Maybe you paid $200 for a 16 GB iPhone 4S, or another $100 for the 32 GB version. Maybe you were already under contract and not eligible for an upgrade, broke open the piggybank, and forked over $649 for the 16 GB model. Whatever the case, want to know what Apple’s paying to put these things together? About what else—and I’m talking …
Gadgets
Siri Tricks and Tips: Do More with the iPhone 4S Virtual Assistant
In a phone with lots of evolutionary qualities, Siri is the iPhone 4S’s most revolutionary feature. Simply by speaking to this virtual assistant, you can set reminders, send text messages, look up information and schedule meetings.
But with a bit of extra effort, Siri can do even more. Here are some tricks and tips for getting the …
Meet Lytro, the Light-Field Camera that Snaps 4D Pics
Say hello to Lytro, a new consumer-grade camera capable of focusing on multiple points in an image with eye-popping accuracy after you’ve snapped the picture. We first heard about it this summer, and now it has a release timeframe: early next year. What, you thought “4D” was just marketing gibberish? Because 4D implies “time,” and what …
Now WordPress Will Allow You to Profit from Your Posts
Just a couple of days after Chime.in launched with the promise of allowing users to monetize their own social media, WordPress bloggers are about to get the same ability thanks to a new deal struck between the blogging engine and Federated Media Publishing.
The deal will offer WordPress users a chance to opt-in to Federated’s …
Siri’s Snark Becomes the Internet’s Next Big Thing
Apple’s virtual assistant Siri hasn’t been even been released for a week, and yet she’s already proven herself to be the internet’s new favorite artificial intelligence. The reason? Exactly the one that Apple had hoped would endear you to her in the first place: She talks to you.
The spectacular STSS Tumblr site collects the AI’s …
Mac Malware’s Back, Threatens to Bring Friends
Like a horror movie intruder who cuts the phone lines, a new strain of Mac malware can prevent the system from getting help.
Researchers at security firm F-Secure discovered the new Mac trojan, dubbed Trojan-Downloader:OSX/Flashback.C. Like most other Mac malware, this variant masquerades as legitimate software–in this case, Adobe …
Android Ice Cream Sandwich Explained
On Wednesday, Google and Samsung announced the Galaxy Nexus smartphone (previously rumored as the “Nexus Prime”). But a phone is only as good as its software, and Android Ice Cream Sandwich, which will debut on the Galaxy Nexus, is a major update that will eventually be the standard for Android phones and tablets.
Here’s a closer look …
Will Amazon’s Kindle Fire Web Browser Spy On You? The EFF Gets Answers
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has found that the new Silk browser in Amazon’s forthcoming Kindle Fire tablet, which speeds browsing by routing users’ traffic through Amazon’s cloud servers, does not pose a privacy threat to users.
“We are generally satisfied with the privacy design of Silk, and happy that the end user has …
NFL Teams Turn to iPad Playbooks
Are you ready for some multi-touch gestures used mainly in preparation for some football? The NFL is. It appears the iPad is taking the place of musty old playbooks in several locker rooms across the country. According to the New York Times, the Baltimore Ravens bought 120 of them during the off-season, which in retrospect seems to be a …
Hands-On with the Droid RAZR
When I wrote about the new Droid RAZR yesterday morning I hadn’t seen one in person. A few hours later, I visited with representatives of Motorola and Verizon and got a demo and a bit of hands-on time.
A few additional observations:
It looks nicer in person. In the stock photo I ran earlier, it looks pretty much like every other …
Will Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich Take a Bite Out of iOS 5?
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is here, and it knows your face. Literally.
Though Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus will be ready for primetime in November (we can only surmise that it will drop on Verizon), the announcement of the Android 4.0 HSPA+- and LTE-capable phone raises another question: who can make the best software?
(MORE: Samsung …
How Much Does an Apple Store Cost? (Hint: A Lot)
They’re sleek, stylish and iconic in their own right, not to mention places that a lot of us spend a ridiculous amount of time. Considering just how much we love Apple Stores, do you ever find yourself wondering why Apple’s competitors haven’t followed suit and set up a number of Google stores, or Microsoft stores, or whoever stores, all …