Technology News

HTC One 'Google Edition' in the works -- report

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00 GMT

The device will be running the standard version of Android 4.2.2 to appeal to those who want the stock version of Google's software. [Read more]

Flickr's revamped site hit by performance problems

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:52 GMT

As of late Thursday, the site has been inaccessible or slow for many of its users. [Read more]

Get $50 Off an iPhone at Best Buy From Sunday

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:40 GMT

From Sunday, Best Buy is knocking $50 off the price off the price of iPhones for four weeks.

A Homeland Security intelligence bulletin has warned that it could be "impossible" to stop 3D-printe

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:17 GMT

A Homeland Security intelligence bulletin has warned that it could be "impossible" to stop 3D-printed guns from being made. Astute, guys. Very, very astute.

How Amazon could use ad savvy to outflank Google, Walmart

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:00 GMT

The online retail giant is methodically developing an advertising network, serving up ads on its sites and others. It could use that revenue to keep prices down and pressure high on retail rivals. [Read more]

This Chair Is Also a Table

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:58 GMT

This is a clever little concept design by New York-based Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects: a perfectly normal chair with a tiny little table top, that turns a functional piece of furniture into something rather more sociable.

Samsung Galaxy S4 edges out iPhone 5 in camera test

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:41 GMT

The new leader of the Android pack nosed ahead of Apple's flagship smartphone in DxO Labs' photo and video tests. [Read more]

Intel Says Haswell Will Extend Laptop Battery Life by 50 Percent

Fri, 24 May 2013 04:32 GMT

Intel has just made one very, very big claim: it reckons that its new Haswell chip will boost the battery life of laptops by a staggering 50 percent.

It Sure Looks Beautiful Inside the Ring Nebula

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:18 GMT

The Ring Nebula is a common image in astronomy, but new images from Hubble reveal something rather strange inside the cloud of swirling gas.

Speaking last night, Digg CEO Andrew McLaughlin explained that Digg's Reader won't be a standalone a

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:51 GMT

Speaking last night, Digg CEO Andrew McLaughlin explained that Digg's Reader won't be a standalone app, and will allow you to sort and rank content, unlike a normal RSS reader.

A breath of salty air for patients with cystic fibrosis

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:43 GMT

How surfers in Australia inspired the development a new device that taps the benefits of salt water mist to treat cystic fibrosis patients. [Read more]

Google is apparently facing a fresh antitrust probe from the Federal Trade Commission to find out if

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:36 GMT

Google is apparently facing a fresh antitrust probe from the Federal Trade Commission to find out if it's been abusing its dominance in display-advertising to illegally curb competition. Naughty.

Google to lengthen SSL encryption keys from August

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:15 GMT

Google plans to upgrade the security of its SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates, an important component of secure communications.

SSL certificates are used to encrypt communication and verify the integrity of another party with which a user is interacting. Its strength lies in the length of the private signing keys used for the certificates.

Keys that are less than 1,024 bits are considered weak, and 512- and 768-bit keys have been factored to reveal a private key. Google has been using 1,024-bit keys, but will move to 2,048-bit keys, wrote Stephen McHenry, Google's director of information security engineering, in a blog post Thursday.

"We will begin switching to the new 2048-bit certificates on August 1st, to ensure adequate time for a careful rollout before the end of the year," he wrote. "We're also going to change the root certificate that signs all of our SSL certificates because it has a 1024-bit key."

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Crave giveaway: Boombotix Boombot Rex portable speaker

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:00 GMT

This little sound system connects to smartphones, tablets, and laptops via Bluetooth. Go ahead and tell it what to do; it's got built-in voice control. [Read more]

New iPhone 5 ad celebrates Generation Me-Me-Me, La-La-La

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:49 GMT

Having shown in a previous ad how everyone wants to photograph everything with their iPhone, a new Apple ad shows everyone navigating the world, while listening to their own soundtrack. [Read more]

Nokia files new suits in patent fight with HTC, says reports

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:41 GMT

Nokia files a federal lawsuit, as well as a second complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, against the Taiwanese handset maker, according to reports. [Read more]

Yahoo acquires gaming infrastructure startup PlayerScale

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:05 GMT

Yahoo has acquired PlayerScale, a startup developer of infrastructure software for cross-platform gaming, adding to its string of recent acquisitions.

The Internet giant said in a Twitter message Thursday that it would continue to support the gaming development platform, which PlayerScale claims powers games played by over 150 million people worldwide and is adding over 400,000 new users every day.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We will continue to support our existing product and deliver new services to help you grow and manage your success in cross-platform gaming -- whether it's casual, social or mobile," PlayerScale CEO Jesper Jensen said in a post on his company's website.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Cause of PC malaise? Designs not 'compelling,' says Intel

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:01 GMT

Intel executive admits devices haven't been good enough to justify an upgrade, but says the company's new processor will get things moving. [Read more]

What Life on Earth Would Look Like If Earth Had Rings Like Saturn

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00 GMT

Every so often when the Moon is especially ginormous or we can see Venus or Mars from Earth, humans collectively freaks out. So cool three exclamation points, we scream. Look how big with thirty i's, we yell. And it's warranted! Seeing things that don't belong in the sky pop up, well, in the sky is fun. So could you imagine if one day Earth developed rings like Saturn? It would be insane.

The Weirdest Thing on the Internet Tonight: Planet Online

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:00 GMT

Between ads for action figures, micromachines, and sugar-laden cereals, there used to be a time when Saturday morning commercials were just as riveting as the cartoons they interrupted—especially for gullible 8-year-olds. And though the ads themselves no longer deliver that overwhelming sense of excitement and grandeur, Neosignal's newest track adopts the same flashy, hyperactive style but with a modern twist.

iPhone 5 repairs won't come cheap

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:40 GMT

Fixing a busted iPhone screen can cost a pretty penny. And, it appears that repairs for each iteration of the device are getting more expensive. [Read more]

US ITC refuses to ban Microsoft's Xbox at Google's request

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:10 GMT

The U.S. International Trade Commission has turned down a request for a ban on Microsoft's Xbox after finding that the gaming device did not infringe a patent owned by Google's Motorola Mobility unit.

The ITC's ruling Thursday has essentially confirmed an initial ruling by administrative law judge David P. Shaw in March that the Xbox did not infringe a Motorola patent relating to wireless peer-to-peer communications.

"We're disappointed with this decision and are evaluating our options," Motorola's spokesman William Moss said in an email on Thursday.

The patent in question was the last in the dispute which was filed in the ITC in November 2010 by Motorola which accused Microsoft of infringing five of its patents.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Jon Stewart accuses the Senate of all being Apple fanboys

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:59 GMT

The "Daily Show" simply had to have an opinion on Tim Cook's appearance in front of the supposedly stern senators. His opinion of both the Senate and Apple wasn't exactly complimentary. [Read more]

Microsoft brushes off claim Xbox Live accounts were compromised

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:50 GMT

Microsoft brushed off a dubious hacker's claim on Thursday that he stole 47 million account credentials for Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming service.

The hacker, who goes by the Twitter handle "@Reckz0r," wrote on Pastebin that Microsoft stored the login credentials in plain text. The data included email addresses and passwords, he added.

The alleged breach comes just days after Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, the latest iteration of the gaming system.

"Xbox Live has not been hacked," the company said in a statement. "Microsoft can confirm that there has been no breach to the security of our Xbox Live service."

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Is HTC Coming Out with a HTC One that Runs Stock Android?

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:47 GMT

Please be true, please be true, please be true. After Google announced that it would be selling a pure Android version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 on Google Play, the entire world screamed joys of Hallelujah Halle Berry. An awesome phone running completely stock Android has always been the dream. Now, HTC might be making real life better than any dream by making the HTC One pure Android too.

Judge: Evidence shows Apple colluded to fix e-book prices

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:22 GMT

In a pretrial hearing for the antitrust lawsuit, a judge says the Justice Department will be able to show direct evidence that Apple "facilitated a conspiracy to raise prices of e-books." [Read more]

This Is What Each Season Looks Like in a Million Pixels

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:41 GMT

If you think you're looking at color palettes of different shades of brownish gray, you're not exactly wrong. I'm sure people would love to paint their bathroom Roman Rotunda Slate or some made up name like that. But it's not that simple. You're actually looking at the seasons—spring, summer, fall and winter—and you just don't know it.

Could the Bitcoin network be used as an ultrasecure notary service?

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:20 GMT

Manuel Araoz, a 23-year-old developer in Argentina, has an idea for Bitcoin that doesn't focus on money.

Araoz, who works in game development, launched a service this week called Proof of Existence. It's essentially a notary public service on the Internet, an inexpensive way of using Bitcoin's distributed computing power to allow people to verify that a document existed at a certain point in time.

Araoz envisions it as a way to fight efforts to distort or lie about data. "My idea was to give journalists or private statistical agencies the ability to certify data at a certain point in time. If someone denies the data, you have something that proves the data existed," he said.

The Bitcoin system uses a distributed computing network to transfer the virtual currency from computer to computer. Part of the system involves "miners," or computers that cryptographically verify those transactions, which are entered into a public ledger called the "blockchain."

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Six eye-catching things from CTIA 2013

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:09 GMT

We round up our favorite tech news and toys to come out of this week's all-mobile show. [Read more]

Google mapping Waze takeover, says report

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:06 GMT

Google is considering a bid for the mobile mapping and navigation company, Bloomberg reports. Could this be a play to keep Facebook out of its domain? [Read more]

AT&T adds 61-cent 'mobility' fee to wireless bills

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:03 GMT

AT&T's new "Mobility Administrative Fee" is raising wireless bills by 61 cents a month -- a move that could reportedly raise half a billion dollars for the company. [Read more]

Hulu buyout heats up with four reported bidders

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:53 GMT

The video streaming service has supposedly been courting buyers over the past couple of years and now it looks like the first round of bids may be in. [Read more]

Facebook delays Home in Europe, wants a stronger 'First' impression

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:40 GMT

Users in the U.K. and France will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on the HTC First. The first smartphone to come preinstalled with Facebook Home has been delayed in those countries while Facebook updates the software to address some negative user feedback.

Facebook is wise to delay the rollout, one analyst said, rather than release the product to other markets and risk turning people off.

"It's like the old adage, 'You don't get a second chance to make a first impression,'" said Greg Sterling, senior analyst with Opus Research.

"Facebook is trying to maximize Home's potential in these other markets," he said.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Top apps to track severe weather

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:39 GMT

With all the big storms in the news, you need an app that can help you track severe weather so you know when the storm is getting close. [Read more]

Two-factor authentication: What you need to know (FAQ)

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:29 GMT

Twitter just got it. Apple recently got it, too. Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon have had it for a while. But why's two-factor authentication important, and will it keep you safe? [Read more]

Apparently, Google wants to start a bidding war with Facebook over who gets to buy Waze.

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:28 GMT

Apparently, Google wants to start a bidding war with Facebook over who gets to buy Waze. That sounds like a lot of fun, actually. Who's got more billions? [Bloomberg]

Iran Has Hacked US Energy Companies

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:18 GMT

According to the WSJ, Iran has hacked US oil, gas and power companies. The hackers were able to gain access to control-system software "that could allow them to manipulate oil or gas pipelines". Basically, the hackers are far enough inside that people are starting to get worried.

iPhone 5S and low-cost iPhone said to be multicolored

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:48 GMT

Word on the street is that the two supposed upcoming Apple smartphones will feature an array of colors -- from pink to green to gold. [Read more]

Game over for used games: How Xbox One and PS4 could gut gamers' wallets

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:48 GMT

Microsoft said it designed the Xbox One to enable owners to trade in and resell games at retail. But what if it can't play used games? [Read more]

Google tests enhanced notifications in Chrome browser

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:35 GMT

Google has released a beta version of Chrome that introduces what the company describes as “richer” notifications from the browser’s apps and extensions.

The Chrome browser has been able to display this type of notification for more than two years, but Google has now revamped the interface and functionality for these alerts, the company said on Thursday.

Google

Chrome will soon get a "notification center" where you can see recent alerts you may have missed.

The purpose of the enhancements is to boost the effectiveness of these notifications, which remind users of meetings logged in Google Calendar, alert them about incoming Gmail or IM chat messages and display urgent headlines from news applications.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

You Don’t Hate the Xbox One, You’re Just Jealous

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18 GMT

Gamers seem to hate the Xbox One. If you wade into a comments section or ask a man-on-the-street at your local Mountain Dew distributer, you’ll hear a variety of reasons why the Xbox One is not for gamers—why it’s a horrible misstep, presumed dead on arrival. Some of these criticisms will ring a little truer than others, but none really tap into what’s really eating at the gaming elite. They’re mad that they’re not the center of attention.

In risky new tack, Microsoft stacks Surface against iPad

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:09 GMT

Microsoft is taking a chance by comparing Surface RT with the iPad. The comparisons -- even those listed by Microsoft -- aren't that favorable. [Read more]

Windows Blue hides 4K display support, tons of new features, developer says

Thu, 23 May 2013 18:00 GMT

For all the controversy surrounding Windows 8, it's a solid OS under the hood. And based on a list of API clues discovered by a former Nokia and Silverlight developer, it should only get better with the Windows Blue update.

Based on an extensive examination of the software APIs found within Windows Blue (now offically called Windows 8.1 by Microsoft), developer Justin Angel compiled a lengthy list of more than 25 features that he says will be included in the updated OS: the possibility of ultra-HD "4K" screen support, lock-screen calls, HDR photo support, better multi-screen formatting, and much more.

Angel teased out the new features by examining the APIs he found in the leaked build of Windows 8.1 (version 9385), which appeared online at the beginning of May. Other Microsoft watchers have installed and played around with the leaked OS—Paul Thurrott published a thorough examination of its forward-facing features—but Angel's API deep-dive reveals even more hidden secrets.

Microsoft representatives declined to comment on what they called rumors and speculation. Angel is no stranger to diving deep into Microsoft products. Last December, he made news when he discovered a method to pirate Windows Store downloads by turning trial versions into full-version apps.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Microsoft cleared in Xbox patent spat with Google

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:58 GMT

The U.S. International Trade Commission on Thursday reaffirmed an earlier ruling, saying Microsoft did not infringe on patents owned by Google. [Read more]

The kitchen countertop wants juice and smoothies

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:54 GMT

The Hurom Premium Slow Juicer & Smoothie Maker offers an easy way to enjoy healthy beverages. [Read more]

Watch the planets dance in a triple conjunction

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:40 GMT

In just a few days, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus will come together in the night sky in what is known as the "Dance of the Planets." [Read more]

Intel claims Haswell will offer 50 percent more battery life in laptops

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:32 GMT

Intel’s upcoming family of Core processors, code-named Haswell, will offer 50 percent more battery life in laptops than did their “Ivy Bridge” predecessors, Intel said on Thursday.

Haswell chips were designed with laptops and tablets in mind, and the main focus was on lowering power consumption, said Rani Borkar, corporate vice president and general manager of the Intel Architecture Group, in a media briefing.

The longer battery life won’t come with a cost to performance, according to Borkar. And in idle or standby mode the chips will do even better, extending battery life by up to 20 times, she said.

The improvements are vital for Intel and its PC-making partners. PC sales are in one of their worst slumps ever, with users snapping up tablets and smartphones instead for mobile computing. Any improvements Intel can offer will help keep the PC market alive.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Google Glass Will Make Amateur Photographers Even More Annoying

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:53 GMT

As excitement over Google Glass builds, we all really need to take a step back and seriously think about how the new technology will impact our lives. Sure, having directions and face recognition always accessible could be kind of neat. But if you're already annoyed with people using smartphones and tablets as cameras, imagine a world where everyone's filming everything with their glasses.

Foursquare partners with Gnip to sell check-in stream

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:40 GMT

The arrangement lets marketers and researchers buy access to each and every check-in as it happens. [Read more]

Forget Barcodes, 1961's Cash Register of the Future Understood Speech

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:29 GMT

Okay Glass, pay for Tang.