Pogue Loves the New MacBook, But...

Virus may allow hackers to create 'botnet' from infected machines

(NEWSER) - Are you a smug Mac user who assumes you can't possibly get a virus? Well, think again. A Russian anti-virus firm believes that about 600,000 Macs around the world have been infected with the Flashback Trojan virus—and about half of those are expected to be in the US. The virus may allow cybercriminals to take over infected computers en masse and use them as a "botnet," the BBC reports. More»

The Bold 9900: 'Does Anybody Care'?

(NEWSER) - There’s a new BlackBerry on the market, but the “the question is: Does anybody care?” Apple and Google dominate the market, and things are “not looking good” for Research in Motion, which just laid off 2,000 people, writes David Pogue in the New York Times . That aside, how’s the new Bold 9900? “Gorgeous,” and the thinnest BlackBerry yet, with a “comfortable” keyboard and a “beautiful, responsive touch screen.” It’s a great phone—yet it’s not enough to compete with iPhone or Android. More»

Apple's new entry-level laptop has 11-inch screen, weighs 2.38 pounds

(NEWSER) - Apple unveiled its latest version of the MacBook Air yesterday, and it’s a beauty. The new machine runs the Lion OS, sports either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, and has such bells and whistles as a backlit keyboard and a Thunderbolt port, the Christian Science Monitor reports. And it’s all wrapped in a laptop that weighs either 2.38 pounds (for the 11-inch model) or 3 pounds (for the 13-inch model) and costs as little as $999. More»

With Steve Jobs' ailing health, company looking at options: Journal

(NEWSER) - As much as Apple fans might believe otherwise, Steve Jobs might not be able to run the company forever. With the company CEO on another medical leave , some board members have held discussions with recruiters and the head of another big tech company to talk about succession, says the Wall Street Journal . It describes the talks as an "informal exploration of options." More»

Critics love the awesome camera, screen, and new features

(NEWSER) - The iPhone 4 hits tomorrow, and tech reviewers everywhere are incredibly impressed. Here's what they're saying:

• The iPhone 4 is “a major leap over its already excellent predecessor,” writes Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal . The new features work very well, and the redesign “manages to make the 3GS appear bulbous by comparison.”
• David Pogue of the New York Times almost doesn’t bother reviewing it. “What’s the point?” he writes. They’ve already sold tons of these. “The public seems perfectly capable of sniffing out a winner without the help of tech critics.” But for the record, yes, the iPhone 4 is "sweet."