Continue reading The Daily Engadget: MacBook Pro Explodes, SmartPill Gauges Your Insides

The Daily Engadget: MacBook Pro Explodes, SmartPill Gauges Your Insides originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Pizza Hut's annoying, spamming Facebook app earned the company some criticism last year, but the response to its three-month-old iPhone app has been somewhat different. So far, the mobile ordering system has reportedly brought in over $1 million in revenue. [From: Textually]
• Since the onset of the recession, many folks have considered the video game marketplace to be immune from the economic downturn. EA, one of the industry's biggest and most enduring names, has suffered significant losses over the last year, though, and is being forced to completely shutter some facilities. The closings will unfortunately result in the termination of 1,500 employees by April of next year. [From: TUAW]
• Although the holidays are supposed to be a time of cheer and goodwill, the economy is instead creating turmoil, hardship, and worry. After firing 600 employees last December (Seriously? Are you just trying to avoid giving out holiday bonuses?), Adobe is prepared to lay off another 680 this year -- approximately nine-percent of the company's workforce. Where's Cousin Eddie when you need him? [From: TUAW]
• Thankfully, some companies know how to act appropriately during the season of giving. Google is now offering significant discounts on additional storage for GMail and Picasa Web users, including a $5 deal for 20 additional gigabytes. [From: Download Squad]
• A recent Razorfish consumer survey revealed that 25-percent of Twitter users follow corporate brands, while 40-percent of Facebook and MySpace members have done so. The study also determined that social networkers are a thrifty bunch; approximately 40-percent of each group follow the companies for the sake of exclusive deals and discounts. [From: Read Write Web]
• Mac OS X 10.6.2 is officially available, and the update reportedly provides numerous fixes and corrections. It will not, however, run on consoles with ATOM CPUs. [From: Download Squad]
• Photo tagging provides a much needed security blanket for Facebook members -- particularly those who need alerts so potentially incriminating tagged photos from those Delta house days don't appear on any in-laws' pages. Beginning today, Face.com will apparently be offering a new, free app that uses facial recognition software to identify likenesses, even on photos that have not been tagged. That was just a huge sigh of relief you heard. [From: Tech Crunch]

Pizza Hut iPhone App Bringing in the Dough, Google Offers Storage Discounts originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Project Natal Rumors, Laser-Guided Robot Wheelchairs

The Daily Engadget: Project Natal Rumors, Laser-Guided Robot Wheelchairs originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tech Etiquette: Cell Phone Dos and Don'ts originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Conrad Hilton revolutionized the hotel business in the early 20th century, and his namesake chain is aiming to do the same in the '00s with promises of technological evolution. Yesterday, Hilton Worldwide announced the release of iPhone and iPod touch apps that will enable guests to remotely check in, choose beds, and order food. [From: USA Today]
• Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry apparently first learned of lead singer Steven Tyler's plans to go solo by reading it on the Web, so he has angrily responded and spread the news via Twitter. (We're pretty sure, anyway. Let's keep in mind that the account is not verified). It's a shame to watch a legendary band squabble after so many years. Maybe, to prevent such turmoil and pain, they should have handled this by fax -- about 15 years ago. [From: The Daily Beast]
• The hilarious, humbling, and vulgar Twitter sensation 'Sh*t My Dad Says' has scored a TV gig with CBS, joining 'Texts From Last Night' and 'Awkward Family Photos' in the ranks of sites and Twitter pages that are hitting the big time. But, don't expect a screen or book version of 'People of Walmart,' because someone has already made it. It's called 'Deliverance.' [From: THR Live Feed]
• Engaged in a battle with Apple to corner the market on everything, Google has reportedly purchased Gizmo5, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. The move will put the "world's biggest brand" in direct competition with the world's largest international call provider, Skype, which also recently considered purchasing Gizmo5. [From: Engadget and Tech Crunch]
• Hawaii is celebrating 50 years of statehood this year, and the newest member of the U.S.A. is once again the 50th in line for another honor: Street View on Google Maps. The maps of Oahu and Maui will feature well known landmarks and beaches, including Waimea Bay, Iolani Palace, and the favorite hotspots of local hero President Obama. [From: Google Blog]
• Coca-Cola has received a formal warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority for spamming mobile phones with 100,000 unsolicited text messages. Sadly, the company won't have to pay a fine for the annoying stunt, which was probably just the latest salvo in the tumultuous and devastating war between Coke Classic and Coke Zero. [From: News.com.au]

Hilton Hotel iPhone Apps, Aerosmith Declares Breakup on Twitter? originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Google's Free Airport Wi-Fi, T-Mobile Ditches myFaves

The Daily Engadget: Google's Free Airport Wi-Fi, T-Mobile Ditches myFaves originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• New DROID photo enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief: Adobe just released a Photoshop.com mobile app for cropping, basic color filters, and zooming. [From: DownloadSquad]
• Get your meme fix for the day over at Urlesque, where our friends have compiled a hilarious gallery of old people playing 'Guitar Hero.' [From: Urlesque]
• Grooveshark just got a makeover, making the excellent music-streaming service much easier to use. [From: Lifehacker]
• For its fifth birthday, Mozilla's upcoming mobile Firefox browser gets a precious new logo. [From: DownloadSquad]

Best of the Rest: Photoshop Comes to Android, Elderly Shred on 'Guitar Hero' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading What's the Best iMac for Basic Creative Tasks?

What's the Best iMac for Basic Creative Tasks? originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Israel is currently developing a missile alert system that would identify the destinations of incoming rockets and notify residents in the impact zones via cell phone. University campuses in the States already use such services for emergency situations, but an organized system of public warnings definitely warrants investigation. [From: Breitbart, via Huffington Post]
• Just five years ago, Mozilla launched Firefox 1.0, and the fan-friendly company is urging folks to 'Light the World' and celebrate. The browser may not have eclipsed Internet Explorer in sheer numbers yet, but with one billion downloads already, it might not take another five years. [From: Mashable]
• While overall numbers aren't being broadcasted, Barnes & Noble says demand for its soon-to-be-released Nook e-reader is so high that the company is being forced to push back shipping dates. Of course, Apple will probably release its rumored Tablet right after the holidays -- just to make all those other freshly purchased e-readers obsolete. [From: The Wall Street Journal]
• '60 Minutes' has been airing hard-hitting investigative pieces for over 40 years, but the cast, which looks more and more like an AARP gathering, hasn't exactly developed a reputation for tech acumen. Citing anonymous sources, last night's episode included a segment that claimed that massive power outages in Brazil during 2005 and 2007 were the result of orchestrated cyber attacks. The Brazilian government, the Brazilian power company, and the Brazilian homeland security office all deny the allegations. [From: Wired]
• Even though it has been dubbed the "world's biggest brand," Google sites still lag behind Microsoft sites in terms of usage. A global comScore study has revealed that people spent 3.9 billion hours on Microsoft sites during September -- primarily Live Messenger -- compared to the 2.5 billion on Google sites and 1.2 billion on YouTube. Facebook was, of course, the fastest riser, as it experienced an impressive 200-percent increase. [From: Download Squad and Seattle PI]
• Facebook membership hit the 300 million mark earlier this fall, and the interest and infatuation continue to climb. The site now claims that it's attracting 500,000 new users every day. And they all want you to join their 'Mafia Wars' crew. [From: Mashable]

Israel Developing SMS Rocket Alert System, Firefox Turns Five originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Nokia Recalls 14M Chargers, First iPhone Worm

The Daily Engadget: Nokia Recalls 14M Chargers, First iPhone Worm originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Overreacting in its most dangerous form: a misfired text leads to a deadly shooting.
• In New York, we have to put up with annoying subway "improvements" in our commute, but that's so we don't have to deal with outdated computers crippling the area and sending traffic into chaos.
• Sitting at a cafe, enjoying your coffee, minding your own un-phished existence? That public Wi-Fi might not be as secure as you think.
• Since a 12-year-old has no real concept of posting bail, or using a license as a bond, when he does something bad, it's the video games he misses the most.

Best of the Week: Evil Baguettes, Mickey Mouse, and Baby Monitors originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• If you've got our luck, you'll strike out for a holiday shopping extravaganza, get to the mall, and then realize you forgot to bring the coupons from the weekend paper. Fear not, good shoppers. Fortunately, there's a Black Friday app for your iPhone. [From: geeksugar]
• Design changes at Facebook usually rile up users, who, without fail, protest by creating groups on the site. Fortunately, some of those protesters are actually productive, creating solutions like 'Facebook Facelift,' a project re-imagining the ubiquitous social networking site's interface. [From: Likecool.com]
• Our friends over at Asylum rounded up the best video game trailers of all time. Some of our favorites. [From: Asylum]
• When compared to the stock velvet paintings of Hendrix and Pink Floyd that fill college dorms nationwide, these velvet images of sci-fi icons are modern-day masterpieces. [From: io9]

Best of the Rest: Black Friday iPhone App, Rethinking Facebook originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

'What Is Flickr?' Question Flummoxes Folks on the Street originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading 9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone

9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Fortune magazine has named Apple's Steve Jobs its 'CEO of the Decade,' due to the company's overwhelming success with iTunes, OS X, Pixar, and, of course, the iPhone. Jobs even persevered through serious health problems while Apple's worth skyrocketed -- from $5 billion to $170 billion in less than 10 years. [From: Cult of Mac and TUAW]
• Over the summer, a Chinese teenager tragically died after being severely beaten at a boot camp that aims to curb Internet addiction while teaching kids how to use the Web "in a healthy way." Yeah, sounds really healthy. Chinese officials are now seeking to ban the violent practice at such facilities. Apparently, it's too easy to take away the kids' computers and consoles for a little while. [From: The BBC]
• The Catalyst Group recently conducted a consumer survey about the live video streaming services offered by Amazon and Netflix. The group said that most people actually expressed shock, because they'd never even heard of video streaming (even though Catalyst only approached 11 people). [From: Fast Company]
• The Onion, 'America's Finest News Source,' is apparently developing a Comedy Central pilot that will focus solely on sports. The fake news outlet already creates its own hilarious podcasts, so come on, Comedy Central. Go ahead and sign The Onion up for at least one season. The show will immediately be better than most of your programming. [From: Variety]
• The DROID has officially dropped, and, at first glance, at least one of the free 'Market' apps looks and sounds pretty sweet. Slacker Radio, which is similar to other music-discovery services like Pandora, will allow users to stream live with the aid of preferences and selectable stations. [From: CNET]
• Authorities are moving quickly in the Bluebeat-Beatles battle, as a judge has ordered the site to immediately halt its sale of $0.25 Beatles songs. Bluebeat, quit cruelly and mercilessly taking money from the mouths of destitute and impoverished musicians. [From: Epicenter]
• 'LEGO Rock Band' hits the stores this week, and the development team has revealed that about half the staff was actually against the game's creation. But, hey, if Ziggy Stardust and the original Stooge are on board, it can't be all that bad. [From: Joystiq]

Steve Jobs Named 'CEO of the Decade,' China Stops Beating Web Addicts originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Windows 7 Far Outselling Vista, DROID Launches

The Daily Engadget: Windows 7 Far Outselling Vista, DROID Launches originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• There's an inverse relationship between robots and the creep factor. The more life-like they get, the more they make our skin crawl. [From: HuffingtonPost]
• Today Apple opened the doors to its first store in France, smack in the Carrousel du Louvre, nestled between Mona Lisa and fresh baguettes. [From: 9to5Mac.com]
• Our friends at StreetLevel list off the 10 most outdated tech references. Jay-Z may be back, but Hova's 'Motorola two-way page me' line still makes geeks cringe. [From: StreetLevel]
• Animated GIFs have come a long way since the glory days of the '90s when they were plastered all over the Web, exclaiming "Under Construction." Urlesque rounds up eight blogs dedicated to the art of silent animation. [From: Urlesque]

Best of the Rest: World's Creepiest Robots, Apple Opens Louvre Store originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Motorola DROID: The Reviews Are In

Motorola DROID: The Reviews Are In originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Whippersnapper Firefox recently eclipsed the 1 billion download mark, and that monumental success seems to have helped the browser surpass the crotchety old Internet Explorer 6. (Seriously, people. It's time to upgrade.) Firefox is expected to celebrate tonight by T.P.'ing IE6's house and then leaving a flaming bag of poo on its doorstep. [From: Download Squad]
• Despite the spectacular cosmic arrays of color displayed in Hubble photographs, a group of scientists has determined that the average color of the universe is actually just a boring shade of beige. Proving that scientists do indeed have a sense of humor, some proposed names for the new space brown are "cosmic latte," "skyvory," and "univeige." [From: The Daily Mail]
• Forty years ago yesterday, Big Bird, Oscar, and Cookie Monster began entertaining (and creeping out) kids everywhere, so Google honored the 'Sesame Street' birthday on its home page. The site also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the claymation series 'Wallace and Gromit' with homepage caricatures. Man, Google. You're just trying to make us feel old. [From: The Independent and The Independent]
• Despite the rough economy, Google increased its lobbying expenditures last quarter, as it shelled out over $1 million for lobbyists to influence law and policy makers. Sounds like a pretty sweet gig to us, but how exactly does one become a lobbyist, anyway? Other than selling your soul to the highest bidder, of course. [From: The Independent]
• The Web site Bluebeat has been selling Beatles downloads online for $0.25 per song, leading many people to question the legality of the practice. Record giant EMI now wants a judge to decide, so it's filing suit against Bluebeat (owned by Media Rights Technologies) for copyright infringement. [From: The Independent]
• The fledgling, yet burgeoning, Pirate Party recently gained its second seat in the European Parliament. The party focuses on copyright and patent reform, the rights to personal and Web privacy, and government transparency. With the constant childish bickering going on between the two dominant U.S. political parties, that sounds like change we can believe in. [From: Torrent Freak]

Firefox Races Past Aging IE6, Is the Universe Beige? originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading The Daily Engadget: Apple Store Breaks 100K Apps, Walmart's $300 Laptop

The Daily Engadget: Apple Store Breaks 100K Apps, Walmart's $300 Laptop originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.