Items tagged with rules
No, today isn't April Fool's Day. But it sure feels like it. Apple is notorious for taking a stand and sticking with it, regardless of criticism. They haven't backed down on their resistance to add Flash support, and they haven't backed down on their App Store regulations that prevents app makers from creating apps that "duplicate" functionality that came with the phone. This is the reason there's no "real" Gmail app for the iPhone, for example. But today, out of nowhere, Apple pulled a 180 that is a blessing for consumers everywhere. The App Store has more apps than any other competing mobile app store, even Google's Android Market. But app developers have very strict rules to follow, and it's...
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Just a decade ago, mentioning the phrase "cellphone etiquette" would probably get your laughed at. Today, it's a reasonable conversation to have. Just as the world has taken to an unofficial list of inflight Wi-Fi rules, the mobile community is also largely abiding by an unwritten set of rules that guide cellphone users on what to do (and more importantly, not do) when using their phone in mixed company. A recent survey broke down exactly what you can/can't do, but here are a few of our favorites. Using your phone to check emails, check scores, send a text message or make a phone call while someone else is talking to you is a big no-no. Checking out an incoming SMS while someone's talking to...
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While healthcare may be the hottest topic of all right now, it's hard to argue that net neutrality isn't one of the hottest, longest lasting topics as related to the Internet. Ever since this series of tubes was first put into place, pundits and supporters alike have debated about how much regulation was needed. Some argued that ISPs knew better than the average joe and deserved to be able to control certain aspects of the Internet experience, while others maintained that the Internet was great because of the freedom it gave the creative minds of the world. Now, all of those arguments are coming back to life once more, but this time a whole host of network carriers will be chiming in. And we...
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We've heard of crazy recommendations and pointless surveys, but man, this is just world-class comedy here. Though, to be fair, most everything recommended is legitimate, but it's mostly common knowledge. Inflight Wi-Fi is expected to soar in popularity of the next few years--that's a well known fact at this point--but debates are still raging over whether or not that's a good thing.Most airlines, if not all, have disabled VoIP calling while on their planes. This keeps patrons from dialing up friends via Skype while onboard, and in turn making every other passenger around them furious and agitated. A recent survey commissioned by 3M found that four in five business travelers admitted that they...
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While Google's new version of its Mobile App for the iPhone has been warmly received, it appears, according to a report, that it uses an undocumented API, which would be a no-no in Apple's book. However, the use of the API results in a great user experience, so one has to wonder: did Apple let the app into the App Store because it was great, because Google is so powerful, because the NY Times pimped the app, or because Apple just missed it? As you probably know, the new version of the app uses voice recognition: no more typing in search queries unless you speak with a British accent, and the app is smart enough to realize when you are raising the phone to your ear to speak, and prompt you. But...
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Ever had to take your laptop out of its bag and had it gone over with a fine-tooth comb at an airport? We have, and they turned it on, and ran over it with a swab to check for explosive residue. Yet another time-eating ritual. On Friday the TSA announced that Saturday, new laptop bag rules would go into effect, and laptops would be allowed to stay in some laptop bags deemed "checkpoint-friendly." The TSA asked asked laptop bag manufacturers to design bags that would not obstruct the image of a laptop when put through an X-ray machine, and chose the three styles above, butterfly, trifold, and sleeve, after submissions were made. In a press release, the TSA said (emphasis ours): If you intend to...
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In an interesting ruling with far-reaching ramifications, a US Court of Appeals in New York has decided that Cablevision was within its rights to offer a network Digital Video Recorder service to its customers. Instead of a hard drive in every home, your set-top cable box would be able to use a cloud computer arrangement to view programming stored centrally. A group of media companies had sued, claiming that showing recorded programs held on a network server is a form of copyright infringement, even though the Cable company would pay for the right to show the programming in the first place. The media companies had prevailed in a lower court, but the reversal means that the producers of media...
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Over 90% of the world's computers and servers are still using the x86 ISA (Instruction Set Architecture) introduced by Intel in 1978. Many have tried to come up with an alternative, but nothing has come close to supplanting it. ZD Net examines the reasons why, and why it might continue turning up in computers until the sun cools off. A performance improvement that small isn't going to encourage a dramatic move away from x86, said Pat Gelsinger, a veteran chip designer and senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group. "We're delivering 2x performance gains every year" with existing designs that can still...
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As the latest of the next-gen consoles are getting close to their release date, we should be starting to see pre-order details from various retailers. As Gamespot.com reports, Toys "R" Us has announced that they will be offering pre-orders for Nintendo's Wii starting this Sunday. Rumors are circulating that Playstation 3 pre-orders might also be available, but nothing has been confirmed. "Gamers who missed out on Wii preorders at EB Games and GameStop earlier this month are getting a second chance at launch day giddiness. Toy monolith Toys "R" Us will begin taking preorders for the Wii on Sunday, October 29, the retailer confirmed...
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