Strange New World: Tech Picks of the Week

Feb. 27, 2009— -- In a week of trillion-dollar budgets and billion-dollar investment frauds, it's hard to stand out. So we thought we'd go the other way here on the Strange New World of technology and keep things small and personal.

The big techno news this week is a major upgrade for the venerable DS hand-held console due out from Nintendo April 5. Called the DSi, it is shaping up to be a must-have for the gaming set. And in the bigger small screen, a nasty fight has broken out for online video services. Web video players Hulu doesn't like the way Boxee is using its stuff.

So pushing and shoving has ensued. And it looks like Jonas Brothers -- don't kids these days know what a "The" is -- aren't the only ones going 3-D. Old-school video discs are adding depth to show dramatic new bulk and power.

These are our picks for the week for the end of February 2009.

It is no secret that the great sleeper in portable devices has been the Nintendo DS. This $130 wonder offered great game play at a great price. But now this mainstay is about to get a major makeover.

The new unit, the DSi, at $170, is already a top-ten device on Amazon in preorder! And we can see why.

It includes a bigger screen, a second camera, sound applications, music players -- the works. And you will even be able to Wi-Fi enable this thing if you so choose.

All we are going to say is Crap, economy or not, this thing is going to sell.

What is it about online video that brings out the nasty in the media elite? Not a week goes by without some sort of digital fisticuffs over this video clip or that. This week, video service Hulu cut its ties from mostly-for-Mac competitor Boxee.

The move is over how Boxee manages Hulu content. And that was not all. Mostly mail-in video service NetFlix was widely reported to be planning to offer a streaming-only service -- no more red envelopes for them. And now the cable companies, the supposed blood enemies of online video, have stepped up to the Web video plate too.