MuSic and TeCh in 1

MuSiC - Dry the River - The Chambers & The Valves

2012-02-12T22:06:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

2012-02-12T21:49:00.001-05:00

TeCh - Wiz Khalifa Bing Commercial!

2012-02-12T21:13:00.000-05:00

TeCh & MuSiC - Dubai Fountains Synchronized With Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You"! (RIP Whitney)

2012-02-12T21:08:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Lil Wayne Signs Christina Milian To Young Money & Disses "Watch The Throne"!?

2012-02-12T21:05:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit) video

2012-02-10T19:39:00.002-05:00

MoViE - The Bourne Legacy (Movie Trailer)

2012-02-08T18:10:00.000-05:00

Release date of August 3rd

MuSiC - Eric Turner – Angels & Stars (feat. Lupe Fiasco & Tinie Tempah) video

2012-02-05T11:18:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - M.I.A. – Bad Girls video

2012-02-05T11:13:00.005-05:00

MuSiC - St. Vincent - Cheerleader

2012-02-03T20:43:00.000-05:00

TeCh - Shoot your lights off with a BANG

2012-02-03T20:18:00.001-05:00

Bang! by Bitplayinc.com from maxwell gillingham-ryan on Vimeo.

TeCh - MythBusters Was Banned from Talking About RFID Chips Because Credit Card Companies Are BITCHES

2012-02-03T19:19:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Miike Snow - Paddling Out

2012-02-03T19:19:00.001-05:00

MuSiC - Drake - Practice

2012-01-31T19:27:00.000-05:00

Practice from OctobersVeryOwn on Vimeo.

MuSiC - Zebra Katz - Ima Read

2012-01-31T19:22:00.000-05:00

Zebra katz - Ima Read from Mad Decent on Vimeo.

MuSiC - Notorious B.I.G. – Going Back to Cali (Viceroy “Jet Life” Remix)

2012-01-31T18:49:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Die Antwoord - Fok Julle Naaiers

2012-01-30T20:24:00.001-05:00

TeCh - Obama Is Using Square to Take Your Donations Now

2012-01-30T16:44:00.001-05:00

President Obama wants to get re-elected! No surprise there. He also needs your money! Big whoop. He's going to use Square to get those donations! Hey now, that's pretty convenient. According to Politico, campaign personnel for Obama are being issued Square credit card readers

The Obama campaign is going to be tech-forward with taking donations (which is smart!) and will give headquarters staff, field organizers and volunteers to take anybody's donation with their iPhones, Android phones or iPads. Supposedly, staff at all levels with get that little white square that sucks up your invisible cash.

According to Politico, using Square is going to be a lot easier for the campaign staff to process donations. Hours will be saved, money will be collected and technology does what technology do. Obama's adoption of Square as its de facto money grabber is the first national campaign to do so. Get your money right, Democrats.

MuSiC - Metric - Gold Gun Girls

2012-01-30T16:28:00.001-05:00

TeCh - How Evi Compares to Siri: Evi’s Clever, Too, But Slow [VIDEO]

2012-01-29T22:04:00.002-05:00

Getting Siri’s voice-recognition capabilities on your phone just became a possibility for Android users and a bit less expensive for iPhone users. Meet Evi — a $.99 app for iPhones and free for Android.

For such a nominal price, don’t expect Evi to be on par with Siri. There are some major differences with Evi as opposed to the quick and integrated Siri. Evi will not schedule meetings on your calendar or let you dictate text messages. But for functions like finding local shops, restaurants and general information, it’s pretty helpful.

I asked Evi: “What time is it, Evi?” and it thought I said, “What time is it TV?”. Messages such as “Just a mo’” appeared on the screen to let me know it was thinking and then it said, “I’m having trouble getting a response from my servers.” Yes, it was noticeably slower than Siri.

Other times it would say, “I don’t know right now — try asking again next week.” I asked, “Can you set my alarm for 9 p.m.?” even though Evi is not synced with the other apps like Siri is, it said it hasn’t learned to do that yet.

Could it be possible that True Knowledge, the company behind Evi, will integrate the app with its operating system’s other functions in the future? Check out the company’s video below introducing Evi.

The voice sounds a lot like Siri, although some reviewers have said the voice sounds annoying. Yes, it thinks too long and sometimes right after you state your query it says it is not getting a response from the servers, but then, your answer appears.

But even as I write this, I keep wanting to call this app Siri because it’s quite similar. However, Apple’s assistant still comes out in the lead compared to Evi [Link to app store].

For as many people who use Siri for making appointments and scheduling calls, there are also many who enjoy the depth of knowledge and wit Siri contains. Ask Siri to “tell me about the Civil War” and it directs me to a related link. Ask Evi the same question and you get a brief encyclopedia response including the dates and a small photo.

Siri also has built-in cleverness. Just to play around with Evi and find out if any sassy answers were built into this app, I asked, “What’s my name?” and it responded, “Who are you? Surely you know the answer to that one already.” I asked Evi other absurd questions like, What should I eat for dinner?” and it pointed me to a website for an olive tapenade recipe.

If you want a bare-bones Siri with some frequent hiccups — but a .99 cent or free price tag — Evi is a good option for now.

(Info provided by Kate Freeman of Mashable)

TeCh - How to Stay Motivated and Avoid Slacking Off While Working From Home

2012-01-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

If you have the opportunity to telecommute regularly, or even work from home every now and again, the temptation can be strong to just put your feet up and forget about work unless you have to check in occasionally and clear out your inbox or dial in to a meeting. Occasional slacking is fine, but there's no faster way to get your remote work privileges revoked than to keep that up. Here's how to resist the urge and stay motivated, even if there's no one looking over your shoulder.

Threaten Yourself and Remember How Lucky You Are

If you even have the ability to work from home, even on rare occasions, stop and remember that you're lucky to have the privilege—and it's just that, a privilege. More and more companies are embracing telecommuting and remote work as a great benefit to their employees and a way to increase productivity. Keep this in mind when you work from home, especially if you're tempted to just sleep in an extra three hours and only put in two before you break for the day. There are plenty of people who would love to work from home, and if you'd like to continue working from home, your best bet is to treat it like a regular workday.

Take Your Manager into Consideration

I've had the opportunity to work from home for two different kinds of managers: one who never checked in with me unless it was an emergency, never emailed, and honestly didn't care if you put in 2 or 10 hours of work when you worked from home. In return for his lenience, some of his team would thrive under the lack of oversight while others were nowhere to be found on their "working from home" days. On the other hand, I've had managers for whom "working from home" meant that he expected you to not only put in a full 8 hour workday, but he wanted the time you would have spent commuting on either end. He could call and check in with you regularly, and advised you set up videoconferences and online meetings on your telecommuting days so you could still get some face time.

Think about which type of manager you have—or will have if you continue working from home. In either case, your best bet is to avoid the temptation to sleep in late and check out early. Your manager will appreciate your commitment, and even if there's no love lost between you and your boss, you'll be able to work from home more often.

Dress The Part

We've mentioned this before, but one way to make sure you're in the right mindset for work and feel like it's time to get some work done is to dress as though you're headed to the office. One of the most tempting perks of working from home is that you can toss on your PJs and sit at your computer, but after doing that once or twice, you'll find it's difficult to get out of the "home" mindset and into the "work" mindset. Plus, wearing business casual clothes makes it much more difficult to get up from your computer and go off to do non-work stuff around the house. After all, it's unlikely you'll decide you'd rather bake a cake than tend to your TPS reports if you're wearing slacks and button-down shirt.

Follow (Or Start) Your Daily Routine

Sure, part of the beauty of working from home is that you can drag yourself from your bed to your keyboard and get to work, but there's a lot to be said for getting yourself in the right frame of mind for work by performing your usual daily routine and settling in at your desk at home the same way you would if you were settling in to your desk at work. Part of the benefit here is physical—as we mentioned before, following your daily routine gives you the opportunity to dress as though you're headed to the office—but part of the benefit is psychological as well. Following your normal routine serves as a mental reminder that it's time to work, and separates your time at home from how you would feel on a weekend or holiday.

If you work from home regularly, you may also benefit from upgrading your daily routine, either by brewing your own coffee instead of stopping at the Starbucks near the office, making sure you eat a healthy breakfast before you sit down to work, or getting a little exercise before you hit the shower and put on your work clothes.

Discipline Yourself

If you have a tendency to do anything butwork when you're sitting at your home computer trying to work, you may benefit from our guide to avoiding distractions and forcing yourself to stay on task when you work from home. As we've mentioned before, you only have so much willpower to go around. You may also benefit from using an app like RescueTime to find those wasted hours and use them to get more done. In the end, part of your goal is to train your brain into recognizing when it's time for work and when its time for play, and giving yourself all of the cues and reminders you need to stay the course.

Take Naps and Breaks To Boost Productivity

Up to this point, we've talked a lot about how you can whip yourself into shape. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the benefits of working from home, like strategic naps that can help you be more productive (including the caffeine nap, a tactic I can vouch for), taking real, work-free breaks to recharge your batteries, or get outside for a while to give your mind a boost. Working from home gives you the unparalleled power to get truly and completely away from work for a while when you want to nap or take a break. Enjoy it while you have it, be grateful for it, and come back to your work recharged and full of energy.

It's okay if your first couple of days working from home are filled with a lot of television, snack foods, and a laptop on the couch next to you while you fire up the Xbox 360 instead of you sitting (or standing) at your desk and actually focusing on your work. If you really can't resist the temptations of your home or apartment, you may consider heading back into the office, or finding a coworking center, where you get an office-like environment on your own terms.

However, if you really want to be successful working from home and overcoming the urge to slack off and lose focus, you need to do whatever it takes to consider your tele-work days as important as (or more important than) your days trapped in your cubicle. With luck and some motivation, you'll be able to work from home more often with the blessing of your manager and company, and you'll be more productive to boot.

(Info provided by Alan Henry of lifehacker)

TeCh - Five Best Tax Preparation Tools

2012-01-29T21:58:00.001-05:00

It's tax time, and here in the United States you're guaranteed a faster refund if you're due one by filing your taxes electronically. The trouble is that there are dozens of tools that can help you e-file. Some of them help you maximize your deductions and make sure nothing's overlooks, and others just make the filing process quick and easy. Here are five of the best tax preparation tools, based on your nominations.

Earlier in the week we asked you which services you trust to file your taxes accurately, quickly, and easily. You guys definitely had some favorites, but here are the top five nominees.

Photo by 401K.

TaxAct (Basic: Free, Deluxe: $9.95, Ultimate $17.95)

TaxAct combines a feature-rich filing program with an easy-to-follow online guide and tutorial that will make filing even complicated taxes easy and straight-forward. You can file entirely online, or download the Windows app and run it locally. It's not as popular as some of the bigger names, but it's product has been steadily improving over the years, and that's earned it a decent following. You'll have to deal with regular nags to upgrade to the deluxe version for extra features or access to prior year's returns (which the service has if you've filed with them previously, but won't let you access until you pay up), but the decision is ultimately yours. The Deluxe package gives you access to prior years and more granular filing options, while the Ultimate package includes everything available in Deluxe and will file your state return as well. If you have trouble with your return after filing with TaxAct, they'll pay any penalties or fines you may incur due to improper filing fees.

FreeTax USA (Basic: Free, Deluxe: $5.95)

FreeTax USA is one of the newer free filing services to enter the mix, but it boasts over 7 million returns filed to date, and its rock bottom price beats TaxAct, which used to hold the "cheapstake's choice" award. The basic service is completely free, entirely online, and walks you through the filing process with an online tutorial that the service promises minimizes mistakes and maximizes your return. All of the features you would expect are available, including PDF copies of your return, the ability to pay or get your refund electronically via direct debit/deposit, and the option to file individual deductions and make granular changes if your taxes are more complicated than most. If you choose to file your state return at the same time, you'll only have to pony up $9.95 to do it, but $5.95 more gives you the full Deluxe package, which opens up the ability to amend your return later if you have to and gives you access to FreeTax USA's audit support services if the IRS doesn't like what they see on your return.

H&R Block At Home (Basic: $19.95, Deluxe: $44.95, Premium: $64.95, Premium & Business: $79.95)

H&R Block At Home is an extension of the company's in-office filing services, and the company has an impressive spread of software packages with different features at different price points. All of the packages come with H&R Block's audit defense services (as in, they'll send an actual lawyer to help and represent you if you're audited by the IRS) and robust customer support that, in addition to being able to answer questions about the software, can actually answer tax questions and help you with your return. You likely won't need help with the software anyway—the package is easy to use, has audio and video walkthroughs and tutorials, and is designed to be so robust that you won't need much help filing, especially if your taxes are simple. The major difference between the spread of suites is the level of depth required, and whether you own a home, a business, rental property, need special forms, or have exceptionally complicated taxes to file. H&R Block's tools are available online, for Mac, or for Windows.

(Info provided by Alan Henry of Lifehacker.com

TeCh - European Lawmakers Want “Right to Be Forgotten” on Facebook, Google

2012-01-25T21:26:00.003-05:00

European Internet users may be getting better control over information posted online, thanks to some proposed sweeping reforms lawmakers proposed Wednesday designed to protect digital privacy.

The suggested law calls for a “right to be forgotten” and a “right to data portability.” The former would require Internet companies such as Facebook and Google to completely wipe all of a user’s info from their servers if such a request was made. The latter demands users be allowed to easily transfer data from one online service to another, a currently difficult task.

The “right to be forgotten” wouldn’t be granted to users attempting to remove information relevant to a criminal investigation.

All online businesses operating in Europe would be bound to the new rules, whether or not they’re based on the continent. Should web services fail to comply with these rights, they would be slapped with fines of up to €1 million or up to 2% of the global annual turnover of a company (The total value of all products made in a 12-month period).

In the past, European Union (EU) member states have issued varying interpretations on existing digital privacy laws. Those different analyses have resulted in discordant levels of enforcement from country to country. If passed, this law would unify all 27 EU member states under a single set of privacy rules.

The EU argues this Europe-wide standardization would save businesses money by providing a sole definitive source of online privacy law for the continent. However, many internet companies depend on access to users’ data for advertisement revenue.

A spokesman for European Union justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, told the BBC that the proposed laws are a means of protecting children and young adults who share details online which they later want removed for professional or personal reasons.

“These rules are particularly aimed at young people as they are not always as aware as they could be about the consequence of putting photos and other information on social network websites, or about the various privacy settings available,” said spokesman Matthew Newman.

( Info provided by Alex Fitzpatrick of Mashable)

TeCh - iPhone 5 Will Have 4-Inch Screen, Launch in Summer [RUMOR]

2012-01-25T21:25:00.000-05:00

We know. We know. Everyone still hasn’t stopped talking about how many iPhone 4Ses Apple sold last quarter, and here we are reporting on new rumors about the next one. But this most recent iPhone 5 rumor has piqued our interest more than usual.

9to5 Mac reports that a Foxconn worker told them that the next-generation iPhone, tentatively called the iPhone 5, is gearing up for production. According to the report, there are several different samples, each of which varies slightly from the others, so it’s impossible to determine which will be final.

However, all the samples sport 4-inch or larger screens, which would finally put the iPhone into the same screen leagues as many of its high-end Android competitors, like the Droid RAZR. That of course means none of the samples have the same compact form factor as the iPhone 4 or 4S. The screen on one of the units is said to be made by LG; there was no screen info for the other samples.

Also of note: Not a single one of the phones has a MacBook Air-inspired teardrop shape, a rumor that first got started last spring, then visually realized in a speculative post on This Is My Next (now The Verge). Apparently all of the samples are symmetrically shaped.

The report goes on to say that production of iPhone 5 could begin soon, perhaps with a summer release.

While you should look at all of this information with a skeptical eye, a raised eyebrow and folded arms, the rumor sounds slightly more credible than the junk typically spewed out from Taiwan industry pub DigiTimes. For starters, reviewing various prototypes before deciding on the final production model is a standard practice in manufacturing, unlike many rumors that imply certainty about what something will look like.

Also, the overall vagueness of the rumor (no precise screen measurement, no photos, nothing about the insides) at least gives an appearance of authenticity. After all, if you were just going to make something up, why not be more detailed? There’s certainly no shortage of potential features to choose from.

(Info provided by Peter Pachal of Mashable)

MuSiC - Ace Hood (Feat. Rick Ross) - Realist Livin video

2012-01-25T21:22:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Maino "I Am Who I Am" Mixtape Trailer

2012-01-25T21:18:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Grand Opening, Grand Closing: Jay Z’s 40/40 Club Shut Down Again.

2012-01-23T14:21:00.000-05:00

Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in New York City was shut down following a health code inspection that uncovered a slew of violations.

The violations, listed below and first reported by the NY Post, range from hot food being left out on the counter … to a refrigerator being kept at 60° rather than the required 41° … to a worker seen mixing salsa with his bare hands.

The club was scored 69 violation points, according to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website. A score of 28 or higher results in the dreaded C grade.

According to the paper, the club was closed Thursday night and new patrons were not allowed in — the ones already inside were allowed to stay.

The Department of Health’s website lists the restaurant as “closed by Health Dept.” … but the NY Post says it was open for business last night.

(Info provided by hiphop365)

MuSiC - Chevy Woods - Yonkers video

2012-01-23T14:18:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - ASAP Rocky - Wassup

2012-01-23T14:15:00.002-05:00

TeCh - Megaupload defendants in court Sunday

2012-01-22T22:01:00.003-05:00

Kim Dotcom, founder of the file sharing site Megaupload, is appearing at North Shore District Court this morning for a bail hearing along with three other men involved in the case.

Dotcom, along with chief marketing officer Finn Batato, Mathias Ortmann, chief technical officer, Ortmann and Bram van der Kolk, programmer, were arrested on Friday by New Zealand Police who executed provisional arrest warrants requested by the United States Department of Justice.

All four defendants are expected to apply for bail pending an extradition hearing. Lawyers representing the US government have opposed bail for all four defendants.

(Info provided by Itworld)

TeCh - Iranian Court Upholds Death Sentence For Programmer

2012-01-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

An Iranian court has upheld its decision to sentence 35-year-old Saeed Malekpour to death for developing photo-uploading software used by porn websites.

Iran’s Supreme Court maintains Malekpour promoted such sites because his name was on the software. Amnesty International says Malekpour was unaware that his software was being used for pornography. He was sentenced to death in June 2011. The court accused Malekpour of “insulting and desecrating Islam.” On Tuesday, the court ruled to move forward with the death sentence, which could be immanent, Amnesty says.

Radio Free Europe reported Malekpour’s sister said the trial was unfair and her brother is innocent.

“All of Saeed’s activities were within the law,” Maryam Malekpour said to Radio Free Europe. “He didn’t commit anything illegal. Saeed just wrote a computer program that could have been used by these immoral websites or any other website. Unfortunately, without his knowledge, the program was sold and used to upload photos on these immoral websites.”

Malekpour, a Canadian citizen, was arrested when he visited his father in Iran in 2008. He was allegedly tortured for one year while he was held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin Prison.

Malekpour says he was forced into making a confession and gives details of his arrest and imprisonment on the site Persian2English.

He recounted being lured into making a false confession under the threat of torture or the torture of his family members. He wrote: “To prevent me from informing the magistrate that my confession was received under pressure, the interrogators threatened that the torture would worsen. Sometimes they threatened that they would arrest my wife and torture her in front of me.”

Iran’s draconian stance toward Internet freedom is well known. Earlier this month, the government announceda “Halal” Intranet, free of Western influence. The government aims to curb social-media-fueled protests, like those during Iran’s 2009 election. The Iranian government also said the CIA uses American-made video games as propaganda to promote U.S. actions abroad.

In the past, the “Iranian Cyber Army” has made it difficult for citizens to access certain sites outside of Iran. Iranians have had to use VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks – a technical solution to access restricted sites.

(Info provided by Aaron Maxwell of Mashable)

TeCh - Nokia Ringtone Interrupts, Violist Plays Along

2012-01-22T21:57:00.000-05:00

TeCh - RIM Co-CEOs Are Out [REPORT]

2012-01-22T21:55:00.004-05:00

Following weeks of speculation, it appears Research in Motion (RIM) is finally ready to oust Co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis. The two are, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, stepping aside on Monday and will be replaced by a company insider.

The move comes after a solid year of miscues and blunders by Balsillie and Lazaridis. 2011 got off to a promising start with the introduction of the Playbook tablets, but RIM bungled the launch, leaving out key features like a native e-mail client. Later in the year the company announced the name for a new combined OS only to learn they didn’t have rights to the name. The company also suffered through an extended service outage and took what some believe was too long to respond directly to customers about the situation.

The company has also steadily slipped down the ladder in smartphone market share as Android competitors and Apple released more and more innovative and well-received handsets. The calls for RIM to replace its co-CEOs have been growing steadily, even as RIM gets its house in order. Just this month, the company finally unveiled Playbook OS 2.0 which does feature its own email client. Now the question is what the new CEO can do to return the Canadian technology company to the front of the mobile technology pack.

(Info provided by Lance Ulanoff of Mashable)

MuSiC - 50 Cent May Release TWO Albums This Year

2012-01-22T21:53:00.003-05:00

MuSiC - Common Spits A Freestyle In ATL Aimed At YMCMB

2012-01-22T21:52:00.004-05:00

MuSiC - Wiz Khalifa Joins Bow Wow In The Studio

2012-01-22T21:51:00.003-05:00

TeCh - AT&T hikes data prices, caps for smartphones

2012-01-19T13:51:00.004-05:00

The company's previous bottom-tier $15 plan will go up to $20, although the amount of data allocated also goes up to 300 from 200 megabytes. Likewise, the $25, 2 gigabyte plan goes up to a $30, 3GB one. Its high-end $45, 4GB plan--which includes the mobile hot-spot capability--goes up to $50 for 5GB. The new plans start on Sunday.
AT&T said existing customers can keep their current plans.
That AT&T is raising its rates and the amount of data each plan allows underscores the growing use of smartphones, even from customers making the first-time jump into these devices. The carrier hopes that with the increased allocation, it will be able to avoid customers going over their plans, which result in overage fees.
"They really want to prevent overages," said Roger Entner, a consultant with Recon Analytics. "Nobody is happy about overages--it makes unhappy customers, and unhappy customers tend to leave."
Still, the price hike comes at a time when customers are more sensitive than ever, raising the minimum bar for customers looking to make the smartphone jump. Last week, the head of AT&T's mobile and consumer divisions, Ralph de la Vega, told CNET that making smartphones more affordable was a major initiative at the carrier. At the Consumer Electronics Show, the company showed off two 4G LTE smartphones it plans to price at under $50 to entice newcomers.
AT&T moved cautiously when it first offered a tiered data plan, but since then its $15 offer has been successful at convincing customers to upgrade to smartphone plan. It was the first major carrier to push through the idea of capped data plans at a time when bandwidth and wireless traffic was exploding.
The company also tweaked itstablet data plan, increasing it to 3GB for $30 a month, up from 2GB for $25. There's also a new higher end plan that offers 5GB for $50.
The company has been dealing with increasing data consumption, moving to throttle, or slow the connection, of consumers who exceed a certain limit (the limit changes from month to month depending on usage). At the same time, it is working to create a shared data plan, allowing multiple devices to connect to the network with one bill, but De la Vega said there have been complications with getting that rolled out correctly.
Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, has been testing out a 300MB plan for $20 a month in select markets in the south. It previously ran a promotion for 4GB of data for $30 a month, but it expired Sunday.

(Info provided by Roger Cheng of CNET)

TeCh - Stop Online Piracy Act SOPA

2012-01-16T16:16:00.001-05:00

In January 2012, Reddit announced plans to black out its site for twelve hours on January 18, as company co-founder Alexis Ohanian announced he was going to testify to Congress. "He’s of the firm position that SOPA could potentially 'obliterate' the entire tech industry", Paul Tassi wrote in Forbes. Tassi also opined that Google and Facebook would have to join the blackout to reach a sufficiently broad audience.[130] Other prominent sites that are reported to be participating in the January 18 blackout are Cheezburger Sites,[131] Mojang,[132] Major League Gaming,[133] and Boing Boing.[134]

Wider protests have been considered and in some cases committed to by major internet sites, with high profile bodies such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Amazon, AOL, Reddit, Mozilla, LinkedIn, IAC, Ebay, Paypal, Wordpress and Wikimedia being widely named as "considering" or committed to an "unprecedented"[135] internet blackout on the day of the January 18, 2012 hearing.

(Info provided by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act)

TeCh - Square Lets Entrepreneurs Round Out Their Payment Options

2012-01-15T19:52:00.001-05:00

If you’re an entrepreneur in the retail sector, you’ve no doubt heard the following phrase that has brought many transactions to a grinding halt: “Do you take credit cards?”

If the answer is no, all the goodwill in the world won’t help you. These days, people just don’t carry that much cash around with them. That was the situation that Chip Forsythe encountered last year. Forsythe is one of the founders of Slo Down Wines, a San Francisco vintner. Forsythe started the company with two college buddies. Having no budget to speak of, he soon found the company’s primary marketing vehicle — wine shows — was quickly depleting their resources.

By Forsythe’s estimation, each show would cost around $300 or so to participate in. Then the company would distribute hundreds of dollars in wine for free. What was frustrating was that people at the shows appeared interested in buying Slo Down’s wines, but didn’t have cash. Last year, Forsythe’s younger brother told him about Square, a free device and app that let you process credit cards on your smartphone. It was a huge change.

“We went from losing money at the shows to making thousands of dollars,” he says. Fair enough, but why didn’t Forsythe just go the traditional route and get a merchant account with one of the credit card companies? “It seemed too beyond us,” he says. “We didn’t have any money.”

It’s hard to turn down free, though. Square entices vendors like Slo Down by sending its quarter-size Square reader device free. After that, the company takes a 2.75% cut of every transaction. You can also set up an account pretty quickly, says Katie Baynes, a rep for Square. “We do a credit check, but it’s not a traditional check,” she says.

Launched publicly in October 2010 by Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, Square claimed its 1 millionth vendor in December. While Baynes says the company doesn’t outline which types of companies are using Square, anecdotally at least, it seems to have found a niche among formerly low-tech trades like food trucks, farmer’s markets, dog walkers and Christmas tree vendors, as well as at PTA fundraisers.

About the only knock against the company, at least in the early days, was that it had a limit of $1,000 a week for transactions, ensuring that your business would stay small. However, that limit has now been removed.

At the moment, that doesn’t seem to be a deal-breaker for many. Merchants are happy to pay the relatively small transaction fee (for online-only transactions in which merchants manually enter credit card information, Square gets a 3.5% cut plus an additional 15 cents) and, for its part, Square gets access to lots of sales data. For instance, Square knows the average price of a cappuccino ($3.09 as of April) and the busiest sales day of the week (Saturday).

That data has helped Square rack up $168 million in funding so far. Dorsey’s pitch to investors is simple: There’s a huge market out there of vendors who, for one reason or another, don’t want to get a merchant account, but would be happy to find a way to process credit cards.

Dorsey, of course, isn’t the first one to notice this. PayPal has offered the same kind of payment option for vendors for some time and is now making the move into offline transactions with PayPal Wallet. Over the next year, PayPal hopes to roll out terminals that merchants can use to facilitate payments via a PayPal credit card, typing in a PayPal pin or eventually using an NFC tap. Of course, Google is also eyeing the same space with Google Wallet.

While those technologies are still in their infancy, though, Square is a solution that’s up and running today. That doesn’t mean, however, that Square will look the same a year or two from now. Bob Egan, VP of mobile strategy for Mobiquity, a mobile technology consultancy, says he believes that Square has impressed the major credit card firms by rounding up new customers. Egan believes that at some point, one of the credit card giants may decide to buy Square. At this point, though, they’re just watching it very closely. Says Egan: “They look at Square as a great science project.”

(Info provided by Todd Wasserman of Mashable)

MuSiC - LoveRance (Feat. 50 Cent)- Up (Explicit Version)

2012-01-13T05:43:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Mary J. Blige (Feat. Drake) - Mr. Wrong

2012-01-13T05:34:00.000-05:00

TeCh - New credit card is virtually theft-proof

2012-01-11T10:26:00.000-05:00

A new prototype credit card from Dynamics Inc could be the solution to credit card fraud.
The card is powered by a tiny battery, and generates a different security code (usually the three digit code printed on the back) every time it's switched on. The number stored in the magnetic strip also changes - so it can't be cloned, at least with current technology.
The card is on display at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and the technology is currently under trial by Citibank.

The card's number changes every time it's used - so it's near-impossible to clone with current technology. Online shoppers simply enter a PIN to 'turn on' the card, and it generates a new number which is displayed on the front - this can then be typed in to websites safely

The code stored in the magnetic strip changes every time it's used - so it's very difficult to clone.
You 'tell' the card to switch on by entering a PIN code, and it displays the number. Without the code, it's useless.
The card is the size of an ordinary credit or debit card, and the battery inside lasts for three years.
Dynamics Inc, the company behind the cards, says that its 'powered cards' can also be used for cards that offer access to several accounts from one card, or cards that hide a portion of the number unless a PIN is entered.

'All that is needed to steal a credit card number today is a pen and paper or a portable card reader,' says maker Dynamics Inc, which showed off the card at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

'The credit card automatically writes a new, unique dynamic security code onto its magnetic strip for every purchase. A display can also be added to the card - thus replacing the three or four digit security code physically printed on traditional cards.'

When the card is 'off', the magnetic strip doesn't store the correct number - so thieves can't 'skim' a card in a restaurant.

(Info provided by dailymail.co.uk)

TeCh - Intel announces first smartphones with Lenovo and Motorola

2012-01-11T09:30:00.002-05:00

Lenovo’s K800 will launch in China in the second quarter of this year, while Motorola will gain regulatory approval in the summer and launch in the following months across Europe and America.The announcements mark Intel’s first tangible bid to challenge the smartphone dominance of British company Arm, whose chips power many of the world’s most popular phones. The rapidly expanding mobile market will, Intel hopes, complement its new laptops and other devices.

Paul Ottelini, the company’s chief executive, said the relationship with Lenovo was “just the beginning”, as he also announced “Intel reference designs” for phones and tablets. These emphasise improved battery life, while also keeping standard features such as a camera of up to 16MP and rapid web browsing and graphics capabilities. One Intel spokesman described the Android products as “fully buzzword compliant”. Existing software will not need to be rewritten for the new devices, which the company also demonstrated taking 10 pictures in less than a second. It hopes manufacturers will use them to build new devices of their own.

Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha said that the multi-year deal would see “the best of Intel products’ in Motorola handsets and tablets.

Mr Ottelini also showcased the new Dell XPS 13 laptop, one of many new sim and light “ultrabooks” to launch at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). He also offered further demonstrations of “concept” ultrabooks using a touchscreen interface or which can transform easily from tablets to laptops. He said this offered the best of both form-factors and was made possible by Intel’s new chips. “It’s about the device adapting to us not the other way round”, he claimed.

(Info provided by telegraph.co.uk)

TeCh - The gadget highlights not to miss... so far CES 2012

2012-01-11T09:26:00.001-05:00

The world's largest annual electronics show -- CES -- never disappoints. In a snowstormof product launches, every major electronics brand (apart fromApple) and 94 tech startups all worked together to push our techtoys into 2012.
Despite gloomy sales of electronics in 2011, R&D departmentsaround the globe have evidently been busy dreaming up this year'sinnovations. Smartphones have got smarter, TVs thinner, tablets faster and apps seem to be everywhere. After anexhausting first day on the show floor, here's what we made of thetrends emerging from CES 2012.
Thin TVs
No technology has the ability to impress like a very thin TV andwe've seen two of the world's flattest today. TV brands have dabblewith OLED before, but Samsung and LG have pushed the tech tospectacular 55-inch screen sizes and reckon they'll be shiftingunits this year, although the price, which has been the barrier sofar, has yet to be announced. The fact that the two products are sosimilar is a coincidence apparently, but with OLED's manyadvantages -- superior colour rendition and black levels andabsence of a backlight etc -- both are wowing the crowds on theirrespective stands.
Meanwhile Sony has given up on OLED and put its money on CrystalLED instead. A very slim prototype with remarkably vivid colours isdazzling visitors at the Sony booth, but it probably won't becoming to market this year.
Less 3D. Yay!
In marked contrast to last year, 3D hastaken a back seat, although every TV brand has progressed their 3Dsolutions. LG's passive glasses have got lighter and its "Cinema3D" technology has gained market share on the active 3D technologythat everyone else is using. Toshiba wheeled out its glasses-freeTV again, but its unconvincing demo (you have to stand in a certainspot to see the 3D effect) suggests that we're stuck with theannoying glasses for now.
"Ultra Definition" is the new battle cry of the TV makers. These4K screens (roughly 4,000 x 2,000 pixels) offer four times theresolution of Full HD (1,920 x 1080 pixels) and consequently anoticeably sharper picture. At this stage, it's more a case ofbrands like Sharp, LG and Samsung proving that they have thecapability, as without any source material nobody is going to bebuying one yet.
Smart TV
Smart TVs and their ingenious apps are where TV makers arecompeting this year. Samsung's TVs now let you bounce media fromyour TV at home via your Samsung phone to, say, a Samsung TV inyour friend's house, or hotel room. Panasonic has chosen MySpace(for some reason) to show how social media can be used make TVviewing more interactive.
Perhaps the smartest TVs are those running Google TV platform. After last year'sfaltering start, the new version seems to run smoothly onSamsnung, Sony and LG's TVs with its big advantage being theintuitive way you can search the web for the content you want towatch.
And instead of the old channel zapper, how about motion controlfor flipping channels? LG, among others, is using a suspiciously Kinect-like camera to enable you to controlyour TV, by waving your arms around. Only Samsung has taken thelogical step of integrating the camera and microphone into thebezel of its upper-end sets this year and as a result, it has thebest gesture and voice control system.
Tablets are everywhere
As you probably guessed, CES was practically paved with tabletPCs. From the pocket-sized BlackBerry Playbook (now with 2.0operating system) to the world's thinnest 10-inch Toshiba Excite X10, the category is proliferating. Of them all,the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 with its LTE 4G module and 1280x800Super AMOLED Plus screen boasts the highest specification.
But fighting back against the tablets is a new wave of thin andpowerful ultrabooks. The HP Envy 14 Spectre is the most impressive of these being madesheets of tough gorilla glass although Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga with Windows8 looks very slick too.
Cameras and smartphones
The hottest new camera came from Fujifilm with the launch of itsretro-styled X-Pro 1, which arrives with a selection of scaled downinterchangeable lenses to join the growing compact system cameracategory. Don't miss our full report on that model
Smartphones took an evolutionary leap at CES as well, with theNokia Lumia 900, HTC Titan II and Sony Xperia Ion arriving with LTEmodels ready for speedy 4G communication. As well, the Sony Xperia S becomes the first phone in the UK for over adecade to be just a Sony phone, not a Sony Ericsson.
Blu-ray, Bond and... skateboards
While your options for viewing films continues to grow with Netflix arriving in the UK, the Blu-ray format received a boostwith nine new players from Panasonic alone, while Sony pushed theformat into the next resolution with a player that can upscale to4K. And to celebrate James Bond's 50th birthday (50 years since thefirst film anyway), 20th Century Fox showed off its completecollection of 007 films on Blu-ray.
And finally, while this probably isn't going to be a trendexactly, the Kinect-controlled electric skateboard is our favouriteinnovation of CES 2012 so far. Kaotic Moon has used a tabletrunning Windows 8 and Kinect motion control to create this crazygesture controlled electric skateboard. The "Board of Awesomeness"has been seen zipping around CES at up to 32 Mph.

(Info provided by Jim Hill of Wired.com/uk)

TeCh - RIM’s PlayBook software overhaul brings hope

2012-01-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

It seems hard to imagine now, but Research In Motion Ltd. kicked off 2011 riding a wave of cautious optimism fuelled by a new device, the BlackBerry PlayBook touchscreen tablet, the company’s first foray outside its smartphone comfort zone.
When co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis unveiled the PlayBook in September, 2010, RIM observers were encouraged that the Waterloo, Ont.-based company appeared to finally have a device that could rival the surging popularity of Apple Inc.’s iPad.
Last year at the annual Consumer Electronics Show here, RIM pulled out all the stops to make sure the PlayBook was on the tip of every tongue in the tech world. RIM erected a huge booth, had dozens of PlayBooks on display and brought in celebrities such as Adrian Grenier and Olivia Wilde to help commandeer the spotlight.
Unfortunately, the PlayBook never lived up to its initial promise. When it finally launched in April — much later than many analysts had hoped, and after Apple had already debuted iPad 2 — the PlayBook enjoyed a less-than-favourable reception.
Despite its powerful architecture, critics chastised RIM for shipping the device without core features, such as native email and calendar software. RIM’s questionable marketing tactics and public relations snafus didn’t help. After three fiscal quarters of slow sales, some analysts are openly wondering whether RIM should shutter the PlayBook division and stick to its smartphone knitting.
But all that could be about to change.
This week at CES, RIM is giving the world its first glimpse of PlayBook OS 2.0, a sweeping overhaul to the tablet’s core software due to be released in February. Indeed, the software overhaul may cause the technology world to rethink its attitude towards RIM’s much-maligned tablet.
The new software corrects many of the PlayBook’s most obvious flaws, and brings new content offerings to the device that has been falling behind its competitors, including Apple, Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle Fire and a bevy of devices running Google Inc.’s Android software.
The new native email client will enable users to access their messages without having to sync the PlayBook to their smartphone. It will also allow users to access their corporate email, personal inbox and LinkedIn and Twitter messages from a single application.
With the new calendar application, business users will be able to see who is attending a particular meeting and to retrieve information about them either through their own address book or by pulling in public LinkedIn data from the Web.
In the new “people-centric” contacts application, users will be able to access not only the phone numbers and email addresses of their contacts, but also their social media profiles, and choose how they want to reach their friends.
There’s even an application that enables PlayBook owners to use their BlackBerry smartphone as a remote control to manipulate the action on the PlayBook.
One of the biggest complaints about the PlayBook was the lack of a video download service to match up with Apple’s iTunes. With PlayBook 2.0, users will get access to a new RIM Video Store, powered by technology from Rovi Corp.
The new video store will feature thousands of movies and television shows available for download from many of the major Hollywood studios. RIM officials said the Video Store will launch in the United States with the PlayBook 2.0 update in February; the company has not said when the Video Store will come to Canada or other markets.
The new software isn’t likely to turn around overnight the fortunes that beset RIM’s first tablet. But if the company can deliver what appears to be a solid software update in February as promised, it will go a long way towards repairing its tarnished reputation.

(Info provided by Matt Hartley of the Financial Post)

TeCh - T-Mobile expands 4G network and services, announces Galaxy S Blaze 4G

2012-01-11T09:21:00.000-05:00

Expanding 4G network

T-Mobile announced that they rolled out the 42 Mbps (double the previous speed) in 12 additional markets so that 184 million Americans in 175 markets are covered. Their 21 Mbps network has also expanded into nine additional markets. They also announced they will be able to expand their AWS coverage when they get the concessions from AT&T after the failed purchase.

Bobsled IP-based service expansion

I wrote about the Bobsled mobile client release last October, but have not had the chance to try it out and experience the service. Yesterday, T-Mobile announced the new Bobsled Messaging app for Android devices that lets you send and receive messages, through data and not through SMS, for free. The slick thing is that you can create a message from a PC browser and it gets synced to your phone so you can have a consolidated messaging experience across a number of devices and platforms. An iOS version of Bobsled Messaging is under development.
T-Mobile also announced the enhancement of Bobsled Calling so that you can now make free phone calls from your mobile phone to your Facebook friends and any mobile or landline in the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico. Previously you could only call Facebook friends. There are Android and iOS apps for Calling.
I highly recommend you read through the FAQ section on the Bobsled website since there are some great questions answered that should help explain the service in detail. I loaded both up on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus and will be testing it out over the next week or two.

Free services on T-Mobile

T-Mobile is the best carrier when it comes to controlling how many apps and services are preloaded on their devices and as I confirmed yesterday many of those services can be quite valuable. For example, T-Mobile TV is loaded on many smartphones and you get 16 channels completely free. The MobileLife Album lets you back up your photos to the cloud, T-Mobile has been doing this way before cloud computing was popular. You get five free magazines with Zinio that you can even read on multiple devices.
T-Mobile revealed that 50% of the data consumed on their network is due to streaming video content and that data consumption is doubling every nine months.

New 4G smartphones

Customers today can purchase the Nokia Lumia 710 for just $50 and as I mentioned in my initial hands-on this device is a great deal at $50 and should satisfy many customers and hopefully encourage more people to try out Windows Phone. This is only a 14.4 Mbps smartphone and while T-Mobile labels it 4G, it doesn’t compare in download speeds with their 21 and 42 Mbps devices.
T-Mobile also announced the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G that will support their 42 Mbps network, but most details were not revealed and the release date was simply given as “coming later this year”. It looks to be similar to a Galaxy Nexus and an upgraded Galaxy S 2 with Super AMOLED display, Android OS, and 1.5 GHz dual-core processor.

(Info provided by Matthew Miller of ZDnet)

TeCh - 3D printer makers' rival visions of future

2012-01-11T09:16:00.003-05:00

The device is made by the New York start-up Makerbot Industries and was launched this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The newly-created bottle opener feels warm to the touch and has to be prized away from its base.
It has been created by using extrusion technology - a process in which a spindle of plastic thread is unravelled, melted and fed through a print head which draws the object layer by layer - in this case at a rate of 40mm per second.
3D printing is nothing new - engineers and designers have been using it for more than two decades to create prototypes.
What has changed is that the printers are now being pitched at consumers.
Discount designs The Replicator is being sold for $1,749 (£1,130) for the basic version that makes objects in one colour. An additional $250 buys a two-colour version.
Each spool of plastic sells for about $50 - enough to build a toy castle playset which would cost up to three times the price in a store.

3D printing and other gadgets on show at CES

"It's a machine that makes you anything you need," Makerbot's chief executive, Bre Pettis, tells the BBC.
"Handy in an apocalypse or just handy for making shower curtain rings and bathtub plugs.
"We want to get this into the hands of the next generation because kids these days are going to have to learn digital design so they can solve the problems of tomorrow."
Objects can be created on a computer using free online software such as TinkerCAD or Google Sketchup, before being transferred to the Replicator on a SD memory card.
Alternatively other people's designs can be downloaded from Makerbot's community website Thingiverse.
The site follows open source principles - any design uploaded to it must be shared for free.
"We get asked a lot: 'When will I be able to buy objects?' and I think that is a relic of consumerist lifestyles," says Mr Pettis.
"I would like to live in the future where somebody creates a digital design - maybe a great faucet handle - and after that nobody needs to recreate a faucet handle because it's been done. Or maybe if they want to make it a little bit different it or add their initials they can do that.
"But I don't think we need a marketplace. It's a sharing world. We are at the dawn of the age of sharing where even if you try to sell things the world is going to share it anyway."
It is a chilling thought for defenders of intellectual property rights who have already seen piracy take its toll on the music and movie industries.
Printing pioneer Take a walk to the other side of the convention centre and you will find another plastic printer maker with another new product, but a very different way of thinking.
3D Systems is a North Carolina-based veteran of the business.
"We invented 3D printers," its Israeli-born chief executive Abe Reichental says.
"For 25 years we have taken the classic journey of taking expensive, complex technology and bringing it down in price.
"We have about 1,000 workers worldwide. We are a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. We have almost as many patents as employees."
App store The firm is at CES to publicise the launch of Cube, its first consumer-focused product.
The $1,299 device is smaller than Makerbot's but looks more user-friendly, utilising cartridges rather than spools of plastic thread.

Can a printer make a real moon base?

It also boasts its own app store. The launch library includes software to customise belt buckles, a program to turn your voice into a bracelet design, and perhaps most excitingly software from developer Geomagic for Microsoft's Kinect sensor that allows the peripheral to replicate the user's face.
Work is also ongoing on an app to allow owners to use Kinect to sculpt objects by shaping their hands in the air.
Like Makerbot, the firm also offers other people's designs for download. But unlike its New York competitor it offers creators the chance to sell their goods in an online store. Designers keep 60% of the proceeds.
"Our philosophy is that we want to give an economic incentive to anybody to create and make in 3D, and we want to do it in a way that developers can monetise their creative sweat equity in it," Mr Reichental says.
"The bottom line here is that we think democratisation goes hand in hand with monetisation.
"The monetisation here is primarily for the benefit of accelerating adoption.
"We can't come up with all the possibilities and we don't think that the average person will stretch themselves as deep as they can if there wasn't a monetary advantage."
Tie-ups 3D System's booth resembles that of Makerbot in that it is covered with self-made playthings including dinosaurs, planes and chess pieces.
However, unlike Makerbot, 3D System's embrace of capitalism means that it is already in talks with established toy makers and other companies about the potential of selling access to their designs.
For the time being it stresses that the Cube's main purpose is to drive creativity.
"There are so many different ways that people are looking to harness the power of this new communication and expression tool," says Mr Reichental.
"Because that's what this is. It's really not so much about printing as it is about realising and making something real from an idea."
Eco-unfriendly? 3D Systems says it aims to bring the cost of its machine to below $500 over the coming years to drive take-up.
However, the mass adoption of such devices could have consequences for the environment.
While both firms offer corn-based PLA plastic consumables which biodegrade, they also sell ABS plastics - the type used to make Lego - which does not break down unless treated.
A generation of new designers testing and refining their designs conjures up images of mountains of 3D printed waste.
Yet neither boss appears unduly worried by the prospect.
"The amount of plastic we are talking here is not a lot and it is recyclable," says Mr Pettis.
"I would suggest that people focus on innovation and the ability to make whatever they need, and by all means if there are things you can make with the biodegradable ones then do it."
Mr Reichental offers a similar sentiment: "When we look at all the opportunity to improve the quality of life for the betterment of mankind then so long as we apply some discipline then I think it is a good thing."
Moon bases 3D System's more advanced printers can print plastics in determined "a pixel at a time" as well as in metals, nylons, powders and liquids - offering the prospect of a future in which home made devices can replicate any object Star Trek-style.
For the moment Makerbot notes that its Replicator is advanced enough to build most of the components necessary to reproduce itself.
Both firms describe their efforts as having "democratising" effects with the potential to change the world.
"We can put this power of creativity in the hands of kids - imagine how much more powerful when they reach adulthood," says Mr Reichental.
"This may be the last toy that they have to purchase because they can begin to create their own toys and become creative and innovative in their own right."
Mr Pettis' vision is even more radical.
"We're delivering on that dream of the future where you can have anything you want - you can download it on the internet and just have it manufactured in your house," he says.
"It's my goal to put Makerbots on the moon building the moon base for us.
"It's my hope that if an apocalypse happens people will be ready with Makerbots, building the things they can't buy in stores. So we're not just selling a product, we are changing the future."

(Info provided by Leo Kelion of BBC)

TeCh - CES 2012 what you need to know

2012-01-10T11:13:00.001-05:00

The world's greatest tech show - CES 2012 - kicked off on Monday 9 January (if you're a show obsessive, note that's a week later than usual).
Running until Thursday, the show sees the entire tech world descend on Las Vegas. We'll be hearing from the biggest names in technology to talk about their plans for 2012. The show covers more than 1.8 million square feet and has more than 140,000 attendees from across the globe.
As for every CES, TechRadar will be there getting hands on with the hardware that matters and bringing you the latest breaking news from the show. We have a dedicated CES 2012 channel where you can keep up with all the news.
Here are our CES 2012 highlightsâ€¦

The biggest news at CES 2012

LG unveils stunning 55-inch OLED TV
Steve Ballmer gives last ever Microsoft keynote at CES
Microsoft announces Kinect for PC
Sony develops new Crystal LED tech to rival OLED
Intel promises touch-enabled Ultrabooks

CES 2012: Tablets

Without an Apple presence at CES, it's a chance for other manufacturers to shout about their tablet devices. But there's not the mad rush of iPad rivals that you might expect. Poor sales of Android tablets seem to have made the big electronics giants more cautious.
That said, this week we've seen the Acer Iconia Tab A700, which will come packing Android 4.0 (aka Ice Cream Sandwich) and a huge quad-core processor. Nice.

Toshiba has also jumped back into tablet waters with the new Excite 10, a stylish 10.1-inch Android slab that boasts a 1.2GHz dual-core TI processor and a 1,280 x 800 pixel display.
But it's Lenovo that has turned heads and widened eyes with its two new tablet models. There's the Asus Transformer-alike IdeaPad S2 running Ice Cream Sandwich and the quad-core Tegra 3-powered IdeaPad K2 (see below), which looks like a supercomputer pretending to be a clipboard.

What of RIM? Rather than unveil a new Playbook model (that would be sheer madness...), the beleaguered Blackberry builder has upgraded its tablet software to version 2.0. We wish we had some groundbreaking features to report. We don't. See for yourself.

CES 2012: Phones

While most manufacturers will be saving their big phone launches until Mobile World Congress in February, several new smartphones have been been spotted on the plush Vegas carpets.
Having absorbed Ericsson into the Sony hive mind, the newest Xperia handsets are the first to break cover without any Ericsson branding.

The Sony Xperia S (pictured above) is essentially a Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc with HD - a 4.3-inch Reality Display (1,280 x 700 pixels), a 12MP camera and the promise of an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade in Q2.
You can also say hello to the new Sony Xperia Ion, a PlayStation-certified, dual-core (1.5GHz) smartphone with 16GB of internal storage and a 12MP rear camera.
Elsewhere, HTC has upgraded the Titan for duty on AT&T. The HTC Titan 2 is the Same 4.7-inch, 1.5GHz Windows Phone that you might be indifferent to. But it's been souped up with a 16MP snapper, wide angle lens, dual LED flash and LTE support.

The US also gets the Nokia Lumia 800 dressed up as the Nokia Lumia 900. What's new? It's LTE-powered, larger screened (4.3 inches) and has a better front camera.
The LG Spectrum catches the eye with a 4.5-inch IPS LCD that rivals the Retina display on the iPhone 4. While the the Huawei Ascend P1 S and Ascend P1 trumpet Super AMOLED screens and the thinnest chassis on the market.

CES 2012: Laptops

Think the laptop is dead? Far from it. Acer launched the 13.3-inch Aspire S5 during its CES 2012 press conference and promised Windows 8 Ultrabooks in the second half of the year.
Forget netbooks, chromebooks and desktop replacement systems. Ultrabooks that pay design homage to Apple's skinny Macbook Air are the new laptop form factor of choice.
Lenovo, for example, has unwrapped its good looking IdeaPad U Series ultrabooks at this year's show - the 13-inch U310 model weighs in at 1.7kg and is only 18mm thick.

Intel believes that tablets can't replace laptop computers and that we'll be even happier with a convertible Ultrabook that runs Windows 8 (and is powered by Sandy Bridge/Ivy Bridge Intel CPUs. Obvously).
HP's Ultrabook effort is the Envy 14 Spectre, which incorporates a roomier 14-inch (1,600 x 900 pixel) panel and is only 21mm thick. Under the hood there's an Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, and a 128GB hard drive.
Samsung, meanwhile, joins the Ultrabook club with its Series 5 devices, which will be availble in 13- and 14-inch variants with 2nd generation Intel Core i5 engines and Radeon HD graphics.
Samsung also rolled out the second generation of its Series 9 laptops with a refined 'aerodynamic design'.
But the prize for strangest laptop surely goes to Intel's Nikiski see-through notebook. It isn't an Ultrabook (although a thinner version is planned). But it does feature a clever glass touchpad that doubles up as a touchscreen when you close the lid (see below).

CES 2012: HDTVs

Despite the popularity of tablets and smartphones, CES has always been about TVs. Bigger TVs, thinner TVs, Full HD TVs, 4K TVs, OLED TVs and smart Internet-connected TVs. CES 2012 is no different.
One of the stars of the show is LG's new 4mm-thick 55-inch OLED HDTV, which has got Vegas crowds dribbling down their free promotional T-shirts. Only 4mm. That's thinner than your smartphone. It's quite simply stunning and still shots don't do it justice.

Not to be outdone (although it clearly has been), Samsung also promises a 55-inch OLED telly of its own. Could this finally be the year that OLED becomes more than a headline-grabbing technology demo? Our fingers are crossed. Again. Just like last year...
As for Sony, it pressganged Hollywood star Will Smith to look impressed by its prototype Crystal LED technology. Fusing LCD and OLED, the futuristic TV works by packing in six million LEDs to give it OLED levels of clarity, colour and brightness.
In the battle of the BIG screens, LG and Sharp battled it out for the 'largest 3D TV of the show' award. Sharp came close with its 80-incher, but LG just nabbed the gong with its 84-inch ultra definition (3,840 x 2,160 pixel) set. The 1mm bezel "enhances the illusion that the 3D is borderless."

And if you think 4K2K TV is impressive, wait until you clap your eyes on Sharp's prototype 8K panel, which boasts 7,680 x 4,320 pixels. That's 16 times the resolution of HD.
Of course, the next generation of TVs will also be smarter. Sony has plans to play around with Google TV STBs, while Opera has unveiled more about its television app store.
While we wait for a Siri-powered Apple iTV, Lenovo used CES to demonstrate a port of Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on a 55-inch TV. The Chinese are going to love it apparently.
Panasonic, meanwhile, enlisted the help of Justin Timberlake to launch MySpace TV, which will feature on new Viera HDTVs. Does anybody still use MySpace? And can any of them afford a TV? We're not convinced.

CES 2012: Home entertainment

Hands on: Optoma PK32 review
Pico projectors may not have the lustre they had when first released but there's certain companies which keep churning out the pint-sized product again and again.
Hands on: Griffin Twenty review
If you want Apple's AirPlay but don't want to spend hundreds replacing the speakers you've already spent hundreds on, Griffin has a treat for you.

CES 2012: Cameras

PMA@CES Preview video
Photographers will doubtless be intrigued by Fujifilm's newly designed X-Trans 16 million pixel APS-C CMOS sensor. Built into the new X-Pro 1 mirrorless camera, Fuji claims that it is capable of delivering resolution of the same quality, if not superior, to a full-frame sensor.
We've also had some hands on time with the Canon G1 X, which boasts a 14.3MP CMOS sensor, 4x optical zoom, raw shooting and Full HD video recording.

CES is also overflowing with compact cameras. Panasonic has introduced five new models to sit in its Lumix range. They include the 16.1 megapixel FS45 and 14.1 megapixel FS40 models; 16.1 megapixel Panasonic Lumix S5; the 14.1 megapixel SZ7 and the 16.1 megapixel SZ1.
Sony has added three new cameras to its enduring CyberShot range - the DSC-W610, DSC-W620 and DSC-W650.
Olympus, meanwhile, has announced five new compact cameras, including a rugged "Tough" camera. The TG-320 is shockproof, waterproof and freeze proof, and is, according to Olympus, "virtually indestructible."

(Info provided by Dean Evans of Tech Rader)

TeCh - New Seagate drives support Thunderbolt, Verizon's 4G network

2012-01-10T11:10:00.000-05:00

Seagate has a lot on its plate this year at CES with plenty of both consumer and enterprise storage options with a few key partners.

First up, Thunderbolt finds itself on more new products at the world’s largest tech trade show.
Seagate is trotting out a pair of GoFlex adapters with support for Intel’s Thunderbolt I/O. The storage solution maker boasts that these accessories “are the first to use the new Thunderbolt technology for widespread use by consumers for single drive enclosures.” But only the basic GoFlex Thunderbolt Adapter will be available during the first quarter of 2012, while the GoFlex Desk Thunderbolt Adapter will roll out in the second half of the year.
Moving on, Seagate has inked deals with a couple of new partners for two different but enticing features that could come in handy for both consumer and business purposes.
First, there’s another “industry-first innovation” in the Seagate Mobile Wireless Storage device for smartphones and tablets. Much like the GoFlex Satellite (the 500GB drive that emits its own Wi-Fi network for streaming from mobile devices, the Mobile Wireless Storage option steps up the game with another connectivity option: Verizon’s 4G LTE network.
Although the battery life (five hours maximum) is rather slim, the drive does support both iOS and Android devices, and it also has a built-in Wi-Fi emitter for video and audio playback from the drive to mobile devices. The 4G LTE action comes into play for downloading content directly to the drive.
Finally, Seagate has also teamed with Monster Digital to upgrade Monster’s PC storage with Seagate’s Momentus XT solid state hybrid drive. Seagate boasts that Momentus XT performs up to three times faster than a traditional hard disk drive or other SSDs.
This will also include an easy upgrade kit, dubbed “Dakar,” that will offer computer users with Monster’s memory solutions to speed up boot times and overall performance on their computers along with a streamlined upgrade to the Momentus XT drive.
Dakar will be bundled with the 500GB and 750GB Momentus XT drives, retailing for $269.99 and $289.99 respectively.
But besides the Momentus XT drives, unfortunately, pricing for these products have not been disclosed yet.

(Info provided by Rachel King of ZDnet)

TeCh - Acura Announces NSX Sport Hybrid, ILX Hybrid Sedan

2012-01-10T11:04:00.003-05:00

Acura unveiled two hybrids, the NSX and ILX, and its redesigned crossover SUV, the RDX, today at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

The NSX is a sports car that was originally produced by Honda between 1990 and 2005. It featured an all-aluminum V6 gasoline engine with Honda's Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) system, as well as a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout.

The NSX went on hiatus for a while since 2005, but Acura has now brought it back -- as a hybrid vehicle.

According to Acura, the NSX will offer the automaker's new Sports Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) technology, which consists of two electric engines that operate separately and generate either positive or negative torque to the front wheels during cornering. The system will support a mid-mounted direct injection VTEC V6 engine and will be combined with a dual clutch transmission with its own electric motor, bringing the grand total to three electric motors in the new NSX.

"This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make NSX the ultimate expression of Acura's idea to create synergy between man and machine," said Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co. "The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.

"Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun-to-drive spirit of NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities."

The NSX Hybrid will be developed by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio. It is expected to debut in the next three years, and will also make an appearance in the movie The Avengers, which will star Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. There is no word on price quite yet.

While the NSX stole the show, Acura had another hybrid that caught quite a bit of attention: the ILX Concept.

The Acura ILX Concept (which is just a thinly veiled version of what will his U.S. streets) will eventually be a new Acura luxury compact sedan. It will offer three separate powertrains, including Acura's first gas-electric hybrid. The entry-level model will feature a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine while the high-performance model will feature a 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission. The hybrid edition features a 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain.

The ILX will also have a load of features, such as a smart entry keyless access system, Pandora Internet radio, and a text messaging function.

"First time luxury buyers place the highest value on exterior styling, affordability and environmental issues and that's a virtual definition of what we have created with the new Acura ILX," said Jon Ikeda, Acura Design Studio head. "The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market."

The ILX is scheduled for release this Spring, and will be manufactured by Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC.

Acura's third unveiling of the day was the 2013 RDX, which is the second generation of Acura's crossover SUV. It will also be released in Spring 2012, and will have a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 273 HP. It will also have a six-speed automatic transmission, a new lock-up torque converter, EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway, and a lighter AWD system.

The RDX will receive perks like a three-view rear camera, a smart entry keyless access system, and a navigation system with a hard disc drive with 60 GB of storage capacity.

(Info provided by Tiffany Kaiser of dailytech)

MuSiC - Jay Z - Glory (Dedicated To Blue Ivy Carter) [Audio]

2012-01-09T22:21:00.002-05:00

SpOrTs - Kanye West, Serena Williams and Others Star In New Kobe Bryant Commercial!

2012-01-09T22:18:00.005-05:00

I really did not know what to label this post under, so this is a one time deal = SpOrTs

TeCh - Dodge Dart to Join Compact Car Race NAIAS 2012

2012-01-09T11:48:00.000-05:00

If the new Dodge Dart sells anything like the original, Chrysler will have the small-car hit it needs.
The reinvented compact, unveiled at the Detroit auto show Monday, is nothing like its predecessor from the 1960s and `70s. But Chrysler is counting on the Dart, and its zippy name, to help it sell more small cars and continue its recent revival.
Instead of the somewhat boxy lines of the original, the new Dart has the sleek stance of a modern muscle-car, with a short hood, long roof and slightly flared fenders. And it's based on the frame and suspension of a crisp-handling Alfa Romeo hatchback brought over by Chrysler's Italian owner, Fiat SpA.
The Dart also is a crucial test of the Chrysler-Fiat alliance, one aimed at saving millions of dollars by reusing Fiat frames, engines and technology, yet giving them an American style with more space for people and gear. The Dart is the first Chrysler designed jointly by the companies.
Chrysler, which ran out of cash and had to be bailed out by the government in 2009, saw sales jump 26 percent last year, and it's poised to turn its first annual profit since 1997.
Now the automaker needs a breakthrough in the growing small-car market, where it hasn't had success since the bug-eyed Dodge Neon in the mid-1990s. After nearly failing, Chrysler also realizes it must end its dependence on inefficient SUVs and pickups.
Since the Neon, few have considered Chrysler compacts, keeping the company out of a market that has grown to about 15 percent of U.S. auto sales.
Forty years ago, it was a different story. Back then, Dodge Darts were everywhere. Middle-class Americans bought nearly 3.3 million between 1960 and 1976, when Chrysler offered versions for every lifestyle: the stripped-down commuter car, convertibles, the family station wagon, and street racers like the Dart Swinger, which came with a racing stripe, hood scoops and a 340-cubic-inch V-8 engine. Sales peaked in 1974 at more than 340,000 when gasoline was a little over 50 cents per gallon and President Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal.
Chrysler would kill for those sales today. Its current small-car offering, the Caliber, sold only 35,000 last year, a fraction of the class-leading Toyota Corolla at 240,000. The Caliber is noisy, slow and its looks can't compete with rivals like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Chevrolet Cruze.
That's bad for long-term growth. Compacts are the cars that young, first-time buyers go for, and many stick with a brand as they age.
"Let's face it, the Caliber is not really able to go ... toe-to-toe with ... competitive compact cars," says Reid Bigland, CEO of the Dodge brand and Chrysler Group LLC's sales chief. "That's about to change."
Some versions of the Dart will get 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Its starting price is $15,995, at least $500 below its closest competitors, the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze. The Focus starts at $16,500, while the Cruze base price is $16,720. The Toyota Corolla, the sales leader in compacts, starts at $15,900.
Bigland says Chrysler wanted to make sure it beat the competition on the basic reasons why people buy small cars -- price, fuel economy and reliability.
"We know it's a key `why buy,"' he says of price. "We wanted to be extra aggressive with the 2013 Dart."
In building the new Dart, Chrysler added room to the Giulietta, a sleek, five-door hatchback sold in Europe by Fiat-owned Alfa Romeo. Engineers widened it 3 inches and stretched the distance between the front and back wheels by 4 inches. Chrysler claims that the Dart has the most shoulder and hip room in its class, and that it has more rear-seat legroom than the midsize Hyundai Sonata.
The company knew it had to overcome an image of chintzy, hard plastic interiors from its leaner years. As a result, it paid close attention to the inside, says Bigland. Chrysler gave the Dart a soft-looking dashboard and doors, and developed switches that open and close vents like in a luxury car.
Dart buyers also can get touch-screen controls and can pick their own interior accent colors. There's a choice of three engines, including a Fiat-designed 1.4-liter turbo reserved for the muscle car edition.
Also setting the car apart is the tail lights. The Dart borrowed the trademark horizontal LED lighting from the tough-looking Dodge Charger.
Bigland says the Dart will match or beat the competition on ride and handling and quality.
By Charging less for the Dart because it's a little smaller than the Focus or Cruze, Chrysler could have a winning strategy, says Aaron Bragman, an analyst with IHS Automotive. But the Dart likely will take sales from its Detroit rivals, the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus. Those analysts who have seen the Dart say it will be a strong choice for buyers.
"In terms of style, in terms of amenities, in terms of design and quality, it looked to be really top-notch stuff, says Bragman.
was a scrappy underdog known for smart designs, innovation and quick thinking. But in 1998 it was bought by Germany's Daimler-Benz, which neglected the company and eventually sold it to an investment firm that starved it of capital. When Fiat got control in 2009, Chrysler's cars and trucks needed redesign.
In 2010, Engineers spruced up the model lineup, rolling out 16 new or revamped cars and trucks. Last year, Chrysler ran a hit Super Bowl ad, used clever marketing and saw sales rise to 1.37 million vehicles, up almost 50 percent from 2009, the year it almost died. At the same time, it passed Honda to become the No. 4 U.S. automaker.
The company, whose brands include Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and Dodge, is hoping the Dart continues that momentum. Chrysler won't give sales targets for the Dart. But any rise in its small-car sales could help it continue an improbable comeback.

(Info provided by TOM KRISHER AP Auto Write)

TeCh - Hyundai Elantra Wins Car of Year

2012-01-09T11:46:00.000-05:00

The Hyundai Elantra has won the North American Car of the Year award.
The award was announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, which holds media previews this week and opens to the public on Jan. 14.
The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque won the North American Truck of the Year.
Fifty automotive journalists voted on the winning vehicles from a group of finalists. Car finalists included the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Passat. Truck finalists were the BMW X3, Honda CR-V and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.
A vehicle must be all new or substantially changed to be eligible.
This is the 19th year for the awards. Organizers accept no advertising, though automakers capitalize on the marketing value of the honors.

(Info provided by myfoxdetroit.com)

TeCh - SuperTooth disco2 speaker and crystal speakerphone

2012-01-09T11:41:00.002-05:00

At this year’s International CES, Supertooth is following up its win for Car Accessory of the Year in our 2012 iPhone + iPod Buyers’ Guide with the introduction of two new products.
The first is Disco2, which will be available at the end of the first quarter of this year for $99. A nicely designed Bluetooth speaker, Disco2 is portable and rechargeable, and can be used alone or in a pair for a stereo setup. Next up is Crystal, a car speakerphone. Made to clip to a sun visor, it allows for handsfree calling and supports voice features such as Siri. It will be available for $69 around the same time as Disco2.

(Info provided by Nick Guy of ilounge)

TeCh - CES 2012: New technologies unleashed at show

2012-01-09T11:36:00.003-05:00

The first technologies have been unveiled at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Waterproof smartphone coatings, diet-aiding armbands and a social network that warns drivers of the latest police speed-traps were all on show.
Microsoft's chief executive Steve Ballmer will present his company's last keynote at the three-day event.
The firm's pullout has led several attendees to speculate if the trade show will be a smaller event in future.
But if that is CES's fate you would not know it from the throng of press, analysts, executives and PRs packed into a huge hotel conference room for the first teaser event - CES Unveiled.
Cooking tablet Some 70 companies were selected to take part in the "sneak peak" preview ahead of the show's official launch.
Among them is Qooq - a French company that has designed a tablet computer for the kitchen.
The Linux-based device is splash-proof, is held off the ground by feet that allow spilled liquids to run underneath, and can shrug off temperatures of up to 60C (140F).

Qooq - pronounced like cook - is designed to be messy kitchen-friendly

For a subscription fee users are offered access to a multimedia library of thousands of recipes by French chefs which can be customized to suit the user's kitchen skills and dietary habits.
The device is already on sale in France and the firm is at CES to announce an English language version due for release in September.
"We know that people bring hi-tech devices to the kitchen - with our's there is no risk," says Hubert Bloch, the firm's chief marketing officer.
"In the future we think people will have multiple tablets. The Qooq can be splashed, used with dirty hands and it's not a problem - just sponge it and it's clean again."
Chinese ultrabooks CES's organiser, the US's Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), predicts more than 50 new tablets will be launched before the end of the week to take advantage of a rapidly growing market.
Its analysis partner GFK Boutique Research has predicted 96 million of the touchscreen devices will be sold before the end of the year, a 65% rise on 2011.
The CEA said it also expects between 30 to 50 new ultrabooks to be unveiled at this year's event.
The Chinese computer maker, Lenovo, used the Unveiled event to show off its first take on what it terms a "business class, commercial grade" slimmed down laptop - the ThinkPad T430u.

Organisers expect over 30 new models of ultrabook to be announced this week - including this from Lenovo

Users can choose to buy the 14in (35.5cm) computer with an added NVIDIA graphics card and a relatively large 1TB rotating hard disk drive.
This contrasts with rivals' designs which usually have lower graphics specifications and come with lower capacity - albeit faster - solid state drives.
"The requirements for a 14in ultrabook to be classed as such is that it be no thicker than 21mm - and we're right on that," said J Wes Williams, worldwide product marketing director for the firm's Thinkpad Edge business unit.
"Could we get thinner? Absolutely we could. But we would do that by soldering on SSD drives which are much more expensive and we would have to take away the discrete graphics.
"And talking to our customers they want that feature and function."
The model is due for release in the second half of the year following the release of Intel's Ivybridge chip
3D printing app

The Sculpteo app is the 'first ever' to turn the shape of the human face into a 3D printed object

The CES show is far from being just about new types of computer. In fact much of the technology is based on mixing smartphone apps with other technologies.
One example is Bodymedia which is showing off the latest version of its health monitoring system.
Its armband uses sensors to collect 5,000 bits of data about the user's body every minute. They are used to calculate activity levels, calories burned and how well its owner is sleeping at night - all of which can be monitored through a smartphone app. Its developers say the aim is to help people lose weight rather than become hypochondriacs.
Sculpteo has also unveiled what it claims is the first ever app to turn the shape of a human face into a 3D printed object.
The software is used to take a photo of the profile of a person's face. The image is then used to create ceramic objects such as a vase, whose contour's mimic the shape of the person's face. The firm will then manufacture and deliver the object if the user wishes to purchase it.
Speed-trap alert Perhaps a bit more practical is Escort Live - a social network for motorists.
The app communicates via Bluetooth with Escort's existing detectors to record sites where speed cameras have been installed or there are police officers using laser guns or radar equipment.

Escort Live uses crowd-sourcing to warn drives of speed traps and cameras

These alerts are then "transmitted to the cloud" and shared with other subscribers to warn them of potential speed-fine "threats".
"Now before you even leave your driveway you can know the best route to take," said PR director Ron Gividen.
"We have some heat colored imaps and icons so within an instant you know: red - the speed recording equipment was detected within the last 30 minutes; orange - it's been within an hour; yellow - an hour and a half; then after an hour and a half it disappears off the map."
The system has just been launched in the US and the firm says it is exploring expansion into the Western European market.
Waterproof coating The Unveiled showcase is a frenetic affair with delegates bumping into each other as they crowd round the most exciting stalls under the hall's bright lights.

Bodymedia's health monitoring system enters an already-busy fitness device market

Shortly after it ends, another showcase begins about three miles away at the southern end of the Las Vegas strip.
The Start up Review is the brainchild of the public relations agency, Social Radius. For the third year running it has organized a showcase of new tech firms including its own clients and other firms who sign up hoping to attract attention.
One of the most exciting exhibitors this year was Liquipel. The California-based firm has developed a "nano-coating" which makes electronic devices waterproof.
The formulation is applied in a vacuum chamber to both the interior and exterior of smartphones and other mobile devices and is not visible to the human eye. Its developers say they are already certified to protect some devices submerged 1 meter underwater for up to half an hour.
"Poolside, splashes, talking in the shower on your phone - it's not a problem at all," says co-founder Kevin Bacon.
"We are trying to create key relationships with major manufacturers - and there are some that we are working with right now.
"But we are also the only ones to make this available on an after-market scenario - there is no other way for you to get this on your existing device without going through us."

As ever, the event will be covered by hordes of journalists, bloggers and enthusiasts

As ground breaking as the technology sounds, the firm already has a competitor - HzO - which has developed a similar process.
Its distribution partner, Zagg, will get a chance to pitch its rival solution when the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center opens its doors for press day on Monday.
A total of 2,700 firms will take part, with others - such as the video games company Nintendo and chip designer Arm - holding additional invite-only briefings.
Despite doubts over the event's long-term popularity, there is a lot of competition for attention from the many attendees claiming to offer the tech industry's next big thing.

(Info provided by Leo Kelion of BBC)

TeCh - Biscotti TV Phone Named as 2012 CES Innovations Honoree

2012-01-09T11:31:00.001-05:00

Biscotti TV Phone, which will be shown at International CES 2012, is a single device that sits discreetly atop a TV and allows users to make high-definition calls to anyone, anywhere in the world using only their HDTV and Wi-Fi. Biscotti can make free calls to other Biscotti, and to any computer, iPhone, iPad or Android device supporting Google video chat, including Gmail and Google Apps accounts. Thanks to Biscotti's unique ability to pass through video from cable or satellite boxes, users can receive calls while watching TV - all without the need to switch inputs.

"Biscotti is designed for people who value real-life, personal interaction. It's a single-purpose, dedicated TV Phone that's always ready to connect, so you can make and receive calls without interrupting your lifestyle," said Dr. Matthew B. Shoemake, Biscotti's CEO and Founder. "HDTVs are selling faster than any other consumer electronics product on the market, fueling the demand for high definition video calling. By 2015, we're predicting 25% of homes will be making high-definition video calls daily."

Biscotti TV Phone connects to HDTVs via HDMI cable. Initial set-up takes minutes, during which users customize their personal profile, creating a unique Biscotti ID and inviting Biscotti and Google contacts to chat. Once connected to Wi-Fi, Biscotti is always ready to instantly make calls, notifying users of incoming calls while they are watching TV via a pop-up message on screen, or if no one is home, turning the TV on/off for each incoming call (compatible TVs only). Users can also designate specific contacts that will cause the TV to automatically answer, a great feature for home security or ensuring you can always reach someone.

Biscotti TV Phone is now available for just $199. To learn more, visit www.biscotti.com and watch videos at www.youtube.com/biscottitv . Follow Biscotti on www.facebook.com/biscottitv and on Twitter @BiscottiTV.

Biscotti will be displayed at the 2012 International CES, which runs January 10-13, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Biscotti's booth is located in South Hall 1, Booth 21442.

(Info provided marketwatch)

TeCh - NAIAS 2012: Chevrolet TRU 140S

2012-01-09T11:27:00.005-05:00

With the introduction involving a video of teens and young twenty-somethings talk about what they were looking for in a car, the tone for the Chevrolet press conference was set. GM has recognized the huge market that is the Millennial generation — roughly 80 million strong — and plans to use Chevy to harness more consumers. And with this young generation, GM has elected to take a modern research and marketing techniques to effectively target the consumer.
For instance, all of the Chevy Sonic’s marketing has been done online — where the kids these days spend their time. And at this morning at the 2012 North American Auto Show, it unveiled two concepts aimed directly at the youth, and plans on asking attendees during public hours just what they are looking for in the interior of these cars. For instance, show-goers at the exhibit can select options such as WiFi, a heads-up display and intense smart phone integration to mold the shape and function of the interior.
Both concepts feature alphanumeric names, and GM’s turbocharged 1.4L engine for the sake of 40 mpg fuel economy, but with an output of 150 horsepower. And if GM were to produce them tomorrow, both would feature a price tag of around $20,000. The first is the Chevy CODE 130R Concept, and the second is the TRU 140S Concept — the one photographed above.
Based on GM’s Delta II architecture, it shares the same bones as the hot-selling Chevy Cruze, and hints again at the tip suggesting a two-door version of the car… only with a different name, and much better design. It might have a slight resemblance to the Mitsubishi Eclipse from some angles, but this thing is still hot. White hot.

(Info provided by Manoli Katakis of gmauthority)

TeCh - MINI Roadster revealed at Detroit

2012-01-09T11:26:00.001-05:00

Even if the MINI Roadster isn’t quite what you can call a new model, the vehicle is getting ready for its over-seas market launch, with a first step already being made, by officially presenting it at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. According to the car manufacturer, the MINI Roadster is 3.728 mm long, 1.638 mm wide and 1.390 mm high, being actually 3 mm shorter, 47 mm narrower and 25 mm lower than the other drop-top in the lineup, the Cabriolet.
The Mini Roadster unveiled at the 2012 NAIAS in Detroit isn’t coming with anything new and it’s still the same sister car to the recently introduced MINI Coupe and a rival to the iconic Mazda MX-5 and the upcoming Citroen DS3 Cabriolet. The US MINI Roadster is expected to go on sale with the 1.6 liter four-cylinder petrol engine in its three stages of tune, the naturally aspirated version with its 121 horsepower, the twin-scroll turbocharged version with the 181 horsepower and the John Cooper Works with the 208 horsepower. There’s no official word on the US-spec MINI Roadster yet.

(Info provided by inautonews)

TeCh - Wi-Spi video surveillance RC vehicles

2012-01-09T08:06:00.003-05:00

I’m sure there are better gadgets for spying on your next door neighbor, but they probably aren’t as fun to use or play with as the Wi-Spi video surveillance vehicles. InteractiveToy has constructed both the Wi-Spi helicopter and Wi-Spi Intruder. The Intruder is a basic remote control car with a video camera built into the grill.

Sound can also be recorded alongside video on the Intruder. The helicopter doesn’t record sound – but it allows the taking of quick aerial snapshots. The actual controller is your iPhone or Android device, so once the Wi-Spi application is installed you’re good to go. They can both upload their captures instantly to Facebook, YoutTube, or E-Mail.

Both models will be available Fall 2012 at most major and electronic retailers. We couldn’t get a demo of the units, but from the photos they look pretty sleek. The helicopter will retail at $119.99 and Intruder at $99.99.

(Info provided by Sam Koutroulakis of Slashgear)

TeCh - OnStar outs app API at CES 2012 and seeks next big in-car app

2012-01-09T08:03:00.002-05:00

OnStar is on hand at CES 2012 in Las Vegas, and the company is offering up an interesting API to allow developers to build apps that will operate on the OnStar hardware and network. OnStar wants apps that will work with its suite of services enabled by what it calls ATOMS or Advanced Telemetric Operating System.

OnStar claims ATOMS is the most powerful cloud platform in operation today connecting 6 million OnStar users. OnStar says that it has conducted research and that apps for the system that its customers want most have to do with emergency and security services along with navigation, vehicle information, and diagnostics. OnStar is also looking for some new app services as well.
The first partner OnStar is noting to use the API is RelayRides. This is a peer-to-peer car sharing marketplace along the lines of the high-end peer-to-peer rental service HiGear, which I mentioned recently. HiGear shut down after several customer vehicles were stolen using the service. The RealyRide app will let the car owner rent out their idle vehicle and allow control of rates and availability too. Other firms that have worked with the API include Google and MapQuest.

(Info provided by Shane McGlaun of Slashgear)

TeCh - Ford shows off 2013 Fusion with gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid versions

2012-01-09T08:00:00.003-05:00

The Ford Fusion has been a good seller for Ford thanks to its moderate price and features. Ford has redesigned the Fusion for 2013 and is offering up some details on the new car right now. The new Fusion has some Jaguar/Aston Martin style in the front grill and lines on the hood to my eyes. The car looks very nice.

Ford will offer the 13 Fusion in three versions including a normal gasoline version, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid version. Ford expects all three versions to be at the top of their classes for fuel efficiency. Ford will be packing the car with lots of tech too. The new Fusion will have the Ford Lane Keeping system, adaptive cruise, active park assist, MyFord Touch and a lot more.
The Fusion is based on the platform that will also underpin the Mondeo in other markets. Ford is also offering powerful and efficient EcoBoost 4-cylinder engines in the Fusion. Other key features of the line include start/stop technology and availability of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. The car will hit dealers later this year according to Ford. Pricing details should come then.

(Info provided by Shane McGlaun of Slashgear)

TeCh - Android 4.0 Platform Highlights

2012-01-06T20:46:00.001-05:00

MuSiC - 2 Chainz (Feat. T.I.) - Spend It Remix

2012-01-04T19:22:00.000-05:00

MuSiC - Travis Porter (Feat. Young Jeezy & 2 Chainz) - You Don't Know Bout It Remix video

2012-01-04T19:15:00.002-05:00

2012-01-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

MuSiC - Drake – Make Me Proud + The Motto + Headlines (Live On New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly)

2012-01-01T13:57:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Jadakiss (Feat. Teyana Taylor) - Rock With Me video

2012-01-01T09:24:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Gym Class Heroes Ft. Neon Hitch - Ass Back Home video

2011-12-28T18:03:00.000-05:00

MuSiC - 50 Cent – Put Ya Hands Up video

2011-12-27T21:11:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - Ryan Leslie – Good Girl video

2011-12-27T19:36:00.000-05:00

MuSiC - Fat Joe – Another Round (feat. Chris Brown) video

2011-12-27T19:35:00.002-05:00

MuSiC - T.I. “$#% the City mixtape trailer

2011-12-27T19:32:00.003-05:00

TeCh - Samsung Android 4.0 ICS update for Galaxy S and Tab now under review

2011-12-27T19:30:00.003-05:00

Earlier this month the software teams at Samsung sent out word that they would not be updating theirSamsung Galaxy S and Samsung Galaxy Tab devices to the newest version of Google’s mobileoperating system Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – this week they realized that this was the wrong thing to say to the millions of users out there wanting the opposite news. What we’ve got this week is news via AJNews that Samsung is reconsidering their position that their own user interface TouchWiz is too difficult to parse to update to the newer system, saying that MAYBE they’ll do the work anyway. What does this mean to you, the Galaxy S user? It means you’ll perhaps have an update by the end of next year, if you’re lucky.

While the Galaxy S, the original Galaxy S that is, and the original Galaxy Tab have in common is that by today’s standards, they aren’t the most fantastic. Their specifications put them positively in the mid to low range of mobile handhelds and they’re not exactly the most wanted devices on the market by any standards. That said, Ice Cream Sandwich was and is made to work with no additional hardware requirements over Android 2.3 Gingerbread, so aside from TouchWiz, there really shouldn’t be an issue with these devices running the newest tasty treat.

Those of you rolling with a Galaxy S or Galaxy Tab today: are you still on the software you got out of the box, or have you hacked? If you’ve hacked, you’ve got the opportunity to update to Ice Cream Sandwich much sooner than the surely late next year timeline that Samsung will undoubtedly be announcing later this week. Meanwhile enjoy your still fully functional devices to the fullest, you’re in for a big treat if Ice Cream Sandwich ever drops for you!

TeCh - Christmas Lights recycled into slippers in China

2011-12-27T19:20:00.002-05:00

If you live in North America, chances are you’ve had a good time purchasing, stringing, taking down and ball wrapping, and next year throwing away Christmas Lights – as the video in this post will show, those lights don’t always just go in a landfill, they get turned into nothing less strange than a pair of slippers! The video here shows a Chinese recycling factory that sits in the town of Shijiao, near Guangzhou, and they’ve got a yearly run-through of 20 million pounds of old Christmas lights per year. They chop them down, mush them up, and flip them out!

Like any good environmentally sound group of manufacturers do, this group of workers takes Christmaslights for what they are: materials that can be used to make products! What they do is take the lights untangled into small enough sizes that they can be tossed into the shredders they’ve got on hand. When they are shredded, they’re turned into millimeter-sized particles and mixed up with water until they’re made into a mud-like substance that’s sticky enough to be near solid. Yuck! Then the fun really begins. As Adam Minter of The Atlantic regales:

“As the table shakes, the heavier flecks of copper (from the wire) and brass (from the light bulb sockets) flow in one direction, and the lighter plastic and glass (from the insulation and bulbs) flows in another. It’s the same concept that miners use when panning for gold, and the results of this updated, age-old technology can be found at the far end of the water tables: baskets of roughly 95% pure copper and brass alongside baskets of insulation and glass. The contaminated water, meanwhile, flows into a recovery system, where it’s re-circulated, over and over, through the recycling system.” – Minter

Does this seem like a job you’d like to have, smashing down Christmas lights with the resulting Christmas dust floating around the air for you to breath in as you create a lovely future in which all the strings are turned to slippers? I hope so! Taking the technology to recycle here on its own is what we hope to take away as a positive as we do not forget that it’s impoverished ladies and gentlemen whose job it is to do the tossing. Merry Christmas and a happy lights toss, everyone!

(Info provided by Chris Burns of slashgear)

TeCh - These .xxx domains are ready to hook up

2011-12-27T19:18:00.002-05:00

Kentucky.xxx and NYC.xxx are taken, but Alabama.xxx and Nashville.xxx are not. WhiteHouse.xxx and NASA.xxx are reserved, but USDOJ.xxx, Treasury.xxx, DARPA.xxx, and USEmbassy.xxx could be yours for a mere $100 a year.

High-quality university names also remain unclaimed. Stanford.xxx, Harvard.xxx, and Princeton.xxx may be off-limits, but Cornell.xxx, UPenn.xxx, and Tufts.xxx aren't. (Playboy, which recently published a "Girls of the SEC" feature, take note.)

That's according to a new analysis by Elie Bursztein, a Stanford University researcher who found that of the 50,000 most popular Web sites in the world, only 24 percent have their .xxx counterpart registered.

"There's been a lot of news about people rushing to buy .xxx," Bursztein told CNET today. "But after the dust settled, it turns out that the data don't agree with the hype."

Early reports suggested that companies and schools were snapping up .xxx domains to prevent them from being used for pornographic purposes -- especially, perhaps the types of hardcore parodies the adult industry is known for.

Bursztein provided CNET with the raw data from his review of over 55,000 .xxx domains, which show that the triple-X counterparts of many popular Web sites, including BankOfAmerica.xxx, have not been reserved. We've placed some excerpts below (scroll down).

The list of news organizations that chose not to claim their corresponding .xxx domains includes: TheAtlantic.xxx, Salon.xxx, DenverPost.xxx, MercuryNews.xxx, NewScientist.xxx, CSMonitor.xxx, PostGazette.xxx, and FinancialPost.xxx.

That might be no surprise, but there are also plenty of popular adult sites that chose not to make the leap. Dot-com sites that rank among the Internet's most popular 5,000 destinations, according to Alexa, that have left their corresponding triple-X domains unclaimed include H2Porn.com, PornControl.com, and IntPorn.com. Porn star Lexi Love has left LexiLove.xxx unclaimed. (See related CNET article.)

Elie Bursztein, a Stanford researcher who found that of the top 50,000 most popular Web sites, only 24 percent have registered the corresponding .xxx domains.

(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET)

For would-be porntreprenuers, there is one catch: ICM's policies for .xxx say that only "sponsored community" domains will actually become live Web sites. To make that happen, your .xxx domain has to "provide online entertainment" or be a supporting business, such as providing legal, accounting, catering, and so on. "Manufacturers" also qualify.

ICM Registry, which operates the .xxx top-level domain, said on December 6 that triple-X domains would be available for purchase by the general public. That was preceded by a so-called sunrise period, which allowed adult and non-adult businesses and universities to claim trademark rights to certain .xxx domains.

That resulted in a list of off-limits names unavailable for registration. Jocelyn Johnson, a spokeswoman for ICM Registry, said that other additions to the list came from government agencies that "submitted names to be pulled out of the registry permanently."

Those were "culturally sensitive names, political leaders -- it was a wide variety of names," Johnson told CNET. That's "the list of names that are on permanent reserve."

BarackObama.xxx, HillaryClinton.xxx, RonPaul.xxx, and MittRomney.xxx are all set aside and listed in Whois data as "ICM Registry Reserved." So is ChelseaClinton.xxx, Vatican.xxx, God.xxx, and JesusChrist.xxx. The domain ProphetMohammad.xxx is reserved, but blasphemers can purchase the common variant of ProphetMuhammet.xxx.

Ex-presidents aren't necessarily treated equally: JimmyCarter.xxx can't be bought. But GeorgeHWBush.xxx was available until it was purchased on December 13 by Chicago-based Skylark Enterprises LLC.

TeCh - NFL Blitz [2012 Video Game Trailer]

2011-12-27T19:15:00.000-05:00

MuSiC - Bow Wow - Crunch Time video

2011-12-11T15:26:00.001-05:00

MuSiC - Bangladesh Says Lil Wayne Finally Paid Him

2011-12-11T15:24:00.001-05:00

MuSiC - Tyga Speaks On Wiz Khalifa Comparisons

2011-12-11T15:22:00.001-05:00

TeCh - Electric-Powered Ferrari Millenio Revealed

2011-12-10T12:00:00.001-05:00

We have seen the future of electric-powered vehicles, and it just might be the Ferrari Millenio. This roadster "includes a buckypaper reinforced body that is stronger than steel and lighter than carbon fiber as well as dual electric engines that can be recharged via solar panels or through an inductive power transfer system." Click here for more pictures. For those who'd like to bring the Ferrari experience home, on a miniature scale, be sure to check out this miniature Enzo. In related news, continue reading to watch an electric car take on a Ferrari and Porsche.

[via YankoDesign]

TeCh - Apple searched his home for errant iPhone; now he plans to sue

2011-12-10T11:55:00.001-05:00

Apple may need to brace itself for a lawsuit stemming from its July pursuit of an errant, unreleased iPhone in San Francisco.
Sergio Calderon, the San Francisco man whose house Apple security officials searched at the time, has ended negotiations with the company and is preparing to file a lawsuit, his attorney, David Monroe, told CNET today.
"The talks have ended and we're moving forward," Monroe said. The next step would be to draft a complaint to file in the next few weeks, he said, although he declined to say what what allegations the lawsuit would raise.
Apple declined to comment.
In August, CNET reported that an unreleased iPhone had gone missing in a local bar, and that a nearby home had been searched in an effort to recover it. The San Francisco Police Department initially denied any involvement.
But a few days later, the SFPD reversed its position. Spokesman Lt. Troy Dangerfield belatedly confirmed that police helped to "assist" Apple in an unsuccessful attempt to recover the device. (SFPD's statement was titled "iphone5.doc," a reference to the iPhone 5 now expected next year. At the time, it fueled speculation that an iPhone 5 prototype had gone missing.)

David Monroe, the attorney representing the man whose San Francisco house was searched.
"The real problem here is that police failed to disclose to my client that Apple employees would be searching his home," Monroe has previously said. He's called Apple and SFPD's actions "outrageous."
CNET's August report said that Apple enlisted SF police for help locating an unreleased phone that an employee had left at Cava 22, a Mission District tequila lounge, in late July. Apple internal security told police that the device was priceless and the company was desperate to secure its safe return, then led police to a house in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.
One of the six people who visited the house looking for Calderon said they would obtain a search warrant if he didn't agree to let them in, according to two sources with knowledge of the event. Calderon then voluntarily submitted to what he claims he believed was a search by police officers, but which in reality included Apple employees. In an interview with SF Weekly, Calderon voluntarily disclosed that his house was the one that had been visited.
Following a search of the house and garage, Calderon said he was offered a cash reward for the return of the phone of approximately $300, though was not told what the device was.
Last year, an iPhone 4 prototype went missing when Robert Gray Powell, an Apple computer engineer who was 28 years old at the time, left it in a German beer garden in Redwood City, Calif.
In early August, San Mateo County prosecutors filed misdemeanor criminal charges against Brian Hogan and Sage Wallower for allegedly selling the prototype to Gawker Media's Gizmodo blog (which escaped indictment). Hogan and Wallower pleaded no contest to the charges in October.
As a result of the high-profile losses, and another incident allegedly involving Apple's global supply manager, Apple forced security chief John Theriault into retirement last month.

(Info provided by Greg Sandoval and Declan Mcullagh of Cnet)