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Crave giveaway: Ecoxpro waterproof phone/MP3 player case

First off, congrats to Tim B. of Hilliard, Ohio, for winning a Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack in last week's giveaway. Summer's here, and that means sun, swimming pools, and beaches (except here in San Francisco, of course, where it means fog and layers, but that's another story). This week's prize, Grace Digital's new Ecoxpro waterproof smartphone/MP3 player case, is great for toting your tunes along on those sun-and-fun getaways.

Part of Grace Digital's Ecoxgear line of rugged waterproof products, the Ecoxpro has a built-in speaker and waterproof headphone jack. It also has room to store need-to-be-dry necessities like a driver's license, credit card, keys, and cash. It's submersible up to 10 feet, and it floats -- good news if you happen to get caught in an MP3-overboard situation. It fits any MP3 player or smartphone, including iPhone, Android, and others.

Normally, the Grace Digital Ecoxpro would cost you $79.99, but you have the chance to score one free. How do you go about doing that? There are a few rules, so please read carefully. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack

Congrats to Michael M. of Nottingham, Md., for winning a $500 gift certificate from KlearGear.com in last week's giveaway. Are you a frequent traveler? On the heels of the E3 games expo, this week's giveaway sponsor, Dell, is offering up a nice, sturdy TSA-friendly backpack that's great for gamers and others.

The Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack keeps your gear secure and protected on the go with its heavily padded back panels. The subdivided main compartment easily holds a laptop up to 17.3 inches, while a secondary compartment has 10 additional pockets for holding anything from pens to plane tickets to MP3 players to any random tchotchkes you like to carry around during your daily wanderings. Also, the camo design sets it apart from its basic-black-leather cousins.

Normally, the Dell Alienware Orion M17x Tactical Backpack would cost you $119.99, but you have a chance to get it gratis. How? There are a few rules, so please read carefully; there will be a test. … Read more

Crave giveaway: $500 gift certificate from KlearGear.com

Congrats to George C. of Burlington, Conn., for winning a puzzle package from Marbles: The Brain Store in last week's giveaway. This week's winner gets a whole panoply of geeky gifts, $500 worth, courtesy of gadget manufacturer and retailer KlearGear.com.

KlearGear.com sells more than 1,000 gadgets, desk toys, and geek decor items, the kind of stuff you'll definitely be familiar with if you read Crave regularly (and you do, right?!).

Some of the site's top sellers include a Transforming Solar Robot, LED Shoelaces, a USB Retro Lamp, an Arcade Alarm Clock, and a Swearing Punching Bag. But it's totally up to you how you want to cash in your $500 gift certificate.

So how do you go about trying to win a KlearGear.com shopping spree? There are a few rules, so please read carefully; there will be a test. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Puzzle package from Marbles brain store

First off, congrats to Andrew P. of Ann Arbor, Mich., for winning a Zoom Q3HD HD video recorder in our last giveaway. Now, get your gray matter in gear. This week, we're giving away a bundle of fun from Marbles: The Brain Store, a purveyor of games, puzzles, books, and software aimed at strengthening your brain. (If you happen to live in the Los Angeles area, Marbles opens its first West Coast store tomorrow at the Westfield Topanga Mall in Canoga Park.)

The giveaway package will include The GeekBox, a collection of wooden puzzles that employ your memory, visual perception, and strategic thinking skills.; Mindstein, "a trivia game where it pays to be a know-it-all"; and daVinci's Catapult, a build-it-yourself throwing machine perfect for ambushing pesky siblings or co-workers.

You'll also get a Daily Brain Perpetual Calendar, which offers 365 puzzles.

Normally, this package of brain-teasing entertainment would cost you about $110, but you have a chance to get it gratis.How? There are a few rules, so please put down The Astrophysical Journal for a moment, brainiacs, and listen up. … Read more

This week in Crave: The Facebook phone home edition

Too busy buying Facebook stock to keep up with Crave? Here's what you missed while you were tracking Facebook's IPO, which, it turns out, didn't quite live up to the hype.

• When the grid fails you, Sony's hand-crank charger will juice your devices.

• Relive the glorious 1980s with this delightfully chunky case for your iPhone.

• Excuse me, but is that a robot on your pants?

• Steve Jobs wanted to create an iCar.

• Now even the clothes hanger hangs out on Facebook. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Zoom Q3HD HD video recorder

Congrats to Angela C. of Spartanburg, S.C., for beating out almost 2,700 giveaway entrants to win last week's freebie, a 42-inch Vizio 3D TV. This week, we've got another great prize, the Zoom Q3HD.

The handy HD pocket camcorder, compatible with Windows and Mac, is basically a Flip camera with the microphones and recording quality of a high-end audio recorder. It captures video in 1080p at 30fps or in 720p at both 30 and 60fps in MPEG-4 H.264 (MOV) video format. Three lighting settings -- Auto, Concert, and Night -- let you capture your star subjects just so.

Audio recording settings allow for recording quality up to 24-bit/96kHz WAV. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Vizio 42-inch 3D TV!

Congrats to Matthew S. of Stamford, Conn., for winning a Super Mario Bros. gift pack in last week's giveaway. This week, we've got a hot one for you. OK, so it's not a huge 3D TV, but it's still a 3D TV -- the 42-inch Vizio E3D420VX from Vizio.

I should also point out that this is a review sample, so it's slightly used, but it was fully checked out by our TV guru David Katzmaier, who had some good things to say about the set. While its 2D picture quality was only OK, he said the Vizio E3D0VX series "has excellent features for the price, including 3D and robust streaming." (Read the full review here).

Normally, it would cost you about $599 to buy this TV (or only $510 for a refurbished model), but one lucky winner will get it for free. How? There are a few rules, so please listen up. There will be a test. … Read more

Crave giveaway: Super Mario Bros. gift pack

First off, congrats to David G. of Seattle for winning an Aperion Audio Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System in last week's giveaway!

Super Mario Bros. fans, this week's giveaway's for you. We've got a collection of Super Mario 2-inch mini figurines that includes Daisy, Lakitu, Mario, Luigi, Koopa Troopa, and Shy Guy. We also have two battery-operated radio-controlled Karts for the taking -- one with Mario in the driver's seat and another with Yoshi at the wheel.

Normally, it would cost you $75.99 to load up on all this Mario fun, but you have … Read more

Crave readers imagine their dream Apple product

Last week, rumors of a potentially "revolutionary" product being designed for Apple by French designer Philippe Starck got lots of imaginations running. Apple put a kibosh on the whole Starck buzz -- which turned out to be a yacht design for Steve Jobs -- but we figured that shouldn't stop design enthusiasts from dreaming. So we asked you, dear Crave readers, to tell us what your ultimate Apple gadget would look like for a chance to win some iPrizes.

Dozens of you e-mailed us and commented in the original story with forward-thinking (and sometimes amusing) concepts, ranging from a double-sided iGlass transparent window/TV with a built-in Retina Display capable of using natural light for illumination during the day to an iEye augmented-reality contact lens.

Another reader suggested a waterproof unibody capacitive touch-screen MacBook Air. One commenter got excited about a line of AppleWear connected clothing, and still another mentioned an Apple panini maker. Delicious! … Read more

Crave giveaway: Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System

First off, congrats to Craig S. of Yuba City, Calif., for winning a Zero1.tv VooMote One in last week's giveaway. Looking to turn the volume up to 11? Then you'll want to tune in to this week's giveaway.

We're giving away an Aperion Audio Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System, which consists of two powered speakers and a wireless transmitter for broadcasting audiophile-quality sound throughout your home.

It's a versatile little system. You can use the Zona speakers to blast audio from your computer or mobile music player. Or you can use them as wireless surrounds for your home theater or as a stand-alone stereo system for your office, bedroom, den, or secret hideout. … Read more