Facebook's new Recommendations Bar pops up, just wants to be liked

By Jamie Rigg posted Jul 27th 2012 9:16AM


Facebook's Recommendations Box sits passively on many websites, allowing us to engage or ignore as we see fit. But too much of the latter option has led to something slightly different: the new Recommendations Bar
-- a pop-up variant which, when integrated by your favorite page, plugs site-specific links based on your friends' thumbs and shares. The Bar is similar to the in-house recommendation pop-ups we're all familiar with, but adds a like button for posting the current page to your timeline. It shouts much louder than the Box, so it's no surprise that in early tests the new plug-in produced a three-fold increase in click-throughs. In this case, privacy wasn't an afterthought -- Bar integration, like the Box, is at the site's discretion and sharing pages is very much on your terms. Just try not to accidently hit that like button during your daily scan of Bieber's homepage.
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Posted in: Facebooks,liked,Recommendations,wants

Samsung's Q2 2012 earnings show $5.86 billion operating profit, that's a lot of Galaxy S IIIs

Samsung Electronics Announces Second Quarter 2012 Earnings Results

- Posts record operating profit of 6.72 trillion won on consolidated revenues of 47.6 trillion won

SEOUL--(Korea Newswire) July 27, 2012 -- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced revenues of 47.60 trillion Korean won on a consolidated basis for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012, a 21-percent increase year-on-year.

For the quarter, the company's consolidated operating profit reached a record 6.72 trillion won, representing a 79-percent increase year-on-year. Consolidated net profit for the April-June period was 5.19 trillion won.

In its earnings guidance disclosed on July 6, Samsung estimated second quarter consolidated revenues would reach approximately 47 trillion won with consolidated operating profit of approximately 6.7 trillion won.

Samsung posted solid sales and maintained its profit streak in the second quarter across all business segments, excluding semiconductors, amid lingering global business uncertainties. Digital Media & Communications – comprising the Consumer Electronics and IT & Mobile Communications business sectors – accounted for 36.57 trillion won in sales, up 37 percent year-on-year.

For Device Solutions, the results were mixed. While operating profit for the Display Panel segment registered an on-year increase, the Semiconductor Business saw profits drop by 38 percent compared with the same period last year, despite outperforming the previous quarter.

By business unit, the Mobile Communications Business was one of the leading growth drivers in the June quarter with 20.52 trillion won in revenue. With the successful launch of this year's flagship GALAXY S III smartphone and robust GALAXY Note sales, the handset unit saw earnings jump by 75 percent from a year earlier.

The Visual Display Business also contributed to earnings gains with its diverse portfolio of TV models for both developed and emerging markets with 8.58 trillion won in revenue for the quarter.

"Despite a difficult business environment, we achieved stable profits in the second quarter through our differentiated products and competitive technology," said Robert Yi, Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations. "As we move into the second half, continued fiscal instability in Europe and its effect on the global economy will result in the possibility of a slower-than-expected recovery and intensified market competition."

Mr. Yi added that despite the economic uncertainties, "Samsung will enhance the competitiveness of our main businesses and reinforce our value-added, differentiated products as a means to improve earnings."

Overall, the third quarter is expected to be marginally positive as demand for consumer electronics goods, including smartphones and tablets, remains strong and a stream of new products hit the market. Supply for display panels is also expected to increase, as TV makers prepare for the year-end holiday season.

Capex 14 Trillion Won in First Half

Capital expenditure in the first six months was 14 trillion won, with 9.7 trillion won invested in the Semiconductor Business and 2.6 trillion won in the Display Panel segment. The total capex for the first half accounted for 56 percent of the annual capex budget of 25 trillion won planned for 2012. Capex for the first quarter was 7.8 trillion won.

Mobile AP Chips Sustain Growth

Samsung's Semiconductor segment – including the Memory and System LSI businesses – posted an operating profit of 1.11 trillion won on revenue of 8.6 trillion won for the quarter, which equates to a 6-percent year-on-year decline in sales.

Weak global demand for PC DRAM chips still weighed on Samsung's push for a recovery, although it responded to increased orders for server and mobile DRAM and hastened migration to the 30-nanometer and below process.

The NAND market picked up on higher OEM-related demand, improving quarter-on-quarter sales, particularly in solution products such as Solid State Drives (SSDs) for notebook PCs and Embedded Multimedia Cards (eMMC), but a steepening price decline hampered stable growth.

The System LSI Business, which creates application processors (AP) and image sensors for smartphones, is forecasted to maintain profitability in the third quarter as demand for faster and higher-capacity chips used in mobile devices increases.

Samsung will also look to gain a leading edge in the mobile AP business, following the recent announcement of our acquisition of CSR's mobile business and NanoRadio, which we expect to reinforce our already differentiated mobile AP technology.

In the third quarter, we anticipate a weaker-than-expected recovery in demand for PC DRAM due to lackluster back-to-school orders and intensifying competition.

In contrast, we expect market conditions for NAND to improve in the lead-up to the National Day and Black Friday holidays in China and the U.S., respectively. Samsung will continue to concentrate on value-added products such as server and mobile DRAM.

Display Panel Continues Improvement

The Display Panel segment recorded an operating profit of 750 billion won on revenue of 8.25 trillion won. This amounted to a 470 billion won increase in profit from the previous quarter and a 16-percent increase in sales compared to the same period last year.

Despite weaker than expected panel demand due to the economic slowdown in Europe and low seasonality, Samsung's total TV panel shipments increased in the low 10-percent range on-year due to strong sales of high, value-added products such as panels for 3D TVs and LED TVs.

Looking ahead, demand for TV panels is expected to grow in the next quarter as TV makers prepare for the end-of-year high-demand season and the Chinese National Day holidays. The effect of an energy saving subsidy in China is also expected to stimulate demand for LED TV products.

For the IT panel sector, the continuation of weak demand for panels used in notebook PCs and monitors was offset by strong demand for tablet PC panels. Launches of new smartphone products also contributed to continued profitability in OLED panels.

In the third quarter, economic uncertainty in developed markets and the sluggish market demand for notebook PCs and monitors is expected to dampen overall demand. The expansion and diversification of the tablet PC market, however, is forecast to fuel an increase in demand for tablet PC panels and Samsung will aim to expand sales of LCD and OLED panels for smartphones.

Sales of Smart Devices Lead Gains

The IT & Mobile Communications division, comprising Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, IT Solutions and Digital Imaging, registered quarterly operating profits of 4.19 trillion won for the second quarter. Revenue reached 24.04 trillion won, and the mobile unit accounted for 20.52 trillion won, a 75-percent increase year-on-year.

The highly anticipated launch of GALAXY S III and upbeat sales of GALAXY Note, along with a more competitive average selling price (ASP) than the previous quarter, have cushioned an on-quarter operating loss brought on by the seasonably weak earnings of businesses in IT Solutions and Telecommunication Systems.

Handset shipments gained quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, driven mainly by global orders for premium smartphones.

A sales decline in Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless broadband technology equipment and slow demand for PCs and printers in the quarter will turn around in the July-September quarter with the expansion of LTE networks in developed countries and modest revenue growth in IT products.

The smartphone market, in particular, will continue to be profitable as consumers are given a wider choice of new products at a wider range of prices while orders from emerging markets increase.

In the third quarter, Samsung expects to further strengthen its leadership in the high-end smartphone market with the sales of GALAXY S III and also in the LTE equipment business with new devices.

TV Demand Boosts Profitability

The Consumer Electronics Division – encompassing the Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses – posted revenue of 12.15 trillion won for the second quarter, a 7-percent increase year-on-year. The operating profit of 760 billion won represented an increase of 66 percent compared with the same period last year.

Although demand for TVs remained flat year-on-year, Samsung posted improvements in both shipments and profitability. Increased sales in developed markets for the company's premium TVs, such as the flagship ES7000 and ES8000 models, and expansion of region-specific LED TV models in emerging markets spurred a significant lift in earnings compared with the same quarter of last year.

This increase in demand saw Samsung increase its portion of LED TV sales from the mid 60-percent range to a mid 80-percent share, quarter-on-quarter.

Heading into the third quarter, although growth in developed markets may stall, Samsung aims to expand its presence in emerging markets with region-specific products and entry-level LED TVs. The company will also look to continue its leadership in Smart TVs in developed markets with continued cooperation with media and content providers.

As for Digital Appliances, sales of air conditioners rose on the back of strong seasonal demand and favorable market conditions in emerging markets. Moving into the third quarter, Samsung will focus on expanding sales of premium products and stabilizing overseas operations in the face of a possible slowdown in emerging markets and weak consumer sentiment in developed markets.

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Posted in: billion,earnings,Galaxy,operating,profit,Samsungs,thats

Fido hops on the LTE bandwagon, gives Canadians frugal 4G this summer

Fido to unleash its LTE network across Canada this summer

Fido subscribers will enjoy all the benefits of affordable and full powered LTE wireless service

TORONTO, July 26, 2012 /CNW/ - Fido announced today that LTE service will be unleashed this summer, giving customers the speed of an enhanced network service across major markets in Canada, including in the cities and surrounding areas of Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and St. Johns with more cities to launch throughout 2012.

"We are thrilled to offer the benefits of LTE network technology to Fido customers this year," said Steven Sarfin, senior director of marketing, Fido Solutions. "Our focus at Fido has always been on providing the best value to our customers. With data plans starting from $10/month, affordable LTE service is a perfect complement to the exclusive FidoADVANTAGE programs like FidoTRADE™, Fido LiveANSWERS™ and FidoDOLLARS™ our customers already enjoy." Sarfin added.

For the fast and the furry, LTE enables Canadians to use their mobile devices to quickly download apps, upload images of their four-legged friends and download HD files, such as movies and music, with virtually no delays or buffering. Coming this summer, the Fido Mobile Hotspot will be the first LTE-enabled device available from Fido. This device creates a Wi-Fi hotspot wherever, and whenever customers need it, and wirelessly connects up to 10 Wi-Fi capable devices simultaneously. LTE-enabled smartphones will be available at Fido later this year, and all of the Fido LTE-enabled devices are capable of running across Fido's 4G HSPA+ network which covers 96 per cent of the population of Canada.

Fido will continue to expand LTE across the country, with the plan to provide LTE network access to 20 million Canadians by the end of 2012. Over the coming months, Fido plans to launch LTE in Moncton, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Québec City, Kingston, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Niagara, Windsor, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, London, Barrie, Sudbury, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Kelowna, Abbotsford and Victoria.

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Posted in: bandwagon,Canadians,frugal,gives,summer

MetroPCS 2012 Q2 sees profits skyrocket to $149 million despite losing nearly 200,000 subscribers

By Daniel Cooper posted Jul 26th 2012 10:06PM


MetroPCS has announced that it pulled in $1.3 billion in the second quarter of the year, only slightly more than it managed in the first. It made a profit of $149 million, well up from the $21 million it pulled in between January and March, despite shedding around 200,000 subscribers in the process. The company's deliberately concentrated on raising cash at the expense of new subscriptions in preparation for its 4G LTE for All project, due to begin in the third quarter. It revealed that it now has 700,000 LTE subscribers, up from the 580,000 present in March and that it plans to have a full 10MHz of spectrum allocated for the super-fast mobile standard in "most major metropolitan areas" by the end of the year. As for devices that'll take advantage of the 4G goodness, MetroPCS says that we can expect to see either six or seven new LTE handsets by year's end, each which will be priced between $99 and $149.

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Posted in: 200000,despite,losing,MetroPCS,million,nearly,profits,skyrocket,subscribers

Extra footage of record-setting Yates electric plane flight shows power loss, dramatic deadstick landing (video)

We've chronicled Flight of the Century
founder and CEO Chip Yates' record-breaking 202.6MPH flight in his Long-ESA EV craft before. What we didn't quite touch on, however, is the power loss Yates' aircraft suffered after earning that electric plane speed record. Now Yates has released new video of the flight, which includes the moment his aircraft breaks the record, the ensuing power loss and his dramatic deadstick landing. That smile you see in the photo up there is the smile of a man who just made history and is also happy to be alive. Hey, we're glad he's safe, too. You can witness the close call yourself by checking out the video after the break.
[Image credit: Flight of the Century]

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Posted in: deadstick,dramatic,electric,Extra,flight,footage,landing,plane,power,recordsetting,shows,video,Yates

Microsoft vs. Motorola decision sees Droids banned in Germany over FAT patent (updated)

By Richard Lawler posted Jul 27th 2012 4:10AM


The latest development in our neverending saga of worldwide patent warfare is a decision by a Mannheim judge banning Motorola's Android devices on the basis that they violate a FAT storage patent owned by Microsoft. FOSSPatents'
Florian Mueller tweets that it is the third victory by Microsoft over Motorola, and Microsoft has already issued a triumphant statement of victory which you can read after the break. There's more details about patent EP0618540 on the site -- it deals with common name space for long and short file names -- including a note about an email from Linux creator Linus Torvalds being cited as prior art. Motorola has been swinging its own patents around as well, but most recently a case to ban the Xbox 360 was delayed. We haven't heard from Motorola or Google on this ruling yet or what their response will be -- entering into a licensing agreement or changing the storage system used on their phones are possible options. Microsoft will have to put up a 10 million euro bond to enforce an injunction if it chooses, we'll check back once the other shoe drops.
Update: We've just received Motorola's response -- brief but to the point:"We are in process of reviewing the ruling, and will explore our options including appeal. We don't anticipate an impact on our operations at this time."

"Today's decision, which follows similar rulings in the U.S. and Germany, is further proof that Motorola Mobility is broadly infringing Microsoft's intellectual property. We will continue to enforce injunctions against Motorola Mobility products in those countries and hope they will join other Android device makers by taking a license to Microsoft's patented inventions."

- David Howard, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel, Microsoft
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Posted in: banned,decision,Droids,Germany,Microsoft,Motorola,patent,Updated

PSA: Nexus 7 arrives at the Carphone Warehouse today

Google Nexus 7 available from Carphone Warehouse from 27th July

Available in stores, online at www.carphonewarehouse.com or by calling 0870 870 0870

London, 25th July 2012, Carphone Warehouse today announced that the eagerly awaited Nexus 7 will be available to buy from Friday 27th July. The Nexus 7 is the first tablet in Google's Nexus line of devices and the lead device for Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. The Tablet, made by Asus, will be available from Carphone Warehouse priced at £199 standalone or for free on a tethered contact from £20.50 per month.

Boasting a 7in HD display, and an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, gyroscope and accelerometer, the Nexus 7 is ideally suited to gaming. With over a million pixels in your hand, text is sharper, high-definition movies are more vivid, and the responsive touchscreen makes switching between apps, flicking through ebooks or surfing the web buttery-smooth.

The Nexus 7 has all the portability of a paperback book, but is connected to the entire digital world of entertainment. Nexus 7 was made for Google Play, putting all the entertainment you love right at your fingertips -- choose from more than 600,000 apps and games, thousands of ebooks and movies, and everything the web has to offer.

Commenting on the release, Graham Stapleton, Chief Commercial Officer at Carphone Warehouse, says, "It's interesting to see that despite larger 10 inch tablets dominating the market, Google is forging ahead with its own 7 inch model. A smaller tablet has yet to prove itself in a category dominated by bigger screens, but if anyone can make it happen, Google can. I'm sure the other leading tablet manufacturers will be watching closely and be ready to follow suit in the coming months."

The Google Nexus 7 will be available from Carphone Warehouse stores, online at www.carphonewarehouse.com or by calling 0800 925 925 priced at £199.99 standalone or for free on a tethered contact.

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Posted in: arrives,Carphone,Nexus,today,Warehouse

North Korean media reports North Koreans love North Korean tablet

By Jamie Rigg posted Jul 27th 2012 12:36AM


Remember those futuristic PCs we reported North Korea was producing last year? Well now the Democratic People's Republic has unveiled a seven-inch flagship tablet called the Achim (Morning
). Understandably, we don't know what's inside this 0.66-pound (300g) device with a five-hour battery life, but it's apparently very popular with local students. There's no word on the OS either, but a touch-friendly build of the homegrown Linux variant Red Star would make sense. Although unconfirmed, sources suggest internet connectivity is wholly absent, with a pre-loaded selection of fun, state-approved content available instead. Eager to get your hands on a Kim Jong-unPad? Well, you can't.
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Posted in: Korean,Koreans,media,North,reports,tablet

PSA: Samsung's entry-level NX1000 mirrorless cam with 20-50mm lens now available for $700

Samsung's NX1000 SMART Compact System Camera, Complete with Professional-Like Image Quality and Built-in Wi-Fi for Instant Photo Sharing Now Available

Perfect for budding photographers, the stylish and approachable NX1000 is available at Samsung retailers nationwide

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, announced that it is now shipping the sleek NX1000, the most budget-friendly of the NX SMART cameras, the first compact system cameras (CSC) with built-in Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi connectivity is available at the touch of a button, thanks to a dedicated Smart Link Hot Key on the top of the NX1000 that makes sharing and storing photos simple and easy.

Available in black, white and pink, the fashion-forward NX1000 offers extreme portability and convenience combined with the power to capture premium photos and videos that are the standard of Samsung's NX Series. A great introduction into the CSC category, the NX1000 is available now from Samsung retailers, priced at $699.99 MSRP.

The imaging prowess of the NX line combined with the stunning design and portable form-factor make the NX1000 an extremely approachable and highly-capable camera. Gone are the days of sacrificing fashion to achieve great images with a large, clunky camera, as the NX1000 is small and attractive enough to double as an evening accessory. Plus, with its colorful options in white, black or pink, the NX1000 can coordinate with any palette. Bundled with an all-purpose 20-50mm lens and external flash, the NX1000 is a versatile camera that can help aspiring shutterbugs develop their photography skills, while also capturing breathtaking, high-quality images.

"Samsung's leadership in SMART cameras, coupled with the exceptional image quality and sleek design of the NX1000, makes this a must-have camera for serious photographers and beginners alike," said Reid Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Mobile Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America. "With the introduction of the NX series, the expansion of Samsung's full line of SMART cameras is complete, providing instant sharing without compromising image quality. We look forward to inspiring the next-generation of photo enthusiasts with the NX1000."

The Samsung NX1000 offers a large, bright 3.0-inch LCD screen for composing images, 1080p HD video capture, and technologies like Smart Auto 2.0 to bring out the inner photographer in all users. Boasting a 20.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and fast shutter speeds of up 1/4000 seconds, the camera ensures no moment is missed.

NX1000 Shoots SMART

Coupled with the latest SMART features, the integration of Wi-Fi in the NX1000 enables users to instantly upload images and video to social networking sites like Facebook, Picasa, Photobucket and YouTube, to the cloud with Microsoft® Sky Drive®, or even email them directly from the camera at the touch of a button.

Beyond Wi-Fi connectivity, the NX1000 also touts compatibility with Samsung's Remote Viewfinder app, which opens from Google Play onto supported Galaxy smartphones or tablets* and allows users to control settings and even take the picture from up to 30 feet away. With Samsung's MobileLink app, users can easily transfer and display images from an NX1000 onto Samsung smartphones, tablets, or Smart TVs – creating instant photo frames.

Samsung's AllShare technology and the TV Link application offer additional connections directly to a DLNA-compatible TV to showcase the high-quality images on a big screen, while PC Auto Backup automatically stores photos on a PC via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need to untangle mounds of frustrating cables.

Creativity is a Snap

Expression through photography is made a reality for photographers at any level with the NX1000. With the Smart Auto setting, the camera analyzes, identifies and automatically selects the most appropriate scene mode for the best results. Scene detection technology identifies the conditions and automatically adjusts settings to help achieve dynamic images-whether photos are taken at a low-light fashion event or while capturing dazzling fireworks at a 4th of July gathering. For users seeking more control, the Smart Panel feature allows them to explore their own photographic skills with Full Manual Control settings for aperture, shutter speed, flash intensity and more – all from a single, intuitive menu screen.

The NX1000 touts ten exclusive Smart Filters and a new Selective Color function, which allows users to isolate a single color in an image for a dramatic effect. Capturing an expansive scene is also a breeze, thanks to the innovative 3D Panorama feature that creates immersive shots of landscapes and scenery.

For more information on the new NX1000 as well as Samsung's full line of cameras,please visit www.samsung.com.

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Posted in: 2050mm,available,entrylevel,mirrorless,NX1000,Samsungs

Samsung GT-S3752 Duos gets snapped with dedicated ChatON button by Mr. Blurrycam

By Daniel Cooper posted Jul 26th 2012 7:57PM


If SammyHub
's blurrycam tipster is to believed, Samsung will soon be swelling its Duos line of dual-sim handsets with the (purported) GT-S732 you see before you. Presumably, the feature phone will sit at the floor of any pricing table since it's packing a meager 2-megapixel camera, 2.4-inch display and a 1,000mAh battery. Notably the handset includes a WiFi radio, which puts us in mind of a messaging-centric handset -- which explains the presence of a dedicated ChatON button beneath the screen. We'll keep our ears to the ground to find out if it's likely to make an appearance on these shores -- but we won't get our hopes up.
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Posted in: Blurrycam,button,ChatON,dedicated,GTS3752,Samsung,snapped

Man acquitted as #TwitterJokeTrial appeal ends in victory

By Daniel Cooper posted Jul 27th 2012 5:30AM

Paul Chambers, who was previously found guilty of sending a "menacing tweet," has been acquitted by the High Court after two-and-a-half years trapped in legal limbo. On hearing of the closure of his local airport, the 27-year-old had sent out a facetious tweet to his 600 followers that mentioned "blowing the airport sky high!" However, despite airport authorities realizing the message was a joke, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service took the man to court and won. The social network quickly rallied around, with many repeating the tweet with the hashtag #IAmSpartacus and involving celebrities such as Stephen Fry, who helped raise funds to launch an appeal. The court today found that its joking nature was "obvious" and that it was sent by someone who did not hide their identity -- clearing Mr. Chambers name once and for all. For the record, here was the original tweet with expletives removed:

"C**p! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your s**t together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!"

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Posted in: acquitted,appeal,TwitterJokeTrial,victory

Apple buying fingerprint sensor maker AuthenTec for $356 million

By Brian Heater posted Jul 27th 2012 8:07AM

Sure the financials announced this week weren't as exceptional as some we've seen from the company, but Apple's still clearly in a buying mood. The company's apparently doing a little security shopping, picking up AuthenTec for $356 million, according to the mobile and network security firm. AuthenTec's in the business of content and data protection, including things like fingerprint sensors and contactless payment. Seems Apple's looking to get into that business too. AuthenTec's already worked with a number of high profile hardware makers, such as Samsung, Lenovo, LG, Nokia and Motorola.

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Posted in: Apple,AuthenTec,buying,fingerprint,maker,million,sensor

Defcon 20 badges meld hieroglyphs, circuitry and cryptography for hacker scavenger hunt

By Joseph Volpe posted Jul 27th 2012 12:19PM

Every year, the world's hacker population descends upon Las Vegas to trade notes, sit in on informational talks and compete in friendly contests -- all in the name of Defcon. But this time, it's the conference's ever-evolving smart badges that've caught our eye, owing mostly to what lurks beneath. Designed by Ryan Clarke -- the mastermind behind the gathering's Mystery Box challenge -- these hackable IDs, issued according to status (Press, Human, Goons, vendors, etc), come embedded with an LED, a multi-core processor, IR transmitter and accompanying hieroglyphic graphic. But that's not all that makes these high-tech tags so special. Turns out, each one contains a game, buried within its open source software, that's encoded with several cryptographic, linguistic and mathematical layers.

Shying away from hardware-focused hacks of the past, Clarke built this year's scavenger hunt-like game to be more inclusive of attendee skills, as it'll force conference-goers interested in cracking its code to break down social barriers and collaborate with other highly-specialized nerds. What's the end game, you ask? Well, according to Clarke, the puzzle is a continuation of last year's secret agent story (played out by a real-life actor) involving "a [mysterious] society of computer elites." It's not the sort of payoff we'd be after -- something greener and covered with a certain Ben Franklin's face would suffice -- but it sounds intriguing enough. Click on the source below to read more about the makings of this geek sport. And may the pastiest neckbeard win!

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Posted in: badges,circuitry,cryptography,Defcon,hacker,hieroglyphs,scavenger

Distro Issue 50: the travel edition packs geotagging and offline navigation

By Billy Steele posted Jul 27th 2012 9:30AM

Here at Engadget HQ, we're looking to take a bit of a breather after a long week of analyzing last quarter's numbers. With that said, a road trip or weekend respite of some sort is definitely in order and this week's edition of our e-magazine offers some insight into getting just a bit more out of that next excursion. Front and center, the globe trotting Darren Murph offers some tips for geotagging your shots from that next Blue Ridge Parkway trek and also takes Nokia Drive's offline navigation for a spin on a Lumia 900. The super thin $1,400 Acer Aspire S5 and the sub-$100 Motorola Atrix HD each get in-depth reviews while "Hands-On" is overrun by some new shooters -- including the much anticipated Canon EOS M. Fable: The Journey designer Ted Timmins takes his turn with Q&A, "Switched On" takes a look an Ouya, "Reaction Time" chats about pre-release secrecy and "IRL" has our personal gadget arsenals. That said, we're taking some Friday solace in one of the download links below, where you can grab a brand spankin' new issue of your very own.

Distro Issue 50 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

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Posted in: Distro,Edition,geotagging,Issue,navigation,offline,packs,travel

Intel's SMARTi low-cost 3G systems show off their wireless prowess

Latest Intel Radio Frequency Solution Enables Lower-Cost 3G Designs for M2M and Emerging Markets

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 26, 2012 –SMARTi™ UE2p, a radio frequency solution that integrates 3G power amplifiers into radio frequency circuits, has been announced by Intel Corporation. The new system-on-chip (SoC) solution enables a smaller footprint and reduces complexity for developers as well as the associated total cost of ownership.

"The SMARTi™ UE2p will simplify the product development and supply chain logistics with the reduction in component count and system complexity," said Stefan Wolff, vice president of the Intel Architecture Group and general manager of Multi-Com. "This will allow our customers to introduce lower-cost 3G handsets and support the transition of the machine-to-machine market segment toward 3G-based connected devices to help enable the 'Internet of things.'"

The SMARTi™ UE2p integrates Intel's 3G High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) radio frequency transceiver SMARTi™ UE2 and 3G power amplifiers on a single 65nm silicon die. The integration of power management and sensors allows direct connection to the device battery. The SMARTi™ UE2p supports multiple 3G dual band configurations for global operation with the Intel® XMM62xx HSPA slim modem family.

This solution is targeted at new mass market segments such as entry level 3G handsets and machine-to-machine modules. Samples are expected to be provided to select customers beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012. Intel will also continue its strategic collaborations with leading power amplifier vendors for smartphones and tablets.

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Posted in: Intels,lowcost,prowess,SMARTi,Systems,their,wireless

IDC: Samsung and Apple ship almost half of all smartphones, but Korean manufacturer maintains lead

IDC's latest figures offer some predictable reading. More phones are being sold than ever before; 406 million units were sold in Q2, against 401.8 million in the same period last year -- with a 42 percent increase in smartphone sales. The winners? Perennial court antagonists, Samsung and Apple, with the duo doubling their combined market share over the last two years. Samsung maintains its lead, reaching over 50 million phones sold -- and a new quarterly sales record -- while Apple saw a quarter-over-quarter decline, as buyers presumably wait for Cupertino's latest iteration, or go elsewhere. Nokia, meanwhile, had another "transitional" quarter, with sales of both Symbian and MeeGo devices shrinking, although its Windows Phones proved stronger. According to IDC's figures, Nokia and Microsoft's team-up handset sales have doubled since last quarter. HTC misses out on a top three spot, but its fortunes appear to have improved over the last two quarters, with the IDC pointing the finger at a more streamlined product range from the Taiwan manufacturer. ZTE continues to nip at its heels, reaching the top five thanks to strong entry-level smartphone sales in China, while continuing to inch onto US shores. If you're looking for a full breakdown of all phones sold, dumb and otherwise, read up at the source below.

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Posted in: almost,Apple,Korean,maintains,manufacturer,Samsung,smartphones

Chinese microbot walks on water, skims the surface of insect-inspired design

The first robot that mimics the water striders' jumping abilities

"Why Superhydrophobicity Is Crucial for a Water-Jumping Microrobot? Experimental and Theoretical Investigations"
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

The first bio-inspired microrobot capable of not just walking on water like the water strider – but continuously jumping up and down like a real water strider – now is a reality. Scientists reported development of the agile microrobot, which could use its jumping ability to avoid obstacles on reconnaissance or other missions, in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Qinmin Pan and colleagues explain that scientists have reported a number of advances toward tiny robots that can walk on water. Such robots could skim across lakes and other bodies of water to monitor water quality or act as tiny spies. However, even the most advanced designs – including one from Pan's team last year – can only walk on water. Pan notes that real water striders actually leap. Making a jumping robot is difficult because the downward force needed to propel it into the air usually pushes the legs through the water's surface. Pan's group looked for novel mechanisms and materials to build a true water-striding robot.

Using porous, super water-repellant nickel foam to fabricate the three supporting and two jumping legs, the group made a robot that could leap more than 5.5 inches, despite weighing as much as 1,100 water striders. In experiments, the robot could jump nearly 14 inches forward – more than twice its own length – leaving the water at about 3.6 miles per hour. The authors report that the ability to leap will make the bio-inspired microrobot more agile and better able to avoid obstacles it encounters on the water's surface.

The authors acknowledge funding from the State Key Laboratory of Robotics and System of Harbin Institute of Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

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Posted in: Chinese,design,insectinspired,microbot,skims,surface,walks,water

ARM forms UK group to foster an Internet of Things, put 50 billion devices online by 2020

UK Technology Company ARM Forms First UK Industry Group to Combat the 'Internet of Silos'

UK Forum will create a technology blueprint for the 50-billion connected devices expected worldwide by 2020

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ARM, the UK technology leader at the heart of many of today's electronic devices, today announced that it has invited some of the UK's leading specialist technology companies – EnLight, Neul, Alertme and AquaMW – to establish the UK's first industry forum to help shape the Internet of Things. The forum aims to combat what they describe as the 'Internet of Silos' - an unconnected world with less value to both consumers and businesses. The forum will drive a blueprint for how technologies associated with the Internet of Things should and could work together to support the 50-billion intelligent devices due to be connected to the Internet by 2020.

This coincides with ARM CEO Warren East speaking on the importance of mobile technologies and the UK's role in developing this market at the British Government's Business Olympics event in London from 26th July to 3rd August. The event is timed to showcase the UK contribution to international business during the Olympics, when the world spotlight is on the UK.

In 2020 everything that can benefit from an Internet connection will have one. In a similar way to people increasingly being online, every object will have a connection. This has huge potential to help use energy and natural resources more efficiently, manage our cities, monitor health more effectively and to improve lives. The Internet of Things represents a big opportunity to drive growth for both UK and worldwide economies. According to IMS Research*, governments will play a key role in defining the regulations that will propel shipments for M2M communications modules to more than 118 million units by 2016, especially in the automotive sector.

The forum's founding members are all involved in advanced technology and solutions associated with the Internet of Things, including commercial infrastructure monitoring, energy-saving street lighting, home automation, energy monitoring and low power radio technology for sensors. Their aim is to work together to develop public policies and standards designed to create the right framework to help governments and others ensure that the Internet of Things works properly, across the globe, and enjoys the confidence of consumers and businesses. The first forum will meet 24th August in the UK and will be chaired by the Gary Atkinson, who leads the Internet of Things initiative at ARM.

"In the next five years, over £2.4 billion will be spent in the UK on smart home energy management devices, ranging from smart meters themselves to in-home devices that are connected to them. This is a great example of an Internet of Things application, but is only a fraction of the market that will open up over the next 15-20 years," said Gary Atkinson, director of embedded, ARM. "There are massive opportunities for the UK and the industry as a whole in this market, but that requires a common approach to infrastructure and systems to enable the Internet of Things. The UK can lead this thinking and that's why we are establishing a forum to create a blueprint for success. Working with innovative ARM partners, such as EnLight , Neul, Alertme and AquaMW, is a good place to start."

*IMS Research – Government Regulations a Key Piece of the Cellular M2M Puzzle

More detail about the members:

Streetlight Revolution – ENLIGHT

* At a time when many councils are considering turning off one in every 10 streetlights to save money, the Enlight system delivers savings of up to 45 percent by improving the efficiency of street lights. If the eight million streetlamps in the UK were all to use the EnLight technology, this would save the UK one million tonnes of CO2 each year
* Each EnLight ballast provides soft start to increase lamp life, supports all types, makes and wattages of lamp so is truly universal and has an overall energy efficiency of 95 percent, compared to 50-60 percent for traditional magnetic versions. True linear dimmability in 1 percent increments means that the lights can be turned down after midnight – rather than off completely
* The ballast is also connected to the Internet so all the lights in each district (which could be a street or a whole village) can be managed from a central location. This enables the remote control of all streetlights, so they can be lit and dimmed from a central point, and faults can be detected and diagnosed from the office rather than an engineer having to go to each light

Home Energy Management – AlertMe

* SmartEnergy helps you identify your home's energy-hungry habits. See how much you are consuming, turn appliances off and watch your costs fall instantly. Personalised energy-saving tips protect your pocket and start reducing your energy costs long before the utility bills hit the doormat
* Founded in 2006, AlertMe is a Smart Home technology company providing home energy management and connected home services both directly to consumers and indirectly through partners such as Energy Utilities, Telecommunications companies and Retailers
* Based on a single cloud-based platform and an AlertMe hub in the home, AlertMe allows consumers to monitor, control and automate a wide range of devices in the home, related to energy consumption, heating & cooling, home monitoring and new energy sources like solar PV, online and via their Smartphone anytime, anywhere. In addition, AlertMe's data services provide consumers with greater insight into their energy use while providing recommendations on how to reduce their consumption or use their energy more efficiently

Intelligent Cloud Sensing - AquaMW

* The technology platform from AquaMW combines the efficiency of low power ARM architecture with massive scalability of Cloud computing to deliver unique Wireless Sensing Apps. These apps "sense" the physical world through real time data acquisition "predict" future events through real time analysis and provide tools for businesses and people to "act" resulting in improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact
* Their technology is being used by leading OEM's like Grundfos and other asset owners in commercial buildings, industrial and manufacturing sector to improve efficiency, implement new business models and transform their infrastructure
* Their vision is to unlock intelligence from the physical world around us by incorporating BRAINS to each asset and business process

Recycling the airwaves – NEUL

* Their vision is to bring about a revolution in the way devices and applications communicate. From the predicted 50 billion connected Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices, through smart metering to rural broadband, transportation and beyond
* The space that was freed up from the digital switchover is exactly the space that Neul recycles as it is licence free TV white space spectrum within the existing global TV bands.
* The costs of spectrum, network infrastructure, back haul, maintenance & deployment have been minimised, allowing customers to build & operate their own Neul networks. The Neul architecture is based on the royalty free, open network standard, 'Weightless'

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Posted in: billion,devices,forms,foster,group,internet,online,Things

OUYA to get OnLive gameplay at launch, console's full controller gets pictured

OnLive comes to OUYA, Controller Makes Full Frontal Debut

When OnLive first heard about OUYA, we were excited to see console gaming becoming more available and open. Like OUYA, we came to gaming with a new vision for making top-quality gaming accessible to more people, and we continue to look for ways to expand on that vision.

OUYA is rethinking the console business, making waves by using standard technology to make gaming for your living room accessible, affordable and more innovative than ever. In OnLive's case, we pioneered a groundbreaking, cloud-based system that instantly delivers games to any device on demand.

We are pleased to announce that OnLive will be available on OUYA at launch, extending and building on our commitment to make the best games available to everyone, everywhere.
What does that mean for OUYA backers?

OnLive will deliver a full console-class experience, bringing hundreds of top-tier games from more than 80 publishers to the OUYA console for play on demand.

OUYA owners will be able to jump in and play any of these games both at home on their OUYA console, and on the go on PCs, Macs, tablets and phones, never leaving a game behind.

Instant demos will be available for nearly every game in our ever-growing library-from eagerly anticipated indie titles like Ravaged, to hot blockbusters like the upcoming Darksiders® II. Players can experience up to 30 minutes of each game for free before deciding what to buy. If they like it, they can continue playing where the demo left off.

OnLive already delivers a premium gaming experience to tablets, smartphones, PCs, Macs, connected TVs and HDTVs via the OnLive® Game System or dedicated streaming devices like the VIZIO Co-Star. We're pleased to deliver the same OnLive experience on the OUYA console when it launches next year.

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Posted in: consoles,controller,gameplay,launch,OnLive,pictured

Security experts hack payment terminals to steal credit card info, play games

By Steve Dent posted Jul 27th 2012 6:41AM

If a payment terminal could be forced into servitude as a crude handheld gaming device, what else could it be made to do? Researchers at the Black Hat conference showed just what mischief a commonly used UK PoS terminal could get up to when they inserted a chip-and-pin card crafted with malicious code. That enabled them to install a racing game and play it, using the machine's pin pad and screen. With the same hack, they were able to install a far less whimsical program as well -- a Trojan that could record card numbers and PINs, which could be extracted later by inserting another rogue card. On top of that, criminals could use the same method to fool the terminal into thinking a transaction was bank-approved, allowing them to walk out of a store with goods they hadn't paid for. Finally, the security gurus took a device popular in the US, and used non-encrypted ethernet communication between the terminal and other peripherals to hack into the payment device and take root control. Makes you want to put those credit cards (and NFC devices) away and stick to cash -- at least you can see who's robbing you blind.

[Original image credit: Shutterstock]

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Posted in: credit,experts,Games,payment,Security,steal,terminals

TweetDeck updates web-based client with sleeker profiles, enhanced mentions and hashtags

By Edgar Alvarez posted Jul 27th 2012 1:29PM

Now that yesterday's sudden Twitter outage is behind us, it's now time to focus on the blue bird's own, and very popular client, TweetDeck. The all-you-can-tweet service has quietly updated its internet-based client with some minor, but rather eye-pleasing tweaks. For starters, users profiles have received a slight design improvement for an overall "cleaner" look, while hashtags and mentions are now #clickable throughout TweetDeck's web offering. These changes are now live, so head over to the TD site, enter your microblogging credentials and you should be all set to give 'em a whirl.

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Posted in: client,enhanced,hashtags,mentions,profiles,sleeker,TweetDeck,updates,webbased

Tokyo bakery's visual recognition checkout sorts the sandwiches from the croissants (video)

We've seen food recognition tools in the past, but none as slick as this one being trialed at a Tokyo bakery. Co-developed by Brain Corporation and the University of Hyogo, the camera-equipped, automatic checkout is not only quick, but also accurate -- it's even able to distinguish different types of sandwich. And, if it can't tell exactly what's on the tray, it'll give you a list of suggestions and then use your selection to inform later scans. Currently, the system is said to be particularly useful for part-time staff that aren't completely familiar with the bakery's offerings, but it also has potential in all kinds of retail situations, much to the disappointment of the trusty barcode. Combine this system with Bakebot, however, and staff won't be needed at all. If you're hungry to see the checkout in action, head past the break for a visual snack.

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Posted in: bakerys,checkout,croissants,recognition,sandwiches,sorts,Tokyo,video,visual

Apple's third-gen iPad now available in China, gets a peaceful introduction

Features 9.1 Display 9.8 Battery life 9.1 Ease of use 9.6 Storage capacity 8.3 Design and form factor 9.3 Portability (size / weight) 8.4 Durability 8.4

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Posted in: Apples,available,China,introduction,peaceful,thirdgen

Amazon, Warner deal brings Fringe, The West Wing to Prime Instant Video exclusively

On Prime Instant Video First: Amazon Announces Digital Video License Agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, Bringing Acclaimed TV Shows Exclusively to Kindle Fire and Prime Customers

New licensing agreement brings Emmy award winning, The West Wing and fan favorite, Fringe to Prime Instant Video, along with other popular TV shows

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN) – Amazon.com, Inc. today announced a licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to add popular TV shows, including Fringe and The West Wing to the Prime Instant Video catalog. Millions of customers are already enjoying more than 18,000 Prime Instant Videos on Kindle Fire and hundreds of other compatible devices, and this agreement adds a variety of fan-favorite TV shows including Dark Blue, Alcatraz, and The Whole Truth.

Both Fringe and The West Wing will be available exclusively on Prime Instant Video for the summer, giving Prime members and Kindle Fire customers exclusive access to favorite titles that have been previously unavailable. Prime Instant Video includes more than 18,000 movies and TV episodes available for Prime members to instantly stream and enjoy at no additional cost. To start watching Prime Instant Video now, visit www.amazon.com/PIV. Customers who are not Prime members can enjoy a free one month trial of Prime and all Kindle Fire customers enjoy a free month of Prime right out of the box.

"Since launching Prime Instant Video, we've continued to expand both the quantity and quality of video content for our Prime members," said Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon. "Bringing Fringe and The West Wing – two shows with a devoted fan base – to Prime Instant Video first, is another way for us to add value for Prime members and to continue to give customers content they love."

"We are thrilled to count Amazon as a digital distribution outlet for our television group," said Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. "As more and more television content is enjoyed by fans across a myriad of subscription channels and platforms and on numerous devices from televisions to tablets, deals such as this give consumers the opportunity to discover, catch-up, or simply enjoy a favorite series again and again."

Prime customers can access Prime Instant Video on Kindle Fire or any of the hundreds of compatible Amazon Instant Video devices, including the Roku, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gaming console. For a list of compatible Amazon Instant Video devices visit here.

About Amazon Instant Video

Amazon Instant Video is a digital video streaming and download service that offers Amazon customers the ability to rent, purchase or subscribe to a huge catalog of videos. Customers can choose from more than 120,000 titles to purchase or rent and content ranges from new release movies to classic favorites, major television shows, entire seasons, or even day after air TV. Prime Instant Video is Amazon's video subscription offer-it includes more than 18,000 movies and TV episodes selected from the full assortment available at Amazon Instant Video. This subscription offer allows US Prime customers to stream as many Prime Instant Videos as they like, at no additional cost.

About Prime

Amazon Prime is an annual membership program for $79 a year that offers customers unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items including books, home and garden products, electronics, video games, clothing, and much more. Amazon Prime members also get access to unlimited instant streaming of thousands of movies and TV episodes and access to tens of thousands of books to borrow for free, as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates from a Kindle device. Customers who receive free Prime shipping benefits through our Amazon Student or Amazon Mom programs can upgrade to an annual paid membership to receive Amazon Prime's digital benefits.

About Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution:

Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) is one of the leading suppliers of entertainment programming to the domestic television marketplace, distributing first-run syndicated series, off-network television programs and theatrical motion pictures to local broadcast television stations, as well as to pay, cable, satellite, broadcast networks and digital platforms throughout the U.S. WBDTD handles the domestic distribution of television series produced by Warner Bros. Television, Telepictures Productions, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Horizon Television; selected HBO Independent Productions and the Lorimar Television library; current feature films from Warner Bros. Pictures; and the Studio's unmatched motion picture library.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes – still with all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and powerful dual-core processor.

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

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Posted in: Amazon,brings,exclusively,Fringe,Instant,Prime,video,Warner

Nintendo's Iwata says being first in next-gen race is 'not important at all,' pricing is

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Posted in: being,First,important,Iwata,nextgen,Nintendos,pricing

Got a GSM Nexus S and some flash skills? Get your Jelly Bean today

Reception and call quality 7.9 Display 9 Battery life 6.8 Camera 7.4 Ease of use 8.4 Design and form factor 8.7 Portability (size / weight) 8.9 Media support 8.2 Durability 7.6 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 8.5

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Posted in: flash,Jelly,Nexus,skills,today

Ford's 2013 C-Max Energi rolls out 95 MPGe, arrives later this fall

Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid Expected to Deliver 550-Mile Range and Nearly Double Electric-Only Range of Prius

Ford's first-ever plug-in hybrid - the all-new C-MAX Energi utility - is the only vehicle of its kind that customers can drive from Sacramento to San Diego on a tank of gas and make the average commute on electricity alone
Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid is projected to deliver 550 miles of total range, including more than 20 miles in electric-only mode - nearly double the electric-only range of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid
C-MAX Energi - available this fall - is Ford's first production plug-in hybrid and part of Ford's first hybrid-only dedicated line of vehicles
C-MAX Energi will launch as part of Ford's power of choice strategy to deliver leading fuel economy across its lineup while tripling electrified vehicle production capacity by 2013

DEARBORN, Mich., July 20, 2012 - The new Ford C-MAX Energi is expected to achieve more than 20 miles of electric-only range - nearly double the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid - and a 550-mile overall range to become the first hybrid vehicle ever that can be driven from Sacramento to San Diego on a single tank of gas and make the average American commute without gasoline.

With a maximum electric-only speed projected to top that of Prius plug-in, C-MAX Energi drivers might be able to reach wherever they're going a little faster, too.

Topping it off, C-MAX Energi delivers fuel economy that is the equivalent of 95 miles per gallon (MPGe) combined city/highway.

John Davis, chief nameplate engineer for Ford's compact cars and utility vehicles, said it's all designed to improve the driving experience: from making the 550-mile trek down Highway 99 from Sacramento to San Diego to the daily 20-mile one-way trip to work - the distance some reports suggest the average American commutes.

"We are proud C-MAX Energi is the first plug-in hybrid that can deliver a 550-mile overall range and more than 20 miles of electric range as it gives customers great flexibility to commute to work, then take off for a road trip while passing many gas stations along the way," says Davis. "C-MAX Energi is a great symbol for the leading fuel economy we're delivering across our lineup to give customers the power of choice to save money at the pump."

C-MAX Energi is part of Ford's first dedicated line of hybrid vehicles in North America and will soon be available for order at Ford's certified electric-vehicle dealerships. C-MAX Energi operates just like a traditional hybrid with two key differences - owners must plug in the vehicle using its charge port and C-MAX Energi has a larger battery pack.

Power of choice
Already available for order is C-MAX Hybrid - expected to be America's most affordable hybrid utility vehicle with a base price of $25,995, including destination and delivery - with a cost that is $1,300 lower than Toyota Prius v.

C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi figure prominently in Ford's rollout of five electrified vehicles this year. Ford's other electrified vehicles include:

Focus Electric: Production began late 2011; America's most fuel-efficient compact with 110 MPGe city; charge time of four hours with the available 240-volt charging station - nearly half the time as Nissan Leaf
C-MAX Hybrid: Coming this fall; projected 47 mpg city, 3 mpg better than Toyota Prius v
All-new Fusion Hybrid: Coming this fall; projected 47 mpg expected to beat Toyota Camry Hybrid by 5 mpg highway
Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid: Will begin production by the end of this year; aiming to be the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the world with more than 100 MPGe

"Ford's electrified vehicles offer a great combination of efficiency, performance, technology and affordability that we believe will help spur adoption of these advanced vehicles," says Kevin Layden, director, Ford Electrification Programs and Engineering. "C-MAX Energi not only offers leading efficiency, it has 50 more horsepower than the Prius plug-in hybrid along with class-exclusive technologies such as our hands-free liftgate and active park assist for easier parallel parking."

Maximizing experience
While the C-MAX Energi nameplate is new to the U.S. market, the technology and design has proven itself already in other ways and in other places.

More than 144,000 units of the five-passenger C-MAX gasoline and diesel versions have been sold in Europe since late 2010. Though Ford is concentrating on hybrid versions of C-MAX in the U.S., the designs of C-MAX Energi and C-MAX Hybrid are based on the gasoline- and diesel-powered European version.

C-MAX Energi also benefits from 20 years of research and innovation behind the software and hardware technology it offers, incorporating many of the nearly 500 patents Ford holds in the area of hybrid technology. The car's powersplit technology - which allows for more efficient operation of the vehicle - consists of more than 200 patents alone.

Like C-MAX Hybrid, C-MAX Energi has projected total system horsepower of 188 that stems from the combination of a gasoline engine and a battery-driven electric motor. When powered by gasoline, the C-MAX Energi uses the all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine - powerful and fuel efficient and among the most advanced non-turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains Ford has ever offered.

Because owners plug in to charge the advanced lithium-ion battery in C-MAX Energi, the vehicle is able to achieve increased electric mode and total range. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter, more efficient and more powerful than nickel-metal hydride batteries used in first-generation hybrids. They also promote faster charging times.

C-MAX Energi sets itself apart from other hybrids in other ways, too. For example, it offers the latest generation of SmartGauge® with EcoGuide. Designed to help drivers get the most from C-MAX, information such as instantaneous fuel economy can be displayed on one of two 4.2-inch LCD screens, helping drivers more closely monitor how their driving behavior affects the vehicle's efficiency.

In the right cluster, redesigned imagery of green leaves shows overall driving efficiency. The left cluster shows Brake Coach, a feature that helps drivers optimize their use of the regenerative braking system so that driving range can be enhanced through proper braking techniques.

Available for C-MAX Energi is the MyFord® Mobile smartphone application that allows users to monitor charging, receive alerts, find charge stations, plan trips and do more from their smartphones or computers for an effortless transition to an electrified vehicle lifestyle.

C-MAX Energi will be produced at Ford's Wayne, Mich.-based Michigan Assembly Plant alongside the new C-MAX Hybrid, Focus, Focus Electric and Focus ST. More information about MAP can be found online here.

Customers interested in C-MAX Hybrid should visit here. A video featuring C-MAX can be viewed online by clicking here.

# # #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

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Posted in: arrives,Energi,Fords,later,rolls

Digg to get a complete redesign, relaunch in August

By Dana Wollman posted Jul 20th 2012 4:37PM

Well, that was fast. Not two weeks after Digg was bought out by Betaworks (parent company to Bit.ly, among other startups), we're learning the crowd-sourced news aggregator is poised to relaunch as soon as August 1. In a blog post, the 10-person engineering team promises an overhaul of the site, once a litmus test for what was popular on the internet. Most interesting, perhaps, is the revelation that while Digg will not be a rebadged version of News.me, the aggregation app already owned by Betaworks, the two services will eventually be folded into one product. And while the team isn't revealing how, exactly, the new Digg will differ from the old, they did promise it would eventually receive personalization features similar to what News.me already offers. Other than that, Betaworks didn't share any specifics, but luckily, you'll only have to wait two weeks to find out what's in store.

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Posted in: August,complete,redesign,relaunch

Nokia Drive 3.0 arrives with My Commute, your Lumia is no excuse for being late (video)

Reception and call quality 9.5 Display 9.2 Battery life 8.5 Camera 7.8 Ease of use 9.4 Design and form factor 9.3 Portability (size / weight) 9 Media support 8.8 Durability 9.3 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 8

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Posted in: arrives,being,Commute,Drive,excuse,Lumia,Nokia,video

Qantas to hand out free iPads to all passengers on Boeing 767s, save fuel and our sanity (video)

Features 9.1 Display 9.8 Battery life 9.1 Ease of use 9.6 Storage capacity 8.3 Design and form factor 9.3 Portability (size / weight) 8.4 Durability 8.4

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Posted in: Boeing,iPads,passengers,Qantas,sanity,video

Nintendo 3DS gets first downloadable titles next week: Super Mario and Brain Training sequels

Announcement of sale (Download Version) Nintendo 3DS card software

(Minami-ku, Kyoto, President: Satoru Iwata Corporate Headquarters), Niokimashite Japan, from 9:00 am Saturday, July 28, two of the following title, the sale of software download version of the Nintendo 3DS Card Nintendo Co., Ltd. We are pleased to announce that more start.

? "New Super Mario Bros. 2"
Manufacturer suggested retail price: 4,800 yen (tax included)
? "five-minute train the brain demon training supervised by Professor Ryuta Kawashima terribly Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University"
Manufacturer suggested retail price: 3,800 yen (tax included)

Version software download, in order to be able to save to SD memory card is inserted into the Nintendo 3DS, do not have time or want to play more than one soft carrying at the same time, replace. It will be released the same day at the same manufacturer suggested retail price respectively (boxed version) Nintendo 3DS card software so far, that the time of purchase depending on your preferences, you can choose either .

To purchase software download version has the following three methods.

To purchase the "download card"
Enter to download (?) Nintendo e-shop number download buy "download card" soft target in the game, such as dealers, are described.
"Download card" can be purchased at a convenience store retailers and some of the products of some Nintendo.
To purchase a number "download"
Purchased a number "download" the soft target in the online shop, to download Enter the Nintendo e-shop.
Number "download" is available for purchase at the online shop of some.
Buy direct download
Directly download the software to purchase the Nintendo e-shop with credit card etc..

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Posted in: Brain,downloadable,First,Mario,Nintendo,sequels,Super,titles,Training

Listen to the Engadget Mobile Podcast, live at 5pm ET!

Miss us last week? We missed you, too -- but last Friday's loss is today's gain, as we've compiled a whole pile of interesting mobile news that need to go through the podcast gauntlet. Myriam, Brad and Joseph are back on the mics for episode 146, ready to rant and rave about a whole bunch of stuff. Don't miss it!

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Posted in: Engadget,Listen,mobile,Podcast

Did the Galaxy Note II's impressive benchmarks briefly get leaked?

Reception and call quality 9.1 Display 9.8 Battery life 8.5 Camera 8.9 Ease of use 8.6 Design and form factor 9 Portability (size / weight) 8.5 Media support 9.5 Durability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 9

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Posted in: benchmarks,briefly,Galaxy,impressive,leaked

Ikea beefs up 2013 catalog with companion AR app, doesn't translate Swedish furniture names (video)

Features 9.1 Display 9.8 Battery life 9.1 Ease of use 9.6 Storage capacity 8.3 Design and form factor 9.3 Portability (size / weight) 8.4 Durability 8.4

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Posted in: beefs,catalog,companion,doesnt,furniture,names,Swedish,translate,video

FCC Fridays: July 20, 2012

Media support 9.5 Video quality 9.5 Audio quality 9.5 Ease of use 8 Design and form factor 6.5

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Posted in: Fridays

iGills accessory turns iPhone into a dive computer, lets you film underwater

Reception and call quality 7.4 Display 7.8 Battery life 6.7 Camera 6.3 Ease of use 9.4 Design and form factor 8.9 Portability (size / weight) 8.8 Media support 7.8 Durability 8 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 9.5

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Posted in: accessory,computer,iGills,iPhone,turns,underwater

LG outs IPS7 Series monitors: 23 or 27-inch IPS, minimal bezel, MHL mobile link, 8-bit 1080P

LG INTRODUCES NEW IPS MONITORS WITH CINEMA SCREEN DESIGN AND MHL CONNECTIVITY

IPS7 Series Features Superb Lifelike Colors, Stylish Design, Smarter Connectivity
for the Ultimate Entertainment Experience That's Also Comfortable on Eyes

SEOUL, July 20, 2012 -– LG Electronics (LG) announced the global roll-out of its premium IPS7 series monitors, launching first in the Asian markets of Korea and China, including Hong Kong. The IPS7 series features LG's own CINEMA SCREEN Design, with an almost invisible bezel for an unobstructed entertainment experience and a sophisticated, modern appearance. The IPS7 series also delivers lifelike color consistency and representa-tion across a wider viewing angle, thanks to LG's own IPS technology. The addition of Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) makes it easy to connect external devices, like smartphones, for immersive viewing on a larger screen.

"By combining CINEMA SCREEN Design and MHL functionality with the industry's leading IPS technology, the IPS7 series is able to offer stunning design and performance," said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the IT Business Unit of the LG Home Entertainment Company. "With the rapid growth in the number of mobile smart devices such as smartphones and tablets, the availability of content has greatly expanded. LG's IPS7 expands the user experience, enabling viewers to take full advantage of this content-rich environment."

Alluring Design with Latest Connective Technology
Incorporation of LG's CINEMA SCREEN Design results in an impressively thin 1.2mm bezel, practically eliminating any visual distraction and allowing for greater viewing immersion. In addition to the incredibly narrow bezel, the overall depth of LG's IPS7 moni-tors has been reduced to a mere 14.1mm. The streamlined metallic stand creates an aesthetically sharp profile and the cable management feature further enhances the visual appeal. What's more, traditional plastic buttons have been replaced by capacitive touch controls for a sleeker look. CINEMA SCREEN Design delivers in style what LG's advanced IPS technology provides in stunning picture quality. The clean lines and modern, minimal design add value to any space, while the lifelike colors and crisp tones add up to a visual experi-ence that is second to none.

Addressing the need for easier connectivity, LG has provided the perfect solution with today's newest technology: MHL. With Mobile High-Definition Link technology, IPS7 series owners can easily connect mobile devices to the monitor with a single cable to the HDMI input port. With MHL, photographs and movies stored on smartphones can be viewed on the larger monitor screen. The IPS7 series even charges connected mobile devices while users enjoy their favorite content.

Full Entertainment Experience with Lifelike Colors and Ultimate Visual Comfort
The IPS7 series uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels rather than conventional Twisted Nematic (TN) technology found in most monitors. This brings advantages in picture quality and color consistency, letting users enjoy the most vivid and true-to-life colors around. The IPS7 series produces an incredibly smooth viewing experience, without the blur that often accompanies rapid motion in action scenes, sports and video games. This means less stress on the eyes, even when using the monitor for an extended period of time. With improved response times when viewing motion pictures, users can enjoy the benefit of the smoothest entertainment experience around.

And IPS panels excel under a wider range of viewing angles when compared to their TN counterpart. Users can play games or watch videos while sitting, standing or lying down without experiencing any color shift or distortion.

Color Calibration Ready
A convenient color calibration function is included to help reproduce the most accurate, lifelike colors. The IPS7 series comes with LG's own software for simplifying the calibration process for professionals, such as photographers and graphic designers.

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Posted in: 1080P,27inch,bezel,minimal,mobile,monitors,Series

Comcast reportedly prepping 305Mbps internet service, aims to put FiOS in its place

By Sean Buckley posted Jul 20th 2012 5:23AM

Sure, at 300Mbps Verizon's FiOS Quantum is lightning fast -- but reports say that Comcast is prepping a new tier that's just a little faster. According to Broadband Reports sources, Comcast's Neil Smit told employees that the company would be introducing a 305Mbps downstream tier in Verizon FiOS territories "soon," but neglected to mention a strict timetable. Details regarding pricing and data caps are similarly scarce, of course. Comcast has yet to comment on the rumor, but we'll let you know if we hear anything official.

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Posted in: 305Mbps,Comcast,internet,place,prepping,reportedly,service

Distro Issue 49: a visit to the craft and hackerspace at Artisan's Asylum

While Yahoo was busy hiring its new CEO away from Google, we were hard at work crankin' out this week's edition of Distro to help feed your slate reading desires. Let's just say that if a C&C gantry router that implements a Wiimote piques your interest, you're in for quite the treat this time around. We head north to Massachusetts to visit Artisan's Asylum for a glimpse of the craftiness and general hackery that takes place in an old office supply warehouse. We throw down the review gauntlet for the Nintendo 3DS XL, LG Optimus 4X HD and Sony VAIO T13 and offer some detailed reactions on said trio. AllThingsD's Mike Isaac has a go at the Q&A, "Switched On" discusses the next Office, Steam's annual sale occupies "Reaction Time" and "IRL" returns. As you might expect, all of the requisite download links await your clicks below.

Update: Make sure you're downloading the newest versions of the Distro app when they're made available. This will allow you to keep tabs on all of the content and functionality packed into each issue.

Distro Issue 49 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

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Posted in: Artisans,Asylum,craft,Distro,hackerspace,Issue,visit

Samsung denied a second time, Galaxy Tab ban stands

You can't blame 'em for trying, but it's no surprise that Samsung's second attempt to put a hold on the impending American ban of its Galaxy Tab failed. Judge Koh has already say the preliminary injunction could not wait while the Korean company pursued an appeal, and now the Court of Appeals is backing her up. To make matters worse, the court has also refused to expedite the appeal process, potentially prolonging the time the flagship slates are missing from the shelves. Now Sammy will just have to wait for the trial to start on July 30th and hope for a victory, or go back and redesign its tablets to look less like an iPad. We hear that triangles might be the ticket.

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Posted in: denied,Galaxy,Samsung,second,stands

ASUS spills jelly beans on why Nexus 7 has no rear camera, cites added cost

Features 9.2 Display 9.3 Battery life 9.1 Ease of use 8.8 Storage capacity 7.4 Design and form factor 9.4 Portability (size / weight) 9.9 Durability 9.1

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Posted in: added,beans,camera,cites,jelly,Nexus,spills

KDDI unveils ICS 'Smart TV Box' for cable providers in Japan, available later this year (video)

Ease of use 9.4 Speed 9.3 Configurability 9.4 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.6 Openness 9.3

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Posted in: available,cable,Japan,later,providers,Smart,unveils,video

DirecTV and Viacom deal brings MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and the rest back on the air

DIRECTV and Viacom Reach Agreement to Renew Carriage of Viacom's Networks

All 26 Viacom Networks, Including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, CMT, Logo, Spike,
TV Land, MTV2, VH1, VH1 Classic, Palladia, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, TeenNick, Tr3s and Centric,
to Return to DIRECTV Immediately

New York, NY – July 20, 2012 -Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB) today announced that the company has reached a long-term agreement to renew carriage with DIRECTV.

All 26 Viacom networks, including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, CMT, Logo, Spike, TV Land, MTV2, VH1, VH1 Classic, Palladia, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, TeenNick, Tr3s and Centric, will return to DIRECTV's channel lineup immediately. As part of the overall carriage agreement, DIRECTV has an option to add the EPIX service to its entertainment offerings.

Viacom is extremely pleased to bring its programming back to DIRECTV subscribers, and thanks everyone affected by the disruption for their patience and understanding during this challenging period.

###

DIRECTV and Viacom Reach Agreement for Return of Viacom's 17 Channels Including Extensive New Digital Rights for DIRECTV Customers

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DIRECTV has reached a new long-term agreement with Viacom to restore 17 channels (including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, Spike, CMT, TV Land and ten other channels) that Viacom had taken away from DIRECTV customers on July 10. Viacom has returned all affected networks.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

In addition to the channels' return, DIRECTV customers will also gain the ability to see Viacom programming on tablets, laptops, handhelds and other personal devices via the DIRECTV Everywhere platform. Carriage of the EPIX movie channel is not required as part of the new agreement.

"We are very pleased to be able to restore the channels to our customers and thank them for their unprecedented patience and support," said Derek Chang, executive vice president of Content Strategy and Development for DIRECTV. "It's unfortunate that Viacom took the channels away from customers to try to gain leverage, but in the end, it's clear our customers recognized that tactic for what it was."

Chang added, "The attention surrounding this unnecessary and ill-advised blackout by Viacom has accomplished one key thing: it serves notice to all media companies that bullying TV providers and their customers with blackouts won't get them a better deal. It's high time programmers ended these anti-consumer blackouts once and for all and prove our industry is about enabling people to connect to their favorite programs rather than denying them access."

The dispute helped generate significant public support from hundreds of thousands of customers and also, surprisingly enough, many high-profile DIRECTV competitors. The 850 small and independently owned local cable systems that make up the American Cable Association joined the anti-blackout chorus, as did Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable and Mediacom.

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Posted in: brings,Central,Comedy,DirecTV,Nickelodeon,Viacom

HTC confirms Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for One X, One XL and One S, includes AT&T, T-Mobile and Rogers models

Reception and call quality 9.3 Display 8.8 Battery life 8 Camera 9.6 Ease of use 9.4 Design and form factor 9.8 Portability (size / weight) 10 Media support 9.2 Durability 8.9 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 9.2

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Posted in: Android,confirms,includes,Jelly,models,Rogers,TMobile

Google acquires Sparrow, the Apple-focused email app maker

Ease of use 9.1 Speed 8.8 Configurability 8.2 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.9 Openness 7.1

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Posted in: acquires,Applefocused,email,Google,maker,Sparrow

Rdio Android app updated with playlist and search improvements, puts new releases in grid view

By Sean Buckley posted Jul 20th 2012 8:33AM

Much like its desktop counterpart, Rdio's Android app is constantly being tweaked -- adjusting its style, adding features and generally doing the whole mobile update dance. Among a slew of standard bug fixes, the streaming music service's latest app update promises playlist editing improvements, including the ability to jump directly from a song in a playlist to its parent album, clickable activity stream URLs and more complete search results. The update boasts some user interface improvements as well, placing new releases in a grid view. Ready to upgrade? Hit up the Google Play at the source link below.

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Posted in: Android,improvements,playlist,releases,search,Updated