Consumer
UK Sends Hand-Held Helicopter Drones to War Zone
February 4, 2013 9:10 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsBritish soldiers in Afghanistan have been issued with surveillance drones so small they can fit in the palm of a squaddie's hand. The Scandinavian-designed Black Hornet Nano weighs as little as 16 grams (roughly half an ounce) — the same as a finch.
FTC Offers Privacy Guidelines for Mobile Industry
February 4, 2013 8:54 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsIn a report published Friday, the FTC outlines guidelines that include advising companies to get people's consent before using technology to track shoppers' locations, consider offering a "do not track" mechanism for smart phone users; and developing icons that show the transmission of user data.
CES Gadget Show Host Drops CNET as Awards Picker
February 1, 2013 9:17 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsThe industry group that hosts the annual gadget show known as International CES is dropping reviews website CNET as the picker of its "Best of CES" awards. It says CNET reviewers' objectivity was compromised by the site's corporate parent, CBS Corp.
Cell Phone Amber Alerts: What You Need to Know
February 1, 2013 9:12 am | by TAMI ABDOLLAH - Associated Press | News | CommentsMost people with newer phones have the emergency alert system automatically activated. The new Amber Alert system replaces a prior "opt-in" system that went offline Dec. 31 and alerted about 700,000 people who had signed up nationally. The messages are geographically specific, going to people within the reach of a particular region's cell towers.
Engineering Newswire 23: I Am Iron Woman
February 1, 2013 9:02 am | by Eric Sorensen, Coordinator of Multimedia Development | Videos | CommentsToday on Engineering Newswire, brought to you by Interpower, the premier supplier of power system components for worldwide markets, we’re crafting magic arms, building Tony Stark’s cyber-weapon, and 3D printing for the BioCurious.
Apple Blocks Java on Macs Due to Vulnerabilities
February 1, 2013 8:54 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsSome Mac users were taken by surprise Thursday as their computers stopped running programs written using the Java programming language after Apple blocked Java due to security problems. Java allows programmers to write a wide variety of Internet applications and other software programs and run them on most computers, including Apple Inc.'s Mac.
Panasonic, Sharp Expect Red Ink Despite Yen Help
February 1, 2013 8:26 am | by YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe two Osaka-based companies are among the Japanese electronics makers battered by price plunges in gadgets and hot competition from more successful rivals such as Apple Inc. and South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. Panasonic reported a 61.4 billion yen ($667 million) profit for the October-December period Friday.
Review: BlackBerry Z10 is Good Stab at Rebirth
January 31, 2013 8:41 am | by PETER SVENSSON - AP Technology Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsAre you ashamed to have a BlackBerry? It's not exactly a status symbol any more, at least not in the U.S., after it got left in the dust by the iPhone. Now, there's a new BlackBerry that wants to get back into the cool club: the Z10. It's the first phone to run the new BlackBerry 10 operating system, and it is, at first blush, a very good stab at regaining at least some of the cachet of the BlackBerry.
New BlackBerry Won't Be Released in U.S. until March
January 31, 2013 8:40 am | by PETER SVENSSON, Associated Press ROB GILLIES, Associated Press | News | CommentsResearch In Motion Ltd. unveiled new, versatile BlackBerrys after excruciating delays allowed Apple, Samsung and others to build commanding leads in an industry that is redefining society. But the first phone won't come out in the United States until March, and one with a physical keyboard will take at least a month longer.
Judge Rejects Apple's Patent Award Demands
January 30, 2013 9:36 am | by PAUL ELIAS, Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal judge late Tuesday rejected Apple Inc.'s demand to increase the $1.05 billion in damages a jury ordered Samsung Electronics Inc. to pay its fiercest rival in the smartphone market. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh also rejected demands from both companies to conduct another trial on different issues over claims that Samsung unfairly used technology controlled by Apple to build its iPads and iPhones to market knockoff products.
Nintendo Returns to Profit, Lowers Sales Forecasts
January 30, 2013 9:34 am | by YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsJapanese video game maker Nintendo Co. returned to the black for the first nine months of its business year and more than doubled its profit forecast for the full year, getting a perk from a weaker yen, despite pessimism about sales prospects.
Lenovo Profit Boosted by Smartphones, Tablets
January 30, 2013 9:10 am | by JOE McDONALD, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsPersonal computer maker Lenovo Group said Wednesday its quarterly profit rose 34 percent to a record high on strong sales of smartphones and tablet computers.The company, vying with Hewlett-Packard Co. to become the world's biggest PC maker.
Microsoft Retools Office for Touch Screen, Web Use
January 29, 2013 10:01 am | by MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsThe revamped Office boasts touch controls, just like the redesigned version of the Windows operating system that Microsoft Corp. released three months ago. The company is trying to ensure that its products retain their appeal at a time when people increasingly rely on smartphones and tablet computers instead of PCs.
Netgear Buys Sierra Wireless' AirCard Business
January 29, 2013 9:40 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsNetworking equipment maker Netgear Inc. is buying Sierra Wireless Inc.'s AirCard business for $138 million in cash, the companies said Monday. Netgear will assume $6.5 million in liabilities, 160 employees and facilities in Carlsbad, Calif., and Richmond, British Columbia, where Sierra Wireless is based.
Apple Updates iPhone, iPad Software
January 29, 2013 9:21 am | by Associated Press | News | CommentsApple has released a software update for iPhones and iPads that speeds up data downloads on some major overseas telecom networks and a handful of small U.S. carriers. Apple says iOS version 6.1 adds the ability to access the "LTE" networks of 36 additional iPhone carriers.
Crucial, Long-Overdue BlackBerry Makeover Arrives
January 29, 2013 9:17 am | by ROB GILLIES, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe maker of the BlackBerry smartphone is promising a speedier device, a superb typing experience and the ability to keep work and personal identities separate on the same phone. It's the fruit of a crucial, long-overdue makeover for the Canadian company.
Images of Alleged Next-Gen iPhone Components Surface
January 27, 2013 12:15 pm | by CNET | News | CommentsA French blog posts images of what it says are speaker components for the next round of Apple smartphones, what it calls an iPhone 5S and iPhone 6. French blog Nowhereelse.fr, which has posted images of legitimate parts for unreleased iPhones in the past.
AT&T to Pay $1.9B for Verizon Spectrum
January 25, 2013 5:17 pm | by Reuters | News | CommentsNEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc has inked two deals worth more than $2.68 billion this week as it accelerates its push to expand its wireless spectrum holdings to beef up capacity for high-speed services. The No 2. U.S. mobile provider said on Friday that it agreed to buy wireless airwaves from Verizon Wireless for $1.9 billion in cash.
5 Connected Objects to Smarten Up Your Home
January 21, 2013 9:03 am | by Mashable | News | CommentsImagine waking up in a fully automated home. The light on your nightstand gradually begins to brighten, your blinds unfold to welcome the morning light, coffee brews in the kitchen and music begins to play, all without you lifting a finger. Until recently, even partially automated homes were exclusive to the domains of engineers and home owners...
A Log-in Finger Ring? Google Working on Password Alternatives
January 18, 2013 2:22 pm | by Samantha Murphy | News | CommentsThe topic of passwords has made headlines in the past year — from high-profile hacks to web users repeatedly not picking the right ones — but Google has its sights set on making the login-process much more secure in the future. How secure, you may ask?
Inflatable Earbuds Aim for Apple Debut
January 17, 2013 2:15 pm | by TechNewsDaily | News | CommentsAn earpiece that inflates like a tiny airbag inside human ears can create the perfect fit for any music-listening experience or hearing aid. The futuristic twist on earbuds could even arrive in Apple stores sometime in the near future. The inflatable earpieces represent the newest invention of Stephen Ambrose, a pioneer in audio technology and founder of Asius Technologies. His technolo...
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 May Pop Up in February
January 17, 2013 12:02 pm | by CNET | News | CommentsSamsung Electronics may add another member to its already large family of tablets. The company is set to unveil the Galaxy Note 8.0, possibly next month at the Mobile World Congress conference, according to self-described "fansite" SamMobile, which did not cite sources for the information. Among the mobile device vendors, Samsung has been one of...
RIM Receives Approval from Visa for Mobile Payment Solution
January 16, 2013 1:28 pm | by RIM | News | CommentsResearch In Motion (RIM) announced that its Secure Element Manager (SEM) solution for NFC (Near Field Communication) mobile payments has been approved by Visa. RIM’s SEM is the backend solution for carriers that can securely manage credentials on SIM (subscriber identity module) cards installed in all types of NFC-capable mobile devices.
Wireless Audio Tech for Outdoor Enthusiasts
January 16, 2013 9:44 am | by ESPN | News | CommentsSkateboarders, skiers, cyclists and snowboarders are all united by their use of helmets. And those helmet-wearers are further united in knowing that their headgear is not only clunky, but also manages to separate them from their phones and MP3s. Until now.
Samsung Beefs Up Chromebox With a Core i5 Processor
January 16, 2013 9:09 am | News | CommentsChromebox, Samsung's Chrome OS-based mini PC, has been criticized for not packing enough power for its price. Now, it looks like Samsung is responding with a new version of Chromebox that has a much faster processor. Instead of the lowly Celeron processor, the new Chromebox has a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel i5 processor.
