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AfterDawn: News

OKCupid to accept Bitcoin digital currency

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Apr 2013 8:47

OKCupid to accept Bitcoin digital currency OKCupid, the popular online dating site, has said today it will accept Bitcoin as currency for users who want to pay to access premium features on the site.

Users pay on average $12 per month to be part of the "A-List," which allows them to view profiles anonymously. There are over 4 million active users.

The site says real prices will still be in dollars and will use real-time exchange rates for Bitcoin. Each Bitcoin is currently valued at $68, following a volatile two weeks in which the price jumped from $30 to $250 and back.

When asked why, Sam Yagan, one of the company's founders, had this to say: "Our plan is to liquidate our holdings daily and turn them into US dollars. There's an open question as to how much liquidity there is. I think there's going to be a tremendous amount of volatility. One of the reasons why we want to be early in the mix is so we can learn."

View this great video explaining Bitcoin here:

Bitcoin Explained from Duncan Elms on Vimeo.




AfterDawn: News

Google reveals specs for Google Glass

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Apr 2013 8:08

Google reveals specs for Google Glass Google has published the specifications for its Google Glass wearable device alongside the release of the Mirror API for Glass apps.

Glass features a 640 x 360 display which is the "equivalent of a 25-inch high definition screen from eight feet away."

The device also features a 5MP camera capable of up to 720p video and audio "that comes via a bone conduction transducer." Glass has 16GB internal storage, but only 12GB is available. Glass will be able to sync with Google Drive, as well.

Glass will 'fit any face' and include adjustable nose pads in two different sizes.

Google says Glass' battery will last up to "one full day of typical use," but video recording and other processor-intensive apps will lower that estimate. The headwear supports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, connects to any Bluetooth phone and will support GPS and SMS through an app called "MyGlass" for Android.




AfterDawn: News

T-Mobile USA will have HTC One on April 24th

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Apr 2013 7:45

T-Mobile USA will have HTC One on April 24th Following the delay of the smartphone, at least one carrier has confirmed a release date for the HTC One.

T-Mobile USA says the phone will be available on April 24th, and should include Wi-Fi Calling.

The One will cost $99 upfront, just like the iPhone 5. Thanks to the company's new "Uncarrier" plans, you will pay $20 a month for 24 months, for a total of $579 over two years.

An unlimited everything plan, including unlimited data, costs $70 per month.





AfterDawn: News

WhatsApp reaches 200 million monthly users

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Apr 2013 7:22

WhatsApp reaches 200 million monthly users Speaking at the Dive Into Mobile conference today, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum had some impressive figures to reveal for the application.

The exec says the the company has reached 200 million active monthly users, noting that the number is bigger than Twitter's base.

Additionally, Koum says the cross-platform messaging app averages 8 billion inbound and 12 million outbound messages per day.

Those numbers are even more notable given that WhatsApp only has 50 engineers.

WhatsApp costs just $0.99 per year and is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows Phone.




AfterDawn: News

Jolla to unveil first smartphone in May, buyers will be able to choose design

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 16 Apr 2013 10:28

Jolla to unveil first smartphone in May, buyers will be able to choose design Jolla, the Finnish mobile developer, appears to be ready to unveil their first smartphone in early May.

The company, which was started by the directors of the Nokia N9 project (now ex-Nokia employees), have been working on a new OS as a successor to the discontinued MeeGo project since 2011.

Chairman Antti Saarnio confirmed the company's official announcement on the phone will be made in early May, with pre-orders to kick off later in May. The company will use the pre-order funding to manufacture the devices. They'll be using a Finnish Kickstarter-like funding platform that was not specified.

Perhaps most notably, customers will be allowed to choose how their device looks like. Each will have a different pricing scheme that will be revealed in May.

"We want Jolla to be a movement. We want Jolla fans to able to contribute in earlier stages. They'll be the ones who make sure that the phone will be available and they'll get it first," added Saarnio to Digitoday.fi.

Antti Saarnio does not have any updates on when the first devices will land on our hands.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Kodak selling imaging assets to Brother for $210 million

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 11:16

Kodak selling imaging assets to Brother for $210 million Bankrupt Eastman Kodak has announced today that it has agreed to sell document-imaging assets to Brother for $210 million, setting a starting bid if other companies want to compete for them.

Brother, which sells office equipment like multi-function printers, will also assume $67 million in customer prepayment liabilities.

In its effort to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company has been selling assets and slimming down. Kodak sold $525 million worth of digital-imaging patents last year, shut down their consumer inkjet printer unit, and is searching for buyers for its consumer film and photo kiosks.

The eventual goal is to emerge as a profitable company working with commercial printing and packaging.




AfterDawn: News

iOS YouTube app adds live broadcast support

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 11:02

iOS YouTube app adds live broadcast support Google has updated the iOS YouTube app to support live broadcasts.

Starting with version 1.3 of the app, Apple fans can stream live concerts and other events via their tablets and smartphones.

Full changelist:

* Quick access to new uploads from subscriptions via "My Subscriptions" feed on the Guide
* Access to Live streams
* Queue up videos to play on TV
* One Channel branding for video creator channels
* Stability and performance improvements


Android has had these features for a couple of months, but the new update should help bridge the gap between the applications.




AfterDawn: News

Comcast to encrypt basic cable channels

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 10:52

Comcast to encrypt basic cable channels Comcast has begun telling customers that it is preparing to encrypt its basic cable signals, meaning some customers will need a new digital adapter if they want to even receive any basic programming.

The adapters will be free in some markets, and one model will work with third-party set-top boxes, like those by Scientific Atlanta and Motorola.

If you already use Comcast set-top boxes connected to all your TVs, you need not worry, but if you have any devices connected directly to the cable outlet without a set-top, you will need the adapter.

The adapters will be tiny boxes that include their own remote control and connect to the TV through the coaxial cable.

"We are beginning to proactively notify customers in select markets that we will begin to encrypt limited basic channels as now permitted by last year's FCC B1 Encryption Order," said the company (via OM). "While the vast majority of our customers won't be impacted because they already have digital equipment connected to their TVs, we understand this will be a change for a small number of customers and will be making it as convenient as possible for them to get the digital equipment they may need to continue watching limited basic channels."

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Dish Network bids $25.5 billion for Sprint

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 10:26

Dish Network bids $25.5 billion for Sprint Early this morning, satellite TV provider Dish Network made a large $25.5 billion bid for Sprint Nextel, besting an existing offer from Japanese carrier Softbank.

The company, which has been hoarding cash for a large acquisition, would use Sprint as a compliment to its current offerings, bundling TV, Internet and wireless phone services.

During a conference call, Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen said "consumers have two necessities in life; food and shelter. But after that, you probably get to your mobile device and your TV as three and four. . . . You want to be able to be connected no matter where you are, and you want to be able to watch your television no matter where you are."

Dish offered $17.3 billion in cash and an additional $8.2 billion in stock for complete control of the company. Softbank offered $20 billion for a 70 percent stake.

While the satellite company has 14 million customers, the merger would give it access to Sprint's 55 million customers, opening up a huge market for potential satellite services sales. Additionally, the company would get access to Sprint's spectrum and airwaves.




AfterDawn: News

Mozilla Firefox OS to launch in five countries in June

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 10:09

Mozilla Firefox OS to launch in five countries in June Mozilla has announced that its mobile Firefox OS will be expanding to five countries for a global launch in June.

So far, the OS has only been available to developers and has yet to see a consumer launch.

Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs had this to say, during his Dive into Mobile keynote, "We plan to launch in five countries in June and 11 more by the end of the year. We plan to hit Venezuela, Poland, Brazil, Portugal and Spain. ... We'll hit the U.S. in 2014."

When asked why emerging markets were being targeted rather than the U.S, UK, etc, Kovacs added: "In Silicon Valley we tend to see the world through high-end devices. But that's not true in the rest of the world. So in the short term, we're launching in emerging markets where Firefox is particularly strong. ... It didn't make sense for us to launch a version-one device around the world."




AfterDawn: News

Sharp to sell its large stake in Pioneer

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 9:57

Sharp to sell its large stake in Pioneer Struggling electronics maker Sharp is reportedly eyeing buyers for its large stake in Pioneer, another consumer tech company.

The company would use the proceeds of the sale to help pay off its substantial debt burden, most notably a portion of its $2.14 billion convertible debt note that's coming due in September.

Sharp has a 9.2 percent stake in Pioneer, making it the company's largest shareholder.

Even if Sharp sells its share, the companies would still collaborate and Pioneer would keep its own 0.8 percent share in Sharp.




AfterDawn: News

Report: Microsoft working on smartwatch to rival Samsung, Apple

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Apr 2013 9:07

Report: Microsoft working on smartwatch to rival Samsung, Apple According to the WSJ, Microsoft is working on a touch-enabled smartwatch to rival Samsung and Apple's supposed devices.

In 2004, the company created a smartwatch product called "Spot" that used FM radio signals to stream news headlines, stock quotes, weather and instant messages from Windows Messenger.

The watch was ahead of its time, however, and was discontinued in 2008.

Wearable designs are the new "hot" industry, with Nike offering fitness bands, Google offering augmented reality eye wear and Samsung and Apple expected to offer watches later this year (or early 2014) built on Android or iOS.




AfterDawn: News

Dish Network in talks to merge with T-Mobile USA

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Apr 2013 7:53

Dish Network in talks to merge with T-Mobile USA According to Bloomberg, Dish Network has informally had conversations with Deutsche Telekom in an effort to merge with the company's American carrier, T-Mobile USA.

Such a deal would let Dish bundle wireless service with their satellite-TV offerings.

Deutsche Telekom is said to be considering such a bid, but will only give it real thought after they close their acquisition of MetroPCS later this year.

T-Mobile USA has 42 million customers and is the fourth largest carrier in the States. After closing the purchase of MetroPCS, Telekom is spinning off the unit so it can trade publicly on the NY Stock Exchange.

The last company who tried to acquire T-Mobile, AT&T, was rejected by government regulators, leaving T-Mobile with a breakup fee gift of over $4 billion.




AfterDawn: News

Ebook sales accounted for 22.5 percent of book industry's revenue in 2012

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Apr 2013 7:26

Ebook sales accounted for 22.5 percent of book industry's revenue in 2012 According to new figures from the Association of American Publishers, ebook sales have taken a significant share of book industry revenues.

Ebook accounted for 22.5 percent of overall revenue in 2012, up from 16.98 percent in 2011.

The biggest winners within the ebook world were adult fiction, adult nonfiction and religion. Overall, the industry saw a nice boost in revenue, up 6.2 percent from 2011 to $7.1 billion.

The report was not all roses, however, as it showed the growth slowed and ebooks may be nearing a plateau that will be tough to cross.

Additionally, dedicated ereader sales are falling as more consumers begin to use their tablets and smartphones to read.




AfterDawn: News

US House of Representatives unbans Spotify

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Apr 2013 6:32

US House of Representatives unbans Spotify In February, the U.S. House of Representatives banned Spotify from member's computers.

Citing a decade-old rule that was put in place during the times of Napster, all "P2P technologies" are still banned from House computers in an effort to avoid malware and illegal file sharing.

As of this week, however, Spotify is back.

At the time, the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer had this to say, "To help protect House data, our IT policy generally prohibits the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies while operating within the secure network. While Spotify is currently not authorized, the CAO has and will continue to work with outside vendors to enable the popular services that improve member communication capabilities."

Read more...



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