These days, thinking different means eschewing the ever-so-common iPod, says the U.K.'s T3, a gadget magazine. For those who don't want to follow the crowd, the magazine offers five iPod alternatives, each with its own charms. Topping T3's list is the Meizu miniPlayer, which the Browser wrote about in May, and features "a stunning screen and pint-sized proportions."

Internet advertisers last year spent upwards of $800 million on phony "clicks" according to a study released yesterday by Silicon Valley research outfit Outsell. Among other news outlets, TheGlobeandMail.com summarizes the study today, noting that the nagging problem of click fraud has shaken advertiser confidence in the fast-growing online advertising industry, and prompted many advertisers "to reduce spending with Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and other websites."

While a satisfyingly quantitative reminder of a nagging problem -- click fraud results when publishers click on their own ads to drive illicit revenues, or when rivals click on each other's ads to increase the cost of advertising -- the Outsell study has mainly generated eye-rolling among Digg users, for whom "click fraud" is a tired issue. "I consider click fraud an inherent risk when paying for advertising," writes one. "Advertisers just need to learn to start budgeting for such things when starting online ad campaigns."

Internet advertisers last year spent upwards of $800 million on phony "clicks" according to a study released yesterday by Silicon Valley research outfit Outsell. Among other news outlets, TheGlobeandMail.com summarizes the study today, noting that the nagging problem of click fraud has shaken advertiser confidence in the fast-growing online advertising industry, and prompted many advertisers "to reduce spending with Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and other websites."

While a satisfyingly quantitative reminder of a nagging problem -- click fraud results when publishers click on their own ads to drive illicit revenues, or when rivals click on each other's ads to increase the cost of advertising -- the Outsell study has mainly generated eye-rolling among Digg users, for whom "click fraud" is a tired issue. "I consider click fraud an inherent risk when paying for advertising," writes one. "Advertisers just need to learn to start budgeting for such things when starting online ad campaigns."

It's yet another sign of the tension between web giants: eBay has decided not to allow its sellers to use Google Checkout, the payment service launched last week by the prolific search engine. Most bloggers see the eBay move as a transparent attempt to protect PayPal, eBay's own payment service. "This is eBay flexing their ... muscles to control the way sellers take credit cards ... if they feel it starts to infringe on the PayPal asset," writes Scot Wingo at eBay Strategies. (The outspoken Wingo, CEO of ChannelAdvisor, a company which helps large companies sell on eBay and which has taken an investment from the e-commerce giant, also points out that it is "ironic they would do this here, and in the same breath go to Congress and fight the Net neutrality battle.")

Israel sent troops and tanks into eastern Gaza on Saturday and clashed with militants in a broadened incursion aimed at forcing the release of a captured soldier.

A year from Friday is the day when many Harry Potter fans hope to get their hands on the next book in J.K. Rowling's popular series about the boy wizard.

After all, next July 7 will fall on a Saturday and the previous three Potter books have all come out on Saturdays. Plus, many numerologists see 7/7/07 as a fitting day for the seventh (and final) Potter book to be released.

intendo has stated numerous times that its next generation video game machine will be less expensive than the competition. Now it appears that it might be on store shelves considerably earlier than many were expecting as well.

Timberlake's first solo album, "Justified," sold more than 7 million copies, and the 25-year-old, whose relationship with Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz is a regular feature in tabloid newspapers, has also moved into acting.

The 70-year-old singer was preparing to leave New York last week to resume his farewell world concert tour in Britain when doctors discovered a malignant pancreatic mass, Terri Robson said from her London office.

Three of the eight men are in some form of custody, and the rest have been at least partially identified, FBI Assistant Director Mark Mershon told reporters. The identity of one suspect, a 31-year-old Lebanese man, has been released.