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Google Trends shows Microsoft’s next Xbox is already beating Playstation 4
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, PlayStation 3, Sony, Xbox, Xbox 360,
We trust Google with a lot of things: we trust that it will be there for us when our memory fails and that it will find the best information for us. Can we trust it to predict the future for us too? Well, the future of consumer electronics at least.
Based on Google Trends searches, Microsoft's next generation system is poised to take down Sony's next Playstation console. Google Trends previously held the data that showed the winner of the high-def DVD race, as Blu-ray yielded more search results than HD DVD films. This time, news site Ludos Mundi used Google Trends to discover whose winning the next-gen popularity contest, and found users search "Xbox 720" about 60 percent of the time, compared to searches for "PS4" that occur 40 percent of the time.
You can use Google Trends yourself to see the data. Simply compare "Xbox 720" and "PS4" using the Forecast feature.
Read More 
| Ludos Mundi via Venture Beat
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Apple releases iOS 6.0.2, zaps Wi-Fi bug
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
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Just like that, Apple has released iOS 6.0.2, which looks to fix a Wi-Fi connection bug that affected some iOS devices. So, if you were one of the lucky ones with that problem, let us know if this update resolves it.
iOS 6.0.2 Software Update
This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:
- Fixes a bug that could impact Wi-Fi
Read More | Apple
US Cellular readies Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S III
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
US Cellular is about to begin distributing Android 4.1 to it's variation of Samsung Galaxy S III devices starting this Friday, December 21.
Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean, contains the features Galaxy S III owners on other carriers are used to by now, such as Project Butter, Google Now, camera improvements, notifications, widgets and an improved interface.
US Cellular hasn't released an exact time of day that users can expect the update, as they have to be pretty anxious by now, but what we do know is that the update can be done over the air, or over USB.
Read More | US Cellular
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New BlackBerry 10 Screenshots show voice recognition, updated UI
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Software,
BlackBerry 10 is nearing its debut, and more screenshots have come out showing what's new in the BB10 operating system.
From the newest screenshots posted on Tihnte, it appears the BB10 is taking a book out of Apple's playbook and incorporating a smart voice assistant. Voice commands were announced earlier, and the screenshots show you will definitely be able to make dictations, but other functionality, if any at all, is unknown.
The screenshots also showcase BB10's Twitter client, which doesn't stray to far from the iOS and Android comfort zones. There's also some looks at the BlackBerry Hub and new visual stylings of the BB10.
Read More | Tinhte
Twitter allegedly attempted to buy Instagram for $525 million
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Acquisitions, Corporate News, Rumors, Social Networks, Startups,
Way before Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion, Twitter apparently made an offering of its own, to which Instagram initially agreed to.
The offer from Twitter, according to The New York Times, was for $525 million. Instagram's CEO, Kevin Systrom, agreed to the buy-out, but changed his mind before selling Instagram to Facebook without allowing Twitter to make a counter offer.
What's interesting is that Systrom had stated while under oath to the California Corporations Department that Instagram had never received another formal offer. None of the parties have commented on the Times article that brought this information to life, but it could mean we might be in the throes of an intense legal battle shortly.
Read More | NY TImes
Twitter rolling out Archive feature, allows you to download your tweet history
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Internet,
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If you thought you could just bury the past under an onslaught of new tweets, then you're about as wrong as Commissioner Gordon and Batman at the end of The Dark Knight.
The truth always comes out eventually, and this time it's coming out one tweet at a time in the form of your very personalized Twitter archive that, you guessed it, contains every tweet you ever posted. Each personalized archive is done up in HTML and divided by month, so you can remember the great (and not so great) times of your social media life a month at a time.
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo promised this feature earlier, but it appears to be rolling out for select users right now, and you may very well be one of them. To check, go to your Twitter account and see if you find "Your Twitter Archive" under the settings page.
Read More | The Next Web
Samsung Galaxy S III, other Android devices susceptible to malware through Google Play
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
A "severe vulnerability" has been identified within the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note II, and possibly other Android devices.
The vulnerability leaves these devices open to malware downloaded in remote apps, which can then read user data and even brick your phone completely. "The good news is we can easily obtain root on these devices and the bad is there is no control over it," said xda-developers user Alephzain. Usually, vulnerabilities like this require physical access to the phone, while this vulnerability allows it to be attacked from apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Samsung is apparently aware of the problem, but has not publicly acknowledged the problem. Millions of devices are reportedly at risk right now as public knowledge of the issue spreads.
Read More | The Verge
Ray Kurzweil joins Google, will focus on machine learning
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Google, Science,
Ray Kurzweil announced via his blog that he is joining Google to work on projects that consisting of machine learning and language processing.
"I'm excited to share that I'll be joining Google as Director of Engineering this Monday, December 17," Kurzweil said. "I've been interested in technology, and machine learning in particular, for a long time: when I was 14, I designed software that wrote original music, and later went on to invent the first print-to-speech reading machine for the bling, among other inventions. I've always worked to create practical systems that will make a difference in people's lives, which is what excites me as an inventor."
Kurzweil will serve as a Director of Engineering, though it's not clear on how immediate Kurzweil's focus will be on consumer products.
Read More | Kurzweil
1Password 4 with iCloud sync, built-in browser, demo mode a worthy upgrade
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Utilities, App Updates, iPad Apps, $7.99, Above $10,
I can't deny how excited we at Gear Live are about AgileBits's update to its successful password management app. 1Password Pro is now at version 4, and with it comes an overhauled UI and a host of cool, new features like iCloud support, integrated full browser, and demo mode.
Undoubtedly, iCloud sync has to be the stand out feature. Now all of your iDevices that have 1Password 4 (1P4) installed will automagically have the same data whether it be iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, all transferred and stored in 256-bit AES encryption. You can also simultaneously use DropBox as sync protocol along with iCloud; great news for those who use multivendor hardware.
1Password 4 now has a new full integrated browser built right inside the app that has a URL bar, tabs and full access to your password vault.
Click to continue reading 1Password 4 with iCloud sync, built-in browser, demo mode a worthy upgrade
Read More | 1Password 4
iTunes 11.0.1 fixes iCloud and AirPlay issues, brings back duplicate finding
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,
Apple has released an update to iTunes 11 that fixes a few bugs and reintroduces some essential functionality. In iTunes 11.0.1, you'll discover that duplicate item finding has been brought back, making it easy to purge duplicate items from your iTunes library. Additionally, iCloud items are now appearing like they're supposed to, and the AirPlay button now behaves and shouldn't disappear anymore. You can get the latest update now.
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