It’s not exactly the sexiest piece of technology, we’ll admit, but consider this: How often have you taken your work outside, only to be thwarted by evil glare? Or have temporarily lost your vision trying to read a 60 page PDF at two in the morning? The Pixel Qi’s 3Qi Display is going to change all that. It’s going to transform the way you use your laptop.

Why is it so special, you ask? The Pixel Qi switches between your everyday color LCD screen, a low power black-and-white display (kinda like the Kindle’s E-Ink screen), and a transflective mode that makes your LCD screen visible in sunlight. And yes – this is a first generation product – but the very idea of its future incarnations has us and every other techie dancing for joy. Or, more accurately, blogging for joy. No one needs to see techies dance. Trust us.

Need even better news? You won’t even have to buy a new netbook to get in on the action. Pixel Qi is releasing DIY Kits later this year that will let you swap out your laptop screen with a 3Qi Display. And, according to Pixel Qi’s Mary Jensen, “It’s only slightly more difficult than changing a lightbulb.” The future is bright my friends – and yet still readable!

Well, my fellow greeniacs – why not let your environmental and ethical compass guide you? Check out this guide to buying eco-friendly laptops, and refer to our picks for the trendiest and greenest laptops you should be using in 2010.

Sony Vaio W, $450.

With a plastic casing made from recycled CDs, a carrying-case from old water bottles, and an exclusively digital manual, the Vaio W (premiered at CES 2010 last week) is a mini notebook with a lot of green power. The device has not only gotten high ratings from Energy Star 5.0 and EPEAT, but it also has a 10.1 inch LED screen (which uses less energy than an LCD screen) and 7 hours of battery life. At $450, this may not be a lap top for the technologically inclined, but it’s definitely a great fit for a person for whom portability, durability, and eco-friendliness are key.

Read More {CNet}
Read More {Ecofriend}
Read More {Inhabitat}
Read More {Sony}

Apple’s Macbook Air, $1,499.

An oldy, but a goody. The Macbook Air may have been on the scene since 2008, but it remains one of the few high-performance, environmentally sound laptops on the market. Rated as the Greenest Ultraportable by LapTop Mag, the Macbook Air not only offers all the goodies you except from an Apple computer, but it also has environmental chops to spare. It’s energy-efficient, it’s recyclable, it’s manufacturing is almost toxin-free, and…it’s a Mac. Enough said.

Read More {Apple}

Read More {LapTop}

Asus Bamboo Series, $999 (Rumored)

While Asus premiered a brand new, environmentally friendly laptop at CES this year… it was… well, it was hot pink.

And while we love our Barbie colors as much as the next gal, we’re still really digging the stylish sophistication and renewable nature of Asus’ Bamboo Series, which has now been amped up with Intel’s latest Core i5  processors. Plus, randomly enough, it’s the first netbook to “have survived the unforgiving conditions of snow-capped Qomolangma Peak, which stands at a staggering height of 8,848 meters (29,028 feet).” Yup, I’m a PC and I’m made from kick-ass, snow-defeating bamboo. Take that Mac.

Read More {Asus}

Read More {SlashGear}

Read More {Gadget}

Read More {3BL Media}

Toshiba Portégé M750, $1, 499

This one swivels. Cooooooool.

Ok, ok. Beyond its cool, swivveling netbook to tablet capabilities and an LED backlit display – this bad boy has its fair share of Eco-friendly badges of honor. Toshiba came in as the #3 Greenest Electronic Company of 2009 (according to Green Peace’s Rankings) – and the Portege is one of the companies eco-friendliest (reaching EPEAT’s Gold Standard). If you’re looking for the greenest tablet of the land – or just one which sounds more like a briefcase than a computer – look no further than the Portégé.

Read More {Toshiba}
Read More {GreenPeace}

So, we say it’s time to say good-bye to the suddenly hackneyed technology of the Kindle, and to start getting acquainted with the new kids in town: the eReaders of 2010.

TREND: UNDER $400

The Spring Design Alex, $359

What looks like a Nook, sells like a Nook, and wants to kick some serious Nook ass?

The Alex.

Coming soon to a Borders near you, the Alex is Spring Design’s answer to Barnes & Noble’s Nook (which, according to Spring Design is actually a plagiarized version of their Alex). Also an eReader that runs on Android, the Alex differs in that its capacitive LCD touchscreen lets you browse the web…and its price tag comes in a little heftier at $359.

Read More {CNet}

Read More {Engadget}

Read More {Gizmodo}

Samsung E6 Reader, $399

Samsung enters into the eReader market with its simply named and designed E6 Reader. Different from its competitors thanks to its handwriting capabilities, slide-out controls, and a partnership with Google, the E6 may not be a game-changer, but at least it’s bending (if not breaking) the eReader mold.

Read More {Engadget}

Read More {CrunchGear}

TREAT: UNDER $500

enTourage eDGe DualBook, $490

Combining two the biggest trends at CES this year, the enTourage eDGe is, according to their Web Site, the “World’s First Dualbook” to combine a tablet with an eReader.

A very cool piece of machinery, the two sides actually talk to each other (writing into the eReader side pulls up the option to search on Wikipedia or Google on the other), so it’s basically like owning a lap top (that runs on Android) with a nice alternative monitor for reading. We’re loving the idea – but not so much the size. At almost 20 inches when opened up, it’s not exactly “light” reading – pun intended. But, at $490 for a tablet AND an eReader, we might be tempted to overlook its bulk.

Read More {Gizmodo}

Read More {Engadget}

Read More {enTourage}

TREASURE: UNDER $800

Plastic Logic’s QUE Reader, 4GB for $649 and 8GB for $799

Light, thin, and perfect for the professional on the go, the QUE Reader is meant to accompany you when you’re grabbing your morning coffee, slipping into your office meeting, or catching up on emails at home. Compatible with Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and most Newspapers, the Que may not be the “funnest” eReader, but it will help you get the job done. And at $649, you should certainly hope so.

Read More {Gizmodo}

Read More {Engadget}

Read More {Que}

TORTURE: UNDISCLOSED

Skiff Reader

The biggest eReader yet, the Skiff, at 11.5 inches long (but only a quarter of an inch thick), is meant as a big ole’ flexible touchscreen version of a Newspaper. Although the Skiff reader will be available in either a black and white or a color version, not much else is known about these devices as of yet – including its price.

Read More {Gizmodo}

Read More {Engadget}

Notion Ink Adam tablet/eReader

No, it doesn’t bend, it isn’t huge, it may not come with 3D glasses and it doesn’t have a little apple on its back – but the combination tablet and eReader known as the Adam is making big waves in the tech world.

Why? You ask?

Its screen. A screen that’s the future of the eReader (and some say the death knell of e-Ink technology). Known as a Pixel QI transflective screen, this guy can actually go from a backlit LCD mode to a low-power electrophoretic reflective mode (like e-Ink), depending on your environment  or preference. So whether you’re reading a book in your bedroom or trying to watch a movie in your sunny backyard, the Adam should be able to adapt no matter what – pretty cool, huh?

Add into the mix a tablet that runs on Android and some pretty cool concepts to display digital magazines, and we’re officially psyched. And, while the Adam is still in its early development stages, we can’t wait to see the final product.

Read More {Gizmodo}

Read More {SlashGear}

Lady Gaga for Polaroid (L) and the Gaga designed Monster Heartbeats earbuds

Known for their HDMI cables, tech manufacturer Monster has paired with Lady Gaga and Vivienne Tam for fashionable headphones. The Gaga designed Heartbeats earbuds are part of a special collection for (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition Beats Solo Headphones released under the Beats by Dr. Dre label.

Vivienne Tam, a geek chic veteran with a successful HP collaboration under her belt, will also release limited edition headphones with pricing and details announced during this February’s Fashion Week.

Also being released at fashion week is a point and click camera manufactured by General Imaging in partnership with First Lady design favorite Jason Wu.

Not to be outdone, the extravagant Lady Gaga’s other CES gig was announcing the relaunch of Polaroid, fashion’s favorite camera. Appointed creative director (which we see going much more smoothly than the Ungaro/Lohan pairing) for specialty products, Gaga will presumably have a hand in resurrecting the instant cameras that were discontinued last year.

The pop star has reportedly overspent by $3.2 million on her Monster Ball Tour, despite every show being sold out. As her father puts it, she now has a “real job” to put a dent in the debt.

Read more {DVICE}

Read more {Toronto Sun}

Read more {Guardian}

Read more {Ireland On-Line)

We’re all for advances in technology, but this seems like the next installment in the texting while driving PSAs waiting to happen.

In less likely to cause a car crash innovation news, it was also announced that drivers would be able to stream music from popular music service Pandora and Stitcher, a service that streams podcasts, radio shows and news.

Read more {Telegraph}

Read more {Yahoo! News}

That’s right kiddies, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) officially kicks off tomorrow in Sin City, but the tech world is already buzzing about the many goodies they’re going to see – including an onslaught of new tablets and some seriously tricked out televisions.

So what does the future of TV hold?

How about 3D programming on the Discovery Channel and ESPN? How about Skype enabled HDTVs that let you chat to your loved ones from your living rooms? How about Apps (to sites like Facebook, Pandora, and Flickr) for your TV? What about an App that brings live TV to your iPhone?

Even before CES kicks off, it seems official to us. 2010 will be the year your TV gets a serious upgrade.

Read More {Engadget}

Read More {Gizmodo}

Read More {Mashable}