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Google needs help selecting images to be in its Google Drive stock images library

Trace Hagan | Internet & Websites | Aug 9, 2012 3:33 PM CDT

Google needs your help so that they can better help you. Earlier this year, Google launched a stock image library as part of its Google Drive product. Thanks to lots of positive feedback, they are now planning on expanding that library with images that are selected by the people who use the product. That's why they've enlisted your help.

Want to help decide what goes in? It's a simple task, really. Just head over to ThinkStock.com, select up to 10 images to nominate, and fill out Google's nomination form with the information they require. Easy, and you have helped make Google, and the Internet, a better place. Not to mention you should then be able to use these photos in your Google Drive docs.

Google explains the process in a bit more detail:

Continue reading: Google needs help selecting images to be in its Google Drive stock images library (full post)

Google gets fined $22.5m by FTC over Safari tracking

Trace Hagan | Business, Financial & Legal | Aug 9, 2012 2:33 PM CDT

Google: "Don't be evil." However, it would appear that the Federal Trade Commission feels that Google might have overstepped that by a wee bit, okay, a large bit, judging by the size of the fine levied against the company over the Safari tracking incident. The FTC announced today that Google has agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle the claim, the largest fine ever levied by the FTC.

The FTC charges that Google "misrepresented to users of Apple Inc.'s Safari Internet browser that it would not place tracking 'cookies' or serve targeted ads to those users, violating an earlier privacy settlement between the company and the FTC." Jon Leibowitz, Chairman of the FTC:

Continue reading: Google gets fined $22.5m by FTC over Safari tracking (full post)

Samsung Galaxy S III makes an appearance in all black, not spotted at a funeral

Trace Hagan | Mobile Devices | Aug 9, 2012 1:32 PM CDT

While there has been no official announcement of a coming black Samsung Galaxy S III, a couple of pictures have popped up on the Samsung Olympics Facebook page which include a black Galaxy S III. This is likely to keep interest in the Galaxy S III so that it can better compete with the upcoming iPhone 5.

The first image, shown above, features both a black Galaxy S III and a white one. It's highly unlikely to be an optical illusion as another picture with a black Galaxy S III is also online (see below). At least one black Galaxy S III has to exist, and many more are possibly being manufactured as I type this.

The launch will probably occur sometime around the launch of the next iPhone, rumored to be September 12, in order to draw attention back from the rival's product. The question is, will this be enough to keep Samsung and the Galaxy S III on a hot streak? It's already managed to sell 10 million units in 2 months, but the iPhone will steal at least part of its thunder.

Continue reading: Samsung Galaxy S III makes an appearance in all black, not spotted at a funeral (full post)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition to show up on Best Buy shelves for $249, comes with keyboard, USB adapter

Trace Hagan | Mobile Devices | Aug 9, 2012 10:31 AM CDT

If you're looking into buying a tablet for your return to school, you might just think about holding off for a little bit. Engadget has heard from an anonymous tipster that Samsung will be releasing a student edition of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 that will be sliding onto Best Buy's shelves bundled with a keyboard and USB adapter.

The tablet itself will be the 8GB Wi-Fi only model that already retails for $249, so holding off for a few weeks will net you a free keyboard and USB adapter for free. The device is said to be coming to shelves near you on August 19, just in time for most people who would be buying it for college, and just a week into high school.

If you're still conducting research and weighing the pros and cons of the different devices, this is something you would want to consider. If you go with the Google Nexus 7, you'll have to purchase these extras separately, something likely to drive the price beyond the $249 selling point of the new student version of the Galaxy Tab 2.

Continue reading: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition to show up on Best Buy shelves for $249, comes with keyboard, USB adapter (full post)

Dell releases UltraSharp U2713HM, an AH-IPS display with a resolution of 2560x1440 at $799

Anthony Garreffa | Displays & Projectors | Aug 9, 2012 5:37 AM CDT

Dell have just replaced their UltraSharp U2711 monitor with some seriously slick looking screens, with specs to match their looks. Dell's latest display is the UltraSharp U2713HM and is Dell's first monitor to sport the AH-IPS (Advanced High-Performance IPS) panel, which is meant to feature improved color and clarity over other IPS-based technologies.

Dell's UltraSharp U2713HM sports a resolution of 2560x1440, with the company claiming that the U2713HM offers a color gamut of more than 99% sRGB, maximum brightness of 350 cd/m2, grey-to-grey response time of 8ms, a 178/178-degree wide viewing angle, as well as an anti-glare coating.

The U2713HM has a plethora of connectivity, featuring four USB 3.0 ports, dual-link DVI, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI and VGA. All of the connections are on the back of the display, keeping those nasty cables out of sight. Dell also mentions that their U2713HM is environmentally friendly, with the U2713HM's chassis made out of 25% post-consumer recycled plastics, as well as providing a 37% reduction in energy consumption when compared to its predecessor, the U2711.

Continue reading: Dell releases UltraSharp U2713HM, an AH-IPS display with a resolution of 2560x1440 at $799 (full post)

The Hobbit in 48 fps will be getting a limited release

Anthony Garreffa | TV, Movies & Home Theatre | Aug 9, 2012 4:41 AM CDT

It looks like The Hobbit, which is now a trilogy by the way, will only be shown in limited amounts of cinemas in 48 fps. Variety reports that according to a source familiar with Warner's release plans for the first Hobbit movie, is that the HFR version will only hit select locations, and maybe not even major cities.

Though, people who have had the pleasure of eyeballing the 48 fps version of the movie have said that it now looks much better than the test footage shown at CinemaCon back in April, which had not "undergone post-production polishing" and received a mixed reception from viewers. Warner's wants to protect the HFR format, where they'll be going into a limited release for the HFR version of the movie, hoping that they'll be able to test the marketplace and expand the HFR release for the second, and third Hobbit movies.

Right now, there are no HFR-ready theaters, with some requiring a simple software upgrade that will be ready next month. It also looks like HFR is the future, where myself, and many people in the industry seem to think its going to take off. Does someone want to find me a theater, and fly me over to the US to watch it at 48 fps? Drool.

Continue reading: The Hobbit in 48 fps will be getting a limited release (full post)

NYPD teams up with Microsoft for new advanced city-wide surveillance system

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Aug 9, 2012 2:24 AM CDT

The New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has taken the covers off of a new crime-fighting system developed by Microsoft. Bloomberg also revealed that New York City will take a cut of the profits if the system is sold to other administrators.

The new system will give police the ability to quickly gather and visualize massive amounts of data from multiple sources such as cameras, license plate readers, 911 calls, police databases, and more. Once it collates the data, it then displays the information in real-time, both visually and chronologically, giving investigations a central location to look into crimes as they happen, or as they're reported.

The new system has been dubbed "Domain Awareness System", and was developed by Microsoft engineers who worked with New York police officers. DAS for short, has the ability to host a features, such as being capable of spotting a suspicious looking vehicle, and being able to track its recent movements, or use cameras to track back and see who left a suspicious package. DAS sports live video feeds, massive databases of recent crime patterns and can accept input direct from the field in real-time from sources like 911 calls or police radios. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has said "all the information is presented visually and geographically and in chronological context".

Continue reading: NYPD teams up with Microsoft for new advanced city-wide surveillance system (full post)

Amazon to jump into patent war, arms themselves with IP leader

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Aug 9, 2012 1:34 AM CDT

According to a piece on Reuters, Amazon is looking to scoop up a bunch of intellectual property (IP) experts to help them enter the patent acquisition and licensing game, after seeing the patent war between Apple, Google, and more.

Amazon have reportedly hired executive recruiting firm Argos Search in order to help Amazon hire an IP "Acquisition and Investment Leader" that can "identify and evaluate strategic IP acquisition and licensing opportunities" according to a job description that Reuters had fall into their hands. The person Amazon hires will work close with all of Amazon's technology team's and leaders on future product development, according to the document. Amazon said in their job posting:

Continue reading: Amazon to jump into patent war, arms themselves with IP leader (full post)

RumorTT: RIM could license BB10 OS to Samsung

Anthony Garreffa | Software & Apps | Aug 9, 2012 12:26 AM CDT

We all know Research in Motion (RIM) is in trouble, and one of, if not their only safe haven, is their forthcoming BlackBerry 10 OS. But now there's some new spark to rumors that the troubled company could be saved by Samsung.

This is all according to Jefferies analyst, Peter Misek, who believes that RIM's strategic review will end up with a decision to license the company's BlackBerry 10 OS, and that the company best suited to handle it, is Samsung. Misek wrote in a note to clients:

Continue reading: RumorTT: RIM could license BB10 OS to Samsung (full post)

Ouya's journey on Kickstarter comes to an end, they finish with $8.5 million and over 63,000 backers

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Aug 9, 2012 12:02 AM CDT

Ouya's journey on Kickstarter has come to an end, and what a journey it has been. The Kickstarter-funded, Android-powered home gaming console raised its required $950,000 goal in 24 hours, and since then has reached limits that the creator didn't even realise.

We've posted a few times about Ouya, as it is a great story of gamers all across the world coming in and pledging their money toward a device that isn't even available yet. There were multiple models to choose from, with some Kickstarter-exclusive models that are sure to get people bragging once they receive them. The $225 (or more) pledge was a Kickstarter-exclusive, where you received an Ouya console, with two controllers, each with your username ETCHED into it. Yes, how cool is that. I managed to get in on one of those, and I'm incredibly excited as there are only 2,500 of them making their way out to people.

Ouya received over $200,000 in the last couple of hours of funding, as well as over 1,000 more backers. Ouya finished its Kickstarter funding with $8,579,673, and 63,264 backers at the time of writing. This number is slowly increasing with the few remaining pledges.

Continue reading: Ouya's journey on Kickstarter comes to an end, they finish with $8.5 million and over 63,000 backers (full post)

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