Technology

It's rare to see a genuine surprise at a big event like Google I/O, but the Nexus Q was exactly that. There were virtually no hints of Google's mysterious, glowing orb until hours before the show, but its announcement raised more questions than answers. What does it actually do? Why does it cost $300? Can it double as a shot put?

Unfortunately for Google, the answer was the Nexus Q really didn't do much, except serve up a pretty LED light show. The device was such a flop, Google quickly discontinued it and sent pre-orderers a … Read more

Unlike 4K, there are no OLED TVs available today -- but they were the star of the Consumer Electronics Show last January, when both Samsung and LG revealed the first big-screen (55-inch) models to use organic light-emitting diodes.

Despite repeated appearances at trade shows, the OLED TVs never materialized in the marketplace in 2012 due to manufacturing difficulties. But they'll figure it out soon, and when they do, OLED will inevitably replace plasma and LCD as the flat-panel TV technology of choice. Stunning picture quality combined with ultrathin form factors -- LG's prototype OLED was just 0.157 … Read more

We may not love Symbian, but CNET editors did marvel at the way the Nokia 808 PureView's 41-megapixel camera blasted past preconceptions to deliver an artistic smartphone photo experience worthy of a standalone camera.

Its enormous camera sensor and module are hardly practical for toting around, but Nokia's 808 stands out as a proof-of-concept device that smartphone camera technology can grow by leaps and bounds, not just little steps. You just may have to compromise on svelteness. Don't expect Nokia to give up on the massive sensor just because the 808 didn't sell with a U.… Read more

A mere three years ago, 3D was heralded as the future of television, bolstered by the overwhelming popularity of a certain James Cameron film starring blue-skinned aliens. Now it's "just another feature" on today's mid- and high-end televisions, and barely anyone watches it.

The main problem is lack of content. There are still only a handful of 3D channels, which show plenty of repeats, and even massive 3D rollouts like the 2012 Summer Olympics met with yawns (it didn't help that the 3D events were delayed until a day after the live ones aired). Films … Read more

The iPad 2 was nearly a technically perfect device: what could be added to the equation on the next go-around? Apple went ahead and did what some thought would be impossible: cram a previously unheard of 2,048x1,536 resolution into a 9.7-inch screen, with the type of crispness, color and detail that most HD displays only dream of. The Retina Display iPad kicked off a new war in tablet screen resolution much like the Retina Display iPhone did previously, and the technology eventually bled into Apple's MacBooks by midyear. For media such as digital magazines and photos, … Read more

Count on Google to deliver the future before you're even quite ready to receive it, and to deliver it via a team of skydivers with Sergey Brin in tow. The company made clear its lofty ambitions for the Google Glass project -- the aptly named effort to put a smartphone's brains in a pair of interactive spectacles -- with an unprecedented press event at Google I/O in June.

Google says it wants Google Glass to help users interact with the virtual world without distracting them from the real world. The tech community responded with excitement, poring over … Read more

With much anticipation, Tesla launched its Model S electric car in 2012, beginning full line production and sales to the public. The car represents a milestone in practical electric car technology, as the top trim models boast a 265-mile EPA-rated range, while at the same time offering a sport-luxury driving experience.

The car also marks a milestone for Tesla, as it is the first vehicle the company designed and built from the ground up. The Model S comes out of Tesla's new manufacturing facility in Fremont, Calif. Tesla set up its factory line, which goes from body construction to … Read more

Nokia returned for a second -- and even more critical -- round to put its Lumia brand on the map. Its larger, thicker Nokia Lumia 920 marquee device was the first to bring wireless charging and a highly sensitive screen that can accommodate navigation with both a fingernail and a gloved hand. Although heavier and bulkier than its chief rival, the HTC Windows Phone 8X, Nokia's AT&T exclusive is also more powerful and comes in at half the price.

Nokia will need its flagship 920, and its slightly less premium 820, 810, and 822 models to also … Read more

Why do you need a browser-based laptop that won't run a full OS? Chrome OS-powered ultraportables didn't make sense at $500, but at $199 they suddenly seem a lot more interesting. Google's parallel computing environment to Android has been a bit of an experimental black sheep, but that status could be changing very soon based on price drops and significant improvements to the function and stability of Chrome.

The recent availability of low-cost Chromebooks from Samsung and Acer means that a Chromebook can finally be a low-cost viable alternative to a Netbook, provided you keep your expectations … Read more