Existential dread achievement unlocked! It's the 'Franz Kafka Videogame'[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:39:37 GMT ]Get ready to turn the difficulty level from "Easy" to "What's the point?": The work of legendary novelist and tortured soul Franz Kafka is finally getting the video game adaptation it always deserved.

Washington frets over 'Minority Report'-style facial recognition technology[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:39:37 GMT ]In Steven Spielberg's futuristic "Minority Report," Tom Cruise's character sees a custom ad for Guinness after his face is scanned in the year 2054.Similar technology, however, isn't science fiction.

Virtual realityresearchers take 'Grand Theft Auto' to the next level[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:39:38 GMT ]Since it first stepped into full-blown 3-D in 2001, the "Grand Theft Auto" series has been consistently praised for offering some of the most immersive, fully realized virtual worlds ever seen in gaming.

More Americans searched Yahoo for Miley Cyrus than Obamacare[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:39:38 GMT ]Miley Cyrus was officially the most searched term overall on Yahoo in 2013, beating out more serious issues like the hotly debated Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. In related news, the most popular question starting with "What" happened to be "What is twerking?

Report: NSA tracks billions of cellphones daily[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 03:45:04 GMT ]The National Security Agency tracks the locations of nearly 5 billion cellphones every day overseas, including those belonging to Americans abroad, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

iPad app makes kids the stars of interactive 'movie'[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 04:24:57 GMT ]With the Winston Show, kids can converse directly with an animated character and thanks to speech recognition, instantly see a "movie" that incorporates the conversation. [Read more]

Acer joins the tabletop parade[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT ]The 21.5-inch Aspire Z3-600 is a battery powered all-in-one with a kickstand. [Read more]

2015 Mustang declassified: How Ford's global focus gave the world a better pony car[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 05:01:00 GMT ]The latest Mustang is the first that's been designed to appeal to a truly worldwide audience. This is the story of how Ford designers and engineers balanced international desires with American heritage. [Read more]

President Obama says he can't use iPhone for 'security reasons'[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 06:10:31 GMT ]While he fought hard to keep his BlackBerry when he entered the White House, the president says his daughters use their iPhones frequently. [Read more]

Microsoft vows to boost Internet encryption, transparency[ Thu, 05 Dec 2013 07:11:00 GMT ]Likening government Internet surveillance to malware, Microsoft's chief general counsel says the company is taking steps to protect the privacy of online communications. [Read more]

Great shots from NASA's Instagram [ Thu, 28 Nov 2013 19:53:58 EST ]Space-bound flying frogs and spacewalk "selfies" -- here's 15 good reasons why Instagram has gone mad for NASA's pictures.

Gadget gifts for the holidays[ Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:28:36 EST ]When it comes to tech gadgets as holiday gifts, the familiar is always popular.

Amazon's drones: Would they work?[ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:00:40 EST ]Imaginations everywhere have been stoked since Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced his company plans to start offering 30-minute deliveries via drone-like "octocopters."

2013: The Web's year of the hoax[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:00:23 EST ]News alert: Some things you read on the Internet are not true.

2013: The Web's year of the hoax[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:00:23 EST ]News alert: Some things you read on the Internet are not true.

Royal Bank of Scotland admits decades of IT neglect after systems crash[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:32:47 GMT ]LONDON (Reuters) - Royal Bank of Scotland has neglected its technology for decades, the state-backed bank's boss admitted on Tuesday after a system crash left more than 1 million customers unable to withdraw cash or pay for goods.

'LittleBigPlanet' gives Sackboy an amazing turkey head for the holidays[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:13:29 GMT ]

Operation Rudolph: NORAD and Microsoft team up to track Santa[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:59:49 GMT ]This Christmas, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will have an unusual target on its radar, one with a round little belly that shakes when he laughs, sources say, like a bowl full of jelly.

Forget celebs: Tumblr highlights the best memes and food porn of 2013 [ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:59:51 GMT ]Beyonce and Miley Cyrus may dominate the end-of-the-year lists from Microsoft's Bing and Yahoo, respectively, but Tumblr is one of the few sites giving props to the ridiculous selfies, decadent desserts and pop culture jokes shared by its users.

Woman fights ticket for driving with Google Glass[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 23:40:34 GMT ]LOS ANGELES — A California woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to what is believed to be the first traffic citation alleging a motorist was using Google's computer-in-an-eyeglass.The device, known as Google Glass, features a thumbnail-size transparent display above the right eye.

YotaPhone e-ink phone hits Europe, but no US launch yet[ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 07:48:17 GMT ]Yota is revealing launch plans for its quirky smart phone, which has both an LCD and an e-ink screen. [Read more]

Confused about online sales taxes? You're not alone[ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 08:00:00 GMT ]Are you doing some shopping online this holiday season and wondering why you're getting charged sales tax and your sister in another state isn't? In this edition of Ask Maggie, CNET's Marguerite Reardon explains. [Read more]

Andy Rubin's next Google moonshot project: robots[ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 08:18:24 GMT ]The former Android leader is in charge of one of Google's "moonshots," an effort to use robots to free humans from drudgery. [Read more]

With new USB connector, no more wrong-way-up cables[ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:41:34 GMT ]A major revamp of the ubiquitous connection technology's ports and cables will make USB connectors reversible, slimmer, and better at transmitting data and power. [Read more]

YotaPhone: The genesis of a dual-screen smartphone (Q&A)[ Wed, 04 Dec 2013 10:00:00 GMT ]Is the world ready for the Android-and-electronic paper YotaPhone -- and do we even need it? CNET asks away. [Read more]

Great shots from NASA's Instagram [ Thu, 28 Nov 2013 19:53:58 EST ]Space-bound flying frogs and spacewalk "selfies" -- here's 15 good reasons why Instagram has gone mad for NASA's pictures.

Gadget gifts for the holidays[ Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:28:36 EST ]When it comes to tech gadgets as holiday gifts, the familiar is always popular.

'Cyber Week' deals on phones, TVs, clothes[ Mon, 02 Dec 2013 18:10:45 EST ]How eager are retailers to boost sales this holiday season? It's no longer enough for them to offer one special day of discounts to online shoppers -- they're stretching the deals out over an entire week.

Amazon's drones: How would they work?[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:48:54 EST ]Imaginations everywhere have been stoked since Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced his company plans to start offering 30-minute deliveries via drone-like "octocopters."

The trouble with iPhone 5S's fingerprint reader[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:58:37 EST ]Apple's fingerprint sensor, Touch ID, is the flagship feature on the iPhone 5S. But it doesn't always work the way it should.

Apple buys social analytics startup Topsy[ Mon, 02 Dec 2013 23:06:14 GMT ]SAN FRANCISCO — Apple has acquired social media search and analytics startup Topsy, an unusual purchase for a hardware-focused company that has made few forays into social networking.

Picture purr-fect: Why it might not be a bad idea to put a camera on your cat[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 00:12:59 GMT ]Nobody wants an Instagram feed clogged with photos of people's pets, let alone snapshots taken by actual cats and dogs. But it turns out clipping a camera to your furry friend's collar might not be a terrible idea after all.

Loose screw? 3-D printer may soon forge you a new one[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 00:51:50 GMT ]It may cost a million bucks or more to 3-D print yourself a real metal handgun, but if all you need is a specialty washer or custom gear, a prototype device made by Michigan Technological University may let you do so for a fraction of the cost. Want one?

Anybody's game: Mobile world divided between Apple, Google, Microsoft[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 01:19:54 GMT ]Although the explosive success of Google's Android operating system over the last couple years means that it's No. 1 in nearly every market, the battle for the global smartphone market is far from finished.

More Americans searched Yahoo for Miley Cyrus than Obamacare[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:09:39 GMT ]Miley Cyrus was officially the most searched term overall on Yahoo in 2013, beating out more serious issues like the hotly debated Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. In related news, the most popular question starting with "What" happened to be "What is twerking?

Bokeh, a new tool for quietly logging your memories[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT ]The service aims to strike a balance that's not as locked down as a diary and not as public as Facebook. It's from the people behind the PetaPixel photo blog. [Read more]

'Anchorman' news team recounts year in Yahoo searches[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:06:24 GMT ]In this video, actor Will Ferrell and friends 'report' on the year in Yahoo searches, reprising their roles from the film and its upcoming sequel. [Read more]

Darth Vader took an iPhone selfie?[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 06:25:28 GMT ]To launch the "Star Wars" Instagram account, Disney portrays the dark side portraying itself. Wait, is that an iPhone? [Read more]

Watch the YotaPhone e-ink smartphone reveal live on CNET[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 07:30:00 GMT ]CNET has exclusive access to the international launch of this quirky Android smartphone, which has a regular LCD screen plus an e-ink panel. Watch live here at 11:15 p.m. PT Tuesday/7:14 a.m. GMT Wednesday. [Read more]

Google: Compute Engine now ready for prime time[ Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:16:18 GMT ]A leader in data center operation has opened its doors to outside customers' computing needs. It's got a ways to go to catch up to Amazon, though. [Read more]

Celebrating 35 years of Apple design[ Thu, 21 Nov 2013 17:08:31 EST ]A self-professed Apple fanatic, Jonathan Zufi was looking for a book of photography profiling the company's products through the years.

Great shots from NASA's Instagram [ Thu, 28 Nov 2013 19:53:58 EST ]Space-bound flying frogs and spacewalk "selfies" -- here's 15 good reasons why Instagram has gone mad for NASA's pictures.

Gadget gifts for the holidays[ Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:28:36 EST ]When it comes to tech gadgets as holiday gifts, the familiar is always popular.

Turning cities into fiery playgrounds[ Fri, 29 Nov 2013 17:35:39 EST ]There are few more concrete examples of the longtime rift between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland than the walled city on the River Foyle.

Amazon's drone delivery: How would it work?[ Mon, 02 Dec 2013 18:11:29 EST ]Imaginations everywhere have been stoked since Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced his company plans to start offering 30-minute deliveries via drone-like "octocopters."

#CyberMonday apps and tips to save time and money[ Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:07:35 GMT ]Cyber Monday (or as professionalHashtagologistsâ„¢ like myself call it, #CyberMonday) is when civilized people choose to stay in their pajamas all day, drinking hot chocolate and knocking out most of their holiday shopping!

As Bitcoin tops $1,200, does its fate rest in China's hands?[ Fri, 29 Nov 2013 17:03:25 GMT ]A surge in Chinese demand underlies bitcoin's astronomical rise over the past few months—the alternative digital currency topped $1,200 early Friday—underscoring the nation's interest in digital currencies as alternative investments.

Techies vs. NSA: New encryption techniques won't keep out spies [ Fri, 29 Nov 2013 17:50:39 GMT ]SAN JOSE, Calif. — Encrypted email, secure instant messaging and other privacy services are booming in the wake of the National Security Agency's recently revealed surveillance programs.

Best portable hard drive[ Fri, 29 Nov 2013 18:31:33 GMT ]

Turkey shoot: Thanksgiving a record photo-sharing day for Instagram[ Fri, 29 Nov 2013 20:58:20 GMT ]To virtually no one’s surprise, a lot of folks took pictures of their Thanksgiving meal before eating it.Instagram, the popular photo-sharing service, said it saw record usage on Thursday, which also happened to be the first full day of Hanukkah.