Gadgets

This quadrotor flies -- and rolls -- over just about anything

We've seen how flying quadrotors can form spectacular displays in the sky, but what if they could roll along the ground too?

Engineers at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Robotics Lab have been developing a power-efficient machine that can move on land and air. It also happens to be extremely Crave-worthy. … Read more

T-Mobile offers HTC One S for free

Kick your outrageously old T-Mobile handset to the curb in favor the HTC One S. This sleek, modern Android device is free with two-year contract on this Cyber Monday.

I think that the HTC One S was one of the best Android smartphones HTC has ever sold, though lately that doesn't mean much. Its excellent 8-megapixel camera and nimble 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor would ordinarily serve to put this handset on your short-list any day. Factor in the One S' distinctive and extremely thin chassis that's carved from a single block on anodized aluminum, Android 4.0 … Read more

Motorola Atrix HD now 99 cents

A smartphone deal like this doesn't happen often. AT&T is selling the Motorola Atrix HD for just 99 cents with a new two-year contract as part of its Cyber Monday promotion.

Sure you may say the Atrix HD isn't all that new, but the phone isn't very old, either. Heck, the handset made its debut this summer, which, no matter how you slice it, wasn't a very long time ago. But what kind of device will a dollar bill net you? A pretty good, one judging from the 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, big … Read more

AT&T HTC One X for 99 cents on Cyber Monday

Here's a nice Cyber Monday deal. AT&T is offering the HTC One X Android smartphone for 99 cents if you sign up for another two years of service.

If you recall, the One X was once the top dog in HTC's One series handset line and is not even a year old. While the phone may not be as powerful as the upcoming HTC One X+, which boasts quad-core processing and more RAM, the older One X is still a solid device.

First off, the One X runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Sure it'… Read more

Teach your Droid DNA some GSM tricks

One of the new HTC Droid DNA's unsung features is its ability to jump onto global GSM networks, which is great when traveling overseas. Verizon certainly thinks so, and thanks to an unlocked SIM card slot, you can also slip in an AT&T or T-Mobile card and flip the DNA over to operate on those carriers. … Read more

No matter which way you slice it, RIM is still toast

Shares of Research In Motion, the makers of the BlackBerry, are, by some Thanksgiving miracle, up by a whopping 26 percent this week. Yes, you read that right.

On Monday, shares of RIM were trading on the Nasdaq at $8.69 apiece. Now they're trading at $11.76 per share with no signs of stopping.

Wait, we're talking about RIM, right? The same company that continues to bleed customers and cash like a bad Kung Fu movie? The same company whose outdated BlackBerrys are being tossed aside in favor of iPhones and Androids? And the same company whose … Read more

My hunt for the perfect Windows 8 convertible laptop

One of the most exciting things about Windows 8 is the emergence of convertible laptops. They can be tablets! They can be laptops! I've wanted this type of device for ages, and I've been exploring the possibilities.

Ever since I got a MacBook Air about two years ago, it's left me disappointed in one key area. I wish there were times I could just use it like a tablet. Soon after getting it, I abandoned taking an iPad around on trips. There was no need. The MacBook Air gave me the same instant-on access to the Web … Read more

Nanotech device could step in for dogs to sniff out explosives

When it comes to detecting a wide range of extremely faint scents, including the primary vapor that emanates from TNT-based explosives, dogs are the gold standard. But researchers out of the University of California at Santa Barbara, report in the journal Analytical Chemistry that they just may have man's best friend beat -- in the form of a fingerprint-sized silicon microchip.

"Like a person, a dog can have a good day or a bad day, get tired or distracted," Carl Meinhart, a mechanical engineering professor who led the research, said in a school news release. "We … Read more

Williams-Sonoma cranks up the volume with tablet accessories

It's that time of year again when things are about to get real busy in the kitchen. The holidays usher in an endless stream of grocery bags being hauled into the kitchen, most filled with recognizable favorites of food-to-be. Tradition may dictate turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy to be on the table come dinnertime, but that doesn't mean a soon-to-be classic can't get thrown in the mix.

Watching a cooking video and following along with the steps is a natural use for tablets and mobile devices. The Williams-Sonoma Smart Tools Bluetooth Speaker ($149.95) offers an easy … Read more

Kettle corn on the kitchen countertop

You know the aroma. It beckons as if it were a magical cartoon hand, wafting through the air until it finds its destination: you. There is no choice but to follow the waggling smoke fingers until you find its source: popcorn. But there is something different about this enticing scent. Tinged around the edges is the distinct sense of sugar and salt. And furthermore, this is not an outdoor event; this is your own kitchen.

Bringing kettle corn to the inside, the Nostalgia Electrics KCP100 Carnival Kettle Corn Maker ($49.99) mirrors the magic of the popular treat without the … Read more