Google to Partner with Sprint for Mobile Payments on Thursday?

Bloomberg is reporting that Google and Sprint will be launching a contact-less payment system this Thursday based on near-field communication, or NFC, technology.

Cool or Creepy? ‘Sonar’ App Introduces You to Nearby Strangers

Sonar is kind of like a good party host: It introduces you to whoever else is in the room by leveraging what you have in common.

Okay, Maybe This Mac Security Problem Is Real

This post originally appeared on Technologizer.

Top 10 Features in Windows Phone’s ‘Mango’ Update

A big update to Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform is coming this autumn, filling in many of the missing pieces that made Microsoft an also-ran in the smartphone wars. But the so-called “Mango” update is more than just a game of catch-up; it also brings a bunch of features that other phones don’t have, or can [...]

47% of Facebook Walls Contain Profanity, but Should Employers Give a Darn?

Well, dang.

Barnes & Noble Intros Small, Simple Touchscreen E-Reader

Barnes & Noble has rolled out a new black-and-white e-book reader to its “Nook” line. The $139 device touts the longest battery life of any e-book reader on the market—up to two months—and measures five inches wide by 6.5 inches long, with a weight of just five ounces.

‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3′ Trailer Outs November 8 Release Date

Modern Warfare 3 leak? What Modern Warfare 3 leak? Forget about all of that. This here’s the real deal. Activision’s released a new offcial teaser for their upcoming blockbuster first-person shooter and it’s literally blowing up everything in sight.

Why the Oscars Are Finally Entering the Digital World (and Why It Could Be Trouble)

If all goes to plan, next year’s Academy Awards will be more up-to-date and allow voters the chance to see more of the nominated movies before choosing their favorites – or, perhaps, things might just go horribly wrong, and some entirely unexpected choices might walk away with Oscars that they didn’t actually win.

‘Combustible Dust’ Plant Explosion May Cost Apple 500,000 iPads

It looks like dust—that’s right, dust—was responsible for a deadly explosion at a Chinese factory that supplies Apple iPads. The blast, which happened last Friday (pictured above) killed three workers and injured 15 others.

Apple Has Approved 500,000 Mobile Apps (1,123 Fart Apps)

Apple has just cleared the half-billion mark* for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch apps available in the app store. Whoa, whoa, whoa—asterisk?!

Grab Windows 8 Before World Ends in 2012

No, you can’t put money down on a copy yet, but it looks like Windows 8′s a-comin’ sometime next year. So sayeth Microsoft doyen Steve Ballmer in remarks yesterday.