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<title>Haaze.com / marbuglatae / Published News</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[LG Optimus releases Optimus 3D]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lg-optimus-releases-optimus-3d</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lg-optimus-releases-optimus-3d</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 07:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lg-optimus-releases-optimus-3d</guid>
<description><![CDATA[LG Optimus 3D<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Scientists: Apple makes your brain go all religious]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scientists-apple-makes-your-brain-go-all-religious</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scientists-apple-makes-your-brain-go-all-religious</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2011 07:10:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=scientists-apple-makes-your-brain-go-all-religious</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Religion is a touchy subject.Oddly enough, as I have come to discover in these pages, so is Apple. Somehow both inspire such extreme levels of devotion that I am amazed there hasn't yet been an Apple-inspired war, with bodies strewn across the malls of America.Some British neuroscientists chose to investigate whether there may possibly be some scientific similarities between devotees of a Creator and of Cupertino.You will be stunned into additional homilies in the chapel of your choice when I tell you that, having performed a brain scan, these neuroscientists declared that Apple was a religion. Well, almost.OK, so they actually performed brain scans on just one Apple apostle--Alex Brooks, editor of World of Apple. Brooks alleges that he thinks about Apple 24 hours a day.An iconically Apple store in London.(Credit:CC Lynxman/Flickr)According to Digital Trends, this scientific delving was for a BBC show called &quot;Secrets of the Superbrands.&quot; And it's not as if the BBC can necessarily afford a full-scale, statistically significant examination of Apple-zealots' brains. So the show made do with an examination of one extreme case of Applephilia.However, the neuroscientists had previously scanned brains of the religiously faithful and saw markedly similar results.As Alex Riley, the presenter of this fine BBC show, noted: &quot;The Apple products are triggering the same bits of [Brooks'] brain as religious imagery triggers in a person of faith.&quot;The show also managed to chat with (though not scan the brain of) the Bishop of Buckingham, which is a nice, little, wealthy part of England's south. The bishop noted that he reads the Bible on hisiPad. More touchingly, though, he offered that there were clear religious aspects to Apple stores: stone floors, arches, and little altars upon which the precious products are perched.And as Riley watched the staff at London's Covent Garden Apple store chant and whip those waiting in line into a devotional frenzy, Riley remarked: &quot;I can honestly say I've never seen anything like this at PC World.&quot;Has it ever happened at a Microsoft store Perhaps.But there is surely one deep and significant philosophical question to ask on this fine Friday: are people becoming religiously devoted to products such as Apple's because religion has failed themOr does this craven conversion simple signify that the world has caved in upon itself, that our caveman selves have been fully revealed, and that the world will, indeed, come to a cheery and well-deserved end on May 21 Wait, that's tomorrow.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Online resources for Japan quake info]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=online-resources-for-japan-quake-info</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=online-resources-for-japan-quake-info</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=online-resources-for-japan-quake-info</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Early today, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit the coast of northern Japan, spawning aftershocks and a tsunami that swept across the region.There are a number of outstanding online resources that are delivering solid information, up-to-date data, and forecasts on how the world will be affected.Tracking the tsunamiCNN Live Blog: CNN is tracking all the events surrounding the earthquake and tsunami with a live blog. It's currently providing up-to-date information on all the news coming out of Japan as the country tries to address the impact of the natural disaster.Reuters Live Coverage: Reuters is providing a live, minute-by-minute resource for people to get all the latest news on the Japan earthquake. It's tracking events in Japan, as well as those elsewhere around the Pacific as the tsunami continues to travel toward shore.BBC Live Blog: The BBC is also offering a live blog to give people the latest information on the tsunami. In addition, the publication is offering a &quot;wave map&quot; for people to track its progress.Japan Meteorological Agency: Those with loved ones in Japan will want to go to the Japan Meteorological Agency Web site. It has up-to-date information on warnings, forecasts, and other key information on current conditions around the country.NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning Page is being updated often with information on the latest warnings and information on where the tsunami is headed.Hawaii Red Cross Twitter Page: The Hawaii Red Cross is using its Twitter page to detail information on the impact the tsunami is having on the state. It's also linking to local news stations that have live feeds covering the impact around Hawaii.Map Visage Google Map: A Google Map has been created to provide a visual depiction of where the tsunami is headed. Each marker on the map provides the estimated arrival time for the tsunami, based on NOAA estimates.U.S. Geological Survey: The U.S. Geological Survey is providing constant updates on earthquakes and aftershocks erupting in the Pacific. It's providing exact locations for the earthquakes, a map for users to see where they are, and more.Twitter: As with previous natural disasters, Twitter is becoming a top resource for people to find out what's going on around the world. The tsunami hash tag is proving to be one of the best ways to cull information about the event.The Weather Channel: As one might expect, The Weather Channel is all over the tsunami coverage, providing information on when it might hit the United States, maps showing arrival times, and the latest news surrounding the earthquakes.Finding (and helping) family and friendsGoogle Person Finder: Google has launched its Person Finder for the Japan Earthquake. People can input information about someone or search the service to see if any information is available about someone who might have been impacted by the tsunami. The resource currently has 7,200 records, but it's growing quite rapidly.NTT Docomo Safety Response: One of Japan's mobile-phone providers is allowing people to input a loved one's mobile phone number into a search to confirm the safety of that person. Think of it as a &quot;message board&quot; of sorts.KDDI Disaster Message Board: Similar to NTT Docomo's service, the KDDI Disaster Message Board lets people place messages on its service to find out about a loved one's condition. That person's safety can then be confirmed via mobile phone or on a PC.Softbank Message Board: Softbank's Message Board mimics KDDI's service, allowing people to post a message to loved ones, which can then be viewed on the person's mobile phone. They can respond from that device to confirm they're safe.Japan Shelter Map: A Google Map has been created, listing lodging places for people who have been affected by the tsunami to stay the night.Hawaii State Civil Defense: Hawaii's State Civil Defense released a list of evacuation centers and refuge sites for citizens. In addition, the page features other information that might be of use to those trying to find loved ones.Red Cross Shelters: The American Red Cross has a Google Maps application on its Web site, allowing users to find its shelters around the U.S. According to its Twitter page, evacuation shelters are currently open in Washington, Oregon, and California. This map will help folks find those locations.American Red Cross Donation Page: The American Red Cross has launched a donation page for victims of the tsunami and earthquakes. The Web page lets users donate as much as they'd like from the secure form.General informationGoogle Crisis Response: Google is providing an outstanding resource on its Crisis Response page, listing organizations tracking the earthquakes and tsunami, as well as maps and the latest news surrounding the horrific event.Red Cross Tsunami Checklist: The Red Cross Tsunami Checklist has been updated to provide information on preparedness and tips on what to do after a tsunami has hit.Prime Minster of Japan and Cabinet Page: This page delivers several outstanding links and informational guides on the country's response to the tsunami and earthquake.Red Cross Twitter Page: The Red Cross' Twitter account is providing resources for people to learn more about the tsunami and earthquakes. It also lists a number that people can call to find information about loved ones who might have been affected by the event.Red Cross Newsroom: The American Red Cross' Newsroom page is providing updated information on the tsunami. It also has basic data about the earthquakes.NOAA Environmental Visualization Laboratory: NOAA has offered up several visual depictions of the tsunami and its impact around the Pacific. It includes a wave-height model, a view of the Pacific Ocean floor, and much more.NOAA Center for Tsunami Research: NOAA has also added an event page to its site for the impact the Honshu tsunami had. The page includes a graphical display forecast, hazard assessments, and research services for those that want to learn more about the event.NOAA Tsunami Informational Page&quot; Those looking to learn more about tsunamis, including how they originate, the history of tsunamis around the world, and how people can prepare for them, can check out the NOAA Tsunami Informational Page. It's a fine resource for all-things tsunami.NOAA Tsunami Fact Sheet (PDF): Aside from an online resources, NOAA also has a PDF document offering insight into tsunamis and the impact they've had around the world. It also discusses the tsunami warning system, Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis stations, and much more.Updated at 12:01 p.m. PTto include more resources.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[At home in a not-so-smart home]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=at-home-in-a-not-so-smart-home</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=at-home-in-a-not-so-smart-home</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:10:54 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=at-home-in-a-not-so-smart-home</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The future, we are told, is smart homes able to remotely control appliances, secure us from intruders, and use energy superefficiently. As I sit here with a box full of barely used equipment, I feel like an unconvinced Luddite. A few months ago, a representative from the Z-Wave Alliance offered to loan me some wireless home automation equipment to check out. Given that CNET has a tech-savvy audience, I've written extensively about home energy management systems designed to give consumers more control over how and when they use energy. I've been giving it a try in fits and starts but still don't have much to show for it. It's not that I think home automation is a bad idea. Using aniPhone to remotely control your thermostat or lights can be useful, and technology can certainly improve home efficiency for many people. If you know you are wasting electricity somewhere at home, there's a good case for investing time and effort in better energy management. But at this point, I feel like my low-tech ways of keeping power in check trump the gadgetry. The gateway (center) communicates with different Z-Wave modules and connects to the Internet.(Credit:Martin LaMonica/CNET)The tech industry has been promoting the notion of the futuristic &quot;smart home&quot; for years, and it's actually starting to take shape. At the Consumer Electronics Show this year, for example, we saw connected appliances and home security systems, operated from aniPad or touch-screen device, that control home security, lights, and the thermostat. Many utilities have smart-grid programs to give consumers more insight into energy usage, but home automation is another promising avenue for improving home energy efficiency.The equipment I received is what you could consider a bare-bones setup made up of a few Z-Wave controllers and a network gateway. Z-Wave is a wireless protocol that allows door locks, thermostats, lighting fixtures, security cameras, or appliances to be controlled from a central point. The main alternative is Zigbee, a low-power, standards-based wireless protocol. Some home-area network equipment may use Wi-Fi as well.The Z-Wave controllers are small boxes or dongles that plug into regular outlets and communicate back to the gateway. Once your lights or appliances are plugged in, you can control and schedule them from a Web-based application. You could, for example, put a motion sensor on the wall to light up a hallway or program your thermostat from a PC or smart phone. (Even though programmable thermostats have been around for years, apparently few people actually program them.)  The company making this equipment, called MiCasaVerde, has new modules that will track energy use as well. I thought I'd give those a try to get a feel for home automation and see if I could shave down my home power use. It certainly is cool to be able to turn a light on or off from your PC or smartphone. But for me, the novelty wore off fast. And when it came to energy efficiency, I realized that my power-thrifty behavior made it tough for the automation to improve matters. The core premise behind many smart-grid companies is that information and technology, accessible on a home area network, will help consumers save energy and help utilities cut peak power. Early trials show that's the case. But it doesn't necessarily work for everyone. What I realized is that I'm part of one customer segment--the hyper energy-conscious type--that's going to be tough to please on the merits of efficiency alone.Smart switchesWhat about the home automation bit Well, it works and it's fun, though I wouldn't say this product is the easiest software app I've ever used. The home gateway, which retails for $249, is just that: a gateway between your Wi-Fi connection to the Internet and the Z-Wave home area network. To set things up, you have to manually connect the different controllers to the gateway, which isn't difficult and worked as it should.Then there's a software application called Mios, from which you manage everything. You can add devices and set up &quot;scenes&quot; for when things turn on and off, including adding timers. With the SmartSwitches, which cost $59.95, you can see how much power appliances use in real time and over time. I managed to make the software work with a couple of these smart switches and set up some timers for testing purposes. But the charts on energy use were clunky compared with the slicker home energy dashboards I've seen. The Mios software lets you manage connected appliances by setting up scenes such as using motion sensors to turn on lights or putting appliances on a timer. (Credit:Screenshot by Martin LaMonica/CNET)I initially thought I could kill some standby power from the home entertainment center. But as I was connecting the dongles and chords, I realized that a &quot;smart&quot; power strip would do the trick better, without consuming power itself. Smart power strips, which cost about $25, have plugs where one device, like the PC, is always &quot;hot,&quot; but peripheral devices go in plugs where the standby power cuts to zero.  In practice, I don't even need the smart strip. The members of my household are well trained to just flick off a regular power strip after using the TV, which cuts the standby power to zero. Same story with the PC and printer. As I looked around, I realized there wasn't anything else that we always leave on, beyond equipment for Internet and phone. If you studiously shut stuff off (can you hear your mother nagging you about the lights), use power management on your PC, and buy efficient appliances and lights, then there's not much else to cut. To be clear, I think that home automation or some other intelligent gadgetry can be worthwhile. One feature I'd particularly like would be remote access to the thermostat so that when you were driving home from vacation, you could have the heat turned on before you got home. One person I know with a home automation system said he loves being able to turn off the air conditioner from a small touch-screen dashboard as he leaves home in the morning. If he forgets, he can also do it from his smartphone later. I suspect people who have hefty electricity bills could benefit from monitoring and automating just to find out where the big energy consumers are and to turn off plugged-in equipment on a schedule. For example, people get used to leaving their computers on during the day and night. If one could see how much that always-on PC costs, and the environmental footprint, there would be an added motivation to turn it off when unused or use power management.As for me, I still haven't given up. I'm looking at whole house power monitoring systems that will work with my solar panels. They may not save me oodles of money right away, but at least I'll have a clue how I'm using power from day to day or season to season. I'm also eyeing smart plugs that will let me schedule when things go on and off and monitor the savings, hopefully in a way that's cheap and easy.It's become cliche to say that efficiency is the &quot;low hanging fruit&quot; because so much energy is wasted and efficiency is far cheaper than investing in new energy sources. Technology opens up great possibilities for energy efficiency, but my little test was a reminder that behavior counts as much as technology.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[EPA compromises on industrial pollution rules]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=epa-compromises-on-industrial-pollution-rules</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=epa-compromises-on-industrial-pollution-rules</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:11:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=epa-compromises-on-industrial-pollution-rules</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Obama administration scaled back on demands for heavy industrial boilers to cut toxic air emissions, a sign it may be willing to compromise with businesses and Republicans on future air pollution rules. The Environmental Protection Agency today issued final regulations on cutting air pollutants such as mercury and soot at boilers, which are basically on-site power plants at factories, and incinerators. The EPA said the move would cost companies $1.8 billion to cut pollution, about half the amount that would have resulted from rules proposed last year. While the rules are only a minor part of the EPA's agenda this year, they come at a time when the agency is racing to deliver on President Barack Obama's promise to show the world that the United States is taking action on climate change. Manufacturers and other industries have complained that a slate of looming EPA rules on toxic pollution and greenhouse gases would kill jobs while the economy is fragile. Many lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives have said the EPA would unfairly burden business. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is battling fierce legal and legislative challenges in her drive to crack down on greenhouse gas emissions, but today's decision--which came after receiving about 4,800 comments from industry and communities--suggests the agency is able to compromise. &quot;Because the final standards have been informed by a robust data set and comments we've received following the proposal, they are realistic, they are achievable...and come at about half the cost to industry,&quot; Gina McCarthy, an EPA assistant administrator for air, told reporters in a teleconference. The final rules were more flexible than the proposed regulation, by allowing, for example, companies to fine-tune their pollution systems rather than add costly new controls. It was unclear how much more pollution would be emitted as a result of the EPA rules rewrite, but the agency said many health benefits would be achieved. The standards will avert between 2,600 and 6,600 premature deaths, prevent 4,100 heart attacks and forestall 42,000 asthma attacks per year in 2014, it said. The rules will create a net of about 2,000 jobs, it added. &quot;In the end it still provides huge health protections, not as much as before, but enough,&quot; considering the pressures on the EPA to compromise, said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. The somewhat arcane boiler rules aim to reduce emissions with so-called &quot;maximum achievable control technology&quot; or Next month the EPA is expected to propose more widely watched MACT rules on toxic emissions from power plants. Those will likely be opposed by some power companies and lawmakers from states with economies that depend heavily on fossil fuels. The EPA also plans to issue rules on emissions of greenhouse gases from oil refineries and power plants later this year. Story Copyright (c) 2010 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[CES: The 404 733: Where we do it without glasses (podcast)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-the-404-733-where-we-do-it-without-glasses-podcast</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-the-404-733-where-we-do-it-without-glasses-podcast</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-the-404-733-where-we-do-it-without-glasses-podcast</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It's the first official day ofCES 2011 and we're joined by our buddy Clayton Morris of Fox and Friends who takes a moment out of his busy day to show us a couple cool gadgets he saw today. We always enjoy a game of show and tell, and Clayton doesn't disappoint with the Steadicam Smoothee, a handheld steadicam that you can use with anApple iPhone, a Motorola DROID, or a Flip Mino video camera.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MySpace layoffs: 550 fewer friends at the office]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=myspace-layoffs-550-fewer-friends-at-the-office</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=myspace-layoffs-550-fewer-friends-at-the-office</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=myspace-layoffs-550-fewer-friends-at-the-office</guid>
<description><![CDATA[MySpace, the social networking site that once was social networking, could lay off a staggering half of its 1,100-employee workforce, according toAllThingsDigital.Sources told the publication that parent company News Corp. has long been looking to enforce drastic cost-cutting measures after the site&amp;'s revenues and traffic have been on a decline. While no decision has been made yet, the company is rumored to have given its staff a holiday for the last week of December in an attempt to save costs.Back in October, the site unveiled a new logo and design intended as a way to infuse energy into the site&amp;'s brand, but not as a major turnaround for the company itself. However, a large-scale layoff as such would be drastic and undoubtedly affect the company&amp;'s long-term future.Since News Corp. bought MySpace&amp;'s parent company in 2005 for $580 million, the site has traversed shaky grounds. Facebook overtook MySapce in number of users in 2008, and traffic has since gone downhill. In an attempt to make itself relevant again, it&amp;'s come out with a developer platform of its own (something it previously vetted against when it banned embedded content in its profiles), changed its profile layout, and cleaned up its design, all to no avail.Also, the company recently faced trouble at the top. It hired ex-Facebook COO Owen Van Natta as CEO in April 2009 but had him step down just ten months later. Then Mike Jones and Jason Hirschhorn briefly ran the company as co-presidents. Hirschhorn departed in June, leaving Jones to run the shop alone.MySpace has declined to comment on the rumors. Even if it turns out not to be as drastic a move as cutting half the staff,a layoff of some kind seems like a definite possibility.Previous Story: Despite state censorship, China&amp;'s Internet population crosses 450 millionPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: layoffs, rumors, social networkCompanies: MySpace, News CorpPeople: Jason Hirschhorn, Mike Jones, Owen Van Natta          Tags: layoffs, rumors, social networkCompanies: MySpace, News CorpPeople: Jason Hirschhorn, Mike Jones, Owen Van NattaSid Yadav is a contributor to VentureBeat. He currently studies computer science and psychology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He is also the creator of Memiary, a micro-diary utility. You can reach him at sidyadav@gmail.com (all story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com), and on Twitter at @sidyadav.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Our obsession with mobile games is growing (exclusive survey)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=our-obsession-with-mobile-games-is-growing-exclusive-survey</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=our-obsession-with-mobile-games-is-growing-exclusive-survey</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=our-obsession-with-mobile-games-is-growing-exclusive-survey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Our appetite for mobile games is growing, with more than a third of U.S. and U.K. adults saying that they play mobile games, according to a new survey. This is a huge shift in consumer attitudes and it could have a big impact on the structure of the video game business.The survey found large increases in overall usage and frequency of mobile game playing among U.S. and U.K. adults. It reflects a big shift in attitudes as gamers expand to all available game platforms, rather than limiting themselves to consoles or PCs. It explains why a considerable amount of investment is now going into mobile gaming and why mobile devices have become the center of innovation in gaming. Mobile games and social games will be hot topics at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week.The survey was conducted by Information Solutions Group and commissioned by Seattle-based PopCap Games, which makes popular casual video games such as Plants vs. Zombies. Among mobile game players, the mobile phone is now the primary device of choice. In just a couple of years, the mobile phone has leapfrogged the PC and video game consoles. Smartphone owners are by far the most avid consumers of mobile games. The results match the thinking that mobile games will continue to explode in the foreseeable future, said Dave Roberts, chief executive of PopCap Games, in an interview.&amp;''Smartphones have become a real gaming platform,&amp;'' Roberts said. &amp;''We&amp;'re starting to see millions of new users.&amp;''More than 52 percent of the 2,425 survey respondents said they had played a mobile phone game. About 73 percent of U.K. respondents said they had played a mobile phone game at least once, compared to 44 percent in the U.S. About 33.6 percent of all adults in the two regions have played a game on a mobile phone in the past month. Some 24.6 percent have played in the last week. Among smartphone owners, 83 percent said they played a game in the last week.One of the reasons that mobile gaming is taking off is that developers have figured out how to monetize the games, beyond selling them for 99 cents. The rise of in-app purchases &amp;8212' which allow developers to give away games and charge for virtual goods &amp;8212' has spurred the business and allowed developers to reinvest in better mobile games. That creates a virtuous cycle that keeps the enthusiasm for mobile games high.Does this mean there&amp;'s a bubble in mobile game investments now It&amp;'s hard to say, Roberts said, in the absence of good data about each investment.&amp;''We will see a lot more entrants in the mobile gaming market,&amp;'' Roberts said.About 45 percent of smartphone owners said they play daily, compared to 35 percent of mobile phone gamers. In 2009, an earlier survey showed that only 13 percent of mobile phone gamers played daily. Among mobile phone gamers, 50 percent said that the amount of time they spent playing mobile games increased in the past year. Some 63 percent of smartphone owners said they increased their mobile gaming in the past year. Perhaps you can blame Angry Birds, the smash hit from Rovio, for the increase, or titles such as Talking Friends or Doodle Jump or PopCap&amp;'s Plants vs. Zombies. Angry Birds is likely closing in on 100 million downloads, a huge number compared to the numbers for hit console games.About 44 percent of mobile phone gamers said they played games most often on their phones. Only 21 percent said the played most often on consoles and 30 percent on PCs. In 2009, the percentage who played most often on their phones was only 17 percent. Among mobile phone gamers, about 23 percent of all device usage is spent playing games (excluding phone calls).PopCap gets about a third of its overall revenues from mobile games. For 2011, growth prospects look good. But one of the big questions is how much Android will take off and whether tablets beyond those made by Apple will take a bigger chunk of the computing market, Roberts said.&amp;''There is still a question whether anyone can make a ton of money on the Android platforms,&amp;'' Roberts said.Roberts reiterated that his company is contemplating going public in the second half of the year. It probably isn&amp;'t hard to figure out why.Next Story: Europe&amp;'s digital game revenue to grow 89 percent by 2015 Previous Story: DEMO Spring 2011 starts off with a bangPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: mobile games, smartphonesCompanies: Information Solutions Group, Popcap GamesPeople: Dave Roberts          Tags: mobile games, smartphonesCompanies: Information Solutions Group, Popcap GamesPeople: Dave RobertsDean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat. Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[San Diego companies: Get feedback from Avalon Ventures, and cocktails]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=san-diego-companies-get-feedback-from-avalon-ventures-and-cocktails</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=san-diego-companies-get-feedback-from-avalon-ventures-and-cocktails</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=san-diego-companies-get-feedback-from-avalon-ventures-and-cocktails</guid>
<description><![CDATA[VentureBeat is bringing our DEMO pre-conference tour to San Diego next Wednesday, Dec. 15.If you&amp;'re a tech entrepreneur with an awesome product idea in the San Diego area, and are thinking about launching your product to the world next spring, or later in the fall, we&amp;'d love to meet with you. This is the latest stop of our worldwide tour looking for the best companies to bring to the upcoming DEMO in Palm Springs (Feb. 27 &amp;8211' Mar. 1).We&amp;'re delighted to be partnering with the go-to local venture capital firm, Avalon Ventures which we&amp;'ve learned has just raised a new fund and is investing fresh cash into local companies. Partner Steve Tomlin will join us in meeting companies, and provide feedback to you as you consider your next steps and market launch strategy. We&amp;'ll be meeting at the offices of the&amp;nbsp'Mintz Levin law firm in San Diego.We&amp;'ll be meeting with up to 10 companies. If youa4a4re interested in coming, please fill out this form. The deadline to apply is Friday noon. If youa4a4re selected as one of the 10 companies, wea4a4ll follow up immediately with more information about the presentation and who exactly will be there. These meetings are not designed to be pitches for funding. They are a great opportunity to develop an early relationship with the firma4a4s partners without the pressure that comes with a typical pitch.We&amp;'re delighted that Mintz Levin has agreed to sponsor his event, which also includes throwing cocktails in the evening at their offices for the wider tech community. Drinks will start flowing at 7:00PM and end at 9:00PM. To register for the cocktail session,&amp;nbsp'please go here.The San Diego stop follows our stops in Los Angeles next Monday and Orange County on Tuesday. For more information on joining us for those sessions, go here. Each of these events are ideal for finding out whata4a4s new at DEMO, talking up your product or concept, and connecting with a wider group of local innovators and tech professionals.See you in SoCal!Next Story: Trademarkia helps you find social media impostors Previous Story: Twitter explains how to get big in TrendsPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: DEMO, DEMO Spring 2011People: Avalon Ventures, Greycroft Partners, Rustic Canyon Partners, Steamboat Ventures          Tags: DEMO, DEMO Spring 2011People: Avalon Ventures, Greycroft Partners, Rustic Canyon Partners, Steamboat VenturesMatt Marshall is editor and CEO of VentureBeat. Follow him on Twitter at @mmarshall, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[As Blizzard kicks off World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, it suffers a disastrous data leak]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=as-blizzard-kicks-off-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-it-suffers-a-disastrous-data-leak</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=as-blizzard-kicks-off-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-it-suffers-a-disastrous-data-leak</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=as-blizzard-kicks-off-world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-it-suffers-a-disastrous-data-leak</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Blizzard Entertainment launched its highly-anticipated online role-playing game expansion World of Warcraft Cataclysm today. But the launch was marred by a big leak of internal data in the company&amp;'s China office. The leak reportedly contains Blizzard&amp;'s secret launch schedule for upcoming games.Cataclysm is the third major expansion launched for World of Warcraft, the most popular online subscription game with 12 million players, since it launched in 2004. Cataclysm not only introduces two new races of characters that players can be, it also remakes the world itself as a dragon god&amp;'s arrival causes a huge disaster. (See our review).The Cataclysm launch is expected to draw millions of players to stores, all paying for the $39.99 addition. It is likely to be the biggest reason that players keep giving Blizzard more than $1 billion a year in subscription revenues for World of Warcraft.The global launch starts today in North America, Europe, Argentina, Chile, Russia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. It will go on sale on Dec. 9 in Korea and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.Meanwhile, the site MMOgamesite published what it said was Blizzards slate of upcoming game releases for the next four years. The slate shows that an expansion for Starcraft 2 ( a huge game launched in July) will debut as Starcraft 2 Phoenix in the fourth quarter of 2011. That is the same quarter that Diablo III will launch.Blizzard reportedly fired Ye Weilun, its general manager in China, for no apparent reason. That has led others to speculate that the leak occurred in China. The leak of the roadmap is a bad one. It spills the company&amp;'s strategic dates for launching its most important games. The next World of Warcraft expansion is scheduled for the second quarter of 2012 and the World of Warcraft movie is expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2012.An unknown project, code-named Titan, is set for a Q4 2013 release.Next Story: Flipboard CEO&amp;'s claim: We&amp;'re not building a business &amp;''on the backs of publishers&amp;'' Previous Story: Apple&amp;'s iPad 2 set to ship February, launch AprilPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: World of Warcraft: CataclysmCompanies: Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Entertainment, MMOgamesite          Tags: World of Warcraft: CataclysmCompanies: Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Entertainment, MMOgamesiteDean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Using Video Games to Burn all that Fat Caused by Playing Video Games&nbsp'(TCTV)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=using-video-games-to-burn-all-that-fat-caused-by-playing-video-gamesnbsptctv</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=using-video-games-to-burn-all-that-fat-caused-by-playing-video-gamesnbsptctv</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marbuglatae</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=using-video-games-to-burn-all-that-fat-caused-by-playing-video-gamesnbsptctv</guid>
<description><![CDATA[HopeLab is a nonprofit video game lab founded by Pam Omidyar, wife of eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. That&amp;'s right, I said non-profit video game lab. It seeks to make the world better through video games, and it&amp;'s hoping it has a new hit on its hands with Zamzee. Zamzee combats sedentary behavior by giving kids and teens points for moving more throughout the day and those points can be used to buy virtual goods or exchange for gift cards.Early research shows a whopping 30% jump in activity when people play Zamzee&amp;8211' the equivalent of running a marathon every month. HopeLabs has decided to spin the game out into a for-profit company to help commercialize the game faster. Richard Tate of HopeLabs joined us via Skype to talk about the game that may be a solution if your kids ate too much Turkey yesterday.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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