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Civilians Run City-Wide Surveillance in Pennsylvania Town

Okay, Switched readers, here's a great debate. Lancaster, Pennsylvania is known as the home of Hershey's corporate, the town where Peeps was invented (not made -- that's Bethlehem), and the American city with the highest amount of surveillance per ... Read more →

Which Rugged Camera Should You Get? 1 month ago on Switched

Question: I'm planning a vacation with my wife and kids this summer, and I want one camera to cover it all. Something small enough to take around with us wherever we go, and most importantly, super durable and waterproof so we can take it to the ...

Seattle Dude Arrested for Taking ATM Photo, and for Being Cryptic 1 month ago on Switched

After snapping the above photo of a pair of Loomis employees filling an ATM, self-described straight-edge vegan and anarchist Shane Becker got himself arrested at a Seattle REI. While we don't doubt Becker's innocent intentions (apparently, he ...

Construction Begins on Hi-Tech US Virtual Border Fence 1 month ago on Switched

Work on the proposed "virtual fence" along the U.S. / Mexico border finally began this week, putting an end to the years of delays and hemming and hawing by officials. Consisting of cameras, sensors, and other technology, the virtual fence is ...

Flip Mino HD Camcorder Takes to the Skies With Helium Balloons 1 month ago on Switched

We've been wanting to try this for a long time... Inspired by Randall Munroe's kite photography experiments, we hooked up a Flip Mino HD camcorder to 20 helium-filled balloons and sent the whole thing lofting above Central Park. Measuring the kite ...

Digital Spycam Captures Cereal Thief 1 month ago on Switched

You've heard of serial killers, but what about cereal thieves? That was the very sort of criminal recently terrorizing employees of a company called The Marketing Store in Sydney, Australia, according to the Telegraph. The company's staff would ...

Mom Arrested for Encouraging YouTube Teen Girl Fight 2 months ago on Switched

There are plenty of controversial things on YouTube, not least of which are videos showing fights between minors. We've covered this trend before, and responders to our straw-poll voted overwhelmingly that the videos should be removed from the site. ...

Our Daily Deal: Olympus Stylus 830 8MP Digital Camera 2 months ago on Switched

Every day, the folks over at TechDealDigger are letting us know about some of the best gadget deals they can find, so we're going to pass that information on to you. After all, in these tough economic times, every little bit counts. We may not be ...

Googlemobile Smashes Street View Camera Into Low Bridge 2 months ago on Switched

Man, the life of a Google Street View driver seems less and less glamorous with each passing day. They have to deal with angry mobs and zealous traffic cops. Now, we've found out the drivers have had to deal with the ultimate foe for anyone ...

Florida Woman's Webcam Captures Robbers In the Act 2 months ago on Switched

Many pet owners find it hard to leave their loved ones at home when they head to the office, but offices can be uptight, and few make room for four-legged assistants. So, a growing number of owners are turning to webcams to keep track of their ...

Ritz Camera Closing 300 Retail Stores, Liquidation Sales Start Saturday 3 months ago on Switched

As part of its newfound bankruptcy status, Ritz Camera's gearing up to close more than 300 of its around 700 brick-and-mortar stores across the US, or about 43 percent of its retail presence. Starting April 4th, the affect stores will begin ...

12 Tips For Taking Great Digital Pix 3 months ago on Switched

We've finally left winter behind us and spring will be in full bloom soon; it's one of the of the best times of the year for picture-taking with long afternoons and vibrant colors. Plus, the warm weather is perfect for getting into the great ...

Sony Debuts $1,000 GPS-Packin' 1080p Handycam 3 months ago on Switched

Think your "high-def" camcorder is hot stuff? Think again, vaquero. Sony's swerving around the low-end and waving jovially as it laps the mid-range with the HDR-TG5V Handycam, a decidedly upscale pocket camcorder that's capable of logging full ...

New Database Will Expose Uninsured Drivers to Cops 3 months ago on Switched

In this country, all 50 states require motorists to have car insurance. However, because tracking the status of a driver's insurance is up to local and state governments, many uninsured drivers are able to avoid detection unless they're stopped ...

Why You Should Always Empty Your Computer's Trash Bin 3 months ago on Switched

Here's a tip: If you are going to rat someone out to the cops, make sure the cops don't end up busting you instead. The Smoking Gun reports that Michelle Owen, a 24 year-old Indiana woman, suspected that her ex-boyfriend had used her computer to ...

Students Take Space Photos With Simple Latex Balloon and Digi-Cam 3 months ago on Switched

Who needs the Hubble? Not Gerard Marull Paretas, Sergi Saballs Vila, Marta­ Gasull Morcillo and Jaume Puigmiquel Casamort, that's for sure. The four Spanish teenagers, working with their teacher Jordi Fanals Oriol as the Meteotek team at the ...

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Weirdest Techie Heists and Scams

    Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
    When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.

     

    Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
    In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.

     

    Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
    Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.

     

    Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
    Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.

     

    17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
    When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.

     

    Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
    Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."

     

    Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
    Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?

     

Latest Reviews from CNET.com

CNET provides the latest tech news, unbiased reviews, videos, podcasts, software, and downloads, making tech products easy to find, understand and use.

Top Product Reviews

  • Home Audio Reviews

    9.0 out of 10

    Denon AVR-4306 (black)
    Incredibly well-featured 7.1-channel receiver; excellent sound quality; three HDMI inputs; converts analog video to HDMI output; upconverts analog video to 720p/1080i HD resolution; iPod and USB MP3 player connectivity; Internet radio and MP3/WMA streaming audio via built-in Ethernet port; XM Satellite Radio compatible; touch-screen remote; multizone, multisource operation; browser-based control via home network; accurate autocalibration routine. Full Review

    8.8 out of 10

    KEF KHT3005 (black)
    The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review

    8.8 out of 10

    KEF KHT3005 (silver)
    The KEF KHT-3005 is one compact, beautifully designed speaker package with solid aluminum satellites that feature unique driver technology to produce incredible clarity. Meanwhile, the equally astounding dual 10-inch, 250-watt powered subwoofer delivers ultradeep bass. Full Review

  • Cell Phone Reviews

    8.6 out of 10

    Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL cell phone signal extender
    The Wi-Ex zBoost YX510-PCS-CEL significantly boosts your cell phone reception and is easy to operate. Also, it uses a wireless connection to your phone. Full Review

    8.6 out of 10

    Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger
    The Turbo Charge Tc2 portable cell phone charger successfully delivers emergency power to your cell phone. It's easy to use and comes with a couple of surprising features. Full Review

    8.3 out of 10

    LG VX6000 (Verizon Wireless)
    Compact and stylish; impressive battery life; solid audio quality; sharp color screen; built-in camera; USB ready; affordable. Full Review

  • Digital Camera Reviews

    9.3 out of 10

    Canon EOS 1D Mark III
    Extremely fast, 10-megapixel continuous shooting; very low noise; highly customizable; well-designed body with weather sealing; 3-inch LCD; abundant optional accessories. Full Review

    9.3 out of 10

    Nikon D3 (body only)
    Full-frame sensor; well designed, pro-level weather-sealed body; very low noise, even at extremely high ISOs; fast. Full Review

    9.0 out of 10

    Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
    Very low noise, high quality images; 21.1 megapixels; live view shooting; pro-level build-quality and performance. Full Review

  • Desktop Reviews

    8.5 out of 10

    Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
    A minor specification update results in some significant performance gains; graphics upgrade an option on this 24-inch model; sleek, polished design didn't receive an update, but we won't start clamoring for a new design until the current one is at least 12 months old. Full Review

    8.4 out of 10

    Velocity Raptor Signature Edition Gaming PC
    One of the fastest PCs we've tested; a PCI Express RAID card helps media encoding performance; typically immaculate Velocity Micro assembly; strong, three-year warranty. Full Review

    8.3 out of 10

    Dell Studio Desktop Computer (Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, 750GB HDD, 6GB)
    Best performance in its class; dedicated graphics card; large hard drive. Full Review

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