picks

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) today named its Top Safety Picks--115 vehicles in all. The list includes 15 vehicles from Toyota, Lexus, and Scion, 14 vehicles from General Motors, and 13 each from Volkswagen and Audi.

The winners' circle includes 18 new vehicles for 2012, and 97 models that qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.

"For the second year running, a record number of models qualify," IIHS President Adrian Lund said in a press release. "It's tough to win, and we commend auto manufacturers for making safety a top priority.&… Read more

Budget tech is one of our favorite categories here at CNET, so that's why we're running not one, but two budget tech gift roundups this year.

My compadre John Falcone put together a list of the 10 best el-cheapo tech products out there with his Best tech gifts under $50 feature.

I get a little more wiggle room with a $99.99 budget, which is why this list should really be called "Best tech gifts between $50 and $100." But more people are looking on Google for "best tech gifts under $100," so we'… Read more

Though not the sexiest products out there, printers and peripherals are some of the most useful. These are the types of products that sit in the backdrop of your tech life, unnoticed; but as soon as they're gone, you'll be ready to give your right arm to have them back.

Unless we're talking turkeys, you hopefully won't have to resort to too much dismembering with the list of top holiday printers and peripherals picks we've compiled. And no matter your poison, we've got you covered with a list that includes monitors, storage, input devices, … Read more

It's the holiday season, and it's the time of year it's most obvious to us that we just can't be with all of our loved ones and good friends at the same time.

Fortunately, there are other ways to be connected.

Thanks to the Internet, you now can video conference in real time, even when you're driving on the road (make sure you use hands-free devices). Mobile Internet devices, for example, offer you a broadband-like connection as long as you're within the cellular coverage of the provider. And when you're at home, a … Read more

If you're wondering what to get for that special someone, here's the answer: get him or her a data storage device.

The truth is that we all need more storage for the ever-increasing amount of digital content created by other devices we use every day. To put it in a cheesy way, storage is just like love: you'll never have enough of it. You'll need to store most, if not all, of your beloved memories that are in the form of words, photos, and video. And you also need storage for the backups of those, too.

If that special someone happens to be a nerd who can truly understand the significance and awesomeness of computer storage, you'd likely score some bonus points.

Below you'll find my short list of storage devices that would make great gifts. Note that they are not all the amazing devices I've seen this year, since I can only pick so many. If you need more options to fit your budget, also check out CNET's storage page for top products and latest reviews. … Read more

Crafted lets you play a 2D version of the megapopular game Minecraft, using many of the same sounds and graphics--so much so that we're surprised it's still available in the iTunes App Store.

Mojang's Minecraft has achieved a huge following for its open, sandbox style of gameplay, letting you manipulate every block in the world. Once you've gathered the right materials, you can make picks for mining, axes for chopping down trees, torches so you can see at night, and a whole laundry list of other items.

Crafted offers a similar experience, but all in 2D. … Read more

The next time you go into a Starbucks for a drink or snack, you could end up walking out with a free iPhone app too.

Apple and Starbucks have long had a partnership that gives Starbucks customers a way to download free music tracks from Apple's iTunes Music Store, and the two companies are now coming together to do the same with paid applications.

Using the same "Pick of the Week" cards the two companies have been using since April 2008, Starbucks is now using that same system to dole out iPhone applications.

Just like for music, users can find free cards waiting for them at the cash register with codes on the back that can be entered into iTunes or the App Store to get the application.

The first application to be offered for free is Shazam Encore (iTunes), a music-identifying app that sells for $5.99 in the U.S. version of the App Store. That's a considerable deal compared to new music tracks, which typically top out at $1.29.

Starbucks declined to comment on the addition of apps, including whether this takes the place of or simply joins music tracks as part of the Pick of the Week program. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. … Read more

It was hard enough coming up with names for my cats. I can't imagine the struggle to find just the right name for a human baby. Busy parents-to-be can now hand the baby-naming burden off to their unborn children with the Kick to Pick iPhone app.

Choose your favorite names from a list of thousands or let the app randomly pick from boys' or girls' names in its database.

The 99-cent app takes the term "baby bump" in a whole new direction. Start up the kick picker, place the iPhone on your belly, and wait for your baby to give a hearty kick. You can stick with the name Junior lands on or try again.

I picked out a few names and tested out the app. I'm not pregnant, but it still works with the tap of a finger. If I have a boy, he will be named "Festus." If it's a girl, she will be called "Agnes." My imaginary kids are going to hate me.

Kick to Pick doesn't shy away from some of the unusual names that are so popular with Hollywood types. You can, for example, throw "Captain," "London," "Early," and "Zebulon" into the name hopper.

If your little angel complains when he gets older, you can just say remind him that he picked his own name using an iPhone app. … Read more

I don't play guitar (just piano, like all nerds), but I think that the Pick Punch makes a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for musician friend.

The Pick Punch looks and functions like a regular hole punch, except that it cuts guitar picks from plastic instead of annoying confetti from paper--and it's more durable. It works with expired credit cards, gift cards, lids, and anything else of the appropriate width, thickness, firmness, and weight. The result is a smooth, traditional-style pick that can be used with any pluckable instrument.

The Pick Punch is practical, unique, and costs only $25. If you're worried that there won't be enough old plastic lying around, which is a reasonable concern, the Pick Punch guys also sell black nylon sheets for $3 that produce 56 to 85 punches.

An even better idea would be to use the Pick Punch on an old driver's license or student ID, ensuring that your musician friend is never without ample inspiration in the form of your laminated, awkwardly smiling face. … Read more