Bridget Carey: The Digital Dish

Product Review: The senior-friendly Doro PhoneEasy

This week's review is of the Doro PhoneEasy, a cellphone marketed for seniors. As you would expect, it has big buttons and a large, easy-to-read screen. But it's got a few more features than its competitor, the Jitterbug J.

Normally I love more features on a phone! But if you are buying this phone for someone who doesn't know how to use a cellphone and get nervous easily around technology, you need to ask yourself if having a few more options in the menu will be a turn-off.

For example, you can scroll through a menu that has an FM radio, calculator, calendar, settings options and games. In comparison, Jitterbug J has none of that. In fact, it is so basic that you can call an operator (by dialing 0) to change a setting or add a contact.

Don't get me wrong -- the Doro is easy to use. It's just that having more features could be a downer, depending on the user. The way I see it, the Doro is less expensive and worth taking the time to learn the extra menu features.

Product Review: Jabra Stone Bluetooth headset disappoints

The new Jabra Stone Bluetooth is a pretty sexy headset with a cool portable charger that's shaped like a stone. But when it comes to call quality, friends sometimes had a hard time hearing me while I was using it. And another downer: It's one size fits most, and that most isn't me. You can read the full review here or watch the video below to see what I mean.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Midnight Release

Can't wait for the next installment of the Call of Duty series? Stores are opening up 12:01 a.m. Tuesday to sell Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which is expected to be the hottest selling game this holiday season.

Here's a list of Best Buy stores that will open up tonight: Best Buy Midnight Release (Best Buy will be offering a $10 Best Buy gift card for Reward Zone Gamer’s Club members.)

And here's a PDF of GameStop stores opening up: GameStop Midnight Release

Product Review: Verizon is a little cooler now with the Motorola Droid

The Droid hit stores this weekend, which means Verizon customers can finally own an app-tastic phone they can show off with pride. (Although there are unconfirmed reports of Verizon offering the iPhone by 2010... something to keep in mind if you're on the fence and waiting.)

Product Review: Yoostar puts 'Yoo' in movie scenes

Okay, so I might not be able to actually be in a zombie movie with Simon Pegg, but I can pretend to with my most recent product review -- the Yoostar Entertainment System.

The software and equipment lets users insert themselves into short movie clips -- such as Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sean of the Dead -- with the original actor removed from the scene.

For $169.95, it includes a Web cam, portable green screen and stand, remote control and software that includes 14 movie scenes. Users can purchase and download additional scenes for $2.99 at Yoostar.com.

I used it to film this week's review video, so you can see how the quality is by watching it below. (You can also read the full print review here.) But with glitches and not many good scenes, the novelty wore off pretty quickly.

Best Buy kicks off Black Friday marketing with essay contest

Halloween is over, and that means it's officially the start of Black Friday marketing! Best Buy kicked off the season today with the start of its Black Friday VIP contest. Winners of an essay contest get a $1,000 Best Buy gift card, a limo ride to the Sawgrass store and half-hour early entry (4:30 a.m.) for November 27, the day after Thanksgiving.

To enter, contestants must submit an essay of 250 words or less on "what they are most excited about this Black Friday.'' This is the second year for the contest, and South Florida is among 25 markets participating.

And for those who camp out early as an excuse to skip that awkward family dinner to get the best gadget deals, the first 50 in line at the Sawgrass store will get gift cards ranging from $5 to $25 and one worth $100 -- but you won't know how much until you check out.

You can get all the details at http://bestbuyvipcontest.com/

Product Review: Garmin Nuvifone G60, the GPS trying to be a smartphone

AT&T's Garmin Nuvifone, a smartphone that is more GPS than a phone, sounded like a pretty cool gadget when I first heard about it. But a few factors left me a little disappointed... like the actual smartphone features of this GPS.

You can check out the full print review here, but here's the bottom line: It's a great GPS -- as you would expect -- but if you're needing something that's also amazing with e-mail and Web browsing, you're probably better off with another phone.

Silicon Beach: South Florida's tech scene dreams

Hey folks. I was out of the office for a few days last week so I'm playing blog catch up now. But in case you missed it, check out my piece about the state of the South Florida tech scene. Tech groups are aiming to revive South Florida' dream of becoming a Silicon Beach, but will the mission succeed this time?

Read the full story here.