Ma7fouz

Apple iPad Is Coming to Verizon Wireless

2010-10-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Apple and Verizon Wirelessannounced this morning a partnership that would bring the iPad to Verizon Wireless Stores across the U.S. on October 28. While the collaboration won’t see Verizon compatible technology embedded in the iPad, it will bundle the iPad Wi-Fi with a Verizon MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot.

Verizon Wireless will offer three iPad Wi-Fi + MiFi bundles: the iPad Wi-Fi 16GB for $630, the iPad Wi-Fi 32GB for $730 and the iPad Wi-Fi 64GB for $830.

Walmart Cuts the Price of iPhone 3GS to $97

2010-05-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

Need more proof that Apple is launching a new iPhone soon? Walmart is cutting the price of the cheapest iPhone 3GS, with 16 GB of memory, to $97, provided you sign a two-year service contract.

The $100 price drop comes ahead of Apple’s WWDC conference, where Steve Jobs is expected to officially present the new iPhone, unofficially dubbed iPhone 4.

When Apple first introduced the iPhone 3GS in 2009, Walmart lowered the price of the iPhone 3G to $99. Since Apple itself is expected to lower the price of the older model when iPhone 4 arrives, the early price reduction of iPhone 3GS gives Walmart a nice head start.

The price cut for the iPhone 3GS in Walmart stores starts today.

Yankee Stadium bans the iPad

2010-05-25T01:33:00.000-07:00

(Mashable) -- According to Apple's latest commercial, "iPad goes anywhere" -- anywhere, that is, except for Yankee Stadium.

Yahoo Sports confirmed with the stadium that the iPad falls under its "no laptops" security policy and patrons won't be able to enter the ballpark with one in their possession.

Say what? The TSA says that you don't have to take an iPad out of its case to go through security, but Yankee Stadium says the device is a no-go?

The discussion surrounding the ban was spurred by a message from Spacekatgal on the IGN Boards. Spacekatgal tried to bring her iPad in to the Yankee/Red Sox game, only to be turned away at the gate.

Undeterred, she did re-enter the stadium with her iPad in her jacket, but the ban exists all the same.

While you can reasonably ask why someone would want to bring an iPad -- or any electronic device aside from a cellphone, for that matter -- into a ballgame, the outright ban of such a device strikes us as odd, especially given that Wi-Fi is available throughout the complex.

In any event, if you want to bring an iPad to Yankee Stadium this summer (assuming you're sitting in the shade), you might want to make sure you've got a bag or windbreaker that can mask said device from the security guards.

Or you could just leave the gadgets at home and watch the game.

Australia Minister: Google’s Privacy Policy is Creepy

2010-05-25T01:31:00.000-07:00

Australia’s communications minister Stephen Conroy isn’t happy with Google’s latest privacy blunders. He called Google’s privacy policy “a bit creepy;” specifically, he said that the recent incident, where Google was caught collecting private wireless data, was the “single greatest breach in the history of privacy.”

Google has apologized for collecting WiFi data from private households, and deleted all the data in its posession. Furthermore, Google claims that the entire incident was a mistake.

“In 2006 an engineer working on an experimental WiFi project wrote a piece of code that sampled all categories of publicly broadcast WiFi data. A year later, when our mobile team started a project to collect basic WiFi network data like SSID information and MAC addresses using Google’s Street View cars, they included that code in their software—although the project leaders did not want, and had no intention of using, payload data,” Google wrote in a blog post.

Stephen Conroy doesn’t buy that explanation. “It was actually quite deliberate… The computer program that collected it was designed to collect this information,” he said.

Conroy’s accusations stem from the fact that Google criticized Australian Government’s plan, spearheaded by Conroy, to apply a nation-wide Internet filter.

“They consider that they are the appropriate people to make the decisions about people’s privacy data,” Conroy said, adding a jab or two at everyone’s favorite target when it comes to privacy issues, Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook, Conroy said, is “corporate giant who is answerable to no one and motivated solely by profit”.

It’s true; handling over our privacy to private corporations, primarily motivated by profit, is dangerous. However, who can say that governments are any better than private corporations? One needn’t look further than China, whose policy of censoring Internet content created a rift between Google and the world’s most populous country. While governments and big corporations fight for the right to “protect” people’s privacy, for the rest of us it feels like being between a rock and a hard place.

Metal Frame of Next iPhone 4G / HD in Pictures

2010-05-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Apple has made the dream of the iPhone to talk now floating on the Internet all over the world of some new images, showing the metal frame used to house the Apple key elements of the interior of this outstanding tool to avoid damage. This is basically that a piece unibody East, which will have a glass (or plastic) top of each side.

And

Apple is now all set to unveil the next-generation iPhone for general availability at the annual WWDC 2010 conference on June 7. iPhone OS 4 is also expected to be released at the same event.

iPhone 4G Blanco? [Imágenes]

2010-05-24T02:10:00.000-07:00

Un iPhone blanco no es exactamente una idea nueva, pero según Apple.pro estas son la imágenes reales del próximo iPhone justo al lado de su hermano negro.

A juzgar por la segunda foto el auricular esta un poco mas arriba, y hay un espacio considerable alrededor del botón de inicio, para empezar. Sin embargo, la cámara frontal es mucho más notable en este modelo más ligero tonalidades.

Si es auténtica y dada las cosas más extrañas han sucedido en estas semanas previas al lanzamiento oficial del nuevo iPhone, sugiere una vez más que Apple ha perdido el control de su cadena de producción.

Este es el nuevo iPhone, es otra filtración más que probablemente deje pocas sorpresa de hardware en el WWDC 2010 a celebrarse el mes siguiente.

Como he mencionado antes yo creo que todo esto es parte de una marketing, y cuidado salen con cosas muy diferentes a las que estamos viendo por ahí en los Blogs!!!

Why Facebook Must Get Serious About Privacy

2010-05-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

The recent firestorm over Facebook’s approach to securing the privacy of its more than 450 million users continues to reverberate around the globe this week as thousands of news outlets cover the unfolding drama with almost breathless zeitgeist. And while traditional outlets are grappling with what it all means for the future of Facebook, online denizens have trumpeted their angst about the company’s most recent changes with more than 25 million blog posts.

The current crisis of confidence leveled against Facebook once again centers on the core issue of how the social networking platform manages access to its users’ information. PC World columnist JP Raphael noted earlier this month that with the significant new changes announced by the Palo Alto-based social giant, “achieving maximum privacy on Facebook now requires you to click through 50 settings and more than 170 options — and even that won’t completely safeguard your info.” According to news reports this week, the company may finally be reversing course (again) and returning to a streamlined security process.

To be sure, Facebook is no novice when it comes to navigating the controversies of privacy in the online marketplace, and it will very likely emerge from the current crisis singed, but not terribly worse for the wear. What is surprising however, and perhaps most troubling for a company that nearly all watchers agree must prove its mettle with a public offering in the next 18 months, is the voraciousness of the global opposition the recent controversy has sparked, and the apparent lack of corporate agility at Facebook to respond effectively to even the most basic crises inherent to an organization so intertwined in the daily lives of half a billion users.

How to use Encrypted Google Search from your Firefox Search Bar

2010-05-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

Now that Google has released an encrypted Google web search (background info here), you’ll want to make it your default search engine in the Firefox “Search Box”. This tutorial will show you how to do just that.

Using the encrypted version of Google search will very likely become the “default” in the coming months. For the time being, you have to specifically visit https://www.google.com to run an encrypted search. Note the s in the https part of the URL. That means the data being sent back and forth is encrypted, using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). You may have noticed that Gmail has been using SSL for quite a while now (https://mail.google.com) and your Online Banking almost certainly uses SSL as well.

Following the instructions in this tutorial will allow you to change your default Search Engine in the Firefox Search Bar from Google (or whatever it is now) to the “Secure” Google search.

1-Start out by downloading and installing the Firefox addon Add to Search Bar. As with all Firefox addons, you’ll need to restart Firefox before the addon becomes active. Do so now.

2-Now open https://www.google.com in a new Firefox tab or window. Right-click (or ctrl-click for Mac folks) anywhere in the search box and select Add to Search Bar… from the menu.

3-A window will pop up asking you to give this “new search engine” a name. I used Secure Google (as seen in the screenshot below). You can also assign it a keyword, but that’s not required. Click OK.

4-Now take a look at your Search Bar – the name in the background will be whatever name you gave

your new search option (again, mine was Secure Google).

5-Every time you search for something from the Firefox Search Bar when Secure Google (or whatever you named it) is selected, you’ll be running an encrypted search.

6-You can make your new secure Google search the default option by clicking the small drop-down arrow in the Search Bar and then selecting Manage Search Engines… from the menu.

7-Select your new ’secure Google search’ entry by clicking on it once, and then click the Move Up button until it’s the top one. Click OK.

8-Now every single time you run a search from the Firefox Search Bar, it will use the secure and encrypted SSL version of Google Search.

Microsoft throws a helping of vivacious onto Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 line

2010-05-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

What good is a BlueTrack mouse in only pink and gray? Not nearly as good as one splashed in every pastel you can think of, and especially not as good as a new trio of varied ones. Microsoft's Wireless Mobile Mose 3500 family -- announced earlier this year as some of the most portable BlueTrack mice this planet has ever seen -- just gained three new vivid members, and each of 'em are on sale now at Best Buy for a penny under $30. If we had to guess, we'd say these are perfect for the KIN demographic. Hey, stereotypes don't just form from thin air, you know...

Google TV & Apple TV

2010-05-23T00:44:00.001-07:00

The only common thing between Google TV and Apple TV is that they both SUCK and miserably so!”

Dalai Lama Uses Twitter to Circumvent Chinese Government

2010-05-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

The Dalai Lama, having only been a Twitter user since late February, is already using
the platform to circumvent Chinese censorship.Today the Tibetan spiritual leader held a one-hour
question-and-answer session via Twitter to respond to questions submitted by Chinese web users. The Twitter chat was hosted by Chinese writer Wang Lixiong who met with the Dalai Lama in a New York hotel room. The Dalai Lama’s Twitter responses were translated by a Chinese interpreter and tweeted on Lixiong’s Twitter account. A translated portion of the conversation from Lixiong’s Twitter profile can be seen below.

The Twitter chat was a strategic maneuver on behalf of Wang and the Dalai Lama to communicate directly with the Chinese people despite long-time opposition from Chinese officials.

According to the AFP’s report, “Nearly 12,000 people selected the 250 questions by online voting done on a Google Moderator site, which was blocked in China on Thursday.”

Another report writes that, “the Dalai Lama tweeted messages of criticism about the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet and words of welcome to Chinese citizens.”

It’s not known how many Chinese people were able to follow the tweets as Twitter is blocked in China. Still there are an estimated 150,000 people in China who use Twitter, and access to the Dalai Lama’s responses were accessible via third-party Twitter applications.

WARNING: Facebook Malware Attack Behind Distracting Beach Babes Video

2010-05-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

A Facebook malware attack is on the loose this weekend, enticing users to click a “Distracting Beach Babes” video on their Facebook Walls. The Wall message reads:

“this is hilarious! lol Distracting Beach Babes [HQ] Length: 5:32″.

If you see this video on Facebook today, do not click the link: Doing so, and downloading a linked file, will result in malware being installed on your computer.

If you see the video on your wall, remove it. If you’ve clicked the video, meanwhile, run a virus and adware scan on your computer. And of course, be more careful about clicking suspicious-looking links in future.

What You Need to Know About Google TV

2010-05-20T12:41:00.001-07:00

The unveiling of Google TV today leaves many of us with more questions than answers. When can we buy one, and for how much? What kind of hardware and subscription services will we need? Can we get it in Canada?

Here are the facts straight from the CEOs of the companies involved in Google TV, including Google and Sony themselves.

You

2010-05-18T01:29:00.001-07:00

The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.

Is Google Discriminating Against “Cougars?”

2010-05-13T23:58:00.001-07:00

A website called CougarLife, a dating network targeted toward “women in their prime,” has called Google out for sexism because the search engine has classified CougarLife ads as not safe for families. But CougarLife’s CEO says Google doesn’t make the same distinction for “sugar daddy”-type dating sites, whose ads can be seen by anyone.

A Google rep told the National Post today that the classification of CougarLife ads as for-adults-only was “not just about the ad, it’s about the ad and the landing page of the site[...] Anything that’s considered non-family safe will not run on the Google content network at this point.”

But defining “family-safe” is a confusing exercise in community standards, it seems.

HOW TO: Get Notified When Someone Hacks Your Facebook

2010-05-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

Facebook just announced a tool that notifies you by e-mail or SMS text message when someone logs into your Facebook profile from an unknown computer.

The idea is to help you recognize when a hacker has broken into your account so you can respond quickly by either changing your password (if that’s still possible) or contacting Facebook.

Once you enable the notifications, you’ll be required to identify each computer you use to log in when you first use it and choose whether or not it’s a private or public machine. You’ll be able to see a history of registrations from machines potentially used by hackers, and of course those hackers will be forced to type something into the identification field to get in, so you should be able to tell whether it was just a login that you forgot or not.

Here’s a quick guide to turning this feature on and using it.

Step 1: Go to Account Settings and Enable Notifications

When you’re logged into Facebook, you’ll see the word “Account” in the top right corner of the browser window. Click there to get a drop-down menu of options, then click on “Account Settings,” as pictured below.
You’ll end up looking at a page that lists ways you can customize your account, including “Name,” “Password,” “Linked Accounts” and “more.” As long as you don’t navigate away from the “Settings” tab, you’ll see “Account Security” close to the bottom of the list. Click “change” on the right to show the following option:

Check “Yes” when you see the prompt, “Would you like to receive notifications for logins from new devices?” Then click “Save.” The feature is turned on. Now we’ll show you how to use it.

Step 2: Log In and Register Your Computer

The settings won’t be customizable until you register the computer you’re logged in with, so you’ll have to first log out and then log back in. You can do this from the “Accounts” button in the top-right corner, as we mentioned before. When you log in again, you’ll see a screen titled “Register this computer.”

Type the name of the computer in (it can be anything you want as long as it’s something you’ll recognize and remember), and choose whether you want Facebook to remember this computer or not.

Facebook suggests a good rule of thumb: If the computer is a public one (like one you’d use at a library, a shared work computer or a machine in your school’s computer lab), leave the box unchecked so it will have to be registered each time a new login occurs, leading to an email or text notification.

If it’s a machine you use every day, then go ahead and check the box; you probably don’t want to receive an email every time you log into Facebook from a safe place!

Now that your computer is registered, you can see more options when you revisit the “Account Settings” page where you first enabled the notifications. You’ll see a history of registrations; it won’t record every time you log into a computer that’s already registered, but it will record every new registration, which should include at least the first time any hacker logs in.

You can check or uncheck the option to have the immediate notifications sent to your cell phone via text message in addition to the basic email option.

New Droid Commercials Showcase Two Awesome Apps [VIDEO]

2010-05-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

Two new Droid commercials just uploaded to YouTube show off the futuristic capabilities of a couple brilliant applications.

Runstar is the star of “Dust,” a spot that shows how Droid owners can track their fitness routines and share their stats over social networks. And the stunning augmented reality application Layar is highlighted in “No View,” which details how AR can be used as a kind of enhanced window into the world around you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVLJghTeKVU&feature=player_embedded
Runstar isn’t available in Apple’s App Store, but similar iPhone-friendly applications do exist. And of course, Layar is in the iPhone’s app store, as well, making this commercial more of a “me, too” spot than touting Droid’s advantages over it’s Apple counterpart.

And of course, the spots feature the familiar, friendly robotic arms that manipulate the touchscreen interface.

Let us know what you think: Do Android apps stand up strongly enough when compared to iPhone apps, and do they withstand that comparison well enough to be a cornerstone of Verizon’s marketing campaign for the Droid?

How Mobile Technology is Affecting Local News Coverage

2010-05-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

This series is supported by The Poynter Institute’s Mobile Media blog – your guide to the intersection of mobile and media. Sign up to receive the blog in newsletter format and be entered into a drawing to win an iPad at Poynter.org/ipadgiveaway.

Listen up, journalists — your cellphone is more than just a channel by which to reach sources, your editor and sustenance (you have the local Thai joint on speed dial, don’t front): It’s an essential tool for both local news-gathering and dissemination.

Mashable talked to reporters, publications and experts in the field to get the lowdown on how your cell is affecting local news coverage. We might not be able to get you to change your ring tone — “Poker Face,” really? — but we hope we can change how you’re using your iPhone, Droid, Palm or BlackBerry.

Read on for some actionable ideas for how you can make your mobile more than just another channel by which your mother can nag you about how you should have been a lawyer instead.

Determine Your Facebook Page’s Value [APPS]

2010-05-13T02:04:00.000-07:00

Social Media
Social media management company Vitrue has released a free tool today, the Social Page Evaluator, designed to help marketers get a better understanding of a Facebook Page’s value.

Just submit a Facebook Page URL and the app will come up with a valuation based on factors like number of fans, number of posts per day, number of interactions and so forth.

It’s a cool — if not completely scientific — way to gauge the potential value of your Facebook Page to…

Is Your Browser HTML5 and CSS3 Ready? [INFOGRAPHIC]

2010-05-13T01:59:00.001-07:00

Lately, in part due to Apple’s rejection of Flash on its mobile devices, we’re hearing a lot about HTML5 and CSS3. These new web standards promise video and audio support and many graphical improvements in web page rendering, as well as certain technical tidbits, such as drag and drop support, which will make our web browsing experience more enjoyable.

It’s all fine and dandy, but how many CSS3 and HTML5 features are supported in today’s web browser? The answer comes in a deliciously visual way. This interactive visualization shows you support for most important HTML5 and CSS3 features in eight major browsers; move the mouse over it to see the names of individual features.

I Need

2010-05-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

All what you need
you can find it only here http://ma7fouz.blogspot.com/