Facebook Messenger nixing requirement that you actually use Facebook

Facebook today announced that it's opening up Facebook Messenger to folks who don't actually use Facebook. Going forward, all you'll need to use the Messenger app is a name and phone number, and you'll be able to hit up your mobile contacts. The obvious play is to get non-Facebook users to stick a toe into the water -- and not into the pools of cross-platform competitors such as Whatsapp. Whether the Facebook name remains too much of a deterrent, we'll just have to see.

Facebook says an update to the Android client should be rolling out today (it's not live as of this writing).

Source: Facebook

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/Czq1geBmJ9Y/story01.htm

MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES LSI

Lovefilm movie streaming arrives on UK Wii consoles, Wii U compatibility coming 'shortly'

Good news for Wii owners in the UK who just can't wait to stream a bit of the old Twilight Saga on their console: Nintendo's last-gen gaming rig is getting access to Amazon-owned Lovefilm today, by way of a free app downloadable through the Wii Shop Channel. The console joins the PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360 (not to mention the Kindle Fire HD and iPad) in offering up the service's streamable movies and TV shows. Lovefilm's also promised that Wii U functionality will "follow shortly." (Wii Mini functionality, on the other hand -- well, we're not holding our breath for that one.) In the meantime, please amuse yourself by checking out the press release after the break.

Continue reading Lovefilm movie streaming arrives on UK Wii consoles, Wii U compatibility coming 'shortly'

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Nintendo

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/wGJ2_agL_wU/

INGRAM MICRO INFORMATICA

Facebook asks users to vote on future of voting system, hopes to revise governance policies

Facebook's proposed policy tweaks are about to have their day in the polls -- not that the social network's users have much of a chance of shooting them down. Facebook's current governance policies allow for a vote on proposed changes when more than 7,000 comments are registered -- but denying those changes requires a staggering 30 percent of the network's one billion active users. Ready for some quick math? That's 300 million negative votes -- more than twice as many than the total number of ballots cast in the 2012 US presidential election. Facebook's proposal cuts the voting system out of the site's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, which it says will free it up to explore new ways to involve users in policy changes, such as the new "Ask our Chief Privacy Officer" feature.

The social network's site governance page also has a new article explaining some of its upcoming policy changes in layman's terms, which eases readers into the language it uses to describe how it shares information with affiliates, clarifies user content ownership and promises not to remove certain privacy controls. Facebook users happy with the old system have until December 10th to put America's voter turnout to shame, though their voices will probably be easier to hear after Facebook abandons its impotent democracy.

Filed under: Internet

Comments

Source: Facebook (1), (2)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/j7TM7JSQ5f8/

SONUS NETWORKS SONIC AUTOMOTIVE

HP's new all-in-one printer adds more to that 'all', turns into a WiFi hotspot

While all-in-one printers usually tote print, copy, scan and fax capabilities, we're hardly ones to complain if we get something more. The aptly-named HP Hotspot LaserJet Pro M1218nfs also crams in a WiFi hotspot -- opening up the world wide web for access on up to eight devices at a time. Other than swallowing a wireless hub, the laser printer also boasts Apple AirPrint along with HP's ePrint and wireless direct for tether-free printing. Out in India for 18,306 rupees ($330), we're awaiting word on stateside availability. Now it isn't really up to us to say if that NFS in its monicker points to speed, but a quick tap on the source link is enough to throw up the full specs.

Continue reading HP's new all-in-one printer adds more to that 'all', turns into a WiFi hotspot

Filed under: Peripherals, HP

Comments

Source: HP (specs)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/lR8JiGg0LZ0/

MILLICOM INTL CELLULAR MOBILE TELESYSTEMS

Gadget Lab Show: HTC One X+, Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and Sony Bluetooth Headphones

This week on the Gadget Lab Show, the team checks out several new gadgets including the HTC One X+, the new, bigger Kindle Fire HD 8.9, and new set of Bluetooth headphones from Sony.

Source: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/11/gadget-lab-show-htc-one-x-kindle-fire-hd-8-9-sony-bluetooth-headphones/

MICROSEMI MICROS SYSTEMS

BattlePaint is an addictive geometric shooter game

In BattlePaint, you play a cube. In fact, you're not even a cube -- just a square. But boy, are you fast! And you can shoot in all directions. That's important, because there are baddies coming in from all over the place.

The "baddies" are swarms of other squares, in all sorts of pretty colors. They track you all over the screen, and you run around very quickly and just shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. If that doesn't sound very emotionally deep, it's because it isn't. But it's fun!

After you shoot a baddy, it splashes paint as it disappears. You need to skate across this blob of paint and "eat it up" to get points. This game is fast. It clocked in at around 60-70 FPS on my system, and was loads of fun to play. It does tend to insult you when you die, though, but don't be offended -- I don't think it's personal.

BattlePaint is an addictive geometric shooter game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/09/battlepaint-is-an-addictive-geometric-shooter-game/

ELECTRONIC ARTS ECLIPSYS

Enthuse Raises $1.3M From Greystripe Co-founder And Others To Help Sports Teams Reward Their Fans

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/wgiUwvxGxvI/

IBASIS HYPERCOM

Windows 8 wallpaper available to download, Jupiter and Twin UI spotted

With Windows 8 milestone 3 now up for grabs for select Microsoft Connect partners, it's inevitable that leaked bits and pieces will start popping up around the Web. In fact, the first "official" wallpaper image from the still-brewing OS is already making the rounds.

As you can see, it's got a similar feel to the good ol' Windows 7 default background, but features a more subdued smattering of cerulean hues. Those of you who want to use the Windows 8 wallpaper on your current desktop can download it from our file dump.

A few other details have been revealed, too. According to ZDNet's source, the Windows 8 Jupiter libraries and Twin UI are starting to take shape -- though all that's been located thus far are "[various files] scattered throughout the OS" and the aptly-named twinui.dll.

Windows 8 wallpaper available to download, Jupiter and Twin UI spotted originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/download-windows-8-wallpaper/

LEXMARK INTERNATIONAL LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS

Syria's Internet Silence Enters Day 2

Internet and mobile phone service has been cut off throughout war-ravaged Syria. The Syrian government blamed terrorists for the outage. Activists, on the other hand, have warned that Internet and phone blackouts commonly precede military operations in isolated areas. The networking firm Renesys reported that each of Syria's 84 IP address blocks was unreachable. Google seemed to corroborate that report with a chart on its Transparency Report showing a drastic plunge in Internet traffic in Syria on Nov. 29.

Source: http://ectnews.com.feedsportal.com/c/34520/f/632000/s/2623f53a/l/0L0Stechnewsworld0N0Crsstory0C767410Bhtml/story01.htm

MANTECH INTERNATIONAL MANHATTAN ASSOCIATES

Mio Alpha First Impressions: Strapless Heart Rate Monitoring Comes of Age

There are a million reasons to want to know your heart rate while working out. Maybe you're trying to stay in a certain range for fat-loss. Maybe you want metrics on how you're progressing. Maybe you just need to make sure your heart isn't about to explode. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/mq3w3VpS7hg/mio-alpha-first-impressions-strapless-heart-rate-monitoring-comes-of-age

SONIC AUTOMOTIVE SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS

iMore show. Seth Weintraub. Tonight. 9pm ET/6pm PT. Be here.

Seth Weintraub, publisher of 9to5Mac joins me tonight to talk about Apple rumors and the latest iPhone, iPad, and Mac news.

Join us LIVE at 6pm PT, 9pm ET. Set an alarm. Bookmark this page. Be here.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/S5nXrmXUdwo/story01.htm

VIRGIN MEDIA VIEWSONIC

From the experts: Debugging an Android application like a boss

Remember how you can tap things and do a little voodoo to enable developer options in Android 4.2? Most of us still won't need to enable any of these other than USB debugging, but folks who are developers have some serious tools at their disposal in there. That's why we're fine with them being hidden for more normal users. Out of sight, out of mind, and the folks who need them know where to look.

One of those folks is Romain Guy. He's an extraordinary photographer, but he's also an Android engineer at Google who focuses on graphics and animation. In short, he knows what he's doing. Turns out he's a fan of the new Falcon Twitter client, and likes it enough to notice that there might be a hiccup or two in the timeline scrolling. Software engineers are regular people for the most part, but in our imaginations they grab a cable and a laptop to investigate anything that gets them curious. This time, out imaginations are correct.

Have an excellent read of just how he uses the developer tools available to track down the issue, and see just what developers have to go through sometimes to pump out awesome Android applications. Chances are you'll only understand part of it, but that will be enough to have a better appreciation of what these guys do.

Source: curious-creature.org

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/HYIUiR-jUv0/story01.htm

MOTOROLA MOODYS