msnbc.com: Technology & Science

Msnbc.com is a leader in breaking news and original journalism.

Valentine's Day tech for your sweetie

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:29:34 GMT

You don't need to be a geek to appreciate these Valentine's Day tech gifts. Whether it's a USB-powered blanket to keep your loved one warm, headphones for sharing music as a couple, or a blingy new watch, each one says "I love you" in its own special way.



Slideshow: Month in space

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:13:49 GMT

Gaze into the Helix Nebula's golden eye and see the other cosmic highlights of January 2012.



Russians reportedly hit buried Antarctic lake

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:10:02 GMT

Several Russian news outlets are reporting that Russian scientists have successfully drilled to Antarctica's Lake Vostok, a massive liquid lake cut off from daylight for 14 million years and buried beneath 2 miles (3.7 kilometers) of ice.



Russian woes show need for private spacecraft

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:56:38 GMT

The recent delay of the next manned launch to the International Space Station because of a damaged Russian space capsule highlights NASA's critical need for commercially built vehicles, space policy experts say.



Analyst explains why older iPhones won't get Siri

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:23:51 GMT

Many individuals have been holding their breath and waiting for the day when Siri becomes officially available on older iPhones. But according to one analyst, that moment may never come — thanks to a technical difference between the iPhone 4S and older generation devices.



Super Bowl breaks Twitter record (Sorry, Tebow!)

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 14:37:32 GMT

Poor Tim Tebow. The starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos set a a Twitter record in the beginning of January and it's already defeated — by the Super Bowl. According to Twitter, Super Bowl XLVI is the most tweeted sporting event ever.



iPad’s split keyboard has hidden buttons

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:37:52 GMT

You've no doubt seen the split keyboard that iOS 5 brought to the iPad, but it turns out it has a few hidden buttons on the edges. Here's how they work.


Watch OK Go let a car drive its latest viral hit

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:27:13 GMT

OK Go's latest calculated viral success is so neato-mosquito, you can easily forget you're being sold something, not just the band but a car.



Wanted: 'Astronauts' with the right stuffing

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:09:25 GMT

If you've ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut and have four months to spare, you might have the "right stuff" to fly to Mars … well, sort of.



Google, Facebook remove content on India's order

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 13:44:01 GMT

Internet giants Google and Facebook removed content from some Indian domain websites on Monday following a court directive warning them of a crackdown "like China" if they did not take steps to protect religious sensibilities.


Windows 8 may bid farewell to the 'Start' button?

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:18:41 GMT

The next version of Microsoft’s PC operating system will be a radical change for people who pick it up for the first time, with a primary screen based on tiles similar to the Windows Phone interface — relegating the old-fashioned-yet-familiar Windows desktop to a secondary status.



First-time smartphone buyers choose Android

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:24:51 GMT

Apple surged past Samsung and LG to have the best-selling phone brand in the United States, capturing 43 percent of the smartphone market in the last quarter of 2011. But among first-time smartphone buyers, 57 percent purchased Android phones compared to 34 percent who bought iPhones.



Defending virtual borders in age of cyber war

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:17:10 GMT

If cyberspace itself is now a weapon of mass destruction, how can we protect ourselves from an electronic Armageddon? That’s one of the many disconcerting questions raised by a major new report just published in Europe.


Love gone wrong? Go digital to get over an ex

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:59:46 GMT

You thought you found your one true love online, but now you've been dumped by text or defriended on Facebook without a peep of explanation. Hours of bad TV in your bathrobe haven't helped. Your friends are tired of your whining.


Deals of the day: 'Pirates,' PlayStation and more

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:23:40 GMT

Here's what's worth considering today: The "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy on Blu-ray for $40, discounted PlayStation gear, deals on monitors and more.



How prejudice reveals the caveman in men

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:37:41 GMT

Like their cavemen ancestors who fought outsiders for land and potential mates, the modern guy still holds such prejudices against "outgroups," new research shows.


Android Market flooded with fake malware-laden apps

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:47:26 GMT

A fresh new batch of fake and dangerous apps has found its way into the official Android Market, and downloading any of them could put your smartphone, and your personal information, in jeopardy.


Alone on Valentine's Day? There's at least 'Gal*Gun'

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 20:23:46 GMT

Next week is Valentine's Day, which can be a little rough for those without a special someone in their life. But if you happen to be part of that club who does, and also happen have a PS3, here's a suggestion: grab the demo "Gal*Gun" demo.



Beware! Siri may snap if you sell your iPhone

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 16:06:49 GMT

Plenty of people will tell you that you need to make sure that you've erased all personal data from an iPhone before selling it. But no one ever asks how the phone itself feels.



Don't think pink when it comes to 'girl tech'

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:34:49 GMT

Some women like pink, but many don't care for that color when it comes to their personal gadgets, says a new study.



Verizon to set up streaming service with Redbox

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 15:58:02 GMT

Challenging Netflix, Verizon says it will start a video streaming service later this year in cooperation with Redbox and its DVD rental kiosks.


Pre-caffeine: Super hangovers, Internet crackdowns!

Mon, 6 Feb 2012 16:21:05 GMT

Infinite "viral videos"(aka commercials) crappin’ up your Facebook walls this morning reveal Super Bowl’s true winner: Capitalism! USA! USA! Meanwhile, , Super Bowl XLVI is the most tweeted sporting event ever.