Consumer
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.
Turning Smartphones Into Secure and Versatile Keys
January 15, 2013 1:51 pm | by Fraunhofer | News | CommentsIt’s already possible to open doors using an app – but we are a long way from seeing widespread acceptance of this in the market. Now, researchers have developed a piece of software that will make the technology even more secure and versatile. Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our daily lives.
Concentrated Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage Can Help Utilities’ Bottom Line
January 15, 2013 1:44 pm | by NREL News | News | CommentsThe storage capacity of concentrating solar power (CSP) can add significant value to a utility company’s optimal mix of energy sources, a new report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) suggests.
These Ice Cubes Text Your Friend When You've Had Too Much to Drink
January 15, 2013 1:35 pm | by Mashable | News | CommentsThe ice cube is getting a much-needed 21st century upgrade thanks to a 23-year-old MIT student. Dhairya Dand's Cheers is a set of LED ice cubes that change color from green to yellow to red depending on how much you've imbibed. The cubes also send a message to your designated friend if you've passed your limit. Oh yeah, they also light up to ambient music and noise.
uNu iPhone 5 Battery Case Doubles Your Battery Life
January 15, 2013 11:44 am | by Mashable | News | CommentsThe uNu DX Protective Battery Case for iPhone 5 doubles your talk time, letting most iPhones last for two days on one charge. While that's still far from what feature phones can manage, it's a significant improvement and would come in handy in many situations.
Watch This Touchscreen Transform Into a Physical Keyboard
January 15, 2013 11:42 am | News | CommentsFor tablet- and smartphone-owners who love their touchscreens but occasionally yearn for the tactile feel of a physical keyboard, Fremont, Calif.-based company Tactus has unveiled new technology that unites both features on one gadget. It developed a tactile user interface for touchscreen devices: transparent physical buttons that emerge from a tablet or smartphone's surface on demand.
Developers: Microsoft Wants to Put Your App in a TV Ad
January 15, 2013 11:38 am | by Mashable | News | CommentsMicrosoft unveiled a neat contest for developers, giving them a chance to have their app featured in a Windows Phone television ad. The contest, which officially started Monday, is called Windows Phone Next App Star, and is open to Windows Phone developers worldwide.
Nation's First Bookless Public Library Could Be in Texas
January 15, 2013 11:20 am | by Mashable | News | CommentsBexar County, Texas, has unveiled plans for what could become the nation's first bookless public library. The initiative is being pushed forward by County Judge Nelson W. Wolff, who told The San Antonio Express News that he was inspired to develop a bookless library after reading Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
What If Microsoft Threw Its Weight Behind Mozilla's Firefox OS?
January 15, 2013 10:16 am | by Forbes | News | CommentsOpen source veteran Matt Asay, currently at 10Gen (the company behind the popular MongoDB database) just posted a provocative take on the mobile landscape on ReadWrite, Firefox OS: The Future of Microsoft’s Mobile Ambition?
How Google Is Forever Changing The Webinar
January 15, 2013 10:13 am | by Forbes | News | CommentsEver been on TV? Get ready. You will be. And you better be good. Last week I was hired by software company Sage to do a webinar about the economy. Except it wasn’t a typical webinar.
Beyond BYOD: The Shift to People-Centric IT
January 15, 2013 9:54 am | by Forbes | News | CommentsBYOD (“Bring Your Own Device”) is probably the most visible net result of the consumerization of IT trend we are now seeing in Information Technology. But there have been some other significant technology shifts emerging from this consumerization trend that have not been making the same big headlines as BYOD has.
Uber Taxi Service Goes to Washington, D.C.
January 14, 2013 3:14 pm | by CNET | News | CommentsUber started offering its taxi service in Washington, D.C., today, according to the controversial on-call car service's blog. Uber said the number of taxis are limited for now. "Many taxis don't fit Uber standards, so we are curating our supply pretty carefully," the blog reads.
The 10 Coolest iPhone and iPad Cases From CES
January 14, 2013 12:23 pm | by Samantha Murphy | News | CommentsThe case you pick for your iPhone or iPad says as much about your personality as the clothes you wear. Instead of standard rubber cases and hum-drum colors, there's a whole vibrant world of fun and creative ways to dress up your mobile device.
Find Your Child, Pet or Suitcase With 'I'm Here' GPS Tracker
January 12, 2013 11:31 pm | by Emily Price | News | CommentsThe CES show floor was home to several GPS trackers this year. One of the most interesting was I’m Here, a tracker developed by the same company that created an Android smart watch called I’m Watch. Unveiled during the company’s CES press conference, I’m Here is a pint-sized tracker designed to help you keep up with everything from your suitcase to your kindergartener.
Apple Gets Robbed Again In Las Vegas
January 11, 2013 5:03 pm | by Richard Saintvilus, Contributor, Forbes | News | CommentsI’m not a person that gets annoyed very easily. But remarkably, time and time again Samsung has figured out a way get under my skin. I get it – the company wants to be “East Apple.” It’s a good goal to have. Heck, everybody wants to be Apple.
Laptop Vending Machine Offers Safety for Students
January 11, 2013 4:40 pm | by Mashable | News | CommentsA laptop bag might protect your computer from the elements but it could also act as a bullseye for muggers. For students on late-night studying binges, schlepping their tech around campus might not be ideal. Drexel University in Philadelphia has an interesting solution to that problem.
Hands On With the First Tegra 4-Powered Tablet
January 11, 2013 12:14 pm | by Mashable | News | CommentsIt was expected, but still impressive. Nvidia unveiled its quad-core Tegra 4 mobile processor at CES 2013, and many products with the next-generation chip are already planned. One of them was a the show: The 10.1-inch model in Vizio's new Android tablets, and I got a little one-on-one time with it.
IBM Crowned Patent King for 20th Year in a Row
January 11, 2013 12:17 am | by CNET | News | CommentsIBM has always been known for raking in more U.S. patents than any other company, but this year signals a landmark: not only is it IBM's 20th consecutive year of earning more patents than any other company, it also made a single-year record with 6,478 issued patents, according to the annual tally published today by IFI Claims Patent Services.
Apple CEO Cook Holds Talks With China Mobile's Chairman
January 10, 2013 1:52 pm | by Forbes | News | CommentsIs Apple finally getting close to cutting a distribution deal with China Mobile? While Apple has deals to sell the iPhone through other carriers the company has long sought a deal with China Mobile, the largest wireless carrier in the largest wireless market in the world. This morning, according to Reuters, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China Mobile Chairman Xi Gouhua.
10 Reasons To Hope For BlackBerry 10
January 10, 2013 1:33 pm | by Forbes | News | CommentsIt’s been a tough couple of years for Research in Motion. The BlackBerry maker still has a faithful following of physical-keyboard loving users, but Apple, Samsung and cheaper smartphone makers from Asia have smashed RIM’s market share. Its stock has fallen almost 90% in the last five years; last quarter it posted another weak set of financial results.
Engineering Newswire 11: Nissan Builds a Batmobile
January 10, 2013 10:45 am | Videos | CommentsToday on engineering newswire, brought to you by Memory Protection Devices, we're painting dreams with robots, monitoring our neural activity, and carving pumpkins with CNCs. In this episode we feature: The Muse headband is a new wearable device that lets users monitor neural activity in real time via their mobile devices.
This Android-Based Smart Watch Looks Like an iPod Nano
January 10, 2013 7:11 am | News | CommentsPebble got a ton of attention for its smart watch at CES this year. It wasn’t the only smart watch company, however, to have a major announcement. Originally announced at last year’s CES, Italian-based I’m watch announced the next iteration its smart watch. Reminiscent of the iPod nano watches you may have seen walking around, the I’m watch consists of a bulky square watch face with an even bulkier strap attached.
Samsung Reveals Powerful Exynos 5 Octa 8-Core Processor for Smartphones
January 10, 2013 7:03 am | News | CommentsSamsung unveiled at the 2013 International CES on Wednesday its latest processor for smartphones, the Exynos 5 Octa. The company says this new processor delivers twice the performance of its predecessor, Samsung's Exynos 4 Quad. This means new phones from Samsung are going to be noticeably faster.
