reviews

Get prepared for Windows 8

Thursday's CNET Update prepares for a new era:

Windows 8 arrives at 12:01 a.m. local time Friday -- are you ready? CNET has everything you need to prepare for the new system, including a buying guide, as well as tips and tricks to navigating the new interface.

Microsoft's Surface RT tablet also arrives Friday, but Surface is just the start of a new line of devices from Microsoft. CEO Steve Ballmer has said Microsoft will build more devices under its name. So maybe we'll see a Surface Mini someday, or even a Microsoft Phone.

Google … Read more

Digging deep into Microsoft's Surface

Wednesday's CNET Update covers the Surface:

Microsoft's Surface RT tablet hits stores Friday, but CNET has the full review here. Today's tech news roundup also goes over the differences in Windows RT and Windows 8.

If phablets are more your style, CNET also has the review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, now available at T-Mobile for $370 after a rebate and two-year contract. AT&T will sell it for less, at $300, when preorders begin Thursday.

Ready for shopping on Instagram? A new service called Chirpify gives users on Twitter and Instagram the ability to … Read more

The 404 1,153: Where we're not yelling (podcast)

Enter our week-long Threadless contest for a chance to win one of three Threadless T-shirts -- one lucky winner will receive a $30 gift certificate to the Threadless Web Store. Just follow us on Twitter and @reply us a photo of your favorite T-shirt along with the hash tag #404Threadless. We'll select the winners next Monday. Good luck!… Read more

This week in Crave: The great-heights edition

Bust out the boogie shoes! It's time to do everyone's favorite new dance: "Evolution of nanostructural architecture in 7000 series aluminum alloys during strengthening by age-hardening and severe plastic deformation." Through mixing it like metal? Read on to catch up on the Craviness you might have missed this week.

- See the big 24-mile dive -- from Fearless Felix's point of view. And, of course, in Lego form.

- Big step in wheelchair innovation: a stair-climbing model.

- Could you be holding an iPad Mini by November 2?

- This license plate frame outwits red light cameras. Must-have accessory or cheating? … Read more

A tempest brewing over tablets

Microsoft and Apple are at it again -- this time over tablets.

Four months after the company unveiled its Surface tablet, Microsoft has finally announced a price and date for the RT version of the device. After an apparent accidental self-out, Microsoft began taking preorders for the Windows RT version of Surface with an actual release date set on October 26 this year. On the same date, Microsoft's brick-and-mortar stores also will begin selling the device; however, preorders are only available online. $499 nets you the 32GB version only, while $599 gets you the 32GB version with a Touch … Read more

AOL's twist on e-mail: You've got stacks

Thursday's CNET Update is checking your away message:

Just when you've given up all hope of having an organized inbox, along comes AOL with a new e-mail client called Alto. Today's tech news roundup looks at how Alto manages multiple accounts and sorts messages into stacks. The service is in beta test now (so you have to sign up for an invite to try it), but it could be open to everyone by February.

In other news, Yelp is cracking down on companies that pay for reviews. If Yelp sees that a business is trying to inflate … Read more

Yelp clamps down on paid reviews with new 'consumer alert'

Yelp is taking aim at business owners that try to artificially inflate their reviews on the site.

The user-reviews site today announced today that it has launched a new initiative to root out companies that have made "significant attempts to pay for reviews." In the event it finds such attempts, Yelp will post a "consumer alert" on a company posting alerting users to the violation.

"We caught someone red-handed trying to buy reviews for this business," the alert reads. "We weren't fooled, but wanted you to know because buying reviews not only … Read more

This week in Crave: The quadrillion dollar edition

Too busy being grateful your last phone bill didn't tally to $15 quadrillion to keep up with Crave this week? We've got lots more reasons for you to be grateful right here.

- What do you get when you cross a Sony Aibo with a Samsonite? A Hop suitcase, that's what!

- "MacGyver robot" uses objects in its environment (and doesn't even have mullet).

- Nor does this calligraphy robot, which can perfectly mimic expert techniques.

- Sunday only at Best buy: $100 off Samsung's Galaxy S3.

- Spider/wasp showdown from 100 million years ago fossilized in amber. … Read more

Signposts on Apple's road to map app mishap

While it initially appeared that Apple was caught off guard by the furor over how bad its in-house map application is, the company apparently had plenty of warning.

Developers have been complaining about Apple's Maps since shortly after they were given the first pre-release version in early June, CNET has learned. They say they filed bug requests, sent e-mails to specific Apple employees, and vented on message boards only other developers and Apple could see.

Threads on Apple's developer forums described some of the problems that appeared well ahead of the final version of the software, and they … Read more

This week in Crave: The profitable edition

Too busy tweeting back and forth with Big Bird this week to keep up with Crave? Snuggle up with us under a Pac-Man blanket and we'll catch you up on what you missed.

- There's 24-karat gold in them thar labs! And, apparently, in the "Gangnam Style" meme. But will Psy accept payment in "Star Wars" coins?

- This is one Trojan horse you definitely won't want to get rid of.

- Give us a big squeeze, Like-A-Hug vest!

- Not one single "oops" tweeted during surgery that unfolded live on Twitter. … Read more