Welcome to this morning's edition of 'First To Know,' a series in which we keep you in the know on what's happening in the digital world. Today, we're looking at three particularly interesting stories.

Sales of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Banned in the U.S.

Apple's request for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 has been granted by a U.S. judge. Samsung has already appealed the ruling, which currently affects only Samsung's older 10-inch tablet, the Galaxy Tab 10.1, and not the updated Galaxy Tab 10.1 II.

Microsoft Introduces Photos App for Windows 8

Microsoft has posted an in-depth overview of the new Photos app for Windows 8, which has been…
Continue reading...

More About: features, first to know series, Galaxy Tab 10.1, mashable, microsoft, Photos, samsung, Windows 8

In recent years, new legal structures have emerged, including the LLC (Limited Liability Company). That's good news for small businesses -- because let's face it, not all businesses are the same, and the same corporation structure isn't right for everyone.

Yet new options bring new questions about which business structure to use, and for many entrepreneurs, the process of picking a business structure is uncharted territory.

If you're a small business owner or service professional, here's a quick primer on two important legal structures: the LLC and LLP (Limited Liability Partnership). We'll explore the key differences and details to help you determine which is better…
Continue reading...

More About: Business, legal, LLC, open forum, Startups

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh has approved Apple's request for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. against Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1.

"Although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly, by flooding the market with infringing products," Koh wrote on Tuesday.

Apple filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in May 2012, claiming Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes on an iPad-related patent. Apple has also filed a similar motion against Samsung's Galaxy S III in June.

The judge's order becomes effective after Apple posts a $2.6 million bond as protection against damages suffered by Samsung if the injunction is later overturned.

It's importan…
Continue reading...

More About: apple, lawsuit, samsung, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Bia GPS Sports Watch is made for women by women. It's prettier and stronger for women who run, bike and swim, according to the project's Kickstarter page. Why? Because the watch is "ergonomically designed" to sit perfectly at an angle on a woman's wrist.

The lightweight fitness watch records time, current heart rate and calories burned. It also sends fitness data straight to an online profile with one touch (no logging or syncing needed). The watch lasts 17 hours between charges.

The watch is built for athletes who will appreciate its colorful interchangeable straps. But, most importantly, the GPS sports watch comes with a panic button that…
Continue reading...

More About: fitness, Fitness Apps, health, women's health

1. Chocolate

Bringing new meaning to the term "chocoholic," Popcandy also makes versions in bubblegum, soda pop and popsicle scents. Price: $14.99

Click here to view this gallery.

Just when we thought phone accessories couldn't get any wackier, we found these six scented iPhone cases. Most celebrate sweet scents, like chocolate or strawberry, but you might be surprised by some additional aromas.

SEE ALSO: 14 Weird iPhone Cases You Won't Believe

Although we haven't had the opportunity to test out these designs, we imagine they make quite a statement as you waft down the street. Would you ever consider such a mobile accessory?

More About: accessories, cases, features, iphone, iphone cases, Mobile, trending

Parkinson's is a neurological disease that spreads quickly and is difficult to diagnose. About 6 million people worldwide are affected by the incurable disease. A sophisticated test to diagnose Parkinson's in patients early would lead to better treatment and an eventual cure. A team of engineers are betting on a voice-based test for Parkinson's -- built to be as accurate as clinical tests.

This week, TED Fellow and mathematician Max Little announced the launch of Parkinson's Voice Initiative at TEDGlobal 2012.

SEE ALSO: TEDGlobal: Social Media Sparks Visions of a Radically Open Future

Currently, the team of mathematicians and engineers are as…
Continue reading...

More About: Mobile, parkinson's disease, Tech, tedglobal

Aaron Sorkin may not love the Internet, but apparently the Internet doesn't exactly love Aaron Sorkin either.

Hey Internet Girl is a new Tumblr spawned from an interview published in the Toronto Globe and Mail.

Fresh off mixed reviews of his new show The Newsroom, Sorkin sat down with the paper's Sarah Nicole Pickett. During the interview, Sorkin once again voiced his distaste for the Internet and web journalists, in particular. The tense conversation produced the quote below (among others), which was the inspiration for Hey Internet Girl.

"Listen here, Internet girl," [Sorkin] says, getting up. "It wouldn't kill you to watch a film or pick up a newspaper once in a while.…
Continue reading...

More About: Aaron Sorkin, hbo, journalism

The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.

Name: Homemint

Quick Pitch: A site that makes suggestions for your home décor based on your personal taste.

Genius Idea: Cutting the time it takes to find unique pieces for your home by working with small companies and artists to get great pieces to you on a budget.

Your taste has probably changed since college. No longer do you wear ratty T-shirts in public, nor should you still have concert posters tacked to your ceiling.

Homemint makes it easy to keep your home a re…
Continue reading...

More About: bizspark, home decor

The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity wrapped up in the south of France on Saturday, but people continue talking about the event's hot awards and high-profile guests.

Cruising into the top spot was Selena Gomez, who attended the conference to speak on a panel called "Millennials and the Future of Creativity." According to the infographic, created by SapientNitro, the actress and singer tweeted about her participation, earning over 2,600 additional tweets and conversations on Twitter alone. The seminar itself topped 3,863 mentions all together.

SEE ALSO: Korean Band 2NE1 Dominates Social at Cannes Lions [INFOGRAPHIC]

Other notable speakers included singer-songwriter D…
Continue reading...

More About: Business, cannes, infographics, Marketing, Social Media

Don't know how to make 3D chalk art? Chris Carlson demonstrates how it's done by drawing Super Mario and a Nintendo console controller in this time-lapsed video.

Carlson uses a ruler to perfect the angles for the video game character and iconic controller. By the end, his knees are a scary shade of purple. The artwork took 11 hours to complete in Denver, Colo.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon Art Tumblr Reimagines 151 Original Characters [PICS]

The video is a collection of photographs, taken by Mike Larremore, stitched together.

BONUS: Pac-Man Comes Alive in Stunning 3D Street Art

A street in Venlo, The Netherlands, recently got a taste of the Pac-Man universe when artist Leon Keer pain…
Continue reading...

More About: art, Gaming, nostalgia, super mario, time-lapse, Timelapse, trending, Video

1. @SarahKSilverman

Click here to view this gallery.

Writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron died Tuesday night in Manhattan after a battle with leukemia. Beloved by women and men alike for her smart wit and romantic comedies including When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, Ephron's fans and media immediately took to the web to pay tribute and remember her work and personality.

On Twitter, fans recited lines from favorite movies, with the iconic "I'll have what she's having" scene from When Harry Met Sally coming up again and again. Actors and other film and writing professionals tweeted about fond memories of working with someone widely remembered as a kind soul and inspiration to creative, ambitious women around the world.

While Eph…
Continue reading...

More About: Entertainment, Film, Twitter

Some judges fear retaliation from the families of defendants they sentenced to long terms in prison.

That's why companies such as Abine devised a solution specifically to protect judges' online privacy.

Abine, an online privacy company, is partnering with the California Judges Association to offer its DeleteMe service to the association's members for free.

DeleteMe erases personal information from people search websites, and ensures that information does not get re-posted.

"DeleteMe will delete the judges' personal information, including their names, addresses, phone numbers, familial members and other data, from the largest online databases and people search websites, includ…
Continue reading...

More About: abine, california, legal, privacy

Now that Apple has introduced an all-new lineup of impressive machines, its market share will no doubt continue to expand. That's good news for Apple, bad news for the security of our devices. The more users make the switch to Apple products, the more we can expect criminal malware to follow.

We've gathered up a few simple tips and updates to be aware of when protecting your Mac from its now-uncertain security. In short, pay attention to operating system updates, improved app features and antivirus protection.

SEE ALSO: The 30 Most Popular Passwords Stolen From LinkedIn

But also, be aware that a combination of all three cannot necessarily protect you from the latest viruses. Y…
Continue reading...

More About: antivirus, apple, features, Macs, malware, os x, security, Tech

Wondering who Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney will choose as his running mate sometime in the next few weeks? Google might be able to help you out -- or at least show you which candidates are getting the most search requests and online buzz.

Google's "Veepstakes Trends Dashboard," embedded below, tracks digital buzz around a handful of potential vice presidential picks by monitoring Google search trends, Google News mentions and YouTube views from the potential candidates' accounts.

The dashboard lets users check out the online popularity of 10 candidates over the past year. The platform also allows users to see which vice presidential possibility has been searched the m…
Continue reading...

More About: 2012 presidential campaign, Google, Mitt Romney, Politics, US, veepstakes, vice president

Now BlackBerry users can experience checking in and earning badges on the latest version of Foursquare.

On Tuesday, Foursquare announced on its blog that the new update of the app (which has been out for more than two weeks for iPhone and Android users) is now available for BlackBerry owners. People with BlackBerrys will now see the new app, which Foursquare says has been "streamlined" to make it easier to access the different features -- and, of course, always be able to check-in with a couple taps.

Just like updates for Android and iPhone, the Foursquare for BlackBerry update separates friends, places to explore and your profile into three sections.

SEE ALSO: Foursquare Get…
Continue reading...

More About: apps, blackberry, foursquare

In 2009, Square revolutionized ecommerce with their mobile credit card reader, and is now processing $6 billion a year in payments from more than two million Square users.

But now Square has competition from PayPal -- it boasts 110 million users worldwide and more than $118 billion in transactions last year -- which is preparing to introduce the PayPal Here mobile payment service.

We compared the two services to help you decide which one is right for you and your business.

The Apps

The Square app comes in two flavors. There's the mobile app and then there's iPad-exclusive, Square Register (There's also a basic iPad app, but Register has many of the same features and more). The…
Continue reading...

More About: contributor, features, ipad apps, mobile apps, paypal, Square

Intel gave itself a pat on the back Tuesday, unveiling a list of 10 "Hall of Fame" innovations that came from developments in the company's lab.

Justin Rattner, CTO and vice president of Intel Labs, hosted an event in San Francisco on Tuesday celebrating the 10th anniversary of Intel's Research & Development arm and highlighted the top 10 technology developments to come out of the department.

The developments paved the way for greater malware protection, faster connection speeds and early detection of viruses.

This year's presentations also showed how tech can be used to tackle everyday problems, such as driving in rainy and snowy weather. Take a look at video highlights of the c…
Continue reading...

More About: intel, technology

Google's annual developer conference kicks off tomorrow, and Mashable will be on the scene covering it live. It's bound to be packed with news about Google products -- from Google+ to Android -- and there will be lots in store for consumers.

Although this looks to be an eventful conference, company CEO Larry Page is likely to be a no-show. It's rumored that Page lost his voice late last week and won't be in shape to appear at I/O. He says there's "nothing seriously wrong" with him, so there's no reason to be nervous about the overall health of the Google CEO.

Google I/O begins with a keynote at 9:30 a.m. PT tomorrow (watch for our live blog). A host of Google executives will take t…
Continue reading...

More About: android, chrome, Chrome OS, Chromebooks, Google, google io, jelly bean

Looking around the tech startup space, it's hard to ignore that industry leaders are predominantly male. And despite 57% of college graduates in the U.S. being women, only 14% of computer science and engineering degrees are awarded to women.

Girls Who Code hopes to fix the industry's gender imbalance, by bringing 20 teen girls from underserved New York City neighborhoods together for an eight-week crash course on all things technology. Top tech companies, including Twitter, Google, eBay and General Electric have joined forces to create Girls Who Code.

"When I was running for office, I saw a massive technology divide in communities, especially for girls," Girls Who Code founder Res…
Continue reading...

More About: education, non-profits, Social Good, Twitter, women in technology

TED Global is underway in Edinburgh, Scotland, with a lineup of more than 70 speakers set to offer their visions of "radical openness" (the theme of this year's conference) across disciplines as diverse as corporate governance, global security and education.

The conference was kicked off by Dan Tapscott, who in 2003 authored "The Naked Corporation," which called for new levels of corporate transparency and accountability -- a novel idea at the time, when you consider there was no Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

In his talk, Tapscott defined what he sees as the four key principles for an open world: transparency, collaboration, sharing and empowerment. Offering examples…
Continue reading...

More About: crowdsourcing, open source, TED, ted global

In a move that is part blatant self-promotion, and part so-crazy-it-might-just-work, The National Geographic Channel is preparing to collect your tweets this Friday, then broadcast them into space via the world-famous Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico this August.

The channel is producing a show about the so-called Wow signal, a 72-second transmission from space received in 1977. The extremely unusual frequency of the signal is why it's still one of the high points of SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. It's also why the astronomer who picked it up wrote "wow!" in the margins of his printout.

To mark the 35th anniversary of the signal -- and heavily promote its…
Continue reading...

More About: SETi, space, Twitter

In Mashable's episodic video series, Behind the Launch, we took cameras behind the scenes at Vungle, an in-app video advertising startup. The finale airs on Wednesday, June 27, but we wanted to offer a quick recap of the season, in case you missed a few episodes. Check out the video above to see an abridged version of episodes 1-14, and then watch the full-length launch episode here:

About Vungle

Vungle is a San Francisco-based company that purveys mobile video ads to promote apps. In May, Vungle announced it had raised $2 million from big Silicon Valley and Alley names: Google Ventures, AOL Ventures, Cro…
Continue reading...

More About: Behind the Launch Series, features, mashable, Startups, Vungle

In the hours leading up to the Google I/O developer conference, the search engine giant has added a statue of jelly beans to its campus lawn -- a move that officially confirms its next-generation Android mobile operating system will be called "Jelly Bean."

Google, which posted a picture of the statue to its Google Developers Google+ page on Tuesday, is gearing up to host its developer conference where a collection of new products and news will likely come out of the event, including details about the latest version of Android.

SEE ALSO: Google Shows Startups How to Master SEO in 10 Minutes [VIDEO]

The statue joins other dessert-shaped structures that represent Android's previous…
Continue reading...

More About: android, Google, Google io 2012, jelly bean

On June 1, GOOD Magazine laid off six members of its Los Angeles-based editorial staff for "strategic" reasons. The ousted staffers, including two writers who voluntarily quit, have banded together to launch Tomorrow magazine. The project will be entirely backed on Kickstarter.

The Kickstarter campaign for Tomorrow launched on June 25. The team has raised more than $22K with 28 days left on the fundraising platform. Backers who pledge $15 or more will receive a copy of the issue.

For now, the eight-person team is promising 100 oversize pages of reporting, essays, illustrations and photography. The magazine focuses on "figuring out what's new, what…
Continue reading...

More About: GOOD magazine, journalism, kickstarter, publishing

A colorful video for John Mayer's "Queen of California" hit the web Tuesday, and it reimagines the song's lyrics with artwork created using Zynga's mobile game Draw Something.

"There is something really charming about the medium -- the strokes -- and I love the anticipation when you watch someone's drawing being revealed," Jimmy Thompson of the design studio Brainbowinc tells Mashable. "I thought [Draw Something would] be a good match for a song with a lot of nouns."

Mayer posted the video to his official blog Tuesday, writing, "A must-see. So great."

Although Brainbowinc has previously worked with Columbia Records, which represents Mayer, the studio didn't collaborate with the…
Continue reading...

More About: celebrities, Draw something, Entertainment, Gaming, john mayer, mobile apps, mobile games, Music, music videos

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday the arrest of 26 people for allegedly engaging in identity theft and other computer crimes.

The arrests were a product of a two-year undercover effort dubbed "Operation Card Shop." At the heart of the operation was CarderProfit.cc, a fake website for buying and selling credit card numbers that was created by the FBI to gather information on cybercriminals.

Those arrested in the operation are charged with "buying and selling stolen identities, exploited credit cards, counterfeit documents and sophisticated hacking tools," according to the FBI.

Operation Card Shop took place in 12 countries and on four continents. Eleven of the arr…
Continue reading...

More About: cybercrime, cybersecurity, FBI, hackers, identity theft, US, World

Worried about how to fill out your meta keywords tag so your startup ranks best in Google results? Don't bother, the company says. Google search ignores it.

Google released on Tuesday a video that provides startups tips and suggestions about how to master search engine optimization in just 10 minutes.

The video features advice catered to small businesses with main web content on less than 50 pages looking to rank only a handful of related search terms. From how to add the best keywords and including analytics code on your site to how to approach marketing in general, Google aims to make it easier for startups to get their brands ranked higher on search result pages.

SEE ALSO: Ho…
Continue reading...

More About: Google, SEO

The Spice Girls are back. The girls reunited in London on Tuesday to announce an upcoming West End musical based on their music: Viva Forever!

The last time we properly saw the British girl group phenomenon was in 2008 for their reunion tour.

In response to their return and announcement, "Spice Girls" and "Viva Forever" were trending internationally on Twitter. (Trending alongside a promoted tweet from Katy Perry, who is a relative newcomer to pop stardom when compared to the Spice Girls.) As a testament to the enthusiasm that greeted their return, the topics continued to trend for hours after the announcement.

Spice Girls fans were hit with a rush of nostalgia and to…
Continue reading...

More About: Entertainment, internet memes, The Spice Girls

At its Zynga Unleashed event Tuesday the company unveiled a new game it's calling The Ville -- but which you might be forgiven for calling Zynga Does the Sims.

Available on Zynga.com Wednesday, The Ville is described as "a next generation 'house and people' game that offers players a chance to build the home of their dreams and enjoy it with their friends."

"The Ville is the next step in Zynga's mission to connect the world through games. It's about creating a fun virtual world and making it easy for friends and family to play together," said Mark Skaggs, senior vice president of product development at Zynga.

"With The Ville, we're taking social to a whole new le…
Continue reading...

More About: EA, the sims, The Ville, Zynga

Louis Vuitton has added an interactive, step-by-step tutorial to instruct website visitors in the "art of packing."

The web app outlines the basics -- place heavy items at the bottom, wrap shoes in felt bags -- as well as some of the more nuanced points of packing a suitcase or travel bag.

To reduce creasing on a jacket, for instance, LV recommends you button it up, unfold the collar and wrap it around two other garments.

The tutorial invites visitors to pack three different pieces of LV luggage in total -- a trunk, a rolling suitcase and a travel bag -- entirely with LV-branded clothing and accessories. Users can click on individual garments to get more specific instructio…
Continue reading...

More About: Flash, louis vuitton, luxury, Marketing