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The software locks that wireless operators put on devices, such as the iPhone, may violate state and federal antitrust laws, but there isn't much consumers can do about it.

In this edition of Ask Maggie, I answer a reader's question about whether consumers could sue their carriers to force them to allow people to take their iPhone 4S to any carrier they want, given that this particular phone uses the exact same hardware on every carrier. And I explain why consumers aren't likely able to sue AT&T over its new policy to restrict the Apple … Read more

Samsung Electronics -- and possibly Android -- may need a complete overhaul if Apple has its way.

Today's jury verdict, in which Apple was awarded $1.05 billion in damages after Samsung was found to have copied several key design elements in the iPhone and iPad, could have a ripple effect in how Samsung designs its phones.

Samsung may have to do better than draw its inspiration from nature when designing and building the next wave of Android smartphones. The jury's decision was a statement on just how similar … Read more

To avoid permanently getting rid of plants, zombies, jewels, frogs, or worms, gaming company PopCap announced today that it has to lay off 50 employees at its headquarters.

The social and mobile gaming arm of Electronic Arts that's known for games like Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies said it had to reevaluate its costs in order to keep up with the digital gaming world.

"The change in consumer tastes requires us to reorganize our business and invest in new types of games on new platforms," PopCap co-founder John Vechey wrote in a blog post today. "It'… Read more

Any objection to Monday's top tech headlines is overruled:

The Apple vs. Samsung trial is almost at a close. The jury is expected to begin deliberations Tuesday. The two tech giants spent three weeks battling over patents and accusations of copying.

OnLive is facing some rough days ahead. The cloud-based gaming service sold its assets to an investor Friday and laid off employees, but said it will rehire many back as the newly restructured company (which will still be called OnLive). The company says subscribers shouldn't see any problems or interruptions in service during this restructuring.

College students … Read more

Truth be told, it's a bit of a letdown but Oracle today revealed the extent of its financial relationship with "commentators" during its recently concluded court case with Google.

The court had issued an order earlier this month, instructing the companies to disclose the names of people commenting or reporting on the case who received money for their services. In a filing today (see below), Oracle said that it had put copyright specialist Florian Mueller on its payroll as a consultant. Mueller, who writes a popular blog called Foss Patents, had earlier disclosed his relationship with Oracle. … Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Samsung did not comply with multiple guidelines set forth by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, according to the group's former top board member.

During testimony, Dr. Michael Walker -- who served as ETSI's chairman of the board between 2008 through 2011 -- said that Samsung had failed to disclose two of the patents it's using in its case against Apple to the standards group in a timely manner.

As a result of that, Walker says that Samsung should not be able to use them as ammunition in the case.

To prove that, Walker … Read more

We're dropping down from space, getting touchy with Windows 8 and leaping over a new iPhone carrier:

The iPhone has taken a leap into the prepaid, no-contract world. Beginning in late June, the prepaid carrier Leap Wireless will sell Apple's iPhone under the Cricket service. This makes it the first carrier to sell the iPhone without a contract. But don't expect the iPhone to come cheap. The 16 GB iPhone 4s will be priced at $500 dollars.

So that leaves T-Mobile in the corner, just tapping its foot waiting for its turn to dance with Apple. With … Read more

The technology behind the screen that creates the image is the core of what you're paying for when you buy a TV.

Understanding the differences can be confusing and, frankly, very technical. Leave it to CNET's Brian Cooley to make it simple and narrow down your choice in just a few minutes. Luckily for even the least attentive consumer, there are very few bad TVs out there. But if you're about to lay out this kind of money for a piece of electronics you'll keep for almost seven years on average, know what you're buying. … Read more

I wrote a very favorable review of the Velodyne vPulse in-ear headphones a few months ago, but for one reason or another I'm still listening to the vPulse. Not exclusively, I listen to my own headphones and headphones I'm reviewing, of course, but there's something about the vPulse that still draws me in.

Part of the appeal is comfort; it's exceptional in that regard, and most of my vPulse listening time is on the New York subway. At home the vPulse has too much bass, but the quality of the bass is so good I don'… Read more