Foxconn factory at center of riot reopens, supply not affected

Foxconn

The Foxconn factory at the center of a large riot on Sunday night reopened on Tuesday, a company spokesperson said, adding that there has been no impact on supply.

The Foxconn factory at the center of a serious disturbance late Sunday involving thousands of rioting workers has reopened.

Company spokesperson Louis Woo told Reuters Tuesday that despite staying shut all through Monday, no impact on product supply is expected. “We have 79,000 people working in Taiyuan campus, and we always have spare inventory,” Woo said.

The trouble, which reportedly involved more than 2,000 workers causing widespread damage throughout the factory campus, was brought to a halt by around 5,000 police. About 40 people were injured, with countless arrests made.

China’s state-run news agency said the brawl started after a fight broke out between two workers in a factory dormitory. However, workers allege the incident erupted after a security guard manhandled an employee at the factory gates.

Riot at Foxconn plant

Foxconn, the world’s biggest component maker, is a major manufacturer for Apple, as well as other giants in the electronics industry. The Taiwan-based company has so far refused to say whether this particular facility, located in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, is involved in the production of Apple’s new iPhone 5 handset.

In an on-screen interview with the UK’s Channel 4 News program, one former Foxconn worker explained that new devices can cause great stress among workers, saying, “When a factory launches a new product, workers do overtime for long periods to test the production line until they are ready, which really puts pressure on the employees.”

He added, “A new generation of workers has higher demands. They know their rights and they’re more rebellious.”

Foxconn, which employs more than a million people across China, has been under the spotlight for the last few years following reports of employees suffering poor living and working conditions. More recently, the company has apparently been implementing changes in an attempt to improve the situation.

The Fair Labor Association said in August that Foxconn had been making good progress towards its goal of providing better living and working conditions, though if Sunday night’s disturbance can be attributed to a frustrated and beleaguered workforce cracking under the strain, it clearly still has some way to go until its job is complete.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Samsung seeks new trial in Apple patent dispute

Samsung seeks new trial in Apple patent dispute

Could Samsung get off the hook?

Samsung has asked for a new trial against rival Apple, a move that could nullify a $1.05 billion (£665) payment it's been ordered to make to the Cupertino firm.

In papers filed over the last few days, Samsung has laid out a host of arguments for why a new trial is the correct legal course to take.

One filing, made Monday, stands out in particular as it alleges jury misconduct as one of the company's legal arguments for a new trial.

The company also argues that "no reasonable jury" could rule in favor of Apple's claims Samsung copied designs and technology found in Apple's iPhones and iPads, and that neither side was allotted enough time to make their cases.

U.S. District judge Lucy Koh gave set aside 25 hours of total trial time apiece, with Samsung the more time-strapped of the two as the 4-week trial drew to a close.

Other than these positions, many of the South Korean company's legal arguments for a new trial are unknown as its legal team blacked out from public view a number of the papers it filed.

Jury problems

In Monday's filing, the company's lawyer asked that Koh bar "any further communication with jurors who served during the trial until matters by this motion have finally been resolved."

Just what those matters are isn't known as they were also blocked out.

Another part of the filing suggests that, when the arguments are brought forward, they will "subject all of the jurors to extra-judicial scrutiny and public criticism which they may find unwelcome and intrusive"

Part of the issue, CNET speculated, are post-trial interviews jurors gave to news outlets, including one in which Velvin Hogan, the jury's foreman and a video recording patent holder, said he explained particular patent nuances to his fellow jurors based on his work experience.

Hogan had told Koh he could set aside his understanding of the law based on his experiences and follow it "as instructed."

Hogan sent an email to the San Jose Mercury News Monday saying there was no jury misconduct during the course of the trial and defended the jury's verdict and integrity.

Apple made its own moves at the end of last week, filing for millions more in damages against Samsung as it alleged the company irreparably harmed "the iPhone's distinctive product identity."

Initial reports had pegged the new damages at $707 million (£435), however a report by the San Jose Mercury News places the sum Apple's seeking at $535 million (£329).


Source : techradar[dot]com

Rumour: HTC 5-inch 'phablet' will be next Google Nexus phone

Rumour: HTC 5-inch 'phablet' will be next Google Nexus phone

It's still unclear who'll make the next Nexus

In more Google Nexus speculation Monday, HTC's name has been thrown in the rumour mill as the next possible host of an upcoming Nexus handset.

An anonymous GSMArena with connections to "a very reliable source within HTC" says a rumoured 5-inch phablet, often referred to as the HTC One X 5 or Droid Incredible X, will be Google's latest "pure Android" handset.

According to the source, the device will run on Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 and bring improvements to Project Butter (which makes Android more fluid), more lock screen options, and additional minor improvements.

Not until Key Lime Pie?

However, this would be a surprise. In the past we've only seen Google-branded handsets like the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, and Nexus 7 arrive alongside landmark Android updates.

Armed with that knowledge, we'd expected the next Nexus phone to go hand-in-hand with the launch of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, rather than a Jelly Bean tweak.

In terms of specs, the tipster says the first Nexus phablet will have a 1080p screen, a Snapdragon S4 chipset, and 12-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras.

The report also mentions a large 2,500mAh battery, which the device would surely need if the holy grail of a 1080p screen did turn out to be the headline feature.

All for one or one for all?

Up until now reports have hopped between the major Android manufacturers - Samsung, Motorola, LG and HTC - as potential partners for Google's next Nexus phone.

In addition, there's also been speculation that multiple Google-branded devices will welcome Key Lime Pie into the fold. Monday's reports, although interesting, do little to clarify the situation.

HTC handsets pioneered the early versions of Android. The beloved T-Mobile G1 was the first ever Android phone, while the ill-fated Google Nexus One, which introduced Android 2.0, was also built by the Taiwanese company.

Will Google, which has cosied up to Samsung for its Nexus phones in the last couple of years, go back to its oldest Android hermano for the next big hardware launch?


Source : techradar[dot]com

Apple and Swiss Federal Railways to meet over clock design dispute

Swiss Federal Railways says it's "proud" Apple has used its iconic design for its new iOS 6 clock app, but nevertheless wants to talk with the company about its "unauthorized use."

The latest version of Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, rolled out to users last week, comes with more than 200 new features, the Cupertino company says.

It includes updates to Mail, Safari and Photos, as well as brand new features including Panorama, Passbook and Maps, though the less said about that, the better.

iPad users who’ve upgraded to iOS 6 will also have noticed a new clock app on their device. The new feature also caught the attention of Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), who couldn’t help noticing how similar the app’s clock face looked to the iconic design of its own clock used at train stations across the country – a decades-old design that happens to be trademarked. In fact, “similar” is hardly an appropriate word here – it’s difficult to see any differences at all.

SBB evidently hadn’t been consulted about the design of Apple’s new time-telling app, and is seeking to resolve the issue with the tech giant.

“We enjoy the fact that the Swiss railway clock is being used by Apple,” SBB spokesperson Christian Ginsig said. “It once again proves that it’s a real piece of design. This act, however, is an unauthorized use [of the clock’s design] by Apple.”

Another SBB spokesperson, Patricia Claivaz, confirmed that a meeting has been requested with Apple’s legal team, though she dismissed reports that the state-owned train service was intent on securing a financial settlement, telling AFP that SBB did not want to “upset them by asking for money.”

She event went as far as to say that SBB was “proud” that its station clock face design – created by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1944 – had been chosen “for 80 million iPads.”

Claivaz added, “There are a lot of brands that use the SBB logo, though nothing like Apple. It’s not just about exchanging money, rather drawing up a contract stating where the logo can be used, under what conditions and for how long.”

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of agreement or deal Apple makes with SBB, or whether they end up dumping the design for a completely different look. For its part, SBB seems pretty laid back about the affair, though one can’t help wondering if Apple would approach the matter in quite the same relaxed fashion if the situation was the other way around.

[Source: Cnet, Ars Technica] [Image: Apple/Mondaine]


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Daily Deals: Wireless Extenderz Cell Phone Signal Booster for $220 Off

Can you hear me now? Are you tired of being in an area where you know you’re supposed to have cell phone coverage, but your signal keeps dropping as you head deeper into your home or office? What you need is a cell phone signal booster and it just so happens that I found one for an impressive 55% off the regular price.

It’s the zBoost YX545 SOHO from Wireless Extenderz and it looks sort of like a small wireless router. The difference is that it works as a dual-band cell phone signal booster, taking that cell phone signal and reblasting it to provide you with up to 2,500 square foot of coverage in your home or office.

What’s great is that the zBoost YX545 SOHO is mostly universal for most American cell phone carriers. It operates on both the 800MHz and 1900MHz bands, so it should be able to boost the signal from such providers as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel, Cricket and more. It also has an omnidirectional antenna to receive signals from multiple cell towers. There’s also the added benefit of extending your cell phone battery life, because your phone uses less power when it has plenty of bars and isn’t hunting for a signal.



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Report: Apple's Lightning connector won't work without unique chip

Report: Apple's Lightning connector won't work without unique chip

Little chip causing third-party adapters lots of problems (credit: Gizmodo)

If you're looking to save cash after dropping some change on the new iPhone 5, third-party Lightning adapters aren't the way to go.

Thanks to the dissecting handiwork of Peter - owner of Double Helix Cables, a cable speciality website - we now know Apple's new Lightning cables come with what he called a "mystery chip," something he said looks like an authentication system.

Though he doesn't know what the chip does exactly, he said the cable won't work properly without it.

This means any unauthorized third-party charging accessories are currently useless.

The chip is nestled between the adapter's USB contact and the power pin in the cord. Peter, who, citing privacy concerns, declined to give his last name, said the chip might be used for something other than authentication, such as to regulate power.

Magical mystery chip

The chip is pretty fancy, though, with a mirror-shined metal exterior and laser-etched numbering.

"At this point the chips could do just about everything, [but] what we do know is that the chips are only interacting with the V+ USB line [USB being data+, data-, V+, V- (ground)]," Peter told TechRadar in an email.

"The other three wires of USB go directly to the end of the Lightning plug," he continued. "The one thing that is almost certain is that they're proprietary [and] custom designed by Apple, and the cable won't work without them."

Authentication chips are nothing new, but most of the time we see them in higher end accessories. This marks one of the first times a chip of this kind has appeared on a basic connector cable.

Enter the Lightning-dome

Apple made quiet a stir when it announced it was changing its long-used 30-pin connector port for the iPhone 5. With the new Lightning connector costing about $29 (£18) each, iPhone 5 users are no doubt looking for something a little cheaper.

Even before the iPhone 5 launched, we were seeing third-party adapters being offered on Amazon by companies such as Nanotch and iTronz. Those companies were selling adapters from $9.99 (about £6) to $17.95 (about £11).

Peter warned that any kind of third-party Lightning adapter without the chip probably won't perform.

"There is basically no way those are functional cables," Peter told AppleInsider. "You can't just build a Lightning cable by making something with the same shape and connectivity, and my teardown proves that. The chip has to be there, and it is directly in the signal path of the V+ wire."

The new chips, then, will give a headache to anyone who's trying to sell knock off Lightning adapters without Apple's permission.

However, it may only be a matter of time before someone cracks the connector, Peter said, and he wouldn't count out unauthorized manufacturers from being successful at duplicating Lightning just yet.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Valve has until October 10 to resolve EULA dispute in Germany

Valve is facing legal action from the Federation of German Consumer Organizations regarding recent changes made to their end-user license agreement (EULA). A representative for the organization says the developer has until October 10 to respond to their desist order before seeking to resolve the dispute in court.

As Cinema Blend points out, the organization is essentially an umbrella group comprised of multiple consumer rights advocates that aim to resolve matters deemed unfair to consumers. They are targeting Valve due to recent changes in their EULA that would protect them from an EU ruling on the resale of digital content.

That EU ruling says a software author cannot oppose the resale of a used license for the use of their program since exclusive right or distribution of computer software covered by such a license is exhausted on its first sale. This essentially means that gamers can resell digital game licenses to other players once they are bored with a title.

The consumer rights group has also taken issue with other aspects of the new EULA including the right for Valve to lock a customer out of their account if they didn’t agree to the new terms. Many feel this is unfair as users who don’t agree with the new terms would no longer have access to any games they had previously purchased through the platform. It’s a situation that sounds eerily similar to the type of problems that Steve Wozniak predicted would happen with cloud storage.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Apple launching Personal Pickup for iPhone 5 orders

Apple launching Personal Pickup for iPhone 5 orders

How convenient

Consumers can do it for sandwiches and pizza, so why not order an iPhone 5 online and pick it up at an Apple Store when it's ready?

Apple launched a new "Personal Pickup" service Monday, letting customers put in an order for whichever flavor of iPhone 5 they prefer (black/white, 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB) starting at 10 p.m. EDT.

The service isn't just limited to the newest iOS handset - all Apple products, including all iPhones, iPads, and iPods appear to be up for order, according to Apple's website.

From Monday night on, orders can be placed nightly from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. through the Apple Online Store or, for iPhones and iPod touches, through the Apple Store app.

The perks of Personal Pickup

Apple touts its new ordering service as letting customers check availability before they trek down to an Apple retail store, saving precious time and patience.

For in-stock items, some orders can be filled in as little as one hour. Customers can choose which Apple Store they visit and in some cases can have a family member or friend pickup the item for them.

Apple's also offering "Personal Setup" with the service, giving one-on-one intros with devices upon pickup. Personal engraving for new iPad and iPod orders and custom gift wrap are also Personal Pickup perks.

Best of all for iPhone 5 customers, because they are actually paying for the phone, get first-dibs on phones coming into the store, just as a reservation system allows. They'll then have up to two picks to get down to the store to pickup the device.

Last but not least, should a Personal Pickup customer want to return an item purchased through the service, they can do so by mail or at any Apple Store location.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Modders turn the NES’ lightgun into a real laser weapon

Zapper laser

Three decades after its debut, the NES' iconic lightgun finally gets a deadly upgrade thanks to some modders and a powerful laser.

If there was ever one fatal flaw with the Zapper lightgun peripheral that Nintendo created for its first foray into the home console market, it’s that the thing couldn’t actually zap anything that wasn’t generated on your television screen. Erratically flying ducks and those oddly blocky goons from Hogan’s Alley offered little challenge for the “gun,” but what about home intruders? Or local wildlife? Or your annoying little brother?

Now, thanks to the efforts of the designers at Virginia’s North Street Labs, the Zapper is equally at home playing Duck Hunt or attempting to flash-fry actual, living ducks. The group popped open one of the iconic lightguns and noticing that it’s mostly empty space, decided to insert what they describe as a “ridiculously powerful laser.” Interestingly, the project (which is detailed in full on the North Street Labs blog), was easier than imagined. The Zapper’s stock electrical switch was built to withstand far more power than the gun would ever actually need during standard gaming, and despite the addition of a 445nm laser diode capable of firing a 2+ watt beam (for reference, the blog claims that this is roughly “400 times more powerful than a regular laser pointer”) the gun functioned almost exactly as intended with a minimum of major hardware alterations.

The result is a “laser gun” that functions exactly as your childhood of watching sci-fi cartoons would dictate. Pull the trigger and you generate a short-lived, yet powerful laser beam. Hold the trigger and the beam will continue to fire in one continuous stream until either you release your grip or the device runs out of power. Helpfully, the final version of the mod includes an on-board battery pack, so unlike the Zapper of old, this more dangerous version is completely portable.

Once complete, the team at North Street Labs decided to test out the Zapper and it performed even better than they’d expected. “After initial testing, this thing is absolutely terrifying,” the blog states. “I discovered that my laser meter tops out at 2W… which this Zapper rapidly passes. The meter quickly shoots to 1800+ , then just says “1″ when topped out. This means the Zapper is AT LEAST 2W OUTPUT. I wear my laser goggles at all times when handling this thing and only turn the key right before use.”

If you’d like to watch the finished Zapper in action, its creators have uploaded a video of the hack to YouTube, which you can find embedded below. Alternately, if you’re interested in making your own, the picture-rich walkthrough on the North Street Labs blog should help make that possible. But please, before you embark on this, or any other potentially dangerous project, make sure that you follow strict safety guidelines. The blog reminds us repeatedly to wear eye protection and to never point the Zapper at any living thing, and after watching a familiar gaming peripheral instantly ignite bits of wood and carve away chunks of metal that seems like pretty solid advice.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Rumored Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Competitor: LG Vu 2

The Optimus Vu has recently made its way over the United States as the LG Intuition. This marks an occasion for Verizon, as it gives them their first phablet ever- though not for long as the Note 2 is eventually supposed to make its way to the Big Red.

The Vu has done well globally, but it faces a very real threat: Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2. In every aspect, the Note 2 seriously beats out the Vu. With that in mind, LG is working on a successor phablet that will hopefully compete better against the Note 2.

The new Vu 2 is rumored to be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 and features 2GB of RAM. It also will run Android ICS, has a 5-inch screen, 1024×768 resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio. As you can tell, it hasn’t changed much from the original Vu.

How is that supposed to compete against the Note 2? Your guess is as good as mine. If LG was a bit wiser, they’d attempt to step up their game with a truly noteworthy competitor (pun intentional). Still, it seems that there are a few tricks up there sleeve that might make the Vu 2 worthwhile, like a universal remote app.

Would you consider this over the Note 2 if the price is much, much lower? Or not even worth your time and consideration?



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Photos possibly taken with Samsung Galaxy Nexus II surface

Photos possibly taken with Samsung Galaxy Nexus II surface

Clandestine camera shots (credit: SlashGear)

The original Samsung Galaxy Nexus came out close to a year ago, and it appears the South Korean manufacturer is about to unveil a successor.

New leaked photos supposedly taken by something called the GT-i9260 have surfaced, indicating Samsung might just be readying the next iteration of the Nexus family.

Of course, this isn't the first time rumors of a new Nexus device have surfaced.

Just last month, leaked specifications for a device codenamed the GT-i9260 appeared online, and revealed a potential Galaxy Nexus/Galaxy S3 hybrid smartphone was in development.

The GT-I9260 resurfaces

The purported Nexus 2 made an appearance again Monday after images taken with the smartphone's camera mysteriously appeared on Picasa.

A graph outlining camera performance specifications, like focal length and exposure, for a device named the GT-i9260 was also part of the leaks.

The current Galaxy Nexus was referred to by its model number - GT-i9250 - instead of a codename. The Galaxy S, SII, and SIII were all named i9000, i9100, and i9300, respectively, making GT-i9260 fit right in with Samsung's sequential naming scheme.

The information page doesn't display what kind of camera the pictures were taken with, but earlier reports indicated the GT-i9260 would come with the same 1.9MP/8MP front/rear cameras as the Galaxy S3.

Nexus 2 to come with Key Lime Pie?

Whether or not this rumored Samsung device will actually be called the Galaxy Nexus 2 is just one of a few questions that has risen from these rumors.

Neither leak revealed which Android operating system the GT-i9260 would have as its default OS.

Though the Nexus and Nexus S 4G just got Android 4.1: Jelly Bean (the Galaxy S3 will get it in October), there's a chance this new device could come with Android 5.0: Key Lime Pie.

Each of its predecessors came with the latest version of the Android OS, so it wouldn't be out of the question for this rumored phone to follow suit.

Until the GT-i9260 is revealed in a more official capacity, it's just a guessing game as to what Samsung's plans are for the Nexus 2...or whatever it's called.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Despite Kickstarter failure, Beneath A Steel Sky 2 will enter development

Beneath A Steel Sky

Revolution Games didn't quite hit their proposed funding goal, but has decided to put Beneath A Steel Sky 2 into production anyway.

On August 23rd, adventure game developer Revolution Games opened a new Kickstarter project in the hopes of funding a “new, original, Broken Sword game by Charles Cecil,” dubbed Broken Sword – The Serpent’s Curse. The project’s stated goal was to raise $400,000 to be put toward the development of that game, and fans turned out in force to support the cause. When the dust settled, the project had pulled in $771,561, nearly twice its goal.

Great news, right? Not so fast. See, Revolution Games had also included an extra bit of incentive for adventure gaming fans by promising that if it was able to raise over $1 million the company would also greenlight Beneath A Steel Sky 2. As that goal was not reached, one would expect Revolution to drop plans for the game, but seeing the massive groundswell of support the Kickstarter project draw, the company has decided to reward fans regardless, and Beneath A Steel Sky 2 will enter development.

“We’re delighted by the recent level of interest in a sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky and are currently discussing design ideas for this project which we plan to go into development following the release of Broken Sword – The Serpent’s Curse,” Revolution co-founder Tony Warriner told Develop. “We’re deeply touched that our Steel Sky fans are as enthusiastic today as they were when the original game released in 1994.”

If you’re scratching your head, wondering vainly why you should care, you should know that Revolution is one of the finest developers of traditional adventure games in the history of the genre. Though it’s never earned the major mainstream accolades of LucasArts, the company’s list of titles reads like a “best of” roster for adventure games. The original Beneath A Steel Sky is widely regarded as one of the finest adventure titles to emerge from the latter years of the genre, which is all the more impressive given that by 1994 most developers had moved on to create more immediately profitable titles, like fighting games or DOOM clones.

As the Kickstarter only came to a close two days ago, both Beneath A Steel Sky 2 and Broken Sword – The Serpent’s Curse are likely a ways away from release. The former won’t even enter true development until after the latter is finished, so adventure gaming fans are going to have to be patient for a bit longer. That said, this should be great news for anyone who enjoys more cerebral adventures, and it’s heartening to see a developer recognize and reward its relatively small, but fiercely devoted fanbase in this way.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Xperia Sola mod allows Floating Touch throughout Entire UI

The Sony Xperia Sola has a pretty unique feature, it’s called floating touch. What is that all about? Basically you can interact with the phone without having to touch the screen. This is a really cool idea, though Sony limited when and where the feature could actually be used.

Luckily, XDA member neectron has found a way around the limitations, creating a new app that enables floating touch technology throughout the entire UI of the Xperia Sola. The new modification is easy to install, but you have to have the Xperia Sola for it to work.

Why would you possibly want something like this? Why not just touch the screen like normal? I’ll be honest, this isn’t something you’d use a lot. With that in mind, there are uses. For those that work outdoors or deal with grease at their job, do you really want to touch that screen before washing? For those with slightly wet hands, this could be a convenient way to use your phone without worrying about getting water all of the screen.

The reasons might not affect everyone very often, but it does go to show you that there are practical applications for floating touch. Check out the video below or head to the XDA developer’s forum and grab the mod for yourself.



Source : mobilemag[dot]com

Should you build your next PC?

Build your own PC header computing

Building your own computer can help you learn about PCs, get exactly what you want, and sometimes even save money. But it can also be an impractical, expensive nightmare for the wrong person. Here's how to find out which side you fall on.

Peek in any computer hardware forum, you’ll run into a hoard of happy enthusiasts who build their own PCs instead of buying from major manufacturers. These are the hardware hardcore. Ask them about whether you should consider building your own PC and you’ll receive an predictable answer: Of course you should!

Building your own PC is a step towards an entire new realm of geekdom. Most people thinking of embarking down that path understand it’s scary and exciting and, to a certain crowd, pretty damn cool. But it also can be a difficult path that may not lead to the result you expected. Rather than offering a step-by-step guide to actually building a PC, let’s take a look at how the process works, and some of the questions you should sort out before you decide to undertake it.

How much do I need to know?

If you’ve never built a PC before, you will find the idea of putting one together daunting. You have to both research the parts and put them together once they arrive. What if you fail? What if you mess up and order the wrong part?

New builders should not spend too much time trying to come up with a unique or unusual build. This means buying a simple, affordable mid or full ATX tower. Part selection should also stick to tried-and-true standards. There are plenty of build guides available from reputable enthusiast sites like The Tech Report and Anandtech.

computer components build your own pcPutting together components isn’t incredibly difficult. Standardization of hardware over the years, along with improvements in how Windows handles drivers, has made it possible for virtually all components in a modern PC to work at a basic level by just plugging them in. Common standards include fool-proof mechanisms to prevent improper installation. For instance, it’s essentially impossible to improperly install RAM or a video card because of notches in the slot which must line up with those on the hardware. All you really need is a screwdriver and some patience.

Don’t let fears about the complexity of putting a PC together stop you. There are reasons why building a PC is a bad idea, but this isn’t one of them. Anyone with a basic understanding of PC hardware can do it.

Staying cool

The biggest “gotcha” that could trip you up is one you might not have expected:  your processor’s cooler.

computer components processor cooler pcInstalling Intel’s stock cooler is notoriously tricky. It uses a ridiculous push-pin system that is hard to install even if you know what you’re doing. If you are serious about DIY, we highly recommend purchasing a third-party processor cooler that secures with a backplate and screws. It will save a major headache and do a better job of cooling your processor.

Is it really cheaper?

Most people assume that the difficulty of building a PC is the reason why they shouldn’t do it. We disagree. Price is a better argument against doing it yourself.

Enthusiasts love to point out that you can save hundreds, even thousands, by building your own system. This is true if you are looking at an expensive computer. But most people aren’t. Most people want a capable PC that can run productivity applications well and perhaps play a few games.

This is the market where the OEMs thrive. Dell will sell you an Inspiron 660 with a Core i3 processor for $449. We can’t find a combination of similar hardware (plus Windows, which is usually $99 for a OEM copy) that can’t be purchased for less. A veteran value-shopper might be able to scrounge up some savings, though we doubt they’d beat Dell by much.

Most buyers with a budget under $600 should forget about the do-it-yourself route. You’ll receive more for your money by going through a manufacturer. The price equation only tips noticeably in favor of DIY if you are considering a PC that normally sells for $1,000 or more.

No one to call

All of the parts that you buy for your DIY build will have warranties. In some cases the warranties will be better than what you’d receive if you buy a pre-built PC. What you won’t have, however, is support.

Building your own computer means troubleshooting your own computer. If something goes wrong you’ll have to rely on your own knowledge. This extends to not only hardware but also, in most cases, Windows. People who build their own PCs usually go with the OEM copy of Windows because it’s the same software and costs $80 less. What’s the catch? Microsoft provides no official support for OEM licenses. That’s up to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer is you.  

computer components ribbon cable build your own pc diySome consider self-support to be part of the journey. Others consider it an annoyance. You can usually find out what camp you fall in by remembering what you’ve done in the past. If your response to a problem is to pick up the phone, building a PC will require some adjustment. Phone calls will be off the table. Instead you will have to mess with settings, look up possible solutions and narrow down the problem using trial and error.   

Lack of support is worse for people who don’t own a second PC. A single-computer household will be stuck trying to look up answers on smartphones. That’s not much fun. Managing your own desktop PC is much easier if you own a laptop as well.   

Bringing it all together

Bottom line: The people who should build their own PC sare also the people who care the most about their computers.

Constructing your own PC with your own hands gives you intimate knowledge of what is inside and how it works. Troubleshooting can be a pain, but finding your own solutions usually provides insight into the complexities of PC hardware.

People who view their PC primarily as a tool, on the other hand, should stay away from DIY. Enthusiasts love to justify their builds by claiming they save money, but those claims are often misleading. There’s not much money to save when building a basic, inexpensive PC, and whatever value is found via DIY is lost as soon as something goes wrong and there’s no one to call.

Building a PC is a project of passion. Despite what many enthusiasts say, it’s not really about money or choice. It’s about a love of computing and PC hardware. This should make it clear whether building your own is – or isn’t – for you.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Telltale reveals plans for disc-based Walking Dead collection

The Walking Dead -- Episode 3

Just in time for the holidays, Telltale Games will be collecting its entire episodic Walking Dead adaptation on a single disc.

If you’ve been following our ongoing coverage of Telltale Games’ episodic adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s dark horror comic book series The Walking Dead, then you’ll know that we’re huge fans of the developer’s work to date. So far the firm has released three of the five planned downloadable episodes, and as our reviews show each one has somehow been even better than the last. Thus it comes as great news that Telltale has confirmed plans to release the entire game — all five episodes — on a single retail disc just in time for the holiday shopping season.

A pseudonymous Twitter user operating under the handle of “The Dukenator” asked the official Telltale Games’ Twitter account if the company had plans for a compilation release of The Walking Dead, similar to what it did with its episodic adventure game based on the Back To The Future license. Telltale replied simply, “As a matter of fact, yes! Entire season on disc. Dec 4th in NA for Xbox 360 and PS3. EU dates TBA.”

That’s wonderful news both for those who have yet to experience what is quickly shaping up to be one of the finest games released in 2012, but also for those who have been rabidly awaiting each new episode and digesting every one the moment it comes available. Though Telltale’s original plan was to release a new episode every month, the rigors of creating, testing and releasing what are essentially five-hour-long slices of adventure may have been more than the developer bargained for, and the company has adopted a strategy of releasing each new chunk of The Walking Dead “when it’s done.” As a result, each new episode seems to appear later and later each month (if not in the following month), and those aforementioned anxious fans are left with little to do save sit on their hands and wait patiently. If nothing else, this December 4 release date for the entire game ensures that the final two episodes of The Walking Dead will necessarily be released prior to that deadline (and likely at least a few weeks before).

Since this revelation was shared with the world on Twitter (as opposed to, say, via official press release), it is lacking in a few crucial details. For instance, we have no idea how much this single-disc collection will cost, nor if it might include any extras unavailable to those who purchased the episodes individually via their downloadable service of choice. We expect Telltale will clarify those details in short order, but in the mean time we suggest replaying the three individual episodes already available. We’re sure that those of you who own them already burned through each shortly after purchase, but there’s a lot of residual entertainment value in going back into the game and purposefully making choices that you wouldn’t normally have made. We won’t claim that being the scum of the earth in the post-apocalyptic hellscape will make you feel good or “entertain” you per se, but one of the best features of The Walking Dead is its ability to inspire genuine emotional reactions in its players — including personal revulsion when you abandon all semblance of human morality.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Ubuntu to continue using GRUB 2 with Windows 8 Secure Boot

Canonical has reversed its decision to drop Ubuntu’s GRUB 2 bootloader in favor of EFILinux on systems using Secure Boot, which prevents the loading of drivers or OS loaders that are not signed with a certain digital signature, after the Free Software Foundation (FSF) stepped in and said it will help find a workable solution for Linux installations.

Last year, Microsoft confirmed that new computers carrying the “Certified for Windows 8” logo will implement UEFI's Secure Boot feature. While that's good news for Windows users who will be better protected against malware and rootkits, the move proved controversial because initial feedback suggested it was likely to prevent users from booting alternative operating systems such as Linux or Unix.

Canonical announced earlier this year that they had found a solution to the problem, which involved the creation of their own private signed keys for “Ubuntu Certified” hardware pre-loaded with their OS, in much the same way as Microsoft is going to do for Windows 8.

That meant changing Ubuntu’s bootloader for systems using Secure Boot though, as Canonical was concerned that GRUB 2’s GPLv3 license would require them to reveal their private signed keys if an OEM mistakenly shipped a computer with Secure Boot enabled. In order to avoid this happening, Canonical said it would use a modified version of Intel’s EFILinux as a bootloader instead of Grub 2.

In a whitepaper published in June, the FSF asked Canonical to reconsider this approach, and instead support users in creating their own signed keys to run Linux on their computers. “We offer our help in working through any licensing concerns,” FSF executive director, John Sullivan wrote. He argued that the license used by GRUB 2 actually protects users against the dangers of Secure Boot and Canonical wouldn’t be required to hand out its private signed keys to any third party.

Canonical confirmed the reversal in a blog post late last week and said it has taken steps “to ensure security and user choice is maintained” on Ubuntu systems. “Grub 2 is the best choice for a bootloader, and [we] will use only Grub 2 in Ubuntu 12.10 and 12.04.2 by default,” the post read.


Source : techspot[dot]com

Underwhelming LG Optimus Vu 2 specs leak

Underwhelming LG Optimus Vu 2 specs leak

LG Intuition/Optimus Vu may already be getting a successor

LG's Optimus Vu only started traveling outside Asia this month, heading to Verizon in the U.S. as the LG Intuition.

But based on a recent report, it appears LG already has a successor to the Optimus Vu in the works.

A leaked image supposedly showing the LG Optimus Vu 2's specs sheet, and despite a minor upgrade in RAM, as a sequel it's rather underwhelming.

What's cooking with the LG Optimus Vu 2

According to this purported leak, the LG Optimus Vu 2 will come equipped with an MSM 8960 dual-core 1.5GHz chip, 2GB of memory (up from the Optimus Vu/Intuition's 1GB), up to 32GB of microSD storage, and LTE connectivity.

The Vu 2 will also sport 8- and 1.3-megapixel cameras on the back and front, respectively, a 2150mAh battery, and Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

Other than the upgraded memory, the Vu 2 is practically identical to the US version of its predecessor. They share the same screen resolution (1,024 x 768) and oddball shape, with a square-ish 4:3 ratio.

And of course, the "phablet" (as it's affectionately been dubbed) retains that massive 5-inch form, a divisive size that some claim is too big while others swear by it.

The phablet market's getting crowded

Given how large phones like the LG Optimus Vu and Samsung Galaxy Note 2 are, it's unsurprising that the market for phablets is already getting crowded.

Their massive size is off-putting to some customers, and as a relatively new form, it's unknown just how many varieties of phone/tablet hybrid devices the market can sustain.

But although Android 4.1: Jelly Bean would be preferable to Ice Cream Sandwich, the older OS may indicate that the Optimus Vu 2 is coming sooner rather than later.

LG has yet to respond to TechRadar's inquiries into whether these leaked specs are accurate, or whether the Optimus Vu 2 is really happening, as it hasn't been confirmed yet in any official capacity.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package arrives this November

Saints Row: The Third Yarngasm

Late to the Saints Row party, but still want to experience everything Saints Row: The Third has to offer? THQ has you covered.

When Saints Row: The Third hit store shelves in November of last year it was instantly hailed as a breath of silly, wacky fresh air for the open-world sandbox action game subgenre. Where Grand Theft Auto is hyper-serious in its efforts to simulate a Hollywood-caliber cinematic experience, Saints Row: The Third gleefully asks players to create as much awesome mayhem as possible — even giving players a button specifically designed to make pedestrian actions like fistfights and carjackings a bit more stylish (if physically impossible). This trend of “fun over realism” continued with the game’s many, many DLC offerings, but developer Volition Inc. quickly became a bit too good at releasing extra content for the game, and it’s not at all surprising to see many players overwhelmed by the sheer number of extra downloadable goodies on offer for the game. Fortunately publisher THQ has opted to simplify the experience a bit — particularly for those who’ve yet to play the game — by releasing Saints Row: The Third and all of its DLC content in one huge package dubbed Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package.

We’re going to assume that the double entendre there is absolutely intended.

According to THQ, The Full Package will be released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC platforms on November 6. Regardless of which platform you choose, the game will set you back $50. That’s $10 less than the game’s original retail price point, but this version also includes a massive amount of new content that, by our math, should add somewhere on the order of 20 to 30 extra hours of gameplay. That’s all three downloadable mission packs (Gangstas In Space, Genkibowl VII and The Trouble With Clones), all the new weapons, vehicles and clothing options added by the game’s 13 smaller DLC packs, and though not explicitly stated, we’d also assume all of the game’s extra pre-order content. All told it’s a ton of gameplay content, and that $50 price point is totally valid — particularly if this is your first time playing Saints Row: The Third.

On the other hand, maybe you’ve already played through Saints Row: The Third. What’s the value of this package in that case? Well, as we reported in June, Volition is already hard at work on a fourth Saints Row title, and according to THQ president Jason Rubin that game will be built on top of an unreleased Saints Row: The Third DLC pack dubbed “Enter The Dominatrix.” Thus, it’s a safe bet to assume that Saints Row: The Fourth (or whatever it’s eventually called) will be quite similar to this enhanced version of Saints Row: The Third. If nothing else, that means that you (and any friends who join you in the game’s crazy-fun online multiplayer modes) can use The Full Package as a bit of practice for the imminent sequel. You don’t want to be caught off guard when Volition unveils the next game’s answer to beating old ladies to death with giant, floppy sex toys, right?


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

As if all things iOS weren’t expensive enough, Apple jacks up iPhone 5 replacement charger price by $9

iPhone 5 Lightning Connector

A replacement charger setup for the iPhone 5, which uses the new Lightning dock connector, will cost you 24 percent more than a 30-pin charger setup.

The iPhone 5 may cost the same as the iPhone 4S did when it was first released last year, but as for a replacement charger for the hot new Apple handset, well, you’re going to have to cough up some more cash.

The USB power adapter plus a 30-pin USB cable — the full charger setup for an iPhone 4S or older, iPad, or iPod — costs $29 through Apple’s website, just as it always has. However, Apple does not sell the USB power adapter and the new Lightning dock connector cable for the iPhone 5 together — you have to buy those separately, at a cost of $19 apiece.

That means iPhone 5 customers are forced to pay $9 more — an increase of roughly 24 percent — for a replacement or spare charger setup than customers with the iPhone 4S or older.

This does not make much sense, at least on the surface. Like the standard 30-pin to USB cable, a new Lightning cable will cost you $19. So theoretically, Apple should offer iPhone 5 customers the package deal (USB adapter plus Lightning cable) at a cost of $29.

iPhone 5 chargers

We’ve reached out to Apple to see if they have a $29 Lightning charger package in the works, but have not yet heard back. We will update this space as soon as we do.

The 24 percent price hike follows complaints about the new Lightning-to-30-pin adapter, which comes with every iPhone 5, due to its relatively high cost: A replacement for that will cost you $29 (or $39) through Apple.

All said, we would be highly surprised if this jump in price is permanent; the company didn’t officially raise the price of the full charger setup, after all. It simply failed to offer that option, meaning we have to piece it together ourselves, at a cost. Further, we doubt the $9 difference will have much impact on sales of the iPhone 5, which have already topped 5 million in just a matter of days. Still, forcing iPhone 5 customers to lay out an extra nine bucks for a replacement charger seems to us an unhelpful oversight, at best. 


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Nintendo Wii U is region locked, keeping Japanese, European games out of US hands

wii u launch info

Nintendo Wii U is region locked, continuing Nintendo's long tradition of keeping foreign games off its home consoles in the US.

Planning on importing a copy of Dragon Quest X for your Wii U come November? Better plan on buying a Japanese console as well as the game as Nintendo’s new machine will be region locked.

Nintendo confirmed for both Famitsu and Eurogamer that the Wii U would have restrictions blocking games from other regions from being played on a locally purchased machine. So Japanese and European games won’t run on a US Wii U, and vice versa.

It isn’t particularly surprising that the Wii U is region locked. Almost all home video game consoles have been equipped with some sort of region locking mechanism. While software restrictions kept American Wiis and Gamecubes from playing foreign disks, Nintendo’s cartridge-based Nintendo 64 and Super Nintendo consoles simply used different plastic moldings to prevent the games from fitting in machines from different regions.

The weird thing though is that up until the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo’s handhelds have been entirely region free. This was especially nice during the Nintendo DS era since there were a number of excellent Nintendo games, including Last Window: The Secret of Cape West, that were only available in the United Kingdom.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Hacker brings Google Maps app to iOS 6

Hacker brings Google Maps app to iOS 6

Something's off about Las Vegas (credit: theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com)

Apple's misfiring Maps app has prompted one hacker to conjure a way to restore the banished Google Maps app to iOS 6.

Ryan Petrich, who specialises in jailbreaking iPhones, has figured out a way to bypass Maps and install the tried-and-tested Google Maps app from iOS 5.1 on an iOS 6-updated iPhone 3GS.

The hack, which requires a jailbroken iPhone, is "still crashy and cannot be distributed to the public yet, but it mostly works" according to Petrich, who posted the video below on Sunday.

iPhone 5 patience

Apple has pleaded for patience regarding its Maps app and said it will improve as more smartphone and tablet owners make use of the service.

Multiple reports, including TechRadar's iOS 6 review, has shown that Maps currently suffers from inaccurate location data, a distinct lack of detail compared to Google Maps, and sometimes displays poorly rendered maps.

Reports on Monday claimed that Apple is even attempting to poach Google Maps staff in order to accelerate the necessary improvements, although that remains unconfirmed by the company.

Whether looking for a publicly available jailbreak or practicing the patience needed to weather Apple's current Maps debacle, iPhone 5 owners may want to hang onto their paper maps for a little while longer.


Source : techradar[dot]com

Nuance hands-free voice recognition tech currently in development

Nuance is reportedly working on a new type of voice recognition technology that will work when a smartphone is in sleep mode. This would allow users to utilize services like Siri without having to wake the phone up or even touch it, a step that some believe is a barrier to more wide-spread use.

Nuance chief technology officer Vlad Sejnoha said his company is working with multiple chip manufacturers to develop a solution. It isn’t exactly as clear-cut as one might think as the hardware inside the phone would have to actively listen for voice commands at all times without consuming enormous amount of resources and ultimately, power.

The CTO said Nuance is also working on improving existing voice recognition technology by enabling a device to better distinguish a user’s voice from an ongoing stream of noise – such as in a crowded room or on the subway.

Software makers will have to proceed with caution, however, as they won’t want the advancements to be used in a way that comes off as creepy or annoying. The latter was the case with Microsoft’s Office assistant Clippy which ultimately led to its demise. Furthermore, privacy concerns will certainly gather some attention as some people won’t be comfortable with a device that is constantly listening to its surroundings. Those concerns would only rise at the possibility of hackers gaining unauthorized access to a handset.

Sejnoha told Technology Review that chips should begin shipping in smartphones within the next year or two.


Source : techspot[dot]com

How will Sony’s PlayStation 4 protect account info? By scanning your DNA

sony playstation 4 patent

A new Sony Computer Entertainment patent describes the biological lengths Sony will go to to profile its users.

Microsoft’s Kinect can recognize your voice and face. “Big deal!” says Sony. The PlayStation 4 will be able to recognize your fingerprints, irises, and DNA in addition to your mug and pipes. Based on new Sony patents, the company is going to make user identification a whole lot more complex.

A new Sony Computer Entertainment patent titled “Process and Apparatus for Automatically Identifying User of Consumer Electronics” was published on Thursday, and PlayStation Lifestyle detailed the contents in a new report.

The technology will use biometric information to allow access to online accounts and even specific devices like a game console. “[Suitable] biometric sensors include fingerprint sensors, hand sensors, face recognition systems, iris scanners retinal scanners, voice pattern analyzers, and DNA analyzers.” The images in the patent show diagrams of game controllers, mobile phones, and a PC mouse where the buttons on each are actually sensors compiling the data.

The purpose of the technology described is manifold. First is user protection. Any saved sensitive information—particularly credit card details like those stolen during the PlayStation Network hack in 2011—would be protected in a device that could only be biologically activated by the owner. The second purpose is anti-piracy. The technology ensures that only one account on a given device can access paid for content. If that isn’t insidious enough, the patent also describes how the tech can be used to better target users with tailored advertising.

“[A] user profile may be generated… user behavior may be monitored and information gleaned from patterns of user behavior may become part of the profile,” reads the patent, “The profile can be used to tailor the operation of the device to a particular user… In the case of a video game console, the user profile may include information about particular types of games that the user downloads… Embodiments of the invention can be used to prevent unauthorized sharing of online accounts.”

It’s similar to the abilities of the Kinect as shown off in early promotional videos of the device when it was still called Project Natal, only far more terrifying in their physical invasiveness.

There have been many rumors about the restrictions Sony will place on its next PlayStation. Some rumors suggest that Sony will even attempt to block the use of used games on the device. Tying a game to someone’s DNA would certainly do the trick.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

How Microsoft and HP avoid corporate taxes

corporate tax shutterstock kentoh

A new Congressional memo looks at how America's largest companies use loopholes to avoid corporate taxes. Smart moves, or ripping off taxpayers?

It’s no secret that some of America’s largest corporations engage in complicated accounting in order to minimize their taxes. However, materials released as part of a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing last week revealed the technology companies like Apple, Cisco, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard are among the companies going to the greatest efforts to shelter their revenues — and some of those efforts seem to violate the intent (if not the letter) of U.S. law.

“Major U.S. corporations are increasingly earning their profits here but shipping them overseas to avoid paying the taxes they owe,” wrote Michigan Senator Carl Levin (D), chairman of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. “At a time when we face such difficult budget choices, and when American families are facing a tax increase and cuts in critical programs from education to health care to food inspections to national defense, these offshore schemes are unacceptable.”

Are technology companies paying their fair share in taxes? Or are they just using the system as efficiently as possible so they can stay competitive? The subcommittee looked closely at how two companies — HP and Microsoft — are avoiding tax liabilities — and the results are surprising.

How it works

The basic dilemma is that most tax codes are enforceable only within particular geographic borders (like a county, a state, or a nation) but most of the largest companies headquartered in the United States do business all over the world — hence, they function in a variety of different tax jurisdictions. In the United States, the base corporate tax rate is 35 percent; however, it’s much lower (or even non-existent) in other parts of the world. It makes sense that companies would try to find ways to take advantage of any difference in tax laws in the different areas where they operate — after all, their competitors are going to do the same thing. Any dollar companies don’t have to pay in taxes is another dollar tacked onto its bottom line.

In pre-Internet days, these differences in tax structure weren’t make-or-break problems for governments. After all, if you build cars — or make raw materials like steel — geographic limitations will effectively limit where you can sell those products. However, in the digital economy, those restrictions have largely vanished. Digital content like music, movies, e-books, apps, and software can largely be sold to anyone in the world from anywhere in the world, making it easy for companies to pick and choose the jurisdictions where — on paper, anyway — they’re conducting business. So subsidiaries in tax-favorable jurisdictions like Ireland, the British Virgin Islands, Singapore, and the Netherlands conduct mammoth amounts of business for technology firms.

Percent of tech companies’ cash
kept overseas
HP 100
Microsoft 89
Cisco 89
eBay 88
Dell 85
Oracle 84
Apple 67      
Qualcomm 62
Google 48

Technology companies have another advantage over traditional businesses because a significant portion of their revenues comes from royalties and intellectual property, like patent and technology licensing. Again, that business can be conducted anywhere — and companies based in the U.S. don’t seem to have any problem with taking those transactions out of the country.

The tax code hasn’t evolved to keep up, and tech companies are enthusiastically taking advantage of the situation. For instance, of the 500 companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, 71 would be generally classified as technology companies. Those 71 companies report paying worldwide tax rates as much as a third lower than other S&T companies over the last two years. Senator Levin said U.S. multinationals keep as much as $1.7 trillion offshore.

Microsoft

Microsoft building entrance

The Senate subcommittee specifically took a look at how Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard manage their tax burdens, noting that their practices seem to be representative of the technology industry as a whole. The two firms also seem to be among the most invested in the practices. According to materials compiled for the committee from industry estimates and company reports, Microsoft has almost 90 percent of its total cash overseas, while HP maintains virtually no cash in the United States. The subcommittee issued subpoenas and sent letters of inquiry to both companies to get information that isn’t normally revealed in regulatory filings or investor disclosures.

Microsoft’s basic strategy developed in the 1990s, when the company set up a regional operating center in Ireland responsible for retail sales in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Ireland subsidiary was followed by subsidiaries in Singapore (handling retail sales in Asia) and Puerto Rico (handling retail sales in North and South America). Of the $9.1 billion Microsoft spend on R&D in 2011, some $7.8 billion was spent developing Microsoft product in the United States — and Microsoft reaped $200 million in tax credits for conducting that R&D stateside.

These subsidiaries have the right to profit from sales of Microsoft’s intellectual property, while Microsoft itself retains ownership. Basically, if European sales account for 30 percent of Microsoft’s global revenue, Microsoft collects 30 percent of its revenue back from its Irish subsidiary towards the cost of research and development. The rest of the money stays offshore. From 2009 to 2011, that meant some $21 billion in revenue collected by Microsoft — for products developed and sold in the United States — was not subject to U.S. taxes. That’s about half of Microsoft’s U.S. retail sales net revenue, and about $4.5 billion in taxes successfully dodged.

But that’s not all. Microsoft’s subsidiaries are technically disregarded for tax purposes under look-through regulations for controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) and a “check-the-box” rule instituted in 2004 that enables corporations to declare themselves tax-exempt by, essentially, checking a box on a form. For Microsoft, that’s very handy. It means income that would previously have been immediately taxable — like royalty income from its subsidiaries selling software — becomes tax-exempt because it’s basically just considered a transfer of funds between two disregarded entities. This reduced Microsoft’s U.S. tax burden by another $2.43 billion in 2011 alone.

Hewlett-Packard

Hewlett-Packard is warehousing almost all its revenue offshore — which is intriguing, considering that HP is a very large employer in the United States. How does it fund its considerable U.S. operations? Through a series of alternating, short-term loans from a pair of foreign subsidiaries.

According to the subcommittee report (PDF): “This loan program, from at least 2008, appears to have been used as a way to de facto repatriate billions of dollars each year to the United States to fund most of HP’s U.S. operations, and provide those operations with the economic use of the company’s foreign earnings without a formal dividend distribution that would be taxable.”

Normally, when a CFC loans money to a related U.S. company or individual, the loan is considered taxable income. However, there are exceptions: One is that if the loans don’t span the CFC’s quarter ends and the loans are repaid within limited time periods. So HP used two subsidiaries — the Belgian Coordination Center and the Compaq Cayman Holding Corp. — which basically just function as separate cash pools for the parent company. The companies would loan HP money during particular windows, and HP would then use the money for payroll, stock repurchases, and even acquisitions. As the tax-related quarterly window came to a close, HP would receive a short-term loan from the other corporation, pay off the previous loan, and continue operating. The pattern of continuous lending spanned at least 2008 through 2011 — and HP paid no U.S. tax on that income.

HP’s auditors, Ernst & Young, knew about HP’s staggered loan program since its inception in 2008, and apparently signed off on the strategy, finding that, technically, the foreign entities were sufficiently independent and HP was meeting time restrictions for avoiding taxation on the loans. Nonetheless, the Senate subcommittee concluded that “it is clear from HP documents that it structured this program in an attempt to circumvent the spirit” of U.S. tax law.

Tech companies aren’t alone

global interonnection (Shutterstock/Toria)

These sorts of tax shenanigans aren’t limited to technology companies. The Senate subcommittee detailed 18 firms that have more than $5 billion stashed away in overseas accounts. Nine of them — half — are technology firms, and the committee noted that the use of foreign subsidiaries to shelter income from royalties and intellectual property is particular common in the industry. Four more — Pfizer, Medtronic, Merck, and Amgen — represent the pharmaceutical industry. The other firms are General Electric, Johnsons & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Walmart, and Devon Energy. Of those, only Pfizer and J&J appear to be in the same pattern as HP in keeping virtually all their cash outside the United States.

Although Senator Levin noted he doubts that HP’s staggered loan program was legal, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn (R) described both Microsoft’s and HP’s tax strategies as “properly legal tax avoidance.” Even though Coburn admitted they don’t look great on paper, he noted companies have a fiscal responsibility to do everything they can to minimize their tax burdens — particularly given the overwhelming complexity of U.S. tax code.

Both Microsoft and HP — who each had representatives appearing before the committee — characterized their company’s strategies as legal and in full compliance with U.S. tax code.

“Microsoft complies with the tax rules in each jurisdiction in which it operates and pays billions of dollars each year in total taxes, including U.S. federal, state, and local taxes and foreign taxes,” Microsoft’s VP for worldwide tax William Sample noted in prepared remarks (PDF). At the same time, he noted tax considerations do figure into Microsoft’s decisions on setting up subsidiaries. “The U.S. international tax rules are outdated and are not competitive with the tax systems of our major trading partners.”

Lester Ezrati, HP’s senior VP of tax, defended the company’s staggered loan program as funds that qualified for “indefinitely reinvested” status under U.S. tax law, and HP’s U.S. parent corporation did have enough cash flow so that overseas money wasn’t actually necessary. Moreover, Ezrati noted none of its actions were secret to the IRS: The company outlined the loan program in detail to its auditors, Ernst & Young, and has continually worked with the IRS to establish an advanced pricing agreement that would cover how overseas funds are repatriated. He also noted the IRS didn’t raise any issues with the loans during a recent audit.

Ultimately, the only thing all parties agreed on was that the U.S. tax code needs an overhaul.

“We comply with U.S. and foreign tax laws,” Sample said during the hearing. “That is not to say that the rules cannot be improved.”


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Sega resurrects another classic series with new Ecco the Dolphin

ecco the dolphin 2012

Series creator Ed Annunziata and Sega are meeting to make a new Ecco the Dolphin game. Jump some waves and do some flips to celebrate.

Faced with dwindling global sales for console games and an audience that is increasingly enamored with newer brands and icons on mobile and social platforms, Sega has been getting nostalgic as of late. The house of Sonic has placed special emphasis on cutting development of new, big budget games preferring to instead leverage its catalog. With more and more HD re-releases of its old games on the way, it’s a wonder if Sega will ever do anything new with its old properties besides Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Phantasy Star Online 2.

It may do just that. Riding high on the growing wave of ‘90s nostalgia, Sega is reportedly meeting with Ed Annunziata, the creator of Ecco the Dolphin, to discuss a new game in the series.

Annunziata Tweeted late last week that consultant Scott Foe, who worked with Sega on a number of Dreamcast projects including Outtrigger and Bomberman Online, had helped him set up the meeting with Sega to discuss a potential new Ecco the Dolphin game. He later said that the original game’s composer Spencer Nilsen is involved with the new project.

During Sega’s peak popularity in the early ‘90s with the Sega Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin was amongst the company’s most recognizable mascots. The games were unique, both then and now. You played as the titular dolphin, swimming through maze like levels on a quest to keep the ocean clean and safe from both pollutants and less savory aquatic creatures. After an attempt to bring Ecco back during the Dreamcast era with the technologically impressive Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, the property was ignored.

Annunziata has also been absent from the gaming landscape for a long time. While he never produced another game for Sega that was quite as big a hit as Ecco, he made some of the most impressive Sega Genesis titles out there, including Jurassic Park and X-Men, as well as some eccentric, fun oddities like the 32X’s Kolibri and the Saturn’s Mr. Bones. The closest he came to replicating Ecco-level success was the 1995 shooter-platformer Vectorman.

Sega hasn’t had much success making new entries in classic series. Nights: Journey Into Dreams for Wii, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, and Rocket Knight Adventures are just a few of the duds Sega’s made over the past five years looking to trade on past glory. With Annunziata at the helm though, maybe this new Ecco can recapture some of that old Sega magic.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Apple iPhone 5 case roundup

iphone 5 case roundup header apple

Keep your new Apple iPhone 5 pristine with one of the cases from our case roundup.

If you want to keep that shiny new iPhone 5 looking pristine and sexy, then you need to grab yourself some decent protection. Whether you want something to match Apple’s stylish flagship design, something to safeguard it from accidents, or something to show off your personality, we’ve got you covered in this iPhone 5 case roundup.

When it comes to accessories, the iPhone line has always inspired some imaginative entries, and the latest release is no exception. Even before the queues start to form at Apple stores across the country, the market is already flooded with iPhone 5 cases.

We’ve got unbreakable iPhone cases, gorgeous iPhone cases, retro iPhone cases – in short, we have an iPhone 5 case to suit everyone.

If you haven’t upgraded yet then check out our best iPhone 4 and 4S cases.

otterbox iphone 5 case appleOtterBox iPhone 5 Defender Series Case ($49.95)

This could be the perfect iPhone 5 case for anyone with butterfingers. The OtterBox Defender offers an inner polycarbonate shell, a screen protector, and an impact-absorbing rubber outer layer. There are also rubber plugs to protect the ports and a holster for wearing the phone on your belt. It comes in a range of two-tone color designs. It may be a bit bulky, but it will keep your iPhone looking as good as the day it was born.

cygnett iphone 5 case appleCygnett Vector 3D Tough Case for iPhone 5 ($18.99)

A stylish, textured case available in purple or black – the reasonably priced Vector by Cygnett is a good option. It’s impact resistant, it’s easy to grip, and it has raised edges and a screen protector to keep that touchscreen in perfect condition. The 3D textured material is tough and the case offers full access to functions and ports.

belkin iphone 5 case appleBelkin View Case for iPhone 5 ($19.99)

When you have a gorgeous piece of design like the iPhone 5 you could be forgiven for not wanting to cover it up with a case. The View Case from Belkin offers basic protection without compromising that stylish look. It features a fully transparent polycarbonate back with a polyurethane band around the outside. You can choose from a variety of color highlights for the impact-resistant edging.

kazoo iphone 5 case appleGriffin KaZoo Case for iPhone 5 ($24.99)

Whether you’ve splashed out cash on an iPhone 5 for your child, or you just love cartoon animals, the KaZoo case from Griffin might just tempt you. These basic, soft silicone cases offer full access to controls, ports and the display. Why not wrap your iPhone in a colorful animal character? You have a choice of a monkey or an elephant.

seidio iphone 5 case appleSeidio Surface with Metal Kickstand ($34.95)

This slim case comes with a handy magnetic kickstand for propping up your phone, which snaps easily away when you aren’t using it. The case is very slim and the durable plastic has a soft-touch coating for comfortable handling. It comes in a variety of colors. 

grovemade iphone case for iphone 5 appleGrove bamboo case for iPhone 5 ($79)

The most expensive case in our lineup justifies its high price tag with a intricate, hand-finished design made in the U.S. Unlike cheap plastic cases that look worse as they collect scratches and scuffs, the all-natural bamboo shell takes on an attractive patina in time, and is surprisingly tough. You can also get your case laser-engraved with a number of patterns right from the factory, or even a custom design.

barely there case for iphone 5 applesCase-Mate Barely There Case for iPhone 5 ($30)

This slim case combines a hard outer shell with a silicone liner, which cushions your device. It will give you basic protection without adding much bulk. It’s a classic, minimalist design with a comfortable soft-touch finish. It comes in a wide range of matte colors with a subtle inlaid logo.

iluvdiary case for iphone 5 appleiLuv Diary Premium Leather Book Case for iPhone 5 ($34.99)

Here’s a clever combination case that offers premium leather on the outside and a tough polycarbonate shell on the inside. It’s a book-style case and when you open it up you’ll also find a sleeve with a couple of slots for credit cards. The advantage here is full 360 degree protection when the case is closed and easy access when you open it.

sena flip iphone 5 case appleSena Hampton Flip iPhone 5 Case ($54.95)

If you want premium leather, but prefer a vertical, flip-open design, the high quality Sena Hampton Flip case could be the one for you. Crafted from luxurious full-grain leather, this is a classy option that offers good all-round protection. It comes in black or brown and it also features a couple of credit-card slots.

incipio iphone 5 case appleIncipio Kicksnap iPhone 5 Case ($34.99)

Here’s another option for anyone looking to do some hands-free movie viewing on their iPhone 5. The Kicksnap case from Incipio has a built-in kickstand that flips out easily. It’s crafted from a rigid plextonium frame with an NGP soft-shell core. Like many iPhone 5 cases on the market, it is tough on the outside and soft on the inside for shock absorption.

smt opera case for iphone 5 appleSTM Opera Protective Case for iPhone 5 ($29.99)

This TPU case hugs your iPhone 5 tightly and it will guard against damage and give you extra grip. It is extremely thin and light with all the cutouts you need and a nice textured backing. It comes in a range of colors including blue, gray, pink, white, and black.

Found an iPhone 5 case that you’ve fallen in love with? Post a comment and tell us why you’d recommend it.


Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

It's free
archive