A Billion Dollars Isn?t Cool. You Know What?s Cool? Basic Human Decency

'"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"' - A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

I know, I know. I'm old. Worse than that, I'm nostalgic. In the past few months, I've written about my love for fountain pens, and traditional publishers, and paper books, and handwritten letters, and live theater, and downtown Las Vegas. Those who follow me on Twitter will have read about my enthusiasm for the New York Times Crossword, and hotel writing paper, and socializing with friends sans mobile phones. It's cute to be the token Luddite at TechCrunch -- but it's also hugely disingenuous. I'm writing this stuff on Twitter, and on a hugely popular technology blog. You could cut the irony with a knife. The truth is, I love technology. It's rare that I dismiss or disparage a new gadget, app or company without trying it out at least once; and I certainly believe that - on balance - the more technologically advanced we become as a society, the better the world becomes. And yet increasingly I wonder whether, for the sake of humanity, it might not be a bad thing if the earthquake comes and tips all of web 2.0 into the sea.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/3GEDIJI2svY/

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A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

Update: Tech From 10 seems to be offline -- but we have lots of images and a hands-on review if you want to see what the new Music app is like.

In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.

Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).

Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?

If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.

Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/a-sneak-peek-at-the-next-version-of-android-market-and-music-app/

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Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7

We've been looking at some pretty cool Kinect and Windows interactions for a while now, but we were hoping that the release of an official SDK would lead to even more coolness. Evoluce has stepped up, and is now offering Win&I -- a full-featured gesture control system for Windows 7.

The company claims that a range of up to four meters is supported, which should be perfect for just about any home theater setting. In the video embedded after the break, you can see an Evoluce demonstrator flip through a photo album, pan through a map, rearrange application windows, browse the Web, and control media playback. Two versions of Win&I are offered -- the home version goes for about 20 Euros, the business version for 40.

Anyone else having fun pretending his stance is a little "Iron Man"? We're tempted to put a repulsor on that hand.

Continue reading Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7

Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/evoluce-winandi-controls-windows-7-with-a-kinect-sensor/

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Google Chrome and Chromium add protection against malicious downloads

Google Chrome already sports a number of security-minded features, from Incognito mode to a software sandbox which makes exploiting the browser a Herculean task. Now, Google has announced additional protection for Chromium and Chrome users.

Built upon the Safe Browsing API, the new feature introduces protection against malicious downloads. If a download link appears in the Safe Browsing blacklist, Chrome and Chromium will warn users against downloading -- a save button is still presented, of course, in case you're convinced a file is perfectly safe to download.

We'd like to see something a bit more eye-catching than the red warning icon -- like perhaps painting the entire bar red. Many of the people a feature like this aims to protect probably won't notice the icon or change in wording as they'll be focused on clicking the save button.

Google is initially making download protection available to Chrome dev channel users, and you'll likely see it in Canary and Chromium snapshot builds as well. After thorough testing, beta and stable users will be next in line.

Google Chrome and Chromium add protection against malicious downloads originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/google-chrome-and-chromium-add-protection-against-malicious-down/

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Windows 8 getting a built-in PDF reader, Metro-style

For what seems like an eternity, Download Squad readers have reacted to news of security exploits targeting Adobe Reader with a common sentiment: why doesn't Microsoft build its own secure PDF reader into Windows? Apparently the Windows 8 team agrees, and they're working away at an application called Modern Reader which is exactly that.

From the handful of screenshots Paul Thurrott has shared, it's clear that Modern Reader has been built with Metro in mind. You can see the Reader back button in the top-left corner of the yellow image and the minimal page navigation bar on the right. We've posted some larger images we managed to scrape from Google's cache after the break.

Thurrott also mentions that Modern Reader is the first program spotted which is built using AppX -- a packaging technology that may allow developers to roll a single build to both Windows 8 desktops and Windows Phone 8 mobile devices.

Continue reading Windows 8 getting a built-in PDF reader, Metro-style

Windows 8 getting a built-in PDF reader, Metro-style originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/04/windows-8-getting-a-built-in-pdf-reader-finally/

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Alien Bike Creeps the Shriveled Testes Out of Me [Bikes]

I wonder what HR Giger would say about this horrendous bike created by Roo Roongrojna Sangwongprisarn, a Bangkok man who apparently sells them to people all over the world. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/l75Ur2qOt_o/

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Watch This Pizza Lover Demonstrate a Pizza Breakthrough In His Cramped New York Apartment [Video]

Continuing the ongoing saga that is outstanding pizza box engineering, Scott Weiner discovered a pizza box from Eataly that does it all: it keeps your pizza piping hot; it has vents for air flow; and it's completely recyclable. Awesome. [Boing Boing] More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/oY5-JAfJDPA/watch-this-pizza-lover-make-a-pizza-breakthrough-in-his-cramped-new-york-apartment

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Google refines search experience for big-fingered tablet owners

Having trouble selecting those tiny links with your big, ol' digits on that swanked-out slab? Don't you worry, Google's just made some slate-friendly improvements to its bread and butter search site, and it's available for iPad and Honeycomb 3.1+ users. On deck for this UI refresh: a much simplified search results page, larger-sized buttons and text, and a quick access button located below the search box that skips you off to "Images, Videos, Places, Shopping and more." There's also been some visual tweaks made to its image search results, with enlarged previews, faster thumbnail loading and continuous scrolling. If you're not seeing this overhauled layout just yet, sit tight -- the update's expected to roll out in the next few days.

Google refines search experience for big-fingered tablet owners originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/IM9nhIaE_5o/

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Kelvin.23 Multi-Tool Review

I am sure all of you have had a moment where you’ve been in a pinch to find tools to hang a picture, tap in a nail that has stuck out on a piece of trim, or needed to get a quick measurement. �These are some of the projects the Kelvin.23 can help with. The [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/07/29/kelvin-23-multi-tool-review/

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MIT Creates Sun-free Photovoltaic Power, Hammers Another Nail Into Lithium-ion's Coffin [Science]

Oh MIT, we can always count on you to come up with the most clever, little inventions. Just the other day you created goo-powered batteries to replace lithium-ion and now you've gone and found a way to make photovoltaic electricity without sunlight! More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/OZIVmQo0ay8/mit-creates-sun+free-photovoltaic-power-hammers-another-nail-into-the-lithium+ions-coffin

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Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple

In news that will no doubt shake the very bedrock of your belief system, Apple has asked Toyota to remove its Scion theme and its advertising from ModMyi, a Cydia repository. The Scion theme has been available for weeks, but after it received a ton of press in the last couple of days, Apple finally lashed out.

It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.

This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!

As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.

Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/06/toyota-pulls-ios-jailbreak-theme-and-ads-to-appease-apple/

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Powermat accompanies MyTouch 4G Slide at retail launch, or so the manufacturer says

If you've already misplaced the charging cable for your MyTouch 4G Slide, then it's time to hustle back to your local T-Mobile retailer, where the new QWERTY handset is joined at its in-store launch by Powercube's inductive charging cover. Sure, your bank account just received $200 worth of hurt, but if you've got a $90 buffer on your credit card, what's an extra $30 for the shell and $60 for the Powermat, especially if it means keeping your phone alive? Sadly, both stores we called didn't have the cover, so you might want to give Magenta a buzz beforehand, although T-Mo's website is ready to take your money. No matter how you get it, you'll still need to keep the base station from getting buried under pizza boxes and laundry, but we know you're up to the task. Follow after the break for a slice of the PR.

Continue reading Powermat accompanies MyTouch 4G Slide at retail launch, or so the manufacturer says

Powermat accompanies MyTouch 4G Slide at retail launch, or so the manufacturer says originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/powermat-accompanies-mytouch-4g-slide-at-retail-launch-or-so-th/

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Daily Crunch: Desert Surveillance Edition

At Last You Can Fabricate Your Minecraft Creations The Gem Hsin Topaz Speakers Do Multifunction Right Scientists Create Microscopic, Lens-less Camera This Case Lets You Attach An SLR Lens To Your iPhone The Gem Hsin Topaz Speakers Do Multifunction Right

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/07/08/daily-crunch-desert-surveillance/

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Daily Crunch: Ride The Lion Edition

Smart Design: Fanless Heatsink Spins Itself Concrete Speakers Look Good, Yet I Question Their Fidelity The Five Best Things About OS X Lion Watch The Final Space Shuttle Mission Here (Maybe) CrunchGear Is Headed To TechCrunch/Gadgets

Source: http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/07/09/daily-crunch-ride-the-lion/

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In-app payment support arrives on Android

Right on cue, Google has launched in-app payment support for Android applications. Developer testing began last week, and now many popular apps -- like the ones pictured above -- can begin charging users for add-on functionality, content, or whatever the heck else they feel is worthy of additional bits of your pocket change. If you were wondering, Google will take the same 30% cut that Apple takes from in-app purchases.

At last we can buy individual issues in Comics with minimal fuss!

In-app payment support arrives on Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/in-app-payment-support-arrives-on-android/

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Samsung Reigns as Android?s True Champion

Samsung has its sights on being the king of all things Android.
The company announced Wednesday that its Galaxy S 2 smartphone reached record sales numbers for the company, with more than 5 million handsets sold in the first three months since the smartphone’s debut. And that number accounts for only a quarter of the company’s [...]

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/samsung-android-galaxy-s2/

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Ask DLS: What's your primary Web browser?

Competition is a good thing, and the browser arena has been a fierce arena for years now. There are at least four "major" browsers each vying for your attention, along with lots of smaller spin-offs (SRWare Iron or Flock, anyone?).

While the browser usage charts we share from time to time show overall browser usage amongst the Web at large, Download Squad readers are not exactly the average bunch in terms of browser use. So today we have one simple question for you:

What's your primary Web browser?

View Poll

Ask DLS: What's your primary Web browser? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/16/ask-dls-whats-your-primary-browser/

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A Mom Tried to Light a Cigarette with a Gun But Accidentally Shot Her Daughter Instead [Wtf]

Guns, cigarettes, shootings...it's your everyday gangster movie! Except sadly um, this is real life. Rachel Avila, a 30-year-old mother, tried to light her cigarette with a gun but instead, had the bullet ricochet off the ground and hit her daughter. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/fXjnhTjb8Kc/a-mom-tried-to-light-a-cigarette-with-a-gun-but-accidentally-shot-her-daughter-instead

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