Personal Computing: What Geeks are talking about in Personal Computing from CNET

Here is the latest in Personal Computing news from CNET.

Stop buying disposable headphones! These classics all trump the latest ‘phones – CNET
The Audiophiliac put together a collection of seven classic, mostly very affordable headphones that still sound great

10 tips for using your new dehydrator – CNET
New to dehydrating foods? Here are 10 tips to make your first batches of fruit, vegetables or meat a success.

Geneva Roadshow editor’s picks video – Roadshow
As we say Au Revoir to the 2016 Geneva motor show, the gang at Roadshow took one last look on the show floor to pick their favorites

Why we’re not ready to declare any lock the winner in the CNET Smart Home – CNET
I wanted to install voice-controlled deadbolts, but the contenders fell short and spooked me in the process.

Attacks targeting ISIS, Ukraine bring cyberwar out of shadows – CNET
Destructive skirmishes are taking place in cyberspace right now, and increasingly they’re spilling into people’s daily lives.

2016 VR, meet 1993 VR – CNET
The hype back then was as big as the hype now

​How to pick the perfect smart scale – CNET
Interested in buying a smart scale? This guide will outline what to look for and provide recommendations on top scales we’ve personally tested.

Amazon flip-flops, will protect user data on Fire tablets after all – CNET
The Internet retailer says it will bring back encryption technology for its devices after taking it away, a move cybersecurity experts panned.

Microsoft, Google and Facebook join Apple’s fight with the feds video – CNET
Huge companies agree with Apple’s stances including unlikely allies. Also, will Android apps come to Windows 10? The answer is complicated.

After blasting Clinton, ex big league pitcher turns to Facebook followers for support – CNET
ESPN analyst Curt Schilling looks to users of the social network for a reprieve as he wonders about his job-status following comments he made about the presidential candidate.

Tinder just made your friends matchmakers – CNET
The app’s latest addition deputizes your social network to serve as digital yentas.

Meerkat, star of last year’s SXSW, is ditching live streaming – CNET
It’s hard out there for a startup, especially when Facebook and Twitter are now offering the exact same thing.

If ‘House of Cards’ schemer Frank Underwood joined the US presidential race – CNET
Commentary: CNET’s Eric Mack imagines how Kevin Spacey’s Machiavellian character might manipulate the race to finally get what he wants, and you might be surprised by who comes out on top.

Trump loses his voice… mail – CNET
A group of youngsters intending to prank call the Republican presidential candidate end up changing his voice mail password and message, according to Gawker.

SpaceX rocket fails attempted barge landing for fourth time – CNET
Elon Musk’s SpaceX really wants to be able to launch rockets for space missions and land them on platforms at sea, but so far, none of the trial landings have stuck.

The first Hellcat-powered Jeep might be a Wrangler – Roadshow
The automaker’s annual Easter Jeep Safari always includes some ridiculous concepts, and this year, there’s a “Trailcat” in the cards.

Audi SQ7 TDI packs first-ever electric turbocharger – Roadshow
This new piece of engine tech promises to kill off turbo lag and increase efficiency while providing a properly quick ride.

Five and a half cars we’d take home from Geneva (AutoComplete Ep. 8) – Roadshow
The top five cars from Geneva auto show — and one that isn’t. What the first Google car crash means, and how to order that new NSX.

Vacuum-free braking system could be on GM products before end of decade – Roadshow
ZF TRW’s new setup could do away with a wealth of parts that have been key to braking for many years.

Facebook can nix German users with fake names – CNET
Court rules in favor of the social network’s real-name policy, overturning a previous order from the Hamburg data protection authority.

Harry Potter fiction or iPhone weaponry? The ‘dormant cyber pathogen’ at the heart of Apple vs. FBI – CNET
The battle over unlocking an iPhone tied to a terrorist attack takes a turn for the baffling.

Scientific journal cites a ‘Creator,’ scientists say OMG – CNET
Technically Incorrect: The popular journal PLOS One publishes a paper that says the human hand was “the proper design of the Creator.” The scientific community does a face palm.

Trump defends his penis size. What does science say? – CNET
Technically Incorrect: Donald Trump and Marco Rubio engage in the weirdest debate hands-down on the subject. Science weighs in on how digit length relates to the size of other appendages.

The 404 Show 1652: Scott Jones has seen the other side (podcast) – CNET
Scott Jones is a veteran of the games and tech press for many years. Now Scott finds himself in the budding world of VR, but not before a life-altering event completely rewrote his path in life. Tune in to hear his inspiring story that is guaranteed to move you.

Seriously, Amazon? Fire tablets drop encryption, are less secure video – CNET
Security experts say Amazon’s Fire OS 5 is a step backward in protecting consumers. The outrage blows up as tech leaders throw support behind Apple in its iPhone encryption fight with the government.

Seriously, Amazon? Fire tablets drop encryption, are less secure (CNET Update show notes) – CNET
Security experts say Amazon’s Fire OS 5 is a step backward in protecting consumers. The outrage blows up as tech leaders throw support behind Apple in its iPhone encryption fight with the government.

11 juiciest arguments made in the Apple vs. FBI iPhone fight – CNET
A slew of tech companies throw their weight behind Apple. Here’s the gist of what they’re saying.

February sees new-car average fuel economy holding steady – Roadshow
Cheaper gas prices are likely to blame for keeping the average on the low side compared to previous years.

Rolls-Royce reveals its dark alter ego in Geneva – Roadshow
With the Black Badge editions of its Wraith and Ghost models, Rolls-Royce appeals to younger buyers with “dark obsessions.”

​Surrounded by supercars: Get immersed in Porsche, Lamborghini with our 360-degree videos – Roadshow
Roadshow checks out the Porsche and Lamborghini booths at the International Motor Show in Geneva and gives you a 360-degree look at their hottest cars.

Watch a McLaren race a drone, because Dubai – Roadshow
The video is a promotion for next week’s World Drone Prix, although it could also be a trailer for a really neat video game.

iPlayer needs a TV license and Oculus Rift’s Mac diss (CNET UK podcast 471 show notes) – CNET
The UK’s greatest tech podcast tackles a soon-to-be-closed iPlayer loophole, the news that the tech world is rallying behind Apple in its fight against the FBI and so much more.

How to play Android games on your Windows PC – CNET
Free Android emulator Nox App Player specializes in desktop-powered gaming. Here’s how to get started.

Storm the Death Star in a crocheted X-wing fighter blanket – CNET
Be as snug as a bantha in a rug with a creatively crocheted X-wing fighter blanket complete with hand- and foot-warming pockets.

KitchenAid Artisan Mini Stand Mixer Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
KitchenAid’s Artisan Mini Stand Mixers are smaller than their classic counterparts — a design update 54 years in the making.

Five and a half cars we’d take home from Geneva (AutoComplete Ep. 8) video – Roadshow
The top five cars from Geneva auto show — and one that isn’t. What the first Google car crash means, and how to order that new NSX.

Trump and Rubio argue ‘hand’ size, but what does science say? – CNET
Technically Incorrect: Marco Rubio and Donald Trump talk appendages during the latest Republican debate. Science has something to add about that, and it isn’t as straightforward as you think.

How to pair your Apple Watch with a new iPhone (when you no longer have your old iPhone) – CNET
The good news is it’s easy. The bad news is you have to erase everything on your Apple Watch.

How to make an ice pack with common household items – CNET
Forget buying ice packs. Instead, you can make several with ingredients you already have around your house for less than $1 each.

Actor Liam McIntyre discusses his tabletop game Monster Lab with Tomorrow Daily video – CNET
Liam McIntyre (“Spartacus,” “The Flash”) sits down to chat with Jeff and Ashley, and also explains how Nathan Fillion was part of the origin story for his first official tabletop game.

Could this be HTC’s next high-end phone? – CNET
Leaked photos of HTC’s next smartphone spring up with impressive-sounding specs.

Do the hustle with the Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Spyder – Roadshow
Italian custom carmaker Touring Superleggera will only make seven of these exquisite roadsters, making for one special car indeed.

Bundle up, travelers. It’s snowing methane on Pluto – CNET
NASA reports on a chain of “exotic snowcapped mountains” on Pluto, but it’s not a place you’d want to go skiing.

How to keep your dehydrator dust-free when it’s not in use – CNET
This tip will save you prep time when you dehydrate foods.

Get an HP Envy 5643 multifunction printer for $59 – CNET
From the Cheapskate: Normally $99, this compact, wireless, auto-duplexing MFP can print, scan and copy. Plus: a seriously awesome PC game deal.

A closer look at the new ‘Ghostbusters’ trailer (pictures) – CNET
Get a breakdown of the best scenes from the full-length trailer for “Ghostbusters,” starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon and Chris Hemsworth.

Benedict Cumberbunny hops into our hearts – CNET
“Sherlock” star Benedict Cumberbatch gets an Easter tribute thanks to chocolatier Jen Lindsey-Clark.

Apple iPhone could hold ‘dormant cyber pathogen,’ says San Bernardino DA – CNET
The iPhone 5C at the center of Apple’s struggle with the FBI could be used as a “weapon,” according to San Bernardino County’s district attorney.

Crave giveaway: Nail yourself a ‘Hitman: Agent 47’ prize pack – CNET
It’s a game, it’s a movie, it’s not a viable career choice. Here’s how to win your own “Hitman” briefcase and other swag, plus a Blu-ray.

Can a smart mirror impress these makeup pros? video – CNET
The Simplehuman Wide-View Sensor mirror is a Wi-Fi connected mirror that can imitate the light in your selfies so you can put on makeup more efficiently. But is this Simplehuman smart enough to please a makeup artist and a makeup enthusiast

Get started with Snapchat video – CNET
Snapchat is an app that lets you send photos and videos to friends that disappear once viewed. Here are the basics you need to know to start snapping.

This smart mirror isn’t the fairest of them all video – CNET
The Simplehuman Wide-View Sensor Mirror can imitate the lighting from your selfies, but it lacks good magnification — and costs a whopping $400.

Simplehuman Wide-View Sensor Mirror review – CNET
Simplehuman’s Wide-View Sensor Mirror is equipped with smart LEDs that adjust to mimic any lighting scenario. Is it worth 400 bucks?

Reflect on this $400 Wi-Fi mirror by Simplehuman (pictures) – CNET
Simplehuman’s $400 Wide-View Sensor Mirror is smarter than your current makeup mirror, but is it worth the price?

Musical Rube Goldberg machine sings an extraordinarily pretty song – CNET
A Swedish band called Wintergatan has built a music machine out of wood, cables, steel marbles and Lego, and you can see it in action.

Your 3D printer is telling people what it’s making – CNET
The sounds of a 3D printer at work can be reverse engineered to reconstruct the original 3D model. It sounds cool, but there could be big implications for industrial espionage.

Hubble breaks cosmic record, captures most distant galaxy – CNET
The Hubble Space Telescope has imaged a galaxy 13.4 billion light-years away, just 400 million years after the Big Bang.

These awesome robots still work after 240 years – CNET
The 18th-century Jaquet-Droz automata are representative of some early attempts at humanoid robots. And they still work.

Not in my house: Amazon’s unencrypted devices a sitting target, cybersecurity experts say – CNET
Amazon’s decision to leave Fire tablet customers’ data out in the open is a bad idea, no matter the reason.

The ghost of VR past: The long history of tech’s latest love affair (pictures) – CNET
We might be getting excited about virtual reality in 2016, but it’s not the first time we’ve been ready to welcome VR into our homes…

Oculus Rift support for Macs? If Apple ‘ever releases a good computer,’ founder says – CNET
Palmer Luckey disses the power in Apple computers when asked about Oculus’ virtual reality coming to Macs.

Drumpf Twitterbot learns to imitate Trump via deep-learning algorithm – CNET
Presidential candidate Donald Trump gets the Recurrent Neural Network treatment as a bot tweets what it thinks he may say based on his speeches.

A year isolated in space preps astronaut for modern dinner manners – CNET
The #YearInSpace is over, and it’s time for astronaut Scott Kelly to readjust to life on #Earth. But even if you’ve run rings around your home planet, it doesn’t stop you from facing the same old tech problems at the dinner table.

MythBuster Adam Savage builds ‘The Martian’ spacesuit – CNET
Watch Savage document pieces of the spacesuit worn by Matt Damon in blockbuster sci-fi film “The Martian.”

Man taking selfies with gun fatally shoots himself, police say – CNET
Technically Incorrect: A man and his girlfriend in Washington state are taking selfies with a gun. For one, the man thought the gun was unloaded. It wasn’t.

We put the ultimate selfie stick to the test video – CNET
Find out what happens when we show up with a ten foot long selfie stick in the heart of Barcelona’s tourist district.

Watch this robotic exoskeleton help a paralyzed man walk video – CNET
The Phoenix exoskeleton from SuitX is one of the least expensive and lightest suits that helps users with mobility disorders walk again. It’s also modular so the user can put it on themselves.

Apple patents magnetic detachable headphones for the iPhone (Apple Byte Extra Crunchy Podcast Ep. 28) – CNET
A 9-point-7 inch iPad Pro, iPhone SE and Apple Watch bands are expected on March 21st. The Apple vs. FBI battle goes to Congress hearings, and the MacBook Selfie Stick looks dangerous.

How to add family members to your Windows 10 PC – CNET
Give each member of the household their own Windows 10 login.

Here’s what’s new in Google Photos v1.5 – CNET
Features of the Google Photos app have been redesigned and moved around a bit in the latest version. Read on to find out what’s new.

How to remove personal information from photos in Windows 10 – CNET
Nuke metadata from your photos before you post them online.

Liam McIntyre’s Monster Lab brings out our inner mad scientists (Tomorrow Daily 325) video – CNET
Our long form episode this week dives into Hololens, VR board games, and magnificent marble music machines. Also, we welcome actor Liam McIntyre (“The Flash,” “Spartacus”) to discuss his new tabletop game Monster Lab.

High-flying hack: Researcher shows how to seize control of a drone – CNET
German grad student Nils Rodday figured out how to intercept flight instructions and start flying a drone himself. He says the hardware he exploited is present in drones from various manufacturers.

Best tech under $50 – CNET
Yes, you can spend less than $50 and still get some great gadgets. Here are CNET’s favorites, which include everything from video streamers to wireless speakers to — yes — even a tablet. (Last updated March 3, 2016.)

Stitching together a Monster Lab with Liam McIntyre of ‘The Flash’ (Tomorrow Daily show notes) – CNET
You might know Liam McIntyre as Spartacus or the Winter Wizard, but we bet you didn’t know he’s a huge board game geek. And now, he’s launched a Kickstarter campaign for his very own tabletop game.

What to expect at Apple’s March 21st event video – CNET
A New iPad Pro 9.7-inch model, the iPhone SE and Apple Watch Bands are coming. Plus, the MacBook Selfie Stick!

Stop the whining! Make Apple EarPods play nice with Xbox One – CNET
Find out the fix for the annoying whining sound you hear when you use Apple EarPods with an Xbox One controller.

Tech that stands the test of time (pictures) – CNET
Before the notion of planned obsolescence, technology was built to last. These gadgets and experiments have all been operating since before you were born (probably).

AKG N60 NC review – CNET
AKG’s $250 on-ear active noise-cancelling headphone sounds great and is worth considering over Bose’s top-selling QC25.

CNET’s Tech Today app: One tap, 10 top stories – CNET
TLDR: We’ve built an incredible new iPhone app to help you keep on top of the ever-changing world of technology. It’s called Tech Today, and you should download it right now.

How to order an Amazon Echo Dot without an Amazon Echo – CNET
No Echo? No problem. Here’s an easy workaround so you can get on the Dot preorder list.

Why Doug Rushkoff is Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus – CNET
The author and professor tackles the digital economy in his new book.

Sassy business cards reveal superheroes’ secret identities – CNET
If Thor, Iron Man, Wonder Woman and Daredevil ever want some extra recognition for their mild-mannered alter egos, then they should get these custom business cards.

Superhero business cards tell it like it is (pictures) – CNET
Wonder Woman wants your eyes up here and Superman doesn’t want to hear any questions about his underpants in a series of funny superhero business cards.

Hear an earthquake from Mariana Trench in the ocean deep – CNET
Researchers have discovered a universe of uncanny sounds at the bottom of the deepest ocean trench in the world.

Self-cleaning airplane bathroom makes flying less germy – CNET
Boeing wants to assuage your fear of entering the dangerous realm of the airplane lavatory with a touchless, self-sanitizing restroom experience.

Good luck buying the Echo Dot, Amazon didn’t make it easy video – CNET
Amazon released two new models of the Echo smart speaker, but not everyone can order the cheaper one. Learn about the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot, and the new smart-home features coming to all models.

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ home release will take more of your money (and time) starting April 1 – CNET
The digital version hits April 1, with the Blu-Ray combo pack and DVD coming April 5.

Switch to Boost Mobile, get discounts and free phones – CNET
A limited-time promotion finds the Sprint prepaid brand rewarding customers who port their number from another carrier.

Tech groups, AT&T throw support behind Apple in iPhone fight – CNET
Three key trade groups, as well as carrier partner AT&T, weigh in on Apple’s fight against the FBI. More are expected to come.

Relive astronaut Scott Kelly’s trailblazing year in space (pictures) – CNET
During a year in orbit, NASA astronaut Scott Kelly took up microgravity gardening, strolled in space and captured some eye-popping photos. Here are the moments that stood out.

Good luck buying the Echo Dot, Amazon didn’t make it easy (CNET Update show notes) – CNET
Amazon released two new models of the Echo smart speaker, but not everyone can order the cheaper one. Learn about the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot, and the new smart-home features coming to all models.

Facebook groups are being used to sell endangered wildlife as pets – CNET
Live otters, gibbons and bears have all been found for sale in Malaysian Facebook groups, according to a report by wildlife watchdog Traffic.

No Man’s Sky Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Exploring the galaxy as an astro-archaeologist has never looked cooler. We got to play this hotly anticipated game and meet its creators.

Apple’s iPhone 7S could sport battery-saving OLED screen – CNET
Next year may see Apple switch its iPhone display from LCD to OLED, a move that would offer consumers several benefits, according to news site Nikkei.

Google throws its computing brains into tackling the Zika virus – CNET
The tech giant hopes to help Unicef and other nonprofits ambush the virus by predicting where to focus resources. Oh, and it’s throwing in a million bucks, too.

Samsung’s cylindrical speaker turns on the performance video – CNET
The Samsung Radiant360 R1 is a welcome departure from most wi-fi speakers and offers decent performance for an affordable price.

Apple Customer Support will now help you via Twitter – CNET
A dedicated customer service account will try to assist you directly as well as offer tips and tricks on Apple products and services.

What’s free on PlayStation and Xbox: March 2016 video – CNET
Check out the free games of March 2016 available on PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live’s Games with Gold services.

Avegant Glyph looks like VR but is really a head-mounted movie screen video – CNET
What looks like headphones but is really a self-contained mini-projector that shoots video into your retinas? Glyph, of course! We wear the Founder’s Edition around town.