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<title>Haaze.com / Nena01 / Voted News</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[On Call: Best carriers for recycling your phone]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=on-call-best-carriers-for-recycling-your-phone</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=on-call-best-carriers-for-recycling-your-phone</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>percycccec</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=on-call-best-carriers-for-recycling-your-phone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On Call runs every two weeks, alternating between answering reader questions and discussing hot topics in the cell phone world.Though you probably know that Friday is Earth Day, I'd wager that you weren't aware that it's also National Cell Phone Recycling Week. Created two years ago by the Environmental Protection Agency, the week encourages U.S. wireless subscribers to recycle and reuse old handsets rather than discarding them into a drawer, or worse yet, throwing them away in the trash.It's a noble effort, indeed, particularly when you consider how often we're encouraged to trade up for the latest and greatest phone. Sure, e-waste is a concern across the gadgetsphere, but the shelf life of a cell phone can last only months and the stream of new models never seems to stop. And when you add in harmful materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic that can end up in the environment, it's not a pretty picture. Fortunately, though, recycling your handset is much easier than trying to get rid of your flat-screen television. In fact, you can do your part without even leaving your house.For this post, I rounded up and evaluated the recycling efforts of the major carriers. As you'll see from the list, some carrier programs offer incentives, whereas others give you just the peace of mind that you kept one more phone out of a landfill. Doing a good deed may be enough for some, but I recognize that other readers will enjoy an extra benefit. Also, keep in mind that many other recycling options are available. They can include your phone's manufacturer, your employer, a local government agency, a third-party retailer (like Best Buy), or a nonprofit organization. For local drop-off points, check out this helpful site from Call2Recycle. Currently, only about 1 percent of phones are recycled in the United States so the numbers can only improve. Before you recycle, however, there are a few points to remember.Though carriers offer recycling programs, they aren't actually operating the program themselves. Instead, they partner with reputable companies like ReCellular that do the dirty work.Carriers will promise to wipe your phone of any personal information, but it's essential that you take that step yourself. A &quot;factory reset&quot; is a great place to start, since it will clear your phone's data and return it to the same condition as when you bought it. If your phone doesn't have such an option (and even if it does), make sure to remove all text messages, photos, applications, e-mails, and contacts. Also, delete your call timers and your recent calls list.If you don't trust yourself to wipe your phone's memory properly, there are a few data third-party options that promise to do the job for you. I haven't used any personally, but ReCellular offers a tutorial on its site.Drain your phone's battery completely, but leave it in the phone. If sending extra batteries, tape over their connection points.Remove your SIM card and any memory cards.Make sure to cancel your account or switch your number before you recycle the phone.One of two fates will await your phone, though you won't have a choice of which one it will meet. If refurbished, the handset will be spruced up and either donated to a charity or resold by the carrier or a third party. If it's recycled, the handset will be salvaged for useful parts with the rest of the materials going to an eco-friendly disposal. Any valuable parts can then be reused in another gadget.If going green is a top concern, why not consider a handset like Verizon's Samsung Intensity II It's made from recycled materials, the package is partially printed with soy ink, and the box is smaller and is composed of 60 percent recycled paper.For more resources, check out these consumer sites from the EPA and CTIA.The best options SprintAs Sprint is eager to tell you, Newsweek listed it last October as the sixth greenest company in the United States. And to its credit, the carrier beats its rivals  in ways to put an old phone out to pasture. With the Buyback Program, new and existing customers will receive account credit when they trade in a used handset. You then can apply the credit toward your monthly bill or the purchase of a new phone. Not every device is eligible, but the long list of approved phones and tablets includes models that Sprint doesn't carry. For example, a 64GB Wi-Fi iPad will earn you $195, a T-Mobile MyTouch 4G is worth $85.69, a Samsung Restore brings $26, and an LG EnV Touch delivers $12 in account credit. Normal wear and tear is fine, but the product must turn on and be free of corrosion, water damage, and display scratches.To participate, you can visit a Sprint store (where you'll get your credit instantly) or print a shipping label online . If you use the latter method, Sprint will pay for postage though it will take a few weeks for a credit to post to your account. Once received, the device will either be refurbished or recycled. For more on the Buyback Program, check out Sprint's FAQ.If your phone isn't on the list of eligible devices, you can send it in for recycling through Sprint's Project Connect. Sprint will accept all phones in any condition, plus accessories, chargers, extra batteries, packaging, and user manuals. Prepaid shipping labels are available online or you can find them at Sprint stores and inside the box of most of the carrier's current handsets. Proceeds from the sale of parts will go to organizations like the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children, Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of America, and the National Education Association Health Information Network.Verizon WirelessBig Red also offers credit for old devices through its Trade-In Program. The process is very much like Sprint's program: first you select your device, denote its condition, and print the free shipping label. Then, just send on its way and wait for a Verizon gift card with the corresponding credit. Verizon also accept a broad range of phones andtablets, including devices that it never sold. The list is comparable to Sprint's, though credit will vary widely. For example, a 64GB Wi-FiiPad has an appraised value of $175, a Samsung Restore is $1, a T-Mobile MyTouch 4G is $112, and an LG EnV Touch is $30. If your display is cracked or the device doesn't power on, you'll get just a couple of dollars if you get anything at all.Alternatively, Verizon's HopeLine program also will accept all phones for either reuse or recycling. Refurbished phones won't go back to Verizon, but will be donated along with 3,000 minutes of wireless service to domestic violence organizations. To donate a device, you can print a prepaid shipping label online. And if you just have a battery to dispose of, the carrier has a separate program through the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp.Still goodAT&amp;TThrough AT&amp;T's Reuse and Recycle Program, you can recycle an old phone by dropping it off at an AT&amp;T store. The carrier will accept all types of handsets as well as accessories and extra batteries. You also can recycle used handsets through the Cell Phones for Soldiers program, which uses funds from donated cell phones to buy prepaid calling cards for active-duty military personnel. Prepaid shipping labels are available at company-owned stores or online.Virgin MobileWhen you buy a new Virgin Mobile phone, the carrier will accept your old device for reuse or recycling. Refurbished handsets will then be sold to new Virgin Mobile customers or sold at a reduced rate to, as Virgin puts it, &quot;people who are in need of a mobile phone.&quot; On the other hand, profits from recycling efforts will got to charitable partners.Another option is the Pass it On program. After you buy a new Virgin Mobile phone, you can pass on your old handset to a friend or even a stranger (after transferring your number, of course). When that person activates the phone to their account, you'll receive 60 minutes in calling credit.Boost MobileBoost will recycle your phone with proceeds benefiting Global Inheritance. All models in any condition are accepted and you can get a prepaid shipping label on Boost's site.Just averageU.S. CellularThough it doesn't offer a dedicated green page on its Web site, U.S. Cellular will recycle any wireless phone that you bring to a carrier-owned store.T-MobileIf you're a T-Mobile customer, the Handset Recycling Program will be your only option, though the carrier will accept all wireless devices and accessories in any condition. T-Mobile stores will take donations or you can print free shipping labels online (PDF). MetroPCSWith MetroPCS' EcoSave Program, you can bring old phones, batteries, and accessories to any MetroPCS store for recycling.Cricket WirelessCricket partners with ReCellular to recycle or refurbish phones. You can get the shipping labels on Cricket's site or drop off your devices at the carrier's retail stores. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Rumor: Samsung prepping smartphone with 2GHz dual-core processor]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=rumor-samsung-prepping-smartphone-with-2ghz-dual-core-processor</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=rumor-samsung-prepping-smartphone-with-2ghz-dual-core-processor</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:10:49 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>tozoreleg</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=rumor-samsung-prepping-smartphone-with-2ghz-dual-core-processor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Samsung expecting desktop-like performance out of their mobile devices with dual-core 2GHz processors.(Credit:Samsung)If you thought this year's  dual-core smartphones were fast and powerful, wait until you hear what Samsung has cooking. According to an unnamed official, Samsung is planning to go a step further and release a 2GHz dual-core smartphone by next year. Yes, that means that your Android handset could rival your Netbook or laptop in terms of processing prowess. It is very likely that these new chipsets will fall under the new Exynos brand that was announced earlier this year. Samsung is also rumored to be considering selling these new CPU units to other smartphone makers.After having spent considerable time with a fewdual-core devices, it's easy to spot the difference in performance over last year's Snapdragon chipsets. Looking ahead, however, it's difficult for me to wrap my head around something as fast as 2GHz dual-core for my mobile needs. Not that I would complain were that one of my options, of course. If I had my druthers, I'd prefer a bigger step forward in battery life first. How about you<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[App reveals dead bugs, carcinogens in your lunch]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=app-reveals-dead-bugs-carcinogens-in-your-lunch</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=app-reveals-dead-bugs-carcinogens-in-your-lunch</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:10:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>franbrbbab</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=app-reveals-dead-bugs-carcinogens-in-your-lunch</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If you're concerned about the number of foods you eat that contain pulverized insect bodies, or worry about all the ways another Coke or Pepsi might contribute to your early demise, boy, have I got an app for you.That doctor is probably not prescribing this app...(Credit:Flickr user skampy)The folks at the Center for Science in the Public Interest are wagering you're willing to fork over a buck to find out how truly disgusting and/or dangerous the ingredients in your food are with their new &quot;Chemical Cuisine&quot; app. Download it for 99 cents for iOS or Android and you have instant access to an encyclopedia of all those indecipherable ingredients on food labels--things like cochineal extract or carmine, which comes from those unfortunate aforementioned insects and is used to add a nice pink, purple, or reddish hue to your yogurt and other munchies.An Acesulfame-K up your sleeve won&amp;39't make a winning hand in the end.(Credit:CSPI/EchoDitto)Believe it or not, cochineal extract is an ingredient that CSPI rates as safe to consume for most people but notes that some folks can have a severe allergic reaction. &quot;Certain People Should Avoid&quot; is one of five ratings used for the ingredients in CSPI's database. The others are &quot;Safe,&quot; &quot;Cut Back,&quot; &quot;Avoid,&quot; and &quot;Caution&quot; for those ingredients that might pose a risk and need more testing. One entry of interest in that last category is the natural sweetener Stevia, also known as Rebiana or by brand name like Truvia, a bottle of which is currently on a shelf at my home. The app capsule on Rebiana points out that natural doesn't necessarily mean safe or healthy--there's been evidence that it can promote cancer and infertility in rodents.In the &quot;Avoid&quot; category, the artificial colorings and sweeteners dominate, from notorious names like Aspartame to the more harmless-sounding--but still potentially carcinogenic--&quot;caramel coloring.&quot; Most bottles of Diet Coke contain both.CSPI is quick to point out that most food additives are relatively safe in the amounts in which they're used. In fact, I counted less than 20 on the &quot;Avoid&quot; list on Chemical Cuisine.One characteristic of this app seemed a little baffling to me, though. While I'm not exactly operating in the nonprofit sector, this sort of awareness-building app just screams to be made available free, and the 99-cent price seems odd for what amounts to basically a digital pamphlet, albeit a very handy one.Then again, I'm likely to see that dollar returned a thousand-fold with all the dough I now won't spend on those carbonated cancer and corn-syrup bombs in a can in the future.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Adobe to fix Flash Player hole this week]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=adobe-to-fix-flash-player-hole-this-week</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=adobe-to-fix-flash-player-hole-this-week</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:10:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>alexalex1981</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=adobe-to-fix-flash-player-hole-this-week</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Adobe will release a fix for a new critical bug in Flash Player on Friday for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris, while Google Chrome users will be protected by Thursday through the browser's auto-update feature, Adobe said today. &quot;As part of our collaboration with Google, Google receives updated builds of Flash Player for integration and testing. Once testing is completed for Google Chrome, the release is pushed via the Chrome auto-update mechanism,&quot; Adobe said in a statement.  &quot;Adobe is testing the fix across all supported configurations of Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Solaris and Android (more than 60 platforms/configurations altogether) to ensure the fix works across all supported configurations,&quot; the statement said. &quot;Typically, this process takes slightly longer and, in this case, is expected to complete on April 15 for Flash Player for Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris.&quot;  Meanwhile, an update for Adobe Acrobat X and earlier for Windows and Macintosh, Adobe Reader X for Macintosh and Adobe Reader 9.4.3 and earlier for Windows and Macintosh will be available no later than the week of April 25, the company said in a security advisory.  Adobe warned on Monday that attackers were exploiting the hole to take control of Windows computers by sending e-mails with malicious Flash files embedded in Microsoft Word attachments. The company said it was not aware of any attacks via PDF (portable document format) files targeting Reader and Acrobat.  Because Adobe Reader X Protected Mode prevents such exploits from executing the company will address the hole in that software in its next quarterly security update for Reader, scheduled for June 14. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Cisco refreshes wireless-N Linksys E series routers]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cisco-refreshes-wireless-n-linksys-e-series-routers</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cisco-refreshes-wireless-n-linksys-e-series-routers</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:10:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>idgesqahie</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cisco-refreshes-wireless-n-linksys-e-series-routers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The new jewelry-box Linksys E1500 router from Cisco.(Credit:Dong Ngo/CNET)If you have read the review of the Linksys E4200 router and decided to move on, thinking &quot;It's just so sweet but it's too expensive, plus I don't want all the bells and whistles anyway,&quot; perhaps you don't need to walk away. As it turns out, the E4200 is just a teaser of an entire new generation in the Linksys E series that Cisco announced today.Apart from the E4200, the new generation includes four new routers: E1200, E1500, E2500, and E3200. Except for the E1500, which is a new tier of its own, the rest of them are the upgrades of the E1000, E2000, and E3000, respectively.The Cisco Connect software now includes a handy Speed Test tool.(Credit:Dong Ngo/CNET)Like the previous routers in the E series, the new routers all feature Cisco Connect software, which makes setting up and managing a no-brainer for even the least tech-savvy person. The software is now updated to offer a Speed Test utility that helps you quickly determine how fast your connection to the Internet is. This comes in handy in case you want to know if you're getting what your provider says you pay for. Similar to the E4200, the rest of the new routers in the E series sport a new esthetically pleasing design that makes them look more like jewelry boxes than networking products. The new designs are also compact and more streamlined than previous models.Other than that, these wireless-N routers range from a basic router, the E1200, to the high-end, the E3200 and, of course, the top-of-the-line E4200. You can find&amp;nbsp' more in the comparison chart below.The new generation of Cisco&amp;39's Linksys E series covers all different tiers in the wireless-N router spectrum for homes and small businesses.(Credit:Dong Ngo/CNET)All of these routers are available now. The Virtual USB features, when applicable, however, require additional software that will be available for download for free by this summer, according to Cisco. You can read the review of the Linksys E1500 here.Besides the routers, Cisco also announced three new switches for homes, including the five-port 10/100 Linksys SE1500 ($29.99), the five-port Gigabit Linksys SE2500 ($54.99), and the eight-Port Gigabit Linksys SE2800 ($74.99). These switches share the cable connect detection energy-saving feature that automatically turns off the ports that are not connected. The two Gigabit switches also have a sleep mode that turns off the ports when the connected devices are not in use. These switches are also available now. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Windows 8 screenshots reveal ribbon interface]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=windows-8-screenshots-reveal-ribbon-interface</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=windows-8-screenshots-reveal-ribbon-interface</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:10:36 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>wanbimsiryy85</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=windows-8-screenshots-reveal-ribbon-interface</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Images from a pre-beta version of Windows 8 reveal that Microsoft is apparently expanding its use of the ribbon interface to replace traditional pull-down menus and toolbars.Following Microsoft's release of the latest pre-beta build of Windows 8 to select partners recently, screenshots of certain features in the upcoming OS were allegedly posted online. In particular, images displayed on enthusiast site Within Windows by &quot;Windows 8 Secrets&quot; co-authors Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott show the ribbon interface reaching Windows Explorer.Introduced with Office 2007, the ribbon interface has been loved by some and reviled by others. But Microsoft has expanded its use of the ribbon, adding it to such programs as Paint and WordPad inWindows 7. Noting that the ribbon interface in the pre-beta Windows 8 is only half-finished and rather &quot;unattractive,&quot; Rivera and Thurrott suggest that its potential appearance in Explorer may be controversial within Microsoft itself.Beyond showing off the ribbon, the two authors also revealed a new welcome screen in Windows 8, which they say is based on the lock screen inWindows Phone 7. Displaying the date and time and offering a changeable background image, the new screen reportedly will also feature audio controls so people can play and adjust their music even when the screen is locked.Microsoft has supposedly been looking to splash a bit of the Windows Phone 7 Metro UI look and feel onto the next generation of Windows. Beyond just the welcome screen, other alleged images of a recent Windows 8 build show a set-up routine and overall interface that takes a page from the design of the Metro UI, according to enthusiast site WinRumors.Windows 8 could also offer built-in integration with some of Microsoft's Windows Live features. Looking at the screenshots of the new Windows Explorer, enthusiast site Liveside.net spotted one option for Sync, which it believes could refer to Microsoft's cloud-based Windows Live Mesh. Another option called &quot;Web sharing&quot; could point to online storage service Windows Live SkyDrive.Of course, Windows 8 is still at a very early stage in development, so its look, feel, and features are likely to be debated and tweaked within Microsoft before the new OS finally reaches consumers. Microsoft has been generally mum about Windows 8 and hasn't give any clues as to a launch date. However, a blog post on the company's Dutch Web site may have spilled a few beans last October when it stated that Windows 8 was about two years away, putting its release toward the end of 2012.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[HSN 'previewing' Nook Color's app store and Flash capabilities]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=hsn-previewing-nook-colors-app-store-and-flash-capabilities</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=hsn-previewing-nook-colors-app-store-and-flash-capabilities</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 07:10:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>undeletesk</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=hsn-previewing-nook-colors-app-store-and-flash-capabilities</guid>
<description><![CDATA[As promised, the Home Shopping Network has begun previewing some of the new features that are part of an upcoming &quot;mid-April&quot; update to the Nook Color that we reported on a few days ago. Barnes &amp; Noble has confirmed in a press release that the update would include the new app store but HSN is the one talking up the Nook Color's upcoming ability to watch Flash videos.In this video captured by a YouTuber (who interrupted a gaming session to shoot the vid), the HSN presenters play a little fast and loose with the facts. For instance, they say there aren't other devices that currently support Flash, although the Samsung Galaxy Tab does, some Android smartphones like the Motorola Atrix do, and the Motorola's Xoomtablet is on the verge of officially getting Flash support (we've been running Flash 10.2 Beta for Xoom).The presenters also say Gizmodo called the Nook Color the best Android tablet. It did--but in 2010.Alas, HSN doesn't really show anything new in its preview except to highlight bullet points touting the new features, which also include an e-mail app.(Source: YouTube via Mashable)<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Zu Soul: An American-made world-class speaker]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=zu-soul-an-american-made-world-class-speaker</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=zu-soul-an-american-made-world-class-speaker</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 07:10:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Anjali01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=zu-soul-an-american-made-world-class-speaker</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Zu Soul Superfly(Credit:Tone Audio)We don't manufacture TVs, cameras, or iPods, but American products still dominate the world market for upscale audio. Take Zu Audio. Founded at the beginning of the century, it's based in Ogden, Utah, and its speakers are sold all over the world. I recently wrote about the company's Soul Superfly speaker for Tone Audio Magazine, and you can read the complete review there.One of the things that first attracted me to Zu was that its design methodology is more musical and less measurement-oriented than most, which is not to say Zu's engineering is completely seat-of-the-pants, just that the end result is a sound that is, well, different from what I was used to. I've used a number of Zu speakers in my system over the years, so I wasn't surprised to hear that the Soul Superfly ($3,000 a pair) sounded like no other box speaker. The speaker makes a strong statement, very in-your-face, very rock and roll, and I love it.Since all Zu speakers feature a 10.3-inch full-range driver that covers bass, midrange, and well up into the treble, Zu speakers don't have crossover networks, so your amplifier directly plays the driver without an inductor, capacitor, or resistor in-line. That direct-coupled strategy yields all sorts of sonic dividends. The Soul Superfly's immediacy and vivid clarity are matched by few box speakers in its price class. The Soul Superfly's 1-inch dome tweeter is mounted in a beautifully machined aluminum flared horn. It comes in at a very high frequency, 10kHz' while most tweeters on two- or three-way designs are crossed over much lower, typically between 1.2kHz and 4kHz. Zu's approach makes for a dramatic difference in the way the speaker puts sound in the room. Oh, boy, does it ever!Zu designs are always superefficient, so they can rock the house with just a few watts. Don't worry, power handling hasn't been slighted, this bad boy can handle 300 watts! The Soul Superfly's unusually high 16-ohm impedance favors tube amps, so I used three: the Miniwatt N3 with 3.5 watts per channel, the Jolida FX10 with 10 watts, and a Luxman SQ-38u 30-watt integrated amp. The Soul Superfly isn't all that big' it's 38 inches high and 12 inches square at its base. The MDF cabinet feels solid and the speaker weighs 50 pounds. Build quality is quite good, and the speaker is available in three standard textured finishes: Chocolate, Cosmic Latte (beige), and Cosmic Carbon gray. Other finishes are available on request.Close-up of the Zu Soul Superfly&amp;39's machined metal horn and 10.3-inch driver(Credit:Tone Audio)Tonally rich and solid, the Soul Superfly has a weight that no other speaker anywhere near its price can muster. I credit the 10.3-inch driver's air-moving power, dynamic punch, and near full-frequency bandwidth for the speaker's gravitas. The Jolida FX10 did a fine job goosing the Soul Superfly into action with the Black Keys' extra-raunchy blues. The Keys' latest, &quot;Brothers,&quot; is a low-down romp, with massively distorted guitar and pummeling drums, so it's best enjoyed cranked way up, and that's where the Soul Superfly really comes alive. The richest-sounding amp, the Miniwatt N3, was the least expensive, at $378. This tiny amp sitting on the floor next to the Souls looked almost comical. But its 3.5 watts sounded so sweet and clear, with a truly gorgeous midrange, and the bass was pleasantly full. Tone color and dimensionality were absolutely yummy. I could happily live with it and the Soul Superfly. Remember, this speaker is designed to sound best with tube amplifiers, but Zu makes other models, like the Omen Standard ($1,500 a pair), that really sing with transistor amps. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple tops smartphone satisfaction for fifth time]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-tops-smartphone-satisfaction-for-fifth-time</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-tops-smartphone-satisfaction-for-fifth-time</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:10:29 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>latriceklt</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-tops-smartphone-satisfaction-for-fifth-time</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The iPhone is satisfying more customers than any other device.(Credit:Apple)Another year, another win for Apple in smartphone satisfaction.According to findings released today from the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study, customers are more satisfied with Apple'siPhone than any other smartphone on the market. Apple secured a rating of 795 out of a possible 1,000 points in customer satisfaction. Motorola and HTC secured the second and third spots with 763 points and 762 points, respectively.This isn't the first time Apple has placed at the top of a J.D. Power and Associates satisfaction study. In fact, Apple's latest win marks the fifth-consecutive year that it has bested all other smartphone makers in this study. However, customers were a smidge less satisfied with Apple's smartphone this year than they were last year. In J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 findings, Apple was able to secure 800 points of the available 1,000.But Apple wasn't alone in seeing its satisfaction slip this year. Both Motorola and HTC have witnessed satisfaction for their devices decline significantly. In 2010, their figures stood at 791 points and 781 points, respectively.J.D. Power and Associates said respondents based their opinions on &quot;ease of operation, operating system, physical design, features, and battery function.&quot;Smartphone market overall In addition to looking at individual smartphones, J.D. Power and Associates also examined other areas of the space. It found that the average price of a &quot;traditional mobile phone&quot; has dropped to about $73 in 2011, down from its average price of $81 in 2009.On the software side, J.D. Power and Associates found that around 66 percent of people have downloaded social-networking applications and games to their respective smartphone. Travel programs and &quot;entertainment-oriented applications&quot; were also popular among smartphone owners with 54 percent and 53 percent of respondents saying they have downloaded those types of apps, respectively.One other interesting tidbit: smartphone owners who access social networks from their devices are more likely to be satisfied. Smartphone satisfaction is 783 points among those people, compared to 761 for those who don't access social networks from their smartphones.The J.D. Power and Associates findings were based on surveys of nearly 7,300 smartphone owners between July and December 2010.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple opens iPad to iAds]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-opens-ipad-to-iads</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-opens-ipad-to-iads</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:10:50 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>svetalavl</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-opens-ipad-to-iads</guid>
<description><![CDATA[iAds are now appearing on the Apple iPad. (Credit:Apple)Apple's iPad is now open for business. The first iAd--an ad created on Apple's mobile-advertising platform--showed up on the device today, with more on the way.The first company to put out an iAd is Unilever, maker of Dove Men+Care. The company is working with the National Collegiate Athletic Association to give users an up-close view of three of its stars.Earvin &quot;Magic&quot; Johnson, John Thompson III, and Bobby Hurley will be highlighted in a new series of video ads called &quot;Journey to Comfort.&quot; Clearly the timing of the iAds and the partnership with the NCAA come at a good time, as March Madness kicks off.In addition to watching videos, Unilever added Trivia Timeout to its iAd, where users will be asked to answer NCAA-themed questions. Fans can also access the Game Day Fan Zone where they can view daily game schedules.The Unilever iAd is the first on the iPad, but Apple confirmed for CNET that more iAds would be launching in the coming weeks.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Tested: iPhone 4 (iOS 4.2.1 vs. 4.3) and Android phones]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tested-iphone-4-ios-4-2-1-vs--4-3-and-android-phones</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tested-iphone-4-ios-4-2-1-vs--4-3-and-android-phones</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>zimanbim4</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=tested-iphone-4-ios-4-2-1-vs--4-3-and-android-phones</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The best way to test battery life is to get a robot to do it. In lieu of a robot, I drafted a computer for the task. It&amp;39's just an immobile robot anyway, isn&amp;39't it(Credit:Eric Franklin/CNET)Earlier this week, we posted some very interesting tablet testing results. Today, it's smartphones. Over the last few weeks we've tested a number of smartphones in a multitude of ways. If you're looking for talk time tests, however, check the full review of each phone. The tests detailed here will focus on real-world speed as well as audio and video battery life.Phone nameVideo battery life (in hours)Audio battery life (in hours)Boot time (in seconds)Web page load time (in seconds)Apple iPhone 4 iOS 4.2.1 (AT&amp;T)9.9403610Apple iPhone 4 iOS 4.3 (AT&amp;T)n/an/a378Apple iPhone 4 iOS 4.2.1 (Verizon)10.3673910HTC MyTouch 4G6.621610Motorola Atrix 4G7n/a486Samsung Nexus S8.115277How we test smartphonesIn the CNET Labs, we currently run four different tests to evaluate the performance of smartphones. Battery lifeWe evaluate battery life by continually running a movie file on the smartphone until its battery dies. We do the same with audio using a full album set on repeat all. For audio battery, each phone runs with its default mobile network on' for video battery, the phones are run in Airplane mode.During the movie battery-drain, we set eachtablet to Airplane mode and adjust its respective brightness to 140 candelas per square meter (cd/M2) or as close to that number as is possible. For theiPhone, we run the iPhone version of &quot;Toy Story 3.&quot; For Android phones, a 720p version of &quot;Toy Story 3&quot; is run. The reason we chose 720p for Android was that most Android phones are capable of running 720p video and we wanted the best quality video represented.On iPhone, we ran the movie through itsiPod app' for Android, we used the movie player, mVideoPlayer, as it provides a much-needed repeat video function that not all native Android movie players include. Site-loading speedWe used GiantBomb.com as our Web site of choice' it doesn't use Flash or have many dynamic elements. Each tablet was connected to the same closed network (not its mobile network) with no other devices on it, with the router about 5 feet away. The test began the moment we pressed Enter, with the end of the test signified by the disappearance of the browser's progress bar. We measured speed in seconds, with a lower number indicating faster performance.  We used the latest version of each respective phone's OS. Obviously, for the iPhone 4, we used both version 4.2.1 and 4.3 of iOS. Boot timeRebooting your phone can sometimes solve issues you might be having with apps not functioning correctly, so it's good to know how long it take to get back to action. The test begins when we press the power button and ends when we see the lock screen on iPhone and after the internal storage has been set up on Android phones. AnalysisWe definitely saw some interesting results here. In our tests, the Verizon iPhone 4 had much longer audio battery life than its AT&amp;T counterpart. This likely has a lot to do with the Verizon iPhone 4 having an easier time maintaining a mobile network signal than the At&amp;T version does. It's likely, then, if you live in an area like San Francisco where AT&amp;T coverage isn't the best, you may see longer battery life with a Verizon iPhone 4 than with At&amp;T's. Also, apparently iOS 4.3 makes a definite difference in Web speed and it'll be interesting to see what effect the OS' improved Safari speed has on the iPad, since the Xoom beat it in our previous tests. As for Android phones, the Nexus S has the longest video battery life, but the Atrix is--by a slim margin--the fastest at loading Web sites.  Overall, although iOS 4.3 speeds up the iPhone 4, it's still not quite as fast as the Atrix or Nexus S. What that means to you will depend on what effect losing 1 to 2 seconds while surfing has on your schedule.We'll be updating this post with new results as we receive them, so keep an eye out.  <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Text messages licking stamps in Scandinavia]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=text-messages-licking-stamps-in-scandinavia</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=text-messages-licking-stamps-in-scandinavia</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:10:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>karocruora</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=text-messages-licking-stamps-in-scandinavia</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Crave UK)Scandinavian post offices are using mobile phones to lick the problem of buying stamps. Denmark and Sweden are introducing a system of paying the postman via text. Danish service Post Danmark and Swedish postal service Posten AB are adopting the high-tech system to make it easier to post letters, packages, and cards. The system will work by sending you a code to write on your letter. Danes simply stick the letter, card, or parcel--up to 4.4 pounds--in an envelope, as normal, then text-message the word &quot;porto&quot; to the number 1900. Then they receive a unique code to write where the stamp previously would have gone and pop their goods in a mailbox as usual.Read more of &quot;Text messages replacing stamps for Scandinavian posties&quot; at Crave UK. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[iPads could replace paper charts in airline cockpits]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ipads-could-replace-paper-charts-in-airline-cockpits</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ipads-could-replace-paper-charts-in-airline-cockpits</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:10:59 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>inglaliaugust</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ipads-could-replace-paper-charts-in-airline-cockpits</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Jeppesen&amp;39's iPad app offers electronic aeronautical charts.(Credit:Jeppesen Systems)Apple's iPad my soon find its way onto your next commercial flight, and not just in the cabin as an entertainment device. Major airlines and a charter jet company are considering using thetablet as a way to replace paper navigation charts and laptops both on the ground and during flight.So far, no U.S. airline has adopted iPads exclusively, but Delta Airlines and Alaska Airlines are testing the device for navigational purposes. Alaska spokeswoman Maryanne Lindsay told the Seattle Times that the carrier is running a trial program with a select group of pilots. Calls made by CNET to the Alaska Airlines press office were not returned at the time of this writing.Switching to iPads or other tablet devices would cut down on paper, and on the equipment pilots have to carry. While some specially designed laptops, or &quot;electronic flight bags,&quot; can weigh up to 18 pounds, the current iPad weighs just just 1.5 pounds (the recently announced iPad 2 is a tad lighter). What's more, it should save airlines money as well.Yes, there's an app for thatTo power the iPads, Englewood-Colo.-Jeppesen Systems has developed an iPad app called Mobile TC that delivers electronic charts (available now for free in the iTunes App Store). At the the time of this writing, Mobile TC covers only airport terminal charts, but Jeppesen spokesman Brian Rantala told CNET that the app will be expanded to cover in flight use.Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration authorized private jet charter Executive Jet Management to begin using the app as an alternative to paper aeronautical charts. A wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, Jeppesen also developed aniPhone and iPad app called CrewAlert manage airline crew fatigue.  And back in the cabin, Qantas subsidiary Jetstar is close to using iPads as in-flight entertainment units on selected Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft. Though JetStar initially announced its iPad plans last summer, Flightglobal reported today that the airlines airline has compiled a presentation  for major movie studios. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Canada's ex-defense minister: U.S. knows how aliens can make us greener]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=canadas-ex-defense-minister-u-s--knows-how-aliens-can-make-us-greener</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=canadas-ex-defense-minister-u-s--knows-how-aliens-can-make-us-greener</comments>
<pubDate>Sun, 27 Feb 2011 08:10:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>BannyWiliamila</dc:creator>
<category>Social</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=canadas-ex-defense-minister-u-s--knows-how-aliens-can-make-us-greener</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Somehow, freaky sci-fi movies don't seem to be favored by Oscar voters.However, I think I may have found some subject matter that Peter Guber, the great Golden State Warriors owner and producer of &quot;The Kids Are Alright,&quot; might want to get a budget behind.Apparently, the United States already knows quite a lot about UFO technology. Apparently, there are secret &quot;black ops&quot; installations somewhere in--oh, I'm guessing Arizona--where new forms of energy have been created using technology that has been gleaned from those up there, rather than us down here.Please, you know not to take my word for it. Hark the words of former Canadian defense minister Paul Hellyer. According to AOL News, Hellyer will be speaking this week at the International UFO Conference. (You will feel a chill to hear that this event is in Arizona too.)Hellyer believes that humans have always fired on alien craft rather than attempt to approach their inhabitants and understand them. The aliens, he said in a previous speech in 2008, want to stop us from destroying ourselves.In that speech, Hellyer declared: &quot;Decades ago, visitors from other planets warned us about where we were headed and offered to help. But instead we, or at least some of us, interpreted their visits as a threat, and decided to shoot first and ask questions after,&quot; he told the conference.Planes were lost, he said, either because of retaliation or stupidity.Hellyer insists he has seen UFOs. In his book, &quot;Light at the End of the Tunnel,&quot; he said he also believes that the U.S. has a &quot;shadow government&quot; that has black ops installations that have already created new forms of energy using extra-terrestrial technology. &quot;I do not have proof of that,&quot; he told AOL News. &quot;But I believe that they have developed energy sources, and publicly I'm saying that if they do not exist in commercial form, that extraterrestrials would certainly give us that information if we would ask them for it and stop shooting at them.&quot;I am fascinated. What kind of new alien-inspired energy sources might have already been created Might they have something to do with San Francisco Giants' pitcher Brian Wilson and his strange, constant companion, The MachineAnd is it possible that, some day, somehow, the aliens might be able to bypass our government's alleged reluctance to go public with its knowledge of our friends out there Why, indeed, haven't these clever aliens spoken to us directlyI see Liam Neeson as the scientist who finally persuades the government that aliens are friendly and want to help us become, well, greener. I see Maria Bello as his love interest, a fellow scientist who lures the president to a secret location (in Arizona) to affect a summit with a friendly alien being. But who might play the leader of the aliens My first instinct says Charlie Sheen. Boyish, friendly, vulnerable. Perhaps you have other suggestions.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Report: Windows Phone arriving on Verizon in March]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=report-windows-phone-arriving-on-verizon-in-march</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=report-windows-phone-arriving-on-verizon-in-march</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>parmansufvishvaa</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=report-windows-phone-arriving-on-verizon-in-march</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Windows Phones could be arriving on Verizon's network as soon as next month.Citing sources familiar with the matter, blog WinRumors is reporting that Verizon could have its firstWindows Phone 7 devices available to customers on March 20 and plans to announce the launch date for an HTC-made device early next week. The report follows on the heels of yesterday's news that Sprint would be bringing the HTC Arrive, its first Windows Phone 7 handset, to consumers on the same day. That handset will ship with Microsoft's first major update to its mobile operating system preinstalled. That's the one that brings features like copy and paste, improved Marketplace search, and faster load times for some applications. WinRumors says the HTC 7 Trophy, which is the phone launching on Verizon, will also have that newer software version. Microsoft declined to comment on the rumor. A Verizon representative said simply that the company had announced its plans to support Windows Phone 7 in 2011, but that it had not set a date for a device launch.Back in January, Microsoft had pledged to bring Windows Phone 7 devices to CDMA carriers like Sprint and Verizon &quot;in the first half&quot; of 2011. A launch on both carriers before the end of March would signal Microsoft had been conservative about its original estimates. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[What to expect from Apple and Intel today]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=what-to-expect-from-apple-and-intel-today</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=what-to-expect-from-apple-and-intel-today</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:10:38 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>sandrabui</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=what-to-expect-from-apple-and-intel-today</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After weeks of a growing chorus of rumors and anecdotal evidence, Apple is expected to announce a series of updates to its popular MacBook Pro line of laptops later today. At the same time, Intel is hosting a press event that is widely expected to formally introduce its long-awaited Light Peak technology. A new type of connection for peripherals and displays, Light Peak is said to be significantly faster than USB 3.0, and can carry bidirectional data at up to 10Gbps.What exactly we'll see from Apple is anyone's guess, but posts fromMac news Web sites point toward a major series of upgrades, from new CPUs and graphics options, to a version of Intel's Light Peak connection technology. According to purported specs originally from German Web site fscklog.com and reposted at MacRumors.com, at least one of the new MacBook Pro models will have a next-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and Intel's HD 3000 integrated graphics. The same source says that Apple's version of Light Peak will be called Thunderbolt and share a common plug with MacBooks' current mini-DisplayPort connector. Separately, CNET contributor Brooke Crothers suggests that long-time GPU supplier Nvidia will be replaced by Intel's improved integrated graphics in the 13-inch models, and by AMD graphics in the larger systems. Up to this point, the most recently updated MacBooks have been the second-generation MacBook Air models from the fall of 2010. Both the 11- and 13-inch versions of the Air use older Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, but the 13-inch Air has a native display resolution of 1,440x900 pixels, making it the highest-resolution 13-inch MacBook available. We'd love to see these higher-res screens come to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, at least as an upgrade option. Stay tuned during the day, and we'll bring you any new developments on new MacBook Pros and Intel's Light Peak as it develops, including a live blog from Intel's press briefing at 10 a.m. PST. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Find your next flight with Hipmunk iPhone app]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=find-your-next-flight-with-hipmunk-iphone-app</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=find-your-next-flight-with-hipmunk-iphone-app</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>vaddfvbaa</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=find-your-next-flight-with-hipmunk-iphone-app</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A newiPhone app from Hipmunk aims to make it easier to find and book your next flight on the go.(Credit:Hipmunk)Known for its travel search site, the Hipmunk crew just launched its first app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch crowd. Letting you find and compare all the available flights to your destination, the free app aims to help you choose the best one based on price, time, and other factors.Taking the stage and wowing the crowds yesterday at the Launch 2011 event in San Francisco, the Hipmunk app is a snap to use.Just enter your starting point by city, airport name, or the three-letter airport code, and Hipmunk will find the right airport. Enter your destination the same way. Choose your departure date and, if needed, your return date from an onscreen calendar. You can also choose your seating area among coach, business, and first class. Select the number of people who'll be traveling. And then just tap the button to search for flights.In return, Hipmunk displays a colorful time line of all available flights, each one on a separate row showing you the cost, the departure and arrival times, and the name of each carrier.By default, the flights are sorted by price from cheapest to most expensive. But you can also sort the time line by departure time, length of flight, and even a fourth factor known as &quot;Agony,&quot; which Hipmunk describes as a combination of how pricey the flight is, how long you'll be stuck in the air, and how many layovers you have to make.You can tap on a flight to more clearly see all the details. Drilling down further displays all the details together in one screen. If the flight fits your needs, just select it, and a time line of all possible return flights will then pop up for you to choose one. After you've selected your return flight, you'll see a summary of the flights you chose, which you can then e-mail to yourself or someone else or book directly through Orbitz.Hipmunk saves each search you run, so you can return to any of them. I ran a variety of searches through the app, and it gave me a healthy range of flights from which to choose. The next time you need to travel, the Hipmunk app is a quick and easy way to help find the best (and hopefully least agonizing) flight.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple reigns supreme in product placement]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-reigns-supreme-in-product-placement</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-reigns-supreme-in-product-placement</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:10:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Putz-seotons</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-reigns-supreme-in-product-placement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If you're looking to escape Apple products, don't head to the movies.In 2010, Apple was tops in product placement, according to research released yesterday by BrandChannel. Apple products appeared in 10, or 30 percent, of the 33 movies that hit No. 1 at the box office last year. It easily bested Nike, Chevrolet, and Ford, which all tied for second place in product placement, finding their way to 24 percent of the top films in the U.S. at the box office last year. Sony and Dell had products in 15 percent of last year's hits, said BrandChannel, a Web site focused on brands and brand awareness.Apple's dominance in product placement has been going on for years. BrandChannel noted that between 2001 and 2010, 112 of the 334 films that hit No. 1 at the box office in the U.S. featured Apple products. The company followed only Ford over the past 10 years, which saw 144 films include its vehicles.The fact that Apple is tops in product placement probably doesn't surprise many people. On a slew of TV shows and movies, the company's familiar products pop up. Sometimes folks are using aMac to surf the Web, while other times, they enlist the help of aniPhone to place a call.But Apple's share in product placement is starting to slip. BrandChannel revealed that it hit a high of nearly 50 percent product placement in top movies in 2008. In 2009, Apple's placement reached 44 percent. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[For Intel, Obama's visit comes at pivotal moment]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=for-intel-obamas-visit-comes-at-pivotal-moment</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=for-intel-obamas-visit-comes-at-pivotal-moment</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:10:45 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>winliab365</dc:creator>
<category>Business &amp; Finance</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=for-intel-obamas-visit-comes-at-pivotal-moment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[President Obama's attendance on Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony for an Intel manufacturing facility in Oregon comes at a critical moment for Intel, whose PC-centric chip manufacturing is being challenged by large, smartphone-centric Asia-based rivals. The world's largest chipmaker announced last year that it would spend between $6 billion and $8 billion on U.S.-based manufacturing in Oregon and Arizona. Primarily targeted at building processors for the next generation of laptop, desktop, and server computers. Obama is scheduled to attend a ceremony, hosted by Intel CEO Paul Otellini, for a future Intel plant that taps into some of that money. Called a development &quot;fab,&quot; or fabrication facility, the future factory codenamed &quot;D1X&quot; is targeted at chips with geometries as small as 14 nanometers, according to Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy. That's as cutting-edge as chip manufacturing gets and underscores why Intel is the world's largest chipmaker. How cutting-edge is a 14-nanometer manufacturing process Intel's latest chips announced in January use a 32-nanometer production process. Its next-generation chips will use a 22-nanometer process. So, this is a next-next-generation facility. Generally, the smaller process geometries, the more advanced the manufacturing is. &quot;We expect that fab to begin producing and developing that process in 2013,&quot; Mulloy said. Intel&amp;39's planned 14-nanometer D1X facility at its Hillsboro, Ore., complex, which President Obama will visit on Friday.(Credit:Intel)High-tech manufacturing in the U.S. has become an increasingly rare phenomenon in an age when make-it-in-China has become de rigueur for U.S. companies. Obama has been a proponent of U.S.-based manufacturing (PDF) and sees U.S. factories as a way to create badly-needed jobs. The Obama Administration's effort to save General Motors--and its satellite of U.S.-based manufacturing sites--is the most prominent example to date. &quot;Intel has committed to investing more than $6 billion in their U.S.-based manufacturing facilities to support future technology advancements in Arizona and Oregon, creating more than 6,000 construction jobs and more than 800 permanent high-tech jobs,&quot; a White House official said in a statement. &quot;The meeting is a part of our ongoing dialogue with the business community on how we can work together to win the future, strengthen our economy, support entrepreneurship, and get the American people back to work.&quot; That is uplifting language, but Intel is now facing a growing number of consumers arming themselves with iPhones, iPads, and Android phones andtablets. Those devices and the chips inside are made in Asia by manufacturing Goliaths such as Samsung, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), and Foxconn. And that Asia-based manufacturing is being driven in no small part by U.S. companies like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell. &quot;You have to have the manufacturing close to your customers,&quot; said Vivek Wadhwa, a senior research associate with the Labor and Worklife Program at Harvard Law School. He argues here that U.S. companies typically get most of their revenue abroad--which is also the case for Intel--and therefore must manufacture abroad. Intel argues, however, that though it sells most of its products overseas 75 percent of its manufacturing in the U.S. And it is purely practical for Intel to manufacture chips in the U.S. because it has built up a cadre of highly skilled workers here. Needless to say, Intel believes that work force should be gainfully employed for a while yet. The PC industry hit a milestone this year of 1 million PCs shipping per day and Intel's fabs in the U.S. will supply the processors for the vast majority of those computers, as well as for growing markets like embedded devices, used incars and medical equipment. The challenge for Intel is how much and how fast consumer tastes will change. &quot;We see an emerging class of ultramobile devices,&quot; Otellini said at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday. And he cited a &quot;seminal event&quot; in the fourth quarter, when smartphone shipments passed PC shipments for the first time. Intel's continuing mantra is that consumers will use both an Intel-based PC and a mobile device as it feverishly tailors future silicon for small devices. &quot;No single device wins,&quot; Otellini said. As Intel is one of America's last standing major chip manufacturers, Obama can only hope that Otellini is right. The president will also get briefings on Intel's science and math education programs--since education is another big theme for Obama. Intel hands out about 100 million dollars a year in science and math contributions for education. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Honda Civic GX tops green list again]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=honda-civic-gx-tops-green-list-again</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=honda-civic-gx-tops-green-list-again</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:10:47 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>resziing7mn</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=honda-civic-gx-tops-green-list-again</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The 2011 Honda Civic GX(Credit:Honda)The Honda Civic GX is the greenestcar of 2011, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.The nonprofit organization released its 14th annual environmental ratings list yesterday with the Honda Civic GX, which runs on compressed natural gas, once again winning first place. The ACEEE ranked the all-electric Nissan Leaf second, with the Smart Fortwo in third, and the Toyota Prius in fourth. The all-electric Chevy Volt was ranked last at No. 12.However, topping the ACEEE's list doesn't necessarily mean the Honda Civic GX is the most consumer-friendly green car available. The car, which has been ranked first place for seven years now, runs on compressed natural gas (CNG), making it extremely clean, but it does require the installation of a CNG home-filling station, or locally available CNG filling stations.One might want to consider the ACEEE's greenest list as more of an industry-focused report card of sustainability rather than an actual car consumer guide like the Fuel Economy Guide 2011 produced by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.Whereas the EPA guide grades mainly on fuel consumption, the ACEEE is more encompassing with its green standards. It includes comprehensive sustainability measurements for each car, such as the emissions of the estimated battery manufacturer if the car includes a lithium-ion battery.&quot;Vehicles running on electricity emit nothing from the tailpipe, but their 'upstream' emissions can be substantial, depending on where they're charged. As U.S. power generation becomes cleaner, these vehicles' scores will rise,&quot; ACEEE Transportation Director Therese Langer said in a statement. The ACEE's full list of the 12 greenest vehicles for 2011 is as follows: Honda Civic GX&amp;nbsp'Nissan Leaf Smart Fortwo cabriolet and coupe Toyota Prius Honda Civic Hybrid Honda Insight Ford Fiesta SFE Chevrolet Cruze Eco Hyundai Elantra Mini Cooper Toyota Yaris Chevrolet Volt The ACEEE also offers more consumer-friendly lists that rank cars within in each class and are divided by manual and automatic transmission. When it comes to large SUVs, for example, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid wins first place.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[T-Mobile to carry dual-core HTC Pyramid]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=t-mobile-to-carry-dual-core-htc-pyramid</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=t-mobile-to-carry-dual-core-htc-pyramid</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 08:10:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>adolphmhla</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=t-mobile-to-carry-dual-core-htc-pyramid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Will HTC&amp;39's foray into the dual-core handset war start with the PyramidRumors of a dual-core Android smartphone from HTC began swirling today, thanks to information obtained by the blog AndroidAndMe.According to multiple sources, HTC should debut its first 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon handset in May. The handset, which carries the code-name Pyramid, is said to feature a 4.3-inch qHD display and support for HSPA+ connectivity. TmoNews has confirmed on its end that T-Mobile is expecting to offer the phone in the same time frame.Although the rest of the specs remain in the dark, AndroidAndMe speculates as to what the dual-core processor could provide in terms of support. Look for 1080p HD video recording, a 960x540 resolution on the display, and possibly a 16-megapixel camera.HTC will be at Mobile World Congress just two weeks from now where it will show off its latest models. While it's possible that the company could demonstrate dual-core technology on its handsets, I wouldn't hold my breath. With at least three months before its rumored launch, I would anticipate HTC waiting untilCTIA in March to show the device. On the other hand, the handset maker has a tendency to release various iterations of similar hardware across multiple carriers and regions. Perhaps the three recently leaked phones may shed some light on the hardware coming out of its camp in the first half of the year.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Your ticket to takeout on Android, iPhone (video)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=your-ticket-to-takeout-on-android-iphone-video</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=your-ticket-to-takeout-on-android-iphone-video</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 08:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ArmiashkaCheburek</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=your-ticket-to-takeout-on-android-iphone-video</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Blame me: Mozy scraps unlimited backups]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=blame-me-mozy-scraps-unlimited-backups</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=blame-me-mozy-scraps-unlimited-backups</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 31 Jan 2011 08:10:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>CarPsyday</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=blame-me-mozy-scraps-unlimited-backups</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Mozy, the online backup service provider and EMC subsidiary, plans to announce today that it's dumping its subscription permitting customers to store unlimited data.The reason is not hard to guess: with ever-growing quantities of photos and videos, the unlimited plan is financially unsustainable, the company said. In other words, it's my fault.You see, I'm a Mozy customer. I spent $82 for a two-year subscription and started inflicting my hundreds of gigabytes of photos and increasingly videos as well. I'm a photo nerd, so each 21-megapixel photo in raw format sucks up something like 20MB or 25MB, and each video is shot in 1080p so even shortish clips can occupy a half a gigabyte.I'm somewhere in the top 0.3 percent in terms of my data use, but I'm also a leading indicator, and that's why Mozy is altering course.&quot;There has been a change in consumer behavior,&quot; said Russ Stockdale, Mozy's vice president of product management. &quot;What we have seen since we launched an unlimited service five years ago is there has been an explosion in digital content, specifically digital photos and video.&quot;In my case, with just under 600GB of data, the $3.40 per month I pay now will explode to just about $60 per month when my subscription runs its course in a few months.That's because Mozy will begin charging $5.99 per month for up to 50GB of data, with more costing $2 per month per 20GB after that. And, recognizing that more and more people have multiple computers to back up, it's added a new multi-machine option costing $9.99 a month for up to 125GB and three computers. More computers or further 20GB increments add another $2 per month each.Good-bye unlimitedNeedless to say, I'm now looking at Mozy alternatives. But I don't feel resentful--just sad at the disappearance of yet another uncapped part of the Net.I'm grandfathered into an unlimited-data plan with T-Mobile UK, but if I leave to try to find a carrier with better service, they don't have an unlimited plan for me, and I can't go back to the T-Mobile plan. Likewise, my unlimited home broadband account actually has fair-use limits, as is customary in the U.K. My $25 a year at Flickr gets me unlimited photo storage, but it's something of a holdout in an increasingly pay-as-you-go world.And Mozy isn't alone. Google Docs costs $1,400 a year for 400GB, for example, and Google's Picasa Web Albums costs $100 per year for 400GB. Jungle Disk, which provides a front end to storage using Amazon's S3 service, charges $3.15 per gigabyte per month. Carbonite, perhaps Mozy's best-known competitor, throttles down bandwidth for big-data users. And up-and-comer Dropbox charges $20 per month for 100GB.Here's Mozy's rationale for the change: the average storage per user increased more than 50 percent last year. More than half of the growth, though, was with the top 10 percent of the users, as measured by how much data that they have.&quot;The great majority of customers are growing at manageable levels, while the heaviest users bring up the average for the entire group,&quot; Stockdale said.Mozy braces itselfThe company knows it's in for some ill will.&quot;We do not take this on lightly...I don't expect everybody to be happy about it. But if they take a look at what we're doing and why, it'll at least be understandable,&quot; he said. Mozy is trying to make the change so it can provide sustainable high-quality backup in the long term&quot; and not resort to fine-print shenanigans hoping few will notice.The unlimited plans come to an end starting March 1, but last through the end of each customer's paid subscription.Not all of Mozy's costs are going up. Hard drives can hold ever more data for a given price (2-terabyte drives can be had for $100 these days). But that's not enough to deal with Mozy's financial plight, Stockdale said.&quot;The cost of storage is an element, but it is not even the majority of cost of providing the service,&quot; Stockdale said. &quot;The bandwidth, the data centers, the people who manage that--those costs are a larger part of the cost of providing this.&quot;Mozy, though a subsidiary of storage powerhouse EMC, uses its own software running on commodity storage systems. Later this year, though, to it'll start moving users to EMC hardware and eventually migrate everyone, Stockdale said.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Amid unrest, Egypt goes offline (roundup)]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=amid-unrest-egypt-goes-offline-roundup</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=amid-unrest-egypt-goes-offline-roundup</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:10:40 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Arvinda</dc:creator>
<category>Politics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=amid-unrest-egypt-goes-offline-roundup</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Following days of street protests demanding an end to autocratic rule by President Hosni Mubarak, a country of more than 80 million people has found itself almost entirely disconnected from the rest of the world. Here's how the story has unfolded:This still from a CBS News video shows protesters out on the streets of Cairo on the fourth day of demonstrations against the Egyptian government.(Credit:Screenshot by Jonathan Skillings/CNET)Egypt's Internet disconnect reaches 24 hoursIt was a full day ago that Egypt's network links to the rest of the world began to die, and a televised address from the country's president indicates that no end is in sight.(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)January 28, 2011 2:43 p.m. PTGetting news out of an unplugged EgyptAl Jazeera streams Egypt protests while people turn to old-fashioned landlines and faxes to get information in and out of the country.(Posted in InSecurity Complex by Elinor Mills)January 28, 2011 11:04 a.m. PTEgypt's Internet goes dark during political unrestIn a stunning turn of events for the 21st-century Internet, a nation of more than 80 million people finds itself almost entirely disconnected from the rest of the world.(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)January 28, 2011 10:50 a.m. PTInternet disruptions hit EgyptIt's unclear how widespread the service disruptions are and what is causing them.(Posted in InSecurity Complex by Elinor Mills)January 27, 2011 5:06 p.m. PTFacebook: Egypt hasn't blocked us yetThe social network says traffic from the North African country, where activist protests have led to a crackdown on access to social media, has not experienced any &quot;major changes.&quot;(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)January 26, 2011 10:56 a.m. PTThere's no such thing as 'social media revolution'Or to put it another way: If activists using Twitter go on to topple a government, the real story should be that the government got toppled, not that the revolution was tweeted.(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)January 26, 2011 4:00 a.m. PTWhy Twitter is mum on Egypt blockThe company doesn't want to comment on persistent reports that Twitter.com is inaccessible amid anti-government protests.Perhaps it's still in the dark about what's happening.(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)January 25, 2011 11:33 a.m. PT.postBody h3, .postBody h4{font-size: 1.2em'margin: 10px 0 0 0 'padding: 0px'font-weight: bold'border-bottom: none'}<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Microsoft goes on the iPad offensive]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-goes-on-the-ipad-offensive</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-goes-on-the-ipad-offensive</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:10:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Hareexifada</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-goes-on-the-ipad-offensive</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Microsoft may have laid out its plans to have Windows running on any device while unveiling the next version of Windows atCES earlier this month, but it's not there yet. In the meantime, we're still stuck with the current version of Windows, which, for better or for worse, cannot fit into the types of devices its successor promises to fit.That very situation--along with a lack of product from Microsoft's hardware partners, has led to a relative dearth of Windows 7 intablet PCs. It can also be argued that it's responsible, in part, for what has turned out to be much stronger than expected sales for theiPad, of which Apple sold 7.33 million units during the last three months of 2010, nabbing the &quot;best-selling tech gadget in history&quot; title following its introduction.  One of the slides detailing how Microsoft stacks up Windows 7 devices with Apple&amp;39's iOS on the iPad.(Credit:ZDNet) But Microsoft's got a plan to position Windows 7 as the better of the two computing platforms. In a set of slides sent out to its reseller partners, and acquired by CNET sister site ZDNet, Microsoft has outlined the various ways in which Windows offers more security and breakout features, while also being more of a chameleon--working its way into more than just one hardware form factor.The 10 slides, which you can view on ZDNet, focus mainly on the enterprise, highlighting key differences where Windows checks all the boxes for things like getting work done offline, supporting Microsoft Office and its data synchronization tools, and working with existing lines of business applications. But Microsoft also takes the iPad to task on compatibility with things such as support for peripherals, security protocols, Adobe's Flash and Microsoft's own Silverlight.  At the heart of Microsoft's argument, though, the company paints the iPad as a consumption device that doesn't play nice with existing enterprise security or application standards. To back that up, the company breaks down the ways in which Windows 7 slate form factor PCs have three distinct advantages over the iPad: optimization for online and offline data use, a design for both consuming and creating content, and support for peripherals. Microsoft also highlights Windows' pen and writing technology, speech recognition, and touch support, alongside its natural user interface and video technologies, all of which it deems to be &quot;rapidly changing.&quot;  For companies on the fence about bringing the iPad into their business, Microsoft is going with a &quot;one size does not fit all&quot; approach, noting that some companies may need devices that work better with their security and compliance needs. The more telling look, though, is what Microsoft is trying to pitch to companies already using, or plan to use, Apple's iPad. Microsoft is telling those partners to &quot;implement a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to reduce risk in your enterprise,&quot; meaning that they'd be making use of tools like Microsoft's Hyper-V Server, and App-V. During last year's CES keynote, Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer paid special attention to a group of Windows 7 slate concepts, though the only one of the bunch that made it to consumers' hands during 2010 was HP's Slate 500 device. At this year's show, slates were all but missing from the company's keynote, instead being replaced by myriad devices designed to show off Windows' next ARM capabilities. What's still unclear is whether Microsoft's more nascent, though already ARM-friendly, Windows Phone OS will make its way into a tablet form factor, something speculated about since the platform's introduction at last year's Mobile World Congress. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Nokero solar bulb stands up to Canadian winter]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nokero-solar-bulb-stands-up-to-canadian-winter</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nokero-solar-bulb-stands-up-to-canadian-winter</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:10:43 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Julrild</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=nokero-solar-bulb-stands-up-to-canadian-winter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Chill factor: the N200 solar bulb basks in the winter sun. (Credit:Tim Hornyak )The mercury reads 12 degrees outside, but it feels like minus 2 with the windchill. That's Fahrenheit--the numbers are depressingly lower in Celsius here in Canada. Still, when I hang Nokero's new N200 bulb on a tree, its solar cell recharges without a hitch.  Denver-based Nokero debuted last year with the N100 solar light bulb. It recently released an improved version, the N200, and I had a chance to try it out. First off, the Nokero bulbs are designed to replace homemade kerosene lamps, not standard bulbs. They're aimed at hundreds of millions of people in developing countries who have little or no electricity. Many burn kerosene for light, which, aside from costing money, is a fire and air pollution hazard.  The N200's light is only 13.5 lumens on the high setting (a 60-watt incandescent bulb is 850 lumens). That's very dim, but it's comparable to a kerosene lamp. It's also better than the 8.5 lumens of the N100 bulb.  Meanwhile, the N200 can last more than six hours on its low-intensity setting after a single-day charge in sunlight. The N100 was rated at four hours if charged in equatorial regions, where the sun is strongest. Nokero says typical kerosene lamp users burn their lamps for 1.5 hours every night.  Obviously, several of these solar bulbs are needed to effectively light a small room or tent. The N200 is priced at $20, which is $5 more than the N100. Nokero says it has lower bulk wholesale prices for both bulbs. The N200 is slightly larger than a conventional bulb. Its main design difference over the N100 is that it can swivel on a chrome-plated steel loop to best catch the sun with its single solar cell, which can capture more light. New Life Orphanage Co-Director Sherry Moseley with a tent city family in Haiti. (Credit:American Green)Power is stored in a replaceable AA-sized, 1,000 mAh Ni-MH battery, which is rated to last two years. The company says it can be replaced for about $1. The bulb has four LEDs, a switch for high or low settings, and a safety hook for hanging. It's rainproof and impact-resistant, and rated from minus 4 to 131 degrees. So I've been recharging it outside in the cold, including days when the windchill factor was about minus 5, and it worked fine, illuminating a dim corner of my kitchen. It also recharged to some extent on cloudy days.  One interesting feature is the bulb's auto-shutoff function. It will only shine when ambient light falls below about 200 lux. This power-saving feature is probably valued by those with the least electricity. A year after Haiti's devastating earthquake killed tens of thousands of people, the N200 bulb is being distributed there through American Green, a media group that brought the lights to the New Life Orphanage and a tent city outside Port au Prince.  According to Nokero, Haitian families often spend $10 to $30 on batteries, kerosene, or other lighting methods a month. For that amount, they can buy one or two solar bulbs that can last years. The company and American Green are trying to get Haitians interested in starting up businesses buying and selling them. The bulbs have been tested in countries like Pakistan and Kenya and are also being shipped to needy families by Project C.U.R.E., the world's largest distributor of donated medical supplies. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA['Biotic' video games: Play with microorganisms]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=biotic-video-games-play-with-microorganisms</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=biotic-video-games-play-with-microorganisms</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:10:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>resmaab24n</dc:creator>
<category>Social</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=biotic-video-games-play-with-microorganisms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[You may have heard of Fold-It, which involves different approaches to folding proteins, and EteRNA, which lets players propose new molecular structures for ribonucleic acids (RNA). While these are conceptual exercises that can influence future research, a new set of games out of Stanford takes these types of games one step further.Stanford researcher Ingmar Riedel-Kruse and his lab group have developed such games as Biotic Pinball, POND PONG, and a soccer game called Ciliaball that involve players actually interacting with living microorganisms.&quot;We hope that by playing games involving biology of a scale too small to see with the naked eye, people will realize how amazing these processes are and they'll get curious and want to know more,&quot; says Riedel-Kruse, an assistant professor of bioengineering. &quot;The applications we can envision so far are on the one hand educational, for people to learn about biology, but we are also thinking perhaps we could have people running real experiments as they play these games.&quot;To determine whether they could design biotic games at all, the researchers stuck to more primitive, basic game concepts. They came up with eight games that fit into three categories: interaction with molecules, single cells, or colonies of single cells.The hardware is pretty straightforward. A small camera transmits live images of the paramecia as they swim about, responding to changes in the polarity of an electrical field applied to the fluid chamber by the player's laptop, with the &quot;game board&quot; superimposed on the image of the paramecia. A microprocessor tracks movement and keeps score.In some games, such as PAC-mecium, the player controls the polarity of a mild electrical field applied across the fluid chamber, which influences the direction the paramecia move. In Biotic Pinball, the player injects occasional whiffs of a chemical into the fluid, causing the paramecia to swim in certain directions.The molecular level game, called PolymerRace, involves the laboratory technique called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), an automated process by which researchers make millions of copies of an organism's DNA in as few as two hours. The player is linked to the output of a PCR machine that is running different reactions simultaneously, and can bet on which reactions will be run fastest.The third type of game involves colonies of yeast cells. Players literally smell the colonies to try to distinguish between them based on bread-vinegar-like scents.Riedel-Kruse acknowledges that for some players there have been ethical issues, but stresses that these organisms lack brains and the capacity to feel pain: &quot;We are talking about microbiology with these games, very primitive life forms...These games could be a good tool to stimulate discussions in schools on bioethical issues.&quot;The games are presented in a paper published this month in the 10th anniversary issue of Lab on a Chip.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Verizon iPhone a blessing for AT&T customers]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=verizon-iphone-a-blessing-for-att-customers</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=verizon-iphone-a-blessing-for-att-customers</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:10:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>dermedikus</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=verizon-iphone-a-blessing-for-att-customers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[More than a year ago, when talk of perceived problems with AT&amp;T's wireless network hit a fever pitch online, I was among those who asserted that the performance problems some were having were due to the iPhone, as AT&amp;T had become the first network to have to deal with millions of people using smartphones all the time. As an AT&amp;amp'T iPhone user, I say, welcome!(Credit:Geeky Gadgets)Sure, smartphones had been around, but not in the numbers they hit when theiPhone 3G came out, and people didn't devour data as much as they did once the App Store opened. I blamed the problems mostly on iPhone users, like myself. (And I wasn't the only one.)That said, if Verizon, as expected, announces an iPhone for its network tomorrow, and, as expected, some AT&amp;T users jump ship for the new carrier, it might actually be a good thing for AT&amp;T--and its remaining users.Analysts from the Yankee Group estimate that 2.5 million iPhone users on AT&amp;T might migrate to Verizon in the first year due to AT&amp;T's overtaxed network, and that represents about 3 percent of AT&amp;T's 93 million customers (though estimates range from 1 million to 6 million). But those are iPhone users, which use the lion's share of AT&amp;T's wireless data. (Some estimates put it at as much as 65 percent.)A migration on that scale means AT&amp;T might take a small revenue hit, but it also means that much of the data that those 2.5 million iPhone users eat will be freed up for the other several million iPhone users.Some analysts suggest that Verizon will sell 13.2 million iPhones in 2011, including subscriber turnover from AT&amp;T, which is expected to sell 8.8 million itself, even with competition from Verizon.This is all academic, though, as the expected Verizon iPhone is not yet available. There's no telling how many users will switch, though it's almost certain that some will.One more variable to consider: AT&amp;T's 3G is based on GSM's HSPA, which tends to be faster than Verizon's CDMA-based 1xEV-DO rA. It's possible AT&amp;T iPhone users who switch to Verizon will actually get slower 3G speeds than they had before, which might cause some backlash that could keep some users from switching.AT&amp;T Executive Vice President Larry Solomon noted the possible difference in speeds, saying, &quot;The iPhone is built for speed, but that's not what you get with a CDMA phone. I'm not sure iPhone users are ready for life in the slow lane.&quot;This was, of course, a way to try to talk up his own network while throwing a slight diss to the competition. But Solomon can't keep that small percentage who are frustrated with AT&amp;T's coverage issues from leaving for what they think might be greener pastures, and that might be OK. Freeing up 3G bandwidth on its network while losing little in revenue is a good thing for AT&amp;T--and its users.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[CES: Meet Microsoft's new multitouch mouse]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-meet-microsofts-new-multitouch-mouse</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-meet-microsofts-new-multitouch-mouse</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:10:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>karadim3z</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=ces-meet-microsofts-new-multitouch-mouse</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Microsoft&amp;39's new multitouch Touch Mouse arrives on store shelves in May.(Credit:Microsoft)LAS VEGAS--Not mentioned at today's CES keynote address from Microsoft was something new--a multitouch mouse that's been designed to bring special gesture features toWindows 7 users. Readers with a good memory might take one look at what Microsoft is calling Touch Mouse, and recognize it as the &quot;Cap Mouse&quot; from October of 2009, which the company unveiled as one of five mousing prototypes. Since then the mouse has cut the cord, tapered out in front, been given a completely different finish (black and red instead of gray and dark gray), and a $79.95 price tag.The Touch Mouse makes use of multitouch gestures to put nine different system shortcuts up at the top of the mouse instead of using buttons. By the number of fingers, Microsoft breaks them down like so:One finger lets you manage the content of a document or Web page. Moving one finger lets you precisely scroll in any direction and hyperscroll through long documents with a quick flick of your finger, while using your thumb lets you move back/forward easily through your internet browser.Two fingers lets you manage multiple windows by maximizing, minimizing, restoring, and snapping them side-by-side.Three fingers lets you navigate the whole desktop--three fingers up to display all of your open windows for easy task switching or three fingers down for clearing the desktop entirely.It's worth noting these gestures are only available to Windows 7 users--no word yet on whether the mouse reverts to something more standard on older hardware. Microsoft has a video of these gestures in action, which you can watch below:The mouse joins Microsoft's Arc Touch as another touch-friendly mouse in the company's hardware lineup. Microsoft says it will hit store shelves in May, though places like Amazon are already taking preorders.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple sued over privacy in iPhone, iPad apps]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-sued-over-privacy-in-iphone-ipad-apps</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-sued-over-privacy-in-iphone-ipad-apps</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Dec 2010 08:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>healthmedicine</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=apple-sued-over-privacy-in-iphone-ipad-apps</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Apple is being sued for allegedly letting mobile apps on theiPhone andiPad send personal information to ad networks without the consent of users.Jonathan Lalo, who filed the lawsuit on Thursday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., alleges that Apple's iPhones and iPads let ad networks track which applications people download, how often they're used, and for how long, according to a Bloomberg article published today.Specifically, the suit alleges that the ad networks are able to trace an iPhone or iPad using the unique device identifier, or UDID, which is a number specific to each unit that can't be blocked by users. Claiming that sending personal data without consent violates federal computer fraud and privacy laws, the suit is seeking class action status on behalf of all Apple iPhone and iPad users who downloaded an app between December 1, 2008, and last week, according to Bloomberg.Privacy concerns over mobile data have heated up lately. Last week, a Wall Street Journal article asserted that mobile apps send certain information without the user's consent or knowledge. That article helped light a fire under the Mobile Marketing Association, an industry group that is now calling for new, more transparent privacy guidelines to tell consumers what information gets sent to advertisers and how it's used.Along with Apple, the lawsuit names as defendants certain mobile apps, such as Pandora, Paper Toss, Weather Channel, and Dictionary.com, Bloomberg reported. The Journal article had specifically mentioned Pandora, which it found was sending age, gender, and other personal information to ad networks, and Paper Toss, which the paper asserted was transmitting UDIDs.An Apple representative told CNET today that the company declines to comment on the suit.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Assange penning autobiography to pay legal bills]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=assange-penning-autobiography-to-pay-legal-bills</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=assange-penning-autobiography-to-pay-legal-bills</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:10:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Nadia01</dc:creator>
<category>Politics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=assange-penning-autobiography-to-pay-legal-bills</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Faced with mounting legal bills, Julian Assange has agreed to a $1.5 million deal to write his autobiography.&quot;I don't want to write this book, but I have to,&quot; the controversial WikiLeaks founder told Britain's Sunday Times yesterday. &quot;I have already spent 200,000 pounds ($307,400) for legal costs and I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat.&quot;Assange told the Times that he would receive $796,654 from Alfred A Knopf, his U.S. publisher. A deal with British publisher Canongate would bring in around 325,000 pounds ($501,000). And money from international markets and serialization of the book would bump up the total to at least $1.5 million.Currently out on bail in England, Assange is wanted for questioning by Swedish authorities over charges of sexual abuse, or &quot;overraskningssex,&quot; as it's known in Sweden. Specifically, one Swedish woman claims Assange had sex with her after a condom broke, and another has accused him of having sex without a condom in the first place.The WikiLeaks founder has long maintained his innocence in the crimes. His supporters believe the charges have been trumped up as a way to silence him following outrage from the U.S. government over his publication of classified U.S. State Department and military documents.Assange is scheduled to appear in court again on January 11.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Cash is dead, says Dwolla]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cash-is-dead-says-dwolla</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cash-is-dead-says-dwolla</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:10:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>mandidmdda</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=cash-is-dead-says-dwolla</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dwolla is a relatively new online payment system that's designed to hit PayPal where it hurts: the transaction fees.PayPal transactions, as well as credit-card payments, incur fees based on a percentage of the transaction amount in addition to a transaction fee. Dwolla transactions cost 25 cents each. The whole idea is to move cash cheaply--for businesses and for consumers. Dwolla founder Ben Milne says his retail payment kiosk is cheap, too. It's virtual, relying on Web-connected point-of-sale systems on one side and consumers with smartphones on the other. A consumer selects the store he or she wants to pay and enters the amount on the smartphone app' the register clerk can see a payment come in and close the transaction. In the future, Dwolla's mobile app, which is currently very bare-bones, will get location awareness so it will know what store you're in when you go to use the system to send a payment. But Dwolla is about more than saving consumers and retailers money on fees, Milne says. It's also closely tied in to social networks, today's de facto address books. From the Dwolla site, you can pay anyone in your Facebook or Twitter circle. All you have to do is start typing in their online name to find them. With Paypal, you can pay people if you know their e-mail address. Back in 1999, the company that eventually became PayPal had a strong person-to-person angle, except instead of relying on smartphones and the Web, the original PayPal made it possible for Palm Pilot users to &quot;beam&quot; money to each other over their devices' infrared links. Assuming I fund my Dwolla account, I&amp;39'll be able to easily send money to Facebook friends.(Credit:Screenshot by Rafe Needleman/CNET)Can Dwolla become the next PayPal--the scrappy payment company that's more convenient, more personal, and cheaper to use than the big guys (debit cards, credit cards, and PayPal itself) And, more importantly, when you're dealing with a service that connects to your bank account, is scrappy what you want The companies funding Dwolla have well-established relationships with the banking industry, at least in Iowa, where the company is based. The Veridian Credit Union gives the company a footprint in banking, and The Members Group does financial transaction processing and serves as Dwolla's backbone for executing money transfers. In Dwolla's hometown of Des Moines, a small number of businesses (like the Mars Cafe and Crown Cleaners) are currently taking payments with the system. Milne seems proud to tell me that the service has over 2,000 active users. In other words, it's barely off the ground. But Milne believes that lowering transaction costs and making it easier and cheaper for people to pay one other and small businesses is the right pitch for today. He says that people of his generation--he's 28--don't carry much cash around for incidental day-to-day expenses. He adds that the popularity of services like Mint, which tracks everything you spend electronic money on, highlight a problem of paying with cash: you can't track what you've spent. (On the flip side, when you don't want to leave any sort of record, that's cash's big bonus.) Dwolla does have a scary element: it can reach into your bank account. But then again, so can Mint, and it's doing pretty well. Other than that, it's a low-risk service to try. There are no fees unless you use it, and when you do, the 25 cents per transaction is close enough to free to not dissuade people from trying it out. For day-to-day cash transactions, Dwolla has the potential to become a major service. It will be interesting to see if the organizations behind existing electronic payment systems lower their rates or launch competing flat-fee services to keep this new and smart start-up at bay.See also: Oodle's social classifieds<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Digital City 109: Gawker hacked, prank presents, and the Blabber Meter]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=digital-city-109-gawker-hacked-prank-presents-and-the-blabber-meter</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=digital-city-109-gawker-hacked-prank-presents-and-the-blabber-meter</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>ingmarbug02</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=digital-city-109-gawker-hacked-prank-presents-and-the-blabber-meter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Australians harvest algae from coal pollution]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=australians-harvest-algae-from-coal-pollution</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=australians-harvest-algae-from-coal-pollution</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2010 08:11:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>vanessarice</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=australians-harvest-algae-from-coal-pollution</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A commercial pilot project for carbon sequestration and large-scale algae biofuel manufacturing in Australia has been successfully completed, OriginOil announced today.The company partnered with Australian energy company MBD Energy through a licensing agreement that has allowed both companies to share intellectual property on proprietary algae-to-fuel conversion processes.The algae-to-fuel process in this case begins with an existing coal power plant.CO2, given off as a byproduct of MBD Energy's coal-fired power plants, is captured by micro-algae. The micro-algae convert that captured CO2 and use it to reproduce, creating higher amounts of algae, which can then be used as algae biomass for fuel. That part of the process was developed by MBD Energy.The algae biomass is then put through OriginOil's process. Its algae biomass is converted into oil that can be used for biofuel, while leaving behind concentrated algae biomass byproducts that can be used to make things like plastics.OriginOil has developed a one-step process in which the oil, water, and algae biomass separate out over time, making it easier and more cost-effective to retrieve, according to OriginOil.  (Time-lapse video for OriginOil extraction process posted on Vimeo.) As a result of the project's success, MBD Energy, known for its coal mining, will now begin adding algae production to three of its power plants in Australia.&quot;According to MBD Energy, each of its power station projects has the potential to grow to 80-hectare commercial plants, each capable of producing 11 million liters of oil for plastics and transport fuel. MBD Energy estimates that, subject to performance and joint approvals, the projects have potential at full scale to consume more than half of each power station's flue-gas emissions,&quot; OriginOil said in a statement.OiriginOil says its ultimate goal is to transform algae &quot;into a true competitor to petroleum.&quot;While the idea is innovative, these are certainly not the first companies to try making lemonade out of lemons with regard to coal. Fellow Australian companies, Linc Energy and Bio Clean Coal announced in 2007 that they were building a bioreactor prototype for converting coal power plant emissions into algae biomass that could be used as fuel. In 2008, Inventure Chemical and Seambiotic announced a partnership to develop algae biofuels from a coal-fired power plant. And Cambridge, Mass.-based GreenFuel Technologies also has a process for growing algae from pollution.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[WikiLeaks payment host threatens MasterCard, Visa]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-payment-host-threatens-mastercard-visa</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-payment-host-threatens-mastercard-visa</comments>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2010 08:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>parwanresoh25341</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=wikileaks-payment-host-threatens-mastercard-visa</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A hosting company has said it will take immediate legal action against Visa and MasterCard over the credit card companies' refusal to process donations for whistle-blower site WikiLeaks.DataCell, based in Iceland, facilitates donations to WikiLeaks. DataCell said it had been losing revenue since Visa and MasterCard decided to stop processing WikiLeaks' donations.&quot;DataCell...has decided to take up immediate legal actions to make donations possible again,&quot; DataCell CEO Andreas Fink said in a statement Wednesday. Fink told ZDNet UK that DataCell would pursue legal action as soon as possible: &quot;Not being able to receive money from the public for a week can cost WikiLeaks seven-digit figures in losses, and DataCell as well, as it is unable to process any cards.&quot;The suit, Fink said, will be filed in the United Kingdom against Visa Europe, with a request for an immediate injunction &quot;to limit further damage.&quot; WikiLeaks donations can still be made via wire transfer, but MasterCard and Visa handle small donations, which make up the majority, according to Fink.Read more of &quot;Legal threat to Visa, MasterCard over WikiLeaks move&quot; at ZDNet UK.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[New virus tweets its way into Twitter]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=new-virus-tweets-its-way-into-twitter</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=new-virus-tweets-its-way-into-twitter</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:10:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>factorychocolate</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=new-virus-tweets-its-way-into-twitter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A new virus is infecting Twitter users through the use of URLs shortened by the goo.gl service.Apparently triggered last night, the virus is spreading as a result of users clicking on links that start with http://goo.gl, Google's URL shortener. TechCrunch is saying that the virus started on Twitter's mobile site and has been growing through different URLs, including http://goo.gl/od0az and http://goo.gl/R7f68.The virus tries to redirect unsuspecting users to malicious Web sites, according to Techweet, which says that the messages are coming from new, disposable Twitter accounts as well as existing accounts that have been hijacked.Twitter users have been busy tweeting warnings to each other to avoid clicking on links that may spread the nasty virus. People using Twitter through a mobile phone should be especially wary of any shortened URLs that seem suspicious.TechCrunch says the tech folks at Twitter are aware of the virus, have been sending out password resets for those affected, and are monitoring the problem.Shortened links have posed a problem on Twitter and other sites since users can't see the actual URL until they click on the link itself. As such, they've been a favorite trick for cybercriminals who use them to point people to malware-hosting Web sites.Certain services, such as TinyURL, offer a preview feature so you can see the full URL before clicking on the link. Some browser plug-ins exist that can also preview these types of URLs. And a few antivirus products say they can detect malicious shortened URLs.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Forcing browsers to use encryption]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=forcing-browsers-to-use-encryption</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=forcing-browsers-to-use-encryption</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:10:27 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>xxygfilmes87</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=forcing-browsers-to-use-encryption</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Google)Help is on the way for Web surfers who run the risk of having their Facebook, Twitter, and other Web accounts hijacked over unsecured Wi-Fi networks and other security issues that result from sites not using encryption. A Web security mechanism called HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) is making its way through the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) standards process, and two of the major browsers are supporting it. Web sites that implement HSTS will prompt the browser to always connect to a secure version of the site, using &quot;https,&quot; without the Web surfer having to remember to type that in the URL bar. It will render useless tools like Firesheep, aFirefox add-on that lets people easily capture HTTP session cookies that sites use to communicate with computers. Firesheep was released at ToorCon last month.  HSTS is used in Google Chrome and the NoScript and Force-TLS Firefox plug-ins and is being implemented in the upcoming version of FireFox, according to a blog post by Jeff Hodges, a security engineer at PayPal. Hodges wrote the original draft specification for HSTS with Collin Jackson, a former Googler and current assistant research professor at Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley, and Adam Barth, a Google engineer.(Credit:Mozilla)&quot;This allows for full-session encryption,&quot; Jackson told CNET. &quot;A user won't see an insecure version of the site.&quot; PayPal and other Web sites have started to use the feature and more are waiting to adopt it once it is implemented in more browsers, he said. &quot;We're waiting on Microsoft to pick it up,&quot; Jackson said. Asked if Microsoft is considering using HSTS in Internet Explorer, a spokesperson provided this comment: &quot;We don't support it in IE9 but are committed to delivering trusted browsing experience and will continue to listen to customers.&quot; Apple spokespeople did not respond to an e-mail asking for comment for this story. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[iTunes event mystery: What is Apple planning]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=itunes-event-mystery-what-is-apple-planning</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=itunes-event-mystery-what-is-apple-planning</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:10:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>cowaarom</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=itunes-event-mystery-what-is-apple-planning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[AirPlay is set to launch for iOS devices any day now. Is that what Apple will launch tomorrow morning(Credit:Apple)This had better be good. Apple has promised us--by plastering it all over its home page--that &quot;tomorrow is just another day&quot; that we'll &quot;never forget,&quot; thanks to an &quot;exciting announcement from iTunes.&quot; This naturally has thrown the tech news hype machine into high gear. What could Apple have to say Language like that implies something pretty big. Apple, of course, is no stranger to hyperbole in its marketing messages--think the &quot;magical and revolutionary&quot;iPad. While that phrase is pretty dramatic, to be fair, the iPad actually ended up being industry-altering. And in true Apple fashion, it had a press conference and an advance year of hype to go with it. This iTunes news appears to be just an announcement posted to Apple.com, scheduled for 7 a.m. PT tomorrow morning, which begs the question: what could possibly be so life- and paradigm-altering yet doesn't require sermonizing by Reverend Steve, live and in-person Let's hope that all this buildup doesn't lead to something middling, such as Yoko Ono finally relenting on allowing The Beatles' music on iTunes (yes, a Beatles announcement would be cool, but calling the world's attention to it with this kind of buildup would be lame) or something we're already well aware of, such as the iOS 4.2 announcement that will enable streaming of music and video content from iPhones, iPads, andiPod Touches to the new Apple TV. The AirPlay-centric announcement is supposed to hit sometime this month, according to earlier indications given by Apple. If that's really what Apple has for us tomorrow, you can count on lots of virtual eye rolling and snarky tweets emanating from the tech world. But why make such a big deal about a feature it discussed at an iTunes event in September For meatier software updates, Apple usually finds a quietly dashed-off press release sufficient--or even a simple push of the software with no comment at all--such as with iTunes 10.1 last week orMac OS X 10.6.5 a day prior. Semi-major product updates at least require a smaller gathering of tech journalists on the Apple campus (see the MacBook Air event in October) so Jobs and his cohorts can demonstrate the hardware or the software. That could be the clue here: maybe tomorrow's announcement is more of an idea or an infrastructure change that can't be demonstrated yet has pretty hefty ramifications for the manner in which you use your digital media. In other words, could this, at long last, be cloud-based iTunes Apple had previously indicated in earnings calls that the giant server farm it has been constructing in North Carolina would be ready to be switched on by the end of this year. It's been long assumed that the purpose of the facility is to house massive amounts of digital media. A cloud-based iTunes would ostensibly allow users to stream content purchased on any device with iTunes to any device with iTunes. In other words, it wiouldn't matter where you bought your music' you could play it on an iPhone or a Mac or an iPad and, of course, through Apple TV, eliminating the need for local storage. The timing is on par for a cloud announcement: it would fit in with the recent launch of a streaming-only Apple TV released last month and the expected AirPlay update for iOS devices. But Apple's music partners in the industry would presumably need to be on board with this, and reports indicate that they are completely in the dark. It's not impossible that Apple would would charge ahead without telling them, but given the importance of keeping its very necessary partners happy, doing so certainly doesn't seem like the smartest tactic. So maybe the announcement will be something completely off the wall...iTunes for Android Yeah, probably not, but it's as good a guess as any, for now. We'll be following this live tomorrow at 7 a.m., but please chime in below in the comments with your best guesses as to what Apple has in store for us.Update 3:40 p.m. PT: Oh well, middling announcement it is: The Wall Street Journal says we should expect to hear tomorrow that The Beatles' record label and Apple finally come to terms to allow their music on iTunes. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Shopping on Google now includes inventory checks]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=shopping-on-google-now-includes-inventory-checks</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=shopping-on-google-now-includes-inventory-checks</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:10:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>rozemiluc</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=shopping-on-google-now-includes-inventory-checks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Google&amp;39's new product-shopping pages are designed to provide cues to offline stores from Web search.(Credit:Google)As the retail industry anxiously awaits another holiday season amid difficult conditions, Google is also hoping to attract shoppers with new search features. Over the next several days Google plans to introduce several new features to Google Shopping, the product search category of its site. As detailed by CNET earlier this summer, the idea is to blend online and offline shopping by providing information such as the location of local stores and whether a product is in stock at a retail store, said Sameer Samat, director of product management. Starting today, Google users will see two new links on search-results pages for product searches: stores nearby and an inventory update, which will advise shoppers if a product is in stock, in limited quantities, or out of stock. A click on an individual product page will also return a list of nearby stores that carry that product with an embedded Google Map for obtaining directions. E-commerce is old hat at this point, but even with the dramatic growth in online shopping over the last 15 years 93 percent of all shopping still takes place in retail outlets, Samat said. Still, lots of people--nearly half, according to Google's data--do research online comparing specs, prices, and features before heading out to stores. Google already knows that a lot of people use its search engine for that research, but it would also like to develop closer partnerships with retail stores that have agreed to upload their catalog listings and inventory data to Google's databases. At the moment, Google isn't going to be sharing the data of shoppers on its pages with retail partners, but it is likely to work out some sort of way to share aggregate data with those companies at some point in the future, allowing retailers to see how generic Google users found their products, which stores they prefer, and other online shopping habits. At some point, Google would like to extend this to smaller businesses, marrying its Google Shopping services with the local Google Places listings, but it's not quite ready to head down that road, Samat said. Over 70 large retailers are on board for the initial launch, including Macy's, Pottery Barn, and Best Buy, and Google has also struck deals with enterprise software companies JDA, Epicor, and Oracle to integrate the Google Shopping upload process into the inventory management systems of those retailers. Google has also added something it's calling &quot;aisles&quot; to product search-results pages, in hopes of taking an extremely broad search such as &quot;camera lenses&quot; and distilling it down into various ways to refine that category, such as shopping by brand, features, or aperture in this case. Retail stores are very good at drawing consumers in for one specific item but convincing them to buy other things in the store that they simply happen upon while trying to find the fitting room or checkout counter. That's not necessarily the case online: while some online stores like Amazon are good at serving recommendations, Google's product search pages suffer from a glut of information that hasn't always been organized into neat categories. Samat hopes that will change with the aisles, which will give consumers ways to shop through different categories of a product and expose them to other options they might not have known about when starting their search. Google also plans to highlight popular products on broad searches like camera lenses by measuring activity on certain product pages. These features will show up when conducting a search through the &quot;Shopping&quot; link on the left-hand side of the search results page, but Google will also surface a box containing some product-related search results on regular Web searches, as it does for images, videos, and news under certain conditions through its universal search strategy. And since a major part of the modern shopping experience now involves looking up details about a product on a smartphone while standing in the store, Google is making a few refinements to its Google Shopper Android app. It's adding the &quot;stores near me&quot; feature as well as the inventory checks to the mobile application, which should be made available in the Android Market later this week.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Obama climate rules face fight in Congress]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=obama-climate-rules-face-fight-in-congress</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=obama-climate-rules-face-fight-in-congress</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Nov 2010 08:10:25 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>alfley</dc:creator>
<category>Eco</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=obama-climate-rules-face-fight-in-congress</guid>
<description><![CDATA[analysis Republicans in the new Congress will pose a greater threat to the Obama administration's strategy to regulate greenhouse gas polluters than a plethora of industry lawsuits.  The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, is marching ahead with rules requiring big polluters like coal-fired power plants, oil refiners, and cement manufacturers to get permits starting January 2 to emit gases blamed for warming the planet.  President Barack Obama has always said the EPA would regulate carbon emitters if lawmakers failed to pass a climate bill.  Republicans, who will control the House of Representatives in January after winning some 60 seats in the midterm elections, are organizing to stop that from happening. They say the regulations will cost industry jobs and billions of dollars as the country struggles to recover from the recession.  The EPA is already under fire from business groups like the Chamber of Commerce, the American Iron and Steel Institute, and the National Association of Manufacturers, who have filed suits to block it from regulating.But the lawmakers represent a bigger threat. &quot;Congress doesn't give the EPA nearly as much deference as the courts do, and there are about to be a lot more Republicans and unenthusiastic Democrats,&quot; said Michael Gerrard, the director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School.  The uncertainty about the future of emissions policy could stall billions of dollars of investments in power plants and factories and prove to be a painful hurdle to longer-term growth when the economy begins to recover.  It will also hamper the Obama administration from taking a leading role in annual global climate talks in Mexico that start later this month. Bottom lineEven before January, Republicans could add language that would delay the EPA from acting to a short-term spending bill that would fund the government until about February. Next year, they could attach it to longer-term spending bills that would fund the government through September or through fiscal year 2012.  Nobody says it will be easy to do, but the goal of Republicans is to attach language to a spending bill that Obama could not veto because doing so would shut down the government.  Efforts to do that or attach text to other bills stopping the government from funding EPA climate regulation would likely be widely supported in the House.  &quot;The bottom line...is we're not going to allow (the EPA) to regulate what they cannot legislate,&quot; Representative Fred Upton, a contender for chairing the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told the Washington Examiner this week.  Representative Joe Barton, Upton's competition for the seat is also against EPA regulation.  Even before Republicans won all those seats, they tried to attach such language to spending bills in the House. An amendment that would have stopped such EPA efforts for two years was blocked by a vote of seven to seven in an appropriations subcommittee last summer.  Republicans in both chambers could also get support from Democrats in states where fossil fuels play an important economic role. Senator John Rockefeller, a Democrat from coal-rich West Virginia, will likely try to move legislation delaying the EPA from acting for two years.And with Republicans also winning seats in the Senate, they are seeking more than just a delay.&quot;Longer term.. we would like to find common ground for a permanent removal of EPA's ability&quot; to regulate carbon, said an aide to a senior senate Republican.  Columbia's Gerrard said some of the administration's moves to cut emissions in other industries, such ascars and trucks, should be safe from both legal and congressional moves because the auto industry has so far demonstrated it is willing to comply with the rules.  More vulnerable in the courts is the EPA's move to apply the Clean Air Act only to big polluters that emit at least 100,000 tons a year of carbon dioxide. Gerrard said the industry groups had about even chances in the courts of stopping the EPA on that so-called &quot;tailoring rule.&quot; If industry wins, it could halt the EPA from regulating by drowning it in paperwork for the tens of thousands of smaller polluters would have to get carbon permits.  The industries have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for a stay on the EPA rules that could be issued before the end of the year. That could give clues as to how successful the cases will be next year, Gerrard said.In the meantime, liberals are wondering whether Republicans will stick to stopping EPA from regulating carbon, or whether they'll try to stop other agency regulations as well.  The new Republican leadership has indicated it may try to stop the EPA's plans to regulate mercury, smog, acid rain, and coal ash.  &quot;This would be a disaster for public health as well as increase uncertainty for businesses that need certainty before making investments,&quot; said Daniel Weiss, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Story Copyright (c) 2010 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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