Sony’s 185TB data tape puts your hard drive to shame
It’s hard for magnetic data tapes to stand out from the crowd in an era when it’s easy to load up on legions of hard drives. However, Sony might have managed that rare feat with nano-sized tape tech that stores much more than off-the-shelf hardware. By optimizing how it sputters argon ions on to film to create magnetic material, the company has produced “nano-grained” tape that’s 74 times denser than what you see today; at 185TB per cartridge, it makes even a 5TB hard disk seem quaint. Sony’s breakthrough won’t come to your home PC, but it could prove a big help to supercomputers and your favorite internet services — many of them need high-capacity tape storage just to keep up with demand.
[Image credit: Theilr, Flickr]
Via: ITWorld
Source: Sony
McDonald’s partners with Kobo to give UK kids free e-books
Forget racecars and Disney princesses. Kids in the UK are getting something a little more digital with their McDonald’s Happy Meal: an e-book. The golden arches is partnering with Kobo to include a download code for one of Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven children’s mystery books with every meal purchased between now and June 3rd as part of its annual “Happy Readers” program. Over the past two years, the annual initiative has passed out millions of books, and is touted as quite a success (although we’re not quite sure how “happy” we’d be about getting an e-book rather than a toy). However, this is the first time Ronald has gotten a digital retailer like Kobo in on the action. Enthusiastic kids who still want to fill the bookshelf in their room (or moms afraid of ketchup stains on their e-readers) can also snag a £1 coupon with their meal to pick up a traditional copy of the books. If only the child detectives could forever solve the mystery of what’s actually in McDonald’s chicken nuggets.
Image credit: Steve Daniels
Via: The eBook Reader
Source: Kobo
Google Search updated to version 3.4.15, brings nickname support and parking Info [Download]
In addition to the update to Google Play Games, the Google Search app has also seen a Wednesday update today to version 3.4.15. In it, the major changes include Google now adding the ability to see nearby parking locations and also given you the ability to give your contacts nicknames, which opens up a whole new world of fun for voice commands. Check out the full list of changes below:
- New parking card in Google Now
- New reminders interface with better arrangement of past reminders
- Centralized list for nicknames under Accounts & privacy
- ‘Help’ and ‘Send feedback’ are now ‘Help & feedback’ (one item)
- Different offline indicator card.
Google Now is quickly becoming much more useful and natural to use, and this update to version 3.4 is another step in the right direction. The rollout of this new Search update appears to be coming in stages, but if you need to get your update fix today, we’ve got the APK file available for download below:
Google Search update – version 3.4.15 APK download
If you spot anything else different about the new Google Search, be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Source: Android Police
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Bloomberg: Sprint planning a bid for T-Mobile this summer
Those longstanding rumors of Sprint hoping to buy T-Mobile USA may soon come to fruition: Bloomberg sources claim that Sprint has met with six lending banks in preparation for a takeover bid. There aren’t any financing deals in place just yet, according to tipsters, but the carrier would make its offer in June or July. SoftBank (Sprint’s owner) and Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile’s) are reportedly hashing out the details of who would own what after the acquisition, with T-Mobile’s John Legere the frontrunner for the CEO spot.
If a bid goes ahead, Sprint could be prepared for the regulatory firestorm that’s likely to follow. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is believed to be crafting pro-merger arguments that would please both the Department of Justice and the FCC. The exec is well aware of what happened when AT&T tried to buy T-Mobile, Bloomberg says. Among other things, Son purportedly wants to avoid paying a big, AT&T-style breakup fee if the deal falls apart — that just gives the government an extra incentive to say no and make T-Mobile stronger.
None of the companies involved are commenting on the apparent leak, although it may be a long while before any merger could take place. In addition to any legal challenges, the boards of Sprint, T-Mobile and their respective parent firms have to sign off on the arrangement. That could be a drawn-out process, even if there aren’t any significant disputes.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile
Source: Bloomberg
LeapFrog’s latest gadget for kids is a Tamagotchi-Fitbit mashup
Look, we get it: wearable tech is big business these days. We also get that childhood obesity is a serious problem. That’s why it’s literally no surprise that the folks at Leapfrog are jumping on the nascent child wearables bandwagon with the LeapBand: an unholy combination of a Fitbit and a Tamagotchi that aims to stop kids from playing games on the couch… and get them playing games standing up.
Here’s the gist of it — kids running around wearing a $39.99 LeapBand on their tiny wrists earn energy points to level up and unlock avatars (a cat, dog, dragon, monkey, panda, penguin, robot and unicorn). The LeapBand can also issue challenges to kids, ranging from relatively ones like “wiggle like a worm” to the more abstract “pop like popcorn popping.” Meanwhile, the built-in battery should hang in there for about 4 to 6 days between charges — with any luck your little ones will tucker out before it does.
Naturally, we had to try the thing on for ourselves. It’s about the size of, well, a Tamagotchi, and the plastic wristband slid onto even the hairiest wrists without trouble. The buttons are big and gummy enough that even the least coordinated kids can interact with their pets. Ours was a lazy-looking, tracksuit-clad panda we promptly nicknamed “Rupert” and — dare we say it — we had a little fun doting on him. If we’re being honest, It’s not exactly a novel idea — iBitz has been trying to take build a data-centric approach to getting kids active, and Striiv cooked up a video game-y fitness tracker two years ago. This whole thing may seem just a little kooky, but hey — there are worse ways to give your spawn a taste of the quantified life.
The US government is using social media to battle terrorist regimes
The United States government puts hundred of billions toward military spending to fighting terrorism each year, but it’s also putting social media to work combating Al-Qaeda and other extremists. In a report released today, the US State Department revealed that its Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) composed over 10,000 posts worldwide in 2013. So, what services are being used to pass along the content? Those outlets include popular social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google+ and more. There’s even a small selection of state-produced video content that’s part of the tally. “Social media platforms allowed violent extremist groups to circulate messages more quickly, but confusion and contradictions among the various voices within the movement are growing more common,” the report details. This is due in part to the government training those affected by terrorism to counter the messages with their own stories.
Filed under: Internet
Via: Ars Technica
Facebook debuts anonymous and selective login features
Facebook is upping their privacy options for users that don’t feel comfortable logging into the social network for everything. Let’s take a look at some of the new features Facebook is rolling out.
Anonymous Login
When users download an app, much of the time, there is a “login with Facebook” option. But wait, I just downloaded this app… I don’t even know if I like it, let alone trust it. Why should I give them my personal information already?
Facebook now has you covered, if you run into this problem frequently. Once users learn more about the app they’re using, they will have the ability to share more information, if need be. Facebook are currently testing out the new login procedures with a few select developers for now, but will likely roll it out to everyone in the near future.
Take a look at the short walkthrough for Anonymous Login:
Revamped Facebook Login
When an application would like to use your Facebook information, you’ve never really had a choice to what the can or cannot access. With this new Login feature, users can now alter what exactly the app has access to. You don’t want the app to have access to your friends list? Simply uncheck it from the list… it’s that easy!
Here’s another short walkthrough video explaining a bit more:
Users should begin seeing changes as Facebook moves forward with the new Login features.
Source: Facebook
The post Facebook debuts anonymous and selective login features appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Play Games updates with updated Slide-Out navigation bar and other Tweaks [Download]
Happy Google update Wednesday folks. Looks like Google is updating a couple apps today and Google Play Games is one of them. The new update moves the app to version 1.6.o7 and brings in a little redesign. The redesign should look a bit more familiar to many as it looks like the Play Store slide-out navigation bar. Complete with profile pic. (Old menu in the image to the left.)
You will also start receiving notifications for gifts and requests from your friends. Finally, so you don’t get all lost and confused, they have changed the label “Matches” to “Inbox”. Google also finishes the update off with stating ‘stability, improvements and bug fixes.’
As always, the update is rolling out everyone via the Play Store. However, if you don’t happen to see the update yet and can’t contain yourself, you can always pick up the apk at Gappsearly.com.
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U.K. iTunes Radio Competitor Bloom.fm Shutting Down After Being Blocked From iAd [iOS Blog]
London-based streaming music service Bloom.fm is shutting down following the withdrawal of its main investment partner, TNT, a Russian television channel. TNT withdrew its funding following an organizational change, said VentureBeat.
In a blog post, the Bloom.fm team said the withdrawal of funding was a surprise and that the company has no time to find new investment.
We’ll keep this short because we’re pretty shell-shocked.
It’s game over for Bloom.fm.
Our investor, who’s been along for the ride since day one, has unexpectedly pulled our funding.
It’s come so out of the blue that we don’t have time to find new investment. So, with enormous regret, we have to shut up shop.
This is a poetically crappy turn of events as our young business was showing real promise. Our apps and web player are looking super-nice and we had 1,158,914 registered users in a little over a year. Yep.
A massive thanks to everyone that helped us get this far. We’re absolutely gutted. But it’s been a real pleasure.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Bloom.fm had been blocked from using Apple’s iAd advertising service to gain new users because it competed too closely with Apple’s own iTunes Radio service, which is preparing to launch in the United Kingdom.
It’s unclear whether the iAd blocking had anything to do with the removal of funding, but it was likely a blow to the company regardless.
Apple Hires Former NV Energy VP to Serve as Renewable Energy Manager [Mac Blog]
Apple hired former NV Energy VP Bobby Hollis as its Senior Renewable Energy Manager earlier this month, according to Hollis’s LinkedIn page. Hollis spent five years at electric company NV Energy in Nevada, where he served as the Vice President of Renewable Energy and Origination.
According to Mike Taylor, Director of Research at the Solar Electric Power Association, Hollis also served on the association’s board before leaving NV Energy and was recently named one of Las Vegas’s 40 Under Forty business leaders.
“A VP at a large utility is a pretty big position. His capabilities and experience is greater than the title at apple would belie. He was on our association’s board before leaving NVE.”
Hollis’s duties at NV Energy included leading renewable energy efforts and creating energy supply contracts the company. It’s possible he worked on contracts with Apple while still serving as VP of NV Energy, as Apple and the electric company have partnered up to build a solar panel farm next to Apple’s Reno data center. The solar array, which will generate approximately 18–20 megawatts of power, is expected to be completed sometime next year.
Renewable energy is a key part of Apple’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact. All of the company’s data centers run on 100% renewable energy, as do 75% of its corporate facilities. Greenpeace featured Apple as a “Green Energy Innovator” back in early April as a result of its renewable energy policies.
Apple recently overhauled its Environmental Responsibility website and introduced a new “Better” video explaining its commitment to environmentally friendly values. The company also hired former EPA chief Lisa Jackson as its vice president of environmental initiatives back in May of 2013.
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