Productopia

Though an official vote won't come until early next month, regulators in California seem ready to pass new rules that will ban the sale of TVs in that state that don't meet strict energy guidelines. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), an industry trade group that strongly opposes the proposed regulations, claims that about 25 percent of current HDTVs and all plasma HDTVs larger than 60 inches could not be sold in California under the regulations. However, there's plenty of time for manufacturers to adapt -- and consumers to go out and buy a less-energy-efficient TV if they so wish -- as the law won't go into effect until 2011, and won't be fully phased in until 2013.

You've probably heard the term "unlocked phone" floating around, but you may not know precisely what that means. An unlocked cell phone is one that's not tied to a specific carrier or long-term contract; in fact, you can use it on multiple carriers at home and abroad, making it a flexible travel companion. You can buy an unlocked phone at retail or, with some exceptions, unlock a cell phone that you've purchased through a carrier. There are pros and cons to unlocking a phone. It really comes down to how you plan to use your cell phone, as not everyone will benefit from an unlocked phone. And it's important to remember that even an unlocked phone has restrictions.

There's a lot of information out there -- we've waded through the best of it and created a primer on unlocked cell phones. We discuss how unlocked phones and SIM cards work, and how to save money on phone calls overseas with an unlocked phone. We also have reviews of over 200 cell phones - both locked and unlocked.

Earlier last week, you may have read a news story in which British researchers say that driving a convertible with the top down at highway speeds could damage to your hearing over time. The Brits found that some of the driving scenarios can produce sustained sound levels over 90 decibels. That's loud, just so you know. That said, the eggheads noted that simply rolling up the windows gets the noise down to a more manageable, if still loud, level. As a convertible driver myself (that's my car to the left), the article got me thinking about what other stuff you might want to look out for if you choose to roll in a ragtop. Here are some of my personal observations on the topic.

Earlier this year, we warned you about Celebrity Sexy Teeth, a teeth whitening product that entices consumers with fake endorsements, phony reviews and a "free" trial. Consumers who took the bait were surprised to find huge charges on their credit card (required to get the "free" sample) and left with an ineffective product that looked like a tube of Wite-Out. The people behind Celebrity Sexy Teeth are still at it, and this time the Better Business Bureau is on the case.

Earlier this year, we warned you about Celebrity Sexy Teeth, a teeth whitening product that entices consumers with fake endorsements, phony reviews and a "free" trial. Consumers who took the bait were surprised to find huge charges on their credit card (required to get the "free" sample) and left with an ineffective product that looked like a tube of Wite-Out. The people behind Celebrity Sexy Teeth are still at it, and this time the Better Business Bureau is on the case. Read more