Microsoft takes on Apple, Google with Windows 8

Microsoft has made available a preview version of its latest Windows software Windows 8 upgrade marks computing giant's long-awaited move into tablets Analyst says success of Windows 7 means there won't be stampede to upgrade Barcelona, Spain (CNN) -- Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 for public testing on Wednesday in the hope that it will help the brand win back some of the ground it has been losing to Apple and Google. The new operating system works on tablets as well as PCs and laptops, connecting them via the cloud to give users a more consistent experience as they switch between devices. "It's beautiful, modern, fast and fluid -- it's a generational change in the Windows operating system," Microsoft Windows President Steven Sinofsky said as he launched the consumer preview of the new operating system at Mobile World Congress, in Barcelona, Spain. Read more: Google, the star of the show? Windows 8 scales across devices and screen sizes, Sinofsky said. "There's too many hard stops between phones and tablets and desktops. We want to make things more harmonious," he said. The new operating system uses the "Metro" style of software currently being used on phones running the Windows operating system, using tiles on the start-up screen. .cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px} .cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px} .cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute} .cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px} .cnnArticleBoxIma

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What will your next mobile phone look like?

Screens have been main focus for mobile developers this year, says Stuart Miles Resolutions are up, screen clarity is crisp, and some of the screens are stunning are stunning, he says Phones are quicker, but manufacturers don't know what to do with the speed, Miles adds Editor's note: Technology journalist Stuart Miles is CEO and founder of gadget review website Pocket-lint. He can be found tweeting at @stuartmiles (CNN) -- The devices announced at this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) have better screens, are faster, and promise to do so much more than your current model -- so what will your next phone look like? The big push from phone makers this year is screens. It is the part of the phone we spend the most time looking at and the one that allows us to fully enjoy this pocket gateway to another world that we own. At every turn, every company is keen to tell you just how good the screen on its latest device really is.

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A campaign to make giving go viral

Everyone Gives campaign aims to make charitable giving social Donors to the campaign create a "giving tree" by sharing their gifts on social sites More than $250,000 from 6,500 people has been raised as of Monday (CNN) -- What if one small gift to your favorite charity could become dozens, hundreds or thousands? That's the goal of Everyone Gives, an online fundraising campaign launched last week that seek

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Manage (and make cash with?) your data online

New companies seek to help Web users take better control of their personal data One company, Personal, says users could one day trade data for perks, cash Singly offers data lockers that developers will use for personalized apps Google, Facebook and others have made billions by harnessing user data (CNN) -- It's a truth of the modern digital age: If you're using a Web service for free, you're not the customer. You're probably the product. The sites we visit, the videos we watch, the purchases we make and the items we reward with a Facebook "like" or a Google "+1" -- all of that, and more, eventually melds together into a data set that lets many of the world's most popular Web companies get to know us better. And they're using it to make billions of dollars. But what if Web users could reclaim their online data and benefit, or maybe even profit, f

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Manage (and make cash with?) your data online

New companies seek to help Web users take better control of their personal data One company, Personal, says users could one day trade data for perks, cash Singly offers data lockers that developers will use for personalized apps Google, Facebook and others have made billions by harnessing user data (CNN) -- It's a truth of the modern digital age: If you're using a Web service for free, you're not the customer. You're probably the product. The sites we visit, the videos we watch, the purchases we make and the items we reward with a Facebook "like" or a Google "+1" -- all of that, and more, eventually melds together into a data set that lets many of the world's most popular Web companies get to know us better. And they're using it to make billions of dollars. But what if Web users could reclaim their online data and benefit, or maybe even profit, f

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Manage (and make cash with?) your data online

New companies seek to help Web users take better control of their personal data One company, Personal, says users could one day trade data for perks, cash Singly offers data lockers that developers will use for personalized apps Google, Facebook and others have made billions by harnessing user data (CNN) -- It's a truth of the modern digital age: If you're using a Web service for free, you're not the customer. You're probably the product. The sites we visit, the videos we watch, the purchases we make and the items we reward with a Facebook "like" or a Google "+1" -- all of that, and more, eventually melds together into a data set that lets many of the world's most popular Web companies get to know us better. And they're using it to make billions of dollars. But what if Web users could reclaim their online data and benefit, or maybe even profit, f

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What Europe is doing about online privacy

Poll says 72% of Europeans are concerned about how companies use personal data Viviane Reding: The current data protection rules in Europe are badly outdated Reding: I propose new online privacy rules that will help both consumers and businesses Reding: Our confidence in a digital future will depend on how well we protect personal data Editor's note: Viviane Reding is the vice president of the European Commission. (CNN) -- Today, we live in a world of breathtaking possibilities. We can send instant messages to our loved ones on the other side of the world at the tap of a finger. We can share vacation photos with friends in real time. We can entrust our private data to a cloud service provider without having to worry about storage

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How to kill time without looking at your phone

Instead of pretending not to see someone 6 inches away from you, say "hello" Resist texting or playing with apps and try to value time with your friends A study shows 75% of respondents have used their phone in the bathroom Editor's note: Brenna Ehrlich and Andrea Bartz are the sarcastic brains behind humor blog and book "Stuff Hipsters Hate." Got a question about etiquette in the digital world? Contact them at netiquette@cnn.com. (CNN) -- During one's bustling life there are a collection of moments -- fragments out of time -- that afford one a sense of slow-down reflection. A kind of reprieve from the mania that is living. The 15 seconds it takes for the light to turn green. The 30 seconds waiting in line for one's morning coffee. The minute-and-a-half of unsupervised freedom you get before your boss climbs out from under his/her desk, wipes the tears from his/her scarlet face and r

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Did Google intentionally track you?

Google and other companies bypassed privacy protections to track users Chester Wisniewski: Google's actions reflect what is becoming the norm on the Internet He says Google is emulating Facebook's frictionless sharing, which is scary Wisniewski: We can look to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for a smart law on privacy Editor's note: Chester Wisniewski is a senior security adviser at Sophos Inc., Canada. He researches computer security and privacy issues and is a regular contributor to the Naked Security blog. (CNN) -- A few days ago, controversy erupted when news broke that Google and other online advertising companies bypassed privacy protections in order to track users of Apple's Safari web browser and iOS mobile devices. This is not the first time, nor likely the last time, that Google finds itself in hot water for questionable behavior. At a time when many companies (notably Facebook) try to come up with ingenious ways to hoard personal data about consumers for lucrative ends -- undermining users' privacy along the way -- Google's actions reflect

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Why Siri isn't included in OS X Mountain Lion

Apple has remained mum on whether Siri will ever be ported to other devices Putting Siri to Mountain Lion desktops would pose several challenges Siri voice analysis would be far more challenging on a Mac computer Siri is all about location services and desktop computers don't include native GPS (WIRED) -- Apple's latest OS X update, Mountain Lion, adds a slate of new features, nearly all derived from iOS 5. There's one big omission, however: Siri, Apple's voice-controlled virtual assistant, does not make the migration from mobile to desktop. Now, technically, Siri isn't a part of iOS 5. It's marketed as the most game-changing feature of the iPhone 4S (which runs iOS 5), and Apple has remained mum on whether Siri will ever be ported to other devices — this to the pique of independent developers who've hacked the feature to run on everything from the iPod touch to thermostats. Clearly, Siri is Apple's most celebrated user feature. And, clearly, there's interest to see it appear on other Apple devices. Indeed, companies throughout the consumer tech industry are exploring novel new user interface models, including voice-control and gesture-control. But porting Si

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Hands on with the new PS Vita

Sony's PlayStation Vita gaming device hits U.S. stores Wednesday Vita allows for eight different applications to run simultaneously The front has a touchscreen and two analog joysticks, a first for a portable gaming device Our verdict: Vita is a promising device whose success will depend on quality of its games (CNN) -- Sony's PlayStation Vita, which hits stores in the U.S. and Europe next Wednesday, is much more than just another portable gaming device. With the Vita, Sony is trying to combine the power of its PlayStation home console with the interface, portability and social media features of a smartphone. With its innovative touch controls, OLED screen, motion sensors, social apps, GPS capability and dual cameras, it has most of the bells and whistles that today's gamers could want. Some industry observers question whether gamers will spring $250-$300 for another portable gaming device -- plus potential monthly fees for a 3G data plan -- when smartphones already handle many of the same gaming functions. But Sony is counting on the Vita's appeal to hard-core action- and first-person shooter gamers who want a designated mobile gaming system, not just another gadget on which to play "Angry Birds." CNN spent a week testing

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Hands on with the new PS Vita

Sony's PlayStation Vita gaming device hits U.S. stores Wednesday Vita allows for eight different applications to run simultaneously The front has a touchscreen and two analog joysticks, a first for a portable gaming device Our verdict: Vita is a promising device whose success will depend on quality of its games (CNN) -- Sony's PlayStation Vita, which hits stores in the U.S. and Europe next Wednesday, is much more than just another portable gaming device. With the Vita, Sony is trying to combine the power of its PlayStation home console with the interface, portability and social media features of a smartphone. With its innovative touch controls, OLED screen, motion sensors, social apps, GPS capability and dual cameras, it has most of the bells and whistles that today's gamers could want. Some industry observers question whether gamers will spring $250-$300 for another portable gaming device -- plus potential monthly fees for a 3G data plan -- when smartphones already handle many of the same gaming functions. But Sony is counting on the Vita's appeal to hard-core action- and first-person shooter gamers who want a designated mobile gaming system, not just another gadget on which to play "Angry Birds." CNN spent a week testing

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Hands on with the new PS Vita

Sony's PlayStation Vita gaming device hits U.S. stores Wednesday Vita allows for eight different applications to run simultaneously The front has a touchscreen and two analog joysticks, a first for a portable gaming device Our verdict: Vita is a promising device whose success will depend on quality of its games (CNN) -- Sony's PlayStation Vita, which hits stores in the U.S. and Europe next Wednesday, is much more than just another portable gaming device. With the Vita, Sony is trying to combine the power of its PlayStation home console with the interface, portability and social media features of a smartphone. With its innovative touch controls, OLED screen, motion sensors, social apps, GPS capability and dual cameras, it has most of the bells and whistles that today's gamers could want. Some industry observers question whether gamers will spring $250-$300 for another portable gaming device -- plus potential monthly fees for a 3G data plan -- when smartphones already handle many of the same gaming functions. But Sony is counting on the Vita's appeal to hard-core action- and first-person shooter gamers who want a designated mobile gaming system, not just another gadget on which to play "Angry Birds." CNN spent a week testing

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Apple unveils Mac OS X Mountain Lion

Apple: Latest Mac operating system, named Mountain Lion, will launch this summer 30 percent of Mac users have OS 10.7 installed, another 50 percent favor Snow Leopard Developers will continue to make two separate versions of apps they want on Mac and iOS (Mashable) -- Apple developers, start your engines. Mac users, start dreaming of how much cooler your desktop or laptop experience could be this summer. That's when Apple will launch the latest big cat-themed Mac OS X, version 10.8: Mountain Lion. At 8:30 a.m. EST Thursday, the developer preview version of Mountain Lion became available to Apple's legions of app makers. Mashable was briefed on the new Mac OS prior to the announcement. Bottom line?

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Apple: Apps need approval to collect contacts

Apple will require apps that collect users' contact lists to ask permission first Announcement comes amid privacy concerns over apps secretly uploading contacts Apple spokesman: Problem will be addressed in a future software release Twitter also says it collects and stores some users' contacts to help find friends (CNN) -- Apple on Wednesday said it will start requiring mobile apps to get explicit permission from iPhone and iPad owners before t

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Twitter: Often first, but not always right

News organizations are battling with issues of verification in the age of social networks Hoaxes are common on social networks where mistruths can spread as legitimate news "Verification" and "Curation", are key to the future of news (Mashable) -- News of the tragic death of Whitney Houston this weekend didn't appear first on television or mainstream news sites. Instead it was revealed in a tweet posted forty-five minutes before the Associated Press reported the tragedy. The source: The niece of Houston's hairstylist, who also knew the circumstances of the singer's death hours prior to news outlets. A second Twitter user with the handle @chilemasgrande reported the story almost thirty minutes bef

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iPad retains value longer than Kindle

One year later, an iPad is typically worth about half its original retail price, stats say But the Kindle is worth one-quarter to one-third of its original price, according to data With Apple products, upgrading memory doesn't retain much value (CNN) -- Technology is not like wine. Electronics almost never gain value after they've been sitting around for a while, but some stand the test of time better than others. As Apple is reportedly readying a third-generation iPad to be unveiled in the next month or so, owners of previous versions of the tablet may be contemplating a way to unload them for cash. Fortunate for them, the iPad can be resold for about half its or

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iPad retains value longer than Kindle

One year later, an iPad is typically worth about half its original retail price, stats say But the Kindle is worth one-quarter to one-third of its original price, according to data With Apple products, upgrading memory doesn't retain much value (CNN) -- Technology is not like wine. Electronics almost never gain value after they've been sitting around for a while, but some stand the test of time better than others. As Apple is reportedly readying a third-generation iPad to be unveiled in the next month or so, owners of previous versions of the tablet may be contemplating a way to unload them for cash. Fortunate for them, the iPad can be resold for about half its or

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iPad retains value longer than Kindle

One year later, an iPad is typically worth about half its original retail price, stats say But the Kindle is worth one-quarter to one-third of its original price, according to data With Apple products, upgrading memory doesn't retain much value (CNN) -- Technology is not like wine. Electronics almost never gain value after they've been sitting around for a while, but some stand the test of time better than others. As Apple is reportedly readying a third-generation iPad to be unveiled in the next month or so, owners of previous versions of the tablet may be contemplating a way to unload them for cash. Fortunate for them, the iPad can be resold for about half its or

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Megaupload rivals bowing to anti-piracy pressure

Third-party aggregate sites no longer link to Megaupload's video host, Megavideo The demise of Megaupload as a file-hosting option has made vetting pirated content more difficult RapidShare technicians type words like "movies, free download" into search engines (CNN) -- When the Department of Justice shut down Megaupload.com last month, it wasn't just Megaupload users' files that went offline. The move prompted changes in the way other file-hosting sites share content and shook up anti-abuse departments across the industry. Since the federal crackdown, third-party aggregate sites no longer link to Megaupload's video host, Megavideo, which has also been shut down. File host videobb did not respond to questions from CNN regarding its anti-abuse policies, but links to the site's content were noticeably absent from sites like Side Reel following Megaupload's shutdown. Direct links to videobb's movies an

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Employers, workers navigate social-media pitfalls

As social-media campaigns become required for companies, tricky issues can arise Legal community eyes whether employees accounts belongs to them or their employer Companies can get embarrassed by posts, but freedom of speech protects some workers At the Olympics, volunteers were told to mind their posts for safety, privacy reasons (CNN) -- If you've ever wondered what a social-media presence is worth in an increasingly digitized business world, just ask Noah Kravitz's former employers. According to them, his Twitter followers are worth about $42,500 a month -- and they've gone to court to make him pay up. Kravitz has been sued for flipping followers from his work account to a personal one when he changed jobs. His case shines a spotlight on some thorny and confusing truths for both companies and their workers in the digital age. In 2012, it is nearly impossible to imagine any company engaging with the public without using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or other social networks. "Social media now is not an option, it's a necessity," said Anthony DeRosa, who, as social-media editor for Reuters news service, works to both share the company's content across the Web and help his co-workers do the same. "A couple of years ago that wasn't the case, but I think now people have to be a part of it, whether it's one social network or a couple of them." But at the same time, creating an online relationship with customers comes with risks. The past few months have seen more and more cases arise in which employees' personal and professional use of networking sites have created uncomfortable situations. Yes, there appears to be real and lasting value for employers in having an online presence that feels human, not corporate, sanitized and aloof. But i

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Inside story of Foxconn shrouded in secrecy

Miss Chen is one more than a million Chinese workers for Foxconn The company makes electronic products for world's leading brands, notably Apple Workers' rights groups allege long, unpredictable hours, no talking on factory floor CNN's Stan Grant notes being followed by white car on day of filming Chengdu, China (CNN) -- We meet her by chance on the side of a road. She looks the very model of a Chinese factory worker: young, vibrant, dressed in the cheap brand-name knockoff fashions so common of poor rural villages. Does she work at Foxconn, we ask. "Yes" came the reply. A relief after hours spent looking and not despairing of meeting anyone. Getting her to talk though would be a different matter. If caught, she says, she faces not just the loss of a job but criminal prosecution. Of course we would protect her identity and take her somewhere away from prying eyes. It is enough to sway her, and as we will find, she has a lot to say. We can't name her, so let's call her Miss Chen. She is one of more than a milli

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U.S. officials to get secure Android phones

Government, military officials to get Android phones capable of sharing secret documents The phones will run a modified version of Google's Android software, sources say Contractor: Google "more cooperative" than Apple working with government on phones (CNN) -- Some U.S. officials this year are expected to get smartphones capable of handling classified government documents over cellular networks, according to people involved in the project. The phones will run a modified version of Google's Android software, which is being developed as part of an initiative that spans multiple federal agencies and government contractors, these people said. The smartphones are first being deployed to U.S. soldiers, people familiar with the project said. Later, federal agencies are expected to get phones for sending and receiving government cables while away from their offices, sources said. Eventually, local governments and corporations could give workers phones with similar software. The Army has been testing touchscreen devices at U.S. bases for nearly two years, said Michael McCarthy, a director for the Army's Brigade Modernization Command, in a phone interview. About 40 phones were sent to fighters overseas a year ago, and the Army plans to ship 50 more phones and 75 tablets to soldiers abroad in March, he said. "We've had kind of an accelerated approval process," McCarthy said. "This is a hugely significant event." Currently, the United States doesn't allow government workers or soldiers to use smartphones for sending classified messages because the de

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U.S. officials to get secure Android phones

Government, military officials to get Android phones capable of sharing secret documents The phones will run a modified version of Google's Android software, sources say Contractor: Google "more cooperative" than Apple working with government on phones (CNN) -- Some U.S. officials this year are expected to get smartphones capable of handling classified government documents over cellular networks, according to people involved in the project. The phones will run a modified version of Google's Android software, which is being developed as part of an initiative that spans multiple federal agencies and government contractors, these people said. The smartphones are first being deployed to U.S. soldiers, people familiar with the project said. Later, federal agencies are expected to get phones for sending and receiving government cables while away from their offices, sources said. Eventually, local governments and corporations could give workers phones with similar software. The Army has been testing touchscreen devices at U.S. bases for nearly two years, said Michael McCarthy, a director for the Army's Brigade Modernization Command, in a phone interview. About 40 phones were sent to fighters overseas a year ago, and the Army plans to ship 50 more phones and 75 tablets to soldiers abroad in March, he said. "We've had kind of an accelerated approval process," McCarthy said. "This is a hugely significant event." Currently, the United States doesn't allow government workers or soldiers to use smartphones for sending classified messages because the de

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U.S. officials to get secure Android phones

Government, military officials to get Android phones capable of sharing secret documents The phones will run a modified version of Google's Android software, sources say Contractor: Google "more cooperative" than Apple working with government on phones (CNN) -- Some U.S. officials this year are expected to get smartphones capable of handling classified government documents over cellular networks, according to people involved in the project. The phones will run a modified version of Google's Android software, which is being developed as part of an initiative that spans multiple federal agencies and government contractors, these people said. The smartphones are first being deployed to U.S. soldiers, people familiar with the project said. Later, federal agencies are expected to get phones for sending and receiving government cables while away from their offices, sources said. Eventually, local governments and corporations could give workers phones with similar software. The Army has been testing touchscreen devices at U.S. bases for nearly two years, said Michael McCarthy, a director for the Army's Brigade Modernization Command, in a phone interview. About 40 phones were sent to fighters overseas a year ago, and the Army plans to ship 50 more phones and 75 tablets to soldiers abroad in March, he said. "We've had kind of an accelerated approval process," McCarthy said. "This is a hugely significant event." Currently, the United States doesn't allow government workers or soldiers to use smartphones for sending classified messages because the de

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Really, he's on Twitter? 10 unlikely tweeters

Twitter is home to some surprising tweeters Dalai Lama, the Pope both have accounts on the micro-blogging site About 60 years after breaking into comedy, Don Rickles tweets regularly Jordan's Queen Rania shares personal and social-change messages (CNN) -- Twitter says it has more than 100 million active users -- a pretty impressive chunk of the online population who are, if nothing else, checking in to see what other people are sharing. With that many folks on the six-year-old microblogging site, Twitter is always good for a few surprises. Sure, you already know about such famous tweeters as Ashton Kutcher, Lady Gaga and Shaq. But did you expect funnyman Danny DeVito to create a photo series of his foot in interesting places? And, sure, Democratic political strategist David Axelrod uses the site to share talking points and links. But who would have expected him to post a candid picture of President Barack Obama with "First Dog" Bo, then turn it into a not-so-subtle jab at GOP front-runner Mitt Romney? And then, there are the Twitterers who surprise you by being there in the first place. Whether because of their age, image or interests, some people just d

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How not to annoy people via e-mail

Don't be that dummy who piles spam atop spam by replying all Remember that work and personal e-mails are not interchangeable Delete all the headers in the body of your e-mail so the relevant material is at the top Editor's note: Brenna Ehrlich and Andrea Bartz are the sarcastic brains behind humor blog and book "Stuff Hipsters Hate." Got a question about etiquette in the digital world? Contact them at netiquette@cnn.com. (CNN) -- E-mail can be a lovely way to connect, an easy and instant medium for getting back or keeping in touch, a canvas for hellos and sorrys and XOXOs. But more often than not it's a backdrop for obnoxious behavior, and you, gentle readers, just don't stop giving us reasons

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