 Google and Apple Team Up to Bid on Kodak Patents Dec 8th 2012, 20:11 Rumors about Google and Apple teaming up to buy Kodak's patents are flying once again. Bloomberg reports that the two adversaries are working together and have made $500 million bid for the patent portfolio of the now defunct company. 1,100 patents are up for grabs, so the sum may go higher than that. In fact, the banks selling the pat... (read more) |   Weekend Reading: Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, and Keeping Games Alive Through DLC Dec 8th 2012, 20:11 Downloadable content has become an integral part of the gaming industry as in recent years seeing new things appear for games that have already been released is becoming something absolutely normal. While new content for a game was also released many years ago, this usually meant owners of a title needed to buy ... (read more) |  Brooke Mueller Rushed to the Hospital, Drug OD Suspected Dec 8th 2012, 20:10 Brooke Mueller, Charlie Sheen’s ex wife, was rushed to the hospital the other day after her personal assistant freaked out when she found her unresponsive and called 911, it has emerged. TMZ reports that the woman walked into the room and found Mueller passed out cold, so she panicked and called for an ambulance, thinki... (read more) | | 55 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed Dec 8th 2012, 19:54  We all know the Internet can be an incredible resource. It can also be quite difficult to navigate. New websites and apps constantly appear, and the old ones are always being updated.
To help you make the most of your digital experience, we at Mashable keep you up with the latest information, whether it's a great new app or gadget, a nifty nerdy gift idea or advice on how to be a productive member of the various social networks. We understand you're busy and might have missed some of our articles the first time around, which is why at the end of each week we round up our most usable posts. This week's features roundup has everything you need to make sure your holiday season is filled… Continue reading... More About: Business, Features Week In Review, Lifestyles, Social Media, Tech, features  |  Moon+ Reader for Android Update Brings Fixes for Nexus Devices Dec 8th 2012, 19:31 One of the newest ebook readers applications for Android devices, Moon+ Reader has just been updated to version 1.8.7e. The new version supports local calibre IP input for New Catalog and features improved publisher formatting mode compatibility. The following fixes has been included in the this update as well: - Fix battery info empty issue in Nexus 10; - Fix opds library password bug in Nexus 7; - Fix reader bar position issue in Galaxy Tab 7. Keep ... (read more) |  Ubuntu and Debian Based Comfusion Distro Now Has Mate 1.4.2 Dec 8th 2012, 19:24 Comfusion, an open source Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, Debian, and Compiz, that includes a complete suite of applications, is now at version 4.1. Highlights of Comfusion 4.1: • The Mate 1.4.2 desktop environment has been implemented and integrates with Compiz in ComFusion4; • A Wbar with Token icons has been implemented, individualized for each session ComFusion; • TvenLinux has been added and users can now watch online TV; • The ... (read more) |  The Exquisite Google Now Is Being Built into Chrome Dec 8th 2012, 19:11 Google Now, the much lauded search app for Android is venturing beyond the mobile realm. It seems that Google is working on bringing Now to Chrome, making it possible for desktop and Chromebook owners alike to get a taste of the future of search, as Google envisions it. For now, all we have to go on are some hints in the source code, but Google wouldn't be adding something this big just to play around, Google is definitely building it. A recent addition to the ... (read more) | | DoorBot Lets You Answer Your Door With a Smartphone or Tablet Dec 8th 2012, 19:07 ![]() Wouldn't it be great to answer your front door with a smartphone? That's the promise of Doorbot, a Wi-Fi-enabled doorbell that alerts you whenever someone pushes its button, sending audio and video to your smartphone.
The battery-operated device installs at your threshold with four screws in a bracket. Once you've downloaded its free app and synced any iOS device or Android smartphone with it, you can see and converse with visitors at your door. The app will alert you whenever the button is pushed. There's a microphone on board the DoorBot that lets you talk with whomever's visiting you, even if you're thousands of miles away. The camera works at night, too, using infrared technolo… Continue reading... More About: home automation, security  | | Bad Santa Fired from Mall Gig After Parents Complain on Facebook Dec 8th 2012, 18:58  If you find your mall Santa experience unsatisfactory this year, be sure to complain on Facebook.
It could get Santa fired. That’s what happened at the Maine Mall in Portland. On Monday, Mother Jess Mailhiot wrote on the mall’s Facebook page that the mall’s Santa refused to let her young daughter sit on his lap because she didn’t purchase pictures: Because we did not purchase any photo packages the gentleman mumble something to Santa and when my daughter who is six was going to sit on his lap Santa put his hands together and placed them on his legs so she couldn't sit on him. Santa was not attentive and brushed her off all because we did not purchase pictures… Continue reading... More About: Facebook, Santa  |  uTorrent for Android 1.14 Now Available for Download Dec 8th 2012, 18:31 The folks over at BitTorrent have just released a new version of uTorrent that allows users to find and download torrents directly to their Android smartphones. Although the application is still in beta stages, developers claim uTorrent is made to be simple, fast, and free, which means there are no speed limits or size limits on mobile downloads. Obviously, it is recommended to take advantage of Wi-Fi only mode, which was brought in a previous update, in order to avoi... (read more) |  Weekend Reading: Softpedia Game of the Year 2012 Dec 8th 2012, 18:31 It’s December, which means that most of the biggest video games of the year are now launched and those who work in the industry become part of the great old process which eventually sees one lucky title get the Game of the Year award and eternal (or, rather yearly) recognition. There are plenty of gamers who look at GOTY awards as... (read more) | | Top 24 Most Inspiring Photos of 2012 Dec 8th 2012, 17:52 Photos have a way of transporting us to a place that words cannot. What's captured in the fraction of a second can live forever. During 2012, we saw some truly inspiring moments; moments now seared into our minds because of the photography that captured the subtleties of emotion, triumph and grace in the face of adversity. 24. Afghan boy  An Afghan boy sells balloons on the side of a road on November 11, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) 23. Chinese New Year  Chinese folk artists perform the lion dance at a temple fair to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Dragon on January 22, 2012 in Beijing. (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images) 22. WWII Veteran is… Continue reading... More About: inspiration, inspirational, photographs, photography, year in photos  |  Windows Phone 8 Apollo+ Update to Bring .GIF and .WAV File support Dec 8th 2012, 17:41 Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is reportedly gearing up for the release of a new software update for its Windows Phone 8 devices, one that might sport the codename of Apollo+. Previous rumors on this OS version suggested that it might arrive on devices with VPN support, a fix for Wi-Fi connections and various other improvements, and new details on the matter are not available. According to a recent post on Reddit (via Neowin), the new software update might also ... (read more) |  Worst Birthday Card Tells 13-Year-Old Girls to Score Rich Boyfriends Dec 8th 2012, 17:21 A photo of a birthday card is causing a bit of trouble for Hallmark, as it sends out a message that could be dubbed misogynistic to 13-year-old girls. “You're 13 today! If you had a rich boyfriend He'd give you diamonds and rubies” it reads. Click on the photo above to see the entire message. In other words, it promotes the idea that girls should grow up to be kept women, living for expensive jewelry bought by rich husbands or boyfriends. read more) |  Script of the Day: Centurion Dec 8th 2012, 17:01 Centurion adds to the Zend Framework what's been missing for a long time, an administrative interface that lets developers control what and when gets displayed in a Zend-powered application or website. Working with frameworks is difficult enough, usually because of the new syntax and the amount of documentation a new programmer needs to get acquainted with before becoming good at it. That's why, if a framework provides a CMF (content management framework), working wit... (read more) | | 2013 Chevy Spark Is Packed with Cool Tech Dec 8th 2012, 16:57  The 2013 Chevy Spark is a relatively low-priced, unusual-looking car -- one that's scarcely 12 feet long and bristling with the latest technology. I tested one over the course of a week, and was especially excited to try out its smartphone integration technology.
At first glance, the Spark has the kind of design you'll either love or hate. Its tall, squat appearance looks cute to me. Even if you don't like its odd profile, this 5-door hatchback's shape is practical, allowing its interior to be roomy enough for a 6'3" guy like me. And its price is right: The lowest-priced Spark is $12,185 (I assume that includes tires, a steering wheel and not much else), making it one of the cheapest… Continue reading... More About: Chevy Spark, apps, cars, gps, reviews  |  Windows 7 PCs to Stay on Sale Until October 2014 Dec 8th 2012, 16:31 Although Microsoft still struggles to convince everyone that Windows 8 is worth a shot, Windows 7 continues to remain the top choice for most new PC buyers in the world. Windows 7 computers, however, will stay on sale until October 2014, according to Microsoft’s very own guidelines that allow manufacturers to deploy an older OS two years after the launch of a newer version. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Windows 8 won’t increase its ma... (read more) |  Kingsoft Office for Android Update Adds Spreadsheet Improvements Dec 8th 2012, 16:31 One of the few mobile office applications for Android devices available for free, Kingsoft Office has just been updated with a few improvements and bug fixes. Developed by Kingsoft Office Software Corporation, the application allows users to read, edit and manage most Office documents. The latest version comes with new tweaks and improvements detailed below: - In Spreadsheet, add the worksheet tab color settings; - In Spreadsheet, if documents crash... (read more) |  Teenager Robs Paraplegic Man of His iPhone Dec 8th 2012, 16:07 18-year old Nakiem Sanders decided to add a second arrest to his portfolio on November 8 by stealing a paraplegic man’s iPhone in broad daylight. Williams Washington, 38, was highly dependent on his Apple device for communicating with the world. Law-enforcement sources said Sanders was arrested for grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property after being confirmed as the person who snatched Washington’s iPhone from his wheelchair tray in a courtyard near the ... (read more) |  Quick Guide: Windows 8 Mail App Keyboard Shortcuts Dec 8th 2012, 16:01 As you most likely know if you are a Windows 8 adopter, the new Microsoft operating system comes with several pre-installed Modern apps, including a Mail client that’s supposed to make any third-party mail software almost useless. While some find this Mail app fairly helpful, others prefer to stick to a traditional desktop cli... (read more) |  Download WhatsApp Messenger 2.8.7 iOS Dec 8th 2012, 15:50 WhatsApp Messenger, the popular cross-platform instant messaging app by WhatsApp Inc., has been updated for iOS devices with new fixes and numerous optimization and improvements. WhatsApp Messenger version 2.8.7 fixes multimedia sharing in iOS 4.3, a bug that the development team apologizes for taking so long to address. iOS 6 installations now open shared locations in the native Maps app, and the "All Media" navigation flow has been fixed as well. Many bug fix... (read more) |  Sony Preps Software Updates for Xperia V and Xperia J Dec 8th 2012, 15:11 New software updates might arrive on Sony’s latest Android devices in the not too distant future, as the company has already received certification for them. PTCRB has reportedly certified new firmware releases for both Xperia V and Xperia J, though no specific info on when they might receive the updates has been provided as of now. The Xperia V (LT25i) has seen its first firmware certified over at PTCBR as version 9.0.D.0.457, though it seems that this is not the... (read more) |  Sony Extends Partnership with Box, Offers Xperia Users 50GB Free Cloud Storage Through 2013 Dec 8th 2012, 15:01 Sony and Box have just announced they have extended their previous partnership until the end of 2013, so Xperia users will continue to receive free cloud storage space. The previous agreement between the two companies should have ended on December 31, 2012, which is why Sony and Box agreed to extend it further. The partnership between Sony and Box was announced in 2011 and was available for one year. Under agreement between the two companies Xperia smartphone and Sony ta... (read more) |  Samsung Galaxy Camera Goes on Sale in Canada, Priced at $600/€460 Dec 8th 2012, 14:31 Samsung's Android camera has just landed in Canada, so photographers who are mildly in-love by Google's mobile platform can now purchase it via Black's. MobileSyrup reports the Samsung Galaxy Camera is also available via Samsung Store for no less than $600/€460. The camera comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box and packs a 1.4 GHz quad-core Exynos processor, which is complemented by 1GB of RAM. The camera also embeds 8GB of inte... (read more) |  Chrome Gets an Extension Activity Manager, to Help You Keep an Eye on Them Dec 8th 2012, 14:21 The latest Chrome dev update has enabled the extension activity notification feature that Google's been working on for a while. You'll notice next to the bookmark star button an indicator of how many extensions are interacting with the page you're currently visiting. It's a great way of knowing just what extension is doing what. Users implicitly trust extensions, the fact that they're coming from the Chrome Web Store helps with that, but that doesn't mean that trust can't be abuse... (read more) |  People Need Time to Get Used to Windows 8 – Dell Dec 8th 2012, 14:11 Microsoft doesn’t talk too much about Windows 8’s sales performance, but CEO Steve Ballmer announced a couple of weeks ago that his company managed to sell a total of 40 million copies in just a single month. While these figures do not help us determine whether Windows 8 has failed to reach internal sales projections or not... (read more) |  Toorox 11.2012 GNOME Is Available for Download Dec 8th 2012, 13:37 Toorox GNOME, a Linux Live-DVD based on Gentoo that starts as a bootable media using KNOPPIX technology and which boasts with low hardware requirements, is now at version 11.2012. Unlike the previous version, the new Toorox 11.2012 GNOME is based on a Gentoo Linux kernel 3.5.7 and features the recent desktop environment GNOME 3.6.2. Highlights of Toorox 11.2012 GNOME: • GNOME has been updated to version 3.6.2; • Xorg-Server has been updated to v... (read more) |  600,000 People Vote on Facebook's Privacy Policy Changes, Only 299,400,000 to Go Dec 8th 2012, 13:31 For the past few days, Facebook has been asking all of its users to vote on some of the proposed changes to its two main policy documents, the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and its Data Use Policy. The changes cover things like the ability to share data between Instagram, or any other company it may acquire, and Facebook, or some clearer language regarding ads. The big change though covers this very process, whether Facebook has to put changes like this to... (read more) |  Asus Padfone 2 Receiving Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update Dec 8th 2012, 13:31 Unveiled back in October with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system out of the box, the Padfone 2 is about to receive a major software upgrade. Asus promised a few months ago that the Padfone 2 would be upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean soon, and now fonearena reports that the update is live in Taiwan. It appears that the update is rolled out OTA (over the air) in stages, so not all Padfone 2 users will get it at the same time. Keep in min... (read more) |  New Far Cry 3 Patch Gives Players Option to Eliminate HUD Dec 8th 2012, 13:21 The development team at Ubisoft in charge of Far Cry 3 says that it is currently working on a new patch for the shooter that will allow players to choose which elements of the Heads Up Display and the user interface to keep and which to turn off. A Ubisoft developer tells Kotaku that, “Based on feedback from both press and fans, the Far Cry 3 production team is working on a patch that will allow you to toggle most HUD/UI elements based on player preference. The patch will also... (read more) |  Cellular iPad Mini Now Available in India via Infibeam Dec 8th 2012, 13:01 The latest tablet coming from Apple has landed in India. Both Wi-Fi and cellular versions of iPad Mini are now available for purchase from various major retailers. Infibeam is now offering the Cellular iPad Mini Wi-Fi 16GB for Rs 29,900 outright, which is about $545 or €415. Check it out here. The 32GB model can b... (read more) |  "The Young and the Restless" Sets New Milestone: 24 Years at Number 1 Dec 8th 2012, 12:51 In a field in which it’s hard to attain longevity because audiences are fickle, the longest running soap opera “The Young and the Restless” is setting record after record: it’s just recorded its 24th year in a row at number 1 in the ratings. The people of the fictional Genoa City must be popp... (read more) |  Dustin Hoffman Kisses One Direction Singer on the Mouth – Video Dec 8th 2012, 12:51 Dustin Hoffman deserves a big thumbs-up for doing what millions of girls and women from all over the world can only dream of doing. Check out the video above to see him plant a kiss on the mouth of one of the boys from One Direction. They were invited on David Letterman the other night, as also was the actor. Clearly, the sofa wasn’t big enough to fit all six so, faced with the option of squeezing in with the guys or sitting on Letterman’s lap, Dustin opted ... (read more) |  Japanese "Iron Man 3" Trailer: Tony Stark Is Struggling Dec 8th 2012, 12:42 A new, Japanese trailer for Marvel’s upcoming “Iron Man 3” has been released and, unlike the US version, this one takes out most of the action and leaves solely the focus on Tony Star’s personal drama. Check it out above in full. The first official trailer was released in late October and, though it too showed how Stark was having some issues with getting past a certain traumatic event, there was plenty of action as well. The Japanese... (read more) | | Holiday Shoppers: Beware of "Grey Charges" Dec 8th 2012, 02:46  You've heard all the warnings about being on the lookout for fake websites when shopping online, and you know you should have an antivirus program running on your computer. You probably know about not shopping on public computers and how to spot a phishing scam. But what about Grey Charges?
"Grey charges" is a new term for when you buy something and then wind up purchasing something else you didn't want, or didn't ask for. BillGuard, a company that provides transaction monitoring and resolution services, says these charges are often the result of companies counting on the fact that people don't read fine print or verify their transactions as carefully as they should. For example, my s… Continue reading... More About: online shopping, scams  | | Temporary Tattoo Attaches Health Sensor to Your Body Dec 8th 2012, 02:09 This type of tattoo won't disappoint your mom. A health-monitoring sensor can be attached to your arm with a temporary tattoo. The blue smiley-face "tattoo" hides medical sensors that monitor your skin's pH levels. The sensors can detect and relay information about metabolic stress from exertion to your doctor. The temporary tattoos are made just like the ones little kids get in grocery store vending machines, except these contain ion-selective electrodes (ISE). The eyes of the smiley face are working electrodes, while the ears are where doctor's measurement devices can be attached to extract the data. 
Researchers at University of Toronto Scarborough invented the sensor tattoo,… Continue reading... More About: athletes, health, tattoo  | | How LoJack for Laptops Recovers Your Stolen Device Dec 8th 2012, 01:33 
If you're giving or receiving a new laptop for the holidays, you may want to consider an added layer of protection. Laptop theft peaks during the holiday season, according to theft-prevention company Absolute Software. There are plenty of laptop-tracking apps and gadgets that can track your stolen computer. But, in most cases, that's the easy part. It's not guaranteed local law enforcement will help you retrieve the laptop after you've tracked it down. LoJack for Laptops, however, is a service that helps laptop owners physically recover stolen devices. Absolute Software is one of the only Internet-security companies nearly guaranteeing your stolen laptop's safe return. The compan… Continue reading... More About: LoJack For Laptops, laptop, security, stolen laptops  | | New and Old Media Keep Billy Eichner on the Streets Dec 8th 2012, 00:37  Comedian Billy Eichner has found the perfect medium, somewhere between traditional and digital media. As host of Funny or Die's Billy on the Street, Eichner reports man-on-the-street style on-the-air, ambushing unsuspecting New Yorkers and giving his two cents about pop culture.
The comedian told Mashable he'd also ambush people on social media if he could. Instead, Eichner remains hyper-engaged with his growing fanbase. Billy on the Street debuts its second season Friday night. The show features Eichner running around the city, throwing his microphone in people's faces and forcing them to do crazy things like choose between Meryl Streep and Glenn Close on the spot. The show i… Continue reading... More About: celebrities, funny or die, social media marketing  | | Vote Now for the Top Tech Innovations of 2012 Dec 7th 2012, 23:37 Vote now for the best innovations of 2012 in Mashable's Innovation Index!  Help us celebrate the best products, apps and gadgets of 2012, in 15 categories. A special thanks to our curators, industry leaders who picked five nominations for their respective categories. Voting closes Dec. 10, when Mashable will announce the winners of the 2012 Innovation Index. Click here to view this gallery.  Check out the top gadgets, apps and tools of 2012, as selected by our Innovation Index Curators.
More About: Innovation Index, Innovation Index 2012, features, mashable  | | This Is My Brain on YouTube Dec 7th 2012, 23:01 
Each month, the world watches 4 billion hours of YouTube video. And many people catch those clips during work breaks, while commuting or sneaking them in at the office. Before I started working at Mashable, I was probably still a significant contributor to this number. I don't sneak videos in between breaks at work, because I'm too busy sleeping, breathing and eating. (Plus, I think about YouTube videos for a living.) This is normally the part when someone jokes that I get paid to watch cat videos all day, but that is a myth that seriously needs to be debunked. Let's say I spent 2.5 hours per work day watching YouTube videos. (It's a conservative number, believe it o… Continue reading... More About: Video, Year End 2012, YouTube, features, op-ed, viral videos  | | Twitter Reacts to Supreme Court Decision to Tackle Gay Marriage Dec 7th 2012, 22:48  The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that it will rule on the issue of same-sex marriage, reviewing both California's Proposition 8 law as well as a case from New York that challenges the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
DOMA was signed into law by President Clinton in 1996, and stated that the word "marriage" referred only to a legal union "between one man and one woman as husband and wife." Because of the provision, the the federal government cannot officially recognize a same-sex marriage (they are only considered married under state law) and therefore must deny benefits to gay couples married in those states where it is legal. The Supreme Court will also consider challenges to C… Continue reading... More About: LGBT, Supreme Court, Twitter, gay marriage, gay rights  | | Microsoft Surface May Be Coming to Major Retailers Dec 7th 2012, 21:30  Microsoft's Surface tablet is currently for sale only via the company's website and brick-and-mortar Microsoft Stores. But the Surface may soon be available in many more places -- and in time for Christmas.
According to Microsoft blogger Paul Thurrott, Microsoft is accelerating its plans to get its Surface RT tablet on the store shelves of major retailers. Citing no sources, Thurrott says the Surface could be landing at some of those stores within the next few days. The company had originally planned to expand retail distribution of Surface in early 2013, but Thurrott says it's decided to "ramp up" that schedule for unknown reasons. The post goes on to say Surface sales are performing… Continue reading... More About: Microsoft Surafce Tablet, Microsoft Surface, Windows 8, microsoft  | | These Are the People Who Make Your Toys Dec 7th 2012, 21:20  Click here to view this gallery.  Most of us know that the toys we give to kids during the holidays tend to be made in China. However, this is a fairly abstract concept; we don't really know the people on the assembly line.
German-born photographer Michael Wolf is looking to change that with his latest photo essay. The pics highlight the jarring contrast between the often grim factory workers and the cheery toys they create. (Not all workers are downcast; a few are smiling.) Wolf heightened the dissonance with an exhibit in California that framed the worker's faces within a mosaic of colorful toys. In his online gallery, Wolf dropped some troubling stats about Chinese factory workers. For instance, their average m… Continue reading... More About: china, holiday season, toys  | | A Stop-Motion History of the GIF Dec 7th 2012, 20:50  The Internet's favorite file format is an old friend at this point, having just celebrated its 25th birthday. The GIF -- an acronym from Graphics Interchange Format -- lived it up this year, even scoring the coveted honor of word of the year.
Though no one can deny the success of the GIF's career, people often don't know its humble beginnings as a dancing baby or the format known as 87A. SEE ALSO: The History of GIFs So take a walk down GIF memory lane with this delightful stop-motion video directed by Sean Pecknold (LEGS Production), presented in association with Moving the Still: A GIF Festival. And celebrate the proud life of this powerful and whimsical Internet being b… Continue reading... More About: GIF, GIFs  | | Twitter Reducing Some Tweets to Just 117 Characters Dec 7th 2012, 20:41  Think 140 characters isn't enough to say what you want in a tweet? Get ready for 117.
Starting in February, tweets that contain URLs will be reduced to 118 characters, 117 for https links. While that may seem like a huge drop, the change represents a two-character drop per tweet from what you are currently able to send when a hyperlink is involved. Announced Thursday on Twitter's developer blog, the adjustment is due to some upcoming changes in Twitter's t.co link wrapper. The revision extends the maximum length of t.co wrapped links from 20 to 22 characters for non-https URLs and from 21 to 23 characters for https URLs. SEE ALSO: How to Email Tweets Directly From Twitter's Web… Continue reading... More About: Twitter  | |
