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Young child murders grandmother after playing 'Grand Theft Auto IV'

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 12:50

Young child murders grandmother after playing 'Grand Theft Auto IV' Authorities in Slaughter, Louisiana have confirmed that an 8-year-old boy murdered his 90-year-old grandmother after playing hours of 'Grand Theft Auto IV.'

GTA has been in the news multiple times for similar cases, as the game is often associated with encouraging violence.

Sgt. Kevin Garig says the woman was shot in the head from behind as she watched TV. The child, who can not be charged in Louisiana due to his age, told officers that the shooting was an accident while he played with the firearm. Authorities did not agree.

In the state, the law reads that "Those who have not reached the age of 10 years are exempt from criminal responsibility. However, nothing in this article shall affect the jurisdiction of juvenile courts as established by the constitution and statutes of this state." This means the child will likely spend the next ten years in juvenile facilities.




AfterDawn: News

LG 55-inch curved OLED TV priced for Europe

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 12:39

LG 55-inch curved OLED TV priced for Europe After making the TV available in the U.S. in June, LG has rolled out its 55-inch OLED TV for Europe.

Starting in Germany, the high-end device will sell for 8,999 euros, with the company unveiling more countries in the Q4.

OLED screens consist of thousands of self-emitting diodes, providing brighter and better quality pictures while consuming less powered than a comparably sized LCD screen with a backlight. Production is more complex than LCD panels however, meaning that for the moment they must remain toys for high-end consumers.

"LG is fully committed to delivering the most advanced OLED TVs to European customers," said In-kyu Lee, vice president and head of the TV division at LG Electronics' Home Entertainment Company. "With next generation display technology and an ultra-thin curved design, our CURVED OLED TV represents the beginning of a new era in home entertainment."

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AfterDawn: News

Motorola Droid 5 to include full QWERTY keyboard

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 11:54

Motorola Droid 5 to include full QWERTY keyboard While physical keyboards have almost disappeared, it seems at least one company will give you the option.

According to images posted to Weibo, Motorola's eventual Droid 5 smartphone will include a full QWERTY keyboard, just like its predecessors.

The new device will have the same slide-out landscape keyboard, a 4.5-inch display, wireless charging, NFC, water and dust resistance. Additionally, the device will be much thinner than previous models.

In the photo, the Droid is running Android 4.0.3, a very old version of the operating system, so it is unclear how old the photos are, or if the photos show an old prototype.

See all of them here.

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AfterDawn: News

The Moto X 'developer edition' is here now

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 11:21

The Moto X 'developer edition' is here now Just days after Motorola's VP of Product Management Punit Soni confirmed developer editions of the Moto X were "days away," Motorola has updated their "Ways to Buy" page with the new phone.

The developer edition has a black front case along with a white woven rear plate. Additionally, "DEVELOPER EDITION" is engraved on the back.

That two-tone colorway will be different than what is available through carriers, as the page says the dev edition will "have a look all its own." That being said, once the full MotoMaker is up and running, you can likely create something exactly the same.

The dev edition has an unlockable bootloader, and 32GB internal storage.

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AfterDawn: News

Moto X scores 7 out of 10 for repairability from iFixit

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 10:48

Moto X scores 7 out of 10 for repairability from iFixit iFixit has taken apart the new Google Moto X flagship, seeing how easy it is to repair the device if anything were to happen to it.

The company says it was very interested to work on the phone since it is the "first and only smartphone that's "Designed & Assembled in the USA," to our knowledge."

iFixit did not have issue tearing down the smartphone, although they did seem annoyed by extra adhesive in the rear panel.

Overall, the phone received a Repairability Score of 7 out of 10, with 10 being the easiest to repair. On the easy side were the modular components (cameras, buttons, headphone jack and speakers) as is the taped-in battery.

On the less easy side, "the digitizer is fused to the display, increasing repair costs for a cracked screen. But the display midframe can be separated, potentially lowering the cost of the replacement part."

Check the full teardown here.






AfterDawn: News

Report: Windows 8.1 goes RTM

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 25 Aug 2013 10:18

Report: Windows 8.1 goes RTM According to sources, Microsoft has finished its Windows 8.1 operating system, dubbing the latest build as RTM (release to manufacturing).

The company had earlier promised to finish the software by "late August" and they seem to have come through on their promise.

Build 9600 will be shipped to PC makers for testing and driver updates now, before its launch on October 17th.

The source also claims Microsoft has a press statement ready for next week to publicly reveal the finalized software.

Windows 8.1 is completely free to Windows 8 owners.




AfterDawn: News

Instagram acquires video sharing app Luma

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Aug 2013 10:18

Instagram acquires video sharing app Luma Instagram has made its first major acquisition, purchasing the video sharing app Luma (formerly Midnox).

Luma owns tech for video-capture, stabilization and integrated video sharing. The app will shutdown soon and Luma's stabilization tech is said to already be live in Instagram.

In an update to the company's app page, Luma says existing users will be supported until December 31, 2013.

If you have videos uploaded, you can download them back for safe keeping by clicking here.

Adds the Luma staff (who will all move to Instagram): "Eighteen months ago, we embarked on a mission to make capturing and sharing beautiful videos easy without expensive software or heavy equipment. By joining the exceptionally talented team at Instagram, we're taking another big step towards realizing that mission." obile Final Cut Pro.




AfterDawn: News

Vine reaches 40 million users

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Aug 2013 9:39

Vine reaches 40 million users The popular video-sharing app has reached 40 million registered users, 200 percent higher than the amount reported in June.

It is important to note that this figure is just registered users and not the "active user" number normally revealed by social networks.

Back in June, Twitter (who purchased the service seven months ago) said there were 13 million registered users. At the time, the app was only available on iOS and has since been released on Android.

Rival Facebook recently updated Instagram to have video-sharing capabilities, including 15-second clips compared to Vine's 6 seconds.





AfterDawn: News

Lenovo brings back Start Menu to Windows 8 before Microsoft does

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Aug 2013 5:50

Lenovo brings back Start Menu to Windows 8 before Microsoft does Lenovo has signed a deal with developer SweetLabs to bring the company's Pokki app platform to Windows 8 devices.

Pokki will be pre-installed on new devices, and the platform will bring back a functional start menu. Poki adds an acorn button where the start button used to be, giving access to the control panel, apps, your documents, music and more.

Of course, it also gives easy access to the Pokki store and game arcade, which allows you to get apps not through Microsoft's Windows Store. Besides web apps, SweetLabs is expanding the store to include desktop programs and Windows 8 "Modern" UI apps.

Microsoft, after plenty of user criticism, will be returning a version of the start menu with October's release of Windows Phone 8.1.

Says SweetLabs: "We started our company five years ago with a plan of building the largest app distribution platform on planet. We think this is a pretty major step in that direction."




AfterDawn: News

Nexus 7 software update to address multitouch issues

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 24 Aug 2013 1:10

Nexus 7 software update to address multitouch issues Google has released a new software update for the Google Nexus 7 FHD that should help multitouch issues that have plagued users.

Right at launch, there was an annoying GPS glitch, followed by the ongoing multitouch issue. Users who were pressing more than one finger on the display at the same time were being met with a display freeze leaving the device useless temporarily.

The new update, build JSS15Q, is still Android 4.3, notes Google.

Reads Google in their product forum:

"As a couple of you have mentioned, there's a new system update that's started rolling out for your Nexus 7s. This update does address the touchscreen issues discussed in this thread. If you're one of the people experiencing touchscreen issues, please let us know how it's going after you've received and installed the update.

Thank you for your patience while we've been working on this. As Justin mentioned, there is a new over-the-air update for Nexus 7 rolling out now that addresses the GPS issue discussed here. We look forward to hearing feedback about your GPS experience after you've received the update."




AfterDawn: News

Steve Ballmer to retire from Microsoft, shares jump 7 percent on the news

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Aug 2013 11:44

Steve Ballmer to retire from Microsoft, shares jump 7 percent on the news Microsoft announced earlier this morning that CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within the next year, stepping down after the process of choosing his successor is ultimately completed.

Says Ballmer of the decision: "There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company's transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction."

Investors in Microsoft stock seemed to love the decision, as shares jumped 7.5 percent today.

The new CEO will be selected by a special committee led by Bill Gates and John Thompson. Microsoft says internal and external candidates will be considered.

Ballmer took over the role from founder Bill Gates in 2000, after being a senior executive since the 1980s.

The exec's tenure has been marked by major wins and major losses. In the early part of the century, Windows XP dominated the industry, and PC sales skyrocketed. Additionally, the Xbox, despite being a money loser at first, has become dominant in the console market. On the other hand, Microsoft's first attempts at mobile devices failed, and their Windows Vista and Windows 8 operating systems were complete missteps. After rebooting to Windows Phone 8, the operating system is now the third-most popular in the world, but with less than 6 percent global share.

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AfterDawn: News

Pandora ends 40 hour listening cap on free users

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Aug 2013 9:20

Pandora ends 40 hour listening cap on free users Speaking during their quarterly earnings call, Pandora executives have stated they will end the 40-hour monthly cap imposed on free mobile listeners since February.

Pandora first initiated a cap in September 2011, and then lifted it soon after.

CFO Mike Herring says the cap was a "blunt tool" for limiting costs and halting abusive users, but there have been more "surgical techniques" implemented since, including skip limits that help control costs but do not affect the customer experience as much.

Additionally, he says the business has improved to the point where the company can "monetize those hours from 41 onward at a much higher rate."

Herring noted that when the cap was put in place, usage dropped 10 percent. Despite the drop, revenue jumped 58 percent year-over-year, and the company says they will be profitable for this year.




AfterDawn: News

Even more pictures revealed of gold color iPhone 5S

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Aug 2013 9:08

Even more pictures revealed of gold color iPhone 5S Apple, who is set to unveil their new iPhone 5S at an event on September 10th, will likely add a new "champagne" colorway, as seen in leaked photos recently posted here.

Ascii has a few pictures of the alleged casing, which includes a slightly thinner "iPhone" inscription font.

While the device will keep the same screen size and resolution, Apple is expected to update the processor to an A7 system-on-chip design with 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Due to the ARMv8 architecture, efficiency will be increased 20 percent.

On the camera side, the sensor will remain the same, but the device will have a larger f2.0 aperture lens with dual LED flashes.

One analyst believes a fingerprint sensor is coming, as part of an embedded sapphire glass home button. Furthermore, a 128GB model will be made available, as well. Apple is not expected to introduce NFC with the iPhone 5S.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Windows Phone surpasses iOS in Latin American market share

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Aug 2013 8:49

Windows Phone surpasses iOS in Latin American market share IDC has released their latest Mobile Phone Tracker report, for the Q2 2013, showing Windows Phone as the second most popular smartphone operating system in the Latin American region.

The research firm says there are over 20 countries in the region that offer Windows Phone devices.

In Mexico, Colombia and Peru, Windows Phone was the second most popular OS, behind Android, with Colombia seeing the highest share at 25.6 percent.

Chile, Argentina and Brazil saw less adoption, with the OS in third place, but still with higher share than the U.S. and the global average.

"Reports show an important increase in the positioning of this operating system in Latin America. The market availability of new devices will be a factor in ensuring this trend endures over the next three months," said Oliver Flores, regional manager for Mobile Phones at IDC Latin America.

Microsoft was understandably happy with the result. Liliana González, director of the Windows Phone Division for Latin America, noted that "during this year's Mobile World Congress, we set ourselves the goal of being the second most widely used mobile platform in Latin America by the end of 2013, and we are overjoyed to be able to announce that these reports show that we have achieved this five months before the end of the year. We will continue working alongside Nokia to offer more and more people in Latin America the holistic experience which Windows Phone has for them, in order to offer a more personalized smartphone which is the best for the Windows environment and the best hardware for people and companies."




AfterDawn: News

Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign ends $19 million short of goal

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Aug 2013 8:29

Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign ends $19 million short of goal Canonical's Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign has fallen well short of their large $32 million goal.

The company set a crowdfunding record of $12.8 million, but clearly well below the stated goal to put the smartphone into production.

Altogether, there were 5674 backers, most of which paid over $600 for a chance to own the phone in 2014.

Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth thanked backers and added that "the support and publicity has continued to drive our discussions with some major manufacturers," meaning the company continues its discussions with OEMs over building the smartphone.

For more information on the campaign and the phone, check our in-depth article here: Ubuntu Edge





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