Monday 6 August 2012

Mashable: Latest 28 News Updates - including “Nokia Announcing Windows 8-Powered Smartphone in September [REPORT]”

Mashable: Latest 28 News Updates - including “Nokia Announcing Windows 8-Powered Smartphone in September [REPORT]”


Nokia Announcing Windows 8-Powered Smartphone in September [REPORT]

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 04:39 AM PDT




September is shaping up to be quite the month for smartphone launches -- that is, if all the reports of forthcoming devices shape up to be true.

We can expect the next Galaxy Note in late August, the next iPhone Sept. 12 and now, Nokia's latest smartphone line can be expected as early as September at Nokia World, according to Bloomberg.

A "person with knowledge of the matter" said the mobile phone maker plans to have a new line of Windows Phone 8 handsets ready to ship before the holidays for year-end shopping.

Since the 2007 introduction of the iPhone, Nokia has lost 90% of its market share. Announcing it would adopt Microsoft's smartphone operating system in 2011, giving up i…
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More About: Mobile, Nokia, Tech, Windows 8, smartphone


Curiosity Lands on Mars: NASA’s Behind the Scenes Images

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 03:08 AM PDT


Mars Science Laboratory




Click here to view this gallery.




Twitter users and astronauts alike erupted in cheers Monday morning (Sunday evening PT), as the 2,000-pound NASA Mars Rover Curiosity landed on the red planet.

In an outer-space first, MarsRover posted a TwitPic from Mars's surface.

Beyond Curiosity's tweeting, NASA shared an album of emotional images to its Flickr page, which we've included in the gallery above. Of course, we're all waiting eagerly to see what Curiosity does on Mars, and to see the sure to be breathtaking images that result.

SEE ALSO: Here's the Most Stunning Photo of Mars the World Has Ever Seen

What did you think of Curiosity's landing? What would you like to see the rover do on the red planet? Let us know i…
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More About: Mars, NASA, space, trending


Trina Turk Wants You to Help Design Her Fall Collection

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 02:46 AM PDT




L.A.-based fashion designer Trina Turk, who operates a lifestyle brand under her name, is partnering with crowdsource design platform Threadless to design a print for her Fall 2013 collection.

Bold, colorful prints -- all infused with a cheery, California vibe -- are Turk's signature, and she's seeking a pattern that compliments that aesthetic. The winning submission could make itself onto a variety of items: a cocktail dress, a throw, perhaps a jacket for Turk's ready-to-wear men's line, Mr Turk.

You can submit patterns and/or vote on others' submissions at threadless.com/loves/trinaturk until Aug. 23. The winner will receive $2,000 in cash, a $2,000 Trina Turk gift card, a $500 Threa…
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More About: crowdsourced design, fashion, retail, threadless, trina turk


Curiosity Rover Lands on Mars: Watch NASA Mission Control Go Crazy [VIDEO]

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 01:41 AM PDT




"We are wheels down on Mars." With those words, the team at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory went about as crazy with delight and relief as space geeks can ever get -- and their joy was streamed live around the planet Earth, online.

But it wasn't just the fact that the 2,000 lb. Curiosity rover had touched down on Mars after months in space and a phenomenally difficult landing known as the "seven minutes of terror." It was the pictures it was almost instantly sending back, in which the surface of the planet and the high-tech rover's wheels can be clearly seen.

SEE ALSO: Tweeting Truck Lands on Mars, Internet Explodes With Joy

Never in human history, it is safe to say, has th…
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More About: Mars, NASA, curiosity rover, space


Tweeting Truck Lands on Mars, Internet Explodes With Joy

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 12:53 AM PDT




Overcoming its "seven minutes of terror" -- and winning the hearts of geeks worldwide -- the 2,000 lb. NASA Curiosity Rover landed on Mars at 1:39am, early Monday morning EST.

"We're on Mars again," said the exhilirated NASA chief, Charles Bolden. "It's just absolutely incredible. It doesn't get any better than this."

Much of the Twittersphere agreed with him -- especially as the Curiosity Rover's official account was live-tweeting the whole landing, writing in what you might well call the voice of the Internet. The first surface-based missive from what many users were calling the "tweeting truck" was this gem:

I'm safely on the surface of Mars. GALE CRATER I AM IN YOU!!! #MSL&…
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More About: Mars, Twitter, curiosity rover, space, trending


First Look: ‘Architectural Digest’ on the iPad

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 12:04 AM PDT




Architectural Digest released its first digital edition last week, alongside fellow Conde Nast publication Lucky. The magazines are launching simultaneously on the iPad, Kindle Fire and Nook Color.

I spent some time with the September issue on my iPad this week. Visually it is, of course, gorgeous. AD's typically outstanding photography looks even better when backlit by the iPad. Add-ons are sparse, confined mostly to a few extra photos and short videos. Two stand out: A time-lapse video of a water-facing Manhattan apartment, showcasing its living and dining rooms in a variety of lights, and an interactive floorplan that allows readers to pull up photos room by room.

Still, I was hopin…
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More About: Media, architectural digest, conde nast, ipad app, magazines, trending


Underemployed? Social Networking Can Help

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 10:02 PM PDT




Sudy Bharadwaj is a co-founder and the CEO of Jackalope Jobs, a web-based platform that combines search, social networking, and the overall user's experience to provide relevant job openings. Learn how Sudy and Jackalope Jobs obsess over job seekers by connecting with them on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Most would agree that having a job is better than not having a job in today's economy. But therein lies the problem -- you do the job because you have to, not because you want to. Job seekers not only face a selective job market with high unemployment, but with high underemployment.

Underemployment, despite its advantages over unemployment, is an issue not to be overlooked. It i…
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More About: Social Media, features, job search series, mashable, trending, underemployment


Have Fun Destroying Web Pages with Font Bomb

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 09:32 PM PDT




The next time an annoying commentator leaves a poorly-worded response on your blog, or tweets something offensive at you, don't get mad. Just use Font Bomb.

Developer Philippe-Antoine Lehoux created the browser plug-in, which uses a combination of HTML 5, CSS and Javascript to blast away on-screen text. The digital dynamos go off after three seconds, but worry not -- the destruction isn't permanent. Refresh your page to undo any ill effects.

To install the plug-in, visit the Font Bomb homepage, and drag the corresponding link to your bookmarks bar.

What other fun browser plug-ins do you use? Tell us about your favorites in the comments.

More About: chrome, fonts, plugin, trending, web typography


Meet Nina: Siri’s Cousin for Apps

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 09:01 PM PDT




Siri may have her critics, but Apple's talkative virtual assistant is definitely useful for some functions, like checking the weather and texting. Nuance, which works with Apple on voice control, now plans to take Siri-like abilities to more apps.

The product is called Nina, and it'll let businesses build voice capabilities right into their apps -- iOS or Android -- via a software development kit (SDK). Nuance says it's the first voice assistant with an SDK (Siri still doesn't have one), and Nina obviously has access to all of Nuance's data on the industries that use its tech: banks, airlines, hotels, retailers and more.

Nina is aimed at the enterprise, essentially taking the autom…
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More About: Mobile, apps, enterprise, nuance, siri, trending, voice control


Ice Cream Shop Releases Pair of Creepy Ads You Must See

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 08:32 PM PDT




It's the eternal summertime quandary: If you were made of ice cream, would you eat yourself? Ok maybe not, but for one Philadelphia ice cream shop at least, the answer seems to be yes.

Little Baby's Ice Cream has released two bizarre ads featuring a Gollum-like creature made out of the company's 16% butterfat confections. We're not exactly sure what flavor the creature in "This Is Special Time" is eating from his own head, but he sure seems to be enjoying it. The ad follows another equally strange spot, "Love Lickers" released by the ice cream shop back in March:

Little Baby's Ice Cream was founded by a trio of former musicians as "the nexus between their past creative live…
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More About: YouTube, summer, trending, weird stuff


Watch the Mars Curiosity Landing Live [VIDEO]

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 07:59 PM PDT




UPDATE: Curiosity has now landed! Click here for the full story.

All eyes will be on the red planet Sunday night, as NASA's rover, Curiosity, lands on Mars.

It's expected to touch down at 1:31 a.m. ET (10:31 p.m. PT). NASA launched the rover last November from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

As the space agency's most ambitious rover, Curiosity will explore with greater range than any previous Mars rover, according to NASA. For 23 months after landing, it will analyze dozens of samples drilled from rocks or taken from the ground, the organization said. Curiosity's primary goal? To look for signs that there once was life on Mars.

SEE ALSO: Super-Realist
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More About: Mars, Mars Science Laboratory, Mars rover, NASA, trending


Landing Might Be Just One of Mars Rover Curiosity’s Hurdles [COMIC]

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 06:50 PM PDT




What if NASA's Mars rover, Curiosity, makes it through tonight's "seven minutes of terror" only to face another unanticipated obstacle?

Unlikely? Sure, but if you've read enough Ray Bradbury, you know where this is going. The red planet looks uninhabited, and the other rovers have moved about untouched. Still, this is a new landing area and things could be, well, different.

What do you think? And will you be watching late tonight? We will!

More About: Mars, NASA, trending


11 Deep Student Discounts on Back-to-School Tech

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 06:36 PM PDT


1. Microsoft Product + Free Xbox




Students receive a free Xbox when they buy a new Windows 7 PC for $699 or more. Or grab the latest Windows 7 software by itself for a cool student price of $64.95 versus a full retail price of $199.99.

Click here to view this gallery.




It's August, which means you're already thinking about back-to-school preparation. A big part of that process is shopping for the gadgets and software that will help prepare your student for a serious education.

We've collected a list of sites that offer student discounts on some of the most popular products: Sony Vaio laptops, iPads, Xbox consoles and Intel developer software, to name a few. Plus, did you know your student could qualify for a discounted phone plan?

SEE ALSO: 25 Twitter Accounts That Will Make You Smarter

Scroll through our selections and add your own suggestions for back-to-school deals in the comments below.

Thumbnail image courtesy of iStockphoto, Pinopic

More About: Mobile, Tech, accessories, back to school, college, deals, education, features, lifestyle, trending


eBay Testing Same-Day Delivery Service in San Francisco

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 05:55 PM PDT




eBay is testing a same-day delivery service called eBay Now, the company announced in an email to users on Sunday. The iOS app, currently only available in San Francisco, will let users order and receive products from local stores, usually within an hour, the online auction site said.

SEE ALSO: 10 Weirdest Things for Sale on eBay

eBay Now will also give users a $15 discount off their first order, as well as free delivery on their first three orders. Users will be charged $5 for each subsequent delivery.

To sign up and download the iOS app, visit the eBay Now site, and log in with your credentials.

The service is powered by Milo, a local shopping startup that eBay acquired i…
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More About: beta, ebay, online shopping, trending


Why This Haptic Steering Wheel Could Save Your Life

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 05:15 PM PDT





The car world's best hope for fighting in-car distractions can be summed up with one word: Haptics.

Haptics is the study of touch, and haptic feedback is when a device directs a sensation at you. You've felt this form of feedback every time your smartphone has vibrated, or your Xbox controller has rumbled along with the explosions on the screen.

SEE ALSO: The 5 Greatest Failures in Car Tech

Here's how it involves cars. Since touchscreens don't have the feel of actual buttons, they require users to pay extra attention to making sure they've pressed the right key. This is a particular problem for in-car touchscreens, since every second a driver's eyes are off the road increases the…
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More About: car gadgets, car tech, contributor, features, technology, trending


National Zoo Live Streams Cute Critters to Your Phone

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 04:29 PM PDT




Lions and tigers and pandas -- oh my -- are now available round-the-clock, thanks to a new app for Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Released on Aug. 1, the app features maps, guided tours and information on daily activities. It also includes an alphabetical list of animals, where hundreds of species are described in detail.

If a day at the Washington, D.C.-based zoo doesn't satisfy your appetite for animals, there are live cams and movies showcasing popular exhibits, including gorillas and flamingos

For fun, the app has a "Zooify Yourself" option that lets visitors add animal features (like a parrot beak and lion's tail) onto their photos, as well…
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More About: Apple Store, National Zoo, apps, mobile phones, trending


Synchronized Swimmers in Unlikely Waters

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 03:42 PM PDT




Here at Mashable we just can't get enough of the Olympics. There's one event we're particularly excited about: synchronized swimming. In honor of the event, we thought it would be interesting to see some synchronized swimmers take a dip in unpredictable places.

It's hilarious to see aquatic athletes take to arctic waters or splash-land in a martini glass. And we had so much fun creating these images, we'd like to give you a shot. Show us some Photoshop magic of your own. Make a composite image using any body of water you can think up. We want to see your creative constructions come to life.

SEE ALSO: 15 Best Super Bowl Memes You Sent Us

First, find a background image from crea
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More About: 2012 Olympics, Photoshop, london 2012, trending


Two Cats, Mice and an iPad Result in Digital Magic [VIDEO]

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 03:09 PM PDT




See what happens when a master magician plays a few magic tricks on two seven-month-old Maine Coon cats. The elegant prestidigitation is courtesy of our friend Simon Pierro, an ace magician who does all kinds of tricks, but lately has concentrated on spectacular illusions with the iPad.

Creating this video was not as easy as it looks, especially given the distractibility of cats, particularly young ones. In this case, Simon told us because "the cats are still young, they want to play 24/7." One of the cats "turned out to be very clever," says Simon. "The moment he realized that the 'real' mouse came from under the iPad, he didn't care about the digital alter-ego anymore. The moment…
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More About: Magic, Simon Pierro, YouTube, cats, ipad, trending


Smooth-Talking Hacker Remote-Wipes Reporter’s iPad, MacBook

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 02:24 PM PDT




We've heard it before: Make sure to secure your online accounts with a strong, distinct password to avoid being hacked. But what if hackers can simply circumvent the need for your password to gain access to your information?

That's what happened to reporter Mat Honan when Apple tech support gave a hacker access to Honan's iCloud account, wreaking havoc on the Wired reporter's digital life.

Late Friday, hackers gained access to Honan's iCloud account. From there, they were able to access his Gmail account, Twitter account and the Twitter account of his former employer Gizmodo. In his blog, Honan recounted the speed of the attack:

At 5:00 PM, they remote wiped my iPhone
At 5:01 PM…
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More About: apple, hackers, icloud, security


11 Inspiring Works of Olympic Fan Art

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 01:54 PM PDT


1. Sports Shadows




In the Olympic spirit, photographer Kelvin Murray created this series called "Sports Shadows."

Click here to view this gallery.




Some of us were born athletes. Others were given the gift of creativity -- unless you're one of those weirdos who's both. The athletically blessed have been a hot topic this week, but we'd like to give the artists a shoutout, too.

The Olympics have inspired people around the planet, but some have gone so far as to create artwork based on these historical events. These illustrations, graphics, photos and other forms of medium celebrate the Games. Some are amazing, some inspiring -- and some a little unusual.

SEE ALSO: 13 Tumblrs to Satisfy Your Olympic Appetite

Take a look at the 11 pieces we've highlighted in the gallery. What artwork have you seen floating around the Internet? Shar…
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More About: art, features, lifestyle, olympics, tumblr


Viral Video Recap: Funniest Memes of the Week

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 01:05 PM PDT




Feel like you missed out on all the viral video fun from last week? What, you were actually working during the week?

Not to worry -- those of us who weren't (at least it didn't feel like work) found our favorite viral videos of the week, boiling them down for you into one quick-and-easy way to absorb all the nutty hijinks that went down on the Interwebs in the past seven days.

So sit back and enjoy Will Ferrell's meltdown, an umpire going ballistic over a stadium organist playing "Three Blind Mice," a super-wedgie, a YouTube video substituting an average dad for Liam Neeson's heroics, and a guy who goes nuts over a train whistle, reminding us of…
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More About: Video, Viral Video Recap, trending, viral videos


Small Business Owners: Here’s How to Manage Your Time [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 12:30 PM PDT




More than half of small business owners say they don't have enough time to do all the jobs they've assigned themselves. For the average small business owner, that can be between three to five roles.

It's easy to see why one in four small business owners say they'd pay $500 for an extra hour each day. Time ranks ahead of resources, such as laptops and mobile phones, on lists of assets most valuable to a business. Mavenlink created this infographic, which explores just how little time small business owners have on their hands.

Among small business owners polled by an eVoice survey, 71% report working longer hours, and 40% say they take less vacation time than those who are not self-emp…
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More About: Small Business, Startups, infographic, trending


Gunman Opens Fire at Sikh Temple in Wisconsin

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 11:48 AM PDT




Breaking: A gunman has opened fire on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, killing seven and injuring several more, including a police officer.

More About: breaking news, shooting, trending


Lady Gaga Announces New Album Title Via Twitter

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 10:29 AM PDT




The most-followed person on Twitter, Lady Gaga, has announced the title of her upcoming album/project to her 27.8 million Twitter followers.

More About: Lady Gaga, Twitter, instagram, trending


Here’s the Only App You’ll Need for the Great American Road Trip

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 10:08 AM PDT




Road tripping cross-country is an American cultural institution. Whether you're a veteran of the country's highways or it's your first time taking a road trip, a new web app can help you organize your itinerary and prepare to hit the pavement.

RoadTrippers, a web app launched Friday, lets you create custom itineraries while showing you the country's hidden treasures.

Husband and wife James and Tatiana Fisher created the app out of frustration with other travel apps, which only showed national chains and obvious tourist traps. The couple thought they could do better -- so they created RoadTrippers, hoping to inspire more adventurous travel.

"We ended up with a hybrid of Mapques…
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More About: apps, lifestyle, travel, trending


Top 6 Olympic Events for Geeks Only [SUNDAY COMICS]

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 09:42 AM PDT




The 2012 Olympics get more exciting every day, but our good friends Nitrozac and Snaggy at The Joy of Tech are feeling a bit left out. Competing in the Olympics is just too hard.

More About: London2012, Sunday Comics, The Joy of Tech, olympics, trending


45 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 09:02 AM PDT




Has your passion for the Olympics thrown a wrench in your workflow? Join the club. Spreadsheets and deadlines versus gymnastics vaults and 100m 'fly? There's no contest.

If for some crazy reason you do take a break from the Games -- or your boss issues a city-wide kibosh -- then spend some time checking out this week's top digital media resources.

Of course, there are a handful of features to enhance your Olympics experience, both social and otherwise. But there's also so much more! Browse below to find fantastic tips, tricks and guides to enhance your digital life in the office, on the web and on the go.

Editor's Picks

Nerds on Film: 10 Techie Character Types We Love
W…
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More About: Business, COMMUNICATIONS, Features Week In Review, Social Media, Tech


How to Reach Out to Potential Employers on Social Media

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 07:19 AM PDT




It's no secret that employers are incorporating social media into their recruiting plans to find top talent. Knowing how to properly reach out may be the barrier between you and your dream job.

More About: Jobs, Social Media, features, job search series, linkedin, mashable, trending


Somali Olympic Team Gains the World’s Support on Facebook

Posted: 05 Aug 2012 06:34 AM PDT




Most attention the east African nation of Somalia gets from outsiders is for the dire situation of its citizens, who have been ravaged by famine and civil war.

Thanks to Facebook, the country's two Olympic athletes are gaining supporters from across the globe and bringing hope to the country in need. Fans from around the world are giving the Somali team virtual cheers, in the form of Facebook likes and shares, on the page I AM A STAR for Somalia. People from more than 80 countries, from Peru to Turkey, have liked the page so far.

So far, the page has received more than 27,000 likes and individual posts have received hundreds more. The American Refugee Committee, who is spearheadin…
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More About: Facebook, Social Good, Sports, olympics, olympics 2012, somalia, trending



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