Apple surprised the tech world Thursday when it announced its new operating system, Mountain Lion. The system incorporates several of iOS’s most notable features. Here’s a quick rundown of the top Mountain Lion features for the Mac, many aimed at users who have more than one Apple product: Read full article > >

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Apple’s Mountain Lion: Top 10 features

An overheated industry has gone bust. A tepid economy is not producing enough jobs. And a successful businessman promises he can use his private-sector experience to jump-start the economy. This is presidential candidate Mitt Romney now, but it was also Romney nearly a decade ago when he ran for governor of Massachusetts, a state that was still reeling from the tech bubble’s burst. Read full article > >

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As Massachusetts governor, Romney had an unremarkable record on jobs

Facebook took its first steps toward going public this week, and observers think its valuation might be as much as $100 billion. Mark Zuckerberg, its founder, owns 28 percent of the company, so that would instantly making him one of the 10 or 15 richest individuals in America. In this essay from October, 2010, I considered how much credit Zuckerberg deserves for social networking phenomenon that has led to his incredible success. Read full article > >

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Repost: Did social networking need Facebook?

Microsoft, long ridiculed as the tech industry dullard, has surprised critics with its Windows Phone software. But will consumers be tempted enough to try it?

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Microsoft, Defying Image, Has a Design Gem in Windows Phone

Microsoft, long ridiculed as the tech industry dullard, has surprised critics with its Windows Phone software. But will consumers be tempted enough to try it?

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Microsoft, Defying Image, Has a Design Gem in Windows Phone

Google+ did not have an easy entrance into the tech world. Launched in June to select users and in September to the wider public, it was immediately labeled by technology writers as Google’s attempt at a “ Facebook killer .” Dogged by comparisons to the social media giant, Google+ limped along, losing early adopters accustomed to Facebook’s crowded, cozy haunts. Read full article > >

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Google+ has its pluses

Apple shares close lower in New York after the resignation of chief executive Steve Jobs, but analysts say the tech giant can handle the change.

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Apple shares fall as Jobs quits

Apple has already surpassed Google as the most valuable brand in the world, and it appears the tech giants will soon go head to head in the realm of cloud music. The Los Angeles Times reports that Apple has “tentative agreements” with four major record…

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Apple Woos Big Record Labels

Cisco announced Tuesday that it will stop making the Flip video camera, a move marking the tech giant’s shift away from consumer electronics.

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Cisco to stop making Flip video cameras

Custom web shout-outs from the creator of Big Ass Message A follow-up to Bj

New app brings the newspaper feel back to browsing classifieds The days of thumbing through the classified section of the local paper are quickly fading. Most of us have turned towards more modern means to search for employment, apartments and “vintage” furniture, namely Craigslist . With its mass of information the site can sometimes be hard to navigate so for those who pine for simpler days, Lifelike Apps, INC. has just released a slick iPad app with a classic twist. Lifelike Craig HD is a fully functional Craigslist browser that offers a fantastic visual interface. The app transforms your local Craigslist from the mundane list of links into an iPad browsable paper, complete with newspaper fonts and a classic layout. If something catches the eye you can add it to your favorites, circling it for later reference. Overall, Lifelike Craig HD provides a much more comfortable and fun way to browse the classified listing on Craigslist. The graphic interface is easier to navigate and makes finding what you want much faster. The app can be purchased in the app store for $1.99.

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Lifelike Craig HD

Itty-bitty monitoring device turns iPhones into wellness machines If Nike+ doesn’t quite meet your needs, Wahoo connects fitness monitors with the iPhone , integrating current telemetry tech with a device you’re already likely to be using (unless you’re the type to carry a Walkman). Using the cutting-edge ANT+ protocol—the same device-pairing tech used in other monitoring systems—the $130 runner package closes the gap between iPhones and cardio sensors, pairing with dozens of existing delivering physiological data that’s logged in real time. The Fiscia connector weighs just 3.5 grams, runs off the iPhone’s battery and plugs straight into its data port, allowing you to log EKG data while enjoying the phone’s entertainment features at the same time. It’s part of an array of accessories on offer. Wahoo also offers a pair of bike packages that not only track biorhythms but ground speed, relative cycle power and other variables germane to the technological fitness freak.

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Wahoo Fitness

A handy iPad accessory that lets you use the device in more places Today’s saturated iPad accessories market makes it hard to offer up an impressive new addition, but Portland, OR-based entrepreneur Jamie Smith has turned technology on its head with the Handstand . The user-friendly design allows you to hold the tablet in one hand and rotate it 360 degrees, to easily toggle between landscape and portrait orientation. An elastic band keeps it secured and comfortable; when you feel like setting the iPad down, the Handstand serves as a supportive stand, resting the iPad at a slight incline for easy viewing. “My career is one that has been characterized by identifying and filling a need that helps people run their business and personal lives more efficiently,” says Smith. The Handstand does just that, offering iPad users a convenient way of using the device in equally intelligible packaging. The Handstand makes it easy to make presentations, manage a guest list and multitask doing just about anything. Molded from silicone instead of plastic, the simple switch is a big improvement in terms of comfort and durability. The handstand currently sells online for $50.

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The Handstand for iPad

Here’s a relatively good one from Ed Kilgore: In truth, the DLC was never the ideological or political monolith that its enemies–or even its friends–sometimes imagined. Yes, it was partially financed by corporate money (mainly because corporations wanted to hedge their partisan bets, and because the DLC was at least friendly to them), and it undoubtedly went far over the top in celebrating the “New Economy,” along with the deregulatory demands of the tech industry and its financial allies. But it also pioneered attacks on “corporate welfare” in the federal budget and tax code, opposed state-level tax giveaways as an economic-development tool, and opposed most of corporate America’s legislative priorities (other than on trade policy), most notably the Bush tax cuts and the health care industry’s cherished Medicare prescription drug benefit.  Yes, the DLC fought with the labor movement over trade policy, but it also supported the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which could not have pleased corporate donors, and, on one occasion, PPI’s Will Marshall co-authored an economic policy manifesto with American Prospect editor Bob Kuttner. And yes, the DLC often scourged Democrats for appearing to be weak on defense, and it became too closely associated with the Iraq war (though it quickly split with George W. Bush’s policies on Iraq after the invasion). But DLC founder Sam Nunn led the Democratic opposition to Operation Desert Storm, and many elected officials associated with the DLC opposed the 2003 war from the get-go. The DLC’s reputation for “Republican Lite” policy ideas was never that well-merited: At a time when these ideas were outside even the Democratic mainstream, the group came out for public financing of congressional elections and GLBT rights. I wish he hadn’t gone so squishy here. Citing opposition to Desert Storm is a clever way of changing the subject from the recent Iraq War. I would also hear more about the DLC’s advocacy on behalf of gay and transgender rights.  Part of the problem is that it seems the DLC was rather anxious to cast its net as widely as possible. ( Remember this? ) With that in mind, I wonder about the ideological coherence of the DLC’s membership. I suspect there’s a lot of space between Gavin Newsome and Tom Vilsack.

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In Defense of the DLC

Premium sound quality for all your digital music in a sleek bookshelf system Denon has long been a player in the high end audio market. Any company that can weather 100 years in such a competitive industry—one that has witnessed the massive paradigm shift from analog to digital—must be doing something right. While the company name has changed slightly over the decades, their dedication to quality design and style has remained a constant. Early developers of digital, Denon has specialized in high-fidelity professional and consumer audio from the beginning. As a celebration of their 100th birthday Denon is giving away some of their newest, sexiest gear to one lucky CH reader. Their high quality RCD-N7 stereo receiver and SC-N7 speakers, an $800 value, are up for grabs. This system features crystal sound clarity packaged inside a sleek compact design. What really distinguishes it from the dusty component system sitting on your bookshelf is the total integration of wireless streaming music technology. To start off the Denon system will link directly into Apple’s Airplay system to stream your entire iTunes library. If you demand variety and freedom from your technology, don’t fret because the system will also stream from Rhapsody, Napster, Pandora, Last.fm or any other networked computer. Of course it contains all the standard audio inputs like USB, digital optical, RCA AM/FM radio and a built in iPod dock. The real sweet feature is the Party Mode Plus—a five system, multi-zone networked management system that can be distributed throughout your whole house and is controlled by Denon’s iPhone/iPad/iPod application. Additionally, two second prize winners will receive the Denon AH-NC600 noise-canceling earphones. These earbuds feature Denon’s acoustic optimizer technology that create a balanced natural tonal range. The Denon AH-NC600 offer the option of turning the noise canceling function on or off, and are completely compatible with iPhones and iPods. Denon fans can enter to win the stereo, speakers and headphones by following Cool Hunting on Twitter (essential so we can DM you if you win), and Tweeting #Denon along with which band you would love to hear coming out of Denon speakers. We will pick three winners at random on 7 January 2010 at 10am EST.

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Denon N7