Mashable: Latest 18 News Updates - including “Aqua Zinger Aims to Make Water Taste Less Boring [VIDEO]”

Sunday 26 August 2012 by IrwanKch

Mashable: Latest 18 News Updates - including “Aqua Zinger Aims to Make Water Taste Less Boring [VIDEO]”


Aqua Zinger Aims to Make Water Taste Less Boring [VIDEO]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 08:56 PM PDT


Drinking water may be essential, but its lack of flavor often drives people to choose more exciting beverages instead. The Aqua Zinger water bottle aims to solve this problem by kicking H2O's flavor up a notch.

More About: Aqua Zinger, water


This Smart Hub Helps Manage Your Home and Office From Anywhere

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 08:32 PM PDT


A smart living space behaves like this: doors auto-lock when no one's home, lights turn on when you wake up and pipes alert you when there's a leak.

SmartThings, an innovative technology project on Kickstarter, achieves just that. It's surging towards a goal of $250,000, with 27 days left before its deadline on the fundraising platform.

The wireless, smartphone-connected system makes the fully automated home a reality. Home dwellers can connect any lock, thermostat, light and kitchen appliance to the Internet. Everyday objects can become fully automated with a range of motion, moisture, open/close and presence sensors.

Using a SmartThings ap…
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More About: Gadgets, home, kickstarter, trending


Trial Verdict Could Benefit Samsung More Than Apple, Blogs Say

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 07:45 PM PDT


Despite winning more than $1 billion in its trial against Samsung, Apple's victory may backfire.

More About: apple, apple v. samsung, samsung, trending


45% of Shoppers Buy Items Online They Wouldn’t In Person [INFOGRAPHIC]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 06:54 PM PDT


Online shopping is discreet, easy and fast. It's no wonder shoppers are filling up virtual carts instead of visiting brick-and-mortar shops.

Shopping online allows us to skip the lines, crowds, travel expenses and the hassle of parking. A recent survey conducted by Lab42 -- a market research company -- found 66% of consumers prefer web retailers. Nearly half of the survey participants complete 73% of their shopping online.

Savvy shoppers are also turning to web and mobile stores for bargains. Nielson recently reported nearly 50% of U.S. smartphone owners are using shopping apps each month, frequenting eBay, Amazon, Groupon and LivingSocial's mobile stores. About 45 million smartphone…
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More About: Mobile, apps, infographic, online shopping, trending


Facebook’s New Office Extension Designed by Frank Gehry [VIDEO]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 06:15 PM PDT


Facebook headquarters has hired world-renowned architect Frank Gehry to design its campus extension.

More About: architecture, facebook headquarters, trending


Short Film ‘Sight’ Adds New Vision to Augmented Reality

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 05:26 PM PDT


A new film called Sight successfully tackles the subject of augmented reality, commenting on the potential impact of this rising technology.

More About: Augmented Reality, CGI, Sight, trending


57 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 02:58 PM PDT


We don't blame you if you spent the week waiting for the Samsung-Apple verdict, which was announced on Friday with Apple winning quite the pretty penny over design patents.

For those of us who didn't just lose $1,049,343,540 in damages, however, there are plenty of digital resources from the past week that remind us that the tech world goes on.

We have a list of Google+ circles marketers that you should follow, an explanation for why we're only in the early days of social search and tips for ditching that ancient landline of yours.

We also have a bunch of interesting infographics from our Lifestyle channel about e-commerce, cyberbullying and Facebook at work, as well as 13 "de…
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More About: Business, COMMUNICATIONS, Features Week In Review, Social Media, Tech


7 Apps You Don’t Want To Miss

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 02:19 PM PDT


It can be tough to keep up with all the new apps released every week. But you're in luck -- we take care of that for you, creating a roundup each weekend of our favorite new and updated apps.

This week we found an app that lets you broadcast video live to all your Facebook friends, and another that will help you figure out who is really behind the political ads you see broadcast on TV.

American Idol fans can sing like their favorite contestants from the show with a new karaoke-style app, and a popular music app saw a significant Android update this week that included the addition of full lyrics for song, so you can sing along with your favorite tunes.

Several other popular exi…
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More About: android, apps, iphone, trending


Neil Armstrong Took the Hardest Step for All of Us

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 01:55 PM PDT


When Neil Armstrong died today at the age of 82, we lost a beacon, a somewhat distant and fading light that remained present enough to remind us what's possible. Armstrong was the first man -- human-- to ever set foot on the surface of the moon, and when he did, he spoke words that instantly lifted a generation's eyes to the skies: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind."

The moment, which I witnessed when I was just five years old, changed me forever.

Now, back then, I didn't even want to see the moment. I was tired and the Apollo 11 astronauts were not even scheduled to step onto the Moon's surface until nearly midnight. My father, though, knew it wou…
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More About: NASA, Neil Armstrong, space


5 Games You Should Play This Weekend

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 01:13 PM PDT


1. New Super Mario Brothers 2




Nintendo released New Super Mario Bros. 2 this Sunday, along with their monstrously big 3DS XL. It has many of the great elements from the Wii's New Super Mario Bros.: sharp graphics, fun gameplay, and challenging levels. New Super Mario Bros. 2 brings the bling. Instead of collecting just a few coins each level, it becomes the entire mission of the game. Special power-ups turn Mario into Midas, or turn his enemies into gold. The most humorous one turns Mario's head into a gold brick that spits out coins. Although this seems a little gimmicky, the game is solid. You can even play cooperatively with your friends across a wireless connection.

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It's tough to keep up with all the great games worth playing. Between consoles, PCs and our mobile devices, there are so many ways to play alone or together that it's hard to decide what to pick up.

We're here to help. Here's a list of five titles you should definitely consider playing this weekend. Some are new, while others are noteworthy because of a sale or deal. We also tried to represent a broad cross-section of gaming platforms and genres.

SEE ALSO: 15 Vintage Video Games You Can Play on Your iPhone

If you're playing anything else you think we should mention in the future, or you see any great sales on current games, let us know in the comments.

More About: Feature, Gaming, iPhone games, trending, video games


YouTube’s Moodwall Lets You Choose Videos Based on Mood [VIDEO]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 12:34 PM PDT


YouTube is testing a new feature that lets users select videos based on their mood.

More About: Google, Moodwall, YouTube, trending, videos


Neil Armstrong, First Man on the Moon, Dead at 82

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 12:31 PM PDT


Neil Armstrong, the first man to land on the moon as commander of NASA's Apollo 11 mission, has died at 82 according to a report by NBC.

Armstrong passed away due to complications of a heart bypass surgery he underwent just weeks ago. His 82nd birthday was on August 5.

On July 20, 1969, Armstrong made history by placing his left foot onto the surface of the moon and uttering the words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" and completed arguably the greatest scientific feat of the 20th century.
SEE ALSO: Neil Armstrong Took the Hardest Step for All of Us
Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio in 1930. He studied aerospace engineering at Purdue University…
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More About: NASA, Neil Armstrong, trending


‘iPad Mini’ Coming in October, Following a September iPhone Launch [REPORT]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 12:12 PM PDT


AllThingsD is confirming that Apple will unveil a seven-inch "iPad Mini" in October, following the September launch of the next-generation iPhone.

ATD's John Paczkowski reports the "iPhone 5" and a smaller iPad will premiere at two separate events before the holiday season commences. He cites "several" unnamed sources. The next iPhone will debut at an "as-of-yet unannounced event" on Sept. 12, the report says.

"Only after the next generation iPhone is out the door and on sale will Apple announce the smaller iPad it's been working on," Paczkowski writes. "That device, which is expected to have a display of less than eight inches, will be uncrated at a second special event, which…
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More About: apple, ipad mini, iphone, trending


Apple v. Samsung Juror Says Emails Were ‘Most Damning’ [REPORT]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 11:40 AM PDT


Now that the Apple v. Samsung verdict is in with Apple emerging victorious, a juror has spoken out, outlining the most damning evidence against Samsung.

In an exclusive interview with CNET, Manuel Ilagan, one of the nine jurors in the Apple v. Samsung case, made surprising comments the day after the verdict was reached. Ilagan said that even after the first day of the trial, the nine jurors had already determined that Samsung had copied Apple.

Ilagan said one of Samsung's most telling actions was the emails its executives sent to each other, pointing out features on the iPhone they would like to incorporate into Samsung products. Further, Ilagan says he was unimpressed by Samsung's…
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More About: apple, apple v. samsung, iphone, lawsuit, samsung, trending, verdict


Elegant Design Philosophy Simplifies Digital Cameras [VIDEO]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 10:45 AM PDT


Who says digital cameras must be designed just like their analog counterparts? Designer Andrew Kim has another idea for cameras of the future, creating a simpler philosophy in this design concept for Pentax.

Kim sees the camera world divided into three parts: complicated digital SLRs, easy-to-use point-and-shoot cameras, and then what he calls the "Goldilocks zone," encompassing the high-quality yet complicated nature of the newest mirrorless cameras such as the Canon EOS M and the Nikon 1 J2.

Instead of a plethora of menus, buttons, knobs and dials, Kim concentrates on a single control, functioning as both a wheel and all-purpose button. Even th…
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More About: design, digital cameras, mashable video, photography


Apple Stock Hits All-Time High After Favorable Verdict

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 09:39 AM PDT


Apple stock swelled to $674.96 per share during after-hours trading following the favorable verdict for the iPhone creator. Stock prices rose about 1.8%, or around $12 a piece, closing at $663.22 per share.

Around 6 P.M. ET on Friday, the first tweets went out from reporters in the California courtroom where the Apple-Samsung infringement case verdict would soon be announced.

A nine-person grand jury came to a unanimous decision on Friday evening (around 7 P.M. ET), determining Samsung infringed upon several Apple-patented features.

SEE ALSO: Apple vs. Samsung Verdict Is In: Apple Wins

Apple won almost every count against Samsung in the historic court battle. A federal jury…
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More About: apple, patents, samsung, trending


Batman Want Cookie [VIDEO]

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT


We always had a sneaking suspicion Batman was possessed by Cookie Monster. And now we've received confirmation.

In this hilarious remake of a scene from Batman Begins, a cookie-obsessed Batman meets with Commissioner Gordon on a roof in Gotham City to make a "special" request -- one filled with chocolate chips.

SEE ALSO: Cookie Monster Stars in Hilarious 'Call Me Maybe' Parody

We had a feeling it might come to this. Between Batman and Commissioner Gordon it would all come down to a cookie.

UPDATE: The original article stated the scene from from the Dark Knight Rises

More About: The Dark Knight Rises, batman, cookie monster, sesame street


5 Ways to Avoid Oversharing on Social Media

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 08:24 AM PDT


In this always-on digital society, people, particularly younger generations, tend to share more than they should. In fact, in its "State of the Net" report, Consumer Reports found that 52% of social network users post risky information online. McAfee also reported that only 20% of teens use privacy settings to ensure content is only viewable by friends.

For teens, the problem with oversharing is not just the act itself, but the issues it can lead to down the line. Take the 17-year-old who posted photos of money in her home, which was later burgled. Then there's the college student who worked as a waitress and had a couple occupy a table for three hours and leave a $5 tip. She c…
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More About: Social Media, contributor, features, online privacy, social media privacy, trending


5 Diet Apps to Keep You on the Right Track

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT


1. MyFitnessPal




This app boasts the largest food database of any iPhone calorie counter, with over 1.5 million foods available offline. With exercise tracking, sharing capabilities, goal setting and reports, MyFitnessPal claims its users have lost more than 20 million pounds combined. Price: FREE

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Dieting is hard. Diet tracking apps make it easier.

Whether you're looking to count calories or just gain a better understanding of nutrition, these five apps make monitoring your daily intake simple and -- dare we say it -- fun.

Each of our selected apps features a hefty database of store-bought and restaurant food options, and some, like MyFitnessPal, even include a convenient barcode scanner that allows for quick and accurate analysis of specific items. If motivation is what you're after, opt for MyPlate, which houses a sizable community of users who can cheer you on in virtual support groups.

SEE ALSO: 10 Fitness Apps That Boost Your Stamina, Speed and Strength

Whatever you…
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More About: Mobile, apps, diets, features, health, lifestyle, trending


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