iOS 6 to bring Siri to the iPad

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors, Software,

With iOS 6 set to debut next week at WWDC 2012, rumors about what we'll see in the next major version of Apple's mobile operating system are heating up, and 9to5Mac is reporting that Siri will make its debut on the iPad at the event. In the mockup above, you see how Siri for the iPad is described to look. The interface isn't full-screen, and instead slides up from the bottom of the iPad display. All the Siri features from the iPhone 4S are present in the iPad version, and there are also rumors that Siri will see upgraded functionality that will allow it to do more things in iOS 6 as well. We'll have all the details from WWDC when it kicks off next week on June 11.

Read More | 9to5Mac

Verizon to beginning Samsung Galaxy S III preorder on June 6 for $200

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Google, Handhelds,

Verizon Wireless has announced that it will begin taking pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S III beginning on June 6. That's right--in two days you'll be able to put your $200 down for the 16 GB Galaxy S III, or $250 if you'd prefer the 32 GB model. The Verizon Galaxy S III will be compatible with its 4G LTE network, and ships with Android 4.0.

Read More | Verizon

Weekend Reading: Avengers, Beau, Gareb And The Ultraverse

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, DC Comics, Marvel Comics,

Everyone is still talking about Joss Whedon's The Avengers.

Emmy-winning writer/producer/director Ken Levine got a kick out of The Avengers, but it’s not his favorite comic book movie.

The Avengers is now the third highest-grossing US movie of all time.

And they're even screening it on the International Space Station

Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Avengers, Beau, Gareb And The Ultraverse

Comic Book Jobs: DC Comics’ Publicity

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,

If you’re still looking for a ticket to Comic Con International in San Diego this year, you might try getting a job at DC Comics. They’re looking for a Publicity Manager for their New York office.

You’ll be doing all the famous press-based work: networking with members of the press, working your contacts to create PR opportunities, stay on top of whatever editorial is doing, and provide daily content for DC’s news blogs. There are lots of requirements, including a minimum of 5 years pr experience, excellent communication skills, established press relationships, experience in publishing or related fields, and the ability to keep a secret. Knowledge of comics and/or DC characters is a plus.

And what about the convention in San Diego? This: “Ability to travel (domestically) approximately 25%.” So no doubt there’s a hotel room and a convention badge in your future with this job.

Good luck, job seekers!

[Art: Green Lantern, © DC Comics]

Read More | DC Comics

Phoenix Comic Con - People Watching

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Conventions, Editorials, Independent,

In the world of instant digital books, this was bound to happen sooner or later.

Paul Moore went to the Phoenix Comic Con over the Memorial Day weekend, and took a bunch of photos. Then he created a three-volume series of Kindle e-books reproducing those photos. I got the first one from Amazon for free during a promotion (it may still be going on).

People Watching Comic Con Phoenix 2012 - Volume 1 is approximately 75 pages, and 70 of them are photographs from the con. According to Moore’s description, “There is nothing quite as fun as people watching that is not either fattening, illegal, or immoral.”

Click to continue reading Phoenix Comic Con - People Watching

Oliver Nome Could Use a Hand

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, DC Comics,

The life of a freelancer is never easy, but when you’re young and ailing and in financial difficulty, it can suddenly be just awful.

Artist Oliver Nome, a highly regarded comics artist, is having a medical crisis and could use a helping hand. Blog @ Newsarama’s Graeme McMillan has the details and if you can spare it, I can’t think of a better cause.

[Artwork: by Oliver Nome, from his DeviantArt page]

Apple to debut Facebook integration in iOS 6 at WWDC

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Rumors, Software,

TechCrunch has learned through a source that iOS 6, set to debut next week at WWDC 2012, will include system-level Facebook integration. This means that you'll be able to log in to Facebook in iOS 6 itself, similar to how you can currently do the same with multiple Twitter accounts in iOS 5.

After much speculation, Facebook integration will indeed be baked into the latest version of iOS, we’ve learned. [...]

To be clear, Twitter will still very much be a part of the new iOS (presumably named “iOS 6″ and codenamed “Sundance“), and that company will be holding sessions at WWDC to chat more about the continued partnership (including the integration into the forthcoming OS X Mountain Lion). But Facebook integration will be very important for iOS — tons of apps use Facebook for sign-ups and authentication (many use Facebook as the only way to do this, to the dismay of some).

Details of how exactly sharing will work remain a mystery, since Facebook has a more customized set of privacy options on a per-post basis, and of course, things can always change at the last minute and Facebook integration could end up being scrapped again (it was a planned feature for iOS 4.) However, Apple CEO, Tim Cook, recently suggested that we will see more out of Apple and Facebook shortly with the phrase "Stay tuned."

Read More | TechCrunch

Xbox 360 Smart Glass iOS, Android, Windows Phone streaming app to be announced at E3

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: E3, Microsoft, Rumors, Xbox 360,

E3 is right around the corner (a.k.a. next week) and word has slipped that Microsoft is planning to introduce a product called Smart Glass at the event. Xbox Smart Glass will be a companion application that you use with the console that will allow you to send video to the Xbox 360 from a smartphone or tablet, similar to what you can do with an iOS device and Apple TV using AirPlay. The cool part? Aside from naturally running on Windows 8 tablets and Windows Phone devices, Smart Glass will also run on iOS and Android in a multiplatform play for supremacy. About time, Microsoft.

Read More | Examiner

Google plans to show off 3D maps 5 days before Apple does

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Google, Internet, Rumors,

It's pretty much a sure thing that Apple will be replacing Google Maps with its own solution in iOS 6, highlighting a new 3D mapping feature in the process, and that this will be revealed on June 11 during the WWDC 2012 keynote. What we didn't expect, however, was that Google would be planning its own Maps even five days prior to Apple's announcement in order to show off what we assume will be its own 3D mapping feature. Yep, Google will be holding an event to show off "The Next Dimension of Google Maps" the morning of Wednesday, June 6 at 9:30am PDT. We'll have all the details as they happen.

Read More | 9to5Mac

4-inch iPhone display leaked on video?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Rumors, Videos,

It looks like the leaks regarding the new iPhone just keep on coming! Today we've got a video that purportedly shows off the front glass of the device, showing that it's indeed taller than that of the iPhone 4S (and every other iPhone before it.) The glass has space for a 4.07-inch display, and maintains the same width and home button. Also similar to previous leaks, the FaceTime camera has been moved to be centered above the earpiece. It's looking more and more like we'll be seeing a larger screen on the next iPhone.

Click to continue reading 4-inch iPhone display leaked on video?

Read More | Macotakara