gadget

Subscribe: RSS (SD) RSS (HD) iTunes (SD) iTunes (HD) CNET's popular list of the 16 most-anticipated tech products for 2012 is running out of ammunition. The year has already produced a new iPad, Android 4.0, new ultrabooks, and new Macbook Pros, but there are still some big products expected this fall.

In this CNET Top 5, we're here to give you a refresher on the tech everyone's going to be talking about this fall. If you can think of one we missed, be sure to leave a comment.

AC Gears sells a wide variety of headphones and gadgets in Greenwich Village in NYC. It's not a huge space, but half of the store is devoted to in-ear and full-size headphones, and I recently spoke with founder Kohn Liu to learn more about his business. The brands and model lineup change from time to time, but right now he has around 50 headphones on display. Many are in the affordable range, but there's also a decent selection of high-end brands as well. AC Gears has most Grado models on display, including the top-of-the-line PS 1000. They also … Read more

Apple is once again a part of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool group, which rates electronics for their greenness.

Last month Apple quietly ended its participation with EPEAT. In a statement earlier this week, Apple said its products were still made to meet the Energy Star 5.2 guidelines and that it posts extensive information about its environmental efforts on its Web site.

In a new letter, Apple's soon to be outgoing hardware engineering chief, Bob Mansfield, said the company will once again have its products rated by the organization:

We've recently heard from many loyal Apple … Read more

What a week for Panasonic. Of all the products CNET reviewed this week, the company scored the best ratings for both the most expensive gadget and the cheapest. There must be some sort of award for that. (Actually, there isn't, but there should be.)

The Panasonic TC-P65VT50 (affectionately known around these parts as the "VT50") is a 65-inch plasma TV that nabbed the hardest-won praise of all: A glowing review from our own David Katzmaier. Katzmaier gets right to the point in his review, explaining that the whole line of TVs in the VT50's series have &… Read more

I'm addicted to the original British "Top Gear" car show. As much as I love to watch them run a Bugatti Veyron down an airplane runway, though, I know I'll never get within spitting distance of a blazing fast car like that.

With a Max Speed Speedometer Car Watch from Gadgets and Gear, I could at least pretend I'm sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle with nifty light-up gauges.

The LED display glows with blue lights while red needles track the time.… Read more

Flowers are all well and good this Mother's Day, but let's face it: they're ephemeral. And cliche. And not terribly practical. That's probably why a recent survey showed that moms covet tech gear nearly as much as they do spa trips and jewelry.

If you want to get Mom something that's useful, entertaining, and long-lasting, look no further than the tech department. I've rounded up five gadgets, all priced below $100, that should make Mom a happy camper this year -- and on into next.

ChicBuds Most earbuds are basic black or Apple white … Read more

A new survey put out by CNBC says that half of homes in the U.S. own at least one Apple product, and that number is expected to grow through next year.

The outlet's "All-America Economic Survey" polled 836 Americans by phone from March 19 to 22 about their spending habits, political leanings, and investment practices.

From those surveyed, CNBC estimates the average U.S. household to have 1.6 devices made by Apple. One in 10 of those that don't have any Apple gear plan to get one inside the next 12 months, CNBC said. … Read more

I have a certain affinity for tacky novelty gifts. I used to peruse comic book ads offering untold delights such as X-ray specs, hand buzzers, and fake vomit.

The Prescription Bottle Beer Holder from Gadgets and Gear would fit right in with those tasteless gags. It's bound to be a hot joke gift among both frat boys and medical professionals.… Read more

According to a recent study, 19 percent of you have lost your smartphone due to a fatal meeting with the toilet. Putting aside the disturbing fact that some people can't part with their phone for a precious few moments, wouldn't it be nice not to worry about your mobile device, should it take a tumble into the commode or any other body of water?

Well, it could happen, and even better, it could happen this year.

A company called HzO developed a nanofilm waterproof coating that can protect your electronics from the perils of water, but it's a bit different from some of the other solutions out there, such as NeverWet and Liquipel.

The difference is that HzO's WaterBlock is applied during the manufacturing stage instead of after, so it safeguards the insides of your phone, tablet, or MP3 player--and not just the outside.… Read more