Consumer content

Ouya, the open-source game console that became a massive hit on Kickstarter, has officially launched to the public. And already, it's unavailable in a few online stores.

As expected, the $99.99 console hit the market on Tuesday at Best Buy, GameStop, and Target. The Android-based console is also available at Amazon. However, as of this writing, Ouya is already sold out on Amazon and GameStop. It is still available online at Best Buy and Target.

The Ouya console doesn't have the firepower of its competitors, like the upcoming Xbox One and PlayStation 4. But thanks to its … Read more

Windows 8.1 will try to make your life a bit easier by letting you shut down or restart your PC from the Start screen.

The preview edition of Windows 8.1 isn't due out until Wednesday. But the Windows Server 2012 R2 preview is available now for download. Since both versions share many features in common, the server-based preview provides a good glimpse at what's ahead for PC and tablet users.

Windows 8.1 users will be able to trigger a shut down or reboot much more quickly than in Windows 8. On the PC's Start … Read more

While setting up gigabit infrastructure can be prohibitively expensive for many local communities, it appears that the cost users will have to pay for Gigabit Squared's high-speed Internet in Seattle won't be off the charts.

Gigabit Squared announced the pricing for its local fiber network in the Seattle area on Monday -- and, the monthly cost is actually cheaper than what people pay for Comcast broadband.

The fastest level of service from Gigabit Squared will cost $80 per month, which includes 1000 Mbps download and 1000 Mbps upload. The next level is $45 per month with 100 Mbps … Read more

Bing may enroll at your local school by the end of the year.

Microsoft is developing a special edition of its Bing search engine geared specifically toward students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Known as Bing for Schools, the tailored version will remove all ads from search results, filter out adult content, beef up privacy protection, and add learning features to promote digital literacy, Microsoft said in a blog post Monday.

This new version will be free and entirely voluntary for any interested schools. No special software or unique Web address will be required to access the site.

To promote … Read more

Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment are testing out a new way for people to watch the latest films.

The companies are offering consumers in South Korea the opportunity to rent films in-home that are currently running in theaters. According to the Wall Street Journal, which was first to report on their move, Sony offered "Django Unchained" three weeks after it premiered in theaters. Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" and "Brave" were also made available weeks after their theatrical releases.

Film studios have for years attempted to find the right balance between getting people … Read more

You can now "stand" on top of the world's tallest building without having to face the dizzying heights in person.

In its first-ever collection in the Arab world, Google's Street View took its cameras to the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, dubbed the world's tallest manmade structure at 2,717 feet. The images show off the view from the observation deck on the 124th floor and offer a peek from the building's maintenance unit on the 73rd floor.

The tallest occupied floor in the world rests on the 163rd floor, while the … Read more

Amazon Lovefilm subscribers can now trek into space or follow the adventures of a serial killer right from their own homes.

Announced Monday, the new deal between the retail giant and CNET parent CBS expands the number of TV series available for Amazon Lovefilm streaming customers in the U.K. and Germany. The original "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: Yoyager" are two of the series beaming up.

Other CBS-owned shows include "The Good Wife" and "Blue Bloods." Also on the list are three series from Showtime, which is owned by CBS, namely &… Read more

Please lie down on my chaise longue and tell me the last time you were truly, madly angry.

Was it when someone took away your stuffed Yogi Bear? Was it when someone in a bar said you dressed like an incompetent mobster? Or might you be occasionally prone to rage when your sports team misses a free throw that would seal a game? (Hullo, San Antonio. I trust it's sunny today.)

Though to the rest of the world it seems as if Americans can get angry at the mere suggestion of disrespect, when it comes to technology, we are … Read more

Sony's rumored next-generation SmartWatch is real, and it will offer some notable feature upgrades to the company's current wearable tech offering, a source has confirmed to CNET.

The news of a new SmartWatch is not surprising, given that Sony's Xperia Twitter account has all but confirmed a wristwatch-related announcement at next week's Mobile Asia Expo 2013 trade show that runs from June 26 to 28. The new model will be a successor to the Sony SmartWatch MN2SW, which is currently available for around $100.

But our source -- who has provided accurate information on unannounced Sony products in the past -- has indicated some specific features said to be available on the new watch.… Read more