Facebook files $5 billion IPO, 'likes' it

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Feb 2, 2012 2:18 AM CST

Facebook has finally, after all this time, speculation and rumors, finally reached their status of hitting an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It raised $5 billion, less than the previously speculated $10 billion.

Facebook files $5 billion IPO, 'likes' it | TweakTown.com

In their S-1 filing, Facebook also mentioned they would begin selling public stock as soon as possible. On top of the IPO news, they released some statistics on Facebook, which are very mind-blowing: Facebook now receives 845 million active users per month, 100 billion friendships, 2.7 billion likes and comments per day, as well as 250 million photos being uploaded every day.

We also found out that Facebook has been profitable for three years now, with revenue of $777 million on profit of $229 million in 2009 alone. Revenue grew 154-percent to $1.974 billion in 2010, and another 88-percent in 2011 to $3.711 billion. Facebook earned $1 billion last year, and are sitting on cash reserves of $3.908 billion.

Continue reading: Facebook files $5 billion IPO, 'likes' it (full post)

Samsung Galaxy S III will receive its own special launch event 'in first half of 2012'

Samsung has confirmed with TechRadar, that the successor to the super-awesome Galaxy S II, the Galaxy S III won't be seen at Mobile World Congress this year. The Galaxy S II was announced at last year's MWC, but the successor will miss the show. Boo.

Samsung Galaxy S III will receive its own special launch event 'in first half of 2012' | TweakTown.com

It was revealed that the Galaxy S III will receive its own separate event to show off the new phone:

Samsung is looking forward to introducing and demonstrating exciting new mobile products at Mobile World Congress 2012. The successor to the Galaxy S2 smartphone will be unveiled at a separate Samsung-hosted event in the first half of the year, closer to commercial availability of the product. Samsung stays committed to providing the best possible mobile experiences for customers around the world.

Continue reading: Samsung Galaxy S III will receive its own special launch event 'in first half of 2012' (full post)

A single tweet stops a couple from being allowed to enter the U.S.

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Feb 1, 2012 10:49 PM CST

Twitter recently gave itself itself the power to censor particular tweets in particular countries, but this latest move tops them all. Two friends had planned a trip the the United States, as most people would dream of doing, with Leigh Van Bryan posting a tweet just weeks before his trip that he was going to "destroy America."

A single tweet stops a couple from being allowed to enter the U.S. | TweakTown.com

Now, a level-headed person would take that as someone who is excited about going to the U.S. with a friend, and is looking to have a great time. The U.S. didn't see it that way, and did not think it was said in a positive tone, where things escalated, quite a bit. Bryan and his friend, Emily Bunting, arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport, where they were questioned by U.S. special agents who had spotted their tweet.

They were questioned for over five hours, after which they were placed into an illegal immigrants van and were put behind bars, separately, for 12 hours. Bryan was questioned in regards to his tweet, where he jokingly said he would be "digging up Marilyn Monroe." The tweet where the U.S. believed Bryan was a "terrorist" was:

Continue reading: A single tweet stops a couple from being allowed to enter the U.S. (full post)

Where's Half-Life 3? 30,000+ gamers intend to find out

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Feb 1, 2012 8:23 PM CST

I'm one of these people. Where in the hell is Half-Life 3. My latest editorial even covers it, where the last words are "Where are you, Gordon Freeman?" We need him, and we need him now. There seems to be a push from the community, too, which is great.

Where's Half-Life 3? 30,000+ gamers intend to find out | TweakTown.com

A quote from the group:

The entire trilogy of episodes was supposed to be completed and released by 2007, and if Valve have decided to do other things for the time being, that is fine; all that we ask for is a basic response on the matter, and to let fans know whether or not the current story arc is scheduled to conclude at another point in time.

Continue reading: Where's Half-Life 3? 30,000+ gamers intend to find out (full post)

WikiLeaks to set sail, wants to move servers offshore to fall under maritime law

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Feb 1, 2012 7:20 PM CST

Hasn't the world, or WikiLeaks, learnt anything? If the U.S. Government wants you, they'll come and get you. No matter what country, no matter if you're not a U.S. citizen, or whether you're on water - they'll find a way. Kim Dotcom would've thought he was safe with MegaUpload, after all. The latest out of WikiLeaks is that they want to move their servers offshore in an attempt to avoid prosecution from the U.S.

WikiLeaks to set sail, wants to move servers offshore to fall under maritime law | TweakTown.com

Citing "multiple sources within the hacking community," told FoxNews.com that those backing WikiLeaks' founder, Julian Assange, have been working behind the scenes to move the servers to international waters where they would find themselves under maritime law. This means that once they are far enough away from land, then maritime law is what you "report" to.

But moving servers onto the open sea isn't going to solve WikiLeaks problems overnight. Jim Dempsey, Vice President for Public Policy with the Washington, D.C., think tank Center for Democracy and Technology has said that moving the servers offshore wouldn't go any good unless those who are running WikiLeaks also moved offshore, where he's quoted;

Continue reading: WikiLeaks to set sail, wants to move servers offshore to fall under maritime law (full post)

RumorTT: Next-gen iPod Nano to sport camera, clip makes a return, too

A RumorTT post about an Apple product that isn't the iPhone or iPad? What's going on! The latest news from Apple.pro claims that the seventh-generation iPod Nano is set to sport a camera. Not only a camera, but it will bring sexy the camera back.

RumorTT: Next-gen iPod Nano to sport camera, clip makes a return, too | TweakTown.com

The picture above is just a leak, so the usual salt application and over-the-shoulder-throwing is required. The next-gen iPod Nano pictured is a prototype, so things could change. This prototype is said to have a paltry 1.3-megapixel camera, but is a non-final version.

Rumor has it that the next-gen iPod Nano is just two months away from release, so if you're after a new iPod Nano in the coming weeks, months, we would suggest waiting so you can grab one of these ultra-small, camera-equipped, clip-equipped iPod Nano's.

Continue reading: RumorTT: Next-gen iPod Nano to sport camera, clip makes a return, too (full post)

Kinect and Notebooks, Microsoft to change the way we interact with devices

Anthony Garreffa | Laptops | Feb 1, 2012 2:33 AM CST

Later this year, and much more in 2013, we should see Kinect on, or in, notebooks. Ultrabooks are set to be the new craze, Windows 8 will power these new Ultrabooks and Microsoft wants to step in between and place a Kinect motion-based device.

Kinect and Notebooks, Microsoft to change the way we interact with devices | TweakTown.com

The Daily has some "sources inside Redmond" who have been kind enough to give some details on the upcoming Kinect-powered Windows 8 portables. It has been stated that it will be an "exclusive relationship," where Microsoft will license the technology out to manufacturers such as ASUS, but with conditions. Partners using Kinect won't be allowed to use competing motion-control tech in their devices, for example.

Prototypes are "in the wild," where Microsoft technicians have used them in places with a lot of audio and visual background noise, such as coffee shops and bars. It's also been said that Kinect absolutely kills battery life. One solution mentioned hints toward a clip-on unit, with its own battery pack.

Continue reading: Kinect and Notebooks, Microsoft to change the way we interact with devices (full post)

Apple appeals Chinese court ruling, where it was rejected the ownership of the iPad trademark in China

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Feb 1, 2012 12:23 AM CST

Apple are having to appeal a Chinese court ruling in December of last year, where they were rejected of iPad trademark ownership in China. This could open up Apple to trademark infringement lawsuits from a local company. Apple filed an appeal on January 5 with the Higher People's Court of Guangdong Province, according to a statement from Proview International.

Apple appeals Chinese court ruling, where it was rejected the ownership of the iPad trademark in China | TweakTown.com

Proview International is a small Chinese display monitor company that claims control over the iPad trademark in mainland China, and the same company that is stirring up a storm over at Apple. Apple had originally filed a lawsuit against Proview to take control of the trademark, but back in December of last year, the Shenzhen Municipal Intermediate People's Court rejected Apple's claim.

Within the lawsuit, Apple claimed that a Proview subsidiary in Taiwan had actually sold the iPad trademark rights to a U.K.-based company called "IP Applications." From there, the trademark rights were then sold to Apple in 2010. The Shenzhen court ruled the transfer of trademark rights were only made through Proview's Taiwan subsidiary. Proview's Shenzhen-based company did not actually attend trademark negotiations, and did not formally transfer any trademark rights, according to the court.

Continue reading: Apple appeals Chinese court ruling, where it was rejected the ownership of the iPad trademark in China (full post)

Angry Birds' developer says "piracy may not be a bad thing"

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Jan 31, 2012 10:15 PM CST

Rovio Mobile, the guys and gals behind the crazy successful Angry Birds, has enjoyed much success with their bird-slinging game. Right up to the point where chief executive, Mikael Hed told the Midem conference in Cannes this morning:

Angry Birds' developer says

We have some issues with piracy, not only in apps, but also especially in the consumer products. There is tons and tons of merchandise out there, especially in Asia, which is not officially licensed products. We could learn a lot from the music industry, and the rather terrible ways the music industry has tried to combat piracy.

Hed explained that Rovio sees it as "futile" to go after pirates through the courts, apart from when it feels the products they are selling are harmful to the Angry Birds brand, or ripping off its fans. Rovio see piracy as a way to attract more fans, even if its not making money from it. This is where Hed is quoted with:

Continue reading: Angry Birds' developer says "piracy may not be a bad thing" (full post)

AMD's Radeon HD 7000 series roadmap leaks, HD 7990 set to take the stage

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Jan 31, 2012 10:11 PM CST

Nearly twelve months ago, I wrote a news piece about the launch of AMD's Radeon HD 6990 where I said it "punches all other GPU's in the nuts", and it seemed to be a catchy title, that just spilled out of my mind, into my hands, and onto the screen. A lot of what I type happens this way, I guess it's just my hektik writing skillz, maybe.

AMD's Radeon HD 7000 series roadmap leaks, HD 7990 set to take the stage | TweakTown.com

Anyway, a leaked roadmap for AMD's Radeon HD 7000 series has found its way onto the tubes, and it unveils the Q2 2012 launch of AMD's dual-GPU HD 7990, which will most likely kick every other GPU in the nuts this time. Exact launch timing, is "TBD", but there are some other tid bits included in the roadmap.

We should expect the HD 7870 "Pitcairn XT" to sport 2GB of RAM, and the HD 7850 "Pitcairn Pro" to also sport 2GB of RAM. Launch timing on these two GPUs are an expected March launch, which isn't too far away. Next up we have the HD 7770 "Cape Verde XT" and HD 7750 "Cape Verde Pro", both sporting 1GB of memory and have launch times of just two weeks from now on the 15th of February.

Continue reading: AMD's Radeon HD 7000 series roadmap leaks, HD 7990 set to take the stage (full post)

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