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Two months ago, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the federal stimulus legislation would pay for the purchase of hundreds of controversial full-body scanners.

"Through the Recovery Act, we are able to continue our accelerated deployment of enhanced technology as part of our layered approach to security at airports nationwide," Napolitano said at the time.

The number of scanners has roughly doubled since Napolitano's announcement and they are now found in 68 U.S. airports, and the Transportation Security Administration says the controversial devices have proven to be a success.

"We have received minimal complaints,&… Read more

We've all been there: standing, befuddled, in front of 30 blaring TV sets in a big-box store, struggling to decide which flat-screen TV would work in the living room. Or maybe you urgently need a new digital camera, but once you see dozens on display you forget the features you came for in the first place. These are the moments when you most need CNET's reviews and shopping advice.

The new CNET Reviews iPhone app gives you all our expert shopping advice anywhere you go. The app's bar code scanner instantly returns rated tech reviews and prices … Read more

I've said it before and I'll say it again (and, most likely, again after that): I'll never buy another printer that doesn't have Wi-Fi. I mean, come on. Cables? Really? This is the 21st century, people. Next you'll be telling me I have to use a cable to sync my iPhone. (Wait a minute...)

Today only, Epson has the refurbished WorkForce 610 All-in-One Printer for $43 shipped (when you use coupon code review12, otherwise it is $49). This is an office-caliber multifunction that sold for $200 when it debuted earlier this year.

The WorkForce prints, … Read more

3D is finally getting some love in the health segment--specifically the love handle segment. A 3D body scanner in development for 10 years and out this month from U.K. company Select Research, can not only tell how obese you are in relation to what's recommended, but exactly where those numerous high-tea buffets have distributed themselves. Ouch.

Say hello to BVI, or body volume index, and goodbye to BMI, or body mass index, which uses a standard international formula to calculate body weight.

The more detailed BVI system is a 7-foot-tall booth that scans a patient, stripped down to his or her undergarments, using 16 sensors and 32 cameras. In a whopping six seconds, more than 200 linear data measurements of the patient's body are gathered and sent to a secure server to be accessed and analyzed by authorized doctors. An exact "virtual" image of a person's shape is also created. The BVI scanner uses white light but no radiation. … Read more

Still using a USB cable to connect your printer to your PC? Hey, the 20th century called, and it wants its technology back!

Today only, Best Buy outlet store CowBoom has the HP Photosmart C6380 wireless multifunction printer for $39.99 (plus $5 for shipping). Amazingly, this unit is new, not refurbished, so it carries a full one-year warranty.

Update: Apologies, folks, looks like this is already sold out. But keep checking: CowBoom often adds extra stock through the day.

This is without question one of the best deals I've seen on an MFP--not just because of the price, … Read more

Following last week's Apple AirPrint announcement, today HP introduces three new printers featuring HP's ePrint technology that lets you print any document or picture from the Web using the unique e-mail address assigned to it.

Each printer takes drastic leaps away from previous consumer models inside and out, but each has the capability to connect to the Web through one-touch print apps for maps, movies, tickets, coupons, coloring books, and so on--as we first saw on last year's HP Photosmart Premium TouchSmart Web. The new line of printers thankfully have shorter names as well, so let's take a look at the offering:

The HP Envy 100 e-All-in-One appears to be the simplest of the three in terms of aesthetics, but the in-person briefing blew us away with the subtle design that hides it in a simple black rectangle when not in use. You'll notice it lacks that ugly paper tray marring most printers today because both the input and output trays extend and retract mechanically, like a CD tray on a desktop computer.

The eAll-in-One can print, scan, copy, and connect to the Web (hence the e-prefix) with print speeds rated by HP at 30 pages per minute for black ink, and 25ppm for color, and distributed by two ink cartridges (one black, one tricolor cyan, magenta, and yellow) hidden inside. The Envy 100 is a boon for the environment, as well, with zero PVC used to build the printer for easy recycling and reduced waste. Finally, you get a 3.45-inch touch-screen display with HP's TouchSmart integrated control panel for browsing and installing Web apps. The Envy will sell for $249 when it comes out on October 4.

Next up is the HP OfficeJet Pro 8500A Plus, a juiced-up version of the OfficeJet Pro 8500 Wireless that earned our Editors' Choice award last year for excellent performance speeds, a functional touch screen, and several networking options. This time around, the 8500A Plus gets a whole new look with eFeatures to back it up.

Instead of the small 3.45-inch screen on the old model, the A-Plus version upgrades to a 4.3-inch color graphics touch screen for flicking through the latest apps on the HP ePrintCenter app store, which now has partnerships with sites like Google Docs, Google Maps, Yahoo, PBS, Kraft.com, and more.

The all-in-one inkjet also gifts you the usual array of connectivity options including USB 2.0, an Ethernet port, PictBridge USB support, and 802.11 b/g/n wireless support. Techy details include 4,800ppi scan resolution, a 250-sheet input tray with a 50-sheet auto-document feeder, and a wider scanner bay for legal-size sheets of paper. The OfficeJet Pro 8500A comes out on September 13 for prices ranging from $299 to $499, depending on your choice of add-ons.… Read more

Most of the bargain multifunction printers I see are pretty bare-bones. Not today.

TigerDirect has the refurbished HP Photosmart Premium C309G for $79.99, plus around $10 for shipping. What puts the "Premium" in this model? It starts with the screen.

The C309G sports a 3.5-inch color touch screen, which not only previews any photos you want to print, but also serves as the all-in-one's interface. That's just plain awesome, especially when you compare it to the awkward, button-powered menus on my non-touch screen AIO.

Other amenities include Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi, the latter … Read more

Epson debuted its NX625 all-in-one printer Wednesday just in time for the back-to-school shopping season. The multifunction printer, scanner, and copier features built-in 802.11n wireless connectivity, mobile printing by way of Epson's iPrint app, a 2.5-inch color LCD screen, and a memory card reader so you don't have to deal with the hassle of a USB cord to print snapshot photos. We'll have more details in the full review coming soon, but the NX625 is shipping now for $150.

Six U.S. senators delivered a sharp rebuke to the U.S. Marshals Service on Thursday, saying that they were "disturbed" to learn that thousands of images produced by full-body scanners at security checkpoints were surreptitiously recorded.

The bipartisan group of senators demanded a detailed explanation from the Marshals Service, which installed the millimeter wave system at the security checkpoint of at a Florida courthouse. (See CNET's earlier article about the Marshals Service admitting the recording took place.)

A letter the politicians sent to Marshals Service director John Clark asks him to "identify any other locations … Read more