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Yota introduces Ruby LTE hotspot with e-ink display at CTIA 2013 (hands-on)

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:44:00 EDT

Remember Yotaphone, the twin-display Android smartphone (color LCD in front, e-ink in back)? Today at CTIA in Las Vagas, Yota devices, the company behind the innovative handset, introduced Ruby, a sleek LTE hotspot with a small e-ink screen. We don't usually get too excited about such devices, but Ruby looks like something out of Jony Ive's workshop, with some interesting features to match. The design recalls the iPod mini but is made of white plastic instead of aluminum. Along the top edge, you'll find the e-ink display and a two-way power switch -- slide it to the left and Ruby behaves like a secure hotspot, slide it to the right and it's a public access point. The e-ink screen shows battery and signal status, the number of connected devices and a smiley icon to confirm public mode. On the bottom edge is a trick flap that's both a micro-USB socket and a USB Type A plug depending on how it's positioned -- the micro-SIM slot is cleverly hidden behind it. A programmable RGB LED mounted behind the Yota logo completes the package on the front of the hotspot. Ruby currently supports quad-band EDGE, plus HSPA+ and LTE for the European market, but the radio can be configured (in hardware) to support other bands. The 2100mAh battery powers the unit for 16 hours of use (60 hours on standby) and can be charged to 70% capacity in about an hour. Yota's signed a few deals with carriers in Russia and Europe and the device is expected to become available to Russian customers in two-three weeks for about $120 (unsubsidized). No word on whether Ruby will land in the US (yet). Take a look at our hands-on gallery below. Gallery: Yota devices LTE hotspot hands-on Filed under: Wireless, Mobile Comments

LG Optimus F3 leaks with 4-inch screen and Jelly Bean, allegedly headed to Sprint

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:41:00 EDT

As was the case with another LG device recently, the Optimus F3 is making an appearance before going official. Today we're getting an early look at what appears to be an entry-level member of the Optimus family, courtesy of @eveleaks, and one which will reportedly join Sprint's smartphone lineup pretty soon. Among the alleged specs said are a 4-inch WVGA display, 2,460mAh battery, LTE capabilities and one of the latest versions of Android -- Jelly Bean (4.1.2). Meanwhile, precise availability and pricing deets are still unknown, but, if all goes according to Phone Arena, we'll find all that out here "in the next few weeks." Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, LG Comments Source: Phone Arena

Kloudless: Two Way Access To Files In Gmail, Dropbox, Google Drive And More

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:30:55 EDT

Kloudless closes the gap between email and cloud-storage, creating a link that makes perfect sense, is incredibly convenient, and is one of those features that you won't know how to live without once you get it set up. Kloudless serves several functions - one of which is to automatically back up your email attachments to cloud-based storage accounts.The post Kloudless: Two Way Access To Files In Gmail, Dropbox, Google Drive And More appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Hands-on with the Coolpad Quattro II 4G and 8920

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:29:00 EDT

CTIA 2013 seems to be dedicated to some of the lesser-known names in the US wireless industry, so it's fit that Chinese manufacturer Coolpad should take advantage of the situation to steal the show. Indeed, we were able to take a look at the phone maker's upcoming stateside model, the lower-end Quattro II 4G. In the past year, its predecessor cranked out roughly a million units on MetroPCS, and Coolpad is hoping to build upon that success to get a foothold in the US. This sequel, which offers stock Android 4.1.2 with a 4.5-inch qHD TFT display, 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8930 chip, 5MP rear camera and VGA front-facing cam, 1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage and a 1,800mAh battery, isn't going to satisfy the tastebuds of power users or high-end flagship seekers, but it's a quality option for those who aren't planning to spend a ton of money on a decent handset. Given the intended audience, the device is perfectly solid with reasonable performance; we appreciated the company's use of a textured back cover. One nitpick: despite our best efforts to get rid of fingerprints, smudges remained with no hope of removal in sight. Coolpad wasn't able to give many details on pricing or availability, but reps confirmed that it should arrive on C Spire in late June / early July, with it likely hitting other regional prepaid carriers after. Given the original Quattro's $80 price point on MetroPCS last year, we wouldn't be surprised to see the next-gen version offered for around the same cost. The company's still working to expand its presence on some of the larger networks, but it hopes to make its debut in the postpaid world early next year. Gallery: Coolpad Quattro II 4G hands-on Gallery: Coolpad 8920 hands-on Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile Comments

Agent smartwatch launches with Kickstarter campaign, promises 'unparalleled battery life'

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:16:00 EDT

There are few gadgets more associated with crowdfunding than smartwatches, due largely to the millions raised by Pebble. Now, you can add one more competing for your attention (and your backing). A Kickstarter campaign for the Agent smartwatch kicked off today, promising to deliver a device with better battery life than its competitors and a developer-friendly environment to attract some all-important apps (it's using the .NET Micro Framework, with apps able to be written in in C# using Visual Studio 2012). As for the watch itself, it packs a 1.28-inch memory display with anti-glare glass, an ARM Cortex-M4 processor (which promises to help on the power-consumption front), Qi wireless charging, motion and light sensors, and a water-resistent design with replaceable wrist straps. If all goes as planned, the company intends to begin full production of the watch in December of this year, with the final MSRP running $249 (or $299 including a Qi charger). Some of the Kickstarter options will get you one for less than that, although many of those have already been claimed. Filed under: Wearables Comments Source: Agent, Kickstarter, Atmel

I can truthfully say this is the most used phone accessory I’ve ever owned. Meet The CardNinja.

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:47:47 EDT

In my aim to simplify and aggregate my life, one gadget has had an enormous impact, meet CardNinja. Card Ninja is effectively a wallet replacement that attaches to the back... Keep reading →

NASA funds 3D food printer, pizza is the first item on the menu

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:45:00 EDT

Last week we had lab-grown burgers; this week it's powdered pizza. NASA's gotten in on the synthesized food action by awarding a $125,000 grant to Anjan Contractor, head of Systems & Materials Research Corporation, to develop a 3D food printer. The first device Contractor plans to build under the six-month grant is based on RepRap's open-source hardware and will be designed to print a pizza comprised of three layers of nutritional powders mixed with water and oil. As the final frontier gets further and further away, NASA's need for a nutritious, long-lasting food supply suitable for space travel grows. Since the powders used in Contractor's design -- potentially sourced from insects, grass and algae -- have a shelf life of about 30 years, his 3D food printer would be well-suited to the task. If your appetite's survived the idea of snacks made from pulverized insects, you can watch the grant-winning prototype print some synthesized chocolate after the break. Filed under: Science, Alt Comments Via: Business Insider

At What Age Should Kids Be Exposed To Technology? [You Told Us]

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:31:44 EDT

New and emerging technology has always been associated with the younger generations. Older people tend to be set in their ways, leaving those under a certain age to discover gadgets and gizmos as they arrive on the scene. Younger people learn more quickly, and that goes for technology in the same way it goes for everything else. However, how young is too young for kids to be exposed to technology?The post At What Age Should Kids Be Exposed To Technology? [You Told Us] appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Spotify Charts launch globally, showcase 50 most listened to and most viral tracks weekly

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:26:00 EDT

Taking a page out of Billboard's playbook, Spotify is using its listener data to determine the most popular music in a particular country. Available on the website or as embeddable widgets, the weekly updated charts will reveal which tracks are most listened to for the Spotify 50. The Social 50 list will contain the tracks most often actively shared by the service's users, including via Facebook and Twitter. Another new addition is the ability to see play counts for an artist's top tracks, tracking global plays since October 2008. That's rolling out to desktop clients first and will pop up elsewhere later, while the charts will update every week at noon ET. Hit the link below for this week's list topped by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Daft Punk, although we'll know if it's really taking off when we see a green record on someone's wall in a future episode of Cribs. Filed under: Internet Comments Source: Spotify Top Tracks

TuneBash: Stream Music On The Go, Follow Favorite Bands & More [iOS]

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:01:08 EDT

Are you looking for a slick iOS application that lets you stream some of your favorite music, follow the artists you enjoy, keep track of when the bands you like are coming to your town, and lots of other cool stuff involving music? Who wouldn’t love an app that lets them enjoy their music in [...]The post TuneBash: Stream Music On The Go, Follow Favorite Bands & More [iOS] appeared first on MakeUseOf Directory

Acetrax movie service to close, lights go dim on June 21st

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:59:00 EDT

It's just as likely that you'll know Acetrax from the video services it's behind, as from its own branded offerings. Regardless of how you might use the service, its owner Sky is pulling the plug on June 21st. Impact to pay-per-view customers should mean nothing more than looking elsewhere, but those who bought titles outright will need to download them before the cutoff (there are a bunch of caveats though). The same goes for account credit -- either use it, or face the hassle of claiming it back after the fact. There's an FAQ on the website outlining the best course of action depending on your situation, so we'd suggest you head there first before working your way through your rental library. Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD Comments Via: CNET Source: Acetrax

Call of Duty: Ghosts Xbox One Game Footage Looks Amazing

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:46:50 EDT

Call of Duty: Ghosts Xbox One Game Footage Looks Amazing is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.While Microsoft spent a lot of time talking about the media features of the Xbox One, the reveal event closed with a look at the new Call of Duty: Ghosts along with an exclusivity announcement. Like previous Call of Duty games, Microsoft’s console will receive the downloadable content for Ghosts before any other console. This time map packs and other DLC for Call of Duty: Ghosts will come to the Xbox One first. The announcement made it sound like even Xbox 360 gamers will have to wait for the DLC, which could push a lot of gamers to the new console. Read: Xbox One: 5 Exciting New Features To bring Call fo Duty: Ghosts Infinity Ward, developers of all the Modern Warfare games, built a brand new engine for the game that can show off what the Xbox One can do. The new engine lets the team create human characters that look more lifelike and environments that much more realistic or believable. The team also decided to hire Stephen Gaghan, writer of “Traffic” and writer/director of “Syriana” to write the story of the new game. Gaghan wrote a story that beings “emotional reality” to the franchise, that helps make the characters feel more like real people. The Ghosts in the story are elite soldiers fighting to help save their country after the “mass event” that opens the game. Call of Duty: Ghosts even features a dog, which Infinity Ward claims people will care about. The dog will help sniff out bombs and alert the team to danger. To make the dog look realistic the team even took motion capture footage of a real dog with people playing its handlers. While a renowned writer and a dog are great for the single-player game, most Call of Duty gamers are in it for the multiplayer. The Xbox One lets Infinity Ward create new dynamic maps. Events like earthquakes, floods and player-driven explosions will alter the landscape of maps, making sure the map never stays the same for too long. The Xbox One console will support more players in multiplayer matches, though Infinity Ward didn’t mention if there are larger maps in the new game. The team may decide to stick with 16-player matches, or the Xbox One version of the game may support more players on the map at a given time. Call of Duty: Ghosts will come out on November 5, 2013. The Xbox One may release sometime before then, or the game could release on the same day as the new console.Call of Duty: Ghosts Xbox One Game Footage Looks Amazing is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

Sony PC shows up at FCC, hints at 13-inch VAIO Duo

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:38:00 EDT

When a "personal computer" from Sony lands at the FCC, with very little else to identify it, we have to put the pieces together ourselves. With the model number SVD132A14L, we can divine that it's very likely a Sony VAIO Duo and a 13-incher at that. Radio-wise, it shows dual-band WiFi in a/b/g/n flavors, Bluetooth (regular and low energy) and NFC. Then there's the label image you see above. It doesn't give away a lot, but it does seem to match that mysterious 13-inch slider we saw, as seen from the rear with the screen hinge, and what looks like the angular front section. Is there a larger version of the 11-inch Duo Windows 8 hybrid on the way? Place your bets now. Filed under: Laptops, Sony Comments Source: FCC

Like And Share Carefully: How Marketers Target You On Facebook

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:16 EDT

The social network provides us with a means to communicate with our friends and loved ones, and we provide the social network with real, in-depth, accurate market samples that they can sell as a product. Even still, some businesses will go beyond Facebook's usual advertising methods in an effort to target their desired market. They use a variety of tactics, and while they are not illegal they might be worth knowing about.The post Like And Share Carefully: How Marketers Target You On Facebook appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Flickr Pro users are grandfathered in, get to keep unlimited storage for $25 a year

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:19:00 EDT

While Flickr did seem generous by offering free users 1TB of space as long as users are willing to put up with ads, it also got rid of the much-beloved Flickr Pro option that awarded unlimited storage for only $25 a year. Now the only upgrade options are to cough up $50 annually to go ad-free or $500 a year for 2TB instead of one. Many existing Pro users, thinking they would be forced one way or another, took to social media and Flickr forums to vent their frustrations at the potential loss of that limitless space. However, Yahoo has confirmed to us that existing Flickr Pro users will continue to enjoy unlimited storage as long as they pay $25 a year to renew their subscription. In addition, we have word that there are no plans for Pro renewals to go away. There's also a FAQ posted on Flickr that clarifies the issue, stating "recurring Pro users currently have the ability to renew." That said, if you do let your subscription expire, your account will automatically be downgraded to the free version, so Pro users would do best to keep on the renewal ball if they want their precious memories to stay on the service. Filed under: Internet Comments Source: Flickr Help

Chrome 27 goes stable with small speed boost, Chromium nabs app launcher on Mac

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:57:00 EDT

After sitting in a beta phase since early April, Chrome 27 is finally seeing a wide release with its arrival on the stable track. Headlining the fresh desktop version is a 5 percent speed boost to web page load times and a new API for saving and syncing data to Google Drive. Refined spell correction, "numerous fundamental improvements" to the Omnibox, improved prediction rankings and an assortment of security fixes have also been baked in. Back in developer territory, Google's François Beaufort announced that the latest Chromium build for Mac has been outfitted with the anticipated app launcher. Check your browser for the update or jab the source links below to grab the apps manually. Filed under: Google Comments Via: AppleInsider Source: Chrome Releases, François Beaufort (Google+)

Editorial: Engadget on the Xbox One

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:35:00 EDT

At long last, Microsoft unveiled its next-generation gaming console today, the Xbox One. As expected, its hardware stacks up well with the Wii U and PlayStation 4, and the launch event showcased some slick new software, too. With tight fantasy sports integration, Windows 8 and Skype support and cooperation with live TV, the One looks to have taken the next step in transforming the Xbox from a gaming rig into a true home entertainment console. It's a rare thing to get to opine on a new game console, so head on past the break and allow us to indulge this opportunity. Filed under: HD, Microsoft Comments

Gaming Google Maps With Street View Games

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:31:13 EDT

Google Maps is an essential tool for anyone planning a day trip or holiday, providing a clear yet detailed overview of locations and how to reach them. More than that it provides a simple way for all of us to find our literal place in the world, though it cannot help with the more figurative notion of belonging. Google Maps was already amazing, and then a few years after its launch Google Street View was added to the mix.The post Gaming Google Maps With Street View Games appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Pandora Premieres will let you hear new albums up to a week prior to their release

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:22:00 EDT

It's hardly a new tactic -- teasing music lovers with a stream of a new album prior to its on-sale date -- but Pandora's getting into that business in an official way today. Not content with letting iTunes drink the whole of said milkshake, Pandora Premieres will allow users to preview upcoming album releases in their entirety before they go on sale. The new station will reportedly feature both mainstream and emerging artists, with albums to hit the Pandora airwaves "up to one week prior to the scheduled US launch date." Listeners can enjoy these early album releases simply by adding the Pandora Premieres station, which will be updated weekly with new releases. Better still, users will be able to replay it as much as they'd like, or listen to bits of pieces of it as they choose. If you'd like to give it a look, head to your Pandora player and search for "Pandora Premieres." Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet Comments Source: Pandora

WigFlip: A Collection Of Convenient Web Apps That Will Benefit Graphics Designers

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:01:18 EDT

Graphics designers have to play with images and designs on a daily basis. While the overall design and ideas need to be unique, there are lots of little things that designers find themselves doing on a frequent basis. For example, you could find yourself creating rounded corners. Or you could even find yourself making a [...]The post WigFlip: A Collection Of Convenient Web Apps That Will Benefit Graphics Designers appeared first on MakeUseOf Directory

Xbox One Photo Gallery: A Close-Up Look At Microsoft's Shiny, Shiny Future Of Gaming

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:53:50 EDT

Today in Redmond, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, its vision for the future of home entertainment. The Xbox One will expand Microsoft's Xbox agenda well beyond gaming, blurring the boundaries of gaming and interactive TV further than ever. Let's take a look. The Xbox One isn't much of a departure when it comes to design — but the tech under the hood is on steroids and then some. With integrated Blu-Ray, Kinect and a whole new batch of hyper-responsive voice and gesture controls, Microsoft is angling for casual gamers and the hardcore set alike. Microsoft's "futureproof" Xbox One features a reimagined (but not wholly reinvented) controller with developer-programmable buttons and "vibrating impulse triggers" that provide tactile feedback. The Xbox One soaking up the spotlight... literally. Microsoft hosted its Xbox One event in a tent at the center of at its Redmond, Washington Xbox campus. Don Mattrick takes the stage for the biggest reveal moment of the day: the name of Microsoft's new console. If the Today Show is any indication, the Xbox ain't just for l33t gamers these days — it's a console designed for the whole family. Microsoft's new Xbox Live design takes after the successful formula of its predecessor rather than reinventing the wheel. The Xbox One's multitasking chops on display, featuring a live Skype video chat demo. With a demo of Call of Duty: Ghosts for the Xbox One, FPS fans are in understandable throes of ecstasy today. The new shooter will take the hit franchise in a new direction, setting the player up as the underdog in a ragtag team of post-apocalyptic warriors, who are presumably ghost-like in some capacity. Since we can only assume that a handful of gamers out there won't be so into the Today Show thing, Forza Motorsport 5 will launch with the Xbox One. The Xbox One may have made its photo op, but one big question remains: price. With so many advanced features on board, it's hard to imagine that the console will be able to match the $299 bill of its predecessor's base model. If Microsoft really wants to stave off the competition when the console becomes available—"later this year," executives said—the Xbox One's price tag needs to be as impressive as its spec sheet. Photos by Taylor Hatmaker for ReadWrite

LightUp electronic blocks and AR app teaches kids circuitry basics (hands-on)

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:49:00 EDT

There are plenty of kits out there designed to help kids learn the ins and outs of electronics, but LightUp hopes to stand out from the crowd with not just easy-to-use building blocks but an accompanying augmented reality app as well. From resistors and LED modules to light sensors, each block represents a real component that can be attached to each other via magnetic connectors, hopefully creating a circuit in the process. LightUp even offers an Arduino-compatible microcontroller block to help kids start coding -- clip the programming wand to the block, hook it up to your computer, and away you go. What really sets LightUp apart is the aforementioned AR app. Simply snap a picture of your circuit, and the software will let you know what's wrong with it if there's a mistake. If everything's working, it'll display an electrical flow animation atop the picture, showing kids the magic of electricity. We had a go at creating a circuit ourselves, and were delighted at how easy it was. The connectors fit in either direction, and can be attached and reattached with ease. We also saw a brief demo of the prototype application, and sure enough, it showed us when an LED block was placed backwards with an error message -- you can see it in action in the video below.Gallery: LightUp hands-on Filed under: Science Comments Source: LightUp, Kickstarter

The New Flickr Is Worth Another Look

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:45:57 EDT

To get people interested in Flickr again, Yahoo is letting its terabytes do the talking. The photo service, which Yahoo acquired in 2005, is now offering a whopping one terabyte of free storage, with no size limits. Users can also upload 1080p videos, up to three minutes long, counting toward the overall storage limit. A new website and Android app have launched alongside the new storage offering as well. That’s enough to get me interested, at least. I’ve never had much use for Flickr before, but I’m taking a second look in light of Yahoo’s largess. Here’s what I’ve learned after spending the day loading old photos onto Flickr’s website by the gigabyte: Flickr vs. Facebook vs.Google+ Your main options for storing lots of photos online–that is, more than the handful of gigabytes offered by storage services like Dropbox and SkyDrive–are Flickr, Facebook and Google+. Each service has its own benefits and drawbacks. Facebook and Google+ both offer unlimited storage for your photos, but with a resolution limit of 2048 pixels wide. Google+ lets you store photos at full resolution, but these count toward the 15 GB of free storage on your Google account. If you just want to back up pristine copies of your photos to the cloud, neither of these options are ideal due to their resolution restrictions. Where Facebook and Google+ shine are their sharing options. Given Facebook’s dominance in social networking, storing your photos there is the best way to make sure they’re seen by friends, family and acquaintances. Google+ sharing offers a more controlled environment. The ability to group your contacts into “circles,” and then only share with the circles you want, is a powerful way to restrict who sees any given photo or album. On the downside, the folks you share with may never stop by Google+ to take a look. By comparison, Flickr seems more useful for archival purposes. You can upload your photos without squashing them down to a lower resolution, and most people won’t have to worry about the one-terabyte storage limit

GIF creator: It's a soft 'g', Mr. President

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:31:06 EDT

What will the White House say now? (Credit: White House Tumblr) You thought it had been settled, didn't you? You've been practicing the new pronunciation (or the old one). And now you're going to have to think again. Recently, the White House very presciently decided to open its own non-purple Tumblr account. It took the occasion to declare with seeming finality that GIFs -- those very files that so many people find funny -- are hard, not soft. Hard as in hard "g." Gif like "gift." Not like "jiffy." Some giffers fell in line. Now they will have second thoughts. For the GIF's creator, Steve Wilhite, begs to jiffer. More Technically Incorrect Samsung's 'men are pigs' ad for TVs gets YouTube love (and hate) Alleged robbers butt-dial 911 Purple Haze: Tumblr faithful blast Yahoo deal Google: America's third political party ... [Read more]Related Links:Breaking: White House Tumblr says it's GIF, with a 'hard G'Bill Nye, LeVar Burton in first White House VineDrop: Minecraft creator's new Web gameWhy I can't root for Woot anymoreSoftBank turns up the heat on Dish over Sprint merger ...

Photovine: A Unique Photo Browser, Editor & Slideshow Viewer For Instagram & Facebook [iOS]

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:30:01 EDT

Photovine was a photo-sharing app that launched following Google's acquisition of a company called Slide, and revolved around photo vines, which are not unlike tags on Instagram or Flickr. Google's Photovine died over a year ago, but it seems the brand is not dead. A new iPhone app called Photovine has recently emerged which brings an innovative way to view your Instagram and Facebook photos which involves music, slideshows, and an unusual interface.The post Photovine: A Unique Photo Browser, Editor & Slideshow Viewer For Instagram & Facebook [iOS] appeared first on MakeUseOf.

Motorola XT1056 gains FCC credentials for Sprint

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:28:00 EDT

The future of Motorola's smartphones are now falling into place, and we couldn't be more excited. Following the FCC certification of the XT1058 for AT&T, a similar test report for the XT1056 has just crossed our desk. This time around, the smartphone carries certification for LTE Band 25, which puts it as a dead ringer for a Sprint device. Regardless of whether this handset turns out to be the purported "X phone" is almost beside the point, because we already know that cross-carrier availability and stock Android are key to Motorola's future in the smartphone realm. There are a few worthwhile points to take away from the FCC certification of the XT1056, which suggest that this will be a very capable handset. First and foremost, we're looking at a device that'll offer NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 LE+EDR and 802.11ac. In addition to support for Sprint's network, the phone also carries certification for HSPA+ 21 Mbps over the 2100, 1900 and 850MHz bands, although the documentation specifically states that it'll be SIM-locked for all US carriers. All in all, these are good signs of what's to come. Now, if only Motorola could get on with the reveal. Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google Comments Source: FCC

Comics Web site Comics Alliance to relaunch?

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:27:58 EDT

(Credit: DC) Web site Comics Alliance, a three-time winner of the Eisner award -- went mysteriously silent toward the end of April, to the distress and consternation of comics fans. No word -- official or otherwise -- was heard from either parent company AOL or any of the Comics Alliance staff members. However, the lack of updates on the site since April 29, where it usually updated several times a day, seemed to confirm that Comics Alliance was being shelved and archived. This apparent move was puzzling, as the site was not losing money; quite the contrary, in fact. Related stories Take a rare peek behind the DC Comics cape Inside the halls of DC Comics (photos) A new post on the Web site, however, seems to indicate that perhaps the whole thing was merely a hiatus. Titled ";)" (the wink emoticon), the post is a series of panels from Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" showing Superman hearing Batman's heartbeat after the latter has faked his own death. Although we don't know why the Web site would fake us out, we bet i... [Read more]Related Links:Dark Horse dangles 50 free digital comicsTwaggies greatest hits: Weird tweets get illustratedApple profit slips 18%, but iPhone, iPad sales stay strongApple earnings could bring profit setback, despite record salesPreviously, on 'Arrested Development': NPR's epic guide to the show's running gags ...

Qualcomm demos next-gen 2,560 x 1,440 Mirasol display (hands-on video)

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:12:00 EDT

We haven't heard about Mirasol for a while now, but Qualcomm's reflective display tech showed up in a few proof-of-concepts on the SID Display Week floor. We got a look at a previously announced 1.5-inch panel embedded on the top of an "always-on" smartphone and on the face of a smartwatch. Though a rep took care to emphasize that these were just mockups, he said the screen will soon show up in some third-party devices. More interesting, though, was the company's next-gen display: a 5.1-inch panel sporting a stunning 2,560 x 1,440 (577 ppi) resolution. Viewed up close, it delivers crisp images, but the reflective display kicks back a silvery tint and colors don't pop as they do on other handsets. But while the sky-high pixel count may not tell the whole story, the screen offers one huge plus: a 6x power advantage over LCD and OLED displays. In practical terms, that means devices could go days without charging. Don't expect to see this guy in your next smartphone, though: by "next-gen," Qualcomm means this tech has a few more years in the R&D phase before it'll be ready to hit a licensee's production line. For now, make do with our hands-on video after the break.Gallery: Qualcomm 577 ppi Mirasol displays eyes-on Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Wearables, Mobile Comments

Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean Update Gets a Scare

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:59:05 EDT

Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean Update Gets a Scare is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.The Sony Xperia S Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update, which Sony has promised by the end of May, took a bit of a turn today with a Sony Mobile employee hinting that while the update could definitely still roll out in May, there is a chance that it could arrive in June. In April, Sony confirmed several Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for the end of June including the Sony Xperia Ion update and the long-awaited Sony Xperia S Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update. The company did not give out any specifics in terms of dates, only stating that the software would land by the end of May. Up until today, all signs pointed to that certainly being the case. However, a Sony Mobile employee from Russia has now thrown some doubt behind the update’s arrival. Read: Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean Roll Out Inches Closer. In a series of tweets, first discovered by XperiaBlog, Sony Mobile Russia employee Dmitry Lazarev says that the Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean update may not land until the second half of June. It’s not clear if he is referring to the update’s arrival in Russia or the update’s arrival on the whole. He goes on to add though that there is “no reason for the delay” and that the “firmware is actually ready and actively tested.” Furthermore, he claims that the software could role out earlier than his June proclamation. So, at this point, while this is certainly a scare for Sony Xperia S owners, it’s not confirmation of a delay. In fact, it’s still possible that the update will roll out in May, even for those that are in possession of a Sony Xperia S in Russia. Keep in mind, we also saw a number of Sony employees make proclamations about the release of the Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean update, only to see them fall flat on their face. So at this point, we still expect the Sony Xperia S update to roll out as planned, sometime before the end of May. At that point, unbranded users should get their upgrade with users on specific carriers following in the weeks after. Carriers have yet to issue specific release dates for the roll outs and we don’t expect to see those emerge until after the roll out begins.Sony Xperia S Jelly Bean Update Gets a Scare is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Sony's 13.3-inch Digital Paper prototype sports E Ink's Mobius flexible display, we go hands-on (video)

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:38:00 EDT

Sony's new e-ink prototype is getting the test-drive treatment at Japanese universities, but SID provides a perfect opportunity to give the North American market a demo. We found the Digital Paper slab parked at E Ink's booth -- fitting, as the company's new Mobius flexible display is the device's biggest selling point. At 13.3 inches, the panel is larger than your typical e-reader's, but it weighs just 60 grams. That light footprint comes courtesy of E Ink's TFT tech, which allows for larger, more rugged devices without the extra weight. The Digital Paper's form factor matches the size of a sheet of A4 paper, and the on-board digitizer lets users scrawl notes on the electromagnetic induction touchscreen. Naturally, this is just one implementation of the E Ink's display, but it's neat to see a prototype in action nonetheless. Head past the break to do just that.Gallery: Sony 13.3-inch E Ink Digital Paper hands-on Filed under: Displays, Tablets, Sony Comments

HTC One Nexus: 5 Things to Know

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:29:03 EDT

HTC One Nexus: 5 Things to Know is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.Shortly after Google and Samsung announced the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus, a rumor involving another Nexus, an HTC One Nexus, flared up, leaving consumers excited about the arrival of another Nexus based on a 2013 flagship smartphone. Details remain scarce, but there are certainly some important things that prospective buyers should know about an HTC One Nexus. At Google I/O 2013, instead of a Nexus 4 LTE, white Nexus 4 or Nexus 5, Google announced another Nexus smartphone in the form of a Samsung Galaxy S4 Nexus, also known as the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition, a device that still has no official name but will be arriving on June 26th with a hefty price tag and some impressive features. Read: HTC One Nexus Rumors Flare Up. Like the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Galaxy S4 Nexus is likely going to arrive with high-end hardware including a 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 13MP camera, slim and lightweight plastic design, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Unlike the regular Galaxy S4 though, it’s going to come with vanilla Android meaning it won’t have any of Samsung’s TouchWiz features on board. Instead, it will be a pure Google Experience like the one found on the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. The device is set to arrive on June 26th, several months after the launch of the Nexus 4 and likely many months before the arrival of the rumored Nexus 5. However, there are signs that point to it as having company at some point down the road, perhaps before the Nexus 5. Shortly after the Galaxy S4 Nexus was announced, a rumor sprouted up claiming that an HTC One without Sense 5, an HTC One Nexus, might be coming out later on this year. Since then, information has been extremely scarce, leaving potential consumers on the edge of their seats, trying to decide if it’s best to wait for an arrival or simply buy into something now. For those that are indeed interested in an HTC One Nexus, here are the five most important things to know about the rumored smartphone. HTC One Nexus Could Be the Real Deal The HTC One Nexus rumor comes by way of @LLabTooFeR, a known HTC leakster and developer who has been accurate with inside information before. He claims that the HTC One Nexus is a fact, not just a guess, and that it could show up before the end of summer, meaning it could arrive before the end of August. While HTC has denied that an HTC One Nexus is in the works, we wouldn’t take that to mean that one isn’t on the way. In fact, it’s entirely possible that we could see an HTC One Nexus arrive at some point down the road. First, @LlabTooFeR has been dead on in the past, so this isn’t just some random source spouting off at the mouth. Second, HTC needs to do whatever it can to keep pace with Samsung and partnering with Google [...]HTC One Nexus: 5 Things to Know is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

We're live from SID Display Week 2013 in Vancouver!

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:23:00 EDT

The biggest news of the day made its way out of Microsoft's Redmond headquarters a few hours ago, but there's plenty more to see just 150 miles to the north in Vancouver, British Columbia. SID's Display Week exhibition kicked off this morning, giving us an opportunity to get hands-on with some pretty nifty prototypes from LG and Samsung, including that first manufacturer's 5-inch flexible plastic OLED panel and a brilliant 3,200 x 1,800-pixel laptop display from the latter. We'll be scouring the floor over the days to come, on the hunt for similar innovations, many of which will likely find their way into our smartphones, laptops and living rooms later this year and beyond. Protip: Use our "SID2013" tag to see this week's hottest Display Week news! Filed under: Displays Comments

iOS 7 May Include Flickr, Vimeo Integration

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:22:08 EDT

iOS 7 May Include Flickr, Vimeo Integration is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.Apple may include support for two additional social networks when it debuts iOS 7, the next version of the company’s operating system that powers the iPhone and iPad. According to sources who spoke exclusively with 9to5Mac, Apple will add both Flickr and Vimeo support to iOS natively. Instead of users having to download both service’s applications from the iTunes App Store, Apple would the username and password of the user’s individual accounts to connect with them both. Reportedly, iOS 7’s native Flickr integration will allow users to store and share photos on their Flickr account from the iOS share menu. iOS 7 would also store the user’s Flickr credentials so that anytime the user needed them, like using Instagram’s app, the user wouldn’t have to enter their username and password again. Flickr underwent its biggest revamp just this week. Yahoo, the company who owns Flickr announced that in addition to its new user interface, users would be allow to store up to 1 terabye of photos. It’s believed the company is positioning Flickr as a direct competitor to Facebook, which is already supported in iOS. Read: 3 Ways Yahoo’s Flickr Can Threaten Facebook The addition of Vimeo to iOS would be the latest move by Apple to axe and replace features that currently rely on Google services. Just last year, the company announced that it would no longer include the YouTube application in iOS, Vimeo allows users to upload and share video clips online. 9to5Mac’s source didn’t offer any insight into how in-depth the Vimeo features in iOS might be or to what extent that could be used in place of YouTube in the operating system. It should be noted that the latest version of Apple’s Mac OS operating system for desktops and laptops already includes integration with both Vimeo and Flickr. It’s rumored that Apple will also introduce a revamped user interface in iOS 7 as well, though so far details on what changes could be made are hard to come by. Read: iOS 7 – Where Apple Needs to Catch up to Google Apple is expected to detail the latest features and addition to iOS during the company’s World Wide Developer Conference or WWDC 2013. That event kicks off on June 10th.iOS 7 May Include Flickr, Vimeo Integration is a post by Travis Pope from Gotta Be Mobile.

Xbox One Used Game Fees: Microsoft Wavers on Issue

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:10:59 EDT

Xbox One Used Game Fees: Microsoft Wavers on Issue is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.Microsoft didn’t mention anything about used games during its Xbox One reveal, but a report from Wired claims that gamers will have to pay a small fee in order to play used games. In an exclusive look at the Xbox One Wired found out that gamers will use Blu-ray discs to install games onto the 500GB hard drive of the Xbox One, though any user after the first will have to pay a small fee. It’s not clear how the system will work, but once a user installs a game to their account on the Xbox One that game won’t install for any other account without an unspecified fee. Read: Xbox One: 5 Exciting New Features The change will make users pay to install and play used games, or just games they rent of borrow from a friend. It’s not clear if the game will tie to an individual account or a console. Theoretically once a user installs a game on the console any account on the console can play it without paying an extra fee like they can on the Xbox 360. The move is similar to the online passes companies like EA include in current generation games. Some games require online passes for the gamers to play online, without it they can only play single-player. The pass comes free with each new copy of the game, but players who buy games used often have to pay extra for online passes. Predictably, gamers aren’t happy about the used game limitations of the console. Many took to Twitter to express their disappointment or outrage over the used game restrictions. As Arthur Gies of Polygon points out on Twitter, however, the fees may not affect gamers that much. Retailers like GameStop and individuals who resell used games are the ones hurt most by the restriction. Those resellers may have to lower the prices they charge for used games in order to compensate for the fees Microsoft will charge. The good news for gamers who buy the games is that once they pay the fee and install the game, they won’t need the disc any longer, so they can sell it back quickly to recoup some of the cost. Later, if they delete the game from their hard drive they can redownload it from Xbox Live later. In that way, the fee acts as more of a license for the game instead of a punishment for buying a used disc. Presumably some of the fee will go to the publishers so they get a cut of used game sales, which they currently don’t get. @danhufc Oops, yup – typo. You will not have to pay a *fee*. I can confirm that those reports are wrong. ^BA — Xbox Support (1-5) (@XboxSupport) May 21, 2013 In the hours after the event, Microsoft statements are back and forth on the issue, with the Xbox Support account claiming that there will be no charge. Soon after, Phil Harrison, Microsoft corporate Vice President told Eurogamer that there will be a fee [...]Xbox One Used Game Fees: Microsoft Wavers on Issue is a post by Shawn Ingram from Gotta Be Mobile.

Installing, buying, selling and sharing games on Xbox One: here's what we know

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:07:00 EDT

With each subsequent console generation there's an undercurrent of fear, a concern that this will be the cycle that finally kills off something many hold near and dear: the used game. Though these scratched-up disks and carts are often overprized and come with incomplete or unfortunately creased manuals, they're still better value than the shrink-wrapped titles. With the announcement of the current next-generation of consoles the discontent raised again. Is the axe about to drop on the used video game market? Is this the iteration that will prevent you from borrowing something from a friend? Not if Microsoft has anything to say about it. The Xbox One does support used games and it does support game sharing -- but the details are in some cases a bit murky. Join us after the break for an exploration of what we know. Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft Comments

Call Filter Alarm: Choose People Who Can Call To Wake You Up [Android]

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:01:41 EDT

A lot of people use their smartphone as a people alarm clock, meaning that they let other people call them at a specified time in the morning or day to wake them up. However, if you simply leave your smartphone turned on when you go to sleep, there is a risk that anyone can call [...]The post Call Filter Alarm: Choose People Who Can Call To Wake You Up [Android] appeared first on MakeUseOf Directory

Hands-on with Xbox One's new gamepad, 'impulse triggers' included

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:49:00 EDT

You've already read our hands-on with Xbox One's new Kinect and wireless gamepad, but perhaps you noticed our inability to test the gamepad's new "impulse triggers?" Well, we're glad to tell you we've just mended that exception. First things first, though -- we got hands-on with the new gamepad in a more finished state (which is to say "with the impulse triggers and the new Start / Back buttons). The most noticeable difference is one that most gamers will likely overlook initially: the new texture on the edge of the analog sticks. Head below with us for more!Gallery: Xbox One hands-on Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals, HD, Microsoft Comments

iPhone Periscope Lens Lets You Take Pictures on the Sly

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:30:17 EDT

Normally if you want to take a picture of someone, it is pretty obvious by how you are holding the camera and where it is pointed. Everyone knows that you are doing…

Internet Forums Reimagined: The Future Of Online Discussions

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:30:10 EDT

The latest iteration of online communication may indeed be social media, but it seems that the most popular avenue is still the old-fashioned forum. It remains today as an excellent way to structure a community on the web. While social media can be somewhat amorphous at times, forums provide order and a sense of home.The post Internet Forums Reimagined: The Future Of Online Discussions appeared first on MakeUseOf.

x86'd: How PC architecture could push Nintendo out of the next gen

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:25:00 EDT

It didn't take long for console warriors, fanboys and a brutal media to take aim at Nintendo's Wii U. The fledgling system was relentlessly teased for its name (seemingly even sillier than that of its predecessor) and a list of specifications certain to be outdone by its competitors. The device's novel tablet controller stayed judgment for a short time, but it didn't last long -- a weak launch lineup, a slow operating system and software delays soured an already judgmental community. Wii U detractors eventually climbed atop their soapboxes to issue their final verdicts: Nintendo is doomed. A premature prophecy, perhaps, but one that became increasingly difficult to argue with: diminishing sales and third-party desertion set a negative tone for the Wii U's future. Dedicated fans (this editor among them) quickly fell into a defensive position, dismissing EA's abandonment of the platform with promises of Nintendo's own first-party wonders. Optimism reigns supreme. Still, with both Microsoft and Sony's cards on the table, it's clear that Nintendo is about to take another hit. Filed under: Gaming, Nintendo Comments

Staying at the Burj Al Arab? Enjoy a 24-karat gold iPad

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:21:00 EDT

(Credit: Burj Al Arab) It's the most golden hotel perk since gold-bar vending machines: gold iPads. As if the Rolls Royce and helicopter services weren't enough, guests at Dubai's opulent Burj Al Arab now have access to gold-plated iPads. The 24-karat tablets are engraved with the property's logo on the back, which also features a black Apple logo. Ironically enough, the hotel chain's slogan is "Stay different." The iPads, meant to act as "virtual concierges," are loaded with Interactive Customer Experience (ICE) software that gives guests information on services such as dining options at the landmark property. Related stories 24-karat iPhone 5: Bite the golden Apple Abu Dhabi vending machine spits out real gold 10 crushworthy watches at Baselworld 2013 The iPads were produced by Gold & Co. of London, which made a 24-karat rose-gold iPad for the hotel last October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Apple’s Tim Cook Faces Senate Questions on Taxes

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:18:12 EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate dragged Apple Inc., the world’s most valuable company, into the debate over the U.S. tax code Tuesday, grilling CEO Tim Cook over allegations that its Irish subsidiaries help the company avoid billions in U.S. taxes. Cook said the subsidiaries have nothing to do with reducing its U.S. taxes, a message he struggled to convey to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. (MORE: Senate Panel Says Apple Uses Firms Outside the U.S. to Avoid Taxes) “We pay all the taxes we owe – every single dollar,” Cook said. “We don’t depend on tax gimmicks.” The senate subcommittee released a report Monday that held up Apple as an example of the legal tax avoidance made possible by the U.S. tax code. It estimates that Apple avoided at least $3.5 billion in U.S. federal taxes in 2011 and $9 billion in 2012 by using its tax strategy, and described a complex setup involving Irish subsidiaries as being a key element of this strategy. But Cook said the Irish subsidiaries don’t reduce the company’s U.S. taxes at all. Rather, the company avoids paying the 35 percent federal tax rate on profits made overseas by not bringing those profits back to the U.S., a practice it shares with other multinationals. Apple’s enormous, iPhone-fueled profits mean that it has more cash stashed overseas than any other company: $102 billion. Cook reaffirmed Apple’s position that given the current U.S. tax rate, it has no intention of bringing that cash back to the U.S. Like other companies, it has a responsibility to shareholders to pay as little as possible in taxes. In effect, Apple is holding out for a lower corporate tax rate, and Cook spent some of his time in the spotlight to advocate for one, accompanied by a streamlining of the tax code to eliminate deductions and credits. Cook, who is more accustomed to commanding a stage in front of investors and techies than facing a congressional committee, took a defensive tone with his opening statement. He punched out words when stressing

Xbox One has non-replaceable hard drive, external storage is supported

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:09:00 EDT

We had the opportunity to chat with Albert Penello, senior director of product planning at Microsoft this afternoon, who was kind enough to clarify a few topics for us regarding the recently-unveiled Xbox One. One thing we were quick to ask about was the integrated storage. 500GB sounds like a lot today -- but so did the 20GB unit in the original Xbox 360. The HDD there was, at least, replaceable. Can you do the same with its successor? Sadly, no. Hard drives in the Xbox One are non-user-serviceable, but Penello confirmed that the USB 3.0 port is there for external storage, which can be used for everything the internal storage can be used for. That includes game installs and downloads. So, don't fret: adding storage will be just as easy as ever. Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft Comments

Used games are here to stay with Xbox One but details hazy

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:57:57 EDT

Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One on Tuesday. (Credit: James Martin/CNET) Fears of a death spiral for used games with the Xbox One may be a little premature. A Microsoft spokesman confirmed to CNET that Microsoft will support used games with its new console, though it declined to provide much information at this time. Related stories: Xbox One: The details Live from Microsoft's Xbox reveal (pictures) Five unanswered questions about the Xbox One Xbox One: Up close and personal (pictures) "We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games," the spokesman said. "We'll have more details to share later." What we do know is that users have to install games from a disc onto the console's hard drive to access the information. Users can then play that game whenever they like without using the disc, but the a... [Read more]Related Links:Xbox next: What to expect at Tuesday's Xbox reveal eventNext Xbox may not need constant Web connectionNext Xbox: Microsoft sets big reveal for May 21The new Xbox: Six things Microsoft needs to doWill the next Xbox be called Xbox Infinity? ...

Raen Summer '13

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:56:16 EDT

Raen's new summer collection offers looks both bold and subtle with familiar frame shapes and limited edition embedded acetate patterns for those who need something a little louder. Even better is their non-designer pricing at $80 bucks a pop that'll leave you a little less bummed than that time you lost that pair of $400 Oliver Peoples. RAEN

Verizon HTC One Rumors Take Interesting Turn

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:54:26 EDT

Verizon HTC One Rumors Take Interesting Turn is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.It appears that a Verizon HTC One may have been spotted running Android 4.2.2, just a day ahead of Verizon’s CTIA 2013 announcement in Las Vegas, an event that very well could be the carrier’s launching pad for the still unannounced device. The Verizon HTC One, while heavily rumored and thought by one insider to be coming in the near future, remains unannounced and unofficial, firmly tucked away in the shadows. However, with Verizon set to make an announcement tomorrow, one that it will be streaming live, there is a possibility that we could see the elusive Verizon HTC One finally emerge from those shadows. Read: HTC One: 5 More Things To Know. And while we have yet to see it in the flesh, it appears that at least one non-Verizon or HTC employee has as a member on the XDA-Developer Forums, courtesy of Droid-Life, claims that an HTC representative stopped by their Sprint store and whipped out a Verizon HTC One with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean on board. It appears that the device has Notification toggles, which emerged with the leaked HTC Butterfly Android 4.2 ROM, and it appears that a launch could be close. Keep in mind, HTC is thought to be coming out with the HTC One Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update in just a few days, possibly by the end of the month, and it could be that it times the arrival with the arrival of the Verizon HTC One. Verizon, in theory, could announce the phone tomorrow at CTIA and release the phone a few days or weeks later with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean on board. Of course, with no sign of the device other than this supposed sighting, the chances of this theory proving correct are slim. Still, we’ve heard numerous times that the Verizon HTC One is still on the way so it could wind up working out this way. It’s unclear if the HTC One on Verizon will feature anything different from the other models other than Verizon branding. In addition, AT&T still holds an exclusive on the 64GB model so it’s unclear if Verizon will get it. Take this with a grain of salt, but with the event taking place tomorrow, this supposed sighting couldn’t have come at a better time.Verizon HTC One Rumors Take Interesting Turn is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Xbox One pre-order notification is live: here's where to sign up

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:50:00 EDT

How much? When? Where? Who cares? If you aren't exactly interested in knowing how much the impending Xbox One will cost you -- let alone when it'll actually hit your doorstep -- you can sign up to be notified of your opportunity to pre-order the console right now. To be clear, this isn't a sign-up for a pre-order. It's just a sign-up to be notified of pre-orders officially opening up. So really, what's to lose? Hit the source link below in order to share your email address, and you'll get a $10 Microsoft online store credit for your trouble. (Or, you can hit the Amazon link for those needing an excuse to make better use of their Prime subscription.) Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft Comments Source: Microsoft, Major Nelson (Twitter), Amazon

Google+ adds card UI and larger cover photos to mobile site

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:44:00 EDT

Google has been spending quite a lot of time tweaking, streamlining and generally beautifying the interface of its "social backbone." But while the mobile apps and desktop site have seen near constant updates, the mobile Google+ site has languished slightly behind. Today Mountain view is delivering a little bit of parity for those on platforms that don't have an official app, such as Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10. The update brings the new card UI to the phone-focused version, along with easier to see and tap +1 and re-share buttons. The updated profile experience is also going mobile, with large cover photos and more touch friendly icons coming to both personal profiles and pages. There's no need to wait patiently while this rolls out either, the new mobile Google+ site is already live. Filed under: Internet, Mobile, Google Comments Source: Google+

With Xbox One, Microsoft Emphasizes TV over Games

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:38:58 EDT

From beneath gray skies, working a boisterous audience packed into a giant tent on its Redmond, Wash. campus, Microsoft this afternoon took the wraps off its third Xbox, dubbed Xbox One. But gamers tuning in to watch the live-stream event only caught glimpses of vaguely better-looking in-game footage, and then not until the presentation’s finale. Instead, Microsoft and its partners chose to spend most of the presentation talking about the future of TV-related entertainment as well as Xbox One’s much-refined voice command-driven interface. Kicking off the one-hour show, Microsoft president of interactive entertainment Don Mattrick helmed the stage, electric-green Xbox screens flanking him, to portray Xbox One as the center of an interactive media-verse. That universe is more heterogeneous than ever, said Mattrick, comprising casual games, live and recorded TV, sports and movies, multiple platforms, living rooms in flux with cloud-powered Internet services, voice and gesture controls and mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. ”To continue to lead, we must provide compelling answers to new questions,” he said, then asking, “Can we take what you love and make it better? Can we improve a living room that’s become too complex, too fragmented and too slow?” Microsoft’s answer: a set-top console that looked less than ever like a stylized game console and more like a traditional, almost mundane piece of orthogonal, black, glossy hi-fi stereo equipment. The new console was joined by a revamped Kinect camera — included with each Xbox One — and a refined, slightly more angular version of the Xbox 360 gamepad (making it look a hair more like a batarang). “For the first time, you and your TV are going to have a relationship,” quipped Mattrick, a statement that sounds awkward at first blush — we’ve had a relationship with our TV sets for decades — until you realized he was hyping Microsoft’s considerable ramping-up of the Xbox brand as a media-platform first, and a games console second. TV > Gaming Before delving into hardware specifics, Microsoft interactive entertainment marketing honcho Yusuf Mehdi demonstrated Microsoft’s vision of the Xbox One as a

Slickdeals' best in tech for May 21st: Brother all-in-one printer and JBL wireless subwoofer

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:37:00 EDT

Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this roundup, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Monday's list of links may have gotten bumped to Tuesday, but rest assured that we've got a handful of discounted tech ready for your perusal. A wireless Brother all-in-one inkjet printer and 300W JBL wireless subwoofer made the cut alongside three other tempting gadgets. Head down beyond the break for the full list and all of the requisite purchase info. Filed under: Cameras, Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video, Storage Comments Source: Slickdeals