Crave

(Credit: Aïssa Logerot)

I'm a bachelor. As such, I always look a bit off (I don't own a full-length mirror) and my clothes are wrinkled (I don't own an ironing board). So when my editor forwarded me a link from Boing Boing Gadgets about this combo ironing board/full-length mirror I figured she was giving me a hint. Thankfully she just wanted to share it with all of you.

And look how cool it is. In an urban apartment like mine, every square inch is valuable. That's why items with dual (or more!) uses are so great. And this one has a theme: making you look better. That's awesome.

I'm also a fan of things that transform, as this does, albeit simply. Right now it's just a concept by French designer Aïssa Logerot, but I wouldn't be surprised to see these showing up at IKEAs all over the world pretty soon.

I mean, who wouldn't want to disguise their vanity with function? As a guy who likes cute nerd girls, if I ever meet a girl with one of these in her apartment, I might go ring shopping.

We're proud to announce the debut of CNET LIVE, the new portal for all live shows, including The 404, on CNET. Don't worry, the transition won't be as difficult as DTV. We'll give you detailed instructions on how to tell all your friends about the show! Listen in for all the juicy details on our weekend staycation and why Wilson should never consume liquor again.

Atlantic City: What a dump!

(Credit: The404/CNET)

So now that the weekend is over, we can talk about our top secret trip...to Atlantic City! It's always good to get away for a little bit, even if it's just for a day, so we packed up our bags and took off to AC for a little gambling and good times. What was supposed to be a relaxing trip turned out to be 24 hours of "The Hangover"-esque partying. We all indulged in our own vices: Jeff hit the blackjack tables like a white bat out of hell, Justin explored the dark crevices of AC's back alleys, and Wilson Tang ate chicken. That's right, you read it correctly: Wilson Tang finally broke his "vegetarianism" and is now an official chicken chaser. Unfortunately, his bout with poultry at Friday's dinner left him with a mad stomach ache and he party pooped his way out of the trip. What a shrew!

Click here for a full set of pictures from The 404's trip to Atlantic City.

Lots of stories to talk about today, namely two big news items from over the weekend: the DTV official transition and the mad rush for Facebook Vanity URLs. Actually, the long-awaited DTV transition went off without a hitch, which makes sense, because it's been in the works forever now, although we're pretty sure someone in Florida tried to eat her converter box. Facebook Vanity also had little to no effect on real life, although there did seem to be a slight flux in traffic on Thursday night as people rushed to reserve their own Facebook URLs. In the spirit of American sportsmanship, some of the landgrabs were a little disingenuous; for example, check out the profile for our own Molly Wood. In fact, my own name got snaked by another Justin Yu, so feel free to add him and let him know how much you love The 404. In the meantime, check out the Facebook profiles for the Real Justin Yu, Wilson Tang, and Jeff Bakalar.

The recent handful of news-centric shows forced us to depart from our normal story format, but with Palm Pre, Apple iPhone/Macbook/Pro news out of the way, we get back to our roots and tackle a ton of hilarious stories backed up in the queue. Time for some spring cleaning!

I can haz no fwendz?

(Credit: Qwitter.com)

Starting this Saturday, June 13, Facebook will roll out a service called "Facebook Vanity" that lets users choose a specific username that will make it easier to direct friends to their profile address. For example, our friend Richard Topping can choose to assign his username and point people to "facebook.com/richardtopping" instead of just a string of random numbers. It's a great idea and makes pimping yourself out a lot easier, but be sure to wake up early on Friday night to be the first to register your own name. That is, unless your name is Wilson Tang--who the hell would want that awful handle?

Next in the lineup are two Twitter services that show you who are, and more importantly who ARE NOT your true friends. FriendorFollow tells you who you are following that isn't following you back in return. Sorry to open up the floodgates on this one, but beware the angry tweets directed your way that'll read something like, "WTF?! @Malusbrutus stopped following me, that SOB! I'm so not signing your yearbook!"

Or, if you're really desperate, you can sign up for Useqwitter and the site will e-mail you immediately when one of your friends stops following you on Twitter, and it'll also tell you exactly which of your tweets caused their departure. For example, a message you receive from Qwitter could look like this:

Justin Yu (malusbrutus) stopped following you on Twitter after you posted this tweet:

OMG this Dave Matthews Band concert surreausly rulez0rZ, I luvvv the way Davey can't seem to open his whole mouth when he sings! Creed is performing next, I'm in muzik HEAVEN!

EPISODE 360

(Credit: Vanity PC)

Despite their functionality, not all built-in computer desks need to have a minimalist or futuristic design. In fact, if Vanity PC has its way, computing will blend almost seamlessly into furniture of the most traditional origins.

At first glance its offerings look like a throwback to the faux armoires used to conceal ridiculously bulky tube TVs in the living room, but Vanity PC goes beyond that. Not only does it integrate the computer into all manner of furniture--including a coffee table, as pictured here--but it also builds the technology directly into the pieces, such as an LCD underneath a folding desktop and stereo speakers built into cabinets, according to BornRich.

It's obviously not as versatile as a desk that accommodates a standard laptop, but that probably doesn't matter. Judging by the designs on its site, this isn't furniture one would expect to be used by the average road warrior.

(Credit: Better Living Through Design)

Nothing is more jarring to Crave than an interruption to our morning routine, a time reserved for such sanctified rituals as long, hot showers and the day's first cup of coffee. That's why we think this "smart" mirror is an invention of the devil.

In addition to helping you straighten your toupee, the "+336+ SMS Mirror" acts as a remote receiver that picks up text messages streamed from a mobile phone or PDA and displays them on the shiny surface, according to Ubergizmo. (It's also worthy of Crave's odd-name category.)

Obviously perfect ammunition for those who think that we're overrun with communication in the Digital Age, it takes such mirrored concepts as digital radiator read-outs and billboard scrolling to a disturbing new level. But most obnoxious of all is the price: $10,000.

So why stop there? If you really want to converse with your reflection, you can get a "Magic Message Mirror" to actually talk to you for around $20,000.

(Credit: Chip Chick)

We felt that something had been amiss lately, and it finally dawned on us: It's been days since we've blogged about a pink gadget. But this one more than makes up for our dereliction of duty, if we do say so ourselves: the multimedia "Girls" keyboard.

All of the keyboards made by Greybusters are colorful, to say the least, but this one seems over the top even by the company's own garish standards. And not just because it's shocking pink from A to Z--as Chip Chick points out, it's also got a vanity mirror built right into the wrist rest. We suggest a pink USB lipstick drive to complete the set.

(Credit: Clarins)

Anti-aging products are everywhere. Most of them merit nary the blink of an eye on Crave, as we choose to focus on personal technology, not personal vanity. Sometimes, however, the two intersect. We recently read on Textually that the French cosmetic company Clarins has launched a new product specifically geared toward protecting one's skin from the effects of cell phone radiation. Really? I knew cell phones gave you brain tumors and killed sperm, but apparently now they can give you wrinkles, too. In other words, your Prada phone might be killing that youthful glow! Quel horreur!

But never fear. Here comes Clarins to the rescue. The new expertise3p product is "an ultra-sheer screen mist containing a pioneering combination of plant extracts capable of protecting the skin from the accelerated-aging affects of all indoor and outdoor air pollution but most significantly, the affects of Artificial Electromagnetic Waves." Apparently, if you spray this stuff on, it'll be a pleasant-smelling force field to keep those naughty cell phone rays off your dainty cheeks.

Um, thanks, but I'll stick to my SPF 55 sunblock.

(Credit: Gadget Candy)

When in doubt, change colors. Samsung has perfected that tactic, and it's applied the concept to its NV3 line of combo MP3-playing, 7-megapixel cameras.

The original model in basic black got a decent rating from fellow Craver Will Greenwald last year, but it appears that Samsung thought it was time for a makeover. But rather than slap on some cheap lipstick, the NV3 is now finished in stainless steel or, more exotically, "Oriental Plant Lacquer" that Gadget Candy says is environmentally friendly.

Oh, by the way, the price of these newly outfitted cameras is considerably higher--about $450 for the lacquered version vs. $250 for the original black. But we're sure that had nothing to do with Samsung's marketing strategy.