Monday, April 30, 2012

Six months later, how much are you using Siri? [Poll]

How much are you using Siri?It’s been six months since Apple released the iPhone 4S and that means it’s been six months since Apple launched Siri, their virtual


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Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Well, well, talk about déjà vu! It was just yesterday that a corner of Sony's 16.1 megapixel NEX-F3 leaked onto the interwebs and now more photos have surfaced, along with a previously unannounced shooter, the Alpha A37 SLT. The pictures come courtesy of Yang Canggih, which says it had chance to demo the two devices yesterday at Sony's Partner's Conference in Jakarta (Curiously, the NEX-F3 post isn't live as of this writing, but Sony Alpha Rumors has the images up.) Starting with the F3, the mirrorless camera has last some of the curves found on its older sibling, the C3, adopting the angular edges that once made the NEX-7 the badass standout in the lineup. You'll notice that the shutter button and grip have an uncanny resemblance to the 7's, not to mention that it's clearly gained a pop-up flash -- a first for the lower-end NEXs. Past that, the rumored -- and self-portrait friendly -- 180 degree tilt-screen is also present, which'll likely give the C3 an edge over its siblings when it comes to composing shots. Also worth note, some of the buttons on back have been slightly repositioned.

Moving along, those hoping for a successor to the A35 will apparently have their wish granted with the 16.1 megapixel A37, which is essentially an evolutionary update. According to Yang Canggih, it sports the articulating display from last generation of NEX cams, Auto Portrait Framing (first introduced with the A57), four more effect modes (up from 11) and an ergonomic grip in the vein of the A77. Sadly, that's about all that's currently known, so hopefully we'll get an official introduction to the cameras soon. Head past the break for a shot of the A37 and then check out the links below for even more of both.

Continue reading Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details

Sony's Alpha A37 and NEX-F3 pose for the camera, reveal more angles, details originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Switched On: Big kicks not all for starters

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

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The end of last week's Switched On left doubt for the future of dedicated devices that tread on the turf of smartphones. After all, funding is key to every major new product initiative and, despite the vast fortunes of many Silicon Valley engineers that have been accumulated via IPOs and acquisitions, few wish to take on the risk of fronting a new consumer device themselves.(In 2007, the handheld FlipStart PC was hatched from FlipStart Labs, funded by Vulcan Ventures, the investment arm of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.)

Most venture capitalists abhor the device business; it is a rare device that makes it to the spotlight of startup debutante balls such as DEMO, TechCrunch Disrupt, or Launch. Even most of the 94 companies at CES' Eureka Park were not developing end-user devices Where, then, can a device entrepreneur go for funding and pick up some publicity in the process?

Continue reading Switched On: Big kicks not all for starters

Switched On: Big kicks not all for starters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Stunning Electric Bike Is Like a Jet Fighter On Two Wheels [Desired]

This is the ZecOO, an electric motorbike that can reach 75mph with a range that goes from 55 to 85 miles. No bad. But what I really like is its weird, anime jet fighter aesthetic, from its retro-futuristic profile to the extruded gauges to its front suspension. More »


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Book Excerpt: Bruce Perry?s Fitness For Geeks

Screen Shot 2012-04-27 at 8.53.27 AMAnd Now for Something Completely Different Try this: you wake up without an alarm sometime soon after sunrise, with plenty of time to spare to make it to work. It was a good sleep; you went to bed just after nine o?clock after having a snack consisting of coconut milk blended with blueberries and a little whey powder. You?re already savvy about getting enough REM sleep, but now you aim to bump up your deep sleep, or restorative NREM. You might even check out the wave chart your Zeo produced. The first thing you do is pour a cup of black tea or coffee and go outside to this pool of sunlight you?ve noticed out your window. You bask and reflect in it for a minute, perhaps followed by a few Tai Chi moves, push-ups on the lawn, or pull-ups on the jungle gym across the street from your apartment. You sip a bit more coffee and return to your living space to get ready for the commute. Technically speaking, as you gazed up into the sky and basked in that sun, the light rays touched your retinas and were transduced by the hypothalamus and pineal gland in your brain, which has now helped set your circadian rhythms for the day.

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TenOne Magnus Lightning Review: Handsome iPads Deserve Handsome Stands [Ipad]

A good iPad stand isn't always easy to come by. The most functional ones don't always look the nicest. The prettiest ones don't always work the best. Can the all-aluminum, magnet-equipped TenOne Magnus bridge that gap? More »


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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Intuit Acquires Marketing SaaS Company Demandforce For $423.5M In Cash

demandforceIntuit has just acquired marketing SaaS company Demandforce for $423.5 million in cash. Demandforce?s SaaS application automates internet marketing and communications, so customers can focus on running their day-to-day operations. The startup, which is profitable, has thousands of customers across service verticals that include dental care, automotive repair, spas, salons, chiropractors, and others.

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A MicroReview Of The Fantastic $9.99 MicroStylus

microstylus-3This just might be the best stylus ever made. I'm completely serious. The problem with most styli is that there is never one around when needed. Besides that, the pen form factor is often not conducive for use on a small screen. But the MicroStylus, well, it's so tiny yet functional that it's perfect for the task. Plus it's only $9.99 and stores neatly in a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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The Wanted Out To Prove Boy Bands 'Make Good Music'

'If you like us despite it or because of it, then we're happy,' Jay McGuiness tells MTV News of boy-band label.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway


The Wanted
Photo: MTV News

It's not always easy being in a boy band. There are a lot of preconceptions for the five guys who choose to sing catchy pop tunes and dance in formation for a living.

Given that boy bands have come in and out of fashion once every decade for the last few years, it should come as no surprise that we are knee-deep in a brand-new boy-band bonanza. This one is being led by this generation's 'NSYNC and Backstreet Boys: One Direction and the Wanted.

When MTV News sat down with the Wanted to premiere their "Chasing the Sun" video, they chatted a bit about being labeled a "boy band."

"Eventually, we were, like, over it," Jay McGuiness explained. "If you like us despite it or because of it, then we're happy."

Well, something is working for the guys. Their lead U.S. single, "Glad You Came," has topped the charts, and they are once again getting people dancing with "Chasing the Sun," from their just-released debut U.S. EP. It's a good time to be in a boy band, thanks to all the love out there for them. And it's an even better time to be in the Wanted.

It seems that their success might have a lot to do with the way they've approached their boy-band career thus far. "We went out there and we're like, 'You know what? I think we can change people's perspectives of the '90s boy bands,' " Tom Parker explained. "And that was our aim: just to make good music."

Voting in round two of MTV's Battle of the Boy Bands runs until noon ET on Monday, April 30. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Tune in to AMTV and MTV Hits for their boy-band video takeovers each day and make sure to spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates!


Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Battle of the Boy Bands interactive bracket!

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Friday, April 27, 2012

Big Money (talking-points-memo)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

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VOTE! Do You Like Lauren Conrad's Hot-Pink Hair?

The former star of The Hills has fuchsia tips! Check out more star tress-formations and tell us what you think!

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Britney Spears' Fiance Granted Legal Control Of Singer

Jason Trawick is a co-conservator of the pop star along with her dad, Jamie Spears.
By Kara Warner


Jason Trawick and Britney Spears
Photo: Denise Truscello/ WireImage

Britney Spears' fiancé, Jason Trawick, has been granted his wish to become her co-conservator. The talent agent's request was approved by a Los Angeles judge Wednesday (April 25).

Spears' former agent-turned-paramour petitioned the Los Angeles Superior Court earlier this month to become the pop star's co-conservator. He will share the responsibility with Spears' father, Jamie Spears, who has maintained legal control of his daughter since February 2008.

According to People magazine, Spears' father is delighted with the court's decision. "Jamie's thrilled," attorney Geraldine Wyle told reporters following the hearing, referring to Spears' father. "It's all in the family."

Wyle also made a point to clarify the fact that the request to add Trawick as co-conservator came at Britney's request, not her father's. The 41-year-old will not have control of Spears' multimillion-dollar estate or career but will share responsibility with Jamie Spears for the singer's "general well-being," including decisions regarding food, clothing and medical care.

Jamie Spears took steps to gain legal control over his daughter's affairs in 2008 following a spate of increasingly erratic behavior that culminated in Britney's brief stay at UCLA Medical Center. In the years since, Spears has appeared to get her life solidly back on track, releasing two multiplatinum albums, launching two successful world tours and regaining custody of her young sons, Sean Preston and Jayden James.

The current status of Spears' conservatorship is reportedly more of a "formality" than anything else.

Trawick, Spears' former agent and co-star in her "Criminal" video, proposed to Spears in December on his 40th birthday with a four-carat diamond ring designed by Neil Lane.

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Spotted: HP's special edition Pavilion dm1 by Alexandre Herchcovitch

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Sometimes we tech writers are little more than laptop pornographers, aren't we? After smiling for Bond Blog's cameras earlier this month, this special edition HP Pavilion dm1 surfaced at a media event here in the states, and naturally we couldn't resist snapping a few in-the-wild shots of our own. Decked out by Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch, it features all the specs you'd expect from a dm1z (AMD Fusion APU, 11.6-inch display, etc.) except it's been gussied up to resemble that gold frock pictured below. What might interest you even more than the couture, though, is that this is the first time HP's let one of its guest laptop designers alter the texture on the interior as well. In this case, that means even the keycaps have a rough, almost snakeskin-like texture, just like the lid and underbelly. HP also took the opportunity to clarify that this will retail for $630 exclusively through QVC. That's not exactly cheap -- the unadorned dm1z starts at just $400 with the same specs -- though that's hardly the $1,800 price we were expecting. And, the laptop comes bundled with a matching mouse and faux leather sleeve -- for whatever that little bit of color coordination is worth.

Continue reading Spotted: HP's special edition Pavilion dm1 by Alexandre Herchcovitch

Spotted: HP's special edition Pavilion dm1 by Alexandre Herchcovitch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Hands On With Google Drive: Cloud Storage for Google Loyalists

Google Drive, after years of rumors, is here to take on the likes of Dropbox and iCloud as the cloud-storage service of choice. After spending a few hours hands on, its clear that the biggest differentiator for Drive is its integration with other Google products.

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Bioenergy production may reduce biological diversity, but ecological risks can be minimized

ScienceDaily (Apr. 23, 2012) ? For years experts have discussed the ecological impact of the extended cultivation of energy crops. Scientists have now developed a computer model that allows assessing the impacts and comparing the effectiveness of strategies for the reduction of risks for biological diversity. Conclusion: The extension of bioenergy leads to problems with biological diversity in agrarian regions.

With different accompanying measures, such as the conservation of near-nature areas, however, these effects could be partly reduced, as scientists of the Friedrich Schiller University in Jenaand the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) write in the current issue of the professional journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy.

Of particular importance in this context is fallow land. At the latest since the abolition of the EU-wide set-aside premium in 2009 due to the overall rising demand for agricultural products, fallow land is strongly declining and re-used for intensive agricultural production. Ecologically speaking it would be more meaningful, however, if at least part of the land would be kept off from agricultural use also in future and preserved as fallow land and field margins. "These areas have not only a high value for nature conservation and climate protection. They can also help to buffer unintended side-effects of the extension of bioenergy and thus to prevent external costs. Our model analyses therefore yield not only ecological, but also new economic arguments for the preservation of fallow land and field margins that ought to be taken into consideration in the current debate on the concept for a green economy and the new regulation of EU agricultural policy," emphasises Professor Karin Frank from the Department of Ecological Modelling of the UFZ. "The proposal of the EU to keep seven per cent of productive agricultural land nearly natural is currently being discussed controversially. The term 'ecological priority areas' refers to all extensive, nearly natural areas, such as fallow land, hedge areas, orchards or land strips along water bodies," explains the environmental lawyer Dr. Stefan M?ckel of the UFZ.

The recently published study investigated different scenarios for the extension of bioenergy in a newly developed computer model to gain a better understanding of the complex relationships at the regional landscape scale and to identify and analyse the resulting ecological risks. Different variants of accompanying nature conservation measures were also investigated in order to develop options for the reduction of the risks. For the example of the Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis), it was shown with the help of this computer model that typical consequences of the extended cultivation of energy crops, such as the thinning of the spectrum of cultivated crops and increasing spatial agglomeration to large-scale monocultures, can have negative effects on the field bird populations. These tendencies in today's intensive agriculture can be partly counteracted by the preservation of remaining nearly natural areas and field margins. However, it was also shown that both the extent of the resulting risks and the effectiveness of the counteracting conservation measures depend upon the structure of the particular agricultural landscape and the size of the fields. The larger and more homogeneous the landscape, the more important is the conservation of highly diverse nearly natural areas and field margins.

The Eurasian skylark is the most common open land field bird in central Europe. The intensification of agriculture in recent years has resulted in a decline of around one third in their numbers. "The Eurasian skylark is a type of indicator for the ecological state of many regions used for agriculture, because they have settled in different areas of this intensively utilised open land, bred over many months on the ground in fields and fed on mainly insects and, additionally, the seeds of wild herbs and grains found there," explains Jan Engel, the first author of the UFZ-study, who is working at the University of Jena in the meantime. "This bird species is representative for important areas of the agrarian ecosystem. An improvement in the habitat quality for the skylark would therefore also support vegetation, insects and other ground-breeding bird species." In addition to the Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis), the researchers are currently investigating the effects on other field birds such as the Yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava) and the Corn bunting (Emberiza calandra) with their model in order to be able to make more extensive statements in future.

"The results of our study are a contribution to the debate about the ecological impact of extended bioenergy production. They underscore the need to adapt accompanying nature conservation measures to the regional conditions where possible," concludes Professor Andreas Huth from the UFZ. For the evaluation of the impact of bioenergy, the researchers therefore recommend also to take the differences in regional landscape types, such as the mean size of fields, into account. Above all, they underpin the importance of creating incentives for the preservation and establishment of ecological priority areas, such as fallow land, in the context of the impending EU agricultural reform.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Helmholtz Centre For Environmental Research - UFZ, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jan Engel, Andreas Huth, Karin Frank. Bioenergy production and Skylark (Alauda arvensis) population abundance - a modelling approach for the analysis of land-use change impacts and conservation options. GCB Bioenergy, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2012.01170.x

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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TA Associates Invests In Q&A Site Answers.com

answers1Q&A platform Answers.com is announcing a 'significant' minority investment from private equity firm TA Associates. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed. Answers operates a community-generated Q&A site at Answers.com, and was acquired by AFCV Holdings, a portfolio company of Summit Partners, for $127 million in cash last year. AFCV then delisted Answers, which was a public company, from the NASDAQ and took the company private. Shareholders were very unhappy with the terms of the deal, claiming it tremendously undervalued Answers.com, and tried to block the sale. Answers was also hit with a round of layoffs in June 2011.

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