Fred!

[fr8dar13k-blog]

OS X 10.8.4 release looms as Apple closes seed project - and more links to check out

Right, let's get going. All the links:

OS X 10.8.4 release looms as Apple closes seed project - "Friday, May 31, 2013, 04:38 pm OS X 10.8.4 release looms as Apple closes seed project Apple on Friday sent notice to developers that it will be closing the OS X Software Update 10.8.4 seed project, suggesting a final version of the maintenance update is close to release" - [appleinsider.com]

Steve Jobs as J.D. Rockefeller - "Steve Jobs as J.D" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

Tablet/Laptop Hybrids Are A Great Idea, But Can The HP Envy x2 Live Up To The Promise? - "I think the idea of combining a tablet with a removable keyboard to create tablet/laptop hybrid is a great idea - and the HP Envy X2 makes a brave attempt to combine the two form factors into a viable hybrid" - [readwrite.com]

"MySQL Co-Founder Wants You To Pay Up For Open Source - Monty Widenius, co-founder of MySQL and founder of MariaDB, just came to a surprise revelation: most people use open source for free" - [readwrite.com]

"Sunday, June 02, 2013, 08:05 am Analyst: Slimmer Retina MacBook Pro with upgraded camera, dual-mic MacBook Air to debut at WWDC Along with an expected CPU upgrade to Intel's Haswell silicon, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple will introduce a slimmed down 13-inch Retina display MacBook Pro with a higher quality FaceTime camera, as well as a slightly tweaked MacBook Air, at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference" - [Analyst: Slimmer Retina MacBook Pro with upgraded camera, dual-mic MacBook Air to debut at WWDC - appleinsider.com]

"Friday, May 31, 2013, 06:01 pm Apple takes AppleCare service technician training online, drops recertification exams An update to Apple's Service Training and Certification webpage reveals the company will soon drop a policy requiring AppleCare technicians renew their credentials every year, while initial training and testing are to be handled completely online" - [Apple takes AppleCare service technician training online, drops recertification exams - appleinsider.com]

"IE10 blows past IE7 and IE6 s combined market share, Firefox gains too, but Chrome hits 21-month low - The latest market share numbers from Net Applications show only Chrome lost share last month" - [thenextweb.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Chicago Sun-Times axes all staff photographers, offers reporters 'iPhoneography training' - and more links for you

Alright, the links are: - How Facebook could turn Home around by expanding integration with its own feature set - "Facebook constantly evolves to help people better connect with one another" - [thenextweb.com]

- "Saturday, June 01, 2013, 01:37 pm Teardown of Apple's new 16GB iPod touch finds few changes from other 5th-gen models A peek inside Apple's updated 16-gigabyte IPod touch has discovered that the spaces where the camera and wrist strap loop are located in other models have simply been left empty" - [Teardown of Apple's new 16GB iPod touch finds few changes from other 5th-gen models - appleinsider.com] - "Apple Quietly Launches New IPod Touch Claims 100M Units Sold To Date - Apple launched a new entry level iPod Touch early Thursday, and also quietly confirmed that they've sold 100 millon of the portable media devices since launching the line in 2007" - [readwrite.com] - "Friday, May 31, 2013, 08:04 pm Chicago Sun-Times axes all staff photographers, offers reporters 'iPhoneography training' The Chicago Sun-Times, one of the oldest daily newspapers in America, fired its entire pool of 28 photographers on Friday, and plans to source future graphics from reporters who will be trained to capture print-worthy images with their iPhones" - [Chicago Sun-Times axes all staff photographers, offers reporters 'iPhoneography training' - appleinsider.com] - "Friday, May 31, 2013, 02:43 pm Apple's graphics chip development center in Orlando, Florida houses former AMD, Intrinsity engineers Apple's new graphics chip development facility in Central Florida features the Intrinsity team that was acquired years ago, as well as newly recruited employees from AMD, according to a new report" - [Apple's graphics chip development center in Orlando houses former AMD, Intrinsity engineers - appleinsider.com] - "As medicine goes digital, Apple's IPad is top choice among doctors - Friday, May 31, 2013, 12:37 pm As medicine goes digital, Apple's IPad Mini is top choice among doctors As physician practices and hospitals are increasingly required to bring their operations into the present with digitized records, Apple's iPad is the device of choice when it comes to doctors interacting with health records, a new study shows" - [appleinsider.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Inside Windows 8.1: Revamped search, boot to desktop, Start button, UI tweaks and feature upgrades - and my top collection of links

So let's not wait any more, here are the links:

Why doesn't Apple cut its prices and sell more iPhones? - "The angriest response camefrom Jay Yarow at Business Insider, a publication that likes to describe Apple's market share as "dead in the water."" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

"Thursday, May 30 Seconds to Mars 2013, 11:22 am Flap over fountain forces San Francisco mayor to reconsider Apple Store plans Apple's plans to move its flagship San Francisco retail outlet may have hit a slight bump, as the city's mayor has said that he'd like to reconsider the plan for the store after critics asserted that its construction would call for the removal of a local landmark" - [Flap over fountain forces San Francisco mayor to reconsider Apple Store plans - appleinsider.com]

Apple announces September iTunes Festival in London starring Justin Timberlake, Thirty Seconds to Mars, others - "Apple has announced that it will hold its annual ITunes Festival in London during the month of September" - [9to5mac.com]

"Inside Windows 8.1: Revamped search, boot to desktop, Start button, UI tweaks and feature upgrades - Today Microsoft has taken most of the wrapping off of the coming update to Windows 8" - [thenextweb.com]

"Apple quietly kills iPod touch 4, intros camera-less $229 fifth-gen model - The IPod touch 4 (left) has been discontinued, and a new 16GB $229 version with no rear camera has taken its place" - [arstechnica.com]

Teens & Facebook Relationship Status: It's Complicated - "Teens are not abandoning Facebook - nor are they likely to leave anytime soon" - [readwrite.com]

"Thursday, May 30, 2013, 08:48 am Supply chain showing 'signs of life' as Apple gears up for Sept. launch of 'iPhone 5S' A key Apple supplier has revealed that its largest North American customer is gearing up for the launch of a next-generation smartphone, suggesting Apple could be in the midst of preparing for a September launch of its next iPhone" - [Supply chain showing 'signs of life' as Apple gears up for Sept. launch of 'iPhone 5S' - appleinsider.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Ronnie Screwvala: The Indian billionaire working for Disney - plus my links selection

Ok, let's get started. The links: - Tablet shipments to overtake laptop sales in 2013, entire PC market in 2015 - "IDC, the research firm responsible for much of the data we see on sales figures, has made a bold prediction that tablet sales will exceed all laptops this year, followed by the entire PC market by 2015" - [www.techspot.com]

- "Apple's Tim Cook on watches, taxes and how he's like Steve Jobs By Philip Elmer-DeWittMay 28, 2013: 11:01 PM ETHighlights from Apple CEO'sappearance at the 2013 AllThingsD conference" - [Apple's Tim Cook on watches, taxes and how he's like Steve Jobs - tech.fortune.cnn.com] - "Apple's defenders count the errors in Microsoft's anti-IPad ads By Philip Elmer-DeWittMay 24, 2013: 11:43 AM ETDid Microsoft stretch the truth in spots promoting a tablet that runs Windows?" - [Apple's defenders count the errors in Microsoft's anti-iPad ads - tech.fortune.cnn.com] - "At the All Things D11 conference, happening right now (check out our liveblog for more coverage), Tim Cook revealed that Apple has a "grand vision" in terms of the Apple TV" - [Tim Cook says Apple has a "grand vision" for the Apple TV - 9to5mac.com] - Ronnie Screwvala: The Indian billionaire working for Disney - "Ronnie Screwvala: The Indian billionaire working for Disney May 28, 2013: 9:54 AM ETBollywood pioneer Ronnie Screwvala is Disney's point man in India" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Working Apple I fetches $671,400 in German auction - and my top collection of links

We've got a lot of tech related links to look through and a number of topics covering China, Australia, WikiLeaks and Apple I. So without further ado, here are the links: - "China daily deals market booked $1.7 billion revenue in Q1 2013, as Juhuasuan maintained top spot - The appetite for discounted shopping and dining in China isn't showing any signs of waning,with Chinese daily deal sites posting more than 10.3 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) worth of revenue in the first quarter of 2013" - [thenextweb.com] - South Australia's first Apple Store draws line hours ahead of opening [update: photos and video] - "Friday, May 24, 2013, 05:26 pm South Australia's first Apple Store draws line hours ahead of opening [update: photos and video] While Apple's latest retail outlet in Australia isn't scheduled to open for another three hours, customers eager to get into the region's first Apple Store are already queuing up, some having been there for nearly 12 hours" - [appleinsider.com]

- "WikiLeaks skips two-thumbs down review, leaks annotated "transcript" of new doc - Alex Gibney's documentary, We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, opened with a limited release on Friday" - [arstechnica.com] - "Working Apple I fetches $671,400 in German auction - Sunday, May 26, 2013, 05:38 pm Working Apple I fetches $671,400 in German auction Apple's computers are known for their premium price points, but one could probably buy out half of an Apple store for the price one buyer just paid for a functioning Apple I signed by company cofounder Steve Wozniak" - [appleinsider.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

British broadcaster BSkyB has its Android app listings and Help Twitter feed hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army - and more links to check out

We have got a load of tech related links to run through and various topics covering IPhone 5, Horace Dediu, Android (operating system), Xbox and Google Play. Alright, the links are: - "Best Buy to offer $50 off all iPhone 5 & 4S models starting Sunday - Friday, May 24, 2013, 03:11 pm Best Buy to offer $50 off all iPhone 5 & 4S models starting Sunday Starting this Sunday, electronics retailer Best Buy will be offering $50 off the purchase of any new iPhone model with a service contract, marking a rare discount opportunity for Apple's smartphone lineup" - [appleinsider.com] - "Horace Dediu has four questions for Apple's Tim Cook - Horace Dediu has four questions for Apple's Tim Cook By Philip Elmer-DeWittMay 24, 2013: 5:10 PM ETIn advance of Cook's appearance at D11 next week, a deep dive into Apple's business" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com] - British broadcaster BSkyB has its Android (operating system) app listings and Help Twitter feed hacked by the Syrian Electronic Army - "Sky News released a statement earlier today: "Sky Android apps previously downloaded by Sky customers are unaffected and there is no need to remove them from an Android device."" - [thenextweb.com]

- Weekend tech reading: Full-sized Lego X-Wing Fighter, Xbox used games won't have a fee, Intel tablets incoming - "IGN Xbox One games will require regular authentication checks, used games won t have a feeThe Xbox One will not require gamers to pay a fee to reactivate a used game, but it will require a regular online spot check to verify the authenticity of games being played, according to sources familiar with the system" - [www.techspot.com]

- "Hands-on: Use gMusic on IOS to listen to Google Play Music All Access - Last week, Google introduced its Google Play Music All Access streaming subscription service" - [arstechnica.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Google and Microsoft make Windows Phone YouTube app worse while they write a new one - and my top selection of links

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Mailbox comes to the iPad - and top links

Right, let's get going. All the links:

Google Has A Trojan Horse To Disrupt TV: Really, Really Big Data - "Recommendations are important (indeed, cracking this code certainly helped put Netflix in a position to win with House of Cards), but they're only the beginning of what's possible when television is fueled by very, very big data" - [readwrite.com]

Mailbox comes to the iPad - "Mailbox comes to the IPad By JP Mangalindan, WriterMay 23, 2013: 12:40 PM ETThe popular mobile inbox app, which generated buzz with a digital queue for sign-ups, is now available for the iPad" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

Sony newspaper ad reveals the PlayStation 4 will launch in the UK by the end of 2013 - "Sony's next generation video game console, the PlayStation 4, will arrive in the United Kingdom before the year's end, an advert published today in the Metro (British newspaper) newspaper has revealed. The company said it was aiming for a 'holiday 2013' launch window when it officially unveiled the system at a New York press conference back in February" - [thenextweb.com]

"Analyst: Apple caught 'flat footed' in Asian smartphone race - Analyst: Apple caught 'flat footed' in Asian smartphone race By Philip Elmer-DeWittMay 23, 2013: 11:57 AM ETSays current iPhones are "poorly aligned" with the factors driving smartphone growth" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

If Google+ Is Good, Why Does Google Force It On Us? - and more links for you

Okay, the links are:

"While Tuesday's Xbox One presentation answered some questions about Microsoft's upcoming system, it left just as many or more unsettled. Luckily, Ars got a chance to sit down with General Manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms Matt Booty to try to get more answers" - [How the Xbox One draws more processing power from cloud computing - arstechnica.com]

"Q&A: Monitoring Multiple iTunes Downloads - Where did the ITunes Store Download link go in iTunes 11?" - [gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com]

Laptops VS Desktop PCs - "Buying a new computer is not as simple as it used to be, when the desktop model reigned as the king" - [www.freshtechweb.com]

"Jony Ive's new look for iOS 7: black, white, and flat all over - As we reported in April, Apple Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Jony Ive has been leading a thorough overhaul for IOS 7 that focuses on the look and feel of the iOS device software rather than on several new features" - [9to5mac.com]

"If Google+ Is Good, Why Does Google Force It On Us? - Google really, really wants us to like Google+" - [readwrite.com]

"Online fashion store JustFab buys European e-commerce club The Fab Shoes - Los Angeles-based fashion commerce company JustFab (formerly known as JustFabulous) is expanding its operations in Europe by acquiring membership-based shoe shopping site The Fab Shoes" - [thenextweb.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Review: Otterbox Defender iON powered iPhone case - and my top collection of links

We have got lots of technology related links to take a look at and various topics covering IPhone 5, Flickr, Google Play, Microsoft Windows, Windows 8, London and Facebook. So, the links are:

"However, a cycling holiday from the Netherlands to Denmark in which my IPhone would be used for both photos and video suggested that at least a temporary change of policy might be in order" - [Review: Otterbox Defender iON powered iPhone case - 9to5mac.com]

"Flickr: The ghost that haunts Yahoo May 21, 2013: 7:47 AM ETRecent upgrades to the once-innovative service notwithstanding, the photo-sharing site is a lesson in what not to do" - [Flickr: The ghost that haunts Yahoo - tech.fortune.cnn.com]

"Making Android (operating system) Pay For Developers: Checking Out The New Tools In Google Play - Google's VP of Android product management Hugo Barra told I/O attendees last week that Google had paid more to Android developers in the past 4 months than the previous 12 months before that combined. This increase has been driven by a renewed focus by Google to give developers more tools to make money, culminating in a slurry of announcements to the Google Play Developer Console last week" - [readwrite.com]

"New Microsoft Windows 8 ad turns Apple's Siri against her maker - Wednesday, May 22, 2013, 08:22 pm New Microsoft Windows 8 ad turns Apple's Siri against her maker A recently aired Microsoft ad pits a tablet running the company's Windows 8 against the IPad with the spot featuring an unlikely narrator: Apple's Siri virtual assistant" - [appleinsider.com]

Study suggests majority of Windows 8 users ignore Metro (design language) apps - "Data collected by software-maker Soluto reveals that a majority of Windows 8 users mostly ignore Metro apps -- those self-contained, Modern UI-sporting, one-touch install applications found both in the Windows Store and come bundled with the OS" - [www.techspot.com]

'Leave our lands': Man knifed to death in suspected London terror attack - "Two men attacked another man near a London military barracks, in what British authorities were investigating as a possible terror act" - [worldnews.nbcnews.com]

"5 Signs that Your Facebook Page Sucks - Facebook has a promise that it has made to businesses" - [soshable.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Yahoo gives Flickr a new face, a new app, and a new business model - and more links to check out

So let's not wait any more, here are all the links: - "Microsoft introduces the Xbox One with 8GB RAM, USB 3.0, WiFi Direct, Blu-Ray, 8GB of RAM - Today at an event at its Redmond headquarters, Microsoft introduced the Xbox One" - [thenextweb.com] - "Start8 and ModernMix: making Windows 8 work on a desktop - Start8 and ModernMix: making Windows 8 work on a desktop Posted on 21 May 2013 at 10:05 Crave the return of the Start button?" - [www.pcpro.co.uk] - "Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are secret backers behind European Privacy Association - Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are secret backers behind European Privacy Association The privacy organization has hidden its ties to corporate backers By Jennifer Baker | IDG News Service After being accused of a lack of transparency by an independent watchdog, the European Privacy Association (EPA) has confirmed that Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are backers" - [www.infoworld.com] - "Now, Line, a rival app developed in Japan which has 150 million users, is the next in line to pal up to the Chinese language government and restrict the use of certain phrases on its service worldwide" - [Messaging app Line prepares to monitor its 150 million users to censor sensitive Chinese words - thenextweb.com] - "Yahoo gives Flickr a new face, a new app, and a new business model - Flickr, the photo storage and sharing site bought by Yahoo way back in 2005, has been brought into the 21st century with a new look, new pricing, and a new Android (operating system) app" - [arstechnica.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Review: Otterbox Defender iON powered iPhone case - and my top collection of links

A lot of exciting stuff today, from people such as Eric Schmidt and places like Oklahoma. Right, why don't we get started. All the links: - "Blinded By Big Data: It's The Models (band) Stupid - In the Gold Rush to accumulate and put to use Big Data, we may actually be making it harder to actually glean insights from that data" - [readwrite.com] - Jolla co-founder: 'This isn't about us against emerging platforms. This is us against Android (operating system) ' - "Google announced at its I/O developer conference last week that there have now been over 900 million Android activations in total" - [thenextweb.com]

- "Tornadoes tear through Kansas, Oklahoma - Trucks near Shawnee, Oklahoma, are tipped over and homes are damaged after a tornado touched down late Sunday" - [usnews.nbcnews.com] - "Simply dubbed "Jolla,' pronounced "yoh-lah," this handset is based on the Linux-based MeeGo operating system that has, up to this point, failed to gain meaningful traction in the mobile world" - [Meego-based Jolla phone revealed, will run Android apps [VIDEO] - phandroid.com] - "In a comment piece on theObserver UK newspaper website, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt says he understands the controversy" - [Google 'welcomes international tax reform debate', says Eric Schmidt - 9to5google.com] - Review: Otterbox Defender iON powered iPhone case - "However, a cycling holiday from the Netherlands to Denmark in which my iPhone would be used for both photos and video suggested that at least a temporary change of policy might be in order" - [9to5mac.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Apple yanks 'Bang with Friends' app from iOS App Store - and more links to check out

We have got a lot of technology related links to take a look at and various topics covering App Store (iOS), Lenovo, IOS and Sailfish OS. Ok, let's get going. All the links: - "Friday, May 17, 2013, 05:36 pm Apple yanks 'Bang with Friends' app from IOS App Store (iOS) Facebook-connected hookup app "Bang with Friends" was pulled from Apple's App Store on Friday, with the removal coming a little over one week following the app's debut" - [Apple yanks 'Bang with Friends' app from iOS App Store - appleinsider.com] - "Lenovo this week announced the availability of a "Yoga" convertible laptop withIntel Corp. (INTC), dealing another blow to the embattled Windows RT" - [Intel-Based Lenovo Yoga 11 Lands, is $240 USD More Expensive Than ARM Version - www.dailytech.com] - iOS default despair: Where Ars staff turns for better app experiences - "At that time Apple offered its own set of built-in iOS apps and users were relegated to Web apps if they wanted tools made by someone else" - [arstechnica.com]

- Jolla unveils its first Sailfish OS smartphone, launching in Europe before end of 2013 for 399.99 - "Images of the device also point to a new, refreshed design for Sailfish OS" - [thenextweb.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Ars readers react to laser-wielding Soviet satellites and Google I/O - plus my links selection

OK, the links are: - "Ars readers react to laser-wielding Soviet satellites and Google I/O - (Ok, just kidding, we saw the movie at San Francisco's Metreon, and most of us were there for Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference.) Besides Google's conference and the rare spotting of more than three Ars employees sharing IRL space with each other, this week also saw notable stories hit the front page" - [arstechnica.com] - "Music and lights could trigger malware - Music and lights could trigger malware Posted on 17 May 2013 at 17:11 Pulling out your phone in a cinema or a room with flickering lights could be enough to trigger malicious software on your smartphone, researchers have found" - [www.pcpro.co.uk] - "Google Android's enterprise problem By Michal Lev-Ram, writerMay 17, 2013: 9:23 AM ETGoogle's mobile operating system may be getting a boost from -- of all places -- Blackberry" - [Google Android's enterprise problem - tech.fortune.cnn.com] - "Friday, May 17, 2013, 10:06 pm 10M Samsung flagship phones in 28 days a 'record,' 5M iPhone 5 in 3 days 'disappointing' Samsung earned industry praise for estimating that it expected to ship 10 million units of its flagship Galaxy S4 to carriers in its first month on the market, six months after the same journalists voiced disappointment that Apple had sold "only" 5 million iPhone 5's in its first 3 days" - [10M Samsung flagship phones in 28 days a 'record,' 5M iPhone 5 in 3 days 'disappointing' - appleinsider.com] - "By Bill Briggs, NBC News contributorA "direct threat" against a U.S. congresswoman - posted on a military-oriented Facebook page that graphically belittled her and her efforts to stem sexual misconduct within the branches - has been referred to U.S. Capitol Police for investigation" - [Facebook shutters page that taunted lawmaker's push to curb military rape - usnews.nbcnews.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

'Absolutely staggering': Dozens injured in Connecticut train crash - and top links

We're discussing companies (BlackBerry (company)), people (Michael Dell) and everything else in between. So without further ado, here are all the links:

"Nintendo Wii U: No EA Games for You! - That device is the Nintendo Wii U" - [www.dailytech.com]

"60 people were injured after two commuter trains collided in Connecticut Friday at the peak of the evening commute" - ['Absolutely staggering': Dozens injured in Connecticut train crash - usnews.nbcnews.com]

Air Force Expects to Save Over $50 Million in 10 Years by Using iPads - "The U.S. Air Force ismaking use of iPadsinstead of heavy flight manuals, and it s saving quite a bit of money in doing so" - [www.dailytech.com]

"Sprint adds Google Wallet support to HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 and Note 2 - Sprint has been working with Google to expand support for Google Wallet on its devices and has added the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4, and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to the list of compatible devices" - [9to5google.com]

Windows Phone surpasses Blackberry for third place in smartphone shipments - "Windows Phone surpasses Blackberry for third place in smartphone shipments By Matt Vella, senior editorMay 16, 2013: 10:46 AM ETGoogle's Android (operating system) and Apple's IOS still make up the vast majority of the market" - [tech.fortune.cnn.com]

"One of the goals of Michael Dell in his attempted buyout of the company is to transform Dell Computer from a computer maker to an enterprise computing services company" - [Dell Profits Shrink as Contenders Battle to Buyout Company - www.dailytech.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Google TV gets updated to latest 4.2.2 Jellybean, will see quicker updates and allow secure content - and more links to check out

Right, why don't we get going. The links:

Multi-colored SIM trays allegedly for 'iPhone 5S' may signal more color options - "Thursday, May 16, 2013, 12:05 pm Multi-colored SIM trays allegedly for 'iPhone 5S' may signal more color options High-resolution photos of what may be components from Apple's next-generation iPhone have leaked to the Internet, with multi-colored SIM trays adding to rumors that the so-called "iPhone 5S" will be available in more than just black and white" - [appleinsider.com]

"Microsoft is working on an update to Windows 8 and RT and will be releasing a preview version of it in June (in time for the Build developer conference), with the full release expected before the year's end" - [Everything you need to know about Windows 8.1 - betanews.com]

"San Francisco Chronicle reports today that Apple has now submitted plans to open a new replace store in San Francisco's Union Square" - [Apple to open gorgeous new San Francisco retail store in Union Square - 9to5mac.com]

"Google announces Google Play game services coming to Android (operating system) IOS & web today - Not only will the service allow Android developers to build in real-time multiplayer, social features, achievements, and leaderboards while storing game saves and settings in the cloud, the SDK for Google Play game services will also be available to iOS and web developers" - [9to5mac.com]

NPD: Nearly a third of all smartphone sales in the US are prepaid - "New data from market researcher NPD shows sales of prepaid smartphones are increasing at a rapid pace" - [www.techspot.com]

"We're still weeks away from Apple's World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10-14, but one thing's for sure: Plenty of iPhone and iPad users are hoping for a fresh design and a more open, customizable experience" - [iOS Users Beg Apple: Set Our iPhones & iPads Free! - readwrite.com]

"Google TV gets updated to latest 4.2.2 Jellybean, will see quicker updates and allow secure content - Lost in the shuffle of today's events is that Google TV is getting significant updates today" - [9to5google.com]

"With the matching timeline a promising start, Luo turned to the sattelite view of Google Maps to see if the town looked familiar" - [After being abducted 23 years ago, Chinese man finds his way home through Google Maps - thenextweb.com]

[fr8dar13k-blog]

Google Play Music All Access is a game changer and iTunes killer - and more links for you

We're dealing with companies (Google Maps and BlackBerry (company)), people (Steve Jobs and Barack Obama) and the rest in between. Alright, the links are:

"DOJ Uses Email from Steve Jobs as Evidence in E-Book Case - The U.S. United States Department of Justice (DOJ) says an old email written by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs proves that the company was the "ringmaster" in the e-books price-fixing scheme" - [www.dailytech.com]

Google Wallet now lets you send money via Gmail, gets an Android (operating system) API for goods and services - "At its I/O 2013 conference, Google announced two important features regarding Google Wallet: The first is integration with Gmail so you can pay by sending an email" - [thenextweb.com]

"By Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC NewsPresident Barack Obama will appoint a White House budget officer to the be the new acting Internal Revenue Service commissioner, an announcement made following his declaration that he knew nothing about the inspector general's report detailing actions within the IRS to target conservative groups until press reports emerged. After announcing the resignation of acting IRS Director Steven Miller on Wednesday evening, the president emerged Thursday afternoon to answer questions from the press about actions taken by IRS employees to single out conservative and Tea Party advocacy groups for extra scrutiny in their applications for nonprofit status" - [Obama denies knowledge of IRS targeting, resists calls for special counsel - firstread.nbcnews.com]

"Google Play Music All Access is a game changer and iTunes killer - Apple ITunes is now obsolete" - [betanews.com]

"Lucky winnerBrandon Ashmore from Mentor, Ohio will be receiving a $10,000 App Store (iOS) gift card for his download" - [Apple announces 50 billionth app download winner, awards $10,000 App Store gift card - 9to5mac.com]

"Google today announced a new version of its mobile Maps application and talked about the new things it's doing to fill out Google Maps" - [Google Maps adds better directions, suggestions, and 3D Earth rendering - arstechnica.com]

"Pass the champagne! Windows Phone pips BlackBerry (company) to third place - Two days ago research company Gartner released its latest report on the state of smartphone market which, based on sales, places Windows Phone in fourth place, just behind BlackBerry in terms of share" - [betanews.com]