(Credit:
900Global)
I suck at bowling, and the only time I'll play this game is on the Wii in the comfort of my home without the guy in the next lane snickering at me. But it seems I can soon conquer my local bowling joint with this remote-controlled bowling ball from 900 Global.
The RC900 has an adjustable weight mechanism built within and it can shift around to swing the ball back to the right direction, and in my case, away from the gutter. But make sure you color the ball with some opaque paint, or else everyone will know what your magic is.
Does $1,500 justify the price? Well, if your dignity hangs on the last strike, go for it, champ. Just don't get caught with the controller in your hand.
(Source: Crave Asia via Newlaunches)
Blacksn0w
(Credit: GeoHot)iPhone OS hacker GeoHot released Blackra1n RC3 Tuesday, an updated jailbreak and unlock utility for the Apple iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch.
This version provides true carrier unlocking for iPhone OS 3.1.2 and baseband 05.11.07 by taking advantage of at+xemm crash exploit discovered by ih8sn0w.
The Blackra1n jailbreak process installs a new app--called Sn0w--onto an iPhone. It unlocks your iPhone, making it usable on any GSM carrier network. More information about the jailbreak can be found on GeoHot's blog.
Please note that by jailbreaking an iPhone, you may be violating your terms of service and voiding your warranty. CNET does not recommend jailbreaking; proceed at your own risk.
The HT-RC180, the best-sounding receiver for a grand.
(Credit: Onkyo)Powerful-sounding receivers are hard to come by.
Sure, you can buy respectable-sounding models from the usual suspects--Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, Sony, and Yamaha--but most of the more affordable models lack real muscle. They sound acceptable at moderate volume levels, but can't fully convey home theater impact the way bigger, read "more expensive," models do.
Onkyo's new HT-RC180 ($1,049 MSRP) is THX Select2 Plus Certified and that's always a good sign. A bevy of features including an Ethernet port that enables the HT-RC180 either to receive and output audio tracks playing on your PC, or to bypass your PC and directly stream Internet radio stations such as Rhapsody and Pandora. There's five HDMI 1.3a inputs and the ability to upscale any video input to 1080p via Faroudja DCDi Cinema. You'll soon get the complete scoop in the full HT-RC180 review I did with Matthew Moskovciak.
The features are nice, but it was the HT-RC180's power and dynamic slam that wowed me.
The very first thing I noticed about the HT-RC180 was its ability to play nice and loud without strain. True, in absolute terms it probably can't play much louder than lesser receivers, but the HT-RC180 definitely sounds better playing loud. Home theater, at its best, is all about producing a more visceral experience, and the HT-RC180 does just that.
... Read moreOn Sale Now: $694.53 - $799.00
View the latest prices for Onkyo HT-RC180
What can we say? We're in the giving spirit this holiday. Whether you like 'em or not, they're yours now! Happy Holidays, everyone!
Listen now: Download today's podcast
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EPISODE 118 |
Nespresso Essenza Automatic Espresso and Coffeemakers with Nespresso Aeroccino Milk Frother
Cool party favor or life-saving tool? You be the judge
Blast Knuckles: For the woman on the go who needs that extra sense of security
Mobigrip gives you a firm grasp on your handhelds
Radio-controlled key finder makes life easy for the scatterbrained
Digital Spoon Scale, for obsessively accurate cooks
PRETTY
Sun and Moon Jars
(Credit:
Energy)
"The bigger the speaker, the better the sound" is a rule of thumb that you're likely to hear from many audiophiles. Thankfully, every rule has an exception. In this case, it's the Energy RC-Micro 5.1. Energy's latest surround-sound speaker system sports downright miniscule dimensions--the satellite speakers are a mere 4.7 inches high--but they deliver the sort of sound you'd expect from much larger speakers. Among the highlights were the $1,000 system's ability to blend seamlessly between the tiny satellite speakers and the 8-inch subwoofer. While the system's size does have its limitations--wattage freaks who like to crank it overly loud will soon find its sonic restrictions--most listeners looking for a set of surround-sound speakers that's heard and not seen would be hard-pressed to find a better-sounding solution at this size and price than the Energy RC-Micro.
One caveat: Anyone who's tempted by big sound from little speakers might want to wait for our review of the $1,200 Mirage MX 5.1--an even smaller version of the Mirage Nanosat 5.1, which is still available, and a steal for under $600. (Mirage and Energy are sister brands in the Klipsch family.)
(Credit:
GeeAlerts)
This may be the best way to deliver beverages since the "Flying Barstool."
The radio-controlled cooler can take the place of a poolside cabana boy and you won't even have to give it a tip. We suggest only sealed containers, however, not any fruity drinks that can easily spill their umbrellas.
There are other drawbacks: The cooler holds just six beverages and has a range of only 30 feet, according to GeekAlerts, so your guests will have to stay reasonably nearby whether you like it or not. But if you team it up with a beer-fetching Roomba for reloading, the supply is limited only by the capacity of your fridge.
(Credit:
Drinkstuff)
Some of us at Crave are old enough to remember when the Harrier "Jump Jet" gained fame (or notoriety) in the Falklands War of 1982, an aircraft that seemed to arrive from the future because it could take off vertically like a helicopter. That, anyway, is what came to mind upon seeing this "RC Jump Jet Stealth Plane."
Unlike most remote-controlled aircraft, this one claims to have a Harrier-like vertical lift powered by four "gyro-stabilized" propellers. Unfortunately, OhGizmo says it looks more like "a four-bladed helicopter that's been adorned with small wings" than any kind of real jump jet. But judging by the video below, it will probably be more than adequate in making the cats jump out of their skins.
(Credit:
General Motors/Zerc Customs)
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 impressive feat of engineering; the car can climb a 16-inch vertical wall and operate in up to two feet of water.
The press release sent out to journalists touts the creation as "the ultimate boy's toy." And as a girl who's into cars, I'd normally take offense. But I admit, aside from the "wow" factor, this is one I just don't get.
(Credit:
Firebox)
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 control, and up to 10 minutes of flight time on a charge of 20 to 25 minutes.
The mini-chopper is described as "only slightly longer than a credit card," but U.K.-based Firebox, which is selling the MX-1, describes it best: "So small even Tom Thumb (or Cruise) would have trouble climbing aboard."
(Credit:
Strapya-World)
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 raced at the same time. But frankly, we're just happy to see the Ferrari nameplate on a product that involves cars for a change.
