Newsy - Tech

On Facebook IPO's Anniversary, a Look Back at the Year

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:21:51 -0500

(Image source: Mashable)

BY JAMAL ANDRESS

It’s been one year since Mark Zuckerberg rang NASDAQ’s opening bell. Since then, the company has made big strides toward mobile ad revenue but suffered a lackluster stock price. Here’s a look back at the year since Facebook became the third biggest IPO in history.

The company was valued at $104 billion, 100 times its revenue, and the stock debuted at $38 per share, almost 100 times more than Google’s IPO eight years earlier. (Via The Telegraph)

Throughout the day, the stock price jumped to $43 and then came back down, finishing up right where it started at $38 a share. But Facebook would never see those numbers again.

Facebook’s stock price plummeted throughout 2012, going as low as $17. According to CNN, “concern about Facebook's late entrance into the mobile ad market was the main reason the stock never recovered.”

In Zuckerberg’s first interview after the company went public, he spoke to that very problem.

“I think the big question that is on everyone’s minds that will determine at least our performance over that period is really gonna be how well we do with mobile.” (Via YouTube / Jeffrey Powers)

Zuckerberg pledged to refocus the company on mobile, and despite the lack of enthusiasm for Facebook Home, The Wall Street Journal reports Zuckerberg made good on that promise.

“ ... new posters began appearing at the headquarters of Facebook Inc. The posters proclaimed: ‘Advertisers are users too.’ … Facebook has pushed revenue up its priority list and restructured its business so that many of its best minds are now thinking about driving sales ... ”

And it seems, at least on the mobile front, those minds are making a difference. In 2011 Facebook had 288 million mobile users. Today? 751 million, which adds up to a 161 percent increase.

And what’s more important than more users is how Facebook is capitalizing on those users.

“Last quarter, 30% of Facebook’s ad revenue came from mobile devices, up from 23% during the previous quarter and 14% the quarter before that. In the first quarter of 2012, Facebook’s mobile revenue constituted 0% of its total revenue.” (Via Time)

But even with these impressive numbers in mobile revenue, the stock price is still 30 percent below where they started a year ago, closing Friday at $26.

Yahoo! Approves $1.1B Tumblr Acquisition

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:15:57 -0500

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(Image source: All Things D)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

Yahoo’s proposed $1.1 billion buyout of Tumblr has reportedly gotten the green light from the company’s board. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that people familiar with the buyout say it’s a done deal.

Word first broke on Friday that the massive deal was all but finalized, with Yahoo! announcing an event Monday night in New York where CEO Marissa Mayer would be unveiling something product-related. (Via News12)

Now the boards of both companies have reportedly given the deal the go-ahead, making it all but official.

Tumblr hosts more than 100 million blogs, getting around 117 million unique visitors last month.

And, more importantly to Yahoo!, the site is most popular with the 18-24-year-old demographic. (Via Quantcast)

The Wall Street Journal reports: “The company considers the takeover to be a way to jump-start its revenue growth and obtain a bigger presence in social media tied to digital devices...”

Since the news broke, there have been mixed reactions among business and tech writers. Business Insider said of the deal:

“We think this is a win for both Tumblr and Yahoo. Yahoo gets a big, young audience. Tumblr gets more money, and time, to figure out its business.”

But according to TechCrunch, Tumblr’s users aren’t happy with the deal, with many claiming they will walk away from the site if Yahoo! buys the company.

And then there are those who bring up Geocities, the web hosting service Yahoo! bought for $3.6 billion in 1999 only for it to be shuttered in the U.S. 10 years later. A writer for The Atlantic is skeptical the Tumblr buyout will be any different, due to the company’s lack of revenue.

“To say there are cynics out there who think this is going to blow up and be a disaster for both sides is an understatement. But it's mostly going to be a disaster for Yahoo! and Marissa Mayer because they're the ones dumb enough to pay $1 billion for a company that only generated one percent of that in revenue last year.”

The $1.1 billion cash buyout is Mayer’s biggest acquisition to date, made all the more risky by the fact that Yahoo! reportedly only had $1.2 billion cash on hand at the end of March.

Google Glass Causing Congressional Privacy Concerns

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:56:20 -0500

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(Image Source: Google)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Google glass is sparking some concerns for a group of lawmakers. The problem... privacy.

Eight members of the Congressional Bi-Partisan Privacy Caucus are currently awaiting answers to a letter sent to Google’s chief executive Larry Page. In the letter, the group outlined eight questions about how the technology would impact the privacy of the “average American.” (Via YouTube / Project Glass)

Some questions highlight Google’s track record, bringing up the 2010 incident where Google collected user data over wireless networks without permission.

Others focus on the actual capabilities of the technology.

The letter even goes so far as asking what limitations will be put on app developers. (Via U.S. Congress)

Glass will essentially allow users to connect to the Internet and do things like take photographs, record and watch video, send text messages and post to social media sites through device that resembles a pair of glasses. (Via ABC)

But lawmakers like Texas Rep. Joe Barton don’t want Google Glass wearers to have the ability to record other people without them knowing. And Congress members, like him, aren’t the only ones worried about what the technology could potentially do.

Caesars Palace recently banned Google Glass, saying the use of recording devices and computers aren’t allowed when gambling. (Via Caesars Palace)

But a writer for The Motely Fool argues this reaction to new technology is no different than others we’ve seen in the past.

In 2003, the problem was camera phones and their growing popularity and quality. (Via Wikimedia Commons / OptoScalpel)

Just like we’re seeing now, the questions then revolved around how to handle and regulate the technology... but the point is, eventually we learned to how to deal with it.

“It’s still too early to give Google Glass that much credit, but it’s also too early to write it off. We may figure out a way to adapt the new technology into our lives without giving up all of our privacy. We've certainly done it before.”

Google defended its technology against these privacy worries during the Google I/O conference on Thursday. An engineer on the Glass team pointed out that social cues will alert others that you’re looking at them.

“If I’m recording you, I have to stare at you — as a human being. And when someone is staring at you, you have to notice. If you walk into a restroom and someone’s just looking at you — I don't know about you but I'm getting the hell out of there.”

Nonetheless, the group of lawmakers is expecting a response to all of their questions no later than June 14.

Georgia Woman Receives High-Tech Bionic Hands

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:25:55 -0500

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(Image source: aimeecopeland.com)

BY COLLIN RUANE

One year after her life changed completely, a Georgia woman has received two new prosthetic hands that do more than any prosthesis has done before.

Twenty-five-year-old Aimee Copeland fell in May 2012 when a homemade zip line snapped, causing a serious cut in her leg that required 22 staples. After days of constant pain, doctors discovered Copeland had contracted a flesh-eating disease. (Via CNN)

She had to have both her hands, a leg and a foot removed in a life-saving amputation. According to Atlanta’s WXIA, Copeland is adjusting to her new life with prosthetic hands — which are almost completely operational.

“With the new hands by Touch Bionics, Aimee can wipe down tables, fold a towel, hang clothes, she can even flatiron her hair — and do it all on her own.”

The “i-limb ultra revolution” hands cost about $100,000 each. They’re controlled by both Copeland’s muscles and an app called “biosim.” Copeland says the forearms feel like they’re actually parts of her body. (Via WXYZ)

Copeland is doing fairly well now, but as USA Today notes, she was seriously fighting for her life just one year ago.

“At one point, [Copeland] was on a ventilator battling kidney failure and other organ damage. Doctors had to amputate her limbs in several operations because of the progression of infection.”

Before she got her hands-on hardware, WSB spoke to Copeland about her outlook on life, which has stayed positive at points when others might have given up.

“This is a life-altering thing, but it is what you make it. And it’s not the end. It’s just the beginning of a new life, of a new way of looking at life. Now that you have this different frame of mind, it can really be a beautiful thing.”

And her inspiring accomplishments continue. WBBH reports Copeland will be reaching new milestones in just a matter of weeks.

“This month, she’s finishing her master’s degree in psychology. Then she plans to start on a second master’s degree in social work.”

This summer, Copeland will be getting a service dog while she volunteers at a youth camp geared toward kids with amputations. (Via aimeecopeland.com)

Touch Bionics, the company that created Copeland’s new hands, has offered to pay for her $200,000 medical expenses on one condition — she’ll be the company’s spokesperson.

Would Yahoo Buying Tumblr for $1B Make It Cool?

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:40:00 -0500

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(Image source: AllThingsD)

BY MIKAH SARGENT

How much would you pay to be cool? A hundred dollars? A thousand dollars? How about $1 billion? According to AdWeek which spoke to sources familiar with the deal, Yahoo is in talks to acquire or partner with Tumblr — and the acquisition/investment could hit $1 billion.

You heard that right — Yahoo’s looking to Tumblr to increase its cool-factor. AdWeek says Tumblr’s demographic is made up of “... the young, cool and creative crowd—not currently a Yahoo sweet spot.”

Tumblr is home to a diverse crowd of contributors from illustrators and artists to writers and poets. With more than 107 million blogs and 50 billion posts, many of these users are content creators who fill the site with photos and text.

And Yahoo wants to tap into that content. Details are still a little blurry on what exactly Marissa Mayer and the gang are planning with Tumblr. It could result in a partnership and investment or an acquisition. Either way, AllThingsD says the move will be great for Yahoo as Tumblr continues its climb.

“… Tumblr has been stepping up its efforts to raise a large funding round that could value the New York company at $1 billion. In a series of fundings since 2007, Tumblr has raised $125 million so far, at a reported valuation of $800 million.”

As Yahoo continues its push to be a — quote — “mobile first” company, it makes sense that the company would set its sights on Tumblr — a social network whose user-base is full of the eyes-glued-to-phone crowd.

But Yahoo will have to move quickly to remain competitive in the mobile space, where it’s up against competition like Facebook. GigaOm says “… Yahoo is worried that Facebook could swoop in at the last minute and beat it to the buzzer … Facebook could use the much needed younger 18-to-24 year old demographic, something it (successfully) tried to acquire with Instagram.”

If Yahoo does beat Facebook to the punch, the company would be setting itself up for success. There have also been rumors about Yahoo acquiring Hulu. TheNextWeb paints a whole new image of Yahoo if these deals go through.

“Yahoo, as a firm that owned one of the leading premium video-delivery services, and a leading social network and consumer-created content engines, would be a dramatically different company than what was slowly falling to pieces just years ago.”

Google Wallet Adds Gmail Payments, no Physical Card

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:11:00 -0500

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(Image source: Google)

BY MIKAH SARGENT

Google’s I/O Developer Conference got off to a tech-laden start Wednesday, packed full of updates and announcements for Google’s services. Many had hoped Google would announce a physical card attached to its Google Wallet service, but no dice.

However, we did get a pretty great consolation prize — sending money via Gmail. That’s right, Google’s slowly rolling out a new feature in Gmail that allows users to send money using Google wallet and its email service.

Google Wallet got its start as a Near Field Communication (or NFC) technology, allowing users to quickly pay for items by hovering their NFC-enabled phone over an NFC-enabled kiosk. But there’s a problem: NFC isn’t available everywhere.

CNET spoke with Peter Hazlehurst, director of product management for Google Wallet, who says Google recognizes the problem. “There are still places where NFC can't be used. And not every device has it yet.”

So until NFC takes root in our day-to-day consumer habits, Google Wallet is bringing innovation to our inbox.

It’s super simple to send money from your Gmail inbox. Much like sending a picture or document, you start by composing an email to one of your contacts. Then, in the list of attachments you click the money sign to attach your money. From there you simply fill in the blanks and send the money on its way.

Another plus: if you send money directly from Google Wallet or from your connected bank account, it doesn’t carry any fees. If you choose to use a credit card or debit card, there’s a 2.9 percent transaction fee.

Global Post says the service doesn’t require a Gmail account to send money, so long as both users have a Google Wallet account. The service will slowly roll out over the next few months.

If you're dying to use the service now, there is a way! Google says if one of your contacts has access to the service and chooses to send you money, the feature will be activated for you as well.

The Top 5 Highlights From The Google I/O Conference

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:59:43 -0500

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(Image source: NBC)

BY JAMAL ANDRESS

The annual developer’s conference, titled Google I/O, began Wednesday with a kick-off event in San-Francisco and as usual the tech giant presented tons of updates to make the company more money and our lives a little bit easier. So here they are, the top 5 highlights announcements from Google I/O 2013.

First, Google Maps gets an upgrade — a big one. Google Maps seems to be getting into the business of discovery instead of just finding. (Via TechCrunch)

If you want to know where something is, just click it and directions will show up, but along with the directions comes recommendations, coupons and ratings. (Via Google+)

Also there has been a full integration of Google Earth which notably caused a room of software developers to ooh and aah. (Via Google Earth)

Second, while Google+ still lags behind Facebook and Twitter, the company’s social media platform will soon boast a revamped chat service.

With the new Hangouts, Google combined its video chat service, messenger and Google Talk. (Via NBC)

This new feature will also sync your messages no matter what device you’re using, so if you’re chatting on your desktop you don’t have to worry about your phone buzzing with every new message. (Via Google+)

Third, Google plus’s new photos feature does everything but take pictures for you. Once you’re phone is plugged in the automated employee begins doing the dirty work.

Auto Back-up uploads your photos to the cloud, Auto Highlight sorts through to find duplicates and poorly exposed pictures, Auto Enhance fixes everything from brightness to focus and then Auto Awesome takes groups of photos snapped in a row and creates gif’s for you. (Via Google+)

And just when you thought you had Twitter Music figured out here comes another streaming music service that knows what you want to hear.

You may have already heard of Google’s All Access Streaming Music Service. Considering Google is still the number one search engine worldwide, it was a no brainer for the tech giant to try to help you find new music. (Via CNN)

Google Music will offer personal recommendations for it’s users based on what you have listened to — though early critics say the service doesn’t really separate itself from the competition. (Via Google+)

And finally, the event included a surprise appearance by Google co-founder Larry Page giving his view on the role of technology in modern life.

Page said: “Technology should do the hard work so that people can get on with doing the things that make them happiest in life.” (Via The New York Times)

Google Reportedly Set to Launch Music Service

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:41:00 -0500

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(Image source: Earning Is Not Hard)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Slowly but surely, Google is beginning to take over the world. Next in its sights — Spotify. On Wednesday Google will reportedly unveil a competitor to the subscription-based music-streaming service.

According to CNBC “The reports say the company signed deals with a major record label but its unclear how much Google will charge, or if there will be ads.” (Via YouTube)

“Various reports say Google has reached deals with Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony Music to license their songs.” (Via CNN)

Those are the largest recording companies in the U.S., and home to artists like Rihanna, Bob Dylan and Jay-Z.

Now, Google already has a music service, sort of — and that’s Google Play. But with it users can only buy individual songs or albums — similar to iTunes.

The Verge got an exclusive interview with sources close to the company who say the official announcement will be made at Google I/O, which began Wednesday and runs through Friday.

The writer also points out the announcement will give Google a leg up on its competitors — specifically Apple, as it’s also in the process of creating a music streaming service. However, “Apple is working on an online radio service that is said to be more akin to Pandora, a service that plays songs at random similar to traditional radio.”

Universal Music's parent company Vivendi, reported a 13 percent increase in first quarter earnings from last year. That, along with other offerings from Sony, could potentially allow Google to have a major impact on its competitors.

BlackBerry Offers BBM on iOS and Android

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:22:39 -0500

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(Image Source: Wired)

BY SCOTT MALONE

Blackberry is offering up its prized fruit to the mobile market. The smartphone company announced Tuesday it would make its Blackberry Messenger — or BBM — service available for iOS and Android users starting this summer.

The service used to be available only on BlackBerry smartphones. It boasts 60 million users, who send and receive an estimated 10 billion messages each day. (Via YouTube / BlackBerry)

BlackBerry’s CEO called it the right time for BBM to be independent and said it’s a statement of confidence.

But a tech analyst told the Toronto Star he is not so confident in the company’s decision, because “... monetization is not the immediate focus, and it arguably weakens the hardware franchise.” (Via The Toronto Star)

The BBC reports those sales are already weak, as BlackBerry devices accounted for less than four percent of global smartphone shipments at the end of last year.

So if monetization isn’t the focus of the move, and it could weaken the company’s already weak sales, why do it? A writer for the Financial Post says “BlackBerry is hoping to introduce new users to [BBM], and BlackBerry’s technology.”

That technology includes the company’s new operating system, which launched earlier this year and powers their new family of smartphones. But it looks like BlackBerry is jumping into an already crowded fray.

Wired notes the leap comes while WhatsApp — another messaging service — has held a spot in the top 20 lists of free apps for Android, and calls a multiplatform edition of BBM “a shot across the bow of Apple’s iMessages.” Combine those two with Facebook’s own separate messenger app, and you might be wondering what’s the difference between BBM and the competition?

One analyst told Computerworld: “Think of BBM as a private Facebook or Twitter. BBM has morphed into much more than texting, since it now includes video chat, screen sharing, music and audio.”

Those features he mentioned — video chat and screen sharing — won’t be available on other platforms until later this year. But it’s interesting he compared BBM to Twitter and Facebook, because BlackBerry also announced it will be launching its own social network this summer.

BBM Channels is similar to Facebook fan pages, in the sense users can create a page and watch people subscribe to it, interact with subscribers, and more. A writer for ZDNet says this ultimately shows BlackBerry...

“... Is attempting to thread the needle between a more private social network like Facebook originally was (and Path is now) and a broadcast platform like Twitter.”

So BlackBerry is trying to thread a pair of needles: social media, and multiplatform messaging. We’ll keep an eye on both of them, as they’re each set for launch this summer.

LinkedIn Bans Prostitution and Escort Services on its Site

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:32:06 -0500

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(Image Source: LinkedIn)

JASMINE BAILEY

Anyone planning on using LinkedIn — the professional networking site — to gain clients in the world’s oldest profession, better think again. The company just added a new clause in its user agreement terms.

It states users shall not: “Upload, post, email, InMail, transmit or otherwise make available or initiate any content that: Even if it is legal where you are located, create profiles or provide content that promotes escort services or prostitution.” (Via LinkedIn)

Before the change, there was a similar clause prohibiting users from “unlawful” activities — however, prostitution isn’t “unlawful” in every country.

Mashable talks to a representative who says, “…LinkedIn decided to be a little more explicit about banning these professions from the site, regardless of what a country's laws might be.”

So, was the move really necessary for the site? After all, the point of LinkedIn is to build a professional identity. Well actually, it might have been. On the site people can endorse you for skills…

…one of which is prostitution. But we’ve got to point out the description ties it to law enforcement. So it’s probably meant for police officers. (Via LinkedIn)

But a writer for ReadWrite points out an “escort” means basically the same thing as prostitute, noting, “ …escort services fall into a legal gray area in many jurisdictions. The clarification appears necessary, as some LinkedIn members appear to have been skirting the older terms to offer risqué business.” (Via Read Write)

LinkedIn’s new policy came into effect as of Monday.

Lumia Slims Down With 925, Shrinks Storage

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:46:00 -0500

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(Image source: Nokia)

BY MIKAH SARGENT

Slim, lightweight, aluminum — you may think we’re talking about the iPhone 5, but we’re not! Nokia has announced a new, re-imagined piece of tech, and you may want to get your hands on it.

This is the Nokia Lumia 925: a thinner, lighter version of the Lumia 920. Instead of the high-gloss polycarbonate body typical of Lumia devices, this phone sports an aluminum frame with a polycarbonate back.

Why might you want to get your hands on it? BBC spoke with Nokia’s chief product designer, who said the company wanted to create “...a product that is a little bit more compact and a little bit more comfortable in the hand.”

You see, one of the biggest drawbacks and complaints about the original Lumia 920 was its heft. Nokia made several changes in the 925 to slim down the device. Unfortunately, not all the change is good.

The Lumia 925 had to go on a tech spec diet. The device lost half its internal storage — 16GB instead of 32GB — and lost its wireless charging capabilities, though you can still buy an attachment for wireless charging.

Despite the slimdown, the device still holds on to some pretty amazing specs. It has an 8.7 megapixel camera, 1GB of RAM, a 2,000 mAh battery and a Snapdragon S4 processor. An impressive set of features … what could go wrong? According to a writer for The Verge: the software.

“The only problem here is Windows Phone. It’s a solid operating system, but it needs improving and a higher quality of apps. Nokia is once again fleshing out its Windows Phone range, but it’s up to Microsoft to push the software forwards.”

Engadget says the phone will launch in Europe and China in June. The device will then crop up in the US sometime after that.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do in Digital Age

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:25:00 -0500

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(Image source: Tumblr / Kahnoodle)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

It’s never easy ending a relationship, but according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, living in this day in age can make getting over that special someone much harder.

The digital age — with it comes Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. And it may be fun to post pictures and statuses about you and your significant other while you’re together, but when it comes time to break it off, all of those so-called “digital possessions” are still there. (Via The Ellen Degeneres Show)

The study shows many people just can’t bring themselves to hit the delete button, and some hit it way too fast. Either way, it makes for a cold, hard, painful walk down memory lane.

“It shows one-third of Facebook users just can't delete any pictures from their past relationships, and experts claim those visual reminders only prolong the emotional pain.” (Via WOIO)

“Half of us immediately delete all digital files of our ex immediately after a breakup. It’s all gone, deleted, gone. But regret immediately follows that.” (Via WMAQ)

But the study shows that what’s most dreaded for couples calling it quits is changing that Facebook relationship status. Yup, and not to mention the inevitable flow of comments to come. (Via HowtoVideoInfo / YouTube)

We should note the study only involved about 24 participants, but some of the researchers have proposed a way to combat the social media blues if you’ve got ‘em.

“New software should be created that could automatically put pictures and video of an ex-lover in a Pandora’s box of sorts. Right, I think it’s a good idea.” (Via WDAF)

Well, they do say “out of sight, out of mind.”

Sony's Waterproof Xperia ZR Smartphone Offers Full HD

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:51:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sony)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Ever dropped your phone in water and thought you were doomed? Well, with the newest Sony phone, you’ll no longer have to be extra careful around pools and toilets.

The Xperia ZR can be submerged underwater for 30 minutes and withstand depths up to five feet. And with a 13-megapixel front-facing camera and 16x digital zoom, users can create full HD underwater videos and photos. (Via YouTube / Sony Xperia)

The director of Xperia Marketing at Sony Mobile Communications said the new phone “ … pushes the boundaries on where and how consumers can use the full potential of their smartphone.” (Via CNET)

A writer for Mashable explains this phone’s water resistance is a little better than the Sony Xperia Z that came out in April. You could only take that phone into 3.3 feet of water. The writer also points out...

“ ... for both devices, this specifically means ‘fresh water,’ meaning you probably shouldn't take it with you for that ocean dive, but it's still a very nice feature to have, especially with the summer approaching.”

Just last week, Sony reported its first return to annual profit in five years. The fluctuating yen and sale of assets like a Manhattan skyscraper are said to have helped. According to The Telegraph, the Xperia is “crucial to its future success.”

No word yet on if you’ll be able to talk or text underwater — uh, but we don’t know how those muffled conversations would actually sound. Sony is expected to release the phone in select markets by the end of June.

Samsung to Unveil 5G by 2020?

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:16:00 -0500

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(Image source: Samsung Tomorrow)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Samsung will reportedly be ready to release 5G by 2020. Supposedly marking the way for a mobile breakthrough — working 100 times faster than current conventional networks.

This announcement comes even as 4G still has yet to be released in major markets including the U.K. and China. (Via YouTube / MoblieTechReview)

The South Korean company claims its 5G network will be so fast it will allow users to send large amounts of data from their phone “... practically without limitation.” (Via The Telegraph)

This technology will, in theory, allow users to download data at up to 10Gb (gigabits) per second — doing so by tapping into much higher frequency bands. The company says so far it transmitted data at 1Gb (gigabit) per second. (Via Yonhap)

As it probably doesn’t come as much surprise — The Wall Street Journal points out users will not be complaining about faster devices.

“The technology could easily gain fans among phone users routinely sending and receiving large amounts of data. With 5G networks, for example, users would be able to send super-high-definition movie files in a matter of seconds…”

And on its blog Samsung notes the possible implications not only for the company but for the entire mobile phone market. Writing:

“Samsung’s latest innovation is expected to invigorate research into 5G cellular communications across the world; the company believes it will trigger the creation of international alliances and the timely commercialization of related mobile broadband services.”

Google Shuts Down SMS Search

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:41:00 -0500

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(Image source: SEO Roundtable)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Google’s SMS search service is no more. Didn't know it existed? The search giant may have been banking on that — it shut down the service with no warning whatsoever.

SMS search allowed users to send a text message to Google requesting a search via a short number. The results would come back as information, rather than web links, in a text message.

“Many shortcuts were available to retrieve the latest sports scores, information about local businesses, stock information, translations or weather information using the search option.” (Via Ghacks)

Google discontinued the service Friday without any prior warning, but Gizmodo says the move shocked very few people. “It was useful to a lot of people back in the day, but it's not surprising that the service has been losing popularity.”

But the service’s abrupt end did tick off its relatively small fan base. Unhappy users turned to Google forums and Reddit to express their concerns.

A Google employee responded, saying “Closing products always involves tough choices, but we do think very hard about each decision and its implications for our users. Streamlining our services enables us to focus on creating beautiful technology that will improve people’s lives.”

The SMS search worked on smartphones but was most popular with basic phone users, who didn’t have a data plan to access google.com.

TechCrunch reports recent data shows why Google might choose to axe the service. “The number of feature phone sales is on the decline worldwide as more and more people make the shift to smartphones.”

Apparently, Google is trying to stay ahead of that shift. Engadget reports the lack of advance notice from Google could have some basic phone users “...upgrading their devices sooner than expected -- if that's even an option in the first place.”

Other SMS-based services, like Gmail and Google Calendar are still available, for the time being.

But The Verge points out, if Google “...can see fit to scrap the hugely popular Google Reader RSS-syncing service, we doubt it feels compelled to keep dragging them into the future.”

ABC to Begin Live Streaming to Mobile Devices

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:58:28 -0500

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(Image source: WABC)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

This week could see the making of television history as ABC announces it will begin streaming your local affiliate station on mobile devices. And those stations are starting to sell it pretty hard.

“This is Watch ABC. You’ll be able to find it online or download the app beginning on Tuesday … Watch ABC is just like having a portable TV set in your hands.” (Via WPVI)

“It’s an all-new way to experience ABC and Channel 7 in your home, on the go, anywhere you can receive a Wi-Fi or cellular signal.” (Via WABC)

Those stations are from Philadelphia and New York, the first two cities to receive the service. But the network says it plans to expand to an additional 200 markets in the coming months. The New York Times reports the service could be just as revolutionary as ABC claims.

“The mobile app may prod the other broadcasters to follow ABC, much as they did seven years ago after the network started to stream full episodes of shows the morning after their TV premieres.”

But there are a few catches. For one, you might think live streaming would be a simple matter of putting things up on a website, but the Los Angeles Times reports it’s a little more complicated than that, and as a result every market will see a different feed.

“The local stations don’t want viewers to be able to bypass them and just watch a national ABC feed on the Web. That would hurt their ratings and ad revenue. That meant ABC had to ensure that the interests of its affiliates were protected … ”

The other catch, and the one that seemed to rile people up most on Twitter, is that after a quick preview period, the service won’t be as simple as “download and hit play.”

A TV critic for the Philadelphia Daily News writes: “ … it will eventually require proof that you're somehow paying someone to get your TV shows (even though they're theoretically available over the air). In other words, if you're used to having to enter your Comcast (or other provider) login to watch a service like HBO Go, expect to have to do the same to watch, say, ‘The View.’”

The service will start out on Apple devices and expand to other platforms later on.

Big Changes Reportedly Coming to AppleCare by This Fall

Sat, 11 May 2013 16:42:54 -0500

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(Image source: Apple)

BY CANDICE AVILES

Apple users expect a lot of changes this fall when it comes to the AppleCare and AppleCare+ service programs.

The company’s vice president, Tara Bunch, revealed a set of after-sales policy shifts would soon be released, with many of the changes referred to under the “One Apple” brand. (Via Apple)

An Apple employee told AppleInsider the biggest deal here is the way repairs for iPhones will be changed.

“The way it is now, if almost anything is wrong with an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, the entire device is exchanged for a like-new re manufactured (sic) device, whether brought into an apple store or sent in for mail in repair. Now we are starting to actually repair the products and return the same device to the customer.”

Currently, Apple stores can replace speakers, receivers, home buttons, the vibrator motor and battery. By June that will expand to include cameras, sleep buttons and more. (Via Apple)

AppleInsider notes the new in-house repairs are expected to come to the U.S. first before going worldwide. Bunch said this policy change will save the company nearly $1 billion per year.

So what else can we expect? AppAdvice points out other changes AppleInsider mentions including Apple changing its AppleCare service. It will allegedly make a subscription model or introduce a new tier. The new AppleCare also might include 24/7 support, though nothing has been confirmed yet.

Despite a few more changes, one important, and perhaps most visible, will be a revamp of the company’s support websites to include more interactive tutorials and videos. If all goes smoothly, we’ll reportedly see these changes as soon as fall.

Astronauts Take Spacewalk to Fix Space Station Leak

Sat, 11 May 2013 14:48:13 -0500

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(Image source: NASA)

BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE

A leak on the International Space Station had two astronauts take a quick planned spacewalk.

Live-streamed from space, this footage from NASA shows astronauts Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn floating over the Indian Ocean. The two were tasked with fixing a leak to the cooler of the ISS where the two solar panels connect. (Via NASA)

The leak comes from a pump that circulates ammonia coolant to one of eight solar panel systems that provide electricity to the station. However, it wasn’t life threatening.

If you look close enough, you can see the specks. The tiny white flakes tipped NASA off to an ammonia leak on board Thursday. (Via Space.com)

A writer for Los Angeles Times says this area of the space station has been problematic in the past. “That coolant loop has caused trouble for some time, and crew members attempted to locate and repair a leak in November ... ”

After more than six hours of working on the leak, the astronauts waited to see if the new pump was working properly.

In the meantime, another astronaut inside the ISS tweeted, “Houston just sent the command to start flowing ammonia through the newly-installed pump. Gloved fingers crossed.”

Then another tweet 30 minutes later, “No leaks! We’re bringing Tom & Chris back inside ... ”

Euclid Analytics Uses WiFi to Track In-Store Shoppers

Fri, 10 May 2013 20:37:47 -0500

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(Image Source: Euclid Analytics)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Ever get that sneaking suspicion that somebody’s watching your every move? Well, you might be paranoid... but for good reason. Some national retailers are keeping tabs on in-store shoppers using this. *shows smartphone*

Tech company Euclid Analytics uses Wi-Fi antennas in stores to help retailers learn more about shoppers. They can track how many people enter a store, how long they stay, and even which aisles they’re walking through. (Via Flickr/adamgreenfield)

Euclid Analytics explains when shoppers with Wi-Fi enabled phones enter a store, those phones that have their Wi-Fi turned on will send out “pings” or signals when searching to connect with a Wi-Fi network. The pings are then recorded and sent to a cloud service for analysis.

The New York Times reported in March the analytics service had nearly 100 customers and had “tracked about 50 million devices in 4,000 locations.”

According to Euclid, 40 to 70 percent of all shoppers have smartphones, so it’s an easy way to track shopper behavior. But some are questioning the process of collecting information without the customer’s consent.

A CBS reporter wrote, “most consumers have no idea it is happening, and there are schemes to move tracking beyond the bounds of a store's walls, creating the potential for a commercial Big Brother.”

A KMGH investigation found Nordstrom stores in Colorado took measures to notify customers, but placed those notifications in hard-to-see areas.

But those Euclid sensors won’t be found at Nordstrom at all anymore.

Recently, both Nordstrom and Home Depot ended trials with Euclid. Nordstrom used analytics service in 17 of its stores nationwide before ending the pilot program. A Nordstrom spokeswoman said in a statement, "We always said Euclid was a test for us. The test is over and we'll now evaluate the results from it." (Via MSN)

But even though those big chains are out, TechCrunch reports the company still has plenty of clients.

“Though Euclid doesn’t disclose its customer line-up, the company now says it’s installed in over 30 apparel chains, quick-serve restaurants and shopping malls, as well as auto parts, home improvement and department stores.”

Euclid Analytics is an opt-out service for now. That means if you want your shopping tendencies to stay private, you can go to its website to prevent them from tracking you. Or you can disable your wireless Internet on your device before your shopping excursion.

Amazon Reportedly Developing Smartphone With 3D Display

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:21:36 -0500

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(Image source: Amazon)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

In a new feat of technological one-upmanship, Amazon plans to add something else to the do-it-all smartphone — 3D holograms.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Amazon’s plans to expand beyond its Kindle device with new gadgets, including a high-end smartphone with a 3D screen, minus the funky glasses. According to anonymous sources who know of Amazon’s plans, “Using retina-tracking technology, images on the smartphone would seem to float above the screen like a hologram and appear three-dimensional at all angles … ”

To make it even more sci-fi, Amazon is reportedly working on a number of devices called Project A, B, C and D, or the Alphabet Projects, which are rumored to include smartphones and audio streaming devices. (Via Mashable)

Tech writers report the Amazon smartphone rumor is nothing new, with some saying this is a logical next step. But this new device will be up against stiff competition such as the dominant Apple iPhone and Samsung Galaxy.

Some doubt 3D technology will actually be a major selling point. A writer for MarketWatch points to the poor reception of the Nintendo 3DS. Consumers complained about the eye strain with 3D on the small screen.

A writer for Computerworld quotes an analyst who points to other less-than-popular 3D devices and says a big problem is “the lack of 3D content for smartphones, which requires special cameras and production. Producing a holographic 3D image would be complex.”

But surely there’s someone out there looking forward to a Coachella Tupac performance or message from Princess Leia in the palm of his or her hand. Well, while most tech writers collectively yawned, at least one Time writer showed some interest: “If the phone itself is cool and the gimmick-plus-gimmick 3D thing turns out to be a nonessential added feature, so be it. Actually … make it the main feature and promote it heavily. I want to see what happens.”

Although The Wall Street Journal reports Amazon plans to release the new devices in the coming months, the anonymous informants say some or all of the products could be shelved for any number of reasons. Amazon did not comment on the report.

New Netflix, YouTube Features Continue TV-Less Trend

Thu, 09 May 2013 23:45:17 -0500

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(Image source: Flickr / Dunkoman)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Remember that thing called the television? Of course you do because you probably still own one ... for now. But the newest evolution of show-watching on the Internet and mobile devices is putting the “telly” right up there with CD players on the list of electronics that aren’t quite as necessary anymore.

Video streaming service Netflix announced this week the addition of “post-play” to its iOS apps.

For those not in the know, post-play was made available to users on Netflix.com, PlayStation3 and Xbox in August 2012. At the end of a show, the next episode is on deck, ready to launch without any user interaction.

With movies, users will get a choice of three recommendations, although playback doesn’t start automatically. (Via Mashable)

Tech writers say this newest Netflix mobile addition is perfect for marathon viewing, also known by the less healthy-sounding name “binge watching.”

And it seems to be dropping just in time for the new season of "Arrested Development” which begins May 26 and will only be available on Netflix.

A writer for PolicyMic didn’t care to hold back his excitement, saying the show need only “exist” to do well on this new platform. He adds in the show’s history, there have been “zero unfunny episodes and counting.”

Besides commenting that “Arrested Development” was made for binge watching, a Time writer says the new Netflix-only offering “could be instrumental in popularizing a new way to watch and make TV–outside the TV-network system, without commercials or even weekly schedules. Netflix gave Arrested Development new life ... and Arrested Development may be instrumental in helping Netflix (along with Amazon, Hulu, et al.) create a new TV business.”

Also in this week’s news of TV that’s not on TV, the Google-owned video website YouTube announced a pilot program for a group of partners to offer paid content via YouTube channel subscriptions, starting at $0.99 per month.

This includes small start-up channels, like Jim Henson Family TV, UFC Select and PGA Digital Golf Academy.

But a writer for Forbes points out one thing is missing from YouTube’s list: major media companies. He writes a total defection away from TV sets is still a ways away, adding for Google to be really successful, it “has to prove subscriptions work for viewers,” then “create its own bundles to attract broader audiences and at the same time amass audience segments advertisers will want to reach.”

The Netflix-only season of “Arrested Development” is expected to be a hit, considering Netflix’s original series “House of Cards,” which proved to be a huge success for the company. Netflix plans to keep making original series — as do its competitors, Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Microsoft Reportedly Considering $1B Nook Buyout

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:28:55 -0500

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(Image source: Barnes & Noble)

BY EVAN THOMAS

According to documents obtained by TechCrunch, Microsoft is prepared to fork over $1 billion for Nook Media LLC, Barnes & Noble’s digital content and ebooks arm.

The Nook e-ink readers will be left largely alone, but the documents indicate Nook tablets could be on their way out, in favor of apps and software that run on third-party devices.

CNN explains Barnes & Noble has had trouble keeping pace with more established digital-first operations.

“The bookseller has been unable to keep up with Amazon's successful Kindle e-reader… Nook sales have disappointed for several quarters, despite major device upgrades like the Nook HD release this past September.”

VentureBeat points out until that phase-out is complete, this buy “…would put Microsoft in the awkward position of owning an Android-based tablet that, while not extremely successful, has sold more devices than Microsoft has sold of its own Windows 8-based tablets.”

It’s a good thing Microsoft is more interested in the digital assets, then. An analyst tells PCWorld this would fit right in with Microsoft’s existing content delivery.

“It appears that Microsoft is looking for a content partner brand that they can use to help develop content opportunities beyond the movies and music they provide today through Xbox Live.”

Investors appear to like the idea. At time of writing Barnes & Noble’s stock price has spiked more than 21 percent since the news broke. (Via Google)

But TechCrunch couldn’t get Microsoft or Barnes & Noble to comment on the documents, so the purchase remains firmly a rumor.

Mother Allegedly Consults WebMD After Son Gets Shot

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:01:00 -0500

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(Image source: MSN)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

The Internet is good for a lot of things, especially those do-it-yourself tutorials, but when it comes to treating a bullet wound, it’s probably best to leave that to professionals.

KHOU reports a Houston mother could be facing charges for allegedly seeking medical help from WebMD after her 14-year-old son was shot by a friend.

Texas Cable News reports a surveillance video from inside the home caught the shooting on tape.

“That friend accused of shooting the boy is 24-year-old Pete Jesse Rodriguez … Surveillance video from cameras inside the home show Rodriguez pointing a gun directly at the teen, tracking his every movement, then pulling the trigger.”

The bullet hit him in the upper left thigh, and the video shows him lying on the floor for several minutes before getting up. (Via WFAA)

The teen and his mother reportedly looked up gunshots on WebMD.com, then seven hours later, he went to the hospital. It was reported Wednesday that he was in stable condition.

Detectives arrested Rodriguez, who is being held on several bonds totaling $151,000. Investigators are also reportedly considering felony charges against the mother.

Facebook Could Buy Waze for $1B

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:13:00 -0500

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(Image source: Waze)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Facebook is reportedly in talks to acquire an Israel-based GPS App called Waze and the price tag could be hefty — between $800 million and $1 billion.

Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app, which allows users to share real-time information. Waze uses that info to help users outsmart traffic. (Via Waze)

Calcalist, a main Israeli business publication, first reported the social networking giant was in final stages of negotiation with the maker of the crowd-sourced traffic and navigation app.

The Marker, another Hebrew publication, added to the Calcalist report, saying the deal would be about half in shares and half in cash. TechCrunch also did some digging and found a source that confirmed Facebook and Waze are in talks.

But the negotiations could hit a roadblock. That source says there’s an issue of “whether to keep Waze in Israel or whether to take it to the U.S., as Facebook did with two previous Israeli acquisitions.”

Bloomberg’s Tel Aviv based reporter says Waze founders are insistent the app’s developers stay in Israel. But that’s if a deal even happens. A spokesperson for Waze was quick to point out this is just a rumor.

“She also said to me look, if you read the press, Facebook has already bought us and so has Apple with a heavy dose of irony. Certainly Waze is not commenting on this.”

Facebook isn’t commenting either, so right now these are unsubstantiated reports, but The Next Web says, if it does happen, it would make sense.

Facebook now boasts 751 million monthly active mobile users. “The company isn’t shy about its further ambitions when it comes to mobile, and has been making acquisitions left and right to beef up its portfolio of products, hire mobile development and user experience talent and stay ahead of the curve.”

Facebook is also familiar with acquiring Israeli startups. It’s picked up two in the last two years, Face.com and Snaptu.

Google Maps Redesign in Cards?

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:19:00 -0500

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(Image source: Google Operating System)

BY MIKAH SARGENT

The folks over at Google Operating System, an unofficial Google news blog, got their hands on some screenshots. And it looks like an update to Google Maps could be in the cards.

Or rather, Maps could be getting a facelift with Google’s cards — a recent design refocus, information-based cards that give users what they need when they need it. A writer for TechCrunch says these images have some credibility for that very reason.

“Google’s been pushing those cards quite a bit lately — Google Now was the first service to run with the card metaphor, and the search giant recently revamped its Google Play Store Android app to put individual app and song listings into cards as well … it would hardly be a shock to see Google turning to Maps as the next service to get a card-centric facelift.”

The new design will take everything from the sidebar and plop it down on top of the map. Google Operating System notes this redesign will work much better for mobile devices by providing “a more immersive interface.”

Business Insider says Google’s not stopping at interface immersion. The redesign is also said to sport a local search feature based on top reviews and recommendations from your Google+ circles. And a few visual tweaks to icons, text, and colors.

Now before you get too excited about the card-filled update, bear in mind this round of rumors is based on two screenshots from an unofficial blog. But, with Google I/O only a few days away this redesign just might be an ace in the hole for Google’s design revamp.

Pentagon Accuses China of Cyber Attacks on U.S.

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:57:55 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY SCOTT MALONE

For the first time, the Pentagon is directly accusing the Chinese government of involvement in a series of cyber attacks on U.S. computers and defense contractors.

According to a new report from the Pentagon, some computer intrusions carried out by hackers in China “appear to be attributable directly to the Chinese government and military.” (Via WABC)

Chinese officials called these latest allegations groundless and “reflect the U.S. distrust of China.” (Via Press TV)

Chinese officials also say they would be open to a constructive dialogue with the U.S. about cybercrime, and both countries should combat it as a global threat, together. But one analyst told ABC these latest claims by the U.S. government could be the beginning of a serious conflict.

“These are the kind of things that, you know, 10 years from now we could say this was the beginning of something that led to a war between the U.S. and China. … These are the kinds of things that, again, accidents happen when tensions are high, and tensions are definitely building up.”

But the U.S. has pointed fingers at China’s government over alleged cyber attacks before.

Several months ago, U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant claimed to have tracked Chinese cyber hacking efforts to this government-owned building in Shanghai. The firm also alleged the hacking efforts were part of a secret division of China’s military. (Via CNN)

And in March, President Obama’s national security adviser Tom Donilon demanded Beijing recognize the problem, commit to cracking down on hackers in China and agree to help establish global standards for cyberspace. (Via The New York Times)

Again, Chinese officials did say they were open to a constructive talk with the U.S. about cybercrime. Beijing also claims they are the victims of cyber attacks based in the U.S.

Is Windows 8 Microsoft's 'New Coke' Moment?

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:39:06 -0500

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(Image Source: Microsoft)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Microsoft announced Monday it will update Windows 8 later this year, a move the Financial Times is calling Microsoft’s “New Coke” Moment.

FT reports the tech giant is preparing a U-turn in key elements of its relatively new operating system, “marking one of the most prominent admissions of failure for a new mass-market consumer product since Coca-Cola’s New Coke fiasco nearly 30 years ago.”

A Sky News tech reporter says the Windows 8 system is “best described as having a touch user interface, but on both desktops and touchscreen devices.”

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates shared Microsoft’s motive in developing Windows 8 on CNBC on Monday.

“It's going to be harder and harder to distinguish products whether they are tablets or PCs. With Windows 8, Microsoft is trying to gain share in what has been dominated by the iPad type device.”

So why the dramatic change? Microsoft’s Head of Marketing told the FT many users were having difficulties mastering the software, saying “The learning curve is definitely real.” [Photo via CNET]

Even so, people are buying the system. Microsoft announced Tuesday Windows 8 licenses hit the 100 million mark. The Next Web points out that’s also about the same sales Windows 7 had in it’s first 6 months.

But regardless of consistent sales, Microsoft is acknowledging the update is necessary. It’s codenamed Windows Blue and it will make some significant changes to the software. But the BBC reports Microsoft has been very careful not to give away any details at all about what those changes will be.

“But it has made the point, very emphatically, that it's been listening to what its customers have been saying. So for example, that set off a frenzy of speculation that one of the changes was that it will reintroduce the Start button.”

In a column in Time magazine, a tech analyst said Microsoft committed a strategic blunder when it took away the Start button in Windows 8.

He says the return of the Start Button with Windows Blue “might help get more people to buy Windows 8. However, Microsoft’s blunder has cost it and its partners dearly over the past nine months.”

If that’s true, the cost could continue to climb — the Windows Blue tuneup won’t be released to consumers and businesses until the holiday season this year.

Adobe Moves Toward the Cloud

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:31:27 -0500

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(Image Source: Adobe)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

Adobe appears to have aimed for the stars and landed in “the cloud.” It’s discontinuing its boxed version of Creative Suite, opting for what will be known as the Creative Cloud.

This is a subscription-based model, which means products like Photoshop and Illustrator will be available with monthly fees — though users who opt out of the cloud can still use CS6. The move was announced at Adobe's annual Max conference Monday. (Via YouTube / Adobe Creative Cloud)

For Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, the change is about transforming the current digital landscape.

He told Mashable not only will engineers and the product team be able to crank out updates faster, but it will let users share their portfolios and monetize their skill sets.

But, how will this affect your wallet?

New customers will pay $49.99 monthly. But those who have recently bought Creative Suite products will catch a break and only have to pay $29.99. That discounted price is also the same for students and teachers. Before — the boxed software sold anywhere from $600-$1,100 depending on how products were bundled. (Via USA Today)

The Wall Street Journal says this marks a change in consumer culture.

“People are buying fewer boxes of software — just as they aren't buying as many CDs, movies and books in stores—and turning to Internet-based cloud services.”

But Forbes explains there are still some limitations to the product.

“Government agencies and schools that are limited...on how much they can use cloud services will continue to download desktop apps... even the Creative Cloud involves downloading software onto desktops or laptops simply because bandwidth limitations would limit performance..."

Other companies have already moved toward this business model. Microsoft has introduced Office 365, which is a subscription version for its Office programs. (Via YouTube / MicrosoftOffice365)

Users can expect new editions of Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere and many others June 17.

The Onion Apparently Hacked by Syrian Electronic Army

Mon, 06 May 2013 21:34:12 -0500

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(Image Source: The Onion)

BY ALEX MALLIN

The parody news website The Onion appears to be the latest victim in a string of account hacks by the Syrian Electronic Army.

Here’s a screenshot of the Onion’s twitter, where it appears the SEA posted several tweets attacking those who oppose Bashir al-Assad’s Syrian regime. (Via TechCrunch)

The SEA has made its presence known on several major news sites that it believes report anti-Assad messages.

The hackers usually post pro-Assad tweets and fake news meant to cause a stir — ranging from anti-Israel sentiments to tweets saying Justin Bieber has come out of the closet. (Via Press Gazette, The Huffington Post, New York Daily News)

So far the group has reportedly hacked 60 Minutes, Al Jazeera, BBC News, Entertainment Online, NPR and Human Rights Watch among others.

Its most notable hack was the late-April infiltration of the Associated Press’s Twitter account, where the group reportedly tweeted that President Barack Obama had been injured in an explosion at the White House. (Via USA Today)

The stock market experienced a $200 billion drop, allegedly all caused by the offending tweet, before recovering later in the day. (Via The Christian Science Monitor)

At first, The Onion poked fun at the situation by ironically putting out its “new” Twitter password: OnionMan77, adding “We have taken the necessary measures to ensure this kind of thing never happens again,” saying the new password should help protect the site. (Via The Onion)

But their next response took a much darker turn, as the site ran the headline: “Syrian Electronic Army Has A Little Fun Before Inevitable Upcoming Deaths At Hands of Rebels.” (Via The Onion)

But since the site specializes in fake news and is known to pull pranks — it’s hard to tell whether the hacking was real or just the editorial board having a bit of fun. (Via The Washington Post)

It does look like a real hacking. The Onion deleted all of the supposedly-hacked tweets and The Syrian Electronic Army’s Twitter handle has been bragging about the hack and threatened to do it again.(Via Twitter)

But if the hacking is real, the SEA’s next attempt might have to overcome a new two-step security process Twitter plans to implement.

Wired explained the new method: “When logging in from a new location, it requires users to enter a password and a randomly generated code sent to a device, typically via a text message or smartphone application. In other words, accessing an account requires having two things: something you know (the password) and something you have (a previously registered device).”

YouTube May Start Paid Subscription for Some Channels

Mon, 06 May 2013 20:13:39 -0500

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(Image Source: Mashable)

BY CANDICE AVILES

Would you pay to use YouTube? Well, you may soon have to for at least a few channels. KREM and WPVI help spell out what we can expect.

“YouTube is set to launch a paid subscription for specialty channels as early as this week. According to the report the move has been in development for a few months.” (Via KREM)

“Subscriptions may cost $1.99 per channel and there may be as many as up to 50 channels.” (Via WPVI)

The Financial Times reports the move aims to help channels finance a wider range of content like TV shows and films. It also serves as another source of revenue. (Via YouTube, The Financial Times)

While neither YouTube nor its owner Google have officially confirmed the move, one spokesperson told Mashable...

“We’re looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to YouTube for our users to enjoy and provide our creators with another vehicle to generate revenue from their content, beyond the rental and ad-supported models we offer.”

And while this move sounds like something that would compete with Netflix, analysts say that’s not the case.

The Washington Post says the two services are just too different. “For their $7.99 monthly fee, consumers get access to a huge (if constantly changing) trove of high-quality content — much more than YouTube users would get with an equivalent number of paid channel subscriptions.”

But SlashGear says we still don’t know enough about YouTube’s new service to make a prediction. “If ... it happens to be that YouTube opens up subscriptions to channels that serve up collections of movies – that’d be a different story entirely.”

While some eagerly await YouTube’s new offering, some users are hoping the $2 paid subscription is all just a rumour.

“There is not one YouTuber or one show that is currently on YouTube that I would ever, ever pay to watch. Not one, no, nuh-uh, yea... no.” (Via YouTube / Lamarr Wilson)

The Financial Times report we could see this change by the end of the week.

Child Abuse Ad Has Hidden Message Aimed at Children

Mon, 06 May 2013 20:10:52 -0500

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(Image source: Anar Foundation)

BY ELAINE STOCKDALE

A Spanish organization has developed a one-of-a-kind advertisement in an attempt to reach out to victims of child abuse.

“A message exclusively for them hidden from adults eyes. ... We can determine which image will be seen by which person and this way we find an area only visible by children under 10.” (Via YouTube / Grey Spain)

The advertisement was made using lenticular printing, revealing two different images when you look at it from different angles. (Via Ad Week)

An adult looking at the ad see’s a child, with the warning message, “Sometimes, child abuse is only visible to the child suffering it.” But children looking at the ad see the same child with cuts and bruises on his face, along with a child abuse organization’s hotline number and the message, “If somebody hurts you, phone us and we’ll help you.” (Via Gadgets Magazine)

The group behind the ad, the Aid to Children and Adolescents at Risk Foundation, manages the hotline. It says the goal of the ad is to provide at-risk kids with the opportunity to speak up and report their abuse.

Reactions to the ad have generally been positive, praising the advertising company Grey Spain for the clever use of the new technology.

But Yahoo! reports some people wonder whether, by making a big deal out of the ad and how it works, “the ad campaign might be less effective, since everyone has now been let in on the secret.”

But a writer for Popular Photography says the story surrounding the ad could be more effective than the ad itself. “It's certainly done a lot to make people talk about the issue, and broadcast [the foundation]’s helpline far more widely than it might otherwise have been seen.”

In the U.S., a report by the Department of Health and Human Services showed very few cases of child abuse are exposed by the children themselves, with most discoveries coming from schools, police or agencies.

Controversial Handgun Made With 3D Printer

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:43:40 -0500

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(Image Source: Forbes)

BY DAN KENNEDY

You might soon be able to print off a handgun in your own home. An Austin, Texas man has officially constructed and successfully tested an almost all-plastic 3D-printed pistol.

25-year-old Cody Wilson spent eight months creating this one-of-a-kind device called the “The Liberator.”

In December, Wired Magazine named him the 14th most dangerous person in the world. Wilson is still a student. In fact, he’s studying law at the University of Texas.

Here’s what the gun looks like. It’s a total of 16 parts, 15 of which were made inside an $8,000 3D printer. But Forbes reports it’s not entirely 3D printed. One of those sixteen parts is a nail used as the weapon’s firing pin.

Its lack of metal, aside from the pin, means one could theoretically sneak this gun through metal detectors in airports, courthouses, and elsewhere. And MSNBC’s Brian Sullivan says that could be a problem.

“If you can print out a gun in your house, it is untraceable, it is undetectable, there is no serial number on it, slag it down, destroy it. Good point.”

New York Senator Chuck Schumer says he is pushing legislation to ban 3D-printable guns, calling the invention “stomach-churning.”

“A terrorist, someone who is mentally ill, a spousal abuser, a felon can essentially open a factory in their garage.

But the gun’s creator counters that claim — saying the goal is to highlight how technology can render law and governments almost entirely irrelevant.

“I recognize that this tool might be used to harm people. That’s what it is: it’s a gun. But I don’t think that’s a reason to not do it or a reason to not put it out there.”

The gun is currently legal under U.S. law because the metal nail firing pin can be picked up by metal detectors.

And the BBC quotes a representative from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, who says anyone can manufacture a firearm for their own use. Wilson received a manufacturing and seller’s license from the ATF.

Wilson plans to upload the weapon’s blueprints to the Internet for anyone to view and download. Those could be available as early as Monday.

Amazon Leaks World's Smallest Windows 8 Tablet

Sat, 04 May 2013 13:36:00 -0500

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(Image source: CNet)

BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE

Amazon jumped the gun and accidentally leaked what many believe to be Windows’ Acer W3-810. This is the closest we’ve come to the official confirmation of the world’s first small-screen Windows 8 tablets coming our way.

Tech 2 reports the listing was a mistake after other laptops and tablets were revealed on Friday. “The listing was spotted during an event by Acer in New York where it unveiled a wide range of gadgets...The Iconia W3 that was listed on Amazon.com wasn’t unveiled, which is probably why the listing was yanked off in a matter of minutes.”

The Verge says the new device will have:

-32GB of storage

-front and rear 2-megapixel cameras

-weighs 1.1lbs

-8-hour battery life

Information Week says Acer has tried to step up their game with devices and new products to compete with the growing popularity of Apple products.

“The devices could address some of the late-2012 OEM criticisms, but with potentially superior alternatives on the horizon...it's not clear if now is an ideal time for Microsoft's device partners to strike.”

And ZDNet says joining the mini-tablet market could help Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform, which a market analyst for the company said has been growing consistently.

PC World says the leak from Amazon gives us an unofficial price barometer at $379.99 — which it notes is $50 less than the iPad mini.

Not too shabby. We'll undoubtedly hear more about the Acer Iconia W3 — and hopefully, a number of other small-screen Windows tablets — in the weeks and months to come.

Google Glass Nears, Tech World Buzzes

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:52:53 -0500

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(Image Source: Google)

BY JEREMY TRUITT

Some say we’ll look like cyborgs. Some say it could change humanity. Others say it’ll go the way of the Bluetooth headset. Whatever your opinion, Google Glass is in the house. CNN has the details.

“They take video, hi-def video. The quality is amazing. They take 5MP photos, you can also make phone calls, you can get email, you can send text messages. They work on both Android and iOS.”

TechCrunch notes users currently have to pair Glass to their phone plus use a companion app, but that could change. Features like navigation and Google Translator will soon be part of the experience — independent from a cell phone.

And as with all hot new tech gadgets, there are more opinions available than there are apps for an iPhone. We thought we’d highlight some of the most prominent.

On Fox News, Megyn Kelly had some fun figuring them out.

Guest: “Tap the side to turn it on and you should see...I hope we have the display up.”

Kelly: “I don’t know.”

Guest: “Try it once more...There you go.”

Kelly: “Let’s try it again, let’s try it again and see if we can.”

Guest: “Hold down with your finger.”

Kelly: “Right here?”

And Fox Business’ Stuart Varney had a similar experience...

Guest: “Don’t put it into your eye, be careful there. You have to put the, the bridge, right on your nose. Now tap it once to turn it on.”

Varney: “It’s telling me to get lost. Nothing’s happening.”

While there’s no doubt a learning curve, some say the Glass really isn’t too difficult to learn and far exceeds their expectations.

“Okay Glass, directions to Times Square...The glasses are actually very comfortable. You get used to them quite quickly. There’s a little screen you can see which shows you a map.” (Via WNEP)

A writer for Business Insider says while they are impressive, they’re probably not going to become mainstream. “As much as I want to be excited about it, Glass feels like more of a neat toy than a truly groundbreaking gadget that will revolutionize the human experience.”

And then there’s the ever increasing issue of privacy. An app called Winky lets users easily snap a picture by winking an eye which some say raises a whole new level of concern. (Via ComputerWorld)

Taking a light approach, ABC reports that with all these amazing capabilities, there’s some things you just can’t do. “For one, you can’t really hide them real well, you pretty much always look like a cyborg. You also shouldn’t wear them into the bathroom either. You also can’t afford much else when you buy them.”

In an interview with BBC last month, Google’s Eric Schmidt said he expects Glass to be available sometime in 2014. Also of importance is the price. Currently at $1,500, they’re expected to be released at a cheaper price point.

Warner Bros. Sued for Using Cat Memes in Video Game

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:54:26 -0500

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(Image source: Nyan Cat)

BY CANDICE AVILES

If cats don’t already rule the Internet, this lawsuit might ensure their feline reign. Warner Bros. could be in trouble after being accused of ripping two cat memes to use in a video game without the creators’ permission.

The creators of “Keyboard Cat” and “Nyan Cat” are suing the company after seeing their memes in the game called "Scribblenauts." (Via Ars Technica)

Never heard of them? No worries. Here’s a look at Keyboard Cat, and this is Nyan Cat.

Both Charlie Schmidt, creator of Keyboard Cat, and Chris Torres, creator of Nyan Cat, have copyrights on the memes. Mashable reports Torres first noticed his meme after watching this game review video.

“You bros have been wanting me to try a couple of memes ... so he does exist! You can’t ride him, though ... ” (YouTube / PewDiePie)

Torres allegedly reached out to the companies, Warner Bros. and game developer 5th Cell, with little success.

“[We] were disrespected and snubbed each time as nothing more than nuisances for asking for fair compensation for our intellectual property ... have no issues with Nyan Cat being enjoyed by millions of fans as a meme ... But this is a commercial use, and these companies themselves are protectors of their own intellectual property.” (Via Tumblr)

According to The Verge, the owners have a strong case against Warner Bros. because the images and names are used clearly, in some cases. They also mention it's not the first lawsuit for Keyboard Cat, who sued Threadless over making a Keyboard Cat shirt without permission.

The talent agent who represents Keyboard Cat and Nyan Cat compared fair use of memes to Disney’s trademarks, writing, “If it’s not something you can do to Mickey Mouse then it’s not something you can do to Keyboard Playing Cat, or Nyan Cat ... ” (Via The Business Journals)

Neither Warner Bros. or 5th Cell, the game developer, have commented on the lawsuit.

Harvard Engineers Build Flying Robot 'Bee'

Fri, 03 May 2013 11:21:00 -0500

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(Image source: Harvard University)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering have constructed what they believe is the smallest flying robot ever. It’s called RoboBee.

It doesn’t exactly look like a bee, but it is similar in size. And those tiny wings are moving pretty fast — 120 flaps a second. (Via Harvard University)

It took engineers more than 10 years to construct RoboBee. With the techno insect just barely the size of a penny, engineers had to build every wing, nut, bolt and microchip from scratch. (Via CBS)

As of now, it still has to stay attached to a power source in order to fly around. But researchers are working on developing a self-contained ‘brain’ and battery pack. (Via Harvard University)

Aren't there enough real bugs buzzing around? Why construct a robotic one?

There’s still a lot of work to do on RoboBee, but it can already take off, hover and change direction. “Potential future uses include search and rescue, surveillance, and environmental monitoring applications - and even taking the place of real bees to pollinate crops.” (Via Daily Mail)

That would require lots of RoboBees — way more than there are right now. In the past 6 months engineers have only built 20.

Instagram Adding Tagging Ability for People and Brands

Thu, 02 May 2013 20:46:07 -0500

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(Image source: Instagram)

BY CANDICE AVILES

Instagram users, you can now officially tag who and what brands are in your filter-enhanced photos. On Thursday, Instagram introduced its newest feature called Photos of You with a self-explanatory video.

Tagging people and brands is similar to how it’s done on Facebook. You upload a picture to Instagram, tap the “tag” button and tag away. The company hopes this will add to your sharing experience. (Via Instagram)

Not every picture is tagged automatically, though. Time reports you’ll have to tediously go through your old photos yourself. All photos tagged as you will show up in your Photos of You section. "You can even tag brands like Taco Bell and Adidas if you’re the type who doesn’t mind giving advertisers an upper hand."

CNET reports Instagram hopes this brand-tagging feature will be a big boost for active brands because they can benefit from the tags.

"Businesses can now put their best face forward using pictures captured by members of the Instagram community. Instagram brands like Michael Kors, tagged in nearly 900,000 photos with the #michaelkors hashtag, can showcase user-submitted photos that best highlight the designer’s product."

So does this new focus on brands mean advertising could be coming to the photo app?

Not necessarily. CEO Mark Zuckerberg says there are no plans to start advertising because he said it could actually stunt Instagram’s growth. He went on to say Instagram is growing even faster than Facebook did and is currently at 100 million users. (Via TechCrunch)

But he left the door open for future ad sales. PC Magazine quotes Zuckerberg as saying: "They have this opportunity to capture and build up this huge community and that should be 100 percent of the focus right now."

The Photos of You section will be fully active on May 16.

Digital Camera Gives Bug's-Eye View

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:42:00 -0500

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(Image source: University of Illinois and Beckman Institute)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO

What if we saw the world from a bug’s perspective? A new generation of digital cameras could answer that. A group of researchers has imitated the curvy shape of bugs’ eyes to design cameras that would capture a 160-degree-wide area and focus on every single thing in the photo.

CNN reports the new bug-eye lens could be useful for medicine, surveillance and flying vehicles since they offer an expansive shot and multiple viewing angles.

The creation process hasn’t been easy for the team from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. According to the scientific journal Nature, the greatest challenge was imitating the structure of a bug eye because, while electronics are rigid and plain, in biology everything is curvy.

The team’s lead researcher said the lens of this new camera has been blown up like a balloon to be curved like a compound eye.

Before building it, researchers predicted how the designs would stretch not to distort the lenses.

But, the insect view researchers have imitated is a little blurry.

The compound eye lens contains 180 artificial ommatidia. Those are little small eyes, each one made of

- a corneal lens

- a crystalline cone (and)

- a light-sensitive organ

Bugs like fire ants and bark beetles have the same amount of those little eyes... but they don’t see very well.

Wired reports the team is now willing to miniaturize the components to mimic a dragonfly eye, which has more than 20,000 ommatidia, and get pictures with more resolutions.

The prototype only produces black and white images right now, but researchers are working on a color version.

'World's Smallest Movie' Stars Atoms in Stop-Motion

Wed, 01 May 2013 07:27:00 -0500

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(Image source: IBM)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

There’s a new movie out called “A Boy and His Atom.” And it’s unlike anything that’s ever been released before because both the boy and his atom are exactly that — atoms. Here’s a sneak peek. (Via IBM)

The short film was created by researchers at IBM and just to make the mini actors visible you need a special microscope that can magnify them 100 million times. (Via Engadget)

The film was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “World’s Smallest Movie.” So how can researchers manipulate something so tiny? According to Mashable — it wasn’t cheap.

“IBM needed to use its two-ton scanning-tunnelling microscope, which operates at minus 450 degrees Fahrenheit, to shoot the film. The microscope moved a "super-sharp" needle to within 1 nanometer of a copper surface, which then could attract and physically move each atom, one by one.”

Researchers did that 242 times to create all the frames needed in the stop-motion style film. (Via BBC)

They also used the same technique to create Star Trek images for the upcoming — life-sized — movie "Star Trek: Into Darkness." (Via Venturebeat)

So, what was the point of creating the world’s smallest movie? IBM researchers said it was for fun — but also to get kids interested in science.

“Maybe it helps other people be fascinated just by the size of atoms. If I can do this by making a movie and I can get 1,000 kids to join science rather than going into law school, I’d be very happy.”

Yahoo! CEO Extends Parental Leave, New Parent Perks

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:05:17 -0500

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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons / TechCrunch)

BY ASHLEY CARR

Just two months after Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer banned telecommuting, angering many working parents, she’s back with yet another policy change. KNTV has the details on Mayer’s new childcare policy.

“The company is now offering longer childcare leave. That’s 8 weeks for dads, 16 for moms. And they will pick up the bill for things like housecleaning, food delivery while you are out on parental leave — up to $500.”

With Mayer being a new mother herself and taking just two weeks of maternity leave, it’s natural to see this policy change as a sympathetic salute from one parent to another. However, a writer for The Huffington Post doesn’t believe that to be the case, saying:

“[T]he decision to increase paid leave looks like Yahoo's latest attempt to lure talent by offering benefits in line with other Silicon Valley powerhouses.”

Those powerhouses include companies like Google — which offers a 5 month leave for mothers and 7 weeks for fathers, and Facebook which gives parents a 4-month leave. Looks like Yahoo! is still a bit behind.

But a business professor tells Bloomberg he thinks it may be less of an attempt to lure talent and more of a response to backlash from a previous change. He said: “It’s damage control after taking a black eye in the work-from-home stumble...”

It certainly looks like the company is trying to keep workers from getting the wrong idea.

The company released a statement to Mashable Tuesday morning listing all the ways they hope to make life easier for employees and their families: free food, up-to-date cell phones and computers, and reimbursements for child care, laundry, and house cleaning costs.

While it wasn’t mentioned in Yahoo’s statement today, Mayer has said in a recent earnings call that the initiatives are to retain and attract talent. She also claimed the number of people applying to work at Yahoo! has nearly doubled in the past year.

World Wide Web Creators Reboot First Ever Website

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:29:58 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY SCOTT MALONE

Have you ever thought about where we would be without the World Wide Web? It’s hard, isn’t it? Well its creators are celebrating the web’s 20 year anniversary by re-launching the first website ever created.

This not-so-glamorous-looking site is for the European Organization for Nuclear Research. It was created by CERN. It also operates the world’s largest particle physics lab. The site was meant to teach people about the World Wide Web project back in 1992.

The web actually dates back to 1989 thanks to CERN physicist Tim Berners-Lee. He created it to provide a networked system that “allowed CERN physicists to read and publish documents, and to create links between and within them.” (Via PC Mag)

But that initial vision has clearly changed to what we now think of as the Internet. In 1993, CERN made the World Wide Web technology available to the public for free. (Via BBC)

Yes, the Internet was free for some time after its birth. One of the collaborators on the project says making the technology free to the rest of the world wasn’t exactly a no-brainer.

“What we had was not a patentable, slick ‘App’, … The arguments were complex, the models untried, and it was not clear what would happen to [the World Wide Web] in either case.” (Via CERN)

That phrase “not patentable” also may be a thing of the past, as restrictions around digital rights management — or limits on what people can do with content like music or movies — continue to rise.

But while the web may not be the free knowledge collection Berners-Lee had hoped for, a writer for CNET explains some of CERN’s initial vision is still showing up on today’s web.

“The barriers for building Web sites and services are generally very low. That’s what’s made it possible for countless businesses to set up shop on the Internet, building a remarkably connected, global network of information.”

“A remarkably connected, global network of information” sounds an awful lot like Berners-Lee’s initial vision of CERN physicists having access to each others’ work. That being said, his vision formed long before anyone even thought of things like the Harlem Shake, or those cat videos.

BlackBerry CEO: Tablets 'Not a Good Business Model'

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:43:00 -0500

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(Image source: VentureBeat)

BY COLLIN RUANE

Will your tablets become useless? According to BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, the answer is yes. He spoke to Bloomberg Monday saying cell phones will topple the tablet market.

THORSTEN HEINS: “We are running with a different concept that makes this your personal mobile computing power, and only this is your personal mobile computing power. It’s a slightly different approach to the market.”

In fact, Thorsten Heins thinks the tablet market will be “dead” by 2018.

Heins said, “In five years I don’t think there’ll be a reason to have a tablet anymore. Maybe a big screen in your workspace, but not a tablet as such. Tablets themselves are not a good business model.” (Via The Telegraph)

This comes after BlackBerry’s failed attempt to jump into the tablet market with its PlayBook device, first released in 2011.

The Wall Street Journal points out the stark contrast in sales figures between BlackBerry and Apple’s tablet devices. In the last quarter of 2012, Apple sold 22.9 million iPads worldwide while BlackBerry sold a dismal 255,000.

So is BlackBerry bowing out of the tablet market? The answer is not clear yet, which has led to speculation in the tech industry.

“Heins has … suggested that, while a tablet isn’t necessarily off the table, BlackBerry will need to see the opportunity to do something uniquely special before it’s tempted back into that particular market.” (Via SlashGear)

But a writer for The Verge sees it a bit differently — saying BlackBerry’s CEO is all but giving away the fact that BlackBerry is giving up on its tablet. “...he's suggesting that not only is BlackBerry likely staying out, the market itself is dying.”

A writer at Ubergizmo says BlackBerry is rumored to announce its plans for a possible new tablet on May 15th. But in another example of speculation, Ubergizmo’s writer says he wouldn’t be surprised if an update to PlayBook was released.

While sales for the PlayBook may have been sub-par, VentureBeat notes BlackBerry’s CEO is expecting to sell tens of millions of BlackBerry’s new Q10 smartphone.

The new device has received generally favorable reviews. Confidence from BlackBerry sent its stock up 4 percent on Monday.

Microsoft Adds Skype to Outlook.com

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:01:00 -0500

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(Image source: Skype)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

After Microsoft replaced Hotmail six months ago with its new webmail service, Outlook.com, the tech giant is now integrating Skype into its product portfolio by delivering it to users’ inboxes.

Microsoft’s rolling out browser-integrated Skype calling to allow its webmail users to make audio and video calls using Outlook.com.

“Some moments are just right for Skype. Now it’s in your Outlook.com inbox.”

Assuming you’ve set up an account with Skype and with Microsoft’s email service, the next step is installing a browser plugin that connects Skype and Outlook.com. Skype says the plugin will be available for most versions of Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox.

That’s when you’ll have more options for how you want to reach out to friends. Engadget points out Microsoft’s competitors have already connected video calling to a messaging service.

“Gmail's added easy access to hangouts and even Facebook has integrated Skype-connected video into its messaging so we suppose it's necessary for feature parity, with the added bonus of Skype's large install base.”

The update doesn’t actually come as much of a surprise. Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion back in October 2011...

...and The Verge reports Microsoft promised Skype video calling from the web when it unveiled Outlook.com webmail in July, but “While Outlook.com has seen a number of updates over the months, including a calendar UI refresh, Skype integration has been missing in action.”

Gizmodo says the software is actually a preview. “...depending on feedback, it'll be redesigned and improved. Microsoft doesn't use the word beta but... uh, that's what it means.”

Microsoft says it will start the roll out in the U.K. today, in the U.S. and Germany in the coming weeks, and the rest of the world will have a peek by the summer.

Google Now Personal Assistant Comes to iOS

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:08:00 -0500

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(Image source: Google)

BY BRIAN BONDUS

Google’s answer to Siri is invading Apple territory. Personal assistant Google Now is officially available on Apple’s iPhone and iPad. It’s like Siri in that it’s voice-activated — but its niche is timing.

“On your way to work each morning, Google Now shows you the fastest way to get there. When you're heading to the airport, get live updates about your flight, and as soon as you land, check out local phrases and rates. (Via Youtube / Google)

The app features virtual “cards” that display information from something you have either requested or something Google thinks would interest you based off your previous searches and current location. (Via YouTube / Marques Brownlee)

The app was released 10 months ago for Android’s Jelly Bean operating system and became available Monday for Apple iOS users, but Apple users won’t get all the features of Google Now. They’ll miss out on push notifications, boarding passes and Fandango ticket information due to limitations from Apple. (Via Google)

One writer for Mashable says this is a very interesting move from Google because of Apple’s lackluster app effort.

He says on one hand, withholding Google Now from iPhone users could have given users a reason to switch to Android, but goes on to say, “Then again, with such a huge lead in market share, perhaps it shouldn't be worried after all.”

And a CNET contributor says although Google Now has amazing capabilities and potential, users have to give up a lot of privacy in return: “In order for Google Now to work at full capacity, you have to enable Web history. This is a huge bummer for people who don’t want the Goog tracking their activity.”

So now that Google Now is available on Apple’s mobile devices, could we see it on an iMac next?

A writer for VentureBeat reports that Google is working on a Google Now experience for desktops. He expects Google to roll out a version before this November.

Prison Reviews Hit Yelp via Inmates

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:05:00 -0500

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(Image source: The Washington Post)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

If you’re looking for a good dinner spot or if you’re trying to find the best sights to see on vaca — Yelp is one place to find reviews from people who have been there and done that. But what if you’re trying to decide the most comfortable place to stay while incarcerated? Apparently Yelp has that covered too.

“Lawyers, prison inmates and their families have started posting review of the nation’s correctional facilities on Yelp. They rate everything from prison food to allegations of abuse.” (Via Bloomberg)

With a rating of two-and-a-half stars — behind bars — the infamous San Quentin State Prison. (Via State of California)

Yes, San Quentin is 160 years old and some might call that outdated. But that’s not the reason many of the inmates gave it a scathing review. Apparently the prison, known for housing some of the most notorious killers in the country, just doesn't measure up when it comes to the dining service. (Via MSNBC)

One person gave it three stars writing:

“I really wanted to love this place. I heard that the kitchen used local farms … Boy was I wrong… the potatoes had lumps in them and the edges got cold pretty fast… There is no way that the brisket was grass fed.. All in all the meal was barely satisfactory and the service needs some work.” (Via Yelp)

And another wrote, “not your Motel 6 or Best Western!”

What did these people expect? And what’s the point of rating and commenting about prison conditions?

“I wonder if a Yelp review would be a good defense. Like I can’t go to San Quentin because it’s only two and a half stars, I can’t go there.” (Via The Daily Buzz)

Right, right. But let’s get serious for a second, there’s no definitive number of prisons and jails rated on Yelp, but the website does cover 19 different countries. And not every review is about the food — many former inmates shed light on alleged abuse and health concerns — like rat infestations.

A writer for The Washington Post points out, “Accuracy is, of course, a major concern with Yelp and an especially big one when reviewers make serious complaints.”

Pointing to the 1996 Prison Litigation Reform Act, which states prisoners cannot sue the prison system until they have tried to resolve their issue through the prison’s grievance procedure.

Which as Jack Beck, who heads a prison inspection group in New York, notes, “rarely work(s)… and (can) often invite retaliation from prison staff.”

Apple's iTunes Turns 10 Years Old

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:44:13 -0500

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(Image source: The Telegraph)

BY SCOTT MALONE

It’s time to bust out the birthday candles: Apple’s iTunes turned 10 years old Sunday.

As part of the celebration, the tech giant is rolling out its "Decade of iTunes" collection highlighting the top-selling songs and albums from the past 10 years. (Via WRC-TV)

And while the music service might feel like it’s been around forever, it has posted some rather impressive numbers since its birth.

Just last quarter, iTunes brought in more than $4.1 billion in revenue for Apple. In its 10-year history, the music store has sold more than 25 billion songs and racked up more than 435 million registered users. The size of its song collection has swelled up to more than 35 million. (Via the Guardian)

But after a decade in the industry, has the music store seen its popularity come and go? And could music streaming service like Spotify or Pandora take its place?

One industry consultant told Businessweek, “It’s no longer about individual tracks, it’s about access. The concept of buying music at 99 cents a song is becoming irrelevant.” And a look at the numbers reveals those streaming services are already starting to take a bite out of Apple’s hold on the digital music market.

According to The NPD Group, a prominent market-research group, Apple’s share of the almost-$3 billion U.S. digital music market has fallen to 63 percent — its lowest since 2006.

But The NPD Group also points out Apple’s peak market share was 69 percent in 2010, meaning it's held a rather steady grip on the online music world. But what are the odds Apple dives into the pool of other streaming services? One industry analyst told NBC it’s only a matter of time.

“The idea of purchasing music the way we have in a modern era — whether that has been through CDs, cassettes, or digital downloads — will diminish over the next years. We’re gonna see Apple evolve around that. On the 20th anniversary ... we’ll be talking about [its] streaming services.”

But another recording industry expert told CNN Money Apple could have quite a challenge separating itself from the large pack of streaming services that already includes the likes of Spotify, Rhapsody and iHeartRadio.

“The world does not need dozens of streaming services. There will be tremendous challenges to get some elbow room in the marketplace ... and it will be hard to name [any service outside the top five].”

A writer for Wired simply believes Apple doesn’t need to develop an entirely new service; it just needs to give iTunes a facelift to get it back to its successful beginnings. His suggestions include fixing the search, taking videos out of iTunes, and building a separate device manager for iOS devices.

Your Facebook 'Like' Could Be Worth Money

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:45:59 -0500

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(Image source: Swagsocial)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

When it comes to Facebook, have you ever wondered, “What’s in a ‘like?” Well, apparently almost $200 on a normal day.

According to a study by social intelligence company Syncapse, your ‘likes’ on Facebook are worth money to brands — on average $174.17.

There are a few ways a company can buy fans:

One is called “cost per thousand” (CPT). Advertisers place bids on a target group and pay for every time their ad is seen by 1,000 users.

Another is “cost per click” (CPC) and advertisers get paid every time an ad for their page gets clicked on.

And the latest, Facebook rolled out a “cost per action” (CPA) wherein advertisers pay for specific actions resulting from a consumer seeing their ad — like becoming a fan or just ‘liking’ posts related to the company.

So what makes a simple click worth so much? Apparently, it’s not about the click but what’s connected to it.

More than 2,000 Facebookers were involved in the research and the study found users who had ‘liked’ a brand spent more money ($116 more/year) not just on the brands they were fans of, but also within the brand’s sector (43% more) than non-fans, despite not having a higher income. They were also more likely (11%) to stick with the brand.

But KFSN notes — not all brands are created equal, nor is the value of their fans.

“As you can see from this graph, the value varied across brands: Clothing retailer Zara: $405. H&M: $306. McDonald’s: $182. Starbuck: $177 and Disney: $132.”

Business News Daily explains the study suggests the better a company can engage with customers, the better it can gain loyalty and revenue. Basically: make people feel like they’re a part of the product, and they’ll want to stick around.

A writer for Examiner says social media users should be a key target for business. “Brand managers and others would be wise to interact with their fans whenever possible, encourage additional fans, and otherwise pay attention to this important group of loyal supporters.”

But before a company starts buying fans, it needs to calculate their value. Then determine how much it’s willing to spend to keep in contact with said fans.

(via YOUTUBE)

A writer for Mashable explains acquiring Facebook fans isn’t necessary for every company. They can be valuable and it’s likely they’ll become customers if they aren’t already, however, companies should build a strategy behind their reasons. “Don’t acquire for the sake of acquiring.”

Facebook's Zuckerberg Agrees to $1 Salary

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:29:26 -0500

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(Image Source: Digital Trends)

BY COLLIN RUANE

The brain behind the world’s most successful social network agreed to take a big pay cut at the beginning of the year, but the money has not stopped flowing for Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg agreed to reduce his yearly salary to just $1 at the beginning of 2013 per his own request. He also opted to forego annual bonuses. (Via KABC)

But the move was most likely symbolic. Zuckerberg is following the footsteps of many CEOs ahead of him.

The San Francisco Chronicle points out several CEOs have opted for the $1 salary in the past. They include late-Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Jerry Yang who founded Yahoo!. Others on the list are Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman and Urban Outfitters founder Richard Hayne.

Despite his $1 a year income, Zuckerberg is getting by just fine thanks to his investments.

Newly released information filed to the Securities and Exchange Commision shows Zuckerberg took in $2.3 billion worth of stock options. (Via The New York Times)

Those 60 million options were exercised before Facebook’s stock went public. The stock began trading on Wall Street back in May of 2012 with lackluster results. (Video Via KXTV)

As The Telegraph notes, Facebook has lost billions of dollars since then, while the stock price has still not recovered back to the level of its IPO.

“With the share price still languishing, Zuckerberg's holdings in Facebook mean he is now sitting on a paper loss of about $7 billion in the company...”

At this point, Zuckerberg has a net-worth of more than $16 billion.

LivingSocial Hacked, 50 Million Users' Data at Risk

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:18:12 -0500

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(Image Source: LivingSocial)

BY CANDICE AVILES

If you use the daily deal website LivingSocial, you may need to change your password — quickly.

The site was recently hacked, compromising personal information for more than 50 million users. So hackers had access to email addresses, dates of birth and passwords. But not everything was compromised.

“The company says credit card information is not affected by the hack. The website is asking customers to change their password.” (Via KING)

Some users were greeted with this “please reset your Livingsocial password” message when logging in to the site Friday. LivingSocial, which is partially owned by Amazon, has about 70 million users worldwide but says the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand are not affected by the hack because they use different servers. (Via CNN)

AllThingsD has the email sent out by the company’s CEO, Tim O’Shaughnessy, to its employees saying its computer system has been hacked and they’re working with law enforcement to investigate. He also said the database that stores merchants’ financial and banking information was not accessed.

But according to CNET, there are still a lot of unanswered questions after reading the CEO’s email — like what kind of attacks were used to access the databases and how long ago did the attacks happen?

Without knowing this information, it’s hard to prevent another attack. And depending on how long the hackers have had the passwords, they could be working on hacking your email or other accounts. The best thing you can do is to change your passwords and be aware of any suspicious activity on your account.

LivingSocial is the latest victim of a massive customer database breach.

Other web companies Evernote, Zappos, and LinkedIn have also been hacked. Not to mention just three days ago the Associated Press Twitter account was also hacked.

No word yet on who could be responsible.

AT&T Allows Home Security Control via Smartphones

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:19:56 -0500

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(Image source: Digital Trends)

BY BRIANA ALTERGOTT

AT&T’s newest development is making home security pretty darn cool.

The company is now offering a service called Digital Life that allows its customers to control various parts of their homes with a smartphone or tablet.

Perks include the ability to control home security cameras, door locks, lights, thermostats, small appliances, and more all from your smartphone or tablet. You can even shut off a water leak by remotely shutting off the valve.

The LA Times reports AT&T Digital Life senior vice president said in a statement, “People rely on their mobile devices more than ever, so Digital Life offers an easy and convenient way to secure their homes, protect their families and simplify their lives from virtually anywhere."

Digital Life has been in existence since last year and the company hopes to provide the service in 50 markets by the end of 2013.

Customers can choose from two package options. The basic will give you the home monitoring service, a 24-hour backup battery, an indoor siren, and more for $30 a month. The advanced package also includes a glass break sensor, a smoke sensor, and a motion sensor for $10 more.

(Via CNet)

You can also pay to add individual additions to your plan, like connected door locks for $5 a month or video surveillance cameras for $10 a month.

Digital Life could prove to be pretty important for AT&T’s revenue stream. Finding new ways to bring in money is becoming increasingly important for cell phone providers these days because most people who want a cell phone already have one, so companies are seeing a drop in new subscribers each year.

Smartphones Outsell Feature Phones for the First Time

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:21:53 -0500

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(Image Source: ZDNet)

BY COLLIN RUANE

It’s official — smartphones are now the most popular type of phone worldwide. The first quarter of 2013 marks the first time smartphones out-shipped feature phones.

The latest International Data Corporation report shows out of the 418.6 million mobile devices shipped worldwide, smartphones claim 216.2 million, or 51.6 percent, of the total. (Via The New York Times)

The smartphone market has been on the rise in the past year with a 41.6 percent improvement since the first quarter of 2012.

With these stats, MediaPost numbers the days of the simplistic feature phones, even in emerging markets where standard devices are typically more popular.

“This tipping point in the phone market shifts the center of power to those vendors that are most reliant on their smartphone lines.”

Though this may not come as much of a surprise to some, IDC Senior Research Analyst Kevin Restivo told ABC it marks a big shift in how people view their phones.

"Phone users want computers in their pockets ... The days where phones are used primarily to make phone calls and send text messages are quickly fading away." (Via ABC)

CNET notes clear upticks in shipments for each Top 5 mobile company with LG seeing the biggest increase at 110 percent.

So, which company can call itself the smartphone king?

The Los Angeles Times reports Samsung took a strong lead in the first quarter with 70.7 million smartphone shipments — that’s 32.7 percent of the smartphone market share for the quarter, dominating the next top company, Apple, at 17.3 percent.

And GigaOm says Samsung’s throne on the smartphone hierarchy will likely remain unchallenged.

“Unless Samsung stumbles in a big way, it’s not likely that another Android handset maker will outsell Apple’s iPhone any time soon. For all intents and purposes, Samsung is the de facto Android standard, having built a huge audience with its line of Galaxy smartphones.”

Samsung is so dominant in the smartphone market, it shipped more smartphones than its four closest competitors combined.

Earth's Core Is Hotter Than Originally Thought

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:42:30 -0500

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(Image Source: NASA)

BY CANDICE AVILES

In a new discovery, scientists have learned the Earth’s core is a lot hotter than expected— even hotter than the surface of the Sun.

French scientist’s proved through experiments that the Earth’s core is 6,000 degrees Celsius and not 5,000 what was originally thought. This news has some people, including one writer for The Atlantic, pretty excited. (Via National Geographic)

“Now that is crazy, crazy hot. And there's no doubt that it is absolutely wild to imagine that deep beneath your feet is a center of molten iron as hot as a star." (Via The Atlantic)

Which is impressive, seeing that the sun’s surface temperature is also around 6,000 degrees Celsius. So how did they figure it out? According to Extreme Tech... (Via YouTube / SpaceRip)

The researchers recreated the ultra-high temperature and pressure of the Earth’s core in their laboratory. They used a diamond-tipped device to crush a tiny sample of iron. Then they heated the iron with a laser and subjected it to X-ray diffraction analysis to see how the iron reacted. During this process, they recorded the temperature. (Via Extreme Tech)

Granted, the temperature may be off by plus or minus 500 degrees Celsius. Regardless, LiveScience explains why this discovery is so important.

This explains how the Earth generates its magnetic field. “The Earth has a solid inner core surrounded by a liquid outer core, which, in turn, has the solid, but flowing, mantle above it. There needs to be a 1,500 degree Celsius difference between the inner core and the mantle to spur ‘thermal movements’ that — along with Earth’s spin — create the magnetic field.”

One of the researchers told the BBC, it’s also important because the core temperature is crucial to various disciplines that study regions of Earth’s interior, which guide our understanding of earthquakes, the magnetic field and more.

The study was posted Friday in the journal Science.

Hyundai Pulls Controversial 'Suicide' Ad

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:06:00 -0500

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(Image source: Hyundai)

BY NICHOLE CARTMELL

The latest ad campaign for the Korean automaker Hyundai has come to a screeching halt after its newest commercial in the U.K. garnered a lot of negative attention.

The ad shows a man apparently trying to commit suicide in his iX35 Fuel Cell SUV. But after a few minutes he realizes he can’t because of the car’s 100 percent water emissions—an insensitive play on Hyundai’s eco-friendly push. (Via Hyundai)

And while the company might’ve thought it was a good idea at the time, it’s creating quite the stir online.

Jim Sheridan called it the most tasteless and sick advert he’s ever seen.

“The award for the most tasteless & sick advert ever goes to #Hyundai . Not funny, not Ironic just shameful!”

And take a look at this particularly heartbreaking blogpost by a woman whose father committed suicide in the same way.

“I did not stop crying. I did not suddenly feel that my tears were justified by your amusing message...What I don’t understand is why a group of strangers have just brought me to tears in order to sell me a car. (Via Copybot)

Hyundai has since apologized for its “offensive viral ad” and has pulled it offline.

In a statement the company wrote, “It runs counter to our values as a company and as members of the community...Hyundai apologizes to those who have been personally impacted by tragedy." (Via CNN Money)

A writer for Financial Times points out though, that viral campaigns are becoming quite the trend with more companies putting resources into promoting their brands on social media. He says this leads to, “... periodic breaches of good taste as advertising creatives come under pressure to produce an “edgy” clip that will appeal to the Facebook generation.”

Hyundai is of course not the first company to make a mistake.

In fact, French car manufacturer Citroën tried to make light of suicide to sell its product just a few years ago. (Via Citroën)

And, let’s not forget Burger King’s raunchy ad in 2009 featuring its super seven incher and the slogan, “It’ll blow your mind away.” (Via The Moderate Voice)

However, it remains unclear how Hyundai’s ad, titled “Pipe Job," was ever circulated.

Researchers Identify Voice of Alexander Graham Bell

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:28:45 -0500

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(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY SCOTT MALONE

Can you hear me now? Yes, but we’re not talking about those Verizon wireless commercials. The Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of American History announced this week they’ve identified the voice of Alexander Graham Bell for the first time on one of the oldest audio recordings to date.

“Hear my voice .... Alexander Graham Bell.” (Via NBC)

It may be tough to hear Bell’s voice there, but the recording was made on a wax and cardboard disk 128 years ago. Researchers found it with a note with the initials AGB and the date April 15, 1885! (Via KNTV)

Bell invented the telephone in 1876 — nine years before the recording was created. So why was he experimenting with what were essentially CD’s made of wax? And how can we even play a cardboard and wax disc?

Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory used a jointly developed technique from 2002 which scans the disc and creates a high-resolution digital map of it. (Via KPNX)

That digital map is then processed to try and remove any scratches or skips, before it’s exposed to a software that simulates the movement of a stylus along the grooves of the disk — like a virtual record player. (Via KABC)

Researchers are then left with the audio content in a standard digital sound file. The museum’s director says this technology will allow them to further their understanding of the late 19th century. (Via Smithsonian Institution)

“Not only will this discovery allow us to further identify recordings in our collection, it enriches what we know about the late 1800s — who spoke, what they said, how they said it — and this formative period for experimentation of sound.”

While the museum also identified the voice of Bell’s father from an 1881 recording, it still has more than 200 recordings in its collection that have not yet been analyzed.

Apple CEO Tim Cook Auctioning Off a Coffee Date

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:25:17 -0500

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(Image source: Apple)

BY MARIA MARTINEZ

Do you have an idea for an innovative new Apple product, but no one to tell? Then this opportunity might be for you. Wednesday morning, Apple CEO Tim Cook opened an auction for a coffee date with himself.

Charitybuzz is hosting the auction. Proceeds will benefit the RFK Center for Human Rights.

This auction is part of the Center’s 6th Annual Spring Auction. There are more than 100 donations, including the chance to meet celebrities like Robert DeNiro, Alex Trebek and Carrie Underwood.

This charity for the RFK Center for Human Rights focuses on ... you guessed it, human rights, with specialities in educating the public and empowering students.

According to Appleinsider, Cook is promising the winner a 30 to 60-minute chat over coffee at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino. The experience is good for two people but travel and accommodations are not included.

And as if Apple products aren't pricey enough, be ready to shell out the big bucks to win this auction. As of Wednesday afternoon, the bid was at $90,000, with 20 days left until the auction closes.

Since Steve Jobs’ death in October 2011, Cook has been CEO of Apple, making sure it stays innovative and ahead of the competition. (Via Forbes)

“I consider it the privilege of a lifetime to have worked here for almost 14 years, and I am very excited about this role.” (Via CNET)

No word yet on whether the winner will get a sneak peak at some of Apple’s upcoming inventions.

Amazon Rumored to be Working on a TV Streaming Device

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:26:50 -0500

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(Image Source: Engadget)

BY TYLER FINE

Amazon may soon be moving from the computer into the living room with a new device capable of streaming videos over the internet and onto TV.

A writer for Businessweek reports Amazon is developing the device to compete with current TV streaming gadgets like Apple TV and Roku.

“By building its own system, Amazon can put its content more directly in front of consumers while expanding its lineup of devices and giving developers another reason to create apps for Amazon’s digital ecosystem.”

The reports comes from three unnamed sources within Amazon, but the rumor makes sense given the company’s recent increase in video content.

The online retailer appears to be investing more of its resources into video streaming, recently releasing pilot episodes for 14 original series. (Via SlashGear)

A writer for Forbes says Amazon is already catching up to video streaming services like Netflix, announcing deals to stream content from ABC-Disney and FOX Broadcasting.

As video streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube continue to grow, the development of TV streaming devices seems to be an attractive frontier for tech companies.

Intel announced plans to create a similar streaming device, while companies like Apple, Google, Samsung, and LG are reportedly updating their current products to enable more streaming options as well. (Via CNET)

So, how much would this new device from Amazon cost?

According to a writer for Gizmodo, the online retailer typically releases its hardware devices at competitive prices, hoping to make up revenue with content sales. And with devices like Apple TV and Roku retailing for around $99, he predicts Amazon’s new device will be “dirt cheap.”

While the device is rumored to be released later this year, Amazon representatives are declining to comment.

Microsoft Plans May 21 Event: New Xbox Debut?

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:58:53 -0500

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(Image source: TechCrunch)

BY EVAN THOMAS

Microsoft has all but confirmed the release date for its next Xbox console, if the press invitations that went out Wednesday are of any indication.

May 21 is the big day for whatever Microsoft has planned. The Xbox team has announced “a new generation,” to be unveiled on the Xbox campus. That sure sounds like an Xbox. (Via TechCrunch)

Beyond the obvious focus on games, rumored features for the next Xbox include a more significant presence for on-demand video and other media and a more sensitive Kinect sensor, which might mean a required, always-on feature, if leaked developer briefings are to be believed. There are plenty of gameplay innovations to be had with such a feature, says Kotaku, but it might also give your game console a certain Orwellian aspect. (Via The Next Web, Kotaku)

Polygon is just happy to see Microsoft finally nailing down the debut date.

“The event comes a month later than originally anticipated, with sources saying that Microsoft officials have shifted the event's timing at least twice as they work to find the sweet spot for their announcement.”

Microsoft’s Larry Hyrb, better known as Major Nelson, has a countdown timer going on his blog. And the hype is ramping up on Twitter — under the hashtag #xboxreveal.

The event will stream on Xbox’s website, on Spike TV and, of course, on Xbox Live.

Twitter Testing 2-Step Authentication System

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:01:00 -0500

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(Image source: Ariel Zambelich / Wired)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Twitter is testing a two-step authentication process as a security solution after a slew of recent hacks targeting popular accounts.

Wired’s Mat Honan reports Twitter is internally testing a two-factor system “...before incrementally rolling it out to users, something it hopes to begin doing shortly.” And while it’s unclear exactly when that will be, Honan says he “...would be very surprised if the company doesn’t have something out the door within the coming weeks.”

Tech Crunch says Twitter has been working on the system since November, and has recently looked to hire engineers with specific experience with login security. But why is it taking so long?

Because it’s complicated to introduce a beta version of this kind of system. “Making additional authentication steps mandatory for all users is a non-starter, since any friction standing between a social service and engagement would be a nightmare.”

Google rolled out its service in 2011, and Microsoft introduced theirs last week. Google explains exactly how its two-step authentication works.

“After you sign in with your username and password, Google asks you for a verification code...Google will then send it to you on your phone...Enter the code from your phone... check this box and you won’t be asked for a verification code for another 30 days.”

The need for a more secure sign in process has recently been underscored, as prominent twitter accounts like those of the BBC, 60 Minutes and CBS News have been hacked. PC World calls getting hacked on twitter a rite of passage for major companies. On Tuesday, the AP joined the ‘we’ve been hacked’ crew.

“A hacker broke into the Associated Press's twitter account and posted that two explosions occurred in the White House and that President Obama was injured. Moments after that, the Twitter account with nearly 2 million followers was suspended.” (Via MSNBC)

The Next Web reports the rise of Twitter accounts as a primary means of communication and news gathering has made finding a way to protect these accounts that much more important.

“After all, how many people dared to believe the AP’s Tweet earlier today? That message may have been spread throughout the Twitterverse had the AP not immediately respond[ed] saying it was a fake.”

Well some folks on Wall Street believed the tweet, at least momentarily. CNN reports the bogus 60 character tweet triggered a 145 point plunge.

“Yesterday's rally came despite a wild 145-point drop in the middle of the day. that's when hackers sent a tweet from the Associated Press...it shows you just how vulnerable the market is to fake social media.”

As Twitter becomes a popular source of information for people around the world, the ability to trust its verified accounts becomes that much more important.

Apple Shares Rise Despite Dip in Profit

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:49:30 -0500

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(Image source: CNN Money/Apple)

BY ZACH TOOMBS AND LORA VLAEVA

A mixed bag from Apple Tuesday, with the tech giant promising more money for stockholders just as its second quarter earnings report showed net income had fallen 18 percent.

The decline in profit marked the end of a long period of gains for Apple, but it was expected — and that’s part of the reason the company’s shares didn’t feel any pain Tuesday. Rather, they rose almost 2 percent to close at $406.13. (Via Sky News)

Analysts who spoke to ABC attributed the rise in share price to the stock buyback Apple announced.

The New York Times reports the company intends to spend: “$100 billion on the effort through the end of 2015. Its share repurchases alone will increase to $60 billion from the $10 billion it committed previously.”

But perhaps the most telling detail from the report is the company’s gross profit margins — the revenue that’s left over after paying the company’s costs. That decreased to 38.5 percent from 47.4 percent this quarter last year, a drop USA Today attributes to increased competition in the tablet and smartphone markets.

In Apple’s quarterly conference call, CEO Tim Cook gave his take on the declining margins.

“Our margins had decreased from the exceptionally high level we experienced in 2012...Our gross margins are closer to the levels of a few years ago...Our fiscal 2012 results were incredibly strong and that’s making comparisons very difficult this year.” (Via Bloomberg)

Still, Apple told its shareholders to expect little, if any, growth in sales during the coming quarter. But the company seems to hope innovative new products will reverse the trend.

Cook also said in a press release: “Our teams are hard at work on some amazing new hardware, software, and services and we are very excited about the products in our pipeline.”

Apple is rumored to be working on an iWatch, although this has not been confirmed by the company.

Researchers Use Tetris to Treat 'Lazy Eye'

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:20:14 -0500

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(Image Source: BBC)

BY SOLE MALDONADO AYUSO

The common thinking on video games is that they hurt your eyes ... but perhaps not in this case.

The BBC reports, a McGill University Ophthalmology research team has discovered playing the video game Tetris can actually help treat Amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye.”

Amblyopia is a condition affecting the nerves that connect the eyes to the brain. One of the eyes sends poorer images to the brain than the other, and as a result, the brain learns to ignore the weaker eye, possibly resulting in loss of vision. (Via NIHOD)

Usually “lazy eye” is treated during childhood by placing a patch over the stronger eye, forcing the weaker one to work harder. (Via Science Wolrd Report)

But the McGill University researchers discovered a much more creative way to treat the disorder.

They split eighteen study participants into two groups of nine. Both groups then played Tetris one hour a day for two weeks while wearing specially-designed goggles. (Via Medgadget)

The first group’s goggles let their weaker eye see the falling shapes themselves and showed the background grid to the dominant eye. The second group’s goggles worked the same as an eye patch, forcing the weaker eye to do all the work. (Via Youtube / Spectre255)

The results showed the group which played using both eyes saw greater improvements in vision than the group which only used the weaker eye.

CBS reports the study’s author, Dr. Robert Hess, says the study shows amblyopia is caused by both eyes and teaching the eyes to work together is better than focusing on the weak one. He said: “It’s much better than patching, much more enjoyable, it’s faster and it seems to work better.”

The study suggests this could be a new way to treat the disorder in children, who are much more likely to enjoy playing a video game for an hour than wearing an eyepatch to school every day.

AP Hacked, Tweets News of White House Attack

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:34:38 -0500

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(Image source: Flickr / The White House)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Twitter has become a primary source for breaking news for millions of Americans. So, it came as quite a shock when the Associated Press posted this erroneous tweet Tuesday.

“Breaking: Two Explosions in the White House and Barack Obama is injured” — sent out to the AP’s 1.9 million followers and retweeted about 2,000 times before the account was suspended minutes later.

The AP quickly announced it had been hacked. At the White House itself, there was a quick clarification. (Via Flickr / The White House)

“I can say that the president is fine. I was just with him.” (Via NBC)

The online hacking had very real effects just after the tweet was posted. U.S. stocks lost $100 million in value within minutes but did quickly gain that back when the post was revealed as a fake. (Via Al Jazeera)

A group called the Syrian Electronic Army claimed responsibility for the tweet within the hour. And although that hasn’t been confirmed, the group was behind the hacking of CBS’ “60 Minutes" two days ago. (Via VentureBeat)

The AP is the latest in a series of high-profile hacking victims on the social media site. In one recent incident, Burger King’s Twitter logo was replaced by that of McDonald’s. But the AP hacking had much more serious implications.

The New York Times reports

“In the past few days ... malware had infected some of [the AP’s] computers ... Hackers can use malware to gain a foothold inside a company’s computer network and from there, can gain access to a company’s usernames and passwords...”

The AP hacking prompted calls Monday for new security measures on Twitter — The Huffington Post’s Mia Aquino noting recent hacking victims were verified and were supposed to be specially protected.

The AP’s social media accounts remained suspended an hour after the hacking. Representatives for the news agency say they’re ensuring their accounts are secure before bringing them back online.

Netflix to Offer 4-Stream 'Family' Plan

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:27:00 -0500

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(Image source: Netflix)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

After soaring past Wall Street’s expectations for its first-quarter earnings Monday, Netflix announced a new family plan offering to build on its winning ways.

The company’s CEO and CFO said in a letter to shareholders that the two-stream limit restrains some members with large families, so for $12 a month, members will soon be able to stream four shows or movies at a time. (Via MSNBC)

Netflix expects only 1 percent of customers to opt for the new family plan.

The Verge reports most customers are content with their $8 subscription, but “for those of you letting friends and family ‘borrow’ your account credentials, things just got a bit more convenient.”

And more expensive. It seems those freeloaders may be exactly who Netflix had in mind. The announcement came after one analyst estimated just how many people are essentially streaming for free.

“10 million. That is how many could be watching Netflix without paying. That’s because Netflix let’s family and friends they let them share one account, but those days may be over soon.” (Via Bloomberg)

Hard to tell if the pricier, more convenient plan will catch on, but Geekosystem says “It’s a good day for cheap, misanthropic video streamers.”

CNBC reports the new plan came after Netflix impressed investors with solid subscriber growth and better than expected first quarter profits, making this the second quarter in a row that Netflix surprised to the upside.

“Shares are up more than 80 percent this year alone and that makes this company one of Wall Street's hottest performers. At this point, though, up about 23% percent on these numbers from last night. That's a gain of $41.”

Netflix didn’t give specifics on when exactly you and your closest friends, I mean family members, will get access to the new plan.

Reuters Fires Matthew Keys Amid Hacking Accusations

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:50:37 -0500

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(Image source: Twitter / @TheMatthewKeys)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Reuters has fired a journalist accused of collaborating with the online hacking group Anonymous, and the former employee is waging a very public online fight against his termination.

Matthew Keys, who served as Reuters’ social media editor, tweeted Monday: “Reuters has fired me, effective today. Our union will be filing a grievance.”

The 26-year-old Keys was indicted last month and charged with handing over password credentials to Anonymous that allowed them to hack the Los Angeles Times’ website. He’s been suspended from work since that time. (Via the Guardian)

Allegedly, he did this while working with KTXL in Sacramento, a Tribune-owned TV station. A penalty for that crime could carry a prison sentence of 25 years.

Keys has aggressively defended himself to his sizeable online following, saying he’s innocent and that he “did not give a username and a password to anyone.” (Via Facebook / Matthew Keys)

Reuters hasn’t publicly commented on the firing, but it comes after Keys received criticism for a string of speculative tweets covering the Boston bombings and manhunt last week. (Via Bloomberg)

A writer at The Atlantic says that could have pushed Reuters to fire the already-suspended social media editor. But he also notes there were a series of other mishaps for Keys that might have contributed to the firing.

For one, Keys, a deputy social media editor, had publicly accused Reuters’ senior social media editor of copying his tweets last week. (Via Twitter / @TheMatthewKeys)

Keys also published a letter he received from Reuters’ management, accusing him of creating a parody Twitter account to mock an executive at Google. The letter read:

“… the fake account embarrassed our News reporting team and has possibly damaged our relationship with a company that we have covered aggressively. …” (Via Imgur)

Keys has promised to fight his termination. He says Reuters is using both the allegations against him and the criticism directed toward his Boston manhunt coverage as excuses to get rid of him.

Monday afternoon, he told Politico: “ ... [Reuters has] a specific set of reasons for the termination which I don’t agree with and the union that represents me does not agree with ... I assume they were looking for an out.”

Meet Mantis, the Giant Spider Robot

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:45:52 -0500

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(Image source: Facebook / mantisrobot)

BY LORA VLAEVA

You might have played with a small robot when you were a kid, but have you ever played in a robot? One British design team made that possible with a gigantic walking robot with six legs.

Meet Mantis. It functions with a 2.2-liter turbo engine, weighs more than 4,000 pounds, measures more than 9 feet high and has a 16-foot diameter when on a standpoint. Mantis can be controlled onboard or via Wi-Fi. (Via Youtube / Winchymatt)

According to the team at Mantisrobot.com, the “walking machine started as an idea back in 2007, we secured private funding in 2009 to start the project and — after three years of design, build and testing — the robot made a first successful test drive in the summer of 2012.”

Which means it took no less than four years of intensive research for the creators, Micromagic Systems, to build what it called the “biggest, all-terrain operational hexapod robot in the world.” The BBC reports the initial project was meant to last only 12 months.

This invention was the idea of Matt Denton, chief designer and founder of Micromagic Systems, which called Mantis a “very expensive toy.” The cost is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In terms of inspiration, Denton told CNN:

"My fascination with walking machines started at a young age watching sci-fi films ... Seeing the imposing images of an AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) walking across a snowscape really got me fascinated with the concept of using legged locomotion on vehicles.”

This isn’t the first spider robot to be built by the company, but Matt Denton said it is the biggest. Previous machines have appeared in movies and series such as "Harry Potter."

The machine isn’t perfect just yet. In an interview with Discovery Channel, Denton explained the robot’s biggest challenge was not being able to see. It only knows it has hit an object after actually hitting it. (Via Youtube / Winchymatt)

The robot’s website writes Mantis is now available for private hire, custom commissions, events and sponsorship.

Confusion Surrounds iPhone Recalls at Foxconn

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:49:56 -0500

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(Image source: DailyTech)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

It’s an expensive return for Foxconn. No matter how you slice it, Apple sending back millions of faulty phones is never good. The exact number is a point of debate that we’ll get to in a moment.

But first, here’s what happened: Many of the phones sent back had scratch marks or cracked screens right out of the box, prompting a slowdown in Apple’s ability to meet supply — costing the company billions in market value. (Via Financial Post)

Now back to the numbers. China Business had the first report, and after stringing the reports through a couple translation machines, the results are a little hazy.

MacRumors first. It reports Foxconn’s setback will cost the company 200 yuan, converted to $32, for every device. That adds up to roughly 1.6 billion yuan or $259 million.

However, The Register reports the cost of each device is $200 U.S., not the 200 yuan MacRumors reported, leading the two reports to also conflict on the estimated total cost of $1.6 billion, not yuan.

Also, the number of iPhones sent back to Foxconn doesn’t match up.

Most are reporting it was somewhere between 5 to 8 million phones that were unfit to sell. (Via PCMag)

Forbes dug through the conflicting reports in an effort to find the truth, writing:

“The ‘up to 8 million phones’ are not all junk. They’re mismanufactured, yes, but some to all of them will be repairable. Thus the cost is that 1.6 billion yuan rather than the entire manufacturing cost of $200 each and thus $1.6 billion.”

According to ZDNet, Foxconn has been addressing quality issues since the end of 2012 with the iPhone recalls. Apple also sent staff to help increase the production rate, but currently the production rate remains at 95 percent, a relatively low level.

Microsoft Sort of Bringing Back 'Start' Button

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:58:00 -0500

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(Image source: Governors State University)

BY LUCAS GEISLER

If you missed the iconic “Start” button when Microsoft ditched it in Windows 8, get excited: The Verge is reporting it’ll return in Windows 8.1 ... kind of.

The new interface will feature a button similar to the Start button of old, but instead of pulling up a menu, it will return users to the Start screen.

Windows 8 saw the advent of the Start screen, where users could navigate their apps and pages in a tablet-friendly interface, a far cry from the old desktop interface Windows sported for 17 years, including that little green bar in the bottom left of the screen.

(Images: PCWorld, How-To Geek and Guidebook Gallery)

The return of the Start button is part of a larger change to Windows 8, where users can choose to boot directly to the desktop mode. Computerworld says this option would be a big change in Microsoft’s message.

“Publicly, the company has repeatedly maintained that its design decisions were correct and its executives have suggested that users would, in time, learn to live without a Start button and grow to appreciate the Start screen.”

Users appreciate it so much that Pokki, an app that adds a Start button to the Windows 8 desktop mode, has been downloaded 1.5 million times.

So other than answering the public call for a Start button, what’s this move really mean? TechCrunch says it’s a way to ease people from the old interface to the new.

“While naysayers will point to this as a failure on Microsoft’s part — ‘no compromises’ and the like — I suspect what this really is is [standard operating procedure] thrown to IT departments who are afraid their users will bolt once they see the jolly candy-colored tiles.”

And ZDNet says it’s not just apps but business that benefits from the interface change. In April 2014, Microsoft will terminate support for Windows XP, the second-most-used Windows interface. Adding the old Start button means businesses won’t “incur retraining and help desk costs resulting from implementing a vastly different user interface.”

But CNET doesn’t think Microsoft is actually giving users what they want ...

“Offering a Start button that just leads you back to the Start screen seems like a half-hearted effort at best. ... if the report is true, I think Microsoft needs to listen a bit more closely to its user feedback.”

Whether or not these changes are just a way to placate old users while maintaining the new Windows interface, one thing is clear: Starting over sure is difficult.

Google Fined Less Than $200K for Street View Violation

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:39:00 -0500

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(Image source: CNET)

BY BRIAN BONDUS

German data regulators have fined Google $190,000 for illegally collecting wireless-network data while its cars were taking photos for its Street View service.

Google collected fragments of emails, pictures and passwords from open Wi-Fi networks between 2008 and 2010. The BBC reports a single employee is responsible for the violation, and it was not authorized by the company.

A German data regulator tells the Los Angeles Times this privacy breach was one of the “biggest ever” and called the punishment “totally inadequate.”

$190,000 was just shy of the largest amount Germany could have fined the tech giant under German law. That only accounts for roughly .002 percent of Google’s $10.7 billion in net profit from last year.

This is causing the EU to draft new data protection and privacy laws. Under the new proposed laws, the EU could fine tech companies up to 2 percent of their annual turnover. With that new law, the EU could have fined Google up to $1 billion.

But those new laws are not expected to be passed until next year at the earliest.

Google violated privacy laws in 49 countries while taking photos for its Street View.

Google settled out of court in the U.S. with 38 states for $7 million. A writer for ZDNet jokes Google makes that much in about two hours.

Facebook Home: 500K Downloads; Ratings Subpar

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:36:00 -0500

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(Image source: Google)

BY BRIAN BONDUS

Android Users downloaded the new Facebook Home app more than 500,000 times in its first week, but if early reviews are any indication, users don’t seem to like it.

The app had more than 11,000 ratings Monday Morning — more than 51 percent were one-star ratings with an average of 2.2.

Facebook released the app on Google Play April 12 and internationally April 16 on a subset of Android devices. Facebook Home is a user interface layer designed to bring social content to the forefront of smartphones, built on top of Google's Android operating system.

The app scrolls through pictures, status updates and other Facebook stories on your home page called “cover feed.” It also incorporates “chathead,” a new way to talk with friends right on your home screen.

So what are the positives Facebook can take from Home’s launch? Well, to put it in perspective, Instagram brought in 1 million downloads in just 24 hours when it came to Android last April. Despite the fact Facebook accomplished half that number in a week, a writer for Forbes says Facebook should be happy.

“Hitting half a million in a week is a significant goal, and one that Facebook’s marketing team should be happy with. The utility was only available on a subset of the Android platform, and for the first four days was only available in the US, before opening up to international users on April 16th.”

A writer for Mobileburn points out downloads are meaningless. Facebook needs people to actually use Home.

“Facebook needs people to download Home and continue to use it. A sizable portion of Home downloads are from curious people who are unconvinced that the app is worth keeping... The app has managed to get users into the tent but struggled to make them stick around for the show.”

Right now, there are only unconfirmed rumors as to when or if the app will be available for iOS devices.

Anonymous Calls for Internet Blackout to Protest CISPA

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:50:26 -0500

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(Image Source: Twitter / YourAnonNews)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Instead of hacktivism to get its point across, Anonymous is asking Internet users and Web developers to get involved in its most recent call to virtual arms. The group is requesting a massive Internet blackout Monday to protest CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.

Anonymous posted this tweet on Thursday urging followers to call their favorite websites to black out for 24 hours.

The hacktivist collective also published this video — a mashup of Hillary Clinton speaking about the power of the Internet with dramatic music and a computer-generated voice: “The United States government is again attempting to control and censor the Internet ... ”

The House of Representatives passed CISPA Thursday by a 288-127 vote. The bill allows the sharing of private information with any government entity for security purposes. (Via GovTrack.us)

Sources say the impetus behind the bill is hacking threats at home and abroad, with the bill being a way to enhance national security. But a writer for The Economist says it’s vague, and that could be a problem:

“So in theory everything from e-mails to medical records could end up being shipped to intelligence agencies ... ”

Anyway, the whole thing could end up being a moot point, since the White House apparently agrees with the bill’s critics. CISPA still has to clear the Senate, and even if it does that, the White House has threatened to veto it.

“ ... information sharing improvements are essential ... but they must include proper privacy and civil liberties protections, reinforce the appropriate roles of civilian and intelligence agencies ... ” (Via Washington Post)

The Internet responded collectively to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act in 2012. More than 7,000 websites participated, including Google, Wikipedia, Reddit and Mozilla, but a writer for PC World says you shouldn’t expect the same fanfare on Monday.

That’s because opponents of CISPA haven’t gotten the same massive-scale support from tech companies. As a matter of fact, he points to a letter of approval from political lobbying organization TechNet to CISPA’s writers. TechNet’s membership includes companies such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. (Via PC World, Scribd/JMartinezTheHill)

RT reports Anonymous has not mentioned any planned cyber attacks to protest CISPA on Monday, and it is unclear how many websites will participate.

Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' Breaks Spotify Streaming Record

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:12:09 -0500

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(Image Source: The Verge)

BY TYLER FINE

Eight years after releasing its last studio album, French electronic duo Daft Punk is “getting lucky” with its newest single.

The pair released its newest single, “Get Lucky,” April 19, and since then it has already topped iTunes charts in France and the United Kingdom and reached No. 3 in the U.S. (Via RandomAccessMemories.com)

The news gets better for the band — music-streaming service Spotify announced that the track broke its streaming records, saying its release marked “ ... the biggest streaming day for a single track in the U.S. and U.K. ... ” (Via The Hollywood Reporter)

But Spotify's Will Hope said he’s not surprised the track tops the charts, telling the BBC, "There was never any doubt that the first original single from Daft Punk in years was going to be one of the biggest debut singles of 2013.”

So who did the electronic duo beat out to set a new record?

In the U.K it was Bastille, a British band that broke the one-day streaming record on Spotify with a single called "Pompeii."

And in the U.S. it's Macklemore with his hit "Thrift Shop."

So back to the new record setters. Daft Punk’s hit track features some pretty big names with vocals from Pharrell Williams as well as guitar riffs by Nile Rodgers.

Anticipation for the release has been heightened by surprise hints from the secretive duo, including a sample of the single during Saturday Night Live. (Via The Los Angeles Times)

“... so let’s raise the bar and our cups to the stars. She’s up all night 'til the sun, I’m up all night to get some, she’s up all night for good fun, I’m up all night to get lucky ... ” (Via NBC)

The group has also released a track list on video app Vine as well as a list of collaborators featured on its upcoming album during a video promo at Coachella.

The list of collaborators includes Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, Panda Bear from Animal Collective, Italian electronic producer Giorgio Moroder and at least six other artists. (Via Wikimedia Commons)

The positive reception to the single has added to the anticipation for the album, which seems to be exactly what the duo was hoping for.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Thomas Bangalter, one member of the band, said the musicians aren’t focused on plans to tour, but instead they “ ... want to focus everything on the act and excitement of listening to the album.”

The album, “Random Access Memories,” is set to release worldwide May 21.

Police Release Thermal Imaging of Boston Suspect's Capture

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:04:56 -0500

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(Image Source: Massachusetts State Police)

BY JASMINE BAILEY AND CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Five days after the Boston Marathon bombings, which resulted in the deaths of three people, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is in police custody.

And now we have a window into how. Massachusetts State Police have released thermal imaging video of Tsarnaev’s capture. It shows him on the floor of the boat he was hiding in.

Authorities worked tirelessly to find him, but not without a little help from technology.

Dzhokhar could face federal terrorism charges. He hasn’t yet been interrogated because he remains in serious condition. (Via FBI)

We’ll start with this: footage of the explosions captured with a cell phone. This is just one of hundreds that gave authorities leads on where to start. (Via Youtube / The Boston Globe)

There were also more than 600 surveillance cameras in the area that captured footage vital to the investigation. (Via FBI / Youtube)

But it wasn’t just video that played an important role; pictures did as well, especially this one taken by Boston Marathon runner David Green. He snapped the picture after finishing the race — which would turn out to be the clearest image of suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. (Via The New York Times)

With those pictures and videos, investigators later used facial recognition programs to identify the suspects. (Via Technorati)

As authorities arrived at the scene after the bombings, they had to determine what was safe and what could potentially be another bomb. In that effort a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit was brought in.

The unit used robots similar to this to dispose of potential bombs; however, no additional bombs were found. This robot, called the Telerob Explosive Ordnance Disposal, is strong enough to push an SUV. (Via Viddler)

After days of sifting through piles of footage, following leads and searching Boston as it was on complete lockdown, there was a call.

It came from this house after Dave Henneberry discovered a blood-soaked man hiding in a boat in the backyard. Within minutes, authorities arrived. (Via New York Daily News)

But before they could make an arrest, they used infrared cameras to confirm the man in the boat was indeed Tsarnaev. (Via WHIO)

Once they confirmed it was him, they deployed flash bangs as a precaution because it was unclear whether he was armed. Flash bangs are “grenades designed to stun their intended target with a loud noise and bright light.” (Via Gizmodo)

And then there was this — Friday night’s capture and how it was announced by the Boston Police Department. (Via CNN)

Via Twitter police wrote: “CAPTURED!!! The hunt is over. The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won. Suspect in custody.”

But the department wasn’t the only one taking advantage of social media throughout the manhunt — nearly every development played out on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. And in this day and age, the speed of social media is unprecedented.

Samsung Developing Mind-Control Technology?

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 05:59:02 -0500

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(Image source: Popular Science)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

Have you ever fantasized about controlling things with you mind? Samsung might be able to help you out.

The company has reportedly teamed up with researchers at the University of Texas to create a system that will allow a user to control a tablet — specifically the Galaxy Note 10.1 — using only his or her thoughts.

Is your mind blown yet? Just wait until you see how it works. The tech-savvy team used a helmet-like cap wired with EEG sensors, which are used to measure the brain’s electrical activity.

Users were monitored to reveal patterns in brain activity that occurred after they were shown repetitive visual patterns. Researchers found users could open an application and use it effectively by concentrating on an icon that was blinking.

(Via MIT Technology Review)

And Gizmodo reports Samsung’s snazzy system managed an accuracy of about 80 to 95 percent. But let’s be honest for a minute: This isn’t exactly the sexiest cap.

Popular Science also notes the telekinetic technology isn’t really all that fast, either. It apparently takes, on average, five seconds for the sensors to make a selection, so sticking with the hands-on methods might be a more appealing option.

In any case, Jedi mind control isn’t as new of a concept as you might think.

NeuroSky already makes wearable bio sensors and signal-processing systems for consumer electronics, health and wellness applications and education.

Or if you just want a pair of mind-reading cat ears ...

As for Samsung’s latest project, there’s no indication it’ll be put into mass production anytime soon. So if you want to control something with your mind, you'll probably have to stick with cat ears for now.

Yahoo! Launches Weather and Email Mobile Apps

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:01:26 -0500

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(Image Source: iPhone Hacks)

BY MICHELLE SCHUELKE

Yahoo! has said recently it’s focusing its efforts on the mobile space, and it’s not wasting any time. On Thursday the company launched new weather and email apps for mobile devices.

According to TechCrunch, the apps’ design has a clean, visually and engaging user experience. The app has a full-screen photo display, with images provided by Yahoo!’s Flickr photo-sharing service.

Wired explored the weather app and says “The current temperature is shown in the lower left corner of the main app interface, and more detailed information like hourly conditions, humidity, and a precipitation map can be accessed with a swipe upwards." (Via iPhone Hacks)

“The new Yahoo! mail app helps us sift through it all. Tap a message and see all from that sender and manage emails with a single swipe. Add to favorites, create folders or delete.” (Via GigaOM)

We all remember Yahoo!’s push away from working at home. CNN Money reports that Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer says the in-office collaboration, as a result of that decision, lead to the new apps.

“As an example of that collaboration, Mayer touted the newly-launched Yahoo Weather app for iOS...an idea, she explained, originated by two software engineers who work in the same office.”

PCWorld suggests the change of in-house policy under Mayer’s direction are helping bring the Silicon Valley company up to date and more relevant among users.

“Yahoo sees itself as being in the ‘second sprint’ of its rebuilding efforts to win back users and increase its revenue.”

Only time — and ratings — will tell if the apps give Yahoo! a push up the charts.

Siri's Secrets: Apple Keeps Data for 2 Years

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:15:00 -0500

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(Image source: Cult of Mac)

BY EVAN THOMAS

Siri is always happy to listen to you — and she’s got a good memory, too. Everything you ask of Siri gets stored for two years on Apple’s servers.

Wired got Apple to explain its process Thursday. Your siri queries are assigned a random ID number, not an email address or apple ID. After six months, that number is deleted, but Apple keeps the voice files on hand for “product improvement purposes.”

That means schedule reminders, text message dictation and, of course, countless weather queries are sitting somewhere on Apple’s servers.

(via Apple)

Siri’s storage has been on radars since this time last year. The American Civil Liberties Union points out Apple has been effectively cataloging everything from the names of your playlists to the names and relationships of the people in your address books, ever since Siri arrived.

And as 9to5 mac points out:

“Since Siri has only been around for two years that means Apple should start deleting data later this year on the anniversary of the launch of the iPhone 4S…”

It’s led some companies to shut down Siri as an industrial security risk. Last year, IBM reps told MIT Technology Review they were banning Siri on interior networks to prevent any possibility of losing sensitive information.

A writer for AppAdvice, says it’s really the only way to be sure.

“As a good rule of thumb, if you don’t want your voice and questions stored somewhere, don’t use Siri.”

U.S. House Passes CISPA Cybersecurity Measure

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:30:00 -0500

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(Image source: Dame Magazine)

BY ELIZABETH HAGEDORN

The U.S. House of Representatives gave its approval Thursday to a cybersecurity bill giving private companies legal immunity to share their customer data with the federal government.

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or CISPA, would allow U.S. intelligence agencies to access information without a warrant from private companies in the event of a cyber threat. (Via ABC)

Gizmodo breaks it down. “CISPA would permit any private company (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Google, you name it) to give away any and all data it’s collected on you when asked by a government agency. Literally any government agency.”

The bill has found widespread support among Industry groups which argue the legislation would help the country defends itself against hackers. (Via C-SPAN)

But critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have slammed the measure for its ambiguity. While the bill prohibits the sharing of personal information like medical records and tax returns, they say it leaves the door wide open for just about anything else.

As a writer at The Guardian put it, “Worthy ideas in the abstract, but horrible in the details: cyber-security is a genuine concern, as we've seen repeatedly. But this bill is easily the worst attack on the open internet since the infamous [SOPA]...”

But a writer for The Washington Post says, let’s not rush to conclusions.

“[T]he Internet has a tendency to do a credible impression of Chicken Little and shriek that the sky is falling any time anything relating to Internet regulation is proposed in Congress. This is an understandable response — much of what has been proposed thus far has been gosh-awful.”

Some have dubbed CISPA the next SOPA after the last year’s highly controversial legislation designed to curb copyright infringement. That and other similar bills generated widespread opposition among internet activists who successfully pressured lawmakers to back off. (Via CBS)

But this time around, no such movement has picked up and a growing list of companies like Verizon, IBM, and AT&T have thrown their support behind the measure. (Via U.S. House Intelligence Committee)

The bill faces a looming veto threat from President Obama, and a probable defeat in the Senate, which rejected a similar measure last year.

YouTube Wins Another Legal Battle Against Viacom

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:08:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Google Play)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Video website YouTube emerged victorious Thursday from a long-standing legal skirmish with media company Viacom.

Viacom initially filed a lawsuit against YouTube in 2007 for “copyright infringement,” seeking $1 billion in damages. The TV company argued YouTube knowingly allowed users to post copyrighted content to their site. But a U.S. District Court judge threw that case out in 2010, ruling that YouTube was not responsible for infringement committed by its users. (Via Wired, Wikimedia Commons)

Sources report the same judge’s most recent decision was based on his 2010 ruling which favored YouTube. At the heart of the issue is the “safe harbor” provision of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, or DMCA.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, safe harbor is afforded to “websites responding expeditiously to takedown demands.” The writer adds: “Despite Viacom's arguments that YouTube ignored red flags and refused to institute protocol to filter copyright infringing works, the judge said that statutory protections required more on Viacom’s end.”

So maybe “skirmish” is an overstatement. This is the second time Viacom has been shot down in court... by the same judge. Not only that, but the Los Angeles Times reports the judge ordered Viacom to pay some of YouTube’s costs. And what’s an open wound without a little salt to pour in?

YouTube founder Chad Hurley added plenty of sodium chloride when he tweeted this to Viacom’s Chief: “Hey Philippe, wanna grab a beer to celebrate?! YouTube Again Beats Viacom's Massive Copyright Infringement Lawsuit”

Ironically enough, The Wall Street Journal reports “a number of Viacom units, including Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central, have entered into deals to create channels on YouTube. “

Sources say Viacom vowed Thursday to appeal once again.

New App Helps Icelanders Avoid Accidental Incest

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:50:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Youtube/SadEngineerStudios)

BY SCOTT MALONE

Asking someone you meet at a bar if they’re your cousin is probably not the best way to break the ice. But apparently it’s such an important piece of information in Iceland that there’s now an app for that.

The Islendinga App allows users to bump smartphones, and if you both share a grandparent it will set off an alarm and send you a text message as part of the — quote — “Incest Spoiler” feature. (Via WOLO)

Three University of Iceland students developed the app as part of a contest to make “new creative uses” of the Book of Icelanders — the country’s extensive genealogical database which traces the lineage of its current citizens back roughly 1,200 years.

A writer for Popular Science notes most of the country’s 320,000 people share a common descent from ninth century Viking settlers, and because of that “the danger probably lies more in kissing your second cousins.”

And apparently that occurs a little too often. Medical Daily quotes one of the app’s developers, saying:

“Everyone has heard the story of going to a family event and running into a girl you hooked up with some time ago. It’s not a good feeling when you realize that girl is a second cousin. People may think it’s funny, but [the app] is a necessity.”

Yes, he really called an app with an “Incest Spoiler” feature a necessity. But wouldn’t meeting someone with the same last name of one of your relatives be an immediate red flag? A writer for Wired explains the name game isn’t reliable in Iceland.

“Part of the problem ... is that Icelandic naming conventions don’t reflect someone’s descendants. ... Each new generation has a completely different name to the name of the generation that preceded it.”

So that means your cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews could all have different last names.

Businessweek points out the app has other convenient features, like a calendar to remind users of their relatives’ birthdays.

The Android app has been downloaded almost 5,000 times and has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. Though if you want to get your hands on it, you’d better brush up on your Icelandic — that’s the only language it’s available in. The developers say they hope to release a version for iPhone users soon.

Google Glass Users Banned From Reselling, Loaning

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:50:00 -0500

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(Image source: Google)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

They say if you set something free and it returns, it’s yours forever. Well, Google is letting users know, when it come to Google Glass — if you let it go, you’ll never get it back.

Google rolled out the flashy frames to developers Tuesday, but not without restrictions in its terms of service policy, banning users from reselling and loaning the eyewear.

(via KTBS)

“Those terms read, ‘You may not resell, loan, transfer or give your device to any other person.’ if you do, Google reserves the right to deactivate. They will not offer you a refund. ”

(via KTAL)

Even though it might sound odd for a company to have so much control over a product — even after it’s already sold and handed it over to a consumer — a writer for Wired says it’s not all that surprising.

“It was bound to happen...you don’t actually own much of the software you buy today. You essentially rent it under strict end-user agreements that have withstood judicial scrutiny. Google appears to be among the first to apply such draconian rules to consumer electronics.”

Well, you can still give Google glass as a gift, but Google’s grip is still pretty tight.

Buyers have to register the device through their Google account — so unless you don’t mind someone else having access to that information, you may want to find another loophole.

(via YouTube / Google)

Otherwise someone involved in the trade would be out $1,500 — That is, if you were lucky enough to get one. For now, Google isn’t selling the eyewear anymore. The company did essentially construct its own VIP room that could only be accessed through social media.

—called Google Glass Explorers Program. In 50 words or less, a wishful buyer would simply describe what they would do with Google Glass and include the hashtag “#ifihadglass,” then send it to Project Glass through either Google+ or Twitter.

Keep in mind, though, this only granted the ability to buy the product — no discounts or special features — and only IF Google liked what you had to say. This application process is now closed.

At least for now. Business Insider reports Google may be exercising its exclusivity rights now to avoid commercial resale, but says the tech giant is expected to make the spiffy spectacles available to everyone by next year.

For now, it’s still OK to hand over your specs to a friend to try. The Huffington Post explains Glass comes with a “guest mode” feature so owners can let others try out the new view without altering their timeline or settings.

Buyers have 30 days to return the device for a full refund if they decided they don’t want it. Google asks that returns include original packaging and accessories, and remain in “reasonable” condition.

Twitter #Music Service Launches on iOS, Web

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:50:00 -0500

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(Image source: Twitter)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Twitter #music hit the web and the app store Thursday. The launch was announced on ABC’s Good Morning America.

“World exclusive reveal for you on GMA this morning. Twitter is officially unveiling a music discovery app today... The app will change the way so many people discover music, giving you several ways to find songs based off twitter activity.”

The app uses data from your Twitter account to pick the best possible songs for you, but you won’t have to leave the app to listen; the app grabs music from Rdio, Spotify and iTunes.

TechCrunch suggests the GMA launch means Twitter is aiming straight for the mainstream. “GMA reaches a huge audience every morning, and Rdio and Spotify have some of the biggest followings in the music streaming world.”

Twitter’s announcement explains it uses tweets and engagement... “...to detect and surface the most popular tracks and emerging artists.” The new app puts artists front and center, you can “...go to their profiles to see which music artists they follow and listen to songs by those artists.”

Of course, you can also tweet songs directly from the app. All Things D reports Twitter’s been spending the last week or so getting artists involved.

“Twitter has been putting the iOS app (and related Web service) in the hands of a … varied group of musicians, some of whom really are superstars. Others, less so.”

Superstar or not, the artists have been tweeting their approval of the app.

The app has four pages: the Popular page shows you new music that's trending across Twitter, Emerging shows you hidden talent found in tweets. The Suggested page shows artists you might like based on the artists you follow and the #NowPlaying tab shows songs your friends are listening to or tweeting about.

The web version rolled out a few hours after the GMA announcement, and the iOS app is launching in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand before anywhere else. You’ll be able to download it today in the App Store.

Apple Falls Below $400/Share; What's Next?

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:57:00 -0500

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(Image source: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Has Wall Street fallen out of love with Apple? The one-time market darling’s share price fell 6 percent Wednesday, briefly dropping below $400 per share the first time since late 2011.

“Share price, actually down by over 40 percent from last September. What does this all mean? It means that Apple is no longer the world's most valuable company.” –Sky News

Wednesday’s fall means Exxon Mobil has regained that crown. The BBC reports the tumble was apparently triggered by fears that demand for iPhones and iPads is weakening.

“A disappointing forecast from Cirrus Logic which makes chips for Apple mobile devices found concerns that competition from Samsung and other rivals is taking its toll.”

Cirrus Logic relies on Apple for most of its sales. So when the company shared a weak outlook, many took it as a sign it was expecting fewer orders from Apple. But an analyst on Bloomberg says this is just adding to the negative sentiment already surrounding Apple.

“It’s been a series of things, if you go back to the fall, you go back to October, I think initially it was Samsung’s momentum then it was kind of gross margins. It’s something that’s just snowballed and gotten worse and worse, I think.”

That concern is spreading to Asia. The Wall Street Journal reports investors there are dumping iPhone and iPad component makers.

The question many investors would love to know the answer to — will Apple shares keep falling, or is this a time to swoop in before the stock rebounds? TIME reports Apple is extremely cheap relative to the broader market.

“Even so, many analysts are cautioning that the stock could fall further still — with some pulling out the classic warning that investors shouldn’t attempt to ‘catch a falling knife.’”

An analyst on CNBC says Wall Street overestimated Apple’s sales and investors should wait for expectations to fall before they invest.

“Once the estimates come down, the buy side should be more positive just because the numbers have come down. And separately, the product release schedule. That's the critical part. I think it’s the catalyst for getting investors back into the stock.”

Apple will report fourth-quarter earnings Tuesday. The company’s steep decline over the last six months, since it’s peak at $700 a share in September 2012, amounts to a loss of more than $280 billion in shareholder value.

Google Outage Affects Gmail, Other Services

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:26:00 -0500

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(Image source: Google)

BY KERRY LEARY

Did you get to work Wednesday morning, coffee in hand, and mindlessly sit down at your computer to log into Gmail? GASP. Google wasn’t working?

According to Google’s status panel, Google Mail, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Presentations, Google Spreadsheets AND admin were down Wednesday morning.

So what did Google users do to voice their concern? Took to Twitter, of course. Here’s one of the tweets that’s gaining popularity.

“Yes folks. Google apps, at least Gmail, appear to be down. Do not panic. Back away from your desk and go outside for 30 minutes.”

A writer for Android Central notes, “The good news is that it doesn't (yet) look like a blanket outage. Some folk shave problems, some don't. Google says the Gmail issues were affecting 0.007% percent of users.”

.007% of users doesn’t seem like a lot... but for the thousands of businesses that rely on Google for their business to stay afloat, this outage is a problem.

“Some unfortunate individuals are also reporting problems loading their "regular" Gmail—at press time it's unclear if these poor souls even exist.”

So, what is the solution? Lifehacker came up with some ways around the outage.

“Your best bet is to bookmark the link for the Plain HTML version of Gmail... so you can quickly switch to this alternate mode if Gmail is giving you trouble loading. It doesn't have all the fancy features that regular old Gmail does, but it can do the job just fine in a pinch.”

Google says it expects to update users on the status of the outages on the admin panel as soon as more information is available.

Microsoft Signs Android Patent Deal With Foxconn

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:37:00 -0500

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(Image source: Microsoft)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Microsoft signed a patent deal with Foxconn to receive royalties for each Android or Chrome OS device it builds.

And TechCrunch reports, there are lots. “A whopping 40 percent of the world’s phones come from the firm’s China-based factories.” The manufacturer “makes Android devices for clients like Acer and Amazon ... ”

FoxConn is also famous for making iPhones and iPads. Its parent company Hon Hai actually inked the deal with Microsoft, which Engadget reports will cover phones, tablets and TVs. (Via Bloomberg)

For years, Microsoft has claimed “companies building products based on Android and Chrome are treading on ground covered by its patent portfolio ... ”

A portfolio that’s reportedly pretty big. In a press release, Microsoft said more than 50 percent of Android phones come from manufacturers that have already signed patent agreements...

... and that’s lead to licensing agreements with companies like Samsung, LG and HTC. But FossPatents.com says the Foxconn-Microsoft deal is bad news for Google —

which “ … has flatly denied that Android devices need a patent license from Microsoft even though its own Motorola Mobility subsidiary has in practical terms already lost its own patent dispute with Microsoft by a wide margin.”

Neither party revealed how much money was paid, or will be exchanged per device, under the new agreement.

Facebook Bringing Chat Heads, Stickers to iOS

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:47:05 -0500

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(Image Source: Ars Technica)

BY SCOTT MALONE

Android isn’t the only platform getting some Facebook love. The social media giant is releasing an update of its iOS app Tuesday that will contain a pair of new additions: chat heads and stickers.

Chat heads is Facebook’s newest way of personalizing the messaging experience. It is part of the new Facebook Home, which is only available on Android. (Via WTEN)

Chat heads are like push notifications except instead of getting a simple text notification that you have a new Facebook message, you would instead see a bubble with the head of the person who’s trying to get in touch with you. (Via CNET)

An analyst for Bloomberg says Facebook’s decision to make chat heads available to iPhone and iPad users is logical, and the company wants to earn back more of the messaging market share.

“A company like Facebook looks at what’s happening with the popularity of messaging apps and says, you know, how can we link this back to Facebook and benefit from that happening?”

Sounds like Facebook might try and monetize the chat head experience later on. But a writer for All Things D points out iPhone and iPad users won’t benefit from the entire potential of chat heads.

“Unlike ‘real’ Chat Heads, which show up no matter what app you’re using on a Home phone, the iOS Chat Heads will only work when you’re using the Facebook App.”

So basically: iPhone users won’t be seeing too many head bubbles floating around unless Facebook Home gets released for iOS. A writer for The Verge says that won’t be happening anytime soon.

“Getting Facebook Home to work on iOS would require not just Apple’s consent, but its active cooperation in making the iPhone more open to companies like Facebook — cooperation that Apple certainly doesn’t seem to have much incentive to provide.”

Facebook officials have said whether or not they bring Home to iOS devices depends on Apple. One official added the social media giant could simply bring some design elements of Home to the iPhone.

As for the other new element — stickers — they’re slightly supersized editions of emoticons — which Facebook recently added to its web version. (Via TechCrunch)

Twitter In Talks To Host Viacom, NBC TV Clips Online

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:41:00 -0500

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(Image source: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg)

BY KATIE BRENNAN

Twitter is looking to capitalize on its growing integration with TV. Bloomberg reports the social media site is in talks with Viacom and NBC about displaying TV clips on its site and selling ads around them.

The report notes Twitter “...is racing to add video content that will get users to spend more time on the site and watch promotions.” And the partnerships with Viacom or NBC “...would let Twitter stream videos on its site and split the resulting ad revenue with the networks”

Deadline Hollywood reports Twitter would be building on its existing partnerships with the Weather Channel, Disney, ESPN, and Turner Broadcasting System. Twitter also recently acquired TV analytics firm Bluefin and struck a deal with Nielsen to measure the social network’s reach.

The Verge says the move makes sense for Twitter, noting TV video clips paired with Twitter’s impending music service “...could make for a good one-two punch of content that would be accessible without leaving Twitter's site.”

And that’s exactly what Twitter’s going for. The idea is to increase the time users spend on the site. Nielsen reported last June that a third of active twitter users posted tweets about what they were watching on TV.

An International Business Times report says those numbers make it “...no surprise that there is money to be made in mining this data and combining it with users’ other tweets to gain a better understanding of who the viewers are, why they watch, and why they turn over to another channel.”

Reports say one or both deals could be struck by mid-May.

Time for Microsoft to Join Smartwatch Game?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:01:00 -0500

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(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY BRIAN BONDUS

New reports say Microsoft is working on a touch-enabled watch device, expected to compete with wearable technology from competitors Apple and Samsung.

The Wall Street Journal reports Microsoft asked for parts earlier this year from Asia including a 1.5-inch touch-screen to prototype a smartwatch.

Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time Microsoft has ventured into making a smartwatch.

In 2002, Microsoft released SPOT or Smart Personal Object Technology. But that watch was a bust and was quickly discontinued.

(Via CNET)

So why would Microsoft and other manufacturers jump back into the smartwatch market?

Well Gartner research forecasts smart electronics in shoes, tattoos and accessories will emerge as a $10 billion industry by 2016. But the most revenue will come from ...

“Athletic shoes and fitness tracking, communications devices for the ear, and automatic insulin delivery for diabetics.”

(Via Computerworld)

Which isn’t exactly in the wristwatch category. So is this a smart move?

Android Authority explains why smartwatches may not be as successful in the wearable technology industry as manufacturers may think.

“It’s not a standalone device. A smartwatch currently needs to be tethered to a cell phone, or other device. An accompaniment item with limited functionality won’t appeal to most.”

A writer for Know Your Mobile says, there’s a reason for that.

“Who really wants to read an email on a screen the size of a postage stamp when all you have to do is reach into your pocket and take out your handset? Everyone carries a phone with them these days and switching to a smaller display just for the sake of it seems like a step backwards to me.”

Even with those reservations, it seems wearable technology is where the future is heading. Whether its Google Glass, a smartwatch or even a Nike Fuel band these devices are with you 100 percent of the time and will know where you’ve been, what you’ve seen and what you’ve done 100 percent of the time.

The Next Web says sharing this kind of information with private companies could be a real reason for concern.

“Using cloud-based technologies, your life history could be stored forever on some big technology company’s server. What happens if someone else buys that company – and all its data – later down the line?”

Twitter Music App Released on Friday to Celebrities

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:29:56 -0500

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(Image Source: Twitter / @TwitterMusic)

BY CANDICE AVILES

The highly anticipated Twitter Music app came out on Friday. If you haven’t seen it that’s because you’re not famous — the app has only been released to celebrities.

Reports surfaced earlier that Twitter would release the app this weekend, coinciding with Coachella. Turns out that’s partially true, after a few famous people tweeted they were using the app. (Via Twitter / @TwitterMusic)

Ryan Seacrest tweeted: “playing with @twitter’s new music app (yes it’s real!)...there’s a serious dance party happening at idol right now” (Via Twitter / @RyanSeacrest)

And Wiz Khalifa said: “Man this new Twitter music app is insane!” (Via Twitter / @wizkhalifa)

As for all of us non-famous people? We’ll have to wait another week before we can use the app.

All Things D reports this celebrity advance-week release is a good move writing, “as long as the celebrities don’t spend their time tweeting about how much they dislike the app, it will be a smart move by the Twitter folks. They get to stoke demand and do some last-minute bug-testing at the same time.”

The app itself has four main tabs including: Suggested, #NowPlaying, Popular and Emerging. According to CNET, it suggests artists and songs to listen to based on a variety of signals like Twitter accounts you follow. Songs are streamed to the app via SoundCloud.

You can also follow an artists Twitter page through the Twitter Music app. But The Huffington Post brings up the question if there’s enough room for the Twitter Music app in an already crowded space.

Pandora and Spotify already have powerful followings and other big names like Apple and Google may soon be joining the music streaming arena. “Twitter certainly has some advantages: it already has over 200 million active users... But that doesn’t guarantee that tweeters currently using the service to follow news or celebrities will like to use it to discover music.”

But with almost 2.5 million people following Twitter Music’s page prior to its release, it seems many people are looking forward to it.

Is Netflix the Most-Watched 'Cable' Network?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 15:24:25 -0500

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(Image source: Netflix)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

Netflix released its numbers for the first quarter of 2013 — and it looks like traditional TV might be in for some stiff competition.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings posted the figures on his Facebook page. Attributing the 4 billion hours of Netflix watched over the last three months to its original series “House of Cards.”

A writer for Ubergizmo points out that is quite a milestone for Netflix. In the second quarter of 2012 the company celebrated the first time it hit the 1 billion hour mark in a quarter. This last quarter shows more than 1 billion hours were watched each month.

The big results lead an analyst for BTIG to ask — “Is Netflix now the most watched ‘cable network’ on television?” The answer: yup. Even though it’s not technically a cable network.

“We believe Netflix streaming per sub/day is now over 87 mins and, in turn, Netflix is now likely the most watched cable network, essentially in-line with the Disney Channel.”

That’s saying a lot as Mickey Mouse supports some 89 million viewers in the U.S. alone. In 2012, Disney Channel was the most watched daytime cable network.

So, is Netflix the future of TV? Well according to analysts on Bloomberg — it’s debatable.

“In five years Internet TV is not going to have taken over traditional TV. Ten to 20 years maybe.”

“You don’t think so?”

“No.”

“Maybe seven years though. You think about kids these days and it doesn’t matter right? It doesn’t have to be on TV.”

Much of Netflix’s increase in viewership is attributed not from what TV shows they have available — but for its original series like “House Of Cards.”

And it’s working to keep the ball rolling. The company is preparing to release its new series “Hemlock Grove,” — a sci-fi, horror thriller about the hunt to find a teenage girl’s murderer — it débuts next week. (Via IMDB / Netflix)

Verizon Wireless Unveils $35 Prepaid Cell Phone Plan

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:49:00 -0500

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(Image source: Engadget)

BY CANDICE AVILES

Verizon Wireless is looking to attract feature phone buyers by offering a $35 a month prepaid phone.

The no-contract plan will get you 500 anytime minutes of talk, with unlimited text and Internet. Any minutes over 500 will cost you 25 cents per minute. But the offer is only available for four feature phones — the LG Cosmos 2, Samsung Gusto 2, Samsung Intensity 3 and the LG Extravert.

Mobile-to-mobile calling is not included. This plan closely mirrors Verizon’s $50 a month prepaid plan it released back in 2011, which offers unlimited voice calls, texting and Internet. (Via CNN)

This move to attract prepaid no-contract customers is a wise one, especially since CNET reports the market segment continues to grow. It adds Verizon’s new $35 package gives them a competitive advantage over smaller carriers for customers who don’t need unlimited calls.

But GigaOm reports Verizon doesn’t focus as much effort on the niche as Sprint and T-Mobile do. Reporting at the end of 2012, Verizon only had 5.7 million prepaid subscribers out of the total 98.2 million accounts. By offering a $35-a-month plan, the company is now venturing into prepaid-only players...

...like Cricket, which has a $35 and a $45 a month plan for unlimited calls and texting.

A writer for Mobile Magazine says while this offer may not be for everyone, it’s not a bad deal for people that don’t make a lot of calls or who want another cell phone line.

“If we are being honest though, there are probably other much more affordable prepaid plans out there ... for unlimited talk, text and web for any phone not just feature devices. Of course with Verizon you do get one of (if not THE) strongest cellular networks in the United States.”

Google After Death: What Happens to Your Accounts?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:28:00 -0500

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(Image source: Edudemic)

BY LOGAN TITTLE

Google now offers a heavenly transition for users beyond their graves with its new inactive account manager.

In an official blog post, Google’s product manager admits it’s not the sexiest name, but explains the feature allows you to tell Google what to do with all of your stored data, like emails, contacts and other information.

If your account hasn’t been active for three months, six months or a year, Google will then swoop in to transfer your data either to a secondary account or to friends and family members if you choose that option.

The service extends beyond Google and Google Plus to YouTube, the photo-sharing service Picasa and Blogger.

The feature comes as more people are trusting their data with social networks, online storage facilities and other similar services.

Facebook allows users to have their accounts “memorialized” after they die.

Other services like DeadSocial send your social media managers messages after you die. You can schedule messages for up to 400 years from now — that is, if they are still around.

Al Jazeera notes laws in several countries can be vague when it comes to digital rights to someone else’s account after they pass, leading to a mess of legal action for those who want to access them.

ABC News reports six states in the U.S. have established legislation regarding a person’s digital presence after death, but they don’t cover every account on the Internet.

When it comes to services like iTunes, a user can’t legally pass on downloads when they pass. However, to get around these policies a user can set up a digital trust that allows an account to be legally passed from one person to another.

Google has been dabbling in the deceased lately, whether it be a person — or in Google’s case — a service.

The tech giant opened up it’s own virtual graveyard — appropriately named “Google Graveyard” — where anyone can go to leave a flower and pay their condolences to the company’s lost services. Simply, click on a grave to leave a flower and a full-time graveyard staff of robots will come and clear any withered flowers on a regular basis.

Is Twitter Music Launching This Weekend?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:56:00 -0500

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(Image source: Twitter)

BY MIKAH SARGENT AND BRIANA ALTERGOTT

After acquiring music discovery service We Are Hunted last year, rumors suggested Twitter would launch a music discovery application called — you guessed it — Twitter Music. Well, Twitter Music may be launching as soon as today.

According to CNET, Twitter Music is a music discovery app. It suggests songs and artists based on who a user follows on Twitter, and also tracks song and artist popularity. Users will reportedly be able to listen to music clips via SoundCloud and watch music videos via Vevo, all from within the app.

Reports are varied on when the music app will be launched, but one thing’s for certain: it’s coming soon. AllThingsD reports it could be as early as Friday, while another claims Twitter is pushing to launch in concert with the Coachella music festival.

Details on what platform the app is launching on are unclear, but it seems Twitter Music will only be available on iOS for now. Sorry, Android users.

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest spilled the beans about the new app Thursday in a tweet, which prompted We Are Hunted to send its own tweet announcing it had been acquired by Twitter — a poorly-kept secret considering CNET revealed that one last month.

Twitter isn’t making any official comments yet, but we’ll let you know if a little birdie tells us anything.

Hacker Demonstrates Plane Hijacking Using Android Device

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:47:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Help Net Security)

BY CANDICE AVILES

The right hacker can gain access to just about anything these days, but now you can add airplanes to that list. On Wednesday, one man proved he could hack an airplane with only an Android device.

That man, Hugo Teso, is a security professional as well as a licensed pilot. Help Net Security reports he spoke at The Hack in the Box security conference in Amsterdam bringing to light the quote “sorry state of security of aviation computer systems.” (Via n.runs Professionals)

SlashGear reports Teso found “actual flight code software” on eBay and a radio transmitter. Using those items along with an Android app called PlaneSploit, Teso showed how he was able to control the steering of a Boeing jet, if it was in autopilot mode.

Once Teso gained control of the plane’s computer system, he could cause the plane to crash or even drop the oxygen masks. ComputerWorld reports the only defense pilots would have, if they realized they were hacked, would be to turn off autopilot.

While this discovery is both interesting and terrifying, many attending the talk loved it tweeting...

“Controlling the trajectory of an airplane with the accelerometer of a mobile phone. Crazy." (Via Twitter / JailbrakCon)

“Showing how to hijack an airplane with your Android device... Almost as simple as switching into Airplane Mode” (Via Twitter / DoubleYou_Dev)

The European Aviation Safety Agency told PCMag it’s aware of Teso’s discovery but is not concerned.

“This presentation was based on a PC training simulator and did not reveal potential vulnerabilities on actual flying systems. There are major differences between a PC based training flight management software and an embedded ... software.”

And if you’re curious... no, the app PlaneSploit will not be available to the public.

Foursquare Raises $41M, Now What?

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:11:00 -0500

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(Image source: Digital Trends)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO AND KATIE BRENNAN

Location-based app Foursquare borrowed $41 million Thursday. But is the investment helping it thrive or simply keeping it going?

“Foursquare isn’t dead yet. It was once called the next Twitter and then perhaps lost some of its luster. But now, a $41 million infusion into the company to prove it's a real business.” (Via Bloomberg)

The $41 million comes from tech investor Silver Lake and a handful of other venture capital firms, plus a private equity firm. But keep in mind, it’s a loan, not cash. PolicyMic explains why the app took on the debt.

It only brought in $2 million in revenue last year, “a troubling sign for the three-year-old company.” Also, “negative speculation about the company’s future is not a new sport, with many concerns that Foursquare's finances actually do not add up.” (Via PolicyMic)

And the funding doesn’t mean investors think Foursquare’s a hit.

An All Things Digital contributor explains “Silver Lake is giving the company a multiplayer loan and the other investors ... are all buying convertible debt.”

The Wall Street Journal reminds users Foursquare has been trying for months to spur investor interest. But it’s had a hard time convincing anyone it’s still worth the $760 million it was valued at in early 2012. Rumors are the company’s worth about $600 million.

Wired claims Foursquare’s reason for existence, “location check-in...seems less relevant,” but notes “Foursquare’s new focus is clearly on helping you find things to do, right from the get-go.”

The news about Foursquare’s new investors came Wednesday after the app announced its latest update.

Bitcoin Crash Culprit: Success, not DDoS Hack Attack

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:37:00 -0500

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(Image source: Reddit)

BY ELISA LOPEZ AGUADO

ANCHOR KATIE BRENNAN

The value of Bitcoin crashed in less than six hours Wednesday, sparking fears the servers that exchange the newly popular currency were victim to a hacker attack. The virtual currency's value dropped from $265 to $105 due to a "panic sell-off."

But Bitcoin exchange site Mt. Gox posted a Facebook message saying Bitcoin was a victim of its own success and not a hack attack. They also tried to keep users calm by saying...

- Nearly 20,000 new accounts join Bitcoin each day

- [and] the total number of accounts rose from 60K in March to 75K in April

The BBC reports “the vast increase in interest in bitcoins is also creating problems for some established members of the digital cash community. Many individuals have pooled their computer power to ensure the mathematical work that creates bitcoins is completed more quickly.”

And while Mt. Gox didn’t experience a digital attack, TechCrunch thinks the site shouldn’t lower its guard, saying it “ ... can expect to be a target for hackers for the foreseeable future, which is another reason it needs to beef up its infrastructure.”

But will a hack attack target a hacker’s product? CNNMoney reminds investors bitcoins were originally mined by an anonymous hacker four years ago, although they recently gained mainstream attention this year.

PcWorld points out some aspects of bitcoins:

- The virtual coin is very volatile. (The value of a single bitcoin was only $15 in January)

- Bitcoin transactions are irreversible

- Bitcoins can’t be spent at every major retailer

(image via BitcoinCharts.com)

The debate around Bitcoin’s real value raged Wednesday, as the currency plunged 60%.

Business Insider contributor David Seaman says that massive selloff was sparked by the vast difference between investors within the BTC community: first, true believers and then speculators. It was the speculators that sold off their bitcoins when its value started to fall.

So was the quick rise and fall of the bitcoin just a giant bubble?

Forbes contributor Timothy B. Lee says we can’t know for sure. He stated the BTC economy can’t be properly analyzed yet because of its infancy and that we’ll know when “we see how people use Bitcoin in the coming decade.”

A correspondent for The Daily Beast reports the key weakness of bitcoins is its lack of liquidity.

She says “the more successful bitcoins are, the more likely it is that rich-world governments will swoop in and make it prohibitively difficult to use bitcoins to procure real-world goods in developed countries.”

Today, the virtual coin’s value has climbed back up to $162, but baby Bitcoin needs to be careful.

As Mashable reports, “nothing scares off investors like a panic sale.”

Meanwhile, a new rival is facing Bitcoin after yesterday’s buzz. Its name is Ripple and its system is the same one BTC has but with one vital difference: people can send and receive money in other currencies, not just ripples -- and that includes bitcoins.

PC Sales See Worst Quarter in Nearly 20 Years

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:18:00 -0500

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(Image source: The Verge)

BY JIM FLINK

The biggest drop in two decades. That’s how analysts are describing the latest sales numbers for personal computers. According to research firm IDC, consumers just aren’t buying laptops and desktops anymore. Here’s WBZ.

“ ... worldwide sales of personal computers fell 14 percent during the first three months of the year and analysts say the new version of Windows is driving consumers away from PCs to tablets and smartphones. it's all about the tablets and smartphones now.”

(Via WBZ)

This despite many company efforts to innovate the PC experience. For instance, Microsoft has launched Windows 8 as a touch screen experience, but sales have been disappointing.

“Microsoft's bet the farm on Windows 8 and its partners ... rushed to create Windows 8 not only laptops but tablets and hybrids that are kind of part tablet part laptop and I think people are confused by it ... ”

(Via BBC)

An analyst on CNBC says, he, and other consumers wanted to like Windows 8, especially on mobile, but just couldn’t.

“I have to say, it isn’t as intuitive as you might have hoped. It’s meant to be an Apple’s-like tablet like experience, where you use panes, but you get frustrated...”

And Bloomberg notes, that frustration seems to extend all the way to the boardroom, where PC stalwarts are hemorrhaging money, with sales off as much as 24 percent.

“The severity of the declines at Hewlett-Packard and Dell stem from the companies’ protracted attempts to turn around their businesses ... Hewlett-Packard has been seeking to recover from years of strategy shifts, including an aborted plan to spin out its PC business, and Dell is pursuing a plan to go private amid a worsening outlook for desktop and laptop sales.

PC makers aren’t sitting on their hands. Dell just announced a new China strategy to double sales of personal computers overseas. And The Wall Street Journal went to an interesting place to identify Microsoft’s strategy going forward. It looked in the want ads.

“There are a lot of jobs open in the X-Box unit, working on streaming video. There’s almost 50 jobs for that...right now at Windows mobile phone, which is a big initiative for the company... there’s no jobs for hardware engineers...”

And that could be telling about where traditional PC players are shifting their game. The New York Times quoting research firm Gartner, which last week predicted...

“ .. .by 2017, the dominant operating system for all computing devices, including smartphones, computers and tablets, would be Google’s Android, with software from Microsoft and Apple far behind ... ”

Google Donates $3M to Combat Human Trafficking

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:35:00 -0500

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(Image Source: U.S. News & World Report)

BY KERRY LEARY

Wednesday marked a big day in the fight against human trafficking. A $3 million grant from Google helped get a global anti-human trafficking hotline up and running.

“The global human trafficking network will work to share data and to develop a better response for victims. It joins together organizations in the US, southeast Asia and also Europe.” (Via CNN)

Google is hoping the money donated will help culminate statistics from local, national and international helplines to create a data-driven network. This network is expected to improve efficiency in the fight against human trafficking. Google launched a commercial Tuesday discussing its efforts.

“We think of trafficking as being similar to modern-day slavery. Trafficking is incredibly diverse. It’s extremely fluid. Traffickers are often moving quicker than the response is moving.”

SlashGear reports two other organizations have also joined the effort-- one will donate data integration and an analytics platform and another will help scale call tracking to an international level.

Google has given more than $14 million to stop human trafficking since 2011. Analysts are calling this donation Google’s next step to end human trafficking all together — with the wealth of information that will be available through this new international campaign.

Facebook Rolling Out Status Box Emoticons

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:54:48 -0500

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(Image Source: Facebook)

BY MIKAH SARGENT
ANCHOR JASMINE BAILEY

How are you feeling? Facebook is adding a new feature to its status update box that allows you to visually answer that question, and a few others.

Yep, the social media site is rolling out emoticons that allow users to share their current emotional states, what they’re listening to, and even what they’re drinking or eating.

Facebook began testing this feature in January, and has begun the roll-out to users in the United States. But after rumored site changes, actual site changes, an updated newsfeed — the list goes on and on — why add this feature?

A writer for Engadget says it’s a way to help focus status messages, giving meaning to the largely arbitrary posts of many users. And of course, it’s a way to make money. By linking a product, performer, or service, “...said entity gets included in any conversations you have, and the great revenue wheel begins to spin.”

But a writer for TechCrunch says the feature isn’t all about the ads. It’s also an intuitive communication and sharing tool. Instead of having to find a link to share or posting a video to show off your favorite new artist, the feature does all the searching and linking for you.

“We talk a lot about what we’re doing. The music we’re listening to, the TV shows we’re watching, and the places we’re getting drunk. By making it easier to formally tag these things, we provide a better gateway to experiencing them for our friends.”

We’ve seen a steady increase in the social media site’s focus on its Facebook Pages service, where brands, businesses, and performers can link up with users. DigitalTrends says this new emoticon feature “...will tie in quite nicely to help promote the Facebook Pages attached to certain movies, bands, and books.”

The rollout isn’t happening all at once. So, if you’re jealous of friends who get the feature before you — maybe that’ll be the first emoticon you’ll use to express yourself.

News Corp. Threatens To Move Fox To Cable Over Aereo

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:35:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Asa Mathat/All Things Digital)

BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT

U.S. broadcasting companies haven’t been very receptive to Aereo — a web TV service that streams broadcast signals to its customers. Now, one company has threatened to take a popular network to cable if Aereo isn’t stopped.

“Today, News Corp. COO Chase Carey issued a statement saying ‘We believe that Aereo is pirating our broadcast signal. We will... aggressively pursue our rights in... court.’”

“...One option would be converted the Fox broadcast network to become a paid channel...” (via CNBC)

Carey spoke before a crowd Monday at a National Association of Broadcasters event, promising “...we’re not going to sit idly by and let people steal our content.” (via Variety)

A writer at Politico called Carey’s declaration “Armageddon-like” and something that could “unravel network TV.”

Aereo operates by using a very small antennae at a data center to stream broadcast signals to laptops or mobile devices via its website or app. But despite the high-tech process, a group of broadcast companies decided Aereo wasn’t playing by the rules.

An alphabet soup of broadcasters — including ABC, NBC, CBS, and PBS — filed for a temporary injunction to shut Aereo down last july. A Manhattan court federal court denied the request and an appellate court upheld that decision earlier this month.

A writer for CNN Money suggests the News Corp. chief might be blowing smoke considering the amount of eyes watching the Fox network: “It's very unlikely that the media giant would actually yank Fox from the broadcast lineup: About 10.6 million U.S. households get television exclusively over the air and would no longer be able to watch Fox if News Corp. actually made Fox a cable channel.”

But then, there’s the landslide of “what if” situations, one of which being what would happen to Fox-affiliate stations. Los Angeles Times reports, “If Fox were to pull its network programming off the air, the local stations would have to fill 15 hours of prime time a week. Besides its own stations, which reach about 40% of the country, Fox also has affiliates that count on the network for content.”

To add insult to injury, Bloomberg’s Edmund Lee says Aereo is constantly gaining the upper hand and could soon get the attention of cable providers: “If they continue to win in the courts, cable companies could go to Aereo and say, ‘Let’s cut a deal. I’ll license your technology so I don’t have to pay those fees to Fox anymore.’”

According to the Los Angeles Times, “Carey said he expects Fox to prevail in court against Aereo.” In the meantime, Aereo plans to expand its New York-only service into 22 different cities, including Chicago, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Microsoft Xbox Event Pushed Back to May

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:36:00 -0500

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(Image source: Ultra Unboxing)

BY JASMINE BAILEY

If you’re an Xbox fan getting antsy to learn about the next-generation — you won’t have to wait too much longer.

It was rumored the highly anticipated next generation Xbox, codenamed Durango, would be announced on April 26 but… (Via Trusted Reviews)

Windows watcher, Paul Thurrott, recently revealed the real date that we can all mark on our calendars. (Via Win Super Site)

“They’re going to announce it May 21. We know that there are events occurring this year where we will learn more about Durango.”

“And it’s a fourth quarter release right?”

“Early November, yup.” (Via What the Tech / Youtube)

Events like the Electronic Entertainment Expo — set for mid June....

...and Build Windows, taking place at the end of June in San Francisco. There they will talk about Durango’s developer story.

The Verge reports sources familiar with plans for the new generation revealed that the May event will be at a small venue and put emphasis on providing the details of Durango.

Which isn’t exactly a bad thing when you look back at all the rumors that have been festering about what users can expect from the upcoming Xbox.

Especially the dreaded “always online” rumor that led gamers to believe they would have to be connected to the internet in order to play. (Via Escapist Magazine and The Guardian)

If you didn’t catch the memo — that rumor may be true. Microsoft Studios Creative Director Adam Orth published a tweet that could potentially crush the dreams of all the no-connection believers.

He wrote “Sorry, I don’t get the drama around having an ‘always on’ console. Every device now is ‘always on’. That’s the world we live in. #dealwithit.” (Via Kotaku)

Microsoft later released an apology for that little rant. (Via The Drum)

The design is also a big feature users are wondering about. Not only for the console… (Via The Inquirer)

…But also on what the controller might look like. (Via Expert Reviews)

The price, of course, is also a hot topic for rumor and speculation— two things Microsoft insists the company will not comment on. (Via Here is the City)

Regardless of what’s true and what’s not — bottom line, when the new Xbox is revealed next month, whether you love it or hate it, you’ll just have to #dealwithit.

Sony's 84-Inch HDTV to Cost $25K

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:38:00 -0500

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(Image source: Sony)

BY JIM FLINK

What’s as expensive as a new car, sits in your house and does nothing unless you prompt it? A new 84-inch ultra-HD TV, that’s what.

Feast your eyes on this bad boy. It’s Sony’s latest offering in its 4K series. A seven-foot diagonal wonder of human engineering which promises an experience four-times clearer than standard high-definition.. Price tag? A cool $25,000.

“For that $25,000 you’ll get not only the TV but actually includes the first 4K content you’re likely to ever see. In it you’ll get a server that includes a bunch of movies on a tablet...”

So what exactly IS 4K content? Super High-Def, best seen up close. Engadget notes it comes in two smaller models as well — 55 and 65-inch screens...

...which offer Triluminous displays with X-Reality PRO and Motionflow XR960 technology, WiFi and NFC one-touch screen mirroring, not to mention native support for displaying 3,840 x 2,160 pixels images.

Price tag for the smaller models — $5,000 for the 55 — $7,000 for the 65-inch models. Which is a huge savings from $25,000 right? But a commenter on Gizmodo’s set says, go big or go home.

“ ... anyone who buys a 4k TV smaller than 80" is a complete moron with entirely too much money. Forget the lack of content, the human eye cannot perceive 4k on an 84" screen unless you are within two or three feet ... at 50" you will get zero benefit at all.”

All of which is cheap by comparison to rival Samsung’s 85-inch set — which retails for as much as 40,000 bucks. Now, before you go reaching for your credit card, the sets won’t be available until April 21st.

Oh, and because there’s a limit to the amount of native 4K Ultra-HD content out there — Engadget notes, you may want to pick up the Ultra-HD media player when it comes out this summer — for an extra $700. It comes preloaded with 10 Ultra-HD movies and shorts like “The Amazing Spider-Man.” Hey, it’s only money, right?

California Bans Using Mobile GPS Apps While Driving

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:30:00 -0500

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(Image Source: Business Insider)

BY CHARESSE JAMES

That annoying driver holding up traffic because they’re checking Google Maps on their smartphone may be a thing of the past. Well, at least in California.

The Golden State, which has already passed several laws to reduce distracted driving, has expanded its ban on texting and driving to include using a phone’s GPS features while behind the wheel. (Via MSN)

In the case of People v. Spriggs, which concluded at the end of March, an appellate court judge ruled GPS navigators present the same distraction as texting or dialing phone calls, despite laws that only specified talking, texting and surfing the internet.

CNET reports the ruling states the use of map applications on a smartphone while driving leads to distracted driving but only when holding it in your hand. A driver would still be able to mount his or her smartphone to the car’s dashboard and use it to navigate. (Via Business Insider)

According to PCMag, the court framed its ruling by looking at legislators’ original intent when crafting “hands-free” Senate Bill 1613, which passed in 2007 and went into effect the summer of 2008. Legislators indicated “the intent of the bill was to address the mechanical aspects of operating a phone” when making or silencing a call during the driving process — not just talking.

The Verge points out by extending anti-texting and anti-talking laws to include basically anything phone-related, the California courts have turned these once cut-and-dry bans into anything that could be considered distracting while operating a motor vehicle.

“That means if someone is taking their hands off the wheel frequently to navigate, it can be just as much of a distraction. [The presiding judge] acknowledged that the law could unfairly single out electronic devices, when using plenty of other objects ‘poses just as great a risk to the safety of other motorists.’”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent annual report, released Friday: more than 3,300 people died in distracted driving accidents in 2011, compared to a little more than 3,000 in 2010. These deaths accounted for 10 percent of all driving fatalities. However, cell phone related accidents decreased from 24,000 to 21,000.

But a writer for Tech Dirt notes trying to ban each and every distraction a driver will come across individually is an impossible and — quote — “ridiculous” task and the focus should be on preventing bad driving, not just specific activities.

“In fact, studies have suggested that bad distracted drivers will often just find a different distraction to occupy their time. ... those drivers are often still texting while driving, but are simply holding their phones even lower, taking their eyes further off the road, so as to avoid detection... actually making the roads more dangerous.”

So while it may not be written out in law just yet, for now, California drivers should try to keep their hands at 10 and 2... and away from their phones.