Vint Cerf: SOPA means 'unprecedented censorship' of the Web

Vint Cerf, the legendary computer scientist who's known as one of the fathers of the Internet for his work on TCP/IP, is the latest technologist to oppose the Stop Online Piracy Act.

Toshiba AC100 – Toshiba’s first Android Smartbook

Toshiba AC100 Netbook is Toshiba’s first smartbook as well as its first Android product.

FAQ: CNET's "Trojan" installer

CNET is under fire for downloading more than just open source software with the open source software that it makes available on its Web site.

RIM drops BBX OS moniker in favor of BlackBerry 10 after court loss

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has changed the official name of its next-generation mobile operating system after a judge blocked it from using its original name, "BBX."

First Android 4.0 Tablet Before Galaxy Nexus in US?

Ainol, a Chinese company responsible for many of the MP4-based portable media players you've probably seen in budget shops is releasing NOVO7, the world's first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich-based tablet. But is it any good?

Apple loses iPad trademark case in China

Apple could face disruption to its iPad sales in China after a court rejected its claim to own the iPad trademark in the country and a rival sought to halt sales of the tablet device in two Chinese cities.

Intel Still Considers AMD a "Serious" Competitor

Ever since Intel gave up on the Netburst architecture and instead transition to Conroe - Core 2 the company has been on a hot streak.

Windows 8 Beta for late February 2012

Microsoft on Tuesday confirmed that it will release a public beta of Windows 8 in late February, 2012.

Verizon DROID XYBOARD 8.2 and 10.1 official

Verizon has made the DROID XYBOARD Android tablets official, the 4G LTE versions of Motorola’s XOOM 2 and XOOM 2 Media Edition slates.

Consumer Reports Ranks AT&T Worst U.S. Cell Carrier

AT&T has found itself at the bottom of the Consumer Reports annual customer satisfaction survey for a second year in a row. Verizon earned the number one spot again, just as it did in 2010.

$9.4 million iPhone 4S?

Anyone who bought this $2.5 million iPhone should consider upgrading to the latest lavish technology, the iPhone 4S Elite Gold from bling king Stuart Hughes.

Apple to Samsung: Don't Make Thin or Rectangular Tablets or Smartphones

Apple proffers design advice on how Samsung could avoid stepping on Apple’s design patent toes, in a legal brief filed as part of its ongoing patent infringement lawsuit against its competitor.

Sprint says 4G LTE devices coming in second half of next year

Sprint Nextel is going to be a little late to the game when it comes to 4G LTE devices.

Asus Padfone to sport a quad-core Tegra 3 CPU, coming in early 2012

Remember the Asus Padfone? The phone that docks into a tablet and powers it? Asus did’t forget about that phone at all. As a matter of fact, they’re working on it, and they’re making it better than what we thought it was going to be. According to the guys over at Engadget and NetbookNews, Asus is planning on launching the Eee Padfone at Mobile World Congress 2012 in February. Instead of the phone/tablet being powered by Qualcomm’s Krait S4 processor, it will be powered by NVIDIA’s new quad-core Tegra 3 processor.

There’s still no word on which OS it will be running. Now that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is available, we’re betting that it will be the OS. After all, Ice Cream Sandwich was designed to be run on both phones and tablets, and the Padfone is both, so it makes perfect sense!

More Fun Than a Blood Test: Researchers Want Diagnosis To Be as Simple as Spitting On Your Screen

What’s the News: If two South Korean researchers have their way, the days of needing specialized equipment to test whether someone has strep, the flu, or other common illnesses may soon be numbered.

Details emerge about Intel Ivy Bridge desktop PC processors

More information has been revealed about the successor to Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors.

Is Google Chrome the New IE6?

Let me tell you about a browser. An innovative browser that was the first to implement new Web technologies that allowed for greater interactivity. A browser with a striking new interface.

Motorola Launching Two New 4G Droid Tablets, Droid 4 QWERTY Slider on Verizon

It’s about time the Xoom got an update, and it looks like the company got the memo. Motorola will reportedly release two new Droid tablets on Verizon by the end of the month. The cherry on top? Both slates will ship with 4G LTE connectivity.

Notch steps down as Minecraft lead designer

Notch has mentioned on his blog that he’ll be handing over the Minecraft design reigns

Apple 'stopped supporting Carrier IQ' on most iOS devices

Apple has released a statement responding to the fact that traces of Carrier IQ have been found on iOS devices, including the iPhone.

LG and Box team up for free cloud storage

LG Electronics has teamed up with Box, a leading cloud content management provider,

5 biggest myths (and lies) about the AT&T/T-Mobile deal

The Federal Communications Commission's damning report about AT&T's proposed bid for T-Mobile accuses the wireless carriers of lies and exaggerations.

Secret key-logging software found on millions of phones

Millions of Android, Nokia and BlackBerry phones are secretly tracking their users, according to an Android developer.

Apple Ordered to Tell HTC What Handset Features Infringe Patents

Apple Inc., embroiled in global patent litigation to protect sales of its iPhone, was ordered by a U.K. judge to tell HTC Corp. exactly which features of its competing mobile phones may infringe Apple’s European patents.

7 Things Ultrabooks Need Next

Ultrabooks have arrived. And yet, for many, 2012 will be the first year they seriously consider buying one. If they're the future of laptops, then they have a long ways to go before they become what people want in the present.

House Committee Rushing to Approve Dangerous "Information Sharing" Bill

Proposal Would Gut Privacy Laws, Allow Unprecedented Data-Grab by Government

Android and iOS Users can now find out what Windows Phone 7.5 is like

Any Android or iPhone owners who have ever wondered what Microsoft's mobile operating system is like can now satisfy their curiosity

Web-enabled printers a major security threat, researchers say

Although printers might seem like dumb boxes sitting on the desk, a new study from Columbia University researchers has found that they can actually be used for sophisticated hack attacks.

iPhone Users More Likely to Buy iPhones

According to some new research 84% of iPhone owners will buy another Apple handset when they need an upgrade, whereas Android smartphone owners are far more likely to be unfaithful (to their phone, that is).

Sprint 4G Network Upgrade May Kill Unlimited Data Plan

Sprint Nextel may be forced to abandon the biggest advantage it has over its rivals - unlimited data services for a flat fee - because of heavy data users and a shortage of wireless airwaves.

Google Kills 7 more Products

Google has announced that it is dropping seven more products in an effort to simplify its range of services.

New Google Doodle

In advance of Thanksgiving, Google is already celebrating Thursday’s holiday with a bright, new interactive turkey logo.

Windows 8 On XP Machines?

Although they're running an OS that was built a decade ago, many PCs that are currently using Windows XP will have sufficient horsepower to handle Windows 8 when it's released, according to a Microsoft official.

Microsoft Confirms Kinect for Windows

Microsoft has announced that a redesigned Kinect gaming sensor will be launched specifically for Windows.

Apple's iOS 5 Woes Continue

The update that Apple released a week ago, not only with the promise that the iPhone battery issues would finally be solved, but also that was supposed to bring a set of improvements to the iOS 5 experience, has maybe caused more problems than offered solutions.

Google Music vs Apple iTunes vs Microsoft Zune Marketplace

Five years ago this month, Microsoft unveiled the company's ill-fated Zune digital-media player and sister music store at several press events across the country. Last Wednesday, Google gathered members of the media to help kickoff a new online music store.

Apple Flirted with AMD for MacBook Air?

As hard as it might be to believe, Apple came within inches of revamping its MacBook Air line with 

Amazon Eats Loss With Each Fire.

Amazon takes a hit with the sale of each Kindle Fire, but the loss isn't as bad as initially thought.

Online Piracy Bill

SOPA/Protect IP in Short

http://americancensorship.org/

Intel's 50-plus core processor in-depth

Intel is trying to overhaul the supercomputer. The idea is to pack more processing power into less space. The 50-plus core Knights Corner processor is how Intel hopes to make it happen

iPhone 4S on Sprint, AT&T, Verizon

 A study measuring the performance of the iPhone 4S on the three major U.S. wireless carriers found

Microsoft Has A Social Networking Site Now, Too

Google's not the only one who wants a slice of the pie Facebook and Twitter so prominently own, Microsoft is building its own social network

PETA is now also against Mario?

Once in a while, I stumble across a story so remarkably absurd that I question whether or not I’m awake. Today, I saw such a story. 

Microsoft and Sony May Launch Next-Gen Consoles in 2012

It is not a secret that Sony Computer Entertainment is developing the next-generation PlayStation 4 and there are hints that Microsoft Corp. is also working on the next-gen Xbox Loop. What is surprising is that the video game systems may hit the market as early as in 2012.

AT&T Denies All Claims in Sprint Lawsuit

AT&T Inc. denied all claims in antitrust lawsuits by Sprint Nextel Corp. and Cellular South Inc. over its proposed purchase of T-Mobile USA Inc.

Windows 8 System Updates Will Require Monthly Restart Along With Security Updates

Windows 8, the jazzy new OS from Microsoft that will premiere in 2012, is going to look much different from its predecessor.

Stop Congress From Taking Over the Internet

Stop the Internet Blacklist Legislation

The Internet Blacklist Legislation - known as PROTECT IP Act in the Senate and Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House - is a threatening sequel to last year's COICA Internet censorship bill.  Like its predecessor, this legislation invites Internet security risks, threatens online speech, and hampers Internet innovation. Urge your members of Congress to reject this Internet blacklist campaign in both its forms!

Big media and its allies in Congress are billing the Internet Blacklist Legislation as a new way to prevent online infringement. But innovation and free speech advocates know that this initiative is nothing more than a dangerous wish list that will compromise Internet security while doing little or nothing to encourage creative expression.

As drafted, the legislation would grant the government and private parties unprecedented power to interfere with the Internet's domain name system (DNS). The government would be able to force ISPs and search engines to redirect or dump users' attempts to reach certain websites' URLs. In response, third parties will woo average users to alternative servers that offer access to the entire Internet (not just the newly censored U.S. version), which will create new computer security vulnerabilities as the reliability and universality of the DNS evaporates.

It gets worse: Under SOPA's provisions, service providers (including hosting services) would be under new pressure to monitor and police their users’ activities.  While PROTECT-IP targeted sites “dedicated to infringing activities,” SOPA targets websites that simply don’t do enough to track and police infringement (and it is not at all clear what would be enough).  And it creates new powers to shut down folks who provide tools to help users get access to the Internet the rest of the world sees (not just the “U.S. authorized version”). 

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has placed a hold on the Senate version of the bill, taking a principled stand against a very dangerous bill. But every Senator and Representative should be opposing the PROTECT IP Act and SOPA. Contact your members of Congress today to speak out!

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Turkish Company Builds 65-inch Android Tablet

Want Android on your TV?

Sony Ericsson confirms Android 4.0 upgraded Phones

Android users are eagerly waiting for manufacturers to announce upgrade plans to the new OS 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Microsoft Eases Hardware Requirements For Windows Phone 7

Microsoft has quietly dropped some requirements for manufacturers of smartphones that will run its Windows Phone 7 operating system, a tech site reported over the weekend.

Sprint confirms iPhone 4S will be Locked

Sprint confirmed that, starting today, all new iPhone 4S models sold for use on its network will initially be carrier-locked to Sprint's designated overseas partners when using the phone outside the United States. After a few months, however, customers in good standing can request an unlock so that they can use cheaper prepaid Micro-SIM cards overseas, Sprint says.

Apple plugs huge security hole with iOS 5.0.1

Apple has addressed a major security vulnerability with the latest version of its iOS software.

Angry Birds Store?

Angry Birds fans in Europe are about to get less angry.

Unlocked Apple iPhone 4S Now Available in U.S.

The iPhone 4S is now available from four U.S. carriers—

Logitech confesses to 'gigantic' mistake with Google TV

Logitech is halting production of its Google TV Revue set-top boxes, acknowledging that the whole affair was a financial disaster for the company.

BlackBerry maker sticks with Adobe Flash for mobiles...For now

Research in Motion will continue to use Adobe Flash Player, at least for the BlackBerry Playbook tablet, even after Adobe announced it will discontinue Flash for the mobile web.

Sprint will begin locking iPhone 4S SIMs on November 11

According to SprintFeed, Sprint will begin locking SIM slots on the iPhone 4S beginning November 11.

Siri, Will You Work on My Old iDevices?

I think it’s safe to say that the iPhone 4S feature that has received the most attention is the virtual personal assistant Siri.

5 Tablets for the Holidays

For now, the market is dominated by Apple's iPad 2, with its multi-touch screen, super-slim body, and aura of coolness. But it's not the only one out there. We'll start with it, but we won't stay with it.

HTC Edge, World’s First Quad-Core Android Phone, Revealed

Dual-core smartphone processors: passe. Quad-core smartphone processors: the new standard in mobile performance.

Apple kicks iOS security whistleblower from Developer Program

A whistleblowing iOS app developer has seen his license revoked after revealing an Apple bug that could allow trojan software to infect iPhones and iPads.

Kindle Fire vs. Nook

The Kindle Fire isn't out yet, but it's already got some serious competition.

Which HTC phones Will Get Android 4.0

HTC, which rose to smartphone prominence with Google's Android operating system, will begin offering the new Ice Cream Sandwich version in "early 2012," the company said today.

Hands on with the HTC Rezound

HTC today announced the Rezound for Verizon Wireless, the first smartphone in the U.S. to feature HTC's strategic partnership with Beats Audio technology.

Twitter Feed

I now have a twitter feed for the blogs.  The URL is https://twitter.com/#!/RandomnessBlogs.  I also have a follow button that takes you directly to my profile on the right-hand column.  Feel free to follow me.

Motorola Xoom 2 Specs

Motorola's official specs for the Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition.

The Android Era: From G1 to Ice Cream Sandwich and Beyond

Whenever I think about Android 4.0, better known as Ice Cream Sandwich, I'm amazed at how far Google has come since the early days, when it was trying to convince the world that phones with the friendly green extraterrestrial could make applesauce of the revolutionary iPhone.

HTC EVO Design 4G (Sprint) Review

The EVO's going global with Sprint's latest smartphone, the HTC EVO Design 4G. While this Android handset looks like a slightly larger version of the HTC Rhyme on Verizon, this EVO adds global connectivity and 4G speeds for a reasonable $99 (with two-year contract and mail-in rebate). Read on to find out how this mid-tier phone stacks up against the competition.

Rotary Phone-based Twitter Client????

The collectives behind the Tweephone, UP digital Bureau and Unteleported tech agency, claim that it's the first analog Twitter client.

Yahoo to acquire ad-targeter Interclick for $270 million

Yahoo has acquired Interclick, which makes advertising targeting and optimization software, in a deal valued at $270 million.

Fake IPads Flood Market as Scammers Target Top Technology Gift

The success of Apple Inc.’s iPad isn’t just drawing more competition to the tablet market. It’s attracting thousands of counterfeit and knockoff products.

Motorola Atrix 2 Review

The original Motorola Atrix, announced at the beginning of this year, was one of the first dual-core phones on a 4G network (AT&T’s HSPA+ network). With the introduction of the Atrix 2 ($100 with a new two-year AT&T contract as of October 31, 2011), Motorola has given the Atrix a face-lift.

Microsoft's Kinect SDK for Windows Coming in Early 2012

Microsoft said Monday that its Kinect SDK for PCs, which will allow developers to create new uses for the motion-based system beyond gaming, will be available early next year.

AT&T’s first two 4G LTE phones arrive Nov. 6

AT&T’s first two phones equipped with 4G LTE — the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid — will be available Nov. 6, the company announced. The move will help AT&T better compete with Verizon when it comes to 4G.

What's Up With The Droid RAZR

Though it may carry the name of one of Motorola's most iconic devices, the Droid Razr is no simple revamp of that original phone.

T-Mobile Samsung Exhibit II 4G now in stores

Coated in marine blue, the Samsung Exhibit II 4G by T-Mobile is up for grabs already. 

Android Owners Left Behind

Android owners often have the feeling their smartphones are not quite as up-to-date as they could be. It turns out this is more than a feeling. They really are being left behind.

Galaxy Nexus, Verizon Exclusive?

Android fans from around the world rejoiced in unison as Google and Samsung took the stage in Hong Kong recently to introduce the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. With its superior screen, impressive design, and overhauled version of Android, it’s clearly the Android flavor of the month. One of the larger points of contention surrounding this device so far has been the carriers that this device will be landing on.

Can Nokia's Lumia smartphones make it in the U.S.?

Nokia's new Windows Phone-based Lumia smartphones will not hit the U.S. market for months, but when they do, will the devices have what it takes to entice U.S. consumers?

Nokia puts Windows Phone future on display

On Wednesday, the Finnish cell phone maker will kick off its Nokia World Event in London where CEO Stephen Elop is expected to provide an update on the company's progress in its close strategic relationship with Microsoft, as well as take the wraps off the first smartphones that will use Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 OS.

Android Fragmentation: Finally a Fix?

Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) is a big step towards fixing the Android fragmentation problems.  Tablets and cell phones will be running the same operating system, similar to Apple's iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad.  However, based on how manufactures have acted in the past 3 years of Android (wow, only 3 years, it seems like we've had smartphones forever, at least to me), I doubt we will see too many upgrades.

Just a funny little thing I found From Minecraft

Just a funny little thing i found on the Minecraft main page.

Android Ice Cream Sandwich: The complete FAQ

Google unwrapped its new Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system at an event in Hong Kong this week. The OS is a massive step forward for Android, bringing a revamped design and staggering number of fresh features into the platform.

Sprint To Offer Unlimited Data with iPhone 4, 4S

Sprint Nextel Corp. is keeping its unlimited data plans for iPhones, which will run between $99 and $399 a device at Sprint, a company spokeswoman told the Kansas City Business Journal on Wednesday.

T-Mobile Lists HTC Radar 4G, LG DoublePlay as Coming Soon

The website for T-Mobile USA is now listing the HTC Radar 4G and the LG DoublePlay smartphones as coming soon, with the former running Windows Phone 7 Mango while the latter is sporting the Android operating system.

Samsung and Google unveil Galaxy Nexus smartphone

Samsung Electronics unveiled its Galaxy Nexus smartphone Wednesday, the first to use the latest version of Google's Android operating system.

BlackBerry maker shows new phone, tablet software

 BlackBerry maker Research In Motion unveiled a new operating system Tuesday in hopes of grabbing some attention away from the iPhone and Android phones.

Motorola Brings Back the Razr

Remember the Razr? It's back.

Telefonica, Verizon Soon to Offer Virtualized Android Phones

Telefonica and Verizon in a few months will become the first operators to offer Android phones running VMware's mobile hypervisor, the companies announced Wednesday at the VMworld 2011 Europe conference in Copenhagen.

How to install Android on the HP TouchPad

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a cheap HP TouchPad a few months ago – or even if you paid full price – you’ve probably been waiting for a way to install Android on it. Now the CyanogenMod team, perhaps the web’s most respected Android hacking group, has released its alpha Android build for the device.

In this feature we’ll tell you what to expect, what works and what doesn’t, and – if you’re feeling brave – how to install it yourself.

Verizon Wireless to collect and sell usage data

Verizon Wireless, the largest cellular carrier in the U.S., had decided to track customer usage and location, and sell it. To make sure everyone is included, they’ve already enrolled their entire customer base into the new program. If you want privacy, you have to opt-in to it instead of expecting it automatically.

Two big Android events today

Now that Apple has had its moment in the sun with its iPhone 5 iPhone 4S launch, it's time to turn our attention back to Android, and specifically Android on Verizon Wireless. We've got a pair of events today that might provide some interest and excitement.

Mango shows Microsoft still has the taste for smartphone success

The only worry is that Microsoft has delivered this lovely Windows operating system a little too late.

Wacky Signs From Occupy Wall Street

The photo editors at ABCNews.com have been covering the Occupy Wall Street protests from day one and combed through thousands of images to find the very best.

Phony Netflix Android app steals account data

It looks like a legitimate Netflix app, but it's not. There's an Android app circulating that looks very much like the real Netflix mobile app, but it's actually a Trojan that steals account information.

Tablet app brings new touch to Braille

Software developed during a summer course at Stanford University could one day radically shift the way the visually impaired use modern tablets, potentially removing the need for a wireless Braille display.

Review of iOS 5

I just, and I mean just, got iOS 5 on my iPod Touch 4th Gen.  Overall, it's the same UI as previous iOS versions. First, the positives:

U.S. has more mobile subscribers than people, study finds

The U.S. has more subscribers to wireless services than people, a new study released yesterday by CTIA has found.

Apple releases iOS 5

After a four month wait, Apple released iOS 5 to consumers this morning.

Google engineer on Google+: 'A pathetic afterthought'

Some people seek fame. Some have it thrust upon them. And some find it by merely posting something publicly on Google+, when they meant to post it privately.

Computer Virus Hits US Predator, Reaper Fleet

A computer virus has infected the cockpits of America's Predator and Reaper drones, logging pilots' every keystroke as they remotely fly missions over Afghanistan and other warzones.

T-Mobile Unveils Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in US

T-Mobile USA unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to U.S. buyers on Monday, just days ahead of a court hearing at which Apple will seek a preliminary injunction to prevent sales of the device in the U.S.

Android Ice Cream Sandwich Delayed

Google and Samsung mysteriously pulled the plug Friday on the expected release of a new version of the Android operating system code named Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS).

What's Next for Apple?

Steve Jobs, high-tech's brightest star for more than a quarter century, left Apple in better shape than nearly any other American company: flush with cash, rolling in revenue, the envy of innovators everywhere.

The Death of Steve Jobs

Today, I heard about the death of Steve Jobs.  I throw my condolences out to everyone who knew him personally, friends and family.  Whether your an Apple fanboy, an Apple hater, or like me, somewhere in between, it is impossible to deny the fact that Steve Jobs, along with Steve Wazniak, changed the world.  If it weren't for Mr. Jobs, we wouldn't have gotten a GUI (graphic user interface) in the 1980's.  If it weren't for Jobs, the iPhone wouldn't have ever come out and we would all be using Blackberrys, Nokias, or Windows Mobile, or some sort of updated version of those, or even dumb phones.  Android was given the fast track through Google only because of the success of the iPhone.  Sure, we might have Android devices by now anyways, but they would have been completely different.  We probably wouldn't have any tablet computers in the consumer market as the success of the iPad was the only reason that hardware makers like Samsung and Motorola started making tablets running on Android.

I can go on and on about how Steve Jobs has changed the world.  Sure, he didn't do it all on his own, but he played a very important part in Apple Computers, then Apple Inc, not to mention the entire world.

Whether we are Apple fanboys, haters, or somewhere in the middle, we have all lost a very inivative  man.  Apple, nor the World, will ever be the same.




Full disclose:  I am not paid or endorsed by Apple, Google, Samsung or Motorola.  We all suffer in the loss of any human being no matter who they are or what they did.  My heart goes out to everyone that has lost a loved one, even if I have never heard of you.