roundup

For Apple, best numbers yet, mixed press on how it got there

There wasn't a product launch to be seen, but Apple had one of its biggest news-making weeks yet.

That came in the form of what can only be described as a monster earnings report, with Apple breaking its own records, and those set by other companies.

Apple's first fiscal quarter of 2012 was its most profitable, and once again put it within spitting distance of Exxon Mobil to be the world's most valuable company by market cap. Perhaps something that's actually more easily understandable is the fact that the company sold more than 37 million iPhones … Read more

Ultimate iPad 2 case roundup

Editors' note: Updated January 24 with nine new cases from Belkin, Camalen, Evio, Incipio, iSkin, Speck, and SwitchEasy. The original post published March 11, 2011.

We know that a lot of people who buy the iPad 2 are also going to buy Apple's Smart Cover. But then again plenty of folks prefer to shop for non-Apple alternatives, and we've got more than 70 iPad 2 covers and stands to show you.

Related link MacBook Air cases and covers roundup

Of course, this roundup only represents a fraction of the cases and stands available for the iPad 2, but we've tried to include many of the top cases available. It's also worth noting that while we've included a few sleeve-style cases and some back covers that are designed to work with Apple's Smart Cover, the majority of the cases are what we'd call "full" cases with protection for both the front and back of your iPad 2.

If you think we missed a good cover--or just have a favorite among the ones shown--feel free to post a comment. We'll update the list to include more covers and stands as they become available (we've added close to 20 new covers in the last month and have started to delete some of the less desirable cases as the list gets too long).

Click on any slide to begin the slideshow. Cases are listed alphabetically.

Apple unveils iBooks 2 for digital textbooks, self-pub app (live blog)

Apple unveiled today iBooks 2, a "new textbook experience" for the iPad and the company's attempt to bury traditional schoolbooks.

"Clearly, no printed textbook can compete," Roger Rosner, an Apple vice president, said during a press event this morning at New York's Guggenheim Museum.

The company also announced iBooks Author, a free app for self-publishing e-books, and improvements to the iTunes U app that puts entire courses online and allows instructors to post syllabi and messages for students.

Before unveiling the plan, Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, noted the … Read more

Apps on TV, augmented-reality software stars of CES 2012

Software is becoming a bigger part of CES, which is a bit ironic since Microsoft has begun to pull back its presence. CES 2012 saw the rise of familiar software names powering your living room TV, augmented-reality apps that created a new way to interact with the world around you, a stone-cold assassination attempt on the QWERTY keyboard, and a deft program that ports Android apps into Windows 8.

Let's start with BlueStacks for Windows 8, our Best of CES Award winner in the Software and Apps category. We first looked at a rough version of BlueStacks last year. … Read more

At Yahoo, Scott Thompson takes helm as CEO (roundup)

Amid talks of a sale, Yahoo hires PayPal President Scott Thompson to replace fired CEO Carol Bartz. Thompson promises the company will reclaim its tech leadership, but serious challenges await.

Yahoo hiring Thompson may aid Andreessen Horowitz bid Yahoo's new CEO, Scott Thompson, once worked for Andreessen Horowitz partner Jeff Jordan at PayPal. With Jordan working on the venture firm's Yahoo bid, the pair could be reunited. (Posted in Digital Media by Jay Greene ) January 4, 2012 10:15 a.m. PT

New CEO: Yahoo will reclaim its tech leadership As Yahoo's leader, Scott Thompson plans to … Read more

Best apps for Android: CNET's definitive list

Pick up a new Android phone recently? Or maybe a tablet?

Either way, with a shiny new device in hand, you're probably itching to download some apps, right? Well, allow CNET to give you a hand with that. With a fast-growing Android Market that can seem overwhelming and downright intimidating to some, chances are, you could use a bit of direction.

So without further ado, I'd like to introduce CNET's list of Best apps for Android. It's got some well-known classics and a few apps that we've plucked from obscurity.

While it would have been … Read more

The 10 worst tablets of 2011

It takes a special kind of alchemy to make a great tablet.

Even mediocre tablets require a certain finesse of software and aesthetic. The screen, the right Android OS, the placement of the buttons, the cameras, and the connections all have to come together in the right way, and at the right price.

Sometimes, though, things go terribly wrong. You cut the wrong corner or rush out with buggy software and the next thing you know, you end up here, on CNET's list of the worst tablets of 2011.

Five smart LED TVs under $1,000

Where the first LCD TVs used fluorescent tubes to light the screen, newer models have come along calling themselves "LED TVs," which, as the name suggests, use light-emitting diodes for illumination.

The two main advantages of LEDs are lower energy usage and that they can be built into very small enclosures. The slimline models here have the added incentive of smart TV capabilities: movies, music, and Web applications.

So if you're looking to spend not much money on a new, thin TV, the magical $1,000 barrier now marks off some decent-quality models. The TVs we've selected are all available for under a grand, and range in size between 40 inches and 47 inches. Of the two favorites, the LG LW5600 and the Samsung D6400, the LG gets the nod because of its accurate colors and larger screen size.… Read more

Thanksgiving turkey fun for your Android

It's everyone's favorite food-holiday, folks. And that can only mean one thing: it's time to dress your Android device up like a turkey!

Well, sort of. I am not suggesting you physically attach feathers or a beak to your phone, but I am absolutely suggesting you download some fun turkey-related apps on your device, like now.

First, go ahead and download Thanksgiving Turkey Run Live Wallpaper. It costs 99 cents in the Android Market, but it's a small price to pay to get costumed turkeys running wildly around your home screen. You can let these cute, … Read more

iTunes Match arrives, as does a new Apple board member

This week iTunes got a little more Web savvy with a feature designed to clean up and beam up your music library with a little help from the cloud.

iTunes Match, which Apple originally promised to ship by the end of last month, went out to users as part of a software update this week. It stores music tracks in the cloud, and makes them available on any device with iTunes. It can also tidy up old collections of ripped CDs with high-quality versions from Apple's music store.

The $24.99-a-year service is a big step in bringing user … Read more