Technology News

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc will close the books on its mammoth $10.6 billion initial public offering Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the deal.

No doubt, T-Mobile is in the middle of a rebuilding stage as a result of the AT&T merger attempt. Should it be much of a surprise, then, that the carrier would be looking at cranking out a smartphone lineup full of tempting options? Not at all. It turns out that Samsung is making some contributions to the cause, as a UAProf file for the unannounced T699 has been discovered. Just like most user agent profiles, there's little to discern here aside from the obvious inclusion of a 720p HD display -- but at least this lets us know that the handset exists, and that we have something new to look forward to on T-Mobile. Check out the source if you want to do some deciphering of your own.Samsung T699 for T-Mobile teased in UAProf, reveals 720p display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 13:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TMoNews  |  Samsung  | Email this | Comments

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple plans to announce an update to its iCloud service at the WWDC in June. The revamp will include new photo-sharing features that will also allow users to comment on images -- bringing a little social flavor to the data syncing service. The personal media syncing is also going to expand to support videos, allowing you to quickly upload clips from your phone and have them appear on your computer. If that weren't enough, the same sources also claim that Apple is building out a syncing service for Notes and Reminders, which will debut alongside iOS 6, as previous leaks have indicated. Obviously none of this is concrete, but it certainly sounds as if Apple is planning to put some serious effort into making iCloud succeed where MobileMe failed. Such a dramatic upgrade might also help explain the trickle of tips we've been receiving this morning that iCloud's email service is down.Apple may be prepping iCloud upgrade, photo-sharing features originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Wall Street Journal  | Email this | Comments

#1 You will need to think about big data

Matthew Panzarino / The Next Web:Apple to announce photo-sharing, video syncing services for iCloud at WWDC  —  Apple is planning on adding photo-sharing features, as a part of an upgrade of the service, reports the Wall Street Journal.  The services, which would be announced at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference on June 11th …

An anonymous reader writes "It was inevitable that Intel launching the 22nm Ivy Bridge processors would lead to Apple using them in its laptops and desktop machines. While Apple never leaks details early, someone using pre-release hardware has managed to upload details of the new machine to Geekbench's database. We can definitely expect a Core i7 Ivy Bridge MacBook Pro and iMac later this year." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Fedora 16, thanks in large part to GNOME 3.2, was an awful Linux distribution. With this new version, and GNOME 3.4, Fedora 17 is back to being a useful Linux distribution.

LinkedIn is finally now available for Windows Phone and it looks great.

Liz Gannes / AllThingsD:Twilio's Danielle Morrill Leaves to Found Affiliate Start-up Referly  —  Danielle Morrill, the well-known young director of marketing at developer-focused cloud communication start-up Twilio and its first employee, has left to found her own company: Referly.

A system said to block bit torrent downloads is backed by a Microsoft fund, but experts dispute its long-term effectiveness.

Yet more fallout in the case of Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn's sudden resignation last month. Some more light has been shed on those aforementioned "certain issues" we heard about, and now an internal investigation has led to the exit of the big box retailer's founder Richard Schulze as chairman of the board. Schulze will be replaced by Hatim Tyabji, who has served as the CEO of Bytemobile and as chairman of the Best Buy's audit committee. The transfer will occur after the company's annual meeting on June 21, 2012. Tyabji had the following to say about Schulze's tenure with the company, Dick's leadership and vision changed the landscape of American retail, and he will forever be remembered as an iconic entrepreneur. We join Best Buy's 167,000 employees in thanking him. More details on Schulze's exit can be found in an official Best Buy statement after the break.Continue reading Best Buy founder / chairman steps down after investigationBest Buy founder / chairman steps down after investigation originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  New York Times  | Email this | Comments

MrSeb writes "A group of American researchers from MIT, Indiana University, and Tufts University, led by Erin Treacy Solovey, have developed Brainput — a system that can detect when your brain is trying to multitask, and offload some of that workload to a computer. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which is basically a portable, poor man's version of fMRI, Brainput measures the activity of your brain. This data is analyzed, and if Brainput detects that you're multitasking, the software kicks in and helps you out. In the case of the Brainput research paper (PDF), Solovey and her team set up a maze with two remotely controlled robots. The operator, equipped with fNIRS headgear, has to navigate both robots through the maze simultaneously, constantly switching back and forth between them. When Brainput detects that the driver is multitasking, it tells the robots to use their own sensors to help with navigation. Overall, with Brainput turned on, operator performance improved — and yet they didn't generally notice that the robots were partially autonomous. Moving forward, Solovey wants to investigate other cognitive states that can be reliably detected using fNIRS. Imagine a computer that increases the size of buttons and text when you're tired, or a video game that slows down when you're stressed. Your Xbox might detect that you're in the mood for fighting games, and change its splash screen accordingly. Eventually, computer interfaces might[..]

Sharia stood immobile in front of the television, transfixed by its images, unaware of the world around her. Her family called her name over and over again, but she did not respond. It was that moment when they knew something was wrong.

In the big scheme of consumer electronics, smartwatches can't match smartphones, tablets, or even ultrabooks in piquing public curiosity.

CNN's Dan Simon looks back at Mark Zuckerberg, camera shy and sometimes awkward, in a 2006 interview with CNN.

A new video shows how some are trying to influence voters on social media in Mexico. CNN's Rafael Romo reports.

In some ways it doesn't matter that we're pushing buttons with our fingers instead of our thoughts. We have become just as dependent on networked devices that live in our pockets and colorful rubber cases, rather than our skulls.

A UC Berkeley freshman has turned his dorm room into a technological wonderland. CNN's Dan Simon reports.

Experts on a recent panel agree we're currently in a new 'golden age' of video gaming. "They [today's developers] don't want to make games that are art," one panelist said. "They want to make games that are awesome."

E-book users tend to read more often than people who read only print material, a new survey finds. A typical e-book user read 24 books in the past year, compared with the 15 books reported by typical non-e-book users.

"Silicon Valley," an upcoming Bravo reality show that documents the lives of five aspiring tech entrepreneurs, seems to depict the startup world as one big, boozy party. It's not like that at all.

The Web is critical to a thorough job search, but when you get the boot you must clomp around a trickier minefield than if you were simply seeking to switch jobs. Career experts offer these wise digital moves for the newly unemployed.

There's a new wave of social apps designed to keep you abreast of all the interesting and creepy people around you -- without requiring that you look up from your phone.

If you find yourself unhooked from your digital life support, you may need to ask those five little words: "Can I use your computer?" Here are some subtle guidelines to keep in mind whem borrowing a friend's computer or tablet.

Here's a challenge: Make like our forefathers (or, you know, us, five years ago) when they had a spare moment and take a look at the whole damn world around you -- instead of where your ex just checked in on Foursquare.

Ahh, yes, February 15, the joyful day when singletons can finally collapse in exhaustion after weeks of maintaining a nonchalant front. Finally, you think, finally, the incessant stream of hearts and cupids and reminders that romantic partnership is the apogee of human achievement will come to a merciful end.

The online realm is replete with a vast cornucopia of information. So asking the masses something that you could have easily looked up yourself is just plain lazy, especially when said query makes you look like a full-on idiot.

The Internet is home to millions of pages of unwanted or abandoned debris, swirling slowly in the churn of search results and spider-combing.

A new generation of hotels is embracing technology in all aspects, from check-in to check-out, to appeal to tech-savvy clientele.

A new era in computing that will see machines perform at least 1,000 times faster than today's most powerful supercomputers is almost upon us.

Of the trio of Huawei's Diamond-class smartphones announced at Mobile World Congress in February, the dual-core Ascend D1 got the least amount of buzz. Today, however, the handset gets its opportunity to bask in the spotlight, since it's the first of the group to obtain the FCC's nod of approval. No huge revelations were given, but the docs confirm quadband GSM and pentaband HSPA+ / WCDMA, a welcome treat for AWS fans. As always, we can't assume any carrier affiliation here, but at least we know the unlocked versions will work on AT&T and T-Mobile without a hitch. It looks like Huawei's still on track for a Q2 release -- let's hope the same is true for the D1's older siblings.Huawei Ascend D1 hits the FCC with pentaband HSPA+ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  FCC  | Email this | Comments

Perhaps Zynga was seduced by the meteoric rise of the over simplistic Draw Something and did not stop to analyse whether the newest addition would have any staying power over its other games.

Want to program your own iOS App? Find out how one developer took a weekend project and made a success story out of it.

Harry McCracken / Techland:Fact-Checking Digitimes, the Taiwanese Apple Rumor Source That Keeps Crying ‘Wolf!’  —  “It's key to note that the DigiTimes has a hit-or-miss track record for nailing predictions....”  —  “Digitimes has a spotty track record with regard to Apple rumors...”

High-power wireless maven Amped Wireless has finally filled that conspicuous dual-band gap in its lineup with the R20000G router. Promising to cover the same 10,000 square feet that its predecessor, it'll flit between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to ensure you can catch unbroken video around your house on the go. Beside the five ethernet jacks you'll find a USB 2.0 port for adding some network storage and the company's usual raft of features. It's available for $180 on Amped's website from today, and should be arriving on store shelves shortly.Continue reading Amped Wireless launches dual-band 10,000 square feet router, now no wall is safeAmped Wireless launches dual-band 10,000 square feet router, now no wall is safe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

If Intel-based Windows 8 tablets launch in November, as one informed source expects, Microsoft would face a narrow window to play a role in the important holiday sales period.

Enterprise mobile apps are shifting from small, narrowly task-oriented programs to larger, more complex ones. To design them well, enterprise developers can learn a lot from a surprising source: mobile games.

Dell and IBM on Monday announced servers with Intel's latest Xeon server chips, which will bring faster throughput and memory allowing servers to take on more complex workloads while reducing data center costs.

Emil Protalinski / ZDNet:Facebook stock approved for listing on the Nasdaq  —  Summary: Facebook is expected to go public this week and start trading under the “FB” ticker at a price range between $28 and $35.  The SEC has approved the company's stock for trading on the Nasdaq.  —  Yet another Facebook document …

On Friday, Facebook proposed improvements to its privacy policy, which the company calls its Data Use Policy. You can view the tracked changes above and go through an explanation of them over on...

Today's modern data center is very complex. No supplier offers tools that can directly address everything there. This means that organizations are likely to need a combination of tools from...

Robin Wauters / The Next Web:LinkedIn releases official Windows Phone app, and it's beautiful  —  LinkedIn has quietly released an official Windows Phone 7.5 application over the weekend (picked up earlier by Guardian, Neowin and many others).  I gave it a quick whirl, and the verdict is that it looks really fast …

Diggester writes "The satellite, known as Elektro-L No.1, took an image from its stationary point over 35,000 kilometers above the Indian Ocean. This is the most detailed image of the Earth yet available, capturing the Earth in a single shot with 121-megapixels. NASA satellites use a collection of pictures from multiple flybys stitched together. The detail in the pic is just amazing." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The Macintosh is an impenetrable fortress of malware-free computing, right? In recent years, we've certainly seen that image eroded a bit, thanks to a number of nasty outbreaks. And if you listen to Nikolay Grebennikov, the CTO of security software maker Kasperksy, things have the potential to be much worse. The executive told British site Computing that the company was invited to improve Cupertino's security, only to discover that, "Mac OS is really vulnerable." Grebennikov also had some rather unfortunate news for all the iPad and iPhone owners out there, telling the site, "Our experience tells us that in the near future, perhaps in a year or so, we will see the first malware targeting iOS."Kaspersky exec calls Mac OS 'really vulnerable' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Computing  | Email this | Comments

Yet another Facebook document has just been published with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This time, it's the company's FORM 8-A, which confirms that Facebook's stock has been...

Megan Geuss / Ars Technica:Dawn of a new wireless: first 802.11ac router available today  —  Buffalo surprisingly beats its competitors to market.  —  Enlarge / Buffalo's 802.11ac router is the first you can actually buy.  —  Texas-based networking company Buffalo announced its first 802.11ac wireless router …

As intrigued as we were by the Netgear R6300's high-bandwidth chops, it won't be the one to claim the early 802.11ac WiFi crown with a shipping product. That distinction is instead going to a Buffalo AirStation router and a matching bridge, both of which should be on shelves now. Either can hit the eye-watering 1.3Gbps peak speed of the standard if you get cozy on the 5GHz band -- and if you have a computer or mobile device that recognizes the spec, for that matter. The duo still has a more leisurely paced 2.4GHz, 450Mbps WiFi option as well as a quartet of Ethernet jacks if you prefer your gigabit speeds the old-fashioned way. Both the router and the bridge will set you back $180 each, so there's not much of a penalty versus high-end alternatives to satisfy your need for network speed.Continue reading Buffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridgeBuffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 11:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Buffalo  | Email this | Comments

As great as the Thunderbolt interface is, almost every usage scenario for the interface is niche.

Facebook is doing a good job selling its initial public offering (IPO) to investors. The company is doing so well, in fact, that it plans to stop taking IPO orders two days early, according to a...

The MGI aims to encourage public and private collaboration to get turn these materials into products faster.