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TechConsumer News is a feature we started out of a hobby of tracking the latest happenings within the consumer related technology sphere. The goal is to provide a concise, compiled overview of the most intriguing stories from the last few days. Feel free to give us feedback or send us tips.

Here’s the latest in TechConsumer news:

Two sources now are perpetuating the rumor that Google is working on its own cellphone or the GPhone, as some like to call it. It will revolve around Google ’s suite of applications, which will play a major role in the usability of the device. For example, a GPS and Google Maps will be integrated together. Interestingly enough, one source claims that the phone’s “…functionality is less about beating the iPhone and more about beating the $100 Laptop.”

Douglas Brown, a computer network administrator at a hospital in Georgia, is the latest consumer to experience a flaming Dell laptop. He had a Dell 9200 laptop which burst into blames due to a battery explosion (see picture above). Brown said that it “looked like fireworks which would have been cool had it not been in my house.” When he called Dell to ask who would be pay for the damage to his house, a rep asked if he had insurance.

Analysts seem certain that HDTV prices will continue to drop, saying the best time to buy is in January because retailers always take on more product than they need for the holidays. Further research indicates that two-thirds of American households will not buy an HDTV until the price of a 37-inch or larger set drops below $600. The price of a 37-inch LCD averages at around $1,200.