Category: reader

Firefox OS 1.3 Arrives: Dual SIM Support, Continuous Autofocus, Graphics Boost

An anonymous reader writes “Mozilla today released Firefox OS version 1.3 to its partners for implementing in their smartphones. There are many new features for both users and developers, and the first phone to feature them is the ZTE Open C, which is available for sale as of today on eBay. First and foremost, Firefox OS users can expect dual-SIM dual-standby (DSDS) support, which gives you two lines on compatible phones, a popular feature in emerging markets. DSDS lets dual-SIM devices individually manage two different SIMs for calling, texting, or data through the ‘SIM Manager’ interface.” Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Firefox OS 1.3 Arrives: Dual SIM Support, Continuous Autofocus, Graphics Boost

Bitly Accounts Hacked, Change Your Passwords And Disconnect Accounts

URL shortening service Bitly announced a security breach regarding account credentials today. Here’s what you need to know. Read more…

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Bitly Accounts Hacked, Change Your Passwords And Disconnect Accounts

The Audacia Lays 100 Feet of Pipe On the Ocean Floor Every Minute

Undersea energy pipelines constitute a vital physical link between deep water wells and onshore refineries, but it’s not like we can just lay these lines like oversized bendy straws. That task of constructing and sinking these tubes instead falls to vessels like Allseas’ newest addition to its pipelaying fleet, the Audacia. Read more…

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The Audacia Lays 100 Feet of Pipe On the Ocean Floor Every Minute

The Cave Church of Garbage City

Large Christian communities are not abundant in Muslim-dominated Egypt, but one of the more populace groups are the garbage scavenging Zabbaleen who have retained their Coptic beliefs and established the largest Christian church in the Middle East at the Monastery of Saint Simon. Read more…

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The Cave Church of Garbage City

3D printing might save lives

Sure, 3D printers can make guns , but it can also be used for good: for instance, its capability to create whatever you want gives it a bright future in humanitarian efforts around the globe. Oxfam (an organization that seeks to eradicate poverty) agrees, that’s why it has partnered with online 3D printables platform MyMiniFactory for a mission in Lebanon. Their first collaboration? To find a printable water-efficient hand wash system for Syrian refugees who fled to the country in order to lower instances of diarrhea and other diseases. Here’s how the partnership works: MyMiniFactory will accept design submissions from anyone, and then select a few to email the Oxfam team. The org will then print and test these designs onsite, and then email MyMiniFactory on how to tweak them and make them better. Sadly, not every org out there comes with a 3D printer in tow, but a lot of humanitarians recognize the technology’s benefits and hope to take advantage of it soon. With the advent of more affordable 3D printers , that’s looking more and more possible. So, we wouldn’t be surprised if organizations start lugging around printers instead of actual equipment to produce everything from housing to medical supplies in the future. Filed under: Misc Comments Source: MyMiniFactory , Oxfam

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3D printing might save lives

ISPs will send warning letters to illegal downloaders from next year

If you’re suspected of naughtily downloading copyrighted content , then expect the most savage of punishments: a letter asking you to stop. BT, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk have signed a deal with the music and movie industries whereby the ISPs will send out ” educational ” missives to pirates from next year. The deal is the culmination of four years of negotiation between the big four and the lobby groups, the latter of which wanted much stronger action and access to a database of serial torrenters. Thankfully, the internet companies won out, so the odd letter asking you to re-think your ways is the only thing you’ve got to deal with… for now. Filed under: Internet Comments Source: BBC News

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ISPs will send warning letters to illegal downloaders from next year

Router company that threatened a reviewer loses Amazon selling license

The Medialink router that was reviewed. Mediabridge Update 5/8/2014 19:44 CT:  On Thursday, Mediabridge Products posted an official statement about this incident to its Facebook page, clarifying its position and saying that Amazon has revoked its selling privileges. (Thanks to PrimalxConvoy for the tip). In the statement, the company says that it did not actually sue the Amazon reviewer, but that it did insist that the reviewer’s “untrue, damaging, and disparaging statements” be taken down. “It’s our sincere belief that reasonable people understand that not only is it within our rights to take steps to protect our integrity, but that it should be expected that we would do so when it is recklessly attacked,” Mediabridge Products wrote. “The reviewer has since changed his review completely to remove the libelous statements, but unfortunately not before having an army attack us on the internet.” The company did not give any clue as to the terms of Amazon’s rescinding of Mediabridge’s selling license, but only said at the end of its statement “Unfortunately, as a result of our attempt to get this reviewer to do the right thing & remove his untrue statements about our company, Amazon has revoked our selling privileges. Many hard-working employees whose livelihood depended on that business will likely be put out of a job, by a situation that has been distorted & blown out of proportion.” Read 8 remaining paragraphs | Comments

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Router company that threatened a reviewer loses Amazon selling license

​Sprint is ready to throttle its unlimited data plans, but only in ‘congested’ areas

It was a big promise: unlimited data , without quotes, throttling or restrictions. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse has repeatedly defended the company’s pledge to offer a true unlimited plan, but now the company is quietly eating its words. Customers on Sprint, Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile have all started receiving text messages warning them that heavy users will be subject to data “prioritization” next month in order to “provide more customers with a high quality data experience during heavy usage times.” This prioritization (read: throttling ) will only apply to the top 5 percent of data users and only in “congested areas, ” however, and Sprint tells FierceWireless that users will only experience limited speeds if they’re connected to a congested cell site. A small concession to your unlimited data plan — and one without a defined data cap — but a small asterisk is still an asterisk. Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile , Sprint Comments Via: PhoneScoop Source: FierceWireless

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​Sprint is ready to throttle its unlimited data plans, but only in ‘congested’ areas

Apple is reportedly close to buying Beats for $3.2 billion

The days of Apple limiting itself to ( relatively ) small acquisitions may soon be over. The Financial Times hears from sources that the folks at 1 Infinite Loop are close to buying Beats Electronics for $3.2 billion. It’s not clear exactly why the company would splurge on such a deal, although there are some strong incentives — Beats Music could provide Apple with a streaming music platform more advanced than iTunes Radio, while Beats’ audio hardware could complement existing iOS and Mac devices. Apple hasn’t commented on the rumor, but the rumored deal could be official as early as next week — we’ll know the truth soon enough. Filed under: Cellphones , Peripherals , Internet , Mobile , Apple Comments Source: Financial Times

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Apple is reportedly close to buying Beats for $3.2 billion