Stories by Mike Elgan

The timeline's time has come

Facebook will soon foist its new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/about/timeline">Timeline</a> feature on users as part of its plan to update its interface.

Voice, gestures dominate show

Trying to follow CES <a href="https://plus.google.com/s/CES/posts">breaking news coverage</a> is like that episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy is working in a chocolate factory and the conveyor belt carrying the candies keeps moving faster and faster. It's stressful, confounding and, ultimately, can't be done.

How Google and Apple will control TV

In the global business marketplace, Silicon Valley is a shark, a killing machine hardwired with powerful instincts for tracking down sick, weak and slow businesses, and devouring them without hesitation.

'Tis the season for 'ambient hangouts'

In the future, widely distributed consumer technology will enable your family and friends to be right there with you during the holidays, even if they're on the other side of the world.

How to launch your career 2.0

Comedian Louis CK recently produced an "HBO special"-style show, but with a difference: HBO wasn't involved -- and neither was any other network.

Inside Carrier IQ-gate

A scandal erupted this week around the discovery of secret software running on most smartphone handsets in the U.S. that tracks and logs personal activity on the phones.

Has the spam problem been solved?

Microsoft founder Bill Gates said in 2004 that <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3426367.stm">the problem of spam would be solved within two years</a>. It seemed unlikely at the time, and in fact 2006 came and went without so much as a dip in the crushing load of unwanted email advertising.

What Android fans think of iPhone users

I've noticed a curious thing about some <a href="http://www.android.com/">Android</a> users. They have very strong and surprising opinions about people who choose <a href="http://apple.com/iphone">iPhones</a>.

Elgan: Getting Serious about Siri

Apple's new <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/siri.html">Siri</a> virtual assistant feature in the <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone 4s</a> is already causing controversy and dividing the gadget-loving universe.

Elgan: Why do people wait in line for iPhones?

SOMEWHERE IN LINE -- I did something this week that I've never done before: I camped out on the sidewalk all night <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220856/Sprint_faithful_wait_in_the_rain_to_be_first_with_iPhone_4S">waiting in line</a> for the new <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9108338/Continuing_coverage_Apple_s_iPhone">iPhone</a> .

Easy automation for Google+

Last week, I <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9220426/Elgan_How_to_automate_Google_">told you</a> about a great new service called <a href="http://ifttt.com/">"If This Then That"</a> (IFTTT), which lets you automate things online. I also gave instructions on how to post on <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136345/Google_Update">Google+</a> via email.

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