After months of hype and reportedly millions of pre-orders, the security-focused Blackphone started shipping to early pre-order customers on Monday.The Android-based smartphone comes packed with apps for encrypted voice, video, and text messaging, as well as more control over the onboard information third-party apps can access. While pre-order phones are shipping now, new customers will… Continue reading The security-focused Blackphone is now shipping to customers
Month: June 2014
Google Glass has been banned from every movie theater in the UK
The UK’s data regulator may have clarified that Google Glass shouldn’t be singled out for special measures over personal use, but that isn’t stopping domestic companies from enforcing their own rules. The Independent reports that just a week after the Google wearable finally went on sale in Britain for a hefty £1,000, UK cinemas are… Continue reading Google Glass has been banned from every movie theater in the UK
Apple has updated the iTunes U app with a bunch of new capabilities
Apple has updated its iTunes U application with a handful of new capabilities, including the ability for teachers to build whole courses directly on an Apple iPad tablet for the first time. The iTunes U software is a clearinghouse of educational information that allows teachers to create public and private courses that include lectures, assignments,… Continue reading Apple has updated the iTunes U app with a bunch of new capabilities
Sony expects its TV business to be very profitable this year
Sony Corporation’s TV division has been in the red for the better part of the decade but the company is now hopeful that it will be profitable this year. Back in March Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai told investors that despite rumors on the contrary the company’s TV division was not up for sale. Instead Sony… Continue reading Sony expects its TV business to be very profitable this year
Google Capital has lead a $110 million round of funding for MapR
MapR Technologies, which provides an enterprise Hadoop distribution used for marketing, operations and security, said it raised $110 million in financing led by Google Capital, Qualcomm and existing adventures. The company said the round also includes $30 million in debt led by Silicon Valley Bank. MapR’s tools are used for big data and analytics, but… Continue reading Google Capital has lead a $110 million round of funding for MapR
The Xbox One will cost almost $800 at launch in China
Come September 2014 Microsoft is going to release its new console, the Xbox One, in China. The People’s Republic has long been closed off to gaming consoles but recent changes in policy have allowed companies like Microsoft to partner with a local company in order to sell their consoles. Gamers in China would no doubt… Continue reading The Xbox One will cost almost $800 at launch in China
The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini is reportedly hitting store in July
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the South Korean tech company’s flagship phone at the moment. It sports some pretty high-end hardware which also means that it has an expensive price tag to match. Now if you don’t really need all that fancy hardware and just want a smartphone, you might be interested to learn that… Continue reading The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini is reportedly hitting store in July
Japan is making mobile carriers remove SIM locks from their phones
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry will force mobile operators to unlock handsets so they can function in other mobile operator networks, The Japan Times reports, citing unnamed sources. The ministry plan to submit the plan to a panel and map out details by the end of the fiscal year. In Japan, subscribers can purchase… Continue reading Japan is making mobile carriers remove SIM locks from their phones
The European Union wants to make roaming charges a thing of the past
More European mobile operators should offer free international roaming, following the example set by U.S. operator T-Mobile, a European Commission vice president said Monday. After enforcing a series of reductions in voice and data roaming charges across the European Union over the last four years, the latest round of which takes effect Tuesday, Neelie Kroes… Continue reading The European Union wants to make roaming charges a thing of the past
TV guidance startup, TweetTV, has been acquired by ConnecTV
ConnecTV said it will amp up its social TV capabilities with the acquisition of TweetTV, an analytics and TV guidance startup that helps viewers discover what’s trending on TV in real-time. ConnecTV will stitch those capabilities into its own social TV video network and a free mobile app that enables users to watch, clip and… Continue reading TV guidance startup, TweetTV, has been acquired by ConnecTV