Angry

Why Apple dumped Google Maps

Thursday's CNET Update hit a fork in the road:

You've seen the mockery over Apple's new map app and how it will sometimes give users wrong information. But a report from All Things Digital is shedding some light on why Apple cut off Google, even if Apple's maps were not perfected. In short, it comes down to voice navigation, which has been included on Android phones for years. Apple wanted it, and Google wanted to keep that perk for Android. Google may have been open to negotiating (it wanted Google branding on the app) but Apple … Read more

Angry Birds sequel Bad Piggies hogs top spot among iOS apps

Those Bad Piggies may not be so bad if they can soar to the top of the iOS charts in just a few hours.

Released from its pen earlier today for iOS and Android, the Angry Birds sequel is the most-downloaded paid app among both iPhone and iPad users.

A brand-new game rarely hits the top spot in Apple's App Store so quickly. But being the latest installment in the hot Angry Birds lineup gives Bad Piggies a strong leg (or hoof) up. Game maker Rovio has gotten a lot of mileage out of Angry Birds, but the company … Read more

Apple user data uncovered by hackers

Tuesday's tech news roundup is cracking the code:

Members of the hacker activist movement AntiSec claim they accessed an FBI agent's laptop and found the unique device identification numbers for 12 million Apple iOS devices. The group posted one million of these ID numbers online. Hackers criticized the data that these UUID numbers can reveal about a user, and called into question what the data could be used for.

These UUIDs are not the same as Apple ID email and passwords used to log into iTunes accounts. Rather, these are unique serial numbers for every Apple device, and … Read more

'Something Pig is coming' in next Angry Birds game

A new variation of Angry Birds teased by game maker Rovio could find you on the side of the pigs.

A lone red Angry Bird nestled on Rovio's Bad Piggies Web site is innocently minding his own business. But click on that bird, and a torrent of pigges rain down upon him until he's flooded by his green attackers.

Beyond the tagline: "Something PIG is coming," Rovio offers no further clues on the upcoming game. But the video suggests a reverse spin on the familiar concept in which you would instead join forces with the pigs … Read more

Shoot those evil pigs

Angry Birds Seasons Free stays true to its name: it is a theme-oriented tweak of the original ABS game, with those themes being seasons. First-time players will be greeted by a well-designed user interface introducing them to the world of Angry Birds, which has found its way into the hearts of millions of people all around the world.

When you launch the app, you'll need to select a season, which includes not only specific seasons like winter, but also holidays like Halloween and Valentine's Day. You'll then receive some quick visual help to give you the basics … Read more

Entertain yourself and help some birds

It's interesting how an app based on math and logic can tempt users to hit the replay button and hunt for new levels and new challenges. With its well-designed, intuitive interface, Angry Birds proves to be a game you'll want to keep playing.

Angry Birds gets off to a good start, with onscreen guidance for each new level and new feature. Even novice users won't need long before they're ready to play. We liked how it introduces the players to the game and explains why the birds are so angry and why they are after those … Read more

Angry Birds go to Mars, make first contact with astronaut pig

It seems like only yesterday that Angry Birds blasted into space. Now it seems they've made contact with Martians.

Well, sort of. Rovio, in partnership with NASA (no, really), just released a new "Red Planet" update for Angry Birds Space (Android | iOS).

The episode comes as part of a free update that went live yesterday in the App Store and Google Play store.

In these 20 new levels, the pigs have hijacked the Curiosity Mars Rover. As always, it's up to the birds to save the day.

Speaking of which, Red Planet introduces no new fowl … Read more

The 404 1,114: Where we'll take the cash, thanks (podcast)

- Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Instagram just lost $300 million, here's why.

- Angry Birds and Green Day partner for new Facebook game.

- Get your financial questions answered on Jill's podcast, Jill on Money!

- Follow Jill Schlesinger on Twitter.

Bathroom break video: Game of Thrones theme song, as performed by a cat.… Read more

iPhone has a better cam than Curiosity

Friday's top headlines won't judge you by your megapixels:

The Curiosity Mars rover cost $2.5 billion, so why are the cameras just 2 megapixels? The answer comes down to time: Time the rover was planned, the time it takes NASA to test, and the time it takes to transmit larger file sizes.

As Apple and Samsung duke it out in court over patents and copycat claims, Google isn't sitting back quietly. CNET has learned that Google is quietly helping out it's Android partner Samsung with legal advice.

Not all NASA news this week has been … Read more

Angry Birds Seasons expands its flock with a new fowl

Angry Birds Seasons will introduce a new character -- a pink bird that blows dangerous bubbles at evil green pigs.

Known simply but appropriately as Pink Bird, the latest angry bird seems cuter than her existing teammates, batting blue eyes and sporting long lashes. But as displayed in the video below, she seems quite deserving of the term "angry" as she blows her deadly bubbles at her piggy opponents.

Gamer maker Rovio has been promoting Pink Bird as the latest icon on its Angry Birds Seasons Twitter feed. But so far the company's been mum as to … Read more