Archive for October 2014

The Tommykaira ZZ is Japan's answer to the Tesla Roadster (pictures)

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Get ready for Windows 10

Do you have questions about Microsoft's upcoming OS 10? We got a sneak peek and have the answers.


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Galaxy Ace 4 packs 4G and quad-core, but needs to be cheap to compete

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galaxy-ace-4-1.jpgSamsung

Samsung liebt Fortsetzungen. Das neueste Pony in seiner Galaxy-Stall geführt werden ist das Galaxy Ace 4, ein Follow-up zum letztjährigen Ace 3, erwies sich als ein mäßig verlockend Handy mit einem sehr enttäuschend-Bildschirm. Leider das diesjährige Modell aussehen legen, dieses Muster zu wiederholen.

Das Galaxy Ace 4 hat ein 4,3-Zoll-Display. Das ist viel kleiner als Züchter Samsung wie das Galaxy S5 oder Anmerkung 4 Handys, und ist auch ein bisschen mehr petite als das ausgezeichnete und sehr billig Moto G 4 G, die einen 4,5-Zoll-Bildschirm hat. Größe ist nicht das Problem jedoch--mehr ärgerlich ist, dass der Ace-4 eine 480 x 800 Auflösung, eine sehr ordentliche Pixelanzahl in der heutigen Zeit hat.

Weil das Display auf der Schmalseite ist, bemerken Sie möglicherweise nicht, dass niedrige Pixelzahl, die einige der Punch von Fotos und Videos auf dem Bildschirm stattfinden wird. Aber mit dem Moto G 4 G kostet nur £149, Ace 4 extrem billig ist, konkurrieren zu müssen.

Anderswo ist die Ass-4 weitere Schattierungen des gewöhnlichen. Gibt es eine 5-Megapixel-Kamera auf der Rückseite, ein 1,2-GHz-Quad-Core-Prozessor auf der Innenseite und Android 4.4 KitKat behandeln alle Ihre Anwendungen und Software-Anforderungen.

Die Ass-4 Kategorie 4 LTE, Verpacken, die ist eine Rasse des 4G, die höhere theoretische Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 150Mbps, anbietet, wenn Einschränkungen bedeutet hast du derzeit keine Chance in der Nähe dieser Grenze. 4G ist ideal für schneller Downloads und Video-streaming (vorausgesetzt, Ihr Netzwerk bietet Ihnen ein gesundes Maß an Daten) aber die Ass-4 ist nicht an das einzigartige - Moto-G 4 G und EE Kestrel können diese höheren Geschwindigkeiten zu behandeln.

Die Ass-4 hits UK am 17. Oktober in Samsungs eigener Geschäfte und EE verfügbar. Später wird es auf den Verkauf von O2 sein. Mit ganz normalen Hardware werden wir für einen so niedrigen Preis betrachten, die es einen Limbo-Weltmeister erröten machen könnte. Stay tuned für die vollständige Überprüfung.


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Apple still world's top brand, as Huawei enters rankings

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Apple and Google have held their top spots as the planet's most valuable brands, according to ranking firm Interbrand.

interbrand-2014-ranking-1.jpg Interbrand

Apple and Google are the world's most valuable brands, according to fresh rankings from brand evaluation firm Interbrand.

The iPhone-maker held its grip on the top spot, having last year nudged Coca-Cola from number one. Google similarly held steady with a second-place ranking. Both firms have an estimated brand value of over 100 million dollars. Figures are calculated by analysing the financial performance of each brand, the role that the brand itself plays in influencing shopper decisions, and how important a is brand to a company's power to make money, or charge a premium price for its products.

Six of the top ten brands are tech firms, with IBM taking fourth place, Microsoft taking fifth and Samsung claiming the number six spot. Amazon and Facebook, which placed 15th and 29th respectively, were both deemed "top risers" by Interbrand.

A new entrant to the top-100 ranking is Huawei, the first Chinese company to ever enter Interbrand's rankings, placing 94th. Best known to shoppers for its low-price Android smartphones, Interbrand writes, "The company is working to change its image in the mobile handset market from that of the low-cost alternative to one of a more premium brand."

Francisco Jeronimo, analyst at IDC told CNET that Huawei has been "recognised by consumers as a strong brand that provides affordable products but with quality, which was not the case a few years ago, when we tended to associate Chinese brands with low price and low quality."

"Using a Huawei handset provides an experience similar to many other devices from top brands," Jeronimo added. "I can get a good experience and good specs for a much lower price." Jeronimo also noted that it was surprising to see Huawei ranked ahead of Nokia (which appeared 98th in the top 100 list).

Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis.


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Facebook has no near-term plans for WhatsApp, report says

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Mark Zuckerberg says he's not yet sure how he plans to see a positive return on his massive investment in the messaging service.

facebook-plus-whatsapp-02.jpgIf Facebook has a plan for WhatsApp, it's not telling just yet.Facebook is in no rush to monetize WhatsApp and see a return on its whopping investment, according to a new report.

Speaking in India on Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the company has no near-term plans for how to make money off WhatsApp, according to Reuters, which was in attendance. While Zuckerberg stopped short of saying that Facebook isn't sketching out ways to monetize its WhatsApp acquisition, at least in the short term not much will change.

Facebook on Monday closed its WhatsApp acquisition, the largest deal ever for the social-networking giant. The acquisition, originally valued at $19 billion, includes cash and stock, and because of the rise in Facebook's share price, the value has swelled to $22 billion. Facebook reassured US regulators that WhatsApp would remain a standalone app and not find its way into the social network.

With over 600 million users, WhatsApp is by far the most popular messaging app in the world, heavily used for sending messages to and from mobile devices. When Facebook announces plans to acquire WhatsApp in February, analysts questioned how the company would find a way to generate enough cash to justify its hefty price. It appears at this point that Facebook hasn't settled on a plan just yet.

But with the closing of the acquisition, Facebook is now in a better position to get its hands around the company and see how it can improve its financial performance. Expect Zuckerberg to have more to say to shareholders about monetizing his massive acquisition at some point soon.

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Shares in Facebook are down less than 1 percent to $77.20 in premarket trading on Thursday.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.


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iPhone 6 Plus pushes back launch of bigger iPad, report says

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The rumored large iPad likely won't be available until early next year as suppliers must worry about producing enough iPhone 6 Plus units.

iphone6-34r-spgryiphone6plus-34l-spgry-flwr.jpgApple went larger with the iPhone 6 (left) and iPhone 6 Plus. So when will the iPad finally get supersized? Apple

The iPhone 6 Plus, boasting a 5.5-inch screen, is pushing back any chance for Apple to launch a larger-screen iPad this year, according to a new report.

Apple has plans to build a larger iPad featuring a 12.9-inch screen, but won't get going on that until early next year so its suppliers can focus on increasing output on the iPhone 6 Plus, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company's supply chain efforts. Those sources told the Journal that Apple is facing major demand for the iPhone 6 Plus and that output so far has proven "unsatisfactory" on the larger device.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The new iPhone models debuted in September. The iPhone 6 comes with a 4.7-inch screen, while the iPhone 6 Plus features a 5.5-inch display. It's possible in some cases to find an iPhone 6 Plus on store shelves, but it's exceedingly more difficult than getting the smaller phone. As of this writing, Apple's online store lists the iPhone 6 Plus lead time as three to four weeks. The iPhone 6 will ship in as little as a week.

Rumors have been swirling for months that Apple is planning to boost the size of its iPads. The iPad Mini has a 7.9-inch screen size, which likely won't change, but the iPad Air features the same 9.7-inch screen Apple has offered since the original iPad's inception in 2010. As an increasing number of devices from other tablet makers hit store shelves featuring larger screens, the onus is on Apple to respond with a larger tablet of its own. The 12.9-inch model could be just that.

According to the Journal's sources, the larger iPad was set to go into mass production in early December. The stronger demand and lower-than-expected production on the iPhone 6 Plus, however, has pushed that timetable back at least a couple of months, though the sources didn't say exactly when mass production might begin.

Apple is planning to hold a press event next week, likely announcing new iPads. It's unclear whether the company is going to announce the larger iPad at that event.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.


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Complaining customer says Comcast contacted bosses, got him fired

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A California man says his complaints over cable service led to his being fired from consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers. Now Comcast has issued a public apology, of sorts.

comcastlogo.pngComcast's customer service is being called into question again -- and the questioning extends to how it is that the customer got fired from his job. Hezakya Mixologist/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

The idea of losing your job after complaining about your home cable service seems a touch absurd.

One Comcast customer, however, says that's exactly what happened after he complained to Comcast about its customer service.

No, he didn't work for Comcast. Instead, the customer, a California resident named Conal O'Rourke, worked for an accounting firm that performed consultancy duties for the cable provider.

Tensions that have been building for months finally escalated to the point where Comcast today issued "A Public Apology to Conal O'Rourke" on its corporate website. O'Rourke's lawyer, meanwhile, says an apology isn't enough.

So how could a customer complaint have led to this dramatic situation?

In initially telling his story to the Consumerist two days ago, O'Rourke says he had the sort of issues with Comcast that seem all too familiar in many service industries. There were allegedly billing issues, with O'Rourke claiming that Comcast misspelled his last name, so he didn't receive bills.

First, O'Rourke told the Consumerist, he wanted to cancel his service. But Comcast persuaded him it would do better. O'Rourke said the service didn't improve. He said he was sent equipment he hadn't ordered. And, being an accountant, he claims to have prepared a spreadsheet of all the alleged errors, which date back to February 2013.

(As an aside, O'Rourke's LinkedIn profile says: "In 2012 I achieved my long desire of living in California, using my Finance, Human Resources and enthusiastic people skills to work for PwC's Learning & Development as the Senior Associate, learning consultant for the San Jose and Rockies (Denver and Salt Lake City) markets.")

He was so frustrated, he said, that he contacted the office of the company's controller, which Comcast has confirmed. He admits that he suggested Comcast's billing practices should be subject to a Public Company Accounting Oversight Board investigation.

After that, he said, two service calls were arranged, but no service engineer actually arrived.

Then things really got out of hand. O'Rourke alleges that someone at Comcast contacted a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. That led, O'Rourke says, to an ethics investigation at PWC on February 7, 2014, after which O'Rourke says he was fired.

Comcast claimed that O'Rourke "did identify himself as affiliated with PWC," according to a letter dated August 18, 2014, to his lawyer, Maureen Ryan of Dhillon Law Group, and signed by Thomas Nathan, senior deputy general counsel for the cable giant. O'Rourke denies it. Instead, he told Ars Technica he believes that someone at Comcast went through his records, put two and two together, and deduced his place of work.

The cable company does acknowledge contacting PWC, saying in its letter to Ryan, which I have seen, that "Comcast communicated to PWC that a person claiming to be a PWC employee had called our chief accounting executive's office with complaints about his cable services and bills, and yelled at our employees who tried to assist him."

Ryan told CNET that O'Rourke never name-dropped his employer in talking to Comcast:

Comcast has not released the tapes of the call, or the email in which they accused Dhillon Law Group's client of trying to use his employment with PWC as leverage with Comcast. Because of this, the only proof we have is our client's word, and I believe him completely. The person he allegedly said this to has not gone on the record with his or her version of events, so he is the only person who has publically made a statement.

It would make no sense for Conal to say that he worked for PWC as leverage in his negotiations with Comcast, because PWC doesn't audit Comcast's books, instead, they provide consulting services. Comcast has all of the leverage in this client relationship with PWC, and they used it to get a good employee with a spotless record fired.

However, what of the role of O'Rourke's employers? He claims, as the Consumerist recounts, that he had only received good reviews before this incident.

"Mr. O'Rourke was employed in one of our internal firm services offices," a spokeswoman for PWC told me today. "The firm terminated his employment after an internal investigation concluded that Mr. O'Rourke violated PwC's ethical standards and practices, applicable to all of our people. The firm has explicit policies regarding employee conduct, we train our people in those policies, and we enforce them. Mr. O'Rourke's violation of these policies was the sole reason for his termination."

It's easy to speculate that the information that has so far emerged from O'Rourke's side is in part a legal push for financial settlement by a plaintiff's attorney. Indeed, according to the letter from Comcast to lawyer Ryan, recounting O'Rourke's demands, he is seeking "a retraction, an apology, $100,312.50 in damages and reinstatement to his former employment."

Which brings us back to that public apology by Comcast. Here it is in full, and attributed to Charlie Herrin, senior vice president for customer experience at Comcast Cable:

What happened to Mr. O'Rourke's service is completely unacceptable. Despite our attempts to address Mr. O'Rourke's issues, we simply dropped the ball and did not make things right. Mr. O'Rourke deserves another apology from us and we're making this one publicly. We also want to clarify that nobody at Comcast asked for him to be fired.

We're also determined to get to the bottom of exactly what happened with his service, figure out what went wrong at every point along the way, and fix any underlying issues. I'm a few weeks into a new role at Comcast which is entirely focused on what we can do to make the customer experience better. We need to make sure that every interaction is excellent ... from the moment a customer orders a new service, to the installation, to the way we communicate with them, to how we respond to any issues.

We're holding ourselves accountable and we are working hard to make real improvements across the board. While it will take us some time, we can and will do better than this.

That's not enough to satisfy O'Rourke's lawyer, who shared this with me today:

An apology isn't good enough at this point. If they contend that Comcast didn't ask for him to be fired, let them prove it. They should release the tapes and their communications with PWC.

Furthermore, the statement that they did not ask for him to be fired sounds to me like the type of careful phrasing that lawyers and public relations personnel use to get around damaging facts. Even if they did not ask for him to be fired in so many words, we contend that they knew, as accounting professionals, that a false accusation of an ethics violation would cause PWC to terminate Mr. O'Rourke. So even if they didn't specifically ask that he be fired, they knew it would happen as a result of their false and defamatory statements about our client.

The tale is bizarre. That a complaint could escalate to a customer losing his job borders on the macabre. The idea that private conversations between a customer and service provider could be elevated, behind a customer's back to his employer, is disturbing.

Comcast seems to feel it is somehow at fault -- otherwise, why would it issue a public mea culpa? But do note that it's apologizing only for problems with O'Rourke's service.

The company's customer service reputation hasn't been garlanded with hosannas lately. Comcast was one the worst-rated companies in customer service, according to a May 2014 survey by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. So the fact that Comcast is the company involved here adds an especially troubling tinge.

Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world.


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An excellent, expensive, 3D printer that works right out of the box

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With the DeeGreen, the notion that 3D printers are a lot of work -- a lesson I recently learned from reviewing the Monoprice Dual Extrusion -- is not true. Not only does the DeeGreen works right out of the box, it also prints fast (for a 3D printer), performs reliably and can build objects with high details.

Before you get too excited, though, as a single-extruder 3D printer, the DeeGreen is very expensive at €1,500, and shipping internationally that's about $1,900, £1,200 or AU$2,200. It's almost twice the price of the Monoprice, which is a more advanced printer with a dual-extruder print-head and a slightly larger print platform.

But if you're into 3D printing, just the time saved from having to set the printer up and calibrate it already makes the DeeGree totally worth the extra cost. And the low rate of failed prints (I produced none during testing) is an extra bonus, considering it can take hours to finish printing a large object.

That said if you're looking to enter the world of 3D printing, the DeeGreen is an excellent entry. It's just a question of whether or not you can afford it.

deegreen-4.jpgThe DeeGreen comes with a removable print plate. Dong Ngo/CNET

Measuring 19.4 by 15.5 by 15.3 inches (495x395x390mm), the DeeGreen is about the same physical size as the Monoprice. However, it takes just a fraction of the time to get set up and running. In fact, it was easier to use than some regular printers in my trial.

Out of the box, the printer is fully assembled with all of its important parts tied in place. There are just two parts you need to install.

First is the included 1.7-pound (0.75kg) spool of PLA filament of which the string needs to be loaded in to the print-head, which is an easy job since the filament loading tube has already been assembled. As the DeeGreen is a single extruder printer, it can only work with one filament spool at a time, so if you want to print objects of more than one color, swapping out the filaments, even during a single print, can be a frequent task.

Filaments are the print materials for 3D printing, as ink cartridges in inkjet printers. They come in different colors and are basically easy-to-melt, quickly congealing plastic strings that are fed through the print head nozzles during a print job. Be3D sells extra filaments at about $30 (£20, AU$35) per spool of 1.7-pound. The DeeGreen also works with other standard 1.75mm filaments, such as those sold by Monoprice or MakerBot. The DeeGreen can work with both PLA and ABS filaments, and even though be3D sells both, it recommends only PLA. On top of that, it also uniquely works with be3D's wood-based filament.

The second part to install is the 5.9-inch (150mm) square glass print plate that needs to be placed on its holder, the print platform, underneath the print-head. This plate comes with three magnetic metal feet designed to make it fit snugly and stay put on top of the platform while at the same time allowing users to remove it easily.

deegreen-7.jpgThe machine comes with all of its parts already assembled and ready to use right out of the box. Dong Ngo/CNET

As for how 3D printers work, during a print job, the print head pulls the filament string from the spool, melts the plastic, and extrudes it onto the platform. The platform lowers gradually depending on the height, and the print head moves around depending on the width and shape of the object being built. As the extruded plastic piles on top layer by layer, it congeals very fast to slowly form the object. This process is called fused-deposition modeling (FDM), which is the 3D printing technology used in all consumer-grade 3D printers.

As you can imagine, the max size of an object a printer can print depends on the size of the print platform. In the case of the DeeGreen, this size tops at 5.9 cubic-inch, which is quite large. In reality you'll print much smaller objects.

Nonetheless, the DeeGreen's removable print plate is a nice design touch that helps with both preparation and post-print process. For preparation, you can easily put supporting materials or just lace the surface of the plate with glue to keep the to-be-built 3D object from being moved around during a print. And once you're done with a print, it's also much easier to remove the object from the plate itself, as well as cleaning the plate's surface from residual materials. The DeeGreen comes included with a glue stick and a palette knife, making it very convenient for anybody print multiple objects right away.

On the front the printer has a large 6-line resolution touchscreen and a SD card slot and on the back it has a power switch and a USB port to connect to a computer via an included USB cable. There's no need to use the USB cable since the printer prints from an SD card (a blank 4GB card is included) but you can use the cable to transfer a file to the SD card prior to a print. More on this below.

I was able to get the printer ready to print from out of the box in just about 10 minutes, partly thanks to a clearly illustrated "Make Your Printer Ready in Five Steps" poster. But mostly because the printer is just so easy to use.

Extruder 0.015-inch Nozzle Single Extruder Build volume 5.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 in. (150x150x150mm) Layer thickness 0.003 / 0.005 / 0.007 in. (0.1mm / 0.15mm / 0.2mm) Printable materials 0.068-in (1.75 mm) PLA, ABS, WOOD External dimensions 19.4 x 15.5 x 15.3 in. (495x395x390mm)

With the DeeGreen, the biggest timesaver is the fact that the printer requires no calibration on the user's part. Calibration is an important part of 3D printing that makes sure the print platform's entire surface is at a consistent and perfect distance from the print-head's nozzle. Proper calibration determines the success and the quality of each print. The DeeGreen has a built-in sensor for this job and the machine is so well put together that this self-calibration process, which takes place before each print, takes just a few seconds to finish.


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Amazon orders second season of buzzy original 'Transparent'

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After its first stab at original series fell short of the splash Netflix made with efforts like "House of Cards," Amazon's "Transparent" is getting early Emmy chatter.

jay-duplass-judith-light-amy-landecker-and-jeffrey-tambor-in-transparent.jpgAfter debuting last month, Amazon's "Transparent" has been mentioned by critics as an Emmy contender. Beth Dubber/Amazon

Amazon said Thursday it will renew its original series "Transparent" for a second season to premier next year, after the comedy quickly hit a degree of buzz that the e-commerce giant's first shows didn't drum up.

Amazon has been chasing Netflix's originals strategy for its Prime Instant Video service -- a component of its $99 Prime program best known for free second-day shipping -- to stay competitive. Where Netflix series like "House of Cards" and "Orange Is the New Black" snagged top nominations and quickly became standard watercooler fooder, Amazon's first originals "Alpha House" and "Betas" failed to get similar attention.

Amazon said "Transparent" is the top ranked series on Prime Instant Video, its streaming-video service that competes with Netflix. It also touted its scores on critic-review aggregators Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, with 98 percent and 91 percent positive ratings, respectively.

The company didn't discuss viewing metrics for the program, other than to say that it's the No. 1 ranked series on Prime Instant Video, referring to customer ratings, and that nearly 80 percent of all viewers "binge" on two or more episodes of the series in the same day.

Joan E. Solsman is a senior writer for CNET focused on digital media. She previously wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and the Wall Street Journal. She bikes to get almost everywhere in New York City and has been doored only once.


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Icahn to Apple: You need to start buying back more stock

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In an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, activist investor Carl Icahn says the stock is worth double its current trading price.

tim-cook-apple-0215.jpgApple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus during an event last month. James Martin/CNET

Carl Icahn is again calling for Apple to buy back its own stock, arguing that the iPhone maker's shares should be worth twice as much as their current trading level.

The billionaire activist investor on Thursday published an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, just as he vowed (a day earlier on Twitter) to do. In the letter, Icahn calls for Apple to use its cash position to accelerate and increase the magnitude of stock repurchases through a tender offer, which is an open call to all investors to sell their stock -- usually at a premium.

"You have said before that the company likes to be 'opportunistic' when repurchasing shares and we appreciate that," Icahn said. "With this letter we simply hope to express to you that now is a very opportunistic time to do so."

Apple shares inched up less than 1 percent to $101.65 in premarket trading. Apple's stock hit an all-time high of $103.74 on Sept. 2, a week before the company introduced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Icahn said the stock should be valued at $203 based on his calculations.

It's the second time Icahn has called for Apple to boost its existing stock buyback program. The investor had backed off of his last proposal in February, but has returned to his previous position. If Apple does offer to buy back more shares, Icahn said he would commit to not shedding his own position, reiterating his belief that the stock is undervalued.

The letter comes a month after Apple released its newest smartphones and a week before it's poised to host another event, likely to reveal new iPads and Macs. The company is counting on its new devices to help it attract new customers and keep current users coming back. The iPhone continues to sell at record numbers, but the iPad has had some troubles. Sales for the tablet have declined and missed analysts' estimates for the past two quarters.

Icahn praised the significantly upgraded iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which feature larger screens, improved specifications, and the capability to make mobile payments, noting that he believed the phones would take market share in the premium category. He compared the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S5 dynamic to a choice between a Mercedes and a Volkswagen -- at roughly the same price.

Apple said it would take Icahn's feedback.

"We always appreciate hearing from our shareholders," said a company spokeswoman. "Since 2013 we've been aggressively executing the largest capital return program in corporate history. As we've said before, we will review the program annually and take into account the input from all of our shareholders."

Apple, which nearly declared bankruptcy before Steve Jobs returned to the helm in 1997, now is the most valuable company in the US. Its market capitalization of more than $600 billion tops Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, and IBM, all giants in their own right. In Apple's last fiscal year, ended Sept. 28, 2013, the company generated $170.91 billion in sales and $37.04 billion in profits.

Its current capital return program calls for returning $130 billion in value to shareholders in 2015 through buybacks and dividends.

Jobs largely ignored shareholders, but Cook has taken a more investor-friendly approach. He met with Icahn a year ago after after the investor built a large stake in Apple shares. At the time, Icahn criticized Apple's buyback program as too small and said he wanted Apple to buy back $50 billion worth of shares. He dropped his proposal in February after saying Apple was close to fulfilling his requested repurchase target.

Since the talks a year ago, Apple has significantly increased its share repurchase plans and boosted its dividend. The company in June also gave investors six additional shares of stock for every Apple share they owned as of June 2. Because of the split, shares now trade at a much lower level than in the past, but it also makes the stock more accessible to investors. It's much cheaper to own a chunk of Apple at about $100 versus $600.

Icahn.jpgCarl Icahn is a vocal investor.

The extent to which Apple buys back shares is important to Icahn and other investors. The more shares a company buys back relative to its total outstanding shares, the more the move can affect a stock price. In this case, it would mean that Apple's shares would rise as the total stock supply falls and demand continues to stay strong.

In Thursday's open letter, Icahn weighed in on Apple's various product lines, including the newly introduced Apple Watch. The investor believes the smartwatch "will have a significant impact on Apple's growth" over the next three years. He also said he believes that Apple will release an UltraHD television set in fiscal 2016, although he also acknowledged that it may never happen.

The activist investor has had a knack for getting what he wants. His pressure on Motorola after it failed to capitalize on the original Razr's success in 2008 led to then CEO Edward Zander stepping down and the business splitting. Last week, eBay said it would spin off its PayPal unit, a proposal first urged by Icahn earlier this year.

Icahn concluded his new letter by praising Cook and his team from an operational level. But he believes the stock remains undervalued by investors.

"At today's price, Apple is one of the best investments we have ever seen from a risk reward perspective, and the size of our position is a testament to this," he said.

Updated at 7:40 am P.T.: To include a response from Apple.


Roger Cheng is the executive editor in charge of breaking news for CNET News. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. He's a devoted Trojan alum and Los Angeles Lakers fan.


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No, Microsoft's Surface Pro tablets aren't dead

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Microsoft's latest public compatibility commitments refute rumors that it's planning to discontinue its Surface lineup.

microsoft-surface-pro-3-product-photos-studio17.jpg Sarah Tew/CNET

Microsoft officials seldom deny pubicly rumors about product futures, even when they are from some sites with less-than-stellar Microsoft-prediction track records.

But on October 9, Microsoft execs broke that rule (at least indirectly) and posted on the Microsoft Surface blog that "Businesses can buy with confidence. We are here to stay."

Digitimes published a report on October 9 claiming Microsoft is planning to exit the Surface business, citing unnamed supply-chain sources.

In spite of CEO Satya Nadella's recent characterization of Surface (and hardware in general) as supporting rather than "core" Microsoft businesses, Microsoft isn't dumping the Intel-based Surface line, officials said.

"Surface Pro 3 is off to a strong start with both individuals and businesses," maintained Surface General Manager Brian Hall in that blog post. He said Microsoft is guaranteeing that Surface Pro 3 will be upgradable to Windows 10. He also said the current line of Surface Pro 3 accessories -- Surface Pro 3 Type Covers; power adapter, Ethernet adapter and other "infrastructure accessories," and the docking station -- will be compatible with "the next generation of the 'Pro' line of Surface."

(Hall didn't make any claims about Windows 10 compatibility for the Surface Pro and Pro 2 devices, but I am hearing from my sources that both those models should also support Windows 10. I'm less sure about the ARM-based versions. All Microsoft will say re: Windows 10 compatibility for Surface RT and Surface 2 is: "Windows on ARM-based processors continues to be an important element of our strategy for phones and tablets, and we'll have more to share on the Windows experience for mobile devices at a later date," in the words of a company spokesperson.)

Microsoft introduced today a limited-time Surface Laptop Replacement Bundle. Via that bundle, which Microsoft is making available through its authorized Surface resellers, users can get up to $150 off a bundle of a Surface Pro 3, Type Cover and Docking Station when purchased together.

The deal is available in the US immediately and coming to the "majority of markets where Surface is available worldwide in the coming weeks." It's a "while supplies last" offer.

There have been a number of renewed rumors lately about Microsoft's plans to roll out an ARM-based Surface 3 and/or a revised ARM-based Surface Mini.

I haven't heard from my contacts that either of these things are happening. In fact, I've heard from one of my trusted sources that Microsoft's Surface strategy, going forward, will be to focus on Intel and to cease production of any future ARM-based Surfaces. But that's only from one source, I'd note.

This story originally appeared as "Microsoft: Surface Pro line is here to stay" on ZDNet.

Mary Jo Foley has been a tech journalist for almost 30 years. She is editor of ZDNet's "All About Microsoft" blog. She authored "Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft Plans to Stay Relevant in the Post-Gates Era" and co-hosts the "Windows Weekly" podcast on the TWiT Network.


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Gymkhana: The XCAR team learn to get their Ken Block on

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12:36 / October 9, 2014

Gymkhana is the art of getting round a complicated track efficiently, quickly and with a little flare. Can the XCAR boys learn enough in a day to tackle a full track in a competitive time? CAT Driver Training thinks they can and tried to teach XCAR the art of

Transcription not available for Gymkhana: The XCAR team learn to get their Ken Block on.

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The laptop you could fry a steak on

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Usually, you want to keep laptops cool. An industrial designer comes up with an idea for one that does exactly the opposite.

electroluxcookinglaptop.jpgBurgers and browsing. Dragan Trenchevski

Think "spam" and "laptop" and chances are good that the canned meat isn't going to come to mind. But if the laptop in question is the one dreamed up by designer Dragan Trenchevski, you might just want to bust out the oil and some onions.

Trenchevski has come up with a concept for a laptop-style cooking surface he calls the "Electrolux Mobile Kitchen." At first, it seems like a gag, but when you think about how convenient such a thing would be for camping or picnicking in the park, you kind of start to want one. I know I did.

Right now the Mobile Kitchen is just a concept, but Trenchevski has put a lot of thought into how it would work. When you lift the lid, you see a cutting board that lifts out easily thanks to a little fabric tab. The cutting board also contains a secret slide-out grater. Once the board is removed, you reveal an induction cooking surface. The surface would respond to differently sized pots or pans and only output the energy needed to heat their surface to save energy.

The lid itself is a touch-screen laptop which, Trenchevski says, could be used to stream cooking tutorial videos, look up recipes or Skype your mom to get help with a tricky dish. It would have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity as well as a camera, speaker and microphone. Hopefully it's also grease resistant because once that Spam gets frying, splatters can't be far away.

As an industrial designer, Trenchevski created a wide range of fun and practical design ideas while he was on the faculty of Mechanical Engineering at a university in Skopje, Macedonia, which you can check out on his Behance page.

electroluxcookinglaptop3.jpgThe device when closed. Dragan Trenchevski

electroluxcookinglaptop8.jpgThe cutting board. Dragan Trenchevski

electroluxcookinglaptop10.jpgThe tech. Dragan Trenchevski

(Via Yanko Design)

Freelancer Michael Franco writes about the serious and silly sides of science and technology for Crave and other pixel and paper pubs. He's kept his fingers on the keyboard while owning a B&B in Amish country, managing an eco-resort in the Caribbean, sweating in Singapore, and rehydrating (with beer, of course) in Prague. E-mail Michael.


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How HTC plans to sell the quirky, peculiar Re camera

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The smartphone maker knows it faces challenges in selling its first camera, but has a strategy to overcome them.

It looks like an inhaler, a submarine periscope, or even a piece of PVC piping.

htc-re-camera-12.jpgThe HTC Re camera represents a new category for the long-time smartphone maker. CNET

But one thing HTC's newly unveiled Re doesn't look like is exactly what it is: a portable camera. And not just any camera; it's supposed to be the shooter that replaces your smartphone, allowing you to "live in the moment."

The Re camera represents HTC's first major break from its traditional mobile devices business, which has focused largely on smartphones. Re was formulated out of the company's newly established Creative Labs unit, and marks the beginning of its next act -- one in which it branches out with different products, as well as apps and services.

"The smartphone is just the overture of HTC's grand opera," HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang said at the company's launch event Wednesday. "There's so much more beautiful music to be made."

But it starts with the Re, which will face significant challenges as a new entrant in the market. The Re's unusual shape will likely be a source of curiosity but also a potential turn-off as it requires customers get used to the idea of blindly taking photos without a viewfinder. And at $200, it's a pricey purchase. Ultimately, HTC will have to convince consumers that they will actually need another camera when a smartphone does pretty well by itself.

"That's going to be a challenge for HTC," said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis. "It's a product in a new category from a brand that's not known for this product category."

Even HTC concedes it faces a steep climb in getting the Re into the hands of consumers.

"We have a lot of work to do to get this in the market," said Jeff Gattis, head of marketing for the emerging devices business.

HTC's main pitch is that by holding the small, lightweight Re instead of a smartphone, you're able to enjoy the moment while simultaneously capturing it.

While on stage at the launch event, Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC's Americas unit, recalled watching a basketball game in which his son was playing. Like any proud dad, he had his smartphone up and was dutifully recording the game. But when it came down to the final, critical seconds, he made the decision to put down the phone and actually watch his son sink a game-winning buzzer beater. While he didn't regret putting the phone down, he said he wished there had also been a good a way to capture the moment for later.

0c77b489-be34-4168-acf1-96b7edba0ccc.jpgJason Mackenzie, president of the Americas region for HTC, shows off the Re camera. Sarah Tew/CNET

That's where the Re would come in. "We have to lure them in, then connect them with the problem," Gattis said.

Whether HTC can relay the same kind of story as Mackenzie's anecdote to the public remains to be seen. But early interest has been strong, HTC CEO Peter Chou told CNET at the sidelines of the event.

It was Chou who green-lit the Re four months ago, a surprisingly quick turnaround for any product, let alone one that represents a new category for the company. Initially, HTC had planned a "soft launch," making it available to US consumers through a website. But once HTC began showing the Re around, retailers jumped on board. HTC said the Re would launch in the US "in time for the holidays" but didn't provide more specifics. A launch to other markets is expected to follow.

Amazon and three of the major US carriers -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile -- plan to sell it. HTC expects a big push at big box retailer Best Buy, where HTC has invested in 32-inch screens running video promos to catch the consumer eye. Gattis said the marketing materials focus on "the moment."

The Re will be sitting near GoPro at Best Buy, but HTC emphatically denied that it was going up against the successful action camera maker. "We're not GoPro; if we went up against them we would lose," Gattis said.

HTC is instead targeting parents who are heavily involved with their children's activities, youthful people with an active social life, and travelers who want to take photos but don't necessarily want to lug around a professional-grade camera. The company plans to tout the Re as fun, durable (it's waterproof) and convenient. With only two buttons on the device, the company focused on simplicity.

Typically, a new product requires heavy marketing, but HTC lacks the resources for a massive campaign. Instead, the company will start slowly, getting the product into the hands of influential people in an effort to build buzz and interest.

It will likely get some play at AT&T, which will exclusively sell the Desire Eye, the selfie phone also unveiled at Wednesday's launch event. The carrier is expected to devote a section in its stores to the two HTC products. Carrier salespeople typically earn more from pushing accessories, so HTC is hopeful the Re will get more enthusiastic support than the typical smartphone.

Even after a consumer begins using the Re, there is the uncomfortable act of blindly taking photos and videos without seeing what's shot. HTC said that it developed an extra-wide-angle camera to ensure the proper image is captured, but it acknowledged that consumer comfort would be a challenge.

Lastly, with a $200 price tag , the Re is outside the "impulse buy" range.

"At $200, it's a tough case to make against many capable point-and-shoots for people who want a separate imaging device," said Ross Rubin, an analyst at Reticle Research.

Gattis conceded that the price is another challenge but said he hoped that the Re would see success at its current price. Eventually, the company would want to bring the price down to tap into the "sweet spot of moms and dads with kids," he added.

"We do think we can bring it down, it's something we can consider," he said. "We can't get to sub-$100 right away."

With the Re, HTC is showing it can still surprise with its music. But whether the little camera is a chart-topper or a flop remains to be seen.

river-htc-re-camera-4.jpgThe HTC Re features an unusual shape, and no viewfinder. CNET

Roger Cheng is the executive editor in charge of breaking news for CNET News. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. He's a devoted Trojan alum and Los Angeles Lakers fan.


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Verizon customers: Slacker Radio now lets you set a playlist as your ringtone

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If you have an Android phone on Verizon, you can now use streaming music for your ringtone for $2 per month.

slacker-radio-tones.png Slacker Radio

Tired of the boring ringtones that come with your phone? Starting today, Verizon and Slacker Radio are giving you another option. For two dollars per month, you can sign up for Slacker Radio Tones, a service that lets you set your ringtone and ringback tone (the tone that callers hear when they dial your number) to a song or entire station from Slacker Radio.

It works like this: You first download the Slacker Radio app to your phone, head over to the Slacker Tones section and select the music you want to use. To set a ringtone, select an individual song within Slacker Radio that you want to play when someone calls you. That song will download to your device and then you can select it as your ringtone.

For Ringback Tones, you just have to pick the song or station you want to use and Verizon will play your selection for anyone who calls your phone. Instead of hearing the normal ringing sound, they'll hear a song. You can set one Ringback Tone for all calls, or pick a handful of contacts and assign them individual tones or stations.

Song-based ringtone and ringback tones have been around for years now, dating back to the days of early feature phones. However, this is the first time that you can use a streaming Internet radio service to pick your ringtone.

If you're on Verizon, you can sign up today for $2 per month. It's only available for in the Android app for now, with iOS coming soon. You don't even need a Slacker Premium Radio subscription, which costs $9.99 per month, to use the service.

Sarah Mitroff is a CNET associate editor who reviews Android software and mobile hardware. In the past, she's also written about consumer tech, startups, and business news for Wired, MacWorld, PCWorld, and VentureBeat.


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Robots steal the show in Tokyo at Ceatec 2014 (pictures)

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Get ready for Windows 10

Do you have questions about Microsoft's upcoming OS 10? We got a sneak peek and have the answers.


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China says US distorting facts on cost of hacking

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FBI head's claim that Chinese hacking costs the US billions each year is an "unjustified fabrication of facts," says the Chinese government.

070302chinamob-300.jpg

The Chinese government is again upset with the US, this time over claims that China's hacking activities are costing the US some serious cash.

In an interview on "60 Minutes" on Sunday, FBI Director James Comey said Chinese hackers are actively targeting US companies and costing the government billions of dollars each year. The Chinese government responded on Thursday, saying that Comey's comments are an "unjustified fabrication of facts," according to Reuters, which was in attendance at a government briefing.

The US and China have been waging a very public war of words over the last couple of years, with both countries arguing the other is actively engaged in hacking and stealing secrets. Earlier this year, the US filed criminal charges against five Chinese military officers for allegedly hacking US companies. While China denied the claims, the US has said it has proof and wants to bring those people to justice. So far, that hasn't happened.

During the briefing, a government spokesman accused the US of engaging in wide-spread cyberattacks against other countries.

"We also demand that the US side cease its large-scale systematic Internet attacks on other countries," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, according to Reuters. "The United States tries to divert attention by crying wolf. This won't succeed."

For its part, the US has denied any wrongdoing and remained tight-lipped about its cyber activities. That doesn't mean, however, the US government isn't engaging in cyberespionage to combat Internet attacks waged by China.

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.


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Better than air guitar! Now you can conduct the music on your phone

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A new app called BrainWave claims to be the first to allow you to control your Spotify and Pandora music with hand gestures. You've always wanted that, right?

brainwave.jpgYes, you can wave at your phone while you're solving the world's problems. Your phone will respond. BrainWave/Vimeo screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

Some days you're Slash. Other days you're Phil Collins. (Oh, don't be ashamed.)

You even have your Leonard Bernstein moments, don't you?

That's the thing with music. It makes you want to wave your arms around in one way or another. It brings you out of yourself and into that blissful place where you're actually someone important, loved by many.

This is something, perhaps inadvertently, that the makers of BrainWave have waved their technical wand over. For this app claims to be the very first that lets you control the music on your phone with a mere wave of the hand.

Yes, you could be at your treadmill desk and suddenly, with a wave, you can eliminate Kanye West in favor of Katy Perry.

The glory of this invention is that you don't even have to have the screen on in order to wave the perfect musical environment into your soul.

It works with Pandora, Spotify, iHeart, GooglePlayMusic and even Beats (as long as that still exists).

I confess I've been a touch skeptical about gesture apps. My principle fear is that users look like tai chi practitioners who have ingested an unwise cocktail of chemicals.

So I asked BrainWave's maker, OTG Platforms, whether one might be permitted to invent one's own gestures.

CEO Ryan Fink told me in an email, "If you can wave to someone you can use BrainWave...no need to make your own gestures up. Open hand = play/pause and a wave of the hand = back/next song. It's so simple a priest, rabbi or pastor can do it...Possibly all at the same time."

That's the thing about techies. They preach freedom. But they insist on conformity.

Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world.


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Droppi rains down toys, treats on your pet while you're away

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Your pampered pet could have a new reason to get excited while you're gone. The Droppi delivers treats and toys based on a timer.

DroppiThe Droppi can hold toys as well as treats. Droppi

The automated pet entertainment space is surprisingly crowded. There are robotic feeders, treat dispensers with webcams and even a canine gaming console. There's not a ton of room left for innovation, but Kickstarter project Droppi is having a go at it despite the competition.

Droppi does one thing. It attaches to a wall, up out of your pet's reach, and holds a toy or a treat. Then it sits there, waiting until the moment is ripe, for when you it receives the command to release its precious cargo to rain down upon your dog or cat. Droppi works on a timer, so you can set it to release a chew toy halfway through your work day when you're gone or dispense a treat mid-afternoon. The idea is to break up the boredom of the time when you're away.

The gadget has a recording function that lets you create a personalized 10-second message that will play when it kicks on. As a bonus feature, it also acts as a sound-activated nightlight.

The regular pledge price for a Droppi is about $39 (around £25, AU$45), though there are still discounted early-bird pledge levels available. That makes it more affordable that a lot of the fancier interactive gadgets designed to entertain pets while owners are away. Perhaps its greatest advantage is the tray design, which can hold kibble, but can also handle awkwardly shaped items like chew toys.

The Droppi is good for one drop at a time. You will need to reset it in between. If you want to space out the treat deliveries, you'll need to pick up more than one Droppi. The Australian Kickstarter project has 57 days to left to go and has about $2,600 in pledges towards a goal of a little over $35,000.

Though there are plenty of high-tech options to choose from for remotely pampering your pet, the Droppi may be able to find its own niche in the market as a simpler way to tell your fuzzy best friend you love him, even though you have to be away at work all day.

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET's Crave blog. When not wallowing in weird gadgets and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.


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iOS 8 obstacles and HTC's camera oddity in CNET UK podcast 406

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Adoption of Apple's software appears to have stalled and HTC has a peculiar new camera gadget. The CNET UK Podcast has all the tech news you crave.

Is Apple's iOS 8 software stuck in neutral? Recent stats from Apple suggest that the company's new software is running on only 47 percent of iOS gadgets.

Meanwhile, HTC has us all scratching our heads, having lifted the lid on its periscope-shaped new "Re" camera, and cyclops-alike Desire Eye smartphone. Hit play on the video above -- or the audio link below -- to hear our thoughts on Apple, HTC and much more.

Much more, you say? Like prototype tyres you never need to inflate? Or Tesco's second tablet -- the bigger and more powerful Hudl 2? We've got all the tech chit-chat you crave, plus your feedback and the all-important quiz. Luke's in the driving seat this week, putting Jason and Andy's tech knowledge through its paces.

Leaked Motorola Droid Turbo tips specs and software features

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Expected to launch later this month, Verizon's next Droid could feature some of the Moto X's best software features.

droidturbomanual.jpgVerizon is expected to introduce the Droid Turbo later this month. motofirmware.com

A newly discovered Motorola Droid Turbo user manual has found its way online, tipping Verizon's hand for an upcoming exclusive. Assuming it's the real McCoy, we should soon look for powerful device that features some of the Moto X's (2014) best software touches.

Seemingly confirming previous rumors, the user manual reveals a number of hardware specifications. Among those found in the PDF file are a 5.2-inch "ultra high-definition display" and a huge 21-megapixel rear camera.

Additionally, the guide references NFC connectivity, Qi wireless charging capability, and support for Motorola's Turbo Charger. Already available for $35, Motorola's charger can juice up the Moto X with 8 hours of battery in only fifteen minutes.

As Droid Life points out, the second page of the manual indicates the Moto Turbo Charger is included in the box, referencing the phone's fast-charging namesake.

In terms of software, it looks as though the Droid Turbo could run a version of Android that's light on custom UI touches. This is good news for users, who can expect timely software updates. However, don't expect a "pure Android" experience. With mentions of Moto Actions, Assist, Connect, and Display, there could be a slight Motorola personality.

It's not clear when Verizon is expected to announce the Droid Turbo; As CNET first reported in mid-September, it should be soon.

Scott Webster has spent the better part of his adult life playing with cell phones and gadgets. When not looking for the latest Android news and rumors, he relaxes with his wife and son. Scott also is the senior editor for AndroidGuys. E-mail Scott.


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Next up for Oracle v. Google -- the US Supreme Court?

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Google petitions the highest court in the country to overturn a previous appeals court ruling favoring Oracle, which in itself overturned a mixed bag of earlier district court rulings.

epicoraclegooglecase.jpgOracle sued Google in 2010, alleging that Google's use of 37 Java APIs in its mobile OS constituted patent and copyright infringement. CNET

The United States Supreme Court term opened on Monday, and one of the most prominent patent battles in recent memory could end up on the docket in the near future.

That would be the case of Oracle v. Google, which first launched back in 2011 and seems to have no end in sight. This, presumably, would be the end of the road if the Supreme Court decides to hear the case or not.

Google has petitioned the highest court in the country to overturn a previous appeals court ruling in May favoring Oracle, which in itself overturned a mixed bag of district court rulings back in 2012 that primarily sided with Google.

To recall, Oracle initially sued Google over copyright and patent infringement allegations related to the implementation of the Java programming language on Google's Android mobile operating system. Oracle obtained the rights to Java through its 2010 acquisition of Sun Microsystems.

Oracle argues that Google willingly infringed upon its intellectual property without a license. Google insists that it didn't need a license under fair use laws for the open-source software.

Since then, the tech world and many federal courts have played witness to a long, drawn out legal war involving the aforementioned back-and-forth decisions, constantly changing assessments and assignments of legal fees and damages, and a who's-who of Silicon Valley brought into testify.

The most recent ruling, issued by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, found parts of the code were in fact allowed to be protected by copyright law. That gave the nod to Oracle -- contrary to what was decided by a jury at the US District Court of the Northern District of California in San Francisco two years ago.

For now, the case will continue to hang in the balance. A response from the Supreme Court isn't due until November 7.

This story originally appeared as "Oracle v. Google could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court" on ZDNet.

Rachel King is a staff writer for ZDNet, SmartPlanet, and CNET. She is based in San Francisco.


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Unity, one gaming development platform to unite them all, up for sale

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A presentation pitching Unity has been circulating around the games industry, sources say. The potential buyer gets popular software that powers games large and small.

gdc-2011-6224.jpgDevelopers check out 3D modeling software from Unity, a platform for creating games and interactive 3D training simulations and medical, architectural, and modeling visualizations, on the Web, iOS, Android, and consoles. James Martin/CNET

When World of Warcraft maker Blizzard set out to make a card game that worked on computers and mobile devices, it used tools made by Unity to help bring it to life.

Blizzard created Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, which has become one of its most popular titles. That success is due to how easy it is to use on both PCs and tablets, a big accomplishment for Blizzard since Hearthstone was its first-ever game for mobile devices. Much of the credit goes to Unity's tools, which make it easier to create games that work across devices, said Jason Chayes, who headed up production for Hearthstone.

"It was a first for Blizzard to bring a game to mobile devices, and we wanted it to be a great experience," he said. Unity made that possible.

Chayes and his team aren't the only ones tapping into Unity's game engine to save time and effort. More than 3 million people have registered to use Unity's tools, which were first released in 2005, the San Francisco-based company says.

More importantly, nearly half of all mobile game developers today use Unity.

Now the company is gearing up for a potential sale, having shared presentations with possible acquirers including Google, according to people familiar with the matter. It's also had serious talks with at least one would-be buyer in recent months, they say.

Is this good or bad news for Unity and game developers? That's an open question. A sale is a risky choice for software tools makers. While acquisitions can help a company grow faster, often by giving it access to much-needed capital to fund development or a large sales staff to pitch customers, a buyout can also hurt its prospects. Large parent companies can reduce funding in development or restrict access to the technology, both of which have happened to other game making tools.

If Unity picks an indifferent sponsor, game developers won't have many alternatives to which they can turn to get the easy, cross-device development they enjoy today. One choice is Unreal Engine, software developed by Epic Games that offers functionality similar to Unity. But Unreal Engine isn't as popular among mobile app developers, in part because it was slower to support Apple's mobile devices than Unity was.

Whether Unity is actively trying to sell itself isn't clear. Various people tell CNET News that either the company has been courting potential deals or responding to interest from its partners and other companies.

It's also unclear how much Unity is worth, with a recent VentureBeat article pegging an asking price as high as $2 billion.

Unity declined to comment.

Unity's big break came in 2008, four years after the company was founded by a team in Denmark including David Helgason and Joachim Ante, now the company's CEO and CTO. That March, Apple introduced its App Store, a software market for apps designed to run on the iPhone. The promise that developers could create all manner of programs and sell them through Apple's digital marketplace was enticing. But there was a hitch: Apple's coding tools used a version of the language built for its own Macintosh computers.

Without a Mac, or knowledge of Apple's programming tools, mobile app developers were stuck.

screen-shot-2014-08-24-at-12-33-12-pm.pngDavid Helgason, Unity's CEO, in a promotional video in 2013 Unity

Helgason worked with his team to support the iPhone, enabling developers to create apps for mobile devices using the same tools and coding languages that had been designed for desktop programs.

Today, Unity's software works on nearly all mobile devices, including those powered by Apple's iOS mobile operating system, Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows Phone. Unity can also produce programs for video game consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox One, Sony's PlayStation 4 and Nintendo's Wii U. Developers can even use its software to make games for BlackBerry's mobile devices.

And in September, Unity announced a deal with Facebook's Oculus unit, maker of virtual-reality headsets. As part of the pact, specialized software for Oculus's headsets will be integrated into Unity's tools, making the already popular gaming engine one of the standards used to create virtual-reality software.

That could all change with an acquisition. In the past, buyouts of development tools have had mixed results. Industry titan Electronic Arts acquired RenderWare, then a popular game development technology, when it purchased Criterion Games in 2004. But within three years, EA downplayed the software's value, claiming it didn't deliver the performance needed to make top-tier titles.

EA was also at one point a potential suitor for Unity, though not recently. EA has since instead focused on other proprietary engines that now power its top games.

Other software tools have flourished after being purchased. In the year since Facebook purchased Parse, the company has doubled its employees as the number of apps built using its tools increased more than sixfold to 400,000. It's also branching into new initiatives beyond its mobile app development tools. In April, Parse partnered with companies including Dropbox on a new code technology called App Links, which helps mobile programs better talk to one another.

Unity is part of a growing trend in the technology industry, aimed at making it easier to create code. The company doesn't just let game developers make programs easier and faster. It also offers developers a way to produce apps for many different platforms without a lot of extra hassle. That's key since many mobile game makers are made up of small companies with just a handful of employees and limited resources.

However, there's some debate about even using outside tools to create cutting-edge games.

Historically, game companies created their own development tools in an effort to produce titles with richer details and higher performance. This grow-your-own approach helped make Bungie's Halo: Combat Evolved a groundbreaking game when it was released for the Xbox in 2001. Proprietary technology has also helped sell games at EA, whose Frostbite engine helps create photorealistic cities for its Battlefield franchise. Other companies, from Assassin's Creed maker Ubisoft to startups like Super Evil Megacorp, also created their own development tools with an eye toward offering unique-looking games with richer graphics and faster animations.

Not all companies feel they need to do everything themselves.

Kabam, a San Francisco-based video game maker known for its Kingdoms of Camelot strategy game, built its production tools around Unity to simplify development. Using Unity has saved Kabam time and money that would have been spent building intricate game-making software, says Aaron Loeb, senior vice president of Kabam's North American Studios.

Unity also made hiring new employees easier; students and aspiring game makers are learning to make games using those tools, Loeb said. That means new employees get up to speed quickly on Kabam's systems. By comparison, unique game development tools take time and resources to create and teach. "What Unity has done is allow our team to focus time and money on the game," he said.

One example is Kabam's latest title, Marvel Contest of Champions. The game pits popular characters like Captain America against Spider-Man in a sort of street-fight brought to life with visual details and effects that look like they could be designed for a video game console. Instead, it's being released for mobile devices in the coming weeks.

"It's a really gorgeous game," Loeb said. "It shows how impressive games can look using Unity."

Game industry executives say it's probably too soon for developers to worry about Unity's future. But if a sale happens, it will spur debate about where Unity is headed and whether it can remain the most popular engine for making mobile games.

Ian Sherr is a senior writer for CNET focused on social media and video game companies. He has previously written for The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and the Agence France-Presse. He's a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, though he knows what real weather feels like too.


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EA's Dragon Age: Origins is on the house

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This top-rated fantasy RPG normally sells for $20. For a limited time, get it free, no strings attached.

dragon-age-origins-box.jpgFree? Free! EA

In recent months, EA's On the House promotion has netted gamers such goodies as Dead Space, Wing Commander 3, and Bejeweled -- all free for the price of setting up (or signing into) an Origin account.

This week brings arguably the best giveaway to date: Dragon Age: Origins (Win) is free for a limited time.

To clarify, once you get the game, it's yours to keep. And play. Forever. The time limitation: The giveaway itself ends Oct. 14. If you're overseas or off-planet and don't return until Oct. 15, well, no freebie for you.

What's Dragon Age: Origins, and why is EA giving it away? I'll answer the second question first: The sequel, Dragon Age: Inquisition, drops Nov. 18. The very, very smart marketing gambit here is to hook you on the original so you'll buy the sequel.

And hooked you shall be. Origins is a fantasy RPG of the highest caliber, a Dungeons & Dragons-style adventure brought to life in all its hack-and-slash, spell-casting glory. GameSpot awarded it a very rare 9.5 and summed it up thusly: "Incredible storytelling, great characters, and exciting battles are just a few of the things that make this fantasy role-playing game so extraordinary."

dragon-age-origins-screenshot-gamespot.jpg Screenshot by GameSpot

That was back in 2009, but the beauty of modern gaming is that the bar has been so high for so long, a game that's five years old still looks great today. Indeed, if you check the recommended system specs, you'll see you can enjoy Origins even on a PC that's modest by today's standards.

Anyway, you don't need me to sell you on a game that's flat-out free. I've already grabbed it -- not for myself, but for Cheapskate Jr., who's totally into "Lord of the Rings" and will undoubtedly love this. (Is it cheating to give this as a birthday present when it didn't cost me anything? Discuss.)

Bonus deal: Game time! Oh, wait, this whole post was about game time. Well, just in case you're hungry for more, Green Man Gaming has the rollicking action-adventure Just Cause 2 (Win) for $2.40. That's after applying coupon code VBHGBM-JS2VN9-0J5OFM at checkout. Regular price: $15. Pretty amazing deal on a game GameSpot rated 8.5 and called "ridiculous in the best possible way."


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Thirteen-year-old says she'll be the first human on Mars

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AppId is over the quota
Declaring that "failure is not an option," Alyssa Carson wants to go further than any human has gone before. She's already been to NASA's Space Academy three times.

carson2.jpgAlyssa Carson is shooting for the moon. And it doesn't look like anyone can stop her. Not even NASA. BBC screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

When I was 13, I just wanted to be 14.

Alyssa Carson, however, seems to be made of stuff that is sterner and more imaginative than most humans. She positively insists that she will be the first person on Mars.

You might think this the quaint dreaming of an impressionable teen. But Carson told the BBC that she's been training "for nine years so far."

Yes, when she was 4, Alyssa Carson wanted to be the first person on Mars.

"As I get older and I continue to do more things, the resume will just eventually get longer," she said. What 13-year-old talks like this?

"I absolutely think Alyssa will be on Mars. There's not a doubt in my mind," said her dad Bert.

NASA's Paul Foreman told the BBC that it takes Alyssa seriously. Who wouldn't, given her determination? This is scary. This is scarier than Sandra Bullock in "Gravity."

Alyssa claims to have "a pretty balanced life." Well, as a balanced as any kid who's already been to NASA's Space Academy three times.

Still, her dad says her life is planned out and she expects to be on a mission to Mars in 2033. He admits that, after that, he may never see her again. He says they've chatted about it and Alyssa is cool about her chances.

Naturally, she already has her own Web site, where she reveals: "I speak Spanish, French, Chinese and English and some Turkish from Space Camp Turkey."

Yes, but will she learn Klingon? Can she speak Martian?

She's already given a Tedx talk in Greece and has met with the Mars One team in the Netherlands. Next week, she'll be appearing on "Jeopardy."

But why Mars, Alyssa?

On her site, she explains: "This could possibly be our next Earth. Just think about all the things that are in space. For example: planets we have never explored, galaxies that we have never heard of, stars that are just babies, black holes that are as wide as the sun to Pluto multiple times and has the mass of a billion suns, parts of the universe that we have never seen. Just think of all that stuff just floating around. It's more than you can imagine. I AM THE MARS GENERATION."

It is, indeed, more than many people can imagine. Alyssa is, quite naturally, on Twitter. While some kids' favorite place is KFC, she tweeted that one of hers is KSC. Yes, the Kennedy Space Center.

Kids, these days. I don't know.

carson3.pngAlyssa Carson has higher designs, it seems, than KFC. Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET

Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world.


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iOS 8 obstacles and HTC's camera oddity in CNET UK podcast 406

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AppId is over the quota
Adoption of Apple's software appears to have stalled and HTC has a peculiar new camera gadget. The CNET UK Podcast has all the tech news you crave.

Is Apple's iOS 8 software stuck in neutral? Recent stats from Apple suggest that the company's new software is running on only 47 percent of iOS gadgets.

Meanwhile, HTC has us all scratching our heads, having lifted the lid on its periscope-shaped new "Re" camera, and cyclops-alike Desire Eye smartphone. Hit play on the video above -- or the audio link below -- to hear our thoughts on Apple, HTC and much more.

Much more, you say? Like prototype tyres you never need to inflate? Or Tesco's second tablet -- the bigger and more powerful Hudl 2? We've got all the tech chit-chat you crave, plus your feedback and the all-important quiz. Luke's in the driving seat this week, putting Jason and Andy's tech knowledge through its paces.

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