coverity

Facebook has quietly increased the size of users' profile photos so they are more pronounced. Profile photos now measure 166 x 160 pixels, quite a bit larger than previous size of 130 x 125 pixels, according to The Next Web.

A Facebook spokesperson confirmed that the social network had made profile photos bigger but did not give CNET any further information on why it made the change.

This is likely to appease some users because their profile photos now stand out better within their Timeline Cover images. It could also impact users who have customized their profile and cover photos … Read more

Some people treat their iPads -- and iPad cases -- with extra care. Some don't.

Take CNET editor Joe Kaminski's Apple iPad Smart Cover, which I previously mentioned in a piece entitled, "Apple's iPad 2 color conspiracy." It's now a year old and in not in particularly good shape, with worn, fraying corners and assorted other blemishes.

"It's not that I'm not careful," Joe told me. "I just use it. This is what it looks like when you pull it in and out of a bag for a year." … Read more

Recently, a few stories have posted about problems some new iPad buyers encountered with the iPad sleep/wake function when opening and closing "smart" covers--those iPad screen covers that automatically put the tablet to sleep when closed.

Mashable wrote a story focusing on the problem with Apple's Smart Covers, "which attach to the iPad's built-in magnets [and] are supposed to turn the tablet on automatically when you flip them open." Apparently, some users were complaining that their old Smart Covers weren't working with their new (third-generation) iPads. … Read more

The browser extension, ImageFlow for Amazon - PictureFox, makes it easy to view Amazon product photos in a gallery like Apple's CoverFlow.

After you install the extension, you'll notice a Play button above the images on the Amazon product page.

Clicking on the Play button will launch the ImageFlow gallery in a new tab, where you can easily navigate through all the photos, including those uploaded by customers (can be disabled).

When browsing through a list of Amazon products, hovering over the product will also display an enlarged preview image of that product. If you don'… Read more

Flipboard tonight unveiled a new version of its popular iPad app, an update led by the inclusion of Cover Stories, a feature that gives users a one-stop feed for the articles the service considers most relevant based on their social connections and what they've already read.

The new feature was introduced originally with Flipboard's iPhone app, and until now it hasn't been available for the iPad. But this new release makes Cover Stories a key component of the company's plan to make its app the best place for users to go to catch up on the … Read more

If you have an iPad 2, you might be familiar with Apple's Smart Cover accessory, a cover that locks and unlocks your device using a simple magnet system.

Bearing in mind that magnets were always known to "break" electronics, the technology is really neat, offering you one less step to access your iPad and get stuff done.

The only issue with the Smart Cover is that it's flimsy--its thin, minimalist construction offers your iPad no protection from falls, bumps, or scratches. And even though they come in a variety of colors, the Covers are still pretty … Read more

CNET TV reviewer Ty Pendlebury joins in on a fun rundown to start the week. We'll chat about a proposed bill that would require marketers to put a disclaimer on doctored advertisements, self-destructing e-mails, a Sony heads-up "VR" display, and something called "nomophobia." Yeah, you probably suffer from it already.… Read more

Even electronics need to let their kink flags fly sometimes. Open-minded iPad and iPhone 4S owners can dress their devices up as furries with ION-factory's fur covers.

The Monster Fur Cover for the iPhone is a hard snap-on cover with a shock of artificial fur on the back. It comes in three colors: snow white, creamy camel, and schnauzer grey. Gotta dig that schnauzer grey.

The iPhone cover costs $40, while a leopard-print version for the iPad 2 costs $70. Ion encourages you to pamper your new flat tribble with combing and grooming. Your real-life Shih Tzu will soon … Read more

Facebook announced earlier this week that it was going to turn on Facebook Timeline for all users over the next few weeks. Once your Timeline has been turned on, you will need to set a cover photo, which is the first thing visitors to your profile will see.

We have already discussed the optimal settings for a cover photo, as well as how to create and upload one from both your iPhone and Android device. All of those are great methods, but what if you would prefer to find a premade cover photo?

You're in luck. There are plenty … Read more