-year contract.

Here's the entire list for "Top 10 Gadgets of 2009":

1. Motorola Droid
2. The Nook
3. Dyson Air Multiplier
4. iPhone 3GS
5. Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
6. Dell Adamo XPS
7. FinePix Real 3D W1
8. Casio G-Shock GW7900B-1
9. Beats Solo by Dr. Dre
10. Panasonic G10 Series Plasma HDTVs

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1945379,00.html#ixzz0ZPD2C88J

Slow Atlantic Hurricane Season Comes to a Close

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended last week, marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Niño.

Nine named storms formed this year, including three hurricanes, two of which were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher. These numbers fall within the ranges predicted in NOAA’s mid-season outlook issued in August, which called for seven to 11 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to two major hurricanes. An average season has 11 named storms and six hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.

“The reduced activity was expected and reflects the development of El Niño during the summer,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. “El Niño produced strong wind shear across the Caribbean Sea and western tropical Atlantic, which resulted in fewer and shorter-lived storms compared to some recent very active seasons.”

Two systems, Claudette and Ida, brought tropical storm force winds to the U.S. mainland. For the first time in three years, no hurricanes hit the U.S. There were 38 hurricane hunter aircraft reconnaissance missions flown by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force over the Atlantic Basin this year compared to 169 in 2008 – another indication of a less active season.

“El Niño is expected to reach peak strength this winter, and will likely continue into the spring. It is far too early to say whether El Niño will be present next summer,” added Bell. NOAA will issue its initial 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Outlook in May, prior to the official start of the season on June 1.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment—from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun—and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

By the way, my new favorite website (at least for next year) is http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ the National Hurricane Center.

From http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20091130_endhurricaneseason.html