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Monday, July 2, 2012

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Fiksu Raises $10M From Qualcomm Ventures, Charles River To Help Mobile App Maker...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:39 PM PDT

Fiksu Raises $10M From Qualcomm Ventures, Charles River To Help Mobile App Makers Get Users


Fiksu Raises $10M From Qualcomm Ventures, Charles River To Help Mobile App Makers Get Users
Fiksu, a Boston-based company that helps mobile developers efficiently find new users, just picked up $10 million in a new round led by Qualcomm Ventures. Previous investors including Charles River Ventures also participated. "Qualcomm is wonderfully strategic for us in the mobile space," said Craig Palli, who is the company's vice president of business development. "They're so well tied to a variety of mobile handset manufacturers and that's the one area where Fiksu can really benefit from new relationships." The funding is going to go toward international expansion with more offices in the U.K. and Asia. The company currently has more than 100 people and plans to double its headcount in the next year.

Amazon's Flow augmented reality app comes to Android, makes shopping more entert...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:39 PM PDT

Amazon's Flow augmented reality app comes to Android, makes shopping more entertaining


Amazon's Flow augmented reality app comes to Android, makes shopping more entertaining
The iOS crowd's been able to enjoy Flow's AR features since late last year, but fortunately for those on the Android side who've been missing out, this powered-by-Amazon app is now (finally) also available on Google's OS. It's simple, using augmented reality and A9's "continuous scan technology," the application allows users to buy, as well as get extra information on products such as video games, books, toys, DVDs and CDs through simply using one's smartphone camera -- much like Google Goggles does. Additionally, Flow will keep your scanning history on file, making it easier to find items by date, name, category or scan type. What's more, Amazon's Flow won't cost you a nickel, and it's up for download now via the company's own app shop and the Google Play link below.Amazon's Flow augmented reality app comes to Android, makes shopping more entertaining originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TechCrunch | Google Play | Email this | Comments

Acer Aspire V3 review: an affordable, Kepler-packing laptop for back-to-school s...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:08 PM PDT

Acer Aspire V3 review: an affordable, Kepler-packing laptop for back-to-school season


Acer Aspire V3 review: an affordable, Kepler-packing laptop for back-to-school season
Back in March at CeBIT, Acer unveiled a slew of new laptops, among which the Aspire Timeline Ultra M3 Ultrabook was easily the most celebrated. But while slim designs and instant-on technology are shoe-ins for media attention, slightly thicker machines with revved-up internals and discrete graphics are champions of the "don't judge a book by its cover" philosophy. And besides, not everyone is willing to part with a DVD drive, much less spend $1,000-plus on their next PC. More Info Acer Aspire V3 notebook hands-on (video) Acer Aspire V3 coming to Japan for $1,100 with right processor, wrong ppi Acer announces Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video) Hence Acer's Aspire V3, which is available in sizes ranging from 14 to 17.3 inches (for the purposes of this review, we took a look at the middleweight 15.6-inch version). While it weighs a hefty 5.8 pounds and looks positively bloated next to 0.8-inch-thick laptops such as the M3, the V3 packs serious power in the form of NVIDIA Kepler graphics and a Core i7 Ivy Bridge CPU. And unlike many Ultrabooks trickling their way into the market, this guy is priced to compete, making it a viable choice for the back-to-school season. But is it the best mainstream notebook $850 can buy? Let's see. Gallery: Acer Aspire V3 reviewContinue reading Acer Aspire V3 review: an affordable, Kepler-packing laptop for back-to-school seasonAcer Aspire V3 review: an affordable, Kepler-packing laptop for back-to-school season originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Canon confirms PowerShot S100 lens error, offers free repair for affected cams

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:07 PM PDT

Canon confirms PowerShot S100 lens error, offers free repair for affected cams


Canon confirms PowerShot S100 lens error, offers free repair for affected cams
Select PowerShot S100 cameras are encountering a lens error, Canon confirmed on its Product Advisories page. An undisclosed number of the high-end point-and-shoots have had issues with a "disconnected part inside the camera," which causes the optic to malfunction. Canon suggests that the issue may be connected with exposure to heat or humidity, but regardless of the cause, the company is offering free repairs, even for out-of-warranty cameras -- assuming the issue is caused by this specific part. Qualifying S100s should have a serial number that begins with any number ranging from 29 though 41 (29xxxxxxxxxx, for example), and this specific offer only covers residents of the US and Puerto Rico, though owners in other countries should be able to reach out to their local support centers for assistance. You'll find the full advisory at the source link below.Canon confirms PowerShot S100 lens error, offers free repair for affected cams originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | Canon USA | Email this | Comments

2015 Toyota Prius rumors start flowing

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:33 PM PDT

2015 Toyota Prius rumors start flowing


2015 Toyota Prius rumors start flowing
Filed under: Hybrid, MPG, Toyota, LightweightToyota has already picked the low-hanging fruit when it comes to boosting the Prius hybrid's fuel economy. But the Japanese automaker's planning on climbing a little further up that tree. That's what Inside Line is reporting about the next, fourth-generation Prius, which is likely to debut in 2015. The world's best-selling hybrid will have better aerodynamics as well as lighter materials and tires that have less rolling resistance, Inside Line reported, citing a person familiar with the process that it didn't identify. While no fuel-economy figures were estimated, such gains will boost the Prius hybrid's fuel-economy beyond the EPA-rated 50 miles per gallon that the hatchback model gets now. As it is, Toyota continues to lengthen its sales lead over other hybrids. Through the first five months of the year, Toyota has boosted U.S. Prius sales by 73 percent from a year earlier to 107,504 units, with about 18,000 units coming from the new Prius C compact, Prius V wagon and Prius plug-in hybrid variants. Toyota releases June sales figures this week. Toyota has sold more than 2.6 million Prius vehicles globally since Toyota launched the model in Japan in 1997.2015 Toyota Prius rumors start flowing originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google shocker: American web company says web boosted American economy by $500 b...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:33 PM PDT

Google shocker: American web company says web boosted American economy by $500 billion


Google shocker: American web company says web boosted American economy by $500 billion
Who knew that a company which makes a lot of money on the web would be keen to pitch the web as important to the US economy? Google thinks it's as natural as breathing, as it just took significant credit for fueling real-world shopping. About 97 percent of Americans reportedly searched online for a local business -- it's safe to say Google was involved in a lot of those hunts -- and spent an average of nearly $2,000 per person at brick-and-mortar stores last year. The search giant extrapolates to argue that the web pumped about $500 billion into the US economy, even while excluding internet-only sales. That's certainly a staggering number that shows how much of a cornerstone the internet has become for American business, although it comes across as slightly insecure: a company that's reportedly under tight scrutiny from regulators might be eager to show just how much good it's doing for the public in tough economic times.Google shocker: American web company says web boosted American economy by $500 billion originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Google Official Blog | Email this | Comments

HTC picks former AT&T exec Mike Woodward as North American president

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:32 PM PDT

HTC picks former AT&T exec Mike Woodward as North American president


HTC picks former AT&T exec Mike Woodward as North American president
HTC has been fighting to get a better relationship with US carriers lately, and it may have just chosen a clever (if roundabout) approach: hire one of their executives. As of today, AT&T's former phone portfolio VP Mike Woodward is now HTC's president of its North American division, reporting directly to worldwide sales head Jason Mackenzie. The new position won't necessarily get him any privileged access, but it certainly gives HTC someone who's well versed in what carriers want out of a device launch. We'll have to wait awhile to see what Woodward's strategy will be; suffice it to say that the company wants more One X-level anticipation and fewer of those bumpy, Inspire 4G-like releases.Continue reading HTC picks former AT&T exec Mike Woodward as North American presidentHTC picks former AT&T exec Mike Woodward as North American president originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ARM server running on pedal power demoed at Red Hat Summit

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 01:32 PM PDT

ARM server running on pedal power demoed at Red Hat Summit


ARM server running on pedal power demoed at Red Hat Summit
With x86 and a few high-powered RISC chips dominating the list of the most powerful computers on Earth, you might be wondering what's the big deal with ARM and it's push into the server space. Well, this is the big deal. The image above is of Jon Masters powering a Calxeda-server from HP with nothing more than a bicycle. OK, so there's a bit more to the setup -- including a 400 watt inverter, a 35 Ah battery, a UPS and a Pedal-a-Watt -- but the gist of it is that Masters was able keep 32 ARM cores humming along just by pedaling his road bike at the Red Hat Summit. The demo was mostly meant as a proof of concept, but we can easily imagine our future robot overlords putting us to work keeping their network of servers running. On the plus side, pedaling to power the Internet might help solve our global obesity epidemic. For a quick tour of the rig, check out the video after the break.Continue reading ARM server running on pedal power demoed at Red Hat SummitARM server running on pedal power demoed at Red Hat Summit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Hyperscale Computing Blog | Email this | Comments

Samsung's GT-B5330 shows up in leaked photos, flaunts its QWERTY traits

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:59 PM PDT

Samsung's GT-B5330 shows up in leaked photos, flaunts its QWERTY traits


Samsung's GT-B5330 shows up in leaked photos, flaunts its QWERTY traits
If all those bells and whistles packed inside that famed Galaxy S III are a wee bit much for you, then perhaps you might be interested in this Sammy-branded GT-B5330 and all of its relatively modest qualities. For starters, the device is bound to be a delight to those who love the feel of physical QWERTY keys, with Sammy Hub also reporting that it's sporting an unpretentious QVGA, 320 x 240 screen and a bearable 850MHz processor -- all while being powered by a Samsung flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich. As is usually the case with these early appearances, though, mum's the word on when this GT-B5330 will make its official debut. That said, something tells us this won't be the last time we'll be seeing this guy show off its typing attributes.Samsung's GT-B5330 shows up in leaked photos, flaunts its QWERTY traits originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Sammy Hub | Email this | Comments

Microsoft announces $39.99 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer for most Windows users

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:24 PM PDT

Microsoft announces $39.99 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer for most Windows users


Microsoft announces $39.99 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer for most Windows users
Microsoft has already detailed the Windows 8 upgrade route for those buying a new PC, and it's now finally confirmed what everyone else will be paying when they upgrade their existing PC. Those running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 will able to download a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for just $39.99. That's a far cry from the company's earlier upgrade prices, which as recently as Windows 7 ran $50 and $99 for Home Premium and Pro upgrades, respectively. You will have to pay a bit more if you want packaged DVD version of the upgrade, though, with it running $69.99 at retail -- it also sounds like both of those prices will be going up when the promotion ends on January 31st of next year. Not surprisingly, the upgrade process will vary depending on the OS you're currently using, with those making the jump all the way from Windows XP only able to bring their personal files with them. And, if you're wondering about Media Center, it will be available as a free option once the upgrade is finished.Microsoft announces $39.99 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer for most Windows users originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Windows Blog | Email this | Comments

Google's Patrick Brady tells us how the Nexus 7 went from 'start to finish in fo...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 12:24 PM PDT

Google's Patrick Brady tells us how the Nexus 7 went from 'start to finish in four months'


Google's Patrick Brady tells us how the Nexus 7 went from 'start to finish in four months'
At this past year's CES, we were inundated by tablet after tablet after, well, tablet. Some were big, some were small, and some were just right. A few, though, kind of faded into the wallpaper and didn't return. Such was a little prototype NVIDIA brought by for us to play with, a 7-inch tablet from ASUS with Tegra 3 power and an amazing price tag -- just $250. We got our hands on it briefly (as seen in the video below) and it was impressive, but it was never to be seen again. One month later, Google's Director of Android Partner Engineering Patrick Brady joined Matias Duarte in Taipei to meet with ASUS and to launch the project that would become Google's first Nexus tablet, the 7-inch, Tegra 3-powered Nexus 7 that is shipping soon for an even more amazing $199. Coincidence? Join us for a discussion with Patrick about how Google's mighty little tablet came to be.Continue reading Google's Patrick Brady tells us how the Nexus 7 went from 'start to finish in four months'Google's Patrick Brady tells us how the Nexus 7 went from 'start to finish in four months' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Google offers to settle with EU over antitrust gripes, olive branch now fully ex...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:49 AM PDT

Google offers to settle with EU over antitrust gripes, olive branch now fully extended


Google offers to settle with EU over antitrust gripes, olive branch now fully extended
Google knows that there's a looming EU antitrust lawsuit if it doesn't volunteer some kind of change to its search practices, so it's not entirely surprising that chairman Eric Schmidt has sent a letter offering a settlement to the European Commission's competition chief Joaquin Almunia. The details of just what that potential truce entails are under wraps, although Almunia has long broadcast his concerns that Google might be unfairly favoring its own services above those of others -- he'd be most happy if the results were more organic. It's hard to say whether or not Google is prepared to follow along, but a peace gesture is a sharp break from the company's previously firm view that there's no need to change. We wouldn't be surprised if the EU's recent success in fining Microsoft has left Google hesitant to take its chances in court.Google offers to settle with EU over antitrust gripes, olive branch now fully extended originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | New York Times | Email this | Comments

Mixpanel Announces New ‘User-Centric’ Analytics

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:49 AM PDT

Mixpanel Announces New 'User-Centric' Analytics


Mixpanel Announces New 'User-Centric' Analytics
Every time I talk to Mixpanel co-founder Suhail Doshi, he likes to update me on how many actions his analytics startup is tracking for its customers every month. (In case you're wondering: The latest number is more than 6 billion.) But Mixpanel isn't just tracking actions anymore — starting today, it's tracking people, too and providing a more "user-centric" view of its data. Specifically, when customers open up their Mixpanel dashboard, they'll see a new menu under the "actions" section called "people", where they can get data about all of their visitors, such as gender, age, and country, and then correlate that data with user activity, so that, for example, you can tell whether men or women are spending more time in your app. Doshi says these are the kinds of "really hard but very specific" questions that most companies have to build their own in-house analytics systems to answer.

Kobo eReader Touch up for pre-order in Japan, hitting market with 'localized exp...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:49 AM PDT

Kobo eReader Touch up for pre-order in Japan, hitting market with 'localized experience' July 19th


Kobo eReader Touch up for pre-order in Japan, hitting market with 'localized experience' July 19th
Ever since Rakuten revealed its intentions to scoop up Kobo, the e-reader maker was clearly destined to hit the Japanese market. As noted a week or so back, the company's eReader Touch will be arriving the Land of the Rising Sun in July -- July 19th, to be exact. And, starting today, customers in that country can pre-order the reader for ¥7,980 (or $100 USD). Kobo's promised a "fully localized" experience on the reader, including local currency, content and a "robust" offering of Japanese books in time for launch.Continue reading Kobo eReader Touch up for pre-order in Japan, hitting market with 'localized experience' July 19thKobo eReader Touch up for pre-order in Japan, hitting market with 'localized experience' July 19th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Kobo | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III hits AT&T retail stores July 6th

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:49 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S III hits AT&T retail stores July 6th


Samsung Galaxy S III hits AT&T retail stores July 6th
Keeping track of when and where the Samsung Galaxy S III will be available hasn't exactly been the easiest thing to do, but we now finally have one more confirmation for those who prefer to do their business at AT&T's stores. The carrier announced today that the phone will be available in-store on July 6th, where it'll of course set you back the same $200 on a two-year contract. That's also the day that you'll be able to order online with overnight shipping, if the whole pre-order thing isn't for you.Samsung Galaxy S III hits AT&T retail stores July 6th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AT&T Consumer Blog | Email this | Comments

Honda Fit EV uses Clarity fuel-cell components to boost range

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:14 AM PDT

Honda Fit EV uses Clarity fuel-cell components to boost range


Honda Fit EV uses Clarity fuel-cell components to boost range
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Honda, North America, USA The Honda Fit EV, which starts leasing on the West Coast later this month, uses components from Honda's four-year-old Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle to boost the EV's single-charge range, Bloomberg reports. Electric-motor controllers and air-conditioning are among the Clarity parts used in the Fit EV, Bloomberg said, citing Honda senior chief engineer Sachito Fujimoto. The Clarity's braking system, which recaptures some of the energy from braking at applies it to available electric power, is also used in the Fit EV. Such components allow for the Fit to have a smaller lithium-ion battery pack than the ones used in the Ford Focus Electric and Nissan Leaf. Last month, the Fit EV was given an EPA-rated 118 miles-per-gallon equivalent rating - the second-highest ever to the now-discontinued-in-the-U.S. Tesla Roadster's 119 MPGe. The Fit EV's single-charge range was estimated at 82 miles, the largest of any non-Tesla U.S. production vehicle. Honda said last week that the Fit EV will be available for lease in California and Oregon for $389 a month, which is $60 a month more than the Leaf leases for, and $140 a month more than the Mitsubishi i's lease terms.Honda Fit EV uses Clarity fuel-cell components to boost range originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

ComScore: iOS and Android market share continues to climb, RIM and Motorola cont...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:14 AM PDT

ComScore: iOS and Android market share continues to climb, RIM and Motorola continue to fall


ComScore: iOS and Android market share continues to climb, RIM and Motorola continue to fall
Ready for some hardcore smartphone market share numbers? ComScore's got 'em for the three-month period ending in May 2012, and you probably won't be terribly surprised by the outcome. First, let's tackle smartphone platforms: Apple and Google posted minor increase month-over-month at 0.5 and 0.1 percent, respectively (1.7 and 0.8 over a three-month span). Microsoft (consisting of Windows Phone and Windows Mobile) didn't budge between April and May, though it nudged up a tenth of a percentage point since February. RIM dropped 0.2 percent over one month, but it already experienced a much more painful sting -- 2.0 percent -- during the three-month period. Symbian also went through similar concerns, going down 0.2 percent month-over-month and 0.4 percent since February. As for specific manufacturers, Apple once again comes out on top, adding 1.5 percent to its customer base over the last three months for a total of 15 percent share. Samsung, still leading the pack in total market share at 25.7 percent, only grew by 0.1. Given the OEM's success in deploying the Galaxy S III to every major US carrier, we suspect that number will spurt up even higher over the next quarter. Among the companies losing share: LG, Motorola and HTC, losing 0.3, 0.8 and 0.2 percent, respectively.Continue reading ComScore: iOS and Android market share continues to climb, RIM and Motorola continue to fallComScore: iOS and Android market share continues to climb, RIM and Motorola continue to fall originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 14:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ComScore | Email this | Comments

AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video)

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:43 AM PDT

AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video)


AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video)
Denmark's AiAiAi has developed a reputation for targeting its headphones at specific listeners. This time, it's aiming at someone we know all too well: the urban dweller who goes through replacement headphones like so much meat through a grinder. The Capital over-ears' bolstered fiberglass shell is designed to be rain- and snow-resistant, not to mention take the casual knocks that might beat up other headphone pairs. The foldable set likewise gives us every excuse to keep it on our heads, both through a light and reputedly comfortable brace as well as an in-line mic and remote to take that iPhone call through the Capital's 40mm drivers. At $125, the pair isn't the lowest-cost entry into the headphone world, but if it spares us from having to dive for cover when the weather turns foul, it could well be a bargain. You can get a sense of AiAiAi's impetus for yourself in a video after the break.Continue reading AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video)AiAiAi Capital headphones bring the beats, take abuse on the streets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | AiAiAi | Email this | Comments

Leaked Windows Phone Keyboard: Curved For Your Typing Pleasure

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:43 AM PDT

Leaked Windows Phone Keyboard: Curved For Your Typing Pleasure


Leaked Windows Phone Keyboard: Curved For Your Typing Pleasure
Microsoft is on a hot streak. The company has never been cooler, pushing out hot new start screens (both desktop and mobile), excluding early-adopters from major upgrades (pulling a Google), and snagging the up-and-coming Yammer enterprise social network for a cool $1.2 billion. But sometimes people can get carried away. So is the case with this image of an alleged future Windows Phone keyboard, which curves out of the bottom right-side of the phone into an arc for one-thumb typing. As you can see, the image doesn't look very well put-together. But WMPowerUser claims that this image was leaked from an internal presentation, so it's entirely possible that it's a render.

comScore: In U.S. Mobile Market, Samsung, Android Top The Charts; Apps Overtake...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:43 AM PDT

comScore: In U.S. Mobile Market, Samsung, Android Top The Charts; Apps Overtake Web Browsing


comScore: In U.S. Mobile Market, Samsung, Android Top The Charts; Apps Overtake Web Browsing
comScore just released its latest monthly mobile numbers, which chart mobile phone usage for a three-month average period ending in May 2012. During this time, 234 million Americans age 13 and older used mobile devices, which is consistent with the company's previous report from February. Samsung ranked as the top handset manufacturer overall with a 25.7% market share, and Android came out on top, too, with a 50.9% share versus Apple's 31.9%.

Audi Recalls Q5 Crossover

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:43 AM PDT

Audi Recalls Q5 Crossover


Audi Recalls Q5 Crossover
Glass panels on some 2012 models may break in cold weather.

Get Used to the Car Taking Control

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:42 AM PDT

Get Used to the Car Taking Control


Get Used to the Car Taking Control
Ford's driver-assist tech points to a future where the driver does less.

Growing up Geek: Natali Morris

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:08 AM PDT

Growing up Geek: Natali Morris


Growing up Geek: Natali Morris
Welcome to Growing Up Geek, an ongoing feature where we take a look back at our youth and tell stories of growing up to be the nerds that we are. Today, we have CNBC technology contributer, Natali Morris. These days I spend more of my time raising geeks than growing up as one. I gave birth to my daughter just seven weeks ago, so there is little time to geek out, but the force is still there. Temporarily dormant. I am a TV journalist who specializes in geek, as a technology contributor to CNBC. I got an early start in television. I was Miss Fremont 1984. Maybe you recognize me from the parade float with Sylvester and Tweety Bird? No? Odd. That's me on the left with my younger sister on the children's show Romper Room in 1984. Question: When we talk about my geeky childhood, do we mean that I had special geeky talents? Because I'm not sure I was a geek as much as I was a nerd. I was a rule follower. An overachiever. I always got the best grades in my science classes, had my term papers written weeks in advance, and always kept my textbooks covered with brown bag paper the way school policy required. I also had braces and headgear. And bangs. So what do you think? Geek or nerd? Or idiot? Actually no, I didn't always follow the rules. I used to cheat on the Nintendo Power Pad by pounding on the pressure sensors with my hands instead of my feet when I was feeling lazy. I used the code to get 30 extra lives on Contra. Although is it really cheating if it is built into the game? But I digress.Continue reading Growing up Geek: Natali MorrisGrowing up Geek: Natali Morris originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nokia claims Nexus 7 treads on its WiFi patents, wants a little dough for that J...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:08 AM PDT

Nokia claims Nexus 7 treads on its WiFi patents, wants a little dough for that Jelly Bean


Nokia claims Nexus 7 treads on its WiFi patents, wants a little dough for that Jelly Bean
We're fans of the Nexus 7. Nokia, however, isn't quite so keen. It claims to The Inquirer that the ASUS and Google joint project is using Nokia WiFi patents without a license. The two companies never even asked, Nokia argues. As it's a question of standards-based patents, it's more likely that Nokia will simply cough politely and ask for a royalty rather than launch into yet another legal battle -- still, it's not exactly a minor accusation. We've reached out to both ASUS and Google for comment, but we can't imagine that either will be happy with the potential hit to their respective bottom lines. Sending a slice of what's left to Finland could be more than a bit painful when that $199 Jelly Bean tablet is already operating on virtually non-existent margins.Nokia claims Nexus 7 treads on its WiFi patents, wants a little dough for that Jelly Bean originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Inquirer | Email this | Comments

Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown?

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:36 AM PDT

Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown?


Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown?
"Made in America." For some reason, my parents -- and the parents of many of my peers -- take great pride in seeing that phrase. I've seen people buy inferior products just because the label on the back proclaimed that it was thrown together in one of our 50 great states instead of across some imaginary line in "another country." Part of me wonders if people actually check to see if said claims are legitimate. As a business graduate, I fully understand the importance of producing goods within one's borders. There's a delicate balance that needs to be struck between imports and exports, and a huge part of a nation's economic growth hinges on how well that balance is executed. I suspect the generation before mine remembers a very different America than the one I've grown up in -- one where smokestacks outnumbered high-rise buildings, and one where jobs requiring steel-toe shoes were more lauded than those requiring a fancy degree and "knowing the right guy." Manufacturing was the backbone of America through some really, really trying times, and there's some sense of national pride that comes along with images of swinging hammers and climbing ladders. "We built this country," as they say.Continue reading Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown?Made in America: could your next phone be homegrown? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Gov. Bobby Jindal compares health care mandate to buying Chevy Volt

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:04 AM PDT

Gov. Bobby Jindal compares health care mandate to buying Chevy Volt


Gov. Bobby Jindal compares health care mandate to buying Chevy Volt
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet The conservative movement in the U.S. has taken a decidedly negative approach to the Affordable Care Act (or ObamaCare, as some call it). What we didn't know was that the law is like having to buy a Chevrolet Volt. That's what Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said while he was talking about how he would not set up a health insurance exchange in his state. Specifically, ABC News reports, he said, "[The Supreme Court decision upholding the ACA] really raises the question of what's next, what's allowable. Taxes on people who refuse to eat tofu or refuse to drive a Chevy Volt ... this whole ruling I think is ridiculous. It's a huge expansion of federal power." We're not a health care blog, so we're not going to get too much into what the ACA is or isn't, but here's an interesting take on Jindal's statement. Len Burman, writing at Forbes, says "Well, bad news, governor. People who don't own a Volt already pay higher taxes. Purchasers of hybrid and electric vehicles in 2012 got a $7,500 tax credit. Put differently, I paid $7,500 more in taxes because I didn't buy a Volt or some other qualifying car." Burman also points out that Jindal thought "taxing" people who don't buy a Volt was just fine back in 2009 when Jindal signed a state alternative fuel vehicle tax credit law (PDF).Gov. Bobby Jindal compares health care mandate to buying Chevy Volt originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jelly Bean's Sound Search feature now available root-free on ICS

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:04 AM PDT

Jelly Bean's Sound Search feature now available root-free on ICS


Jelly Bean's Sound Search feature now available root-free on ICS
Did you know you can get a little squirt of Jelly Bean flavor in your Ice Cream Sandwich right now? It's nothing mega -- just a non-root APK for Google Sound Search, the new in-house rival to Shazam and SoundHound, courtesy of user "asdfzz" over at XDA. The widget, which is also known as "Google Ears," currently works in the familiar manner, analyzing a track via remote servers and bringing up the result within Google Play, but in the future -- according to Mobile Phones Fan -- it may go the same way as voice dictation on the Nexus 7 and do all processing locally for the sake of speed. Of course, if you're up for flashing a whole ROM, then Jelly Bean can already be had in its entirety.Jelly Bean's Sound Search feature now available root-free on ICS originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Mobile Phones Fan | XDA Developers Forum | Email this | Comments

80% Of Americans Work “After Hours,” Equaling An Extra Day Of Work Per Week

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:04 AM PDT

80% Of Americans Work "After Hours," Equaling An Extra Day Of Work Per Week


80% Of Americans Work "After Hours," Equaling An Extra Day Of Work Per Week
Have you ever read news that sort of makes you want to cry? I have to warn you, that's what this new study from enterprise mobility company Good Technology might inspire. The company polled 1,000 U.S. workers to get a better understanding of their mobile work habits. The results are not surprising: the line between work and free time has become so blurred it's practically non-existent. 80% of people continue working after leaving the office (a figure which actually sounds low, if you ask me). Half of them do so because they feel they have "no choice." Connectedness means customers demand fast replies. There's no off switch. Half of respondents check their email in bed, starting at around 7:09 AM. 68% check email before 8 AM. And you wonder why people hate email so much? God forbid we get a cup of coffee in us before dealing with the latest work emergency.

X Games: Los Angeles 2012

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:03 AM PDT

X Games: Los Angeles 2012


X Games: Los Angeles 2012
Exhaust Notes editor Josh Condon takes a personal look at the X Games.

Google launches Mobile App Analytics along with Analytics App for Android, creat...

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 08:32 AM PDT

Google launches Mobile App Analytics along with Analytics App for Android, creates endless loop


Google launches Mobile App Analytics along with Analytics App for Android, creates endless loop
Google has given a boost to those who obsess over the minutia of their sites (and apps) with two new analytics offerings dedicated to the mobile side of things. App vendors will be able to see potential buyers stampeding to their wares (or not) with Mobile App Analytics, showing user info like traffic, geography and the model of device used. It will also provide engagement and business reports, telling developers how their apps are being used and letting them check if their monetary dreams are matching cold reality. Mountain view also released The Google Analytics App, letting on-the-go users have a truncated version of the full Analytics site, with features like real-time monitoring and the Dashboard, at their tactile fingertips. That app is now at the Play store, and the new App Analytics feature is in beta to approved developers. There's no word as to when, or if, the App Analytics will be in the Analytics App, but in any case, you can check the source to get either.Google launches Mobile App Analytics along with Analytics App for Android, creates endless loop originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Android Police | Google Analytics Blog (1), (2) | Email this | Comments