MetropolitanGeek

Start using Mint.com to manage your money today!

2010-09-29T09:59:00.001-04:00

With Mint, you can:

* Get set up in minutes
* See all your accounts in one place
* Set and track your budgets & achieve your goals
* Find hundreds of dollars in personalized savings
* Stay safe and secure...and it's free!

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Apple Launches Magic Trackpad, Speedier iMacs and Mac Pros

2010-07-27T15:41:00.003-04:00

APPLEAfter a period of downtime this morning, the Apple Store is now back and,as expected, it now carries refreshed, faster iMac and Mac Pro computers, as well as a completely new product called the Magic Trackpad.

The $69 Magic Trackpad is designed to work with your Mac desktop computer and uses the same multi-touch technology as the MacBook Pro. “[It] supports a full set of gestures, giving you a whole new way to control and interact with what’s on your screen,” Apple… Continue Reading

About 6 hours ago Stan Schroeder 33

2010-07-27T08:38:00.003-04:00

Apple Store is Down, New Macs on the Way?

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APPLEThe Apple store is currently down, and you know what that means: it may be time to part with some of your hard-earned cash and say hello to a new sleek gadget from Steve Jobs’ workshop.

Yesterday,…

About 1 hour ago Stan Schroeder 8

2010-07-12T15:28:00.001-04:00

Consumer Reports: We Can’t Recommend iPhone 4

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APPLEConsumer Reports performed lab tests on the iPhone 4 and determined that the phone’s alleged antenna problem is completely legit. As a result, the organization declined to recommend the device, suggesting that consumers buy the older 3GS model…

About 2 hours ago Samuel Axon 61

2010-07-11T11:33:00.002-04:00

Google Launches App to Help You Find Open Parking

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MOBILEGoogle Labs has just released a newAndroid app that aims to help users find and share parking. The app, called Open Spot, gives users the ability to update a map when they are leaving their parking…

About 1 day ago Christina Warren 39

2010-07-11T11:31:00.001-04:00

Apple to Deploy Software Fix for iPhone Glitch

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APPLEAfter initially dismissing the reports about the iPhone 4 antenna reception issue, Apple has officially admitted it exists, promising a software fix in a couple of weeks. There’s a catch, though.

Apple’s promised fix may not be good news for…

About 9 days ago Stan Schroeder 237

2010-07-11T11:30:00.001-04:00

5 Handy iPhone Apps for Home Improvement

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APPLEWhile there’s no iPhone app that can help you avoid hitting your thumb with a hammer, falling off a ladder or stepping in a tray of paint, certain apps can be a useful addition to your tool kit when…

About 5 days ago Amy-Mae Elliott 5

10 Cool Facebook Status Tips and Tricks

2010-07-11T11:27:00.000-04:00

With Facebook’s ever-changing layout, and the fact that other social sites are encroaching on its real-time update strangle-hold, it’s easy to forget that there are some pretty nifty tricks you can pull using your humble Facebook status.

We’ve pulled together 10 great how-to tips that will help you get the most out of your status update, from official features to apps, Easter eggs, jokes and more.

Perfect for newer Facebook users, or anyone who is looking for a refresher, read on and let us know the ones you like in the comments below.

1. HOW TO: Add a Dislike Option to Your Status Update

“Like” buttons are everywhere on Facebook, and they’re everywhere on the web. But what if you want to update your status or share something that your friends can “dislike?” We know, your friends can choose to “comment” on your post, but where’s the fun in that?

The clever Status Magic Facebook app can add a dislike button to any status updates posted via the app. And if you wanted to really mix it up you can actually customize the second emotion to anything, such as “love,” “hate,” “disagree” or even “LOLs.”

2. HOW TO: Hide Status Updates From Certain People

Using Facebook’s general privacy settings (find these by hitting “account” on the top right of a Facebook page) you can select whether everyone, just friends or friends of friends can see your status updates. However, there is a way to narrow those options down even further.

You can select specific friend lists to see your status (relevant for work, special interest groups, etc.) or even individual people by name, which is useful for anyone organizing a surprise party.

To take advantage of these options, click the padlock icon just below your “what’s on your mind” box on your wall and a drop down menu should appear. Selecting “customize” will bring up more options such as “make this visible to” and “hide from” with the option to make your selection a default.

3. HOW TO: Pre-Schedule Status Updates

While SocialOomph, Sendible and HootSuite offer the same kind of service, the simplest way to schedule Facebook status updates is by using the easy, free Later Bro service.

Just sign in with Facebook Connect, select your time zone, type in what it is you’d like to say, set the calendar and clock to when you’d like to say it, and presto!

4. HOW TO: Tag People in Your Status Updates

This was quite a big deal when it was announced this past September, but from the amount of searches on the topic “how can I make someone’s name go blue in a Facebook status?” it seems it’s not universally known.

To mention someone in a status update just type “@” (a la Twitter) in the status bar and start typing their name as it appears on Facebook. An auto-generated list will then come up with people in your social circle whose name starts with the letters you’ve typed. The feature also works with pages, brands, events and companies.

Hit the name you want, complete the update, click share and the name will become a hyperlink (you won’t see the @ symbol) and will appear in blue text.

5. HOW TO: Add Symbols to Your Facebook Status

Although there are plenty of emoticons that work with Facebook Chat, typing “:)” into Facebook’s status bar will not magically transform into a smiley yellow face. In fact, the only symbol you can create in a Facebook status update through the shortcut keys is a ♥, by typing “<3."

While this won't bother many Facebook users, others more used to punctuating their missives can copy and paste web-happy, universal symbols into the box, as you can see in the screengrab above.

PC users can also access some symbols by hitting “alt” + various number combinations (on a numerical keypad). So, while smileys are yet to hit Facebook statuses, you can annoy or amuse your buddies with symbols right now.

6. HOW TO: Turn Your Status Updates Into a Word Cloud

There’s a really fun way to visualize anyone’s status updates (even an entire country’s) as a word cloud. TheStatus Analyzer 3D app will look at what it is you’ve been chatting about lately and generate a list, and then a pretty, colorful, animated cloud as pictured above.

You can share the results with others on the social networking site by posting it to your friends’ walls or by adding it to your profile.

7. HOW TO: Have Fun With Facebook’s Humorous Language Options

While you can always change your setting into more sensible alternative languages, the site offers a couple of fun linguistic Easter eggs.

You can chose to have Facebook display upside down English, or, for anyone feeling a little salty, in “pirate.” Pirate essentially turns your status into your “plank,” your attachments into “loot” and instead of “share” it offers the option to “blabber t’ yer mates.”

Sadly, anything you type in the status bar won’t be upside down, or pirate-y. But with the use of some external sites you can achieve the same effect.

TypeUpsideDown.com and UpsideDownText.com are just two examples of sites that can flip your text, while the Talk Like a Pirate Day site can help you with your pirate translations.

8. HOW TO: See Status Updates From Around the World

If you want to get a glimpse of the thoughts of Facebook users from around the world’s, head over toOpenBook.

Created by three San Fran web developers with a serious privacy message in mind, the site aggregates the status updates of everyone whose privacy levels are set to “everyone.”

You can narrow your searchable results down by gender and keywords to find out what people are saying about a certain topic. Or you can just browse the recent searches.

9. HOW TO: See Your Status Update Stats

Have you ever wondered how many times you have updated your status on Facebook? The Facebook appStatus Statistics, can tell you this and more.

The app analyzes your updates and gives you a tidy list of how many you’ve written, the average word count and how many times a day you post. In addition, it generates a graph that shows you what time of day or what days of the week you normally update.

Old statuses are also searchable via the app, so you can find that witty retort you made back in November 2009 without having to scroll back through your history.

10. HOW TO: Play a Trick On Your Friends in Your Status Update

We have a funny one to end on — a way to play an amusing trick on your Facebook buddies.

This clever link “http://facebook.com/profile.php?=73322363″ looks like it could be a URL for anyone’s Facebook profile, actually takes anyone logged into Facebook to their own profile page.

If you try it out, be sure to remove the link preview that Facebook auto-ads. Have fun, and don’t be toomean…

Apple iPhone 4G Available for Pre-Oder in the UK

2010-05-27T20:37:00.003-04:00

I was researching a story about the iPhone 3G S going on sale at fones.com and stumbled upon this!

WARNING: Facebook Clickjacking Attack Spreading Through News Feed

2010-05-21T09:22:00.001-04:00

A new malware attack is spreading via Facebook’s news feed, according to reports from users on Twitter.

The attack consists of a message starting with the phrase “try not to laugh xD,” followed by this link: “http://www.fbhole.com/omg/allow.php?s=a&r=72306″ (don’t open it).

The attack, which seems to repost the message without your permission, uses the oldest trick in the book. Once you click on the link, you’ll see Facebook greyed out and a weird dialog that looks like a Windows error message, containing the phrase “If I don’t, someone else do it”. If you click anywhere on the page, you’ll repost the link because your click will land on a moving iframe with very low opacity. By clicking on it, you’re actually clicking the “publish” button on Facebook.

Interestingly enough, the root index file of the site in question (www.fbhole.com) contains only the phrase “My Facebook” that links to a nonexistent Facebook profile.

We’ve seen similar Facebook attacks before, and although they may be harmless, clicking on suspicious links is always dangerous. If you’ve seen this (or similar) attack on Facebook, please let us know in the comments.

Mayors of Starbucks Now Get Discounts Nationwide with Foursquare

2010-05-17T14:08:00.001-04:00

Starbucks, a company that already rewards frequent customers with the Barista badge on social gaming app Foursquare — is officially turning on the rewards side of its experimental Foursquare loyalty program with the first-ever nationwide mayor special.

Starting today, mayors of individual Starbucks stores can unlock the Mayor Offer and enjoy a money-saving perk for their frequent store checkins.

The deal offers customers a $1 discount on a Frappucino. The special greets mayors with this message: “As mayor of this store, enjoy $1 off a NEW however-you-want-it Frappuccino blended beverage. Any size, any flavor. Offer valid until 6/28.”

Tristan Walker, who heads up business development at Foursquare, tells us that the Starbucks special is a one-time mayor deal that runs through June 28, but he’s optimistic that Starbucks will continue to experiment with mayor rewards on an ongoing basis. “Starbucks is particularly innovative as it relates loyalty and social media,” Walker noted, “so we continue to be super excited to explore this intersection with them.”

There are a number of reasons why the Starbucks nationwide mayor reward is significant. It’s a first for both Foursquare and the coffee retailer, and will likely bring mass attention to the marketing possibilities of the location-sharing trend.

It’s also an important development in light of pending Facebook location features, which we’ve yet to see in the wild. Starbucks — which is one of the most “Liked” brands on Facebook — is making a conscious choice to go with Foursquare, which should serve to legitimize Foursquare as the key player in the space for now.

On the consumer side of things, getting a $1 off a Frappuccino is a pretty nice discount, considering customers routinely pay $4 or more for their favorite blended beverage. Of course, with the mayorship rewards, we expect competition to heat up on Foursquare more so than ever before. As such, it will be crucial for Foursquare to ensure that their new anti-cheater measures work as designed.

Google Teams Up With Intel, Sony To Help Make Web TV A Reality

2010-05-17T10:51:00.001-04:00

The FT reports that Google, Intel and Sony will announce a “significant breakthrough into consumer electronics and the broadcast industry” later this week with the launch of a so-called “Smart TV” platform.

In case that sounds familiar, that’s because Bloomberg and the WSJ reported as much on April 29, apart from the apparent name of the Web TV platform that would be making its debut at Google I/O.

Google’s developer conference will be held May 19 – 20 in San Francisco.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini last week at the company’s analyst meeting said that it was looking to boost use of Atom processors in the mobile and digital home device segments. The company stated that its latest chip, named Dragonpoint, offers better audio and video performance, wider and open software support and is cheaper than the competition.

France Telecom and Telecom Italia are said to be among the list of customers lined up to put the chips in set-top boxes.

According to the FT, Google is expected to call on its Android developer community this week to create custom applications for Sony, which is looking to web-enable its televisions and Blu-ray DVD players, and likely other manufacturers in the future.

We’ll see how it goes – Google has been looking to extend its reach to TVs since 2007.

Foursquare Exceeds 40 Million Checkins

2010-05-10T10:10:00.001-04:00

Location-based social network Foursquare counted its 40 millionth checkin a “couple days ago,” according to a tweetfrom one of its developers.

The number shows that Foursquare’s growth rate is accelerating: Five weeks ago, the company announced that the total number of checkins had reached 22 million. In short: Foursquare appears to have doubled its checkin rate in just over a month.

It’s just over two weeks, meanwhile, since Foursquare hit the million user mark. What’s more, recent acquisition rumors have driven Foursquare hype to new levels.

But Foursquare may soon face a new challenger. Facebook is launching its location features this month. Depending on how Facebook implements location into its service, Foursquare may see its growth stall. After all, why would new users join Foursquare if their existing social network provides the same experience?

Alternatively, Facebook may offer a location platform that lets Foursquare, Gowalla and their ilk build upon Facebook’s massive userbase, rather than squishing them like bugs.

Android Tablet Prototype Running Flash Spotted in the Wild

2010-05-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

Now that Adobe and Apple have officially parted ways — at least when it comes to Flash on Apple’s mobile devices — Adobe is strengthening its partnership with Google’s Android, whose next version (2.2) will support Flash.

It’s therefore no surprise that Adobe’s stand at the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco is showcasing Android-based phones, but an unexpected guest has appeared, as well — an Android-based, multi-touch tablet prototype.

Blog Zedomax has a hands-on review (embedded below), and while technical details about the device are scarce, it appears to be running Flash and Air flawlessly.

iPhone 4G Dreaming

2010-05-03T18:11:00.003-04:00

I'm hoping that the "found" iPhone is the real-deal and will be introduced during Apple's WWDC 2010 on June 7th, If not, you can find me drowning my sorrows at one of the many fine beer establishments in my area (Washington, DC) !

Daring Fireball builds on the WSJ iPhone 4 rumors earlier today by dumping what they know: An almost iPad-level 940 x 640 resolution display, an iPad-esque A4 CPU and a front facing camera. AND, multitasking in iPhone OS 4.

Here's why we should care about these rumors. Daring Fireball has dumped these types of specs in the past, with a decent amount of correctness. But more than that, the front-facing camera and multitasking are two things people have been asking for for years, and the enhanced display leapfrogs recent competitors like the Nexus One. [DF]

What Twitter's New Ad Model Could Mean for Small Business

2010-04-30T10:51:00.004-04:00

Twitter has finally answered a big piece of the long running question of how it plans to make money. At Ad Age’s Digital Conference in New York, the company revealed “Promoted Tweets,” an advertising system that will allow businesses to have their tweets highlighted in search results, and eventually, in the Twitter stream and third-party applications.
The platform is currently being piloted by a number of big brands – it’s not yet self-serve like Google AdWords or Facebook’s advertising offerings. Nonetheless, there’s much to be excited about, and looking at Promoted Tweets in light of other recent developments at Twitter, there’s a ton of potential for what the platform could one day mean for small businesses.

Thousands of companies – large and small – are already on Twitter. Promoted Tweets introduces a way for these businesses to gain extra exposure for their messages. For example, if you own a coffee shop, when a user searches for “coffee” on Twitter, you’ll conceivably be able to have a tweet from your business sit atop the results.
However, these ads shouldn’t be thought of like traditional forms of online advertising, like a banner or even a text link in search, but rather an extension of what you’re already doing on Twitter. Promoted Tweets will sink or swim – quite literally – based on the response they get from users.
In a system that Twitter is calling “resonance,” ads will be judged based on how users engage with them, through actions like replies, retweets and clicks. If an ad doesn’t get enough engagement, it will be removed from the system.
The key to making effective use of Promoted Tweets, then, will be to create the same type of engaging messages you already do organically on your account, investing some money into the system when you have a particular tweet that you’d like to give an extra push.
Location
Currently, big global brands like Best Buy, Starbucks and JetBlue are testing Promoted Tweets. However, for the platform to be useful to small businesses – especially those that are primarily brick-and-mortar – you’ll need the ability to target Promoted Tweets based on location. While Twitter hasn’t yet announced this capability, there’s reason to believe it will eventually be part of the platform.
Twitter has already made its “trending topics” feature location-based, so you can see what people in your city are talking about. The microblogging service now also lets users attach their location to every tweet, and its advanced search features let users filter to find tweets near them. As its location features continue to evolve and gain adoption, expect them to become a part of the Promoted Tweets platform.
Mobile
Until recently, applications for using Twitter on mobile phones were all developed by third-parties. But in April, the company releases its own BlackBerry app, acquired the company that makes Tweetie (which will become Twitter for iPhone), and announced plans for an Android application. Expect these applications to be GPS-enabled – meaning they’ll know a user’s location – and in turn create an opportunity for businesses to target Promoted Tweets based on a user’s whereabouts.
More to Come
We’re still at the dawn of Twitter’s monetization plans. Until Promoted Tweets are available to more advertisers and become a part of the Twitter stream, the impact of the platform will be fairly limited in the small business realm. Nonetheless, there’s plenty of reason to believe that Twitter’s ad model could evolve into a staple of the small business online marketing mix, creating an unprecedented opportunity to communicate with current and potential nearby customers in real-time.

Vent to a Stranger with bLah Therapy

2010-04-29T14:41:00.001-04:00

If random chat site Omegle was too boring for you, Chatroulettewas too risque or if you just foster the overwhelming urge to tell strangers about your problems, you might want to check out bLah therapy.

bLah therapy launched this week with a noble purpose, according to its creators: To allow total strangers to connect and have a meaningful conversation whereby one or the other may hash out his/her issues and problems.

Essentially, you can choose between being a “Venter” or a “Listener,” and then act accordingly.

Currently, there’s not that many people chatting on the site — around 300 — so I can’t say for sure whether it will function as described. During my trial period, I took on the guise of both “Listener” and “Venter.” As a “Listener,” I kept connecting with sexually challenged people , but as a “Venter” I chatted for a while with a guy/gal who said s/he enjoyed “travelling socially.” So… the jury’s still out. We’ll just have to see if the site ends up taking off.

In the meantime, give it a whirl — and if you run into a “Venter” who constantly complains about Auto-starting website Flash Ads… yeah, that’s me.

Steve Jobs: Flash Is No Longer Necessary

2010-04-29T10:04:00.002-04:00

Steve Jobs has just posted a long open letter on Flash, listing all the reasons why Apple has decided not to support it on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

The letter is a clear, sober, in-depth view in all of Flash’s defects from Apple’s point of view, and while we’re sure it will be dissected over and over in the upcoming days (especially the part about Flash not being open), you have to admire its frankness.

In short, Steve Jobs claims Flash drains the battery of mobile devices; it’s not very good for multi-touch operation, and its performance, reliability and security are all shoddy. It’s also a proprietary system, and while Jobs admits that their mobile OS is also proprietary, he claims that web standards should be open, like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript.

Most importantly Apple doesn’t want “a third party layer of software (to) come between the platform and the developer.” Finally, Jobs concludes, Flash is a relic of the past. “Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice,” he says, “but the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.”

LinkedIn Gives Users the Ability to Follow Companies

2010-04-29T09:56:00.001-04:00

LinkedIn has made it easier for users to connect with their favorites companies with the launch of “Follow Company,” a new feature that allows users to get notifications about activity happening from the companies they follow.

The new feature, which rolled out overnight, clearly takes cues from Facebook and Twitter — you can think of Follow Company as LinkedIn’s version of the Facebook Fan Page. However, instead of receiving status updates from the companies you follow, you will instead get information such as recent hires and promotions, new job opportunities and company profile updates.

“Follow” has been added as a tab on company pages now as well. Clicking on the tab will show you a list of our followers and their profile blurbs.

The Next iPhone to Debut on June 7th

2010-04-28T09:53:00.003-04:00

Apple has just put up this year’s World Wide Developer Conference page, and as suspected the dates are early — June 7-11 at the traditional Moscone West venue in San Francisco.

For the last two years, Apple has also used the event to debut new iPhone hardware and release dates, with the iPhone 3GS in 2009 and iPhone 3G in 2008. The iPhone 2G was announced at Macworld in 2008, but its release date was made public at WWDC as well.

So, it’s fairly likely WWDC 2010 will not only give us our first official look at the 4th generation iPhone, but word on when we’ll get it as well.

While the iPhone has only been part of WWDC for 3 years, given the app-centric nature of the artwork (above) its fair to say it’ll be given the lion’s share of attention this year.

Wildfire Raises $4 Million For Social Media Marketing Platform

2010-04-27T09:20:00.002-04:00

Wildfire, a platform for building viral marketing campaigns, has received $4 million in Series A funding led by Summit Partners with additional investors, including Jeff Clavier, Aydin Senkut and Gary Vaynerchuk, participating in the round.

Wildfire’s platform makes it relatively easy for marketers to create attractive, branded social media marketing campaigns (e.g. sweepstakes, contests, coupons, giveaways, quizzes, virtual gift campaigns and more) and to simultaneously publish them on Facebook fan pages, on company websites (integrated with Facebook Connect) and on Twitter.

A fbFund company, Wildfire launched its offering last year, reached profitability within 1 month of launching its product and won the fbFund twice. The company’s product has gained considerable popularity over the year as a dead simple way for brands to reach consumers across various social networks.

The startup has built up a very impressive roster of clients, including Pepsi, Sony, CNN, Universal, AT&T, Victoria’s Secret and even Facebook itself, which has used the service for multiple campaigns. The investment will be used for product development initiatives.

CrunchBase Information

Wildfire Interactive

Information provided by CrunchBase

How Freelancers are Using Social Media for Real Results

2010-04-26T16:15:00.001-04:00

Networking is the bread and butter of a freelance career. Because competition is so fierce, landing consistent gigs isn’t just about talent. It relies heavily on who you know, and how connected you are.

Social media can expand your freelance network exponentially and yield opportunities that you’d never find elsewhere. But just like pounding the physical pavement, it takes investment, hard work, and time.

We spoke to some freelancers in a variety of fields who find that channeling efforts into social media can really pay dividends. Here are some examples of their success.

Google Adds Local Business Annotations to Street View

2010-04-26T14:05:00.001-04:00

While Google works to extend Street View to the inside of stores — at least according to rumor — for the time being they’ve released a handy utility for better browsing with Google Street View: local business annotations.

Now when you’re milling about town — virtually via Street View of course — you can view the the top business listings for the surrounding area as annotations inside your view. They are the same annotations that appear when zoomed out, but now at your service while you poke around town close up.

Annotations are denoted with icons that are next to each business; click on the icons to view the business listings in miniature form. Google also has plans to add annotations for more businesses and transit locations to round out Street View’s utility in the near future.

Essentially Google is transforming Street View from a view-only panorama to an interactive virtual double of the physical world. The annotations should make it much easier to visually pinpoint a place to grab a cup of joe while plotting out your daily activities. They’re also potentially a big boon for the included local businesses and point to the value of Google Places.

RIM Introduces Two New BlackBerry Phones

2010-04-26T13:55:00.002-04:00

Research in Motion has announced two new BlackBerry devices today, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 and the BlackBerry Pearl 3G. The announcement comes a day before the company’s Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES), where it will show off further software and hardware developments. Both phones offer significant upgrades to their respective product lines.

The BlackBerry Bold 9650 is a CDMA device that appears to be a bit of a souped-up BlackBerry Tour in both appearance and features. However, the phone trades the scroll ball for an optical trackpad, more device memory (512MB as opposed to 256MB) and the addition of Wi-Fi support for 802.11b/g networks.

Check out this video for the BlackBerry Bold 9650:

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is an update to the immensely popular BlackBerry Pearl series, which combines BlackBerry functionality with a more traditional candy bar design. The new phone adds speed, more device memory (256MB), 3G support, GPS and an optical trackpad. The phone includes support for Wi-Fi 802.11.b/g/n networks and has a higher resolution 360×400 screen. The Pearl has always been marketed as a starter BlackBerry, or a BlackBerry for the non-business user. This is in part because the smaller size compresses the QWERTY keypad.

The BlackBerry Pearl 3G will be available in two models with different key layouts. The BlackBerry Pearl 9100 has the traditional 14-key layout while the Pearl 9105 has an expanded 20-key layout for an enhanced QWERTY experience.

This video showcases the new BlackBerry Pearl 9100 series. Is it just us or is this ad pretty similar to whatMicrosoft is doing for the Kin — sexting controversy aside?

Carriers and pricing details were not released, but thanks to press photos, we expect to see the BlackBerry Bold 9650 on Sprint for sure, and likely also on Verizon. The BlackBerry Pearl 3G series is a standard GSM-compatible phone, and thus we expect to see it on T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S. and on most major carriers in Europe.

What do you think of the new BlackBerry phones? Does either model entice you to continue to use or switch to BlackBerry for your next phone purchase? Let us know.

He’ll Be Back: Arnold Schwarzenegger Is on Foursquare

2010-04-26T13:45:00.001-04:00

How can you tell that location-based social networking service Foursquare is entering the mainstream? Well, the addition of movie-stars-turned-California-governors to the service is a very good clue.

Yes, you can now track Arnold Schwarzenegger’s whereabouts on Foursquare. He already has more than 1,000 followers, which is no big surprise considering his Foursquare account is advertised on his official page.

It’s a good sign for Foursquare. When Twitter started showing signs of greatness, the debate about whether it would ever become a mainstream service raged on for months. Foursquare now seems to be entering this stage of development. What do you think: Will Foursquare ever be a truly mainstream service? Please share your opinion in the comments.

The Wall Street Journal Partners with Foursquare

2010-04-26T12:22:00.000-04:00

Foursquare’s bread-and-butter is the partnerships that seed the location-based social network with curated content. Now, that includes editorial tips and badges from the renowned business publication The Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper joins the ranks of print media entities like Metro News and The New York Times as a Foursquare partner. WSJ will provide tips from Lunch Box — their daily column of restaurant reviews — and users can follow the Journal on Foursquare for more on the best New York has to offer.

The partnership also introduces three new badges, each with their own separate New York challenge. The Urban Adventurer tasks users to check-in to each of the five New York boroughs. The Banker Badge requires three check-ins in the financial district, and the Lunch Box badge can be unlocked by checking-in twice at WSJ-reviewed restaurants.

The partnership is similar in nature to the other big brand deals that Foursquare has cemented in recent months and likely a win-win for the Journal, Foursquare and application users.

This Weeks Top 10 Twitter Trends

2010-04-25T10:25:00.003-04:00

There are no prizes for guessing the top Twitter trend this week, since a certain Canadian pop singer has appeared in the chart every week since this series began. Some new topics are worth noting, however: Earth Day got Twitter users talking, while the UK elections also set tongues wagging.

Below is the top 10 list, courtesy of our friends at What The Trend. Because this is a topical list, hashtag memes and games have been omitted from the chart.

Top Twitter Trends This Week: 4/17 – 4/23

Rank	Topic	Top Index This Week	Change	Description
#1	Justin Bieber	2	-1	The young Canadian R&B/pop singer has a lot of fans who like to tweet about him! He recently came away empty-handed at the Canadian JUNO awards.
#2	Follow Friday	1		#FF is a tag for Follow Friday, the meme where users list other Twitterers to follow.
#3	Gender Roles	1		People, especially men, are tweeting about things that ladies should understand, and likewise, women tweeting about what men should do/say/prefer/be.
#4	Earth Day	1		April 22nd is Earth Day, a day to appreciate Earth and the environment.
#5	UK Parliament	1		Leaders of the UK’s three main political parties, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Nick Clegg, finished the Second Prime Ministerial debate, which took place in Bristol on the Sky News channel. The first one significantly increased Nick Clegg’s poll ratings.
#6	NBA	2		Among popular games played, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost one to the Chicago Bulls. The Los Angeles Lakers were victorious over the Oklahoma City Thunder. People commented on Ron Artest’s new haircut.
#7	Astrology	1		Tweets about interesting characteristics of the Zodiac signs.
#8	Super Junior	1		Lee Sungmin of Super Junior just created a Twitter account. Siwon, another member, recently had his Twitter account verified, and fans are welcoming both of them.
#9	Gang Starr	2		One of the greatest emcees of all time, Guru of Gang Starr has passed away after a battle with cancer on April 19, 2010.
#10	Twitter	1		People welcoming others to Twitter, discussing the 140 conference in New York City, a possible Twitter phishing attack, and an article by Mashable about using Twitter for business.

Google Dashes Hopes of Free iPhone Turn-by-Turn GPS

2010-04-24T10:58:00.002-04:00

Google has denied the latest rumors that the search giant will bring free turn-by-turn GPS navigation on the Apple iPhone, although the features could come in the future to other (unspecified) mobile platforms.
Reports surfaced on Thursday quoting a Google executive speaking about plans to bring free turn-by-turn navigation to other mobile platforms, including the iPhone, during a London press conference launching Maps Navigation for Android phones in the U.K..
"We did not say we would bring it to iPhone, we said to date we've had it on Android and that in the future it may come to other platforms but did not confirm this will be coming to iPhone at all," a Google spokesperson told PCWorld.

In Android 2.0, Google introduced Maps Navigation, which includes 3D maps, turn-by-turn voice guidance, and automatic rerouting -- all at no cost for the user. Available initially only in the U.S., the software does not store the maps on your phone, but uses the Internet connection to display routes.
However, Google clarified on Thursday a few unknowns about its free navigation software for Android. Maps Navigation pre-caches an entire route, and it needs a data connection only when it calculates the directions. So, while driving to your destination, if you lose the connection temporarily, the route progress will still be displayed as long as you stay on the initial route.
Free turn-by-turn navigation for mobile phones is getting increasingly popular with customers, to the detriment of traditional GPS device makers likeTomTom or Garmin. Next to Google's Maps Navigation, now available in both U.S. and U.K., Nokia introduced in January its own free GPS software for several of its devices, and by now has been downloaded more than 10 million times.

Hubble Telescope Celebrates 20th Anniversary‎

2010-04-24T09:10:00.005-04:00

The Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 20th anniversary Saturday and NASA has released a new photograph from the orbiting observatory of a cosmic pillar of gas and dust piled high in the Carina Nebula galaxy.

Google is celebrating The Hubble Space Telescope in their own way with a Hubble Telescope Google Logo:

Google Doodle logos are very unpredictable in that we never know exactly what event, person, or anniversary Google is going to celebrate. That’s why I enjoy writing about each new Google logo – at least that I see here in the US – as they come available!

iPhone Loser Gets Free Flight and Beer From Lufthansa

2010-04-23T10:44:00.002-04:00

If you lose an iPhone – especially a next generation iPhone prototype – does that make you an iPhone loser? Cruel puns aside (we’re sure that Gray Powell, the Apple employee who misplaced the phone at a German beer bar in California, has heard a fair share already), it seems that such a mistake can also land you (pun intended) a free flight to Germany and some complimentary beer from Lufthansa.

Although the connection between Lufthansa (the airline), the iPhone and German beer is not immediately apparent, Lufthansa has recently opened a Bavarian Beer Garden Business Lounge in Munich. Thus Lufthansa’s marketing director for the Americas, Nicola Lange, decided to invite Powell to Munich and enjoy some beer at Lufthansa’s expense.

The letter, shared by Lange on Twitter, reads:

“I recently read in the news that you lost a very special phone at a German beer bar in California…At Lufthansa we also noted with great interest your passion for German beer and culture. We thought you could use a break soon–and therefore would like to offer you complimentary business class transportation to Munich, where you can literally pick up where you last left off.”

If Powell decides to accept this offer, we presume he’ll be leaving any device prototypes at home.

[via CBS News]

Denny’s Menu Misprint Leads to Twitter Mess

2010-04-22T10:48:00.003-04:00

Denny’s dine-in menu invites customers to “Join the conversation!” and follow @Dennys on Twitter. The problem is that the account in question belongs to a Taiwanese Twitterer — Dennys Hsieh — and not the American restaurant chain, which manages two official accounts: DennysAllNightr and DennysGrandSlam.

The inaccurate menus (pictured after the jump) have been in circulation since October 2009 at more than 1,500 locations nationwide. One would think that such an oversight in these social media times would prompt immediate action, but such is not the case. Per a CNET report, the menu misprint is an error that the company hopes to correct not by reprinting menus but by convincing Twitter to hand over the “Dennys” Twitter account.

At the time of CNET’s story, Dennys Hsieh’s Twitter account had been inactive since July 19, 2009. The article must have inspired Hsieh to renew his interest in microblogging, as the account has since seen life in the form of new tweets posted in the past few days. Hsieh’s new tweets could foil the restaurant’s plan to take over the account, as it is no longer dormant.

It’s unclear who’s responsible for this major faux pas, but Denny’s employs the help of Filter Creative Group to manage its social media efforts. In an effort to save face, agency co-owner Alan Miller said that he believed there’s no harm in displaying the wrong Twitter name on menus. Given Hsieh’s recent Twitter activity, Miller and the Denny’s team might want to change their tune — or at least their menus.

Update: Alan Miller wrote to clarify that he doesn’t believe Denny’s brand is marred. Here’s what he told us:

“We currently have more combined twitter followers than anyone in our competitive restaurant set. That’s a huge accomplishment for a brand that just started paying attention to social media last year. So even though their was a very unfortunate typo on some of the menus people have been finding the pages and interacting with the community at a very high level.”

Hulu to Launch a Subscription Service in May?

2010-04-22T09:55:00.006-04:00

In May, Hulu plans to start testing a subscription service that would cost a monthly fee of $9.95, claims the L.A. Times, citing people familiar with the plans.

Currently, Hulu viewers can see the five most recent episodes of popular shows such as Glee and Lost. The subscription service, called Hulu Plus, would enable users to see older episodes of these shows.

Although unconfirmed, this news is on track with a previous report that said Hulu was planning to launch a subscription service in a matter of months. Back then, it was speculated that the monthly fee would be $4.99, but the price of access to unlimited TV shows seems to have risen in the last couple of months.

If it’s real, Hulu Plus is perfectly aligned with the launch of iPad 3G; the two could be a fantastic combination for accessing your favorite TV shows from any location. The monthly fee, however, is not negligible.

When we first wrote about Hulu’s possible subscription service, we asked you if you’d pay $4.99 for it, and many of you answered yes. How do you feel about a $9.95 fee for unlimited TV shows on Hulu? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Baltimore iPad app makers gettin' busy

2010-04-21T22:13:00.002-04:00

Without an iPad in hand months ago, the folks at Fastspot in Baltimore used pieces of paper to mock-up how they'd play the new word game they designed. Watch the video!

Web Being Hit by Hi-Tech Crime Wave

2010-04-21T21:30:00.001-04:00

Hi-tech criminals are racking up more than 100 attacks a second on the world's computers, a survey suggests.
While most of these attacks cause no trouble, the Symantec report suggests that one attack every 4.5 seconds does affect a PC.
The wave of attacks was driven by a steep rise in malicious software in circulation, said the annual report.
The number of malware (malicious software) samples that Symantec saw in 2009 was 71% higher than in 2008.

Crime family
This meant, said Symantec, that 51% of all the viruses, trojans and other malicious programs it has ever seen were logged during 2009. In total, Symantec identified almost 2.9 million items of malicious code during that 12 month period.
The steep rise in malware was driven largely by the growing popularity of easy to use toolkits that novice cyber criminals are using to turn out their own malware, said Tony Osborn, a technology manager for the public sector at Symantec.

Some of the kits were available for free, said Mr Osborn but others cost a lot of money. One, called Zeus, was available for around $700 and many had become so successful that their creators now offer telephone support for those who cannot get them to work.

STAYING SAFE ONLINE

Use security software that can tackle viruses and spyware

Use a firewall

Apply operating system updates as soon as they become available

Be suspicious of unsolicited e-mails bearing attachments

Keep your browser up to date

During 2009, Symantec say more than 90,000 variants of the Zeus kit and it was responsible for the growth of one of the most prolific malware families during the year.
Zeus relies on spam to lure people to websites where victims will be tricked into installing malicious code or which sneaks on to a computer via a known vulnerability.
Often, said the report, this can help criminals set up botnets - networks of hijacked home PCs that can be used to send spam or plundered for lucrative personal data. In 2009, Symantec saw almost seven million distinct PCs that were members of botnets.
There was one very simple reason that novices bought and used the kits, said Mr Osborn.
"It's all about money," he said.
Established gangs were also showing no signs of holding back in their attempts to steal saleable information.
"Why would they?" he said. "It's easy money and it's very hard to catch people."
"It's become a day job for a lot of people," he said.
There was evidence, suggests the report, that professional cyber criminals were tuning their tactics to try and get better results. Many now scour social network pages for details about employees inside companies and craft their spam and other messages to capitalise on the details they can gather.
The continuing growth of hi-tech crime meant that many developing nations were starting to suffer significant numbers of attacks. Brazil and India were becoming hot spots of cyber crime, said Mr Osborn.
This was because, he said, the infrastructure in those nations was rapidly improving as people move to broadband and use the web for more and more of their daily lives.
"Those are the places where education and understanding about security are taking a while to catch up," he said.

Facebook Teams Up with Microsoft on Docs.com

2010-04-21T16:11:00.000-04:00

"Mark Zuckerburg announced today on the stage of f8, the Facebook developer conference, that Facebook will be launching a collaborative document-editing tool with Microsoft. Docs.com will be released to the public in just a few hours.

Users will be able to find, create and share Microsoft Office documents with their Facebook friends. The site, which aims to blend two familiar experiences, was built using Microsoft Office 2010.

At the outset, this product seems like a more user-friendly, pared-down version of some of Google Wave’s collaborative document-editing features. We’ve seen a few startups and product features that have this capability; will Facebook’s partnership with Microsoft be powerful enough to crush competition — including Google Docs — across the board?"

Facebook Makes Major Announcements at F8 [LIVE]

2010-04-21T13:24:00.001-04:00

Facebook Makes Major Announcements at F8 [LIVE]

Adobe Gives Up on iPhone App Development After CS5

2010-04-21T13:22:00.002-04:00

The saga of Adobe and Apple or, more precisely, Flash app development for the iPhone, is drawing to its inevitable conclusion.

It all started with Apple’s change to its iPhone Developer Program License Agreement – the notorious article 3.3.1 – which banned the use of the Flash-to-iPhone converter. In the simplest of terms, the article makes it meaningless for developers to create Flash apps that target the iPhone because Apple can ban them at any time.

iPhone 4G Public Chat Live on Skype!

2010-04-20T22:40:00.001-04:00

iPhone 4 hosted by metropolitan_geek.

Join now

Chat about what's on your mind. More about public chats.

Facebook Turns Off Facebook Lite

2010-04-20T16:18:00.004-04:00

Facebook has stopped supporting its stripped-down Facebook Lite website. If you go to the old Facebook Lite URL you will be redirected to the standard Facebook homepage.

The Change was announced on Facebook's own Fan Page a few hours ago. The company did not elaborate on what caused the axe to fall on Lite, but it's brief status update simply stated, "We're no longer supporting it, but learned a lot from the test of a slimmed-down site."

Facebook was testing the idea of a reduced home page to appeal to both minimalists who hate clutter and to users with limited bandwidth or processing power, especially those users from developing nations.

Were you using Facebook Lite and, if so, will you miss it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Here is what it looked like...

Facebook to Link Profiles and Pages

2010-04-19T18:45:00.006-04:00

Your Facebook profile is about to get a lot more dynamic. Today, Facebook is starting to roll out an all-new way to share your likes and interests, and it’s all about Community Pages.

These changes are related to the new “like” terminology Facebook introduced at the end of March. Instead of becoming a fan of pages — which, at the time, were limited to brands and organizations — users could simply click a button stating that they liked the page/brand/organization. The new lingo gave users less commitment and more ability to easily express affinity.

Very shortly thereafter, Facebook launched Community Pages. Now, users can “like” topics, such as cooking or hip hop, in addition to brands, such as Sur La Table or Eminem. These community pages aren’t run by individuals, so they don’t have a wall and don’t send updates to users’ feeds. Instead, they import streams of related, public content from user status messages.

Status text is split into updates from friends and updates from all Facebook users. E.g., if I write in a status update to everyone, “I love this new hip hop album,” Facebook recognizes the term “hip hop” and imports my public update to the hip hop community page. Community Pages also include relevant information fromWikipedia under a Wikipedia tab.

‘Found’ iPhone Might be New Model, Says Gizmodo

2010-04-19T17:41:00.017-04:00

Was Apple's next iPhone, perhaps the most talked-about device on the planet, made by one of the most secretive companies on Earth, left in a bar in Redwood City, Calif.?

That's what technology Web site Gizmodo says in sharing photos and details of a device it says is the new iPhone, likely to be announced in June by Apple, which last week shared features of the iPhone's new operating system. 4.0. Since the first iPhone was released in June 2007, the month has become known as iPhone month for subsequent new models from Apple.

Gizmodo editor Jason Chen said on the site that the iPhone "was found lost in a bar in Redwood City, camouflaged to look like an iPhone 3GS," the current iPhone model. "We got it. We disassembled it. It's the real thing, and here are all the details ... While Apple may tinker with the final packaging and design of the final phone, it's clear that the features in this lost-and-found next-generation iPhone are drastically new and drastically different from what came before."

Apple, contacted for comment, has not yet responded. Redwood City is about 20 miles north of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

"We're as skeptical — if not more — than all of you," Chen said on the site. "We get false tips all the time. But after playing with it for about a week — the overall quality feels exactly like a finished final Apple phone — and disassembling this unit, there is so much evidence stacked in its favor, that there's very little possibility that it's a fake. In fact, the possibility is almost none."

Chen also noted that technology blogger and "Apple-connected John Gruber ... says that Apple has indeed lost a prototype iPhone and they want it back."

However, Gruber said on his blog, Daring Fireball, "I did not use the word 'lost.' It is my understanding that Apple considers this unit stolen, not lost."

Gizmodo says the device in its possession is slightly heavier than the current iPhone, with a "more squared off" look and has a "16 percent larger battery." The back of the device "is entirely flat, made of either glass (more likely) or ceramic or shiny plastic in order for the cell signal to poke through," that there is an "aluminum border going completely around the outside" of the phone, and that the screen is "slightly smaller than the 3GS (but seemingly higher resolution)

"Internal components are shrunken, miniaturized and reduced to make room for the larger battery," the Web site said. The phone also has a front-facing video chat camera, and "improved" camera with a larger lens on the back of the device than the iPhone 3GS and with camera flash, an improved display, and a micro-SIM card instead of standard-sized SIM card, according to Gizmodo.

"The prototypes seem to line up with many rumors about the next iPhone and their internals are reported to be authentic," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for The NPD Group research firm.

"However, a prototype Apple device has never been exposed this way, and the company has issued cease-and-desist orders for less tangible reports on future products, whereas we haven't seen any action from the company yet on this one."

By Suzanne Choney

msnbc.com

updated 1:41 p.m. ET, Mon., April 19, 2010

Stranded Travelers Turn to Social Media as Ash Paralyzes Europe

2010-04-19T07:29:00.007-04:00

As ash from a belching volcano in Iceland continues to ground flights across Europe, benched travelers are turning to social media for rides and rooms - and a virtual shoulder to cry on.

Healdsburg, Calif.-based writer Tod Brilliant launched a Facebook group this weekend, "When Volcanoes Erupt: A Survival Guide for Stranded Travelers," after he and his wife Andrea Barrett - who is 31 weeks pregnant - found themselves unable to fly home to California from London's Heathrow airport after a wedding.

His Facebook group, which had more than 1,000 members as of Monday morning, includes news links and encourages volcano refugees on Twitter to use the hashtags #getmehome and#ashtag for up-to-the-minute opportunities (#putmeup and #roadsharing are also popular options). Other sources for updates include VolcanoHelp.eu and JohnnyJet's Volcano Travel Resource Page. Couchsurfing.com and AirBnB.com, which is offering a $40 discount for stranded passengers, report a surge of inquiries as well.

"We're feeling pretty helpless, and it's therapuetic to help other people network. There's nothing more futile than shaking your fist at a volcano," says Brilliant, who was scheduled to fly back from Heathrow last Thursday and is now scheduled for a flight on Saturday.

"People have been incredibly generous … a band of neighbors on tiny Percy Street in Stratford-upon-Avon have taken it upon themselves to make sure that Andrea and I have what we need," he adds. "It makes me want to cry thinking about it." -- By Laura Bly, USA TODAY

iPhone 4G found on a bar floor?

2010-04-19T06:51:00.004-04:00

The rumor mill is gearing up for the launch of Apple's fourth-generation iPhone, and the latest rumor has an aroma of fermented hops and barley.

Many observers expect Apple to release a new model in late spring or early summer. CEO Steve Jobs said recently that an updated mobile OS would be ready this summer--a perfect opportunity to release new iPhone hardware. Fueling speculation that a June launch is imminent is a report fromBoy Genius Report that it has "confirmed with multiple AT&T sources that the carrier has now put a block on employees taking vacations in June."

Engadget is fanning the flames with photographs it says contain images of the forthcoming phone. Here's Engadget's explanation on how the images surfaced:

Apparently the phone was found on the floor of a San Jose bar inside of an iPhone 3G case. Right now we don't have a ton of info on the device in question, but we can tell you that it apparently has a front facing camera (!), 80GB of storage (weird, right?), and isn't booting at this point (though it was previously, and running an OS that was decidedly new). It's not clear if this is definitely a production model, or just a prototype that found its way into the world, but it's certainly a compelling design, no matter how you look at it.

Perhaps bolstering Engadget's report is a Twitpic posted in February that bears a striking resemblance to Engadget's images. However, other blogs reported that the images were actually of a Japanese iPhone counterfeit. As "proof" of the validity its report, Engadget reposted a grainy, heavily redacted photo it posted with a January iPad prototype story it now says shows the forthcoming iPhone sitting next to the then-yet-to-be released iPad.

Additionally, a MacRumors reader posted these images--purportedly from a Chinese Web site--that appear similar to those posted earlier by Engadget, although some readers suggest these are really images of the what was described as a Japanese counterfeit.

Of course, one has to wonder whether a company that guards the secrecy of its unreleased products as fiercely as Apple would actually allow an employee to take a prototype out to mingle with pretzels and spilled beer.

Death and social media: what happens to your life online?

2010-03-16T17:20:00.002-04:00

arstechnica.com — When someone dies, what becomes of their user accounts and profile? Ars examines the policies of some of the most popular social media services to see how and under what circumstances friends or family can access (or delete) a deceased user's account.

Foursquare Takes Lead in Where-Am-I Apps

2010-03-12T15:54:00.001-05:00

cnn.com — One year ago, the founders of Foursquare stepped onstage before a tech-savvy crowd in Austin, Texas, to announce their concept: a smartphone app that lets you tell friends where you are.

25 Projects You Can Outsource to a Virtual Assistant

2010-03-12T13:23:00.003-05:00

elance.com — A list of 25 projects where a Virtual Assistant (VA) could help you get your work done faster. There is a broad range of skills available to help you get work done - letting you focus on what you do best.

iPhone 4G Coming in May?

2010-01-12T19:36:00.000-05:00

Vintage Apple IIc Ad

2010-01-09T19:06:00.002-05:00

Grand Theft Auto game coming to iPhone

2009-08-31T14:48:00.001-04:00

by Don Reisinger

GTA is coming to your iPhone.(Credit: Rockstar Games)
Rockstar Games, the developers behind the Grand Theft Auto series, announced on Monday that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will be coming to Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch this fall.
The developer also announced that Beaterator, an app that allows users to create "world-class beats and songs," will also be made available on the App Store. Like the Chinatown Wars title, Beaterater is slated for availability this fall for an undisclosed price.
Chinatown Wars gives gamers control over Huang Lee, a member of the Triad crime syndicate, who travels to Liberty City to investigate his father's death. iPhone and iPod Touch owners will be able to control Lee as he travels through the streets of Liberty City.
Chinatown Wars is currently available on the Nintendo DS. It's coming to the Sony PlayStation Portable in October. According to Rockstar, it made perfect sense for the handheld title to make its way to Apple's mobile devices.
But since it has been ported from traditional handheld game devices, I asked Rockstar if iPhone owners will see much of a difference between the Nintendo DS or Sony PSP versions and the iPhone version.
Rockstar said there will be some textures that will look low-res, compared to the PSP version, but other than that, the game is exactly the same.
That comes as a surprise, considering that the typical content featured in a Grand Theft Auto game has clashed with Apple's policies against adult-theme material finding its way to into the App Store. Apple denied access to Eucalyptus, an e-book reader application, because it allowed users to find and read the Kama Sutra. Apple even denied access to Ninjawords, a dictionary app, because it contained vulgar words.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars promises a typical GTA experience, complete with the sexual content and vulgar words that have made it such a controversial franchise. Rockstar told me that it had no trouble with Apple's App Store policies and that the game will be made available as is.
Rockstar also said that controlling the on-screen character will be slightly different than what gamers are used to with other handhelds. According to the company, the game will display an on-screen analog stick that users will be able to control with their thumb. The developer wouldn't reveal any more information about the game.
Check out Don's Facebook profile, Twitter stream, and FriendFeed.

Review: Snow Leopard Review | Mac OS X - Page 1 | Macworld

2009-08-31T07:39:00.001-04:00

Review: Snow Leopard Review Mac OS X - Page 1 Macworld

Give your DVR a storage boost | Crave - CNET

2009-04-22T18:01:00.001-04:00

Give your DVR a storage boost | Crave - CNET

How-To MMS on iPhone 3G 3.0 Beta

2009-04-18T10:51:00.008-04:00

I completed some testing on the iPhone 3.0 beta with MMS after reading and trying the methods

outlined by Matt Buchanan @

Gizmodo and Steve McCratic.

Here's what I found:

Installed iPhone_1,2_3.0_7A259g_Restore.ipsw
DID NOT install the att_us.ipcc carrier file.
Attempted MMS from iPhone 3G, no luck.
I swapped the SIM card from my iPhone 3G to my old RAZRV3.
Attempted MMS via RAZRV3, no luck.
Changed my AT&T Feature(s) via https://www.wireless.att.com/ from iPhone Text Messaging 1500 to Messaging Unlimited
MMS began working on the RAZRV3 after a few minutes
Swapped the SIM card from the RAZRV3 to the iPhone 3G
MMS now works both ways!

2009-04-16T18:24:00.002-04:00

Latest MobileMe Takes Out Glitches and Eases Syncing

iPhone 3.0

2009-03-22T20:44:00.004-04:00

Cut and paste, MMS highlight iPhone 3.0 improvements

Starting this summer, iPhone users won’t have the lack of copy-and-paste functionality to kick around anymore. Apple Tuesday announced that the oft-requested ability to copy text, HTML, and photos will appear in the iPhone 3.0 software update—along with more than 100 other new features.

Dial your iPhone with Bakelite

2008-09-18T15:30:00.004-04:00

Anyone who is as ancient as me will remember when "dialing" a phone meant putting your finger into a little circular hole in a rotary dial, dragging it to a small metal stop, then pulling your finger out of the hole to dial that number. Rotary dial phones disappeared in the 1970s, but now MildMannered Industries is bringing back the fun with Bakelite 1.0 for iPhone.

As the screenshot indicates, Bakelite provides a rotary dial interface for dialing phone numbers. It even has a feature those old dial phones didn't have -- the ability to delete the last number if you mis-dialed it.

Bakelite isn't very practical, but it's fun! The price is right, too. Bakelite is available from the App Store for free.

Getting Revenge on Spammers

2008-09-18T14:17:00.003-04:00

Have you ever wanted to reply to a spammer, not to ask him how his life came to this or did he think that this is what he would be when he grew up, but just to taunt him? A writer for the Boston Globe did just that; when a spammer emailed him, promising him 20 percent of some fake company's profits for just the exchange of his bank account numbers (what a deal!), he decided to have fun with spam.

He emailed the spammer back, playing along for a bit, and got into a pretty funny volley, with gems from the spammer like, "In my last email i ask you to provide me your credit card number and the limit. instead you asking of my own. PLEASE MAIL ME THE DETAILS SO AS TO START BUSINESS OKAY." Basically, it seems as if he drives the spammers insane. Read his story for more vicarious tech payback!

Patrick Bateman Would Love Zagat’s New Mobile Reservations

2008-08-18T20:19:00.005-04:00

OpenTable recently launched its mobile site mobile.opentable.com, and now Zagat announces that users of Zagat.mobi can also take advantage of OpenTable’s system to make reservations via their cell phones. This kind of makes us wish American Psycho, with its Zagat-toting Patrick Bateman, had been written seventeen years later: “I take out my iPhone 3G and use my Safari Web browser to access OpenTable via Zagat.mobi. The Edge system is prohibitively slow, causing me to break into a cold sweat. I’m almost on the verge of tears when I’m finally able to tap into the Wi-Fi signal of a nearby Starbucks and within five minutes I’ve used my AmEx Black Card to book a table at the second-hottest restaurant in the West Village, Dell’anima . I’m looking forward to the house-made cavatelli wrap that Frank Bruni called ‘first-rate’ when we drive by Dorsia . I think I see Paul Allen walking in, meaning he somehow scored the restaurant’s secret number. My fists ball up in a powerful rage.”

End Power Struggles in Style

2008-08-04T16:45:00.000-04:00

My quest for the perfect power hub seemed to come to an end with the West Elm Charging Station, but this little number has made me think twice about that declaration. If you have an extensive Apple product family like me, then you can appreciate this Griffin Powerdock that safely charges up to four iPods and/or iPhones at once.

The Powerdock comes with two or four slots so you can accommodate your own toys, or share the charging real estate with your i-loving partner. Although the $50 - $70 price tag does seem a bit high for Apple-only charging capabilities, it is pretty chic, nonetheless. I’d rock it.

Monday Tech

2008-08-04T16:44:00.001-04:00

The new BlackBerry Curve 8320 in Sunset comes with a 2-megapixel cam, WiFi, camera, video player, and will cost $149 with a two-year contract. —CrunchGear
Actor Gary Cole — which most of you will recognize from Desperate Housewives — admits to AOL’s Switched that he doesn’t have a romantic attachment to his cell phone. — Switched
Lenovo’s IdeaPad, measuring in at 8.9 inches, was captured on video. —Engadget
If you need any health info about your beloved pets, a new site called WebVet has just launched. So far it includes articles about dogs, cats, birds, and other small animals, but will soon include exotic pets like fish and farm animals. — TechCrunch
Poof! Just like that, Apple has removed the popular Box Office app from its App Store. We’re still asking ourselves why?! — Boing Boing

Friday Tech

2008-08-01T15:18:00.008-04:00

Available in three versions, S (1.5 feet tall), M (2.2 feet), and L (3.7-feet), Toyota's new Winglet features an electric mother, two wheels, and a set of sensors. Goodbye Segway, hello Winglet! — CrunchGear

Here we go again. Looks like the border patrol has the right to confiscate any piece of electronic equipment and they can keep it for as long as they want. Yikes! — Switched

Everything seems to be going wireless these days, so why not brush up on your wireless knowledge with some quick tips about wireless networking. — USA Today

Sprint's Centro gets its very first software update which includes location services to Google Maps and GPS. — Gizmodo

Sony's Operation Smile

2008-08-01T10:28:00.001-04:00

It's nice to know buying a camera can do some good in the world--besides chronicling your latest party or taking dramatic close-ups for your MySpace profile, of course.

(Credit: Sony)

As part of a retail promotion for Sony Cyber-shot digital cameras featuring Smile Shutter technology, the company says it will donate $100,000 to global charity Operation Smile, which provides free physical exams and reconstructive surgeries for children suffering from cleft lips, cleft palates, and other facial deformities. The promotion starts Friday.

Sony is also donating Cyber-shot digicams to more than 30 mission sites around the world so volunteers can record kids' smiles post-procedure. Cameras with Sony's Smile Shutter technology automatically capture a smile when the feature is activated, without the photographer having to press the shutter button. The feature is aimed at producing shots with natural-looking smiles and expressions.

Heidi and Spencer Do Lunch...And Their DS

2008-07-31T16:40:00.004-04:00

At first glance, one may assume that Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have nothing better to do during lunch outings then play with their matching DS Lites, considering they do like to play twinsies every now and then. The truth of the matter, which is even more farfetched than my previous assumption, is that they were meeting with a gaming coach from the all-female gaming team Fragdolls and getting a private lesson on the DS. Could this be the beginning of the Heidi and Spencer video game? Yikes, I seriously didn't think that project would come to fruition! I guess it makes sense though, Step One in creating a video game — learn how to use a handheld gaming console!

Stay Cool with Thanko's USB Necktie

2008-07-31T16:30:00.003-04:00

Can't manage to stay cool at the office? What you need is Thanko's USB Necktie. This unusual tie has a built-in fan to cool you off, powered by the battery pack.

Simply plug the USB cable into your computer, power on, and "breeze" through your work.

It sells for $43.59 on GeekStuff4U.com.

2008-07-31T16:25:00.002-04:00

Robert Englund, which most of you know as the man who played Freddy in the Freddy Krueger movies, sat down with an interview with AOL's Switched and revealed that he can't wait to get his hands on a LG Scarlet flatscreen. — Switched

LG Blu-Ray Box: Streaming from NetFlix

2008-07-31T16:18:00.002-04:00

The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player not only plays DVDs, it also receives streaming video from Netflix.

(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix fans will soon have another new option for watching movies.

On Thursday, the company made famous by sending DVDs to consumers via snail mail announced, in conjunction with LG Electronics, the imminent availability of a Blu-ray disc player that will also allow Netflix subscribers to view streaming video of movies and TV shows.

The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player one-ups the Netflix Player by Roku, a set-top box that hit the market a couple months back. While the Roku device garnered much attention for its streaming-video capabilities, that's about all it does--there is no DVD function.

With the LG box, due to come out this fall, Netflix subscribers will be able to make use of Blu-ray discs and standard DVDs and also to tap into an online repository of about 12,000 movies and TV episodes (a fraction of the overall inventory at Netflix). The service will be available to subscribers at no additional charge.

A feature called BD Live will give people access to additional content and previews.

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that it would allow users of the Xbox 360 game console to view streaming video from Netflix.

With Thursday's announcement, LG and Netflix finally make good on a set-top box promise they made at the start of the year, just ahead of the big Consumer Electronics Show.

The two companies plan to show off the BD300 on Thursday night at LG's 2008 Summer Line Show in New York.

Perhaps at that time, they'll divulge the price of the BD300, which was not included in Thursday morning's press release. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, LG is pegging the price at "well under $500." That compares with just $100 for the more limited Roku box.

Wii Stripper Pole Game: Fun or Sexist?

2008-07-31T12:56:00.004-04:00

I've been a little bit hesitant to write about the Wii Fit Stripper Pole game because I'm a little conflicted. But since it appears that it's going to happen, here we go! A Stripper Pole game disturbs me a little, but since it's part of Wii Fit, I think of it as the same level as those stripping exercise classes that popped up a few years ago and seemed cheeky and fun. It's also a fun, hopefully private (close those shades) way to work out and explore a fantasy, so what's the harm, right?

On the other hand, with the release of GTA IV and its supply of hookers once again, I'm leery of the intent here and I can get in that place of worrying about where the video game industry is placing their female fans. How do you feel about a stripper pole game?

Would You Date Steve Wozniak?

2008-07-31T12:45:00.006-04:00

Kathy Griffin was on the Today Show recently to promote the A-List Awards, but what was more interesting was when Kathy talked about her relationship with her very tech-famous ex-boyfriend, Steve Wozniak (he rides a Segway! LOL!).

They're no longer dating, and Kathy mentioned that he'd since met someone and became engaged. How does he get the ladies?

Now, Wozniak is undoubtedly a genius computer engineer who co-founded Apple, and let's not lie, the billionaire title is not exactly a turn-off. . . but! The Woz?!

He's a billionaire, he's an Apple father, and he must be hiding some serious charm under that, um, teddy-bear exterior. Tell me — would you date him?

So, Black or White?

2008-07-31T12:32:00.006-04:00

With every great announcement from Apple — I'm referring, obviously, to the iPhone 3G — comes a slew of important questions. What happens to my AT&T contract? When will the camera get better? Video?!

But for me, one huge question comes to mind: black or white? That's right, my slavishness to better, faster, stronger is dictating that I get the new one. Whee! Of course, the new colors are black or white (like the MacBook, get it?), and I'm having quite the time deciding between the two colors. I mean, this is the phone I'll be carrying for an entire year, so it's got to go with everything.

Black's got that chic, French quality, while the white has that classic Apple feel. I want both! What color are you partial to?

The Office Webisode - Kevin's Loan: Money Trouble

2008-07-31T12:11:00.001-04:00

Dell's Studio Hybrid

2008-07-30T19:07:00.003-04:00

Cat's out of the bag: we're nerds, and can't think of a better way to spend a Tuesday morning than to shuffle through endless configuration pages, trying to build the best bang-for-buck Studio Hybrid on the internet. Dell's product page for the new mini desktop -- which was released last night -- is now online, and offers up that fabled $499 configuration, in addition to some rather spendy siblings. For instance, if you want to go bamboo that's an extra $130 right out of the gate, a display will cost you $200 minimum, it's $50 to bump the Hybrid up to 2GB of RAM, that Blu-ray drive is a hefty $250 add-on, and WiFi will cost you $70. There's no option for discreet graphics -- that's no surprise -- and the TV tuner option is of the USB dongle variety. Luckily some of Dell's pre-configured versions come with decent "Instant Savings," but it's clear Dell is going for a slightly premium, design-conscious consumer here, not the spendthrift.

New iPod Nano to bring back older slim design?

2008-07-30T16:53:00.003-04:00

One possible design for Apple's fourth-generation iPod nano, on the right, as compared to a Microsoft Zune music player.

(Credit: iLounge)

The next generation of the iPod Nano might be getting a slimmed-down makeover, according to a report.

iLounge believes it has hit on the design for the fourth-generation iPod Nano, reporting that Apple plans to bring back the thinner iPod Nano design of years past but in a taller package that's a nod to the screen size of today's "fat" iPod Nano. Video would play in landscape mode, borrowing from the landscape viewing mode of the iPhone and iPod Touch and delivering a 1.5-to-1 aspect ratio.

The fat iPod Nano was a bit controversial when it was first introduced, but people seem to have gotten used to the idea. Last year Apple redesigned its most popular iPod in line with its increased focus on video in the iTunes Store, as the screen size on the early thin iPod Nanos was way too small to comfortably watch video.

The new design also reminded iLounge of Microsoft's Zune flash player, although to be fair,that Zune player seemed to remind people of the original iPod Nano design when it was released. In any event, the Zune didn't seem to make much headway in the past year against the fat iPod Nano design.

Apple has held a September iPod event the last several years, and we're pretty sure they'll have another one on tap this year, with a revamped iPod Touch likely to accompany a new iPod Nano. In support of that suspicion, AppleInsider is reporting that resellers have been told to expect shortages of iPods and Macbooks in the coming weeks.

Daily Tech: Chinese Government Censoring Internet During Olympics

2008-07-30T16:29:00.005-04:00

Although press will have well-equipped media centers to work from during the Olympics, the Internet will be censored by the Chinese government during the 2008 Summer games. — The New York Times
This is hilarious! The hosts of NBC's Today did their "own" Rock Band rendition of "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, it's so bad that it's soo good! — Kotaku
An AOL mail survey has revealed that email addiction is on the rise, with email "addiction" up 15 percent from last year and it is even noted that 67 percent of people check email in bed! — Switched
A solar-charging station has been created that looks exactly like Disney's Home of the Future, with the windows acting as solar panels. —Unplggd
It seems like the glossy and gorgeous iPhone 3G's are already starting to get cracks on their exterior. — MacRumors

Tiger Direct Selling BlackBerry Bold Pre-Orders

2008-07-29T19:03:00.003-04:00

Attention BlackBerry fans! Rather than wait anxiously for your chance to buy a BlackBerry Bold through your wireless carrier, you can pre-order a BlackBerry Bold from TigerDirect for a whopping $649.99 and wait anxiously for the handset to ship to your door, which, according to recent reports, will be sometime in September.

Uh, I think I'll wait and see what AT&T offers for this sweet device.

AT&T Teases iPhone Owners With Free Wi-Fi -- Again

2008-07-29T10:08:00.008-04:00

Moments after AT&T posted a message on its site saying it would provide free Wi-Fi services to iPhone users, the company took it back. And AT&T spokespeople are keeping their lips sealed as to who or what caused the "error" -- or whether free AT&T Wi-Fi is ever going to become a reality.

At approximately 9 a.m. PDT, AT&T removed the message from its site, which read, "AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and free Wi-Fi even hotter, which is why we are proud to offer iPhone customers free access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi hotspot network with more than 17,000 hotspots."

"It was posted in error and was removed shortly thereafter, so it should not have been up," said Seth Bloom, an AT&T spokesperson, in a phone interview. "We know how important Wi-Fi is and we intend to make it available to as many people as we can, but nothing can be announced today."

Another AT&T representative said almost the same thing, verbatim. Clearly they were both reading from the same script.

This isn't the first time AT&T has teased iPhone users, either. In late April, iPhone users began receiving free AT&T Wi-Fi without any official announcement. Days later, that free access was no more.

Unlike in May, Friday's snafu is a bit more embarrassing for AT&T since an announcement -- official or not -- appeared in writing. It's practically irresponsible (not to mention condescending) for the company to refuse to comment on any prospects of free Wi-Fi: Why else would that message ever have been written? If it were "pushed live erroneously," doesn't that imply it'll be pushed live eventually? And if so, why don't they just tell us that?

Product page [AT&T)

Worker Accidentally Takes Pictures of iPhone Factory

2008-07-29T09:52:00.012-04:00

gizmodo.com — The covert nature of Apple's production facilities is generally on par with those of military contractors, but according to one buyer's report, an iPhone 3G recently came pre-packaged with three photos taken inside an iPhone production facility.he covert nature of Apple's production facilities is generally on par with those of military contractors, but according to one buyer's report, an iPhone 3Grecently came pre-packaged with three photos taken inside an iPhone production facility. While two were blurry, this particular photo came out very well...even if a mass of clear plastic isn't Apple's ideal way of presenting the device. I wonder if all of that casing is reused while the iPhone is repackaged in that special, Earth-friendly potato box.

Apple stores issue 'golden tickets' for iPhone 3G buyers

2008-07-29T09:46:00.002-04:00

People are still lining up at Apple stores to buy iPhone 3G's. Clearly, people are crazy about Apple's new phone, but what is Apple doing to make it a little easier to get your hands on a shiny new iPhone 3G? Our friends at iPhone Central note that Apple stores have new, extended hours to pack the people in. Apple stores are now opening at 8am, for you early rising iPhone 3G seekers.

Apple retail staffers will also be roaming the lines and prequalifing people for iPhone purchases. Once you've been prequalified you are issued a ticket that is good for an iPhone 3G. You can use the ticket right then and there (when it is your turn, of course) or return later in the day.

Sounds like a pretty fair system to me. Have you stood in line for an iPhone lately? What do you think of Apple's new methods?

Google's Android comes to life

2008-07-29T09:19:00.004-04:00

Google demonstrated its Android mobile phone softwareWednesday at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco. The project, under development by Google and a number of partners in the Open Handset Alliance, is due to ship as open-source software when the first Android phones go on sale later this year. This is a view of the home screen, demonstrated by Steve Horowitz, Android's engineering director.

Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET News.com

Mobile Test

2008-07-28T18:31:00.001-04:00

This is a mobile test of the Metropolitan Geek Blog.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

iPhone 3G or BlackBerry Bold

2008-07-28T14:35:00.002-04:00

Which device would you rather rock this summer?