steve

The late Steve Jobs was always a little larger than life, a sort of geek superhero, bounding through product announcements, his legend growing with every new Apple device. He's about to get an unusual tribute. Jobs has been cast as a heroic lead in an upcoming Japanese manga series.

Jobs was already reinvented as an action figure and as the star of a biopic comic book. It's a small step to project him as a manga lead.… Read more

In a few short months, Intel will have a new CEO. Who that person will be remains a mystery, but he (or she) is sure to have a big role in shaping the future of the company and the broader technology industry.

Since Intel sure isn't talking (a spokesman simply said the search is ongoing and thorough and that Intel hopes to have a replacement by the time CEO Paul Otellini retires in May), CNET decided to list a few candidates whose names are mentioned on Wall Street and around the Intel water cooler. Keep in mind that our … Read more

The notes from biographer Walter Isaacson's numerous interviews with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will not be used as evidence in the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Apple.

That decision, made last week and reported earlier today by PaidContent, means that Isaacson will not have to testify either.

Isaacson is the author of "Steve Jobs," a book that chronicled the life of Jobs, based on interviews with the then-CEO of Apple, as well as his friends, family, colleagues, and rivals. It was published by Simon & Schuster (owned by CBS, parent company of CNET) weeks after … Read more

Bill Gates is now worth $67 billion. But he's still only No. 2 among the world's wealthiest people.

Released today, Forbes' ranking of the richest people on the planet found Gates' fortune up $6 billion this year. The increase came not so much from Microsoft stock, which has shown little sign of life recently, but from other financial holdings and private investments.

More importantly, Forbes dubbed Gates the world's most generous person. Microsoft's chairman continues to devote a large amount of his fortune to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with the goal of wiping out … Read more

When you're on a roll, it's hard not to bathe in your own confidence.

In Kanye West's case, he is not only one of the most revered musical minds in the world, but he's also secured the hand and mind of Kim Kardashian.

Can life get any better than this?

The lovely thing about Kanye is that he's very keen on self-expression. So performing in Paris on Monday night, he wanted his audience to clearly understand the context of his greatness.

(An aside: One reviewer found Monday night's performance overall to be "engaging … Read more

Leap Motion, which has developed an innovative motion-control system that's accurate to the hundredth of a millimeter, said today that it will begin shipping its controller on May 13.

The controller, which gives users the ability to control what's on their computers with touch-free pinch-to-zoom gestures, will sell for $80 -- though customers who have already pre-ordered it will pay $70 -- and will ship to pre-order customers on May 13, and be available to everyone else on May 19.

The device will be available in the U.S. only through Leap Motion's Web site, and at … Read more

Apple has become easier to do business with under Tim Cook's leadership, according to the chief at one major European wireless carrier.

"Apple has [become] more flexible, paying more attention to everyone else, probably a little less arrogant than they used to be," France Telecom-Orange CEO Stephane Richard told reporters today in Barcelona, Spain. According to All Things D, Richard compared today's company with the one led two years ago by Steve Jobs, saying, "I think they are probably a little more under pressure, and it is quite nice."

Indeed, Jobs was not a … Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Is Spotify unfair to musicians?

- Spotify reports net loss of $59 million 2011.

- Spotify will pay $500 million to artists and rights holders in 2013.

- Benford's law, also called the first-digit law.

- Godwin's Law, also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies.

- The Audiophiliac wants to see your audio system.

- Are the Monoprice 9774 speakers inspired by, or knocks-offs of, the Energy Take Classic 5.1?… Read more

Arthur Levinson, Apple's chairman of the board, still misses Steve Jobs.

"I'm still not to the point where I walk into that board room and don't miss Steve," Levinson told Fortune in an interview published today. He went on to say that being Apple chairman, a position he took in 2011 after Jobs' death, still feels "weird."

Levinson is one of the more respected figures in the biotechnology industry. Until 2009, he was CEO of Genentech, a company that many believe kicked off the entire biotechnology industry. He currently serves as chairman of … Read more