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Facebook Home launches April 12 on HTC, Samsung phones

Facebook Home will be available for download on April 12, but only on select phones to start with.

Facebook today launched Home, a family of apps and a skin that runs over Android. The company said users will be able to download the user interface from the Google Play store, and that links would be found in its Facebook and messenger apps.

The HTC phones that will initially get access to the app are the upcoming HTC One and the One X and One X+.

On the Samsung side, the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note 2, and upcoming Galaxy S4 will … Read more

Why Apple would make a cheaper iPhone

CNET Update clears calendar for summer:

In addition to a brand-new summer iPhone, it's said Apple is working on a plastic iPhone. Today's Update explains why that could make sense for Apple.

Also in the roundup, there's yet another video service launching. The streaming music service Rdio is diving into the video space with Vdio.

For those that won't give up on CDs and vinyl records, Amazon is offering free digital copies of songs with AutoRip.

And what's next for mobile communications as the cell phone turns 40? HD Voice is rolling out to carriers … Read more

First-person Mario video will blow your mind

If you were to cross Mario with Resident Evil, what would you get? Probably something that looks a lot like Brandon Laatsch's YouTube video of Mario as a first-person game.

This vision of Mario follows the final level. It's moody. Rain pours down. Rocky Wrenches pop up and throw dangerous tools. I half expect zombies to shuffle out of the shadows. It culminates with an impressive fight scene with Bowser. The only thing we're missing is a rendering of Mario meeting up with his princess.… Read more

HP's Whitman: No plans to break up company

During Hewlett-Packard's first-quarter earnings conference call, CEO Meg Whitman clarified the company's "better together" strategy.

"We have no plans to to break up the company," Whitman said, in response to a question from an analyst. "I feel quite strongly that we are better and stronger together."

She reiterated this was part of HP's "better together" strategy. In short, Whitman is saying that HP as a whole is more than the sum total of its parts.

There has been speculation in the past weeks that HP's board is reconsidering … Read more

Made-in-Brooklyn speakers have handsome design and gorgeous sound

I've heard and liked DeVore Fidelity speakers before, but the new Orangutan 0/93 was different. Even when listening to mostly unfamiliar music I fell in love with the sound from the get-go. The Orangutan 0/93 brings out the best in all genres of music.

That's the key; all speakers play tunes, but they don't always connect the musical dots as well as this. I've heard lots of speakers that sound really nice, but for one reason or another the music doesn't draw you in. No problem here, the Orangutan 0/93 does just … Read more

Sex offenders have right to tweet, appeals court says

An Indiana law banning sex offenders from Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court ruled today.

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out a state law that made it a misdemeanor -- and, in some cases, a felony -- for registered sex offenders to use a "social networking Web site."

"The Indiana law targets substantially more activity than the evil it seeks to redress," the three-judge panel unanimously concluded in an opinion (PDF) written by Joel Flaum.

The U.S. Constitution's First Amendment, which restricts the government … Read more

CNET TV blooper reels 2012

Sadly, we are not perfect here at CNET TV. We are not all well-oiled machines that can perfectly reel off product names like the Insignia NS-55E480A13A LED TV without tripping up.

Through the magic of editing, the videos you see every day here at CNET paint an illusion of effortless expertise -- but it's a lie. These videos are a constant struggle. The best we can hope for is that one of our flubs, stutters, and hissy fits might be funny enough to make it into our year-end blooper reel.

So here you have it, our annual collection of … Read more

iPhone 5 sales in China surpass 2 million in first weekend

It's been just three days since Apple's iPhone 5 launch in China and already 2 million devices have already been sold. The tech giant announced today that this latest model of its popular smartphone is selling faster than ever in the Far East country.

"Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. "China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.&… Read more

Look at the 'Star Wars' art, you will

If you're the kind of person who can remember when you first heard Darth Vader speak the words, "I am your father," you'll want to be in Seattle starting next week.

That's because on December 13, the Ltd. Art Gallery there will begin exhibiting "Who Shot First," a collection of more than 40 artists' "Star Wars"-themed works.

The artists "will be displaying their own unique interpretation of these classic films," the release for the show reads, "drawing upon the characters and themes that have inspired them since … Read more

Court: 15-year-old molester has a right to Facebook, Twitter

A 15-year-old juvenile delinquent can't be completely prohibited from using Facebook, Twitter, or other social-media sites, a California state appeals court says.

The San Diego court ruled that a teenage boy who molested a toddler and grabbed and detained a teenage girl has a First Amendment right to use social media and chat rooms -- in part, the justices said, because his offenses didn't involve the Internet.

Those restrictions "are not tailored to Andre's convictions for violating another's personal liberty, willfully annoying and molesting another, unlawful use of force, and lewd and lascivious conduct, or … Read more