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Mini review: Samsung Galaxy S4 with Exynos 5 Octa SoC

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:17:00 GMT

We have already published our full review of the Galaxy S4 for the US, which ships with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor. In some international markets, the Galaxy S4 ships with Samsung's own Exynos 5 Octa, an eight-core chip that uses ARM's big.LITTLE architecture. We have been using one for the past week, putting it through its paces, although our focus here is to see whether US customers are missing out on any performance....

'Crazy ant' invading Texas, destroying electronics

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:58:00 GMT

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered that the US fire ant population is being pushed out by "tawny crazy ants," with an affinity to the interior of electronic devices. The ants are capable of nesting in nearly any container, and as they travel, they disrupt other ant populations....

MacUpdate Weekend Sale:

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:59:00 GMT

This weekend MacUpdate has slashed prices on Painter 12 and Painter Lite. <a href="https://deals.macupdate.com/deal/14292/5274">Painter 12</a> retails for $429, but has been reduced by 54% to $199. <a href="https://deals.macupdate.com/deal/14296/5274">Painter Lite</a> has seen a 58% price cut from $69 to $29. Hurry, because these deals are only available until May 19th 2013.

MetroPCS bows out of Net Neutrality lawsuit against FCC

Sat, 18 May 2013 01:26:00 GMT

In a court motion filed earlier today, MetroPCS is dropping its net neutrality opposition lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission. The company filed a motion for voluntary dismissal, leaving Verizon to willingly fight the decree and US government on its own....

Mozilla delays plans to block third-party tracking cookies in Firefox

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:48:00 GMT

Mozilla is delaying plans to start blocking third-party tracking cookies in Firefox by default, according to an announcement. The company states that more work is needed for the anti-tracking feature. "The idea is that if you have not visited a site (including the one to which you are navigating currently) and it wants to put a cookie on your computer, the site is likely not one you have heard of or have any relationship with," explains Mozilla's Brendan Eich. "But this is only likely, not always true."...

Yahoo schedules press event for May 20, topic 'something special'

Fri, 17 May 2013 23:52:00 GMT

Yahoo is holding a "product-related" event on May 20. The New York City event will see CEO Marissa Mayer speaking on an undisclosed topic for about an hour at 5PM EST, which the company calls in an mass email "something special."...

Amazon axes Zombieland, Browsers TV pilots; picks up two others

Fri, 17 May 2013 23:32:00 GMT

Amazon has cancelled two television pilots, after poor screenings. The television version of Zombieland will not be made into a series by the internet retailer, nor will Bebe Neuwirth's musical comedy Browsers about interns at a Huffington Post-esque website. Amazon has picked up John Goodman's Washington DC satire Alpha House, and Silicon Valley sitcom Betas....

Apple pulls Bang With Friends app after little over one week

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:37:00 GMT

Apple has removed a well-publicized iPhone hookup app from the App Store after just one week of it going live, Valleywag notes. Bang With Friends, still accessible via Android and the web, lets people indicate if they'd like to have sex with a Facebook friend. Notifications are sent out only if the feeling is mutual. Since launching in January, the service has already accumulated about 1 million users....

Stitcher for iOS gets Car Mode, other upgrades

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:51:00 GMT

Podcast and radio streaming service Stitcher has released an important update of its iOS app, v5.3.0. The major addition is a selectable Car Mode for the iPhone, which brings up a simplified interface. The mode works in both portrait and landscape views....

Study: tablets, smartphones rule mobile gaming; handhelds wane

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:05:00 GMT

A report by market analysts App Annie and IDC continue to show that mobile devices such as the iPhone or the Nexus 7 control a clear majority of mobile gaming interest and dollars spent on purchases, with portable handhelds fading rapidly. The first quarter of 2013 saw another milestone achieved for the Android platform, with it seeing more downloads and consumer spending on games than iOS for the first time....

MacBook Air stock beginning to evaporate ahead of WWDC

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:33:00 GMT

Third-party vendors are starting to run out of stock of the 13-inch MacBook Air, says AppleInsider. Amazon, B&H, MacConnection, and MacMall are all out of a common configuration, a system with a 1.8GHz processor and a 256GB SSD. Another reseller, J&R, is saying that it only has the configuration at retail stores. Best Buy continues to have some units....

'iRadio' announcement may miss WWDC, say sources

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:03:00 GMT

Apple's mired negotiations with the music industry may prevent it from announcing an "iRadio" service at WWDC on June 10th, industry sources tell The Verge. The people note that Apple is having trouble not just with Sony/ATV, but also BMG. At the same time they suggest there's still a lot of "market momentum" behind iRadio, and that major players such as Universal want to see it launch as soon as possible....

Briefly: Moshi Lightning Cables, Gangstar Rio and N.O.V.A 3 now free

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:44:00 GMT

Moshi has released its new line of Lightning cables for Apple's latest iOS devices. Encased in aluminum, the 3.2 foot cables are fully certified for use with the iPhone 5, iPod touch (5th gen), iPod nano (7th gen), iPad (4th gen) and iPad mini. Moshi's USB Cable with Lightning is sold online in two color variants, black and white, for $20....

MacNN forums: Retina MBP shuts down while sleeping

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:13:00 GMT

This week in the MacNN forums, one Professional Poster was trying to get to the bottom of a problem they had with their Retina MBP shutting down while in sleep mode, a solution has yet to be found. Fresh-Faced Recruit "frozentundra" is wondering when Apple will update the Mac Pro line....

Apple deals: 15.4-inch MacBook Pros from $1,489

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:12:00 GMT

A vast selection of refurbished 15.4-inch MacBook Pro models are available at Apple's Online Store. The 15.4-inch MBP with a 2.3GHz Intel quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive has been reduced to $1,489, a savings of $310. A $420 price cut is offered on the 15.4-inch Retina MBP with 2.3GHz quad-core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive, now $1,679....

DealNN: $200 off 12-Core Mac Pro, more

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:05:00 GMT

Currently JR.com has the Mac Pro for the reduced price of $3,599.99, that's $199.01 off the list price of $3,799 and the lowest price we have seen on this Mac model, brand new, anywhere. Free shipping is included and sales tax applies for residents of New York and California. The Mac Pro features a 2.4GHz 12-Core Xeon processor, 12GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. A one year warranty on parts and labor is included from Apple....

Apple devices officially OK'd for secure government networks

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Apple's iPhones, iPads and other devices running iOS 6 or higher are officially cleared for use on the US government's secure networks, the Department of Defence announced on Friday. The final approval, which we first reported on in March, also grants Samsung Android devices that are running the Korean company's Knox security lockdown, as well as BlackBerry devices running BB10 the ability to be used on secure networks. The move is expected to further hurt BlackBerry, as it faces competition in the military space for the first time....

iPhone Apps: Plants v. Zombies, Walking Dead, Sonic the Hedgehog

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:44:00 GMT

Corning introduces Lotus XT Glass, aimed at high-res displays

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:31:00 GMT

The maker of the Gorilla Glass used in iPhones and other mobile devices has unveiled its latest fusion-made, resilient glass for high-resolution displays. Corning, which is also continuing its Gorilla Glass line with a third version this year, officially introduced a "second-generation glass substrate" called Lotus XT Glass. The new variant features many of the properties of some of Corning's other products while being easier and cheaper to manufacture -- a fact that may persuade tech companies to use it in figure products....

Air Force estimates savings of $5.7M per year due to iPad use

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:18:00 GMT

A move by the US Air Force last year to replace maps, charts, logs and other paperwork contained in a kit with iPads is expected to save more than $50 million over next 10 years. The 18,000 deployed iPads form an "electronic flight bag" that can hold flight manuals, weather and navigation charts and volumes of technical and procedural information -- eliminating the need for the 30- to 40-pound flight bag pilots used to have to carry with them, resulting in savings ranging from fuel costs to printing costs to even reducing pilot back injuries....

UK: Tablets now outselling both notebooks and desktop PCs combined

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

A report from market analysts IDC looking at market conditions in the United Kingdom says that in the first quarter of 2013, tablet shipments outpaced the combined desktop and notebook PC for the first time. A total of 2.8 million tablets were shipped in Q1, outpacing the 2.3 million PC units (which include Macs alongside Windows desktops and laptops) by a half-million units -- a rise of 188 percent year-over-year. While the report is limited to the UK, the results likely foreshadow future trends elsewhere....

Opinion: Is the HTC One the ultimate iPhone switcher?

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:14:00 GMT

The HTC One may be the ultimate iPhone switch-inducing Android device yet, even if the Samsung Galaxy S4 juggernaut remains unstoppable for the time being. There are a few of key aspects of the HTC's Android flagship device for 2013 that makes it the most likely to interest Apple iPhone 4, 4S and 5 users itching for a change of scenery, but who can't wait as long as September when Jony Ive's design-influenced version of iOS could be released. Many iPhone users also love the beautiful industrial designs that Jony Ive has cooked up for the iPhone over the past few years. For many, however, even...

Virgin Mobile US offers 15 percent discount on iPhone 4, 4S

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:10:00 GMT

The US branch of Virgin Mobile is now offering a 15 percent discount on the iPhone 4 and 4S. The promotion is applicable only to web orders, and will last only for a limited time, or until supplies run out. Virgin hasn't said when the sale is scheduled to end....

FTC starts sending COPPA letters to app developers

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:51:00 GMT

The US Federal Trade Commission has started sending out two letters to app developers, preparing them for changes to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act taking effect July 1st, according to an announcement. The letters warn developers that restrictions on the collection of personal data from kids under 13 have been expanded, and now cover things like audio or video bearing a child's likeness. Previously, rules only covered the gathering of names, addresses, and phone numbers....

Apple, CW sign deal to put content on Apple TV

Fri, 17 May 2013 01:13:00 GMT

A CW app should soon appear on the Apple TV, Deadline reports. CW CEO Mark Pedowitz announced a deal with Apple during the network's annual upfront presentation in New York. A version of CW TV Now is already available for two Apple platforms -- the iPhone and the iPad -- but Apple TV support should put the app in a more viewing-friendly spot, as with the Xbox 360 and Windows 8 apps....

Foxconn continuing to break Chinese labor laws, FLA finds

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:30:00 GMT

Apple's biggest supplier, Hon Hai -- better known as Foxconn -- is continuing to break Chinese labor laws, according to a newly-published audit by the Fair Labor Association. The latest evaluation was conducted in January, and did find that Foxconn is complying with 98.3 percent of the 360 points of action the FLA and Apple initially agreed to. 70 out of 76 items that were pending in mid-2012 have been complied with....

Sharp commences production of new HiDPI IGZO LCD panels

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:32:00 GMT

According to Sharp, the company will begin production of three types of IGZO LCD panels that boast pixel densities among the highest in the industry. The panels, scheduled to begin production in June 2013 are intended for use in notebook PCs and will come in three sizes: 11.6 inches, 14 inches, and 15.6 inches. A 13.3 inch panel is already being produced by the company....

UPS ports iOS tracking, scheduling app to iPad

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:05:00 GMT

Shipping service UPS has launched a native iPad version of its iOS app. An iPhone app has been available for some time, but has never been updated to be universal. Both titles let people track up to five shipments simultaneously, which are displayed on a map....

Cook speaks ahead of upcoming US Senate testimony

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:10:00 GMT

Ahead of the Apple CEO's US Senate testimony, Tim Cook has replied to questions about politics and Apple's offshore tax practices in a new Politico interview. "We don't have a large presence in Washington, as you probably know, but we care deeply about public policy and believe creative policy can be a huge catalyst for a better society and a stronger economy," he says....

Latest Apple dividend payment distributes over $2.8B to shareholders

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:15:00 GMT

Apple is today paying out its latest dividend to shareholders. The amount is rated at $3.05 per share, translating into a total of about $2.867 billion for all of the company's 940 million outstanding shares. To be eligible for the dividend, a person must have been a shareholder by May 13th; because qualifying purchases must be settled though, realistically, any stock must have been bought no later than the 8th....

Briefly: eBay adds shopping cart to iOS apps, ThinShield for iPhone 5

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:07:00 GMT

eBay has released an updated version of its iOS app featuring a redesigned interface with multiple search views, new shopping car functionality, and larger photo views. Unlike previous versions, users can now add multiple items into their shopping cart and pay for all of them simultaneously. The iPad version has also received several new image editing tools, while the iPhone version includes a new account creation tool that can setup a new account by scanning the barcode of a drivers license. Other changes include new "Search By Best Offer" options, feedback filters, and support for uploading...

New OS X 'KitM.A' malware discovered, mostly impotent

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:01:00 GMT

A new semi-functional malware has been found for OSX. Discovered on a computer at the Oslo Freedom Forum by researcher Jacob Appelbaum, the OSX/KitM.A is a backdoor application which launches on boot and captures screenshots on a regular basis, which are then dumped in a folder....

MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0 fixes severe crash bug

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:22:00 GMT

Apple has posted a new support download for mid-2012 MacBook Airs, MacBook Air Flash Storage Firmware Update 1.0. Unusually, Apple states that the patch is mandatory; it fixes a problem with the Air's firmware that can, potentially, prevent a computer from recovering from a crash. The file is a 1.69MB download, and requires either OS X 10.7.5 or 10.8.3....

Briefly: iKlip 2 and iKlip Studio now shipping, Aud 5 Lighting dock

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:04:00 GMT

IK Multimedia has announced that its iKlip 2 and iKlip Studio accessories for the iPad and iPad mini are now available for purchase. Designed to securely hold an iPad on a microphone stand, the iKlip 2 evolves from its predecessor through the use of a new ball-joint hinge that improves a users ability to position the device. Meanwhile, the iKlip Studio is a desktop stand that provides 8 different viewing angle options in 10 degree increments. Both products can be purchased from IK Multimedia's online store for $40 and $30 respectively....

Pebble gains $15M funding, updates SDK with two-way communication

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:48:00 GMT

Pebble, the smartwatch that started life on Kickstarter, has received an extra $15 million in funding. The additional funding from investors, on top of the $10.2 million received through its Kickstarter campaign, comes at the same time as the company updates its SDK to include two-way communication for third-party Pebble apps....

Apple updates iTunes to 11.0.3, improves Songs view, MiniPlayer

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:00 GMT

On Thursday, Apple updated its flagship program iTunes to version 11.0.3, which brings some new features as well as addresses a number of minor bugs and improves security and performance for those running and sorting large collections. The main new features include a redesigned MiniPlayer that now features artwork and a progress bar, and some changes to the Songs view that also adds album artwork. Importantly, multi-disc albums are now seen and counted as one album rather than individual discs....

Colored SIM trays may hint at multi-color iPhone 5S

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

A long-standing rumor that the next iPhone -- presumably called the 5S -- will be available in colors beyond just black and white received a boost with the publication of photos featuring differently-colored SIM trays, along with high-rez pictures of various other small parts said to be from the forthcoming iPhone model, expected to be released sometime this summer. Though the SIM tray images would be easy to fake, Apple has been making the iPod touch and iPod nano in a set of colors and may have decided to follow suit with the iPhone 5S -- and perhaps a future iPad....

Apps: PDFpen, Skitch, Dropbox

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:32:00 GMT

Apple moving flagship SF store, doubling size

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:48:00 GMT

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that Apple will be eventually closing its One Stockton Street store -- which has been a flagship venue among the San Francisco stores -- and moving it about three blocks away, adjacent to Union Square. The new store will feature an updated design with a more glass-centric design, somewhat reminiscent of the Upper West Side store in New York City. It will also be about 45 percent larger than the current location and increase its staff from 350 to 400....

Apple App Store tops 50 billion downloads [U]

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:37:00 GMT

[Updated with the winner's name, the winning app and other details] The App Store has officially surpassed 50 billion downloads, Apple has announced. The company has now announced the winner of the associated contest. Brandon Ashmore of Mentor Ohio, who downloaded the 50 billionth app, will get a $10,000 App Store gift card; meanwhile, 50 runner-ups will each get a $500 card....

Windows Phone shipments beat BlackBerry, lags behind iOS, Android

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:31:00 GMT

Shipments of Windows Phone devices have overtaken those of BlackBerry phones for the first time, according to a report. Numbers from IDC places the Microsoft mobile operating system in third place, still a considerable away behind iOS and Android shipments, which are said to make up 92.3-percent of all shipments when combined....

Study: Apple, iOS most effective manufacturer and platform for ads

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:30:00 GMT

A new study by mobile advertising analysts Millennial Media finds that Apple's iOS is again the dominant platform for ad impressions, a measure of the effectiveness and engagement with in-app advertising. The report found growth in ad impressions across platforms and manufacturers, apart from BlackBerry which continued to shed users. Apple again swept the hardware results, taking the top manufacturer, top smartphone, and top tablet. Google's Android platform, however, continues to make great strides in growth....

AT&T to offer up to $200 for used iPhone 4S in trade-in promo

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:31:00 GMT

Hot on the heels of iPhone 5 promotions from T-Mobile and Verizon, AT&T appears to have thrown its hat into the ring with reports that existing, upgrade-eligible customers are being targeted in a new email. The email offers special trade-in pricing for used iPhone 4S models, promising up to $200 in credit towards the cost of an iPhone 5 -- effectively cancelling out the up-front cost of moving up. Appleinsider reports that the email may be only a regional promotion instead of national....

A-JAYS Five earphones come in iOS, Android and Windows versions

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:57:00 GMT

Swedish audio maker JAYS has released the latest version of its popular a-JAYS Five series earphones. Unlike the previous model that came in one edition, the new lineup comes in three discrete models, each individually tailored to iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices. Each of the three models features its own three-button remote that supports all the remote functionality of each type of smartphone running each OS....

Mophie rolls out iPhone 5 edition of Juice Pack Plus

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:44:00 GMT

Accessory maker Mophie has launched an iPhone 5 version of the Juice Pack Plus. The new case adds a 2,100mAh battery, which can roughly double the usable life of an iPhone. It in fact holds slightly more power than the Plus for the iPhone 4/4S, which is rated at 2,000mAh....

WD enhances portable drive offerings with up to 2TB My Passport Ultra

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:32:00 GMT

Western Digital today announced the availability of the My Passport Ultra line of portable hard drives, which combine additional layers of data protection with USB 3.0 connectivity, a slim design, and four color choices to offer mobile consumers a safe way to protect digital content while traveling....

Email reveals e-book talk between Steve Jobs, James Murdoch

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:08:00 GMT

US Department of Justice filings in the e-book price-fixing case against Apple reveal an exchange between former Apple CEO Steve Jobs and News Corporation/HarperCollins' James Murdoch, notes AllThingsD. In the course of a Jobs-penned email, which dates back to January 2010, the CEO explains why Apple is proposing to tie e-book prices to hardcover ones. "We simply don't think the e-book market can be successful with pricing higher than $12.99 or $14.99," Jobs writes....

Google Play Books apps for iOS, Android get user uploads

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:50:00 GMT

Google has updated the iOS and Android versions of Play Books with the ability to upload already-owned books and documents. The option supports PDF and EPUB files, but uploads must be done via the Google Books website. Any uploaded titles sync across devices....

Newer Technology ships up to five foot tall GripBase Podium iPad stand

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:07:00 GMT

Accessory maker Newer Technology announced today the NewerTech GripBase Podium floor stand for securely elevating the Apple iPad 2, 3, 4 and iPad mini to provide for maximum user viewing comfort in any setting. The podium ranges from a viewing height of 38 inches to nearly five feet, and features 360 degree rotation....

Steam adds 'card trading' functionality to certain games

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:45:00 GMT

Digital game marketplace Steam has added a new feature -- in-game Steam Trading Cards. Steam Trading Cards are virtual cards earned by playing games on Steam. Sets of cards can be turned into game badges and tradable Steam community items, including discounts on titles or downloadable content, profile graphics, and custom game-related emoticons....