Personal Tech: What Geeks are talking about from CNET Reviews

Get writing software Scrivener for $18 – CNET
From the Cheapskate: This top-rated tool, a favorite among novelists and screenwriters alike, normally runs $45. Plus: three seriously good bonus deals.

Actress tweets a glimpse of Audrey Horne in new ‘Twin Peaks’ – CNET
Sherilyn Fenn, who played Audrey Horne in the original show in the early 1990s, tweets a photo of herself in character for the series revival, set to air next year on Showtime.

Refreshed 2017 Tesla Model S pokes its head out early – Roadshow
With pictures appearing online of new promotional materials, the automaker should be unveiling the redesigned car in the very near future.

HTC 10: Editors react video – CNET
CNET Senior Editors Luke Westaway and Andrew Hoyle give their first impressions of HTC’s new flagship. Is it fresh enough to challenge the iPhone 6S and Galaxy S7?

Graphene microbots slurp lead from polluted water – CNET
Tiny self-propelled microbots can remove up to 95 percent of the lead in wastewater produced by industrial activity.

Apple enjoys sudden YouTube love for Cookie Monster, releases outtakes – CNET
Technically Incorrect: In a rare move, Apple decides to capitalize on the online adoration of its Cookie Monster ad.

Car Tech 101: External airbags video – Roadshow
Do airbags belong on the outside of your car? Brian Cooley looks at prototype technology that could change how airbags are deployed in the future.

​Appliance Science: How smoke alarms alert you to fires – CNET
Smoke detectors save lives. By warning you when it detects smoke, a smoke alarm can give you valuable time to escape a fire. But they can also be a pain, going off when you are cooking. Appliance Science looks at the science of smoke alarms.

How Netflix snatched Ricky Gervais’ “Special Correspondents” from Hollywood – CNET
The writer, director and star of the new film “Special Correspondents” says Netflix’s hands-off approach to production will mean “the return of the auteur.”

This is your brain on LSD – CNET
For the first time, a team of researchers have used neuroimaging to visualise the effect of LSD on the human brain.

Ford walks away a winner in new IIHS pickup crash tests – Roadshow
Only the 2016 Ford F-150 earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick recommendation, besting several other competitors.

2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus Release Date, Price and Specs – Roadshow
Audi’s 2017 R8 V10 Plus is a ten-cylinder track and street animal.

Porn giant joins protest against North Carolina transgender law – CNET
XHamster.com is showing users in the Tar Heel state blank screens instead of the usual fare of videos and photos.

2017 Mercedes-Benz S-class Cabriolet Release Date, Price and Specs – Roadshow
Mercedes bring extreme open-top comfort to its flagship family, but AMG models promise that there’s a wild side to the S-Class Cabriolet.

NASA scientists telecommute 75 million miles, rescue Kepler spacecraft – CNET
A malfunction jeopardized Kepler, the space agency’s best hope to find new planets. Its mission remains on hold.

Ford’s self-driving car works in total darkness video – CNET
Look ma, no headlights! Ford tests its self-driving car in the dark. Also, a new Deebot robot vacuum cleans its own dirt bin (sort of), and the next Kindle e-reader may have a whole new design.

Ford’s self-driving car works in total darkness (CNET Update show notes) – CNET
Look ma, no headlights! Ford tests its self-driving car in the dark. Also, a new Deebot robot vacuum cleans its own dirt bin (sort of), and the next Kindle e-reader may have a whole new design.

Pac-Man suit wraps you up in retro-gaming fashion glory – CNET
You’ve heard of power suits. Get ready to dress up in a power-pellet suit emblazoned with classic Pac-Man images.

Nomiku backers fed up with waiting now have to wait for their refunds, too – CNET
Many who preordered the Nomiku Wi-Fi Circulator on Kickstarter keep having to wait longer for either their circulator or their refund.

Send money through Facebook – CNET
It’s a little-known fact that Facebook’s chat app can also make like PayPal. Here’s how to set it up.

These words make you sound rude in emails, or do they actually? – CNET
Commentary: It’s easy to accidentally be a jerk over email — it’s hard to read tone without voices and faces. Ironically, a lot of online advice tries to help.

Lyft says Ni Hao to Chinese riders – CNET
The ride-hailing company will let Chinese visitors summon its drivers using Didi, the largest ride-sharing app in China. It’s one step closer to Lyft’s plan to let US passengers hail rides abroad.

Jaguar Land Rover enters tech-startup fray with InMotion – Roadshow
Its goal is to eventually create a suite of apps and on-demand services to deal with a future where car ownership isn’t on everyone’s minds.