AP Technology NewsBrief at 2:39 p.m. EST

(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Why attend car shows when photos are a swipe away DETROIT (AP) _ Why go to a crowded auto show when you can glimpse dozens of new models on the internet Because you can't catch a whiff of that new car smell through your iPhone.

New cars debuting at the Detroit auto showThe North American International Auto Show begins this week in Detroit with media and industry previews. It opens to the public Jan. 19. Here are some of the new cars and experimental concept vehicles that will debut at the show: _Acura MDX concept Detroit auto show: a user's guideThe North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which features more than 500 vehicles, opens to the public Jan. 19. Here are the details: WHEN: Public days are Jan. 19-27. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day except Jan. 27, when it closes at 7 p.m.

Microsoft may have exited gadget show prematurelyLAS VEGAS (AP) _ Microsoft may have relinquished its starring role in America's gaudiest gadget show a year too early. After 13 straight years in the spotlight, Microsoft's decision to scale back its presence at this week's International CES deprived the software maker of a prime opportunity to explain and promote a new generation of redesigned computers running its radically remade Windows operating system.

Online activist, programmer Swartz dies in NYNEW YORK (AP) _ Authorities say a co-founder of Reddit and activist who fought to make online content free to the public has been found dead. A spokeswoman for New York's medical examiner says 26-year-old Aaron Swartz hanged himself in his Brooklyn apartment and was found Friday.

Facebook tests $100 charge to message ZuckerbergNEW YORK (AP) _ Would you pay $100 to message Mark Zuckerberg Facebook says it's testing some "extreme price points" to let users pay to have their messages seen by people who are not their friends. The tech blog Mashable reported early Friday that some users trying to message Zuckerberg are offered the option to pay $100 to ensure that their missive reaches the Facebook CEO's inbox. Without paying, the message would likely end up in Zuckerberg's "other" message folder, an oft-overlooked purgatory between the spam folder and the inbox.

Apple CEO: China will be biggest marketBEIJING (AP) _ Apple expects China to overtake the United States as its biggest market, CEO Tim Cook told a Chinese government news agency. "China is currently our second largest market. I believe it will become our first. I believe strongly that it will," the Xinhua News Agency quoted Cook as saying in an interview.

Gadget Watch: Long-battery watch talks to iPhoneLAS VEGAS (AP) _ "Smart" watches that talk to cellphones have been around for some time, but they've been hampered by their high battery drain _ usually needing recharging every few days. At this week's International CES electronics trade show in Las Vegas, a startup launched a smart watch, the Cookoo, that runs for a year on a standard button cell. WHAT IT IS: The Cookoo is a somewhat beefy watch, most suited for the male wrist. It has analog hands to show the time, but the watch face can also display several digital indicators, prompted by Bluetooth signals from your smartphone. Aided by beeps and a vibration motor, it can tell you that someone is calling or that you missed a call. It can also alert you about new email or an appointment. The watch can also talk back to the phone, so you can use it as a remote release for the camera.

US government tells computer users to disable JavaWASHINGTON (AP) _ The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is advising people to temporarily disable the Java software on their computers to avoid potential hacking attacks. The recommendation came in an advisory issued late Thursday, following up on concerns raised by computer security experts.

Carmakers let app developers drive innovationLAS VEGAS (AP) _ It's not wise to Google the nearest gas station, compose email, or use your smartphone to check the latest sports scores while driving. But many Americans do. Drivers have grown so accustomed to their on-the-go tasks that automakers are increasingly trying to make those things easier to pull off with both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road.

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