 Abee Reveals Striking Blue Acubic C10R Mini-ITX Case Dec 27th 2012, 20:01 For some reason or other, mini personal computers have become more popular over the past couple of years, which means that small form factor cases have more potential buyers now. Japanese company Abee is looking to take advantage of this.
Desktop cases can usually hold all types of mainboards up to a certain size. Mini-ITX is th... (read more) |   VueScan 9.1.21 Adds Support for New Devices Dec 27th 2012, 19:54 VueScan, an easy-to-use replacement for the software that usually comes with scanners and that supports most flatbed scanners, printer/scanners and film scanners, has reached version 9.1.21.
VueScan 9.1.21 is a minoe release in the series as it doesn’t bring any performance improvements for the Linux platform, just some support for some new devices.
Highlights of VueScan 9.1.21:
• A problem with Control-C command for copying text has been fixed;
read more) |  Apple Now Selling the 2G Nest Thermostat, Also in Retail Stores Dec 27th 2012, 19:51 After adding the Nest “learning” thermostat to its virtual shelves on store.apple.com, Cupertino-based Apple Inc. is now selling the second generation of Tony Fadell’s brilliant invention, both online and physically, in brick-and-mortar stores across the US and Canada.
Priced at $249.95 (€188) the second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat turns itself down when you're away and can be controlled over Wi-Fi using a companion app downloadable free of charge fr... (read more) |  Spotlight: Lion Rescued After Spending 3 Years with a Snare Caught Around Its Neck Dec 27th 2012, 19:51 Earlier this year, a team of rangers in charge of looking after the Mikumi National Park in Tanzania managed to rescue a young lion which got caught in a snare back in 2009 and which spent the last three years walking around with this trap tightening around its neck.
Apparently, the young lion only managed to survive because its brothers and sisters agreed to share their food with it.
Otherwise, it would have died shortly after getting caught in the snare, seeing ho... (read more) | | 8 Ways to Keep Your Screens Looking Brand New Dec 27th 2012, 19:49
 Toddy Gear brings coutre to screen cleaning with its line of Smart Cloths. Elegantly designed with dual-sided 100% microfiber cleaning surfaces, these are more than just cleaning tools -- they're a fashion statement. $14.99 Cleaning Pro Tip: Press gently when cleaning screens, LCD monitors in particular, because too much pressure can damage pixels or cause them to burn out faster than normal. Click here to view this gallery.  Holding your shiny new device in your hand -- the one you've been cooing over since its release date was announced before the holidays -- you're giddy with excitement. All your shiny new toys have plastic factory screen protectors that you'll soon discard, but no matter -- you just can't help but slide and swipe your fingers across your screens.
SEE ALSO: 10 iPad Cases With Convenient Hand Grips Those protectors had some merit when it came to keeping your shiny new screen clean. Over time and with use, grease and dust will accumulate and smudge across your screen. The screens of yesteryears were made of glass and could be easily cleaned with water or other household products. Today, de…
Continue reading... More About: cleaning, LCD care, Plasma screen care, screen protection  |  Samsung Galaxy S IV Concept Rendered on Video Dec 27th 2012, 19:41 Whether Samsung will indeed launch a Galaxy S IV smartphone next year to continue the highly popular Galaxy S lineup, it remains to be seen.
The one thing that is certain, however, is the fact that many enthusiasts are already dreaming of the device, and that many have already built their own concepts to bring the possible upcoming pho... (read more) |  DVDStyler 2.3.5 Introduces a Christmas Template Dec 27th 2012, 19:21 DVDStyler, a cross-platform free DVD authoring application that makes possible for video enthusiasts to create professional-looking DVDs, is now at version 2.3.5.
Highlights of DVDStyler 2.3.5:
• New menu templates, Christmas, Winter and SnowField, have been added;
• The calculation of the DVD size, if the start/end time is set, has been fixed;
• The Finnish translation of the application has been added;
• The Portuguese translation of D... (read more) | | Senator Scott Brown's Facebook Post Sparks Fiscal Cliff Rumor Dec 27th 2012, 19:20 After Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown wrote on Facebook and Twitter early Thursday afternoon that he had "just learned that the Pres. reached out to Senate GOP leadership with a proposal," several media outlets reported that President Obama indeed sent a modified fiscal cliff deal to Congress, based primarily on Brown's posts. 
Getting on place to DC to review plan from Pres.We will see. Better late than never— Scott P. Brown(@ScottBrownMA) December 27, 2012 Among the media outlets that reported the news were The Hill and Business Insider. The timing of the posts made some sense: Obama had touched down in Washington, D.C. an hour earlier, after cutting his Christmas vacati…
Continue reading... More About: congress, fiscal cliff, Politics, Twitter, US  |  Siberian Bacteria Thrive in Mars-Like Conditions Dec 27th 2012, 19:11 There's no word from Curiosity on whether Mars has life or not or whether it ever had. Any results from the rover, if they are coming, won't be coming for a while now. But that isn't stopping scientists from trying to figure out whether life could survive in the conditions found on Mars.
The latest such research shows some interestin... (read more) | | Samsung and T-Mobile USA to Launch a Galaxy S III LTE Model Dec 27th 2012, 19:01 Wireless carrier T-Mobile might soon add to its offering a 4G LTE-capable flavor of Samsung’s Galaxy S III flagship phone, the latest reports on the matter suggest.
Nothing has been officially confirmed on the matter for the time being, but the phone has emerged over at the Bluetooth SIG with model number SGH-T999L attached to it.
Galaxy S III is already available for purchase at T-Mobile as SGH-T999, with support for HSPA+, but no LTE in tow, since the carrier... (read more) | | First 'Alien Earth' Will Be Found in 2013 Dec 27th 2012, 18:56  The first truly Earth-like alien planet is likely to be spotted next year, an epic discovery that would cause humanity to reassess its place in the universe.
While astronomers have found a number of exoplanets over the last few years that share one or two key traits with our own world — such as size or inferred surface temperature — they have yet to bag a bona fide "alien Earth." But that should change in 2013, scientists say. "I'm very positive that the first Earth twin will be discovered next year," said Abel Mendez, who runs the Planetary Habitability Laboratory at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo. Planets Piling Up Astronomers discovered the first exoplanet orbiti…
Continue reading... More About: alien planets, NASA, space  |  New Weight Watchers Ad with Jessica Simpson Is Out Dec 27th 2012, 18:51 Just in case you missed Jessica Simpson’s tweet that confirms she’s pregnant with her second child, her brand new, extended ad for Weight Watchers should do the trick. Check it out below, embedded at the end of the article.
An extended version of the second commercial since Jess signed as spokesperson for the weight lo... (read more) |  Steam Holiday Sale 2012 Day 8 Has Price Cuts for XCOM, Counter-Strike, More Dec 27th 2012, 18:46 We're now in day 8 of the Steam Winter Holiday Sale of 2012 and Valve has now revealed a brand new series of price for all sorts of great games, ranging from XCOM: Enemy Unknown, to Counter-Strike, Worms Revolution, FTL, Lego Lord of the Rings, or L.A. Noire.
The Steam Winter Sale has brought all sorts of great deals to users of the digital distribution service over the last few days.
After some really impressive price cuts, Valve is continuing the bargain trend and has j... (read more) |  Sea Shepherd Goes After Denmark, Reports It at the European Commission Dec 27th 2012, 18:31 Only yesterday, Sea Shepherd made it public news that they decided to report Denmark at the European Commission.
This is because, despite previous promises to safeguard pilot whales, the country has thus far failed to put an end to the ritual hunt taking place each year in the Faroe Islands.
As s... (read more) |  Watch: Viral Clip Gets Norwegian Kicker Tryout with the New York Jets Dec 27th 2012, 18:31 Norwegian Havard Rugland stunned the world in September with the clip featured above, titled simply “Kickalicious.”
Rugland kicks his way to the top as his clip went viral with 1.3 million views, gaining the attention of New York Jets reps.
According to the Daily Mail, he might be signed to the NFL team, as he was flown in to the States this week for a tryout.
“They tested me on field goals and kickoffs. Obviously you feel a little more ... (read more) |  Camera Boost 4.0 Drops iPhone 4 Support Dec 27th 2012, 18:31 Camera Boost, a three-dollar (€2.69) photography application for iPhone and iPad developed by interealtime.com, no longer supports iDevices older than the iPhone 4.
Confirmed in the latest update announced by the developers, “Camera Boost now supports iPhone 4S and iPhone 5,” says the changelog. The release notes also say in brackets, “older models are not supported at this time.”
Of course, that comes into heavy conflict with the official... (read more) |  LG's CES-Bound 4K UHDTVs (3840 x 2160) Measure 55, 65 and 84 Inches Dec 27th 2012, 18:21 We have written about the two laptop displays that LG will reveal between January 8 and 11, so now we bring you the TVs bound for the upcoming trade show.
Since the 4K resolution has been defined as a standard, everyone who's anyone in the display industry is going to try its hand at the technology.
LG will have three products with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. They measure 55, 65 and 84 inches. FPR3D technology will be included.
That leaves the 23.... (read more) |  Video of Cincinnati Traffic Reporter Bob Herzog's Best Segments Goes Viral Dec 27th 2012, 18:11 You will want to watch “Good Morning Cincinnati” every day after you've seen this “best of” video of traffic reporter Bob Herzog showing off his dancing and singing skills.
Herzog does Nicki Minaj and Ray Charles with ease, and comes up with a lot of dance routines on his own. He takes on different styles too, ranging from country to alternative rock, salsa and, of course, dance.
His facial expressions are truly priceless, and he see... (read more) |  Black-Themed BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 Coming to the UK in Early January Dec 27th 2012, 18:01 Research In Motion (RIM) confirmed last week the upcoming availability of the BlackBerry Porsche Design P'9981 in matte black from mid-January.
However, it looks like the smartphone will go on sale a few weeks earlier in the UK. Pocket-lint reports that the black version of Porsche Design P'9981 will be exclusive to Harrods for no less than £1390/ $2245 / €1700 outright.
According to the cited source, the smartphone will hit shelves on January 2. Harrods&rs... (read more) |  Softpedia Exclusive Discount: 40% Off AOMEI Dynamic Disk Converter Dec 27th 2012, 18:01 One of the biggest problems with dynamic disks is the high risk of losing all data and Windows, unfortunately, does not any offer any tools to recover from these disastrous situations. Today's discounted app provides a quick solution that will help you retrieve your data without wasting more than a few seconds of your time.
AOMEI Dynamic Disk Converter can easily convert or even clone dynamic disks to basic disk partitions whilst keeping your data safe from any loss/ corruption ri... (read more) |  Transcend JetFlash 520, the Latest Mainstream Flash Drive Dec 27th 2012, 17:41 One would think that there wouldn't be much to say about a random new flash drive, but it wouldn't do to cover only high-cost products and leave the rest to fend for themselves. That said, Transcend has launched the JetFlash 520.
JetFlash is an old name. Transcend has been using it for a broad range of NAND Flash-based stora... (read more) |  Rygel 0.16.4 MediaServer Now Supports the 3GPP Format Dec 27th 2012, 17:41 Rygel, a home media solution (UPnP AV MediaServer) that allows users to easily share audio, video, and pictures to other devices, is now at version 0.16.4.
With Rygel, users will be able to browse the media collection from the TV or PS3 on a PC running GNOME, and they will have the possibility to play any of said media.
Highlights of Rygel 0.16.4:
• The correct bitrates for AVC_MP4_BL_CIF15_AAC_520 is now used;
• "PresetNameList" has been... (read more) |  T-Mobile USA Testing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for HTC One S Dec 27th 2012, 17:31 HTC has recently announced that the Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean upgrade is available for the international version of One S.
Although owners of carrier-bounded HTC One S units will have to wait a few more weeks to receive the update, it looks like T-Mobile USA customers will be among the first to get it.
TmoNews reports that a limited group of T-Mobile USA customers that own the HTC One S have been invited to be part of a Jelly Bean trial.
It’s unclea... (read more) | | Lytro Who? Toshiba Developing Refocusing Camera for Phones Dec 27th 2012, 17:10  Lytro was the first to commercialize the idea of taking photos that you can refocus later, but now others are getting in on the concept.
Toshiba has developed a camera that also takes photos with adjustable focus, only this one can fit in a cellphone. Toshiba's camera module is small -- a square shape that measures 0.4 of an inch per side -- making it ideal as a phone camera. Packed inside it, though, are no less than 500,000 individual lenses, each just 0.001 inch in diameter. As the initial report in Japan's The Asahi Shimbun newspaper describes, each lens captures light slightly differently than the others, which the image processor can interpret to change which subject is in focus…
Continue reading... More About: camera phone, Lytro, Toshiba  | | Luxury Tablet Emboldens Your Inner Chef Dec 27th 2012, 16:44 
The next time you pass by fresh strawberries, rhubarb and lemons, you'll know exactly how to whip them up into a delicious dessert — perhaps a decadent cake with strawberry-rhubarb compote. The $399 QOOQ (pronounced "cook") kitchen tablet, made in France, helps novices and experts alike prepare scrumptious meals at home. You'll want to recreate the mouthwatering dishes you dined on at restaurants and feel inspired by the crisp produce you see at the farmer's market. There are nearly 1,200 recipes pre-loaded on the 10-inch tablet — organized by seasonality, dish type, ingredients and themes. If you're looking to make something with "rhubarb," simply search your QOOQ for…
Continue reading... More About: cooking, home, kitchen gadgets, Tablet  | | Unwrapped a PS3? Start With These 10 Tips and Tools Dec 27th 2012, 16:42
Set Up Your PSN ID  If you're new to the PlayStation ecosystem, you'll need to set up your PlayStation ID and account information. Instead of fighting with the PS3's controller on a virtual keyboard to enter all your deets, plug in any USB keyboard and type things out faster. Click here to view this gallery.  Now that the holiday gift-giving time is over, we're sure many of our readers unwrapped some new consoles. Despite its long life on the market, the Sony PlayStation 3 is still converting gamers everywhere, and many people were bound to receive one for the first time.
If you're one of those lucky people and you aren't sure what to do with your console right out of the box, we're here to help. We compiled the important things you should set up before getting started, as well as some great games you can download right away or should purchase the next time you're shopping. SEE ALSO: 5 Exclusive PlayStation Games You Have to See Check our list above for suggestions on what to do and play…
Continue reading... More About: features, Gaming, holidays 2012, PS3, sony, video games  | | Twitter 2013: Future Looks Bright, But Will It IPO? Dec 27th 2012, 16:32 
My personal relationship with Twitter hit a milestone on Christmas Eve. For the first time, a Promoted Tweet -- an ad, essentially -- made me want to laugh and share rather than grimace and push on through my news feed. Even better, from Twitter's perspective, is the fact that I was on the mobile app when it happened. The promoted tweet, perfectly timed for holiday joke-telling, was so witty, subtle and brief, I don't even mind giving the company some free publicity by repeating it in a story. It was from Dos Equis, and simply read: "He speaks reindeer." No further words, nor even a link, were necessary. (I don't often remember promoted tweets, but when I do ...) Ads…
Continue reading... More About: features, Predictions 2013, Social Media, Twitter  | | 5 Best iPad Apps of 2012 Dec 27th 2012, 16:12
 Television is becoming increasingly social, with fans and critics alike live-tweeting everything from the Grammys to the Olympics. We're carrying our second screens around with us anyway, so why not use them to our entertainment advantage? Zeebox's goal is to make television more immersive than ever. Aside from its own social platform, zeebox users are discovering new content tailored to their interests and based on powerful web buzz. Available in the U.S., UK and Australia, the service links you with other likeminded viewers; invite them to viewing parties, then chat and interact via games and stats. Finally, click on a program's associated "zeetag," which pulls up additional information and viewing options for the show you're watching. Price: FREE Click here to view this gallery.  How many apps live on your iPad? Now, how many have you actually used in the past month? It seems that we're always experimenting with new apps to see what sticks, but losing interest with the majority of them.
SEE ALSO: 10 Excellent iPad Apps You Should Download Right Now If you want our opinion, it's time to downsize and prioritize. Here are our picks for outstanding iPad apps of 2012. We have a feeling you'll find these five your new favorites. But be sure to share your own nominations in the comments below. Image courtesy of iStockphoto, franckreporter More About: apple, apps, features, ipad, Year End 2012  | | Christmas Day App Downloads Hit 328 Million, Setting New Record Dec 27th 2012, 15:57  Christmas Day is typically the biggest day of the year for new device activations and this year was no exception, according to researcher Flurry Analytics.
Consumers activated 17.4 million devices on Christmas Day this year, shattering last year's record of 6.8 million device activations. Meanwhile, the number of app downloads on Christmas Day hit 328 million, according to Flurry Analytics, which claims to keep tabs on 90% of all daily iOS and Android activations and 260,000 apps. The app figure compares to 242 million app downloads for Christmas Day 2011. As the chart below shows, the Christmas Day average for activations was more than three times the standard for the month of Decembe…
Continue reading...  | | Prices Drop on Nokia Lumias Dec 27th 2012, 15:21  Only a few months after Nokia introduced them to the U.S. market, Lumia phones are already available at much cheaper prices, the The Wall Street Journal reports.
The company's flagship phone, Nokia Lumia 920, was launched through AT&T for $99. That price still stands, but the phone is available at Amazon for as low as $39. The Lumia 822 was originally available for $99 at Verizon, but now the company is offering it for free with a contract. Similarly, T-Mobile USA is offering the Lumia 810 for free with a contract. "Pricing is always a carrier decision, but holiday season promotions are fairly standard at this time of year," Nokia spokesman Doug Dawson told WSJ. While that ma…
Continue reading... More About: Lumia, Nokia  | | Apple Paid CEO Tim Cook 'Just' $4.17 Million in 2012 Dec 27th 2012, 15:05  Tim Cook may run the most valuable company in the world, but you wouldn't know it from his pay this year.
The Apple CEO made just $4.17 million in 2012, according to a new SEC filing from Apple. That is certainly a salary many workers would be happy to have, but it represents a 99% decline from the $376 million Cook was paid last year. That may come as a surprise at first considering that Apple's market cap has grown to more than $480 billion this year under Cook's leadership, but the decline in his pay is due to a technicality rather than anything to do with his performance. Cook was granted a massive amount of stock options totaling more than $376 million when he was promoted t…
Continue reading... More About: apple, tim cook  | | This Is How Lytro Takes 'Living Pictures' Dec 27th 2012, 14:47  The Lytro camera has been called the biggest leap in photography since digital replaced film. Some have even hailed it as one the most significant innovations in photography since … well, since photography.
If you're not familiar with Lytro yet, that's forgivable, because the Lytro camera is unusual. It doesn't look like a camera, for one thing -- its elongated body more closely resembles a flashlight or a big stick of butter. The familiar pieces are all there, just streamlined. The shutter button feels more like an iPhone's home button. The zoom slider is elegant and simple. A single viewscreen allows most simple actions through intuitive swiping and tapping. The device's function…
Continue reading... More About: features, light-field camera, light-field photography, Lytro, mashable, Tech, What's Inside  | | Facebook Files for Trademark for 'Poke' Dec 27th 2012, 14:33  Facebook has filed for trademarks for Poke, the Snapchat-like app it released on Friday.
The company filed its application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 21, the day before the app went live. The Next Web reports that the company filed for two other trademarks as well, including for "Facebook Poke" and the logo for the iPhone app. Poke, of course, has been a Facebook feature since the early days of the service. The company successfully applied for a U.S. trademark in 2006. However, the company let the trademark lapse in July 2011. The app, which lets users send text, video and photo messages that self-destruct within 10 seconds, is very similar to Snapchat. That…
Continue reading... More About: Facebook, poke  | | Apple Rumored to Bring Mac Mini Production to U.S. Dec 27th 2012, 11:58  Apple plans to bring Mac mini production to the U.S., Digitimes reports citing sources from the upstream supply chain.
According to the report, Foxconn (which manufactures most of Apple's gadgetry in China) will handle the production in one of its U.S. factories. The production will start in 2013. Digitimes' predictions are hit or miss, but we know for sure that Apple is looking to bring a chunk of the Mac manufacturing process to the U.S. Apple CEO Tim Cook said as much in a recent interview, without specifying which line of Macs will be produced domestically. "We've been working for years on doing more and more in the U.S. Next year, we will do one of our existing Mac lines in…
Continue reading...  | | Dad's Ecstatic Reaction to Gift Goes Viral on YouTube Dec 27th 2012, 10:50  It's the reaction that every gift-giver dreams about -- no thank-yous or polite smiles -- just pure, unadulterated joy.
Daniel Buckhannan was lucky to see just that on his father's face, after handing him a surprise gift. Don, the elder Buckhannan, reacted with delight after receiving what he thought was a black fedora for Christmas. But when Daniel told him to look inside the hat, Don was flabbergasted ... then elated ... then in tears. Watch his whole range of emotions in the video, above. And what exactly caused this viral-worthy reaction? Tickets to the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship, a college football bowl game, between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Alabama…
Continue reading... More About: Christmas, YouTube  | | LG Display to Showcase Ultra HD TVs, Full HD Smartphone Screens at CES Dec 27th 2012, 10:02  LG Display's presence at CES 2013 will be measured in PPI (pixels per inch), as the company plans to show several Ultra HD (4K) TV screens, as well as high-resolution screens for smartphones, tablets and laptops, at the technology trade show.
The pixel-per-inch limits will be pushed in almost every category. First, there are the 55-, 66- and 84-inch UHD panels with a 3840 x 2160 pixel resolution, meaning each of these will have 8 million pixels. Next up is a 30-inch 4K2K monitor with a whopping 4096 x 2160 pixel resolution, which LG Display claims is the highest-resolution computer monitor to date. Although the monitor is probably aimed at professionals, it's a dream machine for ever…
Continue reading... More About: CES, LG, screen  | | 5 Apps for Keeping New Year's Resolutions Dec 27th 2012, 08:02  Many people probably will be welcoming the new year with familiar resolutions: Live healthier, save more and, in general, improve one's life.
But New Year's resolutions tend to fizzle out faster than an old bottle of champagne. Luckily, several great smartphone apps can help keep you on track with your 2013 resolutions. Here are a few that provide guidance and encourage you to persevere. Resolution: Lose weight App: MyFitnessPal Calorie Counter (Android, Blackberry, iOS, Windows) In the battle against bulge, knowing how many calories you consume is key. But tracking how much you've eaten can be a chore. With MyFitnessPal's free Calorie Counter, you keep a food diary that shows how m…
Continue reading... More About: apps, New Year's Resolutions  | | Bootstrap 3.0 – New Year Timed Release Dec 27th 2012, 08:00 Bootstrap developers decided to make a New Year present for the fans of their framework releasing the 3-rd revision. Check out the new features. | | Buddy the Virtual Watchdog Looks Over Your Loved Ones Dec 27th 2012, 06:57  The holidays are a time for cheer, family and good tidings -- even if grandpa or grandma can't make it to this year's festivities.
An MIT-based startup GeriJoy created an app that helps families keep their loved ones company when they can't be there themselves. The app offers a virtual companion, in the form of a dog, that speaks and plays with its users. "The GeriJoy companion is the modern realization of the fabled talking dog," the company says. The talking dog not only keeps home - or hospital-bound elderly company, but also acts as a personal assistant. It offers the benefits of pet therapy without all the mess. Among its many features, the talking dog can reassure the user,…
Continue reading... More About: elderly, senior care  | | Shark Tank Shatters in Chinese Mall, Injures Bystanders Dec 27th 2012, 05:58  While many North Americans were braving the post-Christmas crush of deal-seeking shoppers, mall-goers in China dealt with a much more dangerous -- albeit, unlikely -- threat: sharks.
Fifteen people were injured on the first floor of Shanghai's Orient Shopping Center, after a 33.5-ton aquarium containing sharks suddenly burst, local media reported. Among the injured were customers, shop assistants and security staff. Three of the sharks, which were around 12 to 15 inches long, died. Video footage of the incident, above, is spreading online after being posted on YouTube in the past few days. The aquarium was made of acrylic glass, according to Chen Yongping, an official with the ce…
Continue reading... More About: china, sharks  | |
