Tuesday, August 21, 2012

How to avoid expensive and unnecessary cell-phone charges

How to avoid expensive and unnecessary cell-phone charges

How to avoid expensive and unnecessary cell-phone charges

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:51 PM PDT

Android Touchscreen SecretsWhile many of us are now willing to pay upwards of $100 per month to connect our smartphones and tablets to cellular networks, there is still the potential for "bill shock" if we don't read the fine print.

Dell's slump worsens in fiscal 2Q; outlook weakens

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:45 PM PDT

The sun is reflected in the exterior of Dell Inc.'s offices in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012. Dell Inc.'s announced Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, that its earnings slump deepened in its latest quarter as the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet computers undercut sales of its desktop and laptop computers. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)Dell Inc.'s slump deepened in its latest quarter as the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets undercut sales of its desktop and laptop computers.

Android Touchscreen Secrets

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:51 AM PDT

Typing on your phone can be a pain, but hidden shortcuts can reduce repetitious tasks and save you tons of time. So here are our top Android touchscreen shortcuts: (Looking for iPhone and iPad touchscreen secrets? Click here.) THE BASICS Caps Lock: Hit the shift button twice to start typing in ALL CAPS. Press & [...]

Magical beanie cap puts animated 3D masks over your face

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

To be the indisputable life of the party, you need more than a fancy augmented reality shirt. Sure your friends can play games on it, but it can't turn you into a werewolf, an alien, a zombie, or a TV … Continue reading →

Video: This hover bike is the flying motorcycle helmet laws were made for

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:56 PM PDT

It's only fitting that as we get closer to finally realizing the dream of cars that can fly, their two-wheeled counterparts are also getting off the ground. A company called Aerofex has created a flying "motorcycle" based on an abandoned … Continue reading →

Avril Lavigne Engaged to Nickelback Frontman; Internet Asks, WTF?

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:43 PM PDT

Avril Lavigne Engaged to Nickelback Frontman; Internet Asks, WTF?Avril Lavigne could soon be the inspiration behind a Nickelback love song.

Microsoft accepts orders for upgrade to Windows 8

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 01:25 PM PDT

The window to upgrade to the next version of Microsoft's computer operating system is now open.

Feds, university test cars that can communicate

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:02 PM PDT

In a few weeks, about 2,800 cars, trucks and buses will start talking to each other on the streets of Ann Arbor, Mich., in a giant experiment that government officials are hoping will lead to safer roads.

Apple labor fixes in China said ahead of schedule

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:54 PM PDT

The labor group hired by Apple Inc. to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China said Tuesday that the improvements it recommended in March are being implemented ahead of schedule.

Chinese company keeps Syria connected to Internet

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 12:08 PM PDT

A firm that tracks the pathways of the Internet says a Chinese company is keeping war-torn Syria connected to the Internet as other telecommunications companies withdraw.

The perks and frustrations of Pinterest for Android

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 02:28 PM PDT

Pinterest took its sweet time creating mobile app versions of its popular pinboard website, and I wish I could say it was worth the wait. There's certainly advantages to an official Pinterest Android app, but there are also some limitations compared to the full-fledged website (which can still be accessed via mobile devices) and the mobile-optimized website version of Pinterest.

T-Mobile USA to offer unlimited data service option

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 09:02 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - T-Mobile USA, the No. 4 U.S. mobile provider, will sell a new unlimited data service option to its customers for a monthly fee in a direct challenge to its bigger rival Sprint Nextel, the only other big U.S. provider selling unlimited services. The offer may also help T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom, stand out from the biggest U.S. operators Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc, which have both set caps on their customers monthly data usage. ...

U.S. looks into claims of security flaw in Siemens gear

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:48 PM PDT

BOSTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government is looking into claims by a cyber security researcher that flaws in software for specialized networking equipment from Siemens could enable hackers to attack power plants and other critical systems. Justin W. Clarke, an expert in securing industrial control systems, disclosed at a conference in Los Angeles on Friday that he had figured out a way to spy on traffic moving through networking equipment manufactured by Siemens' RuggedCom division. ...

New BitCoin credit card to free your plastic from paper currency

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:30 PM PDT

New BitCoin credit card to free your plastic from paper currencyTechnophiles who are brave enough to swap in their cash for a virtual currency might want to check out the latest creation from BitInstant. As Parity News reports, BitInstant cofounder Charlie Shrem says that his company is two months away from releasing a BitCoin-based credit card that will let users treat their virtual coins in the same manner they treat state-backed currencies. Shrem says the new card can be used at places that accept MasterCard and has said that users will get slapped with a "1% BitCoin transfer fee on top of the $1.50 ATM withdrawal fee" for every transaction. Read

Apple, Foxconn improve plants in China; more left to do: audit

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 08:28 PM PDT

Workers walk out of the entrance to a Foxconn factory in ChengduTAIPEI/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc and Foxconn have improved working conditions at Chinese factories that make most of the world's iPads and iPhones, according to auditors the firms enlisted to monitor the process, but the toughest tasks still lie ahead. The Fair Labor Association said on Tuesday local labor laws require the companies -- which have come under fire over conditions at the plants -- to reduce hours by almost a third by 2013 for the hundreds of thousands working in Foxconn plants across Southern China. ...

Google Play gift cards now available at RadioShack, Target and GameStop

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:45 PM PDT

Google Play gift cards now available at RadioShack, Target and GameStopGoogle (GOOG) on Tuesday officially announced gift cards for its Play Store. "Google Play gift cards are perfect for any occasion," the company wrote on its website. "You can buy them from your local retail store. Use your gift card to purchase your favorite entertainment on Google Play." The new cards are available from RadioShack (RSH), Target (TGT) and GameStop (GME) in $10, $25, and $50 denominations, and they will be offered online by Walmart (WMT) starting later this month. Google Play gift cards can be used to purchase music, movies, TV shows, books, magazines, apps, games, and even for in-app purchases. Google revealed that its gift cards will initially be available only in the U.S., however, and cannot be redeemed for

Apple, Samsung make final pitch to U.S. jury

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:02 PM PDT

A man shows a photograph he took on his iPhone of an Apple store in BeijingSAN JOSE, California (Reuters) - Apple Inc's worldwide legal crusade against the Android mobile operating system drew toward a climax on Tuesday as the iPhone maker's attorneys accused Samsung of taking a shortcut by copying Apple's designs after realizing it could not keep up. Closing arguments were delivered at trial between Apple and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd in a federal court in San Jose, California. The jury will begin deliberating on Wednesday. ...

Comcast losses bid to limit class action case

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

(Reuters) - In the latest test of U.S. class action limits, telecoms firm Comcast Corp. lost a bid on Tuesday to force a customer who filed an antitrust class action to arbitrate individually, when a judge ruled it would be too costly for the customer. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill in New Haven, Conn. follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in April 2011 that upheld a class action waiver clause in AT&T Inc.'s contracts. Since the AT&T ruling, companies have sought to avoid costly class actions by requiring consumers and employees to arbitrate their disputes individually. ...

Samsung plugs another $4 billion into iPhone chip-making Texas plant

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

Samsung plugs another $4 billion into iPhone chip-making Texas plantDespite all the nasty lawsuits, Samsung (005930) just can't quit Apple (AAPL). Reuters reports that the South Korean electronics giant plans to spend an additional $4 billion on its chip-producing plant in Austin, Texas to "renovate an existing chip producing line and boost production of system chips." As 9to5Mac notes, this plant is partially responsible for manufacturing Apple's A5 and A5X chips for its iPhones and iPads, of which Samsung is the largest supplier in the world. So while Samsung may be angry at Apple for slapping it around on the legal front, it seems the company is still more than happy to have Apple as a prized customer on the manufacturing front. Read [Reuters] Read [9to5Mac]

Nokia dominates Windows Phone market, still on track to get hosed

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:25 PM PDT

Nokia dominates Windows Phone market, still on track to get hosedThe good news for Nokia (NOK): if Windows Phone does as well as Microsoft (MSFT) hopes, it will be in an excellent position to reap the benefits. The bad news: Windows Phone isn't doing as well as Microsoft had hoped right now — not by a long shot. The latest data from analytics firm Localytics shows that while Nokia has become the dominant player among Windows Phone manufacturers, the growth in the overall Windows Phone market has been too small for Nokia to really benefit. According to Localytics, Nokia's share of the Windows Phone market has surged from just 22% this past January to 59% in July. The trouble is, according to the most recent numbers from IDC, Windows Phone smartphones

Foxconn to further cut overtime, sees better efficiency

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 06:22 PM PDT

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Foxconn Technology Group, a major supplier of Apple Inc, said on Wednesday it will further reducing overtime for its Chinese workers to less than 9 hours a week from the current 20. Speaking after the Fair Labor Association gave its review of progress on Apple and Foxconn's commitment to improving labor conditions, Louis Woo, special assistant to the CEO of Foxconn told Reuters that while the cost of improve working conditions remained high, the company sees cost efficiency improving next year. ...

MetroPCS offers all-you-can-eat LTE for just $55 a month

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 05:50 PM PDT

MetroPCS offers all-you-can-eat LTE for just $55 a monthMetroPCS isn't about to let Sprint (S) hog the spotlight when it comes to offering unlimited LTE data plans. The prepaid wireless carrier on Tuesday announced that for a limited time it will offer a $55 monthly plan that delivers unlimited voice, text messaging and LTE data on a single line. Subscribers can also add up to three additional lines to the plan for just $50 each. In addition to its new cheap unlimited LTE plan, MetroPCS also announced that it will start selling the LG Motion 4G smartphone for just $149 with no service contract required. The device features Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a 3.5-inch display, a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and a 5-megapixel camera with 1080-pixel video capture support.

Apple reportedly ramps up iPad mini production ahead of October launch

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 05:15 PM PDT

Apple reportedly ramps up iPad mini production ahead of October launchApple (AAPL) has yet to confirm the existence of its "iPad mini," but a new report suggests the company is already planning for a blockbuster launch. Citing unnamed sources within Apple's supply chain, Digitimes on Tuesday reported that production of Apple's shrunken slate will ramp up to 4 million units per month beginning in September ahead of a rumored October launch. The site's sources said that the 7.85-inch iPad entered low-volume production this past June and that Apple is expecting big sales ahead of the holidays. The iPad mini may be unveiled alongside Apple's "iPhone 5" during a press conference next month, and it is expected to retail for $249 or $299. Read

Apple labor fixes in China said ahead of schedule

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:54 PM PDT

The labor group hired by Apple Inc. to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China said Tuesday that the improvements it recommended in March are being implemented ahead of schedule.

Virtually Send Real Beer and Cake to Your Facebook Friends With This App

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:43 PM PDT

Virtually Send Real Beer and Cake to Your Facebook Friends With This AppA low-cost web platform called Treater now lets Facebook friends buy each other instant gifts that can be retrieved at local cafes, bars and establishments.

EA's mobile games unit PopCap cuts North American staff

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:41 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PopCap, a social and mobile gaming arm of Electronic Arts , cut about 12 percent of its North American workforce and is evaluating the viability of its Dublin studio as it copes with a rapidly evolving social and mobile gaming market. EA acquired PopCap, known for "Bejeweled" and "Plants vs Zombies," for $1.3 billion in 2011 to expand beyond its traditional videogames slate into casual and mobile games, and taking on the likes of Zynga Inc . PopCap laid off 50 of about 380 staff members in its Seattle and Vancouver studios, spokesman Garth Chouteau said on Tuesday. ...

Sprint rumored to launch LG superphone in Q4

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:40 PM PDT

Sprint rumored to launch LG superphone in Q4According to a report from Asia Today, LG (066570) is preparing to launch a high-end smartphone that will rival the Galaxy S III. The handset, supposedly known as the Optimus G, is equipped with a 4.7-inch True HD display, a quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, LTE connectivity and a 13-megapixel rear camera. The device also includes VoLTE capabilities and will feature the company's Optimus user interface atop Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the report claims. LG is expected to announce the Optimus G at the IFA Trade Show in Berlin on August 31st. Earlier reports indicated that the device could be offered from Sprint (S) as the Eclipse 4G LTE in the fourth quarter this year. [Via Unwired View] Read

Dell's outlook disappoints as PC market falters

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:37 PM PDT

A Dell computer logo is seen on a laptop at Best Buy in Phoenix,(Reuters) - Dell Inc warned of a challenging second half and slashed its full-year earnings outlook as customers cut back on computer purchases ahead of the launch of Microsoft's Windows 8 software, sending its shares down more than 4 percent. Dell - once the world's top PC maker and a pioneer in computer supply chain management - is struggling to defend its market share against Asian rivals like Acer Inc and Lenovo, and the fast-growing adoption of tablets like Apple Inc's iPad. ...

U.S. testing "talking" cars to avoid crashes, congestion

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:35 PM PDT

To match Reuters Life! TRAFFIC-LOSANGELES/ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Reuters) - Michael Knight in the television series "Knight Rider" had one. Pixar made a movie about them. Now the U.S. government is testing a fleet of so-called "talking" cars that may help American drivers avoid crashes and traffic jams. Over the next year, U.S. officials and the University of Michigan will fit nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses with wireless devices that track other vehicles' speed and location, alert drivers to congestion or change a traffic light to green. ...

Intuit's fiscal 4Q earnings swing to small profit

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:30 PM PDT

Software maker Intuit Inc. said Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings swung to a small profit as fees and growth in transactions helped boost revenue.

Seagate Technology in deal to buy Solyndra plant: source

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:23 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Seagate Technology Plc , maker of hard drives and storage devices, has reached an agreement to buy the former manufacturing plant and headquarters building of bankrupt Solyndra LLC, which was financed by a controversial government loan, a source familiar with the deal said. The price for the Fremont, California, building could not be determined. Tim Gallen, who represents Jones Lang LaSalle Inc , which marketed the property, declined comment. Seagate, based in Cupertino, California, could not be reached for immediate comment. The U.S. ...

Google’s public policy director ironically suggests it’s time to ditch software patents

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 04:05 PM PDT

Google's public policy director ironically suggests it's time to ditch software patentsOnly a few days after Google filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission against Apple (AAPL), the company's public policy director Pablo Chavez suggested that it might be time to ditch software patents. "One thing that we are very seriously taking a look at is the question of software patents, and whether in fact the patent system as it currently exists is the right system to incent innovation and really promote consumer-friendly policies," Chavez said according to CNET. The executive believes that the ongoing "patent wars" between different companies are hurting consumers, as well as hindering innovation within the industry and the marketplace. Chavez doesn't want to get rid of the patent system as a whole, however he believes

Facebook's director in spotlight after cashing out

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:58 PM PDT

Peter Thiel, entrepreneur and co-founder of PayPal, speaks during a news conference in WashingtonSAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Peter Thiel was the first investor to take a gamble on Facebook Inc. Now some people are wondering whether, in selling most of his stake, the Facebook board member is signaling to others that it's time to rush for the exits. Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal who invested in Facebook in 2004, sold roughly $400 million worth of Facebook shares last week as the first restrictions barring insider selling were lifted. ...

Liberty Media unit mobile phone lawsuit can proceed: judge

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:47 PM PDT

(Reuters) - A unit of Liberty Media Corp can proceed with its lawsuit against Ericsson , Qualcomm Inc and Alcatel-Lucent SA that accuses the three manufacturers of conspiring to exclude Liberty's positioning technology from being adopted in 4G mobile phones, a judge decided on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Robert Kelly in Philadelphia wrote that TruePosition Inc's allegations of an illegal conspiracy "are plausible when viewed in context and as a whole". TruePosition is a Liberty Media subsidiary that sells technology to assist carriers in locating mobile phones when someone calls the U.S. ...

Dell's slump worsens in fiscal 2Q; outlook weakens

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:45 PM PDT

The sun is reflected in the exterior of Dell Inc.'s offices in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012. Dell Inc.'s announced Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, that its earnings slump deepened in its latest quarter as the growing popularity of smartphones and tablet computers undercut sales of its desktop and laptop computers. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)Dell Inc.'s slump deepened in its latest quarter as the growing popularity of smartphones and tablets undercut sales of its desktop and laptop computers.

Avril Lavigne Engaged to Nickelback Frontman; Internet Asks, WTF?

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:43 PM PDT

Avril Lavigne Engaged to Nickelback Frontman; Internet Asks, WTF?Avril Lavigne could soon be the inspiration behind a Nickelback love song.

iPhone 4 and 4S sales expected to stay hot in Q3 despite iPhone 5 launch

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:30 PM PDT

iPhone 4 and 4S sales expected to stay hot in Q3 despite iPhone 5 launchEven though Apple's (AAPL) highly anticipated next-generation iPhone is on the horizon, the company's iPhone 4 and 4S are still expected to sell exceptionally well through the end of the third quarter. According to Digitimes, shipments of current iPhone models are estimated to grow 10% to 15% during the quarter, an increase from the company's second quarter results, which disappointed the Street. The publication notes that Apple supplier Wintek saw its revenues soar 60% in July, thanks in part to the Cupertino-based company's increased touch panel orders for its iPhone 4S. In addition, various brick and mortar retailers, along with several carriers, have also begun to discount the price of older iPhone models, which should help sales increase during this quarter. Read

Apple improvements in China said ahead of schedule

Posted: 21 Aug 2012 03:10 PM PDT

The labor group hired by Apple to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China says the improvements it recommended in March are being implemented ahead of schedule.
Posted by Harshad at 9:44 PM

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