Lifestyle

If you've ever wondered who's driving like a bonehead up ahead, it could be a teen who's behind the wheel, steering with one hand and sending a text message with the other. According to a study from AAA and Seventeen magazine, cited by this USA Today article, almost half of teens surveyed admitted that they send text messages from the driver's seat. (The researchers interviewed about 1,000 teen drivers in the United States to compile the data.)

That dovetails with a study published Tuesday about teen cell phone habits, which commonly include texting from the … Read more

With professional music software selling for hundreds of dollars, finding a comparable freeware program is no small potatoes. Audacity is an impressive open-source audio editor that has upped its own ante in the new beta version, Audacity 1.3. If you're attuned to the basics of fading and trimming, this guide urges you on the next step of your journey, mastering MP3 files for Web publishing, cell phone ringtones, and podcasts. Here are a few pointers.

If you haven't yet, download the suite of Windows plug-ins from the Linux Audio Developer's Simple Plugin API (LADSPA). When using plug-ins, remember to select the section of track you wish to affect before opening the tool. Also, if you're planning to make ringtones, check out the special tips at the end of this article.… Read more

Some months ago--on Jan. 1, as a matter of fact--we reported what we then thought was the "ultimate germaphobe gadget," perhaps our way of ushering in a bacteria-free 2007. Barely halfway through the year, however, that item appears to have already been eclipsed.

Not only does the "Wide Coverage Germ-Eliminating Wand" claim to eradicate "99 percent of bacteria, viruses, mold, and dust mites," but it can do so in broader areas with a 6-inch ultraviolet lightbulb. All the germaphobic head of the household needs to do is hold the wand 3 inches over a … Read more

It has been my theory for a little while that sometime in the near future, we are going to see the downfall of physical discs for watching movies. A lot of companies are moving towards a downloadable model. Most notably, Apple sells downloadable movies through its iTunes store and even pipes them through to its own set-top box. Microsoft also sells movies through its Video Marketplace on the Xbox 360 in both standard and high definition.

In March of this year, TiVo decided it wanted to jump into the game. It was a really logical move since it has a … Read more

Perhaps it's an omen for our environmental future, but there's been a rising number of products aimed at asthma sufferers on the market lately. Still, who would have thought that inhalers would become fashion items?

The "Apod" started the trend with its neon-colored cases, and now the "Puffapouch" has upped the ante with its own versions, which seem a bit more urban in such styles as denim and camouflage. And Respire's magnetic inhaler case provides a fashionable way to carry the devices while keeping them free of "dust and fluff." All … Read more

On my list of "least favorite animals," Paris Hilton-style lapdogs rank up there with mosquitos and cockroaches--in fact, compared to overly groomed Chihuahuas, I think roaches are kinda cute. (They'll be even cuter once Pixar makes a musical movie about them, which will probably be in about three years, judging by recent trends in animated films.) And the more spoiled they are, the uglier they are. Hence my revulsion at this crystal-encrusted "doghouse," designed for a special department store event in (where else) Tokyo, which is really more like an ornate display case for small … Read more

Donald Bell has some great tips on how to minimize storage woes on the iPhone. It's a convergence device, yes, but at 4GB and 8GB, you may have to make some tough decisions when it comes to loading it up with songs.

Using a combination of your favorite manual playlists and iTunes' built-in Smart Playlist feature, the tips can help you optimize your iPhone's storage.

Learn how to do it in seven easy steps: Optimize your iPhone using playlists.

For more helpful advice on how to get the most out of your gear, visit CNET Tips and Tricks. … Read more

I surf, but I'm really bad at it, which is part of the reason I often surf alone (that, and I enjoy the solitude of it). And while I surf in places where there are a lot of other surfers, it's probably not the safest thing. Someone should know where you are, and we know Mother Nature can be a moody lady; weather conditions and currents can change on a dime. You can always prepare before paddling out, but what about once you're in the water? Well, Lenartstudios has an idea: a surfboard with a built-in GPS … Read more

Happy Friday, everyone.

Life would be a whole lot better with your own personal backup band. Need evidence? Look no further than this YouTube clip, which shows what happens when the University of California at Berkeley's DeCadence a cappella group comes across a couple of sparring boxers in New York's Central Park.

Which life occurrences do you think would be best accompanied by video-game theme songs? Add your ideas in our TalkBack section.

[Thanks to Jeff Minard for sending the video.]