31 December, 2011

TechPinas

Best Gadgets of 2011 - Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops, TVs, Portable Media Players and Mobile Gaming Devices : The Ultimate List!

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 07:01 AM PST

TP Founder Notes # 5 - The Best of the Best

2011 had been a big year for smartphones and tablets with a few outstanding devices in other categories.

I've taken the liberty of creating my list of the best gadgets of 2011 - covering smartphones, laptops, tablets, TVs, and PMPs. Note that all devices mentioned in this post have been featured and/or reviewed by TechPinas.

But before that: TP Friends, thank you so much for supporting me and TP for whole of 2011. We've already been through a lot together. And I appreciate it. God bless us more this coming year! I'm really looking forward to a bigger and better 2012 with all of you! More TPGBs! More tech stories, news and reviews that make our lives better! Lots of pleasant surprises coming up! Happy New Year, TP Friends!

Smartphones

1. Samsung Galaxy Note - In my opinion, this is the best smartphone Samsung has released thus far. With a massive HD SuperAMOLED capacitive touchscreen display measuring 5.3 inches across and coming with an S-Pen stylus, SGNote is often described as a true smartphone-tablet hybrid. I often say that Note's unique and landmark form factor is perfectly complemented by its powerhouse innards. In fact, AnTuTu Benchmarks Test results show that SGNote is currently the best smartphone when it comes to CPU, Memory and 3D Graphics performance. This beast-of-a-handset runs the latest version of Android Gingerbread OS with its dual-core 1.4GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Mali-400MP GPU, Exynos chipset and 1GB of RAM and sports an 8 MegaPixel autofocus camera with LED flash and a Full HD 1080p video recorder. Truly ahead of its time, Note - I believe - gives us a glimpse into the standard look smartphones will don 2-3 years from now.

2. Apple iPhone 4S - Although flaunting a design identical to that of its predecessor from a year back, Apple iPhone 4S nonetheless comes with enhancements a lot of Apple fans will surely crave for. The phone sports an improved camera made by Sony that performs extremely well even in not-so-well-lit settings. Likewise, it comes with a Full HD 1080p video recorder, which is an improvement from the 720p videocam of iPhone4. Thanks to its powerful dual core Apple A5 processor, Apple iPhone 4S is able to support and run new applications and softwares by the Cupertino-company, which include the buzz-worthy Siri. Siri is a voice-powered virtual assistant helping 4S users accomplish tasks ranging from making calls to looking for nearby restaurants.

3. Nokia N9 - Putting Nokia Lumia 800 in a separate category, Nokia N9 - I would have to say - is the best smartphone Nokia has ever made. Crafted from a polycarbonate uniblock, MeeGo-powered Nokia N9 features a unique curved scratch-resistant screen that makes the display look as if its lifted or floating. Serious about social networking, Nokia made Facebook and Twitter applications specifically for Nokia N9. I reviewed this smartphone on TP last November and I remember being thoroughly impressed with how easy it is to navigate MeeGo Harmattan's user interface.

4. Samsung Galaxy S2 - This handset is practically the smaller, full-fledged smartphone version of Samsung Galaxy Note. While it does not flaunt a screen as big as that of a tablet-smartphone hybrid, SGS2 nonetheless comes with almost identical internal specifications, including a dual core processor with slightly lower clockspeed, and top-notch multi-media features like its 8 MegaPixel camera and FullHD video recorder. For those who are concerned about handset design, SGS2 remains to be one of the slimmest smartphones you can get in the market these days.

5. LG Optimus 2X - Being the 'Guinness Book of World Records Certified' First Dual Core Smartphone on the planet, LG Optimus 2X is truly a landmark gadget. But I think what's really cool about this phone is that of the three dual core Android smartphones released earlier this year (Samsung Galaxy S2 and HTC Sensation being the other two), it's the most affordable.

6. BlackBerry Bold 9900 - I remember reviewing this phone on ABS-CBN News Channel's Mornings@ANC a few months back and having nothing but good words about it. Featuring top-notch innards wrapped in a gorgeous glass and brushed stainless steel enclosure, BlackBerry Bold 9900 isn't just the most powerful handset Research in Motion has released yet, it's also - in my humble opinion - the most handsome.

7. Samsung Galaxy Y - Combined advertising campaigns from Samsung and Smart, helped propel both the regular and Netphone version of SGY to best-selling status in the Philippines. According to some concerned Samsung fans, demand for the phone is so high this Yuletide that there are some stores in malls taking advantage of the situation by selling the phone for up to Php 1,500 more expensive than the regular SRP.

8. HTC Sensation XE - The extreme version of the already powerful HTC Sensation, HTC Sensation XE is the product of the Taiwanese company's recent major investment into Beats by Dr. Dre. On top of delivering screaming Android performance, HTC Sensation XE also gives users an incredible audio experience that only Beats software and earphones can deliver.

9. Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc - For me, SE Xperia Arc - with its ultra-thin curved frame - is easily the best designed smartphone of 2011. This handset can sit beside iPhone 4S and BB Bold 9900 - two of the most handsome phones out there - and not feel a bit shy. But Arc is totally not all looks no substance, aside from sporting one of the best cameras on smartphone today, the phone now runs the latest version of Android Gingerbread operating system - thanks to the recent software upgrade released by SE.

Tablets

1. Apple iPad 2 - Just like in the smartphone and ultra-light notebook category, this year, Apple also led in the tablet department. During the launch of iPad2, Steve Jobs was quoted saying, "While others have been scrambling to copy the first generation iPad, we're launching iPad 2, which moves the bar far ahead of the competition and will likely cause them to go back to the drawing boards yet again." In many ways, that's exactly what happened. Apple iPad 2 went on to become the best-selling tablet of 2011 and practically became a new template for other companies in creating their own slates. http://www.techpinas.com/2011/12/best-gadgets-of-2011-smartphones.html

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 - Despite or perhaps largely because of its recent legal battles with Apple over patents, Samsung has managed to come up with pretty strong contenders in this category. I've played with Samsung Galaxy Tab in various sizes and I think the 8.9-inch model is the best of them all as it provides the perfect balance of display size and portability.

3. BlackBerry PlayBook - Although not quite as terrifying as the iPad or the Galaxy Tab in terms of sales, the BlackBerry PlayBook has its own charms. RIM's tablet runs the QNX-based BlackBerry Tablet OS with its dual core processor, supports true multi-tasking and comes replete with a high-resolution 7-inch screen, front and back Full HD 1080p video cameras, 5 MegaPixel camera and a variety of connectivity options. BB users can pair Blackberry smartphone with their BlackBerry PlayBook using BlackBerry Bridge.

TVs

1. LG LW5700 Cinema 3DTV - I got the chance to experience and review LG's High-end Cinema 3DTV alongside its 2 main rivals from other companies via GMA News TV's Pop Talk a few months back. And I still remember being totally amazed with the cinematic 3D experience that this TV gave me, Issa and Coco; I tell you, LG's 3DTV technology almost a full generation ahead of the others. No flickering 3D glasses needed, LW5700 gives you that no-fuss no-eye-stress 3D movie experience you get in cinemas.

2. Samsung D8000 3D LED TV - In my D8000 review last month, I wrote that "[D8000's] high-gloss metal frame and stand perfectly compliment the ultra-clear and vibrant display. Likewise, these accents make the TV go well with any modern interior design and decor. [...] Samsung LED TV D8000 is a trophy TV; Yeah, that's what it is. It's for people who want to exude that aura of always wanting nothing but the best that money can buy and that they can actually afford to get such things... just like that." To this day, I stand by those words.

PMPs and Mobile Gaming Devices

1. iPod Touch 2011 - "iPod Touch is an iPhone without the phone," said Steve Jobs during the formal announcement of the 4th Generation iPod Touch. And that's exactly what it is. It's for users who already have a smartphone and just want to experience iOS and all of the supported applications without having to break the bank for another expensive phone. Although the iPod Touch released this year looks exactly like that from 2010 and even comes with exactly the same specifications, I still think that it's an amazing device and quite likely the most sulit Apple product you can get these days.

2. Nintendo 3DS - 3DS lets gamers enjoy real 3D graphics without the need for those clunky 3D glasses. What's cool is that the device became available in the Philippines during the latter part of the year with a surprisingly low price tag.

3. Sony PlayStation Vita - I feel kinda iffy including PSVita in this list since it's the only device in this line-up I haven't seen in the flesh - yet. Nonetheless, based on what I've seen in videos, I get this feeling that Vita could end up being one of the best mobile gaming devices ever made and I know that I'll be doing everyone a big disservice if I won't mention it here especially since Sony actually announced the device in 2011.

Laptops

1. MacBook Air 2011 - Apple continues to reign supreme in the thin and light notebook category, setting the standard for how such devices should be done. Running on the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual core CPUs, both 11-inch and 13-inch models of 2011 MacBook Air is up to twice as fast as the previous generation and has all the power you need for editing photos and videos among other slightly specs-intensive computing tasks. The 11-inch Macbook Air weighs 2.38 pounds and delivers up to 5 hours of uptime, while the 13-inch model weighs 2.96 pounds and has around 7 hours of battery life.

2. ThinkPad X220 - Corporate and Business users who are looking for a sturdy and powerful thin and light notebook will surely find ThinkPad X220 an ideal device. Sporting the legendary ThinkPad keyboard, Trackpoint and ThinkVantage security features, X220 smoothly runs Windows 7 with the latest generation Intel Sandy Bridge CPU, making you more productive when working with it.

3. Asus Eee PC X101 - With price tag of more or less Php 10,000, Asus Eee PC X101 is perfect for students and entry-level users who are in the market for an affordable netbook that can help them browse the web and work on documents without any hassles. As thin and light as a regular textbook, X101 easily slips into a purse or bag, allowing you to carry it around the campus the whole day without hurting your shoulders.

4. Asus Zenbook - A classic example of an UltraBook, Asus Zenbook - which comes in 2 models, UX21 and UX31 - is both slim and full-powered. Quoting Asus, "The Zenbook is a unique combination of artistic craftsmanship and advanced technology." In many ways, however, I think Zenbook looks like Apple's Macbook Air -- only it runs Windows, which means it supports more softwares and has an interface that's more familiar to a lot of people.

5. Sony Vaio F - One look at Sony Vaio F and you will get the impression that it's made for serious computing. This 16.4-inch tank - flaunting a serious black plastic enclosure - comes replete with the latest Core i7 processor, NVIDIA graphics, and a full HD 1080p display, making it one of the laptops to beat in terms of specifications. Quoting Sony, "VAIO F Series delivers a Full HD 3D experience in a notebook PC. Enjoy 3D Blu-ray Discs and 3D photos or convert any HD video from 2D to 3D. The 240 fps high frame rate LCD puts a bright and crisp image on its 16-inch screen." If you're willing to spend Php 150,000 on a notebook with the best specs out there, Sony Vaio F is the right one for you.

6. Sony Vaio Y - Over the years, Vaio has developed the reputation for being expensive, sometimes even 'overly expensive'. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. But if anything, Sony Vaio Y appears to break this mold. Priced at only around Php 25,000, the two models under this line will finally let everyone - even entry-level consumers - experience VAIO.

7. Acer Aspire S3 - One of my tech predictions for 2012 is that it's going to be the year of Ultrabooks. But you don't have to wait until next year to get yourself a thin and light powerhouse notebook. Acer Aspire S3, which sells for Php 45,000 to Php 60,000 depending on specs, is perhaps the most affordable Ultrabook currently. The price is not particularly cheap, but if you're keen on being one of the first to own an Ultrabook, then why not get one?

8. Samsung Series 9 - For me, Samsung Series 9 is the most gorgeous notebook the Korean company has released so far. Wrapped in Duralumin, a metal used in creating aircraft shells, the ultra-sleek Samsung Series 9 is for users who are willing to pay a premium for a notebook that look like it's made for a supermodel yet has specifications that will make the borderline-powerhouse user smile.

There you go, TP Friends! Here's to even more amazing gadgets in 2012!

VentureBeat

Week in review: SOPA, PR nightmares and Twinkie-eating zombies
A new option if you want to invest in startups
Wii U likely to implement a full app store upon release
Orangutan Outreach wants Apple’s help popularizing apes using iPads
Electric-car maker Fisker recalling Karmas due to battery issue
The Apple collection: Secret Stanford warehouse houses company history
Nintendo, Sony and EA quietly drop SOPA support
Intel’s first Android smartphone will be made by LG, shown off at CES
No Facebook Timeline for Internet Explorer 7 users
Law firm threatens to shut Twitter down for allowing terrorist groups to tweet
Updated: Verizon reverses $2 fee after FCC inquiry, customer outrage
Verizon convenience fee sparks Change.org petition
How Washington went social in 2011
Facebook gains on Google with 30% increase in unique U.S. visitors in 2 years

Week in review: SOPA, PR nightmares and Twinkie-eating zombies

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 09:05 AM PST

Usually, the last full week of the year is pretty slow in regards to the average news cycle. A description of “slow” doesn’t begin to describe it, since most people in the business world are taking advantage of vacation days before they expire.

However, 2011′s final week was nothing if not equal parts amusing and entertaining.

We have a wonderful feature about a Left 4 Dead fan film as well as a report on Ocean Marketing’s ridiculous string of emails. We sat down with Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley to talk about the startup’s future. Also, SOPA’s crumbling support, Go Daddy boycotts, Anonymous' Stratfor hack, iPad 3 rumors and VentureBeat Executive Editor Dylan Tweney embraces his inner New Jersey Shore (captured on video).

Enjoy!

Editor’s Picks

The most interesting phones of 2011: what mattered most in a year of smartphone overload
It seems like every week a must-have smartphone is either announced or released. It's becoming increasingly difficult to track which phones are actually worth paying attention to and which will be swiftly thrown into the scrap heap of devices nobody cares about. So, after a year of smartphone overload, we want to look back and see which devices this year actually mattered. Some will be obvious, others less so. But perhaps by paying special attention to the most relevant devices of 2011, we'll be able steel ourselves for the avalanche of new models coming in 2012. (Don't forget that the next Consumer Electronics Show is just weeks away.)

Foursquare's claim to fame, the check-in, could become its downfall
What is Foursquare? The answer is far more complex than it should be. The startup's purpose in life is so muddled that it now finds itself in the midst of a self-imposed identity crisis that could cause it to fall victim to Facebook.

The making of an amazing Left 4 Dead fan film (exclusive)
Northern Five Entertainment and Airsoft GI recently released their joint Left 4 Dead short film to the world. Sporting Hollywood-level production values but produced on a shoestring, the video quickly surpassed half a million views on YouTube, and the teaser trailer alone garnered over 400,000 views. GamesBeat sat down with Northern Five director and co-founder Adrian Picardi for an exclusive interview to discuss the film's budget, concept, reception, and why Hollywood is so damn bad at making video game movies.

VBWeekly: A dramatic re-enactment of Ocean Marketing's PR flop In this week's video, VentureBeat does a dramatic reading of one of the most entertainingly stupid email chains ever to see the light of day — featuring the superb acting abilities of Dylan Tweney and Christopher Peri.

Most Popular

Ocean Marketing: How to self-destruct your company with just a few measly emails
Strap yourself in, you're about to witness the most outlandlish PR blunder in video gaming history. And trust me, there have been many. Starting earlier this morning with a post on Penny Arcade, co-founder Mike "Gabe" Krahulik brought to light a series of emails between Dave, a customer politely inquiring about the status of his Avenger PlayStation 3 controller order, and Paul Christoforo of Ocean Marketing, the PR lead for the product.

Go Daddy loses over 37,000 domains due to SOPA stance
Hosting and domain registrar company Go Daddy has lost more than 37,000 domains in the past two days due to the company's wishy-washy stance on the Stop Online Piracy Act. The fleeing domains comes as a result of the intense backlash from customers and Internet critics after Go Daddy appeared on an official list of companies supporting SOPA. The internet responded by staging a wide-spread boycott where people would switch their domains to another registrar, which Go Daddy initially dismissed as having little impact on their business. Now it seems that assessment wasn't entirely accurate.

Top 10 hilarious and surprising viral videos of 2011
YouTube may have already picked the biggest videos to hit the web this year, but there's a host of great videos that didn't make the cut. From vigilante cyclists to deadpan taxidermists to obligatory cute kittens, the web was full of strange, funny, sad and infuriating events and characters. We decided to cap off the year with a list of 10 viral videos we especially liked.

iPad 3 rumor mill: two new iPads planned for January
We're not even in 2012 yet, but the iPad 3 rumor mill is in full swing. The latest rumor: Apple is preparing two new iPad models for a January debut.

10 things you need to know about Anonymous' Stratfor hack
On Dec. 24th, hacker collective Anonymous stole credit card info and other sensitive data from U.S. security firm Stratfor, but keeping track of who and what are affected by the scandal can be difficult. We've put together a 10-point FAQ for better understanding the major hacking incident.

Filed under: VentureBeat

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A new option if you want to invest in startups

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST

Just a decade ago, if you wanted to invest in a startup you had to know someone. A lawyer, an accountant or a friend of friend would give you a referral to a company looking to raise money, or they'd invite you to invest with them. That's how you got in the door.

You had to have a lot of money to play – often $50,000 or more. And the startups you'd see were from your geographical region. That traditional scenario left a lot of interested angel investors sitting on the sidelines.

Today, it's a lot easier to become an angel investor, due to crowd funding, micro lending and investment sites like MicroVenture Marketplace Inc., which is opening doors to those looking to invest $1,000 to $20,000 or more.

The way to win at angel investing, of course, is to invest in the right startups. To get there, you need:

1) Good deal flow from which to spot potential winners.
2) The ability to invest in multiple deals so you gain experience.
3) A knack for spotting companies, and more importantly people, who will succeed.

Getting good deal flow is often the stumbling block for the average person looking to get started in angel investing. And it's one of the reasons Bill Clark founded MicroVentures. He wanted to begin investing, but didn't have access to good deals.

Like many others thinking about making angel investments, Clark wanted to invest smaller sums in more companies, allowing him to spread out his risk and also increase his changes of picking a winner. And he wanted access to great companies outside of the Austin area, which is his hometown.

More than a thousand investors have joined MicroVentures since Clark launched the investment service a year ago. The service matches companies seeking money with investors looking to invest anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 or more.

MicroVenture helps investors learn about companies they may never have heard of, and to invest smaller sums, which is virtually unheard of with traditional investing.

MicroVentures also helps with the initial due diligence process by filtering start-ups and then providing documents to help investors conduct their own due diligence to help them make a final decision.

When you sign up be sure to put "VentureBeat" in the referral code and we will send you a $100 gift card after you make your first investment.

Filed under: VentureBeat

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Wii U likely to implement a full app store upon release

Posted: 31 Dec 2011 12:58 AM PST

The upcoming Nintendo console Wii U may include a full app store, much larger and more robust than the current stores Nintendo has implemented on the Wii and the portable systems, according to a report from The Daily.

NIntendo hasn’t confirmed the report. There was never much doubt Nintendo would have some kind of store on the next-generation console. Ever since the Wii’s launch in 2006, every major console release has included an online store, from the Wii Shop Channel to the DSi Shop to the 3DS eShop. It is no surprise the Wii U will contain its own rendition of the store, although up until now, there has been no word as to what form the store would take. It appears the new store will contain a wider variety of apps than any of the previous stores, including many unrelated to gaming.

One of the examples of apps that will be available for the console was MLB.TV, an app that would give subscribers the ability to watch Major League Baseball games directly from the Wii U console. The closest the Wii ever came to an app like this was its relatively recent inclusion of Netflix Instant Streaming. Given the design of the system and what Nintendo showed off at E3, it is not hard to see the capability of the Wii U controller as a tablet device similar to an iPad, opening up an entirely new avenue for application distribution.

It was only a few months ago when GamesBeat hypothesized the effect of Nintendo designing apps for the iOS App Store, but if this report is to be believed, the Big N might be taking that idea one step further. One of the most common gripes concerning Nintendo’s current console-specific stores are the prices, and in an environment where 99 cents is the norm, they might find themselves forced to reevaluate the cost of their apps.

(via The Daily)

Filed under: games

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Orangutan Outreach wants Apple’s help popularizing apes using iPads

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 04:33 PM PST

The next time you head to the zoo, you might see more than just a monkey and his uncle. One organization is giving iPads to primates and hopes Apple will lend its support.

Yep, that’s right. According to Extreme Tech, Orangutan Outreach, an organization focused on saving the world’s orangutan population, is setting up zoos with iPads especially for our monkey kin. The project is called Apps for Apes and the organization isn’t just monkeying around; it would like Apple to step in and help stir awareness.

“We believe that Apple will have much to gain by supporting our project and working with us to promote it,” the organization’s website says. “By helping to bring attention to the incredible intelligence and capability of orangutans, Apple will be helping protect a critically endangered species.”

The goal is not just to see orangutans interacting with the iPad. Instead, Orangutan Outreach would like the monkeys to video chat and communicate with other orangutans over Skype. Currently, the monkeys interact with the iPad through a wall, where they can put their hands through, but not actually hold the iPad itself. Apps that are most appealing have been ones similar to what a child would enjoy, including drawing and music apps.

“We would like to have a special section of the App Store called “Apps for Apes”, with proceeds going to Orangutan Outreach, a registered US non-profit charity,” the organization stated on its website.

Orangutan Outreach wants developers to create applications specifically targeting apes, as opposed to humans. These apps would have the same foundation, however, starting with identity games, music, memory and more.

One Milwaukee zoo that has already introduced the program says the orangutans enjoy looking at videos of themselves, and watching other apes in different areas of the exhibit. Given this interest in video, particularly video of themselves, an opportunity for long-distance communication arises. Orangutan Outreach calls this “Primate Playdate,” and believes it will be particularly attractive to young apes and mothers. Zoo trainers will set up specific times to execute the calls and then hand over the reins to the orangutans.

“Orangutans are highly intelligent creatures and they require mental stimulation to keep from growing bored and depressed,” the organization explained. “The Apple iPad is a perfect device for orangutans.”

Filed under: mobile

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Electric-car maker Fisker recalling Karmas due to battery issue

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 04:33 PM PST

Electric car maker Fisker Automotive has issued a recall for 239 of its Karma vehicles, fewer than 50 of which have actually been sold to customers. The $96,000 luxury electric sedans have an issue with a hose clip in their battery units that could result in a coolant leak and possibly a fire.

All Karma owners have already been contacted by Fisker, and the company aims to have all the batteries replaced in customer cars before Jan. 1, Fisker spokesperson Roger Ormisher told VentureBeat.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, the issue is with all Karma models produced between July 1 and Nov. 3. The battery units, which are produced by A123 Systems, were positioned incorrectly, making it possible for the battery compartment to interfere with the hose clamps, resulting in a leak from the coolant hoses. If the coolant leaks into the battery compartment, the battery could short out and cause a fire. No owners reported any issues related to the battery before the recall.

While the number of vehicles affected may not seem high for a car recall (GM issued a recall for 4,296 vehicles the following day) it is actually a good chunk of all the Karmas that have been produced so far. The Karma only began shipping over the summer, after two years of delays and a disappointing EPA rating. Fisker plans on ramping-up production to between 10,000 and 12,000 Karma vehicles in 2012, slightly down from its earlier goal of 15,000 a year. Currently, it is producing 25 cars a day.

“What was interesting for us was how quickly we did this recall,” said Ormisher. “It can take weeks to get a recall in place and we did it in less than 48 hours.” The company acted immediately after discovering the issue, and had already called all retailers and started the process of replacing batteries when the official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report went out.

It’s been a bumpy year for the electric-car startup. In October, the company missed manufacturing goals for its next vehicle, the plug-in extended-range dubbed Project Nina, and had to delay plans for production. The Karma is produced in Finland, but the Nina will be manufactured in a revamped GM plan in Detroit, Mich. Ormisher says there’s already a pre-production model of the Nina, and the company plans to start production on the car at the end of 2012.

Fisker Automotive has raised over $760 million in private equity financing so far, and has received $529 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the government’s green jobs initiative. Only $169 million of the U.S. loan money has gone toward production of the Fisker Karma.

via GigaOm

Filed under: green

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The Apple collection: Secret Stanford warehouse houses company history

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 03:56 PM PST

Thirty-five years of Apple memorabilia make up a museum-like collection of company archives that are hidden away in an off-campus Stanford University warehouse.

Stanford’s Apple Collection takes up more than 600 feet of shelf space in a climate-controlled facility at a location kept secret from the public, said the Associated Press, which paid a visit to the archives.

Should you ever be let in — and one can only dream at this point — you would find a company video of co-founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs talking about the Apple I computer, the iconic 1984 Super Bowl ad, a video interview of Wozniak recounting the story behind the company’s name, early financial reports, old letters and thousands of Douglas Menuez photographs from his time chronicling Jobs’ stretch at NeXT.

The story, according to the Associated Press report, is that Apple ditched its plans for a corporate museum in 1997, shortly after Jobs’ return as CEO, and instead donated an expansive collection of documents, books, photos, software, videos and early magazine and TV ads to Stanford for preservation.

The archives, part of Stanford’s larger Silicon Valley Archives collection, continue to be replenished by the ongoing donations of former Apple employees, past executives and company fans.

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Nintendo, Sony and EA quietly drop SOPA support

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 03:21 PM PST

anti-sopa Major game companies Nintendo, Sony and Electronic Arts have quietly removed themselves from the official list of organizations that support the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

For anyone who’s unfamiliar with it, the proposed SOPA legislation gives both the U.S. government and copyright holders the authority to seek court orders against websites associated with infringing, pirating or counterfeiting intellectual property. If the act passes, it could drastically change the way the Internet operates.

On the surface, the gaming companies probably threw their support to the bill because it would also help curb piracy of gaming. However, I’m sure they’ve been paying attention to the onslaught of negative press and customer dissidence experienced by domain registrar Go Daddy over the last few weeks.

In Sony’s case, it’s probably best to stay clear of any piece of legislation that would draw attention from activists. Earlier today, “hacktivist” group Anonymous pledged to once again take down Sony’s Playstation online gaming network due to the company’s SOPA support.

Overall, public support for SOPA seems to be crumbling, as a number of big companies have removed their names from the official congressional list (see a PDF of what companies still support SOPA).

For more information about the SOPA legislation, check out VentureBeat's ongoing SOPA coverage.

Via Electronista

Filed under: games, media, VentureBeat

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Intel’s first Android smartphone will be made by LG, shown off at CES

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 02:18 PM PST

intel medfield phone Intel has already hinted at its smartphone and tablet processor plans for next year, but it seems that LG will hold the title of the first company to create a modern smartphone with Intel inside.

Intel will be showing off an LG smartphone running Android and its Medfield mobile processor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which is only a few weeks away, reports the Korea Times.

Intel Korea head Lee Hee-sung confirmed to the paper that the company would announce a Medfield smartphone at CES, and unnamed high-level exec said that it would be made by LG. The companies partnered earlier this year for a MeeGo smartphone (which was also showed off at CES), but plans for that fell through.

It makes sense for Intel to team up with LG yet again, since the Korean phone maker could desperately use the subsidies that Intel provides to its partners. And Intel needs a hardware manufacturer that can make high-quality devices — something LG has proven with its 2011 Android smartphone lineup.

Intel has missed out on providing chips for the current generation of smartphones and tablets, so it needs to make sure to wow the CES audience with whatever it shows off. The above picture shows a reference Medfield phone that looks similar to the iPhone 4.

Another LG executive told the Korea Times, “I doubt that LG Electronics will release phones running on Android software based on any Intel platform. It's quite possible for LG to push Intel's reference mobiles but with huge subsidies from Intel for promotion.” This sheds some doubt on the report, though I can’t imagine Intel would introduce a new phone running anything but Android.

Via the Verge

Filed under: mobile, VentureBeat

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No Facebook Timeline for Internet Explorer 7 users

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 01:42 PM PST

Facebook’s new Timeline feature recently went live for everyone – well, almost everyone. The social network shipped its shinny new scrapbook feature without support for Internet Explorer 7.

“IE7 users visiting profile pages that would otherwise be Timeline-enabled are presented with the old Facebook profile design, complete with a number of very evident styling issues,” The Sociable is reporting.

Before you cry foul, keep in mind that IE7, like IE6, is going the way of the dodo. The outdated browser, released in Oct. 2006, was holding on to 10.5 percent of the browser market at the start of 2011, but has since dropped off to just 4 percent global market share, according to StatCounter.

The silver lining here is that should you wish to avoid Timeline altogether — we know change is hard — you can turn to IE7 as your knight in shining armor. Though this could be the beginning of the end for IE7 support from Facebook.

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for clarification. Its help center also does not indicate which browsers the social network officially supports. Instead, a help entry recommends that members use the most up-to-date version of Firefox, Safari, Chrome or Internet Explorer.

Image via kk/Flickr

Filed under: social, VentureBeat

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Law firm threatens to shut Twitter down for allowing terrorist groups to tweet

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST

Israeli legal center Shurat HaDin has threatened to sue Twitter for allowing alleged terrorist groups to use the service.

In a letter to Twitter, Shurat HaDin executive director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner called Twitter’s allowing Hezbollah and Al-Shabaab (a group affiliated with Al Quaeda) to use the service “illegal” and threatened both the company and its executives with civil and criminal lawsuits.

Hezbollah is a Shi’a Muslim militant group and political party based in Lebanon. Many Western governments classify Hezbollah as a partly or wholly terrorist organization.

The letter from Shurat HaDin goes on to mention a 2010 Supreme Court decision that states providing material or even intangible support to foreign terrorist organizations is a crime. The law center feels that allowing access to social media tools constitutes support, in this case.

In the past year, the law center has also contemplated going after Facebook because of several Facebook pages created by Palestinian activists that called for a Third Intifada (or rebellion against occupation of Palestine by Israel). While Shurat HaDin noted the similarities between this proposed action and the other rebellions of the Arab Spring, the center also said the pages included “a call to a killing of hundreds of Israelis as happened in the first and second Intifada.”

However, Shurat HaDin never followed through on the threats. In response to a separate lawsuit from another attorney, a Facebook representative stated at the time, “While some kinds of comments and content may be upsetting for someone — criticism of a certain culture, country, religion, lifestyle, or political ideology, for example — that alone is not a reason to remove the discussion.

“We strongly believe that Facebook users have the ability to express their opinions, and we don't typically take down content, groups or pages that speak out against countries, religions, political entities, or ideas."

Twitter declined to comment on the threatened legal action. However, the company has a longstanding commitment to free speech, especially in the politically turbulent Middle East. From the Iranian elections and protests in 2009 to the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, Twitter has been an important tool for shifting regimes and budding democracies. The service is also used by more Western movements such as Occupy Wall Street.

“We're the free speech wing of the free speech party," said Twitter CEO Dick Costolo at an event in October. “We respect and defend the user's voice.”

The line between free speech and hate speech is often a fine one; we’ll update you if and when Shurat HaDin determines that Twitter has crossed this line and decides to follow through on its threat.

Filed under: social

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Updated: Verizon reverses $2 fee after FCC inquiry, customer outrage

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 12:31 PM PST

Verizon

Update, 12:31pm PST: Verizon wireless has reversed its decision to institute a $2 fee on customers paying their bills online. The company released a statement confirming the about-face on Friday, a couple hours after the Federal Communications Commission decided to look into the fee. The statement reads:

Verizon Wireless has decided it will not institute the fee for online or telephone single payments that was announced earlier this week.

The company made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions. The company continues to encourage customers to take advantage of the numerous simple and convenient payment methods it provides.

"At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers. Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time," said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless.

Verizon‘s new $2 service fee for one-off online payments came under the scrutiny of the Federal Communications Commission, according to a statement by the agency on Friday.

"On behalf of American consumers, we're concerned about Verizon's actions and are looking into the matter," the FCC told the New York Times.

Verizon announced its new fee on Thursday, targeting customers who pay their bills one-at-a-time online or by phone. The fee, which would have cost consumers $2 per online credit or debit card transaction, puts emphasis on Verizon’s free methods of payment. These include signing up for autopay and automatic deduction from a bank account or electronic check. After receiving the news, customers quickly opposed the new plan, voicing opinions on social networks. The outrage might have also been spurred by three Verizon Wireless outages that occurred this month. The company explained the downtime was simply an issue of “growing pains” implementing its LTE 4G service, in a statement today.

Some irate customers organized an online boycott of Verizon on Causes.org. A similar boycott was held when Bank of America announced a fee for debit card usage, which the bank quickly retracted.

Verizon called this a “convenience fee,” though it really seemed to be an effort to avoid credit and debit card fees. As VentureBeat reporter Tom Cheredar pointed out on Thursday, customers have a reason to be concerned about signing up for an automated direct withdrawal system. Wireless carrier bills are notorious for being different every month. Many customers feel they have been over charged upon receiving a bill, and want to challenge those charges before making a payment. In fact, in 2010 Verizon admitted to over charging 15 million customers.

We have contacted the FCC and Verizon for comment and will update this post upon hearing back.

Image via Ian P. Miller/Flickr

Filed under: mobile

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Verizon convenience fee sparks Change.org petition

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 12:12 PM PST

Verizon Petition A petition on Change.org sprouted up in response to U.S. wireless carrier Verizon’s announcement that it would begin charging a $2 “convenience fee” for people who pay their bill online or by phone.

Change.org is the same site that was effective in getting Bank of America to reverse its decision to implement a debit card fee to customers. The Verizon convenience fee petition already has 33,465 signatures — roughly half of the 75,000 it seeks.

Verizon’s convenience fee, which begins January 15, 2012, is part of the company’s effort to cut costs on fees accumulated from credit transactions. If you prefer to use a credit card, Verizon is willing to waive the fee for anyone who signs up for automatic payments online. You can also avoid the fee by paying your bill via snail mail with a check/money order, setting up a direct payment through your bank or going to a Verizon store.

While a $2 “convenience” charge to pay by credit card won’t break the bank for most customers, it still has Verizon wireless customers upset.

“It's not just about the money… though if you're like me, you don't have extra cash to be sending to a giant phone company in order to pay your own bills,” writes the petition’s creator and Verizon customer Molly Katchpole. “It's that Verizon thinks it can do anything to its customers, and that we're powerless to stop it. (Spoiler alert: We're not.)”

This isn’t the first time Katchpole has petitioned on Change.org. She also created the Bank of America debit card fee petition which, in addition to successfully helping change BoA’s policy, won her accolades such as being named one of Time Magazine’s protestors of the year. Now she’s set her sights on Verizon’s new policy.

U.S. regulators are also concerned with Verizon’s new convenience fee policy. The Federal Communications Commission has plans to investigate the matter, as VentureBeat reporter Meghan Kelly reported earlier today.

Protest Sign image via ShutterStock

Filed under: mobile, social, VentureBeat

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How Washington went social in 2011

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST

Politicos have been warming to social media since the 2008 Obama campaign, and 2011 saw more online activity than ever before from U.S. government leaders.

On Facebook specifically, the past year has brought us quite a few memorable highlights — especially as Republican candidates were put through their primary paces and the country geared up for another election year.

But it wasn’t all about political campaigning and self-promotion. Facebook was also a strong platform for speaking out on social issues such as preventing anti-gay bullying and working to decrease unemployment.

“Whether fighting for political victory or connecting one-on-one with voters, politicians made 2011 the most social year ever,” wrote Facebook’s politics team on the company blog.

“As we head into 2012, Facebook users can look forward to a Facebook/NBC presidential debate and the vigor of a general election campaign sure to play out across pages, live streams and sponsored stories.”

Here are some of the most notable moments in politics on Facebook in 2011.

State of the Union Address got Facebook-ized

Facebook users (and non-user visitors) were able to see President Barack Obama's State of the Union address live streamed on C-SPAN's Facebook page. On Republican House Speaker John Boehner's Facebook page, visitors could tune in to watch the Republican response.

Obama’s senior officials made the annual State of the Union address more democratic when they took questions from Facebook users address. Citizens asked questions about topics ranging from foreign policy to the sluggish economy.

Pages for both political parties invited Facebook users to leave comments about the content of both speeches. Also, the White House made a special behind-the-scenes SOTU video for its Facebook page, giving viewers more details about how the speech was written.

Facebook for the right wing

In March, early Republican would-bes made preliminary appearances on the social network. Texas Governor Rick Perry appeared on a Facebook Live episode from SXSW, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced his presidential exploratory committee on his Facebook page. Michele Bachmann also live-streamed a Facebook town hall meeting.

In May, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Ron Paul each announced their presidential campaigns via their Facebook pages. Mike Huckabee took to Facebook to explain to voters why he would not be running for President. Mitt Romney hosted a Facebook town hall during this month, and Bachmann experienced a huge outpouring of support by voters on her Facebook page, which nearly prompted her to move up her campaign announcement.

In June, Romney formally entered the 2012 race with a livestreamed announcement on Facebook.

During an October press conference live-streamed on his Facebook page, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie disappointed more than a few voters with an announcement that he would not be going after the Republican nomination.

Putting the kibbosh on bullying

Facebook has put a strong focus on removing bigotry and hatred from its pages, particularly since last year's rash of news-making suicides related to the bullying of homosexual teens and young adults.

As the network continued to beef up its focus on appropriate use and personal privacy settings, members of Congress joined with President Obama and Facebook to help fight bullying in a series of Facebook Live episodes and posts to their official pages.

"Facebook believes in addressing safety issues proactively — and building a trusted environment is fundamental to our mission and to ensuring a positive experience for people who use our site," Facebook representative Andrew Noyes told VentureBeat in a recent email.

Facebook’s Obama-led Town Hall

On April 20, the White House hosted a Facebook Town Hall. For this auspicious occasion, President Obama himself made an appearance at Facebook’s Silicon Valley headquarters.

Just before the event, Obama encouraged Facebook users to ask their questions about the issues that they felt were the most important. During the town hall, the President spoke about the struggling American economy, about technology’s role in decreasing unemployment and his efforts to conclude our eight-year-long war in Iraq.

Obama wasn’t the only one using Facebook as a town hall sounding board. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan jointly hosted a town hall to discuss education policy. The event was shared by both politicos on their Facebook pages, where they also took questions from Facebook users.

Osama bin Laden’s death & the Situation Room pics

Following the long-awaited capture and death of Osama bin Laden, the White House took to Facebook to show a photo gallery of military bases around the world responding to the event.

The Department of Defense also published the now-famous Situation Room photo of President Obama and his team (above) as they watched and waited for news about the military operation to put an end to bin Laden.

Many members of Congress discussed the death of Osama bin Laden on their Facebook pages, some within minutes of the announcement from the White House. In the days to follow, members used their pages as a sounding board for reconsidering the mission in Afghanistan.

President George W. Bush and numerous other public figures posted statements regarding Osama bin Laden's death on Facebook

The Arab Spring on Facebook

As unrest in Egypt grew in February, lawmakers started using their Facebook pages to share thoughts on the uprisings and the political repercussions for democracy in far-flung corners of the world. In some cases, members of Congress even directly encouraged the White House to take direct action to support the freedom-fighting rebels.

Overall, news items about the civil unrest and political revolution in the Middle East and northern Africa made up the sixth most popular news topic on Facebook in 2011.

Congress sponsored a hackathon

On December 7, House majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and minority whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), as well as a collection of members of Congress and Congressional staff, hosted the first ever bi-partisan Congressional Hackathon in the Capitol Visitors Center in Washington.

The hackathon called on Facebook’s programmers and innovators to work with Congress on a core concern: using technologies to safely and securely allow more room online for various aspects of the democratic process.

"Software developers, designers and program engineers have a unique opportunity to help us improve the legislative process resulting in more citizen engagement, and we are very excited about working together and getting started," said Cantor at the time.

Filed under: social

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Facebook gains on Google with 30% increase in unique U.S. visitors in 2 years

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 11:54 AM PST

New evidence suggests that Facebook is inching closer and closer to overthrowing Google as the most-visited web brand in the U.S.

Facebook’s unique U.S. visitor count has increased by 29.5 percent since Oct. 2009, according to Nielsen data shared exclusively with VentureBeat.

Compare that to the 5.4 percent increase in U.S. visitors to Google sites in the same two-year period, and you have the makings of a Facebook coming-of-age story that could end with the social network ousting Google as the king of the web.

That juicy climax could still be several years away as both companies battle for attention from the remaining sliver of U.S. Internet users not already using their products (213 million Americans were active online in Nov. 2011, by Nielsen’s calculations). While Facebook may have experienced nearly 30 percent growth in its U.S. audience in two years, the company can’t possibly sustain that type of growth in market penetration. As proof: the year-over-year change of unique U.S. visitors to Facebook slowed to 5.7 percent from Oct. 2010 to Oct. 2011, according to Nielsen.

Still, we decided to do some rudimentary calculations based on Oct. 2010 and Oct. 2011 Nielsen unique visitor data. If unique U.S. visitors to Facebook and Google were to increase at the same rate year-over-year (which is unlikely, we admit) — 5.7 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively — then Facebook would overtake Google as the most-visited web brand by Oct. 2016.

By 2016, will the title of most-visited web brand mean what it means today? Probably not. As consumers increasingly transfer their browsing and social behaviors to mobile devices — IDC research predicts that by 2015 more people in the U.S. will access the web via mobile than via PCs — the most important battleground for both companies will be mobile.

And Facebook may have the edge on mobile. Social media is now the fastest-growing mobile activity, according to recent comScore data, and the social network’s U.S. monthly mobile audience grew to 57 million in August 2011.