Steam

Q&A Kevin Unangst, Microsoft's Senior Director of Global Gaming, hit the interview rounds starting in April, with the goal of working to dispel the myth that PC gaming is in trouble.

That idea came about in the beginning of the year following a report from NPD research showing that U.S. retail sales of PC games trailed those of games for the various consoles. As Unangst and others have pointed out since the NPD report, those figures do not take into account subscription-based PC gaming, like the World of Warcraft juggernaut, nor do they factor digital distribution … Read more

I don't know about your family, but mine expects to be fed several times each day. And as much as I try to be an organized mom, I still find myself scrambling to get dinner on the table while juggling third-grade homework and toddler tantrums. So when I hear about appliances that offer to cook dinner faster without nuking it, I'm interested.

Miele's steam ovens let you prepare foods you might not have thought of as candidates for steaming. Omelets, pasta, and risotto were all listed, which surprised me.

Press the interactive control pad to engage the … Read more

We love it when companies just get it. Valve Software and its announcement of SteamCloud is a prime example. As reported by John Walker at Rock, Paper, Shotgun, SteamCloud will let anyone using Valve's Steam PC game download and networking service carry over saved game files, mouse, and keyboard configurations and other player-specific info regardless of where you log in. In other words, if you're at a friend's house and you want to jump into a game of Team Fortress 2 on his or her PC, all you need to do is log in to Steam and … Read more

This front-loading Kenmore HE5t steam washer promises to clean better with blasts of hot steam. And with a roomy 4 cubic feet of washing space, this king-size plus washer easily tackles a king-size quilt.

At about $1,699, the energy-efficient steam model is pricier than the Kenmore HE5t king-size model without the steam, which retails at about $1,299.

The steam washer combines cleaning with SteamCare technology that "virtually eliminates the need for pretreating," clothes stained with everything from blood to oil, according to the company.

The washer works by slowly heating the water and releasing hot steam … Read more

Are those cooked carrots as bright as they could be? And if you're going to eat your vegetables, don't you want full vitamin credit? The Gaggenau combination steam and convection oven helps you set a beautiful table with food that's full of health benefits.

The steam generator is connected directly to a removable water tank that doesn't require any plumbing or drainage lines, so you won't need to call your contractor for a pricey installation. The tank uses just one-third of a gallon to supply enough water to fill the oven with 100 percent humidity … Read more

Portal has caused something of a stir among gamers. The unassuming little physics-warping first-person puzzler has gotten a lot of attention for two of its unique characters, the SHODAN-on-valium computer system GLaDOS and the Weighted Companion Cube. GLaDOS hasn't seen much love among DIY gamers, mostly because she's a disembodied voice for most of the game. The Weighted Companion Cube, on the other hand, has seen replicas, cakes, and even (like in my case) Halloween costumes.

Valve has recognized the WCC nerd-obession and plans to duly cash in on it. The company will sell plush Weighted Companion Cubes. … Read more

Ever wonder how the laundry manages to get those perfect creases in your clothes? You could iron all day and never even come close to that ultra-starched look. The reason is your equipment, in all likelihood, is inferior (no offense). Or conversely, depending on the quality of your particular laundry, maybe you're sure you can do better.

Either way, you can test your pressing prowess with a "Digital Steam Laundry Press," which Brookstone says will drastically reduce the amount of time spent getting the wrinkles out of your Members Only jackets. It's not hard to see … Read more

Who would have thought green fuel was meant for speed? A few months ago fellow Craver (and speed nut) Michael Kanellos wrote of the "KillaCycle," an all-electric motorcyle that set a new record for the world's fastest electric vehicle, doing a quarter-mile in 8.168 seconds. Now the "British Steam Car Challenge" has even higher ambitions--to hit 150 miles per hour on British soil, then 200 mph on Utah's Bonneville salt flats for a new land speed record.

We don't know proverbial jack about steam cars, but it sounds as dangerous as it … Read more

If you haven't noticed by now, we had a blast at this past weekend's Maker Faire. The above photo links to yet another gallery of some choice projects we found Crave-worthy.