crave

Crave giveaway: DeskPets TankBots and a Griffin Helo TC

First off, congratulations to Andrew S. of Champaign, Ill., for winning last week's freebie, a copy of Nuance Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac.

Now for this week's prize, which is all about app-controlled fun. For starters, you'll get two cute little TankBots remote-controlled toy robots, which you maneuver with your iOS or Android device and a corresponding free app.

The DeskPets device uses its built-in accelerometer as a steering mechanism, allowing you to drive the TankBot around, navigating mazes, avoiding obstacles, chasing pets, and scaring houseguests.

You'll also score a Griffin Helo TC, a remote-controlled helicopter flown via iOS and Android devices and a free app that transforms the multitouch display into flight controls. The Touch-to-Fly mode uses the multitouch display to control Helo TC's throttle and joystick, while the Tilt-to-Fly lets users tilt the iOS device to move the helicopter forward, backward, and side to side (but hopefully not straight into your forehead). … Read more

Crave 75: Hot for teacher (podcast)

Eric and Donald run though the latest in desktop haptic devices, including a weather forecaster you can feel, and a USB kissing robot cow.

"Tron"-inspired electroluminescence makes a comeback with some neat shades and an eco-friendly charging cable. And in Geek News, we take a longer look at "The Avengers" and a preview of the upcoming "Amazing Spider-Man."

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Crave giveaway: Nuance Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac

Speak now, or forever hold your chance to win this week's Crave giveaway. The prize: Nuance's Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac. The speech recognition software boasts some enhancements over earlier versions, including full support for Microsoft Word 2011 and new Facebook- and Twitter-sharing capabilities.

Dragon Dictate 2.5 also takes advantage of the recently introduced Dragon Remote Mic App, a free application that lets you use an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad as a wireless microphone for Dragon via Wi-Fi.

Normally, Dragon Dictate 2.5 would cost you $179.99, but you have the chance to get it for nada, nothing, zip, zilch. So how do you go about snagging this week's freebie? There are a few rules, so please take a moment to stop talking and read them carefully. … Read more

Crave 74: Chaotic neutral (podcast)

This week, our Crave team talks about treats for tweets, geeky furniture, intelligent bullets, and a way to strap your phone to your face. In Geek News, we have a new "Avengers" trailer, a discussion on good and evil, and the gamification of our lives.

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Crave giveaway: Tokyoflash Kisai Rogue Touch Pocket Watch

Do you know what time it is? That's right, it's that time of the week known as the Crave giveaway, and this week's prize just happens to offer a pretty cool way of keeping pace.

Up for grabs is the Kisai Rogue Touch Pocket Watch, a modern take on the classic pocket watch. Made by Tokyoflash, it features an always-on touch display, as well as an LED backlight, and comes with a spring-hinged mineral crystal lens cover.

Though it looks like you need to understand some futuristic language to tell time, it's actually quite simple. The outside ring features 12 blocks that represent the hour, while the minutes are marked by the 60 smaller dots just inside the ring. There's even a second set of rings, in case you want to keep track of a different time zone, and you can rotate through the watch's various functions (date, alarm, and so forth) using the touch display.

Normally, the Tokyoflash Kisai Rogue Touch Pocket Watch would cost you $169, but you have a chance to get this geeky accessory for free. There are some rules, though, so please take the time to read them carefully. There will be a test. … Read more

Crave 73: Let's not turn this into a Warcraft thing (podcast)

This week, we have a giant NES controller perfect for Donald's purely hypothetical furry party. Plus, the creepiest robot baby yet, a turntable that plays trees, and a uncut "Star Wars" along with a cut-worthy Stormtrooper cake. In Geek news, Eric confesses that Star Wars: The Old Republic may be his new World of Warcraft.

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Crave 72: Laser sharks in 3D (podcast)

Fresh from CES 2012, Eric, Donald, and Bonnie wrap up all the best CES tech they missed during their week in Vegas. On deck is a touch-screen window, an R2-worthy 3D projector, Kinect-controlled skateboards, toilet tech, zombie tech, and of course, Geek News.

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Crave giveaway: CES swag bag straight from Vegas

Weren't able to make it to CES this year? This week's giveaway is bringing CES to you!

We're giving away a nice, big bag full of CES 2012 swag collected by CNET staffers on the ground at the massive show in Vegas. You'll get all sorts of goodies--an iPad skin and iPhone case bearing the CNET logo; an 8GB Samsung memory card; a camera-shaped USB drive from Olympus; a free six-month subscription to Sony's Music Unlimited cloud-based music-streaming service; and a free one-year subscription to Absolute Software's LoJack for Laptops security app, which helps you recover your stolen tech safely. And more.

Plus, all your gear will arrive in a CES 2012 press bag complete with a nice little reporter's notebook where you can jot notes on all your gotta-have gadgets from the Sin City show. We estimate that you'll be getting about $250 worth of stuff. In this case, what happens in Vegas definitely is not staying in Vegas.

So how do you try to win this week's prize? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Polaroid Z340 Instant Digital Camera

If your New Year's resolutions include a vow to take more photos, you're in luck. If you're also resolving to incorporate more 1970s into your 2012, then your luck runneth over.

This week's prize, a Polaroid Z340 Instant Digital Camera, integrates a full-function 14-megapixel digicam with a Zink inkless printer that spits out 3x4-inch color prints on the go. Best of all for those who appreciate vintage chic, it looks a lot like its famed analog predecessor.

The Z340, which came out in November, costs $299.99 and gives you up to 25 prints on a battery charge. At almost 1.5 pounds, the device is a little on the heavy side, but sometimes that's the price you pay to bear the weight of retro-coolness.

So how do you try to win this week's prize? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test. Snap! … Read more

Crave 71: Princess Leia's dirty secret (podcast)

"Star Wars" is great, but "Star Wars" on your head is much better. The Crave team discusses this idea in depth in this first episode of 2012, along with Jell-O dispensers for grown-ups, StarCraft in Legos, and harmonizing hobbits.

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