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Create your own video with Gangnam Style Dance Booth Hits

Psy's smash hit got everyone doing the signature horsey dance. The Gangnam Style Dance Booth Hits app claims to let you paste your face on the South Korean singer, but never works. It won't let you create video thanks to dozens of pop-up ads that take over your screen.

Before you even finish looking at the app's privacy policy, it starts hitting you with ads for games. Any time you try to do anything else with the app, more pop-ups come flying at you. Once you finally make it to the app's welcome screen, it asks … Read more

Wearing the future: Hands on with Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses

LAS VEGAS--Cyborgs, meet your gear. The Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses, a wearable Bluetooth/Wi-Fi headpiece with a built-in HD camera and WQVGA floating eyepiece display, are on hand to try out at CES 2013. Previously seen in nonworking prototype form at the end of last year, the M100 Smart Glasses will run on Android and eventually iOS and be available by summer 2013 (fall for iOS, pending app approval).

"It would feel like you're looking at a screen the size of your phone, but the image floats out in space," Vuzix President and Chief Executive Paul Travers … Read more

Read ebooks, magazines and other publications with Stanza for Mac

Stanza for Mac is an e-book reader for Mac OS and iOS devices. Available from the App Store, the basic Stanza for Mac is free for a trial period, then must be updated to unlock all the features. Stanza for Mac installs easily.

The Stanza for Mac interface is clean. A list of your downloaded content appears when it's launched (and can be sorted several ways), and clicking on a book opens a clean reader interface. Downloadable content can be accessed from almost every source. Whether you're reading a book, magazine, or other digital publication, Stanza for Mac … Read more

Bad Piggies is goofy and addictive

The creators of Angry Birds are back with a game that centers on pigs this time around, and bad ones at that. Bad Piggies sounds goofy in its description, but trust us, it has the makings of a very addictive game -- as long as you keep the sound on mute.

Bad Piggies' main menu includes buttons to share your results on various social media channels, and an options menu for controlling the sound and accessing the App Store. We tapped the Play button and were taken to a screen that contained four scenes to choose from: Ground Hog Day, … Read more

Netflix, RIM, others get boot from key Nasdaq stock index

The shakeup that landed Facebook on Nasdaq's top 100 list is also leading to the departure of other prominent tech players.

Facebook was added last week to the Nasdaq 100, the collection of the largest 100 nonfinancial companies trading on the stock exchange. Facebook's addition to the index came with the departure of IT consulting company Infosys, which is moving over to the New York Stock Exchange.

However, Infosys is not the only tech company leaving the index. A handful of other prominent tech players, including Netflix and beleaguered handset maker Research In Motion will be dropped from … Read more

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

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