One

Uproar over PRISM government surveillance

CNET Update is reading 1984:

This episode of Update, get a better understanding of the controversy around the National Security Agency's PRISM program. Thanks to broadly defined security laws, the government is gathering intelligence with data from Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, AOL, Facebook, Apple and other big tech companies. The U.K.'s government is also tapped into the PRISM program. President Obama has defended PRISM and NSA gathering phone records from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

And that's not the only controversial tech news. Microsoft's Xbox One console will make it complicated to loan a game to a friend, … Read more

AT&T offers $99 HTC One 32GB package in error

AT&T subscribers eyeing the HTC One were able to save $100 and get a free Beats speaker to boot due to an error from AT&T.

The carrier's HTC One 32GB package includes the 32GB edition of HTC's flagship phone and throws in a Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker, which by itself retails for $199.

On Friday, the price listed for the entire package was $99, which almost seemed like too good a deal. And in fact, it was. The $99 price was actually put up in error. However, AT&T will honor the price … Read more

Game industry spending stays flat in first quarter of 2013

The game industry's sales during the first quarter remained flat, new data from research firm NPD has confirmed.

During the first quarter of 2013, total game content spending in the U.S. hit $3.5 billion, matching what was spent during the same period in 2012. A total of $1.37 billion was spent on physical console and PC games (meaning discs) while used and rental spending hit $559 million. Total spending on digital content reached $1.59 billion.

"Digital spending fully offset the declines in physical format spend in Q1'13," said Liam Callahan, industry analyst … Read more

NBA 2K14 shuns Wii U, opts for next-gen consoles instead

NBA 2K14 has no love for Nintendo and the Wii U.

2K Sports, the Take-Two Interactive-owned studio responsible for the hit NBA 2K franchise, said on Thursday that its latest basketball game would launch on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 1. However, there will be no version for Nintendo's Wii U this year.

Instead, a "distinct and dynamic" experience would come for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, said Jason Argent, senior vice president of sports operations for 2K Sports. He confirmed that NBA 2K14 would be a launch title for both systems.

"… Read more

Xbox One restricts disc resales, requires daily gaming check-in

Gamers using Xbox One will find new, and more restrictive, rules regarding selling used games when the console debuts later this year.

Microsoft will let game publishers set the rules for reselling games to retailers.

"We designed Xbox One so game publishers can enable you to trade in your games at participating retailers," the company posted on the Xbox news Web site. "Microsoft does not charge a platform fee to retailers, publishers, or consumers for enabling transfer of these games."

The company doesn't say, though, if those publishers will be able to take a fee … Read more

Microsoft's game plan for E3 2013: Damage control

Microsoft's pre-E3 Xbox One reveal event in Redmond, Wash., wasn't a presentation targeted at gamers. In fact, most gamers hated it. Why? Because Microsoft used the opportunity to boast about the Xbox One's live TV integration and the seamless experience it will supposedly provide.

That mantra won't fly at E3 2013 in Los Angeles, where the priority is always games. The company teased with some details about what the Xbox One's gaming future will look like, but as of now it's still mostly unknown.

Here's a preview of what Microsoft needs to accomplish … Read more

Sorry, Z10. BlackBerry A10 coming soon

CNET Update is prepared:

Monday is going to be a wild day with announcements about Apple, Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. This episode of Update breaks down the questions we need answered at the E3 video game conference, along with what to expect from Apple's WWDC keynote. Case maker Gumdrop is so confident that the iPad 5 will be announced, that it already is selling a case for it!

CNET's live coverage of Apple's WWDC 2013 keynote

… Read more

Screens test: HTC One vs. Samsung Galaxy S4

The two hottest flagship Android smartphones right now, the HTC One and the Samsung Galaxy S4, both earned CNET's Editors' Choice Awards for their stellar designs, massive feature sets, and overall appeal.

So which one has the better screen?

In the tradition of our original screens tests last year, we set out to answer that very question. We used a combination of objective measurements courtesy of the same expensive test gear we use to evaluate and calibrate HDTVs, and subjective observations courtesy of our priceless, expert eyes.

As we found previously, each screen has particular strengths and weaknesses, but to our minds the Samsung Galaxy S4 has the better screen. Its victory over the One, however, was by no means a slam dunk.

Overall color accuracy between the two is nearly a wash by the numbers, and the One has a decided advantage in brightness -- making it the better choice if you spend a lot of time outdoors under a bright sky. But the deeper black levels and insane contrast of the GS4, along with the versatility afforded by its many settings, helped put it over the top.

… Read more

Microsoft to partner with Sky on Xbox One deal? Nope.

Microsoft's strategy for its Xbox One console might rely on help from broadcasters, according to a new report.

Microsoft has been in talks with satellite TV broadcaster Sky in the U.K. to bring its Xbox One to the company's customers, MCVUK reported on Thursday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the deal. It's possible that the Xbox One will be a companion set-top box that sits atop Sky's service, those sources said. The Xbox One could be sold at a heavily reduced cost, according to the site's sources.

However, a Sky representative … Read more