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LAS VEGAS -- It's time to fix a broken immigration system that encourages smart engineers to study at U.S. universities but prevents them from staying afterward, a Republican senator said at the Consumer Electronics Show.

Sen. Jerry Moran from Kansas said here today that he was disappointed Congress hadn't acted on his legislation, called the Startup Act 2.0, which was introduced last spring but has languished in committee.

Engineers and other people in science-related disciplines who are "foreign-born but U.S.-educated" should be allowed to remain here, Moran said. Chile and other countries &… Read more

LAS VEGAS--Waterproofing solutions for smartphones were traditionally expensive and bulky -- until Liquipel came along. When the company showcased its nanocoating process at last year's CES, it caught the attention of many people with its unique invisible shield and relatively low cost.

This year, the company is back again at CES with Liquipel 2.0, which is said to be 100 times more effective than the version from last year. According to the brochure, the new process offers better durability and corrosion resistance, in addition to improved water protection. … Read more

Real cricket fans will love IPL Cricket T20 Fever, a free Android app offering some of the most realistic cricket simulations we've seen. You can control not just the batter or bowler but also the viewing angle, bringing extra realism to high-quality animation and effects. While it's not exactly for cricket novices, true enthusiasts will appreciate not only its realistic play but also the fact that the game's teams, players, and matches are all based on the Indian Premier League, home to many of the world's top professional cricketers. IPL fans take cricket seriously, and IPL … Read more

Nikon photography pros will be happy to know there's a major new supplier of XQD flash-memory cards: Lexar.

They might not be so happy about the price for the new high-end format: a 1100X 64GB model costs $580, and a 32GB model costs $300. At CES today, the Micron subsidiary also announced a $45 USB 3.0 card reader for the new format.

Nikon's flagship D4 SLR uses the XQD cards, which before were available only from Sony. Lexar's 1100X models guarantee a 168MB/sec read speed, though write speeds are somewhat lower.

XQD is one of … Read more

It's always sunny at CES.

Well, not really, but Danny DeVito, the film star and one of the actors who have helped make "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" a hit for FX, is scheduled to make an appearance in Las Vegas next week to talk technology and entertainment during CES 2013.

Besides being a film producer, director, and actor (his credits include "Hoffa," "LA Confidential," and "War of the Roses"), DeVito is also a big gadget fan. As part of the event, Hanno Basse and Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, the respective chief … Read more

Looking to bat your way through a sticky wicket? Then you might have found the right app. Though you'd expect a top-notch experience since it's officially tied to the ICC World Cup, this game delivers mediocre graphics. However, for a simple game, T20 ICC World Cup 2012 is enough to fill your cricket fix on the cheap.

This paid version of T20 ICC World Cup 2012 includes all 12 teams involved in the 2012 tournament. The names have changed, but your favorite club will still play like you expect it to. If you're expecting premier graphics, you … Read more

Around 2015, NASA plans to incorporate a spacesuit that amusingly looks like the one worn by Buzz Lightyear in "Toy Story" -- sans the shiny laser beam.

Before you laugh, know that these new digs aren't toy dressings; the Z-1 NASA spacesuit offers a plethora of advantages compared with the space agency's previous designs. Think of it as the baseline architecture for future NASA spacesuits. … Read more

With so many people ditching their landline phones in favor of their smartphone, the minutes can rack up fast, costing you a hefty bill at the end of the billing cycle. Talkatone aims to alleviate sticker shock by offering unlimited free calls and texts without taking up any of your minutes. The app worked as promised for phone calls, but the calls weren't exactly crystal clear, and the recipient may not know who is calling based on the caller ID info provided. Text messages are another story.

Once Talkatone is installed, it will ask for access to your contacts. … Read more

Talking Tom Cat for iPad is a variation on the popular Talking Tom Cat app for iPhone. The basic app is available for free from iTunes, there are a number of add-ons and upgrades that cost between $0.99 and $24.99 each. Talking Tom Cat for iPad installs easily on the iPad.

Talking Tom Cat for iPad uses the same model as the other apps in the series. An animated tomcat appears on the screen. You say something and Tom repeats it with changes in voice and expressions. You can interact with the cat, such as patting his belly … Read more