If you're a gadget lover, you're probably already reading Engadget — either that, or your blog-reading gadget is broken. Launched in March 2004, Engadget is a 24/7 candy store for gadget heads, displaying the latest and often strangest consumer electronics and computer equipment. Its only real rival in blogworld is Gizmodo, and the two sites share common DNA; Engadget was co-founded by former Gizmodo co-founder, Peter Rojas, who left to free himself from Gizmodo's Machiavellian overlords, Gawker Media. A typical day on Engadget reveals plenty of useful advice and leaked news, like the advanced details about the new Dell laptop or word of the US Army's latest plan to develop a SpyRobot with the ability to carry four times its own weight and fit snugly within a backpack. And Engadget also includes some supremely geeky stories that only the most gadget obsessed could possibly appreciate or even understand (One recent headline: "Intel's X48 chipset arrives on shelves, reminds users of the X38.") But in the computer age, gadgets aren't mere playthings, they're the bleeding edge of what's to come. That explains why the blog has a devoted following in countries around the world, with versions in Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. And even Engadget's mistakes matter — last year, when the blog ran a false story about a delayed iPhone launch, Apple's share price fell by 3 per cent within minutes.
Sample Engadget Post: Apparently, the Eye Toy craze has extended well beyond Sony's famed PlayStation brand, and it looks as if the ANEO GX-10 is a new (and inexpensive) way to get the same kicks in a different fashion. Offered up at none other than Brando, this USB-connected device enables PC users to interact with a trio of games (Kungfu, Super Knight, and Funny Stair for those already on the edge of their seat) as well as spark up a video chat on a whim.