polls

This week, Google demoed a Chrome OS laptop, the Cr-48 (or Chromebook, as some are calling it). At the moment, it's a generic-looking black box meant for testing and development and not a product you'll be seeing on Best Buy shelves.

But that doesn't mean it won't make it onto your desk or into your backpack one day, and gadgeteers are already putting the 12.1-inch, Atom-powered prototype through its paces and sharing early impressions of its hardware and software.

CNET's Seth Rosenblatt, for example, calls the Cr-48 a major step forward for cloud computing, … Read more

This week, CNET updated its running list of the 20 cell phones with the highest specific absorption rate (SAR) levels. Debate over phone radiation danger has been going on for years, but it may be on more people's minds with all the talk about potential hazards of TSA body scanners.

The fact is that cell phones do emit radiation; it's part of how they work. We're not saying cell phones are dangerous, and we're not saying they're not. We're just stating the facts as we've measured them. To be fair, we also recently … Read more

So it's Black Friday, and we're sure you're going crazy pushing through insane lines while digesting lots and lots of turkey. But while this time of year is about snagging deals, it's also about gratitude, and in the spirit of yesterday's holiday, we're going to talk about things we're thankful for.

I, of course, am grateful for family, friends, and writing for Crave, but my favorite tech turn of the year is my iPad. Yes, we've dedicated many pixels of text to Apple's device, but that's because many of us think it's that good. I use mine about 80 percent of the time, which gives my MacBook a rest. This week's iOS 4.2 update makes the gadget that much better (though there are still some things the OS can't do on the iPad that we wish it could).

In any case, not everyone's giving thanks for the iPad this year. Many are stoked about the coming of the Windows Phone 7 devices. Others are stoked about Android-based tablets. Still more are into the Google TV. But what about you?

We'd like to know what you, Crave readers, are thankful for. Vote in the poll, and be sure to share additional thoughts in the comments section. Then get back to shopping!… Read more

Millions of people already own tablets, more of the devices will surely be gifted this year for the holidays, and next year more tablets like the RIM PlayBook will expand the market even further.

But as tablets are relatively new, they still have some evolving to do before some of us know exactly how they fit into our daily lives. Myself, I use my Apple iPad for browsing (which RIM thinks its PlayBook will be better at), plus reading comics and books, and rocking the Netflix Instant wherever I am. But that's just me; these new devices can do … Read more

Right now we're all following the rumors that Google might have another Nexus phone on its way, one perhaps made by Samsung that was leaked via Best Buy's Web site. But it's not the only mystery Samsung device floating around today.

At the FPD International 2010/Green Device 2010 trade show in Chiba, Japan, this week there's a mystery 10.1-inch, super-slim (1.8 mm!?) Samsung "ereader" being shown off. It's sporting a new flexible type of AMOLED display, but the prototype e-reader, instead of showing a book, is showing a very Galaxy … Read more

So now you can get a Kinect for the Xbox 360. Or a Move package for the PlayStation 3. Or maybe you already have a Wii. The point is, this holiday season, gaming is going to be all about moving. There's a three-front motion-tracking war going on and it may be a while before there's a clear winner.

Nintendo's Wii has been around for a few years now, so movement-based gaming isn't as novel as it used to be. Sony's Move is fun, but along with Microsoft's Kinect, it may have to play catch-up. … Read more

So here we are on the verge of another Halloween weekend, and I've yet to be sufficiently scared. That said, as I look back at the year to date, I'm a little freaked out--2010 has had its share of frightening tech moments.

Sure, Facebook faced some serious privacy charges, but Firefox now has a plug-in that lets you spy on everyone on your network. Zoinks!

You likely heard about the Stuxnet virus that went around not long ago. It appears to have been built to disrupt power grids around the world. That's frightening.

At the Black Hat … Read more

Last week I asked you whether you consider the carrier or the cell phone first when you're buying a new handset. In my experience, I expected most respondents to say that the carrier was top of mind, but I was surprised by just how many people fell into that camp.

Of the 4,443 respondents (at the time of this writing), 65 percent said that reliable service and affordable plans were the most important factors to consider then buying a phone. I was expecting that margin to be more in the 50 percent range, so I was intrigued.

Of … Read more

Buying a cell phone involves a lot of choices. Not only do you have to select the phone, but you also have to pick a carrier. For those new to cell phones, I usually advise buyers to think first about the carrier--it's important to find a plan you can afford and go with a wireless provider that offers good service in your area--though I know some consumers prefer to choose the phone first.

That can even be true for people who have been with a carrier for a few years. Just throw a hot handset into the equation and … Read more