Tech Talk

Comcast's $9.99 Internet for low-income families available

(CBS) - Some families are struggling to pay their usual $30-per-month charge to get access to the internet. Add that number to what they pay to get basic cable, and you have yourself a monthly three-digit price tag to stay current and entertained.

In an effort to comply with the agreement to help poor families connect to the Internet in exchange for approval of the acquisition of NBC Universal, Comcast is now offering low-income families access to the web for only $9.95 a month.

Continue »

Windows 8 developer tablets on eBay now

Windows 8 developer tablets on eBay now eBay

(CBS) - It wasn't long until some of those lucky few who got their hands on a Windows Developer tablet with Windows 8 at Microsoft's BUILD conference last week would cash in on their highly-anticipated gadgets.

Windows 8 first impressions

"Several of the souped-up Samsung tablets Microsoft handed out to 5,000 developers at last week's BUILD Windows conference are for sale on eBay at prices as high as $3,500," Computer World reports. "The tablets were given to developers to use while creating apps for Windows 8's new Metro platform of touch-enabled software."

Continue »

The Oatmeal explains Netflix split with a comic

The Oatmeal explains the Netflix split with a sandwich-store comic The Oatmeal

(CBS) - The solution to separate Netflix's online movie streaming service from its DVD-by-mail business (now known as Qwikster) is not going over well with customers. The split announced by co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings continues to anger both current and former subscribers. It's like buying a sandwich in pieces - at least, that's how The Oatmeal see it.

Netflix CEO apologizes to subscribers, splits company in two

The Oatmeal, which is full of other awesome illustrations, created this cute comic of an unsuspecting man buying a sandwich he had gotten dozens of times prior. One day, he walks in to the same shop to find that the price has been raised - 60 percent to be exact. He complains to the manager who then asks him to come back later.

Continue »

Watch awkward dates on the live HowAboutWe DateCam

(CBS) - Confession - I spent over an hour last night watching two strangers on a date on the HowAboutWe DateCam, a live streaming video, which airs on Monday nights. A Facebook friend had made her own confession that she had tuned in and become obsessed with it. Of course, I clicked immediately because - well - I'm kind of a creepster.

Continue »

Darth Vader speed painting on YouTube

(CBS) - Star Wars nuts, you might still be upset over the recent changes that came about with the release of the saga on Blu-ray, but this YouTube video might make you feel a little bit better.

Star Wars Blu-ray (out today) upsets diehard fans

The "speed painting" by artist Jordan Conlin is truly outstanding. It was a tribute to Darth Vader and took an hour and 33 minutes to complete, according to the painter.

Continue »

Google Wallet to launch really soon

Google Wallet Google

(CBS) - Could you ever ditch your wallet completely? With Google Wallet, you might just be able to.

Search engine giant Google is preparing the launch of Google Wallet. With the slogan, "make your phone your wallet," the new mobile technology similar to Sqaure, enables consumers to tap, pay and save. Sounds so easy, right?

Credit cards and wallets to become obsolete

Essentially, Google Wallet will store your credit cards, loyalty cards, even gift cards via an Android app on your smartphone. Once installed and set up, all you have to do is tap to pay at select locations. In order to use the service, you should also have a Citi MasterCard, Google Prepaid Card or gift cards at participating stores. The prepaid card is similar to how PayPal works. In fact, PayPal is suing Google over trade secrets.

Continue »

Edit videos on YouTube, no more dark, shaky shots

CBS - Last week, YouTube announced you can now edit your videos on YouTube directly. Hooray! 

The new feature lets you trim, adjust levels (similar to Photoshop), add effects and music, just to name a few functions. It can also rotate your videos for you.

Continue »

Freddie Wong's "Gamer Commute" video

(CBS) - You might know Freddie Wong already. The actor/director is most famous for his stint as a professional Guitar Hero player. Yes, you can go pro at that.

He competed at the World Series of Video Games in Dallas in 2007 in a Guitar Hero 2 competition and won the first prize with "Less Talk More Rokk" by Freezepop.

We loved Wong's "Future Motion Control Gaming" video where he showcases where gaming could be going.

Now, just for fun, check out Wong's latest YouTube upload: "Gamer Commute." "This is how my mornings usually go. How many gaming references can you spot?" Wong says. So, how many can you spot? Start counting!

Smartphone battery life improves with new invention

Nokia N9 smartphone

(CBS) - If you're lucky, your smartphone battery life lasts an entire day. But over time, that number could dwindle down to a handful of hours depending on use.

Now imagine that your smartphone battery could have even more juice than that thanks to a new invention? That'd be life-changing, wouldn't it?

Continue »

Scarlett Johansson on "most dangerous celebrities in cyberspace" list

Scarlett Johansson on most dangerous celebrities in cyberspace Getty Images

(CBS) - Internet security company McAfee researched pop culture's most famous people to reveal the riskiest celebrities on the web. From movie stars to top models, cybercriminals are often using the names of stars that online surfers are searching for. As a result, anyone looking for the latest videos or pictures of said famous folks could end up with malware-ridden computer instead of the content they're trying to find. Yikes!

To protect yourself, be careful when you're searching for Scarlett Johansson, Cameron Diaz, Heidi Klum, and more...

Pictures: Most dangerous celebrities in cyberspace

Continue »

James Dyson unveils most expensive space heater

(CBS) - By now, we're all familiar with the bladeless Dyson Air Multiplier fan. Even though, they're quite a splurge at $299 to $449, buyers say they're worth it because they - well - work really well, and are safe for those curious kids who would otherwise stick their fingers through other fan blades. (We could hear their yelps and cries already.)

British industrial designer Sir James Dyson has a new household appliance that'll wow you. He just unveiled the Dyson Hot, which can heat a room to between 34 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit. It does this by bringing air through a pump and shelling it out to create jets of warmth. And, it too, doesn't have blades.

Continue »

Winklevoss twins do a pistachio commercial

(CBS) - You might be wondering what Facebook has to do with the beloved pistachio nut... You might also be wondering what Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who sued and settled with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg who they claim stole their social network idea, have to do with pistachios...

Regardless of rhyme or reason, just watch the clip above. In an effort to help sell pistachios - and perhaps give another dig to Zuckerberg - the two campaign for the lowest-calorie nut in a recent Get Crackin' commercial.

Continue »

Flash-sale site Fab.com opens virtual pop-up shop

Flash-sale site Fab.com opens virtual pop-up shop with Fast Company Fab.com
(CBS) - If you've yet to get an invite to join Fab.com, you're really missing out. The flash-sale site is gaining the hearts of many, and it's only been around for roughly three months.

Fab.com shows no signs of stopping. Since launch on June 9, the truly-fabulous site has more than 600,000 members who have placed more than 80,000 orders of more than 160,000 products.

Continue »

Facebook launches new Subscribe button

Facebook launches Subscribe button to control your News Feed Facebook

(CBS) - Today, Facebook announced the Subscribe button, a new feature that will allow users to control the types of stories on their News Feed. The feature, which is completely optional, will begin to roll out to users today, with a "full roll out in the coming days," says Facebook.

"Until now, it hasn't been easy to choose exactly what you see in your News Feed. Maybe you don't want to see every time your brother plays a game on Facebook, for example. Or maybe you'd like to see more stories from your best friends, and fewer from your coworkers," explains Facebook software engineer Zach Rait. "You also couldn't hear directly from people you're interested in but don't know personally."

Continue »

Turntable.fm launches iPhone app

Turntable.fm has an iPhone app, hooray! Turntable.fm

(CBS) - Now you can take Turntable.fm, the addictive music streaming service, on the road with its new iPhone app.

If you're not on Turntable.fm, here's how it works: Users simply pick a music venue to join. There, they can listen to music, discover tunes and chat with other members. Plus, the coolest feature, by far, is playing DJ. During stints in rooms, users take turns DJing. But beware, room residents can vote your songs "lame" and if enough of them say that, the player will skip your song entirely. If you fear bad-music-taste shame, luckily, your Turntable.fm self is represented by a cute avatar of your choosing. Essentially, no one has to know it's you unless you log on with your Facebook account, that is.

Continue »