date

Dinosaur dating sim lets you mack on T. rex

My boyfriend is a little different than most. His name is Taira-kun. He's big and strong, though his arms are tiny. He's actually a Tyrannosaurus rex, but I don't seem to hold that against him. I'm all caught up in Jurassic Heart, an online dating simulator that pairs you up with an extinct beast for a love interest.

The sim gives you difficult choices to make, like which hair clip to wear before meeting your big lug. Naturally, the meat-on-the-bone hair clip is the one to go with. Cute and yummy.

According to the sim, Taira and I have a lot in common. We both like meat. We both play the ukulele (at least I do in real life), though it doesn't get into the specifics of how the necktie-wearing dino manages to play the tiny instrument. The sim takes you through meeting up with your carniverous heartthrob, buying a ukulele, eating grilled chicken in the park, and taking a romantic evening walk.… Read more

The 404 1,215: Where we stand up to stereotypes (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Beatles fan exhibits record store that only stocks The Beatles' "White Album," featuring more than 650 first pressings. Here's a preview.

- Stereotype.fm comes up with quirky statistics about music fans, like "MJ fans likely to join a cult."

- Nine new ways to sit, thanks to tech.

- Illegal music downloads took a nosedive in 2012.

- Check out Samsung/GameSpot's Unicorn Apocalypse contest for a chance to win $25k.

- Ghostbusters HQ Lego creation by Orion Pax.… Read more

The Facebook mistakes people make after a date

February can make people excitable.

A new year is barely old. Hope springs eternal. And then there's Valentine's Day to add a little piquancy to their emotional state.

Sometimes, though, lovers suffer from a certain lack of self-control. This can manifest itself on society's everyday manifest: Facebook.

I was moved, therefore, that someone had taken the time to list the major faux pas that occur when social contact accelerates beyond decent norms.

I am lovingly grateful to Ranker, which has taken it upon itself to reduce the rancor that might be caused by Facebooked overenthusiasm -- the site has listed behavior to avoid. … Read more

PlayStation 4: What we expect, what it needs, and why

CNET's live coverage of Sony's event on Wednesday

Sony's February 20 event in New York City will likely mark the announcement of the PlayStation 4 and simultaneously usher in the next generation of console gaming. (Sorry, Wii U, but you're more last-gen than next-gen.)

Rumors mills are also churning out details confidently declaring that the Xbox 360 successor will also see the light of day before June's big E3 gaming show in Los Angeles.

Perhaps the biggest news? Both consoles could make their debuts -- gasp -- this year. That's a hyperspeed acceleration in … Read more

The 404 1,208: Where we're a heartbeat away (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn Google internship trailer debuts

- N.Y. restaurant offers fake "homemade" meal to go for amateur chefs, pre-dirtied cookwear included.

- In high-tech Japan, the fax machines roll on.

- Most definitely the scariest Valentines Day app around.

- Guns in movies: Find your favorites in the Internet Movie Firearms Database.

Bathroom break video: Jackie Chan - "Love Me"… Read more

Online dating boost because men don't like to spend money?

It's that time of year when you look your lover in the eyes, feel that stirring in your stomach, and hear you inner voice ask: "Is this the best I can do?"

Please, I don't mean to sound, well, mean.

It's just that in these days that champion immediacy and disposability, somehow interpersonal relations have become just another commodity.

Having mused on these thoughts in the shower, my inbox was kissed with an e-mail that told me 1 in 10 relationships among 35- to 55-year-olds will end on or before Valentine's Day.

It seems … Read more

Expert advice for online dating (podcast)

"It's never been easier to find a date," says CyberDatingExpert.com publisher Julie Spira. And when it comes to online dating, she adds, the "stigma is gone."

She credits Facebook with helping to make people feel comfortable about sharing online and about joining an online dating site. Thousands of online dating sites exist, including niche sites aimed at Democrats and Republicans, as well as different religions and even vegans and vegetarians.

Spira is a fan of "truth in advertising" and recommends that people be authentic about their age, photos, and what they enjoy. … Read more

CNET's Live Show 'Computer Love': Where technology and love intersect

The Internet has changed how we interact with each other through social networks, text messaging, and online dating. Because of this, the rules of finding love, keeping relationships alive, or sparking new ones have been completely rewritten.

On Valentine's Day, I'll be hosting a special live show called "Computer Love" at 11 a.m. PT. We'll talk about a host of topics, ranging from long-distance love to sexting. I'll talk with special guests about our personal experiences and yes, even "catfishing."

This show is what you make it. We'll be taking … Read more

Let's Date offers a sexy, new way to find love from your iPhone

I'm single, I live on my iPhone, and I'm cautiously optimistic about online dating. Those qualities make me the perfect match for Let's Date, an iOS-only application for finding love, or whatever it is you're looking for, in an unconventional fashion.

Let's Date, first released in San Francisco in early November, today launches more widely to offer people in all major U.S. markets, Canada, London, Sydney, and Melbourne a funky new way to find dates.

The application is one of the many pet projects of Science, a buzzy Los Angeles technology studio that creates, … Read more

Microsoft's Surface Pro has room to grow

Wednesday's CNET Update wants the best of both worlds:

We're all hunting for the one device to rule them all: the perfect tablet-laptop hybrid. Microsoft's Surface Pro aims to do just that, but it's not quite a laptop-killer yet. Read CNET's full review here, and be sure to compare how the Pro measures up to the competition.

Also in today's tech news roundup:

- Rumor site SamMobile says the Galaxy S4 could be announced in March for an April release.

- BlackBerry's CEO says the Q10 may not hit the U.S. until May or June. … Read more