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Review: Heads Vs Tails takes the coin-flipping game to new heights

Heads vs. Tails manages to take the least skill-based competition on the planet and create a compelling and engaging game out of it--albeit one that will not entertain for too long.

When you first open Heads vs. Tails, the options are limited. The higher-level "game" components remain locked until you've flipped the coin at least 20 times. However, that takes all of a minute to do and in the process you'll see why such a basic concept is so compelling. While no computer program can ever be truly random, Heads vs. Tails manages to imitate randomness … Read more

Power Grab: Turbos vs. Superchargers (CNET On Cars, Episode 15)

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Got a lot of email from you about turbos and superchargers, the purposes and differences of each. Not surprising, since there are a lot of both showing up in all kinds of cars these days, not just in hot rides. So this week we lay out the difference by walking you through some cutaway engines.

We're pretty smart about the data on our computers and phones these days, but most people do not give enough thought to the fact that … Read more

Facebook tests a new ad strategy

CNET Update is watching where you click:

Update highlights Facebook's Plan B for advertising in the News Feed. Instead of just showing you sponsored stories based on your profile, Facebook is tracking your Web browsing habits to serve targeted ads in the News Feed. If not done right, this can turn away users who are already uneasy over privacy.

Also in the tech news roundup:

- Spring cleaning could earn you a couple bucks -- that is, if you live in an area participating in eBay's "Sell it Forward" program. eBay is working with Goodwill to … Read more

Coming soon: Plants vs. Zombies for Facebook and a sequel

Game maker Popcap today revealed Plants vs. Zombies Adventures (PvZA) beta for Facebook, but gamers might be more interested in the mention of Plants vs. Zombies 2.

The social spinoff PvZA takes gardeners out of the backyard (the primary setting in the first game) and sends them on the road to fight off ravenous zombies. To freshen up gameplay, Popcap enhanced the title with new plants, zombies, and defenses, as well as the implementation of social features that include leaderboards and community challenges. … Read more

Samsung fans like iTunes more than Apple fans do?

Ever since a New Jersey psychiatrist wrote to tell me he was a fan of my work, I've been feeling rather disturbed.

Usually there's only one thing that can lift my spirits from such a malaise: data.

It's always such an uplift when one can find numbers that make one question the validity of humanity. As well as, of course, the validity of numbers.

Thankfully, Business Insider galloped to my rescue with some data it had gleaned about those who claim to be fans of Apple and Samsung.

It seems that there may be psychological differences between … Read more

Protect the village from droids playing Jungle vs. Droids for Mac

The multitude of games available for Mac makes choosing one difficult. Jungle vs. Droids for Mac's simple gameplay and basic graphics may appeal to younger players, but others will not be satisfied.

Jungle vs. Droids for Mac is available as a free trial version with a 1-hour time limit; the full version requires a $6.99 payment to unlock. Installation is simple, but Jungle vs. Droids for Mac requires a separate download of a proprietary game store app, which actually downloads and installs the game itself. The 100MB game sets up quickly. After startup, the menus and scenes have … Read more

Professor: Zombies an expression of our unhappiness

Zombies are complicated. On the surface, they're just hapless undead who want to feast on your delicious brains. Underneath, they may actually be expressions of economic dissatisfaction or disappointment with the government. Or they may serve as community-building exercises.

Sarah Lauro, a visiting assistant professor in the English department of Clemson University, has a lot of ideas about what zombies really mean.… Read more

Judge says Apple's Siri case against Samsung can proceed

The U.S. federal judge presiding over the landmark patent suit between Apple and Samsung in Northern California said today that a second Apple patent suit against Samsung -- involving Apple's Siri technology -- can go forward.

Apple won a $1.05 billion verdict against Samsung last year in a San Jose, Calif., trial, but U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh rejected the iPhone maker's request for a permanent injunction against sales of offending Samsung devices. A separate suit filed by Apple accuses Samsung of violating a group of patents, including one related to Siri voice search technology. … Read more

Defend the mermaids in Fish vs Pirates for Android

It's official: tower defense games aren't just about defending towers any more. Fish vs Pirates has your cute army of good fish warding off an equally cute army of bad fish. It obviously borrows from fan-favorite Plants vs. Zombies, but doesn't quite capture the fun of that game. It's still adorable, though.

The game starts with a few levels so easy that you'll probably be annoyed playing them. These act as tutorials but are mind-numbingly boring. Fish vs Pirates often makes the crucial mistake of spawning enemies too slowly, so you're watching the game … Read more

New Apple-Samsung damages ruling: The products in question

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh today ordered a new trial to recalculate some of the damages in the Apple-Samsung case, striking $450.5 million off the original $1 billion-plus judgment against Samsung. Here's a rundown of the products in question.

The damages on the following Samsung products -- $450.5 million -- have been stricken from the jury's award and will be modified:

Galaxy Prevail Gem Indulge Infuse 4G Galaxy SII AT&T Captivate Continuum Droid Charge Epic 4G Exhibit 4G Galaxy Tab Nexus S 4G Replenish Transform

The damages awarded on the following products -- … Read more