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    Twitter to become official narrator for 2012 Olympics

    In a partnership with NBC Universal, social media giant Twitter will become the official narrator of the 2012 Olympics. A handful of people will spend 20 hours a day to help corral millions of Twitter messages from Olympic athletes, their families, fans and NBC television personalities into a single page on Twitter.com.

    The San Francisco-based company with 140 million monthly users and a market valuation of $8.7 billion hopes that their role in the Olympics will expand its role on the Web. “This is a way for new users to sample Twitter,” said Twitter VP of Media Chloe Sladden.

    Although Twitter did not release how much it would make from the Olympics, the company has been planning this for months, hosting events with athletes and sports associations, pitching their service to them. Twitter will even be available offline, because the London Eye, a giant Ferris wheel dominating the skyline, will light up each night based on the sentiment of Olympic tweets, although it is not part of Twitter’s official campaign.

    “There’s no way of knowing exactly how much advertisers will spend on Twitter during the Olympics, but there is no doubt they will be jockeying for ad space during some of the key events of the Games, when traffic on Twitter will explode,” eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson said.

    Asus Philippines officially launching the Transformer Pad TF300 and Transformer Infinity TF700 on July 25

    After an excruciatingly long wait, Asus Philippines has finally set a date when we can officially welcome with open arms two of their (relatively) newer tablets, the Transformer Pad TF300 and Transformer Infinity TF700. We’ll be able to get the lowdown on pricing and when these two wundertablets will make its way to local distributors. If you’re wondering what the heck makes these two tablets so special, let us refresh your memories – the TF300 is basically the firm’s more expensive Transformer Prime in a more affordable body (which we heard will retail for around Php 25,000) while the TF700 is the highest resolution Android tablet currently around, sporting a native display resolution of 1920×1080. We’ll be onsite live during the event, so if you want to get some feedback on how both units look and feel, feel free to follow our Twitter account http://twitter.com/gadgetsmagazine and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GadgetsMagazine.

     

    Canon officially enters the mirrorless digital camera market, unveils EOS M mirrorless

    Canon has officially thrown its hat into the mirrorless camera game today, and has unveiled the EOS M mirrorless. The EOS M shares a lot of its DNA from another Canon product – the 650D: it has a n18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 processorand a hybrid autofocus system. Like most mirrorless cameras out in the market today, the EOS M utilizes a 3-inch touchscreen display as well as a flash hotshoe, and controls that resemble their PowerShot line of digital cameras. The EOS M is also capable of ISOs from 100 to 25,600 (extended) and is fully capable of shooting 1920×1080 video (full HD). The EOS M will ship with a 22mm kit lens, though the company is also offering a better, EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens for $300. Current EOS users will also want to drop $200 for the EF-EOS M mount adapter to be able to use older EOS lenses. The EOS M mirrorless is set to hit US stores come October, and will be priced at $800. No Philippine price or availability has been set.

    [album: https://gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/wp-content/plugins/dm-albums/dm-albums.php?currdir=/wp-content/uploads/dm-albums/[email protected]/EOS M/]

    Samsung manages to sell 10 million Galaxy S3s in less than two months

    We knew that Samsung’s latest and greatest smartphone, the Galaxy S III, would sell briskly, but we’re surprised at how fast the Korean company’s newest smartphone has managed to sell. Samsung’s president Shin Jong-kyun (JK Shin) has told Korean news agency Yonhap that the Galaxy S III has managed to acquire 10 million sales in two months, easily surpassing the sales figures of the previous device, the Galaxy S II. Though we shouldn’t be too surprised – Reuters did say last May that the Galaxy S III had managed to achieve 9 million pre-orders from carriers all over the world, so their latest sales figures is bang on the money. We’re actually more curious on how many Galaxy S IIIs Samsung will end up selling until the inevitable announcement of its successor – we’re sure a “literal crapton” is accurate in that regard.

    Source: Yonhap via TNW

    Terminator vision, check

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    We all know about Augmented Reality. We also all know about geo-caching. Now, what happens when you put the two together? All sorts of awesome things. Geo Cam for Android gives you what is more or less a heads-up-display for things and places you mark or have made available to the app even offline. You can tag a point of interest, and then see it posted on the screen as you move around an area, much like a waypoint system on many games you all are familiar with. Apart from offline mode that lets you view marked POIs, you can also use the app to measure distances, elevation, tilt and a whole list of other things you may not need, but almost certainly want. Go HERE to learn more and download the app for your ‘Droid now. Not to wait for this to come to Glass…

    Kickin’ it old-school, Nexus style

    If you are into tech the way we are, it’s quite likely you have a special place in your heart for retro gaming. It will probably also be true that you want a Galaxy Nexus 7. Those two being the case, have we got a treat for you. An XDA forum member has just gotten to put together a rig using Stickmount, a powered USB hub, a floppy drive (I know, right?) and dosbox in order to play Ultima on his Nexus 7. Absurd? Maybe. Fun? ABSOLUTELY. If you want to try this yourself, it might work on other ‘Droids, so head over to this LINK and find out more.

    iPhone app syncs your activities with The Dark Knight Rises soundtrack

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    Here’s an iPhone app that will keep Batman fans immersed in Gotham City like never before.

    “This new app allows users to be part of the film in a way that goes beyond the movie screen,” says Hans Zimmer, the composer of the film’s musical score.

    The app, dubbed as the The Dark Knight Rises Z+, syncs your life with the sounds of Gotham City. The music you hear, crafted by Zimmer himself, will vary on what you’re doing, where you’re at, and what time of day it is. For instance, if you’re in reading in the library, it’ll go into the “Silence” mode and you’ll hear soft music. When you’re running, it’ll switch to the “Action” mode and the tunes become heavy and intense. If you’re just standing still, a score entitled “Gotham City” will play.

    The founder of RjDJ.me, the company behind the app, explains that the app “uses vowel formant shaping on the microphone input in realtime which makes the world around you chant like the music in the movie.”

    The “Fly the Bat” mode lets users interact with the sound effects from the film by rotating their devices. The app also contains sound clips of Zimmer and Batman trilogy director Christopher Nolan discussing the musical score during the development of the film.

    The Dark Knight Rises Z+ app celebrates the release of the final installment in Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, and is up for free on the App Store.

    Sources: Rolling Stone and Mashable

    Kodak loses patent claim against RIM, Apple

    Kodak can’t seem to catch a break, can it? The once industry leader in the imaging industry has just lost a crucial patent claim that would’ve helped the bankrupt company get on its feet again. The patent complaint filed against RIM and Apple pertains to Kodak’s patent number 218, pertains to how digital cameras preview images in a viewfinder. If their patent complaint was successful, it would have meant that nearly all smartphone manufacturers would have needed to licence the technology from Kodak. Unfortunately, the International Trade Commission concluded that neither Apple nor RIM had violated trade laws that could have led to an injunction halting imports of their products. Kodak is still looking to make money out of its current patent portfolio, but to be honest it’s not looking good for the company.

    Source: Wall Street Journal

    Asus confirms Android 4.1 Jelly Bean coming to their tablets

    Itching to get Google’s latest and greatest OS in your Asus made tablet? Don’t you worry – Engadget has gotten word that the Taiwanese manufacturer has announced that the Transformer TF300, Transformer Prime and the Transformer Pad Infinity will all be getting a Jelly Bean update in the future. Asus has also said that they are still investigating Jelly Bean updates for other devices, but have not specified the actual upgrade schedule as of yet. No word still if they’ll also push out updates for the TF101, their oldest tablet device ever, or to the PadFone, but you know we would’t rule it out.

    Source: Engadget

    Leaked photos reveal Canon’s first mirrorless camera

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    Camera manufacturers seem to be pushing mirrorless models nowadays, and now rumors and leaked photos hint that Canon, the world’s largest DSLR manufacturer, is jumping on the bandwagon as well.

    The leaked images feature the so-called EOS M that wields a EF-M 22mm f/2 STM macro lens and a new mount type called EF-M. With no viewfinder and minimal controls at the back, it looks like Canon opted for a simpler design compared to Sony’s NEX models. The exterior pretty much resembles the Nikon J1, except it doesn’t seem to have a pop-up flash. No word yet on specs such as megapixel count and ISO range, but the camera is rumored to have an APS-C sized sensor, making the 22mm lens a 35mm equivalent.

    Canon Watch believes that the new camera will be announced next week. We’ll keep you posted for more updates. If you want to see more pictures of the rumored EOS-M, Canon Price Watch and Canon Rumors have recently posted rear and top-view angles of the device and what seem to be photos of the actual camera.

    Sources: The Verge, SlashGear, Canon Watch

    VLC For ‘droid receives updates

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    VLC, regerded in many circles as the best video player on most of the popular OSs out there, has received an update in Google Play. While still in beta, the update gives you a generally faster VLC on droid, the ability to move the app onto your SD card, and better 4.0 and 4.1 integration. As usual, VLC gives users wide file compatibility, quick and correct video playback and a simple UI that everybody loves.

    It is worth noting that despite  an initial release in Apple’s own app store, VLC was quickly found to be lacking in satisfying Apple’s demands, though not due to performance. The devs have now moved to making VLC for droid, and if the performance of the app on other platforms is anything to go by, we could be looking at the next big mobile video player out there. Head over to the Google Play page HERE to get more info.

    Windows 8 Store details revealed, app trial periods are a go

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    As the world waits for the latest OS from Windows set later this year, more and more details are being released to keep people interested. Windows has just recently let loose a little more info about the Windows 8 store. Apps are apparently going to be pegged at a minimum price of USD 1.49, a little bit above the minimum price of other app stores, AND they will be offering an option to try out apps for 7 days without having to commit to the purchase. It should be noted, however, that it seems the trial option is left to the developer. That is to say, it’s totally cool with Bill if whoever made the program doesn’t let you try it for free. Still, it is nice to know that the option exists, and as it’s quite plausible to think that a dev that is confident in their product will be okay with letting the consumer try before they buy. Head over to this LINK and catch a few more details at the MSDN blog.

    Users complaining about Google Nexus 7 touchscreen issues

    When you out a product as revolutionary and as affordable as the Nexus 7, corners inevitably would be cut. Seems like one of the corners that had been cut was product QC – Geek.com’s Ryan Whitarm is reporting that his Google Nexus 7 is experiencing touchscreen issues. We’ll let the man explain it himself:

    “On occasion, the right side of the screen will stop picking up touch inputs. This has happened in a variety of situations, but I’ve found that one surefire way to trigger it is to play a Tegra game. These games push the hardware, and it only takes a few minutes for the screen to start degrading in performance.”

    “Touching the right side (when held in portrait) of the screen sometimes elicits no response from the tablet. Sometimes the Nexus 7 will detect the touch, but quickly loses connection and the touch point is lost. The dead area runs all the way up the height of the panel, and across to about the mid point. The severity of the issue seems to vary over time; some occurrences are much less serious than others. To temporarily solve the issue, I can turn the screen off and back on.”

    This isn’t an isolated issue. Numerous users are also reporting this problem on XDA developers which also report several issues with their Nexus 7s, which include backlight bleeding and charging issues. If you have a Nexus 7 in your posession right now, please comment on the thread below to shout out if you’re unit is working fine or it’s exhibiting strange behavior.

    Source: Geek.com

     

     

    Apple ordered to take out ads saying that Samsung did not copy the iPad

    Apple has suffered a large and potentially embarrassing setback in the its fight patent war against Samsung. UK Judge Colin Birss has ordered Apple to take out advertisements in major newspapers – including the Daily Mail, the Guardian and the Financial Times saying that Samsung did not copy the iPad. According to Bloomberg, the ruling comes after Apple’s comment after his first ruling back in July 9, with the firm from Cupertino saying that “It’s no coincidence that Samsung’s latest products look a lot like the iPhone and iPad, from the shape of the hardware to the user interface and even the packaging. This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we’ve said many times before, we need to protect Apple’s intellectual property when companies steal our ideas.”

    This particular ruling is a major embarrasment for Apple because as bitter as its battle against Samsung is, it has never had to acknowledge the Korean brand in any of its marketing materials, which includes advertising. Yes, there’s some wink wink, nudge nudge references here and there, but the company has never really mentioned it’s rival(s) by name. We’re sure we’ll be seeing those advertisements soon enough if Apple does not appeal.

    Source: Bloomberg

    New study suggests Pirates want to buy legal, but convenience, choice and availability comes first

    I’ve always maintained a pretty liberal stance on piracy, and have publicly said that pirates only download illegal content over the web because of the lack of choice and availability of content online. A new study by YouGov seems to back that statement up. YouGov conducted a poll of 2000 Danish citizens to see what their illegal downloading habits were. It seems like a majority of illegal downloaders are Men and young consumers were the most prolific consumers of illicit content with around 30% of 15-29 year-olds engaging in the activity compared to just 4% of 50-74 year-olds. Unsurprisingly, the survey also found that a majority of downloaders would prefer that they get their content by legal means.

    “Our study shows that Danish pirates would actually prefer to stay within the law,” says Ida Alexandra Mykland, Senior Consultant at YouGov. “But the group indicates that the need for convenience and a high degree of accessibility is simply so great that they choose to access illegal material instead.”

    And just to underline the obvious, the study also showed that a majority of the pirates would willingly pay up to access the content that they downloaded if only the price was right.  72% said that movie and TV show downloading could be reduced by lowering the prices of official content, with 47% stating that offering the latest material could also reduce piracy.

    “It is paradoxical that the pirates on one hand do not indicate the price as the main reason why they violate the law, while they also say that lowering the price would be the best way to reduce piracy,” says Mykland. “This may be because consumers generally expect lower prices to download or stream movies online.”

    While Denmark is a completely different country from ours (they are a first world country, while we are obviously a third world country) I feel that the sentiment is the same for a majority of Filipinos. I would gladly fork over 500 pesos a month to stream my favorite shows to my PC if it meant I could get it anytime, anywhere in the device of my choosing. An anti-piracy strategy that actually addresses the problem of piracy is way better than proposing an idiotic law that does nothing but make people think of sneakier ways to download and break the law. Right?

    Source: Torrent Freak