LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif.--After years of hearing that its cars are smooth and tech-rich while lacking the passion and fun that appeal to devoted drivers, Lexus might be getting it.

To prove it's headed in a new direction branded by "emotion" and "passion," Lexus gathered journalists at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel along the Pacific coastline between Los Angeles and San Diego to test-drive the 2013 Lexus GS on a route across the SoCal freeways, along the coast, and over mountain roads. The six-cylinder midrange luxury sedan will greet showrooms in three primary setups--the standard 350, the 450h hybrid version, and a tuned F Sport for the biggest performance fans. … Read more

Online image editors and smartphone apps like Aviary and Instagram give everyone the tools to manipulate images on their phone, but a small group of contemporary artists are already exhibiting these works at the URL phonearts.net...probably because pharts.com is already taken.

The site is a gallery of works curated by an international coalition of artists who only use cell phones and illustration apps. It started when Daniel Littlewood and Hugon Guillaume found friendship on Flickr based on their shared interest in interactive design, and decided to recruit others to exhibit similar creations online.

All the images you see on the site are the size of the average phone display, roughly 3 or 4 inches, and one thing they all share is their temporal nature.

The subjects jump from rotating GIFs to application screenshots and other images I don't even know how to describe, but they all communicate themes of spontaneity, cyber-nostalgia, and universal access.

View them with a sly eye, and enjoy the infinite scrolling!

More photos after the jump.… Read more

If you're wondering what to get for that special someone, here's the answer: get him or her a data storage device.

The truth is that we all need more storage for the ever-increasing amount of digital content created by other devices we use every day. To put it in a cheesy way, storage is just like love: you'll never have enough of it. You'll need to store most, if not all, of your beloved memories that are in the form of words, photos, and video. And you also need storage for the backups of those, too.

If that special someone happens to be a nerd who can truly understand the significance and awesomeness of computer storage, you'd likely score some bonus points.

Below you'll find my short list of storage devices that would make great gifts. Note that they are not all the amazing devices I've seen this year, since I can only pick so many. If you need more options to fit your budget, also check out CNET's storage page for top products and latest reviews. … Read more

It's that time of year again, time for CNET's Holiday Help Desk.

Hosts Molly Wood and Brian Tong will take live viewer calls, talk to the chat room, and answer e-mails. And dish out the best tech gift-buying advice on the planet. Special guests will include CNET resident cheapskate Rick Broida, a parade of CNET editors, and guests from the retail world pitching their deals directly to you, such as representatives from Amazon, Woot, eBay, and Best Buy.

We'll keep you posted with the best deals, and also help you find the perfect gadget that's right … Read more

LOS ANGELES--CNET takes Rolls-Royce's experimental electric car for a cruise here at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Earlier this year in Geneva I got to look at the Rolls-Royce 102EX, an experimental electric car based on the Phantom. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, I actually got to drive it.

When Rolls-Royce first mentioned it had built this electric car those many months ago, I believe I said something like, "Wha?" The Phantom is a massive vehicle devoted to excessive luxury. It weighs 5,800 pounds and is powered by a 6.7-liter V-12. It seemed like it would take all the batteries in the world to move one with an electric power train.

But in Geneva, Rolls-Royce showed off the 102EX, and insisted it could drive under its own power. As it was confined to the show floor, I had to take Rolls-Royce's word for it.

Now I have proof.… Read more

LOS ANGELES--Bentley looks to provide the modern customer with connected information and entertainment.

It says something about the typical Bentley customer that the company's connected car concept would focus on rear-seat passengers. With the cost of the large Mulsanne sedan being about $350,000, most buyers can leave the driving to a chauffeur.

And at this level of luxury, there is nothing wrong with sitting in the back seat. But where past Bentley customers may have been content to listen to opera over the stereo system, the modern owner will have the smartphone and tablet out, buying low and selling high.

To oblige this type of customer, Bentley created its connected concept, fitting a Mac Mini and 4G-connected router in the trunk, and iPads in the rear-seat tray tables. The various computers in this system are integrated, so the iPads can control and call up media and files from the Mac Mini.… Read more

Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robots are back, and they're bigger and more kick-ass than ever.

Just in time for the holidays, Hammacher Schlemmer is selling a pair of bumper cars designed to look and act much like the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robots we loved as kids. The Bionic Bopper cars feature a steel-cage cockpit where the driver can sit and use two joysticks to maneuver the robot's arms and deliver metal-crushing uppercuts to the opposing robot's head.

The cars measure 74 inches high by 59 inches wide by 62 inches deep. Each is equipped with a display in its midsection to keep tally of the score (one hit equals one point).

Three wheels underneath the 850-pound machines allow you to move forward, backward, left, and right at a breakneck speed of 3 mph, and rubber bumpers along the bottom of the vehicles ensure that the fighters are at "optimal distance for scoring." Also, prepare for some epic battles because the Bionic Boppers' gas engine promises up to five hours of continuous use. … Read more

We've seen iPhone speaker docks that look like boom boxes, Angry Birds, and even a steering wheel. Now there's an iPhone dock for Luddites, the MegaPhone by Italian design firm en&is.

There's no need to plug in the MegaPhone or charge batteries. Just set your iPhone at the tip of the horn and let the natural acoustics of the creation take over.… Read more

Libratone sound systems have brought their stylish European design, big sound, and hefty price tags to America with a couple of different designs now available in the Apple Store.

Until now, Copenhagen-based Libratone only made its speaker systems available in Europe, Hong Kong, and South Africa. But the Libratone Live and Libratone Lounge Apple AirPlay are now for sale online via Apple. … Read more