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880,000 creditcards stolen in Viator data breach Viator issued a statement saying, On September 2, we were informed by our payment card service provider that unauthorized charges occurred on a number of our customers' credit cards. We have hired forensic experts, notified law enforcement and we have been working diligently and comprehensively to investigate the…

Wave Hoax Ad Designed to Look Like an Apple Ad Most people reading an article like mine will know you can't microwave a phone of any sort, and that Apple didn't announce any such technology as “Wave.” Remember, however, that the vast majority of people don't read Apple-centric or tech-centric websites. Being technically savvy is…

Google Chairman Eric Schmidt ALEC is known in the political world for advocating for free markets (i.e. deregulation), low taxes, the privatization of prisons and schools, stand your ground laws, and for generally resisting any and all efforts by local, state, and federal government to support, require, or encourage renewable energy or other climate-oriented legislation.…

iPhone 6 sales have Canaccord Genuity raising Apple's target stock price Mr. Walkley sees strong demand for Apple's iPhone line to continue, and expects that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will have a negative impact on Android-based smartphone sales. “Despite demand currently much stronger than Apple's ability to supply the iPhone 6 and 6…

The Wall Street Journal announced Friday that Apple CEO Cook would headline its inaugural WSJDLive conference, the apparent successor to D, the conference that was headed by tech journalist luminaries Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Mr. Cook will be interviewed at the event, which takes place from October 27-29 at the Montage in Laguna Beach,…

Apple may miss the 10 million mark during its iPhone 6 launch weekend In a note to investors, Mr. Sacconaghi said, Although we see the potential for first weekend sales to disappoint versus expectations that now appear to be as high as 10 million units, it is important for investors to keep in mind that…

The Steambot Y Wireless In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter from Mpow allows users with older cars to enjoy Bluetooth functions. With the Steambot installed users can make hands-free calls, listen to music or GPS voice navigation and charge iPads or iPhones. Streambot Y This product works with cars without an AUX audio port, and it works by…

No iPhone 6 in China? No big deal, says Wells Fargo analyst Mr. Um told investors, Media reports including from Fortune suggest Apple may not launch the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus until the end of 2014 or in 2015 due to network licensing issues. This does not change our view that Apple should be…

Maynard Um says rocky iPhone 6 launch doesn't mean sales aren't there In a note to investors Mr. Um said, While difficult to track model and size demand due to the online store difficulties, one general observation is that iPhone 6 Plus appeared to have experienced extended lead times first (7-10 days for various models)…

First up, all Simple Choice customers can use Wi-Fi calling and texting with capable phones on any Wi-Fi network. As of the time of the announcement, all smartphones for sale from T-Mobile have this capability, and if a customer doesn't have a phone with this capability, not to worry. T-Mobile also launched “open enrollment” in…

Apple gives away U2's new album free to iTunes Store users Apple CEO Tim Cook called the album launch the biggest in history because it'll be available to every iTunes Store customer in 119 countries. It'll also be available via iTunes Radio and Beats Music. Mr. Cook said U2's new album, Songs of Innocence, will…

Star Walk 2 by Vito Technology is the next generation of the venerable sky charting program that was launched in 2008. This iOS app has been well received throughout the years, but the new release suffers from too many user interface and usability errors, and its does not fare well compared to the competition. _________________…

Report claims Apple is placing mobile payment NFC sensors in Disney Stores The rumor follows a report that Apple has struck payment processing deals with American Express, Visa, and MasterCard, and several retailers including Walgreens and CVS. Reports have claimed the iPhone 6 will include NFC support, although there is word that the still rumored…

Sensorly shows realistic cell service coverage maps Sensorly is a handy service where users can volunteer to share information about the 4G/LTE signal strength they get on their iPhone or Android-based smartphone, and that data is then aggregated to show exactly where the strong or weak signal areas are. The darker the color on the…

Apple to unveil iPhone 6, wearable device on September 9 Apple has been expected to host an iPhone 6 launch event in early September for some time, but word that it could be a mega event where a whole new product line gets introduces as well is cropped up only in the past few days.…

Ten years ago, Apple's iPod inspired Duke University to hand them out to incoming freshmen so that they could listen to recorded lectures and other material. But what began as an iPod-giveaway has since morphed into the Duke Digital Initiative (DDI), a program that embraces technology in many forms to better the education process. In…

Earlier on Tuesday, Blue Microphones announced—finally—Mo-Fi, professional quality headphones for audiophiles and musicians. The company gave us this maddening, teasing not-quite-a-glimpse back at CES in January, and I've been waiting eagerly since. Fortunately, Blue gave me early access to them, and this review is based on hands-on and ears-on testing for the last two weeks.…

Like other major cities, London has a proud tradition of quirky boutiques, and independent stores. Now, instead of trying to kill them off with online transactions, some of the residents of its start up scene are trying to use mobile technology to save them.  Streethub is a new iOS app launched by London based entrepreneurs…

Point your browser to Apple's iPhone 5 Battery Replacement Program webpage Select your country from the drop down menu on the left Enter your iPhone's serial number in the Eligibility field, then click Submit Apple is replacing some iPhone 5 batteries that don't hold a charge If your iPhone 5 qualifies, you can make an…

Blue Mo-Fi Over-the-Ear Headphones The four bar linkage system (Blue has a patent pending on it) is a key aspect of why these headphones are different. In addition to eliminating stress points common to most spring-loaded headbands, it also serves to keep the cups snug against your ear. With thick padding and adjustable tension, they…

The relevant passage from SB-962: Any smartphone that is manufactured on or after July 1, 2015, and sold in California after that date, shall include a technological solution at the time of sale, to be provided by the manufacturer or operating system provider, that, once initiated and successfully communicated to the smartphone, can render the…

At issue is the reality that Chinese tech companies haven't developed their own operating systems that can compete with OS X, iOS, Windows, or Android. Not only does that result in billions of dollars flowing out of China (at least when piracy isn't involved), Chinese security services feel like it exposes the country to espionage…

___________________ Some examples are in order. A phone carrier starts with unlimited service to entice customers and later does everything it can to force-convert customers into capped or metered service. A company, which had a fine product for sale can't generate enough growth with a mature technology, so it makes its product available via subscription…

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced the Fire Phone on June 18 with several novel features and a 4.7-inch display. This TMO review takes a close look at the Fire Phone from a technical perspective that steers away from politics and towards what the iPhone or any potential owner would want to know about this very…