As you may have noticed, the iPod Touch and the iPhone with the latest firmware update are really hard devices to hack in order to install 3rd party apps. With Apple limiting the function of its own devices, Nokia has taken the opportunity to advertise the openness of its phones, showing Apple what it takes to make a truly successful phone.

Just when you thought you'd have to say bye to third party apps on the iPhone, here come the hackers to your rescue, downgrading your phone from the 1.1.1 firmware to the hackable 1.02.

A French national has won a lawsuit against Acer over a laptop he purchased that came pre-loaded with Windows XP and other software he didn’t want installed.

Baby boomers are being told they are now at the stage of what researchers call “cognitive decline.” Happily, researchers believe that mental gymnastics will inhibit brain rot and even hold off Alzheimer’s disease. Technology marketers for their part provide software-mind games for older brains to stay sharp.

If you haven't heard already Apple released Firmware version 1.1.1 for the iPhone, iPod Touch and updated the Firmware for other iPods.  But mainly, the update affects iPhone users first and iPod Touch users second, the only problem reported by other iPod owners are lock ups but a quick wipe and reinstallation fix that.

While Google gets the biggest share in search queries performed every month by the US Online Population, the search engine giant logged behind Yahoo in getting user clicks from their search result, according to recent study released by Complete.

Computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in the US have unveiled an online game designed to teach web users how to better recognize and avoid phishing attacks and other Internet scams.

The popularity of the iPod has been linked to the recent increase of violent crime in the US.

The nonpartisan Urban Institute contends that the rise in violent crime and the explosion in the sales of iPods and other portable media devices is "more than coincidental". It says that over the past two years America may have experienced, what it tags, an "iCrime" wave.

Stickam, a social networking site that places emphasis on chatting with friends by means of a webcam, states in its Terms of Service (TOS) that it retains the right to "monitor the content of any messaging that occurs on or through the instant message service;" however, it may come as a shock to learn that they regularly do monitor the webcam chats, including private, friend-to-friend chats. Neil Hotkiewicz learned the hard way.

A funny thing happened when Newt Gingrich visited Second Life. According to at least one newspaper, the first thing he saw was "a lovely young digital lady" — who was completely naked!

Some people seem to love online banking and credit checking and what not, I don't.  Doing banking online is just another way that people can get access to your credentials and drain your account, which is one of the reasons I don't have a debit card.  One person likes using long passwords around 18 characters long which is not supported by the American Express website.

A new vulnerability in Google's popular Gmail web based email service has been discovered.  The proof of concept vulnerability allows a malicious website to add a filter to any Gmail account and forward that to a third party site.

Microsoft has just announced major updates of its Live Search portal with a promise that it now gives users richer and deeper results. Boasting of an improved core search technology and deeper advancement in the vertical search areas of entertainment, shopping, local and health, Microsoft is hoping to catch up with rival search engines, Google and Yahoo, in the race to dominate the search engine industry.

Walt Disney has announced that it would stop its US based mobile virtual network (MVNO) phone service at the end of the year and will instead explore a new business model to offer its wireless content and services through a partnership with a major US carrier.

A new project outlined as "one of the most advanced city-wide intelligent security systems ever conceived" is underway in the windy city, Chicago, IL. The Operation is known as "Virtual Shield" which will be one of the world's largest video security deployments upon completion. Think you know Big Brother? Just wait.