Google ponders risky Android solo act[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:47:53 EST ]As a company that has built a business model atop trust, Google is in a sticky position as it prepares to formally introduce the Nexus One phone.

Comcast launches online service for premium TV, movies[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:57:52 EST ]Comcast rolled out a Web-based on-demand television and movie service on Tuesday that gives customers access to more than 2,000 hours of television and movies.

Boeing claims 'historic day' with 787 test flight[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:34:53 EST ]After more than two years of delays, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner made its maiden flight Tuesday in a three-hour trip that the maker described as a success.

One in six teens engage in 'sexting'[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:27:14 EST ]Nearly one-sixth of teens who own cell phones have received nude or nearly nude images via text message from someone they know, according to a new survey on "sexting" from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Susan Boyle, 'David After Dentist' top YouTube in 2009[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:39:58 EST ]A dazed boy's musings after a trip to the dentist's office had a good run.

The best video games of 2009[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:50:36 EST ]Now that video game sales have eclipsed Hollywood box office revenues, you can bet your bitmaps that some extraordinarily good games were released in 2009. Here's our look at the best, grouped by genre.

Secret Santa exchange proves the Web has heart[ Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:32:17 GMT ]'Tis the season for heart-melting tales of spontaneous good will among strangers, which, like the rest of our relationships, has gotten a lot more convenient since the advent of the Internet.

Ohio court: Cell phone searches require warrant[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:31:08 GMT ]The Ohio Supreme Court said Tuesday police officers must obtain a search warrant before scouring the contents of a suspect's cell phone, unless their safety is in danger.

Netbooks meet luxury in ultra-light Sony[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:59:59 GMT ]Netbooks have been a hit among laptop buyers because they're cheap and they're easy to carry. Now there's the option to pay a lot more and get a lot less — a lot less weight, that is.

YouTube's top 2009 videos feature eclectic cast[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:14:54 GMT ]The year's biggest hits on the Internet's top video channel were anchored by an improbable singing sensation, a groggy boy nursing a sore mouth, a bride and groom dancing down the wedding aisle, supernatural heartthrobs and roller-skating babies.

Mars lander just might rise from the dead[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:22:15 GMT ]NASA's Phoenix Mars lander lived up to its name — rising from the ashes of an earlier failed Mars landing attempt to go on to a successful mission. But now the probe has a chance to rise from the dead itself.

Organic molecules found ... on the moon?[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:07:49 GMT ]Indian researchers say they have found organic matter on the moon, a discovery that may be seconded by U.S. teams analyzing a plume of debris kicked up by the deliberate crash of a rocket body into a lunar crater.

Teen runs up dad's cell bill to nearly $22,000[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:02:37 GMT ]A 13-year-old teen was probably in hot water with his father after running up a cell phone bill of nearly $22,000.

Top 5 reasons to keep playing your PS2[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:34:37 GMT ]Like all forms of entertainment, old doesn't always mean outdated, something active PlayStation 2 users continue to evangelize. Here are five reasons to keep playing your PlayStation 2.

10 best PlayStation 3 games of 2009[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:15:09 GMT ]With a slew of exclusive games, the PlayStation 3 is finally hitting its stride.

Cosmic Log: Alien ‘water world’ found[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:30:04 GMT ]Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: Astronomers say they have detected a planet just six and a half times as massive as Earth — at a distance so close its atmosphere could be studied, and with a density so low it's almost certain to have water.

Adobe to patch zero-day Reader, Acrobat hole[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:45:00 PST ]Company will release the patch on January 12, allowing it to stick to its quarterly security update schedule. In the meantime, users can disable JavaScript.

A trip to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Gallery[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:04:00 PST ]The night before the 787's first flight, CNET checks out the Boeing Dreamliner Gallery.

CNET News Daily Podcast: Resolution between Microsoft, Europe[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:24:00 PST ]A resolution in Microsoft's long antitrust battle with the European Commission, Intel gets sued by the FTC, and an arrest is made in the copyright infringement case of the "Wolverine" movie.

Mac clones through the years[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:27:00 PST ]Looking back at those who've tried to sell Mac OS on non-Apple hardware.

Cell phone activity helps predict spread of malaria[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:04:56 PST ]Researchers at the University of Florida are predicting the spread of malaria based on analysis of more than 21 million cell phone calls that track where and how often Zanzibar residents travel.

FTC pursues Intel on new front: Graphics chips[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:21:10 PST ]The latest regulator-filed antitrust complaint against the chipmaker breaks from past suits, as it focuses on sales practices for graphics processors instead of CPUs.

Nvidia CEO: FTC action 'transforms' industry[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:55:00 PST ]Nvidia's Jen Hsun Huang issued an internal statement today to employees, calling the FTC action against Intel on Wednesday transformative for the computer industry.

Dear newspapers: I will pay for your content, once[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:24:00 PST ]Asking subscribers to pay for the same content twice will not work.

IBM closes lackluster M&A year with buying spree[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:30:00 PST ]The total value for tech merger and acquisition activity reaches $142 billion in 2009; in contrast, the second quarter of 2008 alone saw $173 billion in tech M&A deals.

The best video games of 2009[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:50:36 EST ]Now that video game sales have eclipsed Hollywood box office revenues, you can bet your bitmaps that some extraordinarily good games were released in 2009. Here's our look at the best, grouped by genre.

Google sharpens mobile focus with 'Nexus One'[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:48:27 GMT ]Google Inc. is determined to gain more influence over how the Web is used on mobile phones, even if the next step in the quest tramples some of the relationships forged during its two-year expansion into the wireless industry.

Miami Herald asks online readers for donations[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:24:00 GMT ]The Miami Herald began Tuesday asking readers of its Web site to voluntarily pay for the privilege, a new wrinkle in newspapers' ongoing battle to increase revenue from their online operations.

Meat may be the reason humans outlive apes[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:48:09 GMT ]Genetic changes that apparently allow humans to live longer than any other primate may be rooted in a more carnivorous diet.

Bad wine makes for good energy[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:53:45 GMT ]Using widely available microbes, scientists in the United States and India are turning the unused sugar and unwanted vinegar resulting from improper fermentation into electricity and hydrogen.

McDonald's to lift fee for Internet access[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:10:18 GMT ]McDonald's Corp. said Monday that it will soon offer free wireless Internet access at most of its U.S. fast-food restaurants as it tries to broaden its appeal still further.

OMG earthquake! Seismologists monitor tweets[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:00:32 GMT ]Earthquake experts have found a new way to "follow" earthquakes in real-time: Twitter.

Black hole closer to Earth than thought[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:31:02 GMT ]Astronomers have accurately measured the distance between Earth and a particular black hole for the first time. And wow, is it close.

Video: 'The Saboteur' is stylish but not strong[ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:24:01 GMT ]Christmas has come early if you like explosions, shooting Nazis, and femme fatales. Msnbc.com's Todd Kenreck gives "The Saboteur" a 7 out of 10. (msnbc.com)

Australia to block obscene, crime-linked sites[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:17:28 GMT ]Australia plans to introduce an Internet filtering system to block obscene and crime-linked Web sites despite concerns it will curtail freedoms and won't completely work.

When will plug-in cars pay off?[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:44:09 GMT ]Automakers are promising that affordable plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be available in the next couple of years, but a new report contends that it will be decades before the fuel savings and lower emissions make up for the high cost of batteries.

Wireless and broadcast industries begin spectrum debate[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:05:00 PST ]The debate between wireless operators and TV broadcasters over reallocating wireless spectrum has begun.

Get started with essential Chrome extensions[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:46:00 PST ]Even without extensions, Google Chrome's market share grew phenomenally during its first year. Now that the No. 1 most-requested feature has been implemented, it's time to look at some of Chrome's best extensions.

Boeing's 787 completes first flight[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:00:00 PST ]Originally expected to be five-plus hours, the flight was shortened by bad weather. Still, Boeing calls the flight a success and says the Dreamliner performed as expected.

Gmail's contact manager now de-dupes en masse[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:03:00 PST ]E-mail service gets new option for de-duplicating contacts in bulk, a tool that makes it easier to consolidate an address book from your phone or another e-mail account.

Scammers exploit Google Doodle to spread malware[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:11:00 PST ]Latest twist on search engine scam exploits interest in the Google Doodle to send Web surfers to malware-laden Web sites, Barracuda Networks says.

787 Dreamliner lands for first time (photos)[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:36:08 PST ]It wouldn't be a successful first flight without a smooth landing, and that's just what Boeing's 787 Dreamliner did Tuesday.

Microsoft's Bing app debuts on iPhone[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:00 PST ]The software giant's search service is now available on Apple's iTunes App Store; so when is the Android version coming?

Facebook sues men for allegedly phishing, spamming[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:00:00 PST ]Facebook's latest lawsuit accuses three men of getting access to Facebook user accounts by phishing and then sending spam from their accounts.

Can we diagnose and destroy cancer in one sitting?[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:15:00 PST ]Researchers announce the creation of a single nanoparticle, traceable in real time via MRI, which can tag cancer cells and kill them with heat within the very same procedure.

Keeping Uncle Sam from spying on citizens[ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:00:00 PST ]As Center for Democracy and Technology lawyer, Greg Nojeim works to keep government from using national security as excuse to violate citizens' online privacy.

Are tech firms afraid of the Middle East?[ Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:28:18 EST ]The Middle East represents a vast, largely untapped market for Internet businesses, according to industry experts. So what's holding everyone back?

Cyber crime threatens e-commerce[ Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:40:46 EST ]The past 12 months have been a banner year for cyber crime. And that could be bad news for the future of e-commerce.

Supreme Court takes on messaging case[ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:09:17 EST ]When a police officer used his city-issued pager to exchange personal messages, did he have a right to expect privacy?

Koalas dying from AIDS, habitat loss[ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:23:13 EST ]On the operating table lies a sick koala. He's just been brought in by a driver who found the animal sitting in the middle of a busy road. Veterinarian Claude Lacasse determines the koala has not been hit by a car but she immediately detects one serious problem facing many of the marsupials: Chlamydia, a disease which can lead to a very slow and painful death for koalas living in the wild.