2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i

Perhaps it's BMW's fault for cramming so many similarly sized vehicles, between-size variants, and remixed configurations into its lineup, but I had the hardest time deciding if the 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i is too big or too small. The second-generation vehicle's aesthetic is more wagonlike and it seems to press down into the ground when...

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Google Now comes closer to Chrome, shares TV show info

Chrome prompts users if they want to receive Google Now updates through their browser. On a Mac, the prompt is through a menu-bar icon; on Windows, through a status bar icon. (Credit: screenshot by Stephen Shankland/CNET) Google Now notifications are expanding from Android to Chrome, and now the service can show information...

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Nvidia's graphics brawn powers supercomputing brains

Stanford machine-learning researchers and the Nuance voice recognition company are using Nvidia chips for neural networks. (Credit: Nvidia) Nvidia, trying to move its graphics chips into the supercomputing market, has found a niche helping engineers build brain-like systems called neural networks. For years, the company...

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Samsung Smart Camera WB800F (white)

Editors' note: Several of the design, features, and shooting options are identical between the Samsung WB800F and the WB250F we reviewed earlier, so readers of the earlier review may experience some deja vu when reading the same sections below. For those familiar with Samsung's point-and-shoot cameras, the Samsung WB800F Smart Camera might look a whole lot like Samsung's Android-powered Galaxy Camera. The cameras share the...

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Frustrated with Verizon's smartphone lineup? You're not alone

Verizon Wireless has built a loyal following by having a rock solid network. But traditionally, the carrier is not known for having the widest selection of cool devices. Getting Apple's iPhone a couple of years ago, helped ease the frustration. But Verizon's slow adoption of one of the season's hottest smartphones has some subscribers...

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Sony Xperia Z Ultra: one phablet to rule them all (hands-on)

Fancy a larger Xperia Z? Now you have it in the form of the Xperia Z Ultra. (Credit: Aloysius Low/CNET) Sony's latest smartphone, an LTE-capable 6.44-inch phablet, is a powerful addition to the Xperia family. It's not only the first smartphone from Sony Mobile to pack Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 800 processor, it's also...

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Samsung Galaxy Amp (Aio Wireless)

A brand-new phone for AT&T's brand-new Aio Wireless prepaid arm, the Samsung Galaxy Amp does a fairly good job balancing entry-level Android features with cost. Ringing in at $129.99 off-contract -- or $99.99 during an online promotion -- the Amp has a few notable points in its favor, like its strong call quality (it is a phone, after...

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Whistle-blower update: U.S. seeks Snowden extradition; WikiLeaker's Gmail searched

A woman walks past a banner displayed in support of ex-NSA analyst Edward Snowden in Hong Kong on June 18, 2013. (Credit: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images) Several stories involving whistle-blower/espionage suspect Edward Snowden cropped up Saturday, including word of a U.S. demand for his extradition. And news of a Justice...

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Has Samsung gone too niche with its new GS4 smartphones?

Samsung showed off its expanded line of Galaxy S4 smartphones at an event in London this week. (Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET) Samsung has expanded its Galaxy S4 family of products to appeal to niche markets, but consumers will likely find trade-offs in certain specifications and functionality in these devices. The company has...

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LG Optimus F7

The fact that the LG Optimus F7 is available on more than one carrier is no surprise. It's an excellent midlevel phone that's packed with quality specs, such as a vivid 4.7-inch touch screen, an 8-megapixel camera, and a dual-core CPU. Boost Mobile announced today that the F7 will be coming to the carrier on June 27 for $299.99 off contract,...

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Dish needs spectrum to fuel wireless broadband biz

Satellite TV provider Dish Network plans to take on cable and DSL broadband service with a new fixed wireless service that it's recently begun testing. But the success of its new business could depend on its ambitions to acquire more spectrum. Last week, Dish announced that is has already begun testing the new wireless broadband network...

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2012 Toyota RAV4 EV

Just about every automaker has an electric vehicle in its lineup now, from the Nissan Leaf to the soon-to-be-released BMW i3, but among this crop of quiet cars there is only one electric SUV. The Toyota RAV4 EV came about as tribute from Tesla Motors, in recompense for Toyota ceding its Fremont, Calif., manufacturing digs. I think Tesla...

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