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December 27, 2009 9:07 PM PST

Reports: Panasonic battery to power homes for one week

by Tim Hornyak
  • Post a comment
(Credit: Physorg.com)
Panasonic is planning to market a storage cell with capacity to power a typical Japanese home for about one week, according to a recent interview in the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

The cell could be available in Japan around fiscal 2011, according to the interview with Panasonic President Fumio Otsubo, carried on Physorg.com. Fiscal 2011 in Japan begins April 1, 2010.

The electronics giant has been developing fuel cell home cogeneration systems. But it recently took majority control of Sanyo Electric and is expected to take advantage of Sanyo's rechargeable battery and solar-power know-how.

Panasonic and Sanyo have apparently already test-manufactured the storage cell and plan to sell it with a power-monitoring system that displays consumption on home TVs.

Via Physorg.com .

December 26, 2009 7:48 AM PST

Android eHow app: Get and share advice on anything

by Dong Ngo
  • Post a comment

Finally, it's time to get my gorgeous body back!

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

So Christmas, as awesome as it has always been, is now over, and you're wondering what to do next. Well, I don't have an answer to that. However, if you already know what to do but just wonder how to best do it and you happen to own an Android-based phone, then I have something for you.

It's an app that can be used for basically anything, called eHow from Demand Media, the owner of the popular eHow Web site.

The app basically puts all the functions of the Web site and more in your palm. I tried it out over Christmas and really loved it. I was able to quickly find recipes and step-by-step instructions for dozen of cocktails and meat pies, and now I believe have mastered the way to make tuna steaks.

Best of all, I was even able to record the process of making the food with the phone. The app has a function called "I did this" that allows you to upload your experience of getting the job done via text, images, or video to the eHow Web site, or you can e-mail that to friends to show off, which I did. (I didn't upload anything to the site as I didn't want to risk my self-proclaimed level of steak mastery being questioned.)

Apart from food and thousands of other daily chores that you might need help with, the app also offers advice on serious issues, such as how to lose weight or find love. I didn't try any of these out (yet) but if you have and were successful, please share your experience in the comments below.

According to Demand Media, eHow is now home to more than 1 million articles and videos, and a vast community that shares its experiences and provides real-life advice. You don't need to be a member to get the advice but if you want to share yours, an account can be created for free. And now with the eHow app, you can do that when you're on the go, literally from anywhere in the world.

The app, however, does require an Internet connection. It doesn't have any content built-in; it's just a front-end application that accesses the data directly from the eHow's Web site each time you look for an advice. I tried it with Verizon's 3G connection and the performance was decent. Most text and image items loaded instantly, but the videos took a few seconds to buffer before playing, which was to be expected.

The app seems to be a perfect fit for Android phone users now that the new year is coming and you'll probably need help achieving your resolutions. The eHow app is available at the Android Market app store and can be downloaded for free.

The app is not available for the iPhone for now, which is a good thing in a way, because if you really already have "an app for everything," you might not need an app that has everything in it.

Originally posted at Android Atlas
December 24, 2009 9:54 AM PST

Last-minute deal: Buy an Olive 4 or 4 HD, get the Beatles Remastered free

by CNET staff
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Olive 4 (Credit: Olive)

It's Christmas Eve, which means it's too late to take advantage of any online gift deals. But it's not too late to think about giving yourself a post-holiday treat. And Olive is here to help. The company is offering a free copy of the Beatles Remastered CD collection to anyone who purchases an Olive 4 or Olive 4 HD digital music server. Yes, at $1,500 to $2,000, this is no impulse buy, but if you're in the market for a high-end digital music server, having the Beatles CDs (a $200 value) thrown in for free just might get you to take the plunge. (We liked the previous Olive product we reviewed back in 2006, and we'll be reviewing the Olive 4 in January.)

The deal runs until December 28. Check it out here, and be sure to read the terms and conditions as well.

December 22, 2009 4:43 PM PST

Hipster concept: Vacuum with an iPod dock

by Matt Hickey
  • 8 comments
Electrolux UltraSilencer Music Edition Amplified iPod Vacuum (Credit: Electrolux)

I am confused by the concept behind this new Electrolux vacuum cleaner.

The company has developed the technology for what it's calling the "quietest vacuum cleaner ever." But then it breaks the silence by incorporating an iPod dock and speakers into the thing. Yes, this quiet vacuum plays music.

It's just a concept at this point based on a study Electrolux did (PDF) on the effects of music on doing housework. But I could easily envision these quiet-but-loud machines hitting stores in the next year if the demand is strong enough. I see these as the world's first hipster vacuums.

I suppose I like the idea of making housework fun, but the elimination of noise to create more enjoyable noise is like gentrification of the soundwaves. I can't help but think about how it mirrors what's happening in cities around the globe as people are pushed out of their neighborhoods to make way for newer, hipper, higher-end housing.

Or maybe I've been reading too many social-theory books before bed.

December 21, 2009 3:29 PM PST

This coffee mug stirs itself

by Brian Krepshaw
  • 3 comments

No stir stick needed.

(Credit: Think Geek)

After all the shopping and cooking and traveling, the end of the year can be a real time crunch, and it's easy to overlook the little day-to-day things we regularly attend to without a second thought. Thankfully, when it comes to the most basic consumables of our daily lives (coffee), there is a product designed to help those of us who need to save every minute (or are incredibly absent-minded).

The Self-Stirring Mug from Think Geek can help us shave precious seconds off of our daily routine. Powered by two AAA batteries installed in the base, the mug accomplishes this amazing time-saving trick with the press of a button. A fast-moving motor installed in the base spins a small mechanism, creating a whirlwind of your favorite beverage. No matter how you dress up your coffee, this fun little gadget will give you the time (not to mention the caffeine boost) to get through your day--or at least save you from using up a stir stick.

Originally posted at Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets
Brian Krepshaw is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
December 21, 2009 3:24 PM PST

Digital City Podcast 63: 'Avatar,' 3D PS3, CES, oh my!

by Scott Stein
and
Julie Rivera
  • 3 comments

In this week's preholiday edition of the Digital City Podcast, we all get ready for our one long break of the year, accompanied by special guest smartphone guru (and new CNET East Coaster) Bonnie Cha.

Scott and Joe have seen James Cameron's "Avatar"; Bonnie and Julie haven't. We also discuss Intel's new Atom Netbooks, 3D Blu-ray on the PS3, holiday smartphones, and upcoming laptops and phones at CES 2010. Best of all, Scott gets a chance to show off his one and only Batjew T-shirt. Watch it on video or you'll miss it.

Plus, don't forget to enter a comment to win a 16GB Zune HD of your very own. Happy holidays!

Related links:
>>3D Blu-ray standard outlined, includes PS3
>>New Atom Netbooks: Strange timing for shoppers?
>>CES 2010 Preview: Cell phones
>>CES 2010 Preview: Desktops and laptops

>>Watch the Digital City live every Monday at 3 p.m. EST on CNET Live!
>>Subscribe to Digital City on iTunes
>>Join the Digital City Facebook fan page
>>Need more? Follow Dan on Twitter! And Scott!

Listen now: Download today's podcast
Subscribe now: iTunes (audio) | iTunes (video) | RSS (audio) | RSS (video)


Originally posted at Digital City Podcast
December 17, 2009 12:56 PM PST

The 20 most notable tech products of 2009

by David Carnoy
  • 2 comments

Not every noteworthy product was made by Apple in 2009.

We've been doing a lot of end-of-the year lists here at CNET as our editors round up the most popular and best products in their categories. That's all great, but then someone said, "Hey, why don't we do a list that's a best-of-the-best list of all the lists combined?"

Well, that's what I was tasked with, but instead of calling it the "Best products of 2009" or the "Most popular products of 2009," I've come up with "The most notable products of 2009," which I like to think of as a kind of a hybrid between popular, best, and most hyped.

Once again, I've enlisted the help of my fellow editors, so while my name may appear at the top of this list, it's really a collective effort. That said, you can blame me if you don't like the picks (a few may surprise you).

As always, feel free to suggest your own picks. If you make a good case, we'll update the list and make some changes.

Click on any image to start the slideshow and see the picks (they are listed in alphabetical order).

More: The decade's 30 biggest tech flops

Originally posted at Fully Equipped
December 17, 2009 4:00 AM PST

Crave giveaway of the day: Belkin Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit

by David Carnoy
  • 4150 comments

Powerline network adapters, which let you create an ultrafast entertainment network through your home's existing electrical wiring, may not seem sexy to everyone, but we sure like them here at CNET because that's just the sort of people we are. Up for grabs today: Belkin's Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit, which is about as good as it gets when it comes to powerline adapters.

Here's what Belkin has to say about today's prize: "Because of its high Gigabit speeds and consistent connection, Gigabit Powerline reduces online gaming latency and provides large bandwidth, making it ideal for online PC gaming and ultrafast high-quality transmission of multiple video streams." While most powerline technology runs at 200Mbps, Gigabit Powerline delivers content at 1000Mbps of speed.

Thanks to Belkin for providing today's prize and we'd also like to give a shout out to Shopper.com, which helped put together several of Crave's holiday giveaways. Shopper.com powers CNET's price-comparison engine, and it's a great site for finding the best prices on products. (See all of Shopper's deals, coupon codes, and rebates).

Normally, the Belkin's Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit would cost you about $150, but you have the chance to get it gratis.

So, how do you try to win this Belkin powerline kit? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test.

  • Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, there's no need to register again.
  • Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
  • Leave only one comment. You may enter this specific giveaway only once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
  • The winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive (1) Belkin's ultrafast Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit. Approximate retail value is $150.
  • If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
  • Entries can be submitted until Friday, December 18 at 6:59:59 a.m. ET.
And here's the disclaimer that our legal department said we had to include (sorry for the caps, but rules are rules):

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 7 AM ET on December 18, 2009. See official rules for details.

Good luck.

Come back tomorrow for our next holiday giveaway, which will be a Vizio 32-inch LCD TV.

The following product mentioned is available.

December 16, 2009 11:34 AM PST

Neato's auto vac gets down and dirty with Roomba

by David Carnoy
  • 4 comments

The Neato Robotics XV-11 vacuum goes on sale in February for $399.

(Credit: Neato Robotics)

Roomba has been king of the robotic vacuum market for a while, but Neato Robotics, a start-up out of Menlo Park, California, will be trying to usurp the throne in February with a new automated vacuum that will cost $400.

While the company expects to have multiple robotic housekeeping products in the future, its debut product is called the Neato XV-11. What makes it better than Roomba vacuums? Neato says it's smarter because it features a high-tech laser-powered Room Positioning System (RPS) to map your room and avoid most obstacles. And since it's smarter, it cleans a room in a more efficient manner, allowing it to finish the job more quickly.

We saw the Neato XV-11 in action and were pretty impressed with what it could do. It runs for about an hour on a replaceable, rechargeable battery and automatically returns to its base station for recharging when it's running low on juice. Once it recharges, it ... Read more

Originally posted at 2010 CES
December 15, 2009 12:04 PM PST

Watch YouTube on your microwave

by Abbi Perets
  • 2 comments

For real couch potatoes.

(Credit: Keita Watanabe & Shota Matsuda)

You know how, during the two minutes or so that you're waiting for your microwave popcorn to pop, you find yourself thinking, "If only I could be watching a video on YouTube right now"? No? Oh. Well, if you ever do find yourself wanting to take advatage of those few moments of forced waiting, you'll love the idea behind the CastOven.

From the developers' Web site: "Watching movies, playing video games, and browsing Web pages are fun, but all of them require a certain amount of time of us to spare." To solve this problem, this future microwave oven with the 10.4-inch LCD display plays YouTube clips that fit your cooking time.

The concept machine looks ridiculously cool, and you can even watch a demonstration video, in case you're having a hard time understanding how you can cook food and watch videos simultaneously. Props for the design and the presentation, but I'm just not sure there's a real need for

... Read more

Originally posted at Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets
Abbi Perets is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
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About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

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Crave topics

15 sites that went kaput in 2009

Web sites launch all the time, but they also shut their doors. We highlight 15 that bit the dust this year.

Top 10 news stories of the decade

Let the debate begin: Was the iPhone more important than iTunes? Was anything bigger than Google finding a great business model? CNET offers its list of the 10 most important stories of the '00s.


Most Discussed

Gadget Galleries

Top messaging phones of '09

CNET's top picks include the LG enV Touch, Samsung Rogue, and Helio Ocean 2.



Crave makes a wish list

We compile a holiday list and check it more than twice (we're a bunch of compulsive writer-editor types; what do you want?).



New-PC survival kit

It makes sense to have a checklist of apps, especially free ones, that should be installed on any new PC.



Fun with GPS devices

We show you a few ways to have fun with your GPS device between trips from point A to point B.



Gift guide for space jockeys

Looking for a perfect present for the space fiend in your life? Look no further.



Robolamps light up our life

Artist Robert Matysiak has come up with cute, quirky "Robolamps" made from plumbling supplies and colored lightbulbs.



Chumby gets leaner, cheaper

Take a closer look at the second generation of the small, Internet-connected widget host/Internet radio/alarm clock.



Modern Warfare 2 arrives

Game promises even more of the same thrilling storyline and captivating online multiplayer experience as its predecessor.



Nikes for the geek set

Humans have a nasty habit of producing garbage, but Gabriel Dishaw, a junk-metal genius, turns trash into artwork.



Courier's interface in-depth

A document published by Gizmodo explains Microsoft Courier's interface, gestures, and features more in-depth than ever before.



Nintendo DSi gets bigger

Nintendo has announced a supersize version of the DSi, the DSi XL (or LL in Japan).



Meet Barnes & Noble's Nook

Take a look at the new Nook, billed as the first Android-powered e-book reader.



Apple media player headset?

An Apple patent filing reveals designs for a wireless headset with integrated memory and music playback.



Apple's new 27-inch iMac

Apple updates its iMac line with larger, wide-screen displays, more powerful specs, and a few extras to sweeten the deal.



Snuggle up with a space quilt

Artist Jimmy McBride designs quilts with astronomy and sci-fi-movie themes. Perfect for the cold geek.



Peek at Nokia Booklet 3G

CNET checks out Nokia's Windows 7 Netbook at the CTIA Fall 2009 show.



USB drives from automakers

We've collected some of the wilder USB drive media kits we've received over the years.



From online ad to art

Illustrator Sophie Blackall has created whimsical drawings from online "Missed Connections" posts.



Curious robot contraptions

Artist Will Wagenaar scours yard sales and flea markets for discarded objects that he transforms into playful art.



IFA through the years

Historic photos from the German electronics show take us on a tour of tech trends.



Nissan GT-R can fight fires

What happens when you mix a fire engine with a 193 mph supercar co-designed by the makers of Gran Turismo?



Rubik's cubers compete

Puzzlers from around the world descend upon Stanford University for 18 mind-boggling events.



Kicking off game season

See Madden and other highly anticipated platform-agnostic games.



Eyeing Zune HD browser

Take a closer look at the mobile Web browser offered on Microsoft's Zune HD portable media player.



Twitter on your TV

The Twitter widget for Yahoo TV Widgets offers a well-designed, fully featured client that lets you post tweets from your TV.



Sony Walkman turns 30

CNET looks back at the last three decades of Sony Walkmans and the pop music that went with them.



Best 10 digital DJ rigs

CNET's Donald Bell rounds up his favorite digital DJ systems, including controllers and interfaces from Numark, Serato, Vestax, and Pioneer.



Saying hi to HTC's Hero

We take a close look at HTC's Hero, the company's third handset to sport the Google Android operating system.



iPhone 3G S and OS 3.0

CNET rounds up Apple's photos of the iPhone 3G S. Also, revisit iPhone OS 3.0 with screenshots from our iPhone 3G.



Giant Gundam after dark

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Cracking open the Palm Pre

Tech Republic pries open the latest smartphone to create buzz and sees how it--and its insides--stack up against the iPhone.



Microsoft shakes up gaming

A recap of the motion-sensor system, games, and social-networking features Microsoft is bringing to the Xbox 360.



E3's wackiest moments

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Meet the Amazon Kindle DX

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2011: The year of the electric car

Mass production of e-cars is coming faster than we would have thought. Nissan is out in front, but Mitsubishi and Ford aren't far behind.



Moto Labs' multitouch display

Updated sensing-screen concept uses--you guessed it--multitouch technology.



Part insect, part timepiece

Artist customizes real insect specimens with antique watch parts and other technological components.



All-in-one Nettops

Less expensive all-in-one desktop PCs with Atom processors are one of the few ways to buy Windows XP on a desktop these days.



Cracking open the Dell Adamo

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Give your iPhone a make-under

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Raising CB2, the child robot

Japanese researchers are working on a bot that can mimic real kids' behavior to teach lessons about early development.



Yahoo Messenger for iPhone

Yahoo Messenger gets its own free app just for iPhones and iPod Touches. Take a look at the core features.



The inner life of gadgets

Artist Satre Stuelke uses a CT scan machine to offer a penetrating take on objects from the iPhone and iPod to a vacuum tube and a wind-up rabbit.



Controlling bots with thoughts

Honda has come up with a system that lets humans control a bot through thought alone. But don't start telepathing your Scooba yet.



Rube Goldberg showdown

Penn State held a contest for Rube Goldberg devices, which do a simple task in a complex way. The winner had a Super Mario theme.



Hands-on with the Dell Adamo

We've managed to get our hands on a preproduction version of one of the most buzzed-about new laptops of 2009.



iPhone 3.0 new features

Apple rolled out a host of new features with the iPhone OS 3.0. Check them out in our slideshow.



Step-by-step to geek chic

Former "Project Runway" contestant Diana Eng shares ideas for twinkling shoes, a music-filled hoodie, and more.



Fitness gadgets of the future

At health expo in San Francisco, "exergaming" makes a play, and a vibrating gadget moves your muscles for you.



Terrafugia's flying car flies

The Transition "roadable aircraft" makes its debut flight over upstate New York. It's still just a proof of concept, though, and another prototype is yet to come.



Inside Dell's design labs

The design staff has ballooned as the maker of PCs and servers aims to create a new look. Crave got a tour of two design labs at company headquarters.



Top five Swarovski disasters

Here's a look at the five crystal-clad abominations that have stood out most over the last few years. There are others, of course.



Favorite iPhone photo apps

Apple's App Store is loaded with really cool tools to make the most of the little camera that couldn't.



Windows Mobile 6.5 hands-on

We've just had a super-sneaky peak at the future of Windows Mobile--version 6.5--and got to demo the new operating system in all its glory.



Gadgets that broke our hearts

See which gadgets have broken Crave contributors' hearts--or at least made us question our undying love.



To Timbuktu, in a flying car

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