smartech

Every year, Greenpeace releases the “Guide to Greener Electronics”, indicating the “green” level of electronic companies and placing them on a 0-10 analog meter scale. The guide, which rates performance based on policies and practices on toxic chemicals and electronic waste, shows that Asian companies like Samsung and Toshiba have won the highest score, gaining 7.7 points, while Nintendo has scored only 0.3 points, “earning” the most feckless e-waste company of 2008. Other 18 tech companies in the guide, include Microsoft, Sharp, Sony Ericsson, Philips, Acer, Hp, Motorola, and more. According to Greenpeace toxic waste campaigner, Iza Kruszewska, “The challenge is clear. To be truly green, the IT industry needs to commit to designing products that are free of toxic chemicals, are energy efficient, durable, and recyclable while taking full responsibility for them globally, including when they become waste“, and we say - Amen.

[via slashgear]

Red zune 80 is back in stock and available to purchase via Zune Originals. The meaning is - no red Zune without a nice designed carving at the back, which will fetch Microsoft another $10 - $15. To customize your device, just log into the new Zune Originals store, pick your favorite engraved sign or three lines of text and get yourself a nice modified player.

[via Zune Originals]

SanDisk plans to launch Sansa Sessions, a new initiative to distribute music and movies on microSD cards. Their first steps will probably take place with the purchase of a new 8GB Sansa Fuze player, as SanDisk intend to give the buyers a free microSD card, loaded with 55 DRM-free tracks from more than 50 new artists, including All Time Low, Ladytron, Magnet, Nada Surf, Of Montreal and The Coup. The cause is twofold, first reason is to attract music junkies to buy the new Fuze and second, is for promotional sake. In any case, we get 512MB microSD card, free of charge, and novice artists earn free exposure.

[ via engadget]