So much for the personalized news magazine. Zite, an iPad app that launched earlier this month promising to take information about your likes and dislikes from your Twitter account or Google Reader and turn out a “magazine” filled with content aimed specifically at you, has been hit with a cease-and-desist letter from legal counsel for …
Apps & Web
Is This the Beginning of the End for QR?
QR, is already time to say goodbye? We hardly knew you!
If Google’s recent actions are any indicator, then QR codes — those “Quick Read” matrix barcodes you see on websites, products, and posters — might be going the way of the dinosaur. Last week, all QR codes mysteriously vanished from the Google Places Dashboard. Must be a …
Twitter Nixes the QuickBar from iPhone App
The people have spoken, prompting Twitter to remove the QuickBar from its official iPhone app.
Added in early March, the QuickBar showed a single random trending topic–sometimes sponsored, sometimes organic–that stuck to the top of the Tweet stream. In response to user backlash, Twitter released an update that made the QuickBar …
iPhones and iPads Get a Free Month of MLB.tv Streaming
Just in time for opening day, Major League Baseball’s MLB.tv app for iPhone and iPad is getting a month of free, live game streams.
As with all streaming on MLB.tv, you’re limited to out-of-market games, so forget about watching your favorite team on an iPhone or iPad if they’re also playing on television in your area. In other words, …
Skype-Issued Warrants? They’re Already Here
Technology as a force for the greater good! Of course, its nowhere near Batman-style gadgetry, but Palm Bay, Florida is developing a system where warrants can be issued on the spot – via Skype.
Get caught with something? The police officer forwards documents by e-mail, and then the judge can issue a warrant through Skype. The system …
Fox Requests that Time Warner Cable Stop iPad Streaming
Remember that super-awesome iPad app that let you lounge around in your PJs, while simultaneously being hooked up to some 30-plus cable channels? Hopefully you’re not too attached to watching Fox on your iPad, because the television network sent a cease-and-desist letter, asking the channel to be pulled from the app.
When the app …
Google’s Facial Recognition App: Take My Photo, Get My Contact Info [UPDATE]
Google is working on a mobile application that will delight some and creep out others—THERE CAN BE NO MIDDLE GROUND!
It’s a facial recognition app that’ll allow you to take a photo of someone, which it’ll match to photos in that person’s Google Profile, and then return that person’s contact information to you,
Just One More Year Until Digital Music Beats Physical CD Sales
Newsflash: Digital music sales will overtake CD sales in the US for the first time in 2012, according to a new study released by Strategy Analytics.
I know what you’re thinking: Didn’t that already happen? Like, forever ago? Strange but true, CD sales are still the biggest moneymakers for the music industry. Until next year, when …
Amazon Trying to Pacify Music Labels Over Streaming Service
So here’s what happened this week.
Tuesday: Amazon launches an online storage service that allows you to upload your music collection for playback over the internet.
Wednesday: The record labels get upset about it.
Thursday (today): Amazon is now apparently trying to hammer out licensing deals with the record labels.
The Wall …
Study: Our Facebook Friends Are Very, Very Annoying
If you find the majority of your Facebook friends annoying, here’s some potentially good news: You’re not alone.
A study of 400 women for daily deals company Eversave unexpectedly uncovered more information about participants’ distaste for their friends’ online behavior than about the impact social networking has on saving money …
The Three Songs You Need to Download This Week
There’s a lot of great music online–more than most people have time to keep up with. That’s why you’ve got us. Every week, we’ll point you toward three notably excellent new downloads or videos from chart-topping stars, cult favorites and unknown geniuses.
1. You may have encountered the Israeli musician Kutiman’s brilliant Thru-You …
In-App Purchases Are Just What the Android Market Needs
Google has removed one more big stumbling block for Android developers by bringing in-app purchases to the Android Market.
In-app purchases allow developers to release their software for free, in hopes of hooking users with new content or extra features. Don’t underestimate the allure of such a feature; according to GigaOM, in-app …