Crave

Sony's still thinking small with its Cyber-shot digital cameras, keeping most models thin, light, and easy to pocket. The company just announced its spring lineup of Cyber-shots, which includes no less than five new T- and W-series cameras that measure less than an inch thick.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is the first ultracompact digital camera to break 10 megapixels. The W200 features a 12-megapixel sensor that can record images up to 4,000x3,000. The W200 joins the 8-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-W90 and the 7-megapixel W80, which share the same 35-to-105mm-equivalent optical zoom lens, the same 2.5-inch LCD screen, … Read more

We all knew it was too good to last. For several years now, one solid piece of advice to anyone buying a big-ticket item such as a plasma TV was to get it at Costco if possible, thanks to the big-box retailer's well-known return anytime policy. With the exception of desktop and laptop computers (limited to six months), a member could pretty much return any item at any time, including that $2,000 TV that suddenly stopped working two years later.

Of course, plenty of people abused the privilege, returning items when a cheaper model came out or using … Read more

Now that you have the proper equipment to purify your air and water, we thought it appropriate to address the germaphobe's holiest of hygiene utensils: the toothbrush.

Using technology similar to that of the "SteriPEN" water purifier, Herrington's "Violight" toothbrush sanitizer uses UV rays to zap bacteria in the name of oral hygiene, according to Coolest-Gadgets. The device holds multiple brushes (up to four), which true 'phobes might find somewhat gross.

Remember Bono's (RED) campaign, the charity project that launched the red iPod? (And eventually a torrent of other crimson gadgets.)

Given all the publicity, we assumed that the initiative would have brought in truckloads of money for its stated purpose of helping fight AIDS in Africa. But according to marketing firm PSFK, the charity reported raising only $11.3 million as of the end of December, "a tiny fraction of the $6.6 billion funds the Global Fund has committed to 460 programs in 136 countries."

The campaign is still less than five months old, so it'… Read more

Sony's new line of Bravia home theater systems may be turning heads, but the company is also debuting a troika of more traditional, component-based home-theater-in-a-box systems (HTIBs). Two of the three systems don't include DVD players (so you're not paying extra for something you already own). And while these systems may not have the slick look of the Bravia line, the inclusion of a full-scale A/V receiver offers the flexibility of more A/V inputs.

The "HT" line is composed of three products: the HT-DDW790 ($200, March), the HT-DDW990 ($300, May), and the HT-7100DH ($… Read more

Sony has taken the wraps off its latest lineup of all-in-one home-theater-in-a-box systems (HTIBs). The 2007 line spans seven products: three models being sold under the Bravia banner--a label previously reserved only for the company's flat-panel TVs--three affordable component-based systems and one model that integrates a complete surround speaker system into a TV stand.

The Bravia line includes the DAV-HDX265 ($300, March), DAV-HDX267W ($300, April), and DAV-HDX500 ($500, March). Each model is a 5.1-channel system with a five-disc CD/DVD changer built into a unified slim head unit, all of which are designed to match the eponymous flat-screen … Read more

We highlighted the Evesham Sound Stage X1 earlier this month, but truth be told, Sony and Onkyo were already offering similar TV stands with integrated speakers at least as early as last year. Sony must really like the concept, too, because the company has gone back to the well yet again.

While the RHT-G800 doesn't look that different from the company's past "home theater stands," it's the first one to be HDMI enabled (two 1080p-capable HDMI inputs and one output). And just because its speakers, subwoofer, and electronics happen to be crammed into a TV … Read more

Today at its line show, Sony announced three new shelf systems, all featuring Bluetooth connectivity, which will enable them to play digital audio files from other Bluetooth devices such as computers, MP3 players, and cell phones. The shelf systems will cost between $150 and $300 and will be available in April.

The CMT-BX5BT is the entry-level model. It can plays MP3 files--probably via Bluetooth or burned onto CDs--and has the ability to read ID3 tags, which means you'll get artist and track names on the display. There also are the standard features for a shelf system, such as a … Read more

Just when you thought Sony's 2006 lineup of flat-panel LCD HDTVs was getting a little long in the tooth, out come the 2007 models. Today the company announced seven new Bravias, an acronym for--I kid you not--"Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture." In fact, a whole press release was dedicated to how Sony intends to extend the brand to nontelevision products, like home-theater systems, but I doubt anyone outside Sony's marketing department cares. And if you happen to care about how much you'll be asked to spend on the new TVs, you're out … Read more