Verizon tops customer loyalty for the ninth consecutive quarter

. Verizon Wireless (VZ) this week announced that for the ninth consecutive quarter, the nation's largest carrier has led the industry in customer loyalty. Verizon's postpaid churn rate of 0.84% in the second quarter of 2012 was the lowest customer turnover rate among all of the nation's major wireless providers. The three other carriers, which were not referred to by name, had churn rates of 0.97%, 1.79% and 2.10% in the second quarter. Last quarter, Verizon recorded a profit of $1.83 billion and revealed that it had 88.8 million postpaid subscribers and a total of 94.2 million customers.

Boy Genius Report , Verizon tops customer loyalty for the ninth consecutive quarter

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aboutit, Verizon tops customer loyalty for the ninth consecutive quarter

DirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR

DirecTV has quietly updated both its iPad app and HR34 DVR with a variety of new features for Satellite-loving customers. The application will now resume from where you left off, comes with a much improved search function and best of all, a direct line into the company's support forums. Meanwhile, the HR34 swallowed a software package that included Pandora, a YouTube landing page and more readable closed captions amongst a raft of other nips and tucks.

Engadget , DirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR, DirecTV quietly updates iPad app, HR34 DVR

Adidas unveils social media shoe for tweeps

German sports clothing manufacturer Adidas is infusing technology into its 60-year old sagacity by introducing a shoe that can receive tweets. Just in time for the London Olympics, Adidas decided to revamp the adiPower Barricade shoe by turning it into a Social Media Shoe. Adidas has outfitted the 2012 Adidas Barricade tennis sneaker with an Arduino unit, an external LCD to display information to user, and a customized software that polls the Twitter APIs to share specific data on the shoe screen. The Social Media Shoe also features an LED lighting embedded into its three stripes, with its colors controllable by a remote control.

Ubergizmo , Adidas unveils social media shoe for tweeps, Adidas unveils social media shoe for tweeps

Early unaired Mac ad even more smug and obnoxious than reviled ‘Genius' ads [video]

. Apple's (AAPL) history of creating advertisements featuring smug, cocky “geniuses” goes back well before the recent “Genius” ads and even before the old-school “Mac-versus-PC” ads. In spite of the company's history, 9to5Mac has found that current Google (GOOG) software engineer and Macintosh co-creator Andy Hertzfeld has posted a video on his Google+ page showing an unaired Mac ad from 1983 that was deemed “too self-congratulatory” for humans to stomach.



Boy Genius Report , Early unaired Mac ad even more smug and obnoxious than reviled ‘Genius' ads [video], Early unaired Mac ad even more smug and obnoxious than reviled ‘Genius' ads [video]

Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD approved by the FCC

Expected to become commercially available before the end of this month (first in Asia), the high-end Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD has been approved by the FCC today, which means a launch in North America is now possible. The MediaPad 10 FHD is quite an impressive tablet, featuring a 10.1 inch IPS display with 1920 x 1200 pixels, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP rear camera, and a metallic case that's 8.8mm thin. For now, the FCC only tested the tablet's Wi-Fi capabilities, but LTE will be featured, too.

Unwired View , Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD approved by the FCC, Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD approved by the FCC

Free ZTE Optik tablet for every smartphone bought from Sprint between August 12 and September 30

Sprint will have an interesting offer for you between August 12 (so this Sunday) and September 30. You'll receive a ZTE Optik tablet for free if you purchase any smartphone that's in Sprint's roster. That includes the recently discounted iPhone 4S, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which is now free with a two-year contract. So you could be getting a smartphone and a tablet for free if you choose to sign that long-term commitment. Or, if you want another phone, for whatever price you need to pay for it you'll also get a tablet. Pretty sweet.

Of course, as you'd expect, the Optik doesn't have any earth-shattering specs.

Unwired View , Free ZTE Optik tablet for every smartphone bought from Sprint between August 12 and September 30, Free ZTE Optik tablet for every smartphone bought from Sprint between August 12 and September 30

CS:GO patch to add custom controls for sound spatialization

Sound spatialization algorithms are not something the average gamer thinks about. It's a Carmackian phrase; I can already see your eyes beginning to gloss over from reading it. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, however, is making a big deal about its intention to provide unparalleled control in sound by opening up more audio tweaking options than the standard, "How loud is the yelling compared to the shooting and the music?" They've even provided colorful charts and graphs to explain what this means.


2DayBlog.com , CS:GO patch to add custom controls for sound spatialization, CS:GO patch to add custom controls for sound spatialization

Windows 8 RTM will include ‘do not track' by default for Internet Explorer 10

Many advertisers weren't thrilled when Microsoft proclaimed that ‘do not track' would be the default for Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8, but that reaction hasn't made the folks in Redmond flinch. Brendon Lynch, the company's Chief Privacy Officer, announced that the ‘do not track' default is already baked into the code of the October-bound operating system that has been released to manufacturers. Upon booting Windows 8 for the first time, users will be greeted with a choice between “Express Settings” or “Customize,” the former of which has “do not track” enabled.

2DayBlog.com , Windows 8 RTM will include ‘do not track' by default for Internet Explorer 10, Windows 8 RTM will include ‘do not track' by default for Internet Explorer 10

Lenovo's first Windows 8 Pro tablet set for October release

. Lenovo (0092) isn't going to let the Microsoft (MSFT) Surface have all the Windows 8 tablet glory. The ThinkPad manufacturer on Thursday announced that its first-ever Windows 8 Pro tablet, dubbed the ThinkPad Tablet 2, will become available in October -  possibly on the 26th when Microsoft officially releases the Surface. As far as features go, Lenovo has taken a page from Samsung by including an optional stylus with the device and is also offering a Surface-like keyboard dock that is sold separately. When it comes to size, the ThinkPad Tablet 2 has a 10.1-inch display, is 9.8 mm thin and weights less than 1.3 pounds.

Boy Genius Report , Lenovo's first Windows 8 Pro tablet set for October release

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techage, Lenovo's first Windows 8 Pro tablet set for October release

The next-generation Xbox is 18 months away, at most

. Gamers who are tired of Microsoft (MSFT) hyping Windows 8 and the Surface without spilling any beans about the next-generation Xbox can chill: a new version of Microsoft's popular gaming system will launch within 18 months at the latest.

Boy Genius Report , The next-generation Xbox is 18 months away, at most, The next-generation Xbox is 18 months away, at most

iPad mini deemed ‘pointless' by nearly half of American iPhone fans

. Apple's (AAPL) next-generation iPhone is the most highly-anticipated product launch of the year. The iPad mini, though. Meh, not so much. Cult of Mac reports that coupon-code website CouponCodes4u has done another one of its periodic surveys to get the pulse of American consumer sentiment and has unsurprisingly found that most Americans would rather buy a next-generation iPhone than an iPad mini by a ratio of about four to one.

Boy Genius Report , iPad mini deemed ‘pointless' by nearly half of American iPhone fans, iPad mini deemed ‘pointless' by nearly half of American iPhone fans

Consumer Reports calls out 'Five Popular Cars To Avoid'

Those crusaders of shopping empowerment over at Consumer Reports have put together a list of five cars to avoid, even if their sales numbers suggest otherwise. CR points out that just because a vehicle is making a lot of buzz and ringing cash registers, that doesn't necessarily make it a wise choice for buyers.

Autoblog , Consumer Reports calls out 'Five Popular Cars To Avoid', Consumer Reports calls out 'Five Popular Cars To Avoid'

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q has August 15 release date seemingly confirmed

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q is on its way to T-Mobile. It looks like it will be available on August 15, so next Wednesday. We first heard about that date through a leaked internal document which surfaced at the beginning of July. And today the first press render of this smartphone was leaked to TmoNews. In it, the date is August 15.

That can't be just a coincidence.

Unwired View , T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q has August 15 release date seemingly confirmed, T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q has August 15 release date seemingly confirmed

RIM dodges $150 million bullet

. Bullets keep flying Research In Motion's (RIMM) way, but this time the company managed to dodge one. A jury in a Northern California court recently found RIM guilty of infringing patents owned by management software solutions provider Mformation Technology, and RIM was ordered to pay $147.2 million in damages. This was hardly what RIM needed as it attempts to trim operating costs by $1 billion, and it appealed the jury's decision. On Thursday, RIM announced that it won its appeal and will not have to pay damages.

Boy Genius Report , RIM dodges $150 million bullet, RIM dodges $150 million bullet

Jeep Liberty has date with oblivion next Thursday

Opinions on the Jeep Liberty replacement appear to be just as divided as those on the current Liberty. The mid-range SUV we have now hasn't done whopping sales numbers for a while, and gets dinged for its engine, transmission, gas mileage and reliability, but in its penultimate year of existence, Jeep moved almost 40 percent more of them than the year before. The Liberty replacement that is yet unnamed is expected to be built on a Dodge Dart platform and pack an available nine-speed transmission.

Autoblog , Jeep Liberty has date with oblivion next Thursday, Jeep Liberty has date with oblivion next Thursday

Vringo buys small Nokia patent portfolio as asset sell-off continues

Nokia's sale of the century hour continues, selling off a small intellectual property portfolio to Vringo. The little-known app maker has snapped up a bundle of 500 patents and applications from the Finnish phone maker, including 109 issued US Patents. The collection mostly concerns backbone tech, including communication management, signal transmission and cellular infrastructure. Neither company mentioned a figure, but Vringo revealed that Nokia's getting a chunk of any future profits made.

Engadget , Vringo buys small Nokia patent portfolio as asset sell-off continues, Vringo buys small Nokia patent portfolio as asset sell-off continues

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition launching in the US soon thanks to Best Buy

Available in the US since April, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 will be released soon in a new version, called Student Edition. Reportedly, the Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition will be out via Best Buy, starting August 19. The difference between it and the standard edition is that it comes with a keyboard dock, and USB peripheral connector.

Unwired View , Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition launching in the US soon thanks to Best Buy, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition launching in the US soon thanks to Best Buy

Nikon's New COOLPIX L610 Compact Camera with Incredible Zoom Lens Makes it Easy to Capture a Family's Active, Always On-the-Go Lifestyle

Today, Nikon Inc. introduced the new COOLPIX L610, an affordable compact digital camera featuring an impressive 14x optical Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens and an Easy Auto Mode to help ensure the capture of stunning photos and Full HD (1080p) video. Whether shooting on vacation in the tropical sun or capturing a night game from the stands, the 16-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor helps conquer challenging lighting conditions for picture-perfect memories. The COOLPIX L610 offers performance and versatility not commonly found among affordable super zoom cameras.





Akihabara News , Nikon's New COOLPIX L610 Compact Camera with Incredible Zoom Lens Makes it Easy to Capture a Family's Active, Always On-the-Go Lifestyle

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wgitn, Nikon's New COOLPIX L610 Compact Camera with Incredible Zoom Lens Makes it Easy to Capture a Family's Active, Always On-the-Go Lifestyle

7.0-Inch Touchscreen HD PMP

Here comes another affordable 7.0-inch touchscreen HD PMP from Light In The Box. Priced at just $76.99, the player is equipped with a 7.0-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen display, an 8GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), an FM radio, a voice recorder, an e-book reader, built-in G-Sensor games, a TV-out, a built-in speaker, a 1800mAh battery and supports up to 720p HD video playback.

TechFresh , 7.0-Inch Touchscreen HD PMP

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technologypulse, 7.0-Inch Touchscreen HD PMP

GameKlip turns your Android device into a pseudo handheld console

So you are stuck with playing games like Dead Trigger because it is free on your Android-powered device simply because you flat out refuse to fork out $250 for the PS Vita from Sony, or perhaps slightly less coin for Nintendo's 3DS. Here we are with a glimpse of hope and salvation for the miserly – the GameKlip accessory which will work to your current Android-powered smartphone, turning it into a pseudo portable gaming machine to boot. No idea on whether this will offer a better control scheme compared to the PS Vita as there is still the touchscreen controls to work through, but at least you have an option here.

Ubergizmo , GameKlip turns your Android device into a pseudo handheld console, GameKlip turns your Android device into a pseudo handheld console

The Galaxy S III is a huge hit, but usage in the U.S. still lags way behind iPhone

. While the Galaxy S III is helping Samsung (005930) grow its presence on the mobile web, the company is still well behind Apple (AAPL) when it comes to usage. Mobile ad firm Chitika has released new numbers showing that the Galaxy S III's share of overall Samsung ad impressions in North America has risen significantly since its initial release, jumping from less than 3% on June 18th to over 11% on August 6th.

Boy Genius Report , The Galaxy S III is a huge hit, but usage in the U.S. still lags way behind iPhone, The Galaxy S III is a huge hit, but usage in the U.S. still lags way behind iPhone

Nikon may unveil Android-powered camera with Google Play access on August 22nd

. Nikon (7731) is reportedly preparing to announce its first Android powered compact camera, reportedly called the Coolpix S800 or S800c. According to Nikon Rumors, the camera will be equipped with a 3.5-inch OLED display and will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The device will also supposedly feature a 25-250mm zoom lens, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, and it will have access to the Google Play store.

Boy Genius Report , Nikon may unveil Android-powered camera with Google Play access on August 22nd, Nikon may unveil Android-powered camera with Google Play access on August 22nd

132-page internal document shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone pixel by pixel

. An internal memo from February 2010 emerged in the Apple (AAPL) vs. Samsung (005930) trial on Monday that was fairly damaging to Samsung's case. In the memo, mobile boss JK Shin expressed outrage at how far Samsung's user experience had fallen behind even Apple's first iPhone, which was already three years old at that time.

Boy Genius Report , 132-page internal document shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone pixel by pixel, 132-page internal document shows how Samsung set out to copy the iPhone pixel by pixel

Upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive patch detailed, Mac support incoming

Yesterday we announced that Counter-Strike: Global Offensive pre-orders had begun, and today Valve has revealed additional information about the upcoming game, such as how pre-purchasing customers will get a 10% discount on the game and will also have access to the beta which will be taking place on the 14th of August. Valve has also announced that they will be updating the game prior to the beta test taking place on the 14th of August, so if you're a hardcore gamer and want to stay ahead of all the changes and whatnot, pop on over to the Counter-Strike blog for the details.

Ubergizmo , Upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive patch detailed, Mac support incoming, Upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive patch detailed, Mac support incoming

Verizon's 'secret menu' Share Everything plans offer 20GB for $150

Like Starbucks' Short Latté, Fatburger's Hypocrite and Wendy's Meat Cube, Verizon is offering its own not-so-secret menu on its Share Everything data plans. Big V's Brenda Raney told Computerworld that there are five more tiers beyond the 10GB top-limit shown on the company's website - that are only available if you ask on the phone or in stores. The options run from 12GB for $110 all the way to 20GB for $150, but only as long as you've agreed the limit in advance of blowing all that data. If not, then you'll be spending another $150 in penalty charges for your overage.

Engadget , Verizon's 'secret menu' Share Everything plans offer 20GB for $150, Verizon's 'secret menu' Share Everything plans offer 20GB for $150

Kno starts offering K-12 textbooks on tablets, scores industry-first deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Kno's tablet textbooks have only ever been available to the college crowd; the younger among us have typically had to get a comprehensive digital education from either the tablet maker's own solution, like Apple's iBooks 2, or less-than-integrated options. A new deal for K-12 books is giving the students, if not necessarily the teachers, a fresh alternative. Parents can now rent books for home studying at prices under $10 per title. They're not state-specific books, but their Common Core roots will keep learners on the same (virtual) page as classmates while adding Kno's usual 3D, links, notes and videos.

2DayBlog.com , Kno starts offering K-12 textbooks on tablets, scores industry-first deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Kno starts offering K-12 textbooks on tablets, scores industry-first deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Microsoft patents contextual ads in e-books, whether we like it or not

We have ad-supported e-reading today, but the ads always sit on the periphery at most. That makes us more than slightly nervous about a newly-granted Microsoft patent for contextual e-book ads. The development would make the pitch based on not just targeted pages but the nature of the book in question: a sci-fi novel might try to sell lightsabers, and characters themselves might slip into the ads themselves if there's a fit. Promos could be either generated on the spot or remain static.

2DayBlog.com , Microsoft patents contextual ads in e-books, whether we like it or not, Microsoft patents contextual ads in e-books, whether we like it or not

Apple seizes on Samsung internal document as proof of mimicry

As much as Apple would love for Kwon Oh-hyun to turn up at court and tearfully confess to being a copycat, that's probably not going to happen. Instead, Cupertino's lawyers are burrowing through Samsung's history in search of a legal smoking gun, and one of their latest submissions has been presented as just that. It's a 132-page document written in 2010 by Sammy engineers that directly compares the iPhone against the Galaxy S and makes recommendations about how the latter should be more like the former.

Engadget , Apple seizes on Samsung internal document as proof of mimicry, Apple seizes on Samsung internal document as proof of mimicry

Titanium + Pen + Stylus = I Want

Chadwick Parker and Joe Huang's Solid Titanium Pen + Stylus Kickstarter project has 6 days of funding left. They aren't worried though, because they have bypassed their $50,000 goal to over $254,000.  What's so exciting about this pen. Other than the fact that it's available in 3 finishes and made of solid TA4 Grade 4 titanium from clip to tip, it's compatible with over 30 different pen refills. Got a favorite? It's probably compatible with it. It even features a replaceable capacitive stylus tip. Want one? Then you better hurry. You have 6 days left to pledge $65. That will get you one pen, shipped free world wide.

The Gadgeteer , Titanium + Pen + Stylus = I Want

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techcrunch, Titanium + Pen + Stylus = I Want

Modified Lightning McQueen Powerwheels is what childhood dreams are made of

Evan here is one lucky five year old. In 2009 he received one of those Lightning McQueen Powerwheels, which would have been fun enough for someone his age. But according to the poster of this video, "after three years of use he had worn through the plastic wheels. We decided to upgrade the OEM plastic wheels with rubber tires.".
But that was not the end. Not by a mile. His father, in a shop with some high-performance metal, continued to modify the Powerwheel, to the point that it now has a partial aluminum chassis, 24-volt gel batteries and a 500-Watt, 0.66-horsepower electric motor.



Autoblog , Modified Lightning McQueen Powerwheels is what childhood dreams are made of, Modified Lightning McQueen Powerwheels is what childhood dreams are made of

Voice calling plans might finally be dying: Samsung Galaxy S III gets Voice over LTE in Korea

. The days of smartphone users having to pay for buckets of voice minutes each month may be approaching an end. The South Korea IT Times reports that South Korea Telecom will soon start upgrading its customers' Samsung (005930) Galaxy S III smartphones so they can make voice calls over the carrier's LTE network. This is significant because it means that voice calls on the SKT customers' smartphones will become just another data application rather than a separate service requiring its own monthly plan.

Boy Genius Report , Voice calling plans might finally be dying: Samsung Galaxy S III gets Voice over LTE in Korea, Voice calling plans might finally be dying: Samsung Galaxy S III gets Voice over LTE in Korea

Senate committee approves $2,500 federal tax credit for electric two-wheelers

Last week, the Senate Finance Committee approved a federal tax credit worth 10 percent of the price of electric bikes and motorcycles, up to a maximum of $2,500. If the bill passes, it would end an existing electric vehicle tax credit for golf carts that can't be taken on public highways, unlike electric bikes. The committee approved the amendment by a voice vote as part of a broader package of tax measures after a debate over whether e-bikes are worth it. Creating more U.S. jobs, and not losing them overseas, was cited as a reason for supporting it.

Autoblog , Senate committee approves $2,500 federal tax credit for electric two-wheelers, Senate committee approves $2,500 federal tax credit for electric two-wheelers

AMD launches its next-gen FirePro graphics card lineup, we go hands-on at SIGGRAPH (video)

Just as you've cozied up with "Tahiti" and "Cape Verde," AMD has returned to grow its "Southern Islands" family of graphics cards with four fresh FirePros, offering up to four teraflops of graphics computing power. That spec can be found in the company's new W9000, which is capable of four TFLOPs single precision and one TFLOP double precision with a price tag just shy of $4,000. That behemoth of a card offers 6GB of GDDR5 RAM and requires 274 watts of power.










Engadget , AMD launches its next-gen FirePro graphics card lineup, we go hands-on at SIGGRAPH (video), AMD launches its next-gen FirePro graphics card lineup, we go hands-on at SIGGRAPH (video)

Windows RT tablets to arrive with Preview versions of Office 2013 RT

For Microsoft consumers, all roads lead to the day when the Redmond-based tech giant will officially release its first line of Windows 8 and Windows RT devices. While everyone waits for that day, we are hearing reports that Microsoft is planning to strip off certain features of its Office 2013 for Windows RT devices. Sources familiar with Microsoft's plans are saying that the company will be shipping a Preview version of Office 2013 for Windows RT tablets later this year, with the option to update to the full version of the productivity suite sometime next year.

Ubergizmo , Windows RT tablets to arrive with Preview versions of Office 2013 RT, Windows RT tablets to arrive with Preview versions of Office 2013 RT

STMicro wants to bring pico-projectors to mass market smartphones next year

You've probably heard of Samsung's Galaxy Beam Android smartphone, which has a built-in pico-projector. Well, many more handsets like that could be introduced soon, thanks to STMicroelectronics. The Swiss-based company has announced it acquired "the intellectual property and has hired most of the staff" of bTendo - an Israeli start-up that's been collaborating with ST for a couple of years now. ST will combine bTendo's Scanning Laser Projection engine with its own technologies and know-how to bring pico-projectors to more smartphones, as well as laptops and other devices.

Unwired View , STMicro wants to bring pico-projectors to mass market smartphones next year, STMicro wants to bring pico-projectors to mass market smartphones next year

Grace Digital ecoxpro Rugged All-Terrain Speaker Case With Headset Jack

The ecoxpro Rugged All-Terrain Speaker Case from Grace Digital works with even the largest smartphones and MP3 players.  The case meets the IPX7 waterproofing standards, and its rugged, high-impact shock-resistant design withstands drops, falls and spills.  There's a large pocket inside that can hold your phone or MP3 player with room for a couple of cards, cash, or even a key.  The ecoxpro has a built-in 3″ speaker and external universal waterproof earbud jack.  You can use the case open or closed and standing on its end or side.  The ecoxpro is available in orange or black for $79.99 from Grace Digital (use the ecoxpro link above

The Gadgeteer , Grace Digital ecoxpro Rugged All-Terrain Speaker Case With Headset Jack, Grace Digital ecoxpro Rugged All-Terrain Speaker Case With Headset Jack