Did Facebook buy Instagram to prevent a serious patent infringement suit?

Just a month after announcing its intent to buy the social photo site for a cool billion bucks, Facebook today launched a new application for iPhones (3GS and forward) and the iPod Touch called Facebook Camera that performs many of the same functions in similar fashion.

We should all hit the pause button for a second for Eugene Polley, a tech innovator often called the  czar of zapping, father of the couch potato and first beach boy of channel surfing.

If you travel, your high speed Internet account may have just gotten more useful. This morning, five major cable companies - Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable -  announced a joint partnership to enable free access to local WiFi hotspots for customers of any participating provider. 

Non-Comm got going in earnest on Thursday at the World Cafe Live.

Today's free at noon concert with Norah Jones, Willie Nelson and Brandi Carlisle (broadcast on 88.5 FM) is the most visible event of this week's "Non-Comm" non-commercial radio conference. But for Gizmo Guy, there was lots more to take away from media guru Pal Marszalek's "Digital State of the Union" address yesterday.

An effective and affordable technology for viewing TV in 3D without wearing special glasses will come to market this year, said Philadelphia-based  Stream TV Networks, Inc., through its newly announced manufacturing partnership with Unihan (Pegatron) Corporation.

We don't mean to be pushing wickedness. But we've been inundated  today with tidbits about cheating on your hubby, illegal texting in the car and a method for checking out, for free, the just announced Jay Z/Budweiser "Made in America" Music Festival hitting Philly this Labor Day weekend.

If you can believe China Daily (and hey, who doesn't?), the much rumored Apple television called iTV is gonna happen. Soon. Maybe not this year. Most likely next.

Whether we are searching for our princess through seemingly endless number of castles (she’s always in another one!) or romancing aliens while crossing the galaxy to save mankind… us gamers, we’re romantics. We cried at the end of Final Fantasy X. We battled an array of giant living colossi for love in Shadow of the Colossus. We traveled back in time to save a bratty princess, and consequently, saved the world in Chrono Trigger.

So you better believe we appreciate Valentine’s Day.

One of the many great things about the iTunes store, aside from the vast library of music, movies, and games, is that you can gift purchases to friends, and perhaps more importantly, loved ones. Struggling to find the perfect little gift for that lovely gamer in your life?

Why not gift them one of these many games, each with a wonderful love story all its own?

Chrono Trigger ($9.99)

The Super Nintendo classic from the golden age of Square Enix hit the App store back in December, and its transition from the 16-bit console to iOS devices was nothing less than perfect. And the story, over a decade later, still holds up.

While exploring his town’s Millennial Fair, the game’s young protagonist, Crono, literally runs into the beautiful Marle, a fearless blonde spitfire. After volunteering to try out the latest invention from Lucca, Crono’s best friend, Marle is transported four centuries back in time. Crono bravely chases after her, and what unravels is one of the best stories in video game history, traveling from the past, to the future, and to the end of time.

The port of the game even includes the two bonus areas from the Nintendo DS re-release of the game. With memorable characters, an outstanding soundtrack, and a heartwarming love story, this is the perfect title to gift on Valentine’s Day. 

»  More 5 great iOS games to gift your gamer beau on Valentine’s Day