crabs

RedCrab is a calculator with a twist

Have you ever used a calculator to solve an algebraic expression or a complex math formula? It is possible but it would require translating the expression into a series of commands that the calculator can interpret. RedCrab from RedChilliCrab is free software that hopes to eliminate that laborious step entirely by allowing you to input the mathematical expression directly.

RedCrab is a portable tool that can be used immediately after extraction. The plain interface isn't much to look at, but it did prove fairly easy to use. For the most part, it operates like a typical calculator. It accepts … Read more

Crab dinner inspires cancer-removing robot

They say you can find inspiration anywhere, so why not a crab dinner?

Inspired by our crustacean friends, researchers in Singapore have created a mini robot that can be used to remove early-stage stomach cancer in a far less invasive way than other procedures. The robot has the ability to crawl down a patient's throat and features a pincer and hook that can remove cancerous tissue.

The idea first came up in 2004 when Lawrence Ho, an enterologist at Singapore's National University Hospital, and Louis Phee, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological Institute's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, had dinner with Hong Kong surgeon Sydney Chung, who is well-known for his fight against SARS.

While dining on Singapore's signature chili crab dish, Chung suggested the two use the crab as a prototype, making note of the strength of a crab's pincers and its ability to pick up sand. … Read more

Twist timer

Red Crab Cube Timer is a stopwatch application designed to time how fast it takes you to solve Rubik's Cube. Those who enjoy trying to solve the cube as fast as possible can use this free tool to add some flair to the timing process.

The program's interface is basic and easy to navigate but not very attractive. You can choose a plain background or one of 12 illustrated backgrounds as a backdrop for the timer, which appears at the center of the screen. All of the illustrated backgrounds have a psychedelic look that isn't particularly appealing, … Read more

The 404 257: Where Vegas chewed us up and spit us out

Now that we've survived the frigid beast that is Las Vegas, we can finally get back into our everyday groove. Today's show is all about recovery and recollection, as we desperately try to piece together the last week of our lives. Listen in for a full CES 2009 recap with tons of juicy details and a few Internet stories on the side.

What. Just. Happened?! The past five days are completely a blur, and we collectively remember about four hours total. Did we really see a blind guy at a club where vision is a necessity? Did we really stay in a hotel room with double HDTVs and a third TV in the bathroom? Did we really eat more than 300 crab legs between the three of us? And most importantly, did we really lose that much money on the blackjack tables?

We ponder these questions and more on today's CES wrap-up show. If you didn't have a chance to watch the live shows, I've posted them below for your enjoyment. It's definitely good to be back after such a long vacation. Now let's try to forget what just happened again.

EPISODE 257 Download today's podcast

Live video from CES Day 1: Where no one cares about MacWorld

Live video from CES Day 2: Where we all wish we were at the OTHER conference

Live video from CES Day 3: Where we've jumped the virgin shark

Live video from CES Day 4: Where we celebrate good juju bad juju

Buzz Out Loud 765: Thank goodness for robot crabs

I'm so sick of saying the name of that darn phone, but the fact of the matter is, people want to hear about it. So we do one more day about the weekend issues and thank goodness for Microsoft and Yahoo giving us something else to talk about. And robot crabs. Thank goodness for robot crabs. Listen now: Download today's podcast Episode 765

Yahoo rejects joint-bid for search business by Icahn and Microsoft http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9989870-93.html

Microsoft' Latest Offer Detailed; Major Shareholder Legg Mason (Still) Unimpressed http://www.paidcontent.org/entry/419-microsoft-latest-offer-detailed-legg-mason-unimpressed/ http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/13/1217220… Read more

Robot crabs coming to an office near you

This August, you may be dodging something other than Frisbees at the beach or your boss at the office.

Innovation First is releasing the Hexbug Crab, the latest in its line of Hexbug microrobotic toys that sell for about $9.99.

While the minirobot is geared toward kids, it's easy to see the Hexbug Crab gaining a place alongside office stress balls in cubicles across the country.

Like other Hexbugs, the Hexbug Crab can be left to roam around and respond to its environment. Think of it as a little pet that doesn't need to be fed.

"… Read more