Friday, August 29, 2014

Shares of Apple end week at all-time high with 'iPhone 6' & 'iWatch' hype at fever pitch

Shares of Apple end week at all-time high with 'iPhone 6' & 'iWatch' hype at fever pitch - Apple stock reached an all-time high in trading on Friday, and also finished the day at its highest-ever closing price, as investors and customers alike are clamoring to see what the secretive company has up its sleeve for a Sept. 9 media event.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Apple Co-Founder 'Woz' Thinks Wearables Like iWatch Will Be A 'Hard Sell'

Apple Co-Founder 'Woz' Thinks Wearables Like iWatch Will Be A 'Hard Sell' -

So what does Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, think of the "wearables" category of technology, which the so-called "iWatch" will join when it's presumably announced on September 9? "I feel that wearables are a hard sell," he says. "Woz" explained his beliefs further in a recent interview with Cnet shortly after word leaked that we would probably be seeing the long-awaited smartwatch next month after all.

Wearable pieces of technology like the iWatch, he says, are simply "go-betweens for your smartphone, but are an extra piece and need special advantages that the smartphone doesn’t have, in my opinion. If they are just a Bluetooth go-between then it could wind up in the category of Bluetooth headsets: Fun to wear and show off for a day."

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Monday, August 25, 2014

Google debuts Slides app for iOS, updates Docs and Sheets

Google debuts Slides app for iOS, updates Docs and Sheets - Google is today launching a new iOS app, Slides. Much like Microsoft PowerPoint, Slides lets people create and edit presentations. Because these files are stored in the cloud, users can start work on one device and continue on another, including via the Slides web app. Collaboration features let several people work on a presentation simultaneously; any changes to a file are saved automatically, and the app can work both on and offline. Offline changes are uploaded after reconnection ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Leica M-P 24MP rangefinder camera doubles memory buffer of Leica M

Leica M-P 24MP rangefinder camera doubles memory buffer of Leica M - Premium camera producer Leica has revealed an upgraded version of its Leica M rangefinder. The Leica M-P houses a full-frame 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, accompanied by a 2-gigabyte memory buffer double the size of the Leica M version, allowing it to be not only twice as fast, but also capable of up to 24 images in a burst mode at a speed of 3 fps ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

Android Phones Hit by ‘Ransomware’

Android Phones Hit by ‘Ransomware’ -

Nicole Perlroth, reporting for the NYT:

You are guilty of child porn, child abuse, zoophilia or sending out bulk spam. You are a criminal. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has locked you out of your phone and the only way to regain access to all your data is to pay a few hundred dollars.

That message — or variations of it — has popped up on hundreds of thousands of people’s Android devices in just the last month. The message claims to be from the F.B.I., or cybersecurity firms, but is in fact the work of Eastern European hackers who are hijacking Android devices with a particularly pernicious form of malware, dubbed “ransomware” because it holds its victims’ devices hostage until they pay a ransom.

Seems like some apps do get written for Android first.

(Via Daring Fireball.)

SpaceX rocket explodes. ('Rockets are tricky,' says Elon Musk)

SpaceX rocket explodes. ('Rockets are tricky,' says Elon Musk) - After a malfunction during a test flight, a Falcon 9 Reusable rocket built by Musk's firm explodes over McGregor, Texas.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Napa's earthquake, as measured by Jawbone Up

Napa's earthquake, as measured by Jawbone Up - Seismologists aren't the only ones culling data from the 6.0-magnitude quake that hit Northern California early Sunday. The fitness-tracking bracelet maker is sharing its info on who woke up, where and when.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Napa's earthquake, as measured by Jawbone Up

Napa's earthquake, as measured by Jawbone Up - Seismologists aren't the only ones culling data from the 6.0-magnitude quake that hit Northern California early Sunday. The fitness-tracking bracelet maker is sharing its info on who woke up, where and when.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Napa's earthquake, as measured by Jawbone Up

Napa's earthquake, as measured by Jawbone Up - Seismologists aren't the only ones culling data from the 6.0-magnitude quake that hit Northern California early Sunday. The fitness-tracking bracelet maker is sharing its info on who woke up, where and when.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple Offers Limited Replacement Program for Faulty iPhone 5 Batteries

Apple Offers Limited Replacement Program for Faulty iPhone 5 Batteries -

Some owners of the iPhone 5 have been experiencing trouble with the device's battery, and Apple today launched a replacement program to remedy the problem. Apple claims that the faulty devices were sold between September of 2012 and January of 2013 and suffer from shorter battery life and the need for frequent charges.

Only a "limited serial number range" was affected by the problems, according to the Cupertino company, and you can see if your device is listed among them by entering your serial number over at Apple's replacement site. Should you find that your serial number qualifies, you can exchange your device's battery at Apple Authorized Service Provider, an Apple Retail Store, or via Apple Technical support.

(Via Mac|Life all.)

Inside the Magical Room Where the Best Headphones in the World Are Made

Inside the Magical Room Where the Best Headphones in the World Are Made - Smart people know that Sunset Park is where you get the best Chinese food in Brooklyn. Really smart people know it's also where you get great headphones—some of the best in the world. The Grados have been making audiophile-grade cans in the same building since 1955. What was the family produce mart is now ...

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

LG Introduces the Next Generation of Unattainably Expensive TVs

LG Introduces the Next Generation of Unattainably Expensive TVs - Now that 1080p OLED TVs are borderline affordable, it’s time to turn your lust to a new unattainably expensive type of set. For your consideration, LG has just unveiled two new big-screen Ultra HD (4K) TVs that are also OLED panels. Although 4K OLEDs were practically everywhere at CES in January, these will be ...

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Monday, August 4, 2014

How to use Google as your universal translator

How to use Google as your universal translator - The search giant offers a variety of tools for translating websites and text from one language to another. Here's how you can tap into Google when you need a decent translator.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Gorgeous astrophotography video shows heavens from Earth

Gorgeous astrophotography video shows heavens from Earth - Photographer Gavin Heffernan turns his lens on the night skies from two US national parks to make an awe-inspiring video that looks like something out of a fantasy novel.

(Via CNET News.com.)

How to increase security and privacy on your Android or iOS device

How to increase security and privacy on your Android or iOS device - If you're concerned about your privacy and security while using a mobile device, here are a few tips.

How to increase security and privacy on your Android or iOS device originally published by Gigaom, © copyright 2014.

(Via TheAppleBlog.)

Mobile Home adds a Siri button to any car

Mobile Home adds a Siri button to any car - I love using Siri in my car, but sometimes trying to find the Home button so that I can press it and talk to Siri is a real bother, especially if I just tossed my iPhone onto the passenger seat. So wouldn't it be nice to have a Home button that you ...

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)