Tuesday, May 28, 2013

WNBA Player Puts on Astonishing Shooting Show

Sam-laird By Sam Laird2013-05-11 18:27:10 -0600

Even LeBron James and Kobe Bryant probably can't match this. Watch a former women's college-basketball player sink 132 out of 135 three-pointers in just five minutes.

Her name is Laurie Koehn, and she played for Kansas State back in the early 2000s before going on to the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. In this clip, she's back at her alma mater, which uploaded the video to its official YouTube channel on Wednesday. Koehn's machine-like efficiency has proved a hit with sports fans online, earning the clip more than 330,000 views since.

Could Koehn outshoot most NBA stars? Check the video, above; then let us know what you think in the comments.

Homepage image courtesy iStockphoto, groveb

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Pinterest adds more data to your boards with rich pins

Pinterest adds more data to your boards with rich pins data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20576017' !== '') ? 'bsd:20576017' : ''; var postID = '20576017'; 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:"internet",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"terrence-obrien", 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');}});Pinterest adds more data to your boards with rich pinsBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 1:34 PM 0

Pinterest adds more data to your boards with rich pins

Pinterest is already an absurdly popular way to save stuff from around the web, be it shoes you love, accessories for your bridesmaids or decorations for your man cave. One thing the social-bookmarking service has been missing, however, is context. Now it's offering a way for companies to deliver more info, through metadata attached to particular types of pages. Rich pins, as they're being called, can automatically attach price and availability to a product, or ingredient lists to recipes. There are also movie pins, which let sites attach ratings and credits to films. Pinterest has lined up an impressive list of partners to help it launch the new feature, including Netflix, Etsy, ASOS, REI, The North Face, Modcloth, Bon Appetit, Epicurious and Real Simple. All your old pins that now have contextual data will automatically be updated (which you'll be able to identify thanks to icons below them), and you can check out some example boards at the source link.

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Telecommuting: The Risks and Rewards

Work-from-home-1200Sam-laird By Sam Laird2013-05-11 18:04:54 UTC

Telecommuting is on the rise. As more jobs rely on just an Internet connection, companies look to stay nimble. Workers continue striving for balance in life, and simply working from home has become an increasingly viable option for both employers and employees.

By some estimates, a full fifth of the global tech workforce telecommutes at least occasionally, and 84% of that group does so at least once per month. One projection has up to 30% of the overall American workforce telecommuting by 2019.

But, while workers consider telecommuting to be a major perk, there are risks for employers. According to one survey, 43% of employees who telecommute admit to watching TV or movies while on the clock, while 20% say they've played video games.

This data comes from research done by MySammy, an employee-monitoring product for companies. That data and more is presented in the infographic below, which delivers an interesting overview of the changing workplace. Check it out for the fuller picture.

Would you let your employees telecommute? Let us know in the comments.

Photo via iStockphoto, nyul

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Fascinating Live Map Shows People Around the World Editing Wikipedia

Lorenzo-f-bicchireai By Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai2013-05-13 20:56:10 UTC

Wikipedia, the encyclopedia of the Internet, is a constant work in progress. Its articles are being crowd-edited every minute by scores of people around the world. Now, thanks to two programmers, you can see what articles are being edited in real time, with every edit conveniently displayed on a world map.

Stephen LaPorte and Mahmoud Hashemi created the map, and it's available on this website. When you visit the site, the map starts live-updating any time an unregistered Wikipedia user makes any change to one of its more than 30 million entries.

The creators of the map note that it only displays edits made by non-registered users, which only make for 15% of the total edits on the site. "Edits by registered users do not have associated IP information, so the map actually represents only a small portion of the total edit activity on Wikipedia," wrote the programmers on the site.

The map provides a fascinating peek into what people around the globe are interested in and what they tinker with on Wikipedia, as well as the fact that more often than not, people edit entries that have nothing to do with where they're from.

To learn more, watch the video above.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Recent Changes Map

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Wacom releases Bamboo Loop photo-sharing digital card app (video)

Wacom Offers Bamboo Loop - A Digital Card App To Make You Smile

Launched by Wacom ´s app software group, Bamboo Loop is making mobile messaging highly visual, beautiful and fun

Vancouver, Wash. - May 20, 2013 - Wacom® today announces BambooTM Loop, a new app for iPhone and iPod Touch. It combines principles of photo sharing and messaging in a unique and fun way: digital, paper-like photo cards are sent ("looped") to friends, family members and close colleagues.

Unlike many apps in which a photo is added separately to a text message, in Bamboo Loop photos take center stage and can be illustrated and personalized with the built-in editing tools. Sketch, scribble or write on the photo with the finger or a Bamboo Stylus. Loop the modified photo back to the person who sent it or send it on to someone else. One can even share it over social networks. Everyone can be creative with Bamboo Loop.

The base card within the app is a photograph framed with a white border; very handy for personal messages. A style browser offers a choice of different backgrounds, card shapes, patterns, photo filters, color palettes and effects, enabling users to easily create cards with a nostalgic, artistic or fun feel. Some of the styles are provided free of charge, however additional ones can be purchased in-app from the Loop Style Gallery for $2.00 (US) per pack of four. Scribbles, drawings or messages can be written on the card in various colors and zooming into details is done with a pinch gesture, which facilitates the drawing of details. Photographs of mundane objects can become extraordinary and fun memories once gone through the creative treatment in Bamboo Loop.

Bamboo Loop is simply a great way to keep loved ones in the loop. Users can communicate backwards and forwards with each other as the digital cards can be fully modified before being returned. A smiley face, the "Bamboo Loop Like", also provides more instant and cheerful feedback if one does not feel like drawing or writing. Currently the app works as a one-on-one communication loop, but cards can be shared with a wider group of friends by posting them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Loop is also attractive as a visual blogging tool for users of Tumblr.

Bamboo Loop combines the best of both worlds. Aesthetically, it is a beautifully creative photo sharing tool and, in its mechanics, it works as a personal messaging service, letting one talk one-on-one. Everyone can put a smile on someone's face.

Technical Details:
- Bamboo Loop currently runs on iOS 5 and higher.
- It supports iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPod Touch 4, iPod Touch 5.
- Creating a Bamboo Loop account is required in order to use the application.
- Account creation goes through registration, which is e-mail based.
- Bamboo Loop works very well with the Bamboo Styli, especially Bamboo
Stylus mini which can be attached to the jack of the iPhone.

Bamboo Loop is the second app launched by Wacom's app software group, following the highly successful Bamboo Paper for iPad and Android phones (5 million installations), which can be downloaded for free via iTunes or Google Play and in the Samsung Apps Store.
Bamboo Loop will soon be available for Android phones. To receive a notification as soon as Bamboo Loop will be available in Google Play register with your email address at bambooloop.wacom.com/android.


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The Tonight Show's Biggest Viral Hit Is Probably Fake

Kevin Collier for The Daily Dot 2013-05-13 23:03:15 UTC

That video of a couple singing karaoke at a gas station, Jay Leno's all-time greatest YouTube success, is totally fake.

The clip is of a well-established Tonight Show bit called Pumpcast News, in which a news anchor on a screen placed above a gas station pump starts interacting with the customera in front of him. In this one, he notices a man singing as he starts to pump, then asks him and his wife to karaoke. In the four days since the clip went up on YouTube, it's gotten more than 7.5 million views.

The first clue that the video isn't capturing a spontaneous moment of comedy at the one minute mark, when the newscaster announces "here's Will!" without the singer giving his name.

In real life, the two, Will and Monifa Sims, are Chicago-trained actors. Will claimed in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times that the only reason that fact wasn't revealed in the Tonight Show segment (or the second one, in which the two were invited to Leno's stage to reprise their songs), was because the show's producers "didn’t want [people] to think we were actors and it was a plant."

In the interview, he indicated that he hadn't been in on the segment before it was filmed.

“You never, in a million years, think you’re going to pump gas and be on the Internet, let alone the Tonight Show,” he said.

However, as noticed by the Smoking Gun, Monifa has been highlighted in a different Pumpcast News segment on the show, possibly filmed the same day. Unnamed at the time, she's challenged by the newscaster to run around the gas station in exchange for free gas.

"On both occasions, Monifa was in the same Chrysler Pacifica (she drove during the first taping, while her husband was at the wheel during the recent shoot). Additionally, she is seen wearing identical workout pants in each segment," the Smoking Gun reports.

"This almost seems like a plant," Leno said when he brought them on his show, introducing Will as a bartender and Monifa as a fitness instructor. "We had no idea these people were coming."

Homepage image courtesy of YouTube, tonightshownbc

This article originally published at The Daily Dot here

Topics: Entertainment, fake, jay leno, tonight show, Television, Video, Videos, viral video The Daily Dot is a Mashable publishing partner that reports on the most important and relevant topics from within, applying tried-and-true principles drawn from community journalism to the growing cultures of the Internet. This article is reprinted with the publisher's permission.

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The Daily Roundup for 05.20.2013

The Daily Roundup for 05.20.2013 data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20577006' !== '') ? 'bsd:20577006' : ''; var postID = '20577006'; 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:"",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"david-fishman", 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("348-14-15-14c",{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');}});The Daily Roundup for 05.20.2013BypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 7:00 PM 0

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

ASUS Transformer Book review: meet ASUS' first detachable Ultrabook

For a while, it looked like ASUS' Transformer Book would turn out to be vaporware: after debuting to much fanfare a year ago, it encountered numerous delays, and even missed the crucial holiday shopping season. Now it's finally here, but with a year-old CPU. Click the link above for all the details.

HTC One for T-Mobile: what's different?

By most accounts, the HTC One is the most compelling Android smartphone on the market today, but only three of the major US carriers are wise enough to sell it. Up until this point, we've put the AT&T and Sprint models through their paces, and now we have an opportunity to round out the trio with T-Mobile's version. HTC's One is among the best smartphones you can buy on T-Mobile right now. Read on for our full review.

A tour of the Jolla phone with company co-founder Marc Dillon (video)

Say hello to the Jolla Phone. Pre-orders for the world's first Sailfish OS device started today and we've called into Helsinki to get the whole story from Jolla's co-founder and software head Marc Dillon.

Microsoft's next Xbox: The rumor roundup

It's been eight years since Microsoft and Sony announced new consoles, and tastes have changed considerably. With less than 24 hours before the next Xbox is revealed, it's high time we sifted through the leaks, rumors and prognostications to see what we know, or at least, what we think we know about a little box called "Durango." Read our roundup above, and stay tuned tomorrow for more details.

You also might like:Editorial: Google confuses magic with middling as it steps into music streamingLiberator gun made with consumer 3D printer, plastic pistol fires nine shots successfully (video)Yahoo confirms acquisition of Tumblr, but will run it as a 'separate business' when.eng("eng.perm.init")

Helm Your Own Ship With Friends in This Cross-Platform Game

Chelsea-stark By Chelsea Stark2013-05-13 23:36:27 UTC

If you've ever wanted reason to shout "Full power to deflector shields!" or "Get ready to make the jump to light speed," you might need to give this Kickstarter a look.

Quintet is a five-player party game that puts gamers on the bridge of a spaceship. Each player controls a different role - engineering, science, tactical, helm and the captain — to help the ship reach its objective. You can pair up with other teams in the game, and there are also solo and two-player ships available to players.

The game is cross platform, meaning Mac, PC, web browser and iOS players can all enjoy the game together in the same room or online. Carmine T. Guida, the game's creator, said he launched the Kickstarter to add support for Android tablets and phones.

At press time, the Kickstarter had already reached its goal, and Guida said in his campaign he'd use extra money to help support backer rewards and maintain the Quintet servers.

There are very few games that have explored the experience commanding the bridge of a futuristic starship, with the exception of Artemis and iOS party game Spaceteam. Quintet promises to give players a unique experience.

A Quintent download is free, although mission upgrades can be purchased and can be acquired through the website or iTunes.

Image via iStockphoto, InnaBodrava.

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AT&T confirms that all video chat apps will work over cellular by the end of this year

AT&T confirms that all video chat apps will work over cellular by the end of this year data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20576589' !== '') ? 'bsd:20576589' : ''; var postID = '20576589'; 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:"zach-honig", 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');}});AT&T confirms that all video chat apps will work over cellular by the end of this year MobileBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 2:40 PM 0

Will video Hangouts launch when you're on AT&T's 3G network? Can you FaceTime with a friend over LTE? The carrier's current video chat support is confusing at best. Following Google's Hangouts app launch last week, we attempted to try out the Android version over AT&T's HSPA network. After hitting connect, a message popped up instructing us to hop over to WiFi in order to complete the call. The carrier followed up by suggesting that Google was to blame -- as the software was a replacement for a native Android app, it was up to Mountain View to flip the switch. Now, by the end of this year, AT&T has pledged to support all video chat apps, regardless of which device you own, what you pay in fees or whether or not you downloaded the app yourself. This is good news, no doubt. You can catch AT&T's statement just below.

For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we currently give all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share or Tiered plans. Apple, Samsung and Blackberry have chosen to enable this for their pre-loaded video chat apps. And by mid-June, we'll have enabled those apps over cellular for our unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices from those three manufacturers.

Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by yearend.

Today, all of our customers can use any mobile video chat app that they download from the Internet, such as Skype.

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Eerie Pics Show Tunisia's Abandoned 'Star Wars' Sets

RadimartinothumbSam-laird By Sam Laird2013-05-11 20:12:08 UTC

Little known fact: Tatooine isn't actually located in a galaxy far, far away. It's right here on Earth — Tunisia, to be precise.

The North African country was where many of the most iconic Stars Wars scenes were shot decades ago. Its dramatic, desolate landscape provided an ideal setting to help bring George Lucas' imagination to life.

Visual artist and filmmaker RƤ di Martino recently saw the abandoned sets — some of which have stood the test of time better than others — firsthand. Her eerie, beautiful photos are remarkable both for their nostalgic value and their subject matter, giving those who see them a window into a surreal world. She's letting us run a handful here; check out di Martino's website for more of her work.

1. If Lucas was looking to establish Tatooine as a stark place, it's easy to see why he chose Tunisia to build a set.

2. Some of what's left from the Star Wars days is virtually unrecognizable, however.

3. The Lars homestead ain't what it used to be.

4. This photo, according to di Martino, shows a Tunisian beggar sitting among the ruins.

5. di Martino's Star Wars photos are part of her research for a project on abandoned film sets in North Africa.

All photos courtesy RƤ di Martino

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Visualized: The Jolla phone's 'other half' kaleidoscope

Visualized: The Jolla phone's 'other half' kaleidoscope data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20576306' !== '') ? 'bsd:20576306' : ''; var postID = '20576306'; 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:"mat-smith", 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');}});Visualized: The Jolla phone's 'other half' kaleidoscope MobileBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 1:47 PM 0

Visualized Jolla phone's 'other half' kaleidoscope

Following some important pricing details, preorder launches and some concrete hardware specs, we've just got to play with the new Jolla phone. Sure, we've already toyed with the software, but today's event is all about the new physical home for the Sailfish OS. It could be a difficult sell in the cutthroat world of smartphones, there's certainly something compelling in Jolla's split design and all those of color options, regardless of what functionality they might add in the future. Jolla phone colors hands-on See all photos 8 Photos

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Google Offers 15GB Unified Storage Across Gmail, Drive, Google+

Google-chromebook Emily-7d5b1d3e6b By Emily Price2013-05-13 19:02:59 UTC

Google is consolidating storage between Drive, Gmail and Google+, now offering users 15GB of free storage shared across all three platforms.

“Life gets a bit easier when your Google products work well together—whether that’s inserting a Drive file into an email or sharing a photo from Drive on Google+. As this experience becomes more seamless, separate storage doesn’t make as much sense anymore,” Clay Bavo, Google’s Director of Product Management said in a blog post announcing the change.

With the new combined storage space you are free to store what you want where you want. So you could in theory have 15GB of files stored in Gmail, but nothing stored anywhere else; or 5GB in Gmail, 9GB in Google Drive, and a few photos hanging out in Google+.

Previously you were restricted to 10GB of free storage in Gmail, and 5GB for Google+ and Google Drive. You were also unable to upgrade Gmail storage past 25GB. Monday's unified storage announcement removes that cap.

Google also updated the Google Drive storage page. The new page has a pie chart breaking down your own personal storage over each platform, and offers easy access for buying more data. Users can upgrade to 100GB of storage, for instance, for $4.99 per month.

Image by Mashable, Emily Price

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Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th

Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th data = {blogUrl: "www.engadget.com",v: 315};when = {jquery: lab.scriptBs("jquery"),plugins: lab.scriptBs("plugins"),eng: lab.scriptBs("eng")}; var s265prop9 = ('20577030' !== '') ? 'bsd:20577030' : ''; var postID = '20577030'; 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:"google",prop9:s265prop9,prop12:document.location,prop17:"",prop18:"",prop19:"",prop20:"", prop22:"alexis-santos", 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');}});Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20thBypostedMay 20th, 2013 at 6:36 PM 0

Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th

Although Google Checkout was rolled into Google Wallet at the end of 2011, it's still been an option for folks who peddle their wares online to collect payments. Come November 20th, however, the service will officially shut down. While Page and Co. recommend US-based merchants switch to the revamped Wallet, they're partnering with Braintree, Shopify and Freshbooks to offer discounted migration options as well. As for developers using Checkout for transactions through the Chrome Web Store, Google Play and Offers Marketplace, they'll be automatically transitioned to the Google Wallet Merchant Center in the coming weeks.

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What to Expect at BlackBerry Live 2013

Blackberry-10-signs Cmac By Christina Warren2013-05-13 19:09:32 UTC

Google isn't the only company holding a mobile developer conference this week. BlackBerry's annual BlackBerry Live conference kicks off Tuesday in Orlando.

It's been a big year for BlackBerry. In the last four months the company has changed its name, released its first BlackBerry 10 smartphone (the BlackBerry Z10) and rolled out its first QWERTY BlackBerry 10 device, the BlackBerry Q10.

While the verdict is still out as to whether BlackBerry is truly "back" — and if it can realistically compete against the iOS and Android juggernauts — the company is certainly going into the conference in a better position than it did last year.

So what can we expect to see from BlackBerry at BlackBerry Live? These are our predictions.

The BlackBerry Q10 shipped with BlackBerry 10.1, the first point-release update to the BB10 platform. The update brought support for the Q10's screen size, as well as some enhancements to notifications, access to older email and support for promo codes in BlackBerry World.

Developer versions of BlackBerry 10.1 also indicate that HDR options for the camera and other usability improvements.

For some users, the biggest feature of BlackBerry 10.1 might just be the ability to install Skype from BlackBerry World on the device. BlackBerry Q10 owners can already download the app and users running leaked versions of BB 10.1 are reporting success at installing the app.

At BlackBerry Live, we expect the company to announce a date for BlackBerry 10.1 for the Z10. When actual users get the update will depend on how carriers want to roll out the update, but hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

During BlackBerry's last quarterly earnings call, CEO Thorsten Heins commented that a lower-priced BlackBerry 10 device aimed at emerging markets — where BlackBerry is still a leading smartphone brand — was in the works for a 2013 release.

Images and specs of this device, which is rumored to be called the BlackBerry R10, leaked earlier this month. The device purportedly has the same screen size and resolution of the Q10, but has a smaller amount of internal storage and could have a slower processor.

The device also looks much more like the BlackBerry Curve line of phones (in other words, cheap), rather than stately and sophisticated like the BlackBerry Q10.

Perhaps BlackBerry will unveil the phone and explain more about its targeted market strategy — and price points — at BlackBerry Live.

Last year, BlackBerry (then known as Research In Motion), promised that BlackBerry PlayBook owners would get updated to BlackBerry 10.

During the BlackBerry Z10 launch, the company again reiterated that BlackBerry 10 would come to the PlayBook, but gave no concrete time frame.

Although the PlayBook OS is similar to BB10 (both are based on QNX), the platforms are different. This is problematic for developers that want to build apps for both platforms — and for users that want to use the same app on more than one device. BlackBerry 10 also adds improvements to the PlayBook 2.0's email, web browser and Android app support.

Despite Thorsten Heins's dismissive remarks about the future of tablets — as well as the company's previous statements that it doesn't plan to be in the tablet market unless it can make money (something it acknowledges it doesn't know how to do) — we expect the company to at least offer an updated timeline of BB10 availability for the PlayBook.

Apps are the lifeblood of the current smartphone market. A platform quite literally lives and dies based on the quality — and yes, quantity — of its app ecosystem.

While BlackBerry boasts that it has more apps at launch than any other smartphone in history — the truth is, most of those apps aren't very good. There are also lots of missing top-tier apps, including Spotify, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Snapchat, Pandora, Candy Crush Saga and of course, Instagram.

BlackBerry was able to deliver Skype for the platform and it even convinced WhatsApp to come back — but if it wants the next generation of app developers to target the platform — it needs to prove that the big players are there.

BlackBerry Live would be the perfect time to prove to developers — and to the world — that BlackBerry 10 has the support of the big players, or at least some of them.

I'll be at BlackBerry Live, covering the news and announcements from the floor. Feel free to tweet me your questions (or find me if you happen to be at the show) and let me know what you want to see.

What do you think of BlackBerry's chances in the current smartphone marketplace? Can the company still compete or is it too far gone?

What do you want to see and hear from the company at BlackBerry Live? Let us know in the comments.

Image by Pete Pachal, Mashable

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