table

How to learn the periodic table in 3 minutes

In high school science classes, students are encouraged to memorize the first 20 elements of the periodic table. There are other methods employed at the university level for all 118 -- many students swear by mnemonics.

When it comes to tremendously catchy fun, though, a new song by AsapScience has them all beat. Called simply "The New Periodic Table Song (In Order)," it's a chemical adventure that romps along to a section of "Infernal Galop" (otherwise known as the Can-Can music) from Jacques Offenbach's opera "Orpheus in the Underworld."

It goes, appropriately, at a fast gallop, but listen a few times, and you'll soon find yourself confidently singing along. … Read more

Review: Times Tables Game offers a colorful if limited multiplication learning tool

Times Tables Game does a good job of tapping into many of the things that make a good educational app for the iPad, but it is missing some very important components. Due to a limited trial, sometimes messy interface, and convoluted menu system, it works best when a parent directly oversees play by the child.

Times Tables Game is designed to help children learn their times tables in a colorful, easy-to-use interface. With animals, lots of bright colors, and flowers onscreen, combined with light animations, the app is pleasant to look at, though it can get busy and the directions … Read more

Review: Learn how to multiply using Times Tables Trainer FREE

Times Tables Trainer FREE is an application that makes learning multiplication tables a little more entertaining. It is a themed application that encourages kids to learn multiplication tables and have fun at the same time.

Times Tables Trainer FREE is an incredibly well executed, yet easy-to-use program. Once the app installs it opens a basic interface. The main menu consists of a start button and a settings button. Once the start button has been pressed the game begins. Starting with level one, which covers all the one multiples, the application goes up to level 10. In order to pass a … Read more

Tabletop PCs: The first wave

This new category of PC can be hard to pin down. To some, these are all-in-one desktops, similar to the Apple iMac, but with the added ability to either fold down flat or detach their screens. To others, these are battery-powered megatablets, with screens measuring between 18 and 27 inches, but are otherwise similar to Windows 8 slates such as Microsoft's Surface Pro. But, I think they're an entirely different animal, with features of a personal computer, a piece of consumer electronics equipment, and even living-room furniture.

That's why I call them tabletop PCs, and since late … Read more

Designers craft fashion furniture from Lenovo tabletop PCs

The dream of having large-screen interactive touch table computers in every home has taken its sweet time at becoming reality. Maybe it's the cost of the technology, or the lack of a good place to put it. Lenovo seems to think it may also be a matter of furniture fashion.

To spice up the home table PC concept, the company commissioned three unique takes on integrating its $1,700 IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC into the home environment. The designs range from the whimsical to the practical.… Read more

Frodo on top in 'Periodic Table of Middle Earth'

One my biggest disappointments with Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" was its failure to include Tom Bombadil, the immortal woodsman who is immune to the One Ring.

The character has a small but intriguing part in J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, but of course there's no room for him in a blockbuster film. Not so, however, with this very cool Periodic Table of Middle Earth, which replaces elements with earthly characters from LOTR and "The Hobbit." … Read more

Periodic Table 1.5 Review

You've seen it on the wall in every science classroom, and now you can have it on your mobile gadget. Periodic Table is just about everything you could ask for in a study buddy. It's detailed, easy to explore, and even lets you do really deep calculations. Whether you're solving chemistry problems every day or just need to ace your Chem final, you'll want this app on your phone or tablet.

When your phone is in landscape mode, you'll see the table just like you've come to expect it. The app focuses on each … Read more

ScoreTable 1.2.1 Review

Board games and card games are a lot of fun, but tracking the score is sometimes harder than it should be. One poor player is tasked with jotting down every scoring play, adding up the scores, and making sure it remains accurate. ScoreTable attempts to simplify and streamline the scoring process with an attractive, easy-to-use iPad app. For the most part, it works as advertised, with only a handful of small issues.

The concept is very simple and the clean interface reflects that with only two choices to select a score table to start (one button for the game "… Read more

Microsoft pushes Office subscriptions

Tuesday's CNET Update doesn't need another yearly fee:

Microsoft Office 2013 comes in several flavors, so today's show breaks down what you need to know about upgrading. A single copy of Office 2013 with the basic programs costs $140. But Microsoft is pushing a new yearly subscription version called Office 365. The $100 yearly fee brings regular updates, as well as bonus cloud storage space and free calling time on Skype. The fee also gives customers the option to download Office on five computers.

Also in the news:

- Apple announced it will offer a 128GB iPad on February 5, … Read more

OpenTable gobbles up Foodspotting for $10 million

OpenTable, a company that provides online restaurant reservations, has acquired Foodspotting, a site and apps that let users post photos of the food dishes they encounter at eateries.

The companies announced the deal today, saying that OpenTable will pay approximately $10 million in cash to acquire Foodspotting. The acquisition comes after Foodspotting inked a deal with the restaurant-reservations company to share user photos of food dishes in OpenTable listings. OpenTable didn't say what its plans are for Foodspotting, but it did say the photos are a "taste" of what to expect.

Still, Foodspotting users won't lose … Read more