Monday, November 29, 2010

18 new stories on The Next Web today

18 new stories on The Next Web today

Link to The Next Web

This year, one in ten Brits will do their Christmas shopping via their mobile [TNW Mobile]

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 03:46 AM PST

A survey commissioned by UK supermarket Tesco has found that one in ten Brits will complete their Christmas shopping using their mobile phones this year as consumers look into more convenient and portable means to shop online.

The survey, which polled 4,000 consumers, was aimed at assessing how modern-day Brits were completing their shopping ahead of one of the busiest online shopping days for retailers, a day dubbed ‘Cyber Monday’.

Mobile shopping has risen as consumers face ever-increasing workloads and busy social lives, finding it difficult to take time out of their daily routines to fit in a weekly shop or consider starting the Christmas gift buying. Retailers and shopping comparison engines are shifting towards mobile, offering apps and mobile-enchanced websites, users are able to search for deals on their commutes, during their breaks or whilst relaxing at home.

Tesco’s study found that nearly half of those polled would shop online using their phones whilst watching TV, one in six would look to buy something on their bus journey and around a quarter will search online using their mobiles whilst journeying to or from work.

Nearly four in every five people surveyed planned to do some of their Christmas shopping online this year with seven in ten admitting that online shopping was the best way to find and purchase presents. Interestingly, 36% of respondents said that using the mobile would help to lower their stress levels, as it allowed them to fit in shopping around their busy schedule.

Tesco is looking to capitalise on the increase in mobile use, in October it saw over 500,000 visit the Tesco Direct website using their mobile devices. Currently, Toy Story, Star Wars and Kung Zhu Hamster merchandise are among Tesco’s Christmas bestsellers.

Tesco already offers a shopping app on iPhone and Nokia devices. With its Tesco Direct mobile website enjoying sustained traffic, Tesco could be in for a very profitable Christmas.Image Credit



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Apple to open new Amsterdam retail store in “Spring 2011″ [TNW Apple]

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 02:39 AM PST

According to dutch blog OneMoreThing, Apple is to open a new retail store in the heart of Amsterdam, taking the place of an independent art gallery formerly occupied by dutch bank ABN AMRO, on the ground floor of the Hirsch building at the Ledseplein, a building where it already occupies offices.

Apple has already obtained permission from the City of Amsterdam and is said to be already in the process of acquiring staff and selecting builders to renovate the ground floor of the building. Currently, it is thought Apple is awaiting a permit before work can begin.

Those resident in, or visiting, Amsterdam will be able to get an idea of what Apple has planned by visiting the gallery currently occupying the space. Open to the public, you will be able to walk around and speculate to your hearts content as to where you think Apple will place their distinctive beech tables and guess the location of the stores’ Genius Bar.

Apple has recently opened stores in Covent Garden, London and is building its presence in China as it looks to continue its worldwide expansion. If The Next Web Conference 2011 wasn’t a fantastic reason to visit Amsterdam, a new Apple Store could certainly attract travellers in its own right.

9ti5mac



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Android Gingerbread and Honeycomb test builds emerge on Nexus One [TNW Mobile]

Posted: 29 Nov 2010 12:29 AM PST

Google maintains a high level of secrecy with its products and services, rolling them out to key employees first before entering a small public beta. As it has been shown with the upcoming Nexus S handset, specifications and shots emerge as Google employees start testing their devices in the field.

It seems that some people at Google have been testing upcoming builds of its Android operating system after it emerged that a Nexus One device showed up on the logs of a tool called AIRBench, a tool that runs tests on mobile devices to determine how well Adobe Air will operate on a device.

Both Gingerbread and Honeycomb firmware’s were present on a Nexus One when tested and whilst the device has been long tipped to receive the next Android update, the presence of Honeycomb is leading us to wonder what Google has in store for the more “tablet-friendly” update.

Of course Google will be testing its software in different iterations so these results won’t do much to confirm the destiny of both Android updates but the fact that they are being tested on the Nexus One will be a sure boost for those who hope to get the most from their Google-branded device.PocketNow, Image Source



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In the smartphone market, Apple users remain the most loyal [TNW Mobile]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 11:48 PM PST

A new report from research firm GfK shows that loyalty in the smartphone market is a hard thing to command for handset manufacturers with 56% of 2,653 people surveyed admitting they were keeping their options open as to which phone they would buy next.

As smartphone manufacturers scramble to innovate their handsets, offering the best high-resolution cameras, super clear displays and support for the next generation mobile networks, smartphone owners are leaving their options open, especially now that manufacturers are moving towards open-sourced operating systems like Google’s Android software, leaving a phones hardware as its key differentiator.

Only a quarter of people surveyed planeed to stay loyal to the operating system of their phone, although 59% of Apple users admitted they would be likley to stick to Apple smartphones in the future. Only 21% of Microsoft smartphone users would stay loyal to its operating system but this has only been available for little more than a month and is most likely representing results from Windows Mobile 6.x users.

BlackBerry users (35%) would stay loyal to handsets from RIM, only 28% of Android users likely to remain using Google’s OS and 24% for users of Symbian.

As the smartphone market booms, manufacturers are regularly refreshing their product lineups to reflect the very best hardware that is available to them at the time. With more and more vendors looking to Google’s Android operating system to power their devices, profit margins are lowering as competition increases and prices decreasing.

By keeping a year between its product iterations, Apple is ensuring it can release new products that consistently push the boundaries as to what is possible to include on a smartphone. This seems to be paying off for the Cupertino-based company, where nearly double the amount of Apple customers are staying loyal to their brand over companies like RIM and companies using Google’s Android software.Image Credit



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Video: Two Kinects working together to produce real-time 3D images [TNW Microsoft]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 11:46 PM PST

If you’ve been following the Kinect hacks that we’ve been covering, you’ll know that one of the assumed limitations of the Kinect is that hackers could only use one at a time because the sensors would conflict with each other. Well, we can seemingly throw that limitation out of the window, as the following video – taken by Oliver Kreylos – shows.

While not perfect yet, it is still pretty cool as you’ll see, and really, the possibilities that this creates are nearly endless. 3D mapping of objects, 3D movie making, design – you name it, using dual Kinects to film and interact with the same object as Kreylos does here could lead to many, many uses.

h/t Matt CuttsKinect Hacks



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Rumor: Has Google already bought Groupon for $2.5 billion? [TNW Google]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 10:33 PM PST

According to a story just published on site VatorNews, Google has already acquired group buying site Groupon for $2.5 billion.

VatorNews (which has a re-post by VC Fred Wilson on its site today which we are assuming is there by his permission) says that an “unnamed insider” that is a “reliable” source, spoke with the site saying that Google “has just purchased Groupon for $2.5 billion.” We’re not exactly sure what “just” in that sentence means, whether it is within the last few hours, today or earlier than today.

We have emailed both Google and Groupon for comment but as it is nearly 10:30PM PST on a Sunday, we understandably did not receive an immediate response and we hardly expect to hear back from either until the morning.

Of course rumors of a Google acquisition of Groupon have been swirling for more than a week (with the rumors  pointing to a $2-$3 billion price tag), and frankly, we’ve been pretty down on the idea ourselves.

Is this true? Is it already on the books? If so, will Google be able to get past regulators to finalize the deal? We will continue to monitor this rumor and will update this post if we hear any more information.VatorNews



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China directs local media outlets to stop reporting WikiLeaks content [TNW Asia]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 10:05 PM PST

While the world’s media are afire with yesterday’s WikiLeaks data release of secret US diplomatic cables, the local media in China are strangely quiet.

The reason, according to a Twitter update by Al Jazeera English’s correspondent in China,  Melissa Chan a short while ago, is that China’s Propaganda Department have directed all domestic media outlets to stop reporting the WikiLeaks content.

There has been much speculation as to what the documents would contain about China.

It is believed that the cables confirm US suspicions that China instigated the attack on Google’s computer systems that lead to Google’s pulling out of the country early in 2010 and to the eventual redirection of google.cn to Google’s Hong Kong servers.

According to The New York Times‘s summary of, yet to be published, cables:

China's Politburo directed the intrusion into Google's computer systems in that country, a Chinese contact told the American Embassy in Beijing in January, one cable reported. The Google hacking was part of a coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by government operatives, private security experts and Internet outlaws recruited by the Chinese government. They have broken into American government computers and those of Western allies, the Dalai Lama and American businesses since 2002, cables said.

There are even rumours circulating that the Google hacks were instigated by a member of China’s Politburo, the group of the 24 most powerful people in the government, who allegedly Googled his own name and was unhappy that the results were critical of him.

According to The Guardian:

"the hacker attacks which forced Google to quit China in January were orchestrated by a senior member of the Politburo who typed his own name into the global version of the search engine and found articles criticising him personally."

So far, there has been no official reaction from the Chinese government to this specific story.  However, given that it apparently only refers to an embassy “contact” and perhaps not to any hard evidence, it could be that they choose to ignore it until such times as the source data is made public.  The Next Web Asia will be following this story with interest and will update you of any developments.Danwei, New York Times, WikiLeaks, The Guardian, image



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Sprint fires another shot at Verizon; launches 4G in six more markets [TNW Mobile]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 09:37 PM PST

In the endless battle between US wireless carriers, Sprint has taken the lead for speed by launching its 4G service in   areas. The latest of these, according to the Sprint press release, covers six new areas:

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Miami, FL
  • Columbus, OH
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Cleveland, OH

The service, which lives right along side WiMax from Clearwire, has come under fire in the previous months as Sprint members vacated their positions on the board of directors for Clear. However, Sprint claims to be supporting the continued rollout of 4G service at full speed.

While concerns and questions still mount about the differences in real-world performance between 4G and Verizon‘s upcoming LTE, Sprint appears to be pedal to the floor in its speed for rolling out the new service. Demand appears to be high and Sprint is presently the only US carrier that has 4G devices in its lineup.

We’ve seen some grumbling about dead areas from some 4G users, but by in large the acceptance has appeared to be a net positive for the service. Offering competitive pricing with a faster service, we’ce asked in the past if Sprint was the “sleeping giant” of the US wireless industry.

Only time will tell, of course, how the Verizon vs Sprint battle will play out. While Sprint seems to be more directly focused on high speed via mobile devices, Verizon’s sites are elsewhere. By placing its main concern on the overall ecosystem of wireless, Verizon could be poised to deliver a longer-lasting product, but its customers are likely to be the ones to decide.



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Google, other online mapping companies, get warning and deadline for China license? [TNW Asia]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 09:23 PM PST

Google and other companies that wish to offer online mapping services in Mainland China reportedly now have until July 1, 2011 to receive approval, or they could face “punishment” under the law.

ComputerWorld is reporting that it received an email from the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) that lays out a timeline for those companies that still haven’t received and/or applied for a license, after the bureau enacted new regulations earlier this year. The regulations state that all services must apply and be approved for a license, and that all mapping servers must be located within Mainland China, something that Google has not done in the past.

The email also reportedly contained the following info: the SBSM says that Google has yet to even apply for a license at this point.

The timeline that ComputerWorld lays out says that companies have until March 31, 2011 to receive approval or the Chinese government will “expose to the public” those companies. We’re not sure exactly what that means, other than perhaps just providing a list of companies that have previously had services but haven’t received a license (and would perhaps be operating without one?). If a company does not have a license by the second July 1, 2011 deadline, the report says that the government will carry out unspecified punishments under Chinese law.

It is unclear from the report whether or not Google and other companies have received any directives from the SBSM regarding this timeline.

So what exactly could the government do to a mapping company that doesn’t have a license? Well, if the service is still functional, obviously the government could block the service for one. Also, if the company has a legal entity in China (which it almost certainly would if its applying for the license) then the government could fine that company based on non-compliance. However, couldn’t a company – and the biggest fish here is certainly Google – just say “we’re not going to operate a mapping service in the country” and be done with it?

In Google’s case, that would most likely mean the company would have to shut down its current mapping page, but could it then finagle something like it did for search and serve its maps from a Hong Kong address?  Would the Chinese government block that too? Hard to know, as google.com.hk has stayed relatively unblocked since Google made the move, so theoretically it might work, at least as a short-term solution.

Of course, Google Maps goes far beyond the browser and is an integral part to Android and many many mashups – if all of that were to go away in China on July 1, Google could feel a painful sting, especially as other companies – including the 18 domestic companies already approved as well as perhaps Nokia and other multinationals in the future – move to solidify their positions in the market. Also, the SBSM recently launched its own online mapping service called Map World, which includes 3D Google Earth-type options as well as the standard 2D map.

Google responded to ComputerWorld with the following statement, one it has issued in the past, “We are examining the regulations to understand their impact on our maps products in China.”

We’ll just have to wait and see how this story develops and whether or not Google and others decide that it is in their best interests to continue to offer mapping services in China.ComputerWorld



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10 Cyber Monday Deals For Gadget Lovers [TNW Gadgets]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 08:22 PM PST

Alright folks. Black Friday has come and gone but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more deals to be found. In fact, Cyber Monday is just a few hours away and it too will be bringing a ton of deals on gadgets ranging from televisions to phones. So, let’s take a look at 10 of our favorite deals that you should consider taking a look at if you’re in the hunt.

So in no particular order, here are 10 that you might want to have in your sights.

HTC HD7 - Best Buy

The HTC HD7 was just released a short time ago on T-Mobile, it was also recently profiled on our list of the best big screened smartphones and now, it’s up for sale at Best Buy for just $79.99. Of course, it will come at the cost of a two-year contract but that shouldn’t be a problem if you’re leaning towards T-Mobile and you want one of the best Windows Phone 7 devices on the market.

Mitsubishi – Home Cinema 65″ 1080p 3D DLP HDTV – Best Buy

Those looking to scoop up a television might want to consider this bad boy from Mitsubishi. If you’re looking to get a huge television that’s 3D compatible and get all of that for a great price than this is probably something to consider. 65 inches, 1080p quality, 3D , HDTV. Don’t have to say much more than that.

Oh, the price.

Well, normally it’s $1,299.99 and for Cyber Monday you can get it for $799.

Auria 42″ 1080p LCD HDTV – Newegg

Alright, so Auria isn’t the same name as Samsung but for those who don’t care about the brand and really want to get a large 1080p LCD television on the cheap, look no further than this deal from Newegg. This 42 inch offering from Auria is normally $800 but if you decide to snag it during Cyber Monday, you can get it for $400. That’s half off and that’s nice.

Looking around, reviews for Auria TV’s aren’t all that bad so this could be an absolute steal.

Logitech G500 10 Buttons Dual-mode Scroll Wheel USB Wired Laser 5700 dpi Gaming Mouse – Newegg

Sure, it’s a mouthful, but boy this a high quality mouse for a really good price. I personally own one and absolutely love it. And if you don’t trust me, you can read the reviews of the 365 Newegg reviewers who gave it 5 stars. High range of button customization, great button placement, Hyperscrolling, and it’s wired.  Usually, it’s a $70 mouse but right now and tomorrow? It’s $34.99.

Doesn’t seem like much but that’s because it’s following two expensive televisions.

Playstation 3 Entertainment Value Bundle – Walmart

Want a PlayStation 3? Well, this is probably the deal you want to take advantage of while it lasts. Wallymart is offering a terrific PS3 bundle for $388. Along with the actual console you’ll also get to select two games (Madden 11, Uncharted 2 and Gran Turismo 5 are options) and you’ll also get to select a Blu-ray DVD from a ton of choices. That’s not a bad deal at all.

Of course, it doesn’t include the PlayStation Move or an extra controller which is a bummer but hey, don’t get too greedy.

Zune HD 32GB Assorted Color Bundle with Bonus Zune HD Premium Car Pack – Walmart

Yes, there are mp3 players out there not called the iPod and one of them happens to be a nifty little offering from Microsoft called Zune HD. This deal from Walmart is fantastic because for $188 you’ll not only get a Zune HD player but you’ll also get to choose between a Charge Pack, Sync Cable (?) or Charger and A/V Dock. If you choose anything other than the Dock, I pity you.

A great offer for those of you who have become disenchanted with the iPod.

Flip UltraHD Video Camera – Amazon

We actually just profiled this in our list of gadgets for social media lovers but as a short recap, the Flip UltraHD Video Camera is perfect for those of you who want to shoot quality video and get it on YouTube or Facebook or what have you, fast.

It’s pocket sized. It shoots 720p video and it has 4GB of on board storage.

Not bad for $99.99.

Nokia N8 – Amazon

Let’s just get this out there. Nokia’s N8 has had some issues but they apparently only affected an isolated bunch so don’t let them deter you from taking a look at this unlocked device. If you can look past Symbian, that’s the real problem, Nokia has a pretty quality phone here. Its 12 mega pixel camera is perfect for those who love to take photos on-the-go and it has a fantastic 3.5 AMOLED screen.

Normally, it costs a whopping $549.99 but during Amazon’s Cyber Monday you can snag it for $429.99. It’s expensive but remember, it’s not carrier affiliated.

Western Digital Elements 1.5TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive – Newegg

A few years ago, this deal might not have made this list. However, we are living in a different world and stuff takes up a ton of room on our personal computers. In other words, for some people, the GB is no longer enough. So why not invest in a fantastic external hard drive that’s on sale that will solve all of your memory usage problems, at least for awhile.

Newegg has Western Digital’s 1.5 terabyte USB external hard drive on sale for $79.99. That’ s a pretty killer deal considering it’s usually $110. If you are looking at picking up a Seagate external hard drive, and I know Amazon has some deals on them right now, just stop.

Grab a Western Digital, you won’t be disappointed.

Kodak EasyShare M590 Digital Camera – Amazon

Last but not least, a point and shoot digital camera from Kodak, specifically, the M590. Our own Brad McCarty actually reviewed it just a while back so head here to get all of the juicy details. However, the verdict was that this is a solid camera in its $150 price range. Of course, we’re talking Cyber Monday here folks and the M590 is on sale for the low price of $114.

For a 12 mega pixel offering with social capabilities, that’s an absolute steal.

That’s our list. Obviously there are a ton of gadget deals but these were the ones that caught our eye. So for those of you trying to get shopping done, good luck and godspeed.



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Twitter tag, coming to a train near you. [TNW Asia]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 06:40 PM PST

Soon, you may be able to follow the Tweets of your fellow travellers on the morning commute.  A new mobile app, showcased at Japan’s Keio University, Open Research Forum last week, called “Densha Now” or “Train Now”, uses automatic location information attached to tweets to allow you to follow all Twitter messages being sent from the train that you are travelling on.

"People on trains are always using cellphones, and they don't care about other passengers around themselves.  Our app aims at giving them more fun when they commute.", said Mr. Kaku Ito from the  Katsuhiko Ogawa Lab., who has developed the app and researches in-train location-based services.

As an ex train commuter who spent many hours travelling to and from London on the UK’s less than reliable train services, I can say that much of my early Twitter engagement was carried out on trains and with people, not only on the same train, but, often on other trains on the same line.  This application could have great potential for keeping travellers updated on delays and holdups if expanded to cover the entire line instead of just the local train.

RT:  @commuter:  Leaves on the line, again.  Pls RT.

Also showcased at the same forum was GPS Play Tag, a web based game where your aim is to tag your fellow players by uploading geo-tagged photos of them to the website.  Perhaps less potential than the previous application but possibly more fun.

Imagine a combination of the two?  GPS Tag on a Train.   Then again, perhaps not.IT Media (Japanese), Asiajin, image, image



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Where the Android tablets went wrong. Hint: It’s not the tablet. [TNW Gadgets]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 05:02 PM PST

As I sit around, seeing everyone popping out more and more Android-based tablets over the past few weeks, I can’t help but be struck by the foolhardy nature of the manufacturers. After having had my hands on one for a few days, I couldn’t possibly agree with Google more that Android in its current form is simply not ready for the tablet. But there’s more to the story, and we’ll talk about that here.

Not For Tablets

While I won’t get into debating the finer points of the Android OS here, I’ll simply say that it’s a very strong mobile OS…on a phone. Coming from someone who is a recently-converted die-hard Mac fan, that’s saying something. In day to day use, Android 2.2 is lightweight, fast and using almost any quality application on it is a joy.

Booting up the Galaxy tablet, however, it just felt like I was using a comically-oversized version of a Galaxy S phone. Instead of providing a usefully larger screen, all I had were the same applications, but they didn’t run quite as well. The browsing experience, for instance, is abysmally bad on the device. Sure, it can render Flash, but just try watching a video that uses a Flash player and you’ll rip your hair out.

Simply stated, there’s nothing about the OS that seems suited for tablets, at this point. While Samsung’s offering is sleek, sexy and a great joy to use, it’s crippled by a lack of applications that can effectively utilize the form factor.

Death By Pricing

For the sake of argument, we’re going to compare the Galaxy S tablet to the iPad. The reasons why are obvious. While some people argue that you have to leave the iPad out of any Android tablet review, I think that’s foolish at best and at worst damaging to credibility. The iPad owns the tablet market right now, OS notwithstanding. Anything else needs to compete with it in order to prove its viability.

You simply can’t compare pricing apples to apples when the option to buy the Galaxy S by itself isn’t available. Even if it were available, the Galaxy would have committed seppuku by now because of the pricing difference.

The 16 GB iPad + 3G runs $629. That’s pre-tax, but out the door. You own it. No contracts, no commitments. By comparison, the Galaxy tablet is $600. Verizon clearly states that a “Month–to–month, one– or two–year minimum term required per line.” In talking to a representative, I was told that “You will have to have the plan active at all times if you are trying to use the Tablet.”

Well then. That sure sounds like a contract, to me. Even if I only pay month to month, a requirement for a monthly payment, with the punishment of an early termination fee, is still a contract. So we can only assume, then, that it’s a standard 2 year agreement.  So let’s add up the cost, both paying the ETF and if you pay the “contract” in full:

$600 + $350 ETF = $950

$600 + $20/month at 24 months = $1130

No matter how you stack the pricing (and these don’t include messaging plans, which will also add to your bottom line), the Galaxy has been priced out of its class.

No Compelling Uses

Let’s think, for a moment. about the cases under which the Galaxy might be of use:

  • E-Reader: Great, but not as great and more expensive than a Kindle or Nook.
  • In-car Entertainment: A good media player, but prohibitively expensive.
  • Big GPS: A $1,000 GPS? I’ll pass.
  • Phone Replacement: Get real.

Here’s the deal, my dear TNW readers — I used a Galaxy Tab for 3 days. I put it through its paces. The only thing that I liked doing on it was playing Angry Birds and reading with the Kindle app. The 7″ form factor is ideal for both of these. But will I pay a grand to do that? Not a chance.

Right now, it simply comes down to what Google said in that the Android OS is not ready for the tablet market. Maybe Gingerbread will be. Maybe we’ll have to wait until Honeycomb. At a bare minimum, the Galaxy (and all other 2.x devices) should vacate your mind as viable tablet choices.

I’m not on a rash of fanboyism here. I wanted to like the Galaxy. I wanted to be blown away and start figuring out how I could afford one. I desperately wanted an experience with it that simply wasn’t there. Sorry to ruin your potential Christmas buying options, but Android tablets simply aren’t ready for the market yet. They’re great devices, chained to an OS that can’t support them.



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Angry Birds Christmas a free upgrade to Halloween version [TNW Apps]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:03 PM PST

The wonderful folks at Rovio, makers of the great Angry Birds, have a special holiday treat in store for those that purchased Angry Birds Halloween for $.99.

A Christmas edition of Angry Birds is forthcoming and when it hits the Apple App Store, the Christmas version update will be absolutely free for iOS users (sorry Android owners).

How do we know?  The Twitter account of Rovio, @RovioMobile, responded (see below) to an Angry Birds fan concerning the app,  confirming that the next edition in the Angry Birds saga will arrive at no extra charge to those with Angry Birds Halloween on their iPhone, iPad and/or iPod touch.

Angry Birds is one of, if not the, most popular games for mobile devices.  Since its release on Android devices, the game has seen over 3 million downloads.  Paid downloads have accounted for 10 million downloads, with total downloads recently eclipsing the 30 million mark.

Have you downloaded Angry Birds Halloween?  How excited are you for the free Christmas-edition upgrade?



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What’s On Your Bucketlist? [TNW Social Media]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 04:03 PM PST

“What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.” -Hugh Mulligan

We all have things we want to do before we die. Accomplishments like climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, row a boat through the Galapagos, and drink Pinot Grigio in Tuscany. I want to help make The Next Web the best website in the world. I also want to go to Greece with my lover. What do you want to do before you die?

By day, Scot Hacker is the Webmaster at UC Berkeley‘s School of Journalism. But when he’s not taking care of his son or hiking, he’s hacking. In fact, the appropriately named Hacker programs every night between 11pm and 1am and his latest project is “Bucketlist.”

Simply put, a bucketlist is a list of things to do before you die, a play off the term “kicked the bucket.” Bucketlist, the website, is a site where you can keep track of all things things you’re going to do before you die. It also acts like a social network, essentially a warehouse of interesting and inspiring stories shared between users to kick-start your own life goals. While the idea behind the website is simple enough, its aims is noble: to help people find inspiration in the accomplishments of others.

On the site, users can add items to their Bucketlist along with stories, images and videos. As you surf the site, you can “vote” for items you think are interesting by clicking the “I Like This” button below the item title. You can also brose the “Popular” section in the main menu which tallies up all the “liked” items and floats the most popular ones to the top of the list.

If you find something cool on someone else’s list, you can click the “Me Too!” button. When you do that, you’ll get a new copy of that item in your own list, which you can then modify. Bucketlist lets you “follow” other people’s lists, which means their added and completed items show up in the following section under the main menu. The rules are simple: no porn, no mean-spirited stuff, no trying to use Bucketlist as a platform to promote your business. “Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother to see,” Hacker writes.

Hacker, who used to run a site that cataloged people’s misinterpretations of song lyrics, enjoys building sites of user contributed content with pages of material for people to “click through and consume like peanuts.” In other words, sites with high page views and low bounce rates. Hacker is spending his time right now understanding the users, watching how people are contributing to a pool.

The site, which launched just three months ago, currently has 1,736 lists and 28,000 goals. Looking forward, Hacker plans to build an iPhone app to accompany the site so users can jot down ideas quickly while they’re out in the real world bumping into inspiration.”I’m still trying to find ways for more Bucketlist be more social,” he says. To monetize, Hacker will avoid selling ad space but he says he’s definitely open to selling the site to a company like Facebook that would be interested in integrating it into their already existing framework.

#1 on Scot’s Bucketlist? He writes, “While hiking Mt. Tamalpais recently, discovered a wonderful little 1930s hotel called the West Point Inn, nestled in with the Bay Area’s best views. No electricity, so you have to rough it a bit, but it was just wonderful. Would love to spend the night here with family or just the wife.”



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10 Geeky Gadgets For The Winter [TNW Gadgets]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 03:41 PM PST

Father Winter has already landed in a lot of places here in the United States and if he hasn't made his presence known in your area yet, he probably will soon. So, what better time than now to put out a list of geeky gadgets that might make your winter a little more manageable and hey, maybe even a lot more fun.

180′s Ear Warmer Headphones

At some point you're going to have to leave the house over the next couple of months and many of you will likely want to listen to music during your travels. Thing is, headphones don't offer much warmth and getting cold ears isn't fun.

Well, what if you could keep your ears warm while listening to your tunes?

Enter, 180′s lineup of earmuffs some of which have headphones attached to them. These earmuffs slash headphones allow you to listen to your iPod or Zune HD or whatever audio device you use while keeping your ears safe from the elements.  They have double layer wind-resistant shell and binding, feature 100% Polyester Thermolite for great insulation and they are adjustable in case you have a huge noggin.

Oh, and if you're not in the mood for listening to tunes, they also double as straight up ear warmers because the headphones are detachable.

They can be yours for $35.

Fivepoint Gloves

The cold weather isn't going to stop you from using your smartphone or tablet device but it may make using them uncomfortable. Say hello to the Fivepoint Gloves, gloves that are designed for touchscreen devices.

The tips of the gloves are conductive making every swipe and every touch on your device register. If you've ever tried to use a device with regular old mittens then you know how hard it is to operate.

Besides making it easy to use your phone, camera, tablet, music device and so on, they also keep your hands warm. The gloves are made of lambswool which means that they won't scratch your display.

Prices range from £19.99 (about 31 U.S. dollars) to £24.99 (about 39 dollars).

K&H Lectro Soft Outdoor Bed

This one is for all of you pet owners out there because no one likes looking at a shivering dog, cat or monkey. The K&H Lectro Soft Outdoor Bed solves that issue. It's a low-wattage, PVC rocking bed that has an internal thermostat to make sure it never gets any colder than 102 degrees.

Have a pet that loves running around in the snow?

It won't absorb water either.

It's also super compatible and works just about any place where a plug outlet is available. It's usually $75 but right now, it's only $48.18. Odd price but a good one.

GPS Ski Goggles

Hitting the ski slopes? Have a penchant for getting lost? Want to brag to your friends about how fast you were cruising down the double black diamond? Well, why not invest in some GPS Ski Goggles for a cool $500.

When you strap on the goggles, you'll be treated to a "Heads-Up" display which will show you performance data including your current speed, the temperature, vertical distance traveled and more using GPS and sensors.

All of the data that's picked up by the goggles can be uploaded to a computer using a USB cord and from there it can be scrutinized by friends and family. Oh, and not to mention, they use anti-fog polarized lenses which block out 99% of glare.

If you need a demo, why not check out our own Tris Hussey’s coverage of these bad boys.

Hot Slippers

For those of you not content with the warmth of regular slippers or moccasins or even shoes for that matter, here are some microwavable slippers that you might enjoy. Seriously, they are microwavable. They also will make your feet smell like lavender.

Not bad, right?

After two minutes in the microwave, these Hot Slippers will keep your feet warm for around an hour. These slippers also have non-slip soles and interiors made with fleece. They are cheap too. You can find them for $24 dollars American or £14.99.

Battery Powered Hand Warming Gloves

Maybe gloves just aren't good enough for you. Maybe, you need more warmth than the fabric provides. If that's the case, then you probably want to take a look at these battery powered Hand Warming Gloves that will keep your hands warm for 8 hours.

All from the battery.

You can turn the heat on or off or even adjust the strength of it just by flipping some switches.

The gloves themselves are great too. They employ waterproof and breathable lining with the main fabric made of polyester and the palms and thumbs are also non slip.

They are available in three sizes for a pretty reasonable $24.95.

Non-USB Hand Warmer

This next gadget is truly for the geeks of the world. Many of you are going to want to keep using your computer even when the temperatures get chilly so why not invest in a cheap way to keep your mouse hand warm while doing so? This fleeced pouch is big enough to hold most mouses and mouse pads and has a non-slip surface so you won’t be flying around when using it.

It’s only $19.95, energy efficient and doesn’t use a USB slot which makes it easier to use the next gadget on our list.

USB and 12V Heated Mug

No one likes cold drinks that are supposed to be enjoyed warm. Better yet, no one likes having a drink get cold when driving or when glued to the computer chair. That's why a heated mug that can be used either via USB or 12v plug for the car is a perfect gadget to have this winter.

It's a double insulated stainless steel mug with a spill proof lid and the capacity to hold 16 oz's of your favorite warm beverage.

Not a bad deal for $20, huh?

Whamo Snow Trac Ball

This very well could be ultimate weapon this holiday season. Whamo's Snow Trac Ball can launch snowballs up to 150 feet which for those wondering is 50 yards or half a football field. That's downright impressive.

It also comes with a built-in snowball maker which means while your foes are busy packing ice together with their hands, you'll already have a stockpile of ammo to unleash. Oh, we should also mention that it also has an ergonomic design and is perfect for all ages.

Come on, who doesn't like pegging their friends with snowballs?

Get yours for $15.

Video Recording Ski Goggles

For those not satisfied with the GPS Ski Goggles, how about some ski goggles that can record video? These babies can record high-definition 720p MPEG4 video footage or 5 mega pixel quality still photos in with a 135 degree field of view.

The microphone has a foam guard that protects it from the wind making it easy for your friends to hear your taunts and your family to hear you celebrate after successfully nailing a jump.

The goggles also have dual-pane, anti-fog 100% UV-protected lenses and also can support a 4G microSD card which will be more than enough room for you to store all of your exploits until they are uploaded and throw up on YouTube.

The goggles will set you back $249.99 and unfortunately, the microSD card is sold separately.

So, there are 10 mildly inexpensive, geeky, outrageous, wacky, and fun gadgets you might want to consider picking up for the winter months ahead.

Anything we're missing?

Chime in.Image Credit



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George W. Bush to answer live questions from Facebook HQ tomorrow [TNW Facebook]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 01:59 PM PST

Former US president George W. Bush will be live from Facebook headquarters tomorrow answering questions about his new book “Decision Points”.

Facebook announced the news this afternoon and after just 35 minutes there were already 1,342 comments and 2,797 Likes on the announcement. Bush will go live on Facebook Live at 2pm PST, November 29, for an undisclosed time period.

There is no more information on the Facebook post about whether anyone will be interviewing the former president, or whether it will be conducted in a town hall format. Also, there is nothing mentioned on whether or not Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be present, but we’re guessing as a former US president is visiting his company’s headquarters that he will be there.

Current President Barack Obama has held live Q&A on the White House’s Facebook page before, but not from Facebook HQ. Bush just recently joined Facebook (in the form of a Facebook Page to promote his book) and has about 609,000 fans at present.

We’ll email Facebook to see if we can get any more information, though as it’s a holiday weekend, we don’t expect to hear back from them before tomorrow.

So, what would you ask the former president?

h/t @MariSmithFacebook



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The Best Online Shopping Start-Ups for Cyber Monday Shopping [TNW United States]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 11:17 AM PST

If you’re wallet isn’t hurting too much from pounding the pavement on Black Friday, then be sure to celebrate Cyber Monday!

Cyber Monday is a term the marketing world made up in 2005 for the Monday following Back Friday, which is predominately an American shopping day. But since the world wide web is well, world wide, Cyber Monday is celebrated by the marketing world in Canada, the UK, France, Portugal and Germany.

We’ve tracked down our 5 favorite online fashion start-ups offering great Cyber Monday discounts.

1. Gilt is my personal favorite for online shopping. Each day at noon, Gilt offers its members a curated selection of merchandise, including apparel, accessories and lifestyle items across the women's, men's and children's categories. Ella Moss, Miss Sixty and BCBG at 60% off? What more could a girl ask for?

For Cyber Monday Gilt is offering free shipping on any purchase (from Gilt Women, Gilt Man, Gilt Home, and Gilt Kids) made on Monday, November 29 between 12 a.m. ET and 11:59 p.m. ET.  N.B. The deal is limited to one shipping 'coupon' per customer and only applies to UPS Ground orders.

2. Rent the Runway made our recent list of 20 NYC start-ups you need to know about. The site, like a "Netflix for dresses," allows women to rent dresses from notable fashion designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Hervé Léger and Proenza Schouler for about one-tenth of what they would cost to buy in a retail store. Dry cleaning is included in the price and damage insurance costs $5. The renter is responsible for the full retail price in case the dress is completely destroyed.

They are currently running a promotion where users receive $20 for inviting a friend.

3. Exclusively.In, often referred to as the Gilt Group of India, is a new e-commerce warehouse that sells Indian imported clothing, accessories and art like colorful dresses, saris and masala tees. The online shopping site looks and acts like Gilt Group with members-only, flash sales offering heavily discounted high end designer threads, but with Exclusively.In, the designs are exclusively Indian. In November of this year, the site raised a $2.8 million round of institutional and angel funding from Accel Partners India and Helion Venture Partners.

For Cyber Monday the site is offering $20 off any order over $100; $55 off any order from $250-$499; and $125 for any order over $500.

4. Of A Kind, the world’s first online Tumblr store, commissions designers to create limited-edition, exclusive "5, 10 or 50 of a kind" pieces. The site then releases each piece, one at a time, promoting it with a story. Each piece of limited edition merchandise is complemented by refreshingly intimate editorial content. They are currently selling a 23 of a kind scarf by Symmetry Goods.

Shoppers will receive $25 off all items purchased on Monday between 12 a.m. ET through midnight on Wednesday 11:59 p.m. Use coupon code: OFAKINDNESS

5. StyleTrek, an online shopping community featuring independent designers, launched globally this month, officially expanding beyond the U.S. to an additional 91 countries on November 22nd. The site features an easy Facebook log-in and a crowdsourced e-commerce platform with the ability to "Like" products and share on Facebook, Twitter and via e-mail, which means StyleTrek designers receive real time consumer feedback at every stage of the design and production process. You can also "Like" a designer and follow them on Twitter or friend them on Facebook.

We recently wrote about their global launch and they offered our readers a promo code, use NW10 at checkout.

Don’t know what you want? Check out our latest online shopping obsession, Svpply, a site for window browsing online. While you don’t actually purchase anything on Svpply, the site lets you browse beautifully designed and fashionable objects in a curated, Tumblr like format. Pick what you like and the site will re-direct you to the specific site. It’s up to you to find out if they’re offering something special for Cyber Monday. But considering it’s known as the busiest Internet shopping day of the year, chances are good.

Also, since you’ll be shipping your packages, check out our story on Popular Mechanics’s “Who Ships Your Packages Best?” test.



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Symbian Websites To Close On December 17 [TNW Mobile]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 05:50 AM PST

Many people weren’t surprised when Nokia announced it would be taking over development of the Symbian operating system, dedicating its own resources to furthering the functionality of the software whilst the Symbian Foundation solely concentrated on licensing the platform.

On its wiki, the Symbian Foundation has announced that its websites will shut down on December 17, making available the source code, kits, bug database and reference documentation available for developers upon request.

The Symbian Foundation lists the various websites that will close:

  • www.symbian.org, www.symbian.org/cn, www.symbian.org/jp
  • developer.symbian.org, developer.symbian.org/cn, developer.symbian.org/jp, kernel.symbian.org
  • horizon.symbian.org
  • ideas.symbian.org
  • blog.symbian.org, blogcn.symbian.org, blogjp.symbian.org

Symbian’s social media presence will likely close, with its Twitter (@symbian) and Facebook page disappearing.

Due to the size of the data available, Symbian has imposed a slight delay on the availability of its documentation and code, all of which will be obtainable on January 31 via USB key or DVD for a small fee.

Symbian fans needn’t worry, the closing of the Symbian portals doesn’t signal the end of the OS, just a new phase in its much debated development.Image Credit



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Skype video chat coming to Facebook? The code seems to be there [TNW Industry]

Posted: 28 Nov 2010 05:36 AM PST

Could we be about to see Skype video chat built into the Facebook website? One app developer claims he’s found code that points to that very feature.

Back in September there were whispers that “Deep integration” between Facebook and Skype was on its way. That seemed to be borne out by Skype introducing support for Facebook contacts in its latest beta release. What making Skype calls from Facebook though?

In a blog post today, Facebook app developer Tal Ater claims to have stumbled upon a Javascript object on the Facebook website called VideoChat with a number of properties that specifically mention Skype.

Facebook was previously reported to be testing a video chat feature back in May 2009, when similar code (not featuring mentions of Skype) was found. At the time Facebook said it had no plans to release the feature to users.

The new code (which can found on Facebook’s servers here and mirrored by Ater here), features mentions of SkypeIDs, a pretty clear signal that Skype integration is at least being considered. The code is apparently only loaded sporadically, leading Ater to speculate that Facebook is “bucket testing” the code across a small section of its userbase.

We’ve contacted Facebook for comment on this and will let you know when we hear more.



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