first look

2K Sports' critically acclaimed NBA 2K franchise is no stranger to best sports video game lists. The CNET TV team recently went behind the scenes at 2K Sports' headquarters in Novato, Calif., just days before NBA 2K13 hits store shelves. The goal: to find out what's in their secret sauce.

I had the opportunity to jump into the company's motion capture studio, and suited up with markers placed strategically on my body. Lights surrounding the perimeter of the studio hit the markers, and the reflections allow them to be identified and processed by computers to capture wireframe animations … Read more

As machines that let first responders look at dangerous objects become increasingly common, Novatiq has started producing a throwable recon robot with the relatively low price tag of roughly $11,300.

The military-grade Scorp was announced last year with slightly different specs. At 13 inches long and 7.7 pounds, it's compact and light enough for backpack portability.

It's also tough enough to be thrown into buildings and dangerous areas, just like the lighter 110 FirstLook from iRobot.

Both machines are remote-operated, roll on treads, and have flippers that enable them to climb stairs, train tracks, and other … Read more

I got my Japanese Vita a few days ago, but my order was incomplete.

I received a Wi-Fi Vita with three games, but the 4GB Vita memory card I ordered is taking a bit longer to ship. Little did I know that without a Vita memory card, my new handheld would be rendered mostly useless.

You read correctly: a sizable number of PlayStation Vita games will not even boot up unless a Vita memory card is installed in the unit (including the ones I bought: Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Ridge Racer, and Everybody's Golf 6). There are also a number of Vita apps that require a card to run, all of which I cover in my First Look video. It's not that I'm upset that the Vita requires a memory card to play games, it's the fact that Sony has chosen not to include one in the box. CNET has already confirmed with Sony that none of the U.S. Vita SKUs will ship with a card either, save for the $350 First Edition Bundle.… Read more

Making their debut in the 2012 version of Bitdefender's security suites are interesting new security features, a simpler, easier-to-use interface, and a mythical half-dragon, half-wolf. (They're not saying which half is which.) Check out what Bitdefender's premium suite Total Security 2012 provides in this First Look video.

You can download Bitdefender Total Security 2012 , Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 , and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012 from CNET Download.com

The latest version of Thunderbird jumps from version 3 to version 5, matching its sibling Firefox as it joins Mozilla's rapid-release program. Thunderbird 5, available to download for Windows, Mac, and Linux, is mostly a bug-fixing release that improves stability. It also shortens and improves the workflow for adding new e-mail accounts.

Watch what the program's got, and what it lacks, in this new First Look video.

With around two months left before they debut, the beta versions of Norton Internet Security 2012 (download) and Norton AntiVirus 2012 (download) provide a solid glimpse of how Symantec wants to protect you in the coming year, including significant updates to its detection engines. See what else is new in this First Look video.

Most interesting of these under-the-hood improvements is the ability to scan downloads not just for viruses and malware, but also to determine if the file will adversely affect your computer's stability. Other new features include long-awaited Google Chrome support, online backup, and an Android app … Read more

After two months of waiting, Apple's Final Cut Pro X has arrived. The software went live in Apple's Mac App Store yesterday and has officially replaced previous versions of Final Cut Pro: both the Studio suite and Apple's pro-sumer Express product.

I've spent the day with the software putting it through the paces. As you'll read, it worked out well for me, but my needs are not necessarily that of this application's target audience.

As background, let me get it out right from the top that I'm not a professional film editor. My … Read more

To get you started with the Editors' Choice-winning Firefox 4, here's CNET's First Look at the browser. (Download Firefox 4 for Windows, Mac, and Linux):

One of the best features in the browser is Firefox Sync, which will not only synchronize Firefox across multiple computers, but it will also sync to your Android version of Firefox 4.

Firefox has a deep backbench of add-ons to provide features not found in the standard version of the browser, and you can also customize the interface in ways that you can't with other browsers. Here's how to make your … Read more

iRobot is introducing a new pint-size spybot that users can throw or even submerge in water before it starts roving around and doing surveillance.

The 110 FirstLook is a rugged little remote-controlled machine that's 10 inches long and weighs less than 5 pounds. It has four cameras and IR lights for night work, as well as a pair of flippers to overcome obstacles and right itself (see vid below).

With a top speed of 3.5 mph, FirstLook can roll around for 6 hours per charge or operate for 10 hours while stationary. It's controlled from a wrist-mounted touch-screen remote, seen above. … Read more