Crave

More stuff to Crave

--ONLY IN JAPAN: Only in Japan (Pink Tentacle)

--GAMING: Survey: 54% of stores have PS3s in stock (Joystiq)

--SECOND LIFE: Behind the Anshe Chung DCMA complaint (CNET News.com)

--WEB 2.0: A widget storm is coming (GigaOM)

--HISTORY LESSONS: Using coffee as fuel in Brazil locomotives (Make)

--NEWS: Ten fired from radio station after Wii contest death (Game|Life)

--SECOND LIFE: Second Life Keenag Art Gallery (Productdose)

--WORLD OF WARCRAFT: 28 hours later, Warcraft gets its first Level 70 (Joystiq)

A lava lamp to guide you through the darkness

You know, I kind of like lava lamps. Unlike the whole ambient orb craze, lava lamps aren't just background decoration--they're fun to stare at. They also have legit retro appeal, which is pretty cool when it seems like just about every gadget is trying to look as futuristic as possible. Now, crazy-gadget hub ThinkGeek is selling a $10 lava lamp night light that Gizmodo alerted us to today. You can get 'em in red or yellow (though on the product page, the yellow looks more like neon green), and they plug right into any electric socket. Then it … Read more

A gadget for kinder, gentler weather

The country is experiencing record swings in temperature this winter and $1 billion in failed citrus crops due to freezing temperatures in California.

What a great time to think about pool sports.

The AquaClimb is a rock climbing wall for your pool. And who knows, you may not have to wait until summer to use it if temperatures swing back into the 70s, as they did on January 7 in the northeast.

There is no limit to the weight that the wall--a stainless steel frame with fiberglass panels and nonslip coating--can hold, according to the company. AquaClimb's base screws … Read more

A bounty of budget Sony shooters

Sony has some new cameras on the way, and they're all strangely similar. The company just announced the Cyber-shot DSC-W35, W55, S650, and S700, four sub-$200, 7-megapixel point-and-shoot cameras. They're simple, inexpensive models with the standard complement of snapshot features, including a top sensitivity of ISO 1000 for low-light and high-speed shots.

The Cyber-shot DSC-W35 and W55 replace the DSC-W30 and W50 in Sony's Cyber-shot W-series of ultracompact snapshot cameras. At just more than five ounces with battery and memory card, they're light and easily pocketable. They both use 38 to 114mm-equivalent lenses and include … Read more

A robot vacuum for rednecks and Will Ferrell junkies

Here at Crave, we tend to be skeptical about creative vacuuming solutions. There was that "Buster" prototype, which looked like more of a way for kids to terrorize pets than for a house to get cleaned. And then there are the "chic" vacuums that look like lawn gnomes. And now here's the latest, thanks to BornRich: a remote-controlled vacuum shaped like a NASCAR race car. It even comes with audio features to make it sound like it's straight out of Talladega Nights. I admit, I may be too much of a yuppie to understand … Read more

Wireless Oyster breaks out of shell

As part of our obsession over wireless home audio systems, we've mentioned Avega Systems as a case study of promises (and failures) to deliver on said technologies. But a year later, the company apparently made good on its vow to release its Wi-Fi speakers by this year's CES.

Avega has released its wireless "Oyster" audio system, which SCI FI Tech says "can accept wireless music streams from your PC or media server, game consoles or anything equipped with Wi-Fi." We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Amen.

Mitsubishi vies with VW in Paris-to-Dakar

The Paris-to-Dakar rally is being run right now and, in the car division, Mitsubishi Pajeros are duking it out with Volkswagen Touaregs on a daily basis. As of the 10th stage of the rally, Team Repsol, with drivers Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret, had taken the overall lead with their specially modified Mitsubishi Pajero Evo. The car uses its original MIVEC six-cylinder engine, with extensive modification, and a six-speed sequential gearbox. The dashboard holds a ruggedized navigation system with special trip computers to help the driving team stay on course and on time. Among the 110 entrants in the car … Read more

Wii Sports: Geeks are the new jocks

The champagne hangover's worn off, and CES and Macworld are quickly becoming memories; it's time to get serious about that list of New Year's resolutions. And though No. 1 (get more exercise) and No. 12 (master a new video game) seem to be mutually exclusive, one blogger has shown that you can game your way to better health, or at the very least, a smaller pants size. After six weeks of playing Wii Sports for 30 minutes a day--and making no other change to his diet or everyday activities--the Philadelphia-based blogger reported that he'd lost nine … Read more

This week in flying robotic animals

It's been a banner week for flying robotic animals. Plummeting prices amid high demand signal a true buyer's market. New, exciting, and odor-free robot versions of the world's most popular and delicious animals are now available.

RC Flying Cat Toy: HobbyTron.com's remote-controlled flying cat is still the market leader in the emerging flying-cat sector. Its robust feature set places it among the top 15 to 20 flying cats in world history. It boasts a 60-foot flight range, quick charging time, bleeding-edge safety features, and out-of-the-box compatibility with air. Early adopters beware: Crave analysts are still … Read more