Google's AdID, an anonymous identifier for advertising, could replace the aging cookie
You know the drill: accept the cookie, delete the cookie, empty the cookie bin, and so on. Mostly, it's an exercise used when attempting to get your mum's PC to run a wee bit faster, but if you think about it, the cookie is one of the most archaic pieces of the world wide web that's still in use today. Naturally, Google is swooping in in a bid to change the status quo, according to a new report from USA Today.
Essentially, the search giant is building an "anonymous identifier for advertising, or AdID, that would replace third-party cookies as the way advertisers track people's internet browsing activity for marketing purposes." Perhaps astoundingly, it sounds as if the project could benefit both consumers (by shielding true identities) and advertisers at the same time. Of course, pundits are concerned about the global leader in online advertising controlling the technology that tracks movements on the web, but to us, it sounds as if end users will get far more power over who sees what when compared to today's cookies.
Filed under: Internet, Google
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Via: Slashgear
Source: USA Today
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Tesla's 'autopilot' car project targets 90 percent of miles driven, three years from now
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has discussed the company's ambitions to build a self-driving car on more than one occasion, and now he's revealed a bit more about its plans. After reports today about a job listing for an Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Controls Engineer, he spoke to the Financial Times and confirmed the company is working on a form of autopilot in-house. Expressing his opinion that fully autonomous cars may be a bit too difficult to achieve right now, he said Tesla "should be able to do 90 per cent of miles driven within three years." Other major car companies -- Mercedes, GM, Volvo and Continental, just to name a few -- have projects for either full or partial car self-control, but they're still under development for reasons both technical and legal. Also hanging in the balance is Google's autonomous car project, although from Musk's statements it appears Tesla has decided to go its own way on the technology. The three year target is an ambitious one, but we'll put this one somewhere between Iron Man and Hyperloop on the Musk scale.
Filed under: Transportation
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Via: Reuters
Source: FT
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DARPA's XS-1 program aims for an unmanned spaceship with aircraft-like costs
The reusable spacecraft we've seen so far haven't really lived up to their billing: vehicles like the Space Shuttle or SpaceShipTwo require elaborate, expensive launches. If DARPA succeeds with its just-announced XS-1 program, however, spaceflight could be an affordable, everyday occurrence. The agency plans to develop an unmanned spacecraft that requires a minimal ground crew, reaches speeds above Mach 10 and flies at least 10 times in as many days. Provided DARPA meets its goals, XS-1 would both speed up the deployment of small satellites and lower the cost per flight to an "aircraft-like" $5 million or less. Don't count on seeing a ship in action anytime soon, though. DARPA will only receive some of the first design proposals on October 7th, and someone still has to build the winning project -- it will likely be years before XS-1 slips the surly bonds of Earth.
Filed under: Transportation
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Source: DARPA
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Google invites iOS users to experience data compression with Chrome
Like it or not, thinking about every megabyte is essential for smartphone owners hoping to keep their monthly usage from topping whatever tier they've purchased. The nasty, unbecoming world of data caps isn't changing in the near-term, and Google knows it. Following in the footsteps of Opera, the outfit's Chrome browser for iOS is evidently equipped with a data compression feature that's engineered to save precious bytes when browsing via mobile. This technology has existed for some time, but it's just now being rolled out en masse to those with an iPhone. We're told that it "compresses and minimizes HTML, JavaScript and CSS resources, removing unnecessary whitespace, comments and other metadata not essential to rendering the pages," which can reduce data usage by up to 50 percent on certain sites. So, Apple -- thinking about tossing something similar under the hood of Mobile Safari?
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
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Source: TechCrunch
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iPhone 5c review
After weeks of leaks and speculation, the iPhone 5c is finally here. Apple's colorful new lower-cost handset slots below the iPhone 5s flagship and ships with iOS 7. This is the first time the company's launched two new iPhones simultaneously. The 5c replaces the iPhone 5 in the middle of the lineup, and the 8GB iPhone 4s is now available free on contract. Unlike years past, the iPhone 5 doesn't carry on as a second-tier device -- it's just gone. The 5c is built from steel-reinforced, colored-through, machined polycarbonate that's coated in a glossy finish. Apple's last plastic handset was the iPhone 3GS in 2009, but it only came in black and white. In contrast, the 5c arrives in a rainbow of pastel hues: white, pink, yellow, blue and green, along with a matching set of cases.
Spec-wise, the 5c is basically an iPhone 5 with an improved front-facing camera and support for more LTE bands. The 16GB model costs $99 with a two-year commitment ($549 unlocked) and the 32GB version is $199 on contract ($649 unsubsidized) -- as such it's more affordable than the departed iPhone 5. While Apple's clearly positioning the 5c as an aspirational product, we suspect it's also less expensive to manufacture than the iPhone 5, which means the company gets to enjoy some higher profit margins. It's obviously not the cheap iPhone some folks were expecting, and frankly, we're not surprised -- it's an Apple device, after all. So does the 5c live up to the hype? Is it an improvement over the iPhone 5? Should you pony up for iPhone 5s instead? Let's find out. %Gallery-slideshow85060%
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
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iPhone 5s review
Forward-thinking. It's ironic that Apple's marketing slogan for the iPhone 5s invites us to look ahead to the future when, from the outside, the device looks like a carbon copy of last year's model, the iPhone 5. But just like any other odd-year iPhone -- the "S" version, if you will -- the 5s plays the Transformers card by offering more than meets the eye, with a few key improvements on the inside.
Though it's easy to dismiss this handset as iterative, the 5s is the first smartphone with full 64-bit support and a capacitive fingerprint sensor, and it also ships with a fresh, revamped version of iOS. This might not matter to folks who were content with the status quo, but it matters a lot to Apple -- and to the company's future as well -- especially if the company wants to fend off an increasingly fierce pack of competitors. But is a "forward-thinking" phone worth the investment today? %Gallery-slideshow85056%
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
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Blizzard foreclosing on Diablo III real-money auction house in March 2014
One of the major points of contention when Diablo III released on PC and Mac last year was an auction house where you could use real money to buy high-level gear. That's changing next March 18th when developer Blizzard closes the doors on the controversial feature, as well as the in-game currency auction house. In a post on Battle.net, Blizzard Entertainment Production Director John Hight writes that, despite the auction house's benefits, it "ultimately undermines Diablo's core game play: kill monsters to get cool loot." In the video embedded below, Hight and Game Director Josh Mosquiera stress that they're focusing on making murdering nightmare creatures the most satisfying way of getting rad gear -- not spending ducats, real or otherwise. If you want a preview of what an auction house-free Diablo III looks like right now, check out the recent PS3 and Xbox 360 ports -- they're super good!
Filed under: Gaming, Software
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Via: Joystiq
Source: Battle.net
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Daily Roundup: ASUS PadFone Infinity hands-on, Nokia 'innovation reinvented' event, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
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Adobe XD's Mighty and Napoleon prepare for retail, Contour and Parallel apps introduced (eyes-on)
As you've likely read
today, Adobe XD has announced its plans to officially bring Projects
Napoleon and Mighty -- a drafting ruler and cloud-connected stylus for
iPads -- to retail in 2014. Rather than make the consumer-facing
hardware itself, the company's relying on Adonit's manufacturing
prowess. Creative professionals can rest assured that the tools will
function with Creative Cloud. The retail versions will be much like the prototypes, except that Adobe ditched Bluetooth in the 'short ruler,' Napoleon. It now uses only capacitive touch and a single button (see above) to act as a selector for options within apps. Mighty will ship with a non-replaceable tip that's just under 2mm, but it's otherwise the same and includes a lipstick-style carrying case / charger.
On
top of all that, Adobe's introducing Projects Contour and Parallel as
its next serious experiments in the area. They will was serve reference
apps to highlight the kinds of functionality the tools
could afford designers. Contour is Adobe's take on a draft-sketching
app, while Parallel is an iPhone app that lets you grab photos of
objects in real life and instantly convert them into vectors -- as you'd
expect, both intermingle. No word on whether these apps will make it
out of Adobe's in-progress lair just yet, but a rep gave us a coy smile
and note to stay tuned. You'll find a video of the apps after the break,
as well as our early hands-on with Napoleon and Mighty from June. %Gallery-slideshow85057%
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SimCity's Red Cross charity pack aids real-world disaster victims
SimCity fans know nothing feels better than saving their other family from pollution and sickness -- except, you know, helping out some fellow human beings. A new collaboration with the Red Cross combines players' digital altruism with humanitarian aid for real-world disaster victims. Starting today, you'll be able to purchase a $9.99 "charity pack" created specifically for the game, with a relief center, tents and two emergency response vehicles. In the event of a meteor strike, earthquake or tornado, the Red Cross tents will automatically appear to provide aid for injured Sims, and a fleet of ambulances and fire trucks will be on call as well.
SimCity creator EA Games has pledged to contribute at least 80 percent of profits (a minimum of $100,000) from the charity pack to the Red Cross National Societies. The set will be available for a year, and you'll be able to keep it through the life of your current game. Currently, the pack is only available for players in 10 countries, including Denmark, France, the US and the UK.
Filed under: Gaming
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Source: SimCity Blog
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T-Mobile reprimanded for false advertising by industry watchdog (update: T-Mobile responds)
Apparently AT&T isn't the only one thinking that T-Mobile's Uncarrier advertising campaign might be a touch too aggressive. The National Advertising Division, which is administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, has put out a statement scolding the magenta carrier for "flawed" advertising claims against its GSM rival. It takes particular issue with the assertion that T-Mobile offers 50 percent more bandwidth than AT&T because it only compares HSPA networks and doesn't take into account the latter's ever-increasing LTE grid. The NAD goes on to conclude that there's "insufficient evidence that AT&T's combined network, including LTE is more (sic) likely to be slowed by congestion than T-Mobile's," suggesting that T-Mobile halt all pronouncements otherwise. If it wishes to continue those claims, the NAD says it should outline the conditions where they would occur, such as the situations, locations or type of phones required to have an advantage.
Further, the NAD recommends that claims such as "most advanced technology" and "faster 4G service" should be discontinued or modified as well as the use of its 4G / 4G LTE coverage maps. It also said that T-Mobile's call quality claim was overly broad. T-Mobile has responded to NAD, stating that it believes it's already communicating its message well, but will take the suggestions into consideration. John Legere, T-Mobile's outspoken CEO, has already taken to Twitter in defense of the company's bold marketing approach. We've reached out to T-Mobile for a statement and will update this post when we get it.
Update: T-Mobile's Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Seivert has seen the NAD's recommendations for T-mo to make some minor modifications to its claims, and while they'll be taken under advisement, his company won't be changing its tune:
NAD's findings are a validation of our marketing approach. In fact, today's NAD findings won't result in any substantial changes to our marketing claims. We will continue to spread the word about our coast to coast 4G coverage, superfast 4G network, and superior call clarity, along with our message of simple, no annual service contract plans, unlimited data and the best upgrade program, JUMP!Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, AT&T, T-Mobile
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Via: CNET
Source: ASRC Reviews
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EA Sports, Origin head Andrew Wilson named new Electronic Arts CEO
Following the resignation of CEO Job Riccitiello back in March, Electronic Arts has announced that the head of EA Sports, Andrew Wilson, has been named as the successor. Wilson also served as an executive producer of the FIFA franchise and EVP of Origin. Chairman of the Board and former CEO Larry Probst led the company during the search that ultimately ended up hiring from within. In a blog post, Wilson committed to delivering the outfit's 2014 fiscal year goals with focus on "continued transformation for our digital future, delivering amazing games and services across platforms and instilling a culture of execution that will drive profitable growth." The new chief has little time to settle in though, as the next-gen console launches are just two months away.
Filed under: Gaming
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Source: Electronic Arts
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Adobe Creative Cloud hits 1 million subscribers, Projects Mighty and Napoleon available in 2014
During today's Q3 earnings report, Adobe announced that its Creative Cloud software service had passed one million subscribers since launching in June. In addition to reaching that milestone much faster than expected, the outfit officially removed the "technology exploration" label from both Project Mighty and Project Napoleon, and confirmed plans to release them as full-fledged products in 2014. Experience Design team lead Michael Gough and crew will work with experienced maker outfit Adonit in order to complete the pair and ship it out in the first half of next year. In case you need a brief refresher, our hands-on video with the two cloud-connected peripherals is embedded below.
Filed under: Peripherals, Software
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Source: Adobe (1), (2)
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Evernote releases native app for BlackBerry 10
Evernote's had a presence on BlackBerry 10 since the early days of the OS, but today the cloud-based service is taking things a bit further. As of now, BB10 users can download a native version of Evernote, which offers a more streamlined, intuitive experience than what's currently available via the Evernote integration inside the built-in Remember app. Note-takers will still be able to save and sync stuff, naturally, but they'll be able to do so directly from an Evernote-made app and with a UI that makes it easier to take advantage of what the service has to offer. Better yet, Evernote for BlackBerry 10 won't cost you a nickel, so head to the source link below if this is one you've been waiting for.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Blackberry
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Via: CrackBerry
Source: BlackBerry World
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AllThingsD: carriers indicate lower than usual iPhone 5s stock ahead of Friday's launch
If last week's announcement got you all worked up about a new Apple handset, you may have to wait a little while longer. AllThingsD reports that sources from multiple US carriers are showing "grotesquely" low inventory leading up to Friday's iPhone 5s launch. It's worth noting that stock numbers typically fall short of the demand (especially at the start), but it seems that this release may be even worse than years past. Of course, with a rainbow of other options hitting shelves on the same day, perhaps the high-end model isn't demanding the same amount of attention this time around.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
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Source: AllThingsD
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Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if you're not upgrading from Windows 8
If you already have Windows 8 installed on your PC, Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade in the Windows Store. (But if you own a Windows 8 PC, you probably already knew that.) Now, Microsoft has revealed pricing for people who plan on installing Windows 8.1 on a system that currently runs some older version of Windows (i.e., Win 7). If you're just now making the switch (was it the return of the Start button that sold you?) you can expect to pay $120 for Windows 8.1 and $200 for Windows 8.1 Pro. Yep, the same prices you'd currently pay for a copy of Windows 8.
Interestingly, too, Microsoft will be selling so-called full-version software, which means you don't already need to have Windows running on your machine to complete the installation. All told, you'll be able to either download the software from Windows.com, or buy an old-fashioned box set in a retail store, if that's your thing. Whatever your preference, you'll have to wait until October 17th, just like the cool kids who'll be getting it for free.
Filed under: Software, Microsoft
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Source: Microsoft
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New Nexus 7 with LTE now available for purchase from Google Play in Canada, UK, France and more
Live outside of the Sates and eagerly awaiting a LTE-enabled Nexus 7? Well, Google has just obliged by making the 7-inch slate available in a handful of locales through its Play Store. The 4G tablet is now for sale to willing customers in Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Japan and Korea. In the US, a lone 32GB option that's compatible with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon networks is available for $349. Those itching to part with their funds can do so via the source link below.
Filed under: Tablets, Google
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Via: Nexus (Google+)
Source: Google Play
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Google keeps it green, purchases 240MW of wind power in Texas
Google's goal of meeting its electrical needs with renewable sources got another big boost today. The Happy Hereford wind farm in Texas will produce 240 megawatts of juice, and all of that output has been bought by Big G. That power won't flow directly from the turbines into Google's data centers, instead it'll be fed into the regional grid when Google sells the energy on the wholesale market. The 240 renewable energy certificates (REC) acquired in the deal will be retired in support of mother earth, and any additional REC's created by the wind farm will be used to "reduce our [Google's] carbon footprint elsewhere." According to Google, this is similar to other green energy deals it's done in Iowa and Oklahoma, so it's highly likely we'll be seeing more such deals in the not-so-distant future. Of course, no one will be receiving any of that Happy Hereford wind power just yet -- the farm won't be sending out any renewably-sourced electrons until late 2014.
Filed under: Misc, Alt, Google
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Source: Google Official Blog
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Kinect for Windows SDK update lets developers add green screen effects
Kinect for Windows developers can now get a little more creative: Microsoft has released version 1.8 of the camera's SDK, which lets app creators produce a green screen effect by removing the background. The update also brings a new Kinect Fusion API that scans the color of an object in addition to its shape, saving some 3D modelers the trouble of creating a separate texture map. There's better scene tracking and more code samples, too. Programmers who crave the new software tricks can grab the refreshed SDK and its companion tools at the source links.
Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Microsoft
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Source: Kinect for Windows Blog, Download Center
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Firefox 24 arrives with WebRTC video chats on Android, quick-close tabs on desktop
Mozilla has just released Firefox 24, and this refresh lavishes most of its attention on the Android version. The updated mobile browser enables WebRTC support, letting Android users conduct web-based video chats without a plugin. These surfers can also share browser tabs between NFC-capable devices, launch a preferred sharing app from the main menu, read in Braille and enable a Night mode in Reader. Desktop users aren't completely left out of the upgrade frenzy, however. Firefox 24 lets them quickly close all tabs to the right of a selected tab, drag out chat windows and use the stealthier scrollbars in OS X Lion and newer. If you're intrigued by any of the new Firefox clients, you can grab the edition you need at one of the source links.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile
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Via: Mozilla Blog (1), (2)
Source: Firefox, Google Play
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Occipital's Structure Sensor clamps onto your iPad for 3D scanning on-the-go
With the explosion of desktop 3D printers, there seems little doubt that the next big land grab is the world of 3D scanning. Microsoft's Kinect has taken us a few steps closer to mainstreaming the technology, and MakerBot's soon-to-launch Digitizer is no doubt likely to capture the imagination of much of that community. Kickstarter, naturally, is also littered with smaller companies looking for a piece of that action. Among them, Occipital's Structure Sensor certainly has potential.
The company's looking at a lofty $100,000 goal to bring its mobile scanner to market by year's end. The device clips on to a tablet via a bracket, letting you scan objects, create 3D maps of indoor spaces and the like. All said, it's a pretty nice looking bit of hardware. Of course, we can't really vouch for ease of use or effectiveness. If you're willing to take the risk, however, a $349 pledge entitles you to the hardware, an iPad bracket and a Lightning cable.
Filed under: Peripherals
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Source: Kickstarter
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Modders turn piano into Doom controller (video)
It's been almost too long since we've seen something (in)appropriated to satisfy a twisted modder's Doom craving, and this time, it's not the hardware running Id Software's classic game that's ill-fitted, but the controller. If the timeline on David Hayward's Vine account is accurate, a crew of what appear to be professional tinkerers has turned one old piano into an awkward keyboard in little more than 24 hours. Details on how this was achieved are limited, but it seems to involve some basic PC interfacing and a "load of wiring." Head past the break to catch the noisy mod in action, and if you'd like to a see a few more clips of the "Doom Piano" in development, hit up Hayward's Vine profile. Now, which one's the BFG chord?
Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Peripherals
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Via: Geek
Source: David Hayward (Vine)
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Updated Google Wallet app for Android delivers easier mobile payments
Android users, this is where you unashamedly stick your tongue out at iOS loyalists while making childish noises with your lips. (In your fantasies, at least -- that's pretty rude to do in real life.) The Google Wallet app for Android has just been revised, with users in the United States told to expect it in phases throughout the week. One of the biggest additions is the ability to send cash on the go to any adult in the US with an email address -- as is the case in Gmail, sending money directly from one's bank or one's Wallet account is free, while the usual fees apply if you're dinging that credit card. Plus, if you're still waiting for the option to send money in Gmail, just using this app once will automatically enable that.
Moreover, the app is doing its darndest to replace Key Ring, allowing individuals to load loyalty cards of all types directly into the app. In theory, this should cut down on how much plastic you have to carry around, but we've still seen stores that have a heck of a time scanning a digital rewards card. If you're into saving money, Wallet now holds offers from Maps, Google Search, Google+ and Google Offers, and we get the impression that the company will be allying with a number of merchants in the near future in order to make this particular tidbit more attractive. Head on over to the Google Play Store to see if the new build is showing up for you.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google
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Source: Google Commerce, Google Play Store
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Engadget Giveaway: win one of two gaming prizes, courtesy of Diamond Multimedia!
You love gaming. We love gaming. It's a great match, then, when our lives converge here in the weekly Engadget giveaway. This time Diamond Multimedia has returned to offer a couple of its Radeon HD 7790 Video Graphics Cards (a $150 value each), along with a pair of DS3900 Docking Stations. The sets go out to two lucky winners, so you'll just need to head below and toss your name into the Rafflecopter Goblet of Fire. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile, Alt
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