Powered by Blogger.

Popular Posts Today

Amid weak reviews of Apple Maps, Google offers alternative

Written By Solution Anti Virus on Thursday, September 20, 2012 | 2:06 AM

Apple's new Maps app has been praised for its look but criticized for its lack of native transit directions.

Apple's new Maps app has been praised for its look but criticized for its lack of native transit directions.

(Credit: Screenshot by Casey Newton/CNET)

Reviews for Apple's new maps application are in, and they aren't great. Everyone praises the app's look and feel, but critics have said it is inferior to the app it replaced in important ways. CNET's Jason Parker praised said users would likely miss Google Maps. "Not only are Google Maps no longer integrated, but also you're further walled into Apple's ecosystem," he wrote.

Harsher notes were sounded by All Things D's Walt Mossberg, who called it the iPhone 5's "

biggest drawback." Daring Fireball's John Gruber called the app "a downgrade," and Bloomberg's Rich Jaroslavsky found the app was "too easily confused, especially in urban areas."

City-dwellers are particularly rankled that the app provides no native transit directions, instead re-directing users to third-party apps.Well wouldn't you know it, but Google is reminding people today that they have an alternative. Brian McClendon, vice president of engineering for maps at Google, told the New York Times that an update to Google Maps for Android coming today would include a host of new features, including the ability to synchronize across devices.If you search for a location on your desktop while signed into Google, that location will pop up as a recent search inside the Google Maps app on your phone, saving you from having to type out the address again on your phone. Previous searches will show up inside the app under the heading "My Places," and users can save various locations using "work," "home" and other labels. Apple doesn't have a desktop maps application, of course, giving Google an edge over its rival.The Times notes that Google's app is also better at auto-completing partial queries and allowing people to make edits using Google Map Maker. Still unanswered is whether Google will build a standalone Maps app for iOS. McClendon wouldn't say.Google could decide against building an iOS app for because it would give consumers a compelling reason to choose Android devices over the iPhone. Maps has long been a competitive advantage for Google, and making it Android-only could help keep it way.But there's a disadvantage, too. Scott Rafer, CEO of mapping application company Lumatic, notes in a blog post that Google relies on its users to get data that is invaluable for improving the maps experience. "More than half of Google's mobile map usage is going away in the next month or two," Rafer said. "Usage makes maps better a lot faster than software does."That's a big reason we might see Google Maps back on iOS after all, and soon.

Joshua Goldman 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/QcMYF7myA7o/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
2:06 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Samsung slams iPhone 5 linegoers in new attack ad

Samsung's ad suggests parents like to wait in line for Apple devices.

(Credit: Samsung)

Samsung's gone on the offensive on early iPhone adopters once again with a new attack ad.

The commercial -- which to be sure is quite well done -- mocks those waiting for one of Apple's new iPhones in front of the company's retail stores:

The turnaround time is arguably impressive given that Apple debuted the iPhone 5 just a week ago today. Mentioned (and mocked) are things like the new dock connector, larger screen and LTE -- the latter of which are said to be old news by those with Samsung's Galaxy S III. Samsung also pokes fun at people saving spots in line, with a humorous twist that one individual is saving a spot for their parents (pictured above).

The ad follows a print ad Samsung put out earlier this week attacking the iPhone 5's features against the S III with the tagline "It doesn't take a genius." This new one follows the similar thread of earlier advertisements by saying "the next big thing is already here."

It's also not the first time Samsung's gone after those waiting in line for an iPhone. A similar campaign last year, for the Galaxy S II, poked fun at the types of people who line up for the devices.

The ad comes at a time when people are, in fact, already lined up to get their hands on one of Apple's new iPhones, which goes on sale this Friday at 8 a.m. local time. The reason? The phone is already backordered on Apple and its retail partner's Web sites some three to four weeks. People began lining up outside of Apple's flagship store in New York earlier this week. Eager shoppers have also set up camp (quite literally) in front of Apple's store in Palo Alto, Calif. -- the closest store to Apple's corporate headquarters.

Last month's court case between Apple and Samsung outed the fact that Samsung spent more than a billion dollars on advertising last year, close to the total a California jury says the company owes Apple for infringing on a number of its patents.

Charles Cooper 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/1034aqFAaPA/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
1:36 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Gates up, Zuckerberg down in latest ranking of super-rich

Bill Gates held onto his No. 1 position for the 19th straight year in Forbes' annual ranking of the 400 richest people in America.

Helped by the appreciation in Microsoft's stock in the last year, Gates' $66 billion net worth increased by $7 billion from a year earlier.

He was joined on the list by fellow tech moguls Larry Ellison, whose $41 billion put him in the No. 3 spot. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos finished 11 with $23.2 billion. Sergey Brin and Larry Page of Google held down the 12 and 13 spots with $20.3 billion apiece. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's current CEO, ranked 19th with $15.9 billion while Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen rounded out the top 20 with $15 billion.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, ranked No. 11 in last year's Forbes list, fell to 36 with $17.5 billion.

Charles Cooper 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/EnKO_e629QQ/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
1:36 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Steampunk coffeemaker comes home

Boiling water and pressure changes equal old-timey coffee-making.

Boiling water and pressure changes equal old-timey coffee-making.

(Credit: Hammacher Schlemmer)

Certain descriptive words tend to get overused. Do an eBay search for vintage or retro and that becomes all too clear. Another label that gets applied all over the place is steampunk. Sometimes one can even see it applied to things that plug into the wall. For those who fancy technology from the Victorian or Edwardian eras, that is probably not what they have in mind.

Ancient tech comes at a price, and in this case that price is $699.95. Inspired by a coffee-brewing process invented by Loeff of Berlin in the 1830s, the Genuine Balancing Siphon Coffee Maker is an old-timey delight that brews a pot of coffee starting with only a flame. The alcohol burner heats water inside a copper kettle, sending it through a pipette. From there, the hot water is introduced to ground coffee inside a brewing chamber. What brings the system home, however, is the fact that the flame is automatically extinguished as a counterbalance provides the action to lower a snuffer onto the flame as the copper kettle rises because of its decreased weight.

The elegant contraption continues from there, completing the brewing process because the pressure variance created by the cooling coffee sends the final brew back to the kettle. A filter installed in the pipette even holds back the grounds as the liquid makes its return journey. Constructed of brass, solid copper, and lead crystal all on a mahogany base, the fanciful gadget is a working example that reaches back in time no matter what it happens to be named.

Roger Cheng 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/nF5vNPeh-dY/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
1:05 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Apple's OS X 10.8.2 arrives with Facebook in tow

Apple's iOS isn't the only thing to get an update this morning. Alongside iOS 6, Apple quietly pushed out 10.8.2, the second minor update to Mountain Lion since it was released in July.

Chief among the additions is integration with Facebook, a feature that was promised for a fall release when Mountain Lion first debuted earlier this year. Facebook users can share items directly from share sheets now, as well as in Notification Center, and sync up contacts from the popular social network.

The update also adds the Power Nap feature to late-2010 MacBook Air machines, and phone number integration for both FaceTime and the Messages app.

Not mentioned is any improvement to battery life times on Apple's portable machines. Testing of the pre-release version of 10.8.2 by the Mac Observer showed significant gains to running times, something that took a hit in 10.8.

Here's the whole change list:

Additional Information
This update is recommended for all OS X Mountain Lion users, and includes new features and fixes:

Facebook

• Single sign on for Facebook
• Adds Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos
• See Facebook friends' contact information and profile pictures in Contacts
• Facebook notifications now appear in Notification Center

Game Center

• Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages
• Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend recommendations
• Added Facebook "Like" button for games
• Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement

Other new features

• Adds Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010)
• iMessages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your Mac*
• You can now add passes to Passbook (on your iPhone or iPod touch) from Safari and Mail on your Mac*
• FaceTime can now receive calls sent to your phone number*
• New shared Reminders lists
• New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you edited them, and when you created them
• Dictation now supports additional languages: Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean, Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian
• Dictionary app now includes a French definition dictionary
Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts

* Requires iOS 6

General fixes

The OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.2 update also includes general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac, including the following fixes:

• Adds an option to discard the changes in the original document when choosing Save As
• Unsent drafts are now opened automatically when launching Mail
• Receive Twitter notifications for mentions and replies from anyone
• URLs are shortened when sending tweets from Notification Center
• Notifications are disabled when AirPlay Mirroring is being used
• Adds SSL support for Google searches from the Smart Search Field in Safari
• Adds a new preference to have Safari launch with previously open webpages
• Resolves an issue that may cause the "Enable Autodiscover" checkbox to always remain checked
• Enables access to the Mac App Store when Parental Controls are enabled Support for @icloud.com email addresses
• Resolves a video issue with some VGA projectors when connected to certain Mac notebooks
• Addresses an issue that may prevent Active Directory accounts from being locked out
• Resolves an issue that may cause the policy banner to re-appear prior to logging in
• Improvements to SMB
• Addresses an issue with NIS users when auto-login is enabled
• Addresses an issue in which the Keychain may not be accessible
• Ability to pre-authenticate a FileVault protected system
• Addresses an issue that may cause Xsan to not automatically start after migrating from Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Roger Cheng 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/ykeebGbaVy8/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
1:05 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Who has the 'real' Windows Phone? HTC makes its case

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and HTC CEO Peter Chou hold up the Windows Phone 8X and 8S.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

With its Windows Phone 8X and 8S smartphones, has HTC actually replaced Nokia as the darling of Microsoft?

Ever since Microsoft veteran Stephen Elop took the reins at Nokia and struck a transformational deal with his former company to fully back Windows Phone, it was assumed that the fallen Finnish mobile devices giant would be first among equals when it came to the upstart mobile operating system.

Elop assumed the role when he said a year ago that Nokia's Lumia handsets "the first real Windows Phone," a not-so-subtle jab against earlier efforts, and a comment Microsoft has never really denied.

But fast forward to today, and it's HTC -- and not Nokia -- looking like Microsoft's BFF. HTC's phones carry the actual Windows Phone 8 name in them, and may eventually be synonymously linked to the platform.

"The Windows Phone 8X is truly a hero product," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, essentially blessing it as the flagship Windows Phone product.

HTC is also now the one doing some jabbing of its own.

"It's the true hero that Windows Phone has been waiting for," said Scott Croyle, head of design for HTC, noting that no previous phone really fulfilled the potential of the operating system.

The branding of the phone a coup for HTC, which is badly in need of a win after rolling through a so-so year with its flagship One line of Android smartphones. With Samsung Electronics extending its lead in the Android world, HTC could at least lean more on Windows Phone for its turnaround. The 8X and 8S are expected to get wider distribution than the One phones in the U.S.

Microsoft, meanwhile, appears to be readying a large wave of Windows Phone 8 launches, with Samsung, Nokia, and HTC already committed to its platform. The company has a lot riding on the success of the mobile platform, which directly ties into its Windows 8 operating system for tablets and PCs, and determines whether the software giant will have an important role in the new wireless tech world.

"It's the true hero that Windows Phone has been waiting for."
--Scott Croyle, head of design for HTC

Whether HTC is now the favorite son of Microsoft is debatable, and Nokia would argue its phones are just as impressive, if not more. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made an appearance at HTC's event today, as well as Nokia's Windows Phone 8 event two weeks ago. Given the importance of Windows Phone 8, he may pop up at even more Windows Phone events ahead of its launch.

But HTC's rhetoric suggests it has the full backing of Microsoft.

"You can talk about 'real phones,' but hey, we've got the name," HTC representative Jeff Gordon told CNET.

Gauntlet thrown down
In planning for Windows Phone 8, Microsoft and Steve Ballmer challenged HTC CEO Peter Chou to develop a winning smartphone. Chou, in turn, went to his own engineering team with the challenge.

HTC's Windows Phone 8X comes in different colors.

(Credit: Brian Bennett/CNET)

"The gauntlet was thrown down by Microsoft to HTC," Gordon said.

HTC showed a prototype of the device to Microsoft at Mobile World Congress, and Terry Myerson, general manager of Microsoft's Windows Phone program, said he that at the time, he questioned whether a working model would actually remain so thin.

So when HTC came back with early working versions that fulfilled the promise of the prototype, Microsoft came away impressed.

"There were some ooohs and ahhhs," Gordon said.

It was at that point that Microsoft and HTC started talking about the branding of the phone. While Nokia had the Lumia line, and Samsung had its own recently unveiled ATIV line (and prior to that, Omnia), HTC didn't have a family name for its Windows Phone devices.

"There are just a few big brand that are resonating right now," said Jason MacKenzie, president and head of marketing and sales for HTC. "We want to build a brand that was big and differentiated."

Myerson: "We want to build meaning into the Windows Phone 8 brand."

Neither MacKenzie or Myerson would pinpoint when they came up with the name, only saying they had come up with the idea of a singular brand to get behind, and that they had many ongoing discussions that evolved into the Windows Phone 8X and 8S.

HTC's hope is that when a consumer goes into a carrier store asking for a Windows Phone product, the sales staff recommends its phones. Of course, the trick is getting consumers to care about Windows Phone in the first place.

MacKenzie recently told CNET that the company plans to go bolder in establishing its identity with consumers and talking up the advantages of its products. The 8X and 8S represent its first chance to go aggressive with consumers, something it plans to do with Microsoft.

The Windows Phone 8X and 8S represent the largest launch HTC has ever done with Microsoft, he said.

Myerson said Microsoft had a big campaign planned for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, but declined to talk about its size or scope.

Role reversal
The use of different colors, a focus on industrial design, and a superior camera sound familiar, right? These are some of the features Nokia highlighted in its own unveiling of its Windows Phone 8-powered Lumia devices two weeks ago.

There are a lot of similarities between the two lines of smartphones, from some of the features down to the two lines of devices: a high-end flagship model and a more affordable mass-market version. It seemed like just a few months ago, Nokia had the coveted spot as Microsoft's big Windows Phone partner.

Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop at Microsoft-Nokia event in New York, 9/5/12

Steve Ballmer and Stephen Elop at Microsoft-Nokia event in New York two weeks ago.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Nokia has had its fair share of publicity and marketing support this year. While HTC had a strong Windows Phone option in the Titan II this year, the Nokia Lumia 900 overshadowed the phone. That's because AT&T, Microsoft, and Nokia collaborated on a marketing blitz for the Lumia 900, blanketing the airwaves and the Internet with commercials.

While Nokia is expected to make a big push, it remains to be seen how Microsoft will back its various partners.

Myerson was reluctant to talk about Microsoft playing favorites, and even floated the idea that better recognition for Windows Phone 8 through HTC's phones could actually help its other handset partners. He noted that the other partners have already invested in their own brands for Windows Phone.

Nokia agreed with the assessment. A company representative told CNET that the launch represented good news for the Windows Phone ecosystem, but touted the Lumia line as one that is "truly differentiated."

It's still unclear how enthusiastically the carriers will push these phones. Nokia and HTC's phones presumably will be available at a number of the large U.S. carriers. Nokia hasn't talked about carrier partnerships yet. HTC, meanwhile, said the availability of its phones in the U.S. would be wider than that of its One series, which only got support from AT&T and T-Mobile USA. AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile are slated to get the Windows Phone 8X or the 8S.

"We feel extremely strong support from the carriers," MacKenzie said.

When it came to its Windows Phone product, HTC worked mostly in the shadows this year. With Windows Phone 8 poised to get a big push by Microsoft, perhaps it's HTC's time now.

Roger Cheng 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/_3OoL9pkZU0/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
1:05 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

BB10 smartphone images make their way to the Web

The keynote speech in Orlando, Fla., where RIM announced BlackBerry 10.

(Credit: Brian Bennett/CNET)
Codenamed BlackBerry London, the new pictures of this upcoming mobile come from Italian site BlackBerryItalia, via Pocketnow, and tell us something of what we can expect from RIM's last-gasp attempt to win back the smartphone crown.

The image lends credibility to another BlackBerry London image that leaked way back in February, suggesting that RIM has had this phone's design up its suit sleeve for a long time. The London will have an impressively high 768x1,280-pixel resolution, but subsequent touchscreen-only BB10 phones will all have 720x1,280-pixel screens, to help app developers.

BlackBerry 10 is the next BlackBerry operating system and it introduces new features including gestures, a swanky on-screen keyboard and some intriguing camera features. Unfortunately, the software is now well behind schedule following several delays, and is currently due to launch early next year.

Read more of "BlackBerry London BB10 smart phone spied in leaked snaps" at Crave UK.

Luke Westaway 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/Q1tDjFUJkUA/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
12:36 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

ZTE's first Firefox OS devices to launch in first quarter

The Mozilla Firefox OS in action.

The Mozilla Firefox OS in action.

(Credit: Mozilla)

ZTE, one of China's most prominent handset makers, plans to launch smartphones running Firefox early next year.

Speaking today to reporters in China, the company said it'll launch handsets running Firefox OS in the first quarter of 2013. According to the Wall Street Journal, which was in attendance at the press event, the company didn't say how many Firefox OS-based smartphones it'll launch. ZTE also failed to offer up further details on the devices.

Mozilla announced its ZTE partnership over the summer. At that time, the company also named the operating system Firefox OS. The open-source platform uses Linux, but runs applications on a version of Firefox. The goal, Mozilla says, is to "eliminate roadblocks for users and developers" by placing applications in the cloud.

When Mozilla first announced the operating system in February, the company had hoped the first devices would hit store shelves at the end of this year. Now, they're expected to follow ZTE's lead and land in early 2013. Brazil is expected to be the first country to get them.

In addition to investing in Firefox OS, ZTE confirmed today that it will also deliver Windows Phone 8 devices to customers. It doesn't plan to launch those handsets until the end of this year or early 2013.

Rick Broida 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/JnOEY6BONIU/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
12:06 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Apple delivers iOS 6

As expected, Apple today began pushing out iOS 6 to iPods, iPhones and iPads.

The update began going out to users this morning. Users can get it by plugging their device in and launching Apple's iTunes software, or -- if they're running iOS 5 -- over the air from within the settings menu.

According to Apple, the update adds "over 200 new features," to iOS 5, which was released last October. Chief among them is an entirely new maps application that uses Apple's own data, changes to Siri that add more information about movies, restaurants, and sports scores, as well as deep integration with Facebook.

Somewhat controversially, the update also removes features -- like the built-in YouTube application. Users can get a new version from Google in the App Store, which the company released last week. The big change in the maps app also eschews Google's map data and features like Street View, something that could arrive in another Google-made app in the coming months.

For more on these changes, and others you can read CNET's review of the software right here.

As with previous major releases, the update only goes out to newer iOS devices. That official list includes:

iPhones
iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4
iPhone 4S

iPods
iPod Touch (4th generation)
iPod Touch (5th generation)

iPads
iPad 2
iPad (3rd generation)

It's worth noting that among that list, the iPhone 3GS has been discontinued. Apple has replaced it in its lineup with the iPhone 4, which is free with a two-year contract.

Developers have had preview versions of the software since it debuted in June. Apple doled out a golden master version of the software last Wednesday, when the iPhone 5 was announced. The software comes pre-loaded on that device, which hits stores this Friday.

Rick Broida 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/wsa0vd-QH6c/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
12:06 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Museum-bound shuttle Endeavour heads for California

COCOA BEACH, Fla.--Bolted to the back of a 747 jumbo jet, the space shuttle Endeavour took off on its final voyage this morning, a "bittersweet" valedictory tour highlighted by low-altitude passes over NASA field centers, towns and cities along the way to museum duty in Los Angeles, giving the public one last chance to see the winged spaceplane in flight.

Running two days late because of stormy weather along the Gulf Coast, the NASA 747 and its 78-ton payload lifted off the Kennedy Space Center's 3-mile-long shuttle runway at 7:22 a.m. ET, following a southeasterly flight path for a low-level pass along beaches stretching from Cape Canaveral south to Patrick Air Force Base just beyond Cocoa Beach.

The space shuttle Endeavour and its 747 carrier fly over the Kennedy Space Center's 3-mile-long shuttle runway, on the way to museum duty in California. NASA's huge Vehicle Assembly Building is visible in the background.

(Credit: Justin Ray/Spaceflight Now)

At that point, the huge airplane slowly turned and flew back up the Indian River to the Kennedy Space Center, flying over the Visitor Complex, the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Launch Complex 39 area before climbing to the west and disappearing from view, leaving the spaceport for the last time.

Despite low clouds that hampered visibility, area residents and tourists turned out in force to witness the shuttle's departure and NASA's final ferry flight, a long-familiar sight along Florida's "space coast."

Pat Hill of nearby Port St. John, Fla., watched the fly over from the Cocoa Beach Pier.

"It's sad," she said a few moments before Endeavour flew almost directly overhead. "I've seen a lot of them, and it's always exciting. I wanted to get a picture of the last one. It's very sad."

Delia Brillon of Merritt Island, Fla., said she was "sad for all the people who lost all the jobs."

"They're looking forward to something better," she said. "I always believe, even though I'm a very old lady, I believe in progress. The show must go on. But I feel sorry for those people who lost all those jobs."

Sune Echeles of Merritt Island summed up the feelings of many when she said Endeavour "had a great run, it had a huge impact on history and I'm sorry to see it leave the area."

Endeavour and the shuttle carrier aircraft fly over the Cocoa Beach Pier, giving area residents a final chance to see the orbiter in flight.

(Credit: William Harwood/CBS News)

"But I'm hoping that we will still be growing and that the space center will come up with something new for the space program and that it will continue," she said. "We need to continue exploring space and I'm sure they have something in the works. They've got to. This area is very much a space center support area, so we are hit by the fact that it's closing down. It's bittersweet to watch it retire, but we're out here... to say goodbye."

After crossing the Gulf of Mexico, the flight plan called for a 1,500-foot-high pass over NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Miss., and then over Lockheed Martin's Michoud Assembly Facility on the east side of New Orleans, where the shuttle's external fuel tanks were manufactured.

The first leg of the cross-country flight to Los Angeles ended with a low-altitude flight over Houston and the Johnson Space Center, where mission controllers orchestrated Endeavour's 25 missions.

With thousands of area residents and NASA personnel looking on, the shuttle carrier aircraft landed at Ellington Field, just outside the space center, at 11:40 a.m. (10:40 a.m. CT). The aircraft will remain parked near NASA Hangar 990 for the rest of the day, on display for area residents and nostalgic NASA personnel.

If all goes well, Endeavour will take to the sky once more at sunrise tomorrrw, flying first to El Paso, Texas, for refueling and then on for low-level flights over the White Sands Test Facility near Las Cruces, N.M., and finally, NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Fifty four of NASA's 135 shuttle missions ended at the Mojave Desert Air Force base just north of Los Angeles.

Early Friday, weather permitting, Endeavour will head north for a San Francisco fly over and low-altitude passes over NASA's Ames Research Center, Sacramento and other communities before returning to Los Angeles and flying over the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Hills and the historic Los Angeles City Hall. Touchdown at Los Angeles International Airport is expected around 2 p.m. (11 a.m. PT).

The orbiter will be housed temporarily in a United Air Lines hangar and then hauled along 12 miles of Inglewood and Los Angeles streets October 12 to its final destination at the California Science Center.

Earlier this year, NASA delivered the veteran shuttle Discovery to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport outside Washington. The same team then flew the prototype shuttle Enterprise to New York City for a barge ride to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Atlantis will remain at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In November, the spaceplane will be hauled 10 miles to a new $100 million display facility under construction at the spaceport's privately operated Visitor Complex. The new facility is scheduled to open next summer.

Rick Broida 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/vFKGZYCsLkM/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
12:06 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

How to apply OS X software updates from the command line

Apple's Software Update is a convenient and easy way to keep your Mac up-to-date with the latest security fixes and feature enhancements. To make the service user-friendly, it's been available as a simple graphic-based tool in the Apple menu, but in recent versions of OS X Apple has integrated this service with its Mac App Store. Though it's convenient for most people, if you do not wish to open the Mac App Store for managing updates, there's a way you can avoid it.

Unfortunately there is no known way to revert the Software Update service from the Mac App Store to the old Software Update utility. Even though the old Software Update exists in Mountain Lion's /System/Library/CoreServices/ directory, when launched the system will instead defer to the Mac App Store. Apple also prevents you from removing or modifying the App Store application, but if you do manage to do so, then unlike older versions of OS X such as Snow Leopard, in which system services would revert to their older implementations without the presence of the store, in Mountain Lion the services simply become unavailable. As a result, if you delete the store, the system will not provide a means to apply system updates.

If you don't want to use the App Store for applying updates to your system or if the store is giving you errors, there is another approach: use the softwareupdate command in the Terminal. In most versions of OS X, Apple included this command to help manage systems remotely without having to use screen-sharing services. By logging into a system using the command line, you could keep it up-to-date by running the softwareupdate command.

To get a full synopsis of the command and its uses, you can run "man softwareupdate" in the Terminal to see the Unix manual page for the command, or you can run the command itself to get a brief usage output summary:

Software Update running in the Terminal

When you run the softwareupdate command, the system will download the specified packages, check them, and install them just like the Mac App Store and Apple's now-retired Software Update utility.

(Credit: Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNET)

In basic usage, you need to be logged in as an administrator, after which you can open the Terminal and run the following options to perform basic updating tasks:

  1. List the updates, which will be listed as a name followed by a small information string that includes the version, size, and whether it is a recommended update and if it requires a restart:

    sudo softwareupdate --list

  2. Specify an update to install. In this case, change the word NAME to be that of one of the packages in the list, or you can use "--all" to install every available update, or "--req" to install only important system updates.

    sudo softwareupdate --install NAME

In addition to these steps to check for and apply updates, you can run the following options to perform other Software Update-related tasks such as ignoring updates or turning on automatic checking for new updates. In these uses of the command, replace NAME with the name of the update being targeted, as was outlined in step 2 above. For the scheduling option, you can replace "on" with "off" to turn off scheduled update checks.

sudo softwareupdate --ignore NAME

sudo softwareupdate --reset-ignored

sudo softwareupdate --schedule on

sudo softwareupdate --download NAME

These command-line based options mimic those in Apple's App Store, with the exception that so far there is no way to ignore an available update in the store. As a result, even though they are redundant with the more user-friendly options, if you have some Terminal familiarity, then you can use them to set the system to ignore certain updates or avoid using the App Store altogether, at least for system-related updates.



Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or !
Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.

Rick Broida 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/B-MgY4k3H_U/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
12:06 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

iPhone dock extender solves the problem of bulky cases

Finally, a simple way to solve the problem of bulky iPhone cases.

Finally, a simple way to solve the problem of bulky iPhone cases.

(Credit: All4Cellular)

All the hullabaloo over the iPhone 5's new dock connector reminds me of a problem I had long before Apple's Lightning struck.

See, my iPhone 4S lives inside a case just bulky enough that it won't fit in most docks. Consequently, I can't easily charge my phone or listen to music via one of the many speaker docks scattered around my house. I'd have to take the iPhone out of the case every time, and that's way too big a hassle.

So, what, am I supposed to switch to a smaller case? Or go with no case at all? (That's a gravity-powered disaster waiting to happen.) Help me, universe!

Here's help: the Apple iPhone/iPad/iPod Dock Extender, available from All4Cellular for $6.95 (plus $2 for shipping). It's available in your choice of black or white.

True to its name, this little adapter adds a little space between your case-ensconced dock connector and the dock itself, thus making it possible for an iPhone, iPod Touch, or even an iPad to get connected.

Not bad for nine bucks, eh? Actually, if you scope out eBay and don't mind waiting on international shipping, you can find similar adapters for as little as $3 shipped.

If you've had any experience with these dock extenders, good or bad, leave a comment. I'm still waiting for mine to arrive, but it looks to me like an ideal solution to a nagging problem.

Rick Broida 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/SIKw3IuC8OA/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
12:06 AM | 0 komentar | Read More

Apple fans invade Samsung's Facebook page

Written By Solution Anti Virus on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 | 11:36 PM

Alright, children, this just has to stop.

You've had your pillow fight. You're blown your pink bubbles at each other. Now just lie down and get some sleep.

Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a chance of that happening any time soon.

You'd have thought it was enough with all the fire-breathing and wailing over Samsung's ad that claimed iPhone 5 was the Emperor's new underwear. Yes, Apple's faithful had some fun making their own versions of the ad.

But now they have mounted the ramparts of Samsung's Facebook page.

I am grateful to Yahoo News for indicating how it all started so innocently.

Samsung asked its fans on September 6: "If you could only take one electronic device on to a deserted island, what would it be?"

Naturally, the company expected the fans to hold a hot competition between the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note.

However, in recent days, the page has been flooded with answers such as: "iPhone 5." And, well, "iPhone 5."

More Technically Incorrect

There are occasional breaks in the monotony. For example: "iPhone or iPad." Or even "Nokia 1100." Someone even wisely posted: "ummm did anyone check to see if there was even cell service on those island? duh... how stupid can the marketing dept get!!!! shame shame shame."

Yet there does seem to have been a massively concerted effort on the part of Apple fans to invade this space and squat.

As poster Armin Seltz offered just 10 minutes ago: "In the last 5,000 comments iphone was mentioned 3,637 times. "Samsung": 473, "Galaxy": 378, "iPad" 324. Even the Nokia 3310 gets 112. What a FAIL :D."

I can see how many might imagine that this is an awful mess for Samsung. They will laugh, point fingers and make odd gestures with their nostrils.

However, isn't there something noble about taking it on the chin and remaining upright? It doesn't take a genius to see that.

Lance Whitney 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/IbiPDidFFeg/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Google Nexus 7 $25 store credit ends September 30

Consumers eyeing Google's Nexus 7 tablet have until the end of the month to grab a special $25 credit good for anything in the Google Play store.

To lure in new Nexus 7 buyers, Google launched the offer at the same time the tablet debuted in June. But the company tweeted yesterday that the deal will end on September 30.

The announcement isn't a big surprise, as Google has long said the offer had a definitive sell-by date. It gave Nexus 7 owners $25 to spend on music, books, magazines, videos, and apps in the Google Play store. I bought a Nexus 7 tablet in June, and the credit certainly sweetened the deal, prompting me to pick up several books and a few apps to get started.

The 8GB Nexus 7 sells for $199, while the 16GB version sells for $249.

The Nexus 7 has garnered generally positive reviews, including a 4-star rating from CNET. But it's not the only player in the 7 inch tablet arena.

Amazon recently released an HD version of its Kindle Fire that has been picking up some positive buzz. And rumors say Apple will launch its iPad mini next month, a device that would certainly give other 7 inch tablets some heated competition.

Lance Whitney 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/R4stLj5pOd0/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

HTC Trade-Up dangles up to $300 for your old smartphone

HTC will now offer trade-in values for old smartphones.

(Credit: via Scott Webster)

HTC, hoping to attract new Android and Windows Phone buyers, is now offering cash back for old smartphones. A new HTC Trade-Up page has gone live online to lets users calculate how much their aging handset might be worth.

The program is essentially a four-step process, starting with a quote for your existing smartphone. Once you buy a new HTC device, they simply mail in their old smartphone. Providing everything matches up with the details you reported to HTC, you'll get your refund in the form of a Visa prepaid card that's good for up to 30 days.

HTC will accept just about any device from any manufacturer or platform

As most readers know, there are a number of other options available to folks looking to get rid of that an smartphone, including eBay, Craigslist, and Swappa. Depending on how much time or effort you want to invest, one of these might be more rewarding route. A Galaxy Nexus (Sprint), for instance, is estimated at $135 on HTC's program whereas eBay currently shows multiple listings at $190 and above.

HTC will be especially keen to start up its new program now that it's launched new Windows phones, like the premium HTC Windows Phone 8X.

Lance Whitney 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/lqhFUvU-hxA/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

More than half of users polled would vote via mobile devices

Would you use your mobile device to vote in an election? A majority of people recently polled said they would, at least under the right conditions.

Among smartphone and tablet owners asked, 60 percent said they'd cast their vote for the next president through a mobile app or text message -- if they could do so without any fear of fraud.

Conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Internet radio provider Stitcher, the poll also found that 49 percent of mobile device owners ages 18-34 are using more apps to stay up to date on election information than they did in 2008.

Fourty-one percent of mobile device owners are getting more details about the 2012 election through apps, blogs, Web pages, and social media than they did in 2008. Thirty-five percent of U.S. citizens 55 and older are getting information this way. And 40 percent of college graduates are using their mobile devices to get election news.

The poll also found a difference between Democrats and Republicans. Among Democrats, 38 percent of smartphone or tablet owners get most of their political news via their mobile devices as opposed to TV or their computers. But only 25 percent of Republicans gave the same response.

"While we expected people would be using mobile devices more this election cycle, the fact that mobile is already eclipsing more traditional outlets as a primary way to follow the candidates and election news is surprising," Stitcher CEO Noah Shanok said in a statement.

Like many pollers, Stitcher has a vested interest in the results. The company provides a mobile app that lets users listen to their favorite podcasts and online news shows. But the results aren't surprising as more people turn to their mobile devices as their major source for news and information.

Conducted last month, the survey reached 2,129 U.S. adults, 1,024 of whom were smartphone or tablet owners.

Lance Whitney 20 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/zHfHgvm_bfA/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Google Nexus 7 $25 store credit ends Sept 30

Consumers eyeing Google's Nexus 7 tablet have until the end of the month to grab a special $25 credit good for anything in the Google Play store.

To lure in new Nexus 7 buyers, Google launched the offer at the same time the tablet debuted in June. But the company tweeted yesterday that the deal will end on September 30.

The announcement isn't a big surprise as Google initially revealed that the offer would expire on September 30.

The offer gave Nexus 7 owners $25 to spend on music, books, magazines, videos, and apps in the Google Play store. I bought a Nexus 7 tablet in June, and the credit certainly sweetened the deal, prompting me to pick up several books and a few apps to get started.

The 8GB Nexus 7 sells for $199, while the 16GB version sells for $249.

The Nexus 7 has garnered generally positive reviews, including a 4-star rating from CNET. But it's not the only player in the 7-inch tablet arena.

Amazon recently released an HD version of its Kindle Fire that has been picking up some positive buzz. And rumors say Apple will launch its iPad mini next month, a device that would certainly give other 7-inch tablets some heated competition.

Shara Tibken 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/336afyZHUzY/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:06 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Name your own price for a Mac software bundle

Pay as little as buck to get six apps, or beat the average to get all nine.

Pay as little as buck to get six apps, or beat the average to get all nine.

(Credit: StackSocial)

Here's something you don't see every day: a Mac software bundle.

Here's something you don't see, well, ever: a Mac software bundle that lets you choose how much you want to pay.

The StackSocial Name Your Own Price Mac Bundle includes nine Mac apps with a combined value of $340. It's up to you whether you want to pay a buck, $10, $39.23, or something else entirely.

There is, however, a slight catch: If you pay less than the average buy-in price ($11.92 as of this writing), you'll get only six of the programs. To get all nine, you'll have to beat the average (i.e. pay at least $11.93). I should note that in the time I spent writing about this deal, the average jumped twice, and by over a dollar total. You Mac folks really do like to pay for stuff!

One other catch: You must register with StackSocial if you want access to the bundle. That means providing your name, e-mail address, and a password -- or signing in via your Facebook account. Of course, you have to supply most of the same information when you buy anything from anywhere, so that's hardly a deal-breaker. I just find it a bit annoying that you have to register before you can even look at the bundle.

The NYOPMB comes with Web-design app MacFlux 4, auto-text tool Typinator, file manager ForkLift 2, file-recovery utility MacCleanse 3, and various other apps you can read about on the site.

Like all good bundles, this one donates a portion of its proceeds to charity -- in this case 10 percent of your purchase price. And you can choose which organization gets that 10 percent: Charity:Water, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, or Stand Up to Cancer.

It's worth noting that there are no refunds on this bundle, which will be available for the next 15 days.

Personally, I think this is a slam-dunk no-brainer must-buy, especially if you pony up the $12 or so to get the full bundle. Even at $20, this would be a steal on some worthwhile Mac apps.

Shara Tibken 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/bKwjxbErV0A/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:06 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Verizon gets back on board with Windows Phone

Steve Ballmer and HTC Windows Phone

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer holds aloft the HTC Windows Phone 8X at the New York launch event.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Verizon has never been a staunch supporter of Windows Phone OS, at least in deed. But now, after a long hiatus, the U.S.' largest carrier is offering its first Windows Phone device in over a year. And they're doing it with HTC.

The re-emergence of Verizon as a source for Windows Phone is a tremendous win for Microsoft, which has seen the spread of its OS limited by Verizon's wait-and-see attitude. It's also a boon for HTC, which must struggle to rebound from slipping sales, especially of its Android phones.

HTC and Microsoft have a long history together; HTC made white-label Windows Mobile phones for a long time. In fact, that's HTC first became a U.S. brand name on the basis of that partnership. Likewise, HTC and Verizon have a robust history, unlike Nokia, whose Lumia 920 the HTC phones challenge.

HTC's Windows Phone 8X handset features high-end specs like a 4.3-inch Super LCD 2 screen, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, an 8-megapixel camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and 1080p HD video. Of course, there's also NFC and 4G LTE speeds on board.

In addition to Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T are slated to get the Windows Phone 8X or Windows Phone 8S in November.

Stay tuned, more analysis to come...

Shara Tibken 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/kD7QOvcU6Yw/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:06 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

4K vs. OLED

On one side, there's 4K: four times the resolution of your current TV. LG, Sony, JVC, and others have all announced or shown upcoming 4K displays.

On the other, there's OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode. Significantly better picture quality than your current TV, plus lower energy consumption, and even thinner cabinets.

So what's more exciting?

With 4K, there are many potential benefits. You can sit closer to your TV, for one, without ever seeing pixels. Or you can get a much larger TV for the same reason. If you sit close enough/have a big enough TV, you'll see incredible levels of detail. Both the LG and Sony are also passive 3D. With 1080p TVs, this means you get half-HD resolution per eye (1,920x540 pixels). With 4K, you get 3,840x1,080 pixels per eye.

On the other hand, all upcoming 4K flat-panels are LCD. LG and Sony, both coming out next month, are edge-lit LED LCDs. As in, they're not even local dimming. So all the negatives inherent in LCDs, like poor off-axis response, mediocre contrast ratio, and so on, are all going to be present. Essentially, these are current-generation TVs, just with 4x the resolution.

OLED, on the other hand, is a completely new TV technology. The contrast ratio potential is significantly higher than any modern technology: deep blacks that disappear in a dark room, whites that pop off the screen. It will be more realistic, with a better appearance of depth (even with 2D) than anything you've seen. Energy consumption should be lower than even LED LCDs. LG's 55-inch OLED, still claimed to be on track for this year, is 4mm thick. That's the width of a pencil. Essentially, OLED is the next-generation of TVs, but with the current TV's resolution.

The downsides of OLED? It's new, so there's likely to be teething problems. Longevity, historically an OLED issue, is still largely unknown (though every company involved has said the new models will last as long as current TVs). And, of course, price.

Not that price should really enter into our dream comparison here, but current estimated prices on 55-inch OLEDs is somewhere close to $10k. It's no better for 4K. LG's 84-inch 4K is $19,999, whereas Sony's is $24,999. Sony also has a 4K projector that costs roughly the same.

And, while I'm bringing this back down to reality, this is a false comparison on another level. Inevitably there will be 4K OLEDs, but they're an even longer way off.

My pick? Without question OLED. A 1080p resolution is plenty for current TV screen sizes, and all the current content is 1080p. The image will be so much better than what's available now, it will put even the best 4K to shame. I'll even go one step further. I'll argue that even at the same size, OLED at 1080p will look better and possibly even more detailed than a 4K LCD. How could I say such a thing? Several years ago I did a face-off among seven HDTVs with different technologies: plasma, LCD, DLP, and LCOS. The clear winner was a Pioneer Kuro plasma, which, when viewed from a normal viewing distance, received high praise about how detailed it looked. Here's the thing, at 1,365x768 pixels, it was half the resolution of the other TVs in the face off (all the rest were 1080p). It did it by having more than twice the contrast ratio.

So sure, with 4K you can sit closer or get an even larger TV, but like I argued in my "4K TVs are stupid" and "Why 4K TVs are stupid (still)" posts, I don't think most people are going to sit less than 6 feet from their TVs, or get a 100-inch projector. So for most people, including myself, I think OLED will be far more interesting.

But you don't have to take my word for it. I asked the top TV reviewers from around the Web. Here's what they had to say:

"OLED by a country mile, it's not even close. By my guess the only 2D picture quality improvement 4K will bring is a slight increase in sharpness, and then it'll only be visible with the very best program material (native 4K content being ideal) at a screen size/seating distance ratio that's basically theatrical in scale. OLED should improve picture quality across the board, offering absolute blacks for effectively infinite contrast. I expect more consistent light output in bright scenes than plasma is capable of, without the viewing angle or uniformity issues of LED/LCD." -- David Katzmaier, Senior Editor, CNET

"I'd want 4k. It's astounding what that kind of resolution does for the details on larger screens. Like on hair and textures. We've already seen this jump at work on tablets and smartphones, too. It's a real change, albeit one that I don't think needs to come any time soon for most people. Myself? I'd be happy with one sometime in 10 years." Brian Lam, Editor in Chief, TheWirecutter.

"The sole advantage of 4K is increased resolution, which we don't have content for now, and other aspects of the display could be worse than 1080p LCD displays. OLED offers potentially perfect black levels and expended dynamic range, superior viewing angles, near-instant response times, and even thinner displays than LCD can do, all of which current and future content can take full advantage of." -- Chris Heinonen, Senior Editor, hometheaterhifi.com

"While 4K will certainly have its benefits primarily in the front-projection realm, I'm more interested in seeing how OLED affects the TV business. Will OLED live up to its performance potential in real-world products? How much will it cost? Will the addition of a new high-end TV category help to stabilize an industry in which a lot of major players are hemorrhaging cash? We'll see." -- Adrienne Maxwell, Video Editor, HomeTheaterReview.com.

"For me, the answer is pretty easy: OLED. It is, quite simply, the finest, most gorgeously rendered 1080p image I've seen to date, with ridiculous black levels and sumptuous contrasts, both of which are more important to my eyes than pure pixel count. The 4K sets we've seen so far are also LCD-based, and thus exhibit all of the motion issues that make my eyes feel floopy." -- Dennis Burger, Editor in Chief of HomeTechTell

So what do you think? Which technology has you readying your virtual wallet?


Got a question for Geoff? Click "Geoffrey Morrison" below, then click the E-mail link in the upper right to e-mail, wait for it...Geoffrey Morrison! If it's witty, amusing, and/or a good question, you may just see it in a post just like this one. No, I won't tell you what TV to buy. Yes, I'll probably truncate and/or clean up your e-mail. You can also send me a message on Twitter: @TechWriterGeoff.

Shara Tibken 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/RcLM37DdzjI/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:06 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

AT&T CEO: iPhone 5 may be so popular, people will pay full price

The iPhone 5 in hand.

The iPhone 5 is selling in record numbers.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

The iPhone 5 may prove so popular that many people may willing to upgrade early and pay full price for the device, the chief executive of AT&T said.

Randall Stephenson, speaking today during an analyst conference, said anecdotally that the carrier is seeing "a lot" of people show willingness to buy the new Apple devices outside of their upgrade cycle. That means they pay $649 for the 16GB version of the phone versus the $199 it costs when subsidized for AT&T contract customers.

But Stephenson cautioned he doesn't yet have any data, and it's still too early to tell how many people will pay full price. But he said he should know in a couple weeks what sales are like.

"This continues to be a product that has incredible demand, and people are willing to pay to get it," he said.

The iPhone 5, which hits stores Friday, is one of the main devices expected to drive smartphone sales in coming months. AT&T said earlier this week that the iPhone 5 has sold faster than any previous model of the Apple smartphone.

Stephenson today said consumers continue to buy wireless devices despite some worries about the economy. He expects AT&T to meet its goal of selling about 25 million smartphones this year -- flat from last year -- even though sales were tracking below that level before the iPhone 5 was released.

Stephenson also said the new shared data plan the company recently launched may not be AT&T's long-term model, but it's closer than previous plans the carrier has introduced. In addition, Stephenson said consumers and businesses are paying for bigger data buckets than AT&T expected, opting for levels such as 10 GB instead of lower amounts.

"In an LTE world where we consume more data, that's a good situation for AT&T," he said.

Other areas where AT&T sees opportunities in the future include automobiles that connect to wireless networks, the connected home, mobile payments and health care.

Shara Tibken 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/InmTXGaT3to/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
11:06 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Google, Facebook, Amazon lead new tech lobby group

The Internet Association, a lobbying group made up of some of the Web's most powerful companies, has officially launched.

The organization today announced that it's now operating in Washington, D.C. under the leadership of president and CEO Michael Beckerman. First announced earlier this year, The Internet Association is backed by 14 Web companies, including Amazon, AOL, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and others. The companies hope to have their voices heard in Washington, Beckerman says.

"A free and innovative Internet is vital to our nation's economic growth," Beckerman said today in a statement. "These companies are all fierce competitors in the market place, but they recognize the Internet needs a unified voice in Washington. They understand the future of the Internet is at stake and that we must work together to protect it."

According to The Internet Association, it'll focus its lobbying efforts on three core areas: "protecting Internet freedom, fostering innovation and economic growth, and empowering users." The organization will directly meet with lawmakers.

Many of The Internet Association's backers are by no means strangers to lobbying. Over the summer, in fact, Facebook was found to have significantly increased its lobbying spending, raising it to $960,000 during the second quarter. Google set its lobbying record in the first quarter, spending a whopping $5.03 billion on the Hill.

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/j6p3aug2enY/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

iPhone 5 weighs 3.95 ounces. The DynaTac was 2.5 pounds

Whether you're heavily panting over the iPhone 5 or you're a Samsung super fan, you can probably appreciate all cell phones after watching these videos.

AdAge went to YouTube to dig up a Radio Shack commercial from 1989. The consumer electronics chain was advertising a "powerful transportable cellular phone system" for $799.

The device required an owner to carry a unit the size of a phone book around with them. But for the time, the technology was cutting edge.

Mobile phones were very expensive back then. Remember, those were 1989 dollars. I found another Radio Shack commercial from 1987 advertising phones for $2,495 (watch it above).

With the iPhone 5 due to debut on Friday, this may not be a bad time to look back and appreciate the contributions made by cellphone pioneers, such as Martin Cooper and his Motorola Dynatac, the granddaddy of mobile phones.

The DynaTac, commonly referred to as the "brick phone" weighed 2.5 pounds, and measured about 11 inches high, 1.5 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. Sure, cellphones can be infuriating, sometimes a complete distraction. But lets face it, they also helped set us free from payphones, missed calls, and fights over who gets to use the family phone next.

Next April will mark the 40th anniversary since Cooper made the first cellular phone call.

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/BFxm4uvelNc/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

AT&T fires up LTE in Seattle and Portland in time for iPhone 5

AT&T mobile subscribers in Seattle and Portland can now grab their own slice of LTE.

The carrier announced today that it has turned the switch on its high-speed network for customers in both cities. That brings AT&T's total number of LTE-enabled markets to 72.

Earlier this month, the company activated 4G LTE access in Anchorage, Alaska, Bakersfield, Calif., Jacksonville, Fla., Modesto, Calif., Omaha, Neb., Syracuse, N.Y., and Bridgeport, Conn. It's rolled out its high-speed network to other markets since then.

An AT&T spokesman told CNET that the company plans to reach a total of 100 cities by the end of 2012 and complete its LTE rollout by the end of 2013.

Subscribers can find other cities scheduled to be upgraded by selecting the Coverage option and then the "Click here to see the list of 4G LTE cities" link on the company's network coverage Web page.

AT&T has been hard at work expanding its LTE network. But it still lags behind Verizon Wireless, which currently covers more than 370 cities. Both companies are gearing up for the iPhone 5 rollout this Friday, and both offer their own advantages.

Obviously, Verizon's reach is wider, so more customers can benefit of the new iPhone's 4G LTE capability.

Verizon has traditionally earned higher marks than AT&T at network reliability and customer satisfaction. But a May survey from the American Customer Satisfaction Index found that satisfaction with Verizon had dipped at the same time it rose for AT&T.

For iPhone 5 buyers, AT&T holds offers another plus over Verizon as well as Sprint.

AT&T's network lets users talk and access the Internet at the same time while using LTE. Verizon and Sprint both lack that capability with the new iPhone, though not with other 4G smartphones. iPhone 5 users on either carrier will still be able to chat and surf simultaneously, but only on a Wi-Fi network.

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/S0AsCRLTWsY/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

HTC co-opts Microsoft's Windows Phone name for 8X, 8S

A pack of Windows Phone 8S devices in different colors.

(Credit: Brian Bennett/CNET)

HTC pulled the curtain back on its Windows Phone 8X and 8S smartphones, the latest takes on Microsoft's upcoming mobile platform.

It's shaping up to be an aggressive launch for Windows Phone 8, which already has the backing of Samsung, Nokia, and now HTC. The phones are expected to debut in November, following closely behind the launch of the desktop and tablet operating system Windows 8.

It's an illustration of Microsoft's confidence in HTC that the Windows Phone name will actually be used as the name of its devices, perhaps dampening Nokia's claim to being the "real" Windows Phone devices.

The HTC phones come in different vibrant colors and boast strong camera technology. They also feature more than a passing resemblance to Nokia's own Lumia line of Windows Phone handsets, which also come in a variety of color. The company said its engineers didn't decide to add colors to its phones because of Nokia.

"We don't feel the need to respond," said HTC representative Jeff Gordon.

HTC unveiled the two phones at an event in New York today. Pricing for the two phones is still up in the air, although the Windows Phone 8X will sell at a higher price than the Windows Phone 8S. Gordon said Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T would sell these phones in November, although he didn't specify which carrier would get which phone.

Both versions come in a variety of bold color, part of HTC's new, bolder approach, with color names such as California Blue and High-rise Grey-Yellow.

The 8X also features an 8-megapixel camera with an HTC ImageChip, which Gordon said would improve the speed of the shots. Other features include a 4.3-inch high-definition Super LCD 2 display, a 2 MB front-facing camera, 1,800 mAh embedded battery, 1.5 gigahertz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor, 16 gigabytes of space, 1GB of RAM, and Beats audio technology built into the phone.

The lower end 8S, intended to be a mass market phone, packs a 5-megapixel camera, 4-inch Super LCD WVGA display, 1 gigahertz dual-core processor, 4GB of space and 512MB of RAM. It also has a smaller battery at 1,700 mAh. It too has Beats audio technology built into the phone.

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/D0nrH2Gzo9I/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:36 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

This could be the last hi-fi speaker you'll buy

Nothing gets older faster than high-tech, but the Harbeth P3ESR sounds so good you may never want to replace it with another speaker. That's no hype; I know audiophiles still using similar speakers originally manufactured in the 1970s.

The front and back of the Harbeth P3ESR, shown without grille.

(Credit: Steve Guttenberg/CNET)

That's when American audiophiles first fell in love with small British monitor speakers engineered and designed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and manufactured by a number of companies, including KEF, Goodmans, Rogers, Spendor, and Harbeth. Though the speakers were all built around the same design, known as the LS3/5A, not all LS3/5As sounded exactly the same. Back in those days those British companies built all of their speakers in the home country, but that's no longer true for current British brands like Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, Linn, Monitor Audio, Quad, or Wharfedale. Harbeth is one of the few bucking the outsourcing trend; it still designs and builds all of its speakers in house.

I owned a pair of Rogers LS3/5As back in the day, and truth be told, I never understood the monitor moniker. The speakers didn't sound particularly accurate or revealing of recordings' flaws, which is what you would expect from a studio monitor. The speakers made most recordings sound nicer than they really were, which is why 30-year-old LS3/5As are still sought after.

Harbeth's terrific P3ESR is a contemporary equivalent of the LS3/5A. The 12-inch-high speaker feels remarkably solid, and the lovely (real) wood veneer is impeccable. The front baffle hosts a Harbeth-made 5-inch woofer and a 0.75-inch tweeter. Like the LS3/5A, the P3ESR doesn't have a bass port; it's a sealed box design.

Little speakers can sound small and restrict dynamic range compared with what you get from tower speakers, so it came as no surprise that the P3ESR can't rock out, or fill a big room with lease-breaking volume. If that's what you want, the P3ESR won't satisfy. Taken down to a more moderate volume with acoustic music, the P3ESR is a very credible performer. There's a freewheeling quality to the P3ESR's sound that I find irresistible. Voices and instruments sound more completely present and full-bodied than they do with many speakers, even bigger and more expensive ones. Rocking out to ZZ Top is definitely doable, but not to the point that your hearing will be in danger. Deep bass isn't part of the deal, but the P3ESR can dish out satisfying bass without the assistance of a subwoofer. This might be the ideal audiophile speaker for small apartments, and office or bedroom hi-fis. It also sounded spectacular on my desktop, powered by my 30-year-old NAD 3020 integrated amplifier. I didn't have a LS3/5A on hand to do a direct comparison, but I think the P3ESR is a better, more dynamic, higher-resolution device than a LS3/5A.

The P3ESR, in real cherry wood, is expensive ($2,095 a pair), but it's the sort of speaker that you might enjoy for many decades to come. I wrote an in-depth P3ESR review for Inner Fidelity in May. Decades-old LS3/5A speakers on eBay aren't more affordable than brand-new Harbeth P3ESRs, which perfectly demonstrates the fact that some great speakers are terrific long-term investments.

Lance Whitney 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/ZD7KQ3iYLks/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:07 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

AT&T fires up LTE in Seattle and Portland ahead of iPhone 5 launch

AT&T mobile subscribers in Seattle and Portland can now grab their own slice of LTE.

The carrier announced today that it has turned the switch on its high-speed network for customers in both cities. That brings AT&T's total number of LTE-enabled markets to 72.

Earlier this month, the company activated 4G LTE access in Anchorage, Alaska, Bakersfield, Calif., Jacksonville, Fla., Modesto, Calif., Omaha, Neb., Syracuse, N.Y., and Bridgeport, Conn. It's rolled out its high-speed network to other markets since then.

An AT&T spokesman told CNET that the company plans to reach a total of 100 cities by the end of 2012 and complete its LTE rollout by the end of 2013.

Subscribers can find other cities scheduled to be upgraded by selecting the Coverage option and then the "Click here to see the list of 4G LTE cities" link on the company's network coverage Web page.

AT&T has been hard at work expanding its LTE network. But it still lags behind Verizon Wireless, which currently covers more than 370 cities. Both companies are gearing up for the iPhone 5 rollout this Friday, and both offer their own advantages.

Obviously, Verizon's reach is wider, so more customers can benefit of the new iPhone's 4G LTE capability.

Verizon has traditionally earned higher marks than AT&T at network reliability and customer satisfaction. But a May survey from the American Customer Satisfaction Index found that satisfaction with Verizon had dipped at the same time it rose for AT&T.

For iPhone 5 buyers, AT&T holds offers another plus over Verizon as well as Sprint.

AT&T's network lets users talk and access the Internet at the same time while using LTE. Verizon and Sprint both lack that capability with the new iPhone, though not with other 4G smartphones. iPhone 5 users on either carrier will still be able to chat and surf simultaneously, but only on a Wi-Fi network.

Lance Whitney 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/yE5T7PjoRJI/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:07 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Lobbying group led by Google, Facebook, announces launch

The Internet Association, a lobbying group made up of some of the Web's most powerful companies, has officially launched.

The organization today announced that it's now operating in Washington, D.C. under the leadership of president and CEO Michael Beckerman. First announced earlier this year, The Internet Association is backed by 14 Web companies, including Amazon, AOL, Google, Facebook, Yahoo, and other. The companies hope to have their voices heard in Washington, Beckerman says.

"A free and innovative Internet is vital to our nation's economic growth," Beckerman said today in a statement. "These companies are all fierce competitors in the market place, but they recognize the Internet needs a unified voice in Washington. They understand the future of the Internet is at stake and that we must work together to protect it."

According to The Internet Association, it'll focus its lobbying efforts on three core areas: "protecting Internet freedom, fostering innovation and economic growth, and empowering users." The organization will directly meet with lawmakers.

Many of The Internet Association's backers are by no means strangers to lobbying. Over the summer, in fact, Facebook was found to have significantly increased its lobbying spending, raising it to $960,000 during the second quarter. Google set its lobbying record in the first quarter, spending a whopping $5.03 billion on the Hill.

Lance Whitney 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/02HqQLD2S3Q/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
10:07 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

AirPlay challenger Miracast launches with Galaxy S3 support

Apple's AirPlay, which wirelessly streams movies and music between devices, has a new competitor.

The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced that it has launched Miracast, an industry-standard technology that will let users wirelessly transmit video and images from one device to another. As with Apple's AirPlay, users will be able to send the multimedia from, say, a mobile device to a big-screen television.

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, a not-for-profit industry association of hundreds of companies, all Miracast products come with Wi-Fi Direct, meaning users won't need to have a wireless network set up to transfer the data. In addition, the technology automatically comes with WPA2 encryption to ensure the multimedia transfer is kept private.

In order for the technology to actually succeed, however, it needs some support. According to Wi-Fi Alliance, it's getting that support from both LG and Samsung. LG's Optimus G smartphone and the Samsung Galaxy S3 will both support the technology. Samsung's Echo-P Series TV will also use Miracast.

However, they won't be alone. According to Wi-Fi Alliance, it expects to have 1.5 billion devices using Miracast in 2016. The organization hasn't yet said which companies will be doubling down on the technology, but given the sheer number of firms that support the Wi-Fi Alliance -- and want to take on Apple -- it might not be hard to recruit supporters.

Don Reisinger 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/e5VR-u6N7MM/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
9:35 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Apple's iOS 6 set for 10 a.m. PT launch, leaked image claims

Some of the improvements coming to iOS 6.

Some of the improvements coming to iOS 6.

(Credit: CNET)

Apple's iOS 6 is definitely launching today. But when exactly? A new image that's popped up on the Web might just tell us.

Twitter user "JamesIsFierce" today posted what he claims is a schedule of "release times for iOS 6." The image shows locations around the world with corresponding times. According to the image, the operating system will be made available to people in the U.S. and Canada at 10 a.m. PT. Folks in London will get their hands on the operating system at 6 p.m. local time.

Although the time seems to fit with the pattern of previous iOS releases, at this point there's been no official statement from Apple. It's not clear how JamesIsFierce obtained the list of cities and times, and that image doesn't provide any indication that it's referencing iOS 6.

Still, Apple has promised that iOS 6 will launch today. So, whether it happens at 10 a.m. PT or a little sooner or a little later, the update to the operating system -- over 200 improvements and all -- is imminent.

(Via Fortune)

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/H5M_GfnrRmQ/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
9:05 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

Tablet shipments now expected to hit 117 million this year

New products and growing consumer demand could trigger a surge in global tablet shipments to 117 million for 2012, according to IDC.

The new forecast is an increase over IDC's previous prediction, which was looking for tablet shipments of 107 million for the year. Peering over the horizon, the research firm now expects shipments to reach 166 million next year, up from its prior estimate of 142 million. And by 2016, shipments could soar as high as 261 million.

"Despite ongoing economic concerns in most regions of the world, consumers continue to buy tablets in record numbers, and we expect particularly strong demand in the fourth quarter," Tom Mainelli, research director for IDC's Mobile Connected Devices, said in a statement.

Apple's iPad is still the tablet leader and will retain its top spot for the rest of the year, according to IDC. But new Android and Windows tablets will expand the market by giving consumers more choices, especially during the holiday shopping season.

What does IDC's crystal ball see for Windows tablets?

Windows 7 tablets shippping today and Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets shipping in the final quarter will capture around 4 percent of the market for 2012. By 2016, these devices could own as much as 11 percent of the market.

"Tablets running Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 and RT operating systems, including the company's own Surface tablets, will add some momentum," IDC research analyst Jennifer Song said in a statement. "However, we expect shipments to remain low in the fourth quarter as high prices and consumer confusion around these devices will limit their appeal. Also, in the second half of the year Android should benefit from the success of the Nexus 7 and Amazon's launch of new Kindle Fires."

Apple's lead will slip, but only slightly, from 60 percent of the market this year to 58 percent by 2016. Android's share will also decline, IDC said, from 35 pecent this year to 30.5 percent in another four years.

Not mentioned by IDC, Apple may extend its dominance of the tablet market if reports of an iPad mini prove true.

Rumored to launch next month, the smaller iPad could challenge Google's Nexus 7, Amazon's Kindle Fire, and other 7-inch tablets.

And on the Windows front, Microsoft's upcoming Surface device has upset at least a couple of Windows 8 tablet vendors, who see it as unwanted competition. Last month, Acer chairman JT Wang urged Microsoft not to price Surface too low. And Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing labeled Microsoft just another competitor, but one he believes his company can beat on hardware.

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/DXKZgnWEtHM/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
9:05 PM | 0 komentar | Read More

LG's public image problem: It doesn't have one

The Optimus G event in New York.

(Credit: Roger Cheng/CNET)

LG must feel like its shouting into the wind when it comes to its smartphones.

The company today showed off the Optimus G, the latest Android super smartphone. The smartphone boasts the most advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor, a 13-megapixel camera, and a hefty 2,100mAh battery.

The question is: will anyone care?

There lies LG's biggest dilemma in the smartphone market. It's not the lack of any particular feature or specification that has hurt the company, but the virtual non-presence it has had for the past few years. LG was late to the smartphone game and has continued to pay for it with minimal consumer awareness and lackluster carrier support.

"This industry changes very quickly and vendors that miss those changes do tend to fade quickly from the public eye," said Hugues de la Vergne, an analyst at Gartner.

It's not like LG hasn't tried its hardest to drum up attention for its smartphones, particularly in the brutally competitive U.S. market. But there seemingly aren't enough parties or fancy launch events to generate any sustainable buzz for the company or its phones. From the Viper to the Revolution, its products are announced and quickly forgotten.

LG is clearly sitting in the also-ran section of handset manufacturers, ranked seventh in the world with 3.8 percent of the global market in the second quarter, according to a Gartner study. That's actually worse than a year ago, when it was ranked sixth with 4.6 percent of the market.

Its brand has taken an even more dramatic hit. The LG name is on average worth roughly $391,000, down by more than half from its year-ago average value of $887,860, according to market research firm General Sentiment. The figure illustrates the drop in online discussion about the company, according to General Sentiment analyst Chelsea Morgan.

The weakness in the mobile devices business is especially glaring when considering that many of its other businesses continue to hum along. It's either in the top position or close in televisions, as well as appliances such as washers and dryers and refrigerators.

Still, LG is hoping to change its fortunes with the Optimus G. Martin Fischler, head of marketing for LG's U.S. operations, told CNET that it is planning on "one of the largest TV campaigns the mobile industry has seen this year."

Feeling the squeeze
LG wasn't always in this position. When the basic phone was still dominant, LG was gunning for a top position in the mobile device food chain. In the U.S., it had a particularly strong ally in Verizon Wireless with hit franchises such as its Chocolate line of phones.

But as the industry begun to move to smartphones powered by the more advanced Android operating system, LG was slow to make the transition. HTC and Motorola Mobility, which bet on Android early, slipped into Verizon's good graces, displacing LG. Motorola continues to share a tight relationship with several high-profile launches with Verizon, and enjoys significant marketing support from the carrier.

At AT&T, LG made a big bet on 3D technology with the Thrill 4G last year, but the phone and its 3D gimmick failed to resonate with consumers. While LG pushed it hard -- throwing a concert featuring Jane's Addiction -- AT&T only gave it modest support.

Carrier support is a lingering issue for LG. Despite an array of smartphones, the company has largely had generate its own awareness for its product, to mixed results. The company's strategy has been to introduce more 4G LTE-enabled handsets to entice the carriers, but it isn't an especially novel plan.

While LG said the Optimus G would be heading to the U.S. in the fourth quarter, it didn't mention a carrier partner. When pressed by CNET on potential partnerships, Fischler, head of marketing for LG's U.S. operations, would only say "stay tuned."

With so many smartphones flooding the market, carrier support is crucial to the visibility of a product. Korean rival Samsung Electronics was similarly late to the smartphone game, but tapped into its carrier relationships and pushed its Galaxy S brand, creating the powerhouse Galaxy S III smartphone, available at virtually every carrier.

In comparison, some of LG's better phones launched overseas never make it to the U.S., or come much later. The ones that do receive little attention, including the jumbo Optimus Vu, which quietly launched last week as the Intuition for Verizon, or the mid-range Optimus L7, sold as the Splendor at U.S. Cellular. The Optimus G was actually unveiled a day ago in South Korea.

A few years ago, when LG finally opted to make the push into smartphones, it opted not for a high-end smartphone, but products that were affordable and targeted first-time smartphone buyers. It was a sound strategy, but one that got it little attention at a time when companies such as Motorola were making waves with their flagship products.

While LG's decision to go the low-cost route has given it a stronger position at prepaid carriers such as MetroPCS, it increasingly faces the threat of lower cost providers such as Huawei and ZTE.

With the Optimus G, LG is figuring to get itself back into the high-end game, but is it too late?

The company is only poised to see further weakness, stuck between the Galaxy S III and Apple's iPhone 5, both of which can be found at multiple carriers.

Recapturing the buzz
LG was a major player in the handset business, and it can be again.

The Optimus G is a nice start. It's a phone with eye-catching power, packing all of the specs that an Android fanboy could ask for. It features Qualcomm's first quad-core processor, allowing it to handle multiple apps on the screen simultaneously. But specs aren't everything.

"Despite good specs, it's very easy to get lost in the shuffle," said Ross Rubin, an analyst for Reticule Research.

But the phone really is just a start. Just like Samsung, LG needs heavy promotion and carrier support. It needs a major player such as Verizon to back it the way it backs Motorola and its Droid franchise. LG and Verizon once had a tight relationship, and LG needs to tap into that legacy.

Fischler said he believes the Optimus G will get an adequate push appropriate to the quality of the phone.

"They will be excited about this phone," he said.

LG will also explore "non-traditional means" of promoting the device, although he declined to get too specific. He mentioned that the event in New York, a more intimate breakfast event to show off the capabilities of the phone, represented one example of its different tact. Social would also play into the promotion, he added.

LG previously had a good relationship with T-Mobile USA, which carried its G2X, which turned some heads for being the first smartphone to run a dual-core processor. CNET gave it a positive review, although users were less generous.

LG, however, failed to build upon that interest level, leaving it where it is today: a company that's starved for attention.

Roger Cheng 19 Sep, 2012


-
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cnet/tcoc/~3/1chrT-4Mols/
--
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
9:05 PM | 0 komentar | Read More
techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger