guns

By most accounts, the release of Grand Theft Auto IV helped move quite a few game consoles--both Xbox 360s and PlayStation 3s--in the past few weeks. But there's another four--Metal Gear Solid 4--that's eagerly anticipated by many gamers as well. No, MGS4 isn't going to shatter sales records like GTA did, but it's safe to say that Konami's PS3 exclusive is the reason that many forward-looking gamers chose Sony's console over that of archrival Microsoft. And with the game's June 12 release date fast approaching--after a hype buildup that stretches back to at least 2005--the waiting for those faithful PlayStation fans is almost over.

But what about those gamers who still haven't taken the next-generation plunge?… Read more

Trip-hop heroes Portishead have linked up with Current TV for an exclusive 40-minute broadcast performance on April 11, 2008. The show includes eight songs from their highly anticipated new album, Third, and will air multiple times on the television channel (see showtimes below) over the following week. Fans without cable can stream it online from Current TV's Web site. The album hits stores in the U.S. on April 29.

For those who like their music one tasty bite at a time, you can listen to Third's first single, "Machine Gun" , right here on Download Music. … Read more

If there's a problem with LEGO, it's that they simply aren't violent enough. Sure, you might get some swords or a gun or two in different sets, but not nearly enough to wage a genuine LEGO war. That puny plastic revolver and handful of tiny swords just aren't going to cut it for your army of tiny plastic soldiers.

Gadgetell has discovered BrickArms, a company that makes tiny, LEGO-sized guns for your LEGO-sized troops. BrickArms makes 22 different LEGO weapons ranging from pistols to assault rifles to rocket launchers. The company's weapon selection is surprisingly … Read more

If there were a stun-gun equivalent of a "Saturday Night Special," this might well be it. The "Runt" is an economic alternative to larger varieties like the Avurt IM-5, though it doesn't have anything near the fashion sense of the latest Taser line. In fact, it bears a remarkable resemblance to a brick adapter, but don't let that fool you: The 3.25-inch Runt can deliver 350,000 volts for just $40, and $60 will get you a mind- and body-numbing 950,000, according to Coolest-Gadgets. And that's more than enough, as we … Read more

For those who want some personal security without resorting to an Avurt IM-5, the phone stun gun may be a more discreet alternative. But many of those on the market are fairly obvious even to the untrained eye. (The prominently labeled "STUN" button might have something to do with it.)

But British authorities have confiscated one that looks particularly real, and for good reason: It apparently is. Nottingham police seized a potentially lethal weapon disguised as a Sony Ericsson W700 handset, according to Newlaunches, one that's capable of delivering a 900,000-volt jolt. The BBC reported that … Read more

The U.S. Navy is installing an electro-magnetic laboratory rail gun at its Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Va., bringing it one step closer to developing a ship-mounted version of this futuristic cannon.

The 32-megajoule weapon appears to be the largest rail gun ever built, according to defense contractor BAE Systems. A joule is what's needed to produce one watt of energy for one second.

It uses a magnetic "rail" instead of a chemical propellant like gunpowder to heave projectiles at Mach 7 for what could be up to 220 miles down range--that's 10 times farther … Read more

It's only been a few days since this season's Valentine's Day products began appearing in earnest, and we're already thoroughly nauseated. In fact, given the selection offered so far, we're surprised it took this long. Here's one that certainly doesn't help the cause: the "Heart Mouse" from, of all places, the Victoria and Albert Museum. (At least it doesn't profess its love for you, as did the last one seen in this space.) It's products like these that make the "FPS Gun Mouse" look better all the … Read more

If the Wii Zapper strikes you as too 'gunlike,' then you're probably not going to like these Wii accessories. Brooklyn-based CTA Digital showed off an entire arsenal of gun-themed Wiimote peripherals.

From the pistol-like Magnum Gun to the submachinegun-like Buzz Gun, CTA showed off no less than six Zapper-like Wii gun attachments. The Shot Gun for Wii stood out among them, a hulking, heavy pump-action shotgun accessory. The Shot Gun was a mock-up, and hopefully the final version of the gun will be lighter than the bulky model CTA displayed.

While they look fun, CTA's Wii accessories were … Read more

The next time an officer in blue pulls out a weapon, say cheese. Because attached to the barrel might be a lipstick-sized camera that starts videotaping the moment the pistol is drawn from its holster.

Such gun barrel cameras are part of a high-tech law enforcement agenda designed to help prove who's in the right--and the wrong--during a shootout. Of course, there's no accounting for the occasional "malfunction." Nor would we be surprised if some of those clips mysteriously found their way onto YouTube. That aside, it sure beats Thailand's idea of shaming errant cops … Read more