Miscellaneous

Microsoft to open more retail stores this year

Consumers in Honolulu, Portland, Ore., and a few other major cities should find a Microsoft Store in their area come this summer.

The company said today that it plans to kick off five new retail stores by summer. The stores will find homes around the U.S. in the following spots:

Natick Mall, Natick, Mass. Ala Moana Center, Honolulu, Hawaii Pioneer Place, Portland, Ore. The Somerset Collection, Troy, Mich. Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Ill.

Microsoft expects to reveal details on the grand openings at each of the stores in the coming weeks. The five stores announced today are in addition to … Read more

U.S. just getting on board Safer Internet Day (podcast)

In 2004 the European Commission created Safer Internet Day to be celebrated on the second day of the second week of the second month -- which this year is tomorrow.

On this day, organizations in various countries conduct public events, tweet-ins, press conferences, and otherwise spread the word about how young people can use the Internet safely and securely. This year's theme is "online rights and responsibilities" with the slogan, "Connect with Respect." The event is coordinated by Insafe, a European network of "Awareness Centres," that promote "safe, responsible use of the … Read more

Super Bowl play stopped for 34 minutes as Superdome lost power

As the second half got underway at the Super Bowl, old-fashioned technology got in the way of play. Power at the Superdome reportedly surged, knocking out a majority of lights as well as CBS' play-by-play announcers. According to Entergy, which supplies the power to the Superdome, the issue is on the "customer's side."

An outside power feed coming to the stadium got disrupted according to NFL officials, said CBS's announcer on the sidelines Steve Tasker. Play-by-play announcers Jim Nance and Phil Simms were off the air for more than 30 minutes. Power was restored and play … Read more

Street View catches couple in throes of passion. Or does it?

Sometimes passion just overtakes you.

It's going 110 mph in the outside lane and suddenly all you want to do is take your lover in your arms and express your feelings as fully and openly as you can.

Perhaps that's what happened to a couple in the changing room of the Krakatoa extreme sports store in Briancon, France.… Read more

Powertrekk fuel cell charger to be released in spring

While it's been circulating around at trade shows for a while, including Mobile World Congress 2011 and CES 2012, the PowerTrekk phone charger is slated to finally come to the U.S. at the end of this quarter.

Although the $229 device is peddled as a charger that can simply juice up your phone on water alone, it's not quite that simple.

To use the PowerTrekk, you also have to purchase a $4 PowerTrekk Pukk. Once you add a small amount of water (about half a shot), and add a one-time-use Pukk, the latter will immediately begin separating … Read more

At 100, Grand Central still bursting with secrets

When one of the most famous buildings, let alone the busiest train terminal in the world, turns 100, a lot of people stand up and take notice.

So it should come as no surprise that on its 100th birthday today, the world celebrated the grandeur of Grand Central Terminal, New York's shining beacon to public transportation, still vital and busy after all these years.

In 2010, I had the privilege of visiting Grand Central and getting a behind-the-scenes look at some of its greatest secrets, and some of its most awe-inspiring views. Given the opportunity to look out over … Read more

Rumor Has It: Will Apple go plastic for a low-cost iPhone?

The iPhone is a pricey device, a luxury item, a status symbol, and that's exactly how Apple wants it. But as long as the iPhone has existed, we the people have called upon Apple to make a less-expensive version. Rumors are in overdrive at the moment that Apple may be finally planning such a dramatic move. How will it cut costs, though?

We discuss on this week's show. We also check out an image of what may be -- but probably isn't -- the back piece for the fifth-generation iPad, and YouTube may be asking for your credit card number this year.

At the end of the show we make a sad announcement about a change that's coming. We won't give it away here, but let us just say: it's not the end of the world. Modern technology will bridge even the vastest distances! (Hint: Emily will finally find a reason to use Google+ Hangouts.)

Watch to the end, and then send us your comments.

Thanks for watching!

Heard a tech rumor you think we should cover? Leave a comment below; ; send us a tweet (@EmilyDreyfuss, @karynelevy, and @CNETRumorShow); or call and leave us a voice mail at 1-800-750-CNET. … Read more

Samsung aims to hit BlackBerry where it hurts: Business users

Samsung Electronics has already landed a few blows against BlackBerry, and as far as the Korean electronics giant is concerned, it's only early rounds in this bout.

Samsung, which became the world's largest smartphone vendor more than a year ago, is ramping up its push to attract corporate users for its technology. It's putting its full might behind these efforts, and its newfound focus on business users (including this commercial bashing BlackBerry) should have BlackBerry worried.

While some business users will be clamoring for the Canadian company's BlackBerry 10-powered Z10 and Q10 smartphones, which were unveiled today, … Read more

India pushes for wristwatch to ward off sexual violence

Could a wristwatch help deter sexual violence?

That's what Indian officials hope. The government has proposed a watch that can alert family members and authorities, and also start filming, when the wearer feels threatened.

Kapil Sibal, India's information technology minister, unveiled early plans for the device at a briefing last week. He said the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, a unit of the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, is already working on a prototype.

The watch would send a text message to the nearest police station and preselected family members at the press of a button, as well as relay GPS coordinates. Built-in video capabilities could produce 30 minutes of footage. … Read more