Microsoft to add Bing ads to Windows 8.1 search results

Windows 8.1 users will eventually start seeing ads along with their usual search results.

Microsoft will begin to incorporate thumbnail images of the Web pages of Bing advertisers as part of the Windows 8.1 Smart Search, David Pann, general manager of Microsoft's Advertising Search Group, revealed in a blog post Tuesday.

The Windows 8.1 Smart Search improves on the search feature found in Windows 8. Smart Search can dig up results across a variety of sources, including your PC or tablet, your apps, your SkyDrive cloud storage, and the Web. Your results are also grouped together, … Read more

Comcast cuts down log-ins to keep cord from getting cut

"If your programming isn't on every screen, you are missing an entire generation," Chief Executive Brian Roberts said last month at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association conference.

With such high stakes, Comcast is smoothing out snags that could gives subscribers any reason turn to an online alternative, like Netflix or Amazon Prime Streaming, on their computers or Internet-connected devices.

Comcast launched Home Pass to allow subscribers of its Xfinity TV and Internet service to watch TV shows and movies on their home network without signing in.

It means customers accessing the Xfinity.com/TV website from … Read more

Sprint must face NY tax-fraud case, says judge

Sprint may end up in court after a U.S. judge refused to throw out a case accusing the carrier of deliberately not collecting and paying millions in tax.

According to Reuters, the U.S.-based firm could be facing a lawsuit brought forward by the New York state over the allegations. Under the state's False Claims Act (.pdf), the Attorney General -- Eric Schneiderman -- is able to file a suit against Sprint on the basis that the company withheld funds from the state and local government through "false or fraudulent conduct."

If a case is … Read more

Facebook mulls plan to become game publisher -- report

Facebook is considering getting into the gaming business as a publisher, a new report claims.

The social network is currently working with a few mobile-game developers to iron out a deal that would see their titles published under the Facebook brand, TechCrunch is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the discussions. The mobile games would generate revenue through Facebook's ad platform, and the world's largest social network would share a cut of that revenue with developers.

Developers and publishers are two very different entities in the gaming space. Developers actually create the game, while publishers … Read more

Legoleg: Woman builds self a prosthetic leg from Legos

Christina Stephens has been chronicling her journey from a foot crush injury through amputation and adapting to a prosthetic leg on her Facebook page, Amputee OT. While her standard prosthetic leg is custom made and fitted to her, she's also willing to experiment a bit, as shown by her Legoleg, a prosthetic leg crafted from Legos.

Stephens, an occupational therapist and clinical researcher, got the idea from a research lab co-worker, who joked she should make a leg from Legos. Most people would have laughed and left it there. Stephens laughed and went home to make it happen.… Read more

Pebble smartwatch coming to Best Buy starting July 7

Starting this Sunday, you can have any Pebble you want at Best Buy...as long as it's black.

True to rumors that leaked out yesterday, the Pebble-to-Best-Buy news is true. The Kickstarter-born Pebble Watch receives notifications from Android or iOS devices via Bluetooth and has a growing collection of watch faces and supported apps, including Runkeeper, but it hasn't been easily available to many of those who pre-ordered. Today's announcement that the Pebble will be at Best Buy will hopefully help with supply.

The Pebble will also get new retail packaging, a white box as opposed to … Read more

Google Glass privacy concerns persist in Congress

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton of Texas says he is "disappointed" in Google's response to privacy worries caused by the emergence of Google Glass.

In a statement released after the Republican congressman reviewed Google's response to a letter sent to the company by members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus -- a group set up to examine the privacy issues Google Glass causes -- Barton said he believes that the general public needs to be given more choice to ensure their privacy is not violated.

Barton said:

I am disappointed in the responses we received from … Read more

Google Reader has expired, but your data lives until July 15

By now you probably already know that Google Reader has crossed over into the digital netherworld, joining many of its ill-fated Mountain View kin who were doomed never to exit beta.

When these sad departures occur, the ritual of going through the deceased's basement begins, and in the case of Google Reader it turns out that the place was full of lots of digital detritus belonging to you and me, and hundreds of thousands (if not millions -- we never really found out how popular Google Reader was in definite terms) of users.… Read more

AT&T LTE stretches into 35 new markets

AT&T flipped a few more LTE switches on Tuesday, flowing its fastest 4G data speeds to 35 more cities, for a total of 326 LTE-equipped markets (see below).

The carrier anticipates blanketing 90 percent of its 300-million-person coverage goal by the end of 2013, and the full 300 million people by 2014's close.

Additionally, AT&T has expanded its eco ratings to select prepaid Go Phones and accessories, the company also announced today.

AT&T's newest LTE markets:

Pine Bluff, Ark. Searcy, Ark. Chico-Oroville, Calif. Grand Junction, Colo. Silverthorne, Colo. Homosassa Springs, Fla. Palatka, … Read more