2012

Apple products aren't perfect, but they get a lot closer than most.

One reason for Apple's success can be summed up nicely in the 13-inch MacBook Pro Retina.

At first blush, it seems uncharacteristically pedestrian and unrefined for an Apple product. It doesn't have the usual Apple panache or design boldness. And it's thicker -- despite being smaller -- than the 15.4-inch Pro Retina. … Read more

Chevrolet is offering a sizable price incentive in the face of price slashing in the electric car market.

The 2013 Volt now comes with a $4,000 cash-back incentive and the 2012 model ups that to $5,000, according to Michelle Malcho, a Chevrolet spokeswoman.

That's the largest Volt cash incentive that Chevy has offered to date, Malcho said.

Alternatively, a Volt can now be leased for $269 a month for 36 months with a $2,399 down payment.

The Volt is a plug-in hybrid (GM refers to it as an extended-range electric vehicle or E-REV) with a range … Read more

RadarSync PC Updater 2012 might be the easy way to keep your PC's drivers up to date, but its free trial disables its primary functionality. PC Updater scans your PC to identify its software and drivers, and then scans the Internet for updates and applies them one by one or all at once. While it's a free-to-try PC Updater, you still must register the program to apply the updates it identifies. That costs just under $25 but includes technical support (the interface even displays a toll-free, 24/7 support number).

PC Updater's user interface has controls for … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- Rovio, the company that developed the popular Angry Birds games, is not just a mobile gaming company anymore. It's an "entertainment" company, says Chief Operating Officer Harri Koponen.

Speaking at the CTIA 2013 trade show here Wednesday, Koponen described the company's evolution from casual game-maker to media mogul. The company, which launched its first Angry Birds game in December 2009 on the iOS platform, has built an empire around the lovable, wingless Angry Birds, which players hurl at structures to protect their eggs from "bad piggies."

"Entertainment is a big … Read more

When cameras do not have a panoramic capability, users may need a program to combine two separate images for the desired result. Hugin for Mac functions well, but is overly complicated for its relatively limited purpose.

The downloaded file folder contained multiple files in addition to a readme, and also had two subfolders, one of which was just for licenses. Installation of Hugin for Mac was overly complicated and actually placed two separate programs into the applications folder. Initiating the program also brought up a warning that a prior version was detected, which was not possible since the test computer … Read more

LAS VEGAS -- Verizon Wireless is teaming up with actress and singer Jennifer Lopez to better address the growing Hispanic market.

On Wednesday the company announced a partnership with Viva Movil, a new brand created by Lopez to capitalize on the fastest growing demographic in the U.S.

"This new company is here to revolutionize the entire mobile experience for Latinos," said Lopez. "There's no specific place for Latinos to be specifically catered to. We will continuously evolve the wireless shopping experience with Verizon Wireless's guidance and support."

Lopez, who will serve as chief … Read more

With the same searing beat, ridiculous lyrics, and tongue-in-cheek antics, South Korea's Internet phenomenon Psy is breaking charts again with his new single "Gentleman."

YouTube announced Monday that "Gentleman" is giving "Gangnam Style" a run for its money by setting the record for getting the most views in one day ever. On April 14, "Gentleman" hit more than 38 million views. And, after only being up for about a week, the video has a total of nearly 204 million views.

"From a stats perspective, it's one of the biggest … Read more

No one likes tax time -- not even paid tax preparers. They view tax season the way retailers view the holiday season; something to survive in order to thrive. Yet it's even worse for employers, who must not only do their own taxes but also prepare W-2s for each and every employee. Real Business Solutions has a solution for real businesses: W2 Mate 2012. Simply put, it can import, prepare, and file W-2, W-3, 1099, 1098, and related tax forms. Better yet, it saves you money by laser-printing your own government-approved substitute forms on blank paper. It prints individual … Read more

It's the Ming Dynasty, China's era of chivalry and a time when many of the great martial arts traditions had their beginnings. Rival "White" and "Black" clans battle in an age when myth, magic, and monsters were real. Choose your clan and follow your destiny, perfecting your fighting skills to become a true martial artist. OnNet USA's 9Dragons is a free martial arts MMORPG that has all the elements: A semi-mythical backdrop of ancient Imperial China, a diverse selection of characters to choose from, and the dynamic, exaggerated fighting style of big-screen martial … Read more