Articles by Alexandra Burlacu
Google Downranks Pirate Sites But Not YouTube – Why?
Google's new copyright-policing strategy has won the hearts of copyright advocates such as the MPAA and the RIAA, but is also sparking some controversy among those lobbying for keeping the Internet free. It seems, however, that Google's new policy will not affect YouTube, although the site has been known as a popular venue for illegally posted copyrighted material.
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Google Cracks Down on Online Piracy, Downranks Pirate Sites in Search Results
Big media companies fighting online piracy received support from Google on Friday, Aug. 10. In a company blog post, Google said it will use its search algorithms to downrank sites with too many piracy complaints from copyright owners.
Kodak Patent Auction: Low Bids, Extra Secrecy & 'Unusual Procedures'
Eastman Kodak's patent auction now draws to a close, but the bankrupt photography titan has only received low bids for the patents it claims are worth $2.6 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Samsung Galaxy S3 @$100 vs iPhone 4S @$150: Which Sprint Smartphone Will You Buy?
The smartphone market has definitely picked up the pace in 2012, with exciting handsets already on the market and several highly-anticipated handsets on their way and due to arrive by the end of the year. In today's highly competitive smartphone market, the battle for supremacy is between two powerful tech giants: Samsung and Apple. Android devices have become immensely popular, but Apple holds firm in its position.
Apple vs. Samsung Patent Case: Secret $250M Licensing Deal for Apple's Core Tech Uncovered
Tech giants Apple and Samsung are battling in court in a high-profile patent infringement case, but according to one document that came up Friday, Aug. 10, during the course of ongoing testimony in the trial, things didn't have to go this far. Apparently, Apple tried to reason with Samsung and come to an agreement, but was forced to take matters to court as its attempt yielded no results.
Samsung's Cortex A15-based Exynos 5 Dual Chip May Pave the Way for 'Retina' Android Devices
Korean electronics giant Samsung has released more exciting details about its next-generation Exynos dual-core processor for mobile devices, which will be twice as fast as comparable Exynos chips currently used in its smartphones and tablets.
Lenovo Teams Up with Nvidia for Convertible Windows RT Tablet - Report
Lenovo, now the world's second biggest PC maker by shipments, seems to be the latest hardware manufacturer working on an ARM-based Windows RT tablet. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing "people familiar with the matter," Lenovo teamed up with Nvidia to create its Windows RT device.
Apple Price-Matches $50 Off iPhone 4, 4S – What You Need to Know
Amid intensifying excitement ahead of the iPhone 5 launch, Apple has taken an unusual step: cutting iPhone 4 and 4S prices ahead of the iPhone 5 release. According to a new report, the iPhone maker is matching discounted iPhone prices from major authorized retailers and carriers on handsets purchased in an Apple store.
Blizzard Hacked: Battle.net Attack Hits Millions, Sweeps Gamers' Emails & Encrypted Passwords
Blizzard Entertainment, the maker of World of Warcraft, Diablo 3, Starcraft, and other widely popular games, has been the target of a network hack. In a lengthy statement on its Web site, the gaming giant confirmed a security breach of its internal network, acknowledging that its security team has spotted "unauthorized and illegal access" into its system. Hackers may have lifted email addresses, answers to security questions, and encrypted passwords linked to player accounts.
OUYA FTW: $99 Android Video Game Console Ends KickStarter Campaign at $8.6M
Last month, Los Angeles-based OUYA emerged with a Kickstarter campaign seeking crowdsourced funds to develop a sub-$100 Android-based video game console offering free-to-play titles. The initial goal was to raise $950,000 in funding in 30 days, but the project had surpassed $1 million by the end of day one. Now, the successful Kickstarter campaign has reached its end, and 63,416 people backed the new home console, pledging a combined total of $8,596,475 to the project.
iPhone 5 Front Glass Panel Leaked in Video: Bigger, Better, Stronger
As we rapidly approach the highly-anticipated launch of the next-generation iPhone, rumors, leaks, and speculation are constantly surfacing and intensifying. While there have been plenty of leaked videos starring the alleged iPhone 5, a new video from iPhone parts supplier Etrade Supply has surfaced courtesy MacRumors and comes as the most detailed video so far.
HTC One X Sequel Leaked: 1.7GHz Quad-Core Processor, Release Date 'On or Before' Oct. 1
We’ve heard rumors before about a sequel to HTC’s One X flagship, but a new report now offers more extensive details. HTC’s One X follow-up has leaked online and will reportedly be a 1.7GHz processor to hit the market in less than two months.
Lenovo Announces ThinkPad X1 Carbon for August, ThinkPad Tablet 2 for October
The ThinkPad is all grown up and now turns 20, and Lenovo is celebrating with two new products designed for business users. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the most recent Ultrabook from Lenovo, while the ThinkPad Tablet 2 comes as an 86x-based touch-enabled device for Windows 8.
Surface 2 Tablets Already in the Works? Microsoft Wastes No Time
Microsoft's Surface tablets, the company's first foray into the hardware business, will not arrive until late October, but the software giant is not wasting any time. Microsoft is already looking at the next-generation Surface, TechRadar reported, after stumbling upon more than a dozen job ads posted on the Microsoft Careers site between June and August.
Apple, Amazon Change Security Policies & Freeze Over-the-Phone Password Resets After Recent Hack
Following the hack against Wired reporter Mat Honan over the weekend, Apple has now ordered its support staff to stop processing AppleID password changes requested over the phone. The restriction is effective immediately. An Apple staffer "with knowledge of the situation" told Wired that the over-the-phone password freeze would last at least 24 hours.
HTC EVO V 4G: No-Contract Android Smartphone for $239.99 on Virgin Mobile
Android smartphones are as popular as ever, the use of Google's Android platform continues to surge, and increasingly powerful smartphones are available to suit all tastes and needs - but usually not all budgets. A high-end smartphone is quite costly, and it generally comes with a two-year contract during which you continue paying substantial sums for service. Many consumers are now opting for no-contract phone from carriers with lower monthly rates.
Acer Warns Microsoft’'s Surface May Hurt Tablet Ecosystems & Force Acer to Find Alternatives to Windows
Acer, the world's third-largest computer maker, took a stand against Microsoft and publicly criticized the software giant'0s Surface tablet project, with Acer CEO JT Wang saying the Microsoft-branded tablet will likely "create a huge negative impact" for the Windows 8 and tablet ecosystems, and it would significantly affect manufacturers such as Acer.
iPhone 5 May be Google-Free: iOS 6 Dumps Stock YouTube App
Apple has released the test version of its latest mobile operating system, iOS 6, on Monday, Aug. 6, for its popular iPhone and iPad. After announcing earlier this year at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that it would be ditching Google Maps from the new iOS, Monday's version came with another surprise: Apple has also dropped Google's hugely popular YouTube app from the new system. Is Apple planning to make iPhone 5 a Google-free phone?
Samsung Galaxy S3, S2, Note, Motorola Droid 4 & Sony Xperia P to Get Major Android Updates Soon
Some lucky Android devices are in for a treat soon: major updates to their operating systems. According to the latest reports circling the Web, Motorola's Droid 4 and Sony's Xperia P will finally get a taste of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, while Samsung's flagship Galaxy S3 smartphone will get the latest version, Android Jelly 4.1, by the end of the year.
Apple iPad May Get New Smart Cover With Secondary Display & New Functionality
Apple seems to be working on a new iPad Smart Cover that would serve as a secondary touchscreen for the tablet, showing an extra row of app icons, notifications, or even acting as a full-fledged touch keyboard for the tablet. The concept was detailed in a new patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Thursday, Aug. 2, and discovered by AppleInsider.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet Goes On Sale Globally This Month
Korean electronics giant Samsung has confirmed that its Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet will go on sale globally this month, with an LTE version set to arrive later this year. Unveiled back in February at the Mobile World Congress, Samsung’s 10.1-inch stylus-enabled Android tablet is essentially a larger version of the company’s similarly-named smartphone, sporting a 1280 x 800 display and stylus support.
HTC One X with Sense 4.1 is Blazing Fast With No Lag & Improved Battery Life
Smartphone maker HTC has had better years in terms of finances, but when it comes to devices it provided one of the best Android smartphones currently out there. And while Samsung was busy adding ripple-effect lockscreens to their customized skin, HTC took it to the next level and focused on speed with the new Sense version. HTC’s Sense 4.1 user interface for Android has now leaked out, and early reports suggest impressive performance.
Nokia Windows Phone 8 Smartphones' Unveiling Pegged for September, Tips Inside Source
Microsoft is expected to finalize its highly-anticipated Windows 8 software in September, and recent reports indicate that Nokia may unveil its first Windows Phone 8 devices the same month. Chinese Web site WPDang was the first to report that Nokia will likely announce two Lumia Windows Phone 8 handsets on Sept. 5, and a new report from Bloomberg seems to back up those claims. Citing “a person with knowledge of the matter,” Bloomberg reported that Nokia may unveil its next-generation handsets ....
BlackBerry 10 Smartphones Finally Arriving in January - RIM Is Not Shifting to Android
After frustrating delays and vague timeframes for the BlackBerry 10 release, Research in Motion (RIM) CEO Thorsten Heins finally narrowed the smartphone's arrival from "Q1" to "January," in an interview with The Telegraph.
'This is Now' – See the World in Real Time Through Instagram's Eyes
The Internet has proved once again what an amazing, powerful tool it can be for connecting people, finding any information, and virtually visiting the world. A new service called This is Now has emerged to show you the world through Instagram’s eyes. Or, to be more precise, show your select cities around the world. You can choose between five major cities – New York, Sao Paolo, London, Tokyo, and Sydney – and you are instantly transposed in an amazing real-time visualization of Instagram photos...
Facebook or Babybook? How About a Cat? Unbaby.me Plug-in Replaces Baby Pics with Cat Pics
Most people find babies adorable, but in many cases new parents are so obsessed with their offspring that it's all they think about, talk about, and post about. And while you may find babies cute, you may also grow tired of seeing your Facebook news feed dominated by pictures of babies. Luckily, now there is a solution to this baby-mania: a new service called Unbaby.me.
Android Jelly Bean 4.1 Runs on HP TouchPad – Early Build Now Available But Has Glitches
HP TouchPad tablet may have gone past its 15 minutes of fame as a webOS device, but Google's latest version of its Android operating system, Jelly Bean, may bring the TouchPad back to life. According to news surfaced on Thursday, Aug. 2, on the XDA-Developers forum, an unofficial port of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean CyanogenMod (CM) 10 custom ROM is available for the discontinued TouchPad.
