Ten Tech TidbitsTen Tech Tidbits

Here's a smattering of smaller stories that may not have made a lot of waves this week, but are still worth noting. Topics include Acer, Android, Garmin-Asus, Nokia, Opera, T-Mobile and more.- Illinois to ban texting and driving. The state of Illinois will be the 17th to outlaw the practice of texting while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers will be able to send messages when the car is parked or in neutral, but not while moving.

- Garmin-Asus promises (for real this time!) that the G60 nuvifone will actually go on sale in the U.S. by the end of 2009. It is already for sale in select Asian countries.

- Amazon has released an application for the Android platform. Separate from the Amazon MP3 Store App that's already available for Android, this new application will allow users of Android phones to browse and shop for items such as books, movies, games and more.

- Nokia's N86 cameraphone is prepped for a U.S. release. Sources indicate that NAM version of the N86 will street on August 22. The N86 has an 8 megapixel camera on board. It will cost about $500.

- A side-by-side survey conducted by Distimo says that most Android applications cost just as much as iPhone applications. For some reason, social networking and finance applications cost a bit more for the Android platform, however.

- NYC coffee shops are sick of laptop users hogging the Wi-Fi, electricity and table space. According to the Wall Street Journal, some coffee shops in New York City are cracking down and asking laptop users to leave if they don't purchase food.

- Acer has decided it doesn't want to be left out of the apps store craze, and will launch its own version of an apps store. The company has several Windows Mobile smartphones already available, and has plans to offer and Android phone, as well. It didn't indicate if the store would support both Windows Mobile and Android.

- Images of the official Facebook application for Android have been leaked. One cool aspect of the forthcoming application is that it will have a companion homescreen widget, which will allow users to update their status without actually opening the full application.

- Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner has said that the company is working to develop a version of Opera Mobile for the Android platform. Opera Mobile is its more fully realized mobile browser for smartphone platforms such as Windows Mobile and S60. Von Tetzchner didn't say when the browser would become available.

- T-Mobile endows western New York cities with 3G. According to TMo-News, the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, New York, all have access to T-Mobile's 3G network now. Let the speedy surfing begin.