Leaked Road Map Offers Glimpse of Future Windows Phones

A road map for the future development of the Windows Phone OS has apparently been leaked. The new information comes in the wake of a recent flurry of criticism over Windows Phone's performance in the smartphone market. The road map is purportedly accurate as of October 2011.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/74063.html

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Motorola Droid Bionic, Droid RAZR & Atrix 2 Fastboot files now available - Bring your device back to life from a soft brick

If you like to tinker around with your device then chances are you've suffered a soft brick or two in your life, then spent some time looking in the Android Central forums or hitting up Google and eventually finding some magical files to help restore your device back to normal.

Those wonderful little files are the Fastboot recoevery files and they are great to have kicking around just in case things go awry, and while they're often hard to find -- some fine folks have now shared them for a multitude of Motorola devices.

The Droid Bionic, Droid RAZR and Atrix 2 files are now all available for download, In addition to saving your behind from a softbrick, developers can make great use of these files as well so, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for some new happenings when it comes to development for these devices.

Source: XDA - Bionic, RAZR, Atrix 2

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/wRXZ3KU4yrg/story01.htm

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Keep your Wine Safe with a Wine Bottle Lock

The Combo Liquor/Wine Bottle Lock from Franmara will keep your important spirits safe from sneaky sippers. The lock is constructed of stainless steel and provides a customizable 4 digit combination lock. You can buy one from Amazon for $19.99.

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/12/29/keep-your-wine-safe-with-a-wine-bottle-lock/

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BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.

CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.

Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/blackberry-messenger-6-0-screenshots-leak/

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Richard's most-used Android apps of 2011

Over the course of the last 12 months, I've lost count of the sheer amount of applications that I've downloaded, tried, deleted, and in some cases tried again. When all is said and done though, there's a select group of apps which I use a whole lot more than others to the point that they've become part of everyday life. Here's a little list of what's been getting me through the week.

Also: Phil's picks, Jerry's Picks, Chris' Picks

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/0VfcA9-iEQw/story01.htm

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Daily Crunch: Fiend Edition

Hot Cool Box: Thanko?s USB Mini Fridge Doubles As Heater Starbucks Merges Their Two iOS Apps, Lets You Gift Your Friends Coffee From Your Phone IBM Takes Another Step Towards Reliable Phase-Change Memory Samsung?s Galaxy Tab 8.9 Hits The FCC How Making Can Help Our Economy, Improve Education, And Make Us Happy

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/07/01/daily-crunch-fiend-edition/

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Droid 4 gets hands-on treatment, but it's simply a dummy unit

The folks over at TechnoBuffalo have just come across a rather interesting specimen -- it's a dummy unit of the forthcoming Droid 4 from Motorola. While its rumored release date has come and gone, non-functional models such as this are commonly offered to consumers in a retail setting to poke and prod to their heart's content. Nonetheless, the hands-on offers a few interesting details, such as a soft touch backside and insight into the redesigned keyboard, which is described as "the best one yet on a Droid handset." Whether we agree with that assertion will be determined come review time, but if you're interested to see the collection of up-close and personal shots with Moto's latest slider, be sure to check the source below.

Droid 4 gets hands-on treatment, but it's simply a dummy unit originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/rdz_sckdlVM/

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How to encrypt data on ipad

How many times have you stood there looking in disbelief as all your preciously saved data was compromised, you dreaded the day you even thought of buying an ipad and if only it was not that the damn thing was not so overpriced and expensive you will definitely smash it to smithereens. If this sounds even remotely like what you have previously experienced then you will know the pain associated with hacked accounts on or off your ipad, and if [...]

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/tabletbuzzblog-mentioning/

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Facebook Messenger client for Windows slips out for download (Update: Official download available)

We've already had an early peek at Facebook's yet-to-be-released Messenger client for Windows, and now you can give it a shot yourself courtesy of a leaked copy that's turned up on the TechIT website. Not much in the way of surprises here, but if you're the sort that prefers desktop applications to websites or mobile apps, you'll be glad to know that it provides access to not just Facebook chat, but status updates and notifications from your friends as well. You can find the download at the source link below (Windows 7 is required).

Update: Facebook has now made an official download available -- you can grab it here, and find additional details on the application here.

[Thanks, Avi]

Facebook Messenger client for Windows slips out for download (Update: Official download available) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  TechIT, Facebook Help Center  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/facebook-messenger-client-for-windows-slips-out-for-download/

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AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool

A while back, we told you about AVG's new LiveKive service, a new cloud synchronization and backup tool which appears to have been named after a vat in which mash is made during the brewing process. But enough about AVG's odd choice of monikers -- LiveKive has launched and is now ready to accept your files into the AVG cloud.

LiveKive takes aim at services like Dropbox and SugarSync, though at the moment it's lagging behind in terms of features. As it stands, LiveKive is only compatible with Windows and OS X. There are no mobile clients yet, though with AVG's strong presence on Android we wouldn't be surprised to see an app arrive in the near future.

The company is offering a heck of a deal right now, however. If you sign up for a paid account during the launch phase, you can score unlimited storage for $80 for a whole year. You can't even score 50GB per year at that price from Dropbox, so if cost and space are more important to you than cross-platform availability, LiveKive might be worth checking out.

If you're not interested in ponying up any cash at the moment, you can still get a 5GB account free of charge. Just head on over, and create a LiveKive account.

AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/07/avg-launches-livekive-cloud-sync-and-backup-tool/

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Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game

Sand Trap is one of those games that at first seem too hard to bother with, but when you try to stop playing it you discover you're hooked.

The goal is to get as much sand as you possibly can out of the maze and into the bucket at the bottom of the screen. You need to rotate your maze every which way to get the sand rolling around it. You then try to direct the sand to one of the exits of the maze, and hopefully into the bucket. It took me several tries to actually get sand into the bucket, but that might be due to the fact that I didn't even realize the bucket was there at first. Things improved significantly after that.

As you level up, the mazes get more complicated, with moving parts and other things making your life more difficult. Once you manage to get through all these obstacles and get enough sand into your bucket, you can move on.

As I mentioned, this is not an easy game, but it's highly addictive. The graphics remind me of some long lost game from the 80s, but this just proves that you don't need super graphics and crazy sound to make a game work. There's a soothing guitar track playing in the background and that's it, as far as I could hear, and you can enjoy it just as much with no sound at all.

If you like a fun physics challenge, don't miss out on this one!

Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/sand-trap-is-a-fun-physics-maze-game/

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This Cat Might Be Better At Fruit Ninja Than Your Kids

iOS devices are generally very accessible for most people. But for felines? Apparently so according to the video recently tweeted by Halfbrick, the developer of Fruit Ninja. It's clear within seconds of the video starting that the cat has done this before. This cat slashes fruit like a boss. As UberGizmo notes, the cat displays a surprising amount of accuracy and navigates the arcade mode with ease. But Fruit Ninja is one thing. I wanna see this cat slice and dice its way through Infinity Blade II.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/R04p3B0sKNo/

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Amazon marks 'best holiday' for Kindle devices, fills stockings full of cash

It was yet another solid year for Amazon's Kindle family of products. The mega online retailer sent out its yearly post-Christmas card, bragging about moving "well over one million Kindle devices per week" for December, making it the best holiday yet for the e-reader / tablet line, according to the company. Three Kindles held the top spots on the site's list of best sellers, led by the Fire, the Touch and the plain old fourth generation Kindle. No exact numbers from Amazon, as per usual, but it looks to have been a pretty green Christmas for Bezos and co. Jingle all the way to the celebratory press release after the jump.

Continue reading Amazon marks 'best holiday' for Kindle devices, fills stockings full of cash

Amazon marks 'best holiday' for Kindle devices, fills stockings full of cash originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/29/amazon-marks-best-holiday-for-kindle-devices-fills-stockings/

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Poll: Are you going to pay Verizon?s new $2 convenience tax?

If you listened to Girls Gone Gadgets last night, you heard Ashley, Kim, and me debate Verizon’s new $2 convenience tax — where and when it’s actually applied and...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/tUpH-cUNJNY/story01.htm

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ComScore: Android up, RIM down, water wet

Stop us (oh, oh, oh stop us) if you've heard this one before, but in the world of cellphone market share: nothing's changed -- or at least almost nothing. The quarterly data from ComScore say you all still love Android and iOS only slightly more than you used to. Of the 91.4 million smartphones in the US, Google gained the 3.1 percent of the market that RIM lost, and is now inching toward controlling half the nation's phones with 46.9 percent, whilst Apple swallowed the modest gains that Microsoft and Symbian lost. Samsung remains top manufacturer in a report where the only surprise is that 72.6 percent of users send text messages, so what do the other 27.4 percent do when they've been delayed or way-laid?

[Thanks, Wilson]

Continue reading ComScore: Android up, RIM down, water wet

ComScore: Android up, RIM down, water wet originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink OddPattern  |  comScore  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/comscore-android-up-rim-down-water-wet/

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Apple Patent Describes New Type of Face-Recognition Tech

Swipe to unlock could be a thing of the past for next-gen iOS devices. Like current Galaxy Nexus users, iOS users could soon be using facial recognition technology to lock or unlock their iDevices.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/apple-patent-face-recognition/

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AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool

A while back, we told you about AVG's new LiveKive service, a new cloud synchronization and backup tool which appears to have been named after a vat in which mash is made during the brewing process. But enough about AVG's odd choice of monikers -- LiveKive has launched and is now ready to accept your files into the AVG cloud.

LiveKive takes aim at services like Dropbox and SugarSync, though at the moment it's lagging behind in terms of features. As it stands, LiveKive is only compatible with Windows and OS X. There are no mobile clients yet, though with AVG's strong presence on Android we wouldn't be surprised to see an app arrive in the near future.

The company is offering a heck of a deal right now, however. If you sign up for a paid account during the launch phase, you can score unlimited storage for $80 for a whole year. You can't even score 50GB per year at that price from Dropbox, so if cost and space are more important to you than cross-platform availability, LiveKive might be worth checking out.

If you're not interested in ponying up any cash at the moment, you can still get a 5GB account free of charge. Just head on over, and create a LiveKive account.

AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/07/avg-launches-livekive-cloud-sync-and-backup-tool/

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Engadget Podcast 270 - 12.30.2011

Happy The Engadget Podcast New Year's, everybody! You know what to do. Don't forget to date your checks right.

Host: Brian Heater
Guests: Richard Lawler, Terrence O'Brien
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: We Found Love

04:47 - Verizon experiencing nationwide data outage? (update: Verizon confirms)
09:00 - Verizon confirms latest LTE outage restored, again claims 3G operated normally
12:28 - Toshiba Thrive 7" review
21:10 - Tech's biggest misfires of 2011


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Download the podcast

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Contact the podcast

Send your questions to @tim_stevens.
Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005)
E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com
Twitter: @bheater, @rjcc, @terrenceobrien

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 270 - 12.30.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/30/engadget-podcast-270-12-30-2011/

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How to Upgrade or Downgrade Ipad Firmware

It is a known fact that when most of the people encounter problems with their everyday use of the ipad, they resolve to upgrading or downgrading their firmware as a way to eliminate and solve their problems. There are many problems however that cannot be solved or fixed by upgrading or downgrading ipad firm ware. Though the two tasks appear to be similar, they differ from one another, and this is not in reference to upgrade or downgrade. The legality [...]

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/how-to-upgrade-or-downgrade-ipad-firmware/

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Engadget Distro's 2011 Year In Review is here!

As yet another year of spectacular technological gains and enormous losses comes to a close, we present to you our best attempt at a comprehensive look back: Engadget Distro's Year In Review. In "Technology_In_2011.zip" we'll provide a compressed month-by-month timeline of just a few of the year's standout stories and announcements. We'll also bring you the year in corporate mudslinging with a collection of the most outrageous "CE-Oh No He Didn't" moments and present "The Top 10 Crappiest Crapgadgets of 2011," as selected by our readers. Looking ahead, we have our predictions of what's to come at CES 2012, TechnoBuffalo's Jon Rettinger gives us some insight into his distaste for OS wars in "Q&A" and Don Melanson offers up his list of the year's must-reads. So, in the interest of retrospection, hit that download link and let's reflect.

Distro Issue 20 PDF
Distro on the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Android Market
Distro APK (for sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Engadget Distro's 2011 Year In Review is here! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Android Market, iTunes  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/XQJivWgWuiI/

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How to use Tablet Pc as a webcam

Many people are aware of the endless possibilities of task that you can do with your tablet pc. Literally there are millions of uses of a tablet pc that have never been seen or discovered yet. The main thing about the tablet pc of today is that their operating architect allows individuals and third party companies to create certain apps that are unique and does not carry any official signature from device manufacture. One has to look at the ipad [...]

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/how-to-use-tablet-pc-as-a-webcam-2/

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Verizon, on Twitter, says 4G is up and running again

Verizon's Twitter account this morning tells us that its latest 4G LTE outage has been resolved.

4GLTE issue resolved overnight. 3G operated normally; calling, texting were unaffected.

It wouldn't surprise us to still see a few stragglers, but hopefully things are copasetic for most of you out there.

Source: @VZWNews

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/OT_uW-avDZQ/story01.htm

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