Samsung Will Launch TV Discovery At Mobile World Congress

Samsung Will Launch TV Discovery At Mobile World Congress

Mobile World Congress is just a few days away and Samsung is preparing to launch TV Discovery. With TV Discovery users will be able to watch live tv, find videos and watch video on-demand content on YouTube using their Smart TV and mobile devices. Samsung says that TV Discovery in the U.S. will aggregate from BlockBuster and NetFlix. TV Discovery will come with five different features including personalized recommendations, universal remote control, cross-device experience, one stop search, and social sharing.

Won-Pyo Hong, head of Samsung's Media Solution Center stated, "The more you engage with the service, the more relevant the returned recommendations for TV, movies and other on-demand entertainment.”

TV Discovery will launch in the first quarter of 2013 in Korea, the U.S. and Europe.

Teenage Tracker Lets Parents Spy on Kids Through Smartphone Cam

Teenage Tracker Lets Parents Spy on Kids Through Smartphone Cam

The Teenage Tracker allows parents’ phone to act like a receiver and child’s phone to work as a transmitter. Once a secure connection is established, parents can listen in to what is going on around child’s phone, and can access both frontal and back cameras. While this process is ongoing, he the child will not know that he/she is being monitored at a given time.

The Teenage Tracker is also equipped with Google Maps to provide real time information, such as the location of a child. As a result, parents will know the exact location of their child’s phone; and, as a result, the location of their child.

By 2050, there might be a Japanese elevator to space

By 2050, there might be a Japanese elevator to space 

Decades ago, people only dreamed about traveling to space. Then they only dreamt about landing on the moon. Both of these became reality though. And then humans built a space station. So it would make sense that things that we can only dream about today will someday be real. One such thing is an elevator to space. Sound crazy? The Japanese are currently working to create just that. More specifically, Obayashi Corp is hoping to build an elevator to space by 2050.

The contraption would carry passengers to space at 124 mph and deliver them to a space station 22,000 miles above the earth. This trip would take a little longer than a week to complete. A cable would be anchored on earth and stretch to an altitude of 60,000 miles above earth (about halfway to the moon). At the end of the cable would be a counterweight that would anchor the cable in space. Will this ever happen? Will people travel to space like they currently travel to the top of a skyscraper? Only time will tell.

iPhone 5S Will Feature a Fingerprint Sensor and NFC Technology

iPhone 5S Will Feature a Fingerprint Sensor and NFC Technology

Rumors about Apple's next iPhone are continuing to flood the internet with speculations as to its name and features. Dubbed as the iPhone 5S, the new iPhone is said to be NFC-enabled and will come with a fingerprint sensor.

The speculations about these features stem from Apple's acquisition of AuthenTec, a company that developed a new Smart Sensor technology, in 2012, as well as reports of Chipbond, a Chinese component maker, getting orders of several components from Apple, one of which are chips that support NFC and a fingerprint sensor including the touch display driver.

It has been speculated that Apple would eventually adopt NFC technology onto the iPhone starting with the iPhone 5. Unfortunately, despite many rival smartphone makers, including Samsung, HTC and Sony, putting NFC into some of their models, Apple did not, which almost certainly meant that the prospective payment system would have to struggle along before gaining traction and users.

If Apple endorses NFC on its new iPhone, NFC will very likely become reality with iPhone becoming a springboard for more adoption.

The inclusion of a fingerprint sensor will be interesting and many people are hoping to see something groundbreaking on how Apple intends to use and integrate this technology into the iPhone. Some have speculated that the sensor will be placed somewhere beneath the home button, which would make it cutting-edge and difficult for other platforms like Android to replicate. This would mean that users will more easily authenticate their identity while doing away with usernames and passwords. In addition, the fingerprint technology could be assimilated into app functionalities in many different ways. Only on an iPhone would such a sensor prove truly instinctual and effective as opposed to other devices which usually include several mechanical buttons compared to Apple's home button.

We cannot be sure which of the features will be included in the iPhone 5S, or even if the next iPhone will be called iPhone 5S or iPhone 6. We certainly hope that it packs these powerful functionalities. Which of these features would you like to see on the next iPhone? Is a fingerprint sensor something that you would use or make you buy the new iPhone? Let us know in your comments below.

Galaxy S III Bug Bypasses Lock Screen, Gives Full Access to Data

Galaxy S III Bug Bypasses Lock Screen, Gives Full Access to Data

Since the lock screen bug was first discovered in iOS 6.1, lock screen bugs have become very popular. The lock screen bug that was discovered in iOS 6.1 gave users full access to photos and contacts. A similar bug has been found on the Samsung Galaxy S III that gives access to all of your personal data. Sean McMillan was first to discover and post about the new lock screen bug.

ZDNet has confirmed the bypass on Samsung Galaxy S III running on Android 4.1.2.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S III and want to try it out, the bug is simple. From the lock screen enter "Emergency Call" and then open "Emergency Contacts." After you have done that, press the "Home" button and then immediately hit the "Power" button. Hit the "Power" button again and you should be taken to the home screen and not the lock screen.

Google Maps Update For iOS Includes In-App Search and Discovery

Google Maps Update For iOS Includes In-App Search and Discovery

Google has released a significant update for the iPhone version of Google Maps. The new Google Maps for iPhone now comes with new features that make it easier to find relevant place information. The improved in-app search will allow you to search and call up your Google Contacts even when they’re not stored locally on your phone.

A new location categories feature has also been added. You will now be able to browse nearby businesses without having to know what you are looking for.

These new additions make Google Maps a much better rival to Apple Maps especially with the addition of the Nearby Places navigation tool. Users can now discover businesses in their neighborhoods by quickly selecting popular categories such as cafes, bars, gas stations, etc.

Google Maps for iPhone continues to offer voice guided turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, Street View and more. While we are yet to see an iPad-optimized version of Google Maps, it would be great to finally use the iPad mini as a windshield guide. Let’s wait and see if Google makes our wishes come true, but in the meantime, the new additions to the iPhone version are no doubt welcome.

You can now download Google Maps for free in the App store.

Apple’s iWatch Could Launch This Year

Apple’s iWatch Could Launch This Year

According to Bloomberg, Apple is getting ready to unveil the iWatch soon. John Ive and his team of 100 engineers are working hard so the iWatch can be released by the end of this year.

It’s being rumored the iWatch will run on iOS and is expected to have a long battery life. While testing the prototype, engineers are finding out that the iWatch will only last for 2 hours, when it’s meant to last for four to five days. Apple’s new watch will allow users to make calls, check maps, identify incoming callers, and can track steps.

Bloomberg says the Global watch industry should make at least $60 billion in sales this year alone.

“This can be a $6 billion opportunity for Apple, with plenty of opportunity for upside if they create something totally new like they did with the iPod — something consumers didn’t even know they needed,” Citigroup analyst Oliver Chen told Bloomberg.

If Apple prices the iWatch right, it could become extremely profitable for Apple.

REPORT: Is Apple Making A Low-Cost iPhone?

REPORT: Is Apple Making A Low-Cost iPhone?

According to Digitimes, Apple will be releasing a low-cost version of the iPhone in China and emerging markets this year. Sources who saw the low-cost iPhone are saying it has a different exterior design and a larger display.

The Wall Street Journal says, Apple could lower the cost of the iPhone if they use recycle parts from older iPhone models or by using a shell made out of polycarbonate.

Gene Munster, an analyst says:

A less expensive iPhone won't necessarily hurt Apple's overall profit margin if it attracts buyers who haven't bought iPhones before.

Word's oldest light bulb produces light since 1901.

Word's oldest light bulb produces light since 1901.

Holding Guinness World Record for the longest shining light bulb ever made. It's been shinning for 112 years. It's placed in local fire station in Livermore, California, USA.

Lynn Owens, who heads the light bulb's centennial committee, told Time.com: "Nobody knows how it's possible. It is a 60-watt bulb and it's only turned on for about four watts, but nobody knows why it keeps burning."

The bulb protector Steve Bunn said the secret is in the way it was engineered. He also claimed it's the proof that things made in the past were more durable than things made today.

Did you notice that products are made less durable in order to provide more profit for the companies making them?

Source: http://goo.gl/WcuwI

Instagram Opens Its Feed To Desktop Browsers

Instagram Opens Its Feed To Desktop Browsers

Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, announced that as of today, Instagram users will be able to view and browse their Instagram news feeds in a new way online. At the end of last year Instagram broke free from focusing on its mobile app, and launched a desktop browser version.

Systrom says that the company has been focusing on making improvements to their mobile app since Instagram launched back in October of 2010, and thats why it took so long for the new launch of instagram.com.

One feature missing that users will immediately notice from the new site is the ability to upload photos. Users can only browse the news feed using the desktop version. Prior to this recent update, users only had the ability to browse their own photos. At least that’s a step up from the original version of the site, which didn’t allow access to any photos at all.