Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Illegal Download Shuts Down Town's Free Wi-Fi]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/single-illegal-download-shuts-down-wi-fi-for-entire-town/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/single-illegal-download-shuts-down-wi-fi-for-entire-town/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/single-illegal-download-shuts-down-wi-fi-for-entire-town/#commentsFiled under: ,

One fine day, someone in Ohio decided to download a movie. And, thanks to this one surreptitious cinephile, the entire public Wi-Fi service was shut down.

An unnamed individual in Coshocton County, Ohio recently logged on to a free wireless network that the county made available to the public five years ago to illegally download a film. Sony Pictures somehow found out about the crime, notified the county service provider, and with the snap of a finger and the wave of a wand, no more wireless. Officials still aren't entirely sure who did it, but they are digging deeper into the matter. The move comes as the film industry continues to battle against piracy and illegal downloads on an increasingly regular basis, an effort that usually focuses on locating and persecuting the source of the illegality, i.e., the single person making the contraband media public, not the users. In this case, though, Sony decided to isolate this lone wolf of a downloader, and now, the entire town is suffering the consequences.

Continue reading Illegal Download Shuts Down Town's Free Wi-Fi

SwitchedIllegal Download Shuts Down Town's Free Wi-Fi originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadingdownloadsillegalmovie downloadsMovieDownloadsSONYtopwifiFri, 13 Nov 2009 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Access Files From Anywhere -- Even Your iPhone -- With Dropbox]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/access-files-from-anywhere-even-your-iphone-with-dropbox/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/access-files-from-anywhere-even-your-iphone-with-dropbox/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/access-files-from-anywhere-even-your-iphone-with-dropbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

What it is: Dropbox is an online storage service that holds your files (up to 2 gigabytes) for free, and automatically syncs them between several PCs. It also allows you to access your files from any Web-connected computer. Dropbox offers 2 free gigabytes of storage to all users, but you can upgrade that to 50GB for $9.99 a month, or 100GB for $19.99 a month. If you want a slight boost in storage, but don't want to cough up for it, you can gain an extra 250 megabytes of free storage for each new user you refer -- up to a 3GB limit.

What we like: Dropbox is dead simple to use. Simply download the application from GetDropbox.com and then install it. The installer automatically creates a Dropbox folder where you can save any files you want to sync and share. Whether you run Windows or have a Mac, or even if you're a Linux, you'll find a version of Dropbox that will work. There is also a newly released iPhone app that will let you access files from your phone, and a Web interface that lets you pull them up from any device (computer or smartphone) with Internet access.

Continue reading Access Files From Anywhere -- Even Your iPhone -- With Dropbox

SwitchedAccess Files From Anywhere -- Even Your iPhone -- With Dropbox originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud computingCloudComputingdropboxfeaturesswitcheddownloadtopTue, 27 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[VW Launches 2010 GTI Exclusively Via Mobile Phone Game]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/22/vw-launches-2010-gti-exclusively-on-a-mobile-phone-game/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/22/vw-launches-2010-gti-exclusively-on-a-mobile-phone-game/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/22/vw-launches-2010-gti-exclusively-on-a-mobile-phone-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In an atmosphere of disappearing print magazines, increased TV viewing on the Web, and a tough market for both car buyers and dealers, one of the few successful car companies alive today needs to change the game a bit. So with the introduction of a niche-y hot hatch that isn't even that cheap, Volkswagen hits hard with quick and dirty campaign on everyone's favorite toy -- the iPhone. This morning, Volkswagen became the first auto manufacturer to launch (by launch, we mean advertise) a car solely on the Apple phone. No, it's not an app, but rather, an exclusive, playable, and independent level of iPhone racing game Firement Real Racing, which has already received 70-million downloads since launching back in June.

Available on the iTunes App Store for free, the 'Real Racing GTI' level lets you choose from six different 2010 GTIs and race them on a track laden with VW logos. Unfortunately, it doesn't integrate with the rest of the game, but it does have one killer feature: Players can compete to win one of six limited-edition black GTI MkVI cars, which have special stitching on the floor mats and head rests, carbon-fiber finishes on the doors and mirrors, red calipers on the wheels, and special logos on the front and on the steering wheel (see close-ups of the cars in the slideshow below). In addition, the 2010 GTI's sound system has been upgraded to include full iPod integration (so you can access your full music library on the car's dashboard versus a simple auxiliary connection).

Continue reading VW Launches 2010 GTI Exclusively Via Mobile Phone Game

SwitchedVW Launches 2010 GTI Exclusively Via Mobile Phone Game originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingfreegtiiphone appsiphoneappsmarketingtopvolkswagenVolkwagenvwThu, 22 Oct 2009 17:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft Launching Ad-Supported 'Office Starter', Retiring Works]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/10/microsoft-launching-ad-supported-office-starter-retiring-work/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/10/microsoft-launching-ad-supported-office-starter-retiring-work/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/10/microsoft-launching-ad-supported-office-starter-retiring-work/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Microsoft To Retire Works, Launching Ad-Supported Office StarterMicrosoft has spread itself pretty thin in recent years by offering a bewildering array of products that often have overlapping feature sets or compete directly with one another. This confusion, combined with the increasingly ridiculous fees for joining Club Microsoft, has helped out competitors like Google, Apple, and Open Office.

This problem has been no clearer than it has in the productivity software field, where the nearly useless Microsoft Works, often packaged for free with new PCs, has been losing customers to more full-featured and free competitors. But Microsoft has been making moves to consolidate its Office product line: launching a Web-based version of the tool, ditching Entourage for a proper Mac version of Outlook, and now offering an ad-supported, free version of Office with some of the more advanced features stripped away.

Continue reading Microsoft Launching Ad-Supported 'Office Starter', Retiring Works

SwitchedMicrosoft Launching Ad-Supported 'Office Starter', Retiring Works originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What it is: 7-Zip is a free tool for PC users to handle virtually all of those pesky archive files -- the ones with endings like .zip and .rar -- as well as a host of other file types. Not only does it allow you to open and unpack archives, but it lets you create them, too.

What we like: 7-Zip is one of those simple tools that quickly becomes indispensable once you've used it a few times. It's versatile enough to extract files from the most popular archive formats (e.g., .zip, .rar, .tar, and .gzip) as well as from the more obscure ones (e.g., .lha, .lzh, .arj, and .z).

Continue reading Use 7-Zip to Manage Archive Files, and Create Your Own

SwitchedUse 7-Zip to Manage Archive Files, and Create Your Own originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Many online services have tried to drag online one of the last hold-outs of desktop software: the music manager. But the hurdle upon which Last.FM, Imeem, Slacker, and Pandora all stumble is their inability to offer users access to whatever music they want, on-demand, especially in the mobile sphere. Most of the mobile versions of these apps have been relegated to streaming, predetermined playlists and "stations." As such, none of these apps have managed to knock the desktop-based iTunes off its throne.

Spotify, on the other hand, combines the social and, most importantly, free, aspects of these Web apps with the on-demand capabilities of services like Napster. A key element of Spotify's business plan revolves around an iPhone application that will let you stream any song you want over 3G (as long as it's one of the six million for which the company has secured licensing deals). One feature that will make Spotify stand heads above the competition is its ability to cache songs for offline play. That means that even if you venture into the subway or wander outside of your coverage area, Spotify will keep on playing.

Continue reading This Week in Tech: Apple Approved Spotify App, Confounding Critics

SwitchedThis Week in Tech: Apple Approved Spotify App, Confounding Critics originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeapp store approvalAppStoreAppStoreApprovaliphoneipod touchIpodTouchmusicspotifystreamingtopSun, 06 Sep 2009 08:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Can't Organize? Love to Organize? Either Way, Evernote Can Help.]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/07/27/cant-organize-love-to-organize-either-way-evernote-can-help/http://www.switched.com/2009/07/27/cant-organize-love-to-organize-either-way-evernote-can-help/http://www.switched.com/2009/07/27/cant-organize-love-to-organize-either-way-evernote-can-help/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Switched Download: Evernote

Evernote

What it is: Evernote is a note-taking tool that lets you store information online and quickly reference it from any Web-connected computer or mobile phone. You can clip parts of Web pages, save text, images, or even hand-written notes. It's a place "in the cloud" to store anything you might need to recall at a later date -- be it a to-do list, meeting notes, Web research, a picture of that wine label you took while on vacation in Napa Valley, or even more sensitive data like difficult-to-remember network keys.

What we like about it: We love that you can use it from pretty much any computer or cell phone. While the Windows and Mac versions let you access and save notes offline to be uploaded the next time you are online, there are also dedicated Evernote apps for iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm's WebOS, and Windows Mobile, not to mention a separate mobile site for cell phones. The regular Web site has a slick interface that easily lets you create and save notes, tag them, and divide them up into separate notebooks. There's also a plug-in that lets you "clip" content from the Web with just one click and then automatically upload it to Evernote. As if all that weren't enough, you can also e-mail or tweet notes to Evernote, where they will automatically be added to your collection.

Continue reading Can't Organize? Love to Organize? Either Way, Evernote Can Help.

SwitchedCan't Organize? Love to Organize? Either Way, Evernote Can Help. originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Firefox Flaws Lead Some to Question its SecurityHere at Switched, we're big fans of Firefox, the once alternative Web browser from Mozilla that, within a few years, has become hugely popular, with nearly one in four Web surfers using it today. We quickly downloaded the 3.5 release when it was made available a few weeks ago -- alas, a raft of security warnings are making us wonder whether that was necessarily the best idea.

Not long after the eagerly-anticipated 3.5 release, a major security vulnerability was found -- a flaw that could have allowed shady Internet sites to infiltrate your computer and, possibly, install spyware. That flaw was patched last week, but now, just a few days later, another security hole has been found. It's called the "Unicode Data Remote Stack Buffer Overflow Vulnerability," and, as of now there's no fix from Mozilla.

Should you be worried? Probably not, as it's unlikely that more than a handful of sites are using this exploit, and they're surely relegated to the darkest corners of the Web. This is really just more of a black eye for the browser, which was pledged as a more secure alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. Still, you should always be careful and be wary before you go to random sites you've never heard of -- and, when Firefox prompts you about an important security update in a day or two, you'd best install it. [From: SecurityFocus, via DownloadSquad]

SwitchedYet Another Security Flaw Hits Firefox 3.5 Web Browser originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Categorize and Sync Your Twitter Pals with TweetDeck

TweetDeck

What it does: TweetDeck is a client for the burgeoning micro-blogging / social networking service, Twitter. In addition to basic functions like updating your status and delivering your friends' Tweets, the app offers a host of advanced features that make it the client of choice among the seriously Twitter addicted.

What we like about it: For one, TweetDeck works on almost any machine. Since it runs on Adobe Air (which you'll have to download here first), you can install it on Macs, Windows PCs, and Linux boxes with equal ease. There is even an iPhone version. Bonus: TweetDeck recently added the ability to sync preferences across all installations, so there is no need to tweak settings every time you install it on a new computer, or on an iPhone.

Continue reading Keep Track of Your Multiple Twitter Friends With TweetDeck

SwitchedKeep Track of Your Multiple Twitter Friends With TweetDeck originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched Download: Handbrake Rips Your DVDs for Your iPhone and Other Devices
Handbrake

What it does: Handbrake converts DVDs and other videos into formats for easy sharing between your computers or loading onto a portable device or console.

What we like about it: Handbrake is dead simple to use, with one-click presets that format for the iPod, the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, and Xbox 360. But power users can access advanced controls to fine-tune options such as resolution or bitrate, or optimize videos for devices such as BlackBerrys. Though it began as a DVD converter, the latest version of Handbrake can reformat just about any video source -- including YouTube clips and DivX files.

Continue reading Switched Download: Handbrake Rips DVDs for iPhones, Other Devices

SwitchedSwitched Download: Handbrake Rips DVDs for iPhones, Other Devices originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dvdfeatureshandbrakeswitcheddownloadtopvideoMon, 29 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Woman Fined $1.9 Million for Downloading 24 Songs]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/06/19/woman-fined-1-9-million-for-downloading-24-songs/http://www.switched.com/2009/06/19/woman-fined-1-9-million-for-downloading-24-songs/http://www.switched.com/2009/06/19/woman-fined-1-9-million-for-downloading-24-songs/#commentsFiled under:

Jammie Thomas-Rasset didn't know how good she had it.

Back in 2007, the Minnesota mother made national headlines as the first person sued by the RIAA for copyright infringement to actually take the case to trial (instead of settling out of court), after she was charged with downloading copyrighted songs through the P2P network, Kazaa. At the trial's conclusion, Thomas-Rasset was found guilty of illegally downloading 24 songs and was fined $10,000 for each one, amounting to a total of $240,000 in damages. But the case was deemed a mistrial by the judge and Thomas-Rasset waited two years for a retrial. Yesterday, the single mother of four was found guilty again, but this time ordered to pay a mind-boggling $80,000 per song -- $1.9 million in all.

Throughout the trials, Thomas-Rassett has always pledged her innocence, but juries have been incredulous. In fact, as part of her testimony in this trial, Thomas-Rassett suggested -- for the first time -- that her children or ex-husband might have been the downloading culprits. If the jurors didn't buy into the defendant's attempt at implicating her children, we couldn't imagine it helped to bolster her image in their eyes.

Continue reading Woman Fined $1.9 Million for Downloading 24 Songs

SwitchedWoman Fined $1.9 Million for Downloading 24 Songs originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Songbird -- The Firefox of Music Managers
Songbird

What it does: Songbird aims to do for media managers what Firefox did for Web browsers: trounce the standard bearer (iTunes, in this case) with customization, open-source ideology, and sheer performance. Actually built on the same codebase as Firefox, Songbird allows you to manage your music collection, buy songs, and load audio on your iPod.

What we like about it: Songbird is the one iTunes alternative that can play songs purchased from the iTunes store, which makes switching from the seemingly inescapable (and overrated) Apple media manager easier than you'd expect. Songbird also has no problem loading music to most iPods. (Note: It doesn't support the iPod touch or iPhone, as only iTunes currently has support for these devices.) (Update: Songbird released an update a mere hours after this review went live with preliminary support for the iPhone and iPod Touch, though it's very rough in the current version.) For those who choose to skip Apple altogether, many other media players, including models from Archos, Sony, Creative, and SanDisk, are also supported.

Continue reading Songbird: the Firefox of Music Managers

SwitchedSongbird: the Firefox of Music Managers originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Open IT Lets You Open Files Right Into Web-Based Programs


Open IT


What it does: Open IT is an add-on for Web browsers that lets you open up documents, images, videos, and other files that are sent to you via e-mail or IM directly into the Web-based app (Google Docs, Zoho Office, and the like) of your choice.

What we like about it: Previously, users of Web-based programs would have to first download, say, a spreadsheet sent via e-mail onto their desktop and then upload it to the online spreadsheet program in, say, Google Docs. Now, all you do is click on the download link in your e-mail and Open IT automatically starts up and opens the document in Google Docs into a new browser tab (or in the current tab if you change the preferences). It works with all sorts of files and Web- based apps -- we've really saved a lot of time using it to open images directly into free online editing programs such as Picnik and Snipshot, for example.


Continue reading Open IT Lets You Open Files Right Into Web-Based Programs

SwitchedOpen IT Lets You Open Files Right Into Web-Based Programs originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>switcheddownloadtopwebTue, 28 Apr 2009 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Google Chrome the Safest Web Browser? Hackers Seem to Think So.]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/is-google-chrome-the-safest-web-browser-hackers-seem-to-think-s/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/is-google-chrome-the-safest-web-browser-hackers-seem-to-think-s/http://www.switched.com/2009/03/24/is-google-chrome-the-safest-web-browser-hackers-seem-to-think-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hackers Don't Even Want to Mess With Chrome
Google: 1, Hackers: 0.

The game is far from over, but right now, Google has a pretty firm upper hand in the battle over browser security supremacy.

This past week, hackers were invited to the CanSecWest security conference, where they were encouraged to break browsers and bend them to their wills. While Firefox and Internet Explorer were both hacked and exploited, it was Apple's Safari that took a particularly hard spanking. It was the most popular target at the event and, according to Charlie Miller (of MacBook Air hacking fame), the browser with the most easily exploitable vulnerabilities. It seems that Apple's OS X isn't nearly as secure as Cupertino fan boys would have you believe.

Continue reading Is Google Chrome the Safest Web Browser? Hackers Seem to Think So.

SwitchedIs Google Chrome the Safest Web Browser? Hackers Seem to Think So. originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser warsBrowserWarscansecwestchromesecuritytopweb browserWebBrowserTue, 24 Mar 2009 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Malware Finds Point of Entry in Internet Explorer 7 Bug]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/18/malware-finds-point-of-entry-in-ie7-bug/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/18/malware-finds-point-of-entry-in-ie7-bug/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/18/malware-finds-point-of-entry-in-ie7-bug/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A new strain of malware has been attacking users of Internet Explorer 7 (IE7), according to TrendMicro.com.

Apparently, the virus takes its first steps by exploiting a bug in IE7 that occurs when the program tries to "access deleted objects." Entering the system as a .doc file, and after performing a series of hidden downloads and installations, the malware turns the infected computer into a zombie, taking screen shots of the computer and sending them to the bad guys' server.

Apparently, up-to-date Smart Protection Network users are safe from the threat, but IE7 users should probably go ahead and patch their systems. In the meantime, Trend Micro promises to update the story as more comes to light. [From: TrendMicro]


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SwitchedMalware Finds Point of Entry in Internet Explorer 7 Bug originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ie7internet explorerInternetExplorertopwindowsWed, 18 Feb 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Is NY Really Going to Tax Internet Porn?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/02/18/is-ny-really-going-to-tax-internet-porn/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/18/is-ny-really-going-to-tax-internet-porn/http://www.switched.com/2009/02/18/is-ny-really-going-to-tax-internet-porn/#commentsFiled under: , ,



With New York facing a $15 billion budget deficit , it should surprise no one that the Empire State's leaders are getting creative in their search for a solution.

New York Governor George Patterson wants to place a four-percent tax on Internet downloads of books, music, and other content. While some people are calling this the iPod tax, we all know that it should be called the "porn tax." Proponents of the tax say it will raise much needed funds in a time of crisis. Michael Long, chairman of New York's Conservative Party opposes the tax, saying, "You're sending a message to the children... If you're taxing it -- how can it be wrong?"

We aren't saying pornography is right or wrong, but it is a legitimate, primarily legal form of adult entertainment that makes billions of dollars a year. Mr. Long is trying to appease his base, which is expected and a bit unoriginal. He cannot honestly believe that an industry of this size needs further legitimacy. Taxing pornography does not legitimize it. If the pros of taxing downloadable content can ease the pain of this budget crisis, and ultimately make fiscal sense, why wouldn't the governor pull the trigger? [From: Inquirer]

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SwitchedIs NY Really Going to Tax Internet Porn? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>governmentipod taxIpodTaxnew yorkNewYorkporntaxesWed, 18 Feb 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New Feature Lets You Check Your Gmail Offline]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/new-feature-lets-you-check-your-gmail-offline/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/new-feature-lets-you-check-your-gmail-offline/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/28/new-feature-lets-you-check-your-gmail-offline/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Users of Google's Gmail service can now check their e-mail without an Internet connection, Gmail engineer Andy Palay announced yesterday afternoon via the Offical Gmail Blog.

The feature, which doesn't seem to be showing up in our Gmail Labs yet for some reason, depends upon a program called Gears that downloads and regularly updates a cache of your Gmail messages. So, while your computer is connected to the Internet, it's constantly downloading your Gmail information without your explicit direction. As a result, you will be able to peruse your up-to-date e-mail page in the event you lose a connection.

With the feature, users will be fully able to read, delete, save and send mail -- Google Gears waits for a connection to be established before pushing the offline Gmail commands through. With as much time as we spend on the road, in the air, and generally scrounging for neighbors' Wi-Fi scraps, we can't think of any reason not to give this feature a shot. Aside from it not being available, that is. [From: Official Gmail Blog]


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SwitchedNew Feature Lets You Check Your Gmail Offline originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsemailgmailgmail labsGmailLabsgooglegoogle labsGoogleLabsnew productsNewProductsofflinewi-fiWed, 28 Jan 2009 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Remember 'HotorNot?' It's Back as an iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/remember-hotornot-its-back-as-an-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/remember-hotornot-its-back-as-an-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/01/23/remember-hotornot-its-back-as-an-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's about darn time. HotorNot.com, that wildly popular time-waster from the early days of the Web, is finally coming to the iPhone, and we could not be more relieved. All those days we spent walking aimlessly around the city with no one to superficially rate... It was torture! Feel free to rate away with the new free iPhone app that allows you to meet and rate people in your area (there is a GPS feature that narrows down your search region), or anywhere in the world.

For those of you who don't know, HotorNot.com is a place where people (or their pictures) are rated 1-10 on their hotness. You can also e-mail featured hotties and send them e-gifts. HotorNot's simplicity is probably its biggest attribute -- for those of you in search of deeper relationships, you may want to pass. If, however, you're looking for a fling, or someone who likes to laugh a lot and chill at the beach (as almost everyone on the site does), why the heck not? [From: textually.org]

SwitchedRemember 'HotorNot?' It's Back as an iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStorehotornotiphone appsIphoneAppstimewasterstoptrendsFri, 23 Jan 2009 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Google to Publish Books Online]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/10/29/google-getting-into-online-book-publishing/http://www.switched.com/2008/10/29/google-getting-into-online-book-publishing/http://www.switched.com/2008/10/29/google-getting-into-online-book-publishing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Google's next foray into content delivery won't be video or music but books - and the Web search company isn't talking about selling the latest Nicholas Sparks best-seller to be read on a dedicated digital reader. Instead, Google will be working with publishers and authors to produce online-only books that will be read on the computers that consumers already have.

While Sony and Amazon would have you believing you need a special device just to read a digital book, Google co-founder Sergey Brin says a computer monitor does the job just fine. "You don't have to look at it at a funny angle, and today's monitors have better resolution than ever."

Four years ago, Google's Book Search project began scanning out-of-print books - a seemingly smart thing to do and a good service for people trying to track down some old, maybe unpopular tomes. But publishers responded with lawsuits, claiming Google was infringing on their copyrights. Since then, Google has also scanned in-print books and included links for consumers to buy the whole book when they find a work they like.

This time around, after agreeing to settle the suit for $125 million, Google is working with the publishers to make sure everyone involved gets their due. Court approval of the settlement is expected for summer of 2009, and that's when authors who have registered with Google will be able to make their books available. The authors will set the price and get about 50-percent of the sale. Out-of-print books still under copyright will be easier for publishers to arrange for sale on Google Book Search, so you might not have to dig so hard at the used book store or the library for a missing novel or poetry compendium. [From: USA Today.]

SwitchedGoogle to Publish Books Online originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewse-booksGoogle Book SearchGoogleBookSearchlawsuitWed, 29 Oct 2008 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's Picasa Gets Face ID Update]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/09/04/googles-picasa-gets-updates-recognizes-your-friends/http://www.switched.com/2008/09/04/googles-picasa-gets-updates-recognizes-your-friends/http://www.switched.com/2008/09/04/googles-picasa-gets-updates-recognizes-your-friends/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Picasa Gets Updates, Knows Who Your Friends Are
Google was not resting on its laurels earlier this week. First, it announced its corporate video sharing platform, then it unveiled Chrome, and towards the end of the day rumblings of a vastly updated Picasa started to come out.

The Picasa news was clearly overshadowed by Chrome, but the new features are nonetheless impressive. Most dramatically, Picasa's Web Albums will allow you to tag people in a photo, automatically. Facebook, MySpace, and Flickr may let you tag photos, or people in photos, but they make you do it manually, which can take quite a long time. The revamped Picasa doesn't just search all your photos for faces -- it also compares them and tells you which ones it thinks are the same person, thus allowing you to tag a person in several different photos in one step.

In our brief hands-on, Picasa performed quite admirably, even recognizing a few partially obscured faces correctly. It wasn't perfect and incorrectly identified a few photos and failed to identify others at all, but we were still able to tag an album of 40-plus photos in under 10 minutes.

The Picasa desktop application also picked up a few new features this week, including a movie editor, a touch-up tool for clearing up skin blemishes and red-eye in photos, and a synchronization mode that lets you alter and tag photos in your Web album even if you've uploaded them from somewhere else.

Picasa is getting a little long in the tooth, Google shows it is serious about staying in the digital photo market with these updates. [From: CBS]

SwitchedGoogle's Picasa Gets Face ID Update originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdigital photographyDigitalPhotographydownloadsgooglephoto managementphotographyPhotoManagementphotospicasawebweb appsWebAppsThu, 04 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EST