Images: The worst technologies in Q3 2006

It's been a gangbuster quarter for terrible tech, from exploding batteries to half-hearted upgrades to pretexting scandals and everything in between. Join CNET's Tim Moynihan on a lighthearted romp through the worst tech stories and products from the past three months. Then, skedaddle on over to part two of this feature and download some free apps that will make you miserable and possibly dumber.

1. Worst way to re-create the pyrotechnical magic of a Kiss show in your lap: Sony laptop batteries

Forget about screen size and hard-drive capacity for a second. A laptop is only as good as its ability to not burst into flames while sitting in your lap. That's what makes the recent flurry of Sony laptop battery recalls so lame. Dell started the craze, and now everybody's getting in on the game: Apple, Lenovo, Toshiba and Fujitsu. The bright side of this is that, for once, a technological trend that started in America is taking off in Japan. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!