Archive for February 17th, 2012

(Credit:
James Martin/CNET)

First off, congrats to Robert C. of Atlanta for winning last week’s prize, two DeskPets TankBots toy robots and a Griffin Helo TC remote-controlled helicopter.

Now, onto this week’s giveaway. I had a blast last week creating a robot using littleBits, and now you have an opportunity to build a robot of your own, or whatever you please, with these magnetic circuit boards.

As promised, we’re giving away two littleBits starter kits this week. There are 11 modules in a box, and each part has a specific function, such as power, motor, light, or switch. They snap together via magnets, so there’s no need to solder or program anything, and all you need to create a working circuit board is a power source and some kind of output, which are all provided in the kit.

Since only one person can win this giveaway, be sure to register for CNET Exclusives and check this page next week to get littleBits for a special price.

littleBits was created by engineer and interactive artist Ayah Bdeir, who wanted to come up with a way to get kids (and adults) interested in learning how electronics work, so it’s an educational tool, as well as a great source of fun.

Normally, a littleBits starter kit costs $89, but the winner will get t… [Read more]

Related Links:
Big fun with littleBits circuit boards
Getting creative with littleBits (photos)
Crave giveaway: Nuance Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac
Crave giveaway: Tokyoflash Kisai Rogue Touch Pocket Watch
Crave giveaway: DeskPets TankBots and a Griffin Helo TC

(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)

Nomo-what?

Nomophobia is the fear of being without mobile contact (who knew such a term or condition existed?), and according to a new study from the U.K., two out of three people suffer from it.

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SecurEnvoy, a mobile authentication solution provider, sponsored the study and found that of the 1,000 people surveyed in the U.K., 66 percent were afraid of losing or being without their phone–a 13 percent increase from when the study was first conducted four years ago.

The increase is not a huge surprise, as cell phones and smartphones have become more and more prevalent, and as CNET’s Elizabeth Moore points out in her article, nomophobia is more likely about the anxiety one feels upon losing a phone or leaving it at home. Still, I worry a bit about how dependent we’ve become on our mobile devices.

Every day as I’m walking around San Francisco, taking the bus to and from work, or having dinner with a friend, I see people with their heads buried in their phone, completely oblivious to the world around them. Heck, we can’t even go to the bathroom without bringing our phones.

Now, I’ll admit I have a… [Read more]

Related Links:
‘Nomophobia’ up as more folks fear being mobileless
iPhone 4S wooing lots of Android, BlackBerry users
Edison tops Jobs as world’s greatest innovator
Apple’s iOS, BlackBerry tops among business users
Tablets finding work as electronic babysitters