crave

First off, congrats to Harold M. of Charlotte, N.C., for winning a pair of San Francisco-themed V-Moda Crossfade LP headphones in last week's Crave giveaway. And now... ding-dong! Who's that at the door? Why, it's this week's prize, a Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell. The wireless, customizable gadget turns any song you want into your doorbell chime.

The product has two main battery-powered components: a doorbell unit backed with double-sided tape for easy mounting in your doorway and a speaker unit for mounting with the included screws up to 330 feet away. The bell comes with 32 built-in tones, and you can add a removable SD card up to 32GB (not included) to store up to 10,000 tracks, transferable via the included USB cable. You'll also get editing software so you don't have to listen to every last note of "Ring My Bell."

Normally, a Swann MP3 DJ Doorbell would cost you $49.99, but you have the chance to score one for free. So how do you turn your doorbell into a personal DJ that caters to your every musical mood? Well, there are a few rules, so please listen up.… Read more

Too busy dreaming of a new OS to keep up with Crave? Here's what you missed while you were obsessing with Windows Phone 8, which hits handsets this fall.

• Will Microsoft Surface get its ass kicked by the iPad?

• Hands on with the Windows 8 start screen.

• What's it like to tweet with your eyes?

• Google spills the jellybeans about the Galaxy Nexus.

• Revealed: the secret lives of pizzas in New York.

• The shocking numbers on how addicted we are to our phones. But at least now we can use them to control the lights.

• In case you'… Read more

Did you leave your heart in San Francisco? What about your headphones? Well, here's your chance to get them back. This week, in honor of the city where CNET is headquartered, we're giving away a pair of V-Moda Crossfade LP Custom over-ear headphones with a San Fran theme.

Those with their ears to the world of audio accessories know V-Moda to be a reputable maker of stylish, low-profile earbuds that's branched out into headphones and, more recently, a headphone amp that's also an iPhone case.

The company's Crossfade LP Custom headphones let you choose from a wide range of plate color options, as well as stock engraving graphics (numbered jersey, crown, skull snake) or your very own custom logo. In this case, the headphones are already designed for you with swappable decorative plates featuring the Golden Gate Bridge and a cable car.

Normally, these San Francisco-centric earphones would cost you $199, but you have the chance to get them for free. How? Well, there are a few rules (including not calling San Francisco Frisco), so please listen up.… Read more

First off, congrats to Tim B. of Hilliard, Ohio, for winning a Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack in last week's giveaway. Summer's here, and that means sun, swimming pools, and beaches (except here in San Francisco, of course, where it means fog and layers, but that's another story). This week's prize, Grace Digital's new Ecoxpro waterproof smartphone/MP3 player case, is great for toting your tunes along on those sun-and-fun getaways.

Part of Grace Digital's Ecoxgear line of rugged waterproof products, the Ecoxpro has a built-in speaker and waterproof headphone jack. It also has room to store need-to-be-dry necessities like a driver's license, credit card, keys, and cash. It's submersible up to 10 feet, and it floats -- good news if you happen to get caught in an MP3-overboard situation. It fits any MP3 player or smartphone, including iPhone, Android, and others.

Normally, the Grace Digital Ecoxpro would cost you $79.99, but you have the chance to score one free. How do you go about doing that? There are a few rules, so please read carefully. … Read more

Congrats to Michael M. of Nottingham, Md., for winning a $500 gift certificate from KlearGear.com in last week's giveaway. Are you a frequent traveler? On the heels of the E3 games expo, this week's giveaway sponsor, Dell, is offering up a nice, sturdy TSA-friendly backpack that's great for gamers and others.

The Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack keeps your gear secure and protected on the go with its heavily padded back panels. The subdivided main compartment easily holds a laptop up to 17.3 inches, while a secondary compartment has 10 additional pockets for holding anything from pens to plane tickets to MP3 players to any random tchotchkes you like to carry around during your daily wanderings. Also, the camo design sets it apart from its basic-black-leather cousins.

Normally, the Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack would cost you $119.99, but you have a chance to get it gratis. How? There are a few rules, so please read carefully; there will be a test. … Read more

Congrats to George C. of Burlington, Conn., for winning a puzzle package from Marbles: The Brain Store in last week's giveaway. This week's winner gets a whole panoply of geeky gifts, $500 worth, courtesy of gadget manufacturer and retailer KlearGear.com.

KlearGear.com sells more than 1,000 gadgets, desk toys, and geek decor items, the kind of stuff you'll definitely be familiar with if you read Crave regularly (and you do, right?!).

Some of the site's top sellers include a Transforming Solar Robot, LED Shoelaces, a USB Retro Lamp, an Arcade Alarm Clock, and a Swearing Punching Bag. But it's totally up to you how you want to cash in your $500 gift certificate.

So how do you go about trying to win a KlearGear.com shopping spree? There are a few rules, so please read carefully; there will be a test. … Read more

First off, congrats to Andrew P. of Ann Arbor, Mich., for winning a Zoom Q3HD HD video recorder in our last giveaway. Now, get your gray matter in gear. This week, we're giving away a bundle of fun from Marbles: The Brain Store, a purveyor of games, puzzles, books, and software aimed at strengthening your brain. (If you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, Marbles opens its first West Coast store tomorrow at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park.)

The giveaway package will include The GeekBox, a collection of wooden puzzles that employ your memory, visual perception, and strategic thinking skills.; Mindstein, "a trivia game where it pays to be a know-it-all"; and daVinci's Catapult, a build-it-yourself throwing machine perfect for ambushing pesky siblings or co-workers.

You'll also get a Daily Brain Perpetual Calendar, which offers 365 puzzles.

Normally, this package of brain-teasing entertainment would cost you about $110, but you have a chance to get it gratis.How? There are a few rules, so please put down The Astrophysical Journal for a moment, brainiacs, and listen up. … Read more

CNET's Crave Blog Giveaway

Official Sweepstakes Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. YOU HAVE NOT YET WON. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD OR AGE OF MAJORITY, WHICHEVER IS OLDER IN YOUR STATE OF RESIDENCE AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Sponsor, Administrator and Prize Provider: CNET, a Division of CBS Interactive, Inc. 235 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94105.

Prize Provider: … Read more

Too busy buying Facebook stock to keep up with Crave? Here's what you missed while you were tracking Facebook's IPO, which, it turns out, didn't quite live up to the hype.

• When the grid fails you, Sony's hand-crank charger will juice your devices.

• Relive the glorious 1980s with this delightfully chunky case for your iPhone.

• Excuse me, but is that a robot on your pants?

• Steve Jobs wanted to create an iCar.

• Now even the clothes hanger hangs out on Facebook. … Read more