Monday, May 21

Samsung Galaxy Note Olympic Games Edition Leaked Ahead of Launch


Galaxy Note Olympic Games edition GB
That’s the back of the Olympic Games edition Galaxy Note, plastered with a large Union Jack. If you take a close look at its box, you’ll notice there’s a second back cover which appears to feature the Team GB lion.
Other than the fancy back covers, the handset is no different to the existing Galaxy Note you’ve been able to purchase for some time. However, this one will be exclusive to O2, according to GSMArena, and for every handset purchased, Samsung will donate £1 (approx. $1.55) to “Team GB athletes of the future.” Customers will also be given the chance to win tickets to the Olympics, a Team GB training event, or a celebration event.

Chameleon is what Android tablet interfaces should have looked like all along


When Google decided to officially support tablets with its Android operating system, they also decided to temporarily fork the platform to support both phones and tablets separately. The idea behind this was to create an optimized interface and experience for tablets, then to bring the two versions back together in a later OS version.
The end product – where phones and tablets met again – was Ice Cream Sandwich. While both have a very similar look, the tablet interface is better optimized for larger displays. There is a context switch, which I have explained before and feel is necessary and welcomed.
Phones are generally used in portrait mode and held with one hand while widescreen Android tablets are better suited for landscape and held with two hands or propped with a stand or case. The differences in their respective interfaces reflect just that. The notification system on Android tablets is more easily accessed with the right thumb than the pull-down notification shade like on Android smartphones. And the tablet home screen is much larger than the standard four by four grid found on smartphones; it's a seven by eight grid, which is better suited for larger, more useful widgets.

Cable Internet Providers Team Up for CableWiFi Initiative


CableWiFi banner
If you’re looking to enjoy Wi-Fi access wherever you go, it looks like that may become more of a reality in the near future if you subscribe to the right provider.
Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable have announced that a new coalition has been formed between the five companies that will be called “CableWiFi.” If you subscribe to any of these providers you will soon be able to enjoy using over 50,000 company owned Wi-Fi hotspots through out the nation.

Foxconn to Build $210 Million Dollar Production Line for Apple Products


Foxconn has announced that it is building a new $210 million dollar production line to produce unspecified Apple components in the city Huai’an in the eastern province of Jiangsu.
It would appear that Foxconn doesn’t have many concerns about the demand for Apple products slowing down any time soon.  The Chinese manufacturing company says that its new $210 million dollar facility will cover 40,000 square meters and employ 35,800 people.  The annual output of the plant, which is expect to open in October, will reach between $949 million to $1.1 billion USD, and the export value will be around $55.8 million.

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II maintenance update begins rolling out today


T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II
Looks like the HTC Amaze 4G isn't the only T-Mobile handset being treated to an update today. T-Mobile has announced that a new software update is rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S II, weighing in at 32.3MB and bumping the device up to version T989UVLDE. What's included, you ask? Inside is a handful of tweaks, such as Google security fixes and device stability improvements. Here's the changelog provided by T-Mobile:

HTC Amaze 4G Android 4.0 update now available for download


HTC Amaze 4G T-Mobile
Ready for some Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC Amaze 4G owners? Last week, T-Mobile told us that the Amaze 4G's update to Android 4.0 would be released on May 21st, and now owners of the handset have begun reporting that the new software is indeed available. The update bumps the Amaze 4G to Android 4.0.3 and includes a handful of tweaks and fixes, including improved battery life and text input. Here's the full changelog from T-Mobile:

Voyager Mobile goes live days after initial launch delayed by website attack


Voyager Mobile
Voyager Mobile was supposed to make its debut last Tuesday, but an attack on its website caused the new Sprint MVNO to postpone its launch. The delay turned out to be fairly short, though, as Voyager Mobile is now open for business. Voyager is a prepaid carrier that operates on Sprint's 3G and 4G WiMAX networks and offers two plans: a $19 option that includes unlimited talk and text as well as a $39 plan that also throws in unlimited data. The carrier is also planning a Voyager Rewards program that'll offer goodies like gift cards and phone upgrades to frequent talkers, though that feature is currently listed as "coming soon."

U.K.’s Waterstones Scraps Plans to Release Own E-Reader, Will Sell Kindles Instead


Kindle Touch In Hand
Waterstones, the U.K.’s biggest bookseller, has scrapped plans to launch its own e-reader lineup and decided to partner up with Amazon to sell Kindle devices instead.
The move will see Kindle e-readers introduced to over 300 Waterstones stores throughout the U.K. as part of the retailer’s big refurbishment. In many stores, Amazon’s device will get a dedicated Kindle section that will be kitted out with free Wi-Fi and in-store coffee shops.

iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Jailbreak Just Days Away From Public Release


iPhone 4S Jailbreak
If you’re the owner of an iOS device and you’ve been installing Apple’s latest software updates, you’ve probably been waiting for the latest untethered jailbreak for many, many months. But thankfully that wait is nearly over.
Chronic Dev Team member Pod2g has confirmed on Twitter that the latest iOS 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak is “near ready for a release,” and that it is just a “matter of days” away from its public debut. Some believe the software will be launched at this year’s “Hack in the Box” conference, which kicks off today in Amsterdam.

About.me Releases Public API, SDK At Disrupt, Now Integrates With Reputation, Smarterer, Forkly, Kred And Showyou


01aboutme
About.Me is set to get a bit more social. The AOL-owned property just released a public API and SDK into the wild in partnership with Reputation.com, Smarterer, Forkly, Kred and Showyou. While the online profile site already worked with most popular social platforms, today’s announcement is huge for both about.me and their legions of users. Plus, for attendees of Disrupt NYC this week, the company is celebrating the news by having a professional photographer on hand to help create free killer profile pics.
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. About.me collects a user’s various online identifies and puts them in a single (and beautiful) location. Think of it a splash page for your identity online. Instead of directing people to various locations like LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram, the idea is to just send them to your about.me page, which neatly collates the rest of your accounts. Here’s mine. I think it’s lovely and only took about five minutes to make.

Motorola Mobility Says $12.5B Google Deal To Close Tuesday Or Wednesday. Layoffs Coming?


motorola_mobility
Google has reached the final regulatory hurdle to its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, with China approving the transaction over the weekend, and today Motorola Mobility filed an 8-K form that notes that it will close in the next two business days.
So what happens next? A “listening tour,” a source tells us, with new management visiting the whole of the operation, “seeing what everyone does, then making decisions.” One decision that may be close at hand has to do with headcount: we have heard that there will be layoffs coming imminently. At the same time, more details are emerging about the conditions that China put on the deal: they include a guarantee that Android would remain free and open source for the next five years.
Motorola’s statement today noted that the approval from the Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of China came on May 19, 2012, as we reported earlier.  ”As the transaction has now received all required regulatory approvals, the companies are moving to close the transaction within two business days,” it notes.

Comcast Is Finally Rolling Out The X1, Its Set-top Box In The Cloud


X1 MainMenu_guide
Comcast announced Monday that it will make its newest set-top box available in Boston over the coming weeks, with a rollout planned across the entire country later this year. It’s also introducing a mobile app to control the set-top box from the iPhone or iPad.
The new set-top box comes after several years of development. Comcast has been working hard to develop a new set-top box that would take all of the smarts out of the box and put it in the network, essentially allowing the cable provider to launch new services and update the new features without having to totally rewrite applications or push out new firmware.
With the X1, all the processing is done in the network. That will give Comcast the flexibility to quickly test and create new apps for customers, without having to worry about how outdated its set-top boxes are. It will also provide more personalized features, such as allowing customers to see which shows their Facebook friends are watching.

Xfire Raises $3M To Expand Gamer Social Networking In Asia


xfire logo
Xfire, which offers social networking tools for gamers, just announced that it has raised $3 million in new funding.
The round was led by Singapore-based IDM Venture Capital. It’s apparently targeted specifically at expanding Xfire’s presence in Asia — the company recently announced that it’s partnering with China Youth Goyor Technology company to bring its services into the Chinese market.
The company’s services include a gamer profile, in-game voice and instant messaging, and live broadcasting. It has changed hands several times in the past few years, getting acquired by Viacom in 2006, then by Titan Gaming in 2010. Xfire became independent again last fall. At that time it also raised $4 million from Intel Capital and others.
Xfire says this funding will probably be part of a larger round.

As The End Of Google Docs Draws Near, Google Asks Stragglers To Transition To Google Drive


Google Drive
Google always pitched Google Drive, which launched in April after a considerable period of hype, as a replacement for Google Docs. What many users didn’t realize, it seems, is that Google will indeed completely replace Google Docs with Drive later this year. While Drive is still opt-in at this time, it looks like the forced transition is coming soon, as Google has started to alert users that their Google Docs account will soon be “upgraded to Google Drive.”
What’s coming next, according to Google’s official transition documents, is an opt-out phase similar to what the company has done when it transitioned to the new Gmail interface recently. Judging from the messages that many users are now seeing in Google Docs, this phase is going to start soon.

Facebook Shares Slide Nearly 12% To $33.76 On Second Trading Day After IPO


Facebook shares dropped nearly 12 percent to $33.76 — below the company’s final $38 price in the company’s highly anticipated initial public offering last week. Today is an interesting test for Facebook’s worth because the company’s shares will no longer be supported as heavily by the IPO’s lead underwriter Morgan Stanley.
Facebook’s performance today may further stoke the debate over whether its IPO was priced well. To save face on Friday, Morgan Stanley had to step in to make sure that Facebook shares didn’t close below their opening price. There were also irregularities in trading on NASDAQ as some buyers had to wait hours to know whether their orders had been filled. The company’s market cap is now around $92.7 billion, down from the $104 billion valuation the company opened with last week.

B-Ball, Travel, And Spoilers, Oh My! Hulu’s New Slate Of Exclusives and Originals


hulu
Hulu announced a new slate of original and exclusive programming Monday morning, as the video site ventures further into creating its own content. For Hulu, it’s a way to begin controlling its own destiny and distinguishing itself from all the content produced by parents and part-owners Fox, NBC and Disney.
For its originals, Hulu is teaming up with Hollywood big shots like Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater. Smith will work on a show called Spoilers, which will invite movie fans to discuss all the biggest movies being released. Linklater’s Up To Speed is a travel show built around Speed Levitch (you might remember him from Linklater’s Waking Life, if you’re into that sort of thing) and his travels around the world. And We Got Next, a bro-mantic comedy set in a basketball gym? Ok, maybe I’m kind of interested.

HTC Phones is Slowly Beginning to be Released by U.S. Customs


HTC EVO 4G LTE for Sprint review 009
Good news for those looking for out-of-stock HTC phones: U.S. customs have started releasing them.
A statement released on the HTC Investment Site this evening states that U.S. customs has begun releasingsome of the phones that were held up for inspection last week.
Each imported HTC model must be reviewed by Customs and will be released once Customs officials have completed the inspection. Some models have gone through inspection and been released to our carriers customers. We don’t have the status of each specific device model at this time, but we are working closely with Customs. We remain confident that this issue will be resolved soon.
HTC has not yet detailed which phones have been released, but we’re sure a more official statement will be coming in the near future. We have reached out to HTC for comment and will update as soon as we can.

Samsung Mobile Chief Sees Some Hope in the Patent Wars with Apple


Apple vs Samsung - Rock em Sock em Robots
On the eve of court-mandated talks between Apple and Samsung, the Korean manufacturer offers a glimmer of hope.
Under orders from Judge Lucy Koh from the Northern District of California, the two companies are to spend Monday and Tuesday of this week in discussions in hopes of resolving the numerous patent suits that are pending between them.  As he prepared to depart for the United States, Samsung Electronics’ mobile division chief JK Shin stopped to speak with reporters at Seoul’s airport according to Reuters.  ”There is still a big gap in the patent war with Apple but we still have several negotiation options including cross-licensing,” Shin said.

Sunday, May 20

Samsung S III VS iPhone 4S


Samsung Galaxy S III vs Apple iPhone 4S
Introduction:

Always a difficult decision, choosing between the latest and greatest Android phone or the latest and greatest iPhone is a problem that every smartphone user faces at one point or another. Thankfully, the key to solving that problem isn't that far away when you know what to look for. Having both the Samsung Galaxy S III and Apple iPhone 4S here with us, we thought that we absolutely have to pit these two ambitious guys against each other in order to make it easier for you to determine if you are more of a Galaxy S or iPhone user. Please let us kill the suspense from the very beginning – the Galaxy S III and iPhone 4S are so different and excellent in their own way, there isn't an ultimate “better” phone. For each of us, the better choice would be different as we're all looking for different things. Our comparison between the Galaxy S III and One X achieved its goal of pointing out the ultimate Android phone. However, it is now time to venture out of the Android zone and get the attention back to the notorious OS wars.

SmokedbyWindowsPhone takes over the city of Toronto


SmokedbyWindowsPhone takes over the city of Toronto
One of the most interesting promotions in the mobile phone industry, #SmokedbyWindowsPhone, went on the road to the city most often used by the motion picture industry to portray the Big Apple. We are talking about Toronto, of course. The current prize for beating Windows Phone is $100 and most walked away without the prize and either a new found respect for Microsoft's mobile OS, or else a feeling that someone cheated.

Check out the video below of a young man named Corey putting up his Apple iPhone 4S against a Nokia Lumia 900. The task was to find a list of local GTA eateries and the Nokia Lumia 900 handled it faster by coming up with a listing of a Tim Hortons restaurant before Corey even had opened his map application. Microsoft originally gave out new Windows Phone handsets to the losers until it was discovered that some were losing on purpose in order to snag a free phone. 

'Nokia Reading' now available for all non-U.S. Nokia Lumia Windows Phone models


'Nokia Reading' now available for all non-U.S. Nokia Lumia Windows Phone models
The app is available on the Nokia Lumia 610
The app is available on the Nokia Lumia 610
Last week Nokia pulled the curtain back a little on its 'Nokia Reader' application.  The reading hub and bookstore is now available for free in the Nokia Collection of the Windows Phone Marketplace. The app can be installed in non-U.S. models of the Nokia Lumia series in such locations as France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain and the U.K. and will slowly be added to other markets as the year progresses. The application is supported by all versions of the Nokia Lumia that have been released so far such as the Nokia Lumia 610, 710, 800 and 900 models.

Nokia Reading will offer books popular in local markets, but also books in English that have made the best-seller list. Since the Amazon Kindle app is not available to those using Windows Phone, 'Nokia Reading' takes its place and allows those in non-English speaking regions (where eBook sales have been traditionally low) to have easier access to digital books. Additionally, for those who enjoy the classics, many of them will be available for free.

RIM's BlackBerry Music Gateway is setting its eyes for an arrival in June for $49.99Black


RIM's BlackBerry Music Gateway is setting its eyes for an arrival in June for $49.99
As June quickly approaches, RIM is aiming to complement its existing line of BlackBerry devices, like the Bold 9900 and PlayBook, by bringing to market itsBlackBerry Music Gateway.

No doubt something that’ll be particularly interesting to grads and dads that have a soft spot for all things music, the BlackBerry Music Gateway provides the ability to wirelessly stream songs from their BlackBerry device, to a home or car stereo system. Not only does it connect with devices via Bluetooth connectivity, but the Music Gateway has the advantageous ability to quickly pair with devices that are NFC enabled. Essentially, all you’ll have to do is tap your NFC enabled BlackBerry, and voila, instant pairing without all of the hassles.

Samsung Galaxy S III vs HTC One X


Samsung Galaxy S III vs HTC One X
Introduction:

The HTC One X was the first new-generation Android smartphone to come out this year. It introduced us to a new kind of Android experience – one powered by an ultra-fast quad-core processor. Moreover, it helped HTC become relevant again, after a brief period of slowdown in innovation that caused the company a few disappointing quarters. Until now, the One X was pretty much the go-to phone if a user wanted one of these new Android marvels, equipped with an extremely large screen and the latest silicon inside. With the recent introduction of theSamsung Galaxy S III, though, things are going to get much more interesting. While HTC has always been a leader in the Android sector, even its best phones have always been in the shadow of Samsung's Galaxy S series, at least in terms of popularity. Thanks to their relatively close launch timings, we now have a perfect opportunity to pit these two powerhouses against each other.

Take a deep breath, people, as what follows is the most epic Android clash for the first half of the year – the Samsung Galaxy S III is facing the HTC One X!

HTC One X vs Samsung Galaxy Note

                                          Introduction:
HTC One X vs Samsung Galaxy NoteThe Samsung Galaxy Note bully is not just the record holder in screen size among high-end phones, it also comes with a baseball bat to crush the competition, in the form of a stylus. This actually puts it in a category of its own, but for the sake of the comparison with another giant - the HTC One X - we’ll pretend that size doesn’t matter.

Once you go big, you might never look back - valid as much for banks as for smartphones now. If you’d told us just two years ago that we will be comparing a phone with a 4.7” display to one with a 5.3-incher as if it’s no big deal, we’d be recommending a full mental checkup.

Yet here we are, comparing HTC’s high-end for the year - the One X - with the phone Samsung took a big risk with and won - the 5.3” Galaxy Note. We say won, since it has sold millions to date, backed by a lofty marketing campaign, whereas the HTC One X has only been around for a few weeks, but the Taiwanese already pledged that its One series trio will receive the best marketing attention the company’s ever done too.

Motorola explains why some devices won't be updated to Android 4.0


Motorola DROID 3 Verizon Wireless
A couple of days ago, Motorola updated its Android 4.0 upgrade timeline. The refresh narrowed the Ice Cream Sandwich release window for several devices, but it also revealed that some will not be receiving an ICS bump and will instead stay on Android 2.3. Shortly after updating its schedule, Motorola posted a brief explanation on why devices like the DROID 3 and DROID X2 won't be updated to Android 4.0. The company explains that it wants an update to improve the device it's being pushed to, and if it decides that a particular update wouldn't accomplish that, it decides that it's unable to upgrade that product. Moto's full statement:

GameStop Mobile appears as new AT&T MVNO


GameStop Mobile
Today has brought with it the second new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) of the week, and while the latest provider comes with a name some of you may be familiar with, you likely wouldn't have guessed that the firm would be interested in entering the cellular arena. Video games retailer GameStop has introduced GameStop Mobile, an MVNO that operates on AT&T's network. Interested customers can buy a SIM card from GameStop Mobile and then insert it into an unlocked GSM or AT&T device, select a plan and then they'll be ready to roll.

Virgin Mobile offering $25 Google Wallet credit with LG Optimus Elite


Virgin Mobile LG Optimus Elite
If you've been on the fence about picking up Virgin Mobile's LG Optimus Elite, the carrier has a new deal that may convince you to pull out your wallet. Virgin has announced that any customer that buys an Optimus Elite and activates a Google Wallet prepaid card within seven days of the phone purchase will receive a $25 Google Wallet credit. The promotion starts today and will run through July 18th, meaning you've got plenty of time to gather up the $149.99 for a new Optimus Elite. It's also worth noting that the $25 credit will be given to you in two portions, with the first $10 getting delivered within 48 hours of your Wallet activation and then the remaining $15 arriving within three weeks.

LG Optimus Elite to Sprint


We thought there was going to be two new smartphones hitting Sprint today, but since the HTC EVO 4G LTE is being held up, we can only announce the LG Optimus Elite on this Friday May 18, 2012.
Release Date: Friday May 18, 2012
Carrier: Sprint
Retail Price: $249.99
Phone Price: $29.99 after instant savings, mail-in rebate, and with 2-yr Agreement
Hot Features:  Eco-friendly, compatible at Google Wallet locations, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), 1530 mAh battery, 800MHz processor

Facebook sets IPO share price, now worth $104 billion

Facebook sets IPO share price, now worth $104 billion. Social networking, Online, Facebook 0



The shares, priced at $38 (£24) a pop, will go on sale on the Nasdaq exchange, giving you a chance to own a piece of the social network. The news means that Facebook will raise some $16bn to invest in making the site even better and makes it one of the biggest stock market launches in American history.

"Facebook today announced the pricing of its initial public offering [IPO] of 421,233,615 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $38 per share," a company statement said.
"The shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 18, 2012, under the symbol 'FB'.

Samsung Galaxy S III receives 9 million pre-orders

Samsung Galaxy S III 9 million pre-orders



Reports suggest more than 9 million customers have already pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy S III before its official arrival on 30 May. The Samsung Galaxy S III, which was unveiled at a glitzy soiree in London, has already received rave reviews from the tech industry and, if the reports are to be believed, it’s hit the right note with consumers too. 
The Korea Economic Daily newspaper which published the figures has also been told by an unidentified Samsung official that the manufacturer’s smartphonefactory in South Korea is producing units at a rate of 5 million a month. 

Samsung Galaxy S III S Voice APK leaked online


Samsung Galaxy S III S-Voice APK leaked online
If you find yourself with nothing better to do this weekend, then you might have a bit of fun playing around with Samsung's soon-to-be-released S Voice application on your rooted Android 4.0 smartphone. The APK has now made its way into the wild, and we couldn't help but take it for a spin on our Nexus S. First off, while we can't vouch for the security of the file, we can confirm that it's indeed functional. Secondly, while some of the S Voice features work just fine -- such as search or contact queries -- other requests such as navigation repeatedly caused the app to crash. In other words, if you're expecting this app to behave as it should on the Galaxy S III, you might be in for a disappointment. If you're merely looking to poke around with the S Voice functionality, however, the download seems quite worthwhile. At this point, we're most curious to know whether non-Samsung owners have similar luck. If you're willing to give 'er a go, let us know your experience in the comments below.

Mobile Miscellany: week of May 14th, 2012


Mobile Miscellany: week of May 14th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Verizon Wireless brought its LTE service to 28 new markets and expanded its reach in 11 additional areas. We also saw Straight Talk introduce the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, and it appears that Rogers will soon offer the HTC One S. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of May 14th, 2012.

Apple files (again) for a preliminary ban against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1


Apple's filed for a preliminary injunction (again)
If you found yourself longing for the minor tweaks Samsung made to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germanyearlier this year, you may be in luck: Apple's filed for a preliminary injunction against the slate stateside. It isn't the first one, either, Cupertino filed something similar back in February, though it didn't quite pass legal muster. After gaining some headway earlier this week, Cook's crew is in for round two, according to FOSS Patents, asking for Judge Koh to rule in their favor without a new hearing. Concerned consumers, however, can sidestep the whole mess by simply opting for an injunction-exempt Galaxy Tab 2. Details and speculation can be found at the source link below, just in case you aren't already sick to death of the whole Samsung / Apple spat.

Sure, Draw Something. Just Not The Prophet


twitter-banned-Pakistan
Pictures of the Prophet Mohammad have always been a highly contentious issue — they’re not explicitly prohibited in the Qu’ran but many Sunni Muslims forbid the idea, while others do not seem to mind as much. Among the latter group are those who feel that banning such images is a restriction on freedom of expression. The issue at the center of the Pakistan-blocks-Twitter story today has been reported to be around a viral activist campaign that’s been running for the past few years to point attention to this.
But as with the actual blocking of Twitter itself in Pakistan — there has been no official Pakistani government statement about what is actually behind the current Twitter block at the moment (here is a screenshot of an alleged email ordering the block to ISPs with no specific reason behind it) – it’s hard to pin down exactly what content was actually sent around that caused the block in the first place.
And at least one group is raising the question of whether this blockage could be related to the government testing an image filtering service — something with wider-ranging implications.

The Free Ride Is Over


free sign
Comcast’s plans to do away with its 250 GB data cap and charge users based upon usage marks the end of an era for cable TV providers, and for the online video industry. No longer will users be able to endlessly stream all the content their hearts desire. Not just that, but the fact that usage-based pricing is arriving at the same time that more, higher-quality content is appearing online could have a dampening effect on demand for services like Netflix or Hulu Plus.
Comcast, of course, says that its new, usage-based pricing policy is pro-consumer, and to a certain extent it is. The average broadband subscriber — those who only use up about 8 GB or 10 GB of data a month — shouldn’t necessarily pay the same as those whose usage goes above 300 GB in the same period of time.
But for those of us who are avid streaming video users, usage-based pricing models could change the overall value proposition of watching video on the Internet.

Kickstarter: Meet CordLite, The Light-Up iPhone Cable For Night Owls


My set ritual before going to bed each night is as follows — turn out the lights, plug in my iPhone, take off my glasses and attempt vainly to nod off. Step two in that process can be a bit of a crapshoot in the dark, but the folks at Scrap Pile Labs have recently kicked off a new Kickstarter campaign for a product called the CordLite that just may come in handy.
As the name sort of implies, the CordLite is a dock connector cable for iDevices that, well, lights up thanks to a pair of forward-facing LEDs. It’s a very simple concept, but the thoughtful execution is what make this project worth keeping an eye on.

Google’s Project Glass Concept Video


image00
Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Neil Patel, co-founder of KISSmetrics and blogger at QuickSprout.com.
You may have seen it by now…Google’s concept video about its new Project Glass. These glasses will do what your smart phone will do only without having to hold anything…you actually see your options at the side of your view.
You can get directions, send and receive texts, make calls, schedule tasks and even share your view with another person.
It’s a really exciting idea…especially if you love technology. But the actual product is easily years out from becoming a reality.
Was Google wise to release an idea so early? And should startups do the same?

Newspaper Attacks UK Government For Its ‘Closeness’ To Google


Screen Shot 2012-05-19 at 14.25.54
UK tabloid newspaper The Daily Mail, has decided to raise the issue of Google’s influence on the UK government, after uncovering the fact that Conservative Party ministers have held meetings with Google an average of once a month since the General Election two years ago. There have been 23 meetings between Tory ministers and Google since June 2010, with Prime Minister David Cameron meeting Google three times and George Osborne – who as Chancellor of the Exchequer is supposed to meet with business leaders – four times in two years.
The story needs to be a seen in a wider context. The Conservatives have recently come under fire for having too close a relationship to another powerful entity, News Corporation (as did the Labour party during its tenure). A huge inquiry into Press standards has in large part focused on the ties between Rupert Murdoch’s media giant and the Conservatives.