Violet Blue unapologetically covers the intersection of tech trends and media stories about corruption, hypocrisy and redemption from tech's fault line, San Francisco.
Violet Blue is an outspoken and controversial author and journalist; she contributes to ZDNet, CNET, CBS News and SF Appeal.
![Ladyada's Hacker Gift Guide [Gift Guide 2012]](http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/007803/ladyadas-hacker-gift-guide-for-hack-black-friday-2012-hackfriday-60x45.jpg?hash=LJSwAzR3Mw&upscale=1)
Give gifts so your favorite hackers can make something great. Raspberry Pi, lockpicking tools, a free coloring book... our exclusive Hacker Gift Guide has Ladyada's top gifts for all the hackers.
![Skulls and candy: Hands-on with Speck phone and tablet cases [Gift Guide 2012]](http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/007705/hands-on-with-speck-products-gift-guide-2012-60x45.jpg?hash=MJL3Lwx5AJ&upscale=1)
Small Silicon Valley startup spinoff Speck Products has quickly become the company making some of the world's most popular iPhone cases. Violet Blue visited Speck's new HQ and went hands-on with their new lines.
![Favorite Speck cases under $40 [Gift Guide 2012]](http://cdn-static.zdnet.com/i/r/story/70/00/007704/favorite-speck-cases-under-40-gift-guide-2012-60x45.jpg?hash=AGAvMzV4MQ&upscale=1)
Violet Blue visited Speck Products to go hands-on with its phone and tablet cases, and came back with her holiday hotlist.
Porn companies have begun adopting facial-recognition technology that allows any user to search for a face in their databases with an uploaded photo. It could become a privacy nightmare.
After Barack Obama won America's 2012 Presidential election this week, a spate of vile racist tweets hit Twitter. One data company tried to figure out where that hate was coming from.
Violet Blue's Sex Tech is a collection of notable new sex and technology news items. Covers innovation, legal issues, IP, privacy, controversies, business and more.
Scenes from Twitter of the peaceful London 5th of November V For Vendetta re-enactment protest against government surveillance, censorship and unjust imprisonment - largely organized by Anonymous hacktivists.
A collection of notable new sex and technology news items. Covers innovation, legal issues, IP, privacy, controversies, business and more.
The Zombies, Run! runner's app for iOS, Windows and Android combines smart elements of zombie fandom and serialized storytelling with data and gameplay geekery to try and prepare us for a real-life Walking Dead.
People seek crisis help online: Hurricane Sandy information sharing peaks with Hurricane Hackers, but Google's live interactive Super Storm Sandy 2012 crisis map and new Public Alerts feature proves crucially useful.