Alt-week 11.10.12: the contagious smell of fear, finding Bigfoot, and the theory of everything

Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.

There are some questions that have puzzled the human race more or less since the dawn of time. Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? You know the sort of thing. While we might not have the answers to these just yet, thanks to science, we're getting there. In this week's instalment we discover that you can, in fact, smell fear. Meanwhile, one scientist pledges to launch an ambitious hunt for Bigfoot, and we get an early hint at what could be the start of an explanation for life, the universe and everything. This is alt-week.

Continue reading Alt-week 11.10.12: the contagious smell of fear, finding Bigfoot, and the theory of everything

Filed under: Science, Alt

Alt-week 11.10.12: the contagious smell of fear, finding Bigfoot, and the theory of everything originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Nov 2012 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/10/alt-week-11-10-12-the-contagious-smell-of-fear-finding-bigfoot/

MILLICOM INTL CELLULAR

Teenage Hacker ‘Cosmo the God’ Sentenced by California Court

Cosmo, the teenage hacker and social engineer from Long Beach, California, was sentenced in court this week after pleading guilty to multiple felonies.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/11/hacker-cosmo-the-god-sentenced-by-california-court/

MCAFEE

No Thanks, ALK - the Google Lady Is My Copilot

I've gone a bit mad for smartphone GPS and everything that goes with it, including back country topo maps, tablet mounts and in-car mode screen assistant widgets. If you've been reading some of my TechNewsWorld and LinuxInsider columns lately, you already know that. I've also been kitting out my phone with some highly sophisticated GPS tools and getting good results.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/256a8b55/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C765790Bhtml/story01.htm

INSIGHT ENTERPRISES

Deal of the Day: 60% off the Amzer Shellster ShellCase with Holster for iPhone 5!

Today Only: Buy the Amzer Shellster ShellCase with Holster for iPhone 5 and save $14.95!

The form fit plastic shell is impact resistant for complete protection of your iPhone 5 and quickly slides in and out of the holster for instant phone access. The holster is lined with a soft fabric for a scratch free device and the 180 degree swiveling belt blip doubles as an adjustable clip stand, perfect for displaying media.

List Price: $24.95     Today Only: $10.00

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/J_R0eg7gWII/story01.htm

NCR

Employees film themselves throwing, dropping, iPads at Kentucky Walmart [NSFW-L]

This is why it’s a good idea to carefully check every iPhone, iPad, iPod, and other device you buy immediately after buying it, and to know the return policy of your local electronics retailer. Employees at a Wal-Mart in Pykeville, Kentucky, filmed themselves tossing iPads to each other across the stockroom. The employees failed to catch some iPads, while one was deliberately thrown on to the ground. The incident involved at least four employees, who have since been fired.

While something you purchase might have a manufacturing defect, or have been damaged in shipping, considerable damage can be done by the employees who are supposed to sell you the product. Remember, poor judgement is not exclusive to one chain of stores, so no matter where you buy your electronics, be mindful, and keep your receipt.

Source: YouTube via Mashable

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/J6JqV4CjQow/story01.htm

MICROSOFT

GameFly's digital distribution client officially exits beta, celebrates with free copies of Bioshock

After nearly a year of testing, GameFly is ready to pull the beta qualifier off of its PC game distribution client. The desktop software serves not only as a digital storefront for PC games, but also as a queue management program for subscribers to GameFly's game-by-mail service. Active members get free access to a few hundred "Unlimited PC Play" titles as well -- offering subscribers a wide range of games from Diner Dash to Assassin's Creed. The official release doesn't differ from the beta in any significant way, but GameFly and 2K games is celebrating its launch by doling out free copies of Bioshock to anyone willing to give the platform a test drive. Crash on down to the source link below for a free ticket to Rapture, or read on for GameFly's official press release.

Continue reading GameFly's digital distribution client officially exits beta, celebrates with free copies of Bioshock

Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software

GameFly's digital distribution client officially exits beta, celebrates with free copies of Bioshock originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/09/gameflys-digital-distribution-client-officially-exits-beta-cel/

AUTODESK

Tokyoflash Japan introduces the Kisai Maru

Tokyoflash Japan has a new watch for us, the Kisai Maru.  Maru means circle in Japanese, and the Maru displays time in an always-on LCD circle.  The inner marker on the display shows the hour, and the outer marker shows the minutes.  It also has an electroluminescent backlight so you can see the display at [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/11/08/tokyoflash-japan-introduces-the-kisai-maru/

FIRST SOLAR

Facebook Welcomes Newbies With Privacy Grand Tour

Facebook has rolled out a round of security features intended to better educate new users about what information they can keep private and how. Now, when new users sign up for the site, they will have the option to take an online privacy tour to get information on its privacy policies.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/254252ec/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C765520Bhtml/story01.htm

ARROW ELECTRONICS

Mac mini review (2012)

More Info

• Mac Mini updated in two new flavors, at $599 for i5 dual-core and $999 for i7 quad-core server model
• iFixit opens up new Mac Mini, has no trouble putting it all back together again
• Mac mini review (mid 2011)

October 23rd was mostly the iPad mini's coming out party; an event with one major headliner. But that newborn product didn't enter Apple's ecosystem alone. Amidst the flurry of announcements, there was one other wee hardware relative on hand ready to join in on the launch festivities: a refreshed 2012 Mac mini. Addressing criticisms of last year's model, Apple added USB 3.0 ports, upgraded to third-generation Ivy Bridge Core processors and boosted the standard RAM allotment to 4GB (you can configure it with up to 16 gigs). Perhaps most interestingly, it's now offering a hybrid storage option, the so-called FusionDrive, which combines flash memory with a SATA HDD.

One quirk still remains, though: the product's demographic leanings. Just who is the Mac mini for? Is it the go-anywhere, portable desktop best integrated in yachts, airports, automobiles and living rooms? Or, with a starting price of $599, is it the perfect, low-cost migration assistant (pun intended) for consumers making the switch from a Windows desktop? Follow on to see which hat this not-quite-an-HTPC wears best.

Gallery: Mac mini review (2012)

Continue reading Mac mini review (2012)

Filed under: Desktops, Apple

Mac mini review (2012) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/09/apple-mac-mini-review/

ARROW ELECTRONICS

Pulse 3.0 update for iOS and Android brings new design, better search and more

Pulse might have launched that browser-based app back in August, but most of its customers still use its mobile app. Lucky for them, both iOS and Android versions of the app have been updated to Pulse 3.0. The update promises a sleeker and more user-friendly interface, along with a new category sidebar, a search feature that lets you cull news from a wider variety of sources (from Tumblr, Youtube, Reddit, Facebook, Google, Flickr and Blekko just to name a few), infinite scrolling, and unlimited pages. The new iOS app is now universal and can be used across all iOS devices -- previous versions were divided into iPhone and iPad camps. On the Android side, users get a redesigned Pulse widget that displays top stories in a resizable view. Customizable notifications on both platforms will ensure you always stay on top of the news -- perhaps now you can finally score a win at your favorite pub's quiz night.

Filed under: Internet, Software

Pulse 3.0 update for iOS and Android brings new design, better search and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 02:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TUAW, TechCrunch  |  Pulse  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/09/pulse-3-0-update/

EMS TECHNOLOGIES

Apple v. Samsung: Judge to Review Whether Jury Foreman Hid Information

Judge Lucy Koh has agreed to consider concerns raised by Samsung over juror misconduct in the landmark U.S. case Apple v. Samsung.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/11/judge-review-jury-foreman/

MOBILE TELESYSTEMS

Apple donates $2.5 million to the American Red Cross, Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

On behalf of its employees, Apple has donated $2.5 million to the American Red Cross to aid in their Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane in modern memory, devastating the eastern seaboard from the Caribbean to the northeastern United States between October 22 and October 31, 2012, causing damages estimated to be in excess of $20 billion, and incalculable human impact. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, informed employees of the donation yesterday via email. Seth Weintraub from 9to5Mac got a hold of a copy. It reads, in part:

We hope this contribution will help businesses, families, and communities recover and rebuild.

Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, thanked Apple for their donations in a separate, linked, letter.

U.S residents who want to contribute as well can do so directly via iTunes.

Although Sandy turned before we got anything more than a lot of wind and rain up here in Montreal, several of our Mobile Nations friends and family in New Jersey and West Virginia area were without power for days, their homes and offices flooded, their lives deeply affected. To everyone who's suffered through Sandy, be well and comeback fast. To everyone who has donated, thank you.

To read Tim Cook's full letter, hit the link below.

Source: 9to5Mac

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/t9Kp-2Cy5dI/story01.htm

EMC

Pinterest’s Secret Boards Let You Pin in Private

Pinterest on Thursday released Secret Boards, a feature that lets users pin without letting everybody see what they're doing.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/11/pinterest-secret-boards/

DST SYSTEMS

SLAPPA 17″ Transit Messenger Bag review

My favorite type of gear bag is the messenger style bag. I like the shape, the fact that it can sit upright instead of flopping over like some bags, and that it can hold a lot of stuff. So, what’s better than a messenger bag? A messenger bag that has interchangeable flaps so you don’t [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/11/05/slappa-17-transit-messenger-bag-review/

INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY

Fair Labor Association too easy on Apple, Foxconn, study says

An economic policy think tank says the FLA's "rosy" review of factory practices are "unfounded," particularly with ramped up iPhone 5 production.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57546750-37/fair-labor-association-too-easy-on-apple-foxconn-study-says/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=News-Apple

TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED

AT&T set to expand availability of FaceTime over cellular

AT&T will loosen its restrictions on FaceTime over LTE. Previously, AT&T had limited use of FaceTime over LTE to those customers with a Mobile Share plan. Now, a customer on any of the carrier’s plans will be able to use FaceTime over LTE. AT&T also announced that they would be making special text and data-only packages available to deaf and hard of hearing customers to increase the utility of FaceTime over cellular. In a statment, AT&T said that these initiatives would roll out in eight to ten weeks.

AT&T today announced it will enable FaceTime over Cellular at no extra charge for iOS 6 customers with an LTE device on any tiered data plan. AT&T will also continue to offer FaceTime over Cellular to customers with any AT&T Mobile Share plan, as well as FaceTime over Wi-Fi, which has always been available for all customers. AT&T expects to roll out this functionality to customers over the next eight to ten weeks.

This is good news for many AT&T customers who have not moved to a Mobile Share plan. Unfortunately, for many more of AT&T’s customers, 3G does not seem to be included in this expansion. Customers with an iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 are out of luck, despite the fact that they are perfectly capable of using FaceTime over cellular. Even most of AT&T’s customers that use the iPhone 5 are probably left in the lurch, at least for now. That’s because AT&T’s LTE network does not cover most of AT&T’s service area, and despite the planned expansion of their LTE network, it’s not there yet. So their iPhone 5 customers don’t even have access to LTE to take advantage of the less restrictive FaceTime requirements. So while this is a nice step in the right direction, it's not nearly a big enough step to matter to most of AT&T's customers.

Source: PR Newswire

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/6utgvfpg5r0/story01.htm

LAWSON SOFTWARE

Kindle Paperwhite Software Update 5.3.0

Amazon has just released their first software update (5.3.0) for their new Kindle Paperwhite .  New features in the update include: Improved Fonts:  We have made changes to Palatino, Baskerville, and Futura fonts to make them look even better on Kindle Paperwhite. You will notice this when reading books, as well as in menus. We’ve also [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/11/07/kindle-paperwhite-software-update-5-3-0/

ZIONS BAN

Sprint Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S factory images now available

One of the greatest parts of owning a Nexus is the software support from Google. Now this goes beyond just updates, as Google also posts complete "factory images" for Nexus devices so that willing hackers can always return their devices to stock firmware through first-party approved methods. Things got a little sticky when the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and Sprint Galaxy Nexus (and Nexus S) were released, however, because they included closed-source bits related to CDMA and LTE. This put a damper on Google's ability to release the images for anyone to download.

Thankfully, the Sprint Galaxy Nexus ("mysidspr") now has a complete image available for download by anyone that includes everything you need to return your device to stock 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Additionally, Google has posted the 4.1.1 factory images for the Sprint Nexus S 4G ("sojus") and 4.1.2 images for the AT&T Nexus S ("sojua") as well. It's good to see Google not leave out older hardware, even though it's two Nexus revisions behind now.

The process is pretty simple if you've got a little bit of patience. Need help using these tools? Head to the forums, there's plenty of great info and helpful users at the ready.

Source: Google Developers; More: Sprint Galaxy Nexus Forums; Sprint Nexus S 4G Forums

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/97gA7Z4OsGE/story01.htm

QUALCOMM