Russians trace Progress docking abort to interference

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.--Russian engineers believe radio interference caused an approaching unmanned Progress supply ship to abort its approach to the International Space Station Friday, officials said Saturday. Subsequent tests showed the cargo craft is in good health and that its automated rendezvous system is working normally, clearing the way for a second docking attempt around 12:10 p.m. EDT Sunday.The aborted approach Friday occurred about 20 minutes before the Progress 38 craft was scheduled to dock at the Zvezda command module's aft port. Instead of proceeding, the craft aborted and flew safely past the station, rotating slowly to keep its solar arrays face on to the sun.

An unmanned Progress supply ship during approach to the space station May 1. The spacecraft was docked using a manual system after its KURS automated navigation system malfunctioned.(Credit: NASA)

Test determines whether you'll age like fine wine

If you're one of those people who says you don't want to live a long life because you don't want to go through the aches and pains of aging, allow me to let you in on a little secret: it appears the people who live the longest tend to avoid the aches and pains of aging--at least right until their final days.The reason, according to a new computer model that predicts whether you are likely to reach 100, is actually pretty simple: those who live past 100 (centenarians) and especially past 110 (supercentenarians) almost all carry genetic signatures that make them far less prone to developing age-related issues such as hypertension, dementia, and cardiovascular disease.

In 2009, Oregon's oldest person, 111-year-old Delma Kollar, is kissed by her 58-year-old granddaughter Syd, also a grandmother.(Credit: Elizabeth Armstrong Moore/CNET)

Road Trip Pic of the Day, 7/3: What is this?

If you know what this is and where it is located, you could win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day Challenge.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Black Gold, Brooklyn's newest record store

Jeff Ogiba and Sommer Foster-Santoro, in front of their new record store, Black Gold.(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)

If you're in Brooklyn, come in and flip through some of Black Gold's bins(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)

Rear-window grime makes for gorgeous art

Vermeer's "Girl With a Pearl Earring," as reinterpreted by dirt-loving artist Scott Wade.(Credit: Scott Wade)

How 3 billion Crayola crayons are made

A pile of freshly made Crayola crayons. CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman got to see how 3 billion of the iconic coloring implements are made a year as part of his Road Trip 2010 project.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

EASTON, Pa.--Alongside Lego bricks, Crayola crayons may well be the most common playthings on Earth. Or so it seems. Every year, Crayola produces more than 3 billion of its famous coloring implements. When I was planning my Road Trip 2010 to the East Coast, I knew I had no choice but to go and see how they're made. And on Friday, I was lucky enough to get to do so.

This week in Crave: The independent edition

Some of us at Crave are waiting in line for the new "Twilight" movie, so it falls to those of us who hate sparkling vampires (read: me) to bring you our weekly roundup. It'll be someone else's turn when "Tron 2" comes out this winter. • iPhone 4 problems? Use a rubber wristband. • The world of "Futurama" like you've never seen it.

More suits filed in iPhone 4 antenna fracas

Apple may have offered a solution to faulty antenna allegations, but that hasn't stopped customers from getting the courts involved. On Friday yet another lawsuit was filed against Apple for "misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4--particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software." The suit was filed on behalf of Steve Tietze and others in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is seeking class action status. Tietze accuses Apple of unfair competition, false and misleading advertising, breach of warranty, and violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. On Wednesday a suit was filed on behalf of two iPhone 4 owners in Maryland, and is also seeking class action status. iPhone 4 owners in New Jersey and Massachusetts have also filed similar suits.

Consumer Reports: iPhone 4 signal issues aren't unique

Consumer Reports on Friday may have gone a long way toward alleviating consumer concern over the iPhone 4's reception issues, saying the problems are not "unique, and may not be serious."

(Credit: Apple)

The consumer watchdog group posted a story on its Web site acknowledging that if the iPhone 4 is held in a certain way, signal loss may result. However, it also said the loss is nothing different than you get from any other phone on the market today. "Indeed, all cell phones, from the mightiest smartphones to the most basic flip models, must consistently overcome a major communication obstacle: you," wrote Consumer Reports.

iPhone-Evo spoof gets employee suspended

A 25-year-old Best Buy employee who posted a snarky cartoon spoof of iPhone zealots online has been suspended and may soon be out of a job. Brian Maupin, who worked at a Best Buy branch in Independence, Mo., since 2007, was suspended from his job Thursday, according to the Associated Press, and now expects to be fired by Monday for posting the two YouTube videos that slam fans of the iPhone 4 and HTC Evo 4G. Those videos don't mention Best Buy, which sells both phones. The AP quoted an e-mail from Best Buy spokesman Justin Barber, who said Friday that the consumer electronics chain was still deciding how to proceed with Maupin, whom he called an "aspiring filmmaker."

How many Palm employees did HP just lay off?

I'm not quite sure, but make no mistake Hewlett-Packard has cut some former Palm staffers from its ranks as it closes its acquisition of the smartphone maker. I'm hearing different numbers from sources (once) close to the company, so it's difficult to put a firm number on them. Sounds like it's not too, too many though. Double digits, not hundreds. Still: sad and awful. "Part of the integration strategy is consolidation of functions and operations, as appropriate," a spokesman for the company told me. "There always is turnover in organizations. Palm employees overall are enthusiastic about having the financial stability and global scale necessary to complete their vision." Story Copyright (c) 2010 AllThingsD. All rights reserved.

Starbucks' winning combo: Caffeine and Web

NEW YORK--Grabbing a little pick-me-up for those late-night code-writing sessions or World of Warcraft marathons might be about to get a little easier.

(Credit: Greg Sandoval/CNET)

The ubiquitous coffee house chain Starbucks started offering free Wi-Fi on Thursday, so I went to go check out the new service. A few people here, at the Starbucks located at the intersection of East 96th Street and Madison Avenue, were trying to log on to the Web with mixed results. When Web access was actually up and running, pages sometimes took minutes to download. And it's not as if the network appeared overwhelmed. This is a tiny Starbucks; I count exactly one person besides me trying to access the Web. How many neighbors are finding the new free connection a boon?

Study: Facebook's tarnished brand has bounced back

YouGov's BrandIndex rankings for June(Credit: YouGov)

Polling firm YouGov, which said in May that Facebook had experienced a notable drop in consumer confidence right around the time of all that negative press about its changing privacy policies, now says that public attitude toward Facebook has taken a turn for the positive. In fact, the social network is YouGov's top "improving brand" for its BrandIndex numbers in the month of June among U.S. adults age 18 and over.Facebook climbed from a YouGov rating of 2 in the weeks of June 1-15, to 17.5 in June 16-30. To put things into perspective, YouGov's ratings span from -100 (completely negative) to 100 (completely positive). Is it going to be 100 percent accurate? No. But it does fall into line with what's been pretty evident on an anecdotal level--that Facebook has weathered yet another momentary PR fiasco.

Blockbuster stock to be delisted from NYSE

Blockbuster's stock will no longer be available on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) starting next week, the company announced in a statement Thursday.The issue, according to Blockbuster, started in November, when the NYSE contacted the company and informed it that because its shares had an average price of less than $1 over a consecutive 30-day period, it was in danger of being delisted from the market, if it couldn't find a remedy at its annual meeting in May. Since then, the company's stock price has stayed below $1 per share.In an attempt to save its stock, Blockbuster executives decided that the only way to keep the company from being delisted was to convert Class B common stock into Class A common stock, as well as buy back some outstanding shares. The result, the executives hoped, was to increase the price of Blockbuster's ailing shares and keep the company listed on the NYSE.

5-bar phone signal: What's it get you? (FAQ)

Apple's recent explanation that iPhone 4 reception issues are linked to Apple's miscalculationof how it measures signal strength on iPhones, has left many people wondering what that five-bar icon displayed on the phone really means.Earlier on Friday, Apple issued a statement blaming iPhone reception issues on a software miscalculation rather than on hardware design. Since the iPhone 4 launched last week, thousands of consumers have complained that when gripping the phone around the lower left-hand corner of the device, the signal degrades or calls are dropped.Apple acknowledged the problem, and explained that customers were simply covering up the antenna with their hand. Now the company says its engineers have made a "stunning" discovery.People may be finding that their reception is poor and that calls are being dropped not only because they're holding the phone wrong, but also because they think they have a better signal than they actually do. In the statement, Apple says that it had made a mistake in the formula that calculates the number of bars that display the signal strength on all of its iPhones.

Russian cargo ship aborts space station docking

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.--The automated approach of an unmanned Russian Progress supply ship to the International Space Station was aborted Friday when telemetry between the spacecraft and the Russian command module was lost during final approach.The Progress 38 cargo ship flew safely past the lab complex and the station's six-member crew was not in any apparent danger. But Russian flight controllers were unable to immediately resolve the problem.

A wide-angle view from the Progress 38 spacecraft showing the International Space Station as a point of light receding in the distance after an aborted docking attempt. (Credit: NASA TV, William Harwood/CNET)

Democrats push for new Internet sales taxes

Bill Delahunt

Understanding next-gen streaming game services

Just like floppy disks gave way to CDs, then CDs to DVDs, followed by USB flash drives and SD cards, the time of game discs has an end in sight. Mind you, there's still a great need for them right now in the console and portable games world, but services like Valve's Steam on the PC (and now Mac) side have shown--in just a few years time--that the packaged game can make a graceful transition to the digital storefront. What's more interesting, however, is the wave of new technologies that compete with Steam, and other download services like it--not only for PC games, but for console titles too. These streaming technologies, which include names like OnLive, Gaikai, Otoy , and InstantAction, promise to free us completely from the need to download software in the more traditional sense, and instead stream titles from a server cluster hundreds or even thousands of miles away from where you play them.In a few months time (when this technology is more common) it will give you, the consumer, an alternative to buying new gaming hardware, while at the same time letting you pick up and play a new game on just about any Internet-connected device. Such a model may turn the gaming hardware industry on its head, but it opens up new avenues of utility for tablets, mobile phones, and even that 5- or 6-year-old computer that would have otherwise been hopelessly unable to run most modern-day titles.When will it be like that? Soon, but not just yet. Many of the below services we're about to delve into are not live, or are live but aren't open to the public. Several are working on partnerships, back-end technology, and pricing. This story is to help serve as a primer for what each one promises to bring to cloud gaming, as well as some high-level detail on how it works. Read on to find out what could be taking the place of your next game console, or high-end graphics card purchase.

Trent Reznor composing score for 'The Social Network'

The powerful array of talent behind "The Social Network," the upcoming movie about the origins of Facebook, continues to grow larger: Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor has announced that he is composing the film's score."It's really f***ing good. And dark!" Reznor wrote in a post on the Nine Inch Nails Web site on Friday. "I'm happy to tell you we're nearing the completion of this and I couldn't be happier with how it's turned out. The level of excellence that (director David Fincher) operates on is inspiring and the entire process has been challenging and truly enjoyable."This is likely another piece of unfortunate news for Facebook, which did not sanction the creation of the film (or the book on which it's based) and was probably hoping that the whole thing would turn out to be a big piece of cinematic Marshmallow Fluff that would tank at the box office. But then the director was revealed to be Fincher, who has helmed well-regarded films like "Fight Club" and "Zodiac." Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed by young star on the rise Jesse Eisenberg, with a supporting cast that includes pop star Justin Timberlake and British actor Andrew Garfield, who's currently all over entertainment news headlines because of the recent announcement that he'll be the next onscreen Spider-Man. A minimalist teaser trailer and well-designed poster for "The Social Network" are only drumming up more hype.

Mobile viewer digitizes your stack of biz cards

(Credit: King Jim)

If you've ever spent more than a few days in Japan on business, you'll have gone through more business cards than wooden sushi chopsticks. Japanese are endlessly exchanging cards, and it's easy to accumulate a mountain of contacts. This digitizer cuts the mountain down to size and puts it in a handy mobile device.

Ask Maggie: On iPhone or Android; the Verizon iPhone; and buying refurbs

A lot has happened since Apple introduced the iconic iPhone in 2007.Smartphones have become all the rage. No longer are these mobile computers relegated to the corporate road warrior looking to keep up with work e-mail. Now it seems that everyone from high school kids to soccer moms has a smartphone. And if they don't already have one, they're likely lusting for one.

Microsoft's Kin gets tribute site

Microsoft's Kin only survived a few weeks, but a tribute Web site has been set up to make sure that Redmond's phones are not soon forgotten.

The Kin Two, seen here in happier days.(Credit: CNET)

The KinRIP.com site features pictures of the twin phones as well as places for people to leave their own testimonials and light a virtual candle to the social-media oriented phone that Microsoft discontinued earlier this week. And be sure to have the sound turned on to hear the incredibly sappy rendition of "Gone Too Soon."

Don't let your PC wear out your eyes

If you spend more than 2 hours a day peering at a computer display, you have at least a 50-50 chance of experiencing vision problems or other physical ailments related to your PC use. That's according to Dr. Wendy Strouse Watt, O.D., in her 2003 article Computer Vision Syndrome and Computer Glasses.The advent of flat panels may have minimized the risk somewhat, but most office workers now spend more time each day at a computer than they did at the time of the study. In a series of articles on Computer Vision Syndrome, the American Optometric Association (AOA) highlights the extent of the problem.The association quotes the results of a survey of optometrists that estimates 10 million "primary" eye examines occur annually in the U.S. due in large part to use of computer displays. The AOA reports that computer users are more likely to complain of vision-related problems than to experience wrist pain and other musculoskeletal maladies.You'll find plenty more about the causes of computer-related eyestrain in those two articles, as well as in this comprehensive article on the eMedicine site. More important for most of us PC users is the advice the articles offer for treating and avoiding health problems resulting from long hours using a PC. Here's a quick summary of the best ways to prevent and overcome ailments caused by extended computer use.

Spy camera pretends to be car remote

(Credit: Swann)

The $100 Swann DVR410 RemoteCam is a digital camera shaped like a car remote control. The camera lens and microphone are located on the front, and buttons are unmarked so no one will suspect it's anything more than an ordinary car remote. It records up to 40 minutes of footage onto a 2GB SD card with a resolution of 720x480 in full color. Still-image capture is also possible at up to 1,280x1,024-pixel resolution. It has a built-in microphone, with an audio range of about 10 feet. As with any spy camera, you can use the DVR410 for good or mischief. So record responsibly. And remember, no matter how much this looks like a real car remote, if you point it at people long enough, they're probably going to suspect something's amiss.

Bill: China Net censorship could start trade war

Half a year ago, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lauded Internet freedom and criticized China in a high-profile speech in Washington, D.C. A few weeks later, a Global Internet Freedom Caucus on Capitol Hill was formed. But the Chinese authorities weren't exactly paying attention. Since Clinton's speech, China has reaffirmed its commitment to state censorship, required online map providers to obtain licenses and host their images inside the country, blocked Foursquare, and announced new rules for media companies. Earlier this week, China made Google rethink how it could move some search operations to Hong Kong. If anything, China's Internet restrictions have grown ever-tighter. In March, when Google began publishing a daily dashboard of China service availability, mobile and Web search was completely accessible. As of early July, both are partially blocked. Some U.S. politicians responded this week by announcing legislation that would try to pressure China and other nations with Internet restrictions into becoming better Net-citizens by invoking two very old techniques: public shame and trade sanctions.

IBM setting up cloud for genome research

IBM is looking to help genome experts further their research by providing a cloud where they can better share information with their colleagues.

Report: AdMob alive and well in iPhone apps

The changes to Apple's iPhone developer agreement that appeared to ban ad networks like AdMob were apparently not a knockout blow, as the makers of "Super KO Boxing 2" had their application with AdMob-served ads approved by Apple.(Credit: Glu Mobile)

AdMob may not be locked out of iPhone applications just yet.The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that application developers using AdMob as their in-app advertising provider are having their applications approved by Apple without incident, despite Apple's decision to change the terms of the iPhone developer agreement in a way that appeared to ban AdMob. Back in June, AdMob lashed out at Apple for making this change, saying, "this change is not in the best interests of users or developers."

A modest proposal: Twitter, meet your new mascot

Artistic view of the giant raptorial sperm whale Leviathan melvillei attacking a medium-size baleen whale off the coast of the area now occupied by Peru.(Credit: C. Letenneur (MNHN) and Nature)

This week we've seen a lot of the "fail whale," the cartoon cetacean that Twitter uses as a placeholder when its servers are swamped and its millions of tweets are inaccessible. Part of it's because, as Twitter has said, they've needed to do some crucial infrastructure repair this summer. That hasn't been made any easier by the global frenzy surrounding the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa: World Cup goals are delivering knockout blows to Twitter, and surprise results of games can be even worse. Right around the Netherlands' unexpected victory over Brazil on Friday, Twitter once again collapsed.Twitter, your cuddly "fail whale" is simply not doing you justice. But it's your lucky day--OK, maybe not as lucky as the day when you signed the papers that got you $100 million in venture capital and a billion-dollar valuation--because I've found you a new mascot!

At 1,000 miles, Road Trip 2010 can't avoid I-95

In spite of a lot of planning, Road Trip 2010 hit 1,000 miles on I-95, where CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman has already spent too much time stuck in traffic.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

JOPPA, Md.--I'll just say it now: I am not a fan of Interstate 95. Since 2006, I've spent part of each summer driving around regions of the United States, working on stories about a wide variety of destinations related to aviation, the military, technology, science, nature, and more. This is my annual Road Trip project, and right now, I'm a little more than a week into Road Trip 2010.

Video game industry sales slip, but remain strong

Led by hot demand for the Xbox 360, the video game industry scored its third best-selling May, trailing only 2009 and 2008. Revenue was down compared with a year ago due to lower console prices, according to the latest figures released Thursday by The NPD Group.

Do 3D TVs use more power?

Panasonic plasmas sure do.(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Gartner trims 2010 IT spending forecast

IT spending is still expected to rise this year over 2009, but Gartner believes that European debt problems may put a damper on its previous expectations for growth.The market researcher said Thursday it has trimmed its estimate for IT spending for 2010 to $3.35 trillion, a gain of 3.9 percent over last year's $3.23 trillion. That marks a lower forecast than the 5.3 percent rise Gartner projected in the first quarter. The company attributed the new outlook to the effects of the devaluation of the euro versus the U.S. dollar."The European sovereign debt crisis is having an impact on the outlook for IT spending," Richard Gordon, research vice president at Gartner, said in a statement. "The U.S. dollar has strengthened against the euro during the second quarter of 2010, and this trend will likely continue in the second half of 2010, which will put downward pressure on U.S.-dollar-denominated IT spending growth."Growth in software, IT services, and telecommunications will almost certainly be more limited as a result of the appreciation of the dollar, forecasts Gartner. But the hardware sector will see a 9.1 percent rise in spending to $365 billion this year, thanks to ongoing demand for PCs.

Poking holes in Apple's iPhone 4 antenna explanation

Apple has said that users have to hold the iPhone 4 the right way to get the best reception. Now it also says it has a software fix for signal issues.(Credit: Josh Lowensohn/CNET)

Road Trip Pic of the Day, 7/2: What is this?

If you know what this is and where it is located you could win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Day Challenge.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Creative's D200 plays big for a small Bluetooth speaker

Get a Samsung laser printer for $49.99

Samsung's ultracompact ML-1665 laser printer is perfect for homes and small offices. (OK, very small offices.)(Credit: Newegg)

Inkjet printers are all well and good for printing photos and other items that require color, but for everything else, the faster, cheaper, smarter bet is a laser.Newegg has the Samsung ML-1665 laser printer for $49.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code EMCYVYN35 at checkout. (You also need to be a Newegg newsletter subscriber.)

First glimpse of EU's solar, windfarm plans

Wind turbine farms are set to expand rapidly across Europe's coastal waters, throwing up challenges and opportunities for industry, according to a Reuters analysis of a leaked draft of EU energy strategies. A picture of the European Union's renewable energy landscape for 2020 is emerging for the first time as the bloc's 27 member states scramble to meet a deadline for setting their "National Renewable Energy Action Plans." The documents were due to be delivered to the European Commission by midnight on Wednesday, although most missed the deadline and none of the plans has yet been made public.But a number of draft plans seen by Reuters point to massive growth in the onshore wind-farm capacity--30 percent in Germany, 130 percent in Ireland, 230 percent in Italy, and 74 percent in Spain.

An iTunes cloud service not imminent, insiders say

An article about Apple's plan to "soon" launch a cloud service featuring music and movies stirred up a great deal of speculation on Thursday. "Soon," however, is a relative term because Apple has yet to snag licenses from the top four music labels, sources tell CNET.

To stream music, Steve Jobs likely needs licenses, and he doesn't have them yet. (Credit: James Martin/CNET)

The Boy Genius Report's article cited an anonymous source who declared that the Apple service will offer "streaming music and movies from Apple's servers to your computers," will sync iTunes with devices, and will stream content from a home computer to other Web-enabled gadgets.

Compact with a kick: Creative's ZiiSound D5 Bluetooth speaker

The ZiiSound D5 is a higer-end Bluetooth speaker that retails for $300.(Credit: Creative Labs)

As the iPhone-iPod audio docking systems move into a more mature phase, Creative is hitching its wagon to Bluetooth in a bid to differentiate itself in this crowded category. Bluetooth compatibility allows the wide range of A2DP devices--which includes iPhones, iPads, recent iPod Touch models, most recent smartphones, and many PCs--to stream audio wirelessly to the speaker. On the PC speaker side, Creative has the $130 Inspire S2 Bluetooth system, and now the company has bulked up its audio line with several Bluetooth-enabled iPod speaker options, including the ZiiSound D5, a higher-end model that retails for $300. The nice thing about the ZiiSound D5 is that it's pretty compact, measuring 3.5 inches high by 16.7 inches wide by 4.3 inches deep, with a low profile that's well suited for shelf placement. The attractively designed speaker has nice heft (8.4 pounds) and appears to be well-built, though the speaker cloth that covers the front and top of the speaker seems susceptible to fraying (keep this away from cats) and does attract some dust. In an ideal world, we would have preferred a matte-finished top and metal or plastic grilles to cover the speakers.

Apple: iPhone 4 signal bars can be wrong, fix ahead

Controversy over call signal strength for the iPhone 4 has loomed over Steve Jobs and Apple since consumers got their hands on the device in June.(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Apple will issue a free software update "within a few weeks" to fix a reception problem affecting its newly released iPhone 4. In a statement released early Friday, Apple said it was "stunned" to learn that a formula it had used to calculate the reception strength of its smartphone was wrong. Apple also said that customers can return undamaged iPhones within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

Friday Poll: Microsoft's biggest product misstep?

Microsoft mistakes

Crave giveaway: Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD

Enter for a chance to win this Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD media player!(Credit: Seagate)

Consumers getting more attention in smart grid

The role of consumers--the end point in the complex chain of the power grid--is coming into sharper focus, as the country tries to modernize its electrical infrastructure. As part of the government stimulus program, millions of smart meters will be installed over the next three years, providing a two-way connection between utilities and their customers. But despite the focus on hardware in the multibillion-dollar smart-grid program, both utilities and advocacy groups are starting to sing the virtues of consumer involvement.

Cisco's home energy controller--one of the many consumer home energy management tools being tested by utilities.(Credit: Cisco Systems)

Welcome to the Naval Academy: 'You're too slow!'

Thursday was Induction Day at the U.S. Naval Academy, and 1,247 new plebe candidates showed up for the first step toward being a Naval officer. CNET Road Trip 2010 was on hand. Here, the plebes are taught to 'plebe their covers,' otherwise known as hold their hats.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

ANNAPOLIS, Md.--With a grin, the plebe candidate approached Station 18, the last one before he'd hand over his freedom. The good nature wasn't returned. Enjoy that grin, the cadre member's scowl seemed to say. "This is your last chance to smile, big guy."

Google Voice newbies, start here

Once invitation-only, Google Voice's free telecommunications service for U.S. residents is now available to all. There are so many features, getting started can be confusing for first-timers. We won't walk you through every step--especially since Google has produced some good help files to explain your options--but we will point you in the right direction.

Groups push feds for video game age restrictions

Video game aficionados might have to enter a credit card or find another way to verify their age before playing a networked game, thanks to a new push from advocacy groups who say they want to protect minors from in-game advertising messages. In-game marketing has become so advanced that it "allows advertisers to track game users" and detect if people who are exposed to certain ads eventually use or buy the advertised product, a coalition including the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the Center for Digital Democracy, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and U.S. PIRG told federal regulators this week. They say (PDF) that because "mobile devices, instant messaging, social networks, virtual reality, avatars, interactive games, and online video" have become so pervasive, the Federal Trade Commission must enact new regulations to protect minors from electronic advertisements and other marketing messages. Not only young children are at risk, but the FTC "should seek ways to provide protections to teens," the coalition recommends. Some of these groups have spent the better part of a decade training their crosshairs on video games. Allen Kanner, founder of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, has claimed that "Grand Theft Auto 3 portrays the brutal murder of women, minorities, the elderly, and police officers."

The Vapor: One slick iPhone 4 case

Element Case's Vapor starts at $79.99 and ships July 12.(Credit: Element Case)

Element Case has made some high-end, high-stylin' protective cases for earlier iPhone models, and now it has one for the iPhone 4: The Vapor. The picture really says it all, but you should know that according to Element, the Vapor "consists of a solid, CNCd aluminum frame made from aircraft-grade metals lined with a new, shock-absorbent liner material to protect and stylize." It's also designed, like most other cases, to address the iPhone "reception issues" by securely insulating the iPhone 4's frame "with a no-slip grip hold."

How to: Connect your laptop to a TV

T-Mobile to halt Sidekick sales

Well, it looks like the Kin's kin is also getting the ax. T-Mobile confirmed to CNET on Thursday that it plans to stop selling the two existing Sidekick models. "As T-Mobile looks to further innovate and raise the bar for the next generation of the T-Mobile Sidekick, as of July 2, the Sidekick LX and Sidekick 2008 will no longer be available through T-Mobile, including retail stores, care, telesales and online," the company said in a statement.

Model S keyboards will drive your neighbors click clack crazy

Without looking, which number has the $ symbol? If you can't answer this question, then the Das Keyboard Model S Ultimate isn't for you. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The Das Keyboard Model S series was forged in the fires of the original IBM Model M keyboards that shipped with all IBM-branded computers back in the 1980s. Highly regarded for their durability and clicky tactile feedback thanks to mechanical switches embedded underneath each key, the Model Ms have since gone out of production, but Das Keyboard picks up where IBM left off with the Model S. We recommend it to anyone willing to pay slightly more for a nerdy niche input device.Das Keyboard offers a Professional and an Ultimate version of the Model S keyboard, but the only difference the Ultimate bears no cap labels on any of the keys--the entire board is blank, ensuring that only the most hard-core (read: arrogant, obnoxious) keyboard elitists will find it appealing. Full disclosure: I'm unapologetically one of them, and am currently typing this blog on a Model S Ultimate. The learning curve isn't severe if you're a touch typist anyway, and the symbol keys on the number row are the only ones that that gave me trouble. That, and brackets.