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Microsoft is sponsoring some free Wi-Fi sites in New York and San Francisco to drum up interest in Windows 8.

Six different Manhattan subway stops will feature free Wi-Fi starting immediately, and another 200-plus hotzones across the city will light up November 1. The subway locations are supported by Transit Wireless, which provides Wi-Fi service for travelers riding the rails underground.

Residents of San Francisco can surf at Microsoft's expense at hotzones in such locations as Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, UN Plaza, the Financial District, and Nob Hill. The hotzones in New York City and San Francisco all … Read more

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- A device to call your mom when you crash your bike.

- Stop the madness: 3D-printed headphones?!

- A jacket that hugs you for getting "Likes" on Facebook.

- Target adds QR codes to hot holiday toys for secret shopping.

- Also, New York is about to have QR codes everywhere soon.

Bathroom break video: Salt Lake from Lance follows up… Read more

Facebook's wishes have been granted, at least for now. The dozens of lawsuits brought against the social network over its bungled initial public offering have been consolidated and will be heard before one federal judge in New York, according to Reuters.

Approximately 50 lawsuits have been brought against the social network, some of its underwriters, and the Nasdaq exchange. Earlier today, a panel of federal judges ruled that all of these cases will be collected throughout the U.S. and transferred to U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet in Manhattan.

According to Reuters, Facebook said that it was pleased … Read more

The Apple Maps schadenfreude festival of hits just keeps coming. Mad Magazine is the latest to pile on Apple following the debacle over the half-baked maps in iOS now being mocked daily, along with CEO Tim Cook's public apology.

Mad also couldn't resist taking a shot at the venerable and oft-monocled New Yorker at the same time in this hilarious mockup of a cover of the magazine that imagines a view of the world as presented with the help of Apple Maps. … Read more

Following up on last year's popular launch of official "Star Wars" currency, the New Zealand Mint revealed a new set of coins featuring Queen Amidala, Yoda, Darth Maul, and Anakin from the epic sci-fi prequel trilogy.

The colorful 1.6-inch diameter coins work as $2 legal tender on the tiny South Pacific island country of Niue and individually contain one ounce of .999 silver. A ripple in the Force indicates that few people would probably actually spend these collectors' items, and if they do, they may get clubbed over the head by Yoda's cane. … Read more

The New York Times is testing the mobile waters with a new Web site optimized for the iPad.

Created using HTML5 and formatted for the iPad, the new mobile Web app is designed to supplement the paper's print edition and Web site. The app is available to subscribers of the Web site and to home delivery customers who link their accounts with one of the digital access options.

Unlike the Times Web site, which delivers stories in a traditional format, the app presents the news in a variety of different views.

The Trending section displays the top 25 trending … Read more

Setting up shop in and around the New York Hall of Science, Maker Faire brought with it its usual cavalcade of robots, 3D printers, lock-picking tutorials, DIY circuit boards, and other experimental, artistic, and otherwise inspired technology and creative projects.

I certainly didn't capture everything at the event in the above slideshow, but after walking around for 3 hours this past Saturday, I'll say that I caught a reasonably representative slice of the Maker Faire at large.

A 625-foot-tall Ferris wheel, the New York Wheel, is set to debut on Staten Island in 2015, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today.

When construction ends, the New York Wheel should stand as the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, outpacing the current champ, the Singapore Flyer, by 84 feet. The iconic London Eye and upcoming Las Vegas "High Roller" Wheel also stand far below New York's mega wheel in height. … Read more

Officials in New Zealand's government apparently believed the law gave them the right to spy on MegaUpload founder Kim DotCom because he was a foreign national.

They were wrong.

In New Zealand today, Prime Minister John Key apologized to DotCom for the spying conducted against him by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).

The United States has accused DotCom of criminal copyright violations. In January, New Zealand police raided his home and arrested him. Just ahead of the raid, the GCSB began collecting intelligence against DotCom to see if he posed any danger to the police who would later … Read more