Topic: Software

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Seven retirement questions you need to answer

Retirement planning isn't easy. Nearly half of Americans don't feel financially prepared to live to age 75, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. But the process is a lot less burdensome if you break the task down into simpler parts. Here are seven questions to ask as you plan for your long-term financial security in retirement.
Mother's Day gifts: 4 great e-readers for Mom

Stumped for a Mother's Day gift this year? Your mom would probably love one of these four e-readers.
20 essential Android tips and tricks

Several weeks ago, we highlighted 20 useful iPhone tricks everyone should know. We got such good feedback from that feature that we wanted to share the love with Android users – who, after all, make up the largest proportion of the smart phone community.
Tax tips: Top 5 reasons to hire a tax pro

Tax tips can take you only so far if you're filling out your own returns. Sometimes, you need a tax pro. Most taxpayers, to the tune of 60 percent, opt to go with a tax professional. That share has climbed steadily: Just 41 percent used a professional preparer 30 years ago. Although a growing swath of the population – about 20 percent – is using tax-preparation software to complete returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), it seems that software isn't displacing accountants as much as it's simply becoming the mode of choice for do-it-yourself filers. As the Tuesday, April 17, tax filing deadline nears, here are five cases in which it might be wise to consider bringing a pro aboard:
Income tax refund: five tips for maximizing it

People are always looking for ways to get every dollar back they deserve at tax time. Fortunately, there are some smart moves you can make before April 17 to help maximize your income tax refund. Spending a few minutes now will save you time preparing your taxes and can help you get big savings. Here are five tips to get you started:

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Horizons
Google Chrome OS lives on with big update, new hardware

The latest version of Google's cloud-centric Chrome OS resembles a "regular" desktop operating system in a lot of ways. The revamp, and new Chromebook and Chromebox hardware from Samsung, show how much Chrome OS has matured in the three years since its inception.
BlackBerry-maker RIM warns of layoffs, operating loss

RIM also hires advisers to look at strategies to reverse its downturn. RIM has seen its share of US smartphone market fall from 44 percent to 10 percent in two years.
Beyond Stuxnet: massively complex Flame malware ups ante for cyberwar

Flame is something new in cyberwar, experts say. It can take screenshots and record audio on infected computers. The malware was almost certainly made by a nation-state.
Android clears court review of patent claims

Android did not infringe Oracle patents, court rules, in a major blow to Oracle. Android ruling means Oracle won't collect billions of dollars in royalties from Google.
Gadget guide: Which electronics are 'in season' and which to avoid

Thinking about some major gadget purchases this summer? It may be the right time to pick up a new TV. An iPhone? It's probably best to wait a bit.
Global News Blog
Russian security firm spots cyber supervirus that tops Stuxnet

Russian Internet security firm Kaspersky Labs says the complexity and targets of the virus – which is infecting computers in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East – imply its creator is a government.
Horizons
Facebook Camera for iPhone takes best of Instagram

Facebook has released a photo-sharing app called Facebook Camera. So how does it stack up with Instagram? 
Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook status updated to 'married' (+video)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg married long-time girlfriend Priscilla Chan Saturday in a small, surprise wedding. Less than 100 guests arrived at Zuckerberg's home for what they would be a party to celebrate Chan's graduation from medical school. Zuckerberg did not wear a hoodie.
The New Economy
Facebook IPO? Flat. Facebook future? Bright.

Facebook IPO generated no big stock gains on its first day of trading. But Facebook has many of the traits that made Apple, Microsoft, and Google great in the long run.  
SpaceX mission to space station scrubbed for now

SpaceX's first attempt to send its Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station ended abruptly Saturday morning when computers aboard the company's Falcon 9 rocket shut off the craft's engines just after ignition.
Horizons
Facebook IPO: No, Facebook is not just a fad

Despite the coming Facebook IPO (or maybe because of the coming Facebook IPO), half of all Americans think the popular social network is a fad. They're wrong. 
Yahoo CEO’s exit: debacle for company, and a warning for resume padders

Scott Thompson was hired as Yahoo CEO – the embattled company's fourth in five years – for his record as an executive, not the degrees on his resume. But the fabrication was costly.
Horizons
3D maps coming to iPhone 5, iOS 6: report

According to a new report, Apple will soon ditch the Google Maps app for an in-house product, which could feature a 3D mode. 
Seven retirement questions you need to answer

Retirement planning isn't easy. Nearly half of Americans don't feel financially prepared to live to age 75, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. But the process is a lot less burdensome if you break the task down into simpler parts. Here are seven questions to ask as you plan for your long-term financial security in retirement.
Horizons
Facebook App Center will usher in era of paid Facebook apps

The Facebook App Center is set to go live in the next few weeks, on the Web and also on iOS and Android. 
Modern Parenthood
Birthday gifts for a 4-year-old: iPhone, Angry Birds, and Temple Run

Dad's got no excuse: Ideas for birthday gifts for a 4-year-old have been clearly stated. She wants an iPhone, Angry Birds, and Temple Run. Oh, and the password to his iPad.
SpaceX: Private launch to space station now delayed indefinitely

The first instance of a private company sending a craft to the International Space Station has been put off, and it has not yet been rescheduled.
Modern Parenthood
Text messaging apps: solution to texting while driving accidents?

Texting while driving is continuously cited as a reason behind many deadly accidents. Mobile text messaging apps that alert parents to text messages sent on the road may be a part of a solution.
Spotify releases iPad app. Was it worth the wait?

Spotify, the popular music streaming service, releases its highly-anticipated iPad app. Does it live up to the hype?
Tax VOX
Five challenges for the IRS's new capital gains reporting rules

The new rules for reporting capital gains is a laudable aim, but the IRS faces a number of challenges to make this initiative work.
How one man may have foiled a devastating cyberattack against America

Researcher Justin W. Clarke discovered a vulnerability in an industrial networking system used by American power grids and the Pentagon. Now, after public pressure, the manufacturer is promising a fix.
Decoder Wire
New GOP Facebook app targets Obama's social-media dominance

Barack Obama won the social-media battle decisively in 2008. Republicans are trying to strike back, unveiling the Social Victory Center app on Facebook. 
RIM debuts BlackBerry 10, but no new phones

At RIM's annual BlackBerry World conference, the company unveiled a new operating system. But where are the new phones?
4G? LTE? What's the difference?

Shopping for a new smart phone? Expect to see signs for 4G and 4G LTE. Who's the fastest of them all?
Baby names concierge: hospital creates app for undecided parents

Baby names can be tough for prospective parents--do I want to be trendy? Classic? Unique? One Kentucky hospital aims to help undecided parents decide, with a handy mobile naming app and online generator that even simulates potential baby blankets.