Archive for June 2013

The iPhone maker seeks to protect the term, which it says describes a product is categorized as a handheld computer or watch device, Bloomberg reports. June 30, 2013 10:20 PM PDT Which watch? (Credit: CNET) Apple apparently likes how the "iWatch" moniker fits a wearable computer and has reportedly applied for a trademark for the name in Japan. The iPhone maker seeks to protect the name for a product that is categorized as a handheld computer or watch device, according to a filing earlier this month with the Japan Patent Office. The filing was only made public in the past week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported on the application. Apple has reportedly been developing a smartwatch that would run the company's iOS mobile operating system. Employees from Apple's marketing, software, and hardware units who had previously worked on the iPhone and iPad are reportedly part of a team numbering more than 100 experimenting with wristwatch-like devices that sport curved glass. Interest in wearable computers has swelled in recent months with the developer release of Google Glass. Apple rival Google is reportedly developing a smartwatch that runs Android, and Samsung has indicated that it has long been interested in producing a smartwatch. Microsoft is reportedly studying the idea. Related stories Apple supplier Foxconn cooks up its own smartwatch Apple iWatch likely to launch in second half of year, says analyst Apple files for 'iWatch' trademark in Russia -- report Rumors of Apple working on just such a device have been circulating for months. A report from a Chinese blog last December held that Apple had partnered with Intel to develop an iOS wristwatch that would be Bluetooth-enabled and sport a 1.5-inch OLED screen. The smart wristwatch notion isn't exactly groundbreaking: a lot of smartwatches, fitness bands, or some hybrid of the two, were talked up earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show. Some of those devices include the long-awaited Pebble wristwatch, which made its debut at the conference, and the 007-inspired Martian Passport Watch. CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.

The iPhone maker seeks to protect the term, which it says describes a product is categorized as a handheld computer or watch device, Bloomberg reports.



June 30, 2013 10:20 PM PDT




Which watch?


(Credit: CNET)

Apple apparently likes how the "iWatch" moniker fits a wearable computer and has reportedly applied for a trademark for the name in Japan.


The iPhone maker seeks to protect the name for a product that is categorized as a handheld computer or watch device, according to a filing earlier this month with the Japan Patent Office. The filing was only made public in the past week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported on the application.


Apple has reportedly been developing a smartwatch that would run the company's iOS mobile operating system. Employees from Apple's marketing, software, and hardware units who had previously worked on the iPhone and iPad are reportedly part of a team numbering more than 100 experimenting with wristwatch-like devices that sport curved glass.


Interest in wearable computers has swelled in recent months with the developer release of Google Glass. Apple rival Google is reportedly developing a smartwatch that runs Android, and Samsung has indicated that it has long been interested in producing a smartwatch. Microsoft is reportedly studying the idea.



Rumors of Apple working on just such a device have been circulating for months. A report from a Chinese blog last December held that Apple had partnered with Intel to develop an iOS wristwatch that would be Bluetooth-enabled and sport a 1.5-inch OLED screen.


The smart wristwatch notion isn't exactly groundbreaking: a lot of smartwatches, fitness bands, or some hybrid of the two, were talked up earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show. Some of those devices include the long-awaited Pebble wristwatch, which made its debut at the conference, and the 007-inspired Martian Passport Watch.


CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.



Sunday, June 30, 2013
Posted by Unknown

The PC market continued to slump in May. More signs of worse-than-expected negative growth for PCs this year. June 30, 2013 3:50 PM PDT HP Spectre XT TouchSmart. More touch PCs with Windows 8.1 are coming but that may not change the outlook for the moribund PC market. (Credit: Hewlett-Packard) Windows 8.1 may fix Microsoft's dot-zero, release but it may not fix the PC market. After Citi Research revised its PC market growth forecast down to negative 10 percent growth earlier in the month, market researcher IDC chimed in on Friday with a less-than-upbeat snapshot for May. "May results reflect deteriorating conditions rather than improvement and the market will probably fall short of projections," said Loren Loverde, an IDC analyst in a statement, referring to May regional PC shipments. "The results for May are behind pace for achieving the projected [second quarter 2013] growth rate," Loverde added. Currently IDC expects total annual growth of negative 7.8 percent for 2013. And IDC appears to be preparing itself for possible future growth revisions. While saying on the one hand that it expects an "improvement" in the second half, in the same sentence IDC states that the "market will likely remain cautious about the second half of 2013." Earlier this month, Citi Research cut its 2013 PC year-to-year growth to negative 10 percent from negative 4 percent growth, according to a note to investors. "The Citi global technology team is revising down its 2013 PC growth estimate to -10% y/y (from -4%) based on further sub-seasonal demand" in the first quarter and slowing notebook production, the note said. Citi also included a zinger about Windows 8.1 and Intel's new Haswell chip. Despite investor optimism on a resumption of year-to-year growth in the second half of 2013, "we do not expect [PC] units to grow" due to a "softening in PC end-demand" and "muted benefit from Haswell and Windows Blue [Windows 8.1]." (Credit: IDC)

The PC market continued to slump in May. More signs of worse-than-expected negative growth for PCs this year.



June 30, 2013 3:50 PM PDT



HP Spectre XT TouchSmart. More touch PCs with Windows 8.1 are coming but that may not change the outlook for the moribund PC market

HP Spectre XT TouchSmart. More touch PCs with Windows 8.1 are coming but that may not change the outlook for the moribund PC market.


(Credit: Hewlett-Packard)

Windows 8.1 may fix Microsoft's dot-zero, release but it may not fix the PC market.


After Citi Research revised its PC market growth forecast down to negative 10 percent growth earlier in the month, market researcher IDC chimed in on Friday with a less-than-upbeat snapshot for May.


"May results reflect deteriorating conditions rather than improvement and the market will probably fall short of projections," said Loren Loverde, an IDC analyst in a statement, referring to May regional PC shipments.


"The results for May are behind pace for achieving the projected [second quarter 2013] growth rate," Loverde added.


Currently IDC expects total annual growth of negative 7.8 percent for 2013.


And IDC appears to be preparing itself for possible future growth revisions. While saying on the one hand that it expects an "improvement" in the second half, in the same sentence IDC states that the "market will likely remain cautious about the second half of 2013."


Earlier this month, Citi Research cut its 2013 PC year-to-year growth to negative 10 percent from negative 4 percent growth, according to a note to investors.


"The Citi global technology team is revising down its 2013 PC growth estimate to -10% y/y (from -4%) based on further sub-seasonal demand" in the first quarter and slowing notebook production, the note said.


Citi also included a zinger about Windows 8.1 and Intel's new Haswell chip.


Despite investor optimism on a resumption of year-to-year growth in the second half of 2013, "we do not expect [PC] units to grow" due to a "softening in PC end-demand" and "muted benefit from Haswell and Windows Blue [Windows 8.1]."


(Credit: IDC)



Posted by Unknown

The Finnish handset maker will pay less than $2.6 billion for the half of Nokia Siemens Networks that it doesn't already own, sources tell Bloomberg. June 30, 2013 3:13 PM PDT Nokia has agreed to purchase Siemens' stake in Nokia Siemens Networks, the companies' joint venture, according to a Bloomberg report. Nokia could announce as early as Monday to purchase Siemens' 50 percent take in the joint venture for less than $2.6 billion, sources told Bloomberg. CNET has contacted Nokia and Bloomberg for comment and will update this report when we learn more. Related stories Nokia Siemens in talks to sell off its business unit T-Mobile: iPhone network compatibility coming this year Motorola and Huawei settle legal disputes The company -- a joint venture of Finnish handset maker Nokia and Germany's Siemens formed in 2007 -- has struggled for profits in the face of the economic downturn and increasing competition. To improve profitability, the company has begun selling off noncore business units and laying off about a quarter of its workforce. So far, the joint venture has sold off a unit that provides network equipment for wired networks and exited the market for WiMax, a wireless technology that has struggled to gain as much traction among carriers as 4G LTE. Nokia Siemens Networks was reportedly in talks last September with various companies to sell of its business support systems, which helps telecommunications companies manage their billing and charging systems.

The Finnish handset maker will pay less than $2.6 billion for the half of Nokia Siemens Networks that it doesn't already own, sources tell Bloomberg.



June 30, 2013 3:13 PM PDT




Nokia has agreed to purchase Siemens' stake in Nokia Siemens Networks, the companies' joint venture, according to a Bloomberg report.


Nokia could announce as early as Monday to purchase Siemens' 50 percent take in the joint venture for less than $2.6 billion, sources told Bloomberg. CNET has contacted Nokia and Bloomberg for comment and will update this report when we learn more.



The company -- a joint venture of Finnish handset maker Nokia and Germany's Siemens formed in 2007 -- has struggled for profits in the face of the economic downturn and increasing competition. To improve profitability, the company has begun selling off noncore business units and laying off about a quarter of its workforce.


So far, the joint venture has sold off a unit that provides network equipment for wired networks and exited the market for WiMax, a wireless technology that has struggled to gain as much traction among carriers as 4G LTE.


Nokia Siemens Networks was reportedly in talks last September with various companies to sell of its business support systems, which helps telecommunications companies manage their billing and charging systems.



Posted by Unknown

The database will allow unlicensed TV broadcast spectrum to be used for wireless broadband. June 30, 2013 2:41 PM PDT The Federal Communications Commission has approved Google's plan to operate a database that would allow unlicensed TV broadcast spectrum to be used for wireless broadband and shared among many users. Google, which was granted commission approval Friday, is the latest company to complete the FCC's 45-day testing phase. Spectrum Bridge and Telcordia completed their trials, and there are another 10 companies, including Microsoft, which are working on similar databases. The new database will keep track of the TV broadcast frequencies in use so that wireless broadband devices can take advantage of the unlicensed space on the spectrum, also called "white space." Related stories California gets first commercial white-space high-speed Internet Google taps 'white spaces' for broadband in South Africa Google tests 'white space' database for FCC certification In the U.S., the FCC has been working to free up spectrum for wireless carriers, which complain they lack adequate available spectrum to keep up with market demand for data services. The FCC approved new rules in 2010 for using unlicensed white space that included establishing databases to track clear frequencies and ensure that devices do not interfere with existing broadcast TV license holders. The databases contain information supplied by the FCC. However, TV broadcasters have resisted the idea of unlicensed use, worried that allowing others to use white space, which is very close to the frequencies they occupy, could cause interference. What Google and others developing this database technology hope to show is that it is possible to share white space without creating interference. The Web giant announced in March that it had launched a trial program that would tap white spaces to provide wireless broadband to 10 rural schools in South Africa.

The database will allow unlicensed TV broadcast spectrum to be used for wireless broadband.



June 30, 2013 2:41 PM PDT




The Federal Communications Commission has approved Google's plan to operate a database that would allow unlicensed TV broadcast spectrum to be used for wireless broadband and shared among many users.


Google, which was granted commission approval Friday, is the latest company to complete the FCC's 45-day testing phase. Spectrum Bridge and Telcordia completed their trials, and there are another 10 companies, including Microsoft, which are working on similar databases. The new database will keep track of the TV broadcast frequencies in use so that wireless broadband devices can take advantage of the unlicensed space on the spectrum, also called "white space."



In the U.S., the FCC has been working to free up spectrum for wireless carriers, which complain they lack adequate available spectrum to keep up with market demand for data services. The FCC approved new rules in 2010 for using unlicensed white space that included establishing databases to track clear frequencies and ensure that devices do not interfere with existing broadcast TV license holders. The databases contain information supplied by the FCC.


However, TV broadcasters have resisted the idea of unlicensed use, worried that allowing others to use white space, which is very close to the frequencies they occupy, could cause interference. What Google and others developing this database technology hope to show is that it is possible to share white space without creating interference.


The Web giant announced in March that it had launched a trial program that would tap white spaces to provide wireless broadband to 10 rural schools in South Africa.



Posted by Unknown

Audiophiles take great pleasure in their hobby. Is it really any different than wine snobs or guys who collect Corvettes? June 30, 2013 11:10 AM PDT An old Krell amplifier: Still sounds wonderful after all these years. (Credit: Steve Guttenberg/CNET) Let's face it: our "indulgences" can get expensive, so whether we go to sports events or concerts, buy flashy clothes or jewelry, gamble, drink, or take lots of vacations, those things can add up to a lot of money. Smoke a $6 pack of cigarettes every day, and you'll see close to $22,000 go up in smoke over the next 10 years. In that context, dropping serious cash on a great hi-fi doesn't seem out of line. Middle-class audiophiles with $10,000 hi-fis might appear to be a wee bit over the top, but for some reason the guy with the same income who buys a couple of old Corvettes or a boat is viewed in an entirely different light. Each to their own, but I think audiophiles who carefully select their gear are actually pretty smart. I write about low- and high-priced audio, but the best stuff is always expensive -- or should I say, the upfront costs are expensive. When you stop and consider that you may enjoy a set of great speakers for 10, 20, or even 30 years, the investment may be worth it. I have a close friend who still uses on a near daily basis a high-end turntable he bought more than 30 years ago. He's a musician, tends to work at night, and plays a lot of records at home during the day. He never made a lot of money, but that turntable has provided an enormous amount of enjoyment over the years. Nothing gets older faster than high-tech products, like phones. Apple recently announced that they will no longer support the original iPhone, just six years after it was introduced. I get it -- it's old and obsolete, why use it anymore? Phones are inherently disposable technology -- you have no choice but to keep upgrading to the latest and greatest toy. I can't imagine anyone will be listening to any of today's Bluetooth speakers in 10 years. Let's contrast and compare that with my 33-year-old NAD 3020 integrated amp. It's still going strong and sounds better than most new budget-priced amps on the market. One of my audiophile pals has a set of restored Quad 57 electrostatic speakers, and his were made in the early 1970s, and they sound better than many brand-new speakers. There's no getting around the fact that the best audio gear is expensive, but if you really love music, it might be worth it.

Audiophiles take great pleasure in their hobby. Is it really any different than wine snobs or guys who collect Corvettes?



June 30, 2013 11:10 AM PDT




An old Krell amplifier: Still sounds wonderful after all these years.


(Credit: Steve Guttenberg/CNET)

Let's face it: our "indulgences" can get expensive, so whether we go to sports events or concerts, buy flashy clothes or jewelry, gamble, drink, or take lots of vacations, those things can add up to a lot of money. Smoke a $6 pack of cigarettes every day, and you'll see close to $22,000 go up in smoke over the next 10 years. In that context, dropping serious cash on a great hi-fi doesn't seem out of line.


Middle-class audiophiles with $10,000 hi-fis might appear to be a wee bit over the top, but for some reason the guy with the same income who buys a couple of old Corvettes or a boat is viewed in an entirely different light. Each to their own, but I think audiophiles who carefully select their gear are actually pretty smart.


I write about low- and high-priced audio, but the best stuff is always expensive -- or should I say, the upfront costs are expensive. When you stop and consider that you may enjoy a set of great speakers for 10, 20, or even 30 years, the investment may be worth it. I have a close friend who still uses on a near daily basis a high-end turntable he bought more than 30 years ago. He's a musician, tends to work at night, and plays a lot of records at home during the day. He never made a lot of money, but that turntable has provided an enormous amount of enjoyment over the years.


Nothing gets older faster than high-tech products, like phones. Apple recently announced that they will no longer support the original iPhone, just six years after it was introduced. I get it -- it's old and obsolete, why use it anymore? Phones are inherently disposable technology -- you have no choice but to keep upgrading to the latest and greatest toy. I can't imagine anyone will be listening to any of today's Bluetooth speakers in 10 years.


Let's contrast and compare that with my 33-year-old NAD 3020 integrated amp. It's still going strong and sounds better than most new budget-priced amps on the market. One of my audiophile pals has a set of restored Quad 57 electrostatic speakers, and his were made in the early 1970s, and they sound better than many brand-new speakers. There's no getting around the fact that the best audio gear is expensive, but if you really love music, it might be worth it.



Posted by Unknown

Rapper Meek Mill, standing before a judge, is told that he needs to refine his use of social media. So the judge orders him to take classes and suggests he takes them from a local radio personality. June 30, 2013 10:25 AM PDT Meek Mill in a meeker moment. (Credit: MeekMillTV/YouTube Screenshot by Chris Matyszczk) Tweets are the soundbites that you don't even chew over. Before they even come into your head in some full form, you thrust them out onto the world in the hope of instant approbation. You might imagine that rappers, who live in the rhythm of words, would all be Twittermeisters. And yet one Philadelphia judge decided that Meek Mill, a rapper who hopes for an immodest future, needs a little help with his 140-character pronouncements. As the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, Meek was put through the legal mill after allegedly violating his probation following drug and gun convictions. More Technically Incorrect Insult someone on Twitter or Facebook? A crime in Grenada The best robot vs. Rory McIroy golf contest you will ever see Trayvon Martin trial spawns insensitive Instagram from defense lawyer's daughter School massacre joke on Facebook sends teen to court Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes One of the problems that emerged at this hearing is that Meek Mill is penning tweets that allegedly rouse his followers to offer threats to his probation officer. He does have more than 2.5 million followers. He also describes his home town as "Killadelphia." "I really do think it's time you learned a little Twitter decorum, Mr. Mill," said the judge. At least that's what I imagine she said. What is clear is that Judge Genece Brinkley suggested on Friday he take remedial Twitter classes with Dyana Williams, a local radio personality. It's unknown how Williams might feel about teaching Mill to refine his gist on Twitter. I also worry whether Meek Mill will have enough respect for her Twitter skills. Currently, she only has 749 followers. Some might feel she should get to work very quickly. Saturday, one of Mill's latest tweets read: "She was suppose 2 f#£k me like a star...... Dat p#%sy overrated!" No, I'm not imagining that's what he tweeted. Over to you, Ms. Williams.

Rapper Meek Mill, standing before a judge, is told that he needs to refine his use of social media. So the judge orders him to take classes and suggests he takes them from a local radio personality.



June 30, 2013 10:25 AM PDT




Meek Mill in a meeker moment.


(Credit: MeekMillTV/YouTube Screenshot by Chris Matyszczk)

Tweets are the soundbites that you don't even chew over.


Before they even come into your head in some full form, you thrust them out onto the world in the hope of instant approbation.


You might imagine that rappers, who live in the rhythm of words, would all be Twittermeisters.


And yet one Philadelphia judge decided that Meek Mill, a rapper who hopes for an immodest future, needs a little help with his 140-character pronouncements.


As the Philadelphia Inquirer reports, Meek was put through the legal mill after allegedly violating his probation following drug and gun convictions.



One of the problems that emerged at this hearing is that Meek Mill is penning tweets that allegedly rouse his followers to offer threats to his probation officer.


He does have more than 2.5 million followers. He also describes his home town as "Killadelphia."


"I really do think it's time you learned a little Twitter decorum, Mr. Mill," said the judge.


At least that's what I imagine she said.


What is clear is that Judge Genece Brinkley suggested on Friday he take remedial Twitter classes with Dyana Williams, a local radio personality.


It's unknown how Williams might feel about teaching Mill to refine his gist on Twitter. I also worry whether Meek Mill will have enough respect for her Twitter skills. Currently, she only has 749 followers.


Some might feel she should get to work very quickly. Saturday, one of Mill's latest tweets read: "She was suppose 2 f#£k me like a star...... Dat p#%sy overrated!"


No, I'm not imagining that's what he tweeted. Over to you, Ms. Williams.



Posted by Unknown

Slides published by The Washington Post appear to confirm that the NSA and FBI have the ability to perform real-time surveillance of e-mail and stored content. June 30, 2013 9:39 AM PDT NSA slide listing current participants in the PRISM data collection program and what type of content may be available for review. The Washington Post has published a new set of slides regarding PRISM, revealing more details about the National Security Agency's controversial surveillance program and how it operates. The new slides, which come nearly a month after former NSA employee Edward Snowden leaked classified documents to the press about the program, appear to confirm that the NSA and FBI have the ability to perform real-time surveillance of e-mail and stored content. The slides also seem to contradict denials from tech companies such as Google, Apple, Yahoo, and Microsoft about their level of participation in the program. The program "uses government equipment on private company property to retrieve matching information from a participating company, such as Microsoft or Yahoo and pass it without further review to the NSA," The Washington Post reported. NSA slide describing the PRISM data collection process. Another slide shows how the data is collected by an FBI "interception unit" installed at the companies involved and then passed on to "customers" at the NSA, FBI, or CIA. "Depending on the provider," the program allows the NSA to "receive live notifications when a target logs on or sends an e-mail," as well as "monitor a voice, text or voice chat as it happens." The new data also reveals when each company allegedly joined PRISM. Microsoft was the first company to join the program in September 2007, according to one slide, followed by Yahoo about six months later and Google in early 2009, according to one of the slides. Apple was the last to join the program last October. The dates companies joined the PRISM program. Google, Apple, Yahoo, Microsoft, Facebook, and other Internet companies have been left reeling after a pair of articles earlier this month alleged that they provided the NSA with "direct access" to their servers through a so-called PRISM program. Subsequent reporting by CNET revealed that this was not the case, and the Washington Post backtracked from its original story on PRISM. Related stories Army admits restricting soldiers' access to NSA coverage Following Google, Microsoft also challenges DOJ gag order Student group files complaint against U.S. firms over NSA data snooping Legally barred from discussing its participation in the program, Google and Microsoft have petitioned a secretive U.S. surveillance court to lift a gag order prohibiting it from disclosing more information about government requests it receives for customer data. To date, the companies have released only totals that combine legal requests made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act with other related to criminal investigations involving fraud, homicide, and kidnapping, making it impossible to determine how many FISA requests they have received. CNET has contacted the Justice Department for comment on the new slides and will update this report when we learn more.

Slides published by The Washington Post appear to confirm that the NSA and FBI have the ability to perform real-time surveillance of e-mail and stored content.



June 30, 2013 9:39 AM PDT




NSA slide listing current participants in the PRISM data collection program and what type of content may be available for review.



The Washington Post has published a new set of slides regarding PRISM, revealing more details about the National Security Agency's controversial surveillance program and how it operates.


The new slides, which come nearly a month after former NSA employee Edward Snowden leaked classified documents to the press about the program, appear to confirm that the NSA and FBI have the ability to perform real-time surveillance of e-mail and stored content.


The slides also seem to contradict denials from tech companies such as Google, Apple, Yahoo, and Microsoft about their level of participation in the program. The program "uses government equipment on private company property to retrieve matching information from a participating company, such as Microsoft or Yahoo and pass it without further review to the NSA," The Washington Post reported.



NSA slide describing the PRISM data collection process.



Another slide shows how the data is collected by an FBI "interception unit" installed at the companies involved and then passed on to "customers" at the NSA, FBI, or CIA. "Depending on the provider," the program allows the NSA to "receive live notifications when a target logs on or sends an e-mail," as well as "monitor a voice, text or voice chat as it happens."


The new data also reveals when each company allegedly joined PRISM. Microsoft was the first company to join the program in September 2007, according to one slide, followed by Yahoo about six months later and Google in early 2009, according to one of the slides. Apple was the last to join the program last October.



The dates companies joined the PRISM program.



Google, Apple, Yahoo, Microsoft, Facebook, and other Internet companies have been left reeling after a pair of articles earlier this month alleged that they provided the NSA with "direct access" to their servers through a so-called PRISM program. Subsequent reporting by CNET revealed that this was not the case, and the Washington Post backtracked from its original story on PRISM.



Legally barred from discussing its participation in the program, Google and Microsoft have petitioned a secretive U.S. surveillance court to lift a gag order prohibiting it from disclosing more information about government requests it receives for customer data. To date, the companies have released only totals that combine legal requests made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act with other related to criminal investigations involving fraud, homicide, and kidnapping, making it impossible to determine how many FISA requests they have received.


CNET has contacted the Justice Department for comment on the new slides and will update this report when we learn more.



Posted by Unknown

If you know what today's picture is, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest. If you know what this is and where it is located, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest. (Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET) Welcome to the Road Trip Picture of the Day contest (and welcome back to returning players). This is your chance to win some cool prizes as you test your skills at recognizing pictures. Each day, I'll be posting a new photograph from my various travels, and your job is to try to correctly identify it using any means at your disposal. Note: Because Road Trip 2013 doesn't officially begin until next week, the first week or so of the challenge will feature photographs from my past travels, and may be from the United States or other countries. Throughout Road Trip 2013, which will take me through Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Indiana, there will be a new challenge each day, and the opportunity to win some great prizes. I will update each day's post with the answer sometime after the entry deadline -- usually the same evening, although occasionally the next day or shortly afterwards -- so please come back later if you'd like to know the correct answer. Now, on to today's challenge. If you know what this is and where it's located, please send me an e-mail with both pieces of information (to daniel*dot*terdiman--at--cbs*dot*com) by 6 p.m. Pacific time today. Please note: To be considered, you must include the phrase "Picture of the Day challenge" in the subject line of your e-mail. No other methods of entering are guaranteed to be considered. And please forgive me if you don't hear from me if you're not the winner. I get dozens of responses each day. Also, I've turned off comments because otherwise people will post the correct answers there. I hate to shut down discussion, but I want you to figure out the answer on your own. The giveaways This year, I'll be giving both a weekly prize and one grand prize at the end of my Road Trip project. Here's how it will work: For the weekly prize, I'll pick a winner at random from among all those who correctly identified one of that week's daily challenges, and the weekly winner will receive a GoPro Black camera. You get one entry into this drawing for each correct entry you submitted that week. For the grand prize, which is a complete set of GoPro camera gear, the winner will be the person who answers the most daily challenges correctly during the entire project. So there's definitely an incentive to play every day and to answer correctly as often as possible. Be warned: last year, the winner got 63 out of 63 possible correct answers (yes, that's 100 percent) , and several others got more than 60 right, so the competition for the grand prize will be stiff. Given the constraints of the work I'll be doing on Road Trip, I have to minimize the complexity of the Picture of the Day challenge, so if you want to accumulate right answers and compete for the grand prize, you must use the same e-mail address and name each time. If you use a different name or e-mail address, your answers won't be counted together. For complete information and rules about the Picture of the Day challenge, please click here. Good luck today, and throughout the summer. The disclaimer: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD AND AGE OF MAJORITY OR OLDER IN STATE OF RESIDENCE AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. SWEEPSTAKES ENDS 11:59:59 PM PT ON 8/11/13. SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR DETAILS.

If you know what today's picture is, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest.




If you know what this is and where it is located, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest.


(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Welcome to the Road Trip Picture of the Day contest (and welcome back to returning players). This is your chance to win some cool prizes as you test your skills at recognizing pictures.


Each day, I'll be posting a new photograph from my various travels, and your job is to try to correctly identify it using any means at your disposal. Note: Because Road Trip 2013 doesn't officially begin until next week, the first week or so of the challenge will feature photographs from my past travels, and may be from the United States or other countries.


Throughout Road Trip 2013, which will take me through Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Indiana, there will be a new challenge each day, and the opportunity to win some great prizes. I will update each day's post with the answer sometime after the entry deadline -- usually the same evening, although occasionally the next day or shortly afterwards -- so please come back later if you'd like to know the correct answer.


Now, on to today's challenge.


If you know what this is and where it's located, please send me an e-mail with both pieces of information (to daniel*dot*terdiman--at--cbs*dot*com) by 6 p.m. Pacific time today.


Please note: To be considered, you must include the phrase "Picture of the Day challenge" in the subject line of your e-mail. No other methods of entering are guaranteed to be considered.


And please forgive me if you don't hear from me if you're not the winner. I get dozens of responses each day. Also, I've turned off comments because otherwise people will post the correct answers there. I hate to shut down discussion, but I want you to figure out the answer on your own.


The giveaways

This year, I'll be giving both a weekly prize and one grand prize at the end of my Road Trip project. Here's how it will work:


For the weekly prize, I'll pick a winner at random from among all those who correctly identified one of that week's daily challenges, and the weekly winner will receive a GoPro Black camera. You get one entry into this drawing for each correct entry you submitted that week.


For the grand prize, which is a complete set of GoPro camera gear, the winner will be the person who answers the most daily challenges correctly during the entire project. So there's definitely an incentive to play every day and to answer correctly as often as possible. Be warned: last year, the winner got 63 out of 63 possible correct answers (yes, that's 100 percent) , and several others got more than 60 right, so the competition for the grand prize will be stiff.


Given the constraints of the work I'll be doing on Road Trip, I have to minimize the complexity of the Picture of the Day challenge, so if you want to accumulate right answers and compete for the grand prize, you must use the same e-mail address and name each time. If you use a different name or e-mail address, your answers won't be counted together.


For complete information and rules about the Picture of the Day challenge, please click here.


Good luck today, and throughout the summer.


The disclaimer: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD AND AGE OF MAJORITY OR OLDER IN STATE OF RESIDENCE AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. SWEEPSTAKES ENDS 11:59:59 PM PT ON 8/11/13. SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR DETAILS.



Posted by Unknown

Lawmakers on the island of Grenada are tired of online "mischief." So they've banned it. How might this affect the nation's discourse? Grenada, an online grenade-free zone. (Credit: Videobuster09/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) Honestly, that free speech thing can be tiresome. People end up endlessly expressing themselves and, every second of the day, someone's going to get hurt. Online, that is. It's too easy to take out your iPhone and type "you liberal pig Euro a***ole," or some other type of spontaneous flattery. The island of Grenada has decided that it has had enough. Its lawmakers wish to designate the country a decorous online enclave in the midst of the vile, open-mouthed free-for-all that is the Web. So they have passed a law that makes it a criminal offense to insult someone online. As the Associated Press reports, if you besmirch someone's character or name, you can be fined up to $37,000 or sent to jail for three years. Grenada's Legal Affairs Minister, Elvis Nimrod, told the AP: "We have problems when some use the technology to engage in mischief." In many countries, though, mischief makes the world go round. It is the chief angst-propulsion method open to those who otherwise sit at home and wonder why no one cares about them. It is the most modern way in which people can attempt to affect others, without leaving their office chairs and floral-patterned couches. Grenada is having none of it. It has decided to take a stand and allow anyone who feels slighted by a nasty tweeter to copy the insult and present it to a court for its judgment. I fear this may put enormous pressure on Grenada's judges. More Technically Incorrect The best robot vs. Rory McIroy golf contest you will ever see Trayvon Martin trial spawns insensitive Instagram from defense lawyer's daughter School massacre joke on Facebook sends teen to court Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes Top NBA draft pick turns up wearing Google Glass Should someone describe a Grenadan politician as, say, "a big-eared, spineless chicken," would the court demand that the minister present himself so that the court could measure his ears? The law is even more complicated by its respect for the idea that companies are people too. If you have had a bad experience with, for example, Monsanto, and describe it as "a vermin on the face of the Earth's good crust," would you have to stand before a judge and explain very precisely the company's rodent-like qualities? I foresee Grenadan judges opening secret Twitter and Facebook accounts to bemoan the overly sensitive oafs that pass before them, demanding restitution for an ego bruised or a difficult truth told. Still, lawmakers are determined that people and companies should remain without stain in the online firmament. Many Grenadans will look forward to learning what words, phrases, and nuances are regarded as offensive. I am sure that they will immediately temper their tempers, even when they see politicians enact laws that seem oddly designed to protect, for example, politicians and their benefactors.

Lawmakers on the island of Grenada are tired of online "mischief." So they've banned it. How might this affect the nation's discourse?




Grenada, an online grenade-free zone.


(Credit: Videobuster09/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

Honestly, that free speech thing can be tiresome.


People end up endlessly expressing themselves and, every second of the day, someone's going to get hurt. Online, that is.


It's too easy to take out your iPhone and type "you liberal pig Euro a***ole," or some other type of spontaneous flattery.


The island of Grenada has decided that it has had enough. Its lawmakers wish to designate the country a decorous online enclave in the midst of the vile, open-mouthed free-for-all that is the Web.


So they have passed a law that makes it a criminal offense to insult someone online.


As the Associated Press reports, if you besmirch someone's character or name, you can be fined up to $37,000 or sent to jail for three years.


Grenada's Legal Affairs Minister, Elvis Nimrod, told the AP: "We have problems when some use the technology to engage in mischief."


In many countries, though, mischief makes the world go round. It is the chief angst-propulsion method open to those who otherwise sit at home and wonder why no one cares about them.


It is the most modern way in which people can attempt to affect others, without leaving their office chairs and floral-patterned couches.


Grenada is having none of it. It has decided to take a stand and allow anyone who feels slighted by a nasty tweeter to copy the insult and present it to a court for its judgment.


I fear this may put enormous pressure on Grenada's judges.



Should someone describe a Grenadan politician as, say, "a big-eared, spineless chicken," would the court demand that the minister present himself so that the court could measure his ears?


The law is even more complicated by its respect for the idea that companies are people too.


If you have had a bad experience with, for example, Monsanto, and describe it as "a vermin on the face of the Earth's good crust," would you have to stand before a judge and explain very precisely the company's rodent-like qualities?


I foresee Grenadan judges opening secret Twitter and Facebook accounts to bemoan the overly sensitive oafs that pass before them, demanding restitution for an ego bruised or a difficult truth told.


Still, lawmakers are determined that people and companies should remain without stain in the online firmament.


Many Grenadans will look forward to learning what words, phrases, and nuances are regarded as offensive.


I am sure that they will immediately temper their tempers, even when they see politicians enact laws that seem oddly designed to protect, for example, politicians and their benefactors.



Saturday, June 29, 2013
Posted by Unknown

With Windows 8.1 comes scads of hybrids from PC makers eager to show the world that you really don't need to carry around that iPad anymore. June 29, 2013 4:19 PM PDT Steve Ballmer holds a Lenovo ThinkPad Helix hybrid tablet-laptop at the Build Conference on Wednesday. (Credit: Microsoft) Will new Windows 8.1 hybrids finally expose the iPad for what it really is, a mere tablet? That's what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer suggested this week. When speaking at the company's Build Conference on Wednesday, he described in colorful -- and maybe just a tad exaggerated -- terms how tablets don't measure up to laptops (or even pencil and paper). Enter the "2-in-1," as Microsoft likes to call hybrids. During his keynote presentation, Ballmer brandished the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix as an example of a 2-in-1 he has used. The Helix can be a pure tablet or can snap into a dedicated keyboard and become a full-fledged laptop, replete with a mainstream Core i5 processor and a 1,920x1,080 resolution 11.6-inch display. Related stories Microsoft's pitch for hybrids: Tablets alone don't cut it Lenovo Yoga 11S convertible laptop now available That was essentially Ballmer's pitch at Build. The salient advantage Windows 8.1 devices have over Apple tablets is that you need only one hybrid, not two separate devices. And Ballmer knows that a lot more Helix-like 2-in-1 devices are on the way, packing Intel's battery-life friendly Haswell and Bay Trail processors. That's all good except that Apple's iPad 5 is coming too. The 2,048x1,536 pixel-density, 9.7-inch tablet is expected to be lighter/thinner and more powerful, sporting iOS 7 and next-gen Apple A7 silicon. And there's a booming market for third-party keyboards that turn the iPad into a quasi-laptop. Then there's the next-gen iPad Mini, which will likely be even more popular. Not to mention the very-well-received 2013 MacBook Air, which no single Windows ultrabook even comes close to in sales. Is Ballmer right? Will 2-in-1 devices running Windows 8.1 steer consumers away from the next iPad? Maybe even get them to jettison their MacBooks? Hmm...I think we had this discussion last year when Windows 8 launched.

With Windows 8.1 comes scads of hybrids from PC makers eager to show the world that you really don't need to carry around that iPad anymore.



June 29, 2013 4:19 PM PDT



Steve Ballmer holds a Lenovo ThinkPad Helix hybrid tablet-laptop at the Build Conference on Wednesday.

Steve Ballmer holds a Lenovo ThinkPad Helix hybrid tablet-laptop at the Build Conference on Wednesday.


(Credit: Microsoft)

Will new Windows 8.1 hybrids finally expose the iPad for what it really is, a mere tablet?


That's what Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer suggested this week.


When speaking at the company's Build Conference on Wednesday, he described in colorful -- and maybe just a tad exaggerated -- terms how tablets don't measure up to laptops (or even pencil and paper).


Enter the "2-in-1," as Microsoft likes to call hybrids. During his keynote presentation, Ballmer brandished the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix as an example of a 2-in-1 he has used.


The Helix can be a pure tablet or can snap into a dedicated keyboard and become a full-fledged laptop, replete with a mainstream Core i5 processor and a 1,920x1,080 resolution 11.6-inch display.



That was essentially Ballmer's pitch at Build. The salient advantage Windows 8.1 devices have over Apple tablets is that you need only one hybrid, not two separate devices.


And Ballmer knows that a lot more Helix-like 2-in-1 devices are on the way, packing Intel's battery-life friendly Haswell and Bay Trail processors.


That's all good except that Apple's iPad 5 is coming too. The 2,048x1,536 pixel-density, 9.7-inch tablet is expected to be lighter/thinner and more powerful, sporting iOS 7 and next-gen Apple A7 silicon.


And there's a booming market for third-party keyboards that turn the iPad into a quasi-laptop.


Then there's the next-gen iPad Mini, which will likely be even more popular.


Not to mention the very-well-received 2013 MacBook Air, which no single Windows ultrabook even comes close to in sales.


Is Ballmer right? Will 2-in-1 devices running Windows 8.1 steer consumers away from the next iPad? Maybe even get them to jettison their MacBooks?


Hmm...I think we had this discussion last year when Windows 8 launched.



Posted by Unknown

The photo-sharing network gets hit by an unusually colorful spam attack, as pictures of fruit flood users' streams. June 29, 2013 2:05 PM PDT (Credit: All Things Digital) Instagram went bananas Saturday. A company representative confirmed in an e-mail today that the photo-sharing network had been hit by a spam attack -- an attack, we might add, that was perhaps a bit more colorful than usual. It seems the photo-sharing network became flooded with photos of fruit, which were accompanied by a link to a marketing page for a fruit-based diet regimen. Om Malik over at blog Giga Om reported on the smootie-ization of Instagram earlier, saying the link pointed to a bogus BBC News page with the headline "Tropical Fruit Burns 17 Pounds in 22 Days. Exclusive Offer for Readers." That was followed by a post from AllThingsD's Mike Isaac, who included a screenshot of one of the spam postings (which we've included here), and by The Next Web's Jon Russell, who reported that some users had received password-reset e-mails from Instagram that said the users' passwords "may have been compromised." An Instagram rep sent the following statement to CNET: Earlier today a small portion of our users experienced a spam incident where unwanted photos were posted from their accounts. Our security and spam team quickly took actions to secure the accounts involved, and the posted photos are being deleted. It's unclear just how many accounts were mangoed, er, mangled by the attack.

The photo-sharing network gets hit by an unusually colorful spam attack, as pictures of fruit flood users' streams.



June 29, 2013 2:05 PM PDT



(Credit: All Things Digital)


Instagram went bananas Saturday.


A company representative confirmed in an e-mail today that the photo-sharing network had been hit by a spam attack -- an attack, we might add, that was perhaps a bit more colorful than usual.


It seems the photo-sharing network became flooded with photos of fruit, which were accompanied by a link to a marketing page for a fruit-based diet regimen.


Om Malik over at blog Giga Om reported on the smootie-ization of Instagram earlier, saying the link pointed to a bogus BBC News page with the headline "Tropical Fruit Burns 17 Pounds in 22 Days. Exclusive Offer for Readers."


That was followed by a post from AllThingsD's Mike Isaac, who included a screenshot of one of the spam postings (which we've included here), and by The Next Web's Jon Russell, who reported that some users had received password-reset e-mails from Instagram that said the users' passwords "may have been compromised."


An Instagram rep sent the following statement to CNET:



Earlier today a small portion of our users experienced a spam incident where unwanted photos were posted from their accounts. Our security and spam team quickly took actions to secure the accounts involved, and the posted photos are being deleted.



It's unclear just how many accounts were mangoed, er, mangled by the attack.



Posted by Unknown

Apple's MacBook Air dominates the thin-and-light market in the U.S. And its momentum shows no signs of slowing down with the well-received 2013 model. June 29, 2013 12:23 PM PDT MacBook Air, 2013: It's by far the most popular thin-and-light laptop in the U.S., said NPD. (Credit: Apple) The MacBook Air all by its lonesome has captured the majority of the total thin-and-light laptop market, according to data from NPD. The MBA grabbed 56 percent of U.S. thin-and-light laptop sales in the first five months of the year, Stephen Baker, an analyst at the NPD Group, told CNET. The remainder, 44 percent, was captured by ultrabooks from various PC makers. If reviews of the 2013 MacBook Air -- announced this month -- are any indication of future sales, the situation could become even more lopsided this year. CNET Reviews had a lot of good things to say about the new MBA. "Intel fourth-gen [Haswell] CPUs help the updated MacBook Air achieve amazing battery life. The multitouch trackpad is still the industry's best, and even better, the 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $100 less than the previous model," CNET Reviews said. Regardless, the Windows laptop camp is hardly standing still. When speaking at the company's Build conference this week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer claimed that new Windows 8/8.1 hybrids with touch screens obviate the need for both a tablet and a laptop. Microsoft expects a crush of thin-and-light "2-in-1" hybrid designs to hit the market in the coming months. Apple believes the touch experience is best left to its iPad. And so far a lot of consumers seem to agree.

Apple's MacBook Air dominates the thin-and-light market in the U.S. And its momentum shows no signs of slowing down with the well-received 2013 model.



June 29, 2013 12:23 PM PDT



MacBook Air, 2013: It's by far the most popular thin-and-light laptop in the U.S., said NPD.

MacBook Air, 2013: It's by far the most popular thin-and-light laptop in the U.S., said NPD.


(Credit: Apple)

The MacBook Air all by its lonesome has captured the majority of the total thin-and-light laptop market, according to data from NPD.


The MBA grabbed 56 percent of U.S. thin-and-light laptop sales in the first five months of the year, Stephen Baker, an analyst at the NPD Group, told CNET.


The remainder, 44 percent, was captured by ultrabooks from various PC makers.


If reviews of the 2013 MacBook Air -- announced this month -- are any indication of future sales, the situation could become even more lopsided this year.


CNET Reviews had a lot of good things to say about the new MBA.


"Intel fourth-gen [Haswell] CPUs help the updated MacBook Air achieve amazing battery life. The multitouch trackpad is still the industry's best, and even better, the 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $100 less than the previous model," CNET Reviews said.


Regardless, the Windows laptop camp is hardly standing still. When speaking at the company's Build conference this week, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer claimed that new Windows 8/8.1 hybrids with touch screens obviate the need for both a tablet and a laptop.


Microsoft expects a crush of thin-and-light "2-in-1" hybrid designs to hit the market in the coming months.


Apple believes the touch experience is best left to its iPad. And so far a lot of consumers seem to agree.



Posted by Unknown

The problem with a lot of robots is that few have a highly honed sense of humor. However, one golfing robot trash-talked Rory McIlroy to utter distraction. June 29, 2013 11:47 AM PDT Almost the perfect golfing buddy. (Credit: European Tour/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) When a man called Jeff asks you to join him for a game of golf, you might agree. However, when a robot called Jeff wants to accompany you to your local links, you'd better be prepared for losing a couple of links in the chain to your perfect swing and your mental equilibrium. For Jeff the robot is a trash-talking, joyously mean-spirited golfing robot with a very well-honed swing. Here, in an ad for the European Tour, he teases two-time major champion Rory McIroy about his vast new Nike contract, as well as trying to put off his human adversary by remotely moving a target. Jeff also confesses to his sexual attraction toward certain kinds of washing machines. Sometimes, it's very hard to find the right golfing partner. More Technically Incorrect Trayvon Martin trial spawns insensitive Instagram from defense lawyer's daughter School massacre joke on Facebook sends teen to court Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes Top NBA draft pick turns up wearing Google Glass When technology fails a news anchor, there are no words There are those who get boorish on the course, throwing their clubs in various directions after a bad shot. I once had an otherwise very nice man smash his 8-iron straight into the side of a golf cart (in which I happened to be sitting), after an errant swing. Worse are golf partners who smoke. The ones who who smoke pot on the course aren't so bad. Unbearable are the ones who insist on tugging at vast cigars, as if the mixture of ill-fitting red Nike shirts and Cuban tobacco makes them reach some nirvana of superiority. So for all the fears about a robot world being one in which humans relinquish what's left of themselves, how lovely it would be if we could open our cars in the golf club parking lot and pull out a Jeff. He'd be a good golfer, know the rules, and always be there with a comment to lighten proceedings. And, unlike the stogie-chomper or the cursing 8-ironer, if Jeff got on our nerves, we would have the ultimate option. (Watch the end of the video.)

The problem with a lot of robots is that few have a highly honed sense of humor. However, one golfing robot trash-talked Rory McIlroy to utter distraction.



June 29, 2013 11:47 AM PDT




Almost the perfect golfing buddy.


(Credit: European Tour/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

When a man called Jeff asks you to join him for a game of golf, you might agree.


However, when a robot called Jeff wants to accompany you to your local links, you'd better be prepared for losing a couple of links in the chain to your perfect swing and your mental equilibrium.


For Jeff the robot is a trash-talking, joyously mean-spirited golfing robot with a very well-honed swing.


Here, in an ad for the European Tour, he teases two-time major champion Rory McIroy about his vast new Nike contract, as well as trying to put off his human adversary by remotely moving a target.


Jeff also confesses to his sexual attraction toward certain kinds of washing machines.


Sometimes, it's very hard to find the right golfing partner.



There are those who get boorish on the course, throwing their clubs in various directions after a bad shot.


I once had an otherwise very nice man smash his 8-iron straight into the side of a golf cart (in which I happened to be sitting), after an errant swing.


Worse are golf partners who smoke. The ones who who smoke pot on the course aren't so bad.


Unbearable are the ones who insist on tugging at vast cigars, as if the mixture of ill-fitting red Nike shirts and Cuban tobacco makes them reach some nirvana of superiority.


So for all the fears about a robot world being one in which humans relinquish what's left of themselves, how lovely it would be if we could open our cars in the golf club parking lot and pull out a Jeff.


He'd be a good golfer, know the rules, and always be there with a comment to lighten proceedings.


And, unlike the stogie-chomper or the cursing 8-ironer, if Jeff got on our nerves, we would have the ultimate option. (Watch the end of the video.)



Posted by Unknown

The problem with a lot of robots is that few have a highly honed sense of humor. However, one golfing robot trash-talked Rory McIlroy to utter distraction. June 29, 2013 11:47 AM PDT Almost the perfect golfing buddy. (Credit: European Tour/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) When a man called Jeff asks you to join him for a game of golf, you might agree. However, when a robot called Jeff wants to accompany you to your local links, you'd better be prepared for losing a couple of links in the chain to your perfect swing and your mental equilibrium. For Jeff the robot is a trash-talking, joyously mean-spirited golfing robot with a very well-honed swing. Here, in an ad for the European Tour, he teases two-time major champion Rory McIroy about his vast new Nike contract, as well as trying to put off his human adversary by remotely moving a target. Jeff also confesses to his sexual attraction toward certain kinds of washing machines. Sometimes, it's very hard to find the right golfing partner. More Technically Incorrect Trayvon Martin trial spawns insensitive Instagram from defense lawyer's daughter School massacre joke on Facebook sends teen to court Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes Top NBA draft pick turns up wearing Google Glass When technology fails a news anchor, there are no words There are those who get boorish on the course, throwing their clubs in various directions after a bad shot. I once had an otherwise very nice man smash his 8-iron straight into the side of a golf cart (in which I happened to be sitting), after an errant swing. Worse are golf partners who smoke. The ones who who smoke pot on the course aren't so bad. Unbearable are the ones who insist on tugging at vast cigars, as if the mixture of ill-fitting red Nike shirts and Cuban tobacco makes them reach some nirvana of superiority. So for all the fears about a robot world being one in which humans relinquish what's left of themselves, how lovely it would be if we could open our cars in the golf club parking lot and pull out a Jeff. He'd be a good golfer, know the rules, and always be there with a comment to lighten proceedings. And, unlike the stogie-chomper or the cursing 8-ironer, if Jeff got on our nerves, we would have the ultimate option. (Watch the end of the video.)

The problem with a lot of robots is that few have a highly honed sense of humor. However, one golfing robot trash-talked Rory McIlroy to utter distraction.



June 29, 2013 11:47 AM PDT




Almost the perfect golfing buddy.


(Credit: European Tour/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

When a man called Jeff asks you to join him for a game of golf, you might agree.


However, when a robot called Jeff wants to accompany you to your local links, you'd better be prepared for losing a couple of links in the chain to your perfect swing and your mental equilibrium.


For Jeff the robot is a trash-talking, joyously mean-spirited golfing robot with a very well-honed swing.


Here, in an ad for the European Tour, he teases two-time major champion Rory McIroy about his vast new Nike contract, as well as trying to put off his human adversary by remotely moving a target.


Jeff also confesses to his sexual attraction toward certain kinds of washing machines.


Sometimes, it's very hard to find the right golfing partner.



There are those who get boorish on the course, throwing their clubs in various directions after a bad shot.


I once had an otherwise very nice man smash his 8-iron straight into the side of a golf cart (in which I happened to be sitting), after an errant swing.


Worse are golf partners who smoke. The ones who who smoke pot on the course aren't so bad.


Unbearable are the ones who insist on tugging at vast cigars, as if the mixture of ill-fitting red Nike shirts and Cuban tobacco makes them reach some nirvana of superiority.


So for all the fears about a robot world being one in which humans relinquish what's left of themselves, how lovely it would be if we could open our cars in the golf club parking lot and pull out a Jeff.


He'd be a good golfer, know the rules, and always be there with a comment to lighten proceedings.


And, unlike the stogie-chomper or the cursing 8-ironer, if Jeff got on our nerves, we would have the ultimate option. (Watch the end of the video.)



Posted by Unknown

Daughter of Don West -- the lawyer defending George Zimmerman, the man who shot the black teen -- posts an image of herself and her dad eating ice cream, with the caption "We Beat Stupidity." West admits it was "grossly insensitive." Is this the kind of stupidity that defeats you, too? (Credit: Molly Westttt/Instagram) If you happen to be involved in a trial that has severe racial overtones, you should perhaps know that mockery might not be the most appropriate mode of expression. Don West, lawyer for George Zimmerman -- the man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. -- began his client's defense with a knock-knock joke, so perhaps the stage was already set for a different sort of theater. You might imagine, though, that if you're a West family member, you'd temper your need to, say, leap to your favored social network to add to that mockery, with even further racial overtones. And yet one of West's daughters couldn't resist going to her "MollyWestttt" Instagram account to post a sweet family image that packed something of a sidewinder. As BuzzFeed reports, the image was charming: a father and his two daughters with their cones of soft ice cream. The caption accompanying the image was a little less soft: "We beat stupidity celebration cones ... #zimmerman #defense #dadkilledit." You might think it borders on the coarse to suggest a murder trial lawyer "killed" anything. You might, moreover, wonder what "we beat stupidity" might refer to. Well, West spent much of the week trying to disturb the equilibrium of Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel. It wouldn't be hard to infer that Molly West's Instagram caption suggests that Jeantal -- who happens to be black -- represents "stupidity." The Miami Herald's Evan Benn reports that West told him: "We're not always proud of things our children do, but we love them anyway, and then we move on." Perhaps that also includes not being proud of what our children think, too. But I wonder what West might have said, before and after the Instagram picture, to his daughter -- who is reportedly "mortified." A West spokesperson also told Benn: "We understand the context of the comments with what's happened in court this week are grossly insensitive." More Technically Incorrect School massacre joke on Facebook sends teen to court Apple: Don't make nuclear weapons using iTunes Top NBA draft pick turns up wearing Google Glass When technology fails a news anchor, there are no words Google Glass porn app is back (but sans porn) There are increasing instances of certain people from certain generations not understanding (or caring) about what they inject into the public eye, whether it's on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. One father blames just such a (couldn't) careless attitude for his son facing 8 years in jail after posting a Facebook joke about shooting and eating schoolchildren. The habit of publishing one's every thought, act, and feeling is becoming so ingrained that it is often regarded as merely "normal." To Molly West it might well have seemed entirely normal to post that image with those words: Other people should, of course, know what she's really feeling and thinking (that's, like, what social networks are for, right?). But regardless of what you might think happened on the day George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin, how can you not wonder what went through the head of Molly West? How can you not wonder whether her sentiments are shared by her father? It's hard not to conclude that she did, indeed, defeat stupidity. For even stupidity stood there and couldn't believe what she was saying and doing.

Daughter of Don West -- the lawyer defending George Zimmerman, the man who shot the black teen -- posts an image of herself and her dad eating ice cream, with the caption "We Beat Stupidity." West admits it was "grossly insensitive."




Is this the kind of stupidity that defeats you, too?


(Credit: Molly Westttt/Instagram)

If you happen to be involved in a trial that has severe racial overtones, you should perhaps know that mockery might not be the most appropriate mode of expression.


Don West, lawyer for George Zimmerman -- the man accused of murdering Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. -- began his client's defense with a knock-knock joke, so perhaps the stage was already set for a different sort of theater.


You might imagine, though, that if you're a West family member, you'd temper your need to, say, leap to your favored social network to add to that mockery, with even further racial overtones.


And yet one of West's daughters couldn't resist going to her "MollyWestttt" Instagram account to post a sweet family image that packed something of a sidewinder.


As BuzzFeed reports, the image was charming: a father and his two daughters with their cones of soft ice cream.


The caption accompanying the image was a little less soft: "We beat stupidity celebration cones ... #zimmerman #defense #dadkilledit."


You might think it borders on the coarse to suggest a murder trial lawyer "killed" anything. You might, moreover, wonder what "we beat stupidity" might refer to.


Well, West spent much of the week trying to disturb the equilibrium of Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel.


It wouldn't be hard to infer that Molly West's Instagram caption suggests that Jeantal -- who happens to be black -- represents "stupidity."


The Miami Herald's Evan Benn reports that West told him: "We're not always proud of things our children do, but we love them anyway, and then we move on."


Perhaps that also includes not being proud of what our children think, too. But I wonder what West might have said, before and after the Instagram picture, to his daughter -- who is reportedly "mortified."


A West spokesperson also told Benn: "We understand the context of the comments with what's happened in court this week are grossly insensitive."



There are increasing instances of certain people from certain generations not understanding (or caring) about what they inject into the public eye, whether it's on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.


One father blames just such a (couldn't) careless attitude for his son facing 8 years in jail after posting a Facebook joke about shooting and eating schoolchildren.


The habit of publishing one's every thought, act, and feeling is becoming so ingrained that it is often regarded as merely "normal."


To Molly West it might well have seemed entirely normal to post that image with those words: Other people should, of course, know what she's really feeling and thinking (that's, like, what social networks are for, right?).


But regardless of what you might think happened on the day George Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin, how can you not wonder what went through the head of Molly West? How can you not wonder whether her sentiments are shared by her father?


It's hard not to conclude that she did, indeed, defeat stupidity.


For even stupidity stood there and couldn't believe what she was saying and doing.



Posted by Unknown

If you know what today's picture is, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest. If you know what this is and where it is located, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest. (Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET) Welcome to the Road Trip Picture of the Day contest (and welcome back to returning players). This is your chance to win some cool prizes as you test your skills at recognizing pictures. Each day, I'll be posting a new photograph from my various travels, and your job is to try to correctly identify it using any means at your disposal. Note: Because Road Trip 2013 doesn't officially begin until next week, the first week or so of the challenge will feature photographs from my past travels, and they may come from the United States or other countries. Throughout Road Trip 2013, which will take me through Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Indiana, there will be a new challenge each day, and the opportunity to win some great prizes. I will update each day's post with the answer sometime after the entry deadline -- usually the same evening, though occasionally the next day or shortly afterward -- so please come back later if you'd like to know the correct answer. Now, on to today's challenge. If you know what this is and where it's located, please send me an e-mail with both pieces of information (to daniel*dot*terdiman--at--cbs*dot*com) by 6 p.m. Pacific time today. Please note: To be considered, you must include the phrase "Picture of the Day challenge" in the subject line of your e-mail. No other methods of entering are guaranteed to be considered. And please forgive me if you don't hear from me if you're not the winner. I get dozens of responses each day. Also, I've turned off comments because otherwise people will post the correct answers there. I hate to shut down discussion, but I want you to figure out the answer on your own. The giveaways This year, I'll be giving both a weekly prize and one grand prize at the end of my Road Trip project. Here's how it will work: For the weekly prize, I'll pick a winner at random from among all those who correctly identified one of that week's daily challenges, and the weekly winner will receive a GoPro Black camera. You get one entry into this drawing for each correct entry you submitted that week. For the grand prize, which is a complete set of GoPro camera gear, the winner will be the person who answers the most daily challenges correctly during the entire project. So there's definitely an incentive to play every day and to answer correctly as often as possible. Be warned: last year, the winner got 63 out of 63 possible correct answers (yes, that's 100 percent) , and several others got more than 60 right, so the competition for the grand prize will be stiff. Given the constraints of the work I'll be doing on Road Trip, I have to minimize the complexity of the Picture of the Day challenge, so if you want to accumulate right answers and compete for the grand prize, you must use the same e-mail address and name each time. If you use a different name or e-mail address, your answers won't be counted together. For complete information and rules about the Picture of the Day challenge, please click here. Good luck today, and throughout the summer. The disclaimer: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD AND AGE OF MAJORITY OR OLDER IN STATE OF RESIDENCE AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. SWEEPSTAKES ENDS 11:59:59 PM PT ON 8/11/13. SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR DETAILS.

If you know what today's picture is, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest.




If you know what this is and where it is located, you could be eligible to win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day contest.


(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Welcome to the Road Trip Picture of the Day contest (and welcome back to returning players). This is your chance to win some cool prizes as you test your skills at recognizing pictures.


Each day, I'll be posting a new photograph from my various travels, and your job is to try to correctly identify it using any means at your disposal. Note: Because Road Trip 2013 doesn't officially begin until next week, the first week or so of the challenge will feature photographs from my past travels, and they may come from the United States or other countries.


Throughout Road Trip 2013, which will take me through Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Indiana, there will be a new challenge each day, and the opportunity to win some great prizes. I will update each day's post with the answer sometime after the entry deadline -- usually the same evening, though occasionally the next day or shortly afterward -- so please come back later if you'd like to know the correct answer.


Now, on to today's challenge.


If you know what this is and where it's located, please send me an e-mail with both pieces of information (to daniel*dot*terdiman--at--cbs*dot*com) by 6 p.m. Pacific time today.


Please note: To be considered, you must include the phrase "Picture of the Day challenge" in the subject line of your e-mail. No other methods of entering are guaranteed to be considered.


And please forgive me if you don't hear from me if you're not the winner. I get dozens of responses each day. Also, I've turned off comments because otherwise people will post the correct answers there. I hate to shut down discussion, but I want you to figure out the answer on your own.


The giveaways

This year, I'll be giving both a weekly prize and one grand prize at the end of my Road Trip project. Here's how it will work:


For the weekly prize, I'll pick a winner at random from among all those who correctly identified one of that week's daily challenges, and the weekly winner will receive a GoPro Black camera. You get one entry into this drawing for each correct entry you submitted that week.


For the grand prize, which is a complete set of GoPro camera gear, the winner will be the person who answers the most daily challenges correctly during the entire project. So there's definitely an incentive to play every day and to answer correctly as often as possible. Be warned: last year, the winner got 63 out of 63 possible correct answers (yes, that's 100 percent) , and several others got more than 60 right, so the competition for the grand prize will be stiff.


Given the constraints of the work I'll be doing on Road Trip, I have to minimize the complexity of the Picture of the Day challenge, so if you want to accumulate right answers and compete for the grand prize, you must use the same e-mail address and name each time. If you use a different name or e-mail address, your answers won't be counted together.


For complete information and rules about the Picture of the Day challenge, please click here.


Good luck today, and throughout the summer.


The disclaimer: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. MUST BE A LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD AND AGE OF MAJORITY OR OLDER IN STATE OF RESIDENCE AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. SWEEPSTAKES ENDS 11:59:59 PM PT ON 8/11/13. SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR DETAILS.



Posted by Unknown

The upcoming Power Wheels version of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will be the fastest Power Wheels car on the market. June 29, 2013 6:00 AM PDT Face-melting Power Wheels speeds await you. (Credit: Fisher-Price) When it come to iconic American cars, few vehicles can touch the sinuous toughness exuded by the Corvette Stingray. Chevrolet is preparing to reintroduce a new version of the Stingray, leaving countless speed-loving petrol-heads breathless at the idea. Most of those people won't be able to either afford or justify buying the car, but they can still live vicariously through their children when Fisher-Price releases a Power Wheels version later this year. The real full-size 2014 Stingray goes from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. The battery-powered Power Wheels Stingray goes from 0-6 in just 4 seconds. When it arrives, it will be the fastest Power Wheels available. Those are face-searing speeds that will suck the wind right out your lungs and leave you flushed with exhilaration...if you're 3 years old. This may be the best way to prepare your children in advance for a midlife crisis. They won't have to buy red convertibles when they hit 40 because they've already been there and done that. They've already experienced the thrill of a Stingray at a tender young age. It's possible no other car will live up to that original chrome-wheeled beast, but that's just the risk you take as a parent. The Power Wheels Corvette will be available in September, but preorders start on July 1. Besides the iconic red color, the child-size car will also be available in Barbie pink. While all the other kids are tootling around in underpowered Beetles and Barbie Escalades, your tyke will be tearing up the playground, like a future Jeremy Clarkson, behind the wheel of an American legend (that was probably made in China). Just $275 is a small price to pay to put your beloved child in the same Corvette-owning company as Burt Reynolds, Sharon Stone, and astronaut Alan Shepard. The shiny new Stingray has chrome wheels. (Credit: Fisher-Price)

The upcoming Power Wheels version of the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will be the fastest Power Wheels car on the market.



June 29, 2013 6:00 AM PDT



2014 Corvette Power Wheels car

Face-melting Power Wheels speeds await you.


(Credit: Fisher-Price)

When it come to iconic American cars, few vehicles can touch the sinuous toughness exuded by the Corvette Stingray. Chevrolet is preparing to reintroduce a new version of the Stingray, leaving countless speed-loving petrol-heads breathless at the idea. Most of those people won't be able to either afford or justify buying the car, but they can still live vicariously through their children when Fisher-Price releases a Power Wheels version later this year.


The real full-size 2014 Stingray goes from 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. The battery-powered Power Wheels Stingray goes from 0-6 in just 4 seconds. When it arrives, it will be the fastest Power Wheels available. Those are face-searing speeds that will suck the wind right out your lungs and leave you flushed with exhilaration...if you're 3 years old.


This may be the best way to prepare your children in advance for a midlife crisis. They won't have to buy red convertibles when they hit 40 because they've already been there and done that. They've already experienced the thrill of a Stingray at a tender young age. It's possible no other car will live up to that original chrome-wheeled beast, but that's just the risk you take as a parent.


The Power Wheels Corvette will be available in September, but preorders start on July 1. Besides the iconic red color, the child-size car will also be available in Barbie pink.


While all the other kids are tootling around in underpowered Beetles and Barbie Escalades, your tyke will be tearing up the playground, like a future Jeremy Clarkson, behind the wheel of an American legend (that was probably made in China). Just $275 is a small price to pay to put your beloved child in the same Corvette-owning company as Burt Reynolds, Sharon Stone, and astronaut Alan Shepard.


Power Wheels Stingray from behind

The shiny new Stingray has chrome wheels.


(Credit: Fisher-Price)


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