roundups

Hottest tech products (fall 2012)

I'm proud of you guys. Every year we roll out our fall list of the products getting the most attention from readers, and every year it ends up being a list dominated by phones.

But not this year. No, this time you guys are spicing things up with a surprising mix of products.

Of course, this would be a very different list if we didn't put some restrictions on it. We wanted to only look at very new products (added to our site in the past two months). So for example, the popular Samsung Galaxy S3 didn't … Read more

iPad Mini, fourth-generation iPad reviews arrive

Just a week after both devices were announced, the first crop of iPad Mini and fourth-generation iPad reviews are out of the gate.

The general consensus is that reviewers like the smaller form factor of the Mini for most tasks, but yearn for the Retina Display found on Apple's other devices, like the normal-size iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone.

For the fourth-generation iPad, most reviewers say it's zippier, but that it's also difficult to tell how much zippier, since developers haven't done anything to push it to the limit. Reviewers also suggest that owners of the … Read more

Complete guide to using iOS 6 (roundup)

iOS 6 was first previewed during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference last June, revealing a few big changes, and many more minor tweaks to the operating system that powers the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

You'll need to update to iOS 6 before you can take advantage of the new features, so be sure you've done that before diving into the new features. Here are just a few of the best features and how to use them. We'll continue updating this page with more tips and tricks as we have them.… Read more

Apple iPad Mini: The ultimate rumor roundup

Lately there's been no shortage of rumors that Apple's got a smaller iPad on the way. The only problem is that we've heard this song and dance before.

Don't believe us?

CNET has rounded up just about every claim that a smaller iPad is on the way, going back to before the original iPad was announced.

It's a collection we plan to keep lovingly updated, and also one that should serve as a tasty grain of salt to take with any rumors that make their way out in the next few months. (Editors' note: This … Read more

Which Canon dSLR? (roundup)

Editors' note: This was originally published in May 2012.

Even once you've narrowed a choice down to a specific manufacturer, the decision as to which model to buy can still be complicated and overwhelming; in fact, I'd say it's probably harder to pick the right camera from a particular lineup than it is to decide which manufacturer's wares you like best. Here's my take on Canon's current dSLR offerings and when and whether I think it's worth the extra bucks to buy higher up the line.

On a general note, if your budget … Read more

Nikon Nirvana: Which Nikon dSLR? (roundup)

Editors' note: This story was originally published on May 3, 2012, and was updated May 7, 2013, to include my review of the the D7100.

Not everyone approaches the dSLR buying decision as a tabula rasa choice. If you've already chosen Nikon -- whether it's because you already have some lenses, your friends are enamored of the brand, or you simply have had good experiences with the company's point-and-shoots -- here's some help selecting the right dSLR model.… Read more

Five navigation apps for your new iPad 4G (roundup)

You'd be in good company if you read that headline and immediately thought that using a big ol' tablet like the new Apple iPad for in-car navigation is a bit silly--I think it's a bit silly, too. However, in a world where new cars are rolling out with dashboard touch screens measuring 8 inches and larger and portable navigation devices are touching the 7-inch mark, perhaps the iPad isn't as out of place on the road as you may think.

There are all sorts of advantages to using a large-screened device in the car. The big display is easier to view with your peripheral vision and the larger interface elements can be more quickly recognized and processed at a glance, both of which translate into more time spent staring at the road ahead and less time scrutinizing a tiny screen for the next turn. Additionally, the larger screen is easier to accurately touch from an arm's length, so you may find that you make fewer mistakes when inputting destinations.

Of course, only the new iPad 4G and the 3G-connected variant of the previous-generation iPad 2 are equipped with an Assisted GPS receiver, so you'll want to make sure you have the correct model before investing in a navigation application. Also, because the iPad is significantly larger than the iPhone 4S, you won't want to obstruct half of your windshield with its 10-inch display. Get your hands on a dashboard mount--or get creative and fabricate your own!

Once your iPad is set up for safe use behind the wheel, check out one of the apps listed below to add turn-by-turn directions and other navigation-centric services, such as traffic data and speed trap info, to your motoring mix. Just be sure to resist the urge to fire up the YouTube app on your commute home! … Read more

Apple catches flak in China supply chain saga

The maker of iPads and iPhones is hardly alone among tech companies that rely heavily on Chinese factories under scrutiny for labor practices. But it has become the flashpoint.

Cook: Apple's improved working conditions more than anyone else Apple CEO Tim Cook, speaking at an investor conference, defended the company's track record and its process of manufacturing hit products like the iPhone. (Posted in Apple by Roger Cheng and Josh Lowensohn) February 14, 2012 1:07 p.m. PT

Apple's mess in China: What you need to know faq Apple says it's got a third-party group … Read more

Facebook IPO: Social network makes its move

Silicon Valley and Wall Street had been watching since forever, it seems, for Facebook to go public. Now the IPO filing is finally upon us, and we're learning a lot about the social network.

Forget $100B! Facebook could soon be worth $200BThe financials don't yet justify the lofty valuation people are talking about--but Facebook could earn a place among the ranks of public companies the size of Google and IBM. (Posted in Digital Media by Peter Yared) February 2, 2012 4:38 p.m. PT

Does Facebook deserve its astronomical valuation? Pundits square off over whether the … Read more