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Google looks to take a more measured approach to spending.Bloomberg via Getty Images Google has become known as the "moon shot" company, but there are signs it's starting to come back to earth. The search giant has become the talk of Silicon Valley for its costly projects, ranging from driverless cars, Wi-Fi-enabled balloons and radar-based chips. The goal: Find a new source of revenue and potentially change the world along the way. Google isn't giving up on those efforts, but its approach to spending is beginning to change. The company has been slower to add to its headcount and..

APPLE PATCHES DOZENS OF FLAWS IN IOS 8.4, OS X 10.10.4 by Dennis Fisher  June 30, 2015 , 2:28 pm   Apple has released new versions of iOS and OS X, both of which include a significant number of security patches, several for bugs that can lead to remote code execution and other serious issues. Version 8.4 of iOS contains fixes for more than 30 security vulnerabilities, including bugs in the iOS kernel, WebKit, and CoreText. Apple also patched the vulnerability that leads to the Logjam attack, an issue with servers that support weak Di..

Look around your house and chances are you that have a least a few devices equipped with Universal Serial Bus (USB) cables. On average, some 3 billion USB ports are shipped each year, by far the most successful type of peripheral connection. In years, though, USB is getting competition and it now trails behind the new Thunderbolt standard both in speed and ease of use. This is the gap that the latest in USB development, the USB Type-C,finalized just earlier this month, intends to fill. Before you can understand USB Type-C, however, you need to know the difference betw..

  Free public Wi-Fi is incredibly convenient, but security can be an issue. Here's how to minimize the risk, whether you use a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. by Lexy Savvides     @lexysavvides June 3, 2015 4:33 PM PDT ​           Stuck without a data connection on the road? Free public Wi-Fi is one of those little luxuries that can make travelling easier, but you do need to exercise caution in how you use it. Here are some tips on what to look out for whe..

A new notification prompts Windows 7 and 8.1 users to reserve an upgrade to the upcoming OS, due to debut July 29. by Lance Whitney @lancewhit June 1, 2015 7:24 AM PDT   You can now reserve your free copy of Windows 10, if you meet the necessary requirements. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET   Microsoft is now pushing Windows 10 via a notice suggesting you reserve a copy. On Monday, the software giant announced that Windows 10 will officially roll out July 29. That means it will be available on any PCs you p..

The next iteration of the software maker's operating system is slated to arrive in two months. by Nick Statt @nickstatt June 1, 2015 1:00 AM PDT   Nick Statt/CNET   Microsoft has set a release date for Windows 10 to arrive in the summer. The software maker announced Monday that it will begin offering its newest software to power PCs and tablets as a free upgrade on July 29. Windows 10 Mobile, the company's companion software designed to power smartphones, is expected to arrive later this year. Windows 10 will be fr..

    Stealthy Linux GPU malware can also hide in Windows PCs, maybe Macs Lucian Constantin May 11, 2015 8:32 AM A team of anonymous developers who recently created a Linux rootkit that runs on graphics cards has released a new proof-of-concept malware program that does the same on Windows. A Mac OS X implementation is also in the works. The developers are trying to raise awareness that malware can infect GPUs and that the security industry is not ready for it. Their goal isn’t to tip off malicious hackers, but the source code..

~ By Martin Brinkmann on May 8, 2015 in Google Chrome - Last Update: May 9, 2015 8 Google's Accessibility team has released two new Chrome extensions recently that improve the browser's accessibility in two specific ways. Animation Policy is a Chrome extension that gives you more control over animated image formats in the browser. Animations run in a never ending loop in Chrome by default which is not always the best usability experience especially since there is no quick option  to stop the animation once the image has loaded fully in the browser. Animation Policy prov..

   WRITTEN BY DOUG BONDERUD  CATEGORY AppleHow-To's October 24, 2014               You want a new smartphone, but you don’t want to pay too much. Buying pre-owned is one option for getting a great deal on a high-quality device, but now you’re wondering: What’s under the hood? Here’s a quick comparison of mobile operating systems (OS) to help you decide which pre-owned smartphone gives you the best value for your money. iOS If you’re considering an Apple product, iOS is the backbone. Any iPhone ..

You purchased a new computer. Congratulations! Now what? Do you just go along your merry way surfing the web, creating spreadsheets, playing Solitaire or changing your desktop background to a picture showing three furry kittens in a basket? No. There are several essential things you must do when you boot up your computer for the very first time. If you do not do these crucial steps, your computer experience will be less than wonderful in the months and years to come.   What To Do After You Boot Your New Computer So you’ve unboxed the new PC. You’ve attached the monitor and plugge..