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14 Jun 2011 10:49

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Tech: Google invests a crapload of money in solar power

Google’s $280 million investment in Solar City, which leases solar cells to residential consumers at costs lower than traditional power, could be a long-term boon for green energy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Jun 2011 10:29

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Tech: Want an unlocked iPhone? Good news. They sell them now.

  • $649 for the right to buy your iPhone 4 unlocked source
  • » Two caveats, though: Before you get too excited about the idea of buying an ultra-expensive iPhone contract-free and untied to a single carrier, two things you should be aware of: First, it only works on GSM networks, so no Sprint or Verizon. And second, while T-Mobile is a GSM network, it doesn’t support the iPhone’s style of 3G, so you’re stuck with last-generation EDGE speeds. But it can be a boon if you’re an international traveler, as GSM networks are the most-common style worldwide.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Jun 2011 09:50

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Tech: “Duke Nukem Forever,” vaporware no more. You can buy it!

  • It’s here. Finally. In purchasable form. The long-delayed sequel to Duke Nukem 3D finally comes out in the U.S. today. And what better way to celebrate the game’s release than by talking with one of the guys who helped make this epic monstrosity? USA Today chats a little with co-creator Allen Blum on the journey that finally brought the game to stores. Finally. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Jun 2011 10:39

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Tech: PlayStation Network hackers arrested in Spain; tied to Anonymous

  • 3 arrested in Spain over Sony breach; they were tied to Anonymous source
  • » One computer, many hacks: Investigators say that the computer used in the Sony breach — located in a basement in Gijón, Spain — was responsible for hacks to two Spanish banks, an Italian energy company and numerous government Web sites, including Arab Spring hotspots Egypt and Libya. The main guy was actually arrested back in the middle of May, but his arrest wasn’t publicized until today. The other arrests took place in other parts of the country. So, is it surprising that the PlayStation Network hackers (not any of the other Sony hacks, by the way) appear to have been tied to Anonymous?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jun 2011 13:22

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Tech: HP’s TouchPad: Similar style, similar price to the iPad

  • $499.99 the cost of the new HP TouchPad’s 16GB model
  • $599.99 the cost of the TouchPad’s 32GB model; sound familiar? source
  • » Openly gunning for Apple’s market: The TouchPad, coming out on July 1, doesn’t just share the same cost as the iPad; it’s also the same size, and has many other striking similarities as well. However, what does set it apart is WebOS, which will also make its way to HP laptops eventually. It will be interesting to see how this feature-for-feature cage match pans out.
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jun 2011 11:21

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Tech: Apple backs down on controversial in-app subscription policy

  • Apparently they heard that they lost The Financial Times to this mess. While Apple didn’t back down from the 70/30 split that gave publishers pause, they did change a rule that won’t force companies to offer app subscriptions at the same price as an outside subscription — or if they don’t want to, offer an Apple-sanctioned subscription at all. Apparently, developers’ loud grumbling about the policy (which led the Financial Times to create a HTML5 version of their iPad app, shown above) appears to have gotten through to the company, which updated their App Store Review Guidelines earlier this week ahead of a June 30 deadline. The differences:
  • How it read before “Apps can read or play approved content (magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video) that is sold outside of the app, for which Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues, provided that the same content is also offered in the app using IAP at the same price or less than it is offered outside the app. This applies to both purchased content and subscriptions. “
  • How it reads now“Apps can read or play approved content (specifically magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video) that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app, as long as there is no button or external link in the app to purchase the approved content. Apple will not receive any portion of the revenues for approved content that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the app.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Jun 2011 13:17

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Tech: Nintendo – promising more than they can deliver?

  • excited Yesterday Nintendo announced a new console, and it seemed pretty awesome. From the touch screen controller to the HD graphics, the Wii U was proving itself to be a console that could compete. It was exciting seeing Nintendo stepping up to be a real competitor.
  • disappointed It seems that Nintendo used some footage from the competition during their press conference. Some of the games they showed weren’t from their new console, but from the current-gen Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Which is kind of embarrassing.  source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

07 Jun 2011 14:31

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Tech: Nintendo’s new console steps up to compete, finally

  • The Wii U takes the controller a step further: The new Nintendo console will remind you a bit of their handheld DS. It has a touch screen in the controller, which will add a bit to gameplay. In addition, the Wii U will be the first Nintendo system to feature HD graphics. The controller can also be used to make voice calls and run old Nintendo games, which is pretty awesome. It’s going to come out next year, but there hasn’t been a price announced yet. Expect that controller to be pretty expensive, though. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Jun 2011 10:43

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Tech: Sony’s PlayStation Vita: A great opportunity to change the subject

  • Sony just had a rough month, and it continues to be kinda rough. So a console launch like the PlayStation Vita comes as a breath of fresh air for the company, which needs something to take the focus off their security problems and back onto their bread and butter. So, with a brief apology — “I want to apologize both personally and on behalf of my company,” as Sony’s North American head Jack Tretton, put it — it was onto the new console. And what a console it is: An OLED screen, touchpads in the back, and multiple cameras for augmented-reality gaming. Will it be enough to bring gamers back into the fold? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Jun 2011 21:51

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Tech: Antimatter stops by CERN long enough for a good converstation

  • 17 minutes trapped in one place; antimatter was just hangin’ source
  • » This is what we call progress: Back in November, it was kind of a big thing when scientists managed to trap antimatter at all — even for .17 seconds! Now we’ve gotten past viral video length and we’re almost at the length of an episode of “The Office.” The lifespan of the antimatter is a big deal because usually when antimatter is made, it disappears instantly. But the process that CERN (known as the European Organization for Nuclear Research) uses basically holds the antimatter in place using really strong magnets. The longer lifetimes offer scientists the opportunity to study it in greater detail, which is kind of neat, and to possibly figure out longer-term uses for this pretty cool technology. This research totally matters, guys.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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