Archive for: November 3, 2009
November 3, 2009
PayPal is preparing to launch a new payment system that simplifies the process of buying products from within an online application, The Wall Street Journal is reporting . According to the report, the new service will be called PayPal X. It will allow users to sign in to their PayPal accounts and purchase products from within a respective application. The service, which has reportedly been in limited testing, is eBay’s best hope for capitalizing on the burgeoning in-app payment market, which has witnessed Facebook emerge as one of PayPal’s strongest competitors. According to The Wall Street Journal, Facebook’s in-app currency, Facebook Credits , is now being considered by many developers that are lured by the social network’s size and reach. Sebastien de Halleux, chief operating officer of social-gaming company Playfish, told the Journal that his company is trying out Facebook Credits to possibly replace PayPal. He told the Journal that Facebook’s service “can create a lot of value by reducing friction and allowing many more people to spend money.” It also helps that Facebook’s system, unlike PayPal, is built into the social network. With PayPal X, it seems the online-payment company is trying to stay relevant in a market that is becoming increasingly complex (and crowded). It should be interesting to see if PayPal X can help PayPal stay relevant–and compete with Facebook.
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Report: PayPal to unveil in-app payment service
By Andrew Liszewski It’s nice to see when innovations in science and technology trickle down to the grade school level where they can directly benefit students. No longer will hoodlums have to settle for Kleenex-based spit balls since they can now take advantage of advanced polymers to rain down terror on their fellow classmates. Available from Edmund Scientific for $4.95 a pack, these Spit Balls will grow to 200x their original size and according to the packaging will “Slip, Slide, Bounce & Explode” which are essential qualities when it comes to spit ball engineering. [ Edmund Scientific - Spit Balls ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]
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Finally Some Real Innovation! Polymer Spit Balls Grow To 200x Their Original Size
By Andrew Liszewski It first surfaced last week , but today Peek officially announced the availability of the TwitterPeek, a version of their handheld device designed exclusively for accessing and publishing content on Twitter. Now Twitter power users might find the device a bit limiting since the lack of a web browser prevents you from following links, and the lack of a camera prevents you from uploading your own photos, but you can pretty much do everything else including viewing twitpic images, following other Twitterers and posting replies or direct messages. At the moment the TwitterPeek is available in a $99.99 version that includes 6 months of service followed by a $7.95 per month fee, or the previously rumored $199.99 version that includes a lifetime of service. [ TwitterPeek ]
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TwitterPeek Now Official
By Andrew Liszewski By now most of you have probably already forgotten about the Philips Tapster Bluetooth headphones we first wrote about way back in February. But that’s a good thing, because according to CNET’s Crave blog , the device will never be hitting store shelves. While Philips apparently didn’t have any official comments as to why, Jasmine France chocks it up to the device… well… sucking. “The major draw of the Tapster is the playback and volume controls, which are manipulated via light tapping and swiping on the ear modules. In theory, this is a sweet idea, because pressing tactile buttons on an in-ear headset has a tendency to dislodge the earbuds. Unfortunately, although we tested the Tapster with four different devices, it never worked completely as advertised.” Oh well… [ Crave - Philips Tapster shies away from retail ]
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Goodbye Philips Tapster, We Barely Knew Ye
This post is syndicated with permission from GamerFront.net Borderlands sets you down on the desolate planet of Pandora. Here is a world that few people would ever want to set foot on, save for the prospect of treasure. It has been rumored that a vault lie hidden somewhere in the vast wasteland which contains riches beyond measure. Treasure hunters, mercenaries and even large corporations want to get their hands on whatever is contained within. The world of Pandora seems like a barren wasteland, yet the art styling makes the landscape seem rich and exciting. The prominent black lines and shading remind me very much of a comic book, while at the same time it feels like something entirely different. The overall landscape doesn’t change much from zone to zone, but each has its own characteristics that makes it seem unique. You start out the game as one of four mercenaries hoping to strike it rich. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses, along with special abilities and weapon proficiencies. What really makes each stand out is their singular action skill. This is a special ability that you can trigger when you need to kick a little more ass. At their very basic, the action skills are thus: Soldier – Can drop an automated turret that takes down baddies while also protecting you. Siren – Can briefly turn invisible and move with increased speed. Also does damage when phasing in and out. Hunter – Releases his bird of prey to attack nearby enemies. Berserker – Becomes temporarily invulnerable while dealing extra melee damage. As you level up, you earn skill points which are spent on your skill tree. Each character has three branches on the tree. The abilities unlocked generally revolve around your action skill. How you spend your ...
By Chris Scott Barr Remember last month how we told you about the Alex Dual Screen eBook Reader ? I wouldn’t be all that surprised if it doesn’t stick out in your mind, as it was easily overshadowed by the Nook from Barns & Noble . Well the two had one very distinct feature in common, namely their extra color LCD screen. It seemed a little coincidental that two readers would come out so close together with this feature. Apparently Spring Design thinks it’s not so much of a coincidence. Spring Design filed suit this week against Barnes & Noble, accusing them of misappropriateing trade secrets and violating a non-disclosure agreement. Apparently Spring Design had shown off their device in hopes to work with the bookstore giant. Sure, it’s possible that both companies just happened to have the same great idea, but not very likely. Barnes & Noble have not yet responded to these claims, but it will be interesting to hear their side of the story. VIA [ PCMag ]
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Barnes & Noble Sued Over Nook E-Reader
There are lots of ways to charge USB devices on the go using disposable or rechargeable batteries, but none of them are as small or as cheap as this DIY one. It’s basically just a female USB connector stuck to the top of a 9v battery, with a voltage regulator in the middle to make sure that there’s only 5 volts coming out. Total cost? If you have a soldering iron and a scrap female USB cable, the voltage regulator will run you about $1.59 plus tax at RadioShack (which I refuse on principle to call “The Shack” like they want me to). The real beauty of this thing is that you don’t have to use a 9v battery. You could use a whole series of D batteries, for example, and go on vacation for a month with your iPod. Now, yes, you do have to know how to solder if you want to make one of these yourself. But seriously, soldering is easy. And it’s fun! You get to MELT METAL! You can pick up a basic soldering set at The Shack for all of eight bucks, and there are a bazillion beginner guides online (try Instructables or even YouTube ). So, have a fun afternoon and learn a useful skill while making a handy little gadget at the same time. Or, you can always just do it with glue , you wimp. [ AnythingButiPod ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]
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9v USB Charger Is An Excellent Excuse To Learn To Solder
By Andrew Liszewski Punch cards and fingerprints are so passe, if you want your business to look like it’s on the cutting edge of security technology you need to install one of these facial recognition time attendance systems. Using a set of digital cameras that can even see in the dark (I assume that’s a ring of IR LEDs around the lenses) the CVJB-G107 will keep track of the comings and goings of your employees, or prevent or provide access to certain doors, using facial recognition technology that takes “a fraction of a second” to make a match. And since the dual cameras create a 3D image of each face in the database, the software can’t be tricked by simply holding a 2D photograph of someone up to the lens. The system can be setup to recognize and log information like attendance, overtime and even late arrivals for up to 500 different employees, and records can be downloaded to a USB flash drive or accessed via TCP/IP when the console is connected to a network. The system also comes with software allowing you to easily organize and sort through the information contained in the logs (hopefully they’re Excel friendly too) and is available from Chinavasion for just over $480. [ Facial Recognition Time Attendance System and Access Door Lock ]
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Face Detecting Time Attendance System And Access Door Lock
Right now I’m Web-surfing with a browser that’s sleek and fast. It has Speed Dial thumbnails to quickly load a favorite Web page and preview thumbnails to help rotate through open Web pages by sight. The app I’m wielding sounds a lot like Opera 10, Opera’s desktop browser ( Mac | Windows ), or even the recently released Opera Mini 5 beta for Java phones. But it’s not. I’m navigating the Internet from a 4.6 x 2.2 inch screen belonging to a Nokia N97 smartphone using a pre-release version of Opera Mobile 10 beta for Symbian Series 60 phones. Opera Mobile 10 beta is available as of Tuesday morning, Central European Time. Opera Mobile 10 beta previews tabs in a flashy new design. (Credit: Opera Software) What’s new? The tabbed browsing treatment and speed dial thumbnails you see when you load the browser anew or launch a new page are the spotlight-grabbing features. The entire interface, in fact, gets a fresh coat of paint using the same brush that drew in Opera Mini 5 beta. The visual encore works. In looks alone, the inviting Opera Mobile 10 beta bowls over Opera Mobile 9.7 beta ’s design. While the speed dial thumbnails and multiple browser tabs were far more impressive in the comparatively resource-light Opera Mini 5 beta, a proxy browser, the design continuity we see in Opera Mobile 10 beta, a standalone Web browser, is a welcome refresh that also joins the two cell phone apps in a unified design philosophy. Opera’s 4MB version 10 beta browser retains many of the features from prior releases, like the password manager, and the abilities to zoom in and out, copy text, save images, download files, and open links in a new tab. From Opera Mobile 9.7 beta, the version 10 beta ...
By Andrew Liszewski The HomeFinder screw-in light controller from Westek might seem like a simple idea, but if you live with family members who may one day need the assitance of paramedics, it might end up being an invaluable tool. It screws into a light socket and accepts a standard bulb, and when the light switch is flipped twice the unit will flash for 20 minutes making it easier for emergency assistance to find your home, or even someone less vital like the pizza delivery guy. The flashing can be cancelled at any time by simply turning the switch off, and there’s a sensor to ensure it only turns on after dusk. $10.91 from Amazon. And here’s a little known fact, I actually spent three weeks as the prime suspect in a ‘porchlight flasher’ case, but I was eventually exonerated when the police realized I never actually leave this computer. So not only does blogging pay the bills, but it also turns out to be a pretty solid alibi! *True story! *Note: Story may not be true. [ Westek HomeFinder Screw-In Light Control ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]
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Westek HomeFinder Porchlight Flasher
Turkish authorities are claiming that Google owes the nation 71 million Turkish Lira (roughly $42 million) in unpaid taxes--and the country is ready to collect. The government claims that Google has avoided taxes on online advertising.
Google says it doesn't owe anything, since it runs ad operations out of Ireland. Says TechCrunch Europe,
We've also been in touch with a Turkish lawyer, who tells us the government is making a valid claim, pointing out that Google has set up a full-fledged company called Google Reklamc?l?k ve Pazarlama Ltd. ?ti. (which means Google Advertising and Marketing Ltd.) in Turkey rather than what he refers to as a 'liaison' branch. Had it done the latter, says the lawyer, the company would have had to pay very little or no taxes at all.
Google, naturally, insists that it abides by the tax laws of all of those countries in which is operates.
    
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