DiscountMore.com views comparison shopping sites like Shopping.com, PriceGrabber.com, ShopZilla.com, PriceRunner.com and Shopper.com essentially as search engines similar to Google and Yahoo-the difference being comparison shopping sites search for products and prices as opposed to news and web sites, the company says.

The problem online shoppers face, founder and CEO Bobby Kalili says, is "there are so many comparison shopping sites, who really has the lowest price?" The solution, he says, is to "search the top comparison shopping sites all at the same time and get the results all on one page."

Certainly all those people lining up to buy iPhones will find their investment worthwhile, if only for the delight they get from dazzling their friends. They will surely appreciate the iPhone's features and the way they are intertwined to present a unified experience. But in the future-when the iPhone has more applications and offers more performance, with a lower price-buyers will find even more value. So smart consumers may well wait for that day. But meanwhile they can only look with envy as the person sitting next to them to them on the subway, or standing ahead of them in the Whole Foods line, is enjoying the phone that finally fulfills the promise of people-friendly palm-top communication and computing.

As it turns out, much of the hype and some of the criticisms are justified. The iPhone is revolutionary; it's flawed. It's substance; it's style. It does things no phone has ever done before; it lacks features found even on the most basic phones.

The $500 and $600 models have 4 gigabytes and 8 gigabytes of storage, respectively -- room for about 825 or 1,825 songs. (In each case, 700 megabytes is occupied by the phone's software.) That's a lot of money; then again, the price includes a cell phone, video iPod, e-mail terminal, Web browser, camera, alarm clock, Palm-type organizer and one heck of a status symbol.

The phone is so sleek and thin, it makes Treos and BlackBerrys look obese. The glass gets smudgy -- a sleeve wipes it clean -- but it doesn't scratch easily.

But the bigger achievement is the software. It's fast, beautiful, menu-free and dead-simple to operate. You can't get lost, because the solitary physical button below the screen always opens the Home page, arrayed with icons for the iPhone's 16 functions.

The iPhone's most controversial feature, the omission of a physical keyboard in favor of a virtual keyboard on the screen, turned out in our tests to be a nonissue, despite our deep initial skepticism. After five days of use, Walt -- who did most of the testing for this review -- was able to type on it as quickly and accurately as he could on the Palm Treo he has used for years. This was partly because of smart software that corrects typing errors on the fly.

The iPhone won't stop global warming. It won't bring peace to the Middle East. But if it lives up to even a portion of the hype, it does have the potential to change how people interact with their cell phones, computers and each other.

Apple Inc.'s iPhone, combining a mobile phone, iPod and Internet browser into one handheld gadget, could represent the closest consumers have come to carrying their life with them wherever they go.

Of course, what virtually none of our reviews says outright is this: Unless you're rich or have gadget-compulsive disorder, you'd be out of your Steve Jobs-addled, Reality-Distortion-Field-infected mind to buy one of these phones right now. These are strictly Version 1.0 -- and there's a lot that needs to be improved.

Guaranteed, within a year -- I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually closer to six months, and the holidays) Apple will replace the iPhone with one that works on AT&T's 3G network, already in 160 cities, which delivers real broadband, rather than this "pokey" throughput. The phone that goes on sale Friday cannot be upgraded to 3G, which requires a wholly different on-board radio. Likewise, the phone Apple has been showing in ads holds 80 gigabytes, not 8. So resist the hype! I can. But maybe I'm just saying this because I didn't get a review unit to play with.

Claiborne founded Liz Claiborne Inc. in 1976 along with her husband Art Ortenberg and Leonard Boxer. Their goal was to create a collection of outfits aimed at the growing number of women entering the work force.

The new approach to dressing revolutionized the department store industry, which had only focused on stocking pants in one department and skirts in another. Liz Claiborne executives were instrumental in working with department stores to present all the related pieces of a wardrobe in one department.

The clothes became an instant hit, and the company went public in 1981. By 1985, Liz Claiborne Inc. was the first company founded by a woman to be listed in the Fortune 500, according to the company's Web site. The company, whose brands now include Ellen Tracy, Dana Buchman and Juicy Couture, generated sales of almost $5 billion last year. Liz Claiborne retired from the day-to-day operations in 1989.

"In losing Liz Claiborne, we have not only lost the founder of our company, but an inspirational woman who revolutionized the fashion industry 30 years ago," said Bill McComb, CEO of Liz Claiborne, in a statement. "Her commitment to style and design is ever present in our thinking and the way we work. We will remember Liz for her vision, her entrepreneurial spirit and her enduring compassion and generosity."

It goes on sale this Friday, and die-hard Apple fans are expected to line up overnight or longer outside retail stores to get their hands on an iPhone for either $500 or $600.

But skeptics wonder whether even the most innovative product could live up to the iPhone's lofty expectations - and whether the pre-launch anticipation has spiraled too far out of control. Scrutiny of the product is so great that any small disappointment could send Apple's stock plunging, experts say.

The iPhone has already generated a thriving cottage industry online, with more than 1,100 peripheral iPhone items currently for sale on eBay, including colorful holsters, touch-screen protectors and car adapters.

The Shrek star visited the historical Machu Picchu site with a green bag which had a red star and the words "serve the people" printed in Chinese. It evoked memories of a Peruvian war against Maoist rebels in the 1980s and '90s, when up to 69,000 people died. Diaz admitted she did not realise the slogan's "potentially hurtful nature". "I sincerely apologise to anyone I may have inadvertently offended," she said in a statement released to the Associated Press.

"The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China." She went on: "I'm sorry for any people's pain and suffering, and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country's history." Diaz wore the bag while sightseeing at the Incan city of Machu Picchu And she spoke of Peruvians' beauty and warmth, saying she wished "for their continued healing".

Her appearance with the bag had drawn criticism from prominent local human rights activist Pablo Rojas. "It alludes to a concept that did so much damage to Peru, that brought about so many victims," he said on Friday. "I don't think she should have used that bag where the followers of that ideology did so much damage."

Craig Minowa, environmental scientist with the Organic Consumers Association, has these tips: First, learn to buy big. Many health-food stores have bulk sections, and if you fill a bag with, say, organic cereal, you may end up paying less for it than you would for the nonorganic variety, since you're not paying for packaging costs. Second, form a buying club. If a bunch of people pool their grocery lists, they can often special-order directly with the store, he said, and that, in turn, can lead to much lower costs.

Another path to frugal but healthy shopping is to choose your battles carefully. If you can't afford to fill your entire shopping cart with organic food, you can still feel good about what you buy. Sarah Bratnober, communications director at the Organic Valley Family of Farms, advises following the 80/20 rule-80 percent of the benefits come from 20 percent of the purchases. Think about what your family eats the most of, then go from there. For example, if you have a choice between organic milk and organic mayonnaise, and your kids go through a gallon of milk in a week but only two tablespoons of mayo, go for the milk. Fruits and vegetables are also good choices, especially the ones your family eats lots of. And if you have the option, get into community-supported agriculture, where you own shares in a farm and get a share of whatever it produces.

Here's how Darple works. You want to buy a toaster and find five different styles and brands that are acceptable. You bid on all five but specify that you will buy only one of them. As soon as one seller accepts your bid (it can be a different price for each toaster), all your other bids are withdrawn.

Traditional double auctions have required the buyer to bid on identical items, such as Microsoft stock.

Darple's software, for which the company has sought a patent, allows double auctions on all kinds of items at once. For example, you want to buy your grandmother a birthday present, but you don't care whether it's a blouse, baking pan or book for under $25. You create what Darple calls a bidset for all three. The seller who accepts your bid first determines what Grandma's gift will be, and your other bids are withdrawn.

A new footwear design concept that aims to make women safer and more comfortable behind the wheel, without compromising on their style, is launched today.

Sheilas' Wheels has developed the Sheila Driving Heel which gives women the best of both worlds - a safe, flat driving shoe and a glamorous pair of heels in one - all interchangeable at a push of a button. More than 11.5 million* women drivers in the UK are putting themselves and other drivers at risk by wearing the wrong footwear when behind the wheel, according to new research from Sheilas' Wheels - the car insurer for women.

One in ten (10%) female motorists admit that they have had a car accident or a near-miss because of their shoes slipping off or getting stuck between, or under, the foot pedals whilst driving.

The Safe Shoes report shows that a massive 80% of female drivers wear inappropriate footwear when in control of a car - choosing style over safety. A third (33%) of all female drivers confess to wearing flip-flops, while 18% claim that they have worn no shoes at all when driving, which experts say can be extremely hazardous and is currently illegal in some parts of the UK**.

In fact, just under half (47%) of women drivers said they chose what shoes to wear when getting ready in the morning based on what went best with their outfit rather than being the safest for driving in.

Under a fifth (17%) of female drivers keep a spare pair of driving shoes in the car to change into, while nearly a quarter (23%) admit they can't be bothered to change their shoes when behind the wheel even if they know they are not the safest for driving.

Jacky Brown, spokesperson for Sheilas' Wheels, said: "It's astonishing that so many women are putting themselves, their passengers and other drivers at risk by wearing the wrong shoe or no shoe at all whilst behind the wheel. Stilettos, sling-backs and strappy sandals aren't the sensible choice when it comes to controlling a car."

"Our Sheila Driving Heel design could provide safety-conscious female motorists with the ultimate driving shoe - allowing women to wear a safe flat shoe whilst driving, and a fashionable heel once they are out of the car."

The report highlighted that 63% of women called for better guidelines to advise them on the correct form of footwear to wear when driving. A lack of understanding is clearly evident as over half (54%) of female motorists believed that sports trainers were the safest shoes to drive in - even though their thick soles and chunky design limit both movement between, and contact with, the pedals.

Dianne Ferreira, spokesperson for Brake the national road safety charity, added: "An alarming number of female drivers simply do not realise the danger they are putting themselves, and others, in by driving in inappropriate shoes. High heels, platforms and flip-flops can seriously hamper your ability to drive safely, and could have fatal consequences. It only takes a few seconds to change your shoes before each journey to help ensure you arrive safely."

Headquartered in Portland, OR, Hanna Andersson, which is known for its superior quality and colorful designs, is a leading brand in the specialty children's apparel market. Utilizing a multi-channel distribution strategy, the products are marketed through the company's catalog, 18 retail stores and its website (HannaAndersson.com). Sales for 2006 were approximately $100 million.

Founded by a Swedish mother, Gun Denhart, and her American husband, Tom, in 1983, the company is named for her grandmother, Hanna Andersson. She started a children's clothing business in America when she could not find beautiful quality, pure cotton kids clothes like those she had known in Sweden. Gun commented "It's terrific to know the little company Tom and I started, with a simple commitment to the customer, high quality and strong sense of corporate responsibility, has the opportunity to partner with Kellwood to help Hanna realize its full potential."

Skinner stated, "The Hanna Andersson acquisition complements our business and brand portfolio corporate strategy in several ways. As we have stated, one of our goals is to expand into upscale brands, and Hanna Andersson positions Kellwood in the better category of children's apparel. Another part of our strategy is to connect more directly with the consumer. The Hanna Andersson business model is focused on a direct to consumer format with a rich media eCommerce web site, colorful catalogs, and an inviting store format. In addition, Hanna Andersson complements and strengthens our successful and strong children's business platform that we have established with Gerber Childrenswear."

The Hanna Andersson management team will continue to be led by Philip Iosca, president and CEO. "Phil and his team have done an excellent job building the Hanna Andersson business over the last 12 years," added Skinner.

Iosca commented, "I am excited Hanna is partnering with Kellwood, a company that appreciates our brand and its position in the marketplace. Kellwood has the resources to help us grow and a leadership team that shares our corporate values and vision for the future."

Kellwood will purchase the company for approximately $175 million, and the Company anticipates the acquisition will be accretive in the first full year before purchase accounting. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the fiscal second quarter. Kellwood was represented by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Hanna Andersson by CIBC World Markets. The current ownership principally consists of Castanea Partners, Dorset Capital, and company management.

Ferre was taken to the San Raffaele hospital in Milan on Friday after suffering a massive brain hemorrhage. The hospital, in a statement authorized by Ferre's family, said he died Sunday night. Condolences from Italy's top designers poured in as word of his death spread -- just days before the menswear spring-summer 2008 collections were to get under way in Milan later this week.

Giorgio Armani, perhaps the king of the "Made in Italy" world to which Ferre also belonged, said he had long admired Ferre's artistic and intellectual work. "When I think of Gianfranco Ferre, the idea that comes immediately to mind is the dignity, the calm, the sense of responsibility that he brought to his work," Armani said, according to the ANSA news agency. Ferre started his career as an accessories and jewelry designer, and then moved on to clothes. His unofficial title as Italy's architect of fashion came thanks to the degree in architecture he obtained in 1969 from Milan's Polytechnic Institute that inspired his designs.

He started his own company in the mid-1970s, but his major leap came in 1989, when he was tapped by Bernard Arnault to be the top designer for Christian Dior. At the time, it was almost unheard of for a non-French designer to take the reins of the venerable Parisian house. Ferre stayed on at Dior until the fall of 1996, when he returned to Milan to tend to his own men's and women's collections. Ferre's style was based on simple and structured lines, and the white blouse became one of his trademarks. His suits were used by businesswomen around the world looking for a sophisticated look.

For the evening, Ferre often made important dresses with ample skirts supported by layers of crinoline. Ferre himself cut a unique figure, a big teddy bear of a man dressed impeccably in three-piece suits. Donatella Versace called Ferre a man "from another time" who helped change Italian fashion. "He was a great couturier who knew how to create an absolute chic with details that I will never get tired of looking at and that will remain in the history of fashion," ANSA quoted Versace as saying.

We've really had a beautiful time. For the past 6 years, it's been Gloss' pleasure to serve as your online beauty resource; the glamour, glitz, the sheer thrill of indulgence that gloss has been able to provide. Now Gloss will end this online beauty experience on June 30th, 2007.

As of July 1st 2007 you'll find the same glamorous, luxurious beauty brands at their exclusive locations. We invite you to continue to enjoy and explore all beauty has to offer in the spirit that is Gloss.

• Insufficient Mating Material (LoveSpell), the racy, wildly entertaining futuristic romance by bestselling author Rowena Cherry.
  
  
• Autographed set of Murder on Nob Hill, The Russian Hill Murders and an ARC of The Cliff House Strangler (all from St. Martin's Press), the three books in the delightful and bestselling mystery series by Shirley Tallman. Set in 1880's San Francisco, the series stars a feisty female attorney who solves mysteries: it's Legally Blond for the 19th century!
  
  
• Autographed copy of Jeff Herman's 2007 Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents (Three Dog Press). It's the must-have guide for all aspiring authors.
  
  
• Floor Sample by Julia Cameron (Tarcher Penguin), the inspring new memoir from the bestselling author of The Artist's Way. Nothing is off limits in her life story: from her career writing for Rolling Stone, her marriage to Martin Scorcese to life in Hollywood, Julia tells it like it is, with her trademark humor and wisdom.
  
  

The Quinny Buzz, $499.99, is available in select specialty stores now. Chic, colorful and convenient, the Buzz is a modular travel system, accommodating not only a reversible, reclining stroller seat, but compatible with the Quinny Dreami bassinet and Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat (both sold separately). On-the-go parents will love the Buzz's hydraulic technology that unfolds the stroller at just a touch - no hands required. A height-adjustable handle ensures mom and dad's comfort, while the stroller's unique three-wheel design and suspension system allow easy maneuvering.

The Buzz's cousin, the Quinny Zapp, $199.99, will be available in select specialty stores beginning August 1. A perfect travel stroller, the full-size Zapp features an ultra-compact fold - 12" x 27" - and comes with its own travel bag. Like the Buzz, it is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat (sold separately). In case there are spills while on the road, the Zapp's durable nylon fabric is stain resistant.

"We're extremely excited to bring such a successful European brand to the American market. The Quinny brand embodies the combination of trendsetting fashion with innovative precision engineering. It's for parents who want stressless, reliable transportation for their children with designs that complement their individual sense of style," said Lisa Abdinoor, Dorel Juvenile Group's director of marketing for the Quinny and Maxi-Cosi brands.

The Quinny Buzz and Zapp will be available at select specialty stores such as Albee Baby Carriage, Babystyle.com, Buy Buy Baby, Giggle, Right Start and other select retailers nationwide.

Safe Harbor seafood is certified to be lower in mercury than government standards through testing conducted by Micro Analytical Systems, Inc. (MASI), San Rafael, Calif., developer of the world's first rapid, large-scale mercury-testing process for seafood.

Seafood sold with the Safe Harbor seal is certified to have a mercury level that is among the lowest available for each species. All Safe Harbor certified seafood meets a stricter standard than that set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 2006, MASI tested more seafood for mercury than the FDA has reported testing in the past 30 years.

"We are committed to providing our customers with the highest quality foods and Safe Harbor certified seafood testing allows us to demonstrate that commitment by being the first retailer in Southern California to offer certified low-mercury seafood," said Kevin Davis, Bristol Farms' President and CEO. "Our customers are extremely knowledgeable about the food they purchase, and we expect Safe Harbor certified seafood to address concerns some may have about mercury levels in fish and seafood. It's a perfect fit with our philosophy of offering the best quality and freshest products available."

The move came after eBay executives met with representatives of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which said in a report recently that nine out of every 10 ivory items sold online contain ivory from poached elephant tusks.

The ban is "fantastic news," said Peter Pueschel, the head of IFAW's Global Program Against Wildlife Trade, because of eBay's "commercial and financial might" and its international reach.

"IFAW believes that this is an important step forward, but that a total ban is ultimately needed, and we will continue to work with eBay and others to implement this," he said.

Because it is mainly a commerce platform enabling person-to-person trading, eBay has long walked a tightrope when it comes to regulating what its community of users can buy and sell. Pattern Found

"TMZ has learned that Jen hit Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills and dropped over a thousand bucks on three Kaloo plush toys for the little newborn. A well-placed source tells us the 38-year-old left a note to include with the gifts that read: "Dear Wyatt, Welcome to the World! xxoo Jen." Awww!

Miss Aniston needn't worry; advancements in fertility should give her plenty of time to decide if she wants to conceive a lil' friend of her very own!"

"I love you, Brad" ends a not-so-secret 18-carat golden love-letter from Pitt to Angelina Jolie, offered shortly before the A-list couple flew in for the Cannes film festival last month.

Made by a master Paris engraver, the love-letter pendant, a miniature gold card slipped discreetly into a golden envelope, begins: "I find you in the morning sky, in the sound of children's laughter, in the motion of every stirring wind." "I love you, Brad," the message ends.

The around 1,500-euro piece of jewelry from Pitt to Jolie also includes a portrait of tiny Pax Thien, the last of three children adopted by the couple who also have a birth daughter, Shiloh, said a spokesman for the French luxury engraver and printer Cassegrain.

Women rarely go anywhere without a purse, which means that if a woman enters a place full of germs, so does her bag. That could mean she ends up carrying around microbes that could make her sick all day long. Microbiologist Chuck Gerba researches where organisms that make us sick lurk and lately he says he has found that germs gather on the outside of a woman's purse, especially on the bottom. "We found fecal bacteria you normally find on the floor of restroom," he said. "We found bacteria that can cause skin infections on the bottom of purses. What's more amazing is the large numbers we find on the bottom of purses, which indicates that they can be picking up a lot of other germs like cold viruses or viruses that cause diarrhea."

Using a hand-held germ meter, Gerba demonstrated how much bacteria can grow on a woman's purse for ABC News, with results that ranged from scary to downright terrifying. Health experts worry when the meter reads over 200, which means thousands of bacteria are present. He found thousands of germs on one woman's purse. She bought her bag about a month ago and Gerba's measurements showed her purse also carried thousands of germs. ABC News is not naming the women who participated in order to protect their identities. "I'll probably just get a new one," she said.

Yet another woman has been carrying a handbag around for years and Gerba said that he found "hundreds of thousands of germs on the surface." Gerba found about half a million bacteria on the bottom of one woman's large bag. Each time ABC News and Gerba ran an instant field test and later a lab test on swabs from the outside bottom of 10 women's purses, every single one had at least some bacteria, most had tens of thousands and a few were saturated with millions. One even had 6.7 million bacteria. Half of the bags tested positive for coliform bacteria, which indicated the possible presence of human or animal waste.

*****

"It matters because you can move germs that can cause illness from one location to another," he said. "You can later touch that purse and get them on your hands, or you could put your purse near a food preparation area and transfer germs to areas you may touch during food preparation." Some women argued that they do not lick the bottom of their purses, so they should not be in danger of getting sick, but it is very easy to unknowingly transfer germs. For example, whatever touched the bottom of your purse touches you when you grab it. If you eat a sandwich soon after that, the germs go right into your mouth. "The purses are really becoming subways for micro organisms," Gerba said. "They're being transferred from one location to another. So it's just like germ 'public transportation.' I'm afraid to touch them. You know, I know too much. I'll never become a purse snatcher, believe me."

Everyone knows about Jennifer Aniston's healthy lifestyle. The all-American beauty has a passion for yoga, cooking organic meals and walking Norman and Dolly on the beach. Not only does Jennifer exercise and eat right, but she has also been drinking the biologically best water, smartwater.

Whether it's the electrolytes (to help rapidly hydrate her body) or the fact that smartwater is the purest water you can get, Jennifer became an immediate fan. She believes so much in smartwater that she recently became an investor in the company and is even getting actively involved in the business.

As part of the partnership with smartwater, Jennifer co-created a limited- edition smartwater label, which will be available in stores across the country this July. Jennifer will also be starring in an upcoming advertising campaign for smartwater, shot by Mario Testino, which will be seen on billboards and print publications this summer.

"We were thrilled that Jennifer discovered smartwater and realized what a difference it makes to her healthy lifestyle," said Rohan Oza, Senior Vice President of Marketing, smartwater. "To us, Jennifer truly embodies what smartwater is all about as she combines substance and style like nobody else."