Viral Video: Conflict-Free Technology vs. Blood Phones

The controversy around minerals from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo that are used in a variety of popular consumer tech devices seems to be getting another round of much needed attention. It should get much more than that, as you will see from the videos after the jump.

Diabetes Meter Mates With PC to Track Trends

Walt Mossberg calls the Contour USB a computer-savvy device that can help diabetics track health trends.
diabetes

Beware Google: Bing Is Going to Suck Your Blood, Um, Market Share: The New Commercial

Here is a funny but decidedly creepy new commercial from Microsoft, in its ongoing marketing campaign to push its Bing search service. Titled “Vampire Decision Engine,” it is an effort by the software giant to tap into vampire mania, playing into Halloween and the next chapter in the “Twilight” movie series, “New Moon,” set to debut in November. Load up on garlic, Google!
bela-lugosi--dracula

Here’s One Way to Get People to Pay for Music: Labels Win $2 Million Verdict in Downloading Trial

Don’t want to pay $1 for a song on iTunes? Try $80,000 a pop. That’s what a federal jury in Minneapolis has told a woman to pay the music industry for illegally downloading 24 songs, bringing her total bill to $1.92 million. Her response: “Good luck trying to get it, because you can’t get blood out of a turnip.”
spanking