Just a few short years ago, despite having 10 million users, the Internet was thought by many to be some kind of passing fad. In 1995, MTV News devoted a quick 4-minute segment to the World Wide Web, comparing it to the CB radio craze of the 1970s. The segment includes commentary from Sandra Bullock (who starred in a movie called The Net), Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews and Moby. You can take a walk down memory lane by checking out the vintage video on YouTube.

In 2011, the market for computer tablets is expected to see a 255% growth, with almost 60 million units making their way into the hands of consumers. By 2015, tablet sales are expected to grow by 750% compared to projected growth in laptop sales of about 80%. According to technology industry analyst Ben Bajarin, this phenomenal growth indicates that tablets represent the future of computing because they are based on “touch technology” and a more natural user interface than the keyboard and mouse.

Read Bajarin’s complete analysis on the Time Magazine website.

If you keep your kitchen stocked with soft drinks, think about how much simpler life would be if you could quickly and easily make your own soft drinks.  The SodaStream home soda maker turns tap water into carbonated water in under 30 seconds.  Add the flavor of your choice (there are more than 30 to choose from) and you’ve just made your own soda. 

SodaStream International recently reported that there are more than 4.5 million homes using SodaStream in 41 countries.

If you’d like to save money while helping the environment by eliminating the bottles and cans from your trash pickup, visit the SodaStream website or look for SodaStream in your local home store.  You can also see the SodaStream in action in this YouTube video.

Mac OS X Lion, the latest release of Apple’s popular Mac operating system, is now available in the Mac App Store.  At $29.99, reviewers are unanimously agreeing that this upgrade is well worth the money (though users are advised that later updates may be more reliable). The software includes more than 250 new features that Apple promises will “change the way you use a computer.”

Highlights of the Lion release include:

Read more about OS X Lion on the Apple website.

The Eco Extreme is a rugged speaker case that provides waterproof and shockproof protection for your cellphone and MP3 player.  Now you can take you gadgets to the beach and not worry about sand or water.  There’s also room in the speaker case for credit cards, cash and your car keys. 

The Eco Extreme works with all types of gadgets, including iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry and Motorola Droid.  A universal headphone jack connects to your MP3 player or phone, allowing your music to play through the case’s speakers.  Eco Extreme is available in a variety of hot colors for summer, including Lime Green, Orange Peel, Lemon Zest, Petal Pink and Cobalt Blue.

Find out more about the Eco Extreme All Terrain Speaker Case on the Grace Digital Audio website.  If you’d like to take your Kindle to the beach, check out the Case Logic Water Resistant Kindle Sleeve.

With the 4th of July approaching, our minds turn to gadgets with lots of pyrotechnics. We recently saw a news story on MSNBC about the Frankenhorn Flamethrower Trombone. The horn has been modified with a torch and compressed air mechanism so that it now generates a 21-foot fiery blast of sound with a concussion wave of 150 feet. The trombone can still be played, but it has a mean recoil.

See the Frankenhorn in action in this YouTube video.

For golfer’s who love gadgets, golf club manufacturer PING has a new golf app that helps you improve your game with better putter strokes.

This free app works in conjunction with the PING cradle, which allows you to attach your iPhone or iPod Touch to your putter. The iPING app will then record stroke consistency, tempo and impact angle.

Find out more about the iPING Putter App and view an informational video on the PING website.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, we’ve got the perfect gift for dads who are concerned about the environment. This battery-powered lawn mower from Neuton features a Duracell rechargeable battery that lasts for up to an hour.

According to Neuton, this mower has the power to cut even wet grass. It comes with a bagger and mulch plug. Because there is no gas or oil, the Neuton mower can be folded up and stored vertically. With an estimated cost per charge of 12 cents, this mower will also save dad some money.

Find out more about this battery-powered mower on the Neuton website.

We are currently living through a gadget revolution, with increasingly powerful mobile devices and touch screens providing new forms of human-computer interaction. Although it may seem like today’s tablets, smartphones and e-book readers are entirely new inventions, the fact is they evolved from earlier technology that was often ahead of its time.

A Microsoft research scientist named Bill Buxton has amassed a collection of vintage gadgets that serves as a fascinating reminder of where many of our newest gadgets originated.  Pictured here on the left is a transistor radio designed by Dieter Rahms in 1958. It’s sleek, functional design and innovate scroll wheel was the inspiration for several generations of the iPod (seen on the right).

Read more about Bill Buxton’s old gadget collection on the Atlantic Monthly website.

The Droid Charge smartphone from Samsung has been eagerly awaited by many power users.  It’s the second smartphone that supports Verizons 4G LTE network.  The faster network capability and Android 2.2 give Web browsing a performance boost and help the performance of popular apps like Facebook and Google Maps.  The Droid Charge can serve as a mobile WiFi hotspot for other devices.  It supports Microsoft Exchange for e-mail and also includes a GMail app.   

The 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus touch screen display provides enhanced graphics and the battery life is longer than the battery of the competing HTC ThunderBold and other HTC smartphones.

See a video review of the Droid Charge in this YouTube video and read a review on CNET.