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The 25 most anticipated games of 2013

With 2012's best and most disappointing games now behind us, let's look into the future at what 2013 is set to bring. If these titles stay on schedule, this year is already looking to top 2012 in the first four months alone. That's great news for gamers, but terrible news for our wallets.

We're barely more than a month into 2013 but the list continues to grow. Of course it's worth mentioning that some of these games will probably have release date changes and it's more than likely that a number of titles will … Read more

FCC fast tracks text-to-911 service

Soon there will be more than just one way to contact 911.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced today that the four largest wireless carriers in the U.S. have agreed to fast track a service that will let people text the emergency 911 line.

AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile have all signed on and major deployments are planned to roll out in 2013 and the service should be fully available nationwide by May 15, 2014.

"Access to 911 must catch up with how consumers communicate in the 21st century -- and today, we are … Read more

How to manage downloads in iTunes 11

Last week Apple released the much anticipated, and delayed, update to iTunes. iTunes 11 has a new look and feel, as well as some new features such as "Up Next." Along with the new look and feel comes new methods of interacting and accomplishing once familiar tasks in iTunes. One of those tasks, managing downloads, isn't as obvious as it used to be.

When iTunes 11 was first released I had a few apps with updates available, so I started the downloads. In the previous version(s) of iTunes you could manage active downloads in the sidebar, … Read more

How to use the new 'Up Next' feature in iTunes 11

After delaying the release of iTunes 11 by a month, Apple has released the much-anticipated update for both Windows and Mac users. The new iTunes is redesigned from the ground up, with a completely new look and feel. Along with the new look comes some new features: deeper iCloud integration, a new MiniPlayer, and a feature called "Up Next."

Up Next is more or less a living playlist within iTunes. You're able to add, rearrange, edit, and delete songs from the Up Next queue at any time.

To get started with Up Next, update to iTunes 11 … Read more

Intel's tiny desktop PC for DIYers coming this month

Online retailers will begin selling a 4.5-inch-wide Intel-branded desktop PC for do-it-yourselfers later this month.

The product name is a mouthful -- the "Next Unit of Computing," or NUC for short.

"It's geared more to home theater/home media center," said Intel spokesperson Dan Snyder. One usage scenario he suggested: slap it on the back of a wide-screen display (see photo below).

But note: as Anandtech points out, it is truly a bare-bones system aimed at DIYers. … Read more

Get prepared for Windows 8

Thursday's CNET Update prepares for a new era:

Windows 8 arrives at 12:01 a.m. local time Friday -- are you ready? CNET has everything you need to prepare for the new system, including a buying guide, as well as tips and tricks to navigating the new interface.

Microsoft's Surface RT tablet also arrives Friday, but Surface is just the start of a new line of devices from Microsoft. CEO Steve Ballmer has said Microsoft will build more devices under its name. So maybe we'll see a Surface Mini someday, or even a Microsoft Phone.

Google … Read more

Microsoft releases new Office to manufacturers

Microsoft officials are finally going public with the planned timeline for Office Next/Office 2013.

First up is release to manufacturing (RTM). Believe it or not, the next version of Office has RTM'd today, October 11 -- a month earlier than my sources and many Microsoft customers, partners, and pundits were predicting.

(A quick aside: The naming of the clients, servers, and services known by codename Office 15 is fairly confusing. Products with "2013" in the name -- like Office 2013 or Exchange Server 2013 -- seem to be the on-premises/locally installed versions. "Office Next&… Read more

Used iPhones flood the market anticipating the iPhone 5

With hours ticking down before Apple is said to unveil the new iPhone 5, old iPhones are flooding the market. eBay and Craigslist are full of them, and companies that specialize in buying back used mobile devices are reportedly busier than ever.

According to USA Today, NextWorth, which buys back used phones and gives quotes on their worth, had a record number of iPhone quote requests the past three weeks. From August 17 to September 6, requests for quotes increased by 610 percent over the same period before the launch of the iPhone 4S.

This may be because many iPhone … Read more

NextGuide for iPad tries to bridge gap between live, streaming TV

Whether the Apple TV undergoes a full transformation into something representing the future of television, a number of apps are attempting to take us there today. Live TV and the increasing number of streaming-video apps on iOS present a seemingly unbridgeable gulf, but apps like Dijit's NextGuide are doing their best to synthesize the experience.

Much like TV Guide's recently updated app, NextGuide is a mix of standard TV listings, social recommendations, and direct hooks to launch streaming-video apps with the content you're looking for. The layout and discovery of shows is based on tiles and genres, … Read more

Nextbook Next3 tablet

The Nextbook Next3 8.4-inch tablet runs Android 2.1, houses a 600MHz Rockchip processor, and comes with 2GB of internal storage with SD expansion.

It also includes integrated Borders eBook Store software, powered by Kobo, as well as built-in 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi. The screen sports a resolution of 800x600 pixels and comes with a protective case and pointer stylus.

The tablet is currently difficult to find in stores and you may have better luck with the Amazon Kindle Fire.