I figured I’d better do this one early so that you can save money and hassle. Today, I’m going to show you two sites that will help you save some money on Christmas Gifts, and what sites to avoid.

CD Universe
If your favorite person is into music, than I suggest CD Universe. CD Universe offers over 500,000 music, movie, and video game titles; CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray, UMDs, Video Games, SACDs, DVD-Audio, Cassettes, and much more. The majority of titles are available and usually ready to ship in 1-2 days.

The bets part? You can save a lot of money through them. One time, I was able to save up to $4 on one CD. And if you buy music like I do, the savings add up. So for the music lover, try CD Universe.

Amazon
If you favorite person’s list expands beyond music, then try (none other than) Amazon. Amazon offers everything under the sun: Books, Toys, Kids & Baby, and most important, Gadgets.

“Why do I just mention it now?”, you ask. Last week I was shopping around for a flash drive. I found the flash drive I needed for almost $100 cheaper. Sounds too good to be true? Amazon has authorized sellers, and therefore you shouldn’t have to worry.

Find out what you should not do after the jump. READ MORE »

WINDOWS ONLY – Since I did a Mac OS X download yesterday, It’s only fair I do a Windows one today. If making sure you have the most recent file is an issue for you, then consider the Windows Powertoy SyncToy.

SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without additional complexity.

For something to compare it too, it is very similar to My Briefcase in Windows 98. This is a great way to sync files between Home and Work, or as a way of backing up. SyncToy is in beta, and requires Windows XP or Windows Vista.

SyncToy v2.0 Beta [Microsoft via Lifehacker]

MAC OS X LEOPARD ONLY – One of my favorite parts to Mac OS X Leopard is Quick Look, which allows you to preview almost any file before you open it. The one functionality it lacks, however, is the ability to preview folders and Zip files. Thanks to Quick Look’s open architecture, there are now plugins available to help this missing Functionality.

Once downloaded, Drag Folder.qlgenerator (from the download) into /Library/QuickLook/ (or Make “QuickLook” folder If you can’t find one in /Library/). This plugin also adds 2 checkboxs to show/hide hidden files and time-stamps. Also available from the site is a zip plugin, which (I would assume) installs the same way. Very Cool.

This is a very cool extension, and I hope Apple adds it into the OS soon. Enjoy!

Folder Quick Look and Zip Quick Look plugins [via TUAW]

It’s been a while since I’ve answered a Help Desk question. Let’s fix that with Mike’s question.

I just bought a flash drive with the U3 Launchpad on it. I can’t stand it! But reformatting the drive will not get rid of it. Any ideas?

I’m glad you asked that- it’s been bugging me too. For those who don’t know, the idea behind U3 Launchpad is that you can have your computer on a flash drive by carrying your documents and your favorite apps. Good concept, but poor in effectiveness. It comes on many flash drives (including the SanDisk Cruzer Micro, my personal favorite), but they don’t have a good way to get rid of it.

Through a quick search on Google, I found that you can indeed get rid of it. What you need is called the U3 Uninstaller. It’s free, and will remove the U3 software that you just love so much (*cough cough*). Just download the program, and run. That’s all there is.

I will tell you, though, the program is Windows only (So if you need, go to a friend’s house who has a PC). Also, it will erase anything and everything on there, so make sure you have everything you need backed up. Other than that it’s straight forward. Hope that helped!

You have a help desk question, please use the Wired For Gadgets Contact Form. Thanks!

Good Morning, I hope your thanksgiving vacation went well. To help unstuff your turkey leftovers, I’ll pass around some tech stories.

- Google’s “I’m feeling lucky” button costs them $110 million per year
- And you wonder why their stocks are down. I don’t (BUY, I say!).
- I like my iPod too, but perhaps that’s a bit far… [Pic]
- Apple’s ‘Don’t Give Up on Vista’ Web Ad is gaining ground (I just downgraded last week).
- USB 3.0 will be 10 times faster. Look for it in 2009.
- Firefox 3 Beta 1 is out. Give it a try!
- Engadget got to try an Optimus Keyboard. Lucky.
- UK retailers claim DRM is killing them. Shut up.
- French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to cut Internet Access to file sharers.
- Apparently the iPod touch has a hackable way to get Audio-In.
- eBay is truing to copy Digg and Craigslist. Shame on them.
- And finally, the shipwreck in the Antarctic is just too ironic (look at ship name).

That’s this week’s Manic Monday. Hopefully this got your mind off of turkey leftovers. Enjoy (the news, I mean).

Yes, you read that right: Speaker Wire. Case and Point: My bedroom is in a cement basement. Great for when you want to be by yourself, awful if you’re trying to pick up your favorite FM radio station.

Thanks to some sheer brilliance, and some spare speaker wire, I improved my radio signal. I simply took the end of the speaker wire, and attached it to the wire antenna of my iHome and draped towards the window. Just like that, my ability to pick my favorite FM radio stations improved dramatically.

Try it in your house; it just might work for you.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Once again this year, I’m doing a Wired For Gadgets Holiday Gift Guide, this year known as Wired For Gifts.

We’re going to kick it off this year with the Wi-Fire from hField Technologies. I first mentioned this back in August, and this past month had the opportunity to review one.

Opening up the box, you get the Wi-Fire adapter with stand/clip that allows you to clip it to your CRT or laptop screen. Also in the box is a retractable USB extension cable and (of course) the instructions. You can read the rest after the break. READ MORE »

If you are planning on going to France or Germany, and don’t know a bit of each, then you need the Pocket-Sized Talking Translator.

Twelve language talking translator helps you communicate quickly in a foreign country. Don�t just see the language-hear it! Speaks and displays 12 languages, including French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Swedish, Portuguese, Dutch and Turkish. Features 8 conversational categories with 8,400 phrases, alarm clock, headphone jack, phone book with password lock, home and world time display.

For $70 from Taylor Gifts, doesn’t look to be too bad. By the way (before you have to ask), it will not tell you what Gunter Glieben Glauchen Globen means.

Talking Translator [Taylor Gifts via OhGizmo!]

As much as I love Google maps, I can almost guarantee you my house in not in the middle of the Sheyenne River. Not to fear, though. A new Google Maps feature allows signed-in visitors to edit the location of an address or business that is wrong.

Now for your next party (or any other occasion), you can move the marker for your address to show the exact entrance of your house. Just search for your address, click “Edit,” click “Move Marker,” and drag the marker to your front door.

You might be worried about people monkeying with markers. Fear not, we’ve thought of that. Whenever you find a recently-moved address or business, you’ll see a “Show original” link you can click to see where the marker was originally. If it’s in the wrong place, just move it to the right one.

There you have it; you can now help Google Maps help you, and others, from going to the wrong place. (By the way, Joel- you’re welcome for the shameless plug)

Think globally, mark locally [Google LatLong via Lifehacker]