Strange

Listen to the rain and move to shoot: iPhone apps of the week

According to a recent study by IDC, the iPad has definitively dominated the tablet market, accounting for almost 90 percent of tablets shipped worldwide in the third quarter of 2010. It stands to reason that fourth-quarter results will probably be even higher after the big holiday season. Now that many of the early naysayers have come around to the larger iOS device, I have to think the launch of the iPad 2 in April will be leaps and bounds more successful right out of the gate.

I got the first-generation iPad when it came out for obvious reasons, and probably won't be buying the new iPad personally at launch time (though we will certainly have them here at CNET for testing). But what about you? Are you one of those who decided to wait for the second-generation iPad?

As usual, Apple is not telling us much about its shiny new device, but there have been plenty of rumors regarding a higher-resolution screen, front- and rear-facing cameras, and much more at the various rumor sites.

I'm interested to see who is planning to pull the trigger on the new iPad in April. Let us know your plans in the comments.

This week's apps include a strange interactive storytelling app and a shooting game that cleverly uses the iPhone 4's gyroscope technology.… Read more

The 5 strangest car races

Every car enthusiast worth his or her salt wants to attend events like the Indy 500, 24 Hours of LeMans, and Monaco Grand Prix, or, for fans of classics, the Monterey Historics, Goodwood Revival, or Mille Miglia Storica. But these are generally expensive propositions even for spectators, and forget about participating if you're not an excellent race driver or millionaire, preferably both. Cars are about glamour and going fast, sure, but life is about getting there and enjoying the ride along the way. This collection celebrates some lesser-known automotive competitions for which humor and good old-fashioned fun are essential … Read more

Are they just messing with us now? The strangest Wii accessory yet

Just when you thought Nintendo Wii accessories couldn't get any more bizarre, along comes a patent filing that has left us speechless. According to the actual online patent page, the proposed inflatable air cushion will have room for a Wii remote and can be used to simulate riding on the back of an animal or being in the driver's seat of a vehicle.

Judging by the rest of the images in the set, the user would be able to plug in a Nunchuk attachment as well. The sample figure drawings also suggest the cushion itself wouldn't be … Read more

Why Government should investigate "Little Bigfoot" sightings

Many people have barely recovered from the recent revelation that the alleged Bigfoot was really BigRubberfoot.

However, one is duty-bound to report that there has been another sighting of an equally disturbing meta-human phenomenon- the Creepy Gnome.

The Creepy Gnome first materialized in March. Teenagers who were hanging out in General Guemes, in the Argentinian province of Salta, used their cellphones to capture a peculiar short creature with a pointed head and a strange sideways gait. (Haunting for Preparation H users, at least.)

At the time, Jose Alvarez, who shot the film, said: "We looked to one side and … Read more

In search of the best folding keyboard

We have no interest in using a fold-up keyboard, but we do admit to having an odd curiosity about them--kind of like the way an entomologist studies a beetle, as Raymond Chandler would say. But we digress.

So we're always looking for one that actually seems like something someone would use: not too bulky, impractical or weird-looking. This one from Diatec Japan might at least take care of the first two criteria. The "Papillon FKB66PU" (Papillon!) is a full-size keyboard designed to work with all manner of devices, according to Newlaunches. The only strange feature is an … Read more