AP Technology NewsBrief at 8:26 p.m. EST

(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Swartz' death fuels debate over computer crimeNEW YORK (AP) _ Internet freedom activist Aaron Swartz, who was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment Friday, struggled for years against a legal system that he felt had not caught up to the information age. Federal prosecutors had tried unsuccessfully to mount a case against him for publishing reams of court documents that normally cost a fee to download. He helped lead the campaign to defeat a law that would have made it easier to shut down websites accused of violating copyright protections. In the end, Swartz's family said, that same system helped cause his death by branding as a felon a talented young activist who was more interested in spreading academic information than in the fraud federal prosecutors had charged him with.

4 gadgets that defined Vegas electronics showLAS VEGAS (AP) _ The world's largest gadget show wrapped up on Friday, and the organizers said it was the biggest ever, beating last year's record in terms of the floor space companies purchased to display their wares. What was it that drew more than 3,500 companies and 150,000 people to Las Vegas for this mega-event Here are four gadgets that exemplified the top trends at this year's International CES.

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.

Reddit co-founder dies in NY weeks before trialNEW YORK (AP) _ The family of a Reddit co-founder who committed suicide weeks before he was to go on trial on federal charges that he stole millions of scholarly articles is blaming prosecutors for his death. Aaron Swartz hanged himself in his Brooklyn apartment Friday night, his family and authorities said. The 26-year-old had fought to make online content free to the public and as a teenager helped create RSS, a family of Web feed formats used to gather updates from blogs, news headlines, audio and video for users.

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.

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.

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