The desire to be cool and embrace new technologies definitely overtook the desire to be safe with the very buzzy mobile, location-based apps on view at South by Southwest this year . You've got to love a smartphone app that broadcasts all sorts of information about you -- your likes, your age, your job -- to everyone within sight who has the same app. Because it reduces friction, right? It makes it easier to meet that good-looking guy or girl right over there who shares your love of kiteboarding and Gorillaz. You can cut down lame conversations about things you have no interest in at all.

CNN may be in the process of buying Mashable, depending on which line of speculation you believe.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Social media sites such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ are playing an increasing role in IT as corporations set up and monitor the sites to learn about their public image.

A "worrying number" of Facebook users are sharing a link to a malware-laden fake CNN news page reporting the U.S. has attacked Iran and Saudi Arabia, security firm Sophos said Friday.

If political candidates want to make any traction in this year's election, they better use Twitter, says Dick Costolo, CEO of the social networking firm.

Maybe there's no such thing as a free lunch, but iOS device owners certainly have their pick of free apps. While you're mulling over your choices for what apps to install on your new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, consider these 10 options, which won't cost you a dime.

Amazon's Kindle Fire will grab 50 percent of Android tablet sales in 2012, building on its success from this year, according to an investment analyst.

With Ashton Kutcher racing CNN to be the first to have 1 million Twitter followers, and Twitter's CEO Evan Williams sitting down with the ladies on Oprah Friday, what is becoming of the Web site that's garnered such techie love?