Dell Malaysia nabs a Studio 14 laptop before the rest of us

Here's a fun game that you can play at home: what comes between "Studio XPS 13" and "Studio 15"? If you guessed "Studio 14," you can count just about as well as those Dell marketing types. Granted, granularity has always been sort of a thing with Dell, so we can't really harsh on them too much for giving us more options -- though this laptop has only popped up at Dell Malaysia so far, so perhaps we'll be spared the distinction (unlikely). For 3,599 RM (that's "Malaysian ringgits," about $1,038 of our boringly "US dollars") you can score a Core 2 Duo T8100 2.10GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, X3100 integrated graphics, 250GB HDD and a 14.1-inch LED-backlit 1280 x 800 display. Those magical media playback controls to the right of the keyboard? Those come free.

Microsoft job posting hints at Zune-Xbox integration

It's an annual tradition, don't you know? Winter rolls around, the fires get going, the cocoa gets to cookin', and we get to thinking that the Zune and Xbox 360 just have to have some tighter integration in the not-too-distant future. This go 'round, we've got a suspicious job posting over at Microsoft that's stirring up a little speculation, and for good reason. In fact, the listing -- which seeks a particular User Experience Designer -- specifically mentions that the perfect candidate will be comfortable working closely with "creative directors to propose innovative designs and content solutions for the Zune Device UI, Zune Xbox and Zune PC Application." In case that wasn't definitive enough for you, it also mentions "embracing and extending" the Zune brand. Oh, and on another note, are any of you applying? Sounds like a pretty sweet gig.

Solar Arcadia deals solar iPhone cases

Until Apple pumps out the next-gen iPhone with integrated solar cells, we suppose Solar Arcadia's solar-powered cases are your next best option. Available in both SideFlip and Leather Flip models, the cases not only offer relatively stout protection for your handset, but they also include a solar panel in order to give your mobile a few more minutes of life while you're out and about in the sun. Each one is constructed from ABS sheepskin and is available in either red, white or black (Leather Flip is black only) motifs; not too shabby for $45.95 -- just don't expect this thing to dramatically increase your time of use.