Anthony Myers

Kindle Fire is making a name for itself because of its $200 price and because so many people are getting used to the idea of a tablet computer. iPad came out just a couple years ago, and widespread adoption of the large screen devices has not happened outside of the notable Apple products.

Over 100,000 apps for the iPad means you might want a guide to help you sift through what's good and what's great. Here are 10 apps you'll love, some new, some newly updated. Some are free, bust most of the apps in this list cost at least $1. We've included games, kitchen helpers, time wasters and reference apps.

A NASA probe that has been visiting an asteroid since July has recorded images scientists say is proof the asteroid has a mineral make up more like that of Earth or Mars than a typical asteroid. Images from the Dawn space probe show differences in rock composition on the Vesta asteroid that are evidence of it's transition from asteroid to terrestrial-like planet.

Verizon will sell the Google branded Galaxy Nexus for $300 with a new two year contract, but the Google Wallet function will not be enabled because it competes with a Verizon system that does the same thing. Verizon is involved with a Google Wallet like function called Isis, and it uses the same near field communication technology that Google Wallet uses. So much for the pure Google experience.

If you are interested in one the most popular Android phones in the world, there are ten things you should know about the Samsung Galaxy S2. It's available on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. The T-Mobile and Sprint variants have a 4.5-inch screen while the AT&T version has a 4.3-inch screen.

Verizon has more $200 and $300 mobile phones than anyone, and Bionic and Rezound fit into this category. Rezound is the brand new device, and for $300 you get true HD 1280x720p resolution under the 4.3-inch super LCD screen. It's also got an eight megapixel camera and 16 gigabytes of internal storage. Bionic has the same size screen but not quite the same resolution. It's still got good resolution at 960x540p under the qHD display

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus does not have a 10-inch screen like the Eee Pad Transformer, but it costs nearly the same amount. That either means the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is overpriced or the Eee Pad Transformer is another Android slab without any features that might separate it from the slew of tablets out there already, right?

Scientists had theorized the existence of a thin layer of the sun's outermost atmosphere where the interstellar winds bumped up against the last gasps of high energy particles at the edge of our solar system. Voyager 1, speeding through the cosmos for the last 35 years, has finally reached this zone and confirmed the sun's energy has indeed given way to particles from other galaxies.

With around 40,000 apps and growing, the Microsoft Marketplace has only a fraction of the choices available to Android and Apple users. The best apps are the ones that do what you want, look cool and make things easier. There may not be 300,000 apps in the Marketplace, but it's good to have somebody who can curate a list for you, so that's what this is.

Droid Razr is the latest in line of Droid devices, but it also combines the Droid line with the Razr branded feature phone that Motorola popularized in the mid 00's. Back then (before iPhone) it was known as a particularly thin phone, but now the Razr is back and it shares some features with the Razr and Droid lines.

If Verizon ever releases the Galaxy Nexus, the world will finally get its hands on the new Android 4.0 software update that is supposed to run on tablets and smartphones. At least Android 4.0 will be live on one device, it's just that on top of us having to wait for the Nexus, we still have to wait to hear what Android devices will get the update.

As if the arbitrary names of smartphones weren't confusing enough, AT&T comes along with two devices with the same name. Okay, they've added the word skyrocket to the end of Galaxy S2, like that is supposed to mean something. In reality, the Skyrocket is a bit different from the other variations of Galaxy S2.

Shopping for your friends and family would be easy if you could get them all an Apple iPhone this holiday season. After all, the iPhone 3GS is free with a new two-year contract, and you might even be able to get that deal by adding a new line to your existing contract.

Kindle Fire, BlackBerry PlayBook and the Nook Tablet are taking a byte out of Apple this holiday season with their low prices, solid builds and Android systems. Of course, the Kindle Fire is the one device more responsible for this feat than than any other, but that magic $200 price tag is the place to be if you are an Android tablet.

AT&T is adding another device to its growing LTE network lineup, but the LG Nitro HD will have to hit the turbo chargers to take down the Ice Cream Sandwich powered Galaxy Nexus. While the world waits for Verizon to release the Galaxy Nexus, Dec. 4 will see the launch of the LG Nitro HD, a 4.5-inch screen speed demon.

A Russian probe bound for the red planet has been almost entirely silent since its early November launch, and the European Space Agency has announced they are giving up trying to contact it. The Phobos-Grunt probe was supposed to be crossing the roughly 200 million kilometers between the Earth and Mars before ESA engineers realized it was not responsive.

Over 300,000 apps and counting in the Android Market, but which ones are the best? You need an app curator, so this list is for you. Ice Cream Sandwich isn't here yet, so get the best new apps for your Android handset and kill some time until the best new Christmas present is here.

Kindle Fire and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer are two of the very best Android tablets in the world. The Eee Pad has been such a hit there is now a sequel; the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. But, the Eee Pad is more than just a tablet that transforms into a laptop with a sold separately dock.

iPhone was the most searched for word on Yahoo in 2011, so you know there has been plenty written about the now iconic Apple smartphone. But, when you are thinking of plunking down $200 on a mobile device, you need some real talk and dismiss the hype

A burst of energy that lit up the sky Christmas Day 2010 has been explained as one of two possible star collision theories, scientists revealed in the journal Nature. A 28-minute long gamma-ray burst was recorded that day by NASA's Swift observatory. Now, two papers from Nature attempt to explain the explosion using two models of star collisions, one within our galaxy and one billions of light years away.

Many are hoping the new Android 4.0-sporting Samsung Galaxy Nexus will launch this year, but some are opting for new devices that will eventually get the software update in the new year. For Verizon customers, that means the Droid Razr or HTC Rezound. Because we still don't know when the Nexus will drop or even how much it will cost, buyers need to be aware that it could come out with the same price or less than the Razr or Rezound.

With over 500,000 apps in the App Store, it's good to have somebody objectively reviewing them so you don't have to spend too much time going through them. Shopping can be fun, though, so think of this list as more of a guide. There are some games of course, but also some great time killers, puzzles, and food guide apps.

Two super-fancy 4G enabled devices like the Motorola Droid Razr and HTC Amaze will be finding their way onto many holiday lists this year, but which one should you choose? That depends on if you are upgrading on the Verizon network or T-Mobile. Droid Razr is only on Verizon and Amaze is only on T-Mobile.

Siri, iPhone 4S' now famous digital assistant, is not available on the iPhone 4 or 3GS, but when the new iPhone 5 and iPad 3 come out next year, could she be included? It's far too early to tell if Siri will be on these two highly anticipated devices, but if she does appear on one or both of the devices, it would keep Apple in the top spot of the U.S. smartphone world.

In a cyclical pattern that could increase sea levels and create more intense storms and droughts, the Earth's rapidly thawing permafrost is releasing tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With more of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, the Earth's temperature gradually rises, and causes more permafrost to melt.

Apple prides itself on making its mobile devices easy to use and intuitive to operate. Their newest mobile software update, iOS 5, has several new features that are meant to simplify the interface, but also make it more powerful and productive

Tablets are the new smartphones this year, and everybody wants the Kindle Fire or iPad. But two of the best available now are the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and BlackBerry PlayBook. While they both have seven inch screens, the really only other thing they have in common is their excellent build qualities.

If this is the year of the e-reader, then you might be wondering what the difference is between these two devices beyond the $50 price tag. The big difference is in the hardware. You get a faster processor with more memory, a better battery and more on board storage on the Nook Tablet.

Until recently, the Focus S was $200 with a new two year AT&T contract, but now that it's just $100 on their Web site, it is decision time. If your about to upgrade, the Focus S and Inspire 4G are a pair of 4.3-inch screen devices that may be on your radar. Focus S is a much newer device and on paper, it's the better buy, but it doesn't run the Android system.