Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

Clouds ruin GeoEye's satellite image of inauguration





A nighttime shot of Washington, D.C. taken on January 19.



(Credit:
Chris Hadfield)


Aw, shucks: imaging company GeoEye could not capture a super high-resolution image of Obama's inauguration today from space.


Using its GeoEye-1 and IKONOS satellites positioned 423 miles above the Earth, the company tried and failed -- due to clouds -- on two separate attempts to capture the image of the inauguration, a GeoEye representative told CNET. GeoEye planned to release an interactive map of the ceremony with a built-in zoom and a slider that would have let the user compare this year's image to the one captured four years ago. Feel free to zoom around in the 2009 Inauguration image embedded below.





For those who just can't accept the bad news from GeoEye, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield snapped an image (seen above) of an illuminated Washington, D.C. several days before the inauguration. The day before the event, astronauts aboard the International Space Station captured a picture (seen below) of the greater National Mall area.


"This detailed view shows the Potomac River and its bridges at left, with National Mall at the center, stretching eastward from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument toward the Capitol building, where the inaugural ceremony will be held," NASA officials said in a statement.


In 2009, GeoEye released a satellite image of Obama's first Inauguration that clearly revealed the hundreds of thousands of people who attended the landmark event, which takes place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.





A view of Washington, D.C. from space, taken on January 20.



(Credit:
NASA)


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Where to watch Obama's inauguration online


President Obama was sworn in for his second term today in a quiet ceremony at the White House. But it was a simple prelude to the festivities that will take place tomorrow when Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are sworn in outside of the U.S. Capital before hundreds of thousands of spectators -- and countless more who will be tuning in online to watch the event.


The last presidential inauguration ceremony in 2009 was considered by many to be the most interactive ever. But thanks to multimedia content -- including the return of high-resolution satellite imagery from GeoEye -- we may see just as many innovative forms of coverage for this year's event, even though this one is expected to be more low-key.


The public swearing-in ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. ET, with the official event happening at 11:55 a.m.


Here's just a partial list of where to tune in. Feel free to add to it in the comments below.


 The 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee will be hosting a live stream of the swearing-in ceremony starting at 11:30 a.m. ET, as well as live video of the inaugural parade and the Commander-in-Chief's Ball.


 The Wall Street Journal will be presenting the inauguration live at 11 a.m ET. It will be anchored by Washington bureau chief Gerald F. Seib, Wendy Bounds and Simon Constable from its New York studios. You can watch it on multiple platforms including WSJ Live, YouTube, Hulu, and Ustream.


 CBS News, our sister site, will be offering live coverage on TV and the Web starting at 10 a.m. ET. The site will also feature live coverage of related events, interactive slide shows, and analysis of Obama's first term and what's ahead in his next term.


 NBCNews.com and the NBC Politics app, which is available on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, will carry live streams of NBC News' coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET.


 C-SPAN's online live coverage of the inauguration starts at 7 a.m. ET and will include the swearing in, followed by the president's address, the inaugural luncheon, and the inaugural parade.

 Fox News will offer a live stream of the inaugural address as well as coverage of related events around Washington. Fox's coverage will also be available on Hulu.


 ABC News and Yahoo News have teamed up to produce three feeds of online video coverage across ABCNews.com, Yahoo News, GoodMorningAmerica.com, ABC News' iPad and iPhone apps and ABC News affiliate websites, as well as on the ABC News YouTube channel.


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Microsoft blazes trail to next PC



Microsoft Surface Pro: the design isn't perfect, but the fact that it can function as a standalone tablet and is thin and light puts it ahead of the convertible-laptop pack.

Microsoft Surface Pro: the design isn't perfect, but the fact that it can function as a standalone tablet and is thin and light puts it ahead of the convertible-laptop pack.



(Credit:
CNET)


PC makers take note. Microsoft is pioneering the next PC.


Here are two simple reasons why the Surface Pro makes a good case as the template for the new PC. One, Microsoft realized that the device's electronics should go behind the glass, not under the keyboard. Two, the device uses a real processor.


Let's address the electronics first. Most of the newfangled laptops I saw at
CES were convertibles. That is, the displays are not detachable because the core electronics are under the keyboard, just like your father's laptop.


And most of them were unimpressive. The mechanics necessary to flip and/or slide the screen and convert the laptop to
tablet mode were more often than not kludgy and some seemed destined for mechanical problems down the pike.


And the more problematic designs weren't thin or light, either. At least not when compared with popular tablets like Apple's
iPad or Google's Nexus.

One of the few exceptions -- as I noted before -- was the HP EliteBook Revolve. That 11.6-inch design was about as well conceived as a convertible can be.

But there's a reason for that: HP has been building Windows convertibles for ages. The EliteBook 2700 series has been around since the dawn of Windows XP. So, HP has this down to a science.

But, again, that's a rare exception at present. The future leans more toward a PC with the electronics behind the glass. And there's no better example right now than the Surface Pro.

Microsoft was bold enough to go with a mainstream third-generation Core Intel "Ivy Bridge" chip, not the slower Atom processor that most Windows 8 tablet and detachable makers have opted for.

Yeah, the battery life won't be great, but Microsoft, I think, knew (rightly so) that it would be crucified if it opted for the performance-challenged Atom chip, which isn't up to the task of running serious desktop applications on Windows 8.

Remember the netbook? That's one way to look at the first crop of Atom-based Windows 8 tablets: a netbook in tablet clothing. Microsoft didn't want to go there.

And give Lenovo some credit too. It showed off the ThinkPad Helix detachable at CES that separates from the base to become a full-fledged Ivy Bridge-based tablet, not unlike the Microsoft Surface Pro.

And Intel, I think, in its heart of hearts knows Atom isn't really up to the task. Thus, the revelation at CES of the most power-efficient Ivy Bridge yet. One of Intel's goals is to get these new Ivy Bridge chips -- as well as upcoming "Haswell" chips -- behind the glass, as Intel's Adam King told me at CES.

So, I would expect to see an increasing number of Windows 8 tablets and/or detachables sporting Intel's mainstream Haswell Core processors later this year.

And battery life will improve with Haswell. I would be fine with a Windows 8 tablet packing a real Intel chip that gets six hours of battery life. And a Haswell-based Surface tablet should meet or exceed this.


Sony Vaio Duo 11 convertible: The apparatus to support the display in tablet mode isn't exactly elegant.

Sony Vaio Duo 11 convertible: The apparatus to support the display in tablet mode isn't exactly elegant.



(Credit:
CNET)

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Researcher: Apps meant to spot skin cancer are inaccurate



Researchers ran 188 images of skin lesions through four apps and found that three apps incorrectly described at least 30 percent of the melanomas as benign.



(Credit:
Screenshot by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore/CNET)


When a patient asked Laura Ferris, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, her opinion on smartphone apps that purport to distinguish between benign and malignant skin lesions, Ferris realized she'd never used one and decided to run images of melanomas through a few of the apps herself.


"When I saw the first few results come back of them being missed, I really started to get concerned," Ferris says in a school video. So she decided to investigate further, and reports this week in JAMA Dermatology that three out of four smartphone apps her team tested incorrectly described at least 30 percent of melanomas as "unconcerning."


The news comes the same week a Pew Research Center study found that 35 percent of Americans seek out medical diagnoses (not just remedies or information) online.


For the melanoma study, researchers uploaded 188 images of skin lesions to each of the four applications (they decided "not to make a direct statement about a particular app" and are thus not naming the apps they studied). The apps analyzed the images in different ways, including automated algorithms and images reviewed by an anonymous board-certified dermatologist.


It turns out that of the four melanoma apps studied, the most accurate one was not only the most expensive (costing $5 per image) but also was the only one to rely on the dermatologist to review the images. (In this case, just one of the 53 melanomas uploaded was incorrectly identified as benign.)


These results could be particularly problematic for those without the resources to go to an actual dermatologist or afford the most expensive app, especially if they take an "unconcerning" result as confirmation that they need not spend any more money investigating the area in question.



"If [users] see a concerning lesion but the smartphone app incorrectly judges it to be benign, they may not follow up with a physician," says Ferris, whose study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health. "Technologies that decrease the mortality rate by improving self- and early-detection of melanomas would be a welcome addition to dermatology, but we have to make sure patients aren't being harmed by tools that deliver inaccurate results."


The researchers further warn that even though the free or low-cost apps are specified as educational only, they are not subject to regulatory oversight and should be used with caution.



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Intel CEO: The PC is shape-shifting into a tablet



Microsoft Surface Pro: Intel's CEO had a lot to say about products like Surface that can function as both a PC and a tablet and how these 'detachables' and 'convertibles' will save the PC industry.

Microsoft Surface Pro: Intel's CEO had a lot to say about products like Surface that can function as both a PC and a tablet and how these 'detachables' and 'convertibles' will save the PC industry.



(Credit:
Microsoft)


In the wake of reporting weak profits today, Intel CEO Paul Otellini couldn't repeat enough that "radical" new PC designs will subsume the tablet experience.


Here are some of Otellini's comments that suggest that Intel and its PC partners are aggressively going after the
tablet market with newfangled
Windows 8 devices. Most of these comments came in response to analysts' questions.


Radical transformation:

We are in the midst of a radical transformation of the computing experience with the blurring of form factors and adoption of new user interfaces. It's no longer necessary to choose between a PC and a tablet. Convertibles and detachables combined with Windows 8 and touch provide a 2-for-1, no-compromise computing experience."

'Haswell' then 'Broadwell' drive radical new designs:

In the first quarter we launch Haswell. The single largest generation-to-generation battery life improvement in Intel history...We have a line of sight into what our customers are designing around Haswell, which is this year's innovative Core [processor] product, and Broadwell, which is next year's. I've seen the prototypes of the industrial designs. They're really exciting products. Our customers have not had this level of performance in this kind of form factor before. 10-plus-inch [screen size] types of product are going to be more classic PC level of performance, enabled by these convertible, detachable form factors that will only get thinner when Haswell and Broadwell come on.

Competition from ARM:

We've looked at the [new] A15 [ARM chip]. We know our own silicon in terms of Bay Trail and Clover Trail+ and we're very comfortable we can maintain a performance lead here. These devices are simply becoming very small computers, and that's what Intel is exceptional at.
Note: Clover Trail+ is Intel's upgrade of the Clover Trail Atom chip used in currently shipping tablets. That comes later in the first half. Bay Trail is a complete redesign of the Atom processor, slated for late this year.

Foundry business: Would not enable a competitor:

We are very interested in being a selected foundry manufacturer for certain customers. We don't see ourselves as a general-purpose foundry or competing with general-purpose foundries. We would not take business that enables a competitor. We have a crawl-walk-run strategy. We're still in the crawl stage.

Note: A chip foundry is a contract manufacturer of chips for other companies. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) today is considered the largest general-purpose foundry. There was a rumor today that Cisco was now an Intel foundry customer. Otellini did not comment on the rumor.

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To turn a profit, StumbleUpon axes 30% of staff



StumbleUpon has cut 35 jobs, or more than 30 percent of its workforce, in order to reach profitability, the company confirmed Wednesday.

"We are restructuring and reducing our workforce from 110 to 75, effective immediately," a StumbleUpon spokesperson told CNET. "As a result of these changes, the company will be profitable and will operate more quickly and efficiently."

StumbleUpon, which first launched in 2002, offers Web and mobile users a way to browse the Internet by interest. The company has gone through several iterations and leadership changes over the years. In late 2011, StumbleUpon pushed forward with a radical redesign meant to make its product more modern and fun. The redo has received been criticized for mimicking Pinterest's style look and feel.

Wednesday's layoffs, first reported by TechCrunch, took their toll on StumbleUpon's product, engineering, and marketing teams, the rep said. No executives were included in the staff "reduction," as StumbleUpon is calling it, but a few managers were given the ax.

The cuts point to trouble and uncertainty for a 10-year-old company that now finds itself a competitor to social networks like Twitter and Facebook, where Web users are growing accustomed to finding their daily news and memes. Of course, you won't hear that from StumbleUpon; the company is wrapping up today's sad news with a bow of optimism and some profit-colored ribbon.

"Profitability allows us to control our destiny, better execute against our goals, and experiment aggressively," the spokesperson said.

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Best Android Jelly Bean smartphones you can get now



After waiting for what seemed like an eternity for Android Jelly Bean phones to ship, I'm glad to see that a flood of handsets with the coveted software have burst onto the mobile scene. Some of these devices such as the HTC Droid DNA and LG Nexus 4 rolled straight off the assembly line boasting Google's most modern OS. Older phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S III and Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx, just received this significant upgrade.


Take a look at this stellar list of smartphones which all offer a state-of-the-art
Android experience. From the pure flavor only a true Nexus device can bring, to the tricked-out tweaks phone designers like to bring to the table, chances are good there's a Jelly Bean handset here that will suit your specific tastes.






HTC Droid DNA (Verizon)
Unquestionably the best Droid device to have ever graced Verizon's ranks, the HTC Droid DNA is not only the fastest smartphone we've tested yet. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean from the moment you turn it on and powered by a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, there's also no doubt this phone was genetically engineered for one purpose -- to eat lesser handsets for breakfast. Read a full review of the HTC Droid DNA.




HTC One X+ (AT&T)

A worthy follow up to HTC's last flagship device, the HTC One X+ puts a powerful quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, big 4.7-inch LCD (1,280x720-pixel) screen, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in palm of your hand. Its vast 64GB of internal storage, AT&T LTE 4G data connection, and excellent camera are icing on the cake. Read a full review of the HTC One X+.





LG Nexus 4 (T-Mobile)
As the newest official Nexus handset, the LG Nexus 4 offers both a premium glass design and a clean, elegant Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean user interface to match. Boasting the most recent version of Android you can currently get your hands on, the Nexus 4 which is also driven by a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon CPU and will likely be the first device to receive any fresh Android updates direct from Google. Read a full review of the LG Nexus 4.





LG Optimus G (Sprint and AT&T)
A close cousin to the Nexus 4, the Optimus G offers a bigger 5-inch screen and faster LTE 4G data connection courtesy of AT&T. A Sprint version of the Optimus G supports LTE too but finding a signal in the carrier's smaller 4G network will be harder. Sweetening the deal is the Sprint Optimus G's sharper 13 Megapixel camera compared with the AT&T model's 8MP sensor. Both phones flaunt the same premium glass design and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Read a full review of the LG Optimus G.





Samsung Galaxy Note II (multiple carriers)
Big, bad, and strutting the power of Samsung's quad-core Exynos processor, the massive 5.5-inch
Galaxy Note II now has Android Jelly Bean thanks to a recent update. Available on all five of America's major wireless carriers, a few of the Note II's other impressive skills are a superb 8MP camera, and yes a stylus. Read a full review of the Samsung Galaxy Note II.





Samsung Galaxy S III (multiple carriers)
Samsung's Galaxy S III has certainly been a big hit, but the dual-core handset which really shook up the iPhone's apple cart is showing its age. Helping to extend the Galaxy's shelf life is a fresh infusion of software, namely Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Also sold by practically all U.S. cellular providers, the GSIII's 8MP camera takes excellent images and video and is still a mobile device to be respected. Read a full review of the Samsung Galaxy S III.




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Homeland Security still advises disabling Java, even after update




Despite an emergency software update issued yesterday by Oracle, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is still advising computer users to disable Java on their Web browsers, fearing that an unpatched vulnerability remains.


Oracle released a software update on Sunday to address a critical vulnerability in Oracle's Java 7 after the DHS' Computer Emergency Readiness Team issued an advisory last week recommending users disable the cross-platform plugin on systems where it was installed. The flaw could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code when a vulnerable computer visits a Web site that hosts malicious code designed to take advantage of the hole.


Oracle said in an advisory yesterday that it "strongly" recommended users update their Java software to repair the vulnerability. But the DHS is still worried that further, unknown flaws may exist in Java.


"Unless it is absolutely necessary to run Java in Web browsers, disable it as described below, even after updating to 7u11," CERT said in an updated note today that included instructions for disabling the plugin. "This will help mitigate other Java vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future."




DHS cited security company Immunity as reporting that Oracle's update addressed only one vulnerability and that another still existed.


"The patch did stop the exploit, fixing one of its components," Immunity said in a blog post today. "But an attacker with enough knowledge of the Java code base and the help of another zero day bug to replace the one fixed can easily continue compromising users."


CNET has contacted Oracle for comment and will update this report when we learn more.

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Oracle releases software update to fix Java vulnerability




Oracle released an emergency software update today to fix a security vulnerability in its Java software that could allow attackers to break into computers.


The update, which is available on Oracle's Web site, fixes a critical vulnerability in Oracle's Java 7 that could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code. The attack can be induced if someone visits a Web site that's been set up with malicious code to take advantage of the hole.


Oracle said the update modifies the way Java interacts with Web applications.


"The default security level for Java applets and web start applications has been increased from 'medium' to 'high," Oracle said in an advisory today. "This affects the conditions under which unsigned (sandboxed) Java web applications can run. Previously, as long as you had the latest secure Java release installed applets and web start applications would continue to run as always. With the 'high' setting the user is always warned before any unsigned application is run to prevent silent exploitation."


The vulnerability was being exploited by a zero-day Trojan horse called Mal/JavaJar-B, which was already identified as attacking Windows, Linux and Unix systems and being distributed in exploit kits "Blackhole" and "NuclearPack," making it far more convenient to attackers.

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CES postscript: The touch laptop, like it or not




Intel showing off touch laptops and desktops at CES.

Intel showing off touch laptops and desktops at CES.



(Credit:
Brooke Crothers)


The laptop was reinvented at CES.


Or maybe I should say there was a vigorous attempt to reinvent the laptop. Because we won't know how successful touch has been until next year this time.


Intel's
CES booth -- still a large presence in the CES Central Hall -- had one basic unmistakable message: touch has arrived.


Windows 8 convertibles, detachables, touch-screen laptops, and just plain
tablets from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Samsung, Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, and others blanketed Intel's booth.


And just to make sure the touch message was crystal clear, Intel issued an edict to PC partners during its CES keynote: all next-generation ultrabooks based on its "Haswell" chip must be touch.


What does that mean to consumers? Your next laptop will likely be touch, whether you like it or not.


And based on what I saw at the Intel booth (and other booths, like Samsung's), this is how it will break down:


Convertible: Convertibles, like the HP EliteBook Revolve and Lenovo Yoga, have swivel touch screens.


The important thing to remember here is that the Intel processor and related electronics are still under the keyboard, so these systems will tend to be higher performance because the design affords more opportunity to keep the processor cool.


Detachable: These are essentially tablets with well-integrated keyboard docks. They would include the new Lenovo ThinkPad Helix, HP's Envy x2, and Samsung ATIV Smart PC.


Detachables put the processor electronics behind the screen. And that usually forces PC makers to use a lower-performance, more power efficient chip like Intel's "Clover Trail" Atom.


One of the few exceptions to that rule is the ThinkPad Helix, which manages to cram a mainstream Intel Ivy Bridge chip into a tablet.


And, by the way, Intel is now trying to get more PC makers to do this. It has just begun shipping a new Y series Ivy Bridge processor that is more power efficient than the one in the Helix.


Still, battery life won't be terrific, and Ivy Bridge chips -- even the most power-efficient ones -- still require fans to keep them cool.



Touch-screen laptop: This is a traditional clamshell laptop with a touch screen. There are already lots of these out there, including the Sony Vaio T13 Series, the Acer Aspire S7, the Asus VivoBook X202E, and the HP Spectre XT TouchSmart.


And expect a lot more. Maybe by this time next year, the preponderance of laptops on display at your local Best Buy will have touch screens.


Tablet: And then there are devices that are marketed as standalone
Windows 8 tablets. These would include HP's ElitePad 900 and Dell's Latitude 10 tablet.

Tablets that can run the full version of Windows 8 (based on Intel chips) and Windows RT tablets (based on ARM chips) will offer good battery life and a lightweight, slim design but won't be very fast. That is, don't expect them to multitask Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and other demanding applications without bringing the device to its knees.

Not every laptop will go touch, of course. High-end gaming lappies and business laptops will be available with non-touch screens for the foreseeable future. But I suspect that, eventually, even these will go touch.


Dell's XPS 10 Windows RT detachable, based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, was on display at Qualcomm's CES booth. Intel's edict that all future 4th Generation Core-based 'Haswell' Windows 8 laptops be touch is already an imperative on Windows RT.

Dell's XPS 10 Windows RT detachable, based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, was on display at Qualcomm's CES booth. Intel's edict that all future 4th Generation Core-based 'Haswell' Windows 8 laptops be touch is already an imperative on Windows RT.



(Credit:
Brooke Crothers)

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Nokia to go big with smartphone cameras in 2013



Nokia Lumia 920

Expect Nokia to build on imaging algorithms in the 808 PureView and the Lumia 920 (pictured).



(Credit:
Josh Miller/CNET)


LAS VEGAS--Seated in a luxurious bus on the edge of the Las Vegas Convention Center parking lot, Nokia executive VP of sales and marketing Chris Weber talks around the company's plan to differentiate its phones in 2013.


It will surprise Nokia followers little to learn that this year, the Windows Phone-maker will be all about photos.


Two main categories define how good pictures will be: hardware choices, like using higher-end lenses that let in more light, and software algorithms that render clear, bright images with pop.



Nokia has talked up its PureView technology, first found in the Nokia 808 PureView that launched last February at Mobile World Congress, and the stabilizing springs within the Nokia Lumia 920 that reduce the blurring effects of shaking hands.


Although Weber mostly sticks to talking points about Nokia's cherry-on-top photo apps, like Photo Beamer and a panorama filter, the question everyone really wants to know is when Nokia will try to replicate the 808 PureView's crisp, lossless cropping features and insanely large 41-megapixel lens in a Windows Phone.


I'll start looking for a release in that direction later in the year, and expect more software additions to play a starring role for now. Weber especially mentions the Lumia 920's low-light experience and location awareness.


In addition pumping up its camera features, Nokia plans to globally introduce new handsets that "push the price point," in Weber's words. In both directions.


Look for Nokia to release inexpensive but well-designed phones for emerging markets, and premium handsets in wealthy regions. Those fancy camera lenses and larger memory stores don't come cheap.


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Obama signs Netflix-backed amendment to video privacy law



Ready to share your Netflix viewing on Facebook?



(Credit:
LG)



President Obama signed Netflix-backed legislation today that makes it easier for people to share their video-viewing habits online.


With his signature on H.R. 6671, Obama approved an amendment to the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act that allows video rental companies to obtain customer consent to share information about their viewing preferences on social networks such as Facebook. The law was enacted after a weekly newspaper printed the video rental history of Judge Robert H. Bork during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings.




The House bill is similar to a proposal approved last November by the Senate Judiciary Committee, minus language inserted by Sen. Patrick Leahy that would have required police to obtain search warrants before accessing files stored in the cloud, including e-mail. However, Leahy later withdrew the controversial proposal.


Netflix, which had argued that the 25-year-old law was outdated and due for an overhaul, has said it plans to introduce social features for subscribers this year. Netflix users outside the United States already have the option to link their accounts with Facebook, allowing them frictionless sharing of their video viewing preferences with other member of their online social network.


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Apple updates App Store screenshot rules to shutter scam



A look at Minecraft.

Apple has thrown a block in the path of scamming developers looking to trick App Store users into downloading apps they might think is another popular game -- like Minecraft.



(Credit:
Screenshot by Rich Brown/CNET)



Apple announced a new App Store policy for developers today that effectively puts an end to a common bait-and-switch scam.


In a note on its Developer Portal, Apple said screenshots submitted by developers to accompany app descriptions in its App Store will be locked in place when the app wins approval.


Beginning January 9, app screenshots will be locked in iTunes Connect once your app has been approved. New screenshots may be uploaded when you submit a binary for an update to an existing app or a new app.


Before the new policy went in to place, app developers would often upload legitimate game screenshots to accompany the app description, then switch them out for screenshots that resembled more popular games once the app was approved. The switch often snagged unsuspecting victims who assumed they were downloading a different app.


The popular game Minecraft was a frequent target of clone apps, with developers lifting screenshots from the game to promote an unrelated game. One example, cited by Panic Blog, showed a game called Mooncraft with a Minecraft app image that billed itself as "a moon-themed Minecraft-type game for iOS." But as a Panic video shows (see below), the game was instead an app that featured building blocks labeled with numbers and letters.


While this presumably means that scamming developers will no longer be able to game the App Store, it also hobbles legitimate developers trying to keep their app descriptions up to date.



(Via MacRumors)

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How to set up an Eject All hot key in OS X



If you have a MacBook system that you regularly use at a desk such as in an office work space, then you may have a number of peripheral storage devices set up to manage backups and work-specific data, whether attached directly to the system or through a Thunderbolt, FireWire, or USB docking device. These can be convenient when you need them, but quite the opposite when you're packing up to depart.


The main reason for this is OS X's requirement that you manually unmount each drive that's attached to the system by either dragging it to the trash, clicking the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar, or using the Eject function in the system or contextual menus. If you have multiple drives attached, you will need to systematically eject each one or chance interrupting communication with the drive, which may result in data loss.



While this isn't as much of an issue with desktop systems, with a laptop it is often easy to close the lid and pull the plugs to quickly be on your way, only to wake the system to a number of warnings about not having properly ejected your disks.




EjectAll service work flow in Automator

Set up this Automator work flow as a systemwide service, which can then be bound to a hot key for quick access to unmount any attached drive (click for larger view).



(Credit:
Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNET)


Luckily, with the use of Terminal commands and Apple's Automator utility you can set up a hot key to quickly unmount all drives from your system, which should speed up your escape.


To do this, first open the Automator utility in the OS X Applications folder, and then follow this procedure:


  1. Create a new Service work flow

  2. Set the service to receive "No Input" but work in "All Applications"

  3. Locate and drag the Run Shell Script action to the work flow window

  4. Change the default "cat" command to the following two commands (the first removes all "ejectable" media like optical disks, and the second unmounts all drives except for those in use, such as the boot drive):

    diskutil eject /Volumes/*
    diskutil unmountDisk /Volumes/*


  5. Save the service with an appropriate name (such as EjectAll)

At this point you can test the work flow to see if it ejects your disks for you (it should). Since the work flow is a service that is available for all applications, it should now be available in the Services submenu of the application menu (next to the Apple menu) for the foremost program. Additionally, you can set a custom hot key to invoke this service at any time. To do this, go to the Keyboard system preferences and select the Services section in the Keyboard Shortcuts tab. In here, locate the new service by the name you gave it (it should be listed under General) and click the "Add shortcut" button to assign a hot-key sequence to it.


With this done, you can now invoke the hot-key sequence or select the service from the application menu to quickly unmount and eject all attached drives and have your system ready to go.




Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or !
Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.


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Hisense offers smaller UHD TVs



The XT880 is a 65-inch Ultra HD television



(Credit:
Ty Pendlebury/CNET)


LAS VEGAS--Hisense has unwrapped two new Ultra HD (UHD) TV ranges at this year's CES, the flagship XT900 and the smaller XT880, with a 65-inch XT880 on display during its CES press conference.


The 4K UHDTV XT880 series of 3D and Wi-Fi-enabled Smart TVs will be available in 50-, 58-, and 65-inch sizes.


All of the TVs come with a range of features including Smart TV with onboard Wi-Fi, active 3D with two sets of glasses, and a 240Hz refresh rate. Additionally, the TV features a detachable USB camera for Skype calling, built-in gesture control, and facial recognition.


Pricing and availability of the UHD televisions has yet to be announced.


Ultra HD (formerly 4K) is a resolution featuring 3,840×2,160 pixels and is the latest consumer format after HD.


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Get instant pulse readings with iSpO2 for iPhone, iPad



LAS VEGAS--The iSpO2 by Masimo ports the hospital checkup experience to iPhones and iPads and makes on-the-spot pulse readings available to active types wherever they are.

iSpO2 is a consumer pulse oximeter that connects to most Apple i-devices and comes with a sensor that you slip on to your ring finger for immediate oxygen, pulse rate, and perfusion index readings.

While not intended for home use, the idea behind iSpO2 is to help fitness fanatics, aviators, skiers, and extreme sports enthusiasts find out crucial information on their vitals without the need for a physician. Max Safai, senior vice president of business development, who demoed the unit for CNET, said that people can also send the data to their doctors for tracking purposes.

"This is our first consumer product," Safai said. "You really are, with this product, inheriting 24 years of experience ... measuring oxygen or motion when you're in distress or your hands are moving is very difficult."

The device retails for $249 on Amazon.com and is being shown off at
CES. Masimo has been making professional-grade medical equipment for 24 years.


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Google to make Maps accessible to Windows Phone users




Google says it will no longer block Windows Phone users from accessing Google Maps, and that the blockage was about ensuring a good user experience, not about intentionally interfering with a rival product.


The blockage generated headlines, with various news outlets suggesting that it was not about poor functionality on the part of the mobile version of Internet Explorer but was more about behavior on the part of Google that, ironically, was beginning to resemble past behavior by Microsoft.


Google, of course, just dodged an antitrust bullet from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and it continues to face an investigation by the European Union.


The search and mobile-OS giant said the following in a statement sent to The Next Web today:



We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users.


In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience and that's why there is no redirect for those users.


Recent improvements to IE mobile and Google Maps now deliver a better experience and we are currently working to remove the redirect. We will continue to test Google Maps compatibility with other mobile browsers to ensure the best possible experience for users.




For more details on the story, see Mary Jo Foley's article from earlier today: Google may need history lesson on blocking rivals' products.


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Man gets stolen iPhone back by seducing thief online



Date this, buster.



(Credit:
Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)


This rule applies in business, just as it does in love: when someone does you wrong, find their weak spot.


This is something that 27-year-old Nadav Nirenberg of Park Slope in Brooklyn apparently understands so well. Or at least his crazy story (should it prove to be real) suggests he does.


As the New York Post tells it tells it, you see, he left his
iPhone 4 in a cab on New Year's Eve. 2013 was still in its infancy when he supposedly learned that someone was using the phone to find dates.


How did he know? OKCupid began to send him alerts. So he logged on to the site and saw that he had apparently sent messages to girls -- when he knew he hadn't.


Men, though, are weak. Flatter them and their knees go weak, their tongues emerge, and their brains function according to highly unscientific principles.


So, according to the Post, Nirenberg created a female profile, with a picture of an alluring lady, and set about seducing, well, himself.



The thief was supposedly actually using Nirenberg's picture.



More Technically Incorrect



Clearly, when he took one look at the lady who had approached him online, he was smitten.


A meeting was arranged at Nirenberg's house, according to the Post. Loins were girded. Lips salivated.


Until, that is, the thief arrived and encountered Nirenberg with a hammer.


"He was ready for a date," Nirenberg told the Post. He was referring to the thief's fragrance, of course. Well, and the bottle of wine he was clutching.


Nirenberg seems particularly proud of his ability as an online female impersonator.


"I used lots of winks and smiley faces so I would seem like a girl," he said. Is that what girls do? I didn't know.


Nirenberg is an artist at heart. Why, he plays the trombone in a punk band called Streetlight Manifesto, which ironically has a new release called "The Hands That Thieve," making us wonder if this whole story might be a creative PR stunt. We have contacted him to get his take on our suspicions and will update this story when we hear back.

He says he gave the thief $20 for his trouble and the "date" lasted 20 seconds.


Oh, Nadav, some of us have had dates that were even shorter than that.


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How to customize modifier keys in OS X



Modifier keys for Mac systems are the Shift, Control, Option (Alt), Command, and Caps Lock keys. The commands triggered by combinations of these keys can greatly speed up how you use your computer, but it can slow you down again if you switch to a keyboard with an unfamiliar layout.


While most
Mac keyboards have these keys in the same relative locations, so you don't have to change your typing habits, there are situations in which you may end up using something different, such as if you take a laptop to the office and plug in whatever keyboard you happen to find. For example, on PC keyboards the equivalents of the Option and Command keys (the Alt and Windows keys, respectively) are often swapped in location.




Modifier key settings in OS X

Select a keyboard device and then make your adjustments to which modifier keys serve what modifier function. The Windows key will usually map to the OS X Command key by default.



(Credit:
Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNET)




Granted, you can adapt to the changes, or make sure you use the same keyboard type everywhere you go, but an easy alternative in OS X is to customize the system's modifier keys.


To do this, open the Keyboard system preferences and click the button called "Modifier Keys..." at the lower right. A small window will pop up in which you can select the keyboard attached to your system and assign OS X modifier functions to keys the keyboard's layout. You may only need to swap the mapped Option and Command keys, but you can set others or disable a modifier key if desired.


Keep in mind that these settings are device-specific, so you'll need to set them again for each new keyboard.




Questions? Comments? Have a fix? Post them below or !
Be sure to check us out on Twitter and the CNET Mac forums.


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Amazon Kindle Fire gains Web usage market share on iPad loss




Web usage of Apple's
iPad fell more than 7 percent in North America after Christmas, while competing
tablets from Amazon, Google, and Samsung all registered gains, according to a new study released today.


While the iPad dominates the market with 78.8 percent Web usage, its usage after Christmas dropped 7.14 percent, according to Chitika Insights, which sampled hundreds of millions of smartphone and tablet ad impressions in the U.S. and Canada between December 1 and December 27. The
Kindle Fire -- the distant second-place player in the market -- gained 3 percent to account for 7.51 of impressions all impressions during the period.


Samsung's Galaxy Tablet came in third with a gain of 1.38 percent for a market share of 4.39 percent, followed by the Google Nexus, which gained 0.92 percent to finish with a 2.04 percent share. Microsoft's Surface recorded a rather miniscule 0.17 percent increase for a 0.4 percent share. But the Surface still fared better than the BlackBerry PlayBook, which lost 0.02 percent for a 0.68 share.




"This substantial change underscores the inroads non-iPad tablets made this holiday season, reflecting some initial holiday sales estimates released by companies like Amazon. Their Kindle Fire HD tablet was the top-selling product on Amazon.com on Black Friday, Chitika said in a statement. "However, despite the gains by competitors, we expect that the iPad's share of tablet traffic will return to the 80 percent range, albeit lower than pre-holiday levels, as users return from vacation and browse with their new devices less frequently."

Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone 5 recorded the largest increase in Web impressions, jumping 1.11 percent to finish with a 8.27 share, followed by Samsung Galaxy S3's 1 percent increase (4.29 percent) and a 0.17 percent increase that gave the Samsung Galaxy Note 1 and 2 a 1.02 percent increase.

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