apps

Windows 8 update includes Start button (sort of)

CNET Update is high in fiber:

In this episode of Update:

- See what changes Microsoft has in store for Windows 8.1 coming later this year.

- Give your pockets some breathing room with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone.

- Save $70 and become a selfie master with the cheaper iPod Touch.

- Count calories with Google's new nutrition search feature.

- Share safe-for-work photos with new status updates on LinkedIn.

- Find your way to the Facebook event with Waze's latest feature.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch … Read more

Sweet! Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic lands on iPad

If you're a gamer and "Star Wars" fan, your day just got a little better: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) arrived on the iOS App Store for iPad.

Supported by Apple's iPad 2 (running iOS 6) and newer iterations, Knights of the Old Republic costs a stout $10, but the 1.98GB download (which unpacks to 2.5GB) represents many hours of entertaining "Star Wars" gameplay. Game developer Aspyr ported the classic game originally created by Bioware.… Read more

Dear Microsoft: Add folders to the Windows 8 Start screen

Microsoft has a host of changes in store for Windows 8.1, including a nod in the direction of a Start button that the company is referring to as a Start "tip." But one feature I think would prove more useful would be a simple folder option for the Start screen.

As you install more apps in Windows 8, the OS keeps populating your Start screen with more and more tiles. The more apps you install, the more cluttered and crowded your Start screen becomes. Anyone who installs several dozen or more apps can easily find themselves having … Read more

Google adds color labels to its Calendar app for Android

For those extra-organized people, Google has updated its Calendar app for Android to add color labels and a new date and time tool.

The color labels palette lets users customize events or calendar listings with a choice of 24 colors. Certain important dates can be highlighted in different colors to especially catch users' attention.

As far as putting in certain events, the redesigned date and time tool lets users customize time zones and schedule events to be repeated on certain days, weeks, or months.

In other Google news, the tech giant also announced on Wednesday that it's revamping … Read more

Carpool creation site open for business

Launching with an ethos of "Keep it simple," the Group Carpool site is designed around the idea of making it easy for large groups of people to organize drivers and passengers.

James McBryan, programmer of Group Carpool, says he grew frustrated with using Google spreadsheets to match up drivers and passengers for backpacking trips. He set up this new Web application to provide a means of arranging transportation for specific events.

To create a carpool, you don't need to register for an account or log in with Facebook. It merely takes clicking the "Create a carpool&… Read more

Gmail tackles inbox clutter with tabs

CNET Update opens up a tab:

In this episode of Update:

- Avoid e-mail overload with new tabs in Gmail.

- Beautify photos before sharing with the updated Google+ iOS app.

- Choose to log into websites and apps with your Amazon account.

- Weigh the value of a Amazon Prime membership now that its creating five original shows.

- Watch a show and get tweets on the side with the new social app for the Dish Hopper.

- Give BlackBerry keyboard addicts a new fix on June 5, when T-Mobile sells the BlackBerry Q10.

CNET Update delivers the tech … Read more

Siri-like calendar app Tempo eyes other platforms

Tempo, the calendar app that uses Siri-like artificial intelligence to schedule meetings and dial in on conference calls, is racking up user data to decide where it will land next.

The app, created by Tempo AI, highlighted its popular conference call features on Wednesday. While the company -- which comes from SRI International, the same place that created Apple's Siri -- won't share its user numbers, it revealed that people have made 1 million one-tap conference calls with the app since its launch in February.

This feature lets users dial in on a conference call with a tap … Read more

Does this movie have a bonus scene after the credits? This app knows

If you've seen "Iron Man 3," you know there's a quick bonus scene -- a "stinger" -- at the tail end of the credits. A pretty good one, too.

That's par for the course with Marvel superhero movies, which started the tradition following the first "Iron Man," but what about other films? Is there anything at the end of "Star Trek Into Darkness" worth waiting for? Or "Fast & Furious 6"? Does "Before Midnight" tease the inevitable "Before Nursing Home" post-credits?

Instead of … Read more

Amazon unveils single sign-on service for Web sites and apps

You may soon be able to log into your favorite Web sites and apps using just your Amazon credentials.

Following in the footsteps of Facebook and other online companies, the retail giant on Wednesday launched a single-sign on feature dubbed Login with Amazon. The goal of the service is to reduce the need to juggle multiple passwords by allowing you to use your Amazon account to access various Web sites, apps, and games.

Available now to all developers, Login with Amazon is already in place at such Amazon subsidiaries as Zappos and Woot. Amazon claims that both sites saw strong … Read more