Pairing it with an intelligent network agent, though, could imbue even a familiar journey with an unfamiliar level of convenience.

ENGADGET: Switched On: A road trip with Siri

To her and hundreds of millions of others, it feels a lot more familiar, friendly and welcoming even though you know its marketing and someone somewhere is trying to get you to buy.

FORBES: Sponsor The Drunken Photo of Your Best Friend

Once Nexteer hit the auction block, the Chinese investors proved surprisingly thorough, even though some of them didn't speak English, said a person familiar with the transaction.

WSJ: The Game: A GM Unit in China's Hands

Google has recently been working to change Google Wallet so that it can work even without the support of a wireless carrier, said people familiar with the matter, though it's unclear exactly how it would do so.

WSJ: Google Set to Unveil Tablet at Developers Conference

Even though they are tired of the same old faces, Ukrainians seem likely once again to have to choose between two familiar front-runners: the former and current prime ministers, Viktor Yanukovich and Yulia Tymoshenko (each has served as prime minister twice).

ECONOMIST: Ukraine's presidential election