Mashable: Latest 16 News Updates - including “USB 3.0 Is Coming to Smartphones and Tablets” |
- USB 3.0 Is Coming to Smartphones and Tablets
- Netflix Launches Video Streaming Service in the UK and Ireland
- Go Ahead, Drop This Tablet Into the Toilet
- Toshiba Unveils the World’s Thinnest 10-inch Tablet
- Acer Debuts Its iCloud Clone, AcerCloud
- Acer Unveils Aspire A5, ‘World’s Thinnest’ Ultrabook
- Lenovo Rebrands Tablets, Unveils Ice Cream Sandwich Model
- AR.Drone 2.0: Now This Toy Is Serious Fun [VIDEO]
- A Recruiters’ Perspective: Job Boards and Career Websites
- Keenan Cahill: What’s Next For The Viral YouTube Celeb
- One Laptop Per Child Debuts Rugged Tablet for Students in the Developing World
- 6 Startups to Watch in 2012
- Pinterest: 13 Tips and Tricks for Cutting Edge Users
- PowerTrekk Offers Unlimited Water-Based Gadget Power
- 10 Rock-Steady Rugged iPhone Cases
- Blue Ivy, Not Ivy Blue: Twitterverse Confuses Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Baby Name
- Social Media Guilt Trip: 10 Ways Networks Try to Make You Stay
| USB 3.0 Is Coming to Smartphones and Tablets Posted: 09 Jan 2012 05:20 AM PST      By the end of 2012 smartphones and tablet devices will sport a USB 3.0-based microUSB connector, which will allow speedier data transfer than the current USB 2.0 standard. USB 3.0 theoretically allows for data transfer rates of around 625 MB/s, which is 10 times faster than USB 2.0, whose maximum data transfer speed is 60 MB/s. The USB 3.0 transfer speed on mobile devices won’t be that fast, but it will be much faster than now. “What takes 15 minutes will roughly take 1 minute and 10 seconds,” said Rahman Ismail, CTO of the USB Implementers Forum at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets will also recharge more quickly through USB 3.0. To be able to implement USB 3.0 in the context of mobile devices, the USB Implementers Forum will have to develop new specifications for the standard. “We’re coming out with new specs, new areas where we will make it very power efficient, power friendly,” said Ismail. USB Implementers Forum also said it aims to reduce the size of USB 3.0 ports on laptops, as it’s becoming a limiting factor in laptop thinness. More About: smartphones, tablets, usb, USB 3.0 For more Mobile coverage:
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| Netflix Launches Video Streaming Service in the UK and Ireland Posted: 09 Jan 2012 01:08 AM PST   After months of preparation, Netflix has launched its online video streaming service in the UK and Ireland. Netflix is available right now for customers in these two countries, who can get a free one-month trial. After the trial, the service costs £5.99 or €6.99 ($8.87). Users will be able to watch TV shows such as Prison Break and Damages, as well as movies such as 3:10 to Yuma, Blitz and The English Patient. Netflix offers a wide range of programmes for kids, and promises to continuously keep adding new content. Users will also be able to stream the content to a PC, smart TV, tablet, smartphone or Blu-ray player, and get personalized recommendations as well as Facebook-based viewing suggestions. Leading up to the UK launch, Netflix has signed content deals with several major broadcasting houses, including the BBC, Miramax and Lionsgate. Its biggest competitor in the UK, Amazon’s LoveFilm, has also started beefing up the content side, most recently signing deals with ITV and the BBC. More About: Film, ireland, netflix, streaming, TV, uk, Video For more Entertainment coverage:
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| Go Ahead, Drop This Tablet Into the Toilet Posted: 08 Jan 2012 10:41 PM PST LAS VEGAS: Admit it, you’ve used your favorite gadget gear in the bathroom and, at least once, that phone (or even your tablet) has taken the plunge. You fumbled and in it went into the toilet or sink — or perhaps the tub. If you have one of these new tablets and phones from Fujitsu, though, you don't have to worry. They can survive a drop into the drink and even full submersion for up to 30 minutes. Fujitsu proved this simple fact in a live demonstration at this year’s CES 2012. Fujitsu dipped the white, 10.1-inch Android tablet into a bowl of water and then, finally, slipped it fully beneath the shiny surface. Then they grabbed an equally slender Android phone and dropped it in beside the tablet. How do they do it? Well, Fujitsu wasn’t exactly forthcoming. They promised that the ports are “covered” and that the gadgets would work fine when removed. However, they would not describe the exact technology used to keep the tablet and phone safe from the H2O. Still, when they pulled the gadgets from the drink and let them drip-dry, they worked — perfectly. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Fujitsu won’t bring this waterproof tech to the U.S. until it’s proven in Japan. So, for now, folks, please keep a tight grip on that tablet and those phones when you’re using the facilities. More About: android, CES, CES 2012, fujitsu, tablets, waterprooof
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| Toshiba Unveils the World’s Thinnest 10-inch Tablet Posted: 08 Jan 2012 06:44 PM PST LAS VEGAS: Super thin, super light, rather sexy. It's hard to believe that those are the words one would use to describe a new tablet from Toshiba, the company that brought us the hefty, too-thick Thrive, 10-inch Android Tablet. Yet, I challenge you to look at and, if you’re lucky, hold the new .3-inch-thick, 1.2 lb Toshiba Excite 10-inch Android tablet, introduced here at CES 2012, and come up with a different set of superlatives. With its burnished, magnesium alloy back, gorilla-glass face and unique channel trim, Toshiba‘s latest tablet entry stands apart from the pack. It is, for now, the thinnest tablet, besting the slim iPad by .04 inches. It's also a tad lighter. The iPad 2 weighs 1.35 pounds and the Excite is just 1.2 lbs. It honestly feels impossibly light, but, thanks to the rigid back, not flimsy. Perhaps more surprising is the number of buttons and ports Toshiba squeezed onto this tiny frame. That’s right, ports. Like the much-thicker Thrive before it, the Excite offers a pleasing set of inputs and outputs, including micro-SD, Micro USB, Micro HDMI and, of course an audio jack. Buttons are hidden along the edge in a channel that runs the full perimeter of the device. In fact, they’re almost too hidden; I noticed that I couldn't always see where the power/wake button resided. The Excite also has a physical volume button—a welcome choice when compared to the market's second most popular tablet: the Amazon Kindle Fire. It has just one button for power and no ports beyond the audio Jack. Like the iPad 2, the Excite packs two cameras, though the Excite’s are somewhat more powerful: 2 megapixels on the front and 5 megapixels on the back. Its 10.1-inch screen supports a 1280 x 800 resolution and sports an anti-smudge coating on its surface (though Toshiba execs admit that nothing will ever keep these screens smudge-free) Inside, the Excite is running a 1.2 GHz dual-core Texas Instruments CPU and 1 GB of RAM. As for the mobile OS, it will be a “stock” Android experience, though Toshiba has not yet decided if it'll release the uber-light slate with Honeycomb or the new Android 4.0. It is, though, built to support Ice Cream Sandwich. While Toshiba doesn’t mess with the Android interface — and earns a Google logo on the device, in part, because of it, the Excite will feature some special Toshiba apps for media and file management. Final pricing has not been set, though the Excite should be in the $499 to $599 for the base configuration when it ships sometime early this year. You can get a little closer to the Excite in our video and gallery. Toshiba Excite Base  
Click here to view this gallery. More About: android, CES, Tablet, Toshiba, trending
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| Acer Debuts Its iCloud Clone, AcerCloud Posted: 08 Jan 2012 05:57 PM PST   LAS VEGAS — Not content with just being a PC and tablet maker, today at CES 2012 Acer announced a cloud service for its devices. Dubbed AcerCloud, it’ll enable easy sharing of documents and photos on Acer devices, but in a limited way. Unlike Apple’s iCloud, which is primarily designed to sync media in the background, AcerCloud is set up to enable automatic sharing of photos and documents, but only for 30 days. Those files are ultimately backed up permanently on your PC, not in the cloud. It works like this: You take some photos with your smartphone, and AcerCloud automatically puts them in on a service called PicStream, which can then push the photos back to an Acer PC or some other device. It only works for Android phones right now, though Acer says support for Windows Phone (!) is on the way. Similarly, saving documents to AcerCloud lets users access them from anywhere, though only for 30 days. And Acer’s clear.fi application lets users stream or download music or video files anytime from the cloud. There’s no 30-day limit on clear.fi. Acer says users can user their phone to retrieve files from the “main PC” anytime via AcerCloud, even if the machine is in sleep mode. The service is said to use both local and cloud storage together so data is “always available.” The service, as outlined by Acer, shares many of the same features of other cloud services like iCloud and Eye-Fi, though its 30-day expiry for storing content appears to be a serious limitation. Are you an Acer user? Would you use AcerCloud? Let us know what you think of it in the comments. BONUS: Meet the Acer Aspire A5, the Thinnest Ultrabook YetAcer Aspire A5 Ultrabook The Aspire A5 is the thinnest Ultrabook ever, Acer claims, with a maximum thickness of 0.59 inches. Click here to view this gallery. More About: Acer, acercloud, CES, CES 2012, cloud storage, trending
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| Acer Unveils Aspire A5, ‘World’s Thinnest’ Ultrabook Posted: 08 Jan 2012 05:04 PM PST   LAS VEGAS — Ultrabooks — compact and powerful Windows laptops — were promised to be big at CES 2012, and the show just saw Acer draw first blood in the category. Today the PC maker unveiled the Aspire A5, which Acer claims is the world’s thinnest Ultrabook. That may be true, but unveilings are happening fast and furious at CES, and the A5 could lose the crown at any time. The Aspire A5 measures just 15 millimeters, or 0.59 inches, at its thickest point. By comparison, the MacBook Air, the laptop that inspired the Ultrabook movement, is 0.68 inches at its thickest point. Weight is a mere 3 pounds. That definitely beats Intel’s guidelines of being thinner than 0.71 inches and lighter than 3.1 pounds to be worthy of its Ultrabook moniker. The Aspire also features a couple of proprietary Acer techs that help with performance: Acer Green Instant On, which is said to bring the notebook back from sleep mode in less than 1.5 seconds; and Acer Always Connect, which promises to quickly reconnect you with any online services you were logged into when your computer went to sleep. It also lets you wake up the A5 via smartphone. Acer engineered this machine to be both sleek and useful. The curved shell comes in “Onyx black”, with detailing in brushed metal. A flip-out panel hides the connectors, including HDMI, USB 3.0 and — in a rare sighting outside of Apple laptops — Thunderbolt. Acer only describes the processor as an “Intel Core.” The Aspire A5 goes on sale in the spring. No word on price. What do you think of Acer’s ultra-thin Ultrabook? Does it make you want to jump into the category? Let us know in the comments. Acer Aspire A5 UltrabookThe Aspire A5 is the thinnest Ultrabook ever, Acer claims, with a maximum thickness of 0.59 inches. Click here to view this gallery. More About: Acer, CES, CES 2012, laptops, Ultrabook
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| Lenovo Rebrands Tablets, Unveils Ice Cream Sandwich Model Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:20 PM PST   LAS VEGAS: Lenovo is raising its tablet game and rebranding it consumer tablet line. Its latest 10-inch slate, unveiled here at CES 2012, it's arguably one of the lightest and thinnest tablets on the market. It's also called the IdeaTab S2-10. No, that's not a typo, Lenovo is rebranding all consumer tablets “IdeaTabs”. IdeaPads are not going away, but that moniker will forever more denote Lenovo's consumer laptop line (they're also getting a refresh). The Chinese computer maker is actually launching a passel of new products, but it's the Qualcomm-based IdeaTab S2-10 that'll catch your eye. It’s thin (.34 inches) and light (1.3 lbs.). More importantly, it'll be running Google's latest Android tablet experience: Android 4.0 (also known as “Ice Cream Sandwich”). The tablet is packed with all the goodies you'd expect, including forward and rear facing cameras (the rear is 5 MP), Wi-Fi and 3G (with voice call support!), an LED display and even HDMI out. Inside are 64 GB of storage and a dual-core 1.7 GHz Qualcomm CPU (a tad faster than the 1 and 1.3 GHz processors found in most tablets). As is common with most 10-inch tablets, the S2-10 can operate for approximately 9 hours on a charge. However, you can double the battery life if you add the $200 keyboard dock, which includes a second battery, full-sized keyboard and touchpad and adds two USB ports and a storage card reader. In other words, it turns the IdeaTab S2-10 into a laptop. Lenovo's S2-10 should ship sometime this spring. Pricing has not yet been set. Mashable should have a hands-on report later this week. Lenovo has some other tablets in the works, but they're primarily for the Chinese market. These include 5- and 7-inch S2 models, a new 10-inch IdeaTab K2 and a 9-inch A2 running Android 4.0 and, most intriguingly, including SRS sound. Four Screens Lenovo isn't just focusing on tablets. It's grown, by its own measure, to the Number 2 desktop manufacturer in the word and is working on a "Four Screen Strategy" that includes new desktops, laptops, smartphones and even TVs. For now, Lenovo's new TV and phones will only arrive in China. That's a shame, considering the Lenovo K91 Smart TV sounds more like a giant flat screen computer than your traditional HDTV. It's bulked up with 1 GB of RM, Android 4.0, apps, voice control, a built-in, front facing 5 MP camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, parental controls and a gamepad. It should ship by the first quarter of this year in China and then, perhaps, roll out to other "select markets." The company also has a number of new LePhones, including the S2, K2, S760 and S790. They're running Android 2.2 and 2.3, range in size from just over 3-inch screens to the K2, which is 4.5 inches and just 141 grams. All of these phones will, at least initially, be being offered exclusively in China. IdeaTab Tablet S2
Click here to view this gallery. More About: android, CES, CES 2012, ice cream sandwich, lenovo, Tablet
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| AR.Drone 2.0: Now This Toy Is Serious Fun [VIDEO] Posted: 08 Jan 2012 04:02 PM PST ARDrone 2 Indoor Mode Left View
Click here to view this gallery. LAS VEGAS: AR.Drone was a fun, albeit expensive toy ($299) when it arrived two years ago, but the new flyer promises an updated design and fresh features that put it much closer to the realm of your own personal spy drone. When Parrot introduced the AR.Drone phone-controlled flying toy two years ago at CES 2010, it made quite a buzz. The pizza-box-sized flyer let enterprising pilots fly via their iPhones, seeing the world through the toy's low-rez camera on their iPhone screen. Parrot won't say how many devices they sold, but did note that they did well enough to warrant version 2. AR.Drone 2.0, unveiled here at CES 2012, still costs $299, but is now stuffed with far more pro-level features and even offers a somewhat sleeker and, according to Parrot, more resilient design. Parrot, a Paris, France-based company with over 250 developers, has transformed AR.Drone from a fun toy to a flying robot that could attract everyone from amateur pilots to film directors. The camera now shoots 720p video (fixed lens and no flash). It shoots and, more importantly, captures stills and videos, which are automatically delivers to your phone or tablet via a Wi-Fi connection. Flying control and AR.Drone's ability to fly right have been improved with new sensors (gyroscope, magnetometer, and pressure sensor) for altitude, orientation and speed. These tools are immediately evident when you hit the "Take Off" button on your screen and the AR.Drone lifts off and then floats stably in space — until your start to control it. A new absolute control mode uses a 3D magnetometer in to synch the AR.Drone to the precise position of your phone or iPad and help keep it in position and flying right (standard flying mode turns off the magnetometer). It even knows where it is and how fast it's flying—all information that can accompany your captured video. You can also view other uploaded AR.Drone videos via the new FreeFlight 2.0 app. That app includes FreeFlight, access to your photos and videos, software updates (when available) and games. Developers can access AR.Drone source code and develop new games and apps on both the Apple iOS and Google Android platforms. Would-be movie directors will appreciate the new programmable “Travelling” feature, which lets you set pre-select the direction and duration of flight and let the drone fly its pre-determined path over and over again until you've the shot you want. I took the AR.Drone for a test-flight and found the on iPad controls (it also works with Android 2.2 or higher devices) very intuitive. The flying screen shows you the view through the AR.Drone's camera. I tapped the take-off button and the drone started its four propellers (which are still pretty loud), and then lifted gently off the ground. I was then able to tilt the iPad to fly the bot around the room. If I let go of a button on the left side of the screen, AR.Drone stopped moving and hung in space. I could also control AR.Drone with a thumb pad on the left. There were still moments where I lost control and hit a wall—at one point AR.Drone zoomed up and slammed into the ceiling. It was a bit frustrating, and likely my fault, but I was also amazed at the speed. Live video quality in a darkened room isn't great, but with enough light the video through what appears to be a wide-angle lens is quite sharp. AR.Drone is expected to ship sometime in the first half of this year. You can watch my first test flight in the video. More About: CES, CES 2012, parrot, trending
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| A Recruiters’ Perspective: Job Boards and Career Websites Posted: 08 Jan 2012 02:11 PM PST   Rob Byron is a Principal Consultant in the Information Technology Permanent division at Winter, Wyman. Winter, Wyman is the largest and one of the most recognized staffing organizations in the Northeast. Find out more on the Winter, Wyman blog or follow on Twitter @WinterWyman. If you're looking for a job, you're probably using job boards and social networking sites. Having an online presence is an effective way to find a new post, but with the overwhelming amount of sites available, and the millions of potential candidates squeezed in next to you, how can you leverage these sites to secure your next position? As recruiters, we have a unique perspective on the hiring process. We know what employers are looking for, where they look and why they choose certain people. Here are some insider tips for making these sites work for you. Building Your Brand Every post, profile, picture or tweet you put online is a reflection of you. Job boards and social media sites allow you to reach thousands of potential employers. How do you want to position yourself to this audience? What do you want to communicate? Is there anything online that you don't want hiring managers to see (an unflattering Facebook picture or a blog bashing your former colleagues)? You want to present a consistent, professional brand online to attract top employers. Utilizing Job BoardsMonster and CareerBuilder are the predominant and most popular of the general job seeking websites. They offer an avenue to search and apply for hundreds of positions while putting you in front of recruiters, hiring managers and company leaders. The downside of these sites is that you are one of countless others looking for positions. The key to using job boards is to set yourself apart. Your online resume should contain searchable key words as well as list specific accomplishments and experience and include accurate dates and company names. Avoid general terms, wishy-washy language and vague dates. This is your "first impression" for many hiring managers — make it a good one. There are also job boards that target specific industries; Dice is geared towards professionals in the technology sector. While Monster and CareerBuilder are great general sites for mainstream positions like accountants, administrative assistants and IT managers, Dice targets the application side such as .NET developers, software engineers and dual-role positions. Job aggregators, like Indeed and SimplyHired, pull job listings from all over the web, allowing job seekers to do one-stop searching. These are handy sites for active job seekers who want to easily investigate multiple positions. Many professional associations, user groups and trade organizations also list jobs and allow members to post resumes on their websites. For example, the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA) has local job listings on its site, and members can post resumes for free. Contact your groups to see if there are opportunities in your industry. TheLadders is a job board that caters to senior-level executives and is an excellent resource for people seeking management positions. The site has a free service that gives job seekers limited access to listings, but they can't apply for jobs. With the paid service, job seekers can indeed apply for posted positions, gain access to a career counselor, get help with resumes and cover letters and search for recruiters. Many job seekers can benefit from these resources to help hone their job search skills. TheLadders, which previously had focused on professionals with compensation of $100,000 or more, recently announced that they will be expanding their services to include candidates at all levels and industries, and companies will be able to post their open positions that offer a compensation of $40,000 or greater. Leveraging Social Media SitesAlthough there are several social media sites on the web, LinkedIn has emerged as the leader in professional networking, with more than 120 million members. If you're looking for a job, you should have a profile on LinkedIn. Think of your profile as an "extended resume," where you can list your work experience, jobs, skills and accomplishments and a photo. Make sure to keep your profile consistent with what's included on your resume and/or posted on job boards. LinkedIn users can also join groups that cater to specific industries, trades and interests. These groups allow you to follow news and trends in the industry, participate in discussions and respond to job inquiries. People are also able to post "recommendations" to your profile, which are similar to online references, so ask trusted colleagues to contribute a recommendation. Through these endorsements, hiring managers can get a feel for why others like working with you. It is important to keep your profile current by frequently updating your experience and recommendations. You don't want it to be outdated. LinkedIn is also a great site for passive job seekers; those who aren't currently looking for a job should also build a profile on LinkedIn. You never know when an opportunity may arise. Employed people can have a presence on LinkedIn without raising the suspicion of their employers because it can be used for any kind of professional networking, not just job-seeking. Facebook, the most popular social networking site, is now offering a service called BranchOut that is geared toward professional networking. Since Facebook has traditionally been purely social, many people are skeptical of using this application for professional use. The advantage is that there is a built-in network of millions of users. Many professionals also use Twitter for professional networking. Although tweets can't give your resume direct exposure to hiring managers and recruiters, with the right tweets, you can build a following on Twitter and can follow others in your industry. Regardless of which sites you use to find your next job, it is important to remember that you are building your brand and, ultimately, selling yourself. Raise yourself above the noise and attract attention by fine-tuning your resume and keeping your information current and consistent. By staying active online, you can be on your way to landing your dream job. Social Media Job ListingsEvery week we post a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we publish a huge range of job listings, we’ve selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!
More About: branchout, job search series, linkedin, TheLadders
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| Keenan Cahill: What’s Next For The Viral YouTube Celeb Posted: 08 Jan 2012 12:58 PM PST   Keenan Cahill, of YouTube fame, is hanging his hat on lip-syncing. At just 16 years old, he has his own clothing line, made an appearance on America’s Next Top Model, stood next to David Hasselhoff at the American Music Awards, and performed with LMFAO, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, Flo Rida and the entire cast of Glee. What’s next on the list for Cahill? An augmented reality app on iTunes and his own single. The YouTuber went viral in 2010 after posting a video of himself lip-syncing to Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” It now has more than 50 million views. When asked what the secret is to becoming a viral YouTube sensation, Cahill attributes it to a shout out from Katy Perry, herself. “She tweeted it and Facebooked it, and said ‘This is my teenage dream,’ and she said ‘I heart @KeenanCahill.’ She’s the one who put me out there and made it mainstream.”
Cahill recently joined startup company Media Magic App to create Reel Doozy, an iPhone app that uses greenscreen technology to place him dancing and singing in your own videos. “It’s another way to interact with my fans, so I couldn’t say no,” says Cahill. “It’s definitely cool, because instead of doing a video with you, they get to be in it themselves.” The app is not just for fans though. Reel Doozy is working with artists and record labels to use the technology to place him in music videos without physically coming into a studio. According to Cahill, the company has received positive replies about the app. Cahill has previously performed with 50 Cent “Down On Me,” and will soon be working with them for their next video, “Girls Gone Wild.” In addition to the app, Cahill is also working on a single of his own, singing out loud this time. Although the song will be released via YouTube, expect to see a new direction for Cahill. “This year, I’m going to really start trying to step out of YouTube. The fans I’ve told (and some of the artists) think it’s going to be awesome. I know there’ll be haters not supportive of lip syncing, but hopefully they’ll transition with me. Hopefully it’ll go well and we’ll do another.” More About: features, Keenan Cahill, lip-synch, trending, viral videos, YouTube For more Entertainment coverage:
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| One Laptop Per Child Debuts Rugged Tablet for Students in the Developing World Posted: 08 Jan 2012 11:54 AM PST   One Laptop Per Child will unveil its XO 3.0 tablet at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Monday. The fully functional tablet is designed to be inexpensive, use little energy and brave extreme weather conditions. The rugged tablet includes the Marvell ARMADA PXA618 SOC processor, Avastar Wi-Fi SOC, standard or Pixel Qi sunlight-readable display, and supports Android and Linux operating systems. Unlike any other tablet on the market, it can be powered by solar energy, other alternative sources or hand-cranks. "We're proud to introduce the XO 3.0 tablet, showcasing the design, durability and performance features that make it a natural successor for our current laptops, which have been distributed to more than 2.4 million children in 42 countries and in 25 languages," Edward McNierney, chief technology officer of One Laptop Per Child said. "The XO 3.0 builds on many of the technology breakthroughs we made with the XO 1.75, including the use of the Marvell ARMADA PXA618 processor, resulting in a significant decrease in power consumption — a critical issue for students in the developing world." One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit working to bring modern education to children in the developing world, aims to get a low-cost, low-power laptop in the hands of every student on the planet. The released images of the XO 3.0 tablet seen don’t look much like the ones the One Laptop Per Child shared when it first announced it was working to develop an $100 laptop. The model set to debut at CES appears larger and more rugged. The non-profit also announced it is ready to ship more than 75,000 units of the XO 1.75 laptop to students Uruguay and Nicaragua in March 2012. Take a look at the XO 3.0. Do you think there’s an advantage to putting tablets in classrooms over laptops? Let us know in the comments.  More About: android, CES, CES 2012, one laptop per child, Social Good, tablets, trending
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| Posted: 08 Jan 2012 10:50 AM PST   An Olympic games, a U.S. presidential election and the end of the world are already planned for 2012, but we’re more excited about the startups. Here are six of them (in no particular order) that we expect to help define the coming year. We chose companies based on the momentum they gained in 2011, promising new takes on old problems and, in one case, the possibility of an IPO. Did we look at every startup in the world before compiling this list? Nope. Did we overlook some of the startups speeding toward 2012 definition-dom? Yep. Which is where you come in. Let us know in the comments which startups are on your list to watch in 2012. 1. Skillshare Skillshare is an online marketplace for offline classes. When we spoke to the startup in May, a month after it launched, more than 100 users had posted classes about everything from crocheted jewelery to how to invest your first $10,000. Eight months later, thousands of teachers have used Skillshare to teach more than 15,000 hours of classes. A few have even quit their jobs to teach Skillshare classes full-time. While the startup began with classes clustered in New York City, it now has budding communities in San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and elsewhere. Its site interface is already set up to accommodate more than 70 U.S. and International cities. There are no or few classes offered in most of them, but by the end of 2012, we’re betting there will be. 2. Zaarly, Taskrabbit or Something Similar We’re pretty sure that the mobile, local version of Craigslist will gain traction in 2012. We’re just not settled on which one yet. Zaarly and TaskRabbit both allow users to find someone nearby to complete odd jobs. Zaarly also lets people request items like a reverse eBay. Both are liable to gain traction in 2012. 3. LevelUp/SCVNGR While solutions such as Google Wallet try to introduce mobile payments through NFC technology at a time when there are few devices on the market that supports it, SCVNGR has launched a solution called LevelUp that works with any phone and any bank account. The app gives any merchant the ability to run a loyalty program that works similarly to the Starbucks App, which allows users to pay using a code displayed on their phone and collect reward points. LevelUp users link any credit or debit card to their LevelUp accounts the same way that Starbucks links a gift card to its app. When they get to a LevelUp merchant, the app generates a unique QR code at the register that can be scanned with a merchant app to pay. Merchants can add rewards to LevelUp that are already waiting for customers the first time that they use the app, and customers earn free credit at that merchant every time they spend money there using the app. Since launching in October, the app has signed up more than 100,000 users and has about 1,000 businesses. Meanwhile, T-Mobile has helped deploy more than 2,500 docking stations that stand in for the merchant app as a scanning mechanism at checkout counters. It’s a modest start, but LevelUp has all of the ingredients to become more widespread than competing mobile payment options. 4. Dwolla Let’s be frank: transferring money through social networks sounds shady. Which is what makes it impressive that Dwolla, a payments startup that makes transfers through Twitter, Facebook, SMS and other virtual channels, was processing $1 million per day less than a year after launch. Dwolla’s 70,000 users make payments through Twitter, Facebook, SMS and other virtual channels by connecting their bank accounts to their Dwolla accounts. The service integrates with social networks to alert payment recipients there is money waiting for them in their own Dwolla accounts that can be transferred to their bank account. Payments of up to $10 are free and anything larger costs $0.25 — which is cheaper than paying a credit card fee. In December, the company launched a new feature called Instant that lets users pay on up to $5 of credit while waiting for bank transfers from their accounts, making this process instant. 5. Eventbrite Eventbrite is the oddball on our list of companies to watch in 2012 because the ticketing platform launched five years ago. But here are some reasons we think that 2012 is a good time to keep an eye on the startup:
6. Codecademy Codecademy took something that scared people, learning JavaScript, and turned it into a game. And when it’s not intimidating, it turns out that learning how to code is something that a lot of people want to do. In its first 72 hours after launching this summer, Codecademy signed up 200,000 people for coding lessons. When it launched a New Years resolution class on Jan. 1, Code Year, it signed up 97,000 people in less than 48 hours to receive emails with weekly coding lessons. By the end of the week, more than 170,000 people had signed up for the class, including the Mayor. What’s interesting about Codecademy’s traction is that its product is still quite limited. Lessons are restricted to JavaScript, and there isn’t a clear pathway for working through the lessons. In 2012, Codecademy will expand to other coding languages, and as it does so, it will also expand its potential userbase. Thanks to Code Year, the startup will for the first time have thousands of students working on specific lessons around the same time, which could present an opportunity to add social features to the platform or create curriculum. Image courtesy of Flickr, Gerlos, iStockphoto, kizilkayaphotos and alexsl More About: Codecademy, dwolla, eventbrite, levelup, scvngr, skillshare, Startups, taskrabbit, trending, Zaarly For more Business coverage:
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| Pinterest: 13 Tips and Tricks for Cutting Edge Users Posted: 08 Jan 2012 10:07 AM PST
For many users, Pinterest serves as a comprehensive wish list of sorts. Users (a.k.a. Pinners) post Pins to Boards that they organize by topic or theme. For instance, a user who is planning to remodel a house may Pin interior decorating ideas to a Design Board. Or a bride-to-be can post wedding dress inspirations to a Wedding Board. With 32 different topic areas, users can browse everything from fitness to art to science. Like many new startups that experience an unprecedented spike in popularity, Pinterest has yet to streamline some of its features. The search tool, for example, needs a serious makeover. When the server isn’t overloaded entirely, a simple search often takes a while to load. Plus, we’d like to be able to create private boards and, ultimately, to filter categories for better Pin discovery. Still, the service is fresh, relevant and entirely different from any social network we’ve encountered thus far. If you’re still getting used to the network like many of us, take a few minutes to review our tips and tricks for Pinterest. And let us know how you use Pinterest, and where you see it going in the future. 1. Become an Expert Just as you would curate your personal brand across other social networks like Twitter, decide what topics you're most interested in, and then dedicate yourself to those spaces. People will be more likely to follow rich, full Boards than sparsely populated Boards. If you have time to dedicate your Boards to a super specific niche, go for it! Fashion director for Marie Claire, Nina Garcia, separates each spring 2012 fashion trend into its own Board. Click here to view this gallery. More About: features, pinterest, Social Media, tips, trending For more Social Media coverage:
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| PowerTrekk Offers Unlimited Water-Based Gadget Power Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:35 AM PST PowerTrekk Fuel Cell Charger
Click here to view this gallery. LAS VEGAS: You're on the road, far from any outlet and your precious cell-phone is thisclose to running out of juice. You look around and the nearest thing to you is a dirt road and—wait, what's that? A little babbling brook. You're saved! No, not because you can get a cool drink, but because now you can recharge your smartphone. You can, that is, if you have myFC's new PowerTrekk portable, water-powered fuel-cell charger — and if it works as advertised. It’s making its debut here at CES 2012. Fuel-cell technology uses the chemical reaction between the hydrogen in water and special electrodes and electrolytes in fuel cells to generate electricity. What's better is that fuel cells never deplete — as long as you have hydrogen gas produced by water to flow through them, they can deliver an endless supply of cheap electricity. The energy technology has been around for years and numerous companies have tried to commercialize it, even promising shipping products within weeks, months or years. So far, however, none of us are carrying around a pack of fuel cells and a bottle of water, confident we'll enjoy a full charge on all our devices for a day or more. Sweden's myFC may change that with PowerTrekk. Developed in Stockholm, the friendly-looking green and black device is only a little larger than a couple of iPhones stacked on top of each other. It comes with two USB ports (micro and standard), a fuel-cell assembly that appears to comprise a half or two-thirds of the device and a chamber for the fuel-cell pucks. Like most other fuel cells, PowerTrekk works by converting hydrogen gas into electricity. The charger uses neither fans nor pumps to move the water, about a table-spoon's-worth and, according to myFC, only produces some vapor gas as it generates fresh electricity. It can then deliver electricity directly to your phone or other USB-powered devices. The green lid, which includes its own rechargeable battery and can be charged with the fuel cells or via a traditional USB-based charging cable, pops off so you can leave the pucks and fuel-cell system behind. One of the big hold-ups for delivering fuel-cell technologies to consumers has been concerns over the safety of the necessary hydrogen fuel. myFC notes that the recyclable PowerPukk's are made of materials that prevent corrosion and more importantly, leakage. Plus, safety concerns have been easing in recent years as airlines like Delta actually publish rules and restrictions for the use and transport of fuel cells (on its “Restricted & Dangerous Items” page), which actually allow fuel cell cartridges on flights as long as they're transported in carry-on bags. PowerTrekk will list for $299 when it goes on sale in the U.S. A three-pack of PowerPukk's will run you $12. Seems like a small price-to-pay for unlimited portable energy. Now let's see if it makes it to market. Update: myFC tells Mashable PowerTrekk will ship in the U.S. between May and June of this year. Are you anxious to start using alternative energy sources for your gadgets or are you worried about the safety of hydrogen-powered devices? Tell us more in the comments. More About: CES, CES 2012, energy, fuel, smartphone, trending
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| 10 Rock-Steady Rugged iPhone Cases Posted: 08 Jan 2012 09:07 AM PST 1. Incipio Bombproof We like the chunky "grenade" look of the Boomproof, but that's not all it has going for it. As well as raised, covered buttons where the iPhone's controls are, it comes complete with a clear screen protector. This high-density silicone case is also available in red, orange, blue, black, pink and grey. Cost: $29.99 Click here to view this gallery. Chances are you take your iPhone everywhere. If you’re the adventurous type that means putting it in situations where it could get dinged, dropped, bumped, kicked, scratched or splashed. We found 10 cases for the Apple handset that offer such protection, ranging from peace of mind anti-bump options to military grade belt-and-braces coverings. Take a look through our gallery of “grrrrr” for some tough options. Let us know in the comments about any rugged iPhone cases you’ve tried and tested. More About: accessories, apple, features, Gadgets, gallery, iphone, iphone accessories, iphone cases, Mobile, Tech, trending
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| Blue Ivy, Not Ivy Blue: Twitterverse Confuses Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Baby Name Posted: 08 Jan 2012 08:33 AM PST   Pop icon Beyoncé Knowles and rapper husband Jay-Z welcomed a baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter, into the world Jan. 7 in New York City. Twitter, however, got tongue tied with the newborn’s name. Ivy Blue and #NamesBetterThanIvyBlue trended across the world Sunday morning. Twitter has become many of our go-to source for breaking news, from technology to politics to celebrity baby announcements. However, Sunday morning’s trending topics have misled many followers of one of the most-hyped celebrity pregnancies in recent memory. The Twitterverse loved this baby from first sight at the Video Music Awards, when Beyoncé’s pregnant belly led to record-breaking tweets per second. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, a close friend of the couple, set the record straight Sunday, by first welcoming baby Blue and then clarifying the baby’s name is Blue Ivy, not Ivy Blue.
This baby is already Twitter’s darling and we can’t wait to watch the social network document her high-profile life. Can you think of any other baby news that caused so much social media buzz? More About: beyonce, jay-z, Music, trending, Twitter, video music awards For more Entertainment coverage:
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| Social Media Guilt Trip: 10 Ways Networks Try to Make You Stay Posted: 08 Jan 2012 07:24 AM PST Deleting your social media account may be the most difficult breakup you’ll ever have. Networks try various techniques to get you to stay, and they often leave you wondering if it’s you and not them. Let’s take a look at some of these clever little tricks that make it hard to delete your social profiles. 1. Twitter: "You don't know what you're missing."  If you choose to ignore your Twitter account, you'll receive an email within a few weeks saying, "We've missed you!" More than that, Twitter lists everything you're missing out on, from the latest news to plain happiness. Click here to view this gallery. More About: Facebook, features, linkedin, Social Media, social networking, trending, tumblr, Twitter, YouTube
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