Source: USA TODAY

This week we looked at innovations from Google, heard a mysterious tech mogul break his silence and tested the newest products in the tech world. Here’s what you need to know about the week in Tech:

1) Google plans big updates for search, new music service

There was little sign of Google Glass on stage at the company’s I/O event on Wednesday, but that doesn’t mean Google is slacking. CEO Larry Page announced a wide range of new Google services and updates for existing services.

The highlights:

• Google Now: The search feature, originally an Android exclusive, recently made its way to the iPhone. Among new features on tap: Reminders, which will remind you of something when you arrive at or leave a specific location.

• Games: Google Play game services will allow members to invite other Google+ users to join in multiplayer games.

• Music: Google launched a streaming music service, Google Play Music All Access. The service will cost $9.99 per month, but if you sign up before June 30 it costs only $7.99 per month.

• Phone: Google will start selling a specialized version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 through its Google Play store for $649.

2) The view through Google Glass? Cool

USA TODAY’s Ed Baig was able to spend some time with Glass recently. He said that “while Glass still has elements of the unfinished project that it is, you can’t help but be impressed by what it can already do, and can’t help but be seduced by its boundless possibilities. In other words, it’s really cool.”

The basics: Glass can take a picture, record a video, give you directions, handle searches, send a message, help you perform a Google hangout or make a call. It connects to the cloud wirelessly through Wi-Fi. The device is worn like a regular pair of glasses and turns off automatically after 10 seconds of inactivity.

Baig says even though it’s still in early stages, “[I've] seen enough already to know that I want a pair of my own.”

3) John McAfee breaks long silence in interview

Former tech mogul John McAfee sat down for an exclusive interview with USA TODAY’s Jon Swartz to share his side of his own sensational story. McAfee was named as a “person of interest” last year in the shooting death of Gregory Viant Faull, his neighbor in Belize. McAfee fled to Guatemala and chronicled his adventures on Facebook, Twitter and his personal website. He was eventually detained by Guatemalan authorities and deported to the U.S. He currently lives in Portland with his girlfriend.

Here’s what McAfee wants the public to know about him:

• He isn’t a criminal: “People ask me, ‘How did it feel to kill a man?’ ” he said. “And I can honestly tell them I wouldn’t know, because I never have.”

• He’s not crazy: “I am not a madman. I am eccentric, gracious, attentive, kind, humorous. We humans are funny creatures.”

• He’s ready to share more of his story: There are books and movie projects in the works about his time in Belize.

4) Square Stand turns iPad into digital cash register

Retailers and customers are in for a much-improved store experience. Mobile-payment service Square unveiled Square Stand earlier this week, a device that turns an iPad tablet into a digital cash register.

The stand works with Square’s Square Register app and features a built-in card reader, an outlet for a receipt printer and a bar code scanner. Best Buy will be one of the first retailers to carry the stand in July. Square co-founder Jack Dorsey said the stand might also make its way to Starbucks.

5) YouTube comedy week starts Sunday

YouTube wants to put a shine on one of its most popular genres — laughs — with a week-long, star-studded comedy festival beginning Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

Guests on the initial two-hour live stream include film stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Seth Rogen, Comedy Central’s Tim and Eric, TV’s Conan O’Brien and Rainn Wilson, comedians Ricky Gervais and Sarah Silverman and homegrown YouTube stars The Gregory Brothers, Rhett & Link and Ryan Higa.

After the live show, the Sunday performances will be archived at youtube.com/comedyweek. New shows will continue each night next week at 8 p.m. ET through Saturday.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

Apple topped 50 billion downloads in its App Store earlier today.

Brandon Ashmore from Mentor, Ohio, downloaded the 50 billionth app, Say the Same Thing by Space Inch LLC. Apple awarded him a $10,000 App Store Gift Card.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, said in a press release that the company is “absolutely floored” to pass this milestone.

“The App Store completely transformed how people use their mobile devices and created a thriving app ecosystem that has paid out over nine billion dollars to developers,” Cue said.

Customers download over 800 apps per second from the App Store at a rate of two billion apps per month.

The App Store opened in July 2008 with 500 apps, and now offers over 850,000 apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

The company revealed the top 25 paid and free apps for the iPhone and iPad last week. The most popular apps included Angry Birds, Facebook, Pages and Skype.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

This week, we looked back at Apple’s most popular apps, played with a futuristic table PC and listened to a new radio service. Here’s what you need to know about the week in tech:

1) Games dominate Apple’s all-time apps list

Apple users like to work hard and play hard. The company unveiled the top 25 paid and free apps for the iPad and iPhone, and games dominated both lists. Apple said games account for 15 of the 25 most downloaded apps on the iPad, and 21 of the 25 top paid iPhone apps.

Here are the top five apps for each category:

Top paid apps for iPhone:Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Doodle Jump, Cut the Rope, Angry Birds Seasons

Top free apps for iPhone: Facebook, Pandora, Instagram, YouTube, Skype

Top paid apps for iPad: Pages, Angry Birds HD, Angry Birds Seasons HD, Where’s My Water?, Fruit Ninja HD

Top free apps for iPad: Skype, The Weather Channel, Netflix, Angry Birds HD Free, Kindle

2) Lenovo’s 27-inch table PC is fun, versatile

Lenovo has combined tablet and PC into one very cool device. The Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC functions as a 27-inch touch screen Windows 8 computer when held upright. But when you lay it flat, the computer presents a touch overlay called Aura and transforms into a tabletop environment for playing games, looking at photos and listening to music. The table allows multiple people to interact with the table at once — perfect for family game time.

USA TODAY’s Ed Baig took the table PC for a spin and said he had a good time playing air hockey and looking at photos. The IdeaCentre is not always intuitive; Baig said it was hard to find the exit button in some games and the mute button in music mode. But he has high hopes for the PC’s social features: “Lenovo’s machine promises to keep you engaged and (literally) in touch with friends and family.”

3) First Take: Internet taxation shapes Amazon-eBay battle

A new bill in Congress could mean higher prices in the world of online shopping.

The Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act last week, a bill that would require online retailers with sales of at least $1 million to collect sales tax in the states where they ship goods (taxes would vary by state).

What does this mean for you? It depends on where you shop.

Amazon: The company “embraces [the tax] as it looks to expand its physical operations across the USA, paving the way for faster, same-day delivery of goods,” says USA TODAY’s Jon Swartz.

Ebay: The auction site “argues the tax would hinder its sellers who do more than $1 million in out-of-state sales annually.”

Online shoppers can rest easy for at least a few more months. The act has to pass the Republican-controlled House and get approval from President Obama.

4) Talking Tech: Slacker face-lift dials in more listeners

Online radio service Slacker is slacking no more. The free service relaunched with a fresh new look in February and quickly climbed the charts to No. 3 for radio apps. Slacker offers over 200 pre-programmed radio stations and 13 million songs on-demand.

So what can you expect from Slacker in the months (and years) ahead?

• Fine-Tune: The new tool lets users adjust the mix of artists on a particular radio station.

• Premium service: You can pay $9.99 for on-demand music or $3.99 for an ad-free version.

• Car features: Slacker is working with car companies to get the service in car stereos and dashboards.

5) Ouya game system gains funding; retail date pushed back

A new low-cost game system is on its way … but we’re not sure when it will arrive. The Ouya game console, originally a Kickstarter project, will now be released on June 25 instead of its original release date of June 4.

Ouya raised $8.6 million on Kickstarter last June and “really [broke] the mold on how you bring a new product to market by starting with Kickstarter,” said founder and CEO Julie Uhrman to USA TODAY’s Mike Snider.

But here’s a bit of good news: This pushback will give the company more time to produce consoles for retail stores. Ouya will launch with 120 games, including Portal, Left 4 Dead and Soul Fjord Studio.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

This week in Tech we looked at innovations from Google, learned more about upcoming video games and checked in with two comedy legends. Here’s what you need to know about the week in Tech:

1) Google Now coming to iPhone and iPad

Google might know you better than you know yourself. The company’s Google Now app, making its debut on the iPhone and iPad this week, delivers timely information based on your past searches and your user information without you having to ask first. You’ll see sports scores if you frequently search for a particular team, and you’ll get a bus timetable if you’re near a bus stop.

USA TODAY’s Ed Baig compared the new iOS app to the Android app, which came out nine months ago, and said the iOS app is a good start. Google Now for iOS won’t present your plane tickets or movie tickets, as the Android app does, because of conflicts with Apple’s Passbook app. But Baig says he “assumes Google Now will get better over time.”

2) Video game roundup

Grand Theft Auto is going Hollywood. The popular franchise’s fifth installment lets users take part in the planning of a heist reminiscent of the movies Ocean’s Eleven and Heat. The game lets you switch between its three main characters — Michael, Franklin and Trevor — as they steal a garbage truck, deal with cops and more. GTA V will be released Sept. 17 for PS 3 and Xbox 360.

Another well-loved video game franchise will also make its return this fall. Call of Duty: Ghosts will be released on Nov. 5 for PlayStation 3, Xbox and other game systems. The game already has a new Facebook page and a YouTube teaser trailer. Details about the game are scarce, but developers are expected to reveal more information at a May 21 Xbox event.

3) BlackBerry CEO: Tablets ‘not a good business model’

Are tablets a fad? BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins seems to think so. He told Bloomberg earlier this week that “in five years, I don’t think there’ll be a reason to have a tablet anymore,” and tablets themselves are “not a good business model.” Heins predicts that more users will gravitate toward installing big screens in their workplaces.

This isn’t the first time that BlackBerry has made bold moves against the tide of the tech world. Its Q10 smartphone, launching in May, will be one of the only smartphones on the market with a physical QWERTY keyboard. But it remains to be seen whether or not consumers will flock back to “the good old days” of physical keyboards.

4) Talking Your Tech: Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner

It’s no surprise that up-and-coming comedians use Twitter to test out jokes and shape their comedy routines. But these comedy newbies face some serious competition: Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner.

The legendary duo helped kick off Twitter’s #comedyfest at the Paley Center earlier this week by talking about tech and making a new Twitter account for Brooks (@melbrooks).

Brooks already has nearly 20,000 followers, but he doesn’t plan on updating regularly. “He Twitters all day in his head,” Reiner told USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham about Brooks. “He says more funny things all day than anyone I know. But he doesn’t know how to type. You can’t Twitter without typing.”

But don’t worry — Reiner tweets enough for the both of them. He shares snippets of his upcoming book, posts photos and gives shout-outs to famous friends, including Jon Stewart and Judd Apatow.

5) Hurricane on Saturn a stunner

Astronomers are getting ready to take a look at a new hurricane on Saturn. On Monday the International Cassini spacecraft team unveiled some dynamic images of a hurricane taking over Saturn’s northern pole. The hurricane is 1,250 miles across, and its clouds whirl at 330 mph. Check it out for yourself here.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

This week in Tech we looked at innovations from Google, learned more about upcoming video games and checked in with two comedy legends. Here’s what you need to know about the week in Tech:

1) Google Now coming to iPhone and iPad

Google might know you better than you know yourself. The company’s Google Now app, making its debut on the iPhone and iPad this week, delivers timely information based on your past searches and your user information without you having to ask first. You’ll see sports scores if you frequently search for a particular team, and you’ll get a bus timetable if you’re near a bus stop.

USA TODAY’s Ed Baig compared the new iOS app to the Android app, which came out nine months ago, and said the iOS app is a good start. Google Now for iOS won’t present your plane tickets or movie tickets, as the Android app does, because of conflicts with Apple’s Passbook app. But Baig says he “assumes Google Now will get better over time.”

2) Video game roundup

Grand Theft Auto is going Hollywood. The popular franchise’s fifth installment lets users take part in the planning of a heist reminiscent of the movies Ocean’s Eleven and Heat. The game lets you switch between its three main characters — Michael, Franklin and Trevor — as they steal a garbage truck, deal with cops and more. GTA V will be released Sept. 17 for PS 3 and Xbox 360.

Another well-loved video game franchise will also make its return this fall. Call of Duty: Ghosts will be released on Nov. 5 for PlayStation 3, Xbox and other game systems. The game already has a new Facebook page and a YouTube teaser trailer. Details about the game are scarce, but developers are expected to reveal more information at a May 21 Xbox event.

3) BlackBerry CEO: Tablets ‘not a good business model’

Are tablets a fad? BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins seems to think so. He told Bloomberg earlier this week that “in five years, I don’t think there’ll be a reason to have a tablet anymore,” and tablets themselves are “not a good business model.” Heins predicts that more users will gravitate toward installing big screens in their workplaces.

This isn’t the first time that BlackBerry has made bold moves against the tide of the tech world. Its Q10 smartphone, launching in May, will be one of the only smartphones on the market with a physical QWERTY keyboard. But it remains to be seen whether or not consumers will flock back to “the good old days” of physical keyboards.

4) Talking Your Tech: Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner

It’s no surprise that up-and-coming comedians use Twitter to test out jokes and shape their comedy routines. But these comedy newbies face some serious competition: Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner.

The legendary duo helped kick off Twitter’s #comedyfest at the Paley Center earlier this week by talking about tech and making a new Twitter account for Brooks (@melbrooks).

Brooks already has nearly 20,000 followers, but he doesn’t plan on updating regularly. “He Twitters all day in his head,” Reiner told USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham about Brooks. “He says more funny things all day than anyone I know. But he doesn’t know how to type. You can’t Twitter without typing.”

But don’t worry — Reiner tweets enough for the both of them. He shares snippets of his upcoming book, posts photos and gives shout-outs to famous friends, including Jon Stewart and Judd Apatow.

5) Hurricane on Saturn a stunner

Astronomers are getting ready to take a look at a new hurricane on Saturn. On Monday the International Cassini spacecraft team unveiled some dynamic images of a hurricane taking over Saturn’s northern pole. The hurricane is 1,250 miles across, and its clouds whirl at 330 mph. Check it out for yourself here.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

This week, we checked out two new smartphones, celebrated 10 years of iTunes and took a new look at an old favorite children’s TV show. Here’s what you need to know about the week in Tech:

1) Samsung Galaxy S4 is loaded with gee-whiz features

Hands-free control of gadgets is not just a CGI trick in sci-fi movies anymore. USA TODAY’s Ed Baig took a look at the new Samsung Galaxy S4 earlier this week, which offers up a grab bag of fresh features. A user can answer calls or skip songs with the wave of a hand, pause a video by looking away from the screen, eliminate unwanted people or objects from photos and use the phone as a TV remote.

Sounds cool, right? Not so fast. Baig was impressed with the camera tools, but says the touchless features were sometimes “gimmicky” and “not particularly functional.” The “smart pause” feature for videos and the “smart scroll” feature that promised to scroll the screen according to the way you tilt your head didn’t always work. However, Baig says, the phone is worthwhile if you “stick to the basics on what is a very appealing phone.”

2) iTunes Store turns 10

Apple’s hugely popular music store will celebrate its 10^th anniversary on Sunday. iTunes has sold a very impressive 25 billion songs since 2003.

Then: iTunes launched with 200,000 songs. Record stores were on the decline and music downloading was largely illegal.

Now: iTunes has sold over 25 billion songs and $4.1 billion worth of media overall.

The future: Experts told USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham that “the iTunes store dominated by downloads is on its last gasp.” YouTube and online streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora offer a huge selection of music for free or for low monthly fees.

Apple is expected to try its hand at its own online streaming service, nicknamed ‘iRadio’ by industry analysts. The company’s pay-per-song download model still dominates the music world, but former music industry lawyer Bob Lefsetz told Graham that this might not be the case in five years: “When iTunes turns 15 years old, we won’t be talking about downloads, because Apple won’t be selling them.”

3) BlackBerry lovers will give Q10 a thumbs up

The BlackBerry keyboard is finally back, on the new Q10 smartphone. So how is it?

Ed Baig says if you are a longtime BlackBerry user and a devoted fan of the keyboard, you’ll welcome the Q10. But it won’t help bring in new users: “The phone still seems destined to remain a niche product.” New features include a removable battery, bigger keys on the keyboard, and a “BlackBerry Balance” feature that separates work content from personal content.

4) ‘Good Morning, Y’all,’ tweets @levarburton every day

Beloved children’s show Reading Rainbow is back, thanks to its former host, LeVar Burton. His RRKidz company bought the rights to the show from PBS to rework it as an app for the iPad. The Reading Rainbow app gives kids access to a wide selection of books for a monthly fee of $9.99. Over 1.5 million books and videos have been read or watched on the app so far. You can also find LeVar Burton on Twitter at @levarburton. Burton has over 1.7 million followers, whom he greets with a “Good Morning Y’all” every day.

5) Hubble captures preview of comet that could upstage moon

Amateur astronomers, rejoice! NASA says its Hubble telescope got a sneak peek of a comet heading for a close encounter with the sun sometime soon. The space agency says the comet is currently traveling toward the sun at 47,000 mph and will grace the nighttime sky with its presence sometime later this year.

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

Source: USA TODAY

This week in Tech we learned more about Google Glass, tried out new gadgets and talked to one of the funniest women on Twitter. Here’s what you need to know about the week in Tech:

1) Tech specs for Google Glass revealed

Google finally unveiled details about its long-awaited Google Glass wearable device.

What we know: The company’s support page says Glass can shoot 720p video, supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, comes with 12 GB of memory and a battery that can last through one day of constant use. The glasses allow wearers to surf the Web, check messages, snap photos and more through voice commands.

What we don’t know: When will the device be released? Google is starting to ship the first set of devices to ‘Explorers,’ people who are trying out Glass as part of Google’s “ifihadglass” project. But the company has not announced a wider release date yet.

2) Sherpa for Android aims high on voice search

Android finally has a counterpart to Apple’s Siri with a new app, Sherpa. The voice assistant answers questions, streams music and more.

So how does Sherpa compare? USA TODAY’s Ed Baig tried out the app on a Samsung Galaxy III and said Sherpa is “less than perfect” but “you can see Sherpa’s potential.” Siri gave more visual answers to questions, reported stock prices faster and had a wider variety of available music. But Sherpa had better search results, expanded Paypal capabilities and excellent travel-arrangement features. It seems this match is a draw…for now.

3) Get Perk rewards points for surfing or shopping online

Get ready to earn a new type of frequent-flier miles without ever leaving the couch. A new “loyalty Web browser,” Perk.com, gives users “Perk Points” for browsing and spending on various sites. Points can be redeemed for products, services and gift cards. Participants on board so far include Dell, Best Buy, Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom.

Ed Baig surfed the Web with Perk and said he liked how easy it is to gain points, but he didn’t like that the site imposes a delay on redeeming points. If you rent a movie today on iTunes, you can’t use the points until mid-July. Perk also sets a very high bar for big-ticket items. An iPad is worth 55,000 points and a Kindle Fire is worth 22,000 points.

Baig says Perk “isn’t a completely novel idea,” but it might be worth a try.

4) First Take: Mayer’s touch mostly golden at Yahoo

Marissa Mayer promised to jump-start the flagging Yahoo brand when she joined the company nine months ago, and now she has the numbers to prove it. Yahoo reported profits of $390 million in its first fiscal quarter, a 36% jump.
What does this mean for users? Mayer helped spur growth by pumping money into search advertising, display ads, video and the company’s mobile platform.

In other Yahoo news, the company rolled out a new e-mail app optimized for tablets. The design sports a magazine-like presentation that lets you swipe through e-mails a la Flipboard.

5) Talking Your Tech: Joan Rivers can say anything online

Living legend Joan Rivers is expanding her comedy routine to an even wider online audience with a new talk show and a revamped website.

In Bed With Joan is just the latest addition to the comedian’s impressive Web presence. Rivers has 1.6 million Twitter followers and an active Facebook page, with 201,000 fans.

Rivers told USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham that she likes when her followers give her feedback about her jokes. But she doesn’t read criticism about jokes that have “gone too far.”

Copyright © 2013 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.