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Buzz Out Loud 709: We're gonna need a bigger cloud

We explain Live Mesh, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tries to explain why customs can search your laptop without any reason at all, and eBay (yawn) sues Craigslist over some (yawn) stock stuff. Also, Apple buys a chipmaker and that story leads to wild speculation about chips and such. No, really. It's a tech show. Haven't you heard this show before? Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 709

Live Mesh: The version you can understand http://mashable.com/2008/04/23/live-mesh-simplified/ http://www.webware.com/8301-1_109-9925747-2.html http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-9926229-56.html… Read more

Remote control Hummer H3: no driver needed

Here's one that's sure to chap the hides of eco-warriors everywhere: An engineering lecturer from a university in the U.K. has converted a full-size Hummer H3 into a remote controlled toy.

So those folks who get bent out of shape when they see people commuting alone in ginormous SUVs will really love the idea of a Hummer that can pollute without anyone in the car. Now that's progress.

James Brighton from Britain's Cranfield University converted the new right-hand drive version of the H3 in about a month's time. No doubt it's certainly an … Read more

'World's smallest' RC copter is no less annoying

What could possibly be more annoying than buzzing your friends and co-workers with a "PicoZ Micro Helicopter"? Try the new "PicoZ MX-1 Extreme," which makes the bold claim of being "the world's smallest remote control chopper."

The difference might seem minuscule to the untrained eye--4.6 inches vs. the original's 5.3 inches--but if you're of Lilliputian origins, the discrepancy is massive. Other than that, Coolest-Gadgets says the quarter-ounce copter has many of the same features as its older and larger sibling, including twin channels, a built-in lithium battery, adjustable trim … Read more

How to own and race four Ferraris at once

No matter what kind of cars you're into, it can't be denied that there's just nothing like a Ferrari. Even when they're tiny.

Yes, there are other remote-controlled cars that might even go faster, but they'll always be pretenders to the throne in our book. Officially licensed by the racing legend, the "RealDrive Nano" racers come in miniature replicas of the Testarossa, F430, 512BB, and Enzo on a 1/58 scale, according to Technabob.

Intricately detailed, they include LED corner lights and respond to different wavelengths so as many as four can be … Read more

RC toy for the paranoid: black helicopter

All good things must come to an end. Eventually, your co-workers will become immune to your flying toy antics, and you'll need to come up with some other way to irritate them. So here's the answer you've been looking for: the black helicopter.

This way, not only can you buzz them at will, but you can also prey on their paranoid tendencies at the same time--the best of all conspiratorial worlds. The "Black Ghost," as first seen on Coolest-Gadgets, has "full altitude and directional control," which is a good thing because it'll … Read more

'Metal-Detect-Car' finds your buried treasure

In simpler times remote-controlled toys were just meant to have fun--like slot cars without tracks, in a reference for the geezers among us. Today, however, their uses are often more dubious: When they're not trying to cause a heart attack, they're used for spying or shocking and everything evil in between.

So we were relieved to find that there's at least one RC car with a purpose that's actually useful without being nefarious. The "Metal-Detect -Car" is true to its name, with built-in technology that can identify lost or hidden metallic objects while traversing &… Read more

'Polaris' is our kind of snowmobile--by remote

While the kids are having their fun in the snow this holiday season, you have a choice: You can either try to prove that you're still a teenager by piloting something like a "Hov Pod," or you can opt for an alternative that we advocate--one that involves far less risk of physical exertion: a remote-controlled snowmobile.

The "Polaris" can let you participate in winter's festivities without breaking a sweat. The little dynamo is equipped with "caterpillar-style track grips" and "thermoplastic material" that can withstand sub-zero temperatures, which is more than … Read more

Mutant samurai robot battle

Webware's Josh Lowensohn spends his days reviewing Web sites, while the rest of us get to play with an endless stream of newfangled gadgets. While most of the Crave and CNET reviews team have become jaded to the perpetual parade of gizmos coursing through our office, Josh greets each rare tech toy bestowed on him as if it were handed down by Santa himself. So when an unsolicited pair of Learning Curve Battle Wheels RC samurai appeared on Josh's desk, there was no way to avoid a full-scale battle royale. Lucky for me, I had my camera on … Read more

The blurring line between car and toy

This whole remote-control toy thing is getting out of hand. It's one thing for miniature RC cars to go 10 or even 22 miles per hour, but 60 mph? And a body more than 3 feet long?

That describes the "Ford GT Nitro Gas RC Car," which has a 23cc engine, 15kg metal gear ratio and disc brakes, according to SlashGear. But here's the kicker--it has a 450cc fuel tank, which it needs because it runs on a mixture of oil and unleaded gas. No wimpy batteries here.

We can think of only two reasons that … Read more