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Latest by M. McDonough

AT&T also launching gigabit Internet network in Austin, totally not copying Google

Google recently announced plans to build its next Google Fiber network in Austin, and now AT&T says it will also build a gigabit Internet network there.

Report: Google’s Kansas City Fiber project could cost as much as $94M to build

Google plans to connect Austin to its superfast gigabit Internet service as early as mid-2014, but a new report says it could be as much as $84 million.

Don’t toss that old hard drive in the garbage, use it to make cotton candy!

A Chinese engineer in need of a sugar high has constructed a homemade cotton candy machine using an old, still working hard disk drive.
artist turns google maps images into gorgeous persian rugs david thomas smith

Beauty in the details: artist turns Google Maps into gorgeous Persian rugs

David Thomas Smith's Anthropocene series features locations reconfigured as striking Persian rug-like patterns woven together with images from Google Maps.

‘No more support for you!,’ says Microsoft to Office for Mac 2008 users

Still rocking Office for Mac 2008 on your MacBook Pro? Microsoft announced today support for the five-year-old office suite will end on Tuesday, April 9.

Firefox 20 debuts with new download manager and private tab browsing

Firefox 20 makes its debut today with a few new features, one of which seems downright invaluable: an easily accessible download manager.

Amazon Cloud Drive desktop app now syncs files across computers

Today, Amazon announced it's upgrading its Cloud Drive service with a File Sync app for both Macs and PCs that'll sync your files across multiple computers.

Send to Kindle debuts for Mac & PC, gives Instapaper a run for its money

Reading your favorite websites on the go just got even easier. Amazon extended its Kindle empire further today with the launch of "Send to Kindle."
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Raspberry Pi Dynamic Headlight detects and projects your bicycle’s speed

Cyclists no longer have to take their eyes off the road. The Raspberry Pi Dynamic Headlight can detect your bike's speed and project it on the ground.

Browsers go boom: Pwn2Own hackers take down Chrome, Firefox, & Internet Explorer

At the Pwn2Own competition, hackers from France and the UK cracked Chrome, Firefox, and IE, using them to take control of their host computers.
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NUIA eyeCharm uses Kinnect to track your eye movements

Your eye movements could now control your screen if the new NUIA eyeCharm Kickstarter project from 4tiitoo (pronounced "forty-two") is successful.

Update your Mac! Latest OS X Mountain Lion update kills 21 bugs

Apple took a can of Raid to its Mountain Lion operating system and squashed 21 bugs that could affect the OS and system.

Mount your iMac with Apple’s new $40 VESA wall mount adaptor

Apple has quietly introduced an option to add a VESA mount adaptor to its most recent line of iMacs for $40.

Amazon cuts price on Kindle Fire HD 8.9 to celebrate launch in Europe and Japan

Starting today, Amazon has permanently dropped the price on the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 tablet to $269 for the 16GB Wi-Fi version.

Adobe says buh-bye to boxes for Creative Suite

Adobe is doing away with boxed software for its Creative Suite line of software. Is Photoshop still the same if it doesn't come in a pretty box?

Thanks to an inventive app developer, you can control Siri with the power of your mind

"Siri, what am I thinking?" Imagine asking that question using only your mind.

Dropbox drops a new look onto its desktop application

Dropbox just announced it's adding new features to its desktop application for PC and Mac.
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Relationship with iTunes on the rocks? Four apps that make breaking up easy to do

Apple's iTunes has undergone a major update with changes that overhauled the interface and eliminated many useful features. Thankfully, there are options.

Updates to Windows 8 and Windows RT may come in the next month

Acer and HP working on spicing up notebook designs

Acer and HP are working on innovative new designs for their forthcoming notebooks, specifically those based on Intel's new Haswell chip architecture.

MSI launches S30 notebook, not a full-size laptop, but not an Ultrabook either

When is an Ultrabook not an Ultrabook? With a slim profile, a 13-inch display, and an Intel Core i3 Ivy Bridge processor, the MSI S30 looks like one at first glance.

Beyond the Jeopardy podium: IBM takes Watson computer to the kitchen

For IBM's Watson computer, cooking lessons are next on its agenda, along with dabbling in pharmaceuticals and Australian mining operations.
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Ego! Smartmouse does it all, doubles as a flash drive and gesture-control remote

What does the Ego! Smartmouse do? It's easier to ask what it doesn't do. It's a mashup of a mouse, a flash drive, a TV remote, a Wiimote, and a VGA camera.
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AMD launches TurboDock technology for better Windows 8 hybrid performance

AMD's TurboDock technology prioritizes performance over battery life when a hybrid slate is docked, but does the opposite when removed from the dock.

Chromebook Pixel vs MacBook Pro with Retina vs Samsung Series 3 Chromebook: In-depth comparison

Google's Chromebook Pixel sits somewhere between the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook and the MacBook Pro with retina display, but what are the differences?
chromebook pixel is real and on sale today includes touchscreen retina display google thumb

Google’s Chromebook Pixel is real, includes touchscreen and mind-blowing display

Google's new Chromebook, the Pixel, has a mind-blowing 4.3 million pixel touchscreen display, giving it the highest pixel density of any screen currently on the market.
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Original Photoshop code now available free from Computer History Museum

Today's Photoshop is lightyears ahead of the original version, released in 1990. Want proof? Download the original code for free and try it out yourself.
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Acer unleashes new 1080p HD monitors with super thin frames

Acer new line of H6 monitors feature full 1920 x 1080p HD resolution IPS display panels with a viewing angle of up to 178 degrees and a razor-thin frame.
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Mycestro 3D mouse takes mousing from your hand to your fingertip

How cool would it be to control the cursor on the screen using just your finger and thumb? This could be a reality thanks to the Mycestro wireless mouse.
australian government wants to know why adobe apple microsoft charge more austrailian currency mac small

Australian government wants to know why Adobe, Apple, and Microsoft charge more

The Australian government is now requiring Adobe, Apple, and Microsoft to explain the difference in their overseas pricing.

‘Minecraft: Pi Edition’ lets you play Minecraft for free on your Raspberry Pi computer

Ready your bricks and stones, Minecraft is coming to the $35 Raspberry Pi platform with Minecraft: Pi Edition.
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Microsoft’s SkyDrive celebrates 1 billion documents, makes collaboration easier

Starting today, users no longer need to sign-in to their Microsoft account – or even have a Microsoft account – to access and edit documents in Office Web Apps.

Rabbit group video chat launches for Mac in closed beta, challenges Google Hangouts

Rabbit, a new group video chat service that just launched for Mac OS X in closed beta, lets an unlimited number of friends join the conversation and share streaming media.
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Is Siri coming to the next version of Mac OS X?

Imagine hearing "What can I help you with?" from your MacBook's speakers. A recent job posting suggests that Siri may be coming to Mac OS X.