Review: Eee Pad tablet transforms into laptop

NEW YORK – The tablet computers that compete with the iPad have mostly been uninspiring. The Eee Pad Transformer stands out with a design that isn't just copied from the iPad: It's a tablet that turns into a laptop.

For $399, $100 less than the cheapest iPad, you get a tablet computer with a 10-inch screen and hardware that doesn't cut corners. It's fully usable on its own. For another $149, you can buy a keyboard that connects to the tablet. Together, they look and open like a small laptop.

Toshiba Creates Phone Display With Highest Pixel Density Ever

The iPhone 4's crown of having the highest-density screen among smartphones could soon be usurped. Toshiba just unveiled a 4-inch screen with a density of 367 pixels per inch (ppi), making it the highest pixel density for any commercial display.

When Apple first showed the iPhone 4 last year, Steve Jobs famously proclaimed its 326ppi screen as a "retina" display, implying that it was so sharp, it was beyond the point where the human eye was able to discern the pixels. Those claims were later said to have beenexaggerated, though the display is still notable for having the highest pixel density among phones.

Costa Rica replaces Japan in Copa America

TOKYO – Costa Rica has accepted an invitation to replace Japan in the Copa America, the soccer championship of South America.

Japan withdrew Tuesday because of problems forming a team following March's earthquake and tsunami.

Costa Rica will send a team of players mostly under 23, with five older players.

Andrea Pirlo leaving AC Milan after 10 seasons

MILAN – Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo is leaving AC Milan after 10 seasons with the club.

Pirlo, who turns 32 on Thursday, is expected to join Juventus.

He told reporters outside Milan's downtown offices on Wednesday that "after 10 unforgettable years, I want to thank the club and fans for all their affection."

Inzaghi signs new deal but Pirlo leaving Milan

ROME (AFP) – Veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi on Wednesday signed a new one-year contract with AC Milan tying him to the club until the end of next season when he will be 38.

But midfield playmaker Andrea Pirlo revealed that he would be leaving the champions Milan after 10 years.

"I'm here to say goodbye," Pirlo told reporters when he arrived at the club's headquarters in Milan.

"After 10 unforgettable years I want to thank the club and the fans for their affection."

Smile To Unlock: iPhone App Uses Facial Recognition to Secure Your Phone

It there's one thing really irritating about leaving your iPhone out with friends, it's when they unlock to unleash all kinds of madness (usually on your Facebook) while your back's turned. You can always use a passcode, but maybe it's time to add an extra step to the "Slide to Unlock" screen, by adding facial recognition.

RecognizeMe is an app aimed at jailbroken iPhones, and basically gives you the option of not just using a passcode to unlock your phone, but to require facial recognition too. After adding a few images into an image

Angry Birds, the next Mickey Mouse?

PARIS (Reuters) – Mikael Hed is unrepentant about the 200 million minutes per day that people around the world fritter away playing Angry Birds, the iPhone game created by the company he heads.

"It's great. Think of all the other stuff they could be doing that's so much more boring," said the chief executive of Rovio Mobile, a Finnish start-up almost unheard of before it unleashed the addictive game on an unsuspecting world in 2009.

Japan economy slumps more than expected in first quarter

TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan's economy shrank in the first quarter at nearly double the pace expected, effectively slipping into recession as the devastating earthquake in March hit business spending and private consumption.

Gross domestic product fell 0.9 percent in the first quarter, much more than a median market forecast for a 0.5 percent contraction.

That translates into an annualized decline of 3.7 percent against a forecast of a 2.0 percent fall, Cabinet Office data showed on Thursday.

5 foreign journalists freed by Libya and Iran

TRIPOLI, Libya – The Libyan government released four foreign journalists on Wednesday and a fifth reached freedom in Qatar after disappearing while on assignment in Syria, the latest reporters to be freed after being swept up while covering unrest in the Middle East.

Americans Clare Morgana Gillis and James Foley, along with British freelance reporter Nigel Chandler and Spanish photographer Manuel Varela, appeared at a Tripoli hotel after being released from six weeks detention in Libya.

Porto win Europa League title

DUBLIN (AFP) – Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas insists it would cost Europe's super-powers a fortune to break up his Europa League winners.

Villas-Boas and several of Porto's squad will be highly prized after a triumphant campaign reached a new high with a 1-0 victory over Braga in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

Colombia striker Falcao scored the winner with a superb header on the stroke of half-time at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin as Porto added Europe's second tier trophy to the Portuguese title they won without losing a single match.

Gaddafi's wife and daughter in Tunisia: source

TUNIS/TRIPOLI (Reuters) – The wife and daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi crossed the border into Tunisia, a Tunisian security source said, but it was unclear whether they were on a diplomatic mission or seeking safe haven.

Arabic television stations quoted Tunisian officials as denying that the family members were in the country, saying that Safia Gaddafi and her daughter Aisha were on a U.N. sanctions list and would therefore not be allowed in.

Amazon Will Now Pay You For Your Old Electronics

Amazon has expanded its trade-in program to allow customers to send in their used electronics for gift cards that can be used on the ecommerce site. The retail giant will eat the shipping costs in the deal, letting users price out the value of their products -- including cell phones, tablets and digital cameras -- on the Amazon trade-in site, assign a condition (“like new, “ “good,” or “acceptable,”) and print off a shipping label.

[More from Mashable: Polaroid 300 Brings Back the Fun of Instant Film]

Capsule reviews: `Pirates,' `Midnight in Paris'

"The First Grader" — Based on the true story of a Kenyan man who goes to school for the first time at age 84, this drama hits all the feel-good notes you expect it to hit. Adversity is overcome and forgiveness is granted, lessons are learned and hearts are warmed. But strong performances and a stripped-down visual aesthetic help mitigate some of the movie's potential mawkishness. Director Justin Chadwick's film, based on a script by Ann Peacock, follows the unlikely challenge Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge (Oliver Litondo) chooses for himself toward the end of his life. When he hears on the radio that the Kenyan government is offering free primary education, he walks to the tiny, rural schoolhouse near his remote village home to enroll. He's initially turned away but, quietly

Japan Earthquake Was 'In the Air' Days Before, Scientist Claims

The atmosphere above the epicenter of the March 11 earthquake in Japan underwent unusual changes in the days leading up to the disaster, according to preliminary data.

The research has not yet been published in an academic journal or reviewed by other scientists, but it could offer an intriguing possibility for earthquake prediction — though the day scientists are able to forecast earthquakes is still "far away," said study researcher Dimitar Ouzounov, a professor of earth sciences at Chapman University in California.

Microsoft: One in 14 Downloads Is Malicious

The next time a website says to download new software to view a movie or fix a problem, think twice. There's a pretty good chance that the program is malicious.

In fact, about one out of every 14 programs downloaded by Windows users turns out to be malicious, Microsoft said Tuesday. And even though Microsoft has a feature in its Internet Explorer browser designed to steer users away from unknown and potentially untrustworthy software, about 5 percent of users ignore the warnings and download malicious Trojan horse programs anyway.

Egyptian princess was first to have heart disease

LONDON – An Egyptian princess who lived more than 3,500 years ago is the oldest known person to have had clogged arteries, dispelling the myth that heart disease is a product of modern society, a new study says.

To determine how common heart disease was in ancient Egypt, scientists performed computer scans on 52 mummies in Cairo and the United States. Among those that still had heart tissue, 44 had chunks of calcium stuck to their arteries — indicating clogging.

The 14 Biggest News Days on the Web

Pew Internet & American Life Project recently found that, in the United States, Internet news sources are the second-most-popular way to get news after television. The rest of the world is also big on news, according to the Akamai Net Usage News Index. Since 2005, the Web-monitoring firm has been watching the traffic levels directed at about 100 of the world's most popular news sites to find out which events send the world rushing to the online home of the BBC, CNN, the New York Times, and other news sources. From the World Cup to the Egyptian Revolution to the election of Barack Obama, here's a look at Akamai's top 14 news days online.

Distant rocky planet 'could be future human home'

An image released by the European Southern
Observatory (ESO) shows an artist's impression of the …

PARIS (AFP) – A rocky world orbiting a nearby star has been confirmed as the first planet outside our solar system to meet key requirements for sustaining life, scientists said on Monday.

Modelling of planet Gliese 581d shows it has the potential to be warm and wet enough to nurture Earth-like life, they said.

It orbits a red dwarf star called Gliese 581, located around 20 light years from Earth, which makes it one of our closest neighbours.

Android 3.1 Update Coming in June to Acer, Asus, and T-Mobile Tablets

The first major update to Google's Honeycomb platform, Android 3.1, was announced last week at the Google I/O developer event, and it's slowly rolling out as an over-the-air update to mobile broadband-connected Motorola Xoom tablets. When announced, Google was vague about when we could expect Android 3.1 on other Honeycomb tablets, but today saw update details flying across the Web for both the Acer Iconia A500 and the Asus EeePad Transformer.

Bill Gates backed Microsoft's takeover of Skype

When it was announced last week that Microsoft had bought Internet phone company Skype for a whacking $8.5 billion, it caused many in the tech industry to carefully place their cup of coffee on their desk, furrow their brow slightly and say, “Eh?”

The news media was filled with stories trying to work out precisely why Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was so excited about the takeover of a company that lost $7 million last year and charges nothing for most of its services.

FIFA chief Blatter accuses English of sour grapes

ZURICH (AFP) – FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday accused the English of sour grapes over their lost bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA has been rocked by new allegations of graft after a British parliamentary committee last week heard testimony about bribes being offered during the bidding process to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Mancini insists Tevez staying at City

MANCHESTER (AFP) – Carlos Tevez is set to stay at Manchester City, according to manager Roberto Mancini.

The Argentina striker's future has been in doubt since he handed in a transfer request earlier in the season.

Even after captaining City to victory in last weekend's FA Cup final against Stoke at Wembley, Tevez suggested he might have to move back to South America for family reasons.

Depp sails fresh waters on 'Pirates' reboot

 BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – New pirates, new ship, new treasure — same old Jack Sparrow.

After a trilogy that hauled in $2.7 billion worldwide, "Pirates of the Caribbean" relaunches with "On Stranger Tides," a fresh start for the buccaneer-blockbuster franchise starring the franchise's one indispensable ingredient — Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack.

The new movie jettisons some characters — the trilogy's co-stars, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, whose story wrapped up at the end of 2007's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." It brings back some in new guises — Geoffrey Rush as Jack's foil Barbossa, trading in his pirate garb to sail on behalf of the king. And it introduces new ones — Penelope Cruz as Jack's old flame, daughter of the dread pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

"Pirates of Caribbean" turns 4, seek fountain of youth

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – For the past four years, "Pirates" fans everywhere have been languishing in the doldrums. But relief is finally on the horizon.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth movie in the lucrative Disney franchise, sets sail in U.S. theaters on Friday as one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the summer.

Self-Compassion: The Most Important Life Skill?

A charming animated baby, Kristin Neff's son Rowan retreated into himself as a toddler, losing his few words and becoming prone to inexplicable screaming fits.

There are numerous ways Neff could have reacted to Rowan's 2004 diagnosis of autism. She could have buried her emotions, become despondent or immediately found something to blame.

Nvidia head sees competition for iPad

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Apple's iPad is finally about to get some real competition.

At least according to Jen-Hsun Huang, co-founder and chief executive of chip designer Nvidia.

In under three years, he says tablets using Google's Android platform -- and his company's processors -- could overtake Apple Inc's red-hot iPad as improved versions and more applications hit the market.

Apple, Google to attend hearing on mobile privacy

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US lawmakers have invited Apple, Facebook and Google to attend a hearing on mobile phones and privacy on Thursday -- the second Capitol Hill appearance in a week for executives from Apple and Google.

Senator Jay Rockefeller said the hearing of the Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance Subcommittee would focus on "industry practices with respect to online mobile data collection and usage."

Quake-hit Japan cancels Copa America plans

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – Japan has cancelled plans to play the Copa America tournament in July, Argentine Football Federation (AFA) president Julio Grondona has said.

"We are sorry to inform you that the Japanese team cannot participate in the Copa America 2011 in Argentina. We apologize deeply," said a letter from the Japanese football association disclosed by the AFA.

War crimes prosecutor seeks arrest of Gadhafi

TRIPOLI, Libya – The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor sought arrest warrants Monday for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his son and the country's intelligence chief for authorizing the killing of civilians in a crackdown on anti-government rebels.

Gadhafi's government denied the allegations.

IMF crisis opens the door to emerging nations

WASHINGTON – The arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn has plunged the International Monetary Fund into a leadership dilemma just as it's playing a key role in addressing Europe's debt crisis and other global challenges.

It also hastens a likely confrontation between Europe and increasingly rich developing countries that have been angling for the top spot at either the IMF or its sister organization, the World Bank. Since their inception just after World War II, the IMF has been led by a European, the World Bank by an American.

Top Italian football clubs reflect on failures

ROME (AFP) – While a lot of attention has been focussed this Serie A season on the surprisingly positive campaigns of Napoli, Lazio and Udinese, there are three other teams whose failures have been just as notable.

While the other three were surpassing expectations and battling for a place in next season's Champions League, Juventus, Roma and Sampdoria have been the big losers this term.

And each one has staked their claim for the biggest of the under-achievers.

FA silent over Ferguson reply to ref charge

LONDON (AFP) – England's Football Association (FA) have taken the unusual step of refusing to reveal whether or not Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accepted his latest improper conduct charge.

The matter is now with the governing body's disciplinary committee and normally at such a time the FA announce how those charged have responded.

Rooney clinches Man United's record 19th title

BLACKBURN, England – Wayne Rooney secured Manchester United's record 19th English title on Saturday, scoring on a penalty kick to salvage a 1-1 draw at Blackburn and overshadow rival Manchester City's first major trophy in 35 years.

Yaya Toure scored at Wembley to give Manchester City's expensively assembled side a 1-0 win over Stoke in the FA Cup final, but the victory couldn't eclipse United's accomplishment.

Six Things That Block Your Wi-Fi, and How to Fix Them

study by Epitiro, a UK-based broadband-analysis firm, shows that consumers lose an average of 30 percent of the data speed their broadband connection supplies when they use Wi-Fi connections in the home.

Why the slowdown? You've probably heard that some household electronic devices, including microwave ovens, baby monitors, and cordless phones, hamper Wi-Fi performance. To separate fact from fiction, we did some research and consulted an expert on the topic: Nandan Kalle, networking business unit manager for router manufacturer Belkin.

'Thor' nails top box office spot

Thor" stole the thunder from "Bridesmaids" by securing the No. 1 spot at the box office with $34.7 million.

The final figure Monday for Paramount's 3-D superhero film starring Chris Hemsworth as Marvel's god of thunder is slightly up from the original studio estimate of $34.5 million over the weekend. Universal's "Bridesmaids," which features Kristen Wiig as a down-on-her-luck maid of honor, was also above Sunday's $24.4 million estimate to $26.2 million.

Barca game pics 'worth a thousands words': Mourinho

MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho vowed to stop talking about the fractious Champions League encounter with Barcelona and his own post-match tirade, saying images of the game will speak for themselves.

"A picture is worth a thousands words and as there are so many pictures, I am not going to speak any more about what happened," he told a news conference on Friday.

Bayern demand respect from fans before Neuer visit

BERLIN (AFP) – Bayern Munich have urged their supporters to treat any visiting opponents and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with respect ahead of Saturday's highly-charged league clash against Schalke 04.

Neuer, 25, is widely reported to be set to sign for the Bavarian giants next season and has already told Champions League semi-finalists Schalke he will not extend his contract, which ends in 2012.

Germany to host France in Euro 2012 warm-up

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – Germany will host France in a pre-Euro 2012 friendly in Bremen on February 29, it was announced on Friday.

"The clashes against France are traditionally attractive duels," said national team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

"We are pleased that we will be able to take on France again after almost six years and that we can offer our fans an attractive game."

Blatter promises FIFA reforms if re-elected

FRANKFURT, Germany – FIFA President Sepp Blatter promises wide-ranging reforms if re-elected, including the way World Cup hosts are chosen.

Blatter told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine he also will set up a watchdog committee to supervise how FIFA works and "restore the credibility" of soccer's governing body.

The 75-year-old Swiss is seeking a fourth term of office on June 1. His lone opponent is Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed bin Hammam.

Sony seeking ways to 'make good' on continuing PSN and Qrirocity outage

As Sony continues to inch toward a full two weeks of lost service forPlayStation Network and Qrirocity customers, there is more and more pressure on the company to address the growing numbers of questions being lobbed in its direction. The first steps were taken earlier this week toward addressing the demands of the 77 million users who have had their personal data stolen and been left without service since last Wednesday, in the form of a Sony-penned Q&A. Today brings part two of that Q&A, presumably with more to come given that today’s answers serve to raise additional questions.

William and wife now duke, duchess of Cambridge

LONDON – Prince William and Kate Middleton got their first royal wedding present from the queen on Friday: the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Buckingham Palace said William is now His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, and that Miss Catherine Middleton is now Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

There's more: The palace statement said William was also named the Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. Middleton took those titles when she said "I will," becoming Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus.

Television brings wedding pageantry to world

NEW YORK – Like guests who whisper asides to their friends from the back pews, the commoners in the media kept the mood lighthearted Friday as cameras captured every angle of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Millions followed the event throughout the world on television, their computers and hand-held devices. The media enabled anyone who cared to become a wedding guest.

Britain celebrates monarchy as Kate, William wed

LONDON – With a smile that lit up TV screens around the world, Kate Middleton married Prince William in a union that promised to revitalize the British monarchy. A million people roared their approval as the royal couple then paraded through London in an open carriage.

Even knowing that an immense television audience was turning in to watch, the couple managed, at times, to appear in their own private world Friday, both at Westminster Abbey and on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

'American Idol' eliminates another finalist

LOS ANGELES – Casey Abrams was given the heave-ho on "American Idol."

The eccentric 20-year-old musician-singer from Idyllwild, Calif., received the fewest viewer votes on the Fox talent contest Thursday after his growl-filled interpretation of "Hi-De-Ho" on Wednesday's evening of Carole King tunes.

Abrams was previously rescued by the show's judges with their one-time-only power, but there was no helping the jazz-lover this time.

Watch the British royal wedding live

Whether you will be watching every moment or just want to see the ceremony, Yahoo! will be your one stop for all royal wedding updates. You won't miss a thing. Here's what you can expect:

Live streaming video: No TV? No problem, just come back to this page, starting at 1 a.m. PT/4 a.m. ET on Friday morning, where we'll have live video of every moment of the event courtesy of ABC News, hosted by Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters. Live coverage will continue through 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET.

Six Planets Now Aligned in the Dawn Sky

If you get up any morning for the next few weeks, you’ll be treated to the sight of all the planets except Saturn arrayed along the ecliptic, the path of the sun through the sky.

For the last two months, almost all the planets have been hiding behind the sun, but this week they all emerge and are arrayed in a grand line above the rising sun. Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are visible, and you can add Uranus and Neptune to your count if you have binoculars or a small telescope.

Does Wild Tornado Season Signal Climate Change?

Some climate models suggest that a warming future could herald more intense storms like those that ripped through the Southeast on Wednesday night.

But that doesn't mean the southern storms and tornadoes were a manifestation of climate change, climate scientists say. That's because teasing out the influence of climate on weather takes time.

Super Falcao sinks Villarreal, Benfica edge Braga in Europa League

PARIS (AFP) – A stunning four goal show by Colombian striker Falcao saw Portuguese champions Porto come from a goal down to overwhelm Spanish side Villarreal 5-1 on Thursday in their Europa League semi-final first leg clash in Oporto.

Falcao's goals took him to a record 16 in the competition, beating Jurgen Klinsmann's total of 15 for Bayern Munich in the 1995/95 competition when it was the UEFA Cup.

Sony's S1 and S2 'PlayStation Tablets' vs. the iPad

For decades, Sony's brand has stood for entertainment. So now that Sony's releasing its own tablets to compete with the iPad, which it's calling the S1 and S2 for now, you'd naturally assume two things: That there's some reason to buy one instead of an iPad, and that that reason is entertainment, whether it be music, movies or video games.

As it turns out, the Sony "PlayStation tablets" will have all three, but they'll probably leave something to be desired.

Order & Chaos Online leads iPhone Games of the Week

This week’s best games list offers a pretty wide variety of quality titles at (mostly) bargain prices, and it kicks off with Gameloft’s newest entry to the App Store, Order & Chaos Online. If you’ve heard of World of Warcraft, you probably get the gist of the developer’s expansive and ambitious title. There are a lot of players to team up with in Order & Chaos, and the first three months of gameplay are free without a subscription. Get the goods below, and keep reading, because we’ve got several great offerings for you this week, and you aren’t going to want to miss any of them.

Middleton to spend eve of wedding at 5-star hotel

LONDON – Kate Middleton's spending her last night as a single woman in a room fit for a queen.

The princess-in-waiting is staying Thursday at London's Goring Hotel, a family run luxury hotel just around the corner from Buckingham Palace.

Middleton, father Michael, mother Carole, sister Pippa and brother James have taken over the 71-room hotel, with the bride-to-be staying in a recently redecorated five-room suite overlooking the hotel's private garden, complete with a four-poster bed, silk wallpaper and even a waterproof flat-screen TV in the bath.

UEFA to probe Mourinho outburst

NYON, Switzerland (AFP) – UEFA on Thursday announced it had launched a disciplinary inquiry into events surrounding Wednesday's fractious Champions League semi-final tie between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

One of the incidents being investigated is Real coach Jose Mourinho's post-match outburst in which the Portuguese suggested referees always showed favouritism to Barcelona, who won 2-0 in Madrid to take a huge step towards the final.

BlackBerry maker slashes short-term sales forecast

NEW YORK – Research In Motion Ltd., the maker of the BlackBerry, on Thursday cut its sales and earnings forecasts for the current quarter, saying it's shipping fewer and cheaper phones than it had expected.

The stock was down $5.09, or 9 percent, to $51.50 in extended trading.

It's the second hit for the stock in just over a month. When reporting earnings for the previous quarter on March 24, the Waterloo, Ontario, company disappointed investors by saying it expects earnings of $1.47 to $1.55 per share for the current quarter, below analyst expectations at the time.

The Real question: Why is Mourinho a bad loser?

PARIS – Sounding like a stuck record by a lovesick crooner, Jose Mourinho wailed why, oh, why? In the warped view of Real Madrid's coach, the dice are stacked in Barcelona's favor. "They have got great power. The rest of us have no chance," he said.

And some of Europe's most respected referees — Mourinho rattled off several of them — are seemingly part of some kind of pro-Barca plot.

Well, Jose, here's the real question: Why are you such a bad loser?

Police talk to Rooney over possible phone hacking

LONDON – Police contacted Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney after his mobile phone was apparently hacked into by a British tabloid newspaper.

London police have conducted a high-profile investigation into the News of the World's role in a series of illegal interceptions into celebrities' voicemails.

"Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents, looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone," Rooney said Thursday on his Twitter account.

Golden Globes pick mid-January date for award show

LOS ANGELES – The 2012 Golden Globe Awards will be presented on Jan. 15, but which network will air the star-studded presentation is still an open question for a federal judge to decide.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the date on Thursday without mentioning a specific broadcaster.

Box Office Preview: 'Fast Five' will race to No. 1

LOS ANGELES – Universal's "Fast Five," the fifth installment of the massively successful "Fast and Furious" franchise, is about to hit the streets with the biggest domestic opening of the year thus far. An expected IMAX-fueled $70 million-plus haul will easily give the film pole position on the weekend box office chart.

This latest "Fast and Furious" takes its classic street-racing formula and turns it into a relentless heist-and-drive thriller with a reunited cast and the addition of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The film has already shot to No. 2 overseas after only one weekend in a little more than 400 theaters.

Three Great Movies That Celebrate the Royal Wedding Spirit

Millions around the world are expected to watch at least part of the royal wedding on TV or the internet tomorrow. If you want some alternative royal wedding related entertainment, here's a look at the best movies to watch to celebrate the royal wedding.

"Royal Wedding"

How could I not include a movie fittingly called " Royal Wedding "? I absolutely love Fred Astaire, and although Jane Powell costars rather than Ginger Rogers, "Royal Wedding" is still one of his classics. In this movie London

Man in cow suit robs Walmart of 26 gallons of milk

The schedule of events for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

• 0815 BST (0715 GMT; 3:15 a.m. EDT) — Guests begin arriving at the Great North Door of London's Westminster Abbey.

• 0950 BST (0850 GMT; 4:50 a.m. EDT) — Governors-general and prime ministers of realm countries, the diplomatic corps, and other distinguished guests arrive at the abbey.

Royal wedding eve: Crowds swell outside the abbey

LONDON – Each step has been rehearsed, each flower meticulously arranged, the aisle of Westminster Abbey transformed into a flowering avenue of trees.

With just hours to go before his wedding to Kate Middleton, dedicated royal watchers camped outside got an unexpected surprise — a visit from Prince William.

Tornadoes devastate South, killing at least 280

PLEASANT GROVE, Ala. – Firefighters searched one splintered pile after another for survivors Thursday, combing the remains of houses and neighborhoods pulverized by the nation's deadliest tornado outbreak in almost four decades. At least 280 people were killed across six states — more than two-thirds of them in Alabama, where large cities bore the half-mile-wide scars the twisters left behind.

The death toll from Wednesday's storms seems out of a bygone era, before Doppler radar and pinpoint satellite forecasts were around to warn communities of severe weather. Residents were told the tornadoes were coming up to 24 minutes ahead of time, but they were just too wide, too powerful and too locked onto populated areas to avoid a horrifying body count.

Google Docs app released for Android

Google has finally Android OS. The new release was announced on Wednesday in a blog post by the Mountain View company.

The post says that the new app allows you to easily “filter and search for your content across any Google account, then jump straight into editing docs using the online mobile editors. The app also allows you to easily share items with contacts on your phone, right from within the app.”

Baidu sees stronger-than-expected Q2 revenue

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Baidu Inc more than doubled its profit in the first quarter and forecast stronger-than-expected revenue for the second quarter, betting on strong online advertising demand among China's businesses.

Shares of Baidu, which are up more than 50 percent since the start of the year, were down slightly at $150.65 in after-hours trade after closing Wednesday's regular session at$151.11.

5 worst digital security breaches of all time

Post by Sebastian Anthony: With yesterday's news of the PlayStation Network being hacked and the unceremonious accompaniment of millions of names, addresses, dates of birth, passwords, and possibly credit card details having potentially been stolen, the tech community's attention has yet again been focused on the tricky and vitally important topic of internet security.

Reid: US must compete with China to lead on energy

WASHINGTON – The United States must step up its efforts on renewable energy to compete with China and other countries for global leadership, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday after returning from a nine-day, taxpayer-funded trip to Asia with nine of his colleagues.

The Nevada Democrat said the trip, his first visit to China in a quarter-century, offered "an unmistakable reminder just how hard we have to work to make America competitive with the rest of the world," particularly on manufacturing and energy.

'Rio' stays perched atop foreign box office chart

LOS ANGELES – "Rio" topped the international box office chart for the third consecutive weekend with $32.1 million in 41 territories and a worldwide total of $239.3 million, but "Fast Five" is coming on quickly with a tally of $12.6 million in just three territories in advance of its turbocharged U.S. debut this weekend.

As the most action-packed and visually stunning film of the "Fast" franchise, look for Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to dominate the worldwide market in the weeks to come.

Egyptians find their voice after years of repression

CAIRO (Reuters) – For decades, authoritarian rule and police brutality ensured the only voice heard from Egypt was that of its leaders. Since popular protests deposed President Hosni Mubarak, the silent majority has erupted into a cacophony.

Emboldened by the success of their uprising, almost everyone in post-Mubarak Egypt, from Western-educated professionals to illiterate farmhands to once-banned Islamists, has something to say about their nation's past and future.

Messi double downs Real Madrid in Champions League first leg

MADRID (AFP) – Argentina's two-time world player of the year Lionel Messi scored a superb late brace as Barcelona gained the upper hand in their Champions League semi final with a 2-0 first leg win over arch rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.

Real were down to ten men after Pepe had been sent off on the hour mark and Barca made the extra man count with Messi converting an Ibrahim Afellay cross on 76 minutes and then scored a mesmerising goal on 86 minutes for his 11th Champions League goal of the season.

The iPad gets the Presidential seal of approval

President Barack Obama has joined the 15-or-so million people in the iPad nation. He was recently photographed carrying the iPad with an Apple smart cover.

Last month, the President told Univision’s Jorge Ramos that he owns an iPad, and joked that of course he has his own computer (reportedly a MacBook Pro).