Should you feel guilty for buying your iPhone?

Some people are considering a boycott of Apple over conditions in Chinese factories A recent New York Times story shed some light on horrifying working conditions there Poll suggests consumers may not pay higher prices for Apple products made in U.S. (CNN) -- Last week, The New York Times gave us an inside look at what it's like to work at Foxconn, the manufacturing company that owns several China-based factories that crank out Apple's iPads, iPhones and iPods by the millions. The story is full of examples of horrifying working conditions in Foxconn's factories that would never fly here in the United States. Here are some of the more troubling ones from the Times story: Foxconn is a 24-hour operation. Employees work six days a week, sometimes in 12-hour shifts. They're on their feet for so long that their legs begin to swell. There are underage workers. They live in crowded dorms on the factory's campus. In recent years, there have been r

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Feds: Megaupload files may be deleted this week

Government: Megaupload files may be deleted this week U.S. Attorney says search warrant has been executed, government has no more access Web hosting companies say they don't have access either The file-sharing site is accused of endorsing illegal piracy (CNN) -- Federal prosecutors who accuse file-sharing site Megaupload of being a hotbed of digital piracy say the site's customer files, presumably including perfectly legal ones, may be deleted star

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Google seeks to clarify new privacy policy

Google seeks to clarify its new privacy plan after backlash Changes will create a user profile based on what users do on all Google products Members of Congress have asked for clarification Google notes there are privacy tools in place to opt out of some aspects (CNN) -- Seeking to blunt a sharp backlash to recent privacy policy changes, Google has offered to share "the real story" about a system that compiles information about users based on their activity on all of Google's si

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Google seeks to clarify new privacy policy

Google seeks to clarify its new privacy plan after backlash Changes will create a user profile based on what users do on all Google products Members of Congress have asked for clarification Google notes there are privacy tools in place to opt out of some aspects (CNN) -- Seeking to blunt a sharp backlash to recent privacy policy changes, Google has offered to share "the real story" about a system that compiles information about users based on their activity on all of Google's si

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Google seeks to clarify new privacy policy

Google seeks to clarify its new privacy plan after backlash Changes will create a user profile based on what users do on all Google products Members of Congress have asked for clarification Google notes there are privacy tools in place to opt out of some aspects (CNN) -- Seeking to blunt a sharp backlash to recent privacy policy changes, Google has offered to share "the real story" about a system that compiles information about users based on their activity on all of Google's si

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How Pinterest helps users catalog their passions

On Pinterest, users can organize images into individual "boards" Thanks to media reports and the passion of users, there's been a lot of buzz around Pinterest Co-founder Ben Silbermann: Pinterest "creates an online catalog" that is "handpicked" It's "a great tool for designers looking for new and different content," Jeanine Hays says (CNN) -- For Heather Neroy, it used to be a tedious process: Whenever she came across an interesting arts-and-crafts project or recipe on the Internet, she would save it for later by copying the link, pasting it into an e-mail and sending it to herself. After that Neroy, a stay-at-home mom from Southern California, would file the e-mail in a folder for future reference. It wasn't exactly the most efficient system. Then last year, during one of her browsing sessions, she read a blog post that gushed about a new website called Pinterest. The virtual pinboard, where users can pin and organize images onto individual "boards," didn't pique Neroy's interest at first, but she quickly changed her mind. "Someone described it as an online filing system, and I thought, 'That's exactly what I need,' " she said. Soon Neroy was pinning away and, like many Pinterest users, got quickly hooked. Sh

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Google to merge user data across its services

Google announces changes to its privacy policy Google will soon create a single profile of the data it has about each user The new policy will take effect on March 1 (CNN) -- Google plans to start combining information the company collects about each user of its various websites and services into a single profile, the company announced on Tuesday. Previously, Google said i

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Why 2012, despite privacy fears, isn't like 1984

Cashmore: The world of 2012 is reminiscent of Orwell's vision and radically at odds with it Today's online world is indeed allowing our every move to be tracked But self-improvement is easier when you're able to track your own activities The Internet gives citizens a valuable tool to combat overreaching governments Editor's note: Pete Cashmore is founder and CEO of Mashable, a popular blog about tech news and digital culture. He writes regular columns about social media and tech for CNN.com. (CNN) -- Last week was a remarkable one for the Web: A week that proved George Orwe

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What's Megaupload.com all about?

The U.S. government shut down file-sharing site Megaupload on Thursday Megaupload let users upload files with a single click The government says the site's owners knowingly allowed copyright infringement On Friday, pirated material was still easy to find on other sites Lea este artículo en español/Read this article in Spanish (CNN) -- Megaupload, the file-sharing website shut down Thursday by the U.S. federal government, is a Web hosting tool that now finds itself accused of being an online haven for digital pirates. Many people probably never have heard of the site. But to millions, the 6-year-old site, based in Hong Kong, was a fast, easy way to store massive files in a "locker" online and then share them with friends or colleagues. At various points in its history, Megaupload has been among the most popular websites in the world. And it once had the support of some celebrities. A (really bizarre) YouTube video shows Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, P. Diddy and several other celebrities vouching for the site in an apparent music video-style a

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What's Megaupload.com all about?

The U.S. government shut down file-sharing site Megaupload on Thursday Megaupload let users upload files with a single click The government says the site's owners knowingly allowed copyright infringement On Friday, pirated material was still easy to find on other sites Lea este artículo en español/Read this article in Spanish (CNN) -- Megaupload, the file-sharing website shut down Thursday by the U.S. federal government, is a Web hosting tool that now finds itself accused of being an online haven for digital pirates. Many people probably never have heard of the site. But to millions, the 6-year-old site, based in Hong Kong, was a fast, easy way to store massive files in a "locker" online and then share them with friends or colleagues. At various points in its history, Megaupload has been among the most popular websites in the world. And it once had the support of some celebrities. A (really bizarre) YouTube video shows Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, P. Diddy and several other celebrities vouching for the site in an apparent music video-style a

More about → What's Megaupload.com all about?

What's Megaupload.com all about?

The U.S. government shut down file-sharing site Megaupload on Thursday Megaupload let users upload files with a single click The government says the site's owners knowingly allowed copyright infringement On Friday, pirated material was still easy to find on other sites (CNN) -- Megaupload, the file-sharing website shut down Thursday by the U.S. federal government, is a Web hosting tool that now finds itself accused of being an online haven for digital pirates. Many people probably never have heard of the site. But to millions, the 6-year-old site, based in Hong Kong, was a fast, easy way to store massive files in a "locker" online and then share them with friends or colleagues. At various points in its history, Megaupload has been among the most popular websites in the world. And it once had the support of some celebrities. A (really bizarre) YouTube video shows Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, P. Diddy and several other celebrities vouching for the site in an apparent music video-style advertisement. var currExpandable="expand15"; if(typ

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Apple: School should center on the iPad

Apple announces digital textbook publishing app The free app is called iBook Author The company says anyone can make a digital textbook in five minutes Moves are part of Apple's larger strategy to remake the textbook industry (CNN) -- Apple on Thursday lifted the veil on its plans to remake the educational landscape in a way that centers on its best-selling tablet computer, the iPad. "Education is deep in Apple's DNA and iPad may be our most exciting education product yet," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement. At a press confere

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60 apps launch with Facebook auto-share

Facebook is now letting all developers make apps that can automatically publish to profiles The system will try to guess the importance of an app based on past activity Facebook Music was a precursor to these new features San Francisco (CNN) -- Joining "likes" on Facebook, the social network has added dozens of new types of posts, including "bought," "read" and "want." Sixty applications that let users publish information automatically to Facebook launched at a news conference held at a trendy nightclub here on Wednesday. Many of these are new versions of existing online services or mobile a

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Wikipedia goes dark in protest of anti-piracy bill

Anti-piracy legislation is working its way through Congress Critics say the bills could amount to censorship The protest is in response to the Stop Online Piracy Act (CNN) -- Wikipedia was one of several websites to shut down at midnight in protest of anti-piracy bills that critics say could amount to censorship. Instead of the usual encyclopedia articles, visitors to Wikipedia were greeted by a message about the decision to black out its English-language Web page for an entire day. "Imagine a World Without Free Knowledge," a stark message in white letters on a black and gray background read. "For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is c

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The new goal: Must-tweet TV

People are seeking out increasingly personalized entertainment options With Twitter, TV has ceased to be a passive medium, Pete Cashmore says Breaking news and live events create an interactivity with global audiences Cashmore: Because of Twitter, some people who ditched TV are coming back Editor's note: Pete Cashmore is founder and CEO of Mashable, a popular blog about tech news and digital culture. He writes regular columns about social media and tech for CNN.com. (CNN) -- I watched the Golden Globes on Sunday night. Live. On T

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Augmented reality and the future of driving

Many automotive designers seem to take inspiration from smartphones Cars are becoming platforms to participate in the digital, networked world Technology is still crude, and several years away from finding its way into vehicles Mercedes demos an "augmented reality" windshield at CES Las Vegas (CNN) -- Imagine a future in which icons flash on your car windshield, hologram style, as your car approaches restaurants, stores, historic landmarks or the homes of friends. Simply point your hand at them, and the icons open to show real-time information: when that bridge over there was built, what band is playing at that nightclub on the left, whether that new café up the street has any tables available. Wave your hand again, and you've made a restaurant reservation. Mercedes-Benz showed off this vision of the future of driving -- complete with augmented-reality and gesture-controlled features -- this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show. CES is the world's biggest technology trade show, and carmakers are becoming a bigger presence here. Visitors climbed into a little cockpit at the Mercedes booth and took a brief, interact

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Augmented reality and the future of driving

Many automotive designers seem to take inspiration from smartphones Cars are becoming platforms to participate in the digital, networked world Technology is still crude, and several years away from finding its way into vehicles Mercedes demos an "augmented reality" windshield at CES Las Vegas (CNN) -- Imagine a future in which icons flash on your car windshield, hologram style, as your car approaches restaurants, stores, historic landmarks or the homes of friends. Simply point your hand at them, and the icons open to show real-time information: when that bridge over there was built, what band is playing at that nightclub on the left, whether that new café up the street has any tables available. Wave your hand again, and you've made a restaurant reservation. Mercedes-Benz showed off this vision of the future of driving -- complete with augmented-reality and gesture-controlled features -- this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show. CES is the world's biggest technology trade show, and carmakers are becoming a bigger presence here. Visitors climbed into a little cockpit at the Mercedes booth and took a brief, interact

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8 oddball gadgets we found at CES

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CES: Can Snooki, Bieber create a hit gadget?

"Jersey Shore" star attracts crowds at CES promoting line of headphones for iHip Hip-hop star 50 Cent and pop singer Justin Bieber also on hand to push products at CES Analyst: Celebrities bring short-term buzz but are no guarantee of long-term sales Las Vegas (CNN) -- Hundreds of onlookers crowded around a booth inside the cavernous Las Vegas Convention Center, hoisting cameras overhead and straining for a glimpse of the woman with the tiny frame and the big fake eyelashes: Snooki. The "Jersey Shore" star, more officially but less-well known as Nicole Polizzi, was at the International Consumer Electronics Show here Tuesday to promote a forthcoming line of headphones for iHip, a company that makes audio accessories. Less than 200 yards aw

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TVs in 2012 will get brighter, thinner, more social

HDTV debuted at CES in 1998, but it was six years before HD was common No evidence yet that the average person wants all these new features, analyst says Biggest buzz at CES has surrounded TVs with OLED screens Editor's note: Follow @cnntech, @griggsbrandon and @markmilian for Twitter updates this week from the Consumer Electronics Show. Las Vegas (CNN) -- When it comes to TVs -- often the flashiest, most buzzed-about gadgets at the International Consumer Electronics Show -- it takes several years for reality to catch up to the hype. HDTV debuted at CES in 1998, but it was another five or six years before HD sets became common in living rooms. 3-D TV arrived at CES in 2009 amid massive hoopla but has yet to catch on with mainstream consumers. So judging from the variety of next-generation products being unveiled at this year's show, TV manufacturers are still scrambling to find the next killer feature that will entice buyers to ditch their flat-panel plasmas for something better. The buzz surrounding 3-D has subsided, but television makers here are pushing other enhancements in the hopes somet

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An early look at new tech from CES

At a CES preview event, CNN goes searching for noteworthy gadgets Among these are a Marley-inspired portable stereo and a guitar that pairs with an iPad New device called Dyle can put live TV on an Android phone, iPhone or iPad Las Vegas (CNN) -- The humble thermostat is getting a 21st-century makeover. And so is the boombox, thanks to a son of the late reggae legend Bob Marley. The 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show doesn't start in earnest until Monday, but at a gadget preview event Sunday, some electronics startups seemed determined to give redemption to ordinary appliances, and not just those from children of the Rastafarian movement. In a packed hotel ballroom, companies demonstrated portable televisions, plastic guitars, stoves and solar-powered e-reader cases. Here are five of the more intriguing gadgets we found: Nest thermostat For most of their existence, home thermostats have been mere functional accessories. White or be

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5 gadget trends to watch at CES

The Consumer Electronics Show brings a slew of new gadgets Tablets running Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows 8 will debut Ultrabooks, a new type of thinner laptop, are expected to make a splash But some of the largest players in the consumer electronics industry are shunning CES Editor's note: Follow @cnntech, @griggsbrandon and @markmilian for Twitter updates this week from the Consumer Electronics Show. (CNN) -- Like a stereotypical beauty pageant, it looks like thin will be in at the world's largest annual gadget convention next week in Las Vegas. At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, computer makers will be pushing a new breed of ultra-thin, ultra-light laptops amid a sea of razor-thin smartphones and tablets. Last year, 140,000 people in the technology industry convened at the Las Vegas Convention Center to mingle and gawk at cutting-edge hardware. The organizers expect to welcome at least that many people next week. Electronics makers use CES as a platform to show the types of products they plan to release in the c

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5 gadget trends to watch at CES

The Consumer Electronics Show brings a slew of new gadgets Tablets running Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows 8 will debut Ultrabooks, a new type of thinner laptop, are expected to make a splash But some of the largest players in the consumer electronics industry are shunning CES Editor's note: Follow @cnntech, @griggsbrandon and @markmilian for Twitter updates this week from the Consumer Electronics Show. (CNN) -- Like a stereotypical beauty pageant, it looks like thin will be in at the world's largest annual gadget convention next week in Las Vegas. At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, computer makers will be pushing a new breed of ultra-thin, ultra-light laptops amid a sea of razor-thin smartphones and tablets. Last year, 140,000 people in the technology industry convened at the Las Vegas Convention Center to mingle and gawk at cutting-edge hardware. The organizers expect to welcome at least that many people next week. Electronics makers use CES as a platform to show the types of products they plan to release in the c

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Gaming preview 2012: Vita, Wii U, 'Halo 4'

Vita will hit North American, European shores in February after a Japanese launch Later in 2012, Nintendo will be releasing their next generation console called Wii U "Final Fantasy XIII-2" returns players to Cocoon in search of Lightning (CNN) -- Gaming in 2012 is going to be a very wild ride, with the introduction of two new consoles, a return to the "Halo" universe and the potential for even more entertainment choices. The PlayStation Vita and the Nintendo Wii U are both expected to hit the shelves, with the Vita hitting North American and European shores in February after a Japanese launch in mid-December. The PS Vita is a handheld console and successor to the PlayStation Portable (PSP) that promises beefier graphics, interactive touchscreens on the front and back, and dual analog sticks much like the PlayStation 3 controllers. Sony is banking on familiar characters in games like "Uncharted: Golden Abyss" and "Little Big Planet" to help draw in customers, while also looking to cre

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Scorecard: How the candidates compare online

GOP presidential candidates have a varied approach to their online presences Newt Gingrich has the most Twitter followers, but some question how he got them Rick Perry's campaign posted an ad on YouTube that became its most disliked (CNN) -- In 2012, a strong Web presence must be part of every political hopeful's strategy. On the eve of Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, the first official contest of this year's presidential campaign, we take a look at how the seven Republican hopefuls are presenting themselves in the digital world of social media. This includes everything from tallying their Twitter followers and Facebook likes to comparing what kind of information they're most likely to share online. We also compare their scores on Klout, a site that aims to measure someone's influence based on their popularity on social media (a number some consider dubious, but that more folks online are starting to pay attention to). Of course, these numbers may have no bearing on how the candidates actually fare with Iowa caucusgoers. Some of the candidates may have departed the race by Wednesday night. And whoever survives the grueling process to presumably face President Barack Obama in November may change digital str

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Resolutions! Five Web behaviors to drop in 2012

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The top gaming stories of 2011

The top gaming stories of 2011 revolved around hacks, sequels, innovation It was the year of 3 : "Modern Warfare 3," "Uncharted 3," and "Battlefield 3" Hackers created new uses for Microsoft's motion-controlled Kinect system "Angry Birds" moved from just a game to pop culture phenomenon (CNN) -- It was a year of crippling -- and creative -- hacks, a year of blockbuster sequels and (yet again) a year of slinging vengeful birds at corpulent pigs. It was also a year in which gaming continued to expand beyond the traditional console to your phone, your tablet, your TV and your Facebook page. Video gaming in 2011 had plenty of ups and downs -- and we're not even talking about the actual video game titles that were released. Here, in no particular order, are our choices for gaming's 10 biggest stories of the year: Sony's PlayStation Network hacked While the explosion of social and mobile gaming continues, a hacking incident focused attention on the perils of gaming online. In April, Sony confirmed that its PlayStation Network, the online service that has more than 77 million users and allows online play for its PS3 consoles, was hacked and taken offline. Millions of PlayStation Network subscribers were affected by a breach in the spring of 2011. The episode was more than just a denial-of-service attack. Sony said that personal data, including users' credit card information, was compromised. While Sony stopped short of saying "stolen," the company recommended that its customers keep an eye on their credit card accounts and watch out for identi

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