Sacks of potatoes stand in for humans in Boeing's in-air Wi-Fi tests[ Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:26:06 GMT ]If the wireless Internet connection during your holiday flight seems more reliable than it used to, you could have the humble potato to thank.

SpaceX rocket goes for 12-story-high hop[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 04:16:20 GMT ]Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: SpaceX's prototype Grasshopper rocket takes one giant leap, rising to a 12-story height and settling back down safely with a dummy cowboy riding along.

Pagan roots? 5 surprising Christmas facts[ Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:42:42 GMT ]When you gather around the Christmas tree or stuff goodies into a stocking, you're taking part in traditions that stretch back thousands of years — long before Christianity entered the mix.

'Star of Wonder' leaves lots to wonder about[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:56:20 GMT ]Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Astronomers and scriptural scholars have laid out a variety of scenarios to explain the "Star of Bethlehem" — with some unorthodox twists.

Fresh iPad rumor: thinner, lighter version due in March[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:06:04 GMT ]The report also calls for an iPad Mini with a Retina Display. [Read more]

Acer drives tablet prices lower, plans $99 model[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:39:38 GMT ]The Iconia B1 tablet looks like it's headed to the emerging markets, and it's unclear whether it'll hit the U.S. [Read more]

Easy last-minute gifts you can print or e-mail[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:41:47 GMT ]The procrastination ends now. Here's your last chance to get something for that someone special. [Read more]

China to curtail trademark trolls[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:24:38 GMT ]China says it will make a greater effort to stamp out companies such as Proview, which sued Apple earlier this year for the use of the iPad name. [Read more]

Nokia tablet details: keyboard cover with battery, 10.1-inch display[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:58:54 GMT ]AT&T will reportedly be the first carrier to sell the tablet, which could make its debut at Mobile World Congress in February. [Read more]

Web observes Sandy Hook moment[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:49 EST ]Some major websites will go dark for one minute Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET as part of a national moment of silence for the victims of last week's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Everybody wants Raspberry Pi[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:09 EST ]In a world where computers are increasingly powerful and are concealed within ever more glossy slabs of aluminium, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) offers surprising proof for the virtue of moderation.

Apparently This Matters: Meggings[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:52:19 EST ]GQ summed it up with one word: "No."

Steve Jobs' yacht impounded[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:01:29 EST ]The megayacht that Steve Jobs commissioned in the final years of his life has been impounded in Amsterdam after a payment dispute involving the designer, Philippe Starck.

Video: Track Santa with your smartphone[ Mon, 24 Dec 2012 08:56:49 EST ]This year, a tech giant is getting in on the action of tracking Santa's journey from the North Pole and across the globe.

Free e-books bring the cosmos to life[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:04:47 GMT ]Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Free e-books from NASA, the Hubble Space Telescope's science team and the European Space Agency bring Earth and the heavens to life.

Outer-space views take on a festive look[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 21:14:20 GMT ]Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: If you still have to send out your season's greetings, take your pick from a spectrum of holiday e-cards from the European Space Agency.

Mayan apocalypse failure bad news for believers[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:26:44 GMT ]You might expect the world not ending to be a cause for celebration. But for believers in doomsdays like Friday's supposed Mayan apocalypse, the continued existence of the planet can be quite traumatic.

NRA: Video game industry 'sows violence against its own people'[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:47:27 GMT ]After a week of intense anti-gun sentiment following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the National Rifle Association on Friday blamed video games and their virtual guns for creating a culture of violence that breeds killers.

Top tech flops of 2012 tainted a good year for gadgets[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 18:21:35 GMT ]A lot of good things happened in tech this year, including the debuts of the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S III. But where there’s good, there’s bad. There were plenty of major tech fails this year. These awards go to the eight biggest.

Here comes Microsoft Surface Pro, 64 bits and all[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:37:49 GMT ]The Windows 8 Pro version of Microsoft's Surface tablet is just around the corner. Here's what to expect. [Read more]

U.S., Russia forge 'action plan' on piracy[ Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:30:33 GMT ]The two countries agree on a plan to curtail theft of intellectual property, after President Obama grants Russia "permanent normal trade relations" and the two nations agree to have the WTO's tenets apply between them. [Read more]

First day tips and tweaks for new MacBook owners[ Sun, 23 Dec 2012 00:39:21 GMT ]Get a new holiday MacBook? Here's how to get the most of it right away. [Read more]

The social 'gifting' boom: Wrapp now sending 1M cards a week[ Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:00:00 GMT ]2012 is the year in which social gifting started to take off, and not just for Facebook. One leading the pack is Wrapp, which is seeing usage skyrocket. [Read more]

A miniature speaker amplifier for your desktop[ Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:06:00 GMT ]The Pro-Ject Stereo Box S is a tiny thing, but it's big enough to bring desktop speakers to life! [Read more]

Web observes Sandy Hook moment[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:49 EST ]Some major websites will go dark for one minute Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET as part of a national moment of silence for the victims of last week's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Everybody wants Raspberry Pi[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:09 EST ]In a world where computers are increasingly powerful and are concealed within ever more glossy slabs of aluminium, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) offers surprising proof for the virtue of moderation.

Apparently This Matters: Meggings[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:52:19 EST ]GQ summed it up with one word: "No."

Steve Jobs' yacht impounded[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:24 EST ]The megayacht that Steve Jobs commissioned in the final years of his life has been impounded in Amsterdam after a payment dispute involving the designer, Philippe Starck.

Why everybody wants a slice of Raspberry Pi[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:29:01 EST ]In a world where computers are increasingly powerful and are concealed within ever more glossy slabs of aluminium, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) offers surprising proof for the virtue of moderation.

Cut here: Gecko tails rip off along 'dotted' line[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:46:27 GMT ]Like a pair of Velcro stripper pants, gecko tails come off easy. The lizards have pre-formed score lines in their tail that allow them to quickly rip off their tails when a predator has grabbed it, according to a new study.

Guilt-free iPad apps for kids give parents a holiday break[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:11:31 GMT ]I love playing with my kids, but you know that week when everybody's stuck in the house, when the weather's at its worst? Or when you're en route to Grandma's, but stuck on the tarmac with a 4-hour delay? That iPad comes in handy.

Free e-books bring the cosmos to life[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 00:04:47 GMT ]Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Free e-books from NASA, the Hubble Space Telescope's science team and the European Space Agency bring Earth and the heavens to life.

Mayan apocalypse failure bad news for believers[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:26:44 GMT ]You might expect the world not ending to be a cause for celebration. But for believers in doomsdays like Friday's supposed Mayan apocalypse, the continued existence of the planet can be quite traumatic.

NRA: Video game industry 'sows violence against its own people'[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:47:27 GMT ]After a week of intense anti-gun sentiment following the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the National Rifle Association on Friday blamed video games and their virtual guns for creating a culture of violence that breeds killers.

Do you need a case for your smartphone?[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 08:01:00 GMT ]In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon offers some advice on smartphone cases and also helps a reader decide between the iPad Mini and the fourth generation iPad. [Read more]

Browsers: Top 5 events from 2012[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 08:01:00 GMT ]Web developers and browser makers were on course toward building the universal software platform -- until smartphones got in the way. [Read more]

A made-in-the-U.S., audiophile-grade turntable for $150?[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 15:36:00 GMT ]That's what a group of talented twentysomethings are promising on their recently launched Kickstarter project, we'll see. [Read more]

On truths, dreams, confessions--and the iPhone[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:36:50 GMT ]A new restaurant in Miami encourages people to leave personal revelations for everyone to see. A quite startling one involves Apple's bond-inspiring gadget. [Read more]

A troubling promise in iPad Mini's new Xmas ad[ Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:59:31 GMT ]In a touching ad for the iPad Mini, a girl plays a song to her grandfather over FaceTime. She promises to be home for Xmas. But is she just mocking granddad? [Read more]

Web observes Sandy Hook moment[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:49 EST ]Some major websites will go dark for one minute Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET as part of a national moment of silence for the victims of last week's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Everybody wants Raspberry Pi[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:09 EST ]In a world where computers are increasingly powerful and are concealed within ever more glossy slabs of aluminium, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) offers surprising proof for the virtue of moderation.

Apparently This Matters: Meggings[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:52:19 EST ]GQ summed it up with one word: "No."

Steve Jobs' yacht impounded[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:14:24 EST ]The megayacht that Steve Jobs commissioned in the final years of his life has been impounded in Amsterdam after a payment dispute involving the designer, Philippe Starck.

Why everybody wants a slice of Raspberry Pi[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:29:01 EST ]In a world where computers are increasingly powerful and are concealed within ever more glossy slabs of aluminium, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) offers surprising proof for the virtue of moderation.

3 report to work at the space station[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:33:13 GMT ]The three newest residents of the International Space Station arrived at the high-flying laboratory Friday morning aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Sorry, Bieber! 'Gangnam' is first video to get 1 billion YouTube views[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:35:13 GMT ]"Gangnam Style," that infectiously quirky rap video by South Korean sensation Psy, has shattered yet another record: It has become the first YouTube video to get one billion views.

Instagram co-founder: Sorry, let's go back to the old advertising policy[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:46:24 GMT ]After dealing with non-stop outrage ever since it proposed changes to its privacy policy and terms of service on Monday — and despite making some clarifications about the changes — Instagram is throwing in the towel. Back to the old policy ... at least in one regard.

Angst over video games rises in wake of shootings[ Thu, 20 Dec 2012 22:50:35 GMT ]As police struggle to piece together the nightmare that unfolded in Newtown, Conn., last week, some lawmakers and pundits believe they've found a possible co-conspirator in the crime: video games. Nevertheless, it remains unclear which games the 20-year-old shooter played — and what role they played in his life.

Doomsday diary: Follow the Maya non-apocalypse[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:36:20 GMT ]Millions of people are watching to see what happens as the Maya calendar flips over to a new age. We're bringing you updates from the non-end of the world.

Steve Jobs' yacht impounded[ Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:58:49 GMT ]It seems that certain paperworky details -- you know, like payment for services rendered -- has rendered the yacht stationary in Holland. [Read more]