Communications

Ford announced today that the next version of Sync will turn cars into rolling Wi-Fi hot spots. The user will have to supply an Internet connection in the form of a USB wireless Internet modem, which will plug into Sync's USB port in the car. Ford will add Wi-Fi hardware to Sync, setting up the car as a rolling network. The WiFi network will use WPA2 security to keep out leechers.

As current Sync-equipped cars only have one USB port, using a USB modem would eliminate the possibility of playing music through that port. Ford may have to consider … Read more

After driving hundreds of cars to evaluate automotive technology, we've settled on our top 5 car technologies. Amongst the many, many features different automakers are making available, these are the ones we've found the most essential for everyday use. Some of these technologies can be found on most new cars today, while others are rarer, only offered by a few automakers. Some of these technologies will keep you and others safer, some will save you money, and some will just keep you happy.

Check out our top 5 car technologies.

Aiming to stay relevant, Microsoft is introducing a new look for its MSN.com home page.

Although MSN gets far less attention than the company's Bing or Windows Live efforts, the home page remains an important economic engine for Microsoft's online business, as well as a significant source of search traffic for Bing.

"We believe it's an important asset for Microsoft," said MSN general manager Bob Visse.

The site is still the top portal in about 25 of the 46 markets, with about 600 million unique users globally and 100 million in the U.S, … Read more

Garmin's great success with its Nuvi line of portable GPS devices lead the company to try and extend its market into cell phones. And with numerous smartphones encroaching into navigation, it's not surprising that Garmin is trying to fight back. After a couple of years waiting for the Nuvifone to come out, CNET's Bonnie Cha got a hold of one. We expect good performance as a navigation device, but how wil it handle the smartphone side of the equation?

Read CNET's review of the Garmin Nuvifone G60.

Consumers won't see a "Qualcomm Inside" sticker on new Windows Mobile phones, but the chip supplier is playing a big role in powering the first crop of phones based on Microsoft's new operating system.

Microsoft announced on Tuesday the first phones to carry the Windows Phone brand and run the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system--which offers Adobe Flash support, an upgraded browser, and menus that can be navigated with a finger. AT&T has already announced smartphones, with dozens more expected to be rolled out by the end of the year.

The Tilt 2 … Read more

Qualcomm will offer its FLO TV on a handheld television, putting this existing service on a dedicated device for the first time.

FLO TV, the Qualcomm-owned provider of a live mobile TV service, unveiled the FLO TV Personal Television on Tuesday, with availability slated for holiday season at retailers.

FLO, or "forward link only" technology, is designed for multicasting a large volume of rich multimedia content cost effectively to wireless subscribers. AT&T and Verizon already offer FLO TV on mobile phones in the U.S.

Qualcomm says the FLO TV Personal Television is "created with … Read more

LOS ANGELES--Adobe Systems' announcement of tools to create applications for the Apple iPhone comes with some restrictions.

Adobe announced on Monday at Adobe MAX, the company's worldwide developer conference, that its Flash Professional CS5 developer tool will enable developers to create interactive applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. A public beta of Flash Professional CS5 is expected to be available later this year.

In an interview at the conference Monday, Anup Murarka, director of technology strategy and partner development in Adobe's platform development unit, spelled out some of the limitations of creating Adobe Flash-style apps for the … Read more