roundup

Best apps for Android: CNET's definitive list

Pick up a new Android phone recently? Or maybe a tablet?

Either way, with a shiny new device in hand, you're probably itching to download some apps, right? Well, allow CNET to give you a hand with that. With a fast-growing Android Market that can seem overwhelming and downright intimidating to some, chances are, you could use a bit of direction.

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce CNET's list of Best apps for Android. It's got some well-known classics and a few apps that we've plucked from obscurity.

While it would have been … Read more

The 10 worst tablets of 2011

It takes a special kind of alchemy to make a great tablet.

Even mediocre tablets require a certain finesse of software and aesthetic. The screen, the right Android OS, the placement of the buttons, the cameras, and the connections all have to come together in the right way, and at the right price.

Sometimes, though, things go terribly wrong. You cut the wrong corner or rush out with buggy software and the next thing you know, you end up here, on CNET's list of the worst tablets of 2011.

Five smart LED TVs under $1,000

Where the first LCD TVs used fluorescent tubes to light the screen, newer models have come along calling themselves "LED TVs," which, as the name suggests, use light-emitting diodes for illumination.

The two main advantages of LEDs are lower energy usage and that they can be built into very small enclosures. The slimline models here have the added incentive of smart TV capabilities: movies, music, and Web applications.

So if you're looking to spend not much money on a new, thin TV, the magical $1,000 barrier now marks off some decent-quality models. The TVs we've selected are all available for under a grand, and range in size between 40 inches and 47 inches. Of the two favorites, the LG LW5600 and the Samsung D6400, the LG gets the nod because of its accurate colors and larger screen size.… Read more

Thanksgiving turkey fun for your Android

It's everyone's favorite food-holiday, folks. And that can only mean one thing: it's time to dress your Android device up like a turkey!

Well, sort of. I am not suggesting you physically attach feathers or a beak to your phone, but I am absolutely suggesting you download some fun turkey-related apps on your device, like now.

First, go ahead and download Thanksgiving Turkey Run Live Wallpaper. It costs 99 cents in the Android Market, but it's a small price to pay to get costumed turkeys running wildly around your home screen. You can let these cute, … Read more

iTunes Match arrives, as does a new Apple board member

This week iTunes got a little more Web savvy with a feature designed to clean up and beam up your music library with a little help from the cloud.

iTunes Match, which Apple originally promised to ship by the end of last month, went out to users as part of a software update this week. It stores music tracks in the cloud, and makes them available on any device with iTunes. It can also tidy up old collections of ripped CDs with high-quality versions from Apple's music store.

The $24.99-a-year service is a big step in bringing user … Read more

The authorized Steve Jobs bio arrives (Apple Talk Weekly)

This week brought the arrival of author Walter Isaacson's biography "Steve Jobs," notable for the fact that it's the first biography to have Jobs' cooperation, and the first to come after his death.

The book covers Jobs' life from beginning to end, as well as a history of the companies he was involved with, from the beginnings of Apple, to NeXT, Pixar, and his return to Apple, which he helped turn into a massive consumer and business success it is today.

CNET's got end to end coverage on that, including a rundown of some of… Read more

The talking iPhone is here (Apple Talk Weekly)

This week was perhaps the busiest one of the year for Apple, with the release of a new iPhone, a new version of iOS, a handful of new iOS apps, iCloud, and updates to its Mac OS X and iLife software.

While we're still waiting for official numbers, from the looks of it the iPhone 4S is off to what's expected to be the strongest start for any iPhone yet. Buyers lined up overnight around the world to get their hands on Apple's latest phone, which went on sale yesterday. Carriers like AT&T and Sprint … Read more

The death of Steve Jobs, 1955-2011 (roundup)

Apple's longtime leader, who died this week at the age of 56, leaves behind a vibrant legacy of pioneering efforts in the fields of high tech and entertainment, from the Mac to Pixar to the iPad.

Apple co-founder and chairman Steve Jobs dies The technology pioneer who also co-founded the Oscar-winning animation house Pixar and computer maker NeXT, has passed away. (Posted in Apple by CNET News staff) October 5, 2011 4:41 p.m. PT

An Apple without Steve Jobs Apple now faces a future without its co-founder and icon. Where does the company go from here? (Posted in Apple Talk by Josh Lowensohn) October 6, 2011 4:00 a.m. PT

With Pixar, Steve Jobs changed the film industry forever Until the Apple founder came along and rescued LucasFilms' fledgling computer graphics division, animation in Hollywood was a dying art. Now, people expect great computer-animated films. (Posted in Apple by Daniel Terdiman) October 6, 2011 2:07 p.m. PT

How Steve Jobs reshaped the tech industry The brilliant, irascible impresario championed the transition from minicomputers and beige IBM boxes to the Macintosh, the iPhone, and the concept that technology should be fun to use. (Posted in Apple by Declan McCullagh) October 5, 2011 5:10 p.m. PT

Reeling in the years of Steve Jobs (video roundup)

A collection of CNET and CBS video tributes in response to death of Apple Chairman and co-founder Steve Jobs, 56.

Join us on a journey through the ups and downs of a career that has changed both the tech industry and our culture at large.

Outside a San Francisco Apple Store, supporters pay tribute to Steve Jobs and his legacy.

Apple fans and community members honor the memory of co-founder Steve Jobs by laying flowers, cards--even apples--at an ever-growing memorial on the company's campus in Cupertino, Calif.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak remembers his friend Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs created, … Read more

Your complete guide to Google+

Editors' note: This blog was originally published on July 28, 2011.

If strong privacy options, the absence of FarmVille, and a fresh set of friends sound good to you, you've probably signed up for Google+.

Google+ has opened its doors to the public, allowing anyone to visit plus.google.com and immediately open a new account.

Once you've settled into Google+, browse our handy collection of tips including the essentials, profile tweaks, and a few guides for moving your photos from other social networks (like Instagram and Facebook) swiftly into Google+.

Learn the basics

Seven Google+ essentials Learn … Read more