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<title>Haaze.com / Kethy / Voted News</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:10:17 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Screenshots allegedly reveal Windows 8 app store]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=screenshots-allegedly-reveal-windows-8-app-store</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=screenshots-allegedly-reveal-windows-8-app-store</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:10:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Johnny5401</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=screenshots-allegedly-reveal-windows-8-app-store</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A screenshot that apparently shows the upcoming Windows app store.(Credit:ZDNet)The latest batch of alleged Windows 8 screenshots leaked onto the Web shows that a long-rumored Windows app store will appear in the next version of Microsoft's OS.The new images and information were published yesterday by Chinese tech news site CNBeta.com. Reportedly taken from a current pre-beta build of Windows 8, the screenshots reveal a dedicated window geared toward downloading and managing apps with links to both Microsoft software and third-party programs, such as Internet Explorer, Office 2010,Firefox, Opera, FreeCell, and Angry Birds.Citing information from its sources, CNBeta also is claiming that internal testing of the store has been completed and that Microsoft will soon release it as a beta.Rumors and reports about an upcoming Windows app store have been around for almost a year. Based on a series of Windows 8 documents leaked last June, Microsoft has reportedly been eager to match Apple at its own game by offering its own dedicated app store.CNET sister site ZDNet, which also has published screenshots of the app store, said that Microsoft has been trying to ramp up the store since Apple unveiled its Mac App Store, which opened its virtual doors in January.Here is another screenshot of the alleged Windows app store.(Credit:ZDNet)The screenshots in English point to the name of the store as Windows App Store. If it sticks, that name is likely to upset Apple, which is suing Amazon for trademark violation over its use of the term &quot;app store&quot; for its new Android Appstore. Apple has also been pleading its case to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, asking to be granted an official trademark of the term &quot;app store.&quot; Microsoft and other companies have argued that the term is too generic to be trademarked.But Microsoft may still be playing it on the safe side in naming its Windows app store. An English translation of the Chinese name of the store on the CNBeta.com page displays the name as App Mall and not App Store. Meanwhile, Windows enthusiast site Windows 8 Center said the term can also be translated as App Marketplace.This latest batch of screenshots follow earlier images taken from a Windows 8 pre-beta build pointing to such new features as an expansion of the Ribbon interface, a new welcome screen, a built-in PDF reader, and a revamped version of IE that looks like its Windows Phone counterpart.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Fake Android app steals data, takes shot at pirates]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=fake-android-app-steals-data-takes-shot-at-pirates</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=fake-android-app-steals-data-takes-shot-at-pirates</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:10:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>unboquita</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=fake-android-app-steals-data-takes-shot-at-pirates</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This is the message the malware sends in a text to numbers listed in the contacts on the phone.(Credit:Symantec)A malicious Android app that masquerades as a free version of a legitimate app steals data and sends spam text messages and a warning that chastise the user for trying to get around paying for the actual app, Symantec said today. The app, available on several file-sharing sites in North America and Asia that are known as clearinghouses for pirated software, is called Walk and Text. That's also the name of a legitimate app--available on the Android Market for $1.53--that uses a device's camera to let people see what's in front of them as they text while walking. However, the bogus app is labeled as version 1.3.7, which doesn't exist yet, according to a Symantec blog post.  Once the fake software--which Symantec has dubbed &quot;Android.Walkinwat&quot;--is downloaded and running, it displays a dialog box that indicates that the app is in the process of being compromised or cracked, ostensibly to scare the person who thinks they're getting the legitimate app for free. Behind the scenes, the software is gathering sensitive data--including username, phone number, and unique device identifier--and trying to send it to an external server, Symantec says.  The app also sends out a text message (rife with misspellings and errors) to all the numbers listed in the user's contact list: &quot;Hey, just downloaded a pirated App off the Internet, Walk and Text for Android. Im stupid and cheap, it costed only 1 buck.Don't steal like I did!&quot;  The app also displays a message that says &quot;Application Not Licensed&quot; and warns: &quot;We really hope you learned something from this. Check your phone bill') Oh and don't forget to buy the App from the Market.&quot; It includes buttons for buying the app or exiting. The malware displays this antipiracy warning and offers the option to buy the app from the Android Market. (Credit:Symantec)<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[When Lady Gaga met Larry Google]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=when-lady-gaga-met-larry-google</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=when-lady-gaga-met-larry-google</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 07:10:56 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>nireancegiola</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing and advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=when-lady-gaga-met-larry-google</guid>
<description><![CDATA[When she was in high school, all of her friends wanted to work at Google. So offered Lady Gaga as she wandered into the Googleplex and showed them what true domination really looked like.The purpose of Gaga's visit was to sit with Google's Marissa Mayer and answer questions offered on something called Google Moderator. This, oddly, is not a new Google tool specifically designed to dampen China's enthusiasm for censorship.It's a thingy that allows your audience to decide what is most important to them. So there sat a hoarsely nervous Mayer asking questions offered by Gaga's fans from around the world.Gaga looked, as usual, extremely fetching, with a bun atop her head that resembled a black and blond 3-D version of the new Chrome logo.Once Mayer had introduced her as the Queen of the Downloads, Gaga talked of stardom, school friends, bullying, and rehearsing. Mayer, though, interrupted her by showing that she went to a Halloween Party as, um, Gaga. Her Ladyship didn't seem entirely sure of the resemblance, but she is a great corporate saleswoman. She knows how to behave. She knows how to talk about her fans who make YouTube videos honoring her.She revealed that she and her father ran an Internet company when she was but a little girl. And she described how one of the negative aspects of the Web now being the main medium for music was how an artist has to mathematically input their music (and by extension) their souls, into this machine system.She seemed sad that fans go to chat rooms just to watch songs climb the chart. Gaga wants to take people away from computers in order to truly experience the music.The Twitpic posted by her ladyship.(Credit:Screenshot: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)She took the time to pose with new Google CEO Larry Page and post the picture to Twitter. Perhaps she took the time to offer him a little advice about how to market himself, now that he is supposed to be the driving force behind a new and invigorated Google. Gaga is a brilliant marketer of, some might say, less than original music. She answered questions from her fans. She answered questions from the audience. She hugged Googlie questioners. She admired one Googlie who had a hat that (sort of) resembled the Chrysler Building.Had Page listened to her speak, had he focused a little on how clear she is about her image and her emotional relationship with her customers, he might have wondered whether he and his company could ever hope for that kind of relationship with its users.She talked about not being squeaky clean, just slightly evil. &quot;If you are magical, you always have shadows,&quot; Gaga said, in a line that she might have had Steve Jobs nodding to at home. Perhaps the obverse of that is &quot;If you are mechanical, you always have numbers.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[LG introduces its CTIA accessory lineup]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lg-introduces-its-ctia-accessory-lineup</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lg-introduces-its-ctia-accessory-lineup</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:10:45 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>vanessarice</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=lg-introduces-its-ctia-accessory-lineup</guid>
<description><![CDATA[LG introduced a few new accessories to go along with its big G2X announcement today. They include the HBM-905 mono Bluetooth headset, the HBS-700 stereo Bluetooth headset, and the WCP-700 wireless charging pad.LG HBM-905(Credit:LG)The HBM-905 appears to be the successor to the LG HBM-900 Bluetooth headset, with a similar long and skinny design. It features three microphones that promise solid audio quality along with background noise suppression. Other features include the usual ability to answer, end, and reject a call, last number redial, and a multipoint function that lets you connect to two devices simultaneously. It also has name alert, a text/SMS reader, and up to 4 hours of talk time. As for the HBS-700, it isn't really a big surprise as it came out a few months ago, but LG is just making a show of it forCTIA. It has a unique and very comfortable design, which isn't always the case with stereo Bluetooth headsets. Check out our review of the LG HBS-700 for more information about it.LG Wireless Charging Pad(Credit:LG)Last but not least is the LG WCP-700 wireless charging pad. As the name suggests, it lets you charge your phone without wires. It provides audible and tactile feedback so that you know when the handset is properly placed on the pad, and it has a multi-color LED charging status indicator. We're not sure if your phone needs to have a special case attached to it in order for it to work, and are confirming that with LG. LG has said that it should fully charge your phone in about two hours.LG has not provided any pricing or availability information for the HBM-905 and the WCP-700 charging pad just yet. The HBS-700 retails for around $69.99 and is available now.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Huge global pedophile ring busted, officials say]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=huge-global-pedophile-ring-busted-officials-say</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=huge-global-pedophile-ring-busted-officials-say</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:12:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>archibaldj</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing and advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=huge-global-pedophile-ring-busted-officials-say</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Police have arrested 184 people accused of participating in what authorities are calling the largest global pedophile network ever uncovered--and more arrests are expected, Europol said today.Authorities infiltrated an Internet child pornography forum that was the center of the network and had as many as 70,000 members at one time, Europol said in a statement. About 670 suspects and 230 children have been identified in the investigation, officials said, adding that the children have been &quot;safeguarded.&quot; The Web site, which has been taken down, was traced to a server in Holland in 2009. Europol got a copy of it and rebuilt it offline to conduct a forensic investigation and gather digital traces that would lead back to the members. The site operated as a &quot;discussion only&quot; forum to protect members from prosecution. People would make contact on the site and then use e-mail to exchange photos and videos, which has been found on seized computers, according to Europol.  The scale of the operation &quot;broke new ground,&quot; Peter Davies, a U.K. police chief who leads that country's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, told The Wall Street Journal. &quot;These offenders felt anonymous, but everything they did online was tracked using the digital footprint.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Take measurements and jump the gaps: iPhone apps of the week]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=take-measurements-and-jump-the-gaps-iphone-apps-of-the-week</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=take-measurements-and-jump-the-gaps-iphone-apps-of-the-week</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:10:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>kirillfedros2</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=take-measurements-and-jump-the-gaps-iphone-apps-of-the-week</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:CNET)The iPad 2 came out today and though I've only laid eyes on it for a few seconds (Donald Bell has been running around the office taking pictures and adding to his ongoing review), I'm definitely impressed with what I've seen so far. Apparently if you're looking to get one too, you'll need to be ready for long lines at the Apple store and an even longer wait if you order online, according to Josh Lowensohn.Several developers have already updated their applications to take advantage of theiPad 2's upgraded processing power, which can be seen in Infinity Blade, Dead Space, and a few other top-name apps. Real Racing 2 HD also landed today, and looks great on the original iPad, but I have yet to see it in all its glory on the iPad 2.As you have probably already heard, Apple has released a few apps of its own optimized for the iPad 2, including iMovie and GarageBand. I'll be writing reviews and shooting First Look videos for these early next week, so definitely check back for more info.This week's apps offer a unique way to measure any object and a 2D snowboard racing game that's challenging, but great fun.Draw lines, choose colors, and enter measurements--right on the image.(Credit:Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)Photo Measures ($2.99) could be an incredibly useful app at certain times in your life, showing you the measurements of items in a photograph. Especially useful if you're moving into a new apartment or house, Photo Measures will place measurement lines right on the image, making it easy to see if a specific couch will fit in your living room.You start by taking a picture of the object or objects you want measurements for. This app does not automatically enter measurements, obviously, but you can choose the type of lines (with or without arrows), the color, and the unit of measurement, and enter the number after using a tape measure, for example. It will also show angles, if you want to match up a piece of artwork to a tight spot. When you're finished, you'll have a photograph complete with measurements that you can take to the furniture store or maybe an art show to see whether a masterpiece will fit on your living room wall.Photo Measures is probably not an app that you'll use every day, but you should definitely keep it in mind for when you move or if you work in construction, say. With just the right tools for the job, you should definitely check out this app for those times in life when you'll certainly need it.Do flips and grabs to add to your multiplier to get the highest scores.(Credit:Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET)iStunt 2 (99 cents) is a 2D snowboarding sequel that adds enough extras and unique gameplay to make it a great time-waster. Just like in the original, you'll be challenged to snowboard on several complex courses that involve loops, jumps, tricks, and even snowboarding upside down. The control system uses theiPhone accelerometer to control your snowboarder, a couple of onscreen buttons for grab tricks, and screen swipes for jumping over gaps.iStunt 2 is better in almost every way than the original, with better designed tracks, better graphics, and more control options, but it does have some issues. Many of the tracks are so complex and require such precise moves that you'll probably end up racing tracks over and over to master the route without crashing. There are a number of side challenges as well--finding and collecting all 10 stars in a level gets you the gold medal, and there are routes you can take that change your path to the finish line. In the main game mode there is no time limit, so being a bit more adventurous pays off in getting more stars and more points. If racing for time is your preference, you can play the time trial mode to see just how fast you can complete each track.Overall, iStunt 2 is a big improvement with plenty of new content to challenge even the most experienced gamers. If you like 2D racing games, pulling off huge flip tricks over big gaps, and inevitably playing the same level several times to get it just right, you should definitely download this game.What's your favorite iPhone (or iPad) app Do you have another good use for Photo Measures Is iStunt 2 too complex for its own good What do you think of the iPad 2 Let me know in the comments!<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[Next Windows Phone 7 update gets small delay]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=next-windows-phone-7-update-gets-small-delay</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=next-windows-phone-7-update-gets-small-delay</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:10:39 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>gamesflasheb2acom</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=next-windows-phone-7-update-gets-small-delay</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Josh Lowensohn/CNET)Citing hiccups following the rollout of last month'sWindows Phone 7 software update, Microsoft is pushing back the release date of the update that will bring Windows Phone users new features.&quot;I believe it's important that we learn all we can from the February update,&quot; wrote Eric Hautala, Microsoft's general manager of Customer Experience Engineering, in a post on the Windows Phone blog. &quot;So I've decided to take some extra time to ensure the update process meets our standards, your standards, and the standards of our partners. As a result, our plan is to start delivering the copy-and-paste update in the latter half of March.&quot;The news is likely to be unwelcome to those who were looking forward to finally getting their hands on the copy-and-paste feature Microsoft first unveiled all the way back in October, as well as some of the speed improvements the company detailed atCES in January. That update had originally been destined to reach users in the first two weeks of March, leaving just four days from now for Microsoft to deliver. Even with the changes, Hautala said that this does not change the launch time frame of the much larger update, due sometime in the next three months.&quot;This short pause should in no way impact the timing of future updates, including the one announced recently at Mobile World Congress featuring multitasking, a Twitter feature, and a new HTML 5-friendly version of Internet Explorer Mobile,&quot; Hautala said.The now infamous February update Hautala had been referring to was meant to prepare phones for this first update that will bring copy and paste, among other additions. It ended up leaving some users with Samsung devices unable to update their system software, with the process hanging just beyond the halfway point. In some cases this left users with an unusable device. Microsoft then pulled the update to make fixes, before re-releasing it. Even then, however, a handful of users still ran into problems. All told, Microsoft had said that about 10 percent of customers were running into problems with the update. That includes other problems such as not being able to download the software due to Internet connectivity issues, as well as not having enough onboard storage, the company had said. &quot;Let me be crystal clear: We're not satisfied when problems prevent you from enjoying the latest Windows Phone updates,&quot; Hautala wrote. &quot;When we find an issue, we study and fix it. To that end, we're carefully studying the current update process and will apply the lessons learned from it to all future ones. This is how we get better.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The iPad 2 is here: Will you buy one (poll)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-ipad-2-is-here-will-you-buy-one-poll</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-ipad-2-is-here-will-you-buy-one-poll</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 08:10:33 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ext3na</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-ipad-2-is-here-will-you-buy-one-poll</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It's official: the iPad 2 has arrived. And to be brutally honest, I'm underwhelmed. Where's the Retina display The SD and/or USB slot The high-resolution rear camera All MIA.Meanwhile, Apple made no changes to storage capacity or price, and knocked only 0.2 pound off the overall weight. I'm glad theiPad 2 is thinner, but I was hoping it would be much, much lighter, too. (Reading in bed won't be any easier.)All that being said, I have no doubt the new iPad will sell like hotcakes, just like its predecessor. My question for you is, will you buy one Vote in our poll, then explain yourself in the comments.In the meantime, here's another take: iPad 2: What Steve Jobs got right--and wrong.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[ARPA-E a litmus test for energy R&D agenda]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=arpa-e-a-litmus-test-for-energy-rd-agenda</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=arpa-e-a-litmus-test-for-energy-rd-agenda</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:11:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marelimcheffe</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=arpa-e-a-litmus-test-for-energy-rd-agenda</guid>
<description><![CDATA[NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.--The ARPA-E Summit opens this morning with seemingly dual purposes: toinspire scientists to invent and to convince Congress of the energy agency's own worth.The conference is a showcase for cutting-edge energy research and development and a magnet for investors and politicians eager to tout the benefits of investing in developing clean-energy technologies. Keynoters include Energy Secretary Steven Chu, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Navy Secretary Raymond Mabus. Also speaking will be some Republican and Democrat members of Congress, leaders of big businesses, and representatives of several fledging technology companies.Secretary Steven Chu at last year&amp;39's ARPA-E Summit.(Credit:Martin LaMonica/CNET)After last year's inaugural event and nearly two years into the overall the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program at the Department of Energy, director Arun Majumdar and other DOE officials can point to progress in some potentially significant technologies and follow-up private sector investment. ARPA-E was created in 2007 to pursue high-risk, high-reward technologies but was not funded until April 2009 with $400 million for two years through the stimulus act. But in the debate over federal spending, there is concern that ARPA-E's funding may be cut. Congress is currently debating a budget to keep the federal government operating which, according to one report, would dramatically cut ARPA-E. The White House, meanwhile, has submitted a budget that seeks to more than double the ARPA-E budget, part of a strategy to invest in innovation to spur the economy and stimulate export of U.S.-made goods.Entrepreneurs at the ARPA-E Summit said yesterday that the program has largely functioned as it should, giving them the funding--usually in grants sized under $10 million--to pursue longer-term projects. They also said the program is generally well-administered in that it sets specific, market-based technical targets. If they are not met, the grant is cut off. Venture capitalists cannot invest in science that is too speculative or will take more than a few years to prove out, which his where research-oriented grants can fill a gap, said Anthony Atti, the CEO of Phononic Devices, which is making thermoelectric chips that can be used as better heat sinks for computers or generate electricity from low-grade waste heat. After using a $2 million grant from ARPA-E to reach technical milestones for that program, the company raised an additional $10 million from venture capitalists.&quot;I'm a free-market guy but the reality is if you want to be serious in the energy science and technology space--which we're still debating as a country--then you need research and development,&quot; Atti said. Venture capitalists are willing to take on the risk of the management team's ability to execute and whether a market will materialize for products. But they cannot handle those risks on top of science risk, Atti said. Federal funding can &quot;derisk the science.&quot;Enough blue-sky researchOne of the technologies that is a clear potential breakthrough originated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where a professor developed a relatively cheap catalyst for getting hydrogen fuel from water. The company, Sun Catalytix, was funded by venture investors and then received a $4 million grant from ARPA-E to pursue a longer-range product that would convert hydrogen from a solar cell, which it is displaying here.Looking for a clean-energy home run (photos) That grant played an &quot;incredibly vital&quot; role in the company so far because it allowed the company to pursue a potential breakthrough without the commercial pressure of delivering a product within a year or two, said Mark Barnett, the vice president of business development and general counsel. &quot;We're tackling a huge problem with a huge potential impact and material development is always a multi-year process,&quot; he said.David Mather, the president of MTPV, which did not receive a grant, said the way ARPA-E is structured doesn't allow it to pursue &quot;blue sky&quot; research the way that DARPA did. The decades-old Defense Advanced Research Program Agency, the model for ARPA-E, yielded many technologies, including the Internet and GPS.ARPA-E grant solicitations are very &quot;descriptive&quot; in that they fall into well understood energy categories, such as wind, solar, and algae. But MTPV's technology, which converts waste heat to electricity, doesn't fall into any of those categories. Makani Power CEO Corwin Hardham also said that ARPA-E's grant allowed it to pursue science that venture capitalists would not feel comfortable funding because of their shorter time horizons. Employees give regular updates to program administrators on its self-driven, wind-harvesting &quot;wing,&quot; which is designed to gather wind energy at altitudes higher than traditional turbines.&quot;You can forget about our energy problems or our climate problems. But we should invest in energy technologies for economic reasons,&quot;he said. &quot;America's advantage has always been technology but we're losing it very quickly.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Olympus announces SZ-30MR high-power megazoom, TG-810 GPS-packing rugged cameras]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=olympus-announces-sz-30mr-high-power-megazoom-tg-810-gps-packing-rugged-cameras</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=olympus-announces-sz-30mr-high-power-megazoom-tg-810-gps-packing-rugged-cameras</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:10:52 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>huntrore</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=olympus-announces-sz-30mr-high-power-megazoom-tg-810-gps-packing-rugged-cameras</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Olympus)Last year's Olympus point-and-shoot lineup was filled with a few too many also-ran cameras. Its 2011 models so far seem much more competitive. Case in point, the newly announced SZ-30MR: a somewhat compact megazoom featuring a 24x, f3-6.9 25-600mm lens (35mm equivalent), a 3-inch high-resolution LCD, dual image processors, and 16-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor.Judging by the press release, this camera does many of the things I've come to expect from a camera with a BSI CMOS sensor. Those include easy, one-press in-camera panoramas' high-speed burst at up to 9 frames per second at full resolution' and handheld low-light shooting. But the SZ-30MR has one trick I haven't seen: the ability to multitask.Now I've tested cameras like the Panasonic FZ100 that can take a couple photos at the same time at different settings. The SZ-30MR's new Multi-Recording mode expands on that so you can do things such as shooting video in full HD and at a lower resolution or one normal and one with an Olympus Magic Filter applied such as Pin Hole or Watercolor. You'll be able to do the same with photos as well as simultaneously record movies and shoot stills. Apparently it can also capture movie clips before and after you take a photo.The SZ-30MR can also shoot 3D photos (.MPO format) for playback on 3D-enabled TVs, computers, and digital frames. There's full support for Eye-Fi wireless SD cards, too, so you can shoot and share without connecting to a computer or popping out your memory card. Olympus Tough TG-810 and SZ-30MR cameras (photos) Olympus also announced the Tough TG-810, an update to its water/freeze/shock/crushproof Tough 8010. Other than some minor styling changes, the TG-810 gets a built-in GPS receiver' electronic compass, and manometer' a new image processor, a 3-inch high-resolution LCD' and a few more shooting modes (no semimanual or manual controls, though). It loses the 8010's 2GB of internal memory, however.It's just as rugged as its predecessor, with a metal body and shock-absorbing system that can survive drops of up to 6.6 feet, temps down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, dives in water down to 33 feet, and up to 220 pounds of crushing weight. Look for both the TG-810 and SZ-30MR in April in silver and black versions for $399.99. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Primadesk offers personal control over your cloud]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=primadesk-offers-personal-control-over-your-cloud</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=primadesk-offers-personal-control-over-your-cloud</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 08:10:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>restaurantpaoli</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=primadesk-offers-personal-control-over-your-cloud</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The home page of Primadesk, which is launching this week at Demo Spring, and which offers control over diverse content in the cloud.(Credit:Primadesk)As more and more applications move to the cloud, our hard drives are falling by the wayside. And that's probably a good thing. But in the process, we're no longer able to easily manage all of our content. And that's a problem.At least, that's the position of Primadesk, a start-up that is unveiling its new offering at Demo Spring in Palm Desert, Calif., this week. And the company thinks it has a solution: its Primadesk app aims to give us back our control over all our content, even if it's stored in a wide variety of cloud-based applications. The idea is pretty simple: the Primadesk app provides single sign-on access to most popular Web-based services and lets users quickly and easily locate and manage content stored in them, including dragging and dropping files, photos, and documents between them. Essentially, Primadesk is a personal cloud search engine that also comes with a file-management function. Enter a search term, such as &quot;Paris&quot; and you get results showing all your Gmails, Flickr photos, Google Docs files, and so on that mention the City of Light. And while CEO Srinivasa Venkataraman, formerly the CEO of AppStream, acknowledges that there are other services, such as Greplin and CloudMagic, that make it possible to search for personal content in the cloud, he argued that only Primadesk also offers the ability to manage all that content once you find it.The special sauce of the app is that Primadesk has figured out how to let you grab a file from one service--say, a Flickr photo--and drag it to another--say, Facebook. Or a document from a Web-based word processor into Gmail. And you can both copy to and pull from your hard drive as well. In addition, the app automatically backs up previous states of cloud content onto your hard drive, meaning that if you've backed up and then deleted, say, a Facebook message, Primadesk will have it for you. And it does so at a folder level, allowing you to see previous states of Facebook, Gmail, Flickr, and so on, regardless of what you've done with them online.Another benefit, Venkataraman said, is that Primadesk has an e-mail management feature that lets you consolidate all your e-mail, whether cloud-based or not, in one place. As messages flow in, you can see them presented in one place, with notations about which account they're associated with. And from the Primadesk app, you can do all the normal e-mail operations--send, reply, reply all, forward, and so on--from any of your accounts.One thing Primadesk can't do yet, Venkataraman said, is add metadata to content. So even though you can easily upload photos to Flickr or Facebook from your hard drive or another Web application, you can't automatically add tags. That may come later, he said.For now, Primadesk is expected to be free for basic usage, with a monthly charge for certain advanced features. The company hasn't said which features will be in which category, however. Venkataraman suggested that the cost may be in the $5 a month range for the premium features. And the company is also expecting that it will earn money by working with enterprise customers, for whom it will offer a full-featured version of the service.And while many of us may worry that handing over control of our personal content to a third party could be dangerous, Venkataraman says that he and the company's CTO both come from a security background. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How not to use Facebook as a burglary tool]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-not-to-use-facebook-as-a-burglary-tool</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-not-to-use-facebook-as-a-burglary-tool</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:11:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>brerurseNap</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing and advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-not-to-use-facebook-as-a-burglary-tool</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I've never been a burglar, but I imagine one of the talents you need is a modicum of discretion.It's probably not wise to, say, tell your mom and dad, a policeman, or someone selling you a sausage at a stall that you've just burgled a house.I sense it might not be wise to post a picture of yourself, stolen goods in hand, on the Facebook page of your victim's son.According to NBC Washington, Rodney Knight might not agree with me. Police said Knight broke in to the home of Washington Post writer Marc Fisher last December and helped himself to a couple of laptops, a very nice winter coat, and a few hundred in cash.Crime Scene--Do Not Cross(Credit:CC AlanCleaver2000/Flickr)Perhaps he was rather excited by his haul. Perhaps he was an avid reader of The Washington Post. Who knows why Knight decided to put on the rather well-fitting coat, take a picture of himself with a handful of cash, and then, according to Marc Fisher, post this picture on the Facebook page of Fisher's sonOddly enough, this seems to have made Knight's capture slightly more possible. Some might feel Knight acted wisely in pleading guilty to second degree burglary.Next week: someone posts on Facebook while in the middle of robbing a house, and asks friends what should be stolen.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Intel's MeeGo is a no-go for phones]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=intels-meego-is-a-no-go-for-phones</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=intels-meego-is-a-no-go-for-phones</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:10:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tduncannac</dc:creator>
<category>Business &amp; Finance</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=intels-meego-is-a-no-go-for-phones</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Intel's MeeGo software seems destined for obscurity, in the wake of the Nokia-Microsoft agreement announced yesterday.Why do I say that Intel made a splash at the Consumer Electronics Show last year by flourishing an LG phone with an operating system that would later be called, under joint ownership of Intel and Nokia, MeeGo. LG's phone was due in the second half of last year--according to this video taken at the 2010CES. But it has yet to appear. That's not in the least bit surprising. Why would LG build a phone with software that was being developed by a competitor (Nokia) A high-ranking Intel executive confirmed this sticky situation to me last year in a meeting. Needless to say, a MeeGo phone from Nokia is increasingly unlikely now. &quot;This is a Nokia decision. Yes, we're disappointed with it,&quot; said an Intel spokeswoman yesterday, reacting to the Nokia-Microsoft announcement. &quot;But we still believe there's a smartphone component to [MeeGo]. And we're talking to other partners. But it's also Netbooks,tablets, set-top boxes, automotive systems. So, it's a lot more than just the phone element,&quot; she said. That statement notwithstanding, there' a quick moral to this story. MeeGo is not an operating system for mass-market consumer devices, no matter how strenuously Intel would tell you otherwise. I had a brief debate at the Consumer Electronics Show last month with Intel marketing chief Tom Kilroy about this. He put up a good defense. But he didn't change my mind. And, quite obviously, Intel has not impressed Nokia. So, what is MeeGo and why does Intel continue to hold on to it with a vise grip MeeGo is what is called a reference platform. It's a way for potential customers to try out Intel chips on an open source platform with full support from the chipmaker. &quot;That's what Intel is known for. Building a lot of reference designs to show the industry what is possible. With MeeGo, they needed to get out there and demonstrate that their platform was viable,&quot; said Richard Shim, an analyst with market researcher DisplaySearch. &quot;That it could sustain and help nurture a robust mobile experience. They wouldn't have objected if it had taken off as a full-fledged platform, but it wasn't being taken up (by device makers) very rapidly. It definitely took a hit with the Nokia Microsoft announcement,&quot; he said. What else is MeeGo It's an operating system for the so-called embedded market, such as in-car devices and industrial equipment, where it is doing well, according to Kilroy. So, MeeGo will be sticking around but don't expect to pick up a consumer device at your local electronics retailer running the software. Friday's announcement made that a moral certainty. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Report: Verizon asks employees to delay iPhone purchases]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=report-verizon-asks-employees-to-delay-iphone-purchases</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=report-verizon-asks-employees-to-delay-iphone-purchases</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>resbimmarlk</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=report-verizon-asks-employees-to-delay-iphone-purchases</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Verizon Wireless doesn't want to see the iPhone in its employees&amp;39' hands any times soon.(Credit:Bonnie Cha/CNET)Citing expected &quot;unprecedented&quot; demand for Verizon Wireless' forthcomingiPhone 4, the carrier is asking its employees to delay iPhone 4 purchases, according to a memo obtained by AppleInsider.&quot;Customers and non-customers alike have waited for years to see this product on America's most reliable wireless network. Demand will be unprecedented,&quot; Verizon Wireless Chief Operating Officer John Stratton wrote in an e-mail addressed to &quot;U.S.-Based Management Employees.&quot; &quot;To help ensure we meet customer demand for iPhones, Verizon is urging employees and their families to postpone purchases of the popular smartphone, whether online or in retail stores, for the time being.&quot;&quot;I know customers aren't the only ones who are excited--employees are, too. While I share your excitement, over the coming weeks we all need to do our part to meet our customers' needs--this means putting our customers first,&quot; Stratton wrote.Verizon Wireless representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The newVerizon iPhone is expected to be a hot seller when it goes on sale February 10. Verizon executives have not provided exact projections for iPhone sales, but they say that analyst estimates of 11 million new subscribers for the iPhone are likely accurate.The company announced last month that it added more than 800,000 new subscribers during the fourth quarter as it prepares for the launch of the Verizon iPhone. When Verizon announced the impending availability of the iPhone on its network, the company said current customers would be allowed to preregister for the device beginning tomorrow, giving them first crack at the CDMA iPhone.Related:  CNET's full Verizon iPhone reviews<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[W3C tackles touch-screen Web apps]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=w3c-tackles-touch-screen-web-apps</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=w3c-tackles-touch-screen-web-apps</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:10:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Samya01</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=w3c-tackles-touch-screen-web-apps</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In the competition between native applications for mobile phones vs. Web applications, hardware support often makes native apps an obvious choice for programmers. But the World Wide Web Consortium is tackling one area, touch-screen support, in an effort that could help Web apps catch up.The W3C published an editor's draft of a new touch-screen standard for Web apps today. The draft specification is designed also for devices such as drawingtablets that don't have a screen, but today's hot market for smartphones makes touch screens the more important focus.A standard--if designed well and adopted--would make programmers' lives easier by making it possible to write Web application software that would work on multiple browsers. And with touch screens expanding from the high-end smartphone market to lower-end models and to tablets, touch screens are becoming a dominant technology for user interfaces.Of course, touch screens work to an extent withmobile browsers today. But they chiefly just reproduce the mouse era, and touch screens can be different. Multitouch is one obvious difference, but the draft specification also accommodates subtleties such as the pressure of a touch event and the radius of the spot being touched.The specification defines how a browser would report information in a standard way to a Web application, letting programmers write software that responds to the events. And as with many Web specifications, it uses a real-world browser as a starting point. In this case, Apple'sSafari.&quot;Editor Doug Schepers did the sensible thing and started with Apple's specification,&quot; said Peter-Paul Koch, a consultant who closely monitors browser issues and in particular mobile browsers, in a blog post. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Toshiba to iPad: You're flashy, but you're lame]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=toshiba-to-ipad-youre-flashy-but-youre-lame</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=toshiba-to-ipad-youre-flashy-but-youre-lame</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 08:10:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>marmonli12</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=toshiba-to-ipad-youre-flashy-but-youre-lame</guid>
<description><![CDATA[There are ways of telling a rival that you don't respect them. You can shun them. You can rise above them. You can even steal their lover.Toshiba, however, has decided on a slightly different strategy when it comes to Apple. In a move redolent of the New Zealand haka war dance, Toshiba has decided to stick out its tongue, widen its eyes, and tell Apple that theiPad is, as they say in certain English quarters, pants.I am grateful to the sensitive eyes at AllThingsD who first spotted that Toshiba has created a Website for its newtablet computer.When you go to this sturdy site and happen to employ a device that isn't Flash-friendly--say an iPad oriPhone--Toshiba welcomes you with the words: &quot;Such a shame.&quot; Has the company somehow been tracking you with that new gorgeous Honeycomb software Does it know that you have endured a terrible haircut at the local nails, hair, and reflexology salonThe new Toshiba Flashiba has FaceTime. Or something like it.(Credit:Screenshot: Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)Not quite. For the site continues: &quot;Add this to the list of interesting places on the Internet you can't see on your device. Of course, if you had a Toshiba Tablet, you would enjoy the entire Internet. Yep, Flash sites too.&quot;Naturally, there will be those who will be delighted that someone is assaulting the iPad's soft spots with a pickled pitchfork.However, perhaps others might sense a couple of drawbacks. One is that you can't actually buy one of these confident Toshiba tablets. At least until sometime in springtime, when there just might be a lot more iPad-o-likes to compete with. The even more pedantic might also be concerned that it doesn't even have a name yet, though the Toshiba Taunter is surely high up on the list, as is the Toshiba Flashiba. And then what happens if new tablets come out that have even better features than the Toshiba Taunter/Flashiba What if one of them is the iPadThat's often the problem with calling someone names. You have to know them very, very well. You have to know how they might react. And you have to be sure you have back-up, rather than just the ability to get people's backs up. It's like the playoffs. Taunting, gesticulating, trash-talking, even flash-talking, is all very well. But then you have to go out and play. Which is a little harder. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Can a 2-watt amp sound better than a 200-watt amp]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=can-a-2-watt-amp-sound-better-than-a-200-watt-amp</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=can-a-2-watt-amp-sound-better-than-a-200-watt-amp</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 08:10:28 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Anjali01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=can-a-2-watt-amp-sound-better-than-a-200-watt-amp</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Decware Zen (left) and Bel Canto REF500S (right) are about the same size(Credit:Steve Guttenberg)Americans love power. We buy 320-horsepower Chevy Tahoes to haul the kids to soccer practice. For home theater, the magic power number for receivers is 100 watts, and it has to be a seven-channel model, even though 80 or 90 percent of home theater buyers are perfectly happy with five-channel sound.Americans equate power with quality, but I'm here to tell you there's another way. Sure, power is cheap, and a the-more-the-merrier strategy works well enough most of the time. Let's just be clear on what amplifier power provides: it defines the upper limit of how loud your speakers can play. So if loudness is a big priority, buy as much power as you can afford' just be aware that more watts isn't the same thing as better sound quality. I know lots of folks who never listen at high volume, have tiny rooms, or have highly efficient speakers, so they don't need a lot of power. But can a 2-watt-per-channel amp sound amazing Yes, it can!Meet the Decware Zen Triode SE84C+ amplifier ($775). It's designed and built in the U.S., with almost exclusively American-made parts. Designed to last almost forever, the Zen comes with a no-exceptions lifetime warranty for the original owner. Manufacturers use the word &quot;quality&quot; all the time, but talk is cheap' I can't think of another consumer electronics product that comes with that level of protection, at no extra cost!The Zen breathes life into the sound of music. It communicates more of music's body and soul than any receiver I've heard. Listen to a great singer--Aretha Franklin, Jeff Buckley, John Lennon--and you feel like you're in the room with her or him. The limitations of how much volume you can squeeze out of 2 watts are obvious, but even there, 2 watts can get fairly loud. Matched with highly efficient speakers, like Decware's, 2 watts will surprise you. Since power is an issue for so many readers I compared the Zen with my 200-watt-per-channel Bel Canto e.One REF500S stereo amp ($2,495), with my very efficient Zu Essence speakers. Both amps had the same small footprint--9x12 inches--and each weighs under 20 pounds. Sure, the REF500S played louder, a lot louder than the Zen. Bass firmed up and dynamic impact skyrocketed' high-power amps are what you need if you want to rock out. Taken down to, shall we say, a more moderate volume, the Zen/REF500S contest was something else again. The REF500S' sound was still more transparent and precise, while the Zen's sound was richer and fuller, and the soundstage more three-dimensionally present. In other words, the classic tube sound some audiophiles crave. But please don't misunderstand' while listening to the Zen the music never sounded mushy, soft, or veiled. The Zen brought out the best in acoustic music. The REF500S sounded more powerful than the Zen, even when listening at fairly moderate volume, and dynamics and bass had more energy. Treble detailing was superior and it was nice to have the freedom to crank the volume. The Zen squashed dynamics, even at quiet volume, compared with the REF500S. But the Zen had a bigger, more spacious soundstage, and instruments and vocals on the Robert Plant-Alison Krauss &quot;Raising Sand&quot; CD were more three-dimensionally present with the Zen. The tubes' sweet, honeyed tone was incredibly seductive, so while I listened to the Zen I didn't miss the things that the REF500S did so well. The REF500S exerted greater control over the speakers, and I judged its sound as more accurate overall, so harsh, processed, compressed recordings sound harsh, processed and compressed over the REF500S. The Zen made those recordings sound better by removing the edge, and the compression eased the Zen's workload. The Zen's allure wasn't strictly limited to acoustic tunes' DJ Krush's rich and melodious trip-hop masterpiece &quot;Jaku&quot; unleashed a huge soundstage. Beautiful-sounding Japanese instruments commingled with deep bass beats that went nice and low, and the Zen's 2 watts seemed pretty potent, as long as I kept the volume in the moderate range. Decware makes somewhat more powerful tube amps, but they're more expensive' for this test I wanted to see how far Decware's 2 watts would take me. The amp is shipped with premium-quality 6P15P-EV output tubes that Decware claims will provide 5,000 hours of use. You can also use EL84 tubes without adjustments of any kind. The input tube is a single 6N1P, 6922, or 6DJ8, and each tube type has a different sonic signature. So you can change the sound by swapping one tube for another, for $10 or $20 a pop. The Zen's big tube is a rectifier tube, and the amp comes with a 5U4G, for which a 5AR4 or compatible tube can be substituted. Again, swapping this tube will make audible differences in the sound and performance of the amplifier. Solid-state amps' sound is what it is' tube amps can be easily and inexpensively tuned to taste. The REF500S, made in Minnesota, is a Class D amplifier. The &quot;D&quot; doesn't stand for digital' a Class D amp is a switching amp. The amp uses sophisticated Class-A analog control circuitry to achieve low distortion and high dynamic range' the REF500S will almost always (depending on the power output) draw less power from your wall socket than the Zen.The REF500S was clearly more accurate-sounding than the Zen, and can sound wonderful with a wide variety of speakers. The Zen is more musical, but requires careful matching with highly efficient speakers. There's no clear winner here, but my goal for this review was to present an alternative view: high-power amps don't automatically trump low-power amps. What do you think Have you ever used a low-power amp Share your thoughts in the Comments section. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Android outshines Apple iOS on mobile ad network]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=android-outshines-apple-ios-on-mobile-ad-network</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=android-outshines-apple-ios-on-mobile-ad-network</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:10:41 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Puja</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=android-outshines-apple-ios-on-mobile-ad-network</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Android has surged ahead of Apple for the first time as the most popular smartphone OS, according to Millennial Media's mobile ad network.In Millennial Media's December report, Google's mobile operating system won 46 percent of all ad impressions (the number of times an ad is displayed), compared with 32 percent for Apple's iOS. In November, the two operating systems were neck and neck at 38 percent each.Rounding up the rest of the competition, Research In Motion's BlackBerry OS grabbed 16 percent of ad impressions in December, Nokia's Symbian nabbed 2 percent, and Microsoft's Windows Mobile snagged 1 percent.(Credit:Millennial Media)Looking separately at mobile device makers, Apple accounted for 3 of the top 30 devices, with itsiPhone,iPod Touch, andiPad. The iPhone, not surprisingly, ranked No. 1 among the 30 devices. Collectively, Apple's three devices accounted for 21 percent of all ad impressions on mobile devices on the network.  Samsung as a whole ranked in second place behind Apple for the largest number of ad impressions thanks to its solid lineup of Android phones. And the company's Window-based Samsung Code managed to squeeze in enough ad impressions to make it the only Windows Mobile device to make it into Millennial Media's top 30. Overall, Samsung was credited with 17 percent of all ad impressions and 7 of the top 30 devices.  In third place was HTC with 15 percent share of all ad impressions and 9 devices--the highest number of any manufacturer. RIM took fourth place with 12 percent and 5 devices. Of note, RIM's BlackBerry Curve was No. 2--behind the iPhone. Overall, smartphones continued to rise in popularity compared with feature phones, accounting for 23 of the top 30 devices last month and winning a combined 48 percent share of all ad impressions.  Looking ahead, Millennial Media's sees not only Android but also RIM and Windows Phone 7 applying pressure on Apple's iOS this year. But one question the blog doesn't address is how the upcoming Verizon iPhone might upset the mobile apple cart and impact the fight between Android and Apple for ad impressions and market share. According to Millennial Media, its ad network reaches 85 percent of U.S. mobile Web users. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[CES: LG's 'Super Angled' IPS6]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-lgs-super-angled-ips6</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-lgs-super-angled-ips6</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 Jan 2011 08:10:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lijunu3</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-lgs-super-angled-ips6</guid>
<description><![CDATA[LG angles for more customers.(Credit:Eric Franklin/CNET)LAS VEGAS--When LED backlighting and IPS panels are brought together, the results are impressive. Many LCD HDTVs take advantage of this melding of technologies to deliver crisp images to everyone watching them--no matter how wide the person's viewing angle--on a thin screen that draws relatively low power. This week atCES 2011, LG demoed the IPS6 series, a slim LED-based monitor with an IPS panel.LG showcased a useful demo demonstrating the advantages of IPS over TN.(Credit:Eric Franklin/CNET)As you can see in the photo above, IPS panels maintain their picture and color integrity even when viewed from extremely off angles, while TN panels do not. The only detail that gives us pause is the relativity low brightness compared with other IPS monitors. 250 cd/M2 is by no means a low number, but IPS displays usually hit at over the 300 cd/m2 range or more.Incoming specs:1920x1080 resolution250 cd/M2 brightness (125 cd/M2 in 3D)VGA, DVI, HDMI connections Six axis color controlsLook for more info in the coming months.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Volvo S60 adds performance to safety]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=volvo-s60-adds-performance-to-safety</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=volvo-s60-adds-performance-to-safety</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>husan33</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=volvo-s60-adds-performance-to-safety</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Josh Miller/CNET)Volvo earned its safety reputation by equipping itscars with heavy metal, making them big, boxy tanks able to protect occupants from a nuclear blast. But it's the 21st century, and Volvo has gone high-tech, using electronics to actually prevent accidents. Hence the automatic braking, collision warning, and pedestrian detection on the new Volvo S60.But this car has more to offer than just not hitting people and other cars. Its engine makes it step lively, while a tight suspension and all-wheel drive deliver impressive handling. It is the kind of car that should have BMW engineers looking over their shoulders.Check out our 2011 Volvo S60 review.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[WikiLeaks app yanked from Apple's App Store]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-app-yanked-from-apples-app-store</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-app-yanked-from-apples-app-store</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Smith</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-app-yanked-from-apples-app-store</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Google)Apple has removed a WikiLeaks app from its App Store just a few short days after its release.Launched on December 17, the $1.99 WikiLeaks App offered access to the whistleblower site and the @wikileaks Twitter stream and was described as providing &quot;'instant access to the world's most documented leakage of top secret memos and other confidential government documents,&quot; according to a Google cached version of the site provided by TechCrunch. The app was created by a third-party development firm called Hint Solutions, which lists Igor Barinov as its general manager.But as of late last night, Barinov had confirmed both in his own Twitter feed and in an e-mail to TechCrunch that Apple has removed the WikiLeaks app from sale without further explanation at this point.The move isn't surprising given both the controversy over WikiLeaks and Apple's tight control over which apps it feels are suitable for the App Store. In response to our query about why Apple took down the app, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller relayed the following statement to CNET:&quot;We removed the WikiLeaks app from the App Store because it violated our developer guidelines. Apps must comply with all local laws and may not put an individual or targeted group in harm's way.&quot;After publishing thousands of sensitive U.S. State Department and Pentagon documents, WikiLeaks roused the ire of the U.S. government, which claimed that the release of such information undermines national security. The resulting uproar prompted several companies, including Amazon, MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal to shut off access to WikiLeaks, triggering a wave of cyberattacks from &quot;hactivists&quot; in support of the whistleblowing site. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remains out on bail following his recent arrest in London, wanted for questioning by Swedish authorities over allegations of sexual assault.Update 9:30 a.m. PT:Added statement from Apple.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Vimeo's 'Video School' now in session]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=vimeos-video-school-now-in-session</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=vimeos-video-school-now-in-session</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Dec 2010 08:10:51 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>molokolillana</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing and advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=vimeos-video-school-now-in-session</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Video-sharing site Vimeo has rolled the cameras on its Vimeo Video School, a freely accessible section of the site devoted to movie-making tutorials for beginners and more-advanced videographers alike.Launched earlier this week, the Video School expands on and organizes user-generated how-to and tips-and-tricks videos.It features a Video 101 section, made up of Vimeo-produced clips about the basics' a DSLR Basics section, also Vimeo-produced and devoted to shooting video with digital single lens reflex cameras' and a Featured Lessons section, in which Vimeo staffers offer up teachings on a variety of topics, from composition fundamentals to storyboarding basics to how to make a good holiday video.Aspiring Eisensteins can also search different categories--Editing, Gear, and Do-It-Yourself among them--to find Vimeo-created &quot;lessons&quot; and user-produced &quot;tutorials&quot; on their chosen area of interest. And the &quot;lessons&quot; include &quot;challenges,&quot; which invite users to create clips with their newfound knowledge and post them to get feedback from other Vimeo users.&quot;Vimeo has an amazing community of members who enjoy sharing their knowledge to help each other reach the next level, whatever that level might be,&quot; Vimeo General Manager Dae Mellencamp said in a statement. &quot;With Vimeo Video School we have created a structured extension of what our community members have done for one another for years: teach and share best practices.&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Play Halo all night with Lexus, win MS Points]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=play-halo-all-night-with-lexus-win-ms-points</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=play-halo-all-night-with-lexus-win-ms-points</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 08:10:51 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>superedatingrus</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=play-halo-all-night-with-lexus-win-ms-points</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Lexus is marketing its CT 200h to a younger audience than its normal demographic.(Credit:Lexus)Lexus is partnering with online gaming serviceXbox Live to promote its new 2011 Lexus CT 200h hybrid hatchback by giving away Microsoft Points to lucky gamers. To be eligible to win, users must log on to the Xbox Live service, download the free Lexus All-Nighter Gamer Picture, and then just play Halo: Reach on the night of Saturday, December 18. According to Lexus, the longer you play, the better your odds of winning will be. Of course, that means that people who play all night long will have the best chance of snagging a prize.Every hour between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Pacific Time) on the night of the promotion, Lexus will award eight random players 4,000 Microsoft Points--the currency of the Xbox Live service used to make purchases within the Xbox Live ecosystem. For those unfamilar with the Microsoft-Points-to-dollars conversion rate, 4,000 Points is worth approximately $50 and will get you either five Arcade games, three movie downloads, or 50Zune songs.If Lexus' previous marketing efforts are an indication, the Japanese luxury automaker's target demographic tends to be well-heeled baby boomers, which is why its latest partnership with Xbox Live strikes us as a bit odd. But perhaps it shouldn't, as Lexus has been making strides to lower the average age of its target audience with its Dark Ride online advertising campaign for the CT 200h hybrid and its Darkcasting online lifestyle show, which launched last month--a sort of younger, more painfully hip video version of the Lexus Insider lifestyle audio advertorials available as part of the automaker's Enform infotainment suite.The partnership with Xbox Live will also enable people to download and view episodes of the Darkcasting show from their console's dashboard. (Right about now, you're probably thinking, &quot;That's exactly what Xbox Live needed, more ads!&quot;)<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Why Genachowski's Net neutrality proposal is best]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=why-genachowskis-net-neutrality-proposal-is-best</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=why-genachowskis-net-neutrality-proposal-is-best</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sharmeen</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=why-genachowskis-net-neutrality-proposal-is-best</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Editors' note: This is a guest column. See Jorge Bauermeister's bio below.For those heavily engaged in the Internet regulation battle that has been raging over the past year, the next two weeks will be a nail-biting period. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski recently announced what seems to be a sensible compromise on the issue of Net neutrality, which will work to govern how the Internet pipes are managed. Genachowski's proposal appears to meet all interested parties in the middle by ensuring the continuation of an open Internet and also providing an environment that enables the growth of the Internet and communications sector to continue at a rapid pace. Continued growth, naturally, is essential to enabling new technologies and services to meet consumer demand and needs.But instead of plaudits, the chairman is stuck in a tug-of-war between the long-standing proponents of Net neutrality and those skeptical of new regulations and any unintended consequences they may cause. Splits in the commission, which will vote yea or nay this month, mirror the outside fight.I have been a supporter of light-touch approaches to any sort of Internet regulation, often citing the negative fallout that could result from heavier rules--particularly the approach of reclassifying Internet services under the Title II framework that has governed telephone services since the 1934 Telecommunications Act. Luckily, the Title II approach appears to have been taken off the table, given the recent announcement of the chairman's framework, which maintains rules under the current Title I approach. Why compromise is good--and where extreme policy goes wrongAs for those who want tough neutrality rules on wireless broadband, I'd advise one to be careful what you wish for. The smartphone revolution has created dramatic new demand for wireless capacity, which is already bumping up against the limits of current technology. Wireless networks simply can't handle as much data as wired networks and, therefore, the wireless infrastructure and management of mobile networks require a different approach than wired and fixed broadband. We are just at the beginning of a high-growth wireless revolution. Overregulation will stunt its growth, and Genachowski's plan takes into account that reality, leaving room for continued growth while also doing enough to ensure consumer protections on mobile networks. Advocates of heavy-handed regulation are pressing FCC commissioners Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn to work for rules that would prevent network operators from offering premium, or &quot;prioritized,&quot; services. They say operators might use prioritization to favor their own content service over another company. But Genachowski's proposal addressed that fear with a nondiscrimination rule.What opponents of differentiated services are asking for is, simply put, to allow certain content companies to skip paying more for the cost of using more bandwidth within the Internet backbone, as they congest a network operated by another company.Barring such services would prevent valuable innovation. Imagine that you are part of a company whose sole business offering is videoconferencing, and one of your clients has an important videoconference with a potential client overseas. What would happen if the videoconference stalls midway through the meeting Your client would look unprofessional, and so would your company. Bottom line: you lose your business. Likewise, what if a doctor were guiding a surgery via videoconference, and it stalled midway through the operation to accommodate someone five blocks away downloading a TV program Can anyone justify that occurring Companies that rely on quality of service must be able to deliver on that, and they are willing to pay for this, as they should be, just as any business would pay for an essential service to its bottom line. What about on a personal, consumer level, which may apply to &quot;usage-based pricing&quot; Should a neighbor of mine who streams data-heavy programs all day long pay more for the pipe space he uses I am only getting online for two hours each night to send e-mails and watch a TV show or two. Should I pay the same amount to subsidize my neighbor's much more robust use The same principle can be applied to mobile data. AT&amp;T says it now has 7 million customers on one of the usage-based mobile plans it launched a few months ago. To my astonishment, people often overlook the fact that service providers are businesses as well--and that businesses are responsible for building out the bulk of our Internet today. Everyone agrees that private investment is crucial to the Internet infrastructure, in terms of building new networks and upgrading platforms. After all, it was this private investment that has enabled all of us to have broadband service in our homes, offices, and on phones. This has not come cheaply. Over the past two years, Internet service providers collectively invested $120 billion. Their investments are essential to driving our slow economy, creating jobs, and improving our Internet experience, from access to networking opportunities to platform availability. What opponents of differentiated services are asking for is, simply put, to allow certain content companies to skip paying more for the cost of using more bandwidth within the Internet backbone, as they congest a network operated by another company. They have the guts to argue that they spend the same billions of dollars as providers such as Verizon Communications without returns. Possible outcomes and current state of playRepublican Commissioners Robert McDowell and Meredith Baker have stated publicly that they plan to vote against the chairman's proposal. We can assume that the chairman will vote in favor of his own proposal, leaving the majority votes required to pass the order up to Democratic commissioners Clyburn and Copps, both long-standing supporters of Net neutrality. While Commissioner Clyburn has been relatively silent on the proposed order, the compromise sounds as if it doesn't go far enough for Commissioner Copps, who says he is committed to a more invasive proposal to reclassify Internet services as telecommunications services under the 1934 Title II framework. Copps recently remarked during a speech at Columbia University that he is looking for stronger rules over wireless networks, as well as banning prioritization of services--ideas long pursued by groups such as Free Press, Public Knowledge, and the Open Internet Coalition, which favor more extreme government regulation over the flourishing telecommunications sector. Their calls for regulation mirror those of content delivery services, such as providers of streaming video, that depend on more bandwidth from ISP pipes to meet their users' heavy data demands. So what if the vote passes 3-2 Consumer groups and the companies that continue to invest billions of dollars annually to build out the Internet networks from which we currently benefit should be pleased. In the end, consumers win with this plan in part because the proposal protects an open Internet while ensuring the continued investment Americans need to meet their technological demands. At least in the short term, passing a new rule would enable the commission to move its focus from Net neutrality to the National Broadband Plan, which was created to achieve universal broadband in this country. Even if the rule is challenged in court or on Capitol Hill, it would take the issue off the FCC agenda until those other bodies act.What if the vote doesn't pass, and Commissioner Copps holds out for the wish of total overhaul of our Internet policy framework This is a no-win situation, one in which even &quot;public-interest groups&quot; lose. Recent court rulings suggest that the commission lacks the legal authority for Copps' desire to reclassify Internet services under Title II, which would apply to the Internet the same micromanagement rules drafted more than 70 years ago for the old-fashioned monopoly phone system. If the FCC even attempts this path, it will be met with lawsuits to kingdom come. Additionally, with the House shifting to Republican hands, Congress would likely move to strip the FCC of any authority to move on Net neutrality rules. Thus, the best bet for the continued protection of a free and open Internet is through Chairman Genachowski's Net neutrality order. With this, everyone wins something in the end. Isn't that the way most progress results in the American political systemIn conclusionThe bottom line is that the Net neutrality order up for vote would be a consumer win, as it: Protects an open Internet and prevents against discrimination of content.Enables reasonable network management to protect consumers against privacy and cybersecurity concerns, as well as support the business of providing and consuming if more robust online experiences, in terms of performance and capacity demands. Supports continued innovation and investment in communications technologies, facilitating broadband access improvements and network upgrades, as well as adding related American jobs.We must look past the smoke and mirrors of the doomsday hypothetical's being thrown around by extreme proponents of reclassification of the Internet. The &quot;what if&quot; and &quot;imagine this&quot; scenarios are doing nothing but harming a best resolution of this complex issue, which lies in compromise. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Delays in iTunes song samples cause confusion]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=delays-in-itunes-song-samples-cause-confusion</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=delays-in-itunes-song-samples-cause-confusion</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:10:48 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>resraswinnice</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=delays-in-itunes-song-samples-cause-confusion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Apple has finally rolled out the 90-second samples on songs that are longer than 2.5 minutes, sold in the United States, and that iTunes has managed to equip with the longer preview. Apple CEOSteve Jobs offers iTunes users more time this holiday season to sample a song before buying. (Credit:James Martin/CNET)Some bloggers and iTunes users have questioned why longer previews don't accompany every song. As first reported in August by CNET, Apple approached the top-four recording companies last summer about the longer samples that iTunes users can hear to test drive songs before buying. Researchers say that longer song samples stimulate sales. According to several music industry sources, Apple has only acquired licenses to the longer samples for the United States, but the company is in talks to acquire rights to extended previews for overseas markets. As for U.S. iTunes users who find a song that otherwise should be eligible for a sample but is without it, the sources said that Apple is hard at work attaching them. It takes time to make the switch but it should be completed very soon, the sources said. Apple came close to announcing the extended samples last fall. Apple secured the okay from the labels and was ready to announce the previews at a media event on September 1. The event came and went without a peep from CEO Steve Jobs about the longer samples. Turns out that the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) read CNET's story about Apple's plans and informed the company that as far as they were concerned, Apple also needed their approval or there was going to be a problem, managers from the NMPA told CNET. They told Apple that the trade group, which represents song writers and music publishers, wouldn't necessarily have a problem offering the songs &quot;gratis,&quot; or for free, but they wanted time to study the deal, which they said Apple didn't offer them. Since then, Apple wrote independent record labels and told them that the company planned to offer 90-second previews on songs longer than 2.5 minutes. Apple said that the only way for the indie labels to opt out was to remove their songs. That the Music publishers were able to hold up the offering illustrates growing their growing influence in the music industry. This is one area of the business that typically is still profitable. In the past, a label's recorded-music division largely steered the ship. But recently, labels have turned to music publishing for guidance. EMI Group tapped Roger Faxon, the former head of the label's publishing arm, to run the entire company. If music publishing's power continues to grow, look for David Israelite, the NMPA's CEO, to step more into the spotlight. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Bad time for Netflix CFO to resign]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bad-time-for-netflix-cfo-to-resign</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bad-time-for-netflix-cfo-to-resign</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>carecraige889</dc:creator>
<category>Marketing and advertising</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=bad-time-for-netflix-cfo-to-resign</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Barry McCarthy, Netflix's chief financial officer and one of the linchpins of the company's management team, has stepped down. Barry McCarthy, Netflix&amp;39's former CEO. (Credit:Netflix)In a statement today, Netflix said that McCarthy is moving on to &quot;pursue broader executive opportunities outside the company.&quot; David Wells, a Netflix's vice president of financial planning and analysis, will succeed McCarthy, who has served as Netflix's CFO for 11 years. The change officially occurs on Friday. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement that: &quot;Over the last few years, Barry has balanced his affection for Netflix and the excitement all of us have felt by the tremendous growth of the company--with his personal desire for broader professional opportunities. Barry concluded that now is the right time to seek out those opportunities, and we will be cheering for him.&quot; Efforts to reach McCarthy were unsuccessful, and Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said McCarthy would not be making any comment. The news comes at an inopportune time for the movie-rental company. In a year that has seen Netflix record a big increase subscribers, generate scores of positive headlines, and strike two large deals to license content from Hollywood studios, the company is again generating buzz in the entertainment sector, but now it appears to be mostly negative. Some at the big film studios and TV networks have said in recent weeks that Netflix is a threat to more profitable revenue sources and the company will have to pony up much more money to obtain high-quality content. It's either that or Netflix's streaming service will have little more than the video dregs to offer subscribers. The cable industry appears to be fanning the flames of much of this Netflix bashing. The latest example came yesterday at the UBS investor conference in New York. Jeff Bewkes, Time Warner's CEO, predicted that media companies would start to squeeze out aggregators like Netflix. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, Bewkes referred to the $100,000 that Netflix is reportedly offering to pay makers of in-season TV shows for each of their episodes &quot;a measly little offer.&quot; Bewkes' criticisms aside, Netflix has had a sensational year. The fight, however, for Web TV and digital distribution of films and TV shows isn't anywhere near over. It remains to be seen how much McCarthy's departure will affect Netflix as it switches from delivering physical goods to delivering digital media and as questions swirl around the company's ability to obtain high quality content. One thing to keep in mind is that a big part of the Netflix's success has been the nearly flawless execution by the company's management team which the CFO helped anchor. The successes the company has notched goes back to the little red envelopes. Netflix, headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., delivered movies via the U.S. mail service and did it much more cost effectively than Blockbuster could rent videos out of brick-and-mortar stores. Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. When it came to the company's streaming service, Netflix linked the Web to living-room TVs by partnering with a score of Web-connected set-top boxes, TVs and handhelds. They didn't do this last week. They started doing this two years ago, long before their rivals. As for the &quot;broader executive opportunities&quot; McCarthy might be pursuing, it's easy to guess that the CFO of one of the most successful digital media companies would generate plenty of interest. Certainly, the Vudus, Boxee's or Google TVs of the world could use someone with McCarthy's skills and background. We'll have to wait and see where McCarthy turns up. It will also take time to determine how much his loss affects Netflix. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Five surprising things about the Sprint ZTE Peel]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=five-surprising-things-about-the-sprint-zte-peel</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=five-surprising-things-about-the-sprint-zte-peel</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:10:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Amihan</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=five-surprising-things-about-the-sprint-zte-peel</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Before you buy the ZTE Peel for your iPod Touch, keep in mind some of its limitations.(Credit:Sprint)A couple weeks back I told you about the Sprint ZTE Peel, aniPod Touch accessory that sounded almost too good to be true. For a mere $79.99, plus a no-contract monthly service fee of $29.99, you could add 3G connectivity to your Touch.Goodbye, priceyiPhone! Hello, much more affordable iPod Touch-Phone! Well, not quite. Now that I've had a chance to test-drive one, I must admit it's not what I expected. Here are five reasons why:1. It's not actually a dock.I mistakenly assumed that the Peel plugged into the Touch's dock connector, much like an external battery/case hybrid. But it doesn't: the Peel is actually a kind of specialized MiFi 2200, one that's been molded to function as an iPod Touch (second- or third-gen) case. Just pop in your device--or don't. Makes no difference.2. Only two devices can access the Peel's connection.Either the preliminary information was incorrect, or I made a mistake, but I originally wrote that two other devices could tap the Peel's 3G goodness at the same time as your Touch. In reality, it's two devices total. Again, it doesn't matter if your Touch is snapped into the enclosure or not--two devices, period. I wouldn't call that a deal breaker, but it's a little disappointing given that the MiFi supports up to five. On the other hand...3. Performance bites.Maybe the two-device limitation is due to the Peel's sub-3G connectivity. I tested it in several locales around my neck of the woods (metro Detroit), and according to Speed Test, the best download speed it could manage was 0.87 Mbps. Contrast that with my AT&amp;amp'T-powered iPhone 4, which pulled 2.6 Mbps--in my basement. Your mileage will almost certainly vary, but the Peel proved pretty pokey. Is it better than nothing for the Wi-Fi-strapped iPod user Absolutely. But I'm discouraged that it doesn't come anywhere near Sprint's advertised 3G performance.4. It relies on Micro-USB charging.Yep, another power cord to bring along. Although Micro-USB is an increasingly popular standard, a dock connector would have made the Peel much easier to travel with. It also would have enabled you to sync your Touch without having to pop it out of the case.5. It requires a headset adapterThe Peel's audio-jack pass-through is just a hair too deep and narrow to accommodate a stock pair of Apple earbuds, so you have to plug in a tiny adapter cord. Another thing to bring along, another thing to potentially lose. That's a pretty annoying design flaw.Another annoyance: the included &quot;Getting Started&quot; guide doesn't tell you how do to things like set up a password so other users can't tap your mobile hot spot. You can find instructions on Sprint's Web site, but they're buried in the poorly titled &quot;Admin Guide.&quot;Furthermore, the Peel is bulky, making your otherwise slender device feel a lot more brick-like in your pocket. The good news is that it's reasonably light, adding just 2.6 ounces to an iPod Touch's travel weight.I could forgive a lot of these issues--maybe even all of them--if Sprint didn't cap your monthly data at a paltry 1GB. If you go over, it'll cost you 5 cents per megabyte. To me that just seems stingy. A 2GB cap would make this whole enchilada a lot more appealing.Even so, I think the Peel might just find its way into a few stockings this holiday season. Would you like to see one turn up in yours<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Fuse Labs' Montage blends search with blogging]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=fuse-labs-montage-blends-search-with-blogging</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=fuse-labs-montage-blends-search-with-blogging</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:10:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Emma01</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=fuse-labs-montage-blends-search-with-blogging</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Is there a happy medium between a Tweet and something like a full-blown blog post Microsoft seems to think so and is working on a new experimental publishing system called Montage that lets you throw together a page of content--be it yours, or collected from the Web in just a few minutes.Actually, less than a few minutes is the aim of the game for Montage, which pulls together news headlines, photos, and Tweets based on Bing searches. These items can then be placed on a page that stays static or changes based on the searches and feeds it's pulling from.Montage is the latest creation to come out of FUSE Labs, a skunkworks project group within Microsoft, formed a little more than a year ago by the now departed Ray Ozzie to build social computing projects. Microsoft is taking the wraps off Montage tomorrow morning as part of the annual Web 2.0 Summit series in San Francisco.Montage began its life as a tool for building applications on touch-screen devices before morphing into a content management system of sorts. Editors at MSN.com had wanted a way to program in trending news items to their front door in fewer steps than their existing publishing tool allowed, so the answer was a search box, plugged directly into Microsoft's Bing. It was designed to pull up photos and news headlines and feed them into a grid that could be placed on the site's front door. As far as that translating to a consumer product, it ends up as more of an experiment to see if people will latch onto something that blurs the lines between consumption and creation. According to Fuse Labs user experience director Matthew MacLaurin, who CNET spoke with earlier today, the original premise of what Montage would end up being was not a replacement for traditional publishing systems. Instead, it's a play at offering users a speedier way to create, share, and discover new content from both traditional and social news sources. &quot;We're not trying to be Pagemaker, or anything like that,&quot; MacLaurin joked. An example of a particularly fleshed out Montage that more closely resembles a Web page. Click to enlarge.(Credit:Screenshot by Josh Lowensohn/CNET)To help better figure out where the product could end up, Microsoft has been testing Montage internally for the past few months, trying to figure out what normal people (read: non-reporters) will do with it. The results have been all over the map. Some have used it to make simple photo slideshows, while others have put together pages of content that more closely resemble traditional Web sites. So what does Microsoft think most users will do with it &quot;What we've decided is to basically take it public as a curatorial tool that anyone can use to create these sort of new assemblages based on dynamic streaming social media,&quot; MacLaurin said. &quot;In a certain sense, there's a long legacy of drag and drop page builders and stuff like that, and the difference here is that it's driven entirely by search and it's entirely dynamic,&quot; he said.Of course, pages need not be dynamic. Users can, for instance, lock down a Montage in time by pinning news stories, photos, videos, and more to a page. Or they can just leave each segment of a Montage set to search on Bing, Twitter, or an RSS feed, putting whatever new content shows up at the top. Though as far as that being useful on something like a Web site, the product is not quite there. &quot;We are going to let you eventually embed montages in a Web page, and of course you can just iframe them now if you want to. We want to make that even easier, we want to support that,&quot; MacLaurin said. &quot;There's also this reverse embedding, where you can embed your existing blog into a topic page that then gets surfaced in the Montage gallery.&quot;Montage&amp;39's gallery of user submissions.(Credit:Screenshot by Josh Lowensohn/CNET)That gallery (pictured above) is a listing of user-created montages that already does things like highlight the newest creations and the people who made them. This can also be browsed by the tags users assign to their Montages. MacLaurin said the goal of the gallery is to eventually include some more social hooks like a face-off for two similar Montages, as well as user achievements for both users and their creations, doled out for unique, or otherwise popular content. MacLaurin says there's still much more work to be done on the tool, particularly in the kinds of things you can do with it. &quot;This is an area we're going to be doubling down on, is getting a lot more cool widgets in here,&quot; he said. The product could also morph into something aimed at professional news outlets to provide things like analytics on how users are viewing and interacting with content, as well as a way to actually submit media content through the tool, as MSN's internal version allows. In the meantime, the company will be letting in groups of users in waves, before fully opening it up by the end of the year.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Baidu CEO considered his own run to Hong Kong]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=baidu-ceo-considered-his-own-run-to-hong-kong</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=baidu-ceo-considered-his-own-run-to-hong-kong</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:10:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>SgratfZaro</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=baidu-ceo-considered-his-own-run-to-hong-kong</guid>
<description><![CDATA[SAN FRANCISCO--Baidu CEO Robin Li was also frustrated by Chinese censorship when he returned to his native country to found a search engine, but he said he didn't have the same options that Google had earlier this year.Baidu CEO Robin Li(Credit:Baidu) Li, speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit here in what host John Battelle said was his first U.S. appearance before an industry conference, fielded several friendly questions but was also asked about Google's decision to leave the Chinese mainland earlier this year in favor of a Chinese-language search operation based in Hong Kong, where censorship laws are different. A similar thought crossed his mind back in the earlier part of the decade before it was dismissed, he said. &quot;I'm Chinese, I don't have any other choices,&quot; Li said. &quot;If I were to move to Hong Kong, they would call me some type of anti-government person. If a U.S. company moves to Hong Kong, (the government) can still call them strategic partners.&quot; The decision to stay has clearly paid off for Li, the subject of a lengthy profile in Business Week in the days leading up to the Web 2.0 Summit. Baidu is a runaway success in China, especially now that Google's operation is hobbled by having to pass through the Great Firewall of China. Li claimed that Baidu was used by 99 percent of all Chinese Internet users, who currently number around 420 million. Baidu processes more search queries in China than Google does in the U.S., he said, and there's still a ton of room for growth in its home country. However, Li side-stepped questions about working with government censors, which Baidu is said to do more adroitly than even some of its competitors based in China. He did acknowledge that the Chinese government is working on its own search engine, a situation that would be &quot;unthinkable&quot; in the U.S., Battelle said, expressing disbelief (and rightly so) that the U.S. government would consider competing against private companies in Internet search. In what might have been the understatement of the decade, Li said &quot;China has a very strong government and the government can do a lot of things.&quot; He shrugged off any suggestions that Baidu would lose any ground in China as a result of the government's entrance into the market.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[History Here launches for Windows Phone 7]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=history-here-launches-for-windows-phone-7</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=history-here-launches-for-windows-phone-7</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:10:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>critolly</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=history-here-launches-for-windows-phone-7</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The History Here app costs $2.99.(Credit:History)Attention all history buffs. The History Channel, which is now simply called &quot;History,&quot; has made its entry into the Windows Phone marketplace with History Here, a location-based app that combines GPS with historical content to a &quot;mobile guidebook.&quot;If you've got a newWindows Phone 7 phone, the app costs $2.99 and currently has information on more than 7,000 locations nationwide, but according to the folks at AETN Digital, which made the app, thousands more historical points of interest will be added in the coming months.As you might expect from an app that's connected to History (sorry, we're having a real hard time not calling it the History Channel), each location is &quot;supplemented with exclusive video, audio of famous speeches, narratives from key moments in history, written content, pictures and maps to create a dynamic visitor's guide to each location.&quot;You can search for locations within a 100-mile radius, filter your search on specific types of points of interest (battlefields or monuments, for example), and display your search results in map view or list view.In all, it seems promising. Hopefully, they'll bring this one to Android andiPhone.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Logitech keyboard goes solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=logitech-keyboard-goes-solar</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=logitech-keyboard-goes-solar</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>TheBestHawaiiSite</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=logitech-keyboard-goes-solar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Just when you thought solar was headed everywhere--rooftops, utility poles, and deserts, to name a few places--it's coming to your keyboard too.Logitech&amp;39's solar-powered K750 keyboard(Credit:Logitech)Logitech today launched a wireless solar keyboard, its first. The K750 powers itself via integrated solar panels. Without light, the $79 keyboard can operate for three months.The keyboard's tech sounds very familiar to what you can find in a watch. Logitech's solar keyboard is powered by integrated solar panels across the top and comes with an app that will be available November 15. The app tracks battery levels and has a meter to alert you when power is low.Read more of &quot;Logitech launches solar-powered keyboard&quot; at ZDNet's Between the Lines.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[The art of putting out airplane fires]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-art-of-putting-out-airplane-fires</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-art-of-putting-out-airplane-fires</comments>
<pubDate>Sat, 09 Oct 2010 18:25:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sarah01</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=the-art-of-putting-out-airplane-fires</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Two powerful jets of water are sprayed onto the fire from a truck parked alongside the airplane.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)MOFFETT FIELD, Calif.--The flames were raging, and the cries of people trapped inside the plane were audible, even from well over a hundred feet away.Yet despite the fire crews wearing heavy-duty proximity suits, blasting water from a pair of hoses, and a collection of fire trucks gathered near the burning fuselage, no one looked particularly worried. No lives were actually at stake.This was firefighter training at Moffett Field, part of an annual process that the crews from the NASA Ames Fire Department and the nearby Palo Alto and Sunnyvale Fire Departments have to go through in order to be certified to work airplane fires. And while the flames were real enough, this was nothing more than a big, fiery, smoky simulation.At NASA, learning to fight airplane fires (photos) In the past, explained NASA Ames fire chief Steve Kelly, his firefighters would have had to travel to places like Salt Lake City to get their annual certification, a process that meant doling out nearly $100,000 in expenses and which precluded the department's being able to do the training with their own trucks, and on their own turf.But this year, for the first time, Moffett Field--which is adjacent to NASA's Ames Research Center--is playing host to the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting trainer. The ARFF setup is a Federal Aviation Administration-approved mobile trainer brought in by a team from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich., where it is based, that travels around the country serving crews that need to take care of their annual certification.To call it a mobile trainer is a somewhat stale term. In fact, it appears to be a deeply burned-out Beechcraft 1900, complete with scorched engines and wheels, and more than its share of scars, scrapes, and bruises.Yes, according to ARFF program coordinator Joe Teixeira, the trainer affords fire crews like those from the NASA Ames and the Palo Alto and Sunnyvale departments a chance to work on many of the skills they will need if they ever find themselves having to deal with an actual emergency involving an airplane fire.Further, the training gives each of these crews the chance to work on putting out an airplane fire with their so-called &quot;mutual aid&quot; departments, meaning fire departments that are in close proximity to each other and which would all be called in to handle a real emergency.One thousand degreesWhile fire departments like these have traditionally done this kind of training at facilities that use real jet fuel in their blazes, the ARFF system employs propane, and allows for massive flames that can be extinguished with water--or simply turned off.If one were to wander by without knowing that, however, it wouldn't seem like any kind of benign moment. Teixeira said the flames on the ground outside the airplane, which are meant to simulate fires burning on jet fuel pooled on the tarmac, can reach temperatures of 900 degrees to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.A huge fire rises off the ground, where propane is sending up jets of flames to simulate jet fuel that would be pooled and burning on the tarmac outside a burning airplane.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)At the same time, the fires that are set inside the aircraft, and which the crews must navigate to rescue &quot;passengers,&quot; can top out at about 120 degrees. Yet the billowing smoke that looks every bit real, is nothing more than piped in theatrical smoke, Teixeira admitted.Over the course of several days, the fire crews have been taking turns working through the training, which simulates a number of different kinds of emergencies--single-engine blazes, cabin fires, burning tail engines and wheel brakes, and more, all according to whatever the local training officer wants.And Teixeira and his team will throw curveballs at the fire crews. For example, he explained, while the first few go-rounds will have the fire personnel rushing in the main cabin door to put out interior blazes, he intended to block the door later in the day and force the crews to figure out another way inside.It beginsAt first, all is calm. But then someone walks up to the side of the trainer, opens a hatch, and plugs in the audio system. Suddenly, the sound of screaming emerges from the airplane.With that, a red Palo Alto fire engine comes hurtling across the Moffett Field tarmac, emergency lights flashing, and out hops a group of firefighters. Yet, despite the developing &quot;disaster&quot; nearby, they don't run, they don't rush. They methodically put on their gear. At this point, the flames are only coming out of the wing engines.As they hook up fire hoses to their truck, the screams continue. Finally, two firemen in normal fire suits and one in a proximity suit--a special silver-colored suit meant for very hot fires--start blasting water from a hose onto the blaze. Yet, the flames are only getting bigger. A crew member gets ready to battle the blaze inside and outside the trainer aircraft.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)In a real emergency, crews would be using a solution of water and 3 percent special foam known as aqueous film-forming foam designed to help put out jet fuel fires. While the foam is not hazardous, it still must be completely cleaned up after use, and so Kelly, the Ames fire chief, explains that for training sessions like this one, the crews will use only water to extinguish the flames.Now, two yellow Ames fire trucks have joined the fray, and two more men in proximity suits are helping out. But the flames are now on the roof of the plane, and the crews are now utilizing two hoses and two strong jets of water. At the same time, one of the big yellow fire trucks is blasting two more large jets of water toward the plane.It's not as simple as just trying to overwhelm the fire with powerful water pressure, though. Kelly explained that because the special foam that's used in real emergencies creates a blanket that can smother a fire, it's essential not to break through that film with jets of water. That's why, Kelly continued, the crews are training on creating a &quot;fog&quot; of water from their hoses that can help put out the fire without puncturing what would be the foam film.Big savingsWhile Kelly used to have to spend $90,000 or more to send his crews away to do their annual training, he said that bringing in the ARFF system costs just $20,000 and lets the Ames Fire department train with their own trucks and on their own tarmac. And that's key, he suggested, for getting a realistic sense of what it would be like to fight an airplane fire.And realism is what he's after. He said that in a real airplane fire, it's known that fire can go from the exterior of the fuselage to the interior in just 90 seconds, and so his crews are being trained to attack such a blaze as quickly as possible. That means getting their trucks close to the conflagration and hitting it with &quot;mass application of agent,&quot; essentially trying to overpower the fire with as much foam--or water, in this case--as possible in as short a time as possible.Here, we see the roof of the trainer ablaze.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)In fact, he said, the trucks have just about two minutes' worth of agent on board, so it's crucial to try to get the fire out quickly, even as crews are climbing on board to try to rescue anyone stuck inside. If a truck empties out, and the fire continues, its crews must take the time to re-service--meaning loading up a new tank full of agent--and then repeat. It's a &quot;dance&quot; of &quot;fight fire, re-service, fight fire, re-service,&quot; Kelly said.From the earliest days of Moffett Field in the 1930s, when it was a Naval base, there has been a fire department here. First it was run by the Navy, Kelly explained, and then in 1994, when the Navy left, it was run by the California Air National Guard. In 2006, the department was turned over to Wackenhut Services, a private company based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. But you'd never know it to look at Kelly or any of his 50 crew. Their uniforms all identify them as members of the NASA Ames Fire Department, and they protect everything from Moffett Field to the entire NASA Ames Research Center and all the private partners that are based here.Piercing operationThe last exercise is what Teixeira called a &quot;piercing operation,&quot; in which a very sharp implement at the end of a crane arm on top of one of the fire trucks is extended over the plane in order to puncture through its top. The idea here is to try to put out an interior fire without breaking too large a hole in what might be a highly-pressurized cabin. That could cause a serious problem.One by one, crews of two get in the front of the truck and carefully maneuver the piercer into place above an aluminum plate on top of the plane. It's a tricky move, especially for the inexperienced. As Teixeira puts it, not so delicately, you only want to pierce through the roof of the plane by about four or five inches because &quot;if this was a passenger plane, and you went all the way through, you might go through someone's head.&quot;As a crew member named Bobby calls out instructions to his fellow firefighter Sean, Sean says, cautiously, &quot;You're going to spot me, right I've never done this before.&quot;But Sean is spot on, and though it takes him a minute or so, he puts the piercer in exactly the right place. On a monitor showing thermal images, we can see a flame get blasted with water from above. And not long after, we see water pouring out from the plane's windows.All in all, the training has been a big success, said Ames fire battalion chief Bob Wilson. He explained that he has been very pleased with everyone's performances during the exercises and that the only thing he'd wanted to see corrected was having the crews be quicker to move their trucks and themselves close to the fire.&quot;Your instinct is not to be close to the fire,&quot; Wilson said, &quot;but these vehicles are designed [to get close]. 'No, it's OK to drive two feet close to the flames.'&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Intuit Collaboratory launches new challenge for mobile apps]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=intuit-collaboratory-launches-new-challenge-for-mobile-apps</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=intuit-collaboratory-launches-new-challenge-for-mobile-apps</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>msusonggog</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=intuit-collaboratory-launches-new-challenge-for-mobile-apps</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Intuit announced today that it is continuing efforts to reach out to startups and other partners with a new challenge through its Intuit Collaboratory program.The financial software company has been trying to boost its partnership and a4Aopen innovationa4 efforts in the past few years with programs like its annual Entrepreneur Day. It launched its a4ACollaboratorya4 website at the end of the last year, where companies and individuals can submit ideas that they want to work with Intuit on. In addition to accepting miscellaneous submissions, Intuit is trying to focus ideas with specific challenges.Its first challenge looked at scanning receipts with a mobile phone (Intuit has already released cool smartphone products like SnapTax), and Intuit just announced that the winner of that $5,000 prize is CloudSway. Now the Collaboratory has two new challenges, both with their own $5,000 prizes. In the first, it&amp;'s looking for iPad/tablet apps that help small businesses save time and/or money. In the second, ita4a4s looking for a product that allows consumers to make payments from their phone after scanning QR codes, say if those codes were printed on a bill.Susan Harman, who manages open innovation at Intuit and runs the Collaboratory, said shea4a4s not looking for a finished product. In the first challenge, a basic idea or design is probably enough, while in the second, applicants will need to submit a working prototype. In both cases, Intuit may work with the winner to license the technology and develop it into a commercial product, though Harman emphasized that therea4a4s no guarantee that will happen.You can read more details about the challenge at the Collaboratory website.Calling all mobile executives: This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit,  where we&amp;'ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing  the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete,  actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry.  The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers. We&amp;'ve pretty much finalized the invite list, but have a few spots left. Request an invitation.Next Story: Y Combinator&amp;'s best startups ever Here are my favorites Previous Story: Nuvixa cuts and pastes speakers into their own presentationsPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: Intuit collaboratoryCompanies: IntuitPeople: Susan Harman          Tags: Intuit collaboratoryCompanies: IntuitPeople: Susan HarmanAnthony is a senior editor at VentureBeat, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining the site in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. (All story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com) You can also follow Anthony on Twitter. 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[Toddlers Pick iPhone Over Windows 7 Phones&nbsp'10-1]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=toddlers-pick-iphone-over-windows-7-phonesnbsp10-1</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=toddlers-pick-iphone-over-windows-7-phonesnbsp10-1</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>lilangelab</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=toddlers-pick-iphone-over-windows-7-phonesnbsp10-1</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Flashcards for toddlers is a huge business. Ok, I actually have no idea how big of a business it is. But I know parents think they&amp;'re an important part of the development of their child, and I have witnessed that toddlers will actually tolerate them for short periods of time. The direct feedback loop is key.All of this stuff is moving to touch devices, obviously. Children love them, and get how to use them immediately.Anyhow, interesting data from iTot Apps, the creator of a popular flashcard app for toddlers call, aptly, Toddler Flashcards. The company, by the way, was founded as a hobby by iLike cofounder Hadi Partovi and and Nat Brown, the ex-CTO of iLike.They have an iPhone version of the app that sells well. And they also have a Windows 7 version. Despite the huge difference in number of available devices, Partovi says he&amp;'s surprised that the app only sells 1/10th the number of installs on that platform compared to iOS. Toddler Flashcards is currently ranked 709 for all WP7 apps, and 21 in the paid entertainment category. Despite that they have only sold an average of 7.5 copies a day over a previous week. They sold 71.5 per day on iOS during the same period, about 10x more.Why do we care Data like this hints at the total run rate for Win7 phones. Put enough of these data points together and you can start to get a picture of how well the device is selling.Now please excuse me while I go play startup entrepreneur flashcards. Gotta keep fresh!  <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Google Voice Goes Down, Again (Update: And It&'s&nbsp'Back)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=google-voice-goes-down-again-update-and-itrsquosnbspback</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=google-voice-goes-down-again-update-and-itrsquosnbspback</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Richard</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=google-voice-goes-down-again-update-and-itrsquosnbspback</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It was only three days ago that Google Voice had some serious issues making  outbound calls for some users a4&quot;a4syou&amp;'d place a call, and it would ring endlessly without ever actually reaching your contact.And now, it looks like the service is having more problems. For at least 20 minutes, some users (including me) have been unable to reach voice.google.com a4&quot;a4sthe service&amp;'s main hub, where you can send text messages and keep track of your conversations. I&amp;'ve also been unable to make outbound calls and some inbound calls from my phone, though the GMail/Google Voice integration still works fine (as it did during the problems earlier this week). A test text message a friend sent hasn&amp;'t reached my phone, either.Update: Voice.google.com and my calls are all working as of 2:25 a4&quot;we&amp;'ll update once we confirm that the issues have been resolved for everyone.Update 2: Google confirms that all issues have been resolved as of 2:35PM PST. Looks like there were around 45-50 minutes of downtime.I&amp;'m really hoping this isn&amp;'t the start of a trend. No, Google Voice is not a carrier, but it stands as a middleman between your carrier and your phones, and people aren&amp;'t going to put up with the service for long if reliability becomes an issue. As Michael wrote back when the service was still GrandCentral, if you want to be a phone company, you can&amp;'t go dead.We&amp;'re hearing that this not affecting everyone, but it&amp;'s unclear how many people are affected a4&quot; judging by how many are tweeting about this, it isn&amp;'t just a minor blip.Google has given us this statement'&amp;''We&amp;'re aware of an issue that&amp;'s affecting some percentage of Google Voice users and we&amp;'re working hard to resolve it.&amp;''CrunchBase InformationGoogle VoiceInformation provided by CrunchBase<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[For energy savings, work with consumers or around them]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=for-energy-savings-work-with-consumers-or-around-them</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=for-energy-savings-work-with-consumers-or-around-them</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>parsirlim254</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=for-energy-savings-work-with-consumers-or-around-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[There&amp;'s a growing movement to figure out how to squeeze more energy savings out of homes. The big question: Do you do it by working with consumers, or in spite of themPlayers on different sides of this issue talked about that today at VentureBeat&amp;'s GreenBeat 2010 conference &amp;8212' OPower executive Rod Morris, EcoFactor executive Scott Hublou and Bill Weihl, green energy czar of Google.OPower is the reigning industry darling in engaging consumers &amp;8212' which is shaping up to bequite a dilemma as more and more companies try to get their products in homes. The company worked with behavioral scientists to figure out what would push consumers to care about cutting their energy use. The answer they came up with was, more or less, pit them against each other &amp;8212' in other words, appeal to people&amp;'s competitiveness.&amp;''There are other behavioral science tricks (besides) using competitiveness&amp;'' that the company is testing, Morris said. He mentioned getting utilities to implement opt-out programs as one example.The company works with utilities to produce bills that show customers how their energy usage compares to that of their neighbors&amp;', and to regional averages. You get a smiley face if you&amp;'re performing above average, and OPower has used that approach to great success, meting out energy savings across a large market of homes. The company&amp;'s growing fast, too.&amp;''We have twice as many customers as we did three quarters ago,&amp;'' Morris said, and mentioned OPower currently needs to hire Java engineers to help support its growth.On the other side of the aisle, EcoFactor is pushing a set-it-and-forget-it type approach. I spoke with Hublou after the panel, and he believes that, by and large, customers want to be left alone. In fact, he used a funny term for it &amp;8212' MTKD, or &amp;''mean time to kitchen drawer.&amp;'' People lead busy lives, and no matter how great a user interface is, they will eventually become too busy and the home dashboard product will wind up, well, gathering dust in the kitchen drawer.EcoFactor uses a smart thermostat system that metes out &amp;''30 to 40&amp;8243' types of energy savings &amp;8212' each worth maybe a nickel in savings &amp;8212' that add up over time to big overall reductions in a home energy bill with little to no effort on the part of the customer, Hublou said.&amp;''We&amp;'re actually finding our greatest savings is in the detection of waste,&amp;'' Hublou said.As for Google They have PowerMeter, which crunches home energy data. But Weihl says he&amp;'s most interested in an open system that enables third-party access. He pointed out that there&amp;'s still not total access to real-time data, as OPower&amp;'s bill comes monthly in the mail.&amp;''The real-time information does give some real benefits,&amp;'' Weihl said. &amp;''We&amp;'re trying to build (a system) &amp;8230'so other people can get in there and provide services to users.&amp;''[Image via Flickr/toffeehoff]Next Story: Mint.com founder backs Capire Micropower&amp;'s engine-on-a-chip Previous Story: Screw the thermostat! InThrMa brings building climate to the WebPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: consumer efficiency, GreenBeat, GreenBeat 2010, home energyCompanies: ecofactor, Google, OPOWERPeople: Bill Weihl, Rod Morris, Scott Hublou          Tags: consumer efficiency, GreenBeat, GreenBeat 2010, home energyCompanies: ecofactor, Google, OPOWERPeople: Bill Weihl, Rod Morris, Scott HublouIris Kuo is the VentureBeat's lead GreenBeat writer. She has reported for The Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong, Houston Chronicle, the McClatchy Washington Bureau and Dallas public radio. Iris attended the University of Texas at Dallas and lives in Houston. Follow Iris on Twitter @thestatuskuo (and yes, that's how you  pronounce her last name).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[Interview With Twitter&'s Evan Williams At Web 2.0 Summit&nbsp'(VIDEO)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=interview-with-twitterrsquos-evan-williams-at-web-2-0-summitnbspvideo</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=interview-with-twitterrsquos-evan-williams-at-web-2-0-summitnbspvideo</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Preety01</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=interview-with-twitterrsquos-evan-williams-at-web-2-0-summitnbspvideo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In case you missed it, here&amp;'s the video of yesterday&amp;'s Web 2.0 Summit interview with Evan Williams on Twitter&amp;'s relationship with Facebook, developers and the Twitter firehose, newtwitter, the million ways Twitter will make eventually make money and Williams&amp;' recently stepping down as a CEO. &amp;''It&amp;'s kind of a sucky job,&amp;'' he said.Enjoy.CrunchBase InformationEvan WilliamsTwitterInformation provided by CrunchBase<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Sony claims it has shipped 4.1M PlayStation Move units, but doesn&'t give sell-through number]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=sony-claims-it-has-shipped-4-1m-playstation-move-units-but-doesnrsquot-give-sell-through-number</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=sony-claims-it-has-shipped-4-1m-playstation-move-units-but-doesnrsquot-give-sell-through-number</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Marek</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=sony-claims-it-has-shipped-4-1m-playstation-move-units-but-doesnrsquot-give-sell-through-number</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Sony said today that it has shipped 4.1 million units of its PlayStation Move motion controller to retailers around the globe. But, as is its custom, the Japanese company did not say how many of those units have been sold to consumers.The difference between shipped and sold-through is important in this case. Analysts don&amp;'t think that Sony&amp;'s Move controller, which is a wand-like device that senses your motion and position, is selling as well as Microsoft&amp;'s Kinect motion-sensing system, which has sold-through 2.5 million units in the past 25 days. Sony and Microsoft have an apples and oranges comparison when it comes to counting sales. The outcome of the competitive battle is important because Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all want to rule the living room.Sony&amp;'s Move went on sale worldwide in mid-September, while the Kinect went on sale on Nov. 4. The Move units may very well be sitting on retailer shelves. In the U.S., market researcher NPD has reported that fewer than 500,000 Move units have sold, according to reports distributed to game publishers but not disclosed to the media.Peter Dille, head of marketing for Sony&amp;'s game division in the U.S., said last week that the Move controllers were in short supply in some locations. But analysts aren&amp;'t sure that the units are moving that fast.Michael Pachter, analyst at Wedbush Securities, said that he believes Sony has sold through about 2.5 million units to consumers, including the units that are sold consumers who are buying more than one unit. He guesses that 20 percent of the purchasers bought a second Move controller, putting the actual installed base of new purchasers at 2.1 million units. That means there could be about 1.5 million units sitting in stores now. That means that there probably isn&amp;'t a severe shortage of Move units right now. Last week, however, Dille indicated that the mix of bundles is an issue for Sony. There are plenty of consoles packaged with Move units on store shelves. But the stand-alone Move units have sold very well and they are likely to be in short supply through January, Dille said.With the Move, users can wave the wand in front of a PlayStation Eye camera' the combined sensors detect the player&amp;'s movement and position, then the camera translates that input into controls for the game. Sony says its system is far more accurate than other motion-control systems. So far, 30 Move titles have begun selling in stores.The Move shipment numbers do not include sales of stand-alone PlayStation Eye cameras or stand-alone PlayStation Move navigation controllers.Sony said today that it has &amp;''sold&amp;'' more than 41.6 million PlayStation 3 consoles to date.Nintendo said last week that it sold 900,000 handheld DS units and 600,000 Wii consoles during Black Friday week.Next Story: On the GreenBeat: NRG and SunPower plan $450 million solar ranch, BlackLight plans water-to-electricity demo Previous Story: Enterprise social network Yammer raises a whopping $25M to triple its teamPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: Sony PlayStation MoveCompanies: Microsoft, nintendo, Sony          Tags: Sony PlayStation MoveCompanies: Microsoft, nintendo, SonyDean 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[Gowalla gears up for new rewards feature with new version for Android]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=gowalla-gears-up-for-new-rewards-feature-with-new-version-for-android</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=gowalla-gears-up-for-new-rewards-feature-with-new-version-for-android</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tozoreleg</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=gowalla-gears-up-for-new-rewards-feature-with-new-version-for-android</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Gowalla, one of the earliest and best-known services that lets you share your location with friends, today released the newest version of its Android application, dubbed Gowalla 3, according to the company&amp;'s blog.The company claims the new Android version is a much better experience than its iPhone app, though it appears to be similar based on several screen shots. Gowalla 3 was previously released for just the iPhone and included some interesting features, including being able to push check-ins to competing services Foursquare and Facebook Places.More interestingly, the company is also unveiling its first attempt at a rewards system meant to deliver big saving deals to users based on location, according to Fast Company. The plan is to unveil the new product at South by Southwest, the annual film, music and interactive conference that attracts many startups and happens to be where Gowalla is headquartered. The new rewards feature may resemble popular group buying company Groupon, where users will have the opportunity to get substantial savings for a particular brand or local business based on their check in location.The rewards system reminds me a lot of what several competing services have recently launched, including Loopt, who unveiled last week that it will begin to launch customized and timely rewards to users at SXSW. Upon launching the application, users would be notified if a big deal was available. Loopt&amp;'s founder and chief executive Sam Altman told me these types of deals would be limited, possibly to just one a day, so that users would not be constantly bombarded.Gowalla is based in Austin and has raised $10.4 million from Greylock Partners, Alsop-Louie Partners, and Founders Fund.Next Story: Global LED market surges, doubling last year Previous Story: Watson supercomputer defeated in Jeopardy by lone physicist a4&quot; long live humanity!PrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: Android, check-in, deals, iPhone, rewardsCompanies: Facebook Places, Foursquare, Gowalla, looptPeople: Sam Altman          Tags: Android, check-in, deals, iPhone, rewardsCompanies: Facebook Places, Foursquare, Gowalla, looptPeople: Sam AltmanCody Barbierri is a social and digital media consultant. He works for Piehead and blogs about social media at Social Tab. (None of his posts are about clients or their competitors.) Reach him at Cody@venturebeat.com. You can also follow Cody on Twitter. 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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