Day: April 19, 2013

Verizon

Petition calling for Verizon to drop contracts gains momentum

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As reported on The Verge. By Matt Brian A petition asking Verizon to follow the lead of its smaller rival T-Mobile in cutting mobile contracts has gained significant momentum after it recorded over 30,000 signatures in one day. The Change.org petition — created on April 7th in an effort to force Verizon to “create an affordable way for consumers to purchase their devices” — currently sits just short of 100,000 signups and is believed to have garnered additional support following…

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Culture Health

I think, therefore I heal: the weird science of neurofeedback

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As reported on The Verge. By Katie Drummond It’s been dismissed as bunk science for decades. But does neurofeedback deserve a second look? Imagine if treating a mental illness was as simple as playing a video game — except your mind is the controller. That idea isn’t only real, it’s a therapy gaining traction in the medical community and among patients, who swear by its healing effects. Called neurofeedback, the procedure purports to treat a variety…

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Business Microsoft

Microsoft Confirms Its Plans To Bring Windows 8 To Smaller Touch-Enabled Devices Soon

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As reported on TechCrunch. by FREDERIC LARDINOIS During its Q3 2013 earnings call today, Microsoft’s outgoing CFO Peter Klein noted that the company plans to bring Windows 8 to smaller devices. Until now, Windows 8 was mostly geared toward desktops and larger tablets, including Microsoft’s own Surface and RT machines. With the forthcoming Windows 8 Blue, rumor had it that Microsoft would enable its OEMs to run Windows 8 on smaller devices, too. Klein confirmed this on today’s call,…

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Business

Blackstone Reportedly Withdraws Bid For Dell, Citing “Deteriorating” Business

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As reported on TechCrunch. by CATHERINE SHU Blackstone has reportedly withdrawn its bid for Dell, leaving the way open for founder Michael Dell and Silver Lake to buy out the company, reports Reuters. Blackstone and activist investor Carl Icahn put in bids for Dell on March 22, the last day of the “go-shop” period to solicit competing offers for Dell after Michael Dell and Silver Lake made a $24.4 billion buyout offer for the PC maker that some investors…

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Application

Where’s Twitter Music For Android? Why Today’s Tech Companies Are Still Going iOS First

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As reported on TechCrunch. by SARAH PEREZ Where is Twitter Music for Android? Withtoday’s launch of Twitter’s new music discovery platform, the company has again made a move to sideline the install base of around half of the U.S.’s smartphone audience by failing to deliver a native application for users of non-Apple devices. It’s a strategy that still remains prevalent among tech companies today, both large and small. The companies’ reasons vary: for many smaller startups,…

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Application

Mall App Tracks Shoppers With Ultrasonic Device

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As reported on TechCrunch. by VICTORIA HO The white device here (pictured next to a phone for scale) is in the process of getting mounted on store walls in Singapore malls. When active, the device will emit an ultrasonic signal that an app can pick up, and will allow participating stores to broadcast deals and rewards to shoppers. The device is called the iSenze, and is made by a startup in Singapore called Rainmaker Labs. Rainmaker’s bigger…

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Culture

Kohler’s $6,000 Numi Comfort Height toilet gets added connectivity, loftier bowl

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As reported on Engadget. By Christopher Trout We know what you’re thinking: The only thing missing from my ridiculously expensive, excessively tricked-out toilet is a USB port. Well it’s time you welcomed your posh posterior to the 21st century, because Kohler’s just released the second edition of its now $6,000 throne: the aptly named Numi Comfort Height. In addition to the aforementioned port, which will enable quicker software updates, the outfit has enhanced the commode with a…

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Automotive

Epic’s Torq Roadster three-wheeled EV gets taken on a test drive (video)

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As reported on Engadget. By Richard Lawler While the Tesla Roadster did a great job of satisfying our jones for an electric vehicle with great performance and no roof, it was a bit pricey and is now out of production. Into that void steps the three-wheeled Torq Roadster from Epic EV, a team also responsible for that electric-engined DeLorean prototype we saw a couple of years ago. This video shows Translogic’s Bradley Hasemeyer behind the wheel of the track-friendly (but…

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