November 2014 ~ LIFE-STYLE

Saturday, November 29, 2014

iOS users outspent Android by 25% online yesterday, says IBM

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Market share is a fun metric for comparing a product’s popularity, but there is a better way to gauge if those who own a device actually use it. Data regarding online shopping is a really good way to see who is putting devices to use, and IBM has compiled some shopping and purchase stats for Thursday shopping. Apple iOS device users spent a solid 25% more than their Android counterparts during online shopping sessions yesterday. The reason, according to IBM, is that Apple users are more “affluent”.

The average purchase made by Apple users was $118.57. Android users spent, on average, $95.25.
Jay Henderson, director of IBM Smarter Commerce, said “Apple has a strong hold on online shopping. iPhone and iPad buyers tend to be slightly more affluent and more comfortable with technology.”

Half of online shopping (browsing and purchasing) was done via a mobile device this year, with IBM noting Apple users are three times more likely to make a purchase than Android users. Those on an iPhone or iPad were responsible for 25% of all online purchases, according to IBM. With attention to actual sales, IBM says 32% of all online sales were made via mobile. PC still reigns supreme, with a larger receipt bottom-line ($132.48) and online shopping traffic percentage (47.6%).

Carbon Black gives wheelchairs a modern style upgrade

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Carbon Black is a wheelchair designed to look modern and minimalistic, a change up from the long-held traditional wheelchair design that is both antiquated and heavy. Because Carbon Black is made nearly entirely from carbon fiber, it sheds most of that weight at a little under 19lbs. This makes the wheelchair light enough for users to handle it themselves, putting it in and removing it from vehicles, for example. In addition to the ultra light weight and modern design are integrated LED "headlights".

Carbon Black is a modular wheelchair with an adjustable backrest, as shown in the video below. The use of carbon fiber is said to make the Carbon Black more energy efficient than ordinary wheelchairs, and to allow the device to better absorb bumps and vibrations.

As show in the first picture, users can choose to have LED lights included on the front of the chair, which makes it easier to navigate at night and in low-light locations. The lights are controlled through a switch in the seat. Carbon Black is a finished product, but isn't yet available in the US. The makers are seeking funding through Kickstarter, where it has a £15,000 goal with about £726 in pledges and 15 days remaining. The money raised will be used to pay for an FDA application and other processes to bring the wheelchair to the States. The campaign is offering various items and parts in exchange for pledges, and you'll need to shell out £4,700 to get the components to assemble your own Carbon Black wheelchair.

Toyo recalls 175,000 tires over safety risk

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Toyo has recalled about 175,000 tires due to potential issues that could lead to tire failure, posing a safety risk. The recall is being voluntarily made, and includes tires made under both the Nitto and Toyo Tires brands for SUVs, light trucks, and vans.

With these tires, it is possible the belt or tread can separate and the tire could potentially lose pressure, both of which could then possibly lead to the tire itself failing and a potential crash. Nitto Dura Grappler Highway Terrain tires that were made from May 2007 to April 2012 are part of the recall, as well as Toyo Open Country Tuff Duty tires made from November 2008 to June 2013. Unfortunately, there are two known instances of tire malfunctions that led to crashes. Said the company in a statement:

In a small number of these recall tires, production variances in the belt package during the relevant production periods may have created conditions that may put undue stress on the belt edge. This condition may potentially contribute to a tread/belt separation and/or loss of inflation pressure, which may increase the risk of tire failure and a vehicle crash.

Several recalls from various companies have been announced this month, among them being the nationwide recall of Takata Corp. airbags. Toyota has also had a couple recalls, one for 2015 Sienna minivans and another for Lexus vehicles. Check out the timeline below for additional recalls.

Jolla promises to give tablets cellular connection if it raises $2.5 million

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When Jolla launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund the development of its tablet, the company was only aiming to make $380,000. Somewhere along the way -- say the moment it reached $1 million in pledges -- the people behind Jolla probably realized that the public are into the idea.

So, they've now added some nice stretch goal promises, the most ambitious of which being the addition of 3.5G or cellular connectivity -- but only if they get more than $2.5 million. While that's a lofty goal, the other two are a bit more realistic: they're promising to add microSDHC support for cards up to 128GB in capacity if they raise $1.5 million (at time of writing, the project is just $200,000 shy of that), and to introduce split screen capability for $1.75 million.

Jolla has also introduced a $3,499 micro-distributor starter kit tier for 20 tablets. The plucky startup is clearly pulling out all the stops in order to double the current pledge total within the last 12 days of the campaign.

OnePlus and Cyanogen on brink of breakup after India fight

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Poor OnePlus just can't take a break. Just as the company's busy taking care of its Black Friday promotion, its store opening in Beijing and its India launch with Amazon next week, a close partner decided to drop a hurtful bomb. Cyanogen Inc., the maker of OnePlus One's Android ROM, announced that it's now inked a deal with Micromax to exclusively support the latter's upcoming online brand Yu -- a direct competitor of Xiaomi -- in India. And by "exclusive" we do mean no love for OnePlus, who implies in its latest blog post that Cyanogen knew about its India plan all along, yet it was suddenly shunned to make way for a new partner over there. If true, this is a surprisingly childish move from an up-and-coming company that has no doubt benefitted much from its partnership with OnePlus thus far. "We can't explain Cyanogen's decision because we don't fully understand it ourselves," OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei wrote.

Cyanogen's India deal will not affect OnePlus users elsewhere, as confirmed by Pei. At least "for another year," anyway. As for OnePlus One's India launch with Amazon, it will go ahead as planned on December 2nd and it'll still carry CyanogenMod, but it won't be updated. At this point, it's not clear whether this only affects OnePlus devices sold through Amazon India (this would likely be done so by blocking out a set of IMEI numbers), or whether this is determined by location (which means one should be able to manually flash updates, if they are available on the internet).

Regardless, there's a solution of some sort. Back in late October, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Pete Lau already said that his company's working on its very own Android ROM to replace Color OS -- supplied by its OEM partner Oppo -- for the China edition of its next flagship device. (For those who didn't know, the OnePlus One is sold with Color OS instead of CyanogenMod in China.) In light of recent development, Pei's team has reallocated development resources to build said ROM for OnePlus One users in India as well. The exec added that the "fast and lightweight" system will be based on Android Lollipop, and the first community build will be available as soon as December, followed by a production-ready build in February. Better yet, Pei said his company will commit to at least two years of support for this new ROM on the OnePlus One, starting from the first community build.

Does this mean OnePlus will eventually move away from CyanogenMod for its international devices in the rest of the world? The company made no comment, but we wouldn't be surprised if so, and it'd be Cyanogen's loss in the long term. Karma hurts, you know.

Europe will make Ariane rockets more competitive with SpaceX

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No, not "airline" rockets. Ariane rockets. According to The Wall Street Journal, EU ministers are finally about to approve plans for a more affordable version of the Ariane series -- the same family that launched Rosetta back in 2004.

What counts as affordable when developing a rocket, is reportedly between five and six billion dollars. The European Space Agency makes no secret that its goal is to compete with commercial entities like SpaceX, which already has a program to deliver supplies (and humans) to the ISS.

No surprise, given that SpaceX's very own Elon Musk already went on record saying that the current Ariane 5 rocket stands "no chance" against his competition. SpaceX doesn't need to worry just yet though, as the roadmap for Ariane 6 wouldn't see a launch until the end of the decade.

Graphene stronger than kevlar when blasted with Mach 9 microbullets

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Here's another new use for graphene (that will probably never happen): stopping bullets. University of Massachusetts-Amhers researchers have found that everybody's favorite potential wonder-material vastly outperforms steel and even kevlar armor.

Testing the ultra-lightweight, 1-atom thick carbon sheets has proved tricky in the past, as they disintegrated on contact with regular bullets. So, the team used laser pulses to fire micron-sized glass bullets into the sheets at around 6,700 mph, about a third the speed of an M16 bullet (see below). Sheets from 30 to 300 layers thick absorbed the impacts much better than the other materials by deforming into a cone shape, then cracking.

But -- and there's always a but with graphene -- such sheets are currently too brittle to make into a solid material. The answer might be to stitch graphene flakes together, then vary the orientation to prevent cracking. Whatever, please just let us know us when you actually turn this material into a damn product.

Pizza Hut's eye-tracking menu knows what toppings you want before you do

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When scanning a menu, many of us are just justifying the profiteroles rather than actually choosing a dessert. Pizza Hut wants to skip your super-ego middleman and just let your id order that triple-cheese bacon pepperoni directly.

It's "Subconscious Menu" uses Tobii's eye-tracking tech to figure out which of 20 different ingredients you're looking at on a screen (see the video below). It then takes all of three seconds to identify the pizza of your dreams based on which you looked at the longest. Pizza Hut says its Subconscious Menu is still in trials, but after testing to a 98 percent success rate, may one day appear in restaurants.

GoPro is building its own drones

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GoPro has pretty much dominated the action camera arena for a few years now, and its not an unfamilar sight to see one strapped to the underside of a quadcopter during flight. Now GoPro appears to want a piece of the airborne action itself as, according to the Wall Street Journal, the company is working on its own line of camera-equipped drones.

It's early days yet, but according to the WSJ, GoPro is developing a range of drones costing between $500 - $1,000 (£316 - £633) ready to ship by the end of 2015. The company itself hasn't commented on the rumours but since going public back in June has invested heavily in R&D. According to the WSJ, the company shipped 2.8 million cameras in the first nine months of 2014.

Game of Drones

GoPro might be looking at drones, but its not the only tech company looking to control the skies.

Amazon Prime Air

Amazon's well publicised drone delivery service is reportedly well on its way. Earlier this year, Jeff Bezos announced in a letter to shareholders that the design team were already on their seventh and eighth iteration.

Meanwhile the company was flight testing its fifth and sixth generation drones. Our public policy team, with the help of many allies, worked patiently for four years on this, at one point loading a test plane with 150 active Kindles. Yes, it all worked fine! said Bezos.

Oculus Rift

The Facebook-owned virtual reality company hasn't officially partnered with any drone manufacturers, but that hasn't stopped students combining the two.

The students (from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology) took a regular quadcopter, and instead of opting for just one camera, they put two on it – then hooked it up to the Oculus headset.
The budding engineers then used the Oculus Rift to send signals to the cameras.
As a result, the cameras tracked head movement and adjusted accordingly – in real time.

Facebook

Facebook, when it's not busy trying to connect everyone on the planet, is apparently interested in pioneering Wi-Fi drones. Facebook’s fleet of drones will fly autonomously for extended periods of time at altitudes of up to 65,000 feet.

With commercial airlines flying at about 30,000 feet, the drones won’t be at risk of bumping into a Boeing. The project is in capable hands as Facebook confirmed it’s hired top aerospace aficionados from Ascenta, a firm that’s already built solar-powered drones for NASA.

Is this the end of Sony-made smartphones?

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In a recent call with investors, Sony said is no longer interested in gaining marketshare and was focused on making a profit. It highlighted its smartphone and television divisions as parts of the business were not currently making a profit. Sony admitted that people aren’t buying its Xperia phones – at least not as much as it would like. It said it will be announcing plans for what it will be doing that smartphone division in March.

Instead, Sony said it will be focusing much of its Time and money into its PlayStation business as well as movies, films and music. Commentators have suggested that Sony may choose to movement and smartphones itself and focus on providing image sensors to over smartphone makers. A number of Sony’s rivals currently use or have used its image sensors in the past. This has included Apple in the iPhone 4S and iPhone 5.

Sony also announced they will no longer be sponsoring FIFA competitions, such as the Champions League, in an effort to save money. The news comes months after Sony announced plans to spin off its television division. At the time, so he denied that it was part of a plan to eventually X it the television business. However, it’s increasingly looking like the days of being able to walk into a shop and buy a Sony television may be over.

Sony working on e-ink smartwatch

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The smartwatch is rumoured to use a technology known as e-paper. It is currently unclear how Sony plans to use the technology, however, according to Bloomberg it will be different to other gadgets that currently use e-ink.

According to the newspaper, the new smart watch would not be aimed at the same market Sony’s higher-end smart watches are. Instead, Sony is believed to be planning on targeting those people who are more interested in style over having the latest bells and whistles. Sources speaking to the newspaper also stressed that they do not see the upcoming Apple Watch as direct competition. They said that Sony is seeking to launch innovative devices that use new ideas rather than trying to chase market leaders.

Sony’s emerging technologies division is handling the development of smartwatch. Analysts have suggested that smart watch market could grow exponentially next year, largely on the back of the launch of the Apple Watch. 2014 has seen a multitude of new smart watches with the market. These are included Smart watches from Samsung as well as Android Wear-based gadgets from LG and Motorola.

The news comes just a day after it emerged at Sony may be planning on killing off that smartphone on TV divisions. Sony told investors that he is planning on focusing on its PlayStation 4 and TV, film and music divisions.

Opera is working on a subscription-based storefront for apps

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For entertainment services such as Netflix and Spotify, the all-you-can-eat model has been tremendously beneficial -- both have racked up millions and millions of subscribers to date. When it comes to offering mobile applications, though, that idea of subscriptions hasn't really taken off.

Regardless of whether you're an independent developer or a major brand, you depend heavily on storefronts like Apple's App Store or Google Play to sell and promote your content. But Opera Software, known mostly for its web browsers, wants to change this. With its new Subscription Mobile Store initiative, Opera wants to give companies a platform to offer their apps through, as the name suggests, a subscription service.

In theory, Opera's marketplace would work in similar fashion to something like the Amazon Appstore, but without the one-time paid and "free" downloads. Instead, anyone making them could charge, say, on a weekly basis for access to their applications. It's definitely not a bad idea, now we'll just have to wait and see if Opera can manage to get others on board.

James Cameron's 'Avatar' sequels will stick to 48 frames per second

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There was talk for a while that James Cameron would shoot the Avatar sequels at a brisk 60 frames per second, which is no mean feat when people aren't yet sure about 48FPS movies. However, it now looks like the famed director is scaling back those ambitions.

He tells Empire that he was considering 60FPS to accommodate home viewers (since it's better-suited to TVs), but that he's ultimately sticking with 'just' 48FPS; he's plugging into a "more mature" system where the slower speed makes sense. The sci-fi sagas won't push the boundaries of moviemaking technology quite as far as you might have expected, then, but the chances are that they'll still be visual extravaganzas.

Wireless chip cures your staph infection then dissolves away

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As bacteria get more resistant to antibiotics, researchers need to get more creative to clear them out. Researchers from the Tufts University and UIUC have definitely done that with a chip implant that can kill a localized staph infection with heat, then dissolve away. It consists of a silk substrate with a magnesium heating element that's activated by a wireless transmitter, raising the temperature enough to kill surrounding bacteria. The treatment time can be controlled for different applications, and the whole thing is reabsorbed into your body in a couple of weeks.

It worked well clearing staph infections in mice, but the simplicity makes it promising for humans too. The researchers see the chip as a perfect way to check post-surgery infections by implanting it in a patient's body prior to suturing him up. A couple of weeks later, no more infection and no more chip.

Audi electric car with 280-mile range in the pipeline

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Audi has an all-electric car in the pipeline, and it'll offer a range of 280 miles, according to the auto maker's technical development chief Ulrich Hackenberg. The information was provided during the Los Angeles Auto Show, and though there's no information on what kind of car, exactly, the electric offering will be, Hackenberg said it'll be released around 2017. This model is rumored to be able to fit a total of five individuals, and will still have "ample luggage space". Given what has been revealed, it looks like Audi might have a Model S competitor in the works.

Aside from the fact it'll possibly be able to fit "five large people" and that the car will, overall, be large itself, no other details on this model have been provided. This isn't the first time Audi has teased an all-electric offering, of course. The auto maker abandoned plans for a production model all-electric R8 e-tron back in late 2012, with range concerns being one of the contributing factors for doing so. Technical advancements over the past couple years, however, will have helped eliminate that issue, and consumers are arguably now more willing to embrace electric vehicles than before.

The new all-electric model will no doubt build upon the foundation set by the R8 e-tron, not to mention the earlier A3 e-tron all-electric hatchbacks used under a pilot program. For more Audi news be sure to check out the related tag portal, then hit up the SlashGear Cars Hub!

Moto X hits Republic Wireless next month

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The second-generation Moto X will be available through Republic Wireless early next month, the carrier has announced. This will give those interested in Motorola's latest handset a no-contract option, rounding out the other Moto devices already offered by Republic Wireless. The phone will be launching amidst the holiday shopping season on December 10th, bring with it a 16GB capacity and a price tag shaved down from the typical off-contract pricing. Buyers will be able to customize the device through the Moto Maker, as well.

Says Republic Wireless, it will be offering the 2014 model Moto X for $399 USD off contract, a price that is about $100 lower than what it is offered for elsewhere off-contract (it is, of course, otherwise heavily subsidized when signing up for a two-year contract). An option to get a customized Moto X through the Moto Maker will be available the same day the handset launches at the carrier, giving buyers different backing choices, a laser-engraving option, and such. Not familiar with the Moto Maker? We have a full walkthrough of the wizard to get your started.

The Moto X features a 5.2-inch AMOLED 1080p display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a 13-megapixel rear camera with a ring flash and dual LEDs, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, NFC, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, and more. Check out our SlashGear review for the full details.

Victoria’s Secret silently launches heart-sensing bra

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Wearable devices are in fashion. Don't believe it yet? Just ask Victoria's Secret. The famous lingerie retailer has just outed, albeit without much fuss or fanfare, a new bra named "Incredible" that incredibly has its own heart-rate sensor inside. Designed for athletes and women with active lifestyles, this bra will allow users to be updated of their heart's status without having to wear conspicuous or uncomfortable straps. That said, you'll still need to wear or at least attach some monitor of sorts to go with it.

You can hardly call this piece of clothing a "smart bra". After all, it does not send messages, tweet your condition, determine your location, or notify you of incoming calls (how would it do that anyway?). Even moreso, it actually doesn't have a complete heart rate monitor setup. While it does have the needed sensors for it, you will still need to attach a separate heart rate transmitter to the hookups in front of the bra for it to communicate with mobile devices. Users can use clip-on heart rate monitors by leading brands.

So what's the benefit of this "wearable bra" or "bra with sensors"? Comfort, convenience, and, well, the chance to flaunt a novel Victoria's Secret apparel. The brand has been known to come out with lingerie for athletes, and this just marries that with just a little piece of brain inside. So women get the advertised comforts of Body-Wick fabric, the support of concealed wires, padded straps, and the benefits of a heart rate monitor, just without the usual chest belt. For all of that, you will have to pay $72.50 to $75.50, for a choice of pinkish Hello Lovely or black and gray Black Marl. Not unusual for a product with Victoria's Secret's name on it, but probably just a tad too expensive for one that just has one simple and rather incomplete function.

Reiter Gallardo Extenso stretches Lamborghini FL2 GT3’s prowess

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Reiter Engineering, Lamborghini's official Gallardo GT3 partner, has just unveiled what it dubs the Extenso R-EX. As the name suggests, this car extends the FL GT3, already a race-car version of Lamborghini's popular Gallardo line. With a wider rear, new materials, a more aggressive visage, and a better sounding engine, the Reiter Gallardo Extenso is poised to be the next evolution of the Gallarado GT3 line and will be the car maker's new contender in future races such as those in the Blancpain GT Series and the US Pirelli World Challenge.

For the sake of fairness, GT3 cars are subjected to "Balance of Performance" requirements that puts certain limits to a car's weight, power, etc. Although the FL2 GT3 is already compliant, the Extenso extends some parts just a wee bit further without exactly going beyond borders. For example, the car is now wider, from the FL2 GT3's 1,920 mm to 2,050 mm, the exact maximum allowed. That change isn't purely aesthetic, though, as the wider rear affords more rear end grip and less rear downforce, which results in an overall increase in speed. A change in weight is also a factor in that speed increase, thanks to the use of carbon fiber rear quarter panels instead of aluminum.

From the aesthetic point of view, the Gallardo Extenso does have changes, aggressive ones, according to Reiter That is thanks to new front headlights and new rear lights working together with the wider carbon rear of the car. That aggressive look, apparently, is quite important for GT race car drivers and their audience. The other important thing for them is a great sounding engine, and the Gallardo Extenso has also been tweaked to provide that as well.

All in all, the Reiter Gallardo Extenso was designed to bring back emotion in GT racing, a quality that was lost after the days of the GT1 class, so says Reiter Engineering owner Hans Reiter. Only 10 Reiter Gallarado Extenso's will be delivered to customers, each costing 248,000 EUR or around US$309,500. The customer can decide whether the Extenso will come in a completely Carbon - Black color scheme or if it will have a touch of Titanium - Grey to emphasize Lamborghini's distinctive style.

Archos unveils the 80 Cesium Windows 8.1 budget tablet

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Ever since Microsoft lowered the entry barrier for putting Windows on small form devices, there has been quite a rush of budget-friendly Windows tablets in the market. Archos, long known for that category especially with Android, is taking another stab at that same market with the Archos 80 Cesium, an Intel-powered Windows 8.1 tablet that tries to deliver your choice of finger-friendliness or productivity, either in your pocket, bag, or desk.

With the description above, it is probably fair to say that you should not expect blazing fast performance from this tablet but at the same time, it shouldn't be an underdog. The device is driven by an Intel Atom Z3735G, a quad-core CPU running at 1.8 GHz.

There is 1 GB of RAM, which may or may not be sufficient for your use case. Unfortunately, there is only 16 GB of internal storage. Even though this can be expanded up to 128 GB via a microSD card slot, the fact that it will be running Windows means that almost all of that space is already eaten up by the OS, even without additional apps yet.

Since this is a full Windows 8.1 system, that means you have access to both the Windows Store "Modern" apps as well as your run of the mill desktop apps. Do not go overboard though, as the 1 GB of RAM severely limits what you can run simultaneously. Gaming? Perhaps some casual stuff, but perhaps forget about hardcore gaming or media editing here. The Intel HD GPU might be up to task for videos though, which might be a pleasure to do on the tablet's 8-inch 720p IPS display.

Archos positions the 80 Cesium as a tablet on the go and as a portable productivity station. Just plug an external monitor via the micro HDMI port (you might need an adapter), a keyboard and mouse combo via Bluetooth, and external storage via micro USB (again, you might need an adapter), and you've got yourself a makeshift desktop. Again, do not let that fool you into thinking you can suddenly do anything you want in it, as the hardware, though barely decent, is definitely not high-end.

As to the price and availability of the 80 Cesium, Archos has not yet revealed. It initially hinted that its Windows tablets would go around the $149 range, but with many big names in the market outing sub-$100 slabs, Archos might be forced to follow suit.

LG Electronics announces new CEO

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LG Electronics has named a new CEO that will start on December 1. The new CEO is Juno Cho and he will replace the current CEO Park Jong-seok, who has had health problems of late. Park Jong-seok will continue to be with LG, his new role will be chief technology advisor, and he will support Cho in his role as CEO. LG Electronics has had a good year in 2014 with the popularity of the new G3 smartphone helping the company get into the black.

LG was able to grab up 16.3% of the North American smartphone market during Q3 with the popularity of the G3, its highest market share ever. That market share placed LG right behind Apple and Samsung according to Strategy Analytics. The year before the G3 launched LG had 7.4% of the smartphone market in the country.

LG was able to post operating profit of $152 million during Q3, which was the most profit it reported since 2010. Cho is no stranger to taking lead at LG, he was head of LG mobile business strategy and sales and marketing for North America in 2000 to 2007. Other notable moves by LG include Kwon bong-suk, previously the head of the LG synergy division, promoted to executive VP and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company. LG wants its OLED TVs to become popular and plans to work closely with its LG Display division to make that goal happen.

Cox Communications sued by music publishers

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Cox Communications is one of the largest cable and internet providers in the country. Cox has found itself in the middle of a legal battle with a pair of music publishers after Cox refused to disconnect persistent music pirates. Rightscorp is involved in the case and claims that ISPs lose safe harbor protections if they fail to take action against users on their service that repeatedly violate copyright law.

Fire major ISPs in the US have been sending Copyright Alerts to subscribers that use BitTorrent to pirate movies, TV, and music since February of 2013. Those major firms include AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon. Cox Communications refused to participate in the program and is instead using its own strikes program for copyright infringers.

Some copyright holders in the music industry think the Cox program doesn't do enough. BMG Rights Management LLC and Round Hill Music LP have now filed suit against Cox for not disconnecting customers who have allegedly infringed copyright held by these two firms multiple times.
Those two management firms control the rights to songs by artists including Katy Perry, The Beatles, and David Bowie among others. AT&T has stated in the past that it would not terminate customer accounts without a court order. It noted only the court could decide what constitutes a repeat offender.

EMC, Lotus jumps a truck over an F1 car, sets world record

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Some people, when they're bored, try to perform some stunts, sometimes hilarious, sometimes mindless, and sometimes just plain out of this world. But when new friends EMC cloud storage and Lotus Formula One get bored, they make a truck jump over an F1 race car. Yes, this is today's serving of "do not try this at home or on the road." That said, the death-defying stunt is undoubtedly awesome, and it is made even more awesome by the fact that they nabbed the Guinness World Record for highest truck jump.

So the big question is "why". But then again, why not? After all, it falls under EMC's new mission to "redefine motorsports". This new found interest came into place when computing firm EMC struck a partnership with Lotus to trek the road together towards a Formula One title. It might be a strange partnership at first glance, but even race cars need a lot of computing power and data storage for maintenance and development. Whatever their reason, they managed to pull it off without a hitch. The result: an astounding 83 feet and 7 inches. It's a stunt best seen to be believed, so here it is in all its cringe-worthy glory.

And in case you do get some crazy ideas for your next crazy stunt, do know that the drivers involved in this world record are professional stunt artists. Driving the truck was Mike Ryan while behind the wheel of the Lotus was Martin Ivanov, both with parts played in films like The Fast and the Furious, James Bond, and Bourne.

Star Wars 7 trailer live: watch it online now

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This morning Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been released as a teaser trailer for the masses on iTunes. You'll be able to watch this trailer in all of its one minute and 28 seconds of glory, start to finish, right this minute. While you'll have to head to a variety of theaters around the USA today to see it large, you can watch it on your computer, smartphone, or tablet through iTunes right this minute. This trailer is live on iTunes Trailers right this second - what are you waiting for?

You'll almost certainly be able to see this trailer on YouTube in just a few moments if not immediately as well - this is one of the most culturally significant movie series in the history of movies - it's bound to spread. For now we're just going to leave you with this link to iTunes Movie Trailers and let you go wild.

UPDATE: The first uploaded trailer is live - no telling how long this will last - cross your fingers!
This film will star John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, and Andy Serkis, for starters. You'll also find Lupita Nyong’o, Gwendoline Christie, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker will be appearing as well.

Below you'll find a timeline of Star Wars features from the past several weeks - everything leads up to this. After this, everything leads up to the next trailer, the next, and the next, then the release of the movie in December of 2015. Can't wait!

Checkout YouTube:

OnePlus' Black Friday deal: you can actually buy the damn phone

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OnePlus has just let it be known that you'll finally be able to buy its $299 One phone sans invitation for Black Friday. The "deal" starts today and lasts all weekend, with the 16GB white model up for $299 (€269 in Europe, £229 in the UK) or $349/€299/£269 for the 64GB black model.

There are also discounts on other accessories. That marks the first time (other than an hour last month) that folks will be able to buy the now-slightly-dated model without an RSVP. Despite the ridiculous waiting period, though, the 5.5-inch, 1080p device still has plenty of power and charm for its petite price. Hopefully it'll come off invitations for good before the next model comes out.

HP Stream 11 review: a $200 Windows laptop meant to be a Chromebook killer

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It's no secret that people like Chromebooks. That can't be good news for Microsoft, which used to own the market for cheap computers. Not one to take this sort of encroachment lying down, Microsoft came out with a lower-cost version of Windows 8.1 that PC makers could use to build small, lightweight devices inexpensive enough to take on Chromebooks.

The HP Stream 11 is among the first of these so-called Chromebook killers: an 11.6-inch laptop running full Windows and priced at just $200. For the money, it looks and performs like a netbook, with a colorful plastic shell and an Intel Celeron processor chugging away under the hood. Then again, though, you also have the option of installing traditional desktop apps, which you can't do on a Chromebook, and Microsoft is further sweetening the deal by throwing in a terabyte of OneDrive storage and a yearlong subscription to Office 365.

Pros

Low price
Bright, playful design
Comfortable keyboard
$25 Windows Store gift card included
Includes 1TB of cloud storage and a one-year Office 365 subscription

Cons

So-so display
Slow boot-up times
Touchpad could use some fine-tuning

Summary At $200, the Stream 11 is a good deal, especially compared to pricier Chromebooks, but beware that it comes with many of the same trade-offs as other budget laptops, including a low-quality display and slow boot-up time.

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A 500-Pound Bomb from World War II Caused a Mass Evacuation in France

A weapon from seven decades ago created a crisis in France this week. A team digging out a new metro line in Rennes, France, found an enormous 250kg bomb from World War II lodged in the ground near City Hall. Over 3000 people had to evacuate their homes.

According to mayor Nathalie Appere, a bomb squad successfully defused the device, which had 70kg of explosives still inside. The people ordered to evacuate a perimeter of nearly 300m are now able to go home, safe from this particular munition but now aware of one of the scariest legacies of WWII: An untold number of bombs lie dormant and scattered throughout the continent.

Germany is basically a terrifying graveyard for Allied bombs; just last August Frankfurt Airport had to delay flights after someone discovered an undetonated explosive. And in 2011, over 45,000 people had to evacuate after a 1.6-tonne bomb was found in the Rhine River. All in all, over 1800 tonnes of old bombs are discovered in Germany every year.

To make matters worse, the bombs get harder to defuse as they degrade with age. While deaths from these relics of warfare are rare, they’re not unheard of-an excavator died in Germany earlier this year. If nothing else, it’s a grim reminder that violence can linger in unintended ways.

It's Hard To Believe This Gorgeous Home Is Actually A Doll House

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If you’re already feeling self-conscious about the tiny one-bedroom apartment you call home, this stunning sixth-scale house designed for dolls or action figures isn’t going to make you feel any better about your living arrangements. But it will give you something to aspire to one day, because this isn’t Barbie’s dream house, it’s everyone’s dream house.

Designed and built by Mumbai-based Architecture Brio for an unknown client (who presumably has the luckiest kids in the world) this miniature abode features a brilliant open layout letting kids access its various rooms from all four sides. And it doesn’t just look luxurious, it’s actually made from real birch, teak and rose wood, with genuine brass fixings and accessories.

All of the furniture inside the house is custom-made to perfectly match the scale, and the unbelievable attention to detail goes all the way to working lights, and even working light switches on the walls. It’s a good thing Barbie’s had all those jobs over the years, because realistically she’d need all that extra income to afford a place like this. [Architecture Brio via designboom]

60 Seconds Of Painful Breaking Bones From Movie Fight Scenes

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I almost couldn’t get through this video because the non stop crunch of bones breaking in these fight scenes got to me. Even though I know full well that movies aren’t real and that all these broken bones are just visual tricks and sound effects, I still cringed. A lot.

The FAA wants you to have a pilot's license to fly commercial drones

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If you're planning to shoot your next movie using a drone, beware: you may need to meet some stringent conditions to stay in the Federal Aviation Administration's good books. Sources tell the Wall Street Journal that the agency will propose commercial drone rules that require a conventional pilot's license.

Yes, you may need to have flown manned aircraft for dozens of hours to even think of controlling a UAV for cash. You'd also have to fly only during daylight, stay under 400 feet and remain within sight of your craft, so any hopes of high-altitude night shots would go out the window.

And these rules would apply to any drone weighing 55 pounds or less; small, easy-to-fly vehicles like 3D Robotics' Iris+ and DJI's Inspire 1 would be subject to the same demands as larger, more complex models.

Whatever you think of these requirements, you'll have a chance to offer some feedback. The FAA is expected to make its proposal before the end of the year, and there will be a public comment phase where your input (hopefully) influences the final rule set. It may take up to two years to hash things out, so these terms definitely aren't set in stone.

Redbox rentals will get a price hike on December 2nd

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If you're looking to snag a DVD or Blu-ray from Redbox while out gathering holiday supplies, you'll soon be paying a bit more for the rental. On December 2nd, the red kiosks will increase rates from $1.20 to $1.50 for DVDs and from $1.50 to $2 for Blu-ray selections.

While the allure of Redbox lies in its low prices, even after the increase, its rates will still hit the wallet for sums significantly lower than on-demand or streaming rentals from the likes of Amazon, iTunes and others.

In addition to the cost increase, Redbox will launch a recommendation engine -- similar to Netflix -- that will serve up suggestions for your next rental based on previous titles that you enjoyed. Games aren't exempt either, as that nightly fee will increase from $2 to $3 in January.

Samsung's 4K-ready NX1 camera finally comes to the US

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The NX1, Samsung's first camera capable of shooting 4K video, was originally expected to be released last month here in the States. And even though this was clearly not the case, the company has been doing everything it can to hype up its new compact system in the meantime, including a partnership with Joseph Gordon-Levitt to create a film, titled In a City, that's going to be shot entirely with the NX1.

On paper, the camera seems like great option, featuring a 28.2-megapixel, APS-C CMOS sensor, 15fps of continuos shooting, a 3-inch Super AMOLED articulating screen, an EVF with a 1,366 x 758 resolution, NFC and WiFi. There's also a new auto-focusing system inside, which Samsung claims can detect up to 205 different phase points and cover roughly 90 percent of the whole frame. If you're interested, be ready to break the bank: Samsung is pricing the NX1 at $1,500 body-only, or $2,800 with a 16-50mm lens, a grip, extra battery and an external charger.

Although Samsung told us the NX1 should be on sale now, most US retailers appear to only have it up for pre-order at the moment. Either way, have your wallet prepared, because it won't be long until it's up for grabs.

Smart wallet puts an end to lost cash and dead phones

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So long as you still need physical ID cards and cash, you'll need something to carry them -- but that doesn't mean that you're stuck with a low-tech purse or wallet. StreetSmart is crowdfunding the SmartWallet, a money holder with both a Bluetooth-connected GPS locator and a 1,000mAh battery to charge your phone.

It's not nearly as world-changing as the company's (rather hyperbolic) promo video suggests, but it's potentially handy if you tend to forget your cash or phone when you head out the door. Leave the wallet behind and you'll get a heads-up through an Android or iOS app that will help you find it, including directions within 50 to 150 feet; lose your phone and a button on the wallet will make your mobile device ring.

Like it? You can pledge $75 to $99 to get the SmartWallet, which should ship around March if it meets its funding target. That's a lot to pay for a wallet that doesn't hold a lot of currency (it's more like a glorified money clip), but the battery-and-tracker combo might just prevent a night on the town from turning into a nightmare.

Clippit slices footage from live TV for sharing amongst your pals

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Until now, if you wanted to share clips from the show you're watching with your friends, running it back on the DVR and filming your TV with Vine was an easy option. Other workarounds achieve more less than stellar results, but a new app for iOS and Android looks to make things easier, and gives those vids a quality boost, too.

Want to make sure your pals see Lorde's awesome dance moves during the AMAs? Just tap the TV icon on the app's main screen to view a list of shows that are currently on air. Once you've made a selection, pick from a smattering of scenes, with the most recent shown at the top. Choosing one brings up an editing pane to fine-tune the clip, and after you choose a cover frame and caption, the desired footage is ready to be shared via Facebook and Twitter.

As you might expect, you can pad your friends list inside the app to like, comment and reclip videos. Looking for a scene to share that you missed it on-air? Clips from other users are grouped by theme so you can seek out Action, Comedy and other bits to broadcast on your social networks. This also means that in the event of a sick catch during the game, you'll be able to relive that with folks as well. If you're ready to put it to work, Clippit is available via iTunes and Google Play.

This pocket-sized gesture controller aims to replace your mouse

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If a new Indiegogo project has its way, you could soon be waving goodbye to that old, beloved mouse of yours. Meet Flow, a small gadget that pairs with your desktop or laptop and can be programmed with shortcuts to your most frequently used actions.

At launch, Flow is said to offer support for more than 30 applications, including popular ones like Final Cut Pro X, Photoshop, Premiere, SoundCloud, Spotify and YouTube. With Spotify, for example, you could set up Flow to skip tracks by simply making a swipe gesture over the device, among other things.

Right now, most of Flow's information points to the peripheral being used with desktops or laptops, but the company does note that there could be support for mobile applications in the future. The Flow Indiegogo page appears to be doing really well thus far, so be sure to check out the crowdfunding page if you want to see this get made.

Windows 10's app store will be workplace-friendly

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If you use a Windows 8 PC, you've probably noticed that the Windows Store is built for home use; you'll find serious tools like Office, but it's not really meant for work. That's going to change in a big, big way with Windows 10.

Microsoft has revealed that its future software will let your workplace offer a customized version of the Windows Store that includes both in-house apps and approved public apps. Your IT managers will have a much easier time behind the scenes, too -- they'll have a web-based tool that lets them easily assign apps and manage updates.

No, you probably won't get to install games on your office PC, but this means that your company is less likely to cling to an ancient version of Windows just because it wants more control over the tools you use. If nothing else, it'll make the daily grind a little more bearable.

Ohio college is building a drone arena for its students

4:20 AM Unknown

It only makes sense that schools teach the next generation how to design and fly unmanned aircraft. However, you can't just set a legion of drones loose on campus -- not so long as FAA regulations prevent it, anyway.

Ohio's Sinclair Community College has come up with a clever workaround for this problem. It's building a 40-foot tall drone arena that will let students in its aviation programs fly drones away from airports (where the programs currently have to operate) without worrying about licenses or nasty weather. Pupils will have to wait until the facility is ready in early 2016 to commandeer UAVs indoors, but it could give them a leg up in an aviation industry where pilots are increasingly optional.

Samsung reveals new eye-tracking mouse for the disabled

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Samsung has just unveiled the EyeCan+, a next-gen version of its eye-tracking mouse. Positioned below a monitor, it helps people with disabilities write and edit documents or surf the web using eye movement and blinking.

Created as a a labor of love by Samsung engineers on their own time, the new version has major improvements over the original 2012 model, largely thanks to quadriplegic grad student Hyung-Jin Shin. Through 17 months of extensive use, he helped the team refine the UI to make it as easy to use as possible.

Though it won't take the EyeCan+ to market, Samsung will build a limited number for charity organizations. As before, it will also create open-source documents for the design and software, letting any individual or company commercialize it.

Jaguar Land Rover speech recognition app justDrive

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Jaguar Land Rover's InControl infotainment and connectivity platform already allows its customers to plug in a smartphone and easily access a number of handy apps on the move but an all-new system aims to take hands-free communication to the next level.

Designed in conjunction with Silicon Valley-based firm CloudCar, the new justDrive app is said to feature one of "the most advanced voice recognition packages in the world," allowing drivers to bark commands at their infotainment system without taking hands off the wheel.

This unified, voice-enabled interface means that services, such as Spotify, Twittter, Yelp and Google Maps can all be called upon with natural speech, thus doing away with the need to physically select an application before using it and risking a nasty collision. Rather than using basic syntax commands, such as "open Google Maps", drivers can simply ask the car where the nearest petrol station is instead. The justDrive system will instantly know the correct application to use and begin route guidance on the navigation system.

“While our aim is to significantly enhance the driving experience through unprecedented levels of connectivity, we also want to reduce driver distraction. So we have worked closely with the CloudCar team to ensure justDrive is ‘right for driving’,” explains Dr Wolfgang Epple, Director of Research and Technology at Jaguar Land Rover. Dr Epple's team also demonstrated to the California crowd how drivers can dictate and then send a tweet, text message or email by simply saying things like "tell George I'll be late", rather than having to first pull up Siri or other messaging services.
The justDrive system will be free to download and available from early 2015 to new and existing Jaguar Land Rover Customers with the InControl infotainment package

Exiled Tinder co-founder comes back with another dating app

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Earlier this year, Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe left the company after launching a sexual harassment lawsuit against her colleagues. One of the allegations leveled was that co-founder Justin Mateen stripped her of her credit because her age and gender would harm the company's brand.

It looks as if Wolfe may be about to get her revenge outside of the courtroom as well, since TechCrunch is reporting that she's teamed up with Tinder alumni Chris Gulczynski and Sarah Mick to create a similarly swipe-based ~~casual sex~~ dating app called, er, Bumble.

According to the mysterious outfit's Facebook page, Bumble is a social discovery app with none of the things that you don't want. In fact, the company's description is a series of not-so-subtle digs at Tinder, saying that Bumble isn't full of "creepy guys and cheesy pick up lines," promotes a "safe and respectful community" and matches people based on "relevant signals than other, more shallow apps.

It's slated to arrive at some point soon, hopefully after someone has pointed out that mental images of the yellow Transformer, stinging insects or a retired British cricketer aren't necessarily what get us in the mood for swiping.

Apple partners with major app developers to raise money for AIDS research

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Apple has teamed with select app developers on a fundraising initiative for (RED) and World AIDS day (Dec 1st). For the next two weeks there will be a dedicated a section of the App Store where 25 partnering apps will be available with new or exclusive content.

Titles taking part include high-profile names such as Angry Birds, FIFA 15, FarmVille and djay. All the sales revenue (including in-app purchases) from this section will go to (RED)'s Global Fund campaign. In addition to the apps, Apple is pledging to contribute a slice of select Black Friday sales, and is donating a portion of all retail sales on December 1 (cyber Monday).

Apple has a long history of working with (RED), a charity co-created by Bono -- famously close to Cook's organisation. A relationship that has already seen Apple raise over $65 million for the fight against AIDS -- a figure you get to augment while spreading a little festive cheer this year.

UK wants internet providers to identify who's using their connections

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The British government isn't letting up on its desire to track internet activity in the name of fighting terrorism. UK Home Secretary Theresa May is proposing a bill that would require internet providers to keep tabs on who's using a given internet protocol (IP) address and hand it over to the police, who could theoretically use it to hunt down suspects.

Full details aren't available yet, but there would be some accountability involved. Police would have to get permission before collecting IP address info, and there would be documentation showing both when and why they needed that data. The potential law is more respectful of privacy than the failed Communication Data Bill, which would have required that telecoms keep data about conversations and social network updates for a year.

However, there are still concerns that it could reveal too much about people's internet activity, such as their whereabouts and what they were likely doing at a given time. There are also some major technical flaws, to boot. It's easy to mask your IP address through various techniques, such as connecting through a virtual private network -- the measure would only catch criminals who aren't smart enough to hide their tracks. Although this legislation won't necessarily face as much opposition as its predecessor, May could still have a big fight on her hands.

Samsung reportedly sold 4 million fewer Galaxy S5s than Galaxy S4s

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There's been a few signs that not all is well in Samsung's mobile division, with the company pledging to make fewer new devices, as well as its chief taking a pay cut. If the Wall Street Journal is to be believed, the cause of this unrest is all down to faltering sales of the Galaxy S5, which has apparently sold four million fewer phones than its predecessor.

According to the report, the company is still riding high in the US, but saw sales in China drop by 50 percent compared to the Galaxy S4. Considering that Samsung was so confident that the device would be a blockbuster that it increased production by 20 percent, it could now have as many a four million unsold devices sitting in warehouses.

The paper's sources believe that the drops will trigger a leadership re-shuffle, with mobile chief JK Shin getting pushed, with his duties handed over to TV & home appliance chief BK Yoon.

How NASA will launch four spacecraft at once to study magnetic fields

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NASA has been planning to study the magnetic reconnection between the Earth and the sun for years, and now the agency has revealed how its scientists are going make it happen. Magnetic reconnection is a process that converts magnetic energy to kinetic or thermal energy.

It happens all over the universe, but close to home, it occurs during solar flares, coronal mass ejections and when solar winds interact with the Earth's magnetic field, causing aurorae. In order to study and create a 3D map of the mysterious phenomenon, NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission will send four spacecraft to space, which will position themselves in a pyramid.

A single rocket will carry all four (stacked on top of each other) to their destination, as you can see in the demo video of the launch below. Each one is designed to break free from the stack once the rocket reaches orbit, and to deploy its "booms" (or foldable, extendable limbs equipped with sensors needed for the study) once it gets in position. Barring delays, these spacecraft will launch in March 2015 to seek out parts near our planet where magnetic reconnection typically occurs, so that we may understand it better.

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