test

My favorite meme from 2011? The sadistic game of marketing one-upsmanship between iPad and iPhone cover makers who subject iOS devices to increasingly shocking forms of abuse.

This year we saw Apple products dipped in lava, dropped from cranes and planes and now--run over by automobiles.

Not to be outdone--lots of those airborne iOS devices landed on the grass, after all--Optrix set out to prove the ruggedness of its own iPhone case. Naturally, the whole violent ordeal was filmed and handed to a PR firm, which thinks CNET's readers "will get a kick out of it." I'm afraid I agree.… Read more

How fast is your computer? Where are the performance bottlenecks? And how does it compare to other users' systems? NovaBench can answer those questions and more. This free benchmarking utility tests your CPU, RAM, graphics, disk speed, and other system parameters, creating a detailed report of its findings that you can upload to the NovaBench site with an optional free account. NovaBench is so easy to use that anyone can benchmark their system with it, but the information it gathers is useful even to pros.

NovaBench has an extremely simple interface with a field displaying system info and one button, … Read more

A bad memory module (RAM) can cause unpredictable behavior in a Windows system, including the dreaded blue screen of death. If you suspect that your RAM may be faulty, you can run a memory test to confirm that you have a bad memory module.

Laptop and desktop PC makers occasionally provide preinstalled utilities that sometimes include a memory test. Feel free to try out those utilities, especially if your computer is under warranty and you want to make a warranty claim. Manufacturers will often require you to run their support utilities first, before agreeing to replace hardware or move forward … Read more

This week we run down the best battery life laptops of 2011, and you'll never guess what the No. 1 system is. Ty pops in with some TV buying advice and clears up the whole LCD/LED thing, while Scott offers last-minute holiday gift ideas. Also, check out this demo of the OnLive app playing high-end PC games through an iPad.

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This week, check out three simultaneous blue screens of death in the lab, followed by a debate on gaming PC prices, a tour of the new Xbox dashboard, and find out what ultrabooks need to do to win next year.

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BlazeMeter, a new cloud-based service for load and performance testing of Web apps, today announced $1.2 million in venture funding.

BlazeMeter--based on the Apache JMeter open-source project is a load-testing application designed to measure the response of putting demand on a system or device.

Load testing typically simulates heavy usage (among other things) to stress the Web application to see how it responds. The aim, of course, is to release into productions Web applications that don't break or degrade--two things that drive away users quickly.

BlazeMeter's founder and CEO Alon Grimonsky told CNET that he built … Read more

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

Spelling Test Practice Free Edition is a free program that helps you with your spelling by letting you record and hear the words in your own voice. It's suitable for all who want to brush up on their spelling (or diction) or prepare for tests and spelling bees. It's case-sensitive and can randomize word lists and print reports such as lists of misspelled words, as well as user vocabularies and test grades. To use Spelling Test Practice's voice recording feature, you'll need a microphone for your PC, though many laptops have built-in microphones. It's free, … Read more

We ask the crew what they bought on Black Friday, and then browse a selection of Cyber Monday/Cyber Week deals on laptops and TVs, suggesting which ones to avoid, no matter the price.

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