week in review

week in review Bowing to the objections of federal regulators, AT&T withdrew its $39 billion bid to acquire T-Mobile.

In August, the U.S. Department of Justice sued to block the merger. And in November the Federal Communications Commission indicated it opposed the merger as well. In both cases, the Justice Department and the FCC said that the merger between the second largest and fourth largest wireless phone companies in the U.S would harm competition. The FCC went as far as to say in its report of the merger that the deal would result in massive layoffs … Read more

Too busy trying to beat your pet lizard at a game of Ant Crusher to keep up with Crave? Well, put your game on pause and grab a seat, because here are this week's hottest stories.

• Have you met Mrs. Violence? Don't say girls can't play games.

• This year's 10 best games. Period.

• So, just how hot is police-grade pepper spray, anyway? (Hint: a heck of a lot hotter than a jalapeno.)

• Pop that collar and get rambunctious in some '80s Apple fashion.

• Or perhaps you're interested in fashion that's a little more revealing? … Read more

A new version of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act was introduced this week but failed to satisfy critics and a vote ultimately got pushed off until at least Wednesday, but more likely 2012.

Many of Silicon Valley's most successful entrepreneurs and executives warned of the dangers of the SOPA in an open letter to Washington, D.C. It's signed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang, among others. It's appearing as a paid advertisement in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other newspapers.

The … Read more

Too busy tweeting your way through the symphony this week to keep up with Crave? Well, get up out of that "tweet seat," readers, and catch up on what you missed.

• ThinkGeek's Drum Machine shirt makes your chest a percussion section.

• Test-driving OnLive for tablets (and what are the best tablets for gaming anyway?).

• Typewriter hack turns keystrokes to brushstrokes.

• For dapper geeks, a very modern pocket watch.

• Behold the $9.4 million iPhone 4S (in its defense, it does sport real diamonds).

• So, is AT&T really that bad? … Read more

week in review Verizon Wireless customers looking to snap up the Samsung Galaxy Nexus today will have to be a little more patient.

The carrier has been cagey about the launch date for the smartphone, which is the first to run on the new Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android, but an informal survey of Verizon stores found that many had expected to start selling the phone on Friday. Now they are hearing that the release of the Galaxy Nexus will be delayed.

Verizon already faces some criticism for keeping the Google Wallet mobile-payment capability off the Galaxy Nexus. Verizon … Read more

Too busy setting the mood with soft bacteria-powered lighting to keep up with Crave all week? Here's what you missed while you messing with microbes.

• Without special 3D glasses, they won't be able to see what's on your computer screen.

• Our ultrabook wish list.

• Got what it takes for intelligence work? Crack a secret code to prove it. … Read more

week in review Controversy over a mobile data-logger flared this week despite confusion over how the software works and what data it transmits. Some security experts said the privacy threat was overblown and it turns out Carrier IQ was falsely accused of "keylogging" in a rush to virtual judgement.

Carrier IQ, a startup that provides tracking tools to carriers and phone vendors, came under fire for allegedly monitoring Android- and iOS-based smartphones. According to Android researcher Trevor Eckhart, an outspoken critic of the company's technology, the company's software running on Android devices can record and relay … Read more

week in review In the face of regulatory resistance, AT&T appears to be bracing for the end of its intended $39 billion merger with T-Mobile.

AT&T said this week that it will take a $4 billion accounting charge in the fourth quarter to cover a breakup fee to T-Mobile should the deal fail to gain regulatory approval. AT&T and T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telecom also said they've withdrawn their pending approval applications to the Federal Communications Commission "to facilitate the consideration of all options at the FCC and to focus [the companies'] continuing … Read more

Too busy trying to fit a 65-inch Android tablet into your pocket this week to keep up with Crave? Commence the "Is that a giant gadget in your pocket or..." jokes, and then read on.

• Say hello to Bonnie Cha, Crave's new chief correspondent!

• First, complaints of iPhone 4S battery drain. Now, a persistent echo.

• Remastered games: Good or bad?

• Reach out and touch a haptic screen you can really feel.

• PETA does not hold Mario's Tanooki suit in warm regard. … Read more