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BlackBerry’s Storm Presses Into the Touch-Phone Fray

Walt reviews the hotly anticipated BlackBerry Storm, the first BlackBerry model without a physical keyboard. Typing and navigation require tapping on glass, just as users do on the iPhone. Verizon will be selling the Storm for $250 with a two-year contract, though a $50 mail-in rebate can bring the price down close to the $199 that Apple charges for the base model of the iPhone.

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Netbooks Come Into Their Own

Walt reviews the latest entrants in the “netbook” category–devices that are between a laptop and a smart phone in size and versatility–and finds some compelling choices.

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New Amazon Service Streams TV Shows And Films to PCs

Amazon Video on Demand is a good service for people who prefer paying for ad-free TV shows and films.

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First Test of Google’s New Browser

Google’s new Chrome Web browser will make using the Internet faster and less frustrating, but this first version is rough around the edges and lacks some features, says Walt Mossberg in the first hands-on review.

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Microsoft Live Labs Creates Web ‘Synth’ For 3-D Photo Tour

Microsoft Live Labs’ Photosynth turns multiple photos of a site into a 3-D scene you can virtually “walk” through on the Web. The service is a dramatic new way to use your photos and to share them with others, writes Walter S. Mossberg.

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Flock Web Browser Eases Multitasking But Has Drawbacks

Flock, a little-known Web browser, attempts to take the pain out of online multitasking by keeping your social networks, photo sites or news feeds visible at all times. The browser works well, but it isn’t for everyone.

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The TouchSmart Has Improved–But Not Enough

Hewlett-Packard is rolling out a new TouchSmart, a desktop computer with touch-controlled software. The hardware and software are better. It’s attractive, more versatile and fun to use. But the latest effort still has some problems.

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Internet-a-Gogo: Airlines to Offer In-Flight Access

This summer, Wi-Fi access will arrive in the passenger cabins of some commercial U.S. airliners with a new system called Gogo. For travelers who want to stay connected in the air, Gogo does the job, but it has its limitations.

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Samsung’s Instinct Doesn’t Ring True as an iPhone Clone

The parade of iPhone lookalikes continues, and the latest to arrive is the Samsung Instinct. While it isn’t a bad phone and has some features the Apple product lacks, it’s no match for the iPhone.

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Mozilla Firefox 3.0 Is the Best Browser for Web — For Now

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 is the best Web browser out there right now, and it tops the current versions of both IE and Safari in features, speed and security, writes Walt Mossberg. It is easy to install and easy to use, even for a mainstream, non-technical user.

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No BlackBerry? Your Cellphone May Do the Trick

Here is a guide to checking your email, looking up information and updating your calendar, just by sending text messages. You can use any cellphone, but you’ll need a generous text-messaging plan.

Guest columnist Vauhini Vara is filling in this week for Walt Mossberg, who returns June 5.

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Apple Daydreaming: Report Predicts Move Toward Home Devices

Forrester Research imagines the Apple products of 2013 in a new report. Their conclusion: While much of Apple’s great successes have been mobile products, the company will seek to colonize rooms throughout the home.

Guest columnist Nick Wingfield is filling in this week for Walt Mossberg, who returns June 5.

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How to Avoid Cons That Can Lead to Identity Theft

The most insidious Internet security problems today rely on human gullibility, not tricky software. These types of attacks are called “social engineering” and can be used to steal your money and identity. Here are tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

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If You Have ChaCha and a Cellphone, You Have Answers

A free cellphone service called ChaCha lets you ask any question answerable via a Web search, by simply making a voice call. In most cases, it gave fast, accurate answers. But it has a few weaknesses.

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Adobe Web Photo Site Is Great for Editing, but Lacks Some Basics

Adobe’s Photoshop Express offers the nicest set of Web-based photo editing tools I have seen. They are sophisticated for a consumer application, yet easy to use. However, it’s rough around the edges.

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