Archive for July 15th, 2009

Microsoft’s attention may now be focused on Windows Marketplace, but a recently filed trademark application seems to suggest that the company could maybe, possibly have something even bigger in store for the future. As noted by istartedsomething, Microsoft is going after the name “ONEAPP” (or “One Application”), which it describes as a trademark for “online retail store services facilitating the download of computer software for use on mobile phones, media players and other portable electronic devices.” Now, putting two and two together, that would seem to indicate that Windows Mobile phones and devices like the Zune HD would not only share a single branded app store, but the actual apps as well — which isn’t so much of a stretch, if not for the fact that Microsoft has already invested itself so heavily in Windows Marketplace. Then again, it could very well be just yet another name that Microsoft likes but has no real intention of using.

[Via istartedsomething, thanks Chris]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Microsoft trademark application hints at cross-platform “OneApp” app store originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With all the chatter about the current security issues surrounding Twitter, its workforce and the cloud-based Google apps they use, a new security issue has popped up that makes it trivially easy for anyone to access the Twitter servers directly. The problem? The password to the servers was, literally, “password.”

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, responding to our email, said “this bug allowed access to the search product interface only. No personally identifiable user information is accessible on that site.” Although no user accounts were compromised or accessible, the vulnerability speaks to a greater culture of lax security at the startup, and may be indicative of how earlier breaches possibly occurred.

With that in mind, we have some friendly advice for Twitter. For instance, it would be wise if in the future Twitter insiders do not use the password “password” for the back ends of its systems or one of its co-founder’s names (Jack) as a username.

Why do we think this advice could prove helpful? Well without taking this type of precaution, before you know it malicious hackers or just plain mean people who have it in for you could do some serious damage and/or embarrass you in front of all your friends and followers by invading your personal digital territory.

Again, for the record, this has absolutely nothing to do with the other security breach we’re publishing ongoing reports about and which Twitter has already publicly responded to. We notified Twitter about this breach as well, and waited until they took action to close it off before posting.

Screen shots below.

Man, talk about falling into a black hole at the R&D lab. A staggering 1.5 years after we first caught wind of the altogether intriguing InterView system from EVGA, the company is finally bringing it to market here in the US. Put simply, the device features twin rotatable 17-inch LCD displays, both supported by a single desktop stand. It was conceived in order to suit presentation givers, financial consultants and the elusive “creative professional” crowd, with each panel rocking a 1,440 x 900 resolution. The screens can rotate 180 degrees horizontally, fold 90 degrees from closed to full width apart and can even be controlled by two keyboards and mice, ensuring that sibling arguments reach peaks they’ve never reached before. There’s also a built-in webcam, microphone and three-port USB hub, though it seems as if you’ll be shopping for this thing without an MSRP to go by. Full release is after the break.

Update: The display will list for $649.99.

Continue reading EVGA introduces rotatable dual-LCD InterView system

Filed under: Displays

EVGA introduces rotatable dual-LCD InterView system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we’ve noted for some time, Google Reader’s social features leave a lot to be desired. The search giant is slowly moving in the right direction towards making shared items more accessible between friends, but it’s still rather clunky. Today, the functionality receives yet another upgrade, including one that may finally spur social usage — “liking” items.

Beginning today, you can search for people who are sharing items via Google Reader. Previously, people either had to be in your contact list or you had to share your ridiculous Shared Items URL. For example, mine is http://www.google.com/reader/shared/14881661495900338150. But now, someone can just go and search for “MG Siegler” and my name will pop up with an option to subscribe to my items with one click. In addition, there is also a way to add a link to your Google Reader Shared Items from your Google Profile page now.

As Twitter continues to see skyrocketing growth, desktop and mobile phone clients are becoming a big business. Last month we broke the news that TweetDeck was asking some services for around $50,000 to appear in the client. Now we’ve gotten word that TwitterBerry, one of the most popular Twitter clients for BlackBerry phones, is running an auction for the coveted spot of “default media provider” for the app.

Orangatame (the company that makes TwitterBerry) is inviting select services to submit bids next week, at which point participants will be told the highest bid and will then be given a chance to submit one followup bid. Apparently Orangatame is looking to keep its options open in the future, as this bidding only grants the winner the default spot for three months.

If you’ve been putting off that GPS purchase in hopes that Alpine would deliver a sleek, fully compatible solution for the head unit that you already splurged on, your lucky day has finally arrived. The altogether simplistic NVE-M300 GPS Navigation Drive is a simple black box that measures just barely more than 4- x 4- x 1-inches and is designed to interface with the company’s top two selling in-dash AV head units: the iXA-W404 (4.3-inch display) and the IVA-W505 (7-inch touchscreen). The device features the outfit’s own OnPoint Advanced GPS Positioning, turn-by-turn guidance, a solid-state gyro sensor and accelerometer, text-to-speech and pre-loaded NAVTEQ maps of the US and Canada. Unfortunately, all this beautiful harmony will cost you, and by “cost you,” we mean “450 bones.”

Filed under: GPS

Alpine’s NVE-M300 black box brings navigation to top head units originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AppleInsider is reporting that Apple might be moving toward providing anti-glare options on more of its Macs, a move that would undoubtedly bring joy to anyone opposed to unbearable glare when using their machine in anything more illuminated than an underground cavern. The company moved to glossy displays on its iMac offerings, and then added them to both its 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros back in October at its Spotlight turns to Notebooks event, leaving only the 17-inch MacBook Pro with an anti-glare option. AppleInsider quotes people “familiar” with the company, who say that Apple is considering the option in response to its core business customers, and that the most likely candidates for the anti-glare treatment would be the 13- and 15-inch laptops. Do it, Apple — do it for love, do it for ocular relief.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Apple considering matte option on more Macs? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking to put together a really complete bag of camera gear? Then you might want to give some consideration to Electrophysics’ new AstroScope 9350EOS-FF, which will add some night vision capabilities to the full-frame Canon DSLR of your choice. As you can see above, the module fits between the lens and camera body, and thankfully maintains all the necessary electrical connections and doesn’t impede on all-important features like image stabilization. The module itself will also give you some variable gain control to adapt to different lighting situations and reduce noise, and it supposedly eliminates any vignetting of images, which can be a bit of a problem with other night vision rigs. No word on a price just yet, but it looks like it should be rolling out to dealers now.

[Thanks, Zoltan]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

AstroScope 9350EOS-FF adds night vision to your Canon DSLR originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our negotiations with Twitter (or rather Twitter’s lawyers) over our intention to publish a small subset of the 310 hacked confidential documents continue. We published the first document, a pitch for a reality television show called Final Tweet, earlier this morning.

Far more interesting, though, is this internal Twitter financial forecast from February 2009. Twitter has told us that this was never an official document and it certainly is no longer accurate. But it gives an interesting glimpse into the company’s financial targets nonetheless. The projections go forward to 2013.

The most interesting data point – As of February, Twitter expected their first revenue to come in Q3 2009 (which is now). A modest $400,000 was expected, followed by a more robust $4 million in Q4. The document also shows Twitter’s projected user growth (25 million by the end of 2009), which it has absolutely blown through already. By the end of 2010, Twitter expected to be at a $140 million revenue run rate.

The full document is below.

Remember the Radio Shack Battery Club? Back in the old days you’d go into Radio Shack with a card and they’d give you free battery once a month. It was heaven. I used to go in and grab a 9-volt – the best battery to have, by a long shot.

Well, Radio Shack and Peek just teamed up with us to offer you the Peek/Radio Shack Free Gadget Club. For the next three weeks we’re giving away one Peek device – your choice – and another gadget (anything you want up to $500 in value) from Radio Shack. Sure as heck beats a D-cell, right?