Consumer Tech | LIN TV News

Verizon to sell prepaid smart phones

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:01:37 GMT

Verizon Wireless on Thursday announced it's opening up access to smart phones for customers who prepay for service, such as people with poor credit and those who don't want to be tied down by long-term contracts.

Facebook's new feature: Remote logouts

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:52:38 GMT

Facebook is rolling out a new security feature that lets users log out of their accounts remotely from another computer.

Samsung unveils iPad competitor Galaxy

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:25:25 GMT

Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday unveiled a new tablet PC named Galaxy Tab as the latest device meant to rival Apple Inc.'s popular iPad.

Dell cedes 3Par to HP

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:35:13 GMT

Dell Inc. is walking away from a bidding contest with rival Hewlett-Packard Co. for data-storage maker 3Par Inc.

Apple's Jobs announces new iPod lineup

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:21:12 GMT

Apple Inc. announced a smaller, cheaper version of its Apple TV device for streaming movies and television shows over the Internet and into the living room. It also unveiled a new line of iPods, including a touch-screen Nano model.

Google introducing 'Priority Inbox'

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:11:38 GMT

Google Inc. can sift through more than a trillion Web links in a matter of seconds, but can the Internet search leader help people wade through their overflowing e-mailboxes?

Intel buys chip tech in phone push

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:08:24 GMT

As the world's biggest maker of computer chips, Intel Corp. can't afford to ignore its huge blind spot in mobile phones.

MySpace syncs posts to Facebook

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:04:32 GMT

MySpace, which recently revamped itself to look more like Facebook, is now allowing users to sync their posts to Facebook, too.

Facebook post gets juror in hot water

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:14:02 GMT

A judge removed a juror from a trial in suburban Detroit after the young woman wrote on Facebook that the defendant was guilty. The problem? The trial wasn't over.

India BlackBerry ban averted

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:31:30 GMT

India withdrew a threat Monday to ban BlackBerry services for at least two more months after the device's maker, Research In Motion Ltd., said it would give security agencies greater access to corporate e-mail and instant messaging.

HP, Dell volley offers for 3Par

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:15:20 GMT

Hewlett-Packard Co. boosted its bid for 3Par Inc. to $1.88 billion Friday, topping Dell Inc.'s offer by 11 percent and again raising the stakes in the bidding contest for the data-storage company.

Yelp testing 1-day sales of coupons

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:09:22 GMT

Review website Yelp said Thursday that it is testing out "Yelp Deals" — large discounts at local businesses that site users can buy on one day only.

USA Today undergoing 'radical' overhaul

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:10:21 GMT

USA Today, the nation's second largest newspaper, is making the most dramatic overhaul of its staff in its 28-year history as it de-emphasizes its print edition and ramps up its effort to reach more readers and advertisers on mobile devices.

RIM seeks talks on encryption

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:23:23 GMT

Research In Motion Ltd., the maker of the BlackBerry, said Thursday it is seeking to involve other technology companies in its talks with the Indian government, which wants access to the e-mails of BlackBerry users.

A rundown of Facebook's Places

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:32:07 GMT

According to a Pew Internet & American Life Project survey, only 5 percent of adult Internet users in the U.S. have used a location-based service. Here is a rundown for the other 95 percent on what Facebook Places means and how to protect your privacy.

Dell launches $100 smart phone in US

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:02:21 GMT

Dell Inc. said Tuesday its Aero smart phone is now on sale in the U.S. for $99 with a two-year AT&T contract.

Amazon: Kindle top selling item

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:58:33 GMT

Amazon.com Inc. said Wednesday that its latest model of the Kindle e-reader is selling faster than any of its previous versions.

Germany to prevent Facebook checks

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:30:31 GMT

Ever thought twice about posting a party picture on Facebook, fearing it could someday hurt your chance at a dream job? A new German law is supposed to solve the problem by making it illegal for prospective employers to spy on applicants' private postings.

Microsoft now fueling Yahoo search

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:15:44 GMT

Microsoft is now powering the search engine on Yahoo's website in the U.S. and Canada.

Bloggers crying foul over business tax

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:46:39 GMT

Bloggers in Philadelphia are upset over a city business fee that they say is an unfair tax on their Internet musings. If a blog takes money for advertising, or sells photographs or other goods, it's a business and must pay for a license.

Toshiba developing no-glasses 3-D TV

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:26:26 GMT

Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp. said Tuesday it is developing technology for a 3-D television that won't require special glasses.

Intel to buy McAfee in $7.68B deal

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:32:10 GMT

Intel Corp. said Thursday it is buying computer-security software maker McAfee Inc. for $7.68 billion as the chip-maker adds to its arsenal of tools to serve an increasing array of Internet-connected devices, including mobile phones.

Facebook adding location-based feature

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:44:34 GMT

Facebook users carrying their smart phones will soon be able to "check in" to real-world locations such as bars, parks and live concerts as the social network makes its first foray into the location services craze.

Microsoft links new phones to Xbox Live

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:39:06 GMT

Microsoft Corp. is bringing its video-game expertise to the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 line, an attempt to capitalize on the success of the Xbox 360 as the software maker tries to compete with Apple Inc.'s iPhone.

Rachael Ray launches food shopping app

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:33:04 GMT

Rachael Ray, best-selling cookbook author and TV personality, has a new Apple Inc. iPhone application, "Tasty Bytes," that combines recipes and cooking tips with a shopping tool aimed at getting you down the aisles faster.

AOL's Patch plans 500 local sites

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:27:56 GMT

AOL intends to grow its Patch network of community news sites to include more than 500 neighborhoods by the end of December — a move the struggling Internet company hopes will strengthen its online advertising business.

Use e-mail? Not for Class of '14

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:04:32 GMT

For students entering college this fall, e-mail is too slow, phones have never had cords and the computers they used as kids are in museums now.

Twitter unleashes 'tweet button'

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:54:36 GMT

Tweeting your favorite stories may be getting a little easier. Twitter introduced Thursday a "tweet" button that websites can place alongside their content.

India eyes Google, Skype in crackdown

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:48:06 GMT

India may ask Google and Skype for greater access to encrypted information once it resolves security concerns with BlackBerrys, which are now under threat of a ban, according to a government document and two people familiar with the discussions.

Deal gives boost to cell-phone coupons

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:14:11 GMT

The nation's biggest mall operator is teaming up with a Silicon Valley startup to reward smart-phone-equipped shoppers for walking into its shopping centers.