JAKARTA–It was only a few days ago I was sitting in a wheelchair getting a blood transfusion.
It was Friday night in Singapore, and I was at Clarke Quay– a pseudo-outdoor mall of clubs. It’s like a smaller scale version of the Las Vegas strip frequented by Singaporean college kids, goofy Western expats and hot Asian girls, mind-bogglingly shimmied into too-tight dresses.
Everything in Clarke Quay — and Singapore for that matter– is highly competitive, and the clubs
Sunday, October 31, 2010
How to Spot an Undead Trekkie [Book Excerpt]
Set your phasers to overkill and bring ensign Jimmy along as a decoy while we follow a band of fanboy survivors as they escape the horrors of GulfCon, site of the worst undead Trekkie outbreak this side of Fortune City. More »
FCC Fines Verizon a Record-Breaking $25 Million for Screwing Customers [Fcc]
Remember when Verizon recently said "sorry" to 15 million of its cellphone customers for overcharging them to the tune of $ 52.8 million? So does the FCC, which just levied a massive $ 25 million fine against them for the error. Updated. More »
3D Glasses Go Gaudy with Gucci [3D Glasses]
Hey, Oakley. Gucci sees your $ 150 3D glasses and raises you a designer label and $ 75. More »
Where There's Water... [Image Cache]
Astronaut Douglas Wheelock, aboard the ISS, snapped this nighttime photo of the Nile as he shot over it on Saturday. The contrast between where there is life and there is not is striking, to say the least. [Astro_Wheels via defcon_5] More »
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Ask a VC: Is Southeast Asia’s Economic Growth for Real This Time? [TCTV]
As promised, my guest on Ask a VC this week is James Chan of Neotany Labs, an early stage Singaporean investment firm. Chan isn’t some banker-fied expat, he’s a “son of Singapore’s soil” as he phrases it. He was educated in the system, served his two years in the army and got a scholarship to study in the US, part at Carnegie Mellon University and part at Stanford.
That scholarship came with a hefty price: He had to come back and work for the Singapore government
That scholarship came with a hefty price: He had to come back and work for the Singapore government
Microsoft buys Canesta, continues camera-based domination of our interfaces
It seems that Microsoft's taken the camera to heart following its dismissal of the pen -- the company bought 3DV, collaborated with PrimeSense on Kinect, and today it's apparently finalized a deal to acquire 3D CMOS camera chipmaker Canesta as well. In case you've already forgotten, the latter company is the one that made an paid actor look particularly smug last year, by allowing the gent to control his television with a flick of the wrist. Things have progressed a good bit further than that,
#trickortreat: Show Off Your Halloween Costume On DailyBooth
Halloween is an exhibitionist’s paradise, and nowhere do more (safe for work) exhibitionists congregate than in online communities like DailyBooth, a site which asks users to upload photo booth style pictures of themselves.
The YCombinator-funded DailyBooth has decided to get into the Halloween spirit this year (or is just really good at spotting opportunities for marketing itself) and is running a program that allows users to strut their Halloween stuff using the hashtag
The YCombinator-funded DailyBooth has decided to get into the Halloween spirit this year (or is just really good at spotting opportunities for marketing itself) and is running a program that allows users to strut their Halloween stuff using the hashtag
Fox blackout on Cablevision ends after 14 day standoff, glaring contest continues on
Evidently missing the first two games of the World Series was about all Cablevision thought it subscribers could take, as news just hit the wire: the fourteen-day standoff is over and both tonight's game three of the World Series and tomorrow's Jets vs Packers game are available to subscribers. While these carriage disputes are pretty common, it is very rare for channels to be pulled and downright unheard of for a channel as popular as Fox. It came to this because Cablevision was very unhappy
Video Game Storage – LevelUp Ottomans
I wouldn’t say that I’m a neat freak, but I like an uncluttered house. That’s not saying that my house isn’t cluttered, because it is… except for my basement. It’s been newly remodeled and is the role model for the rest of the house. If you need a kick start to cleaning up some the clutter in your own home, how about starting with your gaming gear. If you are like most gaming geeks, you probably have games, controllers and consoles scattered willy nilly all
Friday, October 29, 2010
iPhone apps on sale for Halloween
Happy Halloween weekend! This is my favorite holiday of the year, not only because it's a fun time for parties during my favorite season, but also because it seems to be an excellent time for developers to put a little something special into their apps -- like put them on sale. There are quite a few sales hitting the App Store this weekend -- Sega has some of their titles on sale again (including Ecco the Dolphin and the great Shining Force), and Namco Bandai is doing the same. You can pick up
Microsoft loosens up, enables Windows Phone 7 apps to run beneath screen lock
We felt that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 was a product that would be perpetually evaluated, tweaked and overhauled as time went on, and sure enough, we're already seeing those winds of change blow yonder. Reportedly, Microsoft has now removed the restriction that prevented developers from writing applications that would continue to operate behind a locked screen (without a user's explicit permission, anyway), enabling a whole host of apps to breathe in a manner in which they simply should.
No Change? Buy Candy With PayPal, Your Phone and Twitter
A proof-of-concept vending machine shows how we can dispense with cash for everyday purchases, skipping credit and debit cards altogether and going straight to electronic transfer.
The vending machine uses QR codes, PayPal, a smartphone camera and Twitter. And, to complete the geek-buzzword bingo checklist, the hardware is based in part on Arduino, an open source hardware platform.
“We’re experimenting with ways of taking PayPal payments beyond the web,” PayPal Labs’
The vending machine uses QR codes, PayPal, a smartphone camera and Twitter. And, to complete the geek-buzzword bingo checklist, the hardware is based in part on Arduino, an open source hardware platform.
“We’re experimenting with ways of taking PayPal payments beyond the web,” PayPal Labs’
Remote Control Your Car With OnStar's Mobile Apps [IphoneApps]
If you don't feel like you're giving off enough of a James Bond vibe—and happen to own a 2011 Cadillac or Chevy—OnStar's new MyLink apps might help. And they're useful! Unlock doors, check gas levels—even start the ignition. More »
Facebook Phone Being Announced on Wednesday? [Unconfirmed]
Looks like Facebook is throwing a very special mobile event on Wednesday and while there are barely any details about it, we're secretly hoping that it's going to end with an announcement of the Facebook Phone. [TechCrunch] More »
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Ask Engadget: Google TV, Apple TV, Roku, or something else?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Brandon, who is fairly interested in ditching his cable subscription. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"Hey Engadget readership. I've been paying way too much for channels I never watch for way too long. I'm about ready to seriously consider my options for
"Hey Engadget readership. I've been paying way too much for channels I never watch for way too long. I'm about ready to seriously consider my options for
How to save your SHSH blobs with TinyUmbrella [Jailbreak]
With Cydia currently not giving new users the ability to save their SHSH blobs it seemed like a good time to go over how to save your SHS blobs with an alternative, TinyUmbrella. An SHSH blob or ECID SHSH is basically a unique signature which is checked against Apple servers whenever you decide to restore the firmware on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Once a new firmware is released, Apple stops signing the older firmware, hence making it impossible to restore back to the older firmware from
Google Makes Improvements to mobile web version of Gmail
Google has posted an update to their blogger account notating some new changes to their mobile version of Gmail. From the looks of it, scrolling looks to be much improved as far as smoothness goes. Before the pages seemed to be a bit more choppy and the distance it would scroll wasn’t always very accurate. That problem appears to be fixed.
They’ve also added a floating toolbar that will remain static even when you scroll. This should make it a lot easier to jump around
They’ve also added a floating toolbar that will remain static even when you scroll. This should make it a lot easier to jump around
After iLife '11: Alternatives to iDVD and iWeb
Over the weekend TUAW is going to be featuring in-depth reviews of the new iLife '11 suite -- or at least the three apps that were updated. As most of you know by now, iWeb and iDVD didn't receive an update at all. In light of that, we've compiled a list of several alternatives to iDVD and iWeb that you may want to try out. From a purely consumer standpoint, I don't think any of these apps offer the ease of use that Apple has so successfully built into iWeb and iDVD, but given that iDVD seems
TSA: MacBook Air Can Stay in Bag at Security Check
Going to the airport will be slightly less miserable for MacBook Air owners: Apple’s new ultra-thin notebook need not be removed from a bag at security checkpoints.
The Transportation Security Administration told CNN that the 11-inch Air, like the iPad, can stay inside bags when passing through the checkpoint. However, the TSA hasn’t yet determined whether the 13-inch Air can stay inside a bag or must be removed.
The 11-incher gains special clearance because it’s
The Transportation Security Administration told CNN that the 11-inch Air, like the iPad, can stay inside bags when passing through the checkpoint. However, the TSA hasn’t yet determined whether the 13-inch Air can stay inside a bag or must be removed.
The 11-incher gains special clearance because it’s
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
19 Year Old Kiip Founder Closes 300K Angel Round For Mobile In-Game Ad Startup
We’ve learned that former Digger and teen entrepreneur Brian Wong has just wrapped up a $ 300K angel round for his mobile gaming ad startup Kiip. You first read about Wong when our own Mike Arrington wrote about the 19 year old being the youngest founder to ever receive venture investment.
Now Wong has racked up a laundry list of investors from big brands including True Ventures, SimpleGeo CEO Joe Stump (in his first angel investment), CMO Rohan Oza of Vitamin Water, PopChips CEO Keith
Now Wong has racked up a laundry list of investors from big brands including True Ventures, SimpleGeo CEO Joe Stump (in his first angel investment), CMO Rohan Oza of Vitamin Water, PopChips CEO Keith
Alcohol-Infused Whipped Cream Puts Some Cheery On Top [Booze]
The only thing better than flavored whipped cream? Flavored whipped cream that'll get you drunk. That's the joy of aptly named Whipped Lightning. Just imagine what the whippets are like. More »
This May Be The Very First Photo Of A Human [Image Cache]
Take a close look at this photo. It was supposedly taken by Louis Daguerre, the inventor of the daguerreotype, on the streets of Paris in 1838. And it might just be the earliest photo to include a human subject. More »
Microsoft 'Tags' 2 billion real-world objects with its phone-friendly barcodes
Microsoft might be late to the cameraphone-able barcode game, but it appears to be making up for lost time. Its multi-colored (and, frankly, rather attractive) Tag barcodes added a few important innovations on top of the general QR code concept, and apparently to good effect: 2 billion Tags have been printed since the January 2009 launch, and 1 billion of those Tags were printed in the past four months. Sounds like Microsoft has found some momentum, and they claim to have gained a lead in the
Barnes & Noble intros Nook Color: the worst of all worlds
Barnes & Noble introduced a new color version of its Nook eBook reader on Tuesday and as expected, it features a color touch screen. Unfortunately for B&N, this new device is unlikely to pose a significant challenge to either Apple's iPad or Amazon's Kindle.
The big advantage that both the Kindle and the original Nook had was a monochrome e-ink display which uses very little energy and generally provides excellent readability. The iPad on the other hand needs to be charged daily but
The big advantage that both the Kindle and the original Nook had was a monochrome e-ink display which uses very little energy and generally provides excellent readability. The iPad on the other hand needs to be charged daily but
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Buy Your Gizmodo Artist Series T-Shirt Today [Announcement]
You guys kept telling us you wanted an official Giz t-shirt, and now they're here. The very first Gizmodo Artist Series t-shirt, designed by former Giz illustrator Wendy MacNaughton, is available today from BustedTees for $ 20. More »
The PlayStation Phone
It's hard to believe that what we're looking at is real -- but we assure you, the picture above is in fact the PlayStation Phone you've long been waiting for. As we reported back in August, the device you see is headed into the market soon, likely boasting Android 3.0 (aka Gingerbread), along with a custom Sony Marketplace which will allow you to purchase and download games designed for the new platform. The device snapped up top (and in our gallery below) is sporting a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655
How to Open an Airplane Lavatory Door from the Outside [Airplanes]
Next time your kid locks him/herself in the airplane bathroom, or you just feel like being particularly creepy with a stranger, here's how you can easily unlock an airplane lavatory with nothing but your finger. More »
Apple in early stage negotiations to buy Spotify?
After rumors that Apple attempted to block Spotify from entering the US market, now there’s a suggestion they might just be negotiating with the Swedish-based streaming music startup over a possible acquisition. TechCrunch reports:
“Apple and Spotify are in on-again, off-again discussions about an acquisition, but at best it’s very early in the process. No firm price has been offered, no term sheet tabled. Still, it’s interesting that the two are talking.”
Now,
“Apple and Spotify are in on-again, off-again discussions about an acquisition, but at best it’s very early in the process. No firm price has been offered, no term sheet tabled. Still, it’s interesting that the two are talking.”
Now,
Beijing's IKEA Is Apparently a Great Place for a Snooze [Ikea]
Whenever I visit IKEA, I immediately tense up—ten thousand kinds of wardrobe! It fries the nerves. Not so in Beijing, where shoppers have appropriated the store as a serene, padded lounge—and are passed out all over the place. More »
Monday, October 25, 2010
Steve Jobs: iPad Screen-Lock Switch Is Gone for Good
Apple is turning the physical switch on the iPad into a mute button whether you like it or not, according to a purported e-mail sent by Steve Jobs.
The switch on the iPad currently locks or unlocks screen orientation on the device, but in beta versions of the next iOS update (4.2), it instead mutes or unmutes audio, just like the switch does on the iPhone.
An iPad customer claims he sent Jobs an e-mail asking whether the switch could be optionally set to lock screen orientation rather than
The switch on the iPad currently locks or unlocks screen orientation on the device, but in beta versions of the next iOS update (4.2), it instead mutes or unmutes audio, just like the switch does on the iPhone.
An iPad customer claims he sent Jobs an e-mail asking whether the switch could be optionally set to lock screen orientation rather than
Mac App Store Provokes Developer Interest, Concern
Apple is on a mission to cram the iPad’s and iPhone’s successes into the Mac, beginning with a brand-new software store serving Mac apps. That may be both good and bad.
The Mac App Store will create a new channel for Mac users to find software easily, and it will make it easier for programmers to reach a large audience. But some developers worry about Apple’s future road map, and the potential the App Store has to turn the Mac platform into a more closed, controlled
The Mac App Store will create a new channel for Mac users to find software easily, and it will make it easier for programmers to reach a large audience. But some developers worry about Apple’s future road map, and the potential the App Store has to turn the Mac platform into a more closed, controlled
PlayOn now available on Roku: more content for a price
We knew that Hulu Plus was making a beeline for Roku's stable of media streaming boxes, but now owners have yet another avenue to grab online content: PlayOn. For those unaware, PlayOn delivers online material from Hulu, PBS, TBS, ESPN, CNN, MLB.tv and YouTube (among other places), but the catch is that there's an annual fee for having access ($ 34.99 for the first year; $ 19.99 each year thereafter). Furthermore, you'll need a PC on the same network as the Roku in order to fetch the content
Is your new Apple TV skipping frames?
Apple's new $ 99 Apple TV may be getting a lot more fans than its predecessor, but early reports from a number of users are indicating that the streaming video on the device sometimes skips frames.
As reported on 9to5Mac and relayed by several of our readers from personal experience, the issue may not be apparent to everyone, but can be annoying enough to those who know what to look for that they'd like to use the device for target practice.
An Emmy-nominated editor who sent 9to5 an email
As reported on 9to5Mac and relayed by several of our readers from personal experience, the issue may not be apparent to everyone, but can be annoying enough to those who know what to look for that they'd like to use the device for target practice.
An Emmy-nominated editor who sent 9to5 an email
Ford Earmarks An Additional $850 Million To Build Fuel Efficient Cars
With car sales starting to inch higher and the threat of bankruptcy only faintly visible in the rear-view mirror, Ford is loosening its purse strings once again.
On Monday afternoon, the Dearborn, Michigan based company announced that it will invest another $ 850 million into the development of more fuel efficient cars and technology.
That cash, which is earmarked for 2011 to 2013, is still contingent on whether the Michigan Economic Development Council approves a robust package of incentives
On Monday afternoon, the Dearborn, Michigan based company announced that it will invest another $ 850 million into the development of more fuel efficient cars and technology.
That cash, which is earmarked for 2011 to 2013, is still contingent on whether the Michigan Economic Development Council approves a robust package of incentives
Sunday, October 24, 2010
SPIDER Spreads Out Your Insides, Helps Surgeons Save Lives [Video]
My background is writing partially thought-out gadget blog posts, so you'll forgive me this brief moment of juvenile amazement:Holy cow surgeons have the craziest tools! Is the SPIDER something you surgeons out there are regularly playing god with, or what? More »
Google revises internal privacy practices, appoints director of privacy
Google's run into quite a number of privacy concerns in the past, and things hit something of a tipping point earlier this year when it was revealed that the company was snooping on WiFi data while it was collecting Street View images. Now Google has finally come back with some answers to some privacy questions it says it's been studying for the past several months. First and foremost is the appointment of Alma Whitten as the company's new directory of privacy, who will manage Google's privacy
Purported Nook Color Mock Up Appears On Barnes & Noble Website [Nook Color]
The all-but-confirmed Nook Color will probably make its official debut at a Barnes & Noble event this Tuesday. As for its unofficial debut, well, that may have happened this evening. More »
Groupon Exposes Customer Emails In Google Results
Savvy Internet surfer Chris Crompton has found a flaw in Groupon’s email link encryption where adding the search term “addx” (exact Google search = allinurl: addx site:groupon.com) brings up about 35 or so emails of people who have subscribed to the Groupon newsletter. I am unable to tell whether these emails are from people who actually purchased the deals or just signed up for Groupon’s over 20 million strong email list.
It looks like this is some kind of Google
It looks like this is some kind of Google
Meet the Lucky Family That Lives Atop the City of Seattle [Architecture]
In the penthouse of the Smith Tower, more than 35 stories and 362-feet into the cool Seattle air, lives an extremely lucky family. I want to live in a tower. I hate them. More »
Saturday, October 23, 2010
“Shiny App Syndrome”: When Open Government Meets Closed Platforms
It’s good for governments to find more ways to connect with their citizens, including the web. As the web goes mobile, open government should too. But governments shouldn’t develop apps for some mobile platforms and not others.
That’s Kevin Curry and Brownell Chalstrom’s problem with Texas.gov’s new iPhone app. The state of Texas recently overhauled its website for the desktop, but doesn’t have a mobile version. It also doesn’t have applications for
That’s Kevin Curry and Brownell Chalstrom’s problem with Texas.gov’s new iPhone app. The state of Texas recently overhauled its website for the desktop, but doesn’t have a mobile version. It also doesn’t have applications for
DX/D2 Overclocker Speeds Up Your Droid X or Droid 2 with Just a Few Taps [Downloads]
We've featured one way to overclock your Android phone, but if you're the lucky owner of a newer Motorola device, you can take all the effort out of overclocking with DX/D2 Overclocker. More »
DIY Friday: How to Make a USB Foot Pedal For Third-Hand Computing
Matt Richardson’s friend Lauren wanted a device to hold down the down arrow and physically scroll through Google Reader, like a sustain pedal on a piano. Matt built it for her using an old USB keyboard, wire, solder and a little DIY invention.
It’s surprising we don’t see foot pedals more often in mainstream desktop computing. They’re a natural, well-established interface: besides analog tech like pianos, drums, bikes or a spinning wheel, think of cars, table saws and
It’s surprising we don’t see foot pedals more often in mainstream desktop computing. They’re a natural, well-established interface: besides analog tech like pianos, drums, bikes or a spinning wheel, think of cars, table saws and
Nissan Leaf goes 116.1 miles in first anecdotal test, with the air conditioning on
If there's one thing we've learned from years of toying with technology, it's never to believe a manufacturer's estimate regarding battery life, but it seems like the estimates Nissan provided for its Leaf electric car may not be too far off the mark. Though the vehicle obviously isn't getting 367 miles to its non-existent gallon, PluginCars did manage to eke out a solid 116.1 miles in the car's first anecdotal test, and all they had to do to go the distance was drive casually and slightly
OMG/JK: Just Two Guys Drooling Over The New MacBook Air
We had a special guest for this week’s episode of OMG/JK, the show I host alongside fellow writer Jason Kincaid: the new MacBook Air. If you’ve been waiting to see two guys endlessly fawn over something, watch above.
And once we wiped the drool off of our faces, we also discussed Kleiner Perkins’ new sFund, the $ 250 million fund to back new social applications. And we talk a bit about the Google TV, its awful remotes, and the quickly heating up connected television
And once we wiped the drool off of our faces, we also discussed Kleiner Perkins’ new sFund, the $ 250 million fund to back new social applications. And we talk a bit about the Google TV, its awful remotes, and the quickly heating up connected television
Friday, October 22, 2010
Microsoft CEO Ballmer: The Company's Riskiest Product Bet Is The Next Version Of Windows [Microsoft]
We've seen some leaked documents showing off potential Windows 8 features and we expect to see the operating system in 2012, but now we know that it is going to be Microsoft's "riskiest product bet." More »
How would you change Amazon's Kindle DX Graphite?
We both know you didn't need a Kindle with a 9.7-inch display, but you went and did the deed anyway. Now that you're a proud owner of Amazon's Kindle DX Graphite, you're obligated to tell the world what exactly you'd change about it if given the ability to do so. We noted back in our review that the revised display was indeed a lovely extra, but is it enough to justify the lofty premium over the standard 6-inch model? Would you have changed up the keyboard? What about the enclosure? Thrown in
Father-daughter team use a 3D printer to create awesome nanobot art [Concept Art]
Jeff and Ashley Sierzenga recently took it upon themselves to bring to life the flesh-eating nanobots from Jeff Carlson's bestselling series Plague Year. Here you can see their entire project, from schematics to the final model. More »
AT&T brings VoterHub to iPhone
VoterHub is a new iPhone app which brings a plethora of voting information into the hands of iPhone wielding U.S. citizens. With VoterHub you can
register to vote
find out what the deadlines are for registering
find out voter qualifications
find out when early voting begins
find out when vote-by-mail/absentee voting begins
find your local polling place
view your state’s election calendar
find out who is on the ballot
Maybe in 20 years we’ll be able to vote with our iPhones?
register to vote
find out what the deadlines are for registering
find out voter qualifications
find out when early voting begins
find out when vote-by-mail/absentee voting begins
find your local polling place
view your state’s election calendar
find out who is on the ballot
Maybe in 20 years we’ll be able to vote with our iPhones?
TiPb iPhone and iPad wallpaper of the week!
Remember that TiPb iPhone and iPad wallpaper contest we had going in our forums? We didn’t forget about it, but I don’t think we made it exactly clear what we were looking for either. So to kick things off (again), we’ve picked our first winner, the forum member who submitted the beautiful wallpaper they made above.
Think you can make a killer wallpaper? Jump over to our thread and submit your iPad or iPhone wallpaper for your chance to win. We’ll be picking a
Think you can make a killer wallpaper? Jump over to our thread and submit your iPad or iPhone wallpaper for your chance to win. We’ll be picking a
Thursday, October 21, 2010
What Do Jet Engines And LED Light Bulbs Have In Common? [LEDs]
It's not the setup for a joke. Jets and light bulbs really do have something in common now that GE is using jet engine cooling mechanisms inside bright, lightweight, low-energy LED bulbs. You'll have to wait to buy them though. More »
Can you trust a Steve Jobs email? "Nope."
A reader just emailed us to point out a post I wrote this past April. MacStories.net had published an email a developer at Chiaro Software had sent Steve Jobs to ask him if the rumors of a Mac App Store and no software running on OS X without authorization from Apple were true. Job's answer? "Nope."
Yesterday's Mac App Store announcement puts a different spin on that response. Jobs sent the "nope" email in late April. It's unrealistic to think that Apple had no plans for a Mac App Store at
Yesterday's Mac App Store announcement puts a different spin on that response. Jobs sent the "nope" email in late April. It's unrealistic to think that Apple had no plans for a Mac App Store at
Facelette Is Chatroulette For FaceTime [Facetime]
Enjoying your Mac FaceTime experience so far, but not seeing nearly enough genitals and/or stoned teens? Rejoice! An enterprising programmer has already created Facelette, Chatroulette for FaceTime. But be forewarned: it may require some extra precautionary measures. More »
FaceTime for Mac has security flaw
FaceTime for Mac beta was announced at Apple’s Back to the Mac event yesterday and released shortly after. It didn’t take long before a security flaw was found.
Once you’ve logged into FaceTime you can have a look at all the account settings of the used Apple ID. Username, ID, place and birth date are shown as well as the security question and the answer to it – in plain text, without another password request.
Also, when logging out of FaceTime, the password field will
Once you’ve logged into FaceTime you can have a look at all the account settings of the used Apple ID. Username, ID, place and birth date are shown as well as the security question and the answer to it – in plain text, without another password request.
Also, when logging out of FaceTime, the password field will
Gizmodo Sexy Robot Costume Contest: Can You Beat This? [Contest]
Entries are rolling in for Gizmodo's Sexy Robot Costume Contest! This is one favorite we've picked from our growing collection of erotic robotics. What, you don't like it? That's fine—we're letting you choose the winner anyway. More »
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Samsung plotting a single platform to connect TVs and phones
Samsung's mad, monied quest to "free the TV apps" may not stop at your couch -- the electronics manufacturer says it's looking to loop in cell phones as well. "We plan to have a single platform for Samsung TV and phones," a VP told Reuters, without providing further details, though we have to wonder if it might cross swords with the Media Hub video-on-demand software the company's pushing in the tablet and smartphone space.Samsung plotting a single platform to connect TVs and phones originally
Apple TV hacked to run weather app
Well, that didn't take long. Greenpois0n jailbroke the the new Apple TV just yesterday, and PwnageTool 4.1 this afternoon, and we've already got what appears to be the first custom software successfully running on the device. As you can see, it's a simple weather app, designed by a tiny software firm called nitoTV, but it's a harbinger of things to come when developers get cracking on the Apple TV in earnest. See a picture of nitoTV's custom launcher after the break, while your subconscious
The Difference Between Facebook and Twitter [Social]
Sure there are a lot of superficial differences between Facebook and Twitter. But this is really the only distinction that matters. More »
Sony Introduces New Universal Children’s Remote Control
Sony has just announced a remote control for kids. The RM-KZ1 is splash proof and features locked down battery and programming compartments. It allows parents to control channel availability by programming up to seven “favorites” buttons. It also has a “volume limiting” feature that does not allow volume to be changed +/- 3 steps within 30 seconds. The RM-KZ1 can control up to two components (TV – Sat/Cable). Itl is currently available at Target Stores and online at both
Samsung Omnia 7 review
We knew Samsung's been in the Windows Phone 7 game pretty much since day one, but the Korean giant's managed to keep its Europe-bound Omnia 7 under tight wraps until mid-summer this year. Two months onwards, we find ourselves cradling this macho-looking device, and giggly flicking through the various tiles in its newborn OS. Just to freshen up your memory, we're looking at a 4-inch Super AMOLED-donning slate, garnished with a dash of Tyrian purple aluminum on the back, and capped with some
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Bitten In The Ass: iPhone 4 Is Basically Apple’s “Vista” — Except The Opposite
“It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that.“
That was Microsoft COO Kevin Turner during his keynote speech this past July at the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington. To be exact, he gave that speech on July 14, two days before Apple’s “Antennagate” press conference. At that point, talk about the iPhone 4′s antenna was at a fever pitch. And there were plenty who (foolishly) believed Apple would have to do a recall.
At
That was Microsoft COO Kevin Turner during his keynote speech this past July at the company’s Worldwide Partner Conference in Washington. To be exact, he gave that speech on July 14, two days before Apple’s “Antennagate” press conference. At that point, talk about the iPhone 4′s antenna was at a fever pitch. And there were plenty who (foolishly) believed Apple would have to do a recall.
At
Another Chrome OS Engineer Defects To Facebook In The Build-Up To Launch
I’d venture to say that I’m as excited about Chrome OS as anybody. 99.99 percent of my working day is currently spent in Chrome currently, and I’d be just fine with it being 100 percent if it gains a few features that Chrome OS is promising. But there’s a mildly worrisome trend occurring leading up to the launch of Google’s first desktop operating system: defections. Also interesting: what does Facebook want with these guys?
Specifically, another Chrome OS
Specifically, another Chrome OS
Consumer Reports' Mobile Shopper a mixed bag
This is the second foray into iPhone territory by Consumer Reports. The first app pretty much duplicated the currently-available online content, and was free. This second app, called Consumer Reports Mobile Shopper is US $ 9.99, and puts the impeccable brand and product reviews in a more iOS-specific form.
The app allows you to browse through CR ratings of thousands of products, and allows searches by brand name or model. You can also scan the UPC bar-code using the iPhone's camera. The app
The app allows you to browse through CR ratings of thousands of products, and allows searches by brand name or model. You can also scan the UPC bar-code using the iPhone's camera. The app
Even The Google Street View Team Gets Lost Sometimes [Image Cache]
After once managing to somehow wind up at an outdoor concert instead of a restaurant despite following Google Maps, I almost feel guilty for laughing at these lost and confused members of the Google Street View team. More »
I Want This Zero Gravity Seat for My Living Room [Video]
Watch Mary Kirby trying the Zero Gravity seat, a new airplane seat especially designed to increase your oxygen flow and circulation. It elevates your knee line over your heart line, achieving a larger angle between your pelvis and your back. More »
Monday, October 18, 2010
Apple And Google: The Activation Pissing Match Continues
Just in case it wasn’t clear enough, Apple’s Q4 earnings call today made it more clear than ever that Apple and Google are in the middle of an all-out war in the mobile space. Apple CEO Steve Jobs took five good minutes to trash Google’s Android platform on its “openness”, fragmentation, tablet capabilities, and a variety of other things. He also had a stat bomb to drop. Again.
According to Jobs, Apple is now activating 275,000 iOS devices a day. That stat is for
According to Jobs, Apple is now activating 275,000 iOS devices a day. That stat is for
Pleo Robotic Dinosaur Set for Rebirth
Pleo, the lovable, green robotic dinosaur, is getting a second lease on life. After going through a bankruptcy that nearly killed it, the dinosaur is set to be reborn with a new skin and upgraded features.
The revamped Pleo will be called Pleo RB and will come in new colors such as purple and blue with slight variations across all models.
“We’re going to change color on the production line and eye color, so two Pleos coming off the line at the same time will look different,”
The revamped Pleo will be called Pleo RB and will come in new colors such as purple and blue with slight variations across all models.
“We’re going to change color on the production line and eye color, so two Pleos coming off the line at the same time will look different,”
A Special Message for Language Pedants From Stephen Fry [Video]
This is for you. Yes, you, the one hiding behind that desk in the #corrections room. [YouTube] More »
Video Calling Startup Wham! Nails $3 Million In Series A
High-definition video calling startup Wham! announced today a $ 3 million dollar Series A investment lead by Santa Monica’s Palomar Ventures. While Wham! representatives have still not responded to my calls about what exactly their as of yet un-launched Vuu product is (the press release says “product undisclosed”), I’m assuming its some kind of consumer focused video call-optimized phone based on the WhamInc.com website images and copy.
Founded by Matthew Shoemake,
Founded by Matthew Shoemake,
125 million iOS devices, 300,000 apps, 35,000 iPad apps
As part of their Q4 2010 conference call, Apple today announced that 125 million iOS devices have been sold to date. That includes the 14.1 million iPhones, 4.19 million iPads, and perhaps the 250,000 Apple TVs this quarter. No iPod touch numbers were broken out, but 9.05 million iPods in general were also sold. That brings the iPhone up to 40 million sold in the last year on 156 carriers in 89 countries, and 7.5 million iPads in the last 6 months in 26 countries. They’re activating and
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Report: "Popular" Facebook Apps Are Sharing User Info with Third Parties [Privacy]
Interesting. Certain Facebook apps (ahem, Farmville) are sharing user info. Maybe that big Jobs-Zuckerberg sit down two weeks ago was a scolding about privacy and user experience? Probably not. In any event the sharing goes against Facebook's own rules. More »
CustomEVOS Clear HTC EVO Battery Cover Review
One of the things I love about certain gadgets is how they invigorate the maker community to come up with cool replacement parts and such. Joe at IcyCell CustomEVOs is one such person who has come up with a cool crystal clear back cover for the HTC EVO.
… [visit site to read more]
Filed in categories: Android related, ReviewsTagged: Android, battery cover, Custom, evoCustomEVOS Clear HTC EVO Battery Cover Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 17, 2010 at 8:54
… [visit site to read more]
Filed in categories: Android related, ReviewsTagged: Android, battery cover, Custom, evoCustomEVOS Clear HTC EVO Battery Cover Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 17, 2010 at 8:54
Experts Worry Toddlers Are Becoming iPhone Addicts [Rant]
For some toddlers today the venerable "toys of choice" are not dolls or blocks, but iPhones. Experts worry their development is hampered by this "screen time." I'm inclined to argue every generation has its vices and parents need to parent. More »
Talkcast tonight, 10pm ET: Back to the Mac
With quarterly earnings due tomorrow and Wednesday's 'Back to the Mac' event coming up right afterward, there's plenty to cover and speculate upon tonight on the TUAW Talkcast.
We'd love it if you joined us. To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the Web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm on Sunday. To call in on
We'd love it if you joined us. To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the Web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm on Sunday. To call in on
NSFW: Respected Newspaper Man on the Death of Print – “La La La, I Can’t Hear You”
By any measure you care to use, British newsman Peter Preston deserves respect.
A former editor of the Guardian, the paper’s investigative reporting on his watch – including the infamous ‘cash for questions’ scandal – hastened the (admittedly unhasty) end of 18 years of Conservative government in the UK.
Today, Preston is still at Guardian Media Group, writing a weekly column for the Observer newspaper about the decline and fall of printed news in the Internet age.
But
A former editor of the Guardian, the paper’s investigative reporting on his watch – including the infamous ‘cash for questions’ scandal – hastened the (admittedly unhasty) end of 18 years of Conservative government in the UK.
Today, Preston is still at Guardian Media Group, writing a weekly column for the Observer newspaper about the decline and fall of printed news in the Internet age.
But
Saturday, October 16, 2010
foofbags – Simple and effective iPad, iPhone protection
Australian based company foof offers handmade protective fabric sleeves for the MacBook, iPad, iPhone and other devices. These sleeves have a simple open topped design void of zippers, velcro flaps, etc. Available in a variety of eye catching fabrics that will appeal to both men and women, they have a soft lining that will protect your device from dirt, and scratches. They remind me of the Colcasac Macbook sleeve that I reviewed. Pricing: $ 38 AUD for MacBook Sleeves, $ 28 AUD for iPad
Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg have dinner, talk Facebook for Ping
It looks like Apple’s Steve Jobs and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg recently sat down over dinner to talk Ping. The LA Times reports:
Apparently Jobs invited Zuckerberg for dinner at his house to talk about Ping two weeks ago. That’s when a tipster spotted them on a stroll in Palo Alto.
A passerby also reportedly saw the two taking a quick stroll around the block afterwards. Hopefully they were able to smooth things over a bit, and we also suspect as much, as Facebook
Apparently Jobs invited Zuckerberg for dinner at his house to talk about Ping two weeks ago. That’s when a tipster spotted them on a stroll in Palo Alto.
A passerby also reportedly saw the two taking a quick stroll around the block afterwards. Hopefully they were able to smooth things over a bit, and we also suspect as much, as Facebook
HDMI adapter coming for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad?
Noosy, an accessory maker based out of China, has posted an HDMI adapter for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on their website. This would allow iOS device owners to output 720p video directly to the HDMI inputs on their HDTVs, instead of using the $ 50 Apple component A/V cables.
What remains to be seen is how it will handle copy protected material, which requires HDCP and has been a source of considerable frustration for users of Apple’s VGA adapter. If they’re simply converting
What remains to be seen is how it will handle copy protected material, which requires HDCP and has been a source of considerable frustration for users of Apple’s VGA adapter. If they’re simply converting
Tiny, Fully-Functional Rubik’s Cube Smaller Than a Thumbnail
Evgeniy Grigoriev’s home-made Rubik’s Cube is the smallest in the world. It measures just 10mm across, beating his own previous record of 12mm. In inches, that’s… Well, just take a look for yourself. This thing is tiny.
Even more impressive is that the thing is fully functional, and is perhaps even more frustrating than the full-sized original, bringing in the added challenge of twisting the tiny layers with the fingertips and nails.
Should you want one of these, you
Even more impressive is that the thing is fully functional, and is perhaps even more frustrating than the full-sized original, bringing in the added challenge of twisting the tiny layers with the fingertips and nails.
Should you want one of these, you
Getting To The Bottom Of The Crazy Yahoo-Groupon Rumors
I’ve had an interesting few days trying to track down exactly what is and isn’t going on with Yahoo and Groupon.
One source earlier this week said that a $ 1.7 billion acquisition was all but done, but Groupon’s management team balked and killed the deal. That’s certainly juicy and consistent with Yahoo’s failure to acquire Yelp and Foursquare.
Another source close to Yahoo said much the same thing, but suggested the price was higher, north of $ 2 billion.
None
One source earlier this week said that a $ 1.7 billion acquisition was all but done, but Groupon’s management team balked and killed the deal. That’s certainly juicy and consistent with Yahoo’s failure to acquire Yelp and Foursquare.
Another source close to Yahoo said much the same thing, but suggested the price was higher, north of $ 2 billion.
None
Friday, October 15, 2010
Found Footage: iPhone concert on the B train
It's time for another installment of our favorite viral program, "Bands You've Never Heard Of Play A Song On Their iPhones." In this case, the band is Brooklyn's Atomic Tom, the song is the decidedly catchy Take Me Out, and the performance is live on the 6th Avenue line of the New York City subways, crossing the Manhattan Bridge on the B train.
Add the degree of difficulty of shooting the video on iPhones, the noise and lighting challenges of the train, and the likelihood of an overeager "see
Add the degree of difficulty of shooting the video on iPhones, the noise and lighting challenges of the train, and the likelihood of an overeager "see
Bloomberg Game Changers Steve Jobs documentary online and on TV tonight
Last night, Bloomberg TV presented an episode of the Bloomberg Game Changers documentary series highlighting the life and career of Steve Jobs. The show included interviews with Jobs' friends, former colleagues, and business associates, and detailed his styles of leadership, management, and creative process.
The show is now available for viewing online, or you can watch it tonight (October 15) at 9 PM and 11 PM EDT on Bloomberg TV. Selected highlights from the show are also available on
The show is now available for viewing online, or you can watch it tonight (October 15) at 9 PM and 11 PM EDT on Bloomberg TV. Selected highlights from the show are also available on
Rumor: Apple to Introduce 11.6-Inch MacBook Next Week
The next MacBook Air will be smaller, faster and cheaper than its predecessor, and we could hear about it as soon as next week, according to a rumor posted by AppleInsider.
Sources told blog AppleInsider that Apple is preparing to launch a redesigned MacBook Air with an 11.6-inch display — down from the current 13.3-inch model — equipped with a miniature solid state drive “card” that resembles a stick of RAM rather than a traditional hard drive.
AppleInsider speculates that
Sources told blog AppleInsider that Apple is preparing to launch a redesigned MacBook Air with an 11.6-inch display — down from the current 13.3-inch model — equipped with a miniature solid state drive “card” that resembles a stick of RAM rather than a traditional hard drive.
AppleInsider speculates that
MSI gets official with 17.3-inch FX700 and FR700 multimedia laptops
June was a lifetime ago, we'll give you that, but surely you can't forget those 16 Optimus-based laptops that NVIDIA teased us with at Computex, right? Right. At any rate, MSI has just come clean with a delightful pair of them, the FX700 and FR700. Both of these beasts boast 17.3-inch widescreen displays, the company's own anti-scratch, anti-smudge coating and a design that actually looks fairly attractive given the hugeness. The former also includes up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, a Core i5
Thursday, October 14, 2010
How to Jailbreak iOS 4.1 via limera1n on a Mac [Jailbreak]
Wondering how to Jailbreak your iOS 4.1 iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad? limera1n was updated to support Mac today and after testing, it’s a pretty painless process. Pretty much what we’ve come to expect from Geohot. So here’s your TiPb-style walkthrough. You PC users should be able to follow along relatively easily as well since both jailbreaks are pretty much identical in nature. But as usual, here’s the standard disclaimer first:
If you are at all hesitant about
If you are at all hesitant about
Three Heroes In the Swimming Pool [Image Cache]
These three people in funny white suits, floating in those yellow rafts are—from left to right—Apollo 1's Command Pilot Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Pilot Roger B. Chaffee, and Senior Pilot Edward H. White. They look so happy. More »
This Haunting Reef Is Made Out of (Fake) People [Coralreef]
It might look a bit creepy, but British artist Jason de Caires Taylor's Mexican installation and reef conservation project is for a fine cause. Taylor has 350 statues in place—all cast from real people—that will eventually sprout coral. More »
Test Drive a Driverless Mitsubishi From Your Computer [Simulations]
Sure, there's a lot more to test driving the car than the view from the driver's seat. But it's still pretty amazing that Mitsubishi will let you control a 2011 Outlander Sport, on a closed course, from your home. More »
Keepin' it real fake: Magic Mouse and iPhone converge into iPhonc
Do you dream at night? Do you stare at your ceiling pondering questions that no other Earthling could possibly ponder? Contrary to popular belief, you aren't actually alone in this nightmare, and we too have wondered what would happen to our universe if a Magic Mouse and iPhone collided. Look up. Now down. Now back up again. That greenish, devilish device you see above is the iPhonc, a "KIRF of all KIRFs," if you will. It's hard to pinpoint who exactly thought to shove a dumbphone into the
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Cafepress teams with TomTom to slather your GPS in color, make it totally unsellable
Has Colorware started a revolution that's now impossible to stop? Here's hoping the answer is contrary to the obvious. TomTom has -- for reasons unknown -- decided it best to give consumers the option of coating their future navigator in... well, whatever they want. We aren't generally ones to gripe about choices, but the demonstration photo here definitely caters to those in favor of all things vivacious. The outfit has teamed with Cafepress in order to make the magic happen on "select
iPhone live tonight, 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST
You know the drill, come 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST, we’ll be live over at:
http://live.tipb.com/live/
With special guest Mickey Papillon, the Cell Phone Junkie. Be there, and be ready to chat. We want to hear from you.
iPhone live tonight, 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
http://live.tipb.com/live/
With special guest Mickey Papillon, the Cell Phone Junkie. Be there, and be ready to chat. We want to hear from you.
iPhone live tonight, 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog
TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
How and Why You’d Use Windows Phone 7 With A Mac
One of the major advantages of Windows Phone 7 is its tight integration with Microsoft’s other devices and software. In a terse statement, Microsoft let Mac users know they can eventually expect a light version: “Later in 2010 Microsoft will make a public beta available of a tool that allows Windows Phone 7 to sync select content with Mac computers.”
The “tool” will probably be a version of the Zune desktop software, if a Microsoft UK marketing head early tweet is
The “tool” will probably be a version of the Zune desktop software, if a Microsoft UK marketing head early tweet is
HTC Surround slides into Best Buy for $550 unsubsidized, Omnia 7 appears at T-Mobile UK
Micro surround speaker bar in a Windows Phone sound like your cup of tea? Best Buy's taking your HTC Surround pre-orders right now for handsets that'll ship on November 8th, and cost a penny under $ 550 on the off-chance you're looking to buy off-contract. Hey, you can even call it the T8788 if you want -- we won't tell a soul. Get a good look at the phone right here, in our launch hands-on.
Should you live in the United Kingdom, you can order a Samsung Omnia 7 instead -- T-Mobile UK's got
Should you live in the United Kingdom, you can order a Samsung Omnia 7 instead -- T-Mobile UK's got
Apple’s Going Back to the Mac on October 20th
Apple is hosting a “Back to the Mac” event October 20th. The invitation promises “a sneak peek of the next major version of Mac OS X.”
If I know my big cats, and the picture above is any indication, it looks like OS X 10.7 will be codenamed “Lion.” We could also see brand-new Macs. The natural candidates for a new look would be the MacBook Air and possibly the MacBook Pro. Apple tweaked its laptop line with new processors in April and its desktops in July,
If I know my big cats, and the picture above is any indication, it looks like OS X 10.7 will be codenamed “Lion.” We could also see brand-new Macs. The natural candidates for a new look would be the MacBook Air and possibly the MacBook Pro. Apple tweaked its laptop line with new processors in April and its desktops in July,
Xbox 360 Gets Reinvented as a ‘Slim’ Laptop
Master modder Ben Heck has always dazzled with his hacks that transform the Xbox 360, PS3 and other video game consoles into the devices, the likes of which you have never seen before.
Now Heck is back with a mod that stuffs the Xbox 360 into what he calls a ’slim’ laptop like casing. The device has internal power supply and is pretty quiet, he says.
The machine is 16 inches x 10.5 inches in size and has all the regular features of an Xbox 360 including Wi-Fi and online
Now Heck is back with a mod that stuffs the Xbox 360 into what he calls a ’slim’ laptop like casing. The device has internal power supply and is pretty quiet, he says.
The machine is 16 inches x 10.5 inches in size and has all the regular features of an Xbox 360 including Wi-Fi and online
Why You Should Never Pick a Risqué File Name [Privacy]
At any moment, your computer could crash, and you will need to hand it over, unedited, to a repair person. If weird filenames freak out that person and the police, they can open your files, a court has ruled. Ugh. More »
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