Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Judge Rejects Apple’s Request for Permanent Ban of Samsung Smartphones”

Mashable: Latest 29 News Updates - including “Judge Rejects Apple’s Request for Permanent Ban of Samsung Smartphones”


Judge Rejects Apple’s Request for Permanent Ban of Samsung Smartphones

Posted: 18 Dec 2012 02:31 AM PST


Judge Lucy Koh has denied Apple's request for a permanent injunction against Samsung smartphones, Reuters reported.

Apple had been awarded $1.05 billion in damages in an August verdict. The trial's jury found that Samsung willfully copied features of Apple's iPhone and iPad.

The Cupertino, Calif. company also sought a permanent sales ban on the smartphones in question -- a formidable list of 26 devices.

Judge Koh decided against the ban, claiming that the features Samsung had infringed upon were only "a small fraction" of the phones' features.

"Though Apple does have some interest in retaining certain features as exclusive to Apple, it does not follow that entire products must…
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More About: apple, samsung, smartphones

Sony Xperia Jelly Bean Update Schedule Revealed

Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:29 AM PST


Sony revealed the Android 4.1 update schedule for its 2012 Xperia smartphones on Monday.

Sony Xperia T, Xperia TX and Xperia V will be getting the Jelly Bean update "during February and March," while Xperia P, Xperia J and Xperia go will be upgraded "from the end of March," according to Sony Mobile's official blog.

Finally, Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia ion and Xperia acro S will get the update in "subsequent weeks."

Unfortunately for owners of the Xperia U, Xperia miro, Xperia tipo and Xperia sola, Sony has decided not to upgrade these devices beyond Android 4.0.

The company also said it will provide more information on special Sony Xperia Jelly Bean features "in the new year."…
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More About: Xperia, android, jelly bean, sony xperia

‘Gangnam Style’ is YouTube’s Top Trending Video of 2012

Posted: 18 Dec 2012 01:04 AM PST


What were you watching in 2012? No need to rack your brain because YouTube has the answer: It's "Gangnam Style."

The addictive dance hit by South Korean singing sensation Psy was the video-sharing site's top trending video this year.

"Korean Pop music transcended boundaries and took the world by storm. Cover songs, parodies and 'do-it-yourself' music videos from all genres entertained us in countries near and far," YouTube wrote in a blog post Monday.

SEE ALSO: 'Gangnam Style' Defeats Bieber to Become Most-Viewed YouTube Video of All Time

Check out the remaining top 10 trending YouTube videos of 2012, listed below:

2. "Somebody That I Used to Know - Walk off the Eart
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More About: YouTube, trending

Watch the Most Awkward Blind Dates Ever

Posted: 18 Dec 2012 12:00 AM PST


Few people utter the phrase, "Blind dates are so fun." After the initial moments of awkwardness upon meeting, more awkwardness follows. To cope, daters use fake smiles to pass the silence, and there's always the hope that things can't get any worse.

But one video, above, has done the unimaginable: make blind dates even more uncomfortable. In a series of pranks, one man confuses unsuspecting women by approaching them for a blind date that they don't know about. At best, he gets a laugh, and at worst, he makes the women believe they're losing their minds -- or at least their memories.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift Helps This Guy Score a Date [VIDEO]

How do you feel about blind dates? Sh…
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‘The Voice’ Pays Tribute to Newtown Victims with ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 10:58 PM PST


Cast members of The Voice, including judges Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green, commemorated victims of the Newtown, Conn. shooting by singing "Hallelujah" on the show's finale Monday night.

During part one of the singing competition's two-night finale, competitors and their coaches stood on a candlelit stage, singing Leonard Cohen's classic song. Every performer held one card, each printed with the name and age of a victim who died in last Friday's shooting.

SEE ALSO: Watch President Obama's Speech at Vigil for Newtown Victims

On its most recent episode, Saturday Night Live also paid tribute to the 20 children and six adults who died. The live sho…
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More About: Hallelujah, newtown, the-voice

Turn Your Video-Game Consoles Into a Retro Arcade With This Device

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 09:59 PM PST


Gamers who miss the old-school feel of joysticks and buttons will rejoice in a new device that connects arcade controls to modern video-game consoles.

Kade is an open-source arcade interface that supports systems such as Playstation, PS2, PS3 and the original Xbox. For more on how the device works, check out the video above.

With five days remaining in its Kickstarter campaign, Kade has already raised nearly nine times its original goal of £750 (more than $1,200) -- earning just over £6,300 (more than $10,000).

Gamers, would you use this device? Tell us in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Kade / Thumbnail image courtesy of Flickr, simononly

More About: arcade game, computers, game console, video game

What if Charlie Brown Was Like Louis C.K.? [NSFW]

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:57 PM PST


Good grief, Charlie Brown, you're looking a little worn out.

When our favorite Peanuts character gets a personality transformation à la comedian Louis C.K., the unimaginable happens -- he gets even more somber and dejected. And don't even get us started on the mess that is Lucy. She's now a middle-aged divorcée who has gained a few pounds, and still seems as evil as ever.

SEE ALSO: You'll Go Peanuts for the Charlie Brown School of Dance

But Linus might be the saddest. Clearly, that blanket has only made him creepier with time. It's time to retire the blankie, and call it a day.

Not even Snoopy could survive the mid-life crisis of his good ol' pal; he's retired to the dog…
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More About: Charlie Brown

Yog’s App Makes Sure You’ll Always Have Someone to Go Jogging With

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 08:00 PM PST


The Launchpad is a series that introduces Mashable readers to compelling startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.


Name: Yog

One-Liner Pitch: An app that connects you with runners around the world so you'll never have to jog alone again.

Why It's Taking Off: Yog is working to make running -- and exercise in general -- more social.

If you're planning to go jogging more as part of your New Year's resolution, you might want to give Yog a try.

Yog, a free iPhone app, helps runners around the world connect with each other and organize jogs with those at their skill level. With the app, users can quickly schedule a run and then invite friends through Facebook or their phone's contact list to go on a virtual run. If the scheduled run is listed publicly, random users on the…
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More About: The Launchpad, apps, startup

Which Camera Are You Hoping for This Holiday? [POLL]

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:59 PM PST


Which camera do you want for a holiday gift? Take our poll and tell us!

More About: Nikon, Samsung Galaxy Camera, cameras

50 Shows With the Most Social Buzz in 2012

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 06:29 PM PST


If you follow Trendrr's social TV rankings week-to-week, then you've grown familiar with some of the programs on the list, even if you don't watch them regularly. Now it's time to look back on the year's top 50.

This has been a standout year for The X Factor, FOX's vocal talent competition. Welcoming new judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, the show broke records for social participation in its season premiere. The X Factor placed predictably high in the year-end tally, edging out The Voice on NBC.

SEE ALSO: iTunes Unveils Top Music, Movies and TV Shows of 2012

But in a year of singing competitions, the number one spot went to a pineapple under the sea. Yes, SpongeBob Squarepan
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More About: Social Media, Trendrr, Year End 2012, infographics, social tv, social tv charts

Here’s How Your Smartphone Is Ruining Your Sex Life

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 05:59 PM PST


What's the first thing you do when you hop into bed at night? If you're tweeting or checking Facebook right before bed, you're likely killing your sex life.

Late-night web browsing causes individuals to go to bed 90 minutes later than a decade ago, according to an informal online poll conducted by British comparison website BroadbandChoices.co.uk (via the Daily Mail). Nearly 15% of respondents admit to having less sex because of web-surfing habits.

SEE ALSO: Study: People Like Sex More Than Facebook

About 25% of respondents say they are browsing the web in bed, while 15% prefer catching up on their favorite shows at night. These trends apply towards the young crowd; older respondent…
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More About: relationship, sex, smartphone, social networks

NFL Star Spars With Fans on Twitter Over Newtown School Massacre

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 05:43 PM PST


NFL star Ray Rice got into it with fans on Twitter, arguing about the importance of fantasy football compared the the Newtown school massacre.

More About: Sports, nfl

Air Travelers Say Low Ticket Price Trumps Wi-Fi

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 05:27 PM PST


In-flight Wi-Fi is one perk you're willing do without this holiday season, according to a new study. With all the presents and food you'll need to buy this holiday season, if you're buying airfare too, you're looking for just a bare-bones flight.

SEE ALSO: 4 Online Secrets for Getting Amazing Flight Deals

According to a recent survey, holiday travelers are most concerned with the price of airfare tickets -- not whether the airline has perks like Wi-Fi and on-board snacks and beverages. In a survey of 1,100 adults conducted by Research Now and commissioned by Qualtrics, only 25% said airline amenities like Wi-Fi, snacks, and in-flight entertainment are important to improving their h…
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More About: airfare, airline, travel, wi-fi

Instagram Will Basically Sign Your Life Away

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 05:13 PM PST


Mashable OP-ED

Instagram appears to be going through a sea change in popular perception at the moment -- and not one for the better.

First came founder Kevin Systrom's active and combative decision to cut support for Twitter cards, a move which seemed designed to anger and make less useful a service loved by many millions of his users.

(Do you look at many Instagrams in your tweet stream these days? No, me neither. As I tweeted last week, it's like watching two old friends who aren't speaking pass in the street; strange and sad.)

Was it retribution for Twitter daring to develop photo filters of its own, which also happened to come to fruition last week? Nobody knows. Systrom j…
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More About: instagram, privacy, security

8 Ways Kids Can Digitally Connect With Santa

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:59 PM PST


1. Portable North Pole




Use the Portable North Pole app to send your daughter, son, niece or nephew a personalized message from Santa while he's preparing for his Christmas Eve flight around the world in the North Pole. Sugary sweet and naughty children alike will be delighted to see and hear a heartwarming message from Santa. Thanks to special customization features, Santa will be able to commend the little girl or boy about all the great things he or she has done all year. For the badly behaved, Santa has a few words of encouragement, so he or she can still make the good list before December 25. Portable North Pole is available online and as an $2.99 iOS and $3.01 Android app. Image courtesy of Flickr, David Blackwell.

Click here to view this gallery.


In the digital age, Santa Claus is more connected than ever. We imagine the jolly man's North Pole abode is outfitted with holographic displays, touchscreen walls and Bluetooth-connected wireless speakers that play Christmas music everywhere he goes.

On his person, we assume Santa carries at least a smartphone, tablet, language translation device and GPS navigation system (in case Rudolph needs a break). Thanks to tech advances, Santa's easily available to respond to questions, letters and inquiries from children around the world by Skype, Twitter and email.

SEE ALSO: 7 Kid-Friendly Games for the Holidays

We wouldn't expect anything less from a man who traverses the globe in a fut
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More About: Christmas, happy holidays, santa claus

JetBlue Delivers Cousin’s Goodbye Letter to Newtown Child’s Funeral

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:48 PM PST


Noah Pozner's mother wanted to bury handwritten notes from his family members with her son, a 6-year-old victim of Friday's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

This might not have been a challenge for local family members, but Noah's cousin lives across the country in Seattle. And Noah's uncle had already arrived in Newtown, Conn., for the young boy's funeral when his mother asked the family for notes.

Noah's aunt Victoria (@VDog) wanted her son's letter to be included, so she tweeted Sunday morning, asking her followers for creative suggestions to get her son's letter across the country. She needed to find an option to overnight her son's handwritten letter in order for it to arri…
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More About: Social Good, Twitter, jetblue

Will Sliding Images Make Captcha Less Annoying?

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:20 PM PST


Startup Minteye says its sliding, image-based Captcha is simpler to use and a potential money maker.

More About: captcha, security

Racist Obama Tweet Gets College Football Player Booted From Team

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 04:02 PM PST


A racist tweet about President Obama got Bradley Patterson kicked off the University of North Alabama football team.

More About: Sports, college sports

1 Million Sign Digital Sympathy Card for Sandy Hook Victims

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 03:44 PM PST


An online card for Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims on activism platform Causes has amassed a huge number of online signatures.

More than 1 million people have signed the Sandy Hook Elementary School National Sympathy Card, which is now the largest ever petition on the site, according to Causes Community Manager Alejandro De La Cruz. Only one other Causes petition has ever topped 1 million before.

The e-card for the victims of the attack on the Newtown, Conn., school was receiving 1,000 signatures per minute at peak on Saturday. The card was started by David Paine, co-founder of 9/11 Day.

"Although it's not a true 'petition,' the user on our site improvised the tool to show s…
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More About: Social Good, school shootings

Window-Cleaning Robot Ready to Suck Your Glass

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 03:31 PM PST


Ecovacs' new window-cleaning robot, Winbot 7, uses suction to hang onto and clean your dirty windows.

More About: CES 2013, robots

Here’s What a Facebook Gift Looks Like

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 03:08 PM PST


Facebook Package




The FedEx package that showed up had Facebook Gifts branding in the top corner.

Click here to view this gallery.


Last week, Facebook rolled out its own physical gifting service to everyone in the U.S, after testing the program in beta for a few weeks.

Mashable created a guide on how to order Facebook gifts for your friends, and what to do if you receive a Facebook Gift.

And since we actually ordered a gift, we thought our readers should see what a Facebook Gift looks like when it arrives up on your doorstep.

SEE ALSO: How to Buy Facebook Gifts for Friends

Facebook has made an effort to brand the gift experience. Everything mentions Facebook, from the logo on the FedEx package to the "Like" sticker we found inside. Check out the gallery above to see all the pictures of our Facebook Gift un…
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More About: Facebook, Gifts, facebook gifts, features

Grumpy Cat Tattoo Could Impress Even the Crankiest Kitty

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:44 PM PST


Grumpy Cat now has a permanent way to spread her grouchy bits of a delight. Redditor trippindicular spotted this feisty feline ink at Philly's Deep Six Laboratory Tattoo Shop.

SEE ALSO: Heyyy Crazy Lady! Super Fan Gets 'Gangnam Style' Tattoo

Tattoo artist Tom Taylor inked the meme skin art, which is either the cat's meow or a drop in the litterbox, depending on your thoughts about web culture.

Do tattoos leave a bad taste in your mouth? Sweeten your palate with this Grumpy Cat Gingerbread House.

BONUS: Crappy Holidays From Grumpy Cat!

Images courtesy of imgur and grumpycats

More About: Watercooler, cats, cute animals, tattoo

7 Lessons From Random Steve Jobs Encounters

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:30 PM PST


It's been just a little over a year since Steve Jobs passed away. And while his legacy lives on through Apple products, stories about the man himself also continue to be shared.

In fact, 2012's most popular question on the ask-and-answer site Quora was, "What are the best stories about people randomly meeting Steve Jobs?" Answers to this question offer up a few life lessons from the man in the black turtleneck.

1. Help strangers, to the extent you can

The top answer came from Tim Smith, a principal at Applied Design Group. Smith owned an old British Sunbeam sports car that broke down and rolled to a stop in front of the Jobs' house one evening. With the car hood up, Smith was about…
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More About: quora, steve jobs

Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal With a Beer Can

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 02:07 PM PST


Weak Wi-Fi is a fate worse than death.

Not really, but it's pretty annoying. Thick walls and metal objects can mean the difference between streaming Netflix and '90s dial-up.

Fortunately, our friends at Hack College have illustrated a way to make use of all the empty beer cans piling up around your bed. The technique as been tested with positive results.

Image courtesy of Minute Hacks

More About: Gadgets, Tech, videos, wi-fi

Homer Becomes a Social Gaming Addict in Latest ‘Simpsons’ Episode

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:50 PM PST


Homer Simpson becomes hopelessly addicted to playing a game called "VillageVille" on his myPad, in Sunday night's episode of The Simpsons, as the comedy takes a stab at popular Zynga Facebook games.

Homer is home faking a back injury when he discovers the game, and becomes so addicted he forgets to walk the family dog, Santa's Little Helper. In the clip above, Homer can be seen clearing a forest for his village, then adding buildings.

This isn't the first time The Simpsons has parodied a popular mobile game. Earlier in this season, Homer was seen playing "Words With Enemies," a scrabble-clone where you clobbered your opponents.

While creator Matt Groenig may have wanted to poke…
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More About: Gaming, Zynga, social games, the simpsons

NBA Players and Old People Make for Adorable Instagrams

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:37 PM PST


This just in from the Department of D'aww: NBA players working out senior citizens in the name of healthy living is adorable Instagram material.

More About: NBA, Sports

Mashable’s 35 Top Songs of 2012

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:34 PM PST


When putting together a list of the top songs of 2012, it is impossible to ignore how Carly Rae Jepsen's star experienced a meteoric rise thanks to YouTube (and the proclivity of its audience to create parodies). And, although the single itself dropped in 2011, we couldn't turn around in 2012 without someone offering their own take on Gotye and Kimbra's "Somebody That I Used to Know." Sharing, spoofing and sampling made for a year of music that felt not only creative but collaborative.

The Mashable staff put together a list of our favorite tunes of 2012. You'll find some artists who also topped the iTunes charts this year, such as Adele and Fun., but you'll also probably see a few music…
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More About: Music, Year End 2012, music monday

DJ Deadmau5 Proposes to Kat Von D on Twitter

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:22 PM PST


Music producer Deadmau5 used Twitter over the weekend for his marriage proposal to tattoo artist Kat Von D, the reality TV star from "Miami Ink" and "LA Ink."

More About: Entertainment, Music, TV, Twitter, marriage proposal

MyFitnessPal Now Lets You Share Progress With Facebook Friends

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:11 PM PST


Peer pressure can sometimes be a good thing. That's why apps and websites like MyFitnessPal, Fitbit and NikeFuel connect you with friends. You can also meet other users of your preferred fitness device and share stories, tips and goals.

MyFitnessPal has long been one of the best apps for tracking your calorie intake. The app's list of foods is massive, plus you can add in your own items and choose frequently eaten items to quickly add to your day's menu.

SEE ALSO: Calorie-Counting MyFitnessPal App Is About to Get Even More Useful

Social sharing is also a been a big component of MyFitnessPal. But now instead of needing to know a user's email address or username, you can connect t…
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More About: Facebook, MyFitnessPal, apps, fitness, health & fitness

Most Scared Man in the World Is Hilarious to Watch

Posted: 17 Dec 2012 01:00 PM PST


Don't breathe too loudly because this guy will freak out.

Jumpy does not even begin to describe this man who lives in a constant state of gullible terror. And it doesn't help that his coworkers are always busy dropping things from ceilings or hiding in cardboard boxes. We'd pity him and his likely erratic heartbeats if his reaction weren't so hilarious.

SEE ALSO: NBA Star Scores With Hilarious Horse Mask Prank [VIDEO]

On the positive side, he must never have the hiccups since he's always scaring himself back to normal.

Thumbnail image courtesy of YouTube, NRK Sørlandet

More About: Watercooler, viral videos

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