Posted by Ken S. on April 29, 2014 in
General Tech,
Security,
Smart Phones,
Technology |
∞
If you’re arrested for overdue speeding tickets, is it acceptable for the police to search the phone on your person? How about if you’re arrested for drug trafficking? In the eyes of the law, there is no difference: If you’re arrested, you’re arrested, whatever the crime. Isn’t that an invasion of privacy? That depends on your interpretation of the US Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which states:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on April 24, 2014 in
Android,
General Tech,
Google |
∞
Today, Google’s Vic Gundotra announced that he would be leaving the company after eight years. The first obvious question is where this leaves Google+, Gundotra’s baby and primary project for the past several of those years.
What we’re hearing from multiple sources is that Google+ will no longer be considered a product, but a platform — essentially ending its competition with other social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
A Google representative has vehemently denied these claims. “Today’s news has no impact on our Google+ strategy — we have an incredibly talented team that will continue to build great user experiences across Google+, Hangouts and Photos.” Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on April 7, 2014 in
Amazon,
General Tech |
∞
We came away relatively impressed with the Fire TV during our brief hands-on. But we all know that units set up specifically for press demonstrations are hardly the best indicator of how a device will function in the real world. So we immediately went back to our lair and began putting the newest kid on the streaming block through its paces. Once away from the carefully controlled demonstration area, it became clear that the Fire TV is more of a mixed bag — and still tied to its Android/Google TV roots — than Amazon would like you to believe. Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on January 1, 2014 in
General Infomation,
General Tech |
∞
2013 was a bust! Or so we’ve been told. Whether you follow that line of thinking or reflect on the last 363 days in a more optimistic light, it’s clear the year wasn’t all big breakthroughs and great triumphs. This was the year of government surveillance revelations, fallen giants and lackluster product releases. But it was also the year Netflix took on the studios, patent reform became a real priority in DC and two new game consoles hit the scene. No, we won’t be riding our hoverboards into the sunset at the close of 2013, but the stories that rocked the industry had a profound impact not only on technology, but also on society as a whole. So let’s raise those half-empty glasses and make a toast as we recap the year that was: Here’s to the glassholes! Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on April 26, 2013 in
Fun,
General Tech |
∞
It is just like Ferrari to one-up someone. Hublot’s relationship with Ferrari continues with vigor into 2013 with the introduction of the intensely engineered Masterpiece MP-05 LaFerrari watch. With 50 days (days!) of power reserve this timepiece is record setting, and it also has a tourbillon escapement. There haven’t been a lot of watches in the Hublot Masterpiece collection: those watches which represent the top level of in-house made mechanical wonder at the brand. The LaFerrair is one of them however. Hublot’s take on luxury sometimes takes the form of gold and diamonds, but much of the time is about performance, mechanical intrigue, and modern design. The MP-05 is one of those. Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on April 3, 2013 in
General Infomation,
General Tech |
∞
Roku’s media streamers have carved out a notable niche for themselves, with what started out as a Netflix box, but quickly grew to include hundreds of other entertainment options. Whatever they’ve lacked in style, they’ve always made up for with an easy-to-navigate menu and remote, not to mention low prices. In fact, they’ve become our default recommendation in the media streamer category, and now the company is back with its third iteration. Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on May 23, 2012 in
General Tech,
Hacking,
Linux |
∞
For all intents and purposes, the original Xbox, with its NVIDIA GPU, 8-10GB hard disk and custom Pentium III processor was a high-end PC for its time — albeit, one that connected to a television. What Microsoft didn’t realize back then, though, was that when you put that kind of hardware in the hands of hackers and enthusiasts, it’s only a matter of time before people start doing more than just playing Halo. Fast forward to 2003, the year the Xbox Media Center was born. Nowadays, it’s simply referred to as XBMC, since it runs on more than just your Xbox. In brief, XBMC is an open-source software solution that enables a plethora of media streaming capabilities on all sorts of devices. What once was limited to the original Xbox, can now be put to use on everything from a bare-bones Linux desktop to an Apple TV. In this how-to, we’ll show you how to build a simple XBMC setup using XBMCbuntu. Catch us after the break for the full step-by-step. Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on May 5, 2012 in
Amazon,
General Tech |
∞
There was a time when some of the biggest electronics retailers in the world had issues with Amazon. They realized that the online retail giant was able to beat them on price, and with more and more people coming to its site, it had the ability to take them down.
The past is littered with companies that tried to go up against Amazon, including Circuit City, CompUSA, and others. Best Buy is now having some trouble competing against online giants like Amazon, and by the look of things, eventually, only mega retailers like Walmart, as well as small boutiques, might survive the online onslaught. Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on March 13, 2012 in
General Infomation,
General Tech |
∞
With each update, Facebook has gotten incrementally more cluttered, perplexing, and ornery—and I’m not even talking about all your annoying acquaintances flooding it with inane status updates. Yet, at the same time, it’s become a tool few of us can live without. If Facebook has you on your last nerve, here’s how to fix some of its biggest annoyances in a matter of minutes—and with only one new addition to your browser. Read more...
Posted by Ken S. on February 22, 2012 in
General Tech |
∞
The California Attorney General has struck a deal with the world’s major app store opperators that will see new privacy policystandards put in place. Apple, Google, Microsoft, HP, RIM and Amazon have all agreed to require any software that uses personal information to provide a privacy policy that can be viewed in the store before an app is downloaded. The agreement will bring the various markets in line with the California Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires developers provide such a policy. In addition to providing links links to the relevant documents in an obvious and consistent location, the companies will have to offer a simple way for users to report devs that violate the rules. For more details about the deal check out the PR after the break. Read more...
