BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9930 Will Run BlackBerry OS 7
Fri, 20 May 2011 11:09:00 EST

RIM kicked off its BlackBerry World event in Orlando, Florida by launching the not-so-secret BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 models, also dubbed "Bold Touch."

While the devices don't noticeably stray from RIM's design choices from the past decade -- they're instantly recognizable as QWERTY keyboard BlackBerrys -- the 9900 and 9300 pack some impressive guts. While the 2.8-inch VGA touchscreens won't impress many in today's world of 4-inch screens, but the devices are RIM's thinnest yet at 10.5mm.

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9930 Will Run BlackBerry OS 7

BlackBerry Bold 9900, 9930 Will Run BlackBerry OS 7 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 20 May 2011 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BlackBerry OS 7 Features Announced--But It Won't Run On Older Devices
Mon, 02 May 2011 10:47:00 EST

This morning, RIM finally unveiled its next generation mobile operating system, BlackBerry OS 7. It's not a giant leap forward, but RIM is detailing a faster and easier-to-use OS that comes with an integrated, voice-enabled Universal Search system.

BlackBerry fans that have been frustrated by the operating system's chronically sluggish Web experience will be pleased to know that OS 7 offers a "significantly enhanced" browser with HTML5 video support and speed updates.

Interestingly, OS 7 won't have any legacy support, meaning that even the current generation Bold or Touch that you bought last year will be left behind -- you'll need to have one of RIM's brand new 9900 or 9930 devices to run it. SlashGear writes that according to RIM, "the reasoning behind the absent upgrades is that the new OS is so dependent on the hardware graphics capabilities of its new handsets."

RIM's new BlackBerry Balance application, though, will work on any device running OS 6.0 or later. First detailed in January, Balance is RIM's solution for combining both your personal and corporate accounts -- and all the security requirements that those require -- on a single device. For example, you can wipe all of the enterprise data from your phone, while still leaving the personal accounts intact. Or, social networking apps like Facebook and Twitter can be given limited access to anything from your corporate accounts.

BlackBerry OS 7 Features Announced--But It Won't Run On Older Devices originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 May 2011 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Farewell, Internet
Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Well, here we are. More than four years after launching, Switched and DownloadSquad are unfortunately being closed. I've been thrilled to work at these two sites that have expanded tech coverage beyond the usual gadgets and social networks to cooking, culture, design, art and more. It's been humbling to work with these incredibly dedicated and talented teams of writers, and it would have been impossible to do it without them.

Going forward, you'll still be able to get the best tech news coverage from Engadget, HuffingtonPost Tech, Joystiq and TUAW. While we're still working out some of the details, Switched and DownloadSquad will continue to live on the Web and be fully accessible via search. Understandably, our Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr presences will quiet down, but you can still follow the Switched and DownloadSquad writers on their personal accounts. Thanks for reading.

Farewell, Internet originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Interview with Digital Camera Inventor, Making Game Boy Music
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:45:00 EST

Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.

Read:

Research In Motion Eyes a Rebound

"They've been caught flat-footed," said Jean-Louis Gassée, a former Apple executive, the former chairman of Palm's software spinoff and a partner at Allegis Capital in Palo Alto, Calif. "They've built a tremendous company; they are people with distinguished backgrounds. They are not idiots, but they've behaved like idiots."

What We Talk About When We Talk About the Internet

Of course, most everyone, when challenged at a conscious level, will correct this mistake, and agree that no, Google only aggregates, it doesn't think, that the Internet is just a compilation of human endeavors. But how often do you hear someone say something like "ask Google", "Wikipedia says", "Facebook told me..."? Before the Internet, there was no tool with which people interacted linguistically.

Watch:

• unicode
• Inventor Portrait: Steven Sasson
• Showtime: Forrest Oliphant, 'Slithering'
• GAME BOY MUSIC

Know:

• The latest scam sweeping Facebook pretends to tag you in photos from the Olive Garden restaurant. [From: Sophos nakedsecurity]
• Lifehacker counts down the 10 best micro-apps (often uni-tasking tools for controlling image uploads, desktop settings or clipboard history) for Mac and Windows. [From: Lifehacker]

Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our Tumblr blog.

Interview with Digital Camera Inventor, Making Game Boy Music originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dinos and Trenches in '1916 - The War You Never Knew'
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

This week's batch of games take its inspiration from real life, but twists your expectations in weird and wonderful ways. Consider it an alchemical transformation that results in gaming gold.

We're no history buffs, but we're fairly certain that World War I did not involve ferocious velociraptors stalking hapless soldiers through the trenches. (But who knows? Maybe we were absent the day it was covered in history class.) The creators of '1916 - The War You Never Knew' -- a first-person survival horror experience set in the dingy trenches of the Great War -- clearly took inspiration from indie sensation 'Amnesia: The Dark Descent.' Setting this type of game in this type of environment is brilliant; it allows for a claustrophobic world that doesn't feel artificially constrained, and makes for a genuinely scary experience, notwithstanding the addition of deadly dinosaurs.

Continue reading Dinos and Trenches in '1916 - The War You Never Knew'

Dinos and Trenches in '1916 - The War You Never Knew' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Swedish File Sharers Get Religious About Stealing
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:15:00 EST

Swedish philosophy student Isaac Gerson thinks that file sharing is sacred. The 19-year-old leader of the Missionary Church of Kopimism believes that stealing and sharing are signs of appreciation, and has compared closed-source software to slavery. Last year, Sweden rejected the church's application to be recognized as a religion, but Gerson isn't giving up so easily. He'll be reapplying after meeting with government officials.

Swedish File Sharers Get Religious About Stealing originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google's New Crossword-Style Trivia Game Wants Puzzlers to Search
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST

Fellow puzzle fans, Google has brought us joy. The engine's newest venture, A Google a Day, asks cunning participants not to use the knowledge they have but rather the knowledge they can unearth with Google search to solve riddles. Much like crossword puzzles (possibly your author's favorite pastime), the questions ask the solver to change the way they think. For today's riddle, searching "two presidents signed" automatically gives some good hints -- but the Google Gods seem to want us to rely more on search suggestions rather than our own acquired trivia.

Using agoogleaday.com instead of the regular Google shields you from real-time questions and answers, so your network and top hits won't spoil the fun. Searching down the 'Net's rabbit hole is kind of interesting, but Google really needs a way to track your success. After all, puzzle fiends solve for the glory and the feeling of completion, not the quiet satisfaction of "knowing things." Duh.

Google's New Crossword-Style Trivia Game Wants Puzzlers to Search originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

As Expected, Smartphones and Social Networks Targeted by Malware
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EST

As security firms have been warning for some time, malware attacks are now more frequently focused on social networks and mobile devices. In Symantec's latest Internet Security Threat Report, the company noted that the number of malware attacks delivered through the Web practically doubled from 2009, with 65-percent of malicious links on Facebook arriving in the form of shortened URLs. The company also took special care to highlight the growing field of smartphone-based attacks, in particular those targeting Android. Many of the pieces of Facebook and Android malware rely on the laziness of users. Apps must specifically request permissions, but many people simply click through the notifications without reading them carefully. And as time passes, the attacks will only become more sophisticated.

For now, attacks seem focused on harvesting personal data from profiles and sending text messages to premium services, which earn a commission for the scammer. But as users start turning to their cell phones for mobile banking and shopping more frequently, they're likely to become a much bigger target for digital crooks.

As Expected, Smartphones and Social Networks Targeted by Malware originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Facebook Strikes Deal to Create New Social Network in China
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:50:00 EST

Facebook is reportedly working with China's largest search engine to create a new, jointly owned social network. The collaboration with Baidu would allow Facebook to get a foothold in the Chinese market while giving Baidu the chance to capitalize on Mark Zuckerberg's network-building expertise. The new site would still need to be approved by Chinese's Internet regulators, who retain final say on pretty much everything. And it definitely wouldn't be able to use the Facebook.com URL, which remains blocked throughout the mainland.

Facebook Strikes Deal to Create New Social Network in China originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google Will No Longer Collect Street View Photos in Germany
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Google has decided to stop collecting Street View photos in Germany, where regulators have spent much of the past two years railing against the search giant for violating the privacy of German residents. A company spokesman confirmed the decision in a statement sent to the Register, explaining that the images gathered across 20 German cities will remain available online, but reiterating that Google has "no plans to launch new imagery" in the country.

Google Will No Longer Collect Street View Photos in Germany originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jonathan Franzen's New Yorker Piece Hides Behind a Facebook Like Wall
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:10:00 EST

Jonathan Franzen has a new piece in The New Yorker, but you'll have to become a fan of the magazine on Facebook if you want to read the whole thing. Taking its cue from the likes of Lil Wayne and Jennifer Lopez, The New Yorker has published Franzen's piece exclusively on its Facebook page in an effort to engage readers on the social network. The essay covers Franzen's trip to the island of Alejandro Selkirk, where he went to mourn the death of his friend, writer David Foster Wallace.

Jonathan Franzen's New Yorker Piece Hides Behind a Facebook Like Wall originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PEW PEW! U.S. Navy Fires Lasers at Sea
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:20:00 EST

Good news, everyone! The future is finally here, and we'll soon leave bullets behind for a much sexier laser alternative, filled with "PEW PEW" and plenty of cat-shaped guns. The U.S. Navy successfully fired a high-energy laser at another boat, continuing its research into using lasers to blind or disable smaller vessels. The BBC has video but no sound, so you'll have to improvise the "BEYOO! BEYOO!" on your own.

PEW PEW! U.S. Navy Fires Lasers at Sea originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

West Bank Settlers Spread Propaganda Using Violent Video Games
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST

Using video games as propaganda is nothing new. The U.S. has been doing it with 'America's Army' for some time, while Hezbollah has employed 'Special Force' to spread its message. But those games might seem quaint and diplomatic in the face of a series of games from Residents' Councils of Samaria and Binyamin, an advocacy group for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. The organization has released a trio of violent shoot-'em-ups with Biblical roots and a pro-Israeli bent. The first, 'Judah Maccabee,' puts players in the role of a Maccabee soldier (a rebel army that took control of Judea from the Greeks around 167 B.C.) as he infiltrates a Greek camp. The second, 'Ahab in Samaria,' has players defending Israel from invading soldiers. 'Ammunition Hill,' the most recent game, puts players in the boots of a soldier during the invasion of East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War.

The games are rough-looking by American standards, with simplistic play reminiscent of 'Doom.' They were developed by Virtual 3D, a company that primarily traffics in archaeological software, using Shockwave (a relative of Flash). The games aren't going to win any converts to the settlers' cause, and will probably further put off those who are already unsympathetic. But propaganda will always have its place, and in the digital age that place is online games.

West Bank Settlers Spread Propaganda Using Violent Video Games originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Julian Assange Says WikiLeaks Is More Accountable Than Most Governments, Gets a Little Sassy About It
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:20:00 EST

Julian Assange thinks WikiLeaks is more accountable than any democratic government in the world. And if you dare say otherwise, you'll probably get sued.

That was essentially the message that Assange conveyed over the weekend, during his first public appearance since being arrested in December, amid accusations of rape and sexual assault. Speaking to an audience at a public debate in London, Assange claimed that his whistleblowing organization is more accountable than most democratically elected governments -- simply because WikiLeaks relies upon personal donations, rather than corporate money.

Continue reading Julian Assange Says WikiLeaks Is More Accountable Than Most Governments, Gets a Little Sassy About It

Julian Assange Says WikiLeaks Is More Accountable Than Most Governments, Gets a Little Sassy About It originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Russia Won't Ban Gmail or Skype Amid Security Concerns
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:25:00 EST

It looks like Russia won't be banning Skype or Gmail, after all. The Kremlin was reportedly considering blocking both services, along with Hotmail, in response to a major cyberattack that crippled the country's most popular blog and an independent news site. Some within the Kremlin had believed the services posed a major threat to national security, but some critics had thought the government may have just been looking for an excuse to tighten its control over the Web -- ahead of December's parliamentary elections and next year's presidential race.

Russia Won't Ban Gmail or Skype Amid Security Concerns originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Steve Jobs Approves New Bio to Be Published in 2012
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:32:00 EST

Steve Jobs has finally given his seal of approval to a new book about his life. Walter Isaacson's 'iSteve: The Book of Jobs' is slated for release in early 2012, marking the first time that the Apple CEO has participated in a biography. Isaacson, who has been working on the book since 2009, reportedly interviewed members of Jobs' family, his colleagues at Apple and, of course, the man himself.

Steve Jobs Approves New Bio to Be Published in 2012 originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Switched's Comprehensive Guide to Video Game Emulators
Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST

The video game emulator -- the bit of software that allows nostalgic button-mashers to mount an NES on their PCs in order to relive halcyon "HADOUKEN!" days -- is one of the most misunderstood elements of modern computing. But we're here to tell you exactly what they are, how they work, and even offer a comprehensive directory of the best ones for your favorite platform. Read on for our indispensable manual for the contemporary gamer looking back to a time when finally figuring out Kitana's "Babality" was a day's work well done.

Continue reading Switched's Comprehensive Guide to Video Game Emulators

Switched's Comprehensive Guide to Video Game Emulators originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Students Create Smartphone App Capable of Detecting Malaria
Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST

A group of grad students has come up with a way to instantly diagnose malaria, using only a smartphone and some fancy software.

The team, comprised of students from around the nation, developed the prototype using a Samsung Focus smartphone, running Windows 7. After adding a microscopic camera lens to the phone, the students developed software capable of analyzing and scanning blood for malaria parasites. With the app installed on the phone, doctors or nurses could theoretically take a photo of any blood sample, and instantly know whether or not a patient is infected with malaria, and how severe the case may be.

Continue reading Students Create Smartphone App Capable of Detecting Malaria

Students Create Smartphone App Capable of Detecting Malaria originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ericsson's Hyper-Connected Vision of the Future, The Torrenting Turtle Weighs In
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST

Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.

Read:

Fake Salem Song Teaches Internet A Lesson It'll Probably Forget Pretty Soon

Yesterday the Internet lit up for a bit with news of a new track from the draggy, divisive outfit Salem. "Nite Daze," according to the email blasting it around the Internet, was "all about the drag environment of being incredibly tired, in a dream-state, wasted or on something, and forcing something creative from the mutual confused experience," and it sure sounded like at least one of those words.

On 'Radiolab,' the Sound of Science

A relevant question to ask at this moment is: Why would anyone bother to invent a new aesthetic for such a retrograde form? This is an exciting time for innovation in new media: interactive forms for active consumers. Radio, in contrast, just washes over you or drifts by in the background.

Watch:

• The AWESOME button
• F35 Ejector Seat Trials
• The Social Web of Things

Know:

• The torrenting turtle knows what's up about downloading full albums to preview just one song. [From: Geekosystem]
• The new 3Frames app lets you make simple animated GIFs with your iPhone. For more detailed animations, check out our guide. [From: Gizmodo]

Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our Tumblr blog.

Ericsson's Hyper-Connected Vision of the Future, The Torrenting Turtle Weighs In originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars' Is More Retro Than Risque
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:40:00 EST

This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators from whom we've come to expect the best -- and this week's picks certainly live up to our expectations.

Self-professed "dot matrix dominatrix" Anna Anthropy (a.k.a. Auntie Pixelante) has consistently wowed us in the past. Her latest game is the intriguingly titled 'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars.' Modeled after the classic arcade game 'Wizard of Wor,' it perfectly recreates the feel of a greasy, soda-stained arcade cabinet. Simplistic yet addictive, 'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars' is a brilliant example of retro gaming done right.

'Lesbian Spider-Queens of Mars' Is More Retro Than Risque originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Man Goes to Prison for Threatening Eric Cantor on YouTube
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST

A man named Norman LeBoon is headed to prison after making threats to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a video posted to YouTube. In the clip, the 38-year-old LeBoon called the Republican "a liar" and "a Lucifer," and promised to shoot him. LeBoon pleaded guilty to the charges in November, and, on Thursday, was sentenced to two years in prison, along with an additional three years of supervised release.

Man Goes to Prison for Threatening Eric Cantor on YouTube originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Level Up Your MMORPG Character Using Developing Economies
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:15:00 EST

Next time you are scoring that amazing Amethyst Helm of Schadenfreude for your Level 38 Warlock Raider (I just made that up, but I hope something like that exists), you may be helping people in developing countries to make some cash. According to the BBC and a report released by the World Bank -- which is apparently now studying the effects of 'World of Warcraft' (PDF) on the economy -- when Western players want high level items or mined gold, they'll often use real currency to buy from players in Vietnam and China who are paid to level up.

These virtual goods are nothing to sniff at, with certain accounts laying out megabucks for whatever helms and chainmail they fancy. The report estimates that the largest Chinese suppliers of in-game "gold" net nearly $10 million, while other firms can make up to $1 million; the whole worldwide virtual market is nearly an $8 billion dollar industry. The good news is that, because there are no real supply costs, a large portion of the profits go into the hands of the worker, directly benefiting them instead of a corporation. The bad news is that, with Western gamers shelling out all of their money to buy better in-game goods, they'll never be able to save up money to move out of Mom's basement. Bad-um!

Level Up Your MMORPG Character Using Developing Economies originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ghana's Email Scammers Work Hard, Pray Harder
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST

Here's a fascinating look at the world of Sakawa, a unique blend of e-mail fraud and African religious tradition that has become a cultural force in Ghana. The young and unemployed people who use scavenged computers and Juju priests for their scams also drive a thriving music and movie scene centered on the lives of e-mail conmen. The video above is 20-minutes long, so if you're working, wait until later.

Ghana's Email Scammers Work Hard, Pray Harder originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Convicted Hacker Says He Committed Credit Card Heist for U.S. Government
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:35:00 EST

The hacker who orchestrated the biggest computer crime operation in U.S. history is alleging that the American government authorized him to do so.

Last year, 29-year-old Albert Gonzalez pleaded guilty to hacking into computer systems at TJX, Office Max, Dave & Busters, Heartland Payment Systems and other companies, in order to steal some 130 million credit card numbers. He received a 20-year prison sentence, which he's currently serving at a low-security facility in Michigan.

Continue reading Convicted Hacker Says He Committed Credit Card Heist for U.S. Government

Convicted Hacker Says He Committed Credit Card Heist for U.S. Government originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Latest Scam Claims Facebook is Deleting Accounts
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:40:00 EST

Facebook is closing all accounts today. They can't handle so many accounts. Most of the old accounts are not active, so they are deleting everything. If you want your account alive please confirm your activity. This is the final notice!

Continue reading Latest Scam Claims Facebook is Deleting Accounts

Latest Scam Claims Facebook is Deleting Accounts originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Florida Man Guns Down SWAT Team Robot With an AK-47 -- Naked
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:40:00 EST

What's crazier than locking yourself in your house and threatening to kill anyone that crosses its threshold? Walking out of your house to shoot a robot with an AK-47. Naked. While being videotaped. A Florida man accomplished all of those feats, during a recent standoff with a camera-equipped SWAT team bot. The $65,000 robot bravely attempted to enter the man's house, where it was greeted with nudity and four bullets. The man was taken into custody, and is undergoing psychological evaluations.

Florida Man Guns Down SWAT Team Robot With an AK-47 -- Naked originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

About Time! 'This American Life' Finally Goes iPad
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST

Not to make gross generalizations, but it is pretty amazing that 'This American Life,' the NPR talk show hosted by hip geek Ira Glass, took this long to get to the iPad. NPR and iPads should have an intrinsic relationship, like Volkswagens and Macs, Starbucks and the New York Times. Once again, these are broad assumptions, but the Cult of Mac's reputation as NPR-listening, Toms-wearing folk isn't for naught. Too bad it's text only, but we certainly hope "Squirrel Cop" makes an appearance.

Disclaimer: This author works on a Mac and listens to NPR, and this was written while sipping a soy chai latte in a Brooklyn coffee shop.

About Time! 'This American Life' Finally Goes iPad originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Upper Deck Evolution 'Cards' Use LCD Screens to Play Highlight Reels
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:10:00 EST

We thought collecting baseball cards went out with grunge, but apparently we were wrong. Upper Deck (one of the card companies that isn't Topps) is still clinging to life and pushing the envelope of what can legitimately be called a "card." The half-inch thick Evolution Series holds a battery and a small LCD, which loops a 60-second highlight real of one of four NFL players. Check out the video above.

Upper Deck Evolution 'Cards' Use LCD Screens to Play Highlight Reels originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pandora Provides Detailed Data, Including GPS Coordinates, to Advertisers
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:20:00 EST

After it was revealed earlier this week that several smartphone app makers, including Pandora, were being targeted by a federal grand jury in New Jersey for illegally gathering and distributing user information, security firm Veracode decided to do its own analysis.

It took a look at the Android version of Pandora's streaming music app, and found that it was feeding data to five different advertising platforms: AdMarvel, AdMob, comScore, Google.Ads, and Medialets. It appears the Pandora is feeding GPS coordinates, as well as the user's birthday, gender, postal code and Android ID, to AdMob. The other ad networks received similar data -- with comScore pulling in Android IDs, and Medialets receiving very detailed GPS data, including bearing and altitude, as well as information about model and version of Android.

Continue reading Pandora Provides Detailed Data, Including GPS Coordinates, to Advertisers

Pandora Provides Detailed Data, Including GPS Coordinates, to Advertisers originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

With Schools Turning to the Web for K-12 Education, Quality is a Concern
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST

Online courses have become an accepted fact of college life. But more and more school districts are turning to Web-based learning for lower grade levels, especially as a way for struggling high school students to make up courses they've failed or missed. The online classes aren't only for those who have fallen behind, though. Due to budget constraints, some schools are using them to offer advanced placement classes and expand elective offerings. For example, Reza Namin, the superintendent of schools in Westbrook, Maine, told the New York Times that, while she couldn't justify paying a Chinese language instructor in the face of a $6.5 million budget deficit, she was able to continue offering the course by turning to the online, non-profit Virtual High School Global Consortium.

The increasing reliance on digital education programs has drawn criticism from teachers and unions who claim the shift towards online learning is purely budgetary and an effort to pay fewer teachers' salaries. The argument could gain particular traction in Idaho, where a recent bill raided a fund used to pay educators to purchase laptops for every student in the state. The U.S. Department of Education has also expressed skepticism, saying there is little "scientific evidence of the effectiveness" of online classes for K-12 students.

Continue reading With Schools Turning to the Web for K-12 Education, Quality is a Concern

With Schools Turning to the Web for K-12 Education, Quality is a Concern originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cell Phone Evolution, Say Farewell to Voicemail
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:20:00 EST

Here are a few of the other noteworthy things we saw today on our never-ending journey through the wild, wild Web.

Read:

Voicemail, an Obituary

Do not leave me a voicemail. I will not listen to it. I'm going to press the corresponding number to delete your message as soon as the automated voice recording concludes. I'm going to press it with conviction, like a little boy who just won a raffle to implode an old baseball stadium.

Eve Online: Audience With The King Of Space

The best analogy for Eve is this: 1% of the time, when you take part in a massive fleet fight, or take part in some epic espionage caper or something, it is the most fun game you will ever encounter. 99% of the time you're just waiting for something to happen. But it's that 1% that hooks people like crack cocaine. I mean, you don't get interviewed by the BBC when you win a WoW raid.

Watch:

• The Evolution of Mobile
• Blit Terminal (circa 1982)

Know:

Escape your own extinction in 'Dino Run,' playable online or via the Mac App Store. [From: Dino Run]

Got a tip? Want to talk to us? In need of more choice links like these? Drop us a line on Twitter and check out our Tumblr blog.

Cell Phone Evolution, Say Farewell to Voicemail originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Surreal Gaming in 'Machinarium' Creator's Latest, 'Osada'
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:35:00 EST

This week we're showing love to the latest games from some of our favorite designers. These are creators that we've come to expect the best from -- and this week's picks certainly live up our expectations.

If you've played either of Amanita Design's previous works -- the 'Samorost' series or 'Machinarium' -- you know to expect a visually thrilling spectacle. Amanita's latest game, 'Osada,' leans more towards the surreal insanity of their 'Samorost' games than the more puzzle-oriented 'Machinarium,' with a stream-of-consciousness flow of nonsensical visuals and simple point-and-click puzzles. Oozing with irreverence and insanity, 'Osada' is an invigorating time-waster that's sure to delight anyone with a taste for the strange.

Surreal Gaming in 'Machinarium' Creator's Latest, 'Osada' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tony Montana Would Not Approve of a 'Scarface'-Motivated Killing
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EST

Well, this is the world that we live in now: 22-year-old Texan Alejandro Garcia pleaded guilty to shooting his then-17-year-old cousin over who would get the next turn to play 'Scarface: The World Is Yours.' The world certainly doesn't belong to either cousin now; Garcia has a sentence of 30 years, and his cousin was killed in the tragic event. Life imitates art, which sucks when the "art" is Al Pacino with a bad accent, killing people over drug deals gone awry and whoever is shtupping his wife.

Tony Montana Would Not Approve of a 'Scarface'-Motivated Killing originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geminoids Meet Their Meaty Doppelgangers
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST

Which ones are the humans and which are the robots? We're not even sure the participants in this terrifying photo op know the answer to that question. Three nightmarish Geminoids were brought together with the flesh bags they were modeled after, presumably so the 'bots could learn a bit more about their human counterparts before murdering them and taking their place in life.

Geminoids Meet Their Meaty Doppelgangers originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 EST

Social networking is a numbers game. Not only do you try to get the "right" amount of friends on Facebook and a good follower/followed ratio on Twitter, but it's all about wielding some social currency: who knows whom, where you get invited, if you'll get the scoop on the latest celeb death. Nowadays, social networking is quantifying the power of your friendships.

But talking analytics will make the average Facebooker's eyes glaze over. Transitioning it into a buy/sell/trade stock market game, however, suddenly turns your socialite friend into a hot commodity. Empire Avenue, a "social influence stock market" has now launched its Facebook app, which allows players to "buy and sell" the people they know, leveraging profit. The idea is that active, socially "fluent" people are worth more -- the more you tweet, post and share, the higher your value is. Then, you can take the game's currency, called "eaves," and purchase in-game items, which can also increase your value. The more people you invite, the greater access you'll have.

Continue reading Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game

Turn Your Friends Into Stock With Empire Avenue's Social Game originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GameStop Unveils New Facebook Store
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:20:00 EST

GameStop opened a new store today on Facebook. The shop, accessible via GameStop's Facebook page, allows users to purchase games online, read product reviews, watch trailers and find nearby GameStop outlets. Fans of the retailer can also "like" and share specific games on Facebook, and earn points via GameStop's customer loyalty program.

Today's launch is just the latest in a series of recent moves from GameStop, which appears eager to expand its operations. Last year, the company bought social gaming site Kongregate, and, just a few days ago, it acquired game-streaming startup Spawn Labs. According to Technologizer, GameStop has even considered developing its own tablet, though details remain hazy.

GameStop Unveils New Facebook Store originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

U.S. Might Use Facebook, Twitter to Broadcast Terrorism Alerts
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:40:00 EST

The U.S. government is considering using Facebook and Twitter to issue terrorism warnings, as part of its revamped terror alert system.

According to a draft of a Homeland Security plan obtained by the AP, the government would broadcast the warnings via Facebook and Twitter "when appropriate," and only after federal, state and local officials have already been alerted. But these warnings won't be quite as complex as before. The new system features only two alert levels -- 'elevated' and 'imminent' -- rather than the five colors that comprised the previous scale.

Continue reading U.S. Might Use Facebook, Twitter to Broadcast Terrorism Alerts

U.S. Might Use Facebook, Twitter to Broadcast Terrorism Alerts originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Baker's Dozen Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Mac
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Whether you're a recent convert, ambivalent veteran or one of those hardened Apple fanboys, let us remind you: a Mac, like any other computer, needs to be maintained. No, you probably don't need anti-virus software (yet), you may never have to fiddle with registry editing, and you'll likely never need to reinstall the operating system. But you may face a kernel panic, a raft of mysterious app crashes or the dreaded spinning beach ball of death. We've put together thirteen tips for keeping our Macs lean, clean computing machines. Spring has sprung, so, while you dust off your shelves and empty your closets, do some Mac maintenance, too.

Continue reading A Baker's Dozen Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Mac

A Baker's Dozen Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Mac originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chicago Catholic Church Warns Parents About Facebook
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:10:00 EST

While some outlets may bash Chicago's St. John Cantius Roman Catholic church for warning its parishioners of Facebook's moral dangers, we won't. After all, the church's clergy didn't forbid Facebook; they just declared that it facilitates vanity and dishonesty (specifically in children), allowing them to concoct their own identities and social realities with less risk of real-world consequence. We're right there with the church. Maybe we should've given up Facebook for Lent...

Chicago Catholic Church Warns Parents About Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Future of Online Customer Support Looks Like 'Minority Report'
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST

Online shopping can be a pretty solitary endeavor, unless you're shopping at B Reel's 3Live Shop. On the 3Live Shop, shoppers are invited to start video calls with sales reps, who can guide them through their purchases, using touchscreens to drag different products into the frame. According to B Reel, it's a "simple and personal" approach to online shopping -- assuming you're not averse to human interaction.

Future of Online Customer Support Looks Like 'Minority Report' originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments