Monday, May 27, 2013

Should I Wait to Buy My Next iPhone?

Lances_iphoneLance-ulanoff By Lance Ulanoff2013-05-11 20:59:15 UTC

Mashable OP-ED

Back in the summer of 2011, I bought an iPhone 4. Yup, that’s right, just three months before Apple unveiled iPhone 4S and Siri, I plunked down $200 for yesterday’s technology. In my defense, I was changing jobs and needed a phone ASAP. iPhone was my first choice.

Fast-forward to today and I’m now eligible for an iPhone 5 upgrade. That’s good news, since I’ve tested the iPhone 5 and am impressed. So why don’t I just run out now and get it? You know why. I keep wondering, how soon before the next iPhone?

For as good as the iPhone is, it’s no longer the new smartphone on the block and has been eclipsed in functionality by competitors, including everyone from Samsung to HTC. Not that I want an Android Phone. I mean they’re really good phones: The Samsung Galaxy S4 is beautiful. It’s smart, fast, and powerful, with mind-blowing features like Smart Scroll, Smart Video and the Jedi-control-like Air View. The HTC One is equally impressive with, perhaps, more than a bit of a design nod to the iPhone.

But I still want an iPhone, partly because I prefer my phones small and also because I still choose iOS over Android (though the choice gets harder every year.)

So I know, more or less, what I want, but Apple has left me in something of a pickle. Apple CEO Tim Cook essentially told us we should expect no new hardware announcements until the fall. That likely means we shouldn’t expect a new iPhone until then.

Maybe.

And if that’s true, which iPhone? The 5s? An iPhone 6? A cheaper iPhone? A bigger iPhone? There are a lot of variables here. If I want my next iPhone to be the apex iPhone, what do I do? How long do I wait?

I think the best way to figure this out is to start with what we know, or at least what we think we know.

Next month, Apple will tip its product pipeline hand in its yearly World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco. Normally, a dev conference would be of little interest to consumers, but Apple watchers know that this is where savvy Apple fanatics can divine the next 12 months of product innovation.

While Apple has occasionally mixed it up with one-off, nearly day-long events for new iOS versions, Apple now tends to squeeze most OS update news into the WWDC keynote. Sometimes, Apple even unveils a hardware update or two, though considering what Cook said last month, that seems unlikely this year.

Our first glimpse of iOS 7, the follow-up to iOS 6, is almost a certainty. Depending on how much Apple shows and the amount of detail they go into, we could also learn quite a bit about — yes, you guessed it — the next iPhone[s]. Capabilities enabled in software typically have to be supported in hardware. The voice assistant Siri is a perfect example; it’s software supported by the power of the A6 mobile CPU. Similarly, the iPhone 5’s photography prowess is a combination of hardware and software.

We’ll also watch the WWDC keynote for any inadvertent slips from which we could draw fresh conclusions. Mobile phone screen shots, for example, where the aspect ratio doesn’t match the iPhone 5. Or maybe a commerce detail that indicates the existence of NFC, which the iPhone 5 lacks.

There is also the chance that, while Apple won’t ship an iPhone until late this year, it could show us something now. I know, that’s not the Apple way. Traditionally, Apple announces a product and it's on shelves within 30 days. On the other hand, this is a new Apple. Steve Jobs is a fading memory; Tim Cook has spent more time in recent months answering critics than delivering fresh products. It may be time to shake things up and generate, in essence, a summer of iPhone anticipation excitement.

I may be projecting here a bit, since knowing exactly what Apple will ship this fall would serve my purposes: I’d know whether or not to upgrade now or wait until September (or October).

Regardless of what happens next month at WWDC, it's pretty much guaranteed that I will not have a new iPhone model to choose from in the near future, which means I still have to make that choice.

There is nothing wrong with my iPhone 4, but using it makes me increasingly feel out of step with the now. I want to be in step.

If I go forward, though, and the iPhone 6, iPhone Slim, iPhone Big or iPhone Cheap is significantly better than the iPhone 5 ... well, I’m gonna be upset. Very upset. But I guess I'll have no one to blame but myself.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 11:47 PM 0 comments
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Vudu Player update allows movie downloads on iPhone, iPad

Vudu Player update allows movie downloads on iPhone, iPad data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20577115' !== '') ? 'bsd:20577115' : ''; var postID = '20577115'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"home entertainment",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"richard-lawler", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Vudu Player update allows movie downloads on iPhone, iPad HDBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 8:28 PM 0

Vudu Player finally allows movie downloads on iPhone, iPad

Coming months after the feature's introduction on Android and PCs, Vudu has updated the iOS version of its app with the ability to download movies for viewing offline. Unlike the Android version, this feature is not restricted to tablets however, with downloads of your Vudu / Ultraviolet collection on iPads and iPhones. Other tweaks include making the Player "easier to use" and adding closed captions on iPhone. The Flixster app already allowed for Ultraviolet movie downloads on iOS, however Vudu has access to some movies that may not be available there. The updated version of the free app is available on on iTunes, although you will need an associated account (with updated password info) with unlocked videos to get any use out of it.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 11:05 PM 0 comments
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Flash Mob of 40 Bald Eagles Gather for Free Lunch

Charlie-white By Charlie White2013-05-11 15:30:07 UTC

You've probably never seen so many bald eagles in one place. Bald eagles might be scarce in the lower 48 of the United States, but the noble national bird is in abundance in the unusually named and lovely town of Unalaska, Alaska.

Typically depicted as noble lone hunters, bald eagles will be happy to accept a free lunch just like the rest of us would. This flash mob of angry birds apparently couldn't pass up their favorite food.

The group of about 40 bald eagles is seen at leisure, casually lunching on a giant load of fish fillets carelessly left in the back of a pickup truck in a Safeway parking lot.

Apparently, word got out among the eagles that it was lunchtime. Can you blame them? Free food!

Apparently, word got out among the eagles that it was lunchtime. Can you blame them? Free food!

There were so many of the of the giant, serious-looking birds flocking around the pickup truck and vehicles next to it, shoppers were afraid to go to their cars. Many called the police for help.

According to Unalaska TV and radio station KUCB, local police officer Bill Simms put on his siren in hopes of chasing away the birds. That was successful for some of them, but not the bravest of the bunch. Simms had to chase the rest of them away himself, urging fearful shoppers whose cars were nearby to "just get your keys ready and when I shoo them away, run into your cars."

It worked. No one was hurt, the pickup truck owner hightailed it out of there with the remainder of his fish fillets, probably hoping the eagles wouldn't be following him all the way home.

Video courtesy KUCB and photo via iStockphoto, Andyworks, composite by Mashable

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Editorial: Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streaming

Editorial: Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streaming data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20570815' !== '') ? 'bsd:20570815' : ''; var postID = '20570815'; var modalMNo = '93379667', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"misc",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"brad-hill", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93379667", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93379670", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Editorial: Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streamingBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 4:00 PM 0

DNP Editorial Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streaming

First of all: that name. Google Play Music All Access. Perhaps Google's presenters realized, as they were driving to the I/O keynote, that they had forgotten to name the new music-streaming service, and came up with that clunker backstage.

Unique? Magical? It's easy to dismiss those claims within minutes of signing up.

Jump to the keynote, where Chris Yerga described All Access as "a uniquely Google approach to a subscription service," and remarked, "Here's where the magic starts." Unique? Magical? It's easy to dismiss those claims within minutes of signing up. Prosaic and useful, yes; unique and magical, no. All Access is nowhere near an innovation. The major ecosystem companies, each of which started with groundbreaking technical development, now seem to fashion their business destinies on buttressing their networks with products innovated elsewhere, plugging holes to sway existing users from drifting out of the system. It's not a new story, but always a sad one.

Music-streaming services have been around for about 14 years. Rhapsody, a grizzled veteran in the current crop, launched in 2001 after two years of development under different names. Spotify, the poster brand for music streaming in 2013, lifted off in 2008. So there are well-established norms that users can and should expect in a streaming service.

A big catalog is the first expectation -- all the majors and a long tail of smaller labels and indies. A modern streaming service is batting .300 if it offers 20 million tracks.

Size isn't everything; it's what you can do with it that counts. Basic interactivity includes whole-track and album listening (obviously). Playlisting is important, so you can build that perfect 50-track set of pulsing electronica for an afternoon of desk work in headphones. Accumulating a library of favorites is a necessary function, via a cloud collection plus, ideally, the option of downloading music to a phone, tablet or computer for offline listening.

DNP Editorial Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streaming

Social and sharing are increasingly vital music-discovery functions -- and just fun for users who are always visible in their community circles. It's not only outward sharing that matters (to Twitter, Facebook, et al.), but also sharing of playlists within the service, epitomized by 8tracks.com. Speaking of discovery, the service should do its part by offering a genre directory (the smarter and more granular, the better), editorial recommendations, reviews and connections to related music.

Google is more flexible than Pandora inasmuch as the user can peer inside the "radio" playlist and swipe away queued-up tracks, with what is arguably the platform's coolest feature.

Finally, a streaming service should offer some kind of passive option for a lean-back experience -- pushing music to users when they tire of exploring and pulling. That usually means some kind of misnamed "radio" or "station" feature, which, behind the scenes, is an array of curated playlists. GPMAA (who doesn't love acronyms?) emphasizes the push / pull quality of its curated streams by marketing the service as: "Radio without limits."

That tagline is clearly intended to contrast with the highly passive Pandora experience, the pre-eminent alternative to terrestrial radio in homes, cars and stores. (Over the past few years, when I have asked a retail proprietor about the store's music selection, I have increasingly heard the "Pandora" answer.) Google is more flexible than Pandora inasmuch as the user can peer inside the "radio" playlist and swipe away queued-up tracks, with what is arguably the platform's coolest feature.

In fact, it's really the only cool feature in what is otherwise a pedestrian and sketchy streaming service. All Access covers most of the expected bases, though not all of them. Google is planting a premium flag in the ground by withholding an ad-supported free layer (like Spotify), venturing instead down the all-subscription path with a monthly fee ranging from $7.99 to $9.99. (You get the lower price if you join during the first month.) I see commenters backing away from that value proposition, and it's easy to understand why someone with equity in an existing platform might not want to switch to a new copycat service.

At the same time, I see enthusiasm from Android users eager to add "celestial jukebox" music streaming to their eco-platform, which represents a larger and more meaningful investment than, for example, having built a bunch of playlists in Spotify.

DNP Editorial Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streaming

I can imagine today's GPMAA as a starting point from which Google will weave some ecosystem magic. But even as a starting point, this platform is immature for discovery and community. Right now, the service is not connecting well with Google+ (or any other social network), which seems like a no-brainer whose implementation is probably forthcoming. More seriously, you can't follow other users from their playlists. Search is bizarrely bad. Blues guitarist Ana Popovic does not appear when you search for "ana popovich." Seriously, Google? Your flagship search engine understands any misspelling I throw at it, but one extra letter makes your music search fall to the ground twitching? That'll get fixed.

Google is following, not leading -- reacting to a market migration away from music downloads toward streaming access.

But for a company famous for its lengthy (and free) beta launches, the first impressions of the non-beta All Access are underwhelming. More important, for a company with a legacy of technology brilliance, this service feels like it was mailed in as a prop for the ecosystem.

Google is following, not leading -- reacting to a market migration away from music downloads toward streaming access. Apple will follow behind Google, if rumors hold true, and Apple is endowed with an explicit anti-subscription stance in music.

From leadership to following. It's good ecosystem business, admittedly, like renovating a house rather than reinventing rooms. But I cannot avoid a feeling of sadness, and even a trace of disdain, seeing this perfunctory service, with its lumbering name and aggressive pricing, soldered quickly into the Google / Android machinery. Gmail redefined email on its first day and remained respectfully in beta for five years. Times change. I'll ponder that while listening to my Rhapsody playlists.

Brad Hill is a former Vice President at AOL, and the former Director and General Manager of Weblogs, Inc. He listens to music on Rhapsody (FTW), Spotify, Rdio, SoundCloud and 8tracks.

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Posted by Chris Holman at 6:58 PM 0 comments
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Make a LEGO Robot With a Raspberry Pi

Vignesh By Vignesh Ramachandran2013-05-13 21:33:28 UTC

LEGO fans can create their own programmable robot with a new device that works with the Raspberry Pi computer.

If you have a Raspberry Pi, the BrickPi system lets you convert the tiny PC into a LEGO robot, as explained in the video above. Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sized, Linux-based PC that arrived in the U.S. earlier this year.

The BrickPi system includes a board that slides over your Raspberry Pi and a plastic case that connects LEGO pieces. Once you attach a 9-volt battery, you can hook up LEGO motors (three ports) and sensors (four ports), connect some USB gadgets (e.g. webcam, WiFi, keyboard, mouse), load an example program and start modifying and hacking.

The Raspberry Pi controls the motors and sensors, and you can program using Python libraries. Additionally, the BrickPi's firmware is hackable, since it's open-source Arduino.

BrickPi's creators, Dexter Industries, has launched a Kickstarter project to raise funds to lower the device's price to about $35, polish their Python programming libraries and develop for the Scratch programming language. With 34 days still left to go in the Kickstarter campaign, the project had already surpassed its $1,889 goal and was over $24,000, as of Monday afternoon.

What kinds of possibilities do you see with a Raspberry Pi LEGO robot? Share your ideas in the comments.

Thumbnail and images courtesy of Dexter Industries via BrickPi Kickstarter page

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Spot satellite-powered Global Phone keeps adventurers connected for $499

SPOT Global Phone Brings Affordable, Superior Voice Quality to the Outdoor Recreation Market

Portable, easy-to-use and affordable, the new SPOT Global Phone keeps users connected to family, friends and emergency services when their adventures take them off the grid

Covington, LA (May 14, 2013) - SPOT LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. and leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today announced the new SPOT Global Phone, a portable, easy-to-use and data-enabled satellite phone. Hunters, hikers, boaters, off-road travelers and all outdoor enthusiasts will find that SPOT Global Phone provides industry-leading, crystal clear voice quality where cell service won't work.

"Outdoor recreationists have come to appreciate SPOT as a brand that keeps them safe as they explore new ways of getting off the grid," said Jay Monroe, Chief Executive Officer, Globalstar. "As the first satellite phone available in major retail outlets such as West Marine, REI and Cabela's, SPOT Global Phone will not only provide a lifeline during these adventures, but an opportunity to connect with impeccably clear voice quality on a satellite network that is light years ahead of the competition."

SPOT Global Phone Features

Compact size: 5.3"H x 2.2" W x 1.5"D
Lightweight: 7 ounces
Satellite-based technology
Superior voice clarity with no noticeable delay or echo
Backlit color display optimized for outdoor daytime viewing
Long-life battery: 4 hours talk time, 36 hours standby
Data capable enabling email and file transfers
Quick online activation, ten-digit dialing with local phone numbers
Ergonomic design
Lighted keypad
911 emergency service access

SPOT Global Phone ensures users can connect with family, friends and businesses even when their adventures take them out of cell coverage. With patented Qualcomm-based CDMA technology providing crystal-clear voice quality from anywhere within the service footprint, SPOT Global Phone users experience superior performance. Critical communications happen in an instant, with no noticeable time delays on a network that transmits even a whisper. With the availability of Express Data on most data plans, guaranteed data speeds of 9.6Kbps provide up to four times the data speed of most other mobile satellite data services and enable emails, file transfers, and basic services to occur at high-speed.

Pricing and Availability

The SPOT Global Phone is the only satellite phone to be offered in major retail outlets and is also available online and through a dealer network, expanding the reach of the mobile satellite service (MSS) market beyond oil fields and commercial fishing. The SPOT Global Phone retails at $499 plus a required subscription service that provides industry-leading voice quality starting at $24.99 monthly or as low as 25 cents per minute. For more information on where to buy the SPOT Global Phone and other SPOT products and service offerings, visit FindMeSPOT.com or call 866-651-SPOT.


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If Snow White's Seven Dwarfs Were Hobbits

Neha-prakash By Neha Prakash2013-05-13 22:16:35 UTC

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to the Shire we go!

The seven dwarfs are known for being the lovable (yes, even Grumpy was lovable) pals of Snow White, helping her survive the wrath of the evil Queen's apple tricks. But artist Jordy Lakiere gave these seven dudes a more rough-around-the-edges vibe for his latest series.

Lakiere took Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, Doc, Happy, Grumpy and Dopey and created realistic renderings of them. Their new images reflect Hobbit-like features including wrinkles, crumpled clothing and unruly hair that Disney left out of the cartoon.

Lakiere tells Mashable that his next project includes more lifelike versions of Snow White and the Witch.

Images courtesy of Imgur, Jordy Lakiere. Homepage image Mashable composite: courtesy of Flickr, JD Hancock

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Liberator gun made with consumer 3D printer, plastic pistol fires nine shots successfully (video)

Liberator gun made with consumer 3D printer, plastic pistol fires nine shots successfully (video) data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20576586' !== '') ? 'bsd:20576586' : ''; var postID = '20576586'; var modalMNo = '93319231', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"misc",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"michael-gorman", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("348-14-15-13c",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319231", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93310027", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Liberator gun made with consumer 3D printer, plastic pistol fires nine shots successfully (video) AltBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 3:07 PM 0

Liberator gun made with consumer 3D printer, plastic pistol fires nine shots successfully video

Defense Distributed's plan is to put the power of guns in the hands of every person with access to the internet and a 3D printer. Until now, however, we'd only seen the Liberator pistol built using an expensive industrial-grade printer -- despite the fact that the blueprints for gun have been downloaded by thousands of people who don't have access to such a high-end machine. One of those folks decided to put the Liberator in the hands of the printing proletariat by making it with a consumer-level Lulzbot A0-101 3D printer, a nail and some common screws.

This new version, called the Lulz Liberator, differs from the original in that it's got a rifled barrel and uses metal hardware to hold it together (as opposed to printed plastic pins). Printing it took around two days and used about $25 worth of generic ABS material, and the pistol produced was fired successfully nine times, but its creator claims it could've shot more. It's still a far cry from a Glock or Beretta, of course, as the gun misfired several times, and removing spent shell casings required the use of a hammer. So, it's not quite ready for prime time, but it's one more bit of proof that the age of printed pistols is officially upon us.

[Image Credit: Michael Guslick]

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20 Songs for Space Exploration

Astro Jessica-fee By Jessica Fee2013-05-13 22:01:39 UTC

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield made history on Sunday when he filmed the first ever music video in space (fittingly, a cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity"). To commemorate his accomplishment, we've dedicated this week's Music Monday to the most epic songs for space exploration. We curated the selection of songs you tweeted to us, and added in a few of our own. These songs range from gravity-defying newer releases like "Crest" by The Antlers to old school, space-related jams like "We Are All Made of Stars" by Moby.

So dim the lights, power up your glow-in-the-dark star generator and go on your own space odyssey with this playlist. Know of a song that should be included? Send it to us on Spotify and we'll add it to the playlist!

Don't know how to share music on Spotify? Just follow the steps below.

1. To "follow" MashableHQ on Spotify, click here. If a popup window asks if you want to launch an external application, say yes. It just means that the browser is opening up Spotify.

2. "Follow" MashableHQ, or just send us music by clicking "Send Music"

3. To send music while browsing tracks in Spotify, follow the MashableHQ account. Then right click (ctrl + click) on the song you want to send and click the "Share..." option.

4. By default, Spotify pulls up the "Post to Feed" option. Instead, select the "Send to Friend" tab, type in "mashablehq," and hit the blue Send button.

If "mashablehq" doesn't show up when you're trying to send a track, make sure you're following the mashablehq account. If you're still having problems sending a song after that, let us know in the comments section below and we'll help you fix the problem. Enjoy the tunes!

Images via iStockphoto, boxster

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Sony Entertainment Network web store launching in Japan on May 29th

Sony Entertainment Network web store launching in Japan on May 29th data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20575952' !== '') ? 'bsd:20575952' : ''; var postID = '20575952'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"gaming",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"sarah-silbert", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});Sony Entertainment Network web store launching in Japan on May 29thBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 9:46 AM 0

The Sony Entertainment Network, which is already live in the US and Brazil among other countries, will launch in Japan on May 29th. As you may recall, the service is a browser-based marketplace with games, movies and other media available for download. SEN is especially targeted at PlayStation users; games and videos purchased will automatically show up in the PlayStation store. Given that Sony calls the Land of the Rising Sun home, it's high time its Entertainment Network opened its doors to Japan. And with E3 less than a month away, the world may get a taste of Sony's next-gen hardware for enjoying this service -- stay tuned.

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Amazon Cloud Player Launches PC App

Amazon-cloud-player-pc-rotated Lauren-indvik By Lauren Indvik2013-05-13 20:22:13 UTC

As part of its mission to bring its music service "everywhere," Amazon announced the release of a dedicated Cloud Player app for desktop PCs Monday. The release comes less than a week after Amazon announced iOS compatibility with Ford Sync-enabled vehicles.

PC users could already access Cloud Player through their web browsers, but the primary benefit of the PC application is the ability to store music offline. Users can also scan their hard drives for music files that haven't yet been uploaded to their storage locker.

Cloud Player allows users to stream music files they've purchased from Amazon or uploaded to to a cloud-based storage locker. An unlimited number of Amazon songs, plus 250 songs purchased outside of Amazon, can be uploaded to the cloud and streamed wirelessly using one of Amazon's players for free. First launched on Android two years ago, the service is also available on iOS, Mac, Sonos, Roku and (as mentioned) Ford Sync vehicles.

Update: An earlier version of this article said the app was released Thursday. It was released Monday. The story was also corrected to reflect that 250 songs purchased outside of Amazon, rather than 5 megabytes worth of songs purchased outside of Amazon, can be stored in Amazon's cloud locker.

Images courtesy of Amazon

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European commissioner promises single mobile market by 2015

European commissioner promises single mobile market by 2015 data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20575638' !== '') ? 'bsd:20575638' : ''; var postID = '20575638'; var modalMNo = '93319229', modalVideoMNo = '93320648', modalGalleryMNo = '93304207'; when.eng("eng.omni.init", {pfxID:"weg",pageName:document.title,server:"acp-ld39.websys.aol.com",channel:"us.engadget", s_account: "aolwbengadget,aolsvc", short_url: "",pageType:"",linkInternalFilters:"javascript:,",prop1:"article",prop2:"cellphones",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"daniel-cooper", prop54:"blogsmith",mmxgo: true }); adSendTerms('1')adSetMOAT('1');adSetAdURL('/_uac/adpagem.html');lab._script("http://o.aolcdn.com/os/ads/adhesion/js/adhads-min.js").wait(function(){var floatingAd = new AdhesiveAd("10000057",{hideOnSwipe:true});}); onBreak({980: function () { adSetType("F");htmlAdWH("93319229", "LB", "LB"); adSetType("");}}); EngadgetMenu NewsReviews Features Galleries VideosEventsPodcasts Engadget ShowTopics Buyers Guides Sagas Store HD Mobile Alt Announcements Cameras Cellphones Desktops Displays Gaming GPS Handhelds Home Entertainment Household Internet Laptops Meta Misc Networking Peripherals Podcasts Robots Portable Audio/Video Science Software Storage Tablets Transportation Wearables Wireless Acer Amazon AMD Apple ASUS AT&T Blackberry Canon Dell Facebook Google HP HTC Intel Lenovo LG Microsoft Nikon Nintendo Nokia NVIDIA Samsung Sony Sprint T-Mobile Verizon About UsSubscribeLike Engadget@engadgettip uswhen.eng("eng.nav.init")when.eng("eng.tips.init") onBreak({980: function () {htmlAdWH("93308280", "215", "35",'AJAX','ajaxsponsor');}});European commissioner promises single mobile market by 2015 MobileBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 9:07 AM 0

European commissioner promises single mobile market by 2015

Europe may be enjoying deeper and deeper integration, but that doesn't extend to mobile connectivity; citizens are still whacked with hefty roaming rates. European digital commissioner Neelie Kroes hopes to change this, telling business leaders that she's planning to push through a single mobile telecoms market before she retires in 2015. Speaking at the European Business Summit, she said she had "no intention to retire until [she'd] knocked down all the barriers to a single market," which was her "major priority" for the rest of her term. Hopefully those on that side of the pond will never again have to fork over $8 per day just to check Vine.

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17 Supermoms Who Dominate the Digital World

Zoe%20fox By Zoe Fox2013-05-11 17:23:53 UTC

Sometimes we wonder how moms can accomplish all that they do. From traveling to outer space to running some of the world's most powerful companies to raising us, moms are unstoppable.

While these incredible ladies deserve to be recognized every day of the year, Mother's Day is the special time for singing their praises.

For these leaders in the digital space, it's not just their children who can appreciate everything they do. As Internet and technology lovers, we feel like it's also our duty to celebrate their incredible contributions.

Here's our list of 17 moms doing incredible things that most people — even without kids — wouldn't think they could do. We think they definitely deserve the title "supermoms."

Susan Wojcicki, Google's SVP overseeing product management and engineering, is the mother of four. You may also know her as the woman whose garage served as Google's first headquarters.

Image by Larry Busacca/Wireimage/Getty Images

On the same day Yahoo announced Marissa Mayer would become its new CEO, the female tech exec announced she was pregnant with her first son, Macallister. In addition to being Google's first female engineer, Mayer was the first pregant CEO of a Forbes 500 company.

Image courtesy of Flickr, magnus hoij

Astronaut Cady Coleman is the mother of one son, and she's flown on two Space Shuttle missions. Before joining NASA and going to space, Coleman completed a doctorate in chemistry and was a member of the U.S. Air Force.

Image courtesy of Flickr, DLR_de

In addition to co-founding Flickr and Hunch, Caterina Fake sits on the boards of Etsy and Creative Commons. She had a daughter in 2007 with her Flickr co-fonder.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Joi (also appears on homepage)

Cher Wang, co-founder and former chairperson of HTC, has two children. She and her husband rank as the wealthiest people in Taiwan.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Robert Scoble

Hewlett-Packard president and CEO Meg Whitman is the mother of two boys. A 2010 candidate for Governor of California, Whitman has the distinction of being the political candidate to have spent the most of her own money on a single race in U.S. history.

Image courtesy of Flickr, megwhitman2010

The first African-American woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company, Ursula Burns serves as chairman and CEO of Xerox. She has one daughter and one stepson.

Image by Bloomberg via Getty Images

The mother of two, Safra Catz is the co-president and CFO of Oracle Corporation. She also serves on the board of one of the world's largest financial institutions, HSBC Holdings.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Oracle_Photos_Screenshots

Padmasree Warrior, chief technology and strategy officer of Cisco Systems, is the mother of one. Before joining Cisco, Warrior was one of the first women at Motorola, where she worked for more than two decades.

Image courtesy of Flickr, CiscoANZ

Comedian, entertainer and writer Amy Poehler is the mother of two. Though best known for her career in improv comedy, she makes this list for her work adapting web series Broad City into a TV show.

Image courtesy of Flickr, David Shankbone

It's no easy feat to help launch more than 100 products, as Nilofer Merchant has done. The alum of Apple and founder of Rubicon Consulting is also a mother.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Nilofer Merchant

Facebook COO and author of the recently-released book Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg is also the mother of two kids. She says parenting often should take priority, admitting to leaving work at 5:30 every day.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Sheryl Sandberg

Kenyan activist and blogger Ory Okolloh co-founded the African parliamentary watchdog Mzalendo. The mother of three currently serves as Google's policy manager for Africa.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Knight Foundation

Katie Jacobs Stanton, the woman responsible for taking Twitter international, is also the mother of three. As head of Twitter's international strategy, she helps citizens and leaders around the world optimize the microblogging platform.

Image by Nadine Rupp / Getty Images

The founder of Spanx became the first female billionaire to sign the Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge, committing to give half her wealth to charity by the end of her life. She is also the mother of one child, Lazer.

Image courtesy of Flickr, David Shankbone

Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, the mother of two, is responsible for creating one of the world's largest digital media properties. She currently serves as president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group.

Image courtesy of Flickr, c2-MTL

Wife of Microsoft founder and former Microsoft project manager, Melinda Gates is the mother of three children. She currently serves as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Image courtesy of Flickr, DFID - UK Department for International Development

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