Its almost Thanksgiving, and while most folks are taking some time out to relax, the news never seems to stop.

Here are some items from around the ‘Net that we didn’t want lost or overlooked before the holiday break–

In the ” You have got to be kidding me” department:

• Microsoft offering to pay News Corp (Rupert Murdoch and the folks behind the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal) to de-list their web sites with Google, possibly in favor of Microsoft’s own Bing search engine.  Well, that is one way to get more traffic through to the fledgling search engine site.

In the ” New applications popping up all over” department:

• Trillian, the popular desktop messaging application has launched a version for the iPhone.  Trillian is a multiple client IM solution, so folks can use AOL, Yahoo, MSN, Gtalk all at the same time, without having each vendors’s client app open. Its $3.99 available at the iTunes App Store.
• Verizon Wireless is the first carrier to offer the Blackberry OS 5.0 update to its subscribers.  New features  include the ability to flag messages in your inbox; improved mail-folder management; auto-correct and word-completion typing software; and a variety of personal information management (PIM) feature-enhancements . The rest of us will have to wait until our carrier is blessed with the update.
• Roku, is adding Flickr, Facebook, Pandora, Revision3 and TWit channels to is wireless streaming device.  Just in time for Christmas!
• Google Maps Navigation is now available for Android phone users on OS 1.6 and higher.  Its not just for the DROID anymore.  And its not a hack, its from Google proper.  The only missing function- voice commands.

In the “Don’t smoke if you got ‘em” department:

• Be careful if you are an Apple owner and a smoker.  You nicotine habit may void your warranty.

In the “Toys!” department:

• If you want the new Samsung Go netbook and like the NY Times, you can get $100 off with a one-year subscription to Times Reader 2.0, the Adobe AIR application for the  NY Times.
• Thought the HP iPAQ was dead?  Well, its back!  AT& T and HP introduced the iPAQ Glisten.

In the “Well its almost Black Friday” department:

• Rumors are swirling about Apple’s Black Friday deals.  We’ll see come Friday!
• Verizon Wireless just posted their deals.
• T-Mobile doesn’t want to be forgotten either on Black Friday with their $50 off handsets and pay with installments idea.
• And don’t forget what deals Gear Diary has already posted.

And in the “Customer Services isnt dead” department:

• The website, Istobe, has listed ALL of the retailer and vendors who are offering FREE shipping this holiday season.

Well, that’s all the news that’s fit to print.  Thanks to the Internet..and its sponsors Engadget, CIO, The Gadgeteer, Boy Genius, Web Worker Daily and Geek.com for helping with this report.

To quote Dennis Miller, ” Stick a fork in me, I’m done.”