Articles by Christian de Looper
Best Headphones for Budget Buyers, Flush Digital Aficionados
Headphones are an important part of media consumption and they, like other gadgets, are replaced every few years. Here is a list of the best headphones for each price point.
Thanksgiving Googling Reaps Unique Look at Holiday Appetites Nationwide
A new report shows the most unique Thanksgiving dishes searched via Google in each state during the Thanksgiving week over the last 10 years. Who knew frog eye salad would be so popular?
Thanksgiving Not Happy for Kim Dotcom, Battling Copyright Charges
Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has announced he is broke, without lawyers and facing jail time. His lawyers in New Zealand left after he ran out of money, he claims.
No, Virginia, Santa's Likely Not Delivering a Microsoft Band
The Microsoft Band fitness tracker has performed better than expected, selling out on the Microsoft online store right before the holiday season. The quick sales indicate the growing popularity of wearable devices.
Google Goes Big, Way Big, with Times Square Billboard
Google has gone above and beyond with a billboard in Times Square which is the largest digital billboard ever to appear in North America. The billboard will be used by the company to promote Android, Chrome and its Nexus devices.
Sony Pictures Hacked in 'Data for Secrets' Blackmail Scheme
Sony Pictures Entertainment has been hacked, with the hackers threatening to release confidential information and data about the company if demands are not met. Sony has told employees a resolution of the issue could take from one day to three weeks.
Pew: Americans Not So Internet Savvy, Lack Insight on Privacy, Net Neutrality
While the Internet has become an integral part of life in the U.S., a recent survey suggests American Internet users are not as savvy about the Internet as they could be. In fact, they have a limited understanding of big issues like net neutrality.
IDC: Tablet Shipments Drop, Not so Good News for Apple
The tablet market has hit a wall, with 2014 set to be the first full year in which there is a decline in iPad sales. Tablets sales are expected to only grow by 5.4 percent between now and 2018.
T-Mobile Going Transparent on Net Speed After FCC Slap
T-Mobile is getting a slap on the wrist by the Federal Communications Commission after lying to customers about data speeds when they passed data limits. The carrier essentially exempted speed-test apps from throttled data speeds and will now be providing users with a speed-testing service.
Sony Yanks PlayStation Vita Commercial After Sexism Outcry
Sony has quickly pulled an ad promoting the PlayStation Vita after it was accused of being sexist. The accusations come at the height of controversy surrounding sexism in the gaming industry.
T-Mobile Snares 14 More Music Streams, Including Google Play, Xbox Music
T-Mobile has announced the addition of 14 new music-streaming services to its list of services users can tap without counting against data plans. The list includes Google Play Music, which is gaining ground in popularity.
Samsung Mobile Leadership Shuffle Looms, Portfolio Cuts Coming
Samsung is reportedly preparing for a major personnel overhaul in upper management following the news the company's third-quarter earnings saw a massive 60 percent drop. The electronics retailer is also likely going to trim back its smartphone product lineup.
Play 'Super Smash Bros.' on TI Graphing Calculators
A game programmer has developed a version of the popular 'Super Smash Bros.' game for Texas Instruments' TI-83 and TI-84 graphing calculators. The game comes shortly before the release of the popular 'Super Smash Bros.' for Wii U game.
EU Eyes Unbundling Google Search, Parliament Mulls Regulatory Action
The European Parliament is preparing to call on European regulators to unbundle Google's search companies from other services it currently offers. Google has had a long history of problems in Europe, largely because it owns more than 90 percent of the search market there.
Week in Review: Top Tech Headlines Not to Miss
While it's been a busy week in tech, many people have had just as busy personal lives, meaning they can't always keep up with all the latest tech news. That's why we've put together the top tech news of the week.
'Super Smash Bros.' Wii U Getting Super Reviews
'Super Smash Bros.' for Wii U was released Friday and is getting great reviews. The game combines the classic game play of 'Super Smash Bros.' while adding a number of new features.
Google: Give Us Some Money and We'll Make Ads Disappear
Google is experimenting with a program in which users would pay a fee ranging from $1 to $3 to see fewer ads. The program is being tested with 10 websites.
Robots Are Front Line of Security Patrol in Silicon Valley
Microsoft is using robots as part of its security force at its Silicon Valley campus. The K5 robots, made by Knightscope, can assess any given situation and alert human guards if the robot determines the situation calls for it.
Uber Hires Privacy Guru to Investigate Data Access, Privacy Policy Infractions
After it was revealed Uber employees may be using internal tools to track riders and access customer data without authorization, the company has hired a law firm to investigate its data usage and user privacy practices. It's also still dealing with a media furor regarding comments by a company leader.
Gorilla Glass May Be the Google of Mobile Screens
Corning has announced the next generation of its shatter-resistant glass: Gorilla Glass 4. The new glass has been studied in depth and scientists say it is 80 percent likely to survive a drop of 3.3 feet.
Amazon Delivers Early, Newsy Holiday Gift to Kindle Fire Owners
The Washington Post is set to launch a news app designed specifically for Amazon Kindle Fire owners. The app makes browsing through news easy and is updated twice per day, with breaking news being posted to the app when necessary.
Netflix Dominates Downstream Traffic as YouTube Rules Mobile Stream
Netflix accounts for more than a third of all downstream traffic during peak hours in North America. It's not the only streaming video provider to enjoy robust growth. On the mobile streaming front, YouTube is clearly beating the competition.
5 Videos for Tapping Tech to Secure the Home
Home security is important for any homeowner or renter, and there are many ways to ensure no one can enter your home without your permission. Here are five videos that will help you keep your home secure.
Nokia N1 Specs Rundown: Is This the Tablet for You?
Nokia has surprised the world with its new Android-powered tablet, the Nokia N1. The device includes a stunning design and great specs, especially for the price. Read on to find out exactly what makes the Nokia N1 a great tablet.
Jolla Crafting Sailfish Tablet Thanks to Crowdsource Support
Jolla has announced it's developing a new tablet that runs on Sailfish OS, a rival to Android. The tablet is being funded using crowdfunding platform Indiegogo and reached its goal within two hours of being online.
Samsung Delivers Milk Video Service, Companion to Milk Music
Samsung is debuting its new video-streaming service, Milk Video, aimed at pulling together the best content from around the web in an interface that is easy to use. It's a companion app to its Milk Music app.
Google Photo Recognition Goes Beyond Objects
Google and Stanford University have developed image-recognition software that is much more advanced than any current technology. Not only is it advanced, but it can also describe the photo similarly to how a person would describe it.
Let's Encrypt Aims to Boost Internet Security
A number of large tech companies have partnered to create the Internet Security Research Group and develop a new service called Let's Encrypt. It's free, easy to use and could make the Internet safer than ever.
WhatsApp Flips on Super Encryption Via TextSecure
In partnership with TextSecure, WhatsApp plans to boost encryption features for messages sent between Android users. Such end-to-end encryption means the vendor will not be able to help law enforcement decrypt messages.
Android 5.0 Lollipop Rollout Plagued With Bugs
With Android 5.0 finally rolled out to Nexus devices, many users are reporting issues. The list includes problems installing the update as well as problems with the flashlight feature and silent mode.
