Wide-ranging bill approved by a Senate panel would also impose up to five years behind bars for merely threatening to steal information from a computer with extortion in mind.

  Apparently, nothing really important was invented this year in biology, space travel, health care, personal safety, economics, nuclear research, disease control, or transportation.

  Microsoft's new photo technology, how to make energy from dirt, and the world's largest corn maze.

  Microsoft aims to entice Apple fans with a discounts for upgrading to Office for Mac 2008.

  Nonpartisan group founded to support open distribution for presidential-debate video calls on network to rescind cease-and-desist letter to John McCain's campaign.

  Watch and learn as TechRepublic member Erik Eckel pries into the private life of a Vivitar ViviCam.

  Several Net neutrality supporters have filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission to force Comcast to stop blocking peer-to-peer traffic.

  After seeing Windows wedge its way into a deal with the Nigerian government, Mandriva's chief criticizes Microsoft's competitive tactics.

  Anywhere there's a radio, there's your MP3 collection to boot.

  You had to look hard to catch even a glimpse of the Intel Itanium Processor 9100 announcement--formerly known under the Montvale code name.

  Video: Tokyo stands as standard for growing cities. Tokyo is arguably the high-tech capital of the world. With cutting-edge technology, efficiency in travel and creative options for living in constrained spaces, the city of 12 million people is also a model for other growing cities. CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos took a camera with him on a recent trip to see why this city has gained the status it has.

  Blogger says he has formally debunked the claim that Facebook had raised $500 million from two hedge funds.

  Wal-Mart is selling the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player for $99 this Friday, as part of its "Secret In-Store Specials"promotion.

  Plus: Scientists create technicolor neuron 'Brainbow'. Read these stories and more from around the Web on News.com Extra.