Go go Gdgt — See You at #smwchicago

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Without too much fuss, gdgt the gadget promotion event returned to Chicago on Friday, September 16th at 435 N. Michigan, in the Tribune Tower. If you missed this gadget show and tell event, you can still get your fill of social media this week. It’s Social Media Week in Chicago. From sessions about marketing and social media, to “Journalism in the Age of Twitter,” to “Social Media for the Anti-Social,” from September 19 through the 26th, there are some very interesting sessions all around the downtown area.

Chicago is the first city to get a Foursquare Explorer Badge, and they aren’t wasting a minute find

ing ways to get local folks to check-in, from Bronzeville to Chinatown. There is a blues-related set of check-ins. Check the schedule for details, but on Thursday, Tim Samuels, city historian is leading a three hour tour where explorers will hear about the sites they visit and as they check-in with Foursquare, they will be getting closer to claiming the Chicago badge. If you haven’t used Foursquare, it is easy to use if you have a smartphone. There are social media sessions for academics, marketers, seniors, you’ll need to go through the schedule yourself because there are too many to list.

Gdgt offered free admission, and lots of swag, which is just what you would expect at a promo event for a bunch of tech gadgets. The space was well-suited for a tech show, like the Apple Store it was cool white, with a circular stairway and lots of cool lighting. The products were all slick, but there wasn’t anyth

ing really new. TMobile had phones and Jon Eliav, Senior Specialist, said the company was continuing to roll out its 4G service even as its proposed buyout by AT&T was blocked by the FCC. For now, Eliav says TMobile is growing.

Gdgt is gdgt is the new consumer electronics site by Peter Rojas and Ryan Block, the guys behind Engadget and Gizmodo tech and gadget websites.

For folks who brought in old phones, AT&T’s Revolve Project would take them, record a message from the donor about their old phone, that is supposed to show the evolution of mobile technology, you can get a sneak peek, if you like.

Any phones donors didn’t want, were recycled through Cell Phones for Soldiers, an organization that turns recycled phones into phone cards for the military.

SugarSync was there with a secure syncing service that aims to take on Dropbox. The Nook Color does work like a tablet, and is only $299.