Monday, September 09, 2013

Snapchat Micro will bring disappearing messages to Samsung's Galaxy Gear

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/snapchat-galaxy-gear/

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There seems little doubt that much of the Galaxy Gear's success or failure will hinge on the selection of apps that arrive on smartwatch. Samsung is making a strong push for third-party software (even in the face of limited device storage), courting a big cross section of developers at places like Path and eBay for its wearable. Popular messaging app Snapchat will also be hitting the device in the form of Snapchat Micro. As you'd expect, the app harnesses the Gear's 1.9-megapixel camera to send self-destructing images. The company's founder told Techcrunch, "Our team is constantly looking at ways to reduce the time between our experience of a moment and our ability to share it." Walking around with a camera on your wrist is certainly one way to go about it.

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Via: Techcrunch

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Google Glass update adds 'vignettes,' sound search and more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/google-glass-update-adds-vignettes/

Google Glass update adds 'vignettes,' sound search and more

Glass still isn't quite ready for the consumer, but Google's wearable platform just keep getting better and more powerful thanks to frequent software updates. Today's version bump brings YouTube to your search results and also grants access to those with Google Apps accounts. It also brings the Shazam-like Sound Search from Android to your head-mounted display. Most interesting though, is Vignettes, which allows you to lay your current Glass display over a photo to produce an image like the one you see above. Think of it like a screenshot tool for your real, very nerdy life. One can only imagine that eventually Vignettes will get a video mode, but for now its still photos only. If you're one of the lucky Explorers you can download the update now. The rest of you will have to live vicariously through the photos at the source.

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Source: Google Glass (Google+)

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drag2share: The NSA's Biggest Strength Is Also Its Biggest Weakness

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/adqd1gDa-no/the-nsas-strength-may-be-biggest-weakness-2013-9

Keith ALexander NSAThe bread and butter of NSA chief Keith Alexander's reign is the push to collect more and more data, saving essentially everything passing through the Internet, encrypted or not, according to recent reporting from Foreign Policy's Shane Harris.

In Alexander's stint, not only has the NSA's budget blown up, but the agency has saved so much data that it has filled servers at the headquarters in Ft. Meade and built a new installation in Utah — all to save Internet and communications traffic.

There's one big problem though: more data doesn't necessarily translate into more security for the American people.

In fact, a flood of "intelligence" can make an analyst more confused, not less.

"Analysts routinely drown in data they can't parse effectively," said Joshua Foust, a former government intelligence analyst turned freelance defense journalist. 

Foreign Policy some of the blunders of the new system:

"He had all these diagrams showing how this guy was connected to that guy and to that guy," says! a forme r NSA official who heard Alexander give briefings on the floor of the Information Dominance Center. "Some of my colleagues and I were skeptical. Later, we had a chance to review the information. It turns out that all [that] those guys were connected to were pizza shops."

A retired military officer who worked with Alexander also describes a "massive network chart" that was purportedly about al Qaeda and its connections in Afghanistan. Upon closer examination, the retired officer says, "We found there was no data behind the links. No verifiable sources. We later found out that a quarter of the guys named on the chart had already been killed in Afghanistan."

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A New App Called Ping May Have Finally Made Email Less Of A Pain

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/ping-email-app-2013-9

Ping app iphone

Ping is a new email app that wants to change your entire view of mobile email. Ping does this by turning messages into conversations. Yhe app focuses on people first.

Email, as you know, can sometimes be daunting, annoying, and even worse: distracting. 

Ping's creator and CEO Erez Pilosof told Business Insider that he created Ping as a way to re-think the way we deal with email and make it more conversational. "Email should adapt to us no the other way around," Pilosof said.

Any email that deals directly with a person is tossed into one category and messages like newsletters, subscriptions, and offers are tossed into another column, out of view.

Ping's biggest draws are an excellent design, ease of use, and it's ability to de-clutter your inbox without overwhelming you. 

Pilosof built Ping by identifying two core issues with electronic messages: email today is a bunch of folders and filters.

"Popular mobile email apps like Mailbox only complicate the process," Pilosof said. He felt that most email apps don't reflect the different ways that email has evolved. 

Ping organizes your email in a more modern way. You see all of your conversations in one simple stream. The app sorts the messages into people, groups, and sources and the result looks more like a instant message or text than the way we see email now. The result looks more like a social network. 

Besides just making your emails look different, Ping also integrates services like video chat and voice calls. You can assign colors and sounds to specific senders so you'll know whether or not you should pull out your phone when a new message arrives.

Some other features include: real-time responses, meaning you can see when another Ping user is typing or online. There's instant access to shared media like attachments, documents, and pictures, and you can s! nooze me ssages to save them for later.

Ping can't handle multiple email addresses yet. There's also a desktop client being built so you can check your email Ping style while on your computer. We're told an Android app isn't too far out either.

Ping will launch full time, Sept. 18 but you can sign up for the waiting list now over at the Ping site. The app will be free at launch and available for iPhone.

Also take a look at this video the company put together. It gives you a better idea of just how the app works:

SEE ALSO: Pure Takes The 'Dating' Out Of Dating Apps And Just Helps You Get Sex On Demand

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CHART OF THE DAY: What Happens To Apple's Stock After It Announces A New iPhone (AAPL)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-what-happens-to-apples-stock-after-it-announces-a-new-iphone-2013-9

Here's a fun chart, via Philip Elmer DeWitt of Fortune, looking at how Apple's stock trades before and after the announcement of a new iPhone. 

Only twice has the stock dropped in the six months following a new iPhone launch — In 2008, when the economy fell apart, and Apple coincidentally released the iPhone 3G, and in 2012 when it released the iPhone 5. 

What does it mean for tomorrow? We have no idea! Past performance does not guarantee future results. Still, fun to look at it. 

apple stock post iphone launch

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LG OLED TV Display Shootout: Absolutely Stunning

Source: http://gizmodo.com/lg-oled-tv-display-shootout-absolutely-stunning-1277493320

LG OLED TV Display Shootout: Absolutely Stunning

Just how good is OLED TV technology? DisplayMate's Dr. Raymond Soneira put LG's latest OLED offering through its paces. You may never watch TV the same way again.

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Build Exactly the Card Reader You Need With This Modular Hub

Source: http://gizmodo.com/build-exactly-the-card-reader-you-need-with-this-modula-1277563423

Build Exactly the Card Reader You Need With This Modular Hub

Most card readers boast compatibility with almost every memory card format on the planet, but odds are you only ever use a couple of them at most. So Lexar has created a modular alternative it's calling the Professional Workflow HR1, with four bays that can be customized with your choice of compact flash, SD, or XQD card readers.

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LG develops 'world's first' WiDi-enabled LCD panel for easy media streaming

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/lg-worlds-first-widi-lcd-monitor-panel/

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If you like to stream content but you already have too many set-top boxes in your house, LG wants to help. Having already committed to implementing 5G WiFi chips in its upcoming HDTVs earlier in the year, LG Display has developed a PC monitor that, it claims, is the first to integrate Intel's Wireless Display (WiDi) tech directly into the LCD component. It's not the biggest panel out there, at 23.8 inches, but it does mean you'll be able to stream anything you like from your WiDi-enabled laptop without additional gear. And while the market for WiDi-enabled displays is pretty thin right now, LG has said it will offer up its integrated panel tech to OEMs and other monitor makers, suggesting that you'll soon have a multiplicity of options for your streaming needs.

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Source: LG Display Newsroom

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LG G2 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/lg-g2-review/

LG G2 review

There are a lot of smartphones out there now. You know this. To add to the confusion, many companies are now parading out multiple top-drawer phones: think Samsung's Galaxy S and Note series, or the Xperia Z and Z Ultra from Sony. Even LG, whose new G2 flagship I'm poring over this time around, has both the G and G Pro to tempt buyers. It's getting increasingly difficult to launch a smartphone with some standout feature, something more than just bigger screens and faster processors.

For the G2, LG's decided to make a major change to the phone's physical layout -- in a bullet-point summary, it has buttons on the back. Three, in fact. LG reckons that as the size of smartphones has increased, at this point, the viability of buttons around the edges is now questionable. The new G model lands between last year's Optimus G and the Pro size-wise, breaking through the 5-inch screen barrier with a bright 5.2-inch, 1080p IPS screen. The rest of the feature set will seem familiar to anyone who's read a flagship Android phone review in the last 12 months. Optical image stabilization, remote control blaster, a mixed bag of proprietary software features and Android 4.2.2. There's also some new stuff, including 24-bit / 192kHz audio recording and playback, and it could well be the first Snapdragon 800-powered smartphone to reach US stores -- that's Qualcomm's most potent mobile processor yet. But with IFA just finished and the Galaxy Note 3 now official, is a button transplant going to be enough? In fact, that's a red herring, because there's actually a far better reason to buy the G2 -- and it's none of the above. %Gallery-slideshow79381%

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Samsung's 38 million Galaxy Note sales show that large phones are here to stay

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/samsung-reports-38-million-galaxy-notes-sold/

Samsung marks 38 million Galaxy Notes sold to date that's a lot of giant phones

Remember when Samsung's big-screened Galaxy Note line was considered niche? Those days are long gone. JK Shin now says that the company has sold more than 38 million Note smartphones since the original launched in late 2011. That's 28 million more than Samsung reported a year ago; for context, Nokia has sold a total of 27.3 million Lumia smartphones as of its latest earnings report. Not surprisingly, Shin sees a bright future ahead for the Galaxy Note 3. He expects Samsung to sell over 10 million units of the third-generation handset, and history suggests that the tech giant could easily reach that goal despite an abundance of competition.

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Source: ETNews

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Sprint to start LG G2 pre-orders on October 11th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/sprint-to-start-lg-g2-pre-orders-on-october-11th/

Sprint to start LG G2 preorders on October 11th

We've seen AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon commit to releasing the LG G2 this fall... but where's Sprint's version? Don't worry, fans, the carrier hasn't forgotten you. Sprint now says it will take pre-orders for the $200 Android flagship starting on October 11th, with a release "in time for the holidays." In return for the wait, the provider is giving out free QuickWindow covers to everyone who pre-orders a G2 through its website. We doubt that the gift will quell the jealousy of Sprint customers whose friends get a G2 weeks in advance, but the more patient among those subscribers can register their interest at the source link.

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Source: Sprint

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The Company That Sets Color Trends Thinks Men Will Be Wearing 'Samba,' 'Koi,' And 'Acai' This Fall

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/pantones-new-mens-colors-for-fall-2013-9

The Pantone Color Institute, known for choosing The Color of the Year, has just released its Fall 2013 men's fashion colors.

Men this season can expect to wear a lot more Deep Lichen Green, Mykonos Blue, Carafe, Acai, Samba, Emerald, Linden Green, Beaujolais, Turbulence, and Koi.

Confused? Translated, you'll be wearing a lot more greenish-gray, blue, brown, purple, red, emerald, pea green, maroon, gray, and orange:

men's fall fashion colors pantone

Here's what Pantone had to say about its choices and how to wear them:

Luxurious Emerald, a sophisticated and vivid green, should be paired with Mykonos Blue or Linden Green for a clean and classic look.

Acai adds exotic mystery when paired with bold statement colors like Samba, while Koi remains decorative and dynamic, adding a pop of orange to a neutral wardrobe. Deep Lichen Green acts as the cornerstone color for the men's palette as well; however, pair the shaded mossy green with Beaujolais, a full-bodied red, for an elegantly masculine, quintessential fall look.

Unpredictable Turbulence and warm, rich Carafe, also play vital roles in men's fashion trends, serving as strong staple hues for outerwear throughout the cooler months. Create a well-balanced look by combining either neutral with Beaujolais or Koi.

Pantone chose these colors based on surveys sent to designers at New York Fashion Week and by noticing which hues were the most-used on the runway and in the new fall collections.

To learn more about how Pantone picks the "Color of the Year" and other color trends, click here.

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The NSA Can Probably Break Tor's Encryption Keys

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-nsa-can-probably-break-tors-encryption-keys-1273299782

The NSA Can Probably Break Tor's Encryption Keys

When it turned out that the Firefox JavaScript Tor vulnerability shenanigans were originating from the NSA not the FBI, it was pretty clear that the agency was looking to undermine and access Tor's anonymous internet. It's like a moth to a flame. But now security expert Robert Graham has outlined his reasons for believing that the NSA doesn't even need tricks and paltry exploits to access Tor, because they have the keys to the kingdom. Or can.

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New firmware gives Canon's Cinema EOS camera line a prodigious 80,000 ISO

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/08/canon-cinema-eos-firmware-update/

Firmware update gives Canon's Cinema cameras 80,000 ISO

Those who shelled out big bucks for one of Canon's Cinema EOS cameras will be glad to know they've just been blessed with a significant firmware upgrade. Owners of the EOS C500, C300, C100 and 1D C 4K models will all see a huge increase in light gathering, with the maximum ISO jumping from 20,000 to 80,000. That's one of the highest ISO settings on a pro camcorder, and you'll now be able to roll through the entire ISO range in 1/3 stop increments instead of a full stop at a time, too. Meanwhile, the top of the line C500 model will get new DCI-P3+ and Cinema Gamut color options, along with a new high-speed, 120fps shooting mode at 4,096 x 1,080. The C300 will also get a new Wide DR color gamut and all the models will get various tweaks and bug fixes. For the finer details, check the source.

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Via: NoFilmSchool

Source: Canon Europe

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PS Vita TV is a mini console that brings games and services to your TV, arrives November for around $100 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/09/ps-vita-tv-launch-date/

PS Vita TV is a mini console that brings games and services to your TV, arrives November for around $100

This tiny 60mm x 100mm wonder is the PlayStation Vita TV. Not only is it a miniature console that plays Vita games and connects to PlayStation controllers, it also offers access to Sony's Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited service, karaoke and more -- all for 9,954 yen (around $100). It's a knowing nod to the likes of Ouya, NVIDIA's Shield, and even Google's Chromecast although it's a little bit different again, attempting to broach both gaming and online media consumption. Other services ready for the PS Vita TV include Twitter (through Sony's own client), Hulu and NicoNico Douga, with even more media providers signing up to offer their services on the new device, at least in Japan. Up close, you can see it includes HDMI output, space for a (proprietary Vita) memory card, a slot for Vita games (on the side), plus USB, power and ethernet ports.

You will also be able to buy a set with a controller and storage card for 14,995 yen ($150) and it's set to go on sale (in Japan at least) on the 14th November. And there's another key feature: the PS Vita TV will also allow you to connect to PlayStation 4 (when it arrives) for remote play, acting as a secondary terminal for gaming when you're not in the same room as your next-gen console. You'll find a promo video showing off the new device right after the break. %Gallery-slideshow83439%

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