To get a better handle on the iPhone 5's battery life, we decided to subject the company's first 4G LTE smartphone to talk time tests. After all the dust settled, our tests produced respectable and surprising call time numbers … Read more

The turning of the seasons signifies a time of change. Yet just because the weather will soon start to turn cool, doesn't mean it's time to toast adieu to chilled wine.

The Cork Pops VinOice Wine Chiller uses a gel-filled stainless steel chilling rod to cool down open bottles. It doesn't need to be removed to pour a glass since a gravity-hinged lid covers a pour spout that is attached to the chill rod, so wine can be served without the need to mess around with any wet accessories.

To use, the chilling rod should be placed … Read more

Combining one thing with another is a time-honored kitchen tradition. In fact, it's hard to imagine how any cooking would get done without such an activity. But beyond the food, there lies another realm of alchemy and it can be found on the shelf or in the drawer where all the kitchen gadgets lay in waiting.

Haunting any kitchen worth its salt will be a set of measuring spoons as well as a measuring cup. They may reside in different areas, but that doesn't mean that the utensil drawer and kitchen cupboard haven't been mixing it up. … Read more

The chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker treat that is known as a s'more is one that usually requires a great deal of preparation. No, not the normal food preparation one normally partakes of in the kitchen; rather instead of chopping boards and knives, s'more prep requires kindling and tree branches. Unless of course there happens to be a handy s'more-making machine nearby.

The Indoor Flameless Marshmallow Roaster brings the camping to the kitchen counter and leaves the campfire behind. The countertop device plugs into a standard AC outlet and measures about 14 inches by 14 inches with … Read more

Anyone who has ever used a measuring cup knows that they like to lie. Well, maybe not lie so much as distort the truth. That is, unless one lifts it up to eye level, the reading might not be so accurate. Attempts have been made to rectify this issue and include enhancements such as angled measuring cups (Oxo) or measuring cups with a scale built in. Those are all steps in the right direction, but we now have given the measuring cup itself a voice.

The Talking Measuring Cup ($59.95) chimes into the conversation by offering voice-assisted operation. Capable … Read more

I may write a CNET column called called "Common Sense Tech," but I can't say that I or any of those who were in line with me today for iPhone 5 are showing much common sense. But the iPhone, perhaps more than any other device, illustrates how important a feature that fashion can be, in addition to function, when it comes to tech purchases.

Don't get me wrong. The iPhone 5 is an excellent phone, as our CNET iPhone 5 review covers. As usual, I'm not trying to spark some type … Read more

Apple's latest iPhone 5 is certainly off to a big start, with preorders already backed up for weeks. If you're the type who'd rather not wait so long for a new smartphone, though, or who avoids Apple products like the plague, there are plenty of other options out there. In fact, many competing devices offer just as much speed, a bigger screen, and a wider selection of features than Apple's newest creation. … Read more

Certain descriptive words tend to get overused. Do an eBay search for vintage or retro and that becomes all too clear. Another label that gets applied all over the place is steampunk. Sometimes one can even see it applied to things that plug into the wall. For those who fancy technology from the Victorian or Edwardian eras, that is probably not what they have in mind.

Ancient tech comes at a price, and in this case that price is $699.95. Inspired by a coffee-brewing process invented by Loeff of Berlin in the 1830s, the Genuine Balancing Siphon Coffee Maker … Read more

Wi-Fi Webcams can be really cool, allowing you to stream live video to, say, a laptop or phone without having to run cables all over the place.

But many, if not most, of them are expensive, unattractive gizmos requiring complicated setup and delivering iffy results.

They're getting better, though, and for today at least, more affordable: Ben's Outlet has the Stem Innovation iZon Wi-Fi Webcam for $64.99 shipped. That's half the list price, and definitely the best deal I've seen on this product.

The small, white, cylindrical iZon stands about 4 inches high on its … Read more