I like the ability to checkout right where I'm standing. Happened the other day. I was with my 3 y.o. daughter and set her up playing with the iPhone. I didn't want to have to go to the back of the store without her, nor did I want to stop her from playing with the iPhone.

So it was convenient for me to checkout right there. The line at the back of the store was at least 8 people deep.

Returning items was just as easy.

Alex,

Was that "stand-up dude" comment meant to be funny or just a slip up?

Because this is an adapter. If they were to make this with a male HDMI end, how long should they make it? Everyone's setup is different.

So they keep it short and let the end user get a standard HDMI cable of the appropriate length. A male/male HDMI cable is a lot more common than a male/female HDMI cable.

Maybe she was talking about the Fuel Injection system and explained how that works, as opposed to a carbuerator.

dejal,

Going all digital doesn't necessarily mean the loss of cable channels without a leased STB. In my neighborhood (Comcast SE Pennsylvania), all of the "extended" basic channels have been moved to clearQAM. Of course, you'd need a new TV to access these channels, but they're there.

The catch is that they (meaning Comcast) don't advertise that clearQAM cable channels are available and the channel numbers are very difficult to get used to. So unless your TV has some sort of EPG that allows you to map the clearQAM channels, it's difficult to channel surf.

Also, there's no telling if/when Comcast will encrypt these channels again.

ft

Not sure how the picture is relevant, but it's hilarious.

Puffy has a wad full of hundreds and he's looking at the $1 bill thinking, "how the &*$# did this get in here?"

funny stuff.

It's available in the US now. It'll be in Canada and other countries in 2/09.

If you look closely at the remote photo, you'll see that it has a TWC logo on it. So it's probably only going to be available for rental from your Cable provider.

Personally, I think the opposite. I'm not advocating Engadget keep pumping these stories all the time, but a timely piece here or there isn't too bad.

Here's why. Everyone who reads Engadget is probably ready for the 2/09 transition. However, Engadget readers will probably serve as "tech advisors" for many of their friends/family that aren't tech saavy.

If I hadn't told my in-laws about the $40 coupons, they wouldn't have known.

Eventually, the tech-noobs will see these PSAs and messages on TV and they'll call me. It's nice to know what's going on out there for the laymen.

ft

Hamilton re-signed, not resigned. He's still with McLaren