Nintendo left some gamers confused when it confirmed it would release the New Nintendo 3DS XL console but not the smaller New Nintendo 3DS in the United States. However, the marketing decision was made in an effort to avoid confusing US gamers regarding the previous 3DS models and New Nintendo 3DS console unit.

"We're a different market," said Damon Baker, Senior Manager of Nintendo of America, in a statement to Nintendo Life. "And now we have clear differentiation between those three systems. Before, there was a very limited difference between the 3DS and 3DS XL: other than size. It was the same resolution, same functionality... now, there's the 2DS, 3DS, and New 3DS XL, all of which have their own functionality and features."

The hardware specifications are the same, but US gamers lose out on custom faceplates available for the New Nintendo 3DS unit. The New Nintendo 3DS can be found in Japan and Europe, and it's possible a US release could happen, but the company didn't confirm future plans.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has great potential to be a truly disruptive infrastructure, with expectations of 20+ billion "Things" just around the corner. Consumers will enjoy smart technologies in their homes and in the workplace, opening up a large number of potential vulnerabilities that cybercriminals will exploit.

There is a mix of privacy and security concerns related to IoT products that must be addressed by manufacturers. Consumers were outraged when Samsung confirmed its smart HDTVs had the capability to listen in using the TV's built-in voice command features.

Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts are worried about hackers able to target smart technologies - especially newer products in which security may not have been a priority - that will complicate things long-term. IoT product vendors must keep in mind that consumers will be reckless with security, and it cannot be an optional feature.

More jobs and human workers are at risk of robots one day taking over their roles in the workplace, and much of the concern has focused on low-tech workers. However, researchers from Columbia University and Boston University are worried that high-tech employees could also be at risk as demand for robots accelerates in the years to come.

Supporters note that humans are needed to help program the robots and carry out required maintenance - but there is growing criticism that much-needed jobs are at risk. However, researchers note that sophisticated code writing may be necessary at first, but legacy code will grow while these robots are able to autonomously learn tasks.

Companies have embraced robotics technology in manufacturing facilities to help streamline operations, reduce labor costs, and maintain high-levels of production.

Vladimir Drinkman, 34, has pleaded not guilty after being charged of allegedly serving as part of an international hacker ring responsible for stealing up to 160 million credit cards. The group is accused of installing malware on vulnerable computer systems, with stolen information sold on the black market.

Drinkman's specialty was penetrating networks to gain access to corporate databases that could later be mined.

The hacker group hit NASDAQ, 7-Eleven, Dow Jones, JetBlue, and other high-profile targets - with the "far-reaching" scheme responsible for compromising usernames, passwords, along with debit and credit card numbers.

The number of stores and services now accepting bitcoins may top 100,000 worldwide, but it appears actual purchases using the volatile cryptocurrency remains low. There also is increased skepticism because of a continued drop in bitcoin value in recent months, frightening away potential investors and customers.

Bitcoin supporters say the cryptocurrency is far from dead - and urge owners to show patience during a rough time - especially as there are potential uses for bitcoin technology besides just finance.

"There are some breakthroughs in technology that are going to endure whether bitcoin survives or not," said David Yermack, professor of finance at the New York University Stern School of Business, in a statement published by the Boston Globe.

To help defend against cyberattacks, executives at private corporations need assistance from the US government and cybersecurity firms.

It took longer than experts would have liked, but it appears 90 percent of CEOs in the United States find cybersecurity strategically important, according to a PwC survey. The survey also found 87 percent are worried about cyberattacks, and 45 percent are extremely concerned about mounting attacks - many aimed at stealing employee and customer personal data.

President Barack Obama hosted a cybersecurity summit last week at Stanford University, seeking greater cooperation between the United States and Silicon Valley. "When you step back and look at the role of a company versus the role of a government, clearly if we're going to provide the safest possible [customer] experience in [the] aggregate, government and companies need to work together," said John Donahoe, CEO of eBay, in a statement to Fortune.

There is a blend of technology and modern medicine helping save lives, as smart medical implants are being used in select cases.

The US government is throwing its weight behind smart implant research, with the DARPA Electrical Prescriptions (ElectRX) program. University researchers also have received additional financial support to develop smart implants that can be used to enhance medicine. Doctors and researchers have successfully created hardware for the human heart, esophagus and other critical areas - but trying to make implants for the brain remains extremely tricky.

"We're like the Wright brothers at the stage where they were first trying to build an airplane," said Tim Denison, director of the Medtronic neuromodulation division, in a statement published by NBC News. "Before they could do it, they had to build a wind tunnel to understand the principles of flight."

The Operation Arid Viper campaign has successfully stolen more than 1 million files with current malware campaigns underway, though it's not the usual suspects, according to Kaspersky Lab and Trend Micro.

The Arab-speaking group, with ties to Gaza, have targeted foreign government offices, critical infrastructure, military, universities, and other high-profile targets. The attacks likely occurred starting in mid-2013 and a full investigation into their actions is underway.

"Whoever the real culprits are, it is clear that they are part of the Arab world, evidence of a budding generation of Arab hackers and malware creators intent on taking down their chosen adversaries," researchers said in a study. "Some of the black hats - be they mercenaries or cybersoldiers - are actively targeting countries such as Israel due to political motivations. We have seen all of the ingredients of a cyberskirmish guerrilla war that goes unnoticed by mainstream IT security media."

The United States Patent & Trademark Office has granted Apple a patent that the iDevice maker filed all the way back in 2008 for a headset design that would see you use your iPhone as a VR headset.

The design resembles the Galaxy Note 4-powered Gear VR, where you slot your iPhone into a device that sits on your face, where you use an external controller that helps you navigate through menus and more when motion tracking doesn't cut it. This is just a patent that Apple has filed, so we don't know if it'll turn into something just yet.

But judging by the amazing things Oculus VR has been able to do, all without a consumer VR product on the market, we don't think it'll be long before Apple unveils its own VR or AR headset.

In a surprising move from Microsoft, all Xbox One consoles will be turned into developer kits later this year, according to The Verge. The Verge's sources have said that Microsoft will tell the world more about it at its developer-focused Build conference in April.

Back in July of last year, then-Corporate Vice President of Xbox, Marc Whitten said "every Xbox One can be used for development". But with the expensive price of development kit units, it stopped smaller developers from making content for the Xbox consoles. We should also expect an expansion of Xbox One app development, which is limited to select developers at the moment.

A new SDK will be shown off in May, something that will provider developers with the ability to create apps as early as the summer.