Stories by John P. Mello Jr.

Anonymous affiliate indicted for threats, stolen credit cards

A federal grand jury in Texas has indicted Barrett Brown, a putative spokesman for the hacker collective known as Anonymous and co-author of a book-in-progress about the group, in connection with a massive data breach of Stratfor Global Intelligence, a geopolitical risk analysis organization.

Apple-Samsung verdict doesn't give Microsoft the win

When the news broke Friday that a jury had awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages for Samsung's infringement of iPhone and iPad patents, some gloating occurred among some Microsoft executives, but it remains to be seen if that smugness was warranted.

NBC Olympic Coverage Attacked on Twitter

More television viewers than ever are parking their eyeballs on NBC's coverage of the 2012 Olympic Games, but the network is getting hammered online for everything from advertising placement to delayed coverage of events to lame commentary.

How Social Media Performed During Aurora Tragedy

For anyone seeking immediacy as the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado, unfolded Friday, online social media outlets provided an unparalleled view of the events that left 12 people dead and some 70 others injured. They also provided some low points on the humanity scale.

Who's the King of Smartphone sales?

Android phone stalwart Samsung has announced record profits for the first three months of this year, profits driven by its flourishing smartphone sales.

Megaupload Legal Troubles Send Shudders Through Cyberlocker Community

The <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/248443/filesharing_site_megaupload_indicted_for_internet_piracy_shut_down_by_us.html">shutdown</a> of the massive file-sharing website Megaupload and the arrest of its founder and three of its executives have some members of the cyberlocker community looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be next.

Science Mag Launches Fiction Spinoff

Technology Review, MIT's science magazine for consumers, is branching out into science fiction with a new annual publication called <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/sf/">TRSF.</a>

Android: The Phone for Living Dangerously?

An Asian boy approaches a man clad in black leather at an outdoor café in Chinatown. He whispers something in the man's ear. The man grabs his warrior of the future motorcycle helmet and speeds down the streets of San Francisco in pursuit of an armored car caravan. Explosions. Fireballs. Shuriken fly. Back at his lair, the marauder exposes the convoy's precious cargo: the <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/243328/motorola_droid_razr_review_thin_and_fast_but_short_on_battery_life.html?tk=rel_news">Droid Razr.</a> A title appears on the screen: Too Powerful to Fall into the Wrong Hands.

[]