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Kindle 2: Hands-on impressions

While Amazon isn't doling out review samples of its new Kindle 2 digital reader for a few weeks, I did get a chance to play with it at the launch event and come away with some first impressions.

Let me start by saying that the Kindle 2 is a nice upgrade over the original Kindle, but we're not talking a jump from, say, black-and-white television to color, so early adopters who own the original Kindle shouldn't feel too dejected.

Yes, the Kindle 2 is thinner--it measures a svelte 0.36 inches at its thickest point--and weighs in at 10.2 ounces. It also has 25 percent improved battery life and is about 20 percent faster, thanks to an upgraded processor. And it's got 16 shades of gray instead of 4, so the text pops a little more. But this is an evolution, not a revolution.

One thing that hasn't changed much is the height and width of the new Kindle. Some people have complained that the original Kindle should have been shorter and forgone the keyboard, like the Sony Reader. Whether you're a fan of the keyboard or not, it's worth noting that the Kindle 2 is about the same size as the original, measuring 8 inches top to bottom. According to the specs, the screen itself is a 6-inch, diagonal, E-Ink, electronic-paper display, with 600x800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi.

One gripe that Amazon has clearly addressed is the issue with the page-advance button. On the original Kindle, that button was extra long and easy to depress, which meant it was very easy to accidentally turn pages. On the Kindle 2, the page-turn buttons are smaller, and in playing with the device I noticed that it took a bit more effort to actually click the button and advance a page.

First Look video: TurboTax vs. TaxCut

Finding your way to the right tax-prep program is almost as complicated as doing the taxes themselves.

In this First Look video, we'll walk you through the pros and cons of the superpopular tax-prep programs TaxCut (by H&R Block) and TurboTax (by Intuit.) The differences between them add up to more than just looks and cost.

Time Crisis Comes to the iPhone

Although the gameplay likely won't match the arcade-console play that made this game famous, Namco Networks has released Time Crisis Strike for the iPhone and iPod touch The game is available now for $5.99 through the App Store. Users tap the screen to fire a semi-automatic pistol. Users can also tilt the iPhone/iPod touch to duck, take cover from enemy fire and reload.

Time Crisis Strike features two game modes: Arcade Mode and Crisis Missions. In Arcade Mode, players move through multiple stages that "culminate in a final showdown with the evil Wild Dog." Crisis … Read more

Applied Materials warns of loss

Applied Materials warned Monday of a first-quarter loss. One of the biggest charges cited was doubtful accounts, as customers failed to pay up.

The largest maker of chip production equipment said that it expects a net loss in the range of 9 cents to 11 cents per share for its first fiscal quarter, which ended January 25. It pointed to a restructuring charge of approximately $133 million (or 6 cents per share) associated with a cost reduction program announced on November 12, 2008, as the largest charge. At that time, Applied said it would cut 1,800 jobs, or about … Read more

First Look video: Air Mouse for iPhone 1.5

Infinitely cooler and more practical than the still-respected iTunes Remote is Air Mouse for iPhone 1.5 ($6). Why? You can play music and videos from any media player, for starters, not just from Apple's pet player.

In fact, Air Mouse gives you the reins to the keyboard and mouse, with new screens in this version that are tailored to commanding the Web browser, media players, and function keys. Then there are the two methods for wielding your iPhone's remote mouse, and new support for landscape mode.

In a word, it's awesome, and it works (with the … Read more

Police Blotter: Pedophile loses spat over 'girl love' site

Police Blotter is a regular CNET News report on the intersection of technology and the law.

What: A self-described girl lover with no criminal record is ordered to cease posting images of young girls on a Web site, even if the photographs were taken in public places.

When: California appeals court rules on January 15, 2009.

Outcome: Restraining order stays intact.

What happened, according to court documents and other sources: Jack McClellan enjoys the dubious distinction of being the Internet's most famous pedophile. The self-described connoisseur of prepubescent girls promoted his Web site as the "premier site of … Read more

Supreme Court deals death blow to antiporn law

The U.S. Department of Justice has been trying since 1998 to convince courts that a federal antiporn law targeting sexually explicit Web sites was constitutional.

No longer. On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected prosecutors' last-ditch defense of the Child Online Protection Act, meaning that the law will not be enforced.

COPA was enacted during the anti-Internet porn scares of the late 1990s, in part as a narrower answer to a previous Net censorship law that also met its demise in the courts. Any commercial Web site operator that posts "material that is harmful to minors" … Read more

First Look video: Slacker for BlackBerry

Slacker Radio started 2009 with a burst, releasing a mobile version of Slacker's streaming-Internet radio app for BlackBerry (story|download) that takes unique advantage of its hardware and storage capabilities to add some truly useful features.

Check out this First Look video to watch these features play out on the BlackBerry Bold.

First Look video: Windows 7 beta

The beta of Windows 7 shows off Microsoft's most innovative operating system in years. Everything from the look to the guts has been overhauled. A completely revamped taskbar changes the way you'll interact with your programs for the better, and nobody will be complaining about the faster boot time, the faster program launch time, and the improved resource management.

In this First Look video, I'll give you a quick overview of what Windows 7 beta can do and how to use it. The only problem? Having to wait until summer for the official release.

First Look video: Watch Vringo in action

In case you missed our news yesterday about the release of Vringo 2.0 Mobile Application, we created a little video to show you the app in action.

Vringo's free video-ringtone service lets you customize what your other Vringo-registered friends see on their screens when you call.

Although it's only available right now for Sony Ericsson handsets, all you other Java- and Symbian-phone owners will want to pay attention, because version 2.0 is said to be headed your way by the end of January.