Crave: gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. - CNET

QR-coded condoms let you share the site of your tryst

Edward Moyer — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:12:28 PST

(Credit: Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest)

Is that a QR code in your pocket, or do you just want to tell the world where you last had sex?

Turns out the answer could be "both."

The scannable codes have been popping up on (of all things) condom wrappers--to enable users to post the location of their sexual activity online.

No, it's not a check-in app for orgy-goers (VCs take note--that opportunity may still be available). It's part of an effort by the Seattle-area chapter of Planned Parenthood to hook up with members of the social-media generation.

Taking a cue from check-in sites like Foursquare, Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest has been handing out the specially stickered rubbers to college students. The students are encouraged to scan the codes after sex to go to a Web site where they can anonymously post the approximate whereabouts of their recent safe-sex tryst to an online map.

In the process, the posters are supposedly helping spread the word about safe sex and family planning, and, in the words of Planned Parenthood, letting it be known that they're "proud to wear protection." They're also gaining access to online educational resources.

The QR-coded wrappers are just part of a larger campaign called "Where Did... [Read more]

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Best extreme-definition 27-inch monitors

Eric Franklin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:31:15 PST

HP ZR2740w

While most 27-inch monitors you'll find at your local Best Buy sport the perfectly capable resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, there's a growing contingent of monitor enthusiasts, like myself, who understand the real reason for the existence of 27-inch displays.

If you've never seen a 27-inch monitor running at 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution, then you've yet to be touched by a particularly affecting higher power.

Also referred to as "extreme definition" or "XD," this branch of higher-tier monitors will melt your face and not look back. However, as much as the impressive resolution benefits all aspects of computing, it is in games that it provides a particular advantage.

Most modern games support the resolution and look stunning while doing so. Just remember, you'll need an equally capable graphics card to really take advantage.

The effect of seeing a modern game running at 2,560x1,440 is...well, let's just say you won't want to settle for anything less, including the 50-inch 1080p HDTV your console is currently connected to.

Keep reading for details on the easiest way to ruin the console experience you're currently settling for. Also, check out the video above for just a taste of the power you're not ready for.

If anyone asks you ... [Read more]

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XPS 13, Dell's first ultrabook, released

Brooke Crothers — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:29:23 PST

Dell's first ultrabook, the XPS 13, is 0.71-inches at its thickest point. But this isn't Dell's first super-skinny consumer laptop. That would be the Adamo announced in March 2009.

(Credit: Dell)

Dell's first ultrabook, the XPS 13, is now available. And it's attracting a lot of attention as one of Dell's best laptop designs to date.

The XPS 13 boasts solid specs for the base $999 configuration, is priced well below the MacBook Air, uses a smaller footprint than 13-inch competitors, and taps carbon fiber materials in the chassis to keep the weight below three pounds.

Canon delays EOS-1D X

Christopher MacManus — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:22:05 PST

The 10th generation of the EOS-1D packs many features.

(Credit: Canon)

Are you patiently awaiting the powerhouse Canon EOS-1D X dSLR?

To those planning to buy the 18-megapixel shooter this March, well, we have some bad news. The release date is now "late April," according to Canon press releases in various regions (including Europe and Japan).

There's not much information explaining the inconvenience, aside from an ambiguous note about a "delay in development."

The company says it's also delaying many EOS-1D X accessories to match the new launch time frame. These include the GPS receiver (GP-E1), wireless file transmitter (WFT-E6B), battery charger (LC-E4N), battery pack (LP-E4N), wide strap (L7), and focusing screen (EC- CV).

(Via AV Watch and Imaging Resource)

Mobile World Congress Day 2: What you missed

Lynn La — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:50:17 PST

Huawei's MediaPad has a 10.1-inch screen and a quad-core CPU.

(Credit: Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)

BARCELONA, Spain--Even though the first day of Mobile World Congress rolled out some nice phones that we're still talking about, the handsets that debuted the very next day did not fail to impress.

While LG, Samsung, and Huawei still had enough tricks up their sleeves to announce more new products, it was Nokia's unveiling of five phones that took up most of the chatter for the second day of the show.

The hottest phones and tablets of Mobile World Congress 2012

1-2 of 20 Scroll Left Scroll Right

Playboy's next fantasy? A men's club in space

Bonnie Cha — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:32:32 PST

(Credit: Thomas Tenery/Playboy Enterprises)

Space is already full of heavenly bodies, but apparently not enough of the kind to satisfy those at Playboy, which is taking matters into its own hands.

The adult magazine company has come up with a concept for a Playboy Club in space that includes a zero-gravity dance club and Playboy bunnies with jet packs. The "intergalactic entertainment destination" is featured in the March issue of Playboy, which is out on newsstands now, and is described as a cruise ship in space by the article's writers, A.J. Baime and Jason Harper.

Baime and Harper collaborated with various individuals on the project, including artist Thomas Tenery, Virgin Galactic head designer Adam Wells, and former NASA scientist Stan Kent, to figure out the design and features of the Playboy space club. Together, they dreamed up a wheel-shaped space station that has everything from a casino to a restaurant to "orbital pleasure domes."

(Credit: Thomas Tenery/Playboy Enterprises)

The restaurant would be located in a spinning section of the station, where centrifugal force would create an artificial gravity, so you, your food and drink don't go floating away. However, if you're looking for some zero-gravity fun, you can have that, too.

The dance club is a gravity-free zone and also features Playboy bunnies zooming around in jet p... [Read more]

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Why the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1's stylus works (hands on, video)

Jessica Dolcourt — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:19:12 PST

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

BARCELONA, Spain--Forget about a smartphone you have to force to be a tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is a tablet in its own right, and in my opinion, the appropriate size for a device that makes use of a stylus for additional creative composition.

Let's back it up for a moment with a look at the Galaxy Note family tree. The first Note, which CNET first spotted back in September and has since intensely reviewed, comes with a 5.3-inch screen and a skinny, 4-inch tall pressure-sensitive stylus you can use to doodle or take notes.

The benefit of the phone's size is a point of debate, and even though I generally like the idea of giving people an option to use the S-Pen stylus in addition to their greasy fingertips, writing with it has its problems.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, in pictures (photos)

1-2 of 6 ... [Read more]

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Spotlight on: Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Mini 2, Ace Plus (video)

Jessica Dolcourt — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:09:50 PST

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

BARCELONA, Spain--Amid all the Samsung Galaxy devices shown so far at MWC, these three barely saw the spotlight, if at all.

Well, it's time to turn on the diva lights for the Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Samsung Galaxy Mini 2, and Samsung Ace Plus, even if for just a minute.

Samsung Galaxy Mini 2

Although none of these phones is a flagship product (the Mini 2 is a downright simple Android starter phone,) they have their place in the mobile ecosystem.

Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus

Besides, it's always fun to see which phones are bound for other pastures.

Snackr for iPhone reads news blurbs so you don't have to

Rick Broida — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:11:43 PST

Snackr for iPhone lets you listen to the news.

(Credit: Screenshot by Rick Broida)

There are countless ways to scan the news on an iPhone, and even a handful of ways to listen to it. But newly updated Snackr effectively does both, reading aloud the latest headlines and news summaries from a variety of sources--including some personal ones.

In other words, it's like a news "snack"--get it? The app provides five minutes' worth of current headlines, but also lets you shift to other channels for more targeted news: top stories, business, entertainment, and technology.

You can also create your own channels derived from nine broad categories, including sports, science, gaming, and music.

What you can't do, alas, is hand-pick any news sources (like, say, CNET, ahem), nor can you add RSS feeds. But there is some nifty personalization available in the form of customized daily greetings, which include local-weather updates, sports scores, and even notification of friends' birthdays--all courtesy of Snackr's just-added Facebook integration.

The app's interface is fairly straightforward, relying on side-scrolling lists in upper, middle, and lower sections. Up top: channels. Near the bottom: the current batch of ... [Read more]

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'Star Wars' product rejects: Far, far away from reality

Amanda Kooser — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:52:17 PST

There's still time to make these, right?

(Credit: TIC TOC/Pepsi/Lucasfilm)

I knew there was something missing from my life. I just didn't know what it was until I came across ToyOtter's latest list of rejected "Star Wars" merchandise ideas on Action Figure Insider.

I'm missing a Luke Skywalker/Darth Vader salt and pepper shaker set, without which my life will never be complete. How did this product not get made?

Use the Force to flavor your breakfast. (Click to enlarge.)

(Credit: TIC TOC/Pepsi/Lucasfilm)

"Let these legends of the kitchen table be a constant reminder of the battle over good and evil in the galaxy," the concept reads. Each morning there could be an epic battle for the very soul of my scrambled eggs.

The shakers aren't the only products I'm pining for. Jason "ToyOtter" Geyer and his former co-workers at a promotional merchandise agency were in charge of coming up with products to tie in with the launch of "Star Wars: Episode One, The Phantom Menace" and a corresponding big Pepsi promo push.

Crave: gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. - CNET

QR-coded condoms let you share the site of your tryst

Best extreme-definition 27-inch monitors

HP ZR2740w

XPS 13, Dell's first ultrabook, released

Related stories

Canon delays EOS-1D X

Mobile World Congress Day 2: What you missed

The hottest phones and tablets of Mobile World Congress 2012

Playboy's next fantasy? A men's club in space

Why the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1's stylus works (hands on, video)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, in pictures (photos)

Spotlight on: Samsung Galaxy S Advance, Mini 2, Ace Plus (video)

Samsung Galaxy S Advance

Samsung Galaxy Mini 2

Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus

Snackr for iPhone reads news blurbs so you don't have to

'Star Wars' product rejects: Far, far away from reality

Related stories