Earlier this month, tons of technology companies gathered in San Diego at DEMO to debut a plethora of cool new products. Being a self-professed geek -- and a penny pincher -- I was excited to see a new program called Avego, which was demoed by Mapflow and put an interesting spin on carpooling.

We all have a rough idea of how traditional carpooling works in the US. An area where it is weak is that for the most part you are only carpooling with people you know rather than individuals who are going the same route as you.

Avego turns this model on its head and uses real time location data and cell phones to find other riders who want to be part of the route you are currently taking. For example, you could advertise an opening on the way to work in the morning and another person halfway there may ask to join your carpool for that trip only. These same kinds of interactions occur whenever you take a trip be it to the grocery store, movies or wherever.

Avego isn't just looking to change carpooling, but also human behavior by trying to get people to start sharing rides and also sharing them with a stranger, no small task on any front. It seems it has thought this through and it's using two of the best motivators currently at its disposal; the desire for many people to go green and the desire of more people to earn green! To facilitate the ride sharing Avego charges the rider 30 cents per mile, an amount cheaper than driving on their own or grabbing a taxi, and then pays the driver about 85% of that for the trip, thus providing motivation for all of the involved parties.

The first iPhone was able to bring iTunes integration and all parts of the Internet* to the mobile arena, to the delight of millions. When it was followed up with the App store and the iPhone 3G, millions more were once again enthralled by the ability to surf the Internet, read their email and play games on the go. From the way that the Internet and the mainstream media have reacted, you'd have thought that the iPhone was the second coming of Christ.

It's hard to imagine how we got by without the ability to do these cool tasks for all those years -- Oh wait, I forgot -- the same tasks that the iPhone can do, Windows Mobile users have been doing for years. On top of these shared tasks, Windows Mobile also lets users install any program they want without the need for it to pass through Apple's vetting and censorship process. Unfortunately, loading iPhones with Apple-vetted applications via the App Store has caused many an iPhone to crash. Those who choose to load other software must first jailbreak their iPhone, thereby voiding the warranty.

Don't miss the rest of our series on Overrated people, places and things!

The iPhone looks cool and maybe it even makes you feel cool (in the same way cigarettes do for 14-year-olds), but in the end it is still just a phone. While it has aesthetic beauty, the usefulness of the phone has been overrated by many, helped in part due to the cult of Apple followers who lined city blocks just to shell out for a new phone. Seriously, how good can a phone with all of these features be if making full use of it requires users to break its warranty. Did I mention the iPhone can't copy and paste?

Now that Apple has launched the App store for iPhones it is easier than ever to get a hold of your personal finances. Numerous companies have stepped in to fill the app store with personal finace applications ranging from free tip tools to $15 expense trackers. David at MoneyNing.com put in the effort to create a listing of many though not varied personal finance apps for the iPhone.

While there are enough tip calculators to let you eat out every night and still not have to use the same program to go dutch, split the tip and make sure you hit 20% there are quite a few worthwhile apps out there.

Applications which MoneyNing recommends include:

• Bloomberg - Free app which keeps you up to date on stocks.
• Budget - A nice budgeting tool with graphs.
• Expense2Go - Free expense tracking app which makes use of the iPhone camera.
• Mobile Banking - Free banking app for Bank of America customers.
• Pocket Money - A feature rich expense tracking program.
• Save Benjis - Free price comparison tool.

There are many more programs and further analysis of the pros and cons of each app, which is very useful since the App store currently doesn't offer any way to try out applications.

One part of successfully managing your personal finances is the ease with which you can do just that. Spending $5 to enable your iPhone to track your spending may be one of the best investments you make. Especially once you consider how much your new iPhone contract will cost you over the course of your 2 year agreement!

If you've done any online shopping for electronics or computers recently you've most certainly come across a refurb section with items at deeply discounted prices. Matthew Dillon at GottaBeMobile.com, rounded up a great collection of the different ways you can save money buying refurbished, and also compiled several great sources for finding refurbished electronics.

Types of refurbished products:

• Refurbished - The unit was determined to be defective and given a complete overhaul to fix the problem.
• Scratch-and-Dent - These products will have slight variations on the exterior appearance, but they should function fine.
• Open Box - You'll find these in the corner of a brick and mortar store often missing remotes and manuals. These are usually returns or floor models, the latter taking heaps of abuse at the hands of customers.

The most recognizable source for refurbished goods is the Apple Store, which offers amazing deals on refurbished laptops, iPods and iPhones. I've gotten many great deals on open box items at Best Buy, where returned TVs usually net at least a 15% discount. And during inventory clearance season, savvy shoppers can get an additional 40% off. One of my friends had similar success purchasing a scratch and dent TV from ABC warehouse, negotiating an extra two years of warranty for free, on top of the lowered purchase price.

Still not sure? Keep in mind that refurbished products have usually been looked at and tested more closely than the original units that ship. Just make sure that the return and warranty policy policies are favorable before you purchase. GottaBeMobile has many more tips on getting the best deal on refurbished products.

Do you buy refurbished? Have you had good luck?

Cell phone contracts often lock up the user tighter than Alcatraz, and the cost to escape is just as costly, with the lowest termination fees still coming in over $150.

Thankfully if you want to get out of your current cell phone plan without paying out the nose, you can sell your cell phone contract via Cellswapper.com. The service connects you with people who want to pick up a short term contract on the cheap, allowing you to sign up for a new iPhone or a plan that better fits your calling habits.

The cost to sell your contract begins at $18.95 for the basic sale package, where your phone will be listed until the contract is purchased. Once you have made a sale, you simply have to ring up your current provider and initiate a transfer process, which typically takes 2-3 days. If you are switching to another provider you can even keep your phone number. You can also get 25% of your selling fee refunded if you purchase your next phone contract from Cellswapper.com.

I'm always impressed with the businesses that pop up to deal with the shortcomings of the current marketplace. I still wish you could purchase an affordable phone without making a commitment that lasts longer than many marriages these days. Of course if you're selling your current contract to purchase a new iPhone, make sure you check out the new iPhone pricing plans!

This is one of the better Daily Deals I've ever written about. For a limited time -- probably a very limited time -- eForcity is offering a car charger for the Apple iPod/iPhone -- for 25 cents with free shipping, if you use the code APPCC25C.

The retail price is $29.99 and the charger will probably sell out very fast. If you want one, order it immediately.

The next time you see a good deal on Craigslist, you might want to give this a little thought...

According to New York City police, a gang in Brooklyn has been offering discounted iPhones on Craigslist to lure mugging victims. In at least one instance, the four suspects put up a posting in which they offered ten iPhones for the attractive price of $2000. They then negotiated with the potential buyers to meet in deserted areas in Brooklyn, where they proceeded to rob the hapless bargain hunters. On April 10, one would-be buyer scared them off by honking his car's horn, but on June 4, the men managed to steal $2000, a cellphone, and a handheld navigation device from one would-be buyer. Not long afterward, a police officer, posing as a customer, arranged a meeting, at which several officers converged upon the robbers. Since the arrest, the four men have been tied to four robberies and are being investigated in connection with eight more.

The first key element in this scam was the fact that, while the iPhones were selling for a discounted rate, their price was still somewhat reasonable. Moreover, the fact that Craigslist, like eBay, is largely unpoliced, makes it very easy for robbers to take advantage of the unwary. The next time you meet with someone you found on Craigslist, you might want to follow a few precautions.

• First off, don't agree to any situation that will have you carrying large sums of money. If the sale involves a lot of cash, both you and your fellow Craigslister will be better off if you use traveler's checks, counter checks, or money orders.
• Second, be sure to travel with a friend when meeting for a sale, as many would-be robbers will be discouraged when they discover that you're not alone.
• Third, when you agree to meet with someone you've never met, be sure that the meeting place is somewhere that you know, or at least in a public area where there are a lot of witnesses. A legitimate buyer or seller should be perfectly happy to meet in a well-traveled area.
• Finally, use your common sense: if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
  
  Bruce Watson is a freelance writer, blogger, and all-around cheapskate. He doesn't like iPhones, anyway!

More scams to watch for:

The ATM scam that could cost you dearly

Save $300 this year on bank fees

What's your American Dream? Seems today is a good day for thinking about the big picture of your place in the economy. Because if your version of living the high life is driving around in a big car, then your life is getting more expensive every day as the average price of gas hits $4 for the first time. USA Today's special on the American Dream getting squeezed finds people dealing with the painful effects of a bad economy in new ways every day. How have you fared? Are you better off now than five years ago?

Other news nuggets you need to know today:

McDonald's Pulls Tomatoes After 23 Sick
Apple Expected to Unveil New iPhone
IRS Battles with Billionaire Anschutz
Amazon Goes Down for About 2 Hours
Corn Soars to Record High, Set to Go Higher
Goody's Files for Chapter 11

Elsewhere on the Web:

Family Businesses Lead to Family Drama
Souring Economy Puts the Bite on Pet Owners
Beer Makers Turn Increasingly to Viral Ads
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner First Flight is on Schedule
Companies Offering Free Gas to Attract Business
Lenders Slash Prices to Dump Foreclosures
Hard to Find a Job, But not an Internship
Visa, Mastercard See Gold in Prepaid Cards

Unemployment is up again and so is oil, so happy weekend to everyone. Doesn't that kind of news make you want to run out to the mall this weekend and blow lots of cash? Maybe that's why a lot is hanging today on Wal-Mart's shareholders meeting.

Here are the news nuggets you need to know today:

Wal-Mart Benefits from New Merchandising Focus

The Latest Gas Pain: More Job Losses

Americans Are $1.7 Trillion Poorer

IRS Small Business Audits Increase

Japanese Black Watermelon Auctioned for $6,100

LA Sues Time Warner Cable Over Lousy Service

Ex-Champ Holyfield KO'd By Finances

Elsewhere in business news on the web...

Computer Games as Liberal Arts?

Banks vs. Consumers (Guess Who Wins)

Taxing the 'Not-So-Rich' Rich

iPhone 2.0 Takes on the World

US Automakers Catching up on Productivity

Demand for Rarest Diamonds Outstrips Supplies

US Buyers Drive Christie's $350 Million Art Auction

Investors Drool as New iPhone Nears

Zinio, a purveyor of digital magazines has recently rolled out the ability for iPhone users to read current copies for free. They already provide a cheaper subscription price for many digital magazines striking a cord with eco and fiscally conscious consumers but this move should get way more exposure for the company. How this turns that into revenue is another question; but that doesn't matter to you! You just want to know how to get free versions of Business Week and Playboy without owning an iPhone.

That's right, Zinio is giving away the full current issue of magazines such as Business Week, Playboy, PC Magazine and Popular Mechanics to name a few to anyone who can at least pretend to be an iPhone owner. While the promotion is geared at those browsing on the iPhone, users of the popular web browser Firefox can follow the instructions from ismashiphone to basically tell the Zinio website that your computer is an iPhone. While the instructions may look a little scary, have no fear as they are easy to follow. After making those changes you simply need to visit Zinio's iPhone site to snag your free magazines.

If you needed another reason to switch to Firefox for your browsing needs, the ability to view numerous popular magazines for free should push you over the edge. This functionality is available for users of several other web browsers as well but not Internet Explorer. This is definitely a cool way to get magazines for free and certainly beats getting a haircut every three and a half weeks just to see the latest issues of your favorite magazine! As several of the magazines are adults only, don't go checking this out on your work computer.