Toys

News.com has been running hugely cool photo galleries excerpted from sister site TechRepublic--their "Cracking Open" series, where they dissect, gut, and then try to reconstruct your favorite electronics.

Latest entries include the iPod Touch--you won't believe how thin the components are--and the remote-control game, "Shocking Tanks."

Links: Cracking open the iPod touch and Cracking open "Shocking Tanks."

Tech toys are all the rage this holiday gift-giving season, and I have a request for all the cool, creative, and wired aunts, uncles, and friends who are choosing presents for the kids in their lives. Please consult with parents before you buy a child a high-tech gift, especially any toy or gadget that has an online connection.

Just as you wouldn't spring a puppy on a family as a surprise, you should check in with parents before you give a tech toy. I can testify on behalf of frazzled parents, even those of us with a techie bent ourselves, that we are dancing as fast as we can to keep up with the implications of computers, gadgets, and online communication for our kids.… Read more

U.S. Soccer Federation, take note: If you want the sport to be as popular here as it is in the rest of the world, start marketing more products like this.

We know as much about futbol as we do about figure skating, but we'd be the first in line to get one of these soccer ball remotes that are sold in the U.K. And it can actually be used as a ball to play with, according to Gizmodo, though we wouldn't recommend that if it was the only remote in the house.

It supposedly can be … Read more

In simpler times remote-controlled toys were just meant to have fun--like slot cars without tracks, in a reference for the geezers among us. Today, however, their uses are often more dubious: When they're not trying to cause a heart attack, they're used for spying or shocking and everything evil in between.

So we were relieved to find that there's at least one RC car with a purpose that's actually useful without being nefarious. The "Metal-Detect -Car" is true to its name, with built-in technology that can identify lost or hidden metallic objects while traversing &… Read more

Sometimes, commissioning a pop artist to dress up a product is a good move; sometimes, it isn't. This is an example of the latter.

A year ago the "Nabaztag" Wi-Fi bunny was the darling of the digital pet world as others tried to figure out exactly what it was. (We're still not so sure.) For some reason, however, its creators at Violet have decided to subject the e-hare to the whims of French graffiti artist Andre.

The result, Luxist says, is a version with a tattooed ear and a "limited edition" price tag of … Read more

While the kids are having their fun in the snow this holiday season, you have a choice: You can either try to prove that you're still a teenager by piloting something like a "Hov Pod," or you can opt for an alternative that we advocate--one that involves far less risk of physical exertion: a remote-controlled snowmobile.

The "Polaris" can let you participate in winter's festivities without breaking a sweat. The little dynamo is equipped with "caterpillar-style track grips" and "thermoplastic material" that can withstand sub-zero temperatures, which is more than … Read more

The first self-destruction button was mildly amusing when it came out last year, and it actually served a useful purpose as a USB hub. But a miniature successor, a phone charm seen on Akihabara News, is just plain silly--all it does is flash a red light and play a recording that sounds like an explosion. Even that we could live with, but its $27 price tag is nothing short of offensive. We're tempted to buy one and use it for target practice with a .44 magnum, then post it on YouTube as an instructional video.

Some may be thankful there are only three weeks left in the holiday shopping season, but many of you are panicking because there are only three weeks left. For you anxious-ridden procrastinators, we're here to help.

CNET's holiday gift guide is packed with great tech gift ideas, and we're updating it as choice new items hit the shelves. If you just need a little something, check out our stocking stuffers and the tech gifts under $100.

If you're still seeking something perfect for that ubergeek on your list, we've got high-end tech sure to please … Read more

It's somehow reassuring to know that the Porsche brand, when not on the roadway, isn't scurrying off to proliferate among kitchen appliances. No offense to our friends and colleagues in the culinary arts, but it's somewhat disturbing to see the name of a racing legend applied to toasters and coffee makers.

So even though it doesn't have four wheels, we still appreciate this "Porsche Kinderbob" sled at least for being a transportation vehicle of some sort, as seen on GeekAlerts. And that way, if you can't afford a Porsche of your own, you … Read more