What's New

Look through the 2009 Carrera S's familiar skin, and you'll find the biggest redesign in years. The change starts with a dual-clutch transmission, taken straight from Porsche's racecars, that shifts gears in milliseconds. It's bolted to a redesigned six-cylinder engine that uses direct fuel injection (a first for Porsche) to churn out higher horsepower while actually getting more miles per gallon.

Look through the 2009 Carrera S's familiar skin, and you'll find the biggest redesign in years. The change starts with a dual-clutch transmission, taken straight from Porsche's racecars, that shifts gears in milliseconds. It's bolted to a redesigned six-cylinder engine that uses direct fuel injection (a first for Porsche) to churn out higher horsepower while actually getting more miles per gallon.

Flat-panels were supposed to eliminate the hulking television cabinet. But they are tethered to boxes -- cable tuners, disc players, A/V receivers -- that fill a big piece of furniture. A wireless connection lets you at least stash those peripherals out of the way. We tried out the first two cable-free HD technologies: one that uses radio waves and another that piggybacks on your home's electrical wiring.

New point-and-shoot cameras capture video in the 720p high-def format you’ve seen on TV networks such as ESPN. But all HD is not equal. The algorithm, or codec, that compresses the video onto a memory card affects the quality of the footage and your ability to edit it. We tried out three cameras, each sporting a different codec, to find the best mobile movie rig.

New point-and-shoot cameras capture video in the 720p high-def format you’ve seen on TV networks such as ESPN. But all HD is not equal. The algorithm, or codec, that compresses the video onto a memory card affects the quality of the footage and your ability to edit it. We tried out three cameras, each sporting a different codec, to find the best mobile movie rig.

The Atomic D2 Vario Cut is like two skis in one: It's straight and narrow for zooming downhill but expands to be wider at the tip and tail when you turn -- creating a curved ski that, like a sharply turned car wheel, carves through a tight arc.

The Atomic D2 Vario Cut is like two skis in one: It's straight and narrow for zooming downhill but expands to be wider at the tip and tail when you turn -- creating a curved ski that, like a sharply turned car wheel, carves through a tight arc.

Wear the same 23-ounce jacket whether it's slightly cool or downright frosty outside: A new North Face coat becomes more than a third warmer when it's turned inside-out. Its versatility comes primarily from the way the insulation is sewn. The quilted squares on the metallic -- or cool -- side have small pockets at their edges. When worn on the outside, the pockets stretch open and allow air to flow in and out. When reversed, the jacket pushes the pockets together and traps air inside them, providing greater warmth.

Today you can buy a rubber boot or a cellphone with rubber seals to keep water out. But a new treatment called Ion Mask promises to make any gadget or clothing item waterproof and stainproof without changing its appearance.

It’s hard to tell if you've sanded a board smooth when you can't feel your fingers. That’s the dilemma with random-orbit sanders, which work the wood's surface using a round pad that not only spins but also slides from side to side randomly in all directions—in effect orbiting the center of the device. That shaking motion is great for removing material without gouging the wood. Unfortunately, it also rattles your hands, causing numbness and even lasting nerve and circulatory damage.

It's a dream come true for middle-age kids everywhere. Mattel has produced a life-size version of its original Hot Wheels car, 1969's
Twin Mill. Powered by two Chevy 502 big blocks, the real Twin
Mill reportedly spits out more than 1,400 horses. And while it's fully driveable, it's built to be shown off at auto shows and races, not on the street. And no, it's not for sale.

You could dismissively label the Merlin Roadster a rich man's toy, a topless wonder that's impractical and irrelevant. You could, but you'd be wrong. The pod-like three-wheeler, which hits dealerships this summer, gets 60 miles per gallon. As important, its 88-cubic-inch V-twin engine pushes it past 100 mph, faster than you can say "autobahn"-quite
a thrill when you're just a foot off the pavement. Toy? Try hot-rod.
And, at $23,900, a reasonably priced one too.

When it comes to matters of the heart, big is usually better. But big and floppy is another story. After a heart attack or other assault that weakens the heart's muscles, the organ begins to enlarge. The stress can kill so many cells that the heart begins to look like a "big floppy bag," says Dr. Hani Sabbah, the inventor of a mesh-like jacket that protects against the stretching that leads to heart failure. It's currently in clinical trials.

Japanese automakers have finally figured out what the Germans have known for years: Family sedans don't have to be boring. Following on the heels of Nissan's exhilarating overhaul of the Altima, Mazda will soon introduce the zoomy 6 sedan. With a sport-tuned suspension, svelte styling, optional 219-horsepower V6, and yes, room for five, the 6 should be the perfect antidote for your Accord-inspired doldrums. Honda, are you paying attention? Available late this year. Price not set.

You could probably get through winter without an ergonomic ice scraper, but why? The Ice Dozer gets the job done quicker and better. The wild-looking Dozer has micro and macro teeth for clearing ice, and a straight edge that flexes to follow the curve of the windshield. A pistol grip lets you put your full weight behind each push. Price: $15.