Another must-have gadget, its size and practicality fall somewhere between those of an iPhone and a Mac computer. The iPad can play games, execute iPhone applications, serve as a replacement for your Kindle and surf the Web. Some gripes about the device include its inability to play certain types of video and how similar it seems to what fans likely already own: an iPhone.

The slim device measures about the size of two of Apples iPhones, but it does not come with a stand so that users can prop up the Kindle while catching up on their reading. Its starting price tag is $499 for a 16GB model, though 32GB and 64GB variations are also available.

The cool new toy hasn’t quite yet become the savior that print publications expected, the hot new system that gamers wanted or the innovative product that Apple aficionados have come to brag about. All that could change once the iPad’s start hitting the shelves in March.

Beyond what seems like an underwhelming product is name. Sure, it may regress us junior high to snicker at the iPad, but we’re not the only ones who think or thought immediately of feminine products. iSlate or iTablet weren’t cool enough?

Tweeters and Facebookers have vocalized their disapproval of the name, and now Predicto Ponders: will Apple re-brand the product by 3/25? 63% of voting members say no!

See why players voted the way they did by clicking here!

Will the iPad have a new name once it hits stores in the spring? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, you can visit Predicto.com to register for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys — including this one — you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!

Now if only cable news channels followed suit. (Yeah, that was kind of a snarky jab. Maybe we’re more opinionated than we thought.) It’s well-known that CNN has a more liberal base of viewers, just as Fox News attracts conservatives, but the latter just snagged one of the biggest conservatives of all time to join its roster.

Call it a match made in heaven: Sarah Palin is now a contributor on Fox News.

According to the network’s release, the recent No. 1-selling author will provide her insight to programming outlets such as FoxNews.com, Fox Business Channel and the Fox News Radio.

She might even be tapped to host one-off specials.

The multiyear deal kicks off tonight when the ex-governor of Alaska chats with Bill O’Reilly.

Though Fox has not announced that the deal will involve one, we wondered if Sarah would soon become the host of her own O’Reilly-style gabfest. When asked if the new face of the conservative movement would have her own talk show by 4/10, 55% of voting members of the Predicto Mobile community say yes!

See commentary — political and otherwise — by clicking here!

Just as Fox has a ratings winner with American Idol, Fox News may have duplicated its success with the addition of Palin. Will you tune in? And what do you think is going to happen?

Visit Predicto.com to register for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys — including this one — you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!

While the pilots were simultaneously having their sky-high tutoring session and commanding the aircraft, they reportedly ignored quite a number of radio calls for about 90 minutes. Concealed behind the cockpit door, the session took place during the time when they should have already been preparing the passenger plane to land.

All of this has left everyone guessing whether the pilots where telling the truth and whether they might have actually fallen asleep, causing them to miss the airport. If the tutoring did take place, wouldn’t that mean that the two pilots were wide awake? And isn’t a wide awake person alert under any circumstances requiring sheer focus and attention, his chances of missing a detail slim?

Most people think that two pilots missing an airport by that much could only have been dozing off among the clouds. The pressing question now is will the two pilots admit to sleeping on the plane by 11/10?

So far, 54% of Predicto voters say no while 46% say yes.

While it can be observed that most voters think that the only plausible reason for the two pilots’ blunder was that they were asleep, voters are split when it comes to wondering whether both pilots would admit to napping while cruising. And if they would at all, it wouldn’t be happening that soon. One voter believes that admitting to sleeping while taking full command of the plane could cost the two pilots their jobs — which it did.

Then again, as one voter said, they could just make something up stating that they were just taking a rest and that they didn’t mean to fly to another state.

What do you think is going to happen? Visit Predicto.com to register for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed.

Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!

For those uninitiated few among you, allow Predicto to get you up to speed.

Richard and Mayumi Heene, former participants of the Petri dish experiment known as Wife Swap, are amateur enthusiasts of everything from UFOs to storm chasing. While entertaining themselves with the former, Richard built a balloon that escaped from their backyard.

Earlier in the day, Richard says he repeatedly told his 6-year-old son Falcon to stay away from the balloon. When it began floating into the air and the boy couldn’t be found, the rest of the family feared the worst: that Falcon was inside the balloon.

The four-hour debacle affected air traffic at Denver’s nearby airport and the airwaves, as the cable networks broadcast the balloon floating some 10,000 feet in the air. When debris fell from the floatation device, everyone feared the worst, but when it finally landed and he wasn’t onboard, fears intensified.

Later, when the family was at home, Falcon appeared out of nowhere. He had apparently been hiding in a box in the attic … that was searched twice … by trained professionals.

The story got sketchier when the family appeared on Larry King Live and the boy made a statement that insinuated this had all been a hoax. (Dad’s drive to be on a number of reality show ventures didn’t help matters.)

Hoax or not, Predicto wanted to know if we can expect to see the Heene family in their highly desired reality show? While the vote is close, 53% of voting members say that it will not happen.

“They won’t because it was a hoax,” says member “skin10806.”

“I hope so. We all could use someone to remind us just how many blessings we have and no matter what struggles we have, there’s always a way to overcome,” says “qbh35526.”

“I think they were just trying to get some attention,” says “cqih5596” of the assumingly undeserving family.

“Why would the kid get his own show? That’s ridiculous. He wasn’t even in the balloon!” says “cibj0886.”

Very passionate opinions on this subject. Do you have your own? Visit Predicto.com to register for the text message-based mobile game that has everyone predicting the outcome of sports, pop culture, news and entertainment events. Along with being able to vote on surveys, including this one, you’ll get updates when the answers are revealed. And most importantly, you can express your thoughts on these surveys. Sign up today — and get more Predicto by becoming a fan on Facebook!

In the past couple of years, however, we saw how the mighty had fallen. Not that GM fell completely out of the scene, it merely slid down to the No. 2 spot as the world’s largest car maker. And who now holds its former glory? Not some royal European machine, but a once-lowly industrial brand from Japan, now transformed into the industry giant that is now known as Toyota.

Based on the 2008 ranking on the Fortune 500, Toyota is No. 1 in global unit sales. That says a lot about a company that once manufactured utterly unreliable cars, but now leads the way in pushing hybrid cars to the market. They were in fact one of the first brands to mass-produce and sell such cars. Today, with Toyota’s strong worldwide presence, innovative strategies and strong brand recognition, other car manufacturers, including General Motors, are finding it hard to keep up with Toyota’s pace.

So, will General Motors be able to reclaim its title as the “World’s Largest Automaker” this year? (It certainly is not the largest car maker anymore, but it sure still manufactures the largest cars in the world, and they are not that far behind Toyota.)

Our Predicto voters have spoken. 46% say yes, 54% say no so far. “Usertrlb4180” asserts that the government shouldn’t be the one to make GM get back its former glory, the people should. Well, if GM makes more eco-friendly cars and keep up with the way people have grown so accustomed to compact Japanese cars, maybe they will regain their spot soon enough. But as one of the voters aptly put it, “GM had their time. It’s time for another automaker to have theirs.”

With GM’s fresh funds from the government, it could now be up to something that could make everyone’s jaws drop. Before we know it, the company could be rolling out better cars that could give other automakers a run for their money.

Who else says GM will be No. 1 again this year? Who else says no, they won’t? Let us know what you think by visiting Predicto.com and voting (and leaving comments) on this survey.

A petition has gone around campaigning to bequeath the late pop singer the Nobel Peace Prize. This is in recognition of the millions of people he has given aid to through his humanitarian efforts throughout Africa, Asia and elsewhere in the world.

It is difficult to imagine people not ever having heard of the Nobel Peace Prize. Named after industrialist Alfred Nobel, the award is for individuals and organizations whose efforts have been marked by their pursuit of peace, order and harmony among humankind in the world. Distinguished awardees include former South African president Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the 14th Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa and institutions like UNICEF, Amnesty International, the League of Red Cross Societies and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Michael Jackson’s efforts have been centered on helping children and the youth. He is known as an ardent supporter of the United Negro College Fund, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Starlight Foundation, the American Cancer Society, the Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation, and his own Heal the World Foundation.

This proposal to nominate him has not been without resistance from other concerned citizens. Michael Jackson’s colorful life has been marked by highly sensationalized stories. The two high-profile court cases filed against him for his alleged acts of child molestation stand out in particular.

The question then remains: Will Michael Jackson receive a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in February 2010 or not? Will Jackson’s personal life, full of controversy, keep him from the nomination? Is the public clamor for his receiving the award enough to take him forward?

As of August 2009, the current results via Predicto state that some 62% of all respondents have predicted Michael Jackson will be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize come February. A variety of responses have been collected by the Predicto community.

“Userlobb2540” commented “Michael is such an inspiration and … he sure does deserve it.”

“Userjryp8680” said that Jackson “impacted so many lives it’s one of the only honest thing to do to remember his name.”

“GreatGazoo” rejected the idea, asking “What would possibly be the point of Jackson being honored? Has he contributed to the peace process anywhere?”

What do you think? Is Michael Jackson worthy of being in the pantheon of Nobel Laureates? Take part in the discussion! Join Predicto and make your own opinion heard worldwide!

Perhaps your favorite dish is the Moons Over My Hammy? That was the case of a New Jersey man named Nick DeBenedetto, who dined at the restaurant several times over 20 years. Now, because he has high blood pressure, he’s suing the chain in a class action lawsuit because he says that the food contains too much salt.

It wouldn’t be the first time a fast-food joint has been sued for something that seems obvious. Remember that woman who sued McDonald’s because she was burned by their hot coffee? (The cups now come with labels, warning that the drink is hot.)

Does DeBenedetto have a case? And if he does, will it go to court? 58% of voting Predicto Mobile community members says no, it won’t get to court by 12/10.

“If the guy has high blood pressure and he’s eating at Denny’s, then he can’t be the brightest crayon in the box,” says member “felucifer.”

“He knew what he was eating,” says “chenry1310.” “DisturbedPsycho” agrees, saying, “He willingly ate the food.”

“Denny’s won’t want the publicity. It won’t go to court,” says “tdyp5250.”

We don’t know what will happen, but we’re sure hungry to know. If you are too, visit Predicto.com to sign up and vote in surveys just like this. You’ll also receive the news once it breaks. Don’t forget to become a Predicto fan on Facebook!

Last week, Gates returned to his home in Cambridge, Mass., and allegedly had problems opening his front door. His cab driver, who was also black, tried to help him open the door, but a neighbor called the police, claiming there was a robbery taking place.

When the police showed up is where the stories get sketchy. Both the white sergeant, James “Jim” Crowley, and Gates said that Crowley asked for ID, though each differs in the type requested. This misunderstanding led to some shouting and the officer eventually cuffing Gates supposedly yelling, calling him a racist and not calming down.

Gates claims he showed the proper form of ID and asked for the cop’s name and badge number, but Crowley apparently refused. Crowley says that Gates acted belligerently and failed to show proof that he lived at the residence. A big miscommunication that has become so big that even President Obama made reference to it. 79% of the Predicto Mobile community predicts that the officer, who said he wouldn’t apologize for the situation, will indeed apologize by 9/1.

“I strongly believe he should apologize to him. Some of these cops are way out of line these days,” says member “pijk3367.”

“They are getting out of hand. You screwed up, now at least apologize!” says “orcv2469.”

“I don’t think he will get the apology he deserves because it’s all political and a power trip on the race issue,” says “zulp2680.”

The passionate commentary continues on Predicto.com. Be sure to visit the site to sign up and vote in surveys just like this, as well as get the late-breaking news when it breaks. You can also become a fan on Facebook to get more Predicto!

Competition among New York dailies is notoriously fierce, but for all its pluses and minuses, this competition has fortunately led to a plurality of voices. What will happen, then, if two of the biggest names in the New York newspaper industry become one?

Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul behind News Corporation, is reportedly setting his eyes on the New York Daily News, the second-largest daily in the state when it comes to circulation and profitability. The reports came after News Corp. announced its recent acquisitions of the Brooklyn Paper, the TimesLedger and the Courier-Life. The newspaper groups are all based in New York, fueling speculations that the Daily News of real estate tycoon Mort Zuckerman will be next.

Strategic Investing in New York News Industry

“I believe [the acquisition] is something that is being looked at very seriously, although very quietly [inside News Corp.],” says Baldwin, New York media appraiser Kevin Kamen. “Obviously, I can’t say it is definitely happening, but I think it is being considered by Murdoch for sure. Nobody should be surprised, although everyone will be.”

“There is a strategy there,” Kamen adds, referring to the recent acquisitions of three NY-based newspaper groups by Murdoch. “He’s building up the scenery, if you will, the support system.”

If and when the Daily News falls into Murdoch’s hands, News Corp. will have a new addition to its growing list of media assets. This prestigious list currently includes the New York Post, the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones and the Fox group of broadcasting resources, television networks and movie outfits.

It is an astounding collection of media resources and people are worried about the influence Murdoch will have. Predicto Mobile community member “Usercaeh0904” believes that “less people owning media outlets means more of the truth being hidden from the people.”

“Then the papers will not compete, just work together,” says “Userldwb3957.” “He will have cornered the market.” “That would give two papers the same point of view,” says “Usertjry9241.” Other members of the community, on the other hand, think it will be a good business move. Without one of the big names in the competition, influence and profit will go up for the New York Post.

Daily News Acquisition, Total Fiction?

For now at least, the scenario is more of a big “if” than a “when.” Zuckerman, who last year was embroiled in a stiff bidding war with Murdoch when Newsday went for sale, is not obligated or willing to sell his papers. Zuckerman called Kamen’s predictions “total fiction” and added that “The Daily News is not for sale, has never been for sale and will not be for sale.”

However, as more and more papers are shutting down due to the economic slowdown and the emergence of the so-called new media, Zuckerman may reconsider. Back in 2008, Murdoch and Zuckerman were involved in a series of negotiations to merge the operations of their newspapers. The planned merger was reported as a “money-saving collaboration” between the two news outlets and grew out of their failed attempts to acquire Newsday. This at least proves that the possibility of these news tycoons working together does exist. Newsday, incidentally, went to Cablevision for $650 million.

In addition, the Daily News is “sliding into the red.” Despite being No. 2 in circulation, the Daily News is losing its subscribers and profits to online news channels. Zuckerman remains optimistic and believes that the downward trend of the Daily News will be abetted by a new color printing plant.

“I think this is inevitable,” Kamen says. “Murdoch is never going to have an opportunity to buy the Times, but if he can put together a proposal that’s reasonable for the Daily News, I believe Zuckerman will listen.” Will he? And will it be good for the news? Read what the Predicto Mobile community thinks here and join the discussion.