The Best Inventions Of The Year

From the phone that has changed phones forever, to futuristic cars, to a building made of water, to a remote-controlled dragonfly—a dazzling display of ingenuity

—By Maryanne Murray Buechner, Kristina Dell, Andrea Dorfman, Lev Grossman, Anita Hamilton, Rebecca Winters Keegan, Jeffrey Kluger, Michael D. Lemonick, Coco Masters, Lisa McLaughlin, Alice Park, Julie Rawe and Deirdre van Dyk

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Palm Centro

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Do you secretly covet your friend's smart phone while dismissing it as way overpriced? The new Palm Centro provides an opportunity to get all the essential smart-phone features without breaking the bank. This light and bright device supports Web surfing, emailing, instant messaging and text messaging, and sports a 1.3-megapixel camera and a touch screen that works best with a stylus. A mobile version of Google Maps comes preloaded. The qwerty keypad is seriously small, but the bubble-like tactile design of the individual keys makes them easier targets.
PRICE: $99 with instant rebate and 2-year contract with Sprint
MORE INFO: palm.com/centro

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  1. The '00s: Goodbye (at Last) to the Decade From Hell
  2. The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting
  3. How to Get Smarter, One Breath at a Time
  4. Energizer Bunnies: Turning Rabbits into Green Fuel
  5. Why Big Shopping Bargains Are Bad News For America
  6. Will Dubai's Financial Problems Spread?
  7. Scientology : The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power
  8. Black Friday Sales Were Encouraging, Retailers Say
  9. Is Gene Therapy Finally Ready for Prime Time?
  10. Obama's 'Mistakes': Way Too Early to Judge
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