TechSpot

Amazon launches commercial publishing platform for amateur writers

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:30:00 GMT

Amazon recently announced a new commercial publishing platform that will allow any writer to create fan fiction based on original stories and characters. Amateur writers will have access to characters inspired by a number of successful books via an agreement with Warner Bros. Television Group’s Allow Entertainment division.

OtterBox acquires rival smartphone and tablet case maker LifeProof

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:00:00 GMT

OtterBox on Wednesday announced the acquisition of TreeFrog Developments Inc., otherwise known as LifeProof. The multi-billion dollar business designs, manufacturers and markets protective cases for smartphones and tablets to defend against water, dirt, snow, shock and the hazards of daily life much like OtterBox does.

Samsung invests $47.6 million in Korean handset maker Pantech

Jesse Schoff — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

Samsung confirmed today that it is investing $47.6 million in Pantech to acquire a 10 percent ownership stake in the company. Pantech, like Samsung, is a South Korean company, and the third-largest mobile device manufacturer in the country.

Study suggests majority of Windows 8 users ignore Metro apps

Rick Burgess — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

Data collected by software-maker Soluto reveals that a majority of Windows 8 users mostly ignore Metro apps -- those self-contained, Modern UI-sporting, one-touch install applications found both in the Windows Store and come bundled with the OS. The Israeli-founded firm claims users open on average less than two apps per...

Survey: The average teenager has more than 425 Facebook friends

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:30:00 GMT

It’s no secret that social media is massively popular among today’s youth but perhaps you’d be surprised to learn that a staggering 81 percent of teens between the ages of 12 and 17 use some form of social media. Of those, 94 percent said they have a Facebook profile according...

MSI GX60/GX70 laptops arrive, armed with Radeon HD 8970M, Richland CPU

Rick Burgess — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:30:00 GMT

Delivering on earlier promises, MSI is now shipping its GX70 and newest GX60 gaming laptops. The $1,299 and $1,399 laptops are the first of their kind to feature AMD's Radeon HD 8970M -- what AMD argues may be the pinnacle of mobile graphics processors. For the price though, MSI is...

MessageMe chat app grows to 5 million users in just 75 days

Dave LeClair — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

The mobile messaging business in incredibly competitive. Users not only have the option of using their carrier's default messaging platform, they also have services like WhatsApp, Viber, Google+ Hangouts, and more to choose from. In spite of this there is apparently room for more, as a newer service called MessageMe has amassed...

Logitech continues mobile focus with wired keyboard for iPad

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Logitech on Wednesday introduced a new keyboard for the iPad that’s probably unlike any you’ve seen thus far. Where most manufacturers are busy building Bluetooth-enabled wireless boards, Logitech’s latest input device will utilize a wired connection.

Qualcomm shows off Mirasol, 1.5-inch panel shipping in products soon

Jose Vilches — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:00 GMT

Qualcomm’s MEMS-based Mirasol display technology has made a surprise appearance at the SID Display Week event in Vancouver with a couple of proof-of concepts intended for devices such as smartphones and smart watches. The two mockups included a 5.1-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440, making up for...

Amazon wants to build a trio of biospheres in downtown Seattle

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:45:00 GMT

Amazon recently submitted a proposal to build a trio of massive biospheres in downtown Seattle in addition to three other 37-story office buildings as part of the company’s new campus. The orbs would be filled with various forms of plant life and mature trees in an effort to provide an...

Google quietly adds conversational search to Chrome 27

Dave LeClair — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:40:00 GMT

Google demonstrated conversational voice search last week at the I/O conference, and now, the company has rolled the exciting new feature out to Chrome browsers on desktop. Users looking for the alternate method of searching will have to update to version 27, which can be done within the browser or by downloading...

Nvidia's Tegra 4i gets updated for LTE-Advanced networks

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

Nvidia’s Tegra 4i, designed to work with a variety of 3G and 4G wireless networks, was first introduced just ahead of Mobile World Congress back in February. The chip was billed as a cheaper alternative to the original Tegra 4 although it did include one noteworthy feature: it carries a...

Intel says new devices group will turn cool technology into products

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Incoming Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is reportedly preparing to shakes things up on the inside. A major reorganization is said to include a new devices unit that will work with emerging technologies and product trends according to All Things D.

Xbox One: Entertainment hub first, gaming console second - but can it disrupt TV?

Shawn Knight — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:52:00 GMT

Tech companies have been trying for years to get broadcast behemoths to change their ways and there’s been a good bit of progress. But it’s not enough. Technology is simply outpacing the traditional broadcast model. Something’s gotta give. Could the Xbox One be the catalyst for change that we’ve all...

IBM's Watson conquers Jeopardy, cancer and now customer service

Jesse Schoff — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:30:00 GMT

IBM thinks that they can revolutionize customer service using their Watson supercomputer. Famous for beating two of the world’s top Jeopardy! players in 2011, and then going to medical school for oncology and utilization management, Watson is now being tasked with reducing the irritation associated with calling customer service departments. ...

Touchscreen laptop sales jump 52%, making up for a tenth of units shipped in Q1

Dave LeClair — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Many of the stories regarding PC sales data since Microsoft unleashed Windows 8 upon the world have been negative. But amid declining sales there's at least some good news for Redmond's latest operating system. A new report from DisplayBank, a division of market research company IHS, suggests that about 10 percent...

Next iPad rumored to be 33% lighter and thinner thanks to new touchscreen tech

Rick Burgess — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:00:00 GMT

Despite rumored supply constraints, Apple's fifth-generation iPad is to purportedly begin trial production in July. This information originates from the latest crop of rumors by Digitimes, citing its usual assortment of supply chain insiders. Volume production of the fifth-gen iPad is expected to begin later in July, with production ramping...

Spotify launches free-to-play top-50 charts, no subscription required

Shawn Knight — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Following in the footsteps of Billboard, Spotify is now publishing a top-50 list of the most streamed and most shared tunes through the service. The lists are being made available as widgets for website owners to embed on their site. Fans can listen to the top tracks free of charge...

Leap Motion shows off gesture controls in Windows

Jose Vilches — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Leap Motion is looking to drum up enthusiasm for its 3D gesture controller as it moves closer to release. The latest tidbit from the company comes in the form of a minute-long video demonstrating how the technology works in conjunction with Microsoft's Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems.

Microsoft officially announces Xbox One: here's what we know so far

Shawn Knight — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:39:00 GMT

Microsoft live streamed their hour-long Xbox reveal earlier this morning and we've compiled all the important bits that were covered at the event. Here's what we know so far.

Watch Microsoft's next-generation Xbox reveal event live

Shawn Knight — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:39:00 GMT

Microsoft will be live streaming their hour-long Xbox reveal event Tuesday at 1PM ET / 10AM PT. Watch the full video coverage here with periodic updates summarizing the most important bits.

Google Checkout may be dead, but Google Wallet lives on

Rick Burgess — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:32:00 GMT

Google announced that it is dropping Google Checkout in favor of its more smartphone-friendly Google Wallet service. Businesses relying on Google Checkout to process online payments will have six months to transition to another payment processor. The company says it has partnered with other online payment processors, namely Braintree, Shopify...

Yahoo redesigns Flickr, adds 1 terabyte of free storage and more

Dave LeClair — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:57:00 GMT

Hot on the heels of Yahoo spending a whopping $1.1 billion on Tumblr, the company has just released a huge update to Flickr. And to go along with the completely redesigned look and feel of the photo service, it is also greatly expanding the storage offered to users, up to...

AT&T to enable all pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular this year

Shawn Knight — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

If video chatting is high on your list of priorities for a mobile device and you happen to be an AT&T customer, listen up. The wireless provider will soon allow customers to use any mobile video chat app over their cellular network regardless of data plan or device.

Apple's retail stores reach new record revenue of $57.6 per visitor

Shawn Knight — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Apple stock may be on the decline but you wouldn’t know it if you were to walk into an Apple Store. That’s because Cupertino’s retail outfits have reached new record revenue of $57.60 per visitor according to Horace Dediu from research firm Asymco. Around $12 of that is profit, we’re...