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Twitter takes on Instagram with filters

Tuesday's CNET Update has no filter:

The CNET 100 has arrived. We've complied 100 of the most influential technology stories, trends, gadgets and people of 2012. A few may surprise you: we ranked the Galaxy S III ahead of the iPhone 5.

Also in today's news roundup:

- Twitter added photo filters in it's latest move against Instagram. But Instagram also updated its app with new camera options.

- Twitter's new profiles will roll out to every user on Wednesday. So if you don't already have a header photo, your icon will just sit … Read more

The 404 1,181: Where time is of the essence (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Instagram photos disappear from Twitter feeds.

- You can use IFTTT to post Instagram photos to Twitter cards.

- Twitter vs. Instagram in a knock-down, drag-out filters fight.

- Head-to-head: Twitter vs. Instagram filters.

- Sony putting an end to production of handheld cassette recorders.

- "Modern Seinfeld" Twitter account imagines Jerry and Co. in the Digital Age.

- Check out the CNET 100 of 2012.… Read more

We're putting CNET video on every screen

This is exciting!

Starting today, you'll be able to watch full-length CNET shows on your Xbox 360. Later this month, you'll be able to do the same on your Samsung Smart TV.

CNET is proud to create shows and videos that you'll want to watch everywhere, including your living room with a bowl of snacks nearby and your feet on the coffee table. Longer shows like Always On with Molly Wood and Brian Cooley's On Cars have already taken off on Roku and YouTube; now we're putting them on even more screens.

Our goal is … Read more

Episode 24: Jawbone Up vs. Fitbit One

I've had a lot of great adventures producing Always On, but I've had a lifelong dream to see a space shuttle launch, and with this show, I got to get pretty close: I flew down to Cape Canaveral to watch the Falcon 9 rocket blast off with the Dragon cargo capsule on board. It was, as you might imagine, a pretty spectacular sight: and a pretty exciting start to the future of privatized space flight.

This episode also features another pretty awesome day for me: a spin around Ford's test track in the 2013 Shelby GT500 Mustang. … Read more

Privatization and evolution of space travel

The United States flew its last official space shuttle mission in 2011, but this year Americans got to say goodbye to the spacecraft in the venerable program's fleet. Throughout the year, NASA delivered the remaining shuttles to final resting places around the country. People turned out in droves to catch a glimpse of the shuttles as they did flyovers en route to their final destinations.

But as the federal manned space program came to an end, the private sector stepped in to take over. In May, Space Exploration Technologies -- or SpaceX -- made a successful demonstration flight to … Read more

Concierge economy takes off

Offering convenient, and cheaper, ways to access tailored services like ordering a private car, renting out a vacation home, or running personal errands, the "concierge economy" rose to a new level in 2012. Services -- like Airbnb, Uber, and TaskRabbit, just to name a few -- were sprinkled among news headlines, becoming more than just fringe services. Airbnb helped 4,000 Hurricane Sandy victims find shelter from generous home and bed owners, Uber came up against major friction in Washington D.C. over its taxi services, and TaskRabbit popped up in the iPhone 5 lines.

In addition to … Read more

Deal sites have a rough year

Groupon, the company that made daily deals popular for consumers, has had a tough tumble. After finally going public late last year, the company faced massive competition, slowed growth in revenue and a decimated stock in 2012. In its early days, Groupon was a tech superstar, charging along on a mission to become the fastest-growing company in history. But as the months passed, the company was plagued by slumping stock, a shareholder lawsuit and the rumored unrest from employees trying to leave the company.

Much of the blame has fallen on the shoulders of CEO Andrew Mason, who once had … Read more

Julian Assange

Devil or martyr? For Julian Assange, it appears there's no easy answer. The WikiLeaks founder has spent six months holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearing the moment he steps outside he'll be arrested and deported to Sweden, where he faces charges of rape and sexual assault. Assange says he'd return to Sweden if the government would guarantee that he won't be extradited to the United States, where he fears he could face espionage charges related to a massive leak of classified military and diplomatic documents.

The man accused of providing those documents, of … Read more

Women make advances in technology

Call this the year when small cracks shot through the glass ceiling for women in tech. While pioneers including Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina have made their marks in years past, 2012 saw critical mass with women advancing in technology management and in technology media.

Of course, Marissa Mayer famously became the first pregnant CEO this year, but she wasn't alone. Two of Microsoft's new leaders for Windows are women, Sheryl Sandberg joined the Facebook board (finally), and Internet-wide celebrations of Ada Lovelace Day continued to highlight the success women are enjoying in science and technology fields while … Read more

Video games arrive at a crossroads

This year forced the gaming industry to take a long look at itself in the mirror. The ever-changing landscape of casual, mobile, and hard-core games has fragmented a marketplace once ruled by home and portable consoles from "the big three" (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo). In 2012, app-based gaming on phones and tablets has severely cut into the demand for separate portable gaming systems, platforms that Nintendo and Sony once thrived on. While Sony's new Vita portable impressed, its lack of consistent must-have game exclusives has proven to be its Achilles' heel.

In addition to other console manufacturers, Nintendo … Read more