Feature Story
Battle of the b(r)ands: which music service earns your monthly allowance?
We pit Spotify and Rdio in a battle of features, functionality, and design.
Top Story: Voyager 1 spots new region at the edge of the Solar System
In-Depth Reports
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CA to app devs: get privacy policies or risk $2500-per-download fines
Developers have had a month to comply with state law.
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Windows 8 takes 1 percent of Web usage as Internet Explorer gains
But most Windows 8 user aren't using Internet Explorer.
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Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition review: Flawed, but still classic
Revival shows the original's age, and also its agelessness.
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Alleged scammers impersonate FTC, promise "refunds" to victims
Reported scam promised money from past scams in exchange for bank account numbers.
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How a browser worm slithered across a huge number of Tumblr accounts
Self-replicating attack forces site accounts to post trolls' offensive screed.
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Voyager 1 spots new region at the edge of the Solar System
Area surprises researchers as it wasn't predicted by models of the region.
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Surface Pro: Overpriced tablet, half an Ultrabook, or yet another Tablet PC?
The price says Ultrabook, the form factor says tablet—neither fits well.
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No bug-eyed monsters: After hype, NASA finds carbon, chlorine on Mars
Team not yet ready to rule out contamination from Earth either.
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Mysterious radiation event of 774 might be (a little) less mysterious
Calculations that ruled out solar flare were done incorrectly.
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Review: Acer's C7 Chromebook is $199 and feelin' fine (relatively)
It's the cheapest Chromebook yet, but is it a piece of junk?
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How script kiddies can hijack your browser to steal your password
Technique also works for any data entered into a browser's search box.
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Dating sites help you find love by browsing reddit, watching lolcats
New services match based on favorite subreddits or taste in humor. Can it work?
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Clearest indication yet that polar ice sheets are melting fast
Melting polar ice has added 11.1mm (0.43") to global sea levels in two decades.
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The pursuit of connection: the $120K Lexus app and car combo
Ars spends a little QT in a tech-loaded, 2013 LS 600h L hybrid.
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Split-season may be more frustrating than Lori's character in Walking Dead
We hope big season 3 conflicts find well-positioned stopping points.
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Weekend PSA: Keep your computer safe from harm
A few simple tips to help you keep your PC or Mac protected from ne'er-do-wells.
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Updated: Paint it black—How Syria methodically erased itself from the 'Net
Now over (for the moment) Syria's blackout was carefully planned, with no leaks.
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Updated: "Scientists" uncover global league of mythical creatures
Lack of peer review makes findings less credible, more awesome.
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Can and should you ask for a code sample during a company interview?
Is it presumptuous? Or does it make you look professional?
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In a blow to Android, judge says Moto patents can't get injunctions
Motorola can't use standard-based patents to enjoin Microsoft's Xbox.
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Taking the new iMac out of its weird-shaped box
New trapezoidal box is harder to stack but much easier to open.
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Level capping truly, unapologetically sucks
An op-ed from the Department of Having Your Cake and Eating it Too.
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Porn trolling case thrown out for "attempted fraud on the court"
Firm for Sunlust Pictures so sleazy it can't find a lawyer to represent them.
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Model brain with 2.5 million neurons configures itself to solve problems
For this model brain, architecture matters more than sheer numbers.
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Friday Android appalooza: Old school rules
And so do location-based reminders.
On The Radar
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Getting tired of Gingerbread
Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean slowly eat away at Gingerbread
Android 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2 account for around a third of all Android devices.
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1984 all over again?
How to get targeted ads on your TV? Try a camera in your set-top box.
A set-top box could push ads based on what it sees and hears in your home.
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Both hands and a map
Google announces updated Maps API for Android developers
Includes better interfaces for bigger screens, indoor maps, and gestures.
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MAC ATTACK
New Mac espionage trojan targets Dalai Lama supporters
Drive-by attack exploits same Java vulnerability used by notorious Flashback.
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millions of voices, suddenly silenced
This may be the last time you can vote on Facebook's policy changes
Facebook wants to take away its site-wide votes, puts the decision to a vote.
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No pros left behind
Apple shoots down rumor about pro audio team "decimation"
Apple says the team is alive and well—and "hard at work" on the next Logic Pro.
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What else can change the nature of a man?
Planescape: Torment sequel finally in the works
Original designer moving forward with a follow-up to the groundbreaking PC RPG.
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Frigidus fuerit, emite effercio
The Dealmaster: A nice Windows 8 laptop and a great 50-inch TV
It's Monday and we have a lot of deals—including a Samsung 840 SSD!
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International man of mystery
McAfee Security founder says he's now out of Belize, eluding investigators (Updated)
"I miss my prior life…No baths, poor food.”
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Open source success
$100 Android/Linux tablet hits funding goal, ships in January
Dual-booting "PengPod" raises $72,707 from open source enthusiasts.
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Stop the presses
Tablet-only publication The Daily closing up shop on December 15
Apple and News Corp. launched The Daily with great fanfare in early 2011.
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Change in terminology
APA to drop “Asperger's syndrome” from its diagnostic manual
It's the American Psychiatric Association's first major rewrite in 20 years.
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heard no evil
New filing: Apple knew almost nothing about jury foreman in Samsung case
Samsung's allegations of juror misconduct look increasingly weak.
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How much is that Xbox in the window?
A new Xbox for the holidays! Well, the 2013 holidays
Owners of the 7-year-old hardware are learning patience is a virtue.
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Avast, ye scurvy dogs!
BPI requests UK Pirate Party shut down Pirate Bay proxy
We don't think they'll do it.
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Week in Review
Web servers and Satan: The best Ars stories from this week
And we tested out Google fiber in person, too.
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Biological property
Supreme Court to rule on patentability of human genes
Lower court ruled that genes can be patented once isolated from the body.
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Can't keep a good bundle down
Humble THQ Bundle raises over $2.4 million in just over a day
More than 425,000 purchasers help set a new record pace for the bundle.
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dead end
House passes GOP immigration bill for science, math grads
But Democratic opposition will almost surely stop the bill in the Senate.
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THE HEAT IS HOT
NAND flash gets baked, lives longer
Discovery by ROM manufacturer Macronix could defeat flash's greatest weakness.
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Yabba dabba do!
Kickstarter “Frankencar” combines solar panels with bike pedals
Go 1,800 miles on the equivalent of a gallon of gas.
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Celebrare cum redimereet
The Dealmaster: Laptops, desktops, monitors, chairs!
Ending November with a 27" 1080p monitor for a great price, plus other deals.
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21ST CENTURY ESPIONAGE
Malware siphons data on new rocket from Japanese space agency
Solid-fuel rocket is intended for launching satellites and space probes.
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Staff Blog
Final Nintendo Power cover brings the magazine full circle
A fitting sendoff for a vital, pre-Internet source of gaming info and community.
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The wait continues
21-inch iMac retail availability spotty, 27-inch models to ship in 2-3 weeks
The Apple Stores that do have iMacs apparently have "more than a few."
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We're having a fire... sale!
Amazon, Google slash cloud storage prices more than 25 percent
Google undercuts Amazon in cloud-y pricing war.
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Livin' on the edge
LivingSocial lays off 10 percent of its employees
LivingSocial says its customer service staff will move from DC to AZ, too.
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We don't need no stinkin' contracts
Apple may begin selling unlocked iPhone 5s this week
Now that supply is meeting demand for its latest smartphone.
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Immigration politics
Technology visa proposal foiled by partisan politics
Obama opposes GOP proposal to increase skilled immigration, cut unskilled.
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No peeking!
Senate committee takes an important step towards protecting your inbox
Senators pass ECPA reform requiring a warrant for cops to read your e-mail.
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Bye bye, .sy
Syria deletes itself from Internet as fighting intensifies
Sites in country unreachable from outside world, some cell phone service down.
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I wanna rock
Apple releases iTunes 11 with "dramatically simplified user interface"
After a month delay, update offers major overhaul to the overloaded media app.
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