The Xbox One is the official name of Microsoft’s next-generation games console. While it may do more than just play games, gamers are still curious about certain rumors that have been floating around about the new console. Will it play used games? Will it require an always online Internet connection? Microsoft finally answered those questions today… kind of.

The Xbox One will kind of block used games from being played on the console. Now, what does that mean? It means that every game must be installed on the system. The game disc you buy in the store is merely a means of getting that information installed on the hard drive. Of course, what’s to stop from multiple friends all sharing the same disc, and getting the same game?

Wired explains:

“…each disc would have to be tied to a unique Xbox Live account, else you could take a single disc and pass it between everyone you know and copy the game over and over. Since this is clearly not going to happen, each disc must then only install for a single owner.

Microsoft did say that if a disc was used with a second account, that owner would be given the option to pay a fee and install the game from the disc, which would then mean that the new account would also own the game and could play it without the disc.”

Of course, it seems that Microsoft itself is confused as to the extent of its own used game policy. On the official Xbox site, a QA page (which has since been removed) says the following about used games on the Xbox One (courtesy of NeoGAF):

We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later.

Adding more layers to the confusion, John Hicks, Editor of Official Xbox 360 Magazine, tweeted out a few details regarding the policy:

On second hand games: you buy disc, it installs, you play from HD. Sell disc, it installs to new console and deactivates your install.

— Jon Hicks (@MrJonty) May 21, 2013

Again, at no point when I was talking to MS did they say there was a fee for used games. They said used games were important and supported.

— Jon Hicks (@MrJonty) May 21, 2013

So, what does this all mean? What we can pull from this mess of misinformation and confusing statements is that Microsoft will indeed have a policy regarding the use of used games on its console. It’s not going to be as simple as buying a used game and popping it in.

Now, the statements from the Microsoft itself and Hicks suggest that the next Xbox won’t be entirely anti-used games. Instead, the next Xbox may only charge a fee if you have no intention of sellin the game.

For example, you may be charged a small fee if you lend the disc to a friend and they install it on their system. You still get to play the game, but they get to as well after paying said fee. Now, that fee may not be present when buying used games because the person who sold the game previously forfeited the original license and had the game uninstalled from their system.

It should be noted that the above example is pure speculation based upon what we’re seeing from a variety of sources. We won’t know anything for sure until Microsoft clarifies the situation itself. The official QA said that we would hear more about Microsoft’s used games policy soon, but it may want to address it sooner rather than later to dispel all the confusion surrounding the Xbox One and its used game policy.

UPDATE: And the plot thickens. An official Xbox Support twitter account is now saying that there are no fees associated with used games on the Xbox One.

@modronfixer No fee, correct – and they just got that information wrong. As soon as we saw, we contacted them to correct it. ^EM

— Xbox Support 3 (@XboxSupport3) May 21, 2013

Features:

• Ships with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
• 2560 x 1600 13.3-inch at 227 PPI
• 128GB SSD
• 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 Processor
• MSRP: $1,499

Pros:

• Portability combined with high-quality display
• Super speedy sleep and resume
• Good battery life

Cons:

• Just two USB ports
• Non-upgradeable RAM

If I could only have one MacBook (which is usually the case for your average laptop-buyer), this is the one I’d pick without hesitation. Fewer issues than its 15-inch cousin, which pioneered the Retina line, combined with a much lighter design with a smaller desktop footprint for a display that can still give you crazy amounts of screen real estate all add up to a sure-fire winner.

The Most Flexible Mac

I’ve owned a lot of Macs. To find myself so ready to claim any single one a clear “winner” seems crazy, but the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is it. The smaller Retina notebook has proven itself through trial by fire and continues to be the Mac I pick for nearly every situation.

For example it’s my constant companion at every travel event I ever go to. The 15-inch is just a hair too heavy and unwieldy, but the 13-inch Retina hits the sweet spot. It slides easily into any bag, takes up an amount of desk space that’s better for your peripherals and for those seated around you, and yet can stil provide you with one of the best screens in the business.

True Retina-quality graphics isn’t the reason to own this notebook. Apple’s “Best for Retina display” radial button in the Displays settings menu is something you can go ahead and forget about right now; instead, select “scaled” and crank that sucker up to the “More Space” maximum. But if that’s not enough, go grab DisplayMode from the Mac App Store and enjoy up to 2560 x 1280 resolution, which is beyond that supported by Apple’s official settings. My eyes suffer after 2048 x 1280, so that’s where I keep it, but even there you get so much screen real estate it feels positively sinful. If you’re used to a Cinema display or two at home, there’s nothing else that compares.

The hardware is up to Apple expectations, and while I’ve experienced case creak on the 15-inch version (a widely reported issue), I’ve never had a problem with the 13 inch’s fit and finish. It feels as sturdy as a laptop can (with the possible exception of Google’s leaden Chromebook Pixel) and it withstands rough treatment with gusto, as a busy blogger can attest.

In terms of Geekbench, the base Core i5 13-inch, which is the version I’m reviewing here, consistently scores between 6,000 and 7,000. That’s not a chart-topping number, but the machine hardly stutters, even under fairly demanding conditions. I thought I’d miss the dedicated graphics card or upgraded RAM from my 15-inch model, but I don’t, at least not for anything short of using Final Cut Pro X.

Another nice win for the 13-inch is battery life. The Pro can stretch itself to around seven and a half hours if I need it to, but even with my incredibly sloppy, multi-app setup with tons of things going on in the background and about a thousand Chrome tabs open, it seems to average around five.

Who is it for?

Designers

Yes. The one complaint that designers might have with the Retina MacBook Pro is that its screen is still glossy and that the color rendering and contrast are a little exaggerated to make photos pop. But if you need a device for running Photoshop or Illustrator, the Retina scratches that itch, even with the minimum specs at the $1,499 level.

Plus, you can always power up to three external displays via Thunderbolt and HDMI out, but I’d only recommend doing this if you’re very cold and also enjoy the sound of a fan operating at maximum power. Still, in a pinch the Retina Pro becomes a solid companion for a 27-inch Cinema Display, giving designers even more flexibility.

Founders

Yes. John pointed out that entrepreneurs love MacBook Airs in his review of the Dell XPS Developer’s Edition, but that’s actually outmoded. If you’re a modern entrepreneur, and keeping a close watch on your company’s design and suitability for the future of HiDPI devices and displays, you’ll want the 13-inch Retina. It’s still light enough to carry with you everywhere, plus you can pile on the open applications thanks to the screen real estate benefits I mentioned above.

The 13-inch Retina is pretty much exactly like the successful entrepreneur: flexible where it needs to be, rigid when it doesn’t; equally comfortable doing their thing in the boardroom or working out of the small local coffee shop; equipped with enough endurance to keep producing through the day.

Programmers

Yes. Programmers love Macs, and this is a Mac that’s easy to fall in love with. You want to run Xcode next to the iOS Simulator and still have room to keep a team chat window open? You can do that with the 13-inch Retina Pro, so long as you’re okay with squinting. You can build websites and watch them output and tweak on the fly without squishing anything inordinately. If there’s a development flaw on the Pro, it’s not an apparent one.

Bottom Line

MG said this laptop was near perfect back when he reviewed it at launch, and it’s pretty hard to disagree. There are support threads filled with growing pains and other issues experienced by the inaugural 15-inch Retina Pro, but Apple seems to have worked out any kinks with this one, and the added portability is a big benefit besides. It’s still a pricey beast, but the use value to cost ratio is through the roof regardless.

There certainly is no shortage of bowling games in the Google Play Store. We recently reviewed Concrete Software’s PBA Bowling Challenge, which is a cool game, but if you are looking for something a little more mellow, you might want to check out Bowling Paradise from InnoLab. You won’t find any tournaments or power-ups in this one, it’s just pure bowling in a zen-like atmosphere.

Bowling Paradise gives you eight locations to choose from: Beach (peaceful and relaxing), Garden (fresh and relaxing), Slope (exciting – ball rolling down a wavy path), Camping (quiet camping night), Dome (classic, luxury), Space (high impact – ball can fly in the air), Mushroom (imaginary land), Lights (special light effects). As you can see, each area gives you not only a completely different look, but can also impact gameplay.

You have 10 different balls and/or 10 different sets of pins to choose from. The game will automatically rotate the balls with each throw based on which ones you chose. Each ball is basically the same as far as gameplay, it’s just a matter of the look. The same goes for pins. Each frame will have a different set of pins based on the ones you chose. As far as pure gameplay, it’s bowling so it’s quite simple. Just move the ball horizontally along the line and flick your finger to get it going. You can add hook to the ball (while rolling) by using a swiping gesture, tilting your device, or both. You can select which you prefer in the settings. You can also turn the music and sound FX on or off as well as choose whether you want the camera to follow your roll or not.

Gameplay does feel zen-like because of the very relaxing music that plays in the background. Also, the pins fall very slowly, unlike the real thing. In fact, there are often times where it will look like you are going to be stuck with a split, but eventually more pins fall. At the end of each game, you will get a stat page that tells you how many spares, strikes, and open frames you had along with your previous high score for that location and some fireworks. The higher your score the better the fireworks are.

All in all, Bowling Paradise is pretty simple and perfect for the casual bowling fan. My only complaint is that it only plays in portrait mode. I played it on a Nexus 7 and I think it’s more comfortable to play in landscape. You can grab the free version today, and the Pro version costs $2.10. The pro version will give you the ability to play against the computer (3 levels) or play against up to 3 of your friends (on the same device). Check out their trailer video below and hit one of the download links to get started. Let me know what you think.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Play Store Download Link – Free

Play Store Download Link – Paid

Come comment on this article: Featured Android Game Review: Bowling Paradise [Sports]

If you’re a popular social sharing service not named Google+, you might be integrated into iOS very soon. According to a report in 9to5Mac, Apple is working on integrating Yahoo’s revamped photo service Flickr and the social video network Vimeo into iOS 7. The two services would join the two big social networks, Twitter and Facebook, in enjoying operating system-level integration into the iPhone and iPad.

That would mean that users could sign in with their Flickr and Vimeo accounts within the Settings app on their iOS device, just as they can now with Twitter and Facebook. Then when the user hits the share button in an app, the menu will include the services that they’ve registered.

iOS is expected to be detailed by Apple at its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco in June. 9to5Mac noted that the decision to include two additional social services could be reversed before any announcement is made. But the report does make a lot of sense.

Such a move could be read as a bit more anti-Google maneuvering from Apple. After all, the company last year shed all iOS-Google tie-ins in iOS 6 with the exception of keeping Google search as the default option in mobile Safari. YouTube is available as a third-party app from the App Store, but it’s no longer the default video service in iOS. Apple could also take up the move to support Vimeo in response to Google allowing iOS developers to enable a setting in their own apps that automatically opens YouTube videos in the YouTube app, instead of mobile Safari.

But it’s also just as likely that Apple is simply increasing feature parity between iOS and Mac OS X. OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion has built-in Flickr and Vimeo integration, as well as Twitter and Facebook. Facebook integration also began on OS X and moved to iOS, so Yahoo’s photo service and Vimeo’s social video service could be following that same path.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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Jose Canseco has been out of the game for a while, but he’s anxious to get back in (as anyone who’s been following his Twitter feed will know). As of Thursday, he’ll get his wish.

The former Bash Brother will begin his stint with the Fort Worth Cats as a player and a coach. The first game, coincidentally, will be against Edinburg, which is managed by his brother Ozzie.

“I am excited to come to Fort Worth and mentor the young ballplayers,” Canseco said in a statement. “I love Dallas/Fort Worth and I can’t wait to go up against Ozzie.”

Canseco fell out of the spotlight a bit after a much-publicized bout with steroids and has been using his time out of the Major Leagues to pursue other interests–like writing for Vice Magazine–and to gain a following on Twitter, where he posts gems about his life and future goals.

It’s unclear if Canseco will continue on his new path in Fort Worth after this season, but fans are sure to fill the seats once word gets out that the former Oakland A’s hitter will be on the field again.

Caterpillar – yes the same Caterpillar that manufactures construction equipment – has created a tough and rugged phone for users who work and play in extreme conditions. We told you about the Cat B15 in February, and now the phone designed to be the ”most progressive, durable and rugged device available on the market” is ready to launch in North America.

The dust-proof and scratch resistant phone can survive drops up to 5.9 feet, and can be submerged in water as deep as 3.2 feet for up to 30 minutes without a problem. The 4-inch touchscreen display on the Cat B15 can even be used with wet fingers and can operate in temperatures from -4° to 131° F. Of course, it’s a smartphone after all, and comes with Jelly Bean 4.1, a dual-core 1GHz processor, and 4GB of internal memory.  Pretty impressive.

The phone is available online now at $349. You can read all of the specifications  after the break.

Specification:

• Operating System: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Processor: MediaTek MT6577 Dual 1GHz Cortex™-A9
• Size: 4.9 x 2.5 x 5.9 inches
• Weight: 5.99 oz
• Screen details: 4” WVGA 480×800 LCD, Capacitive Multi-touch, Gorilla glass, wet finger tracking
• Memory: 4GB storage + 1 GB
• Camera: 5.0 MP Rear, VGA Front
• Video: 720P recording 30 FPS Codecs H.263, H.264/AVC, mpeg4/SP, VP8
• Talk time: Up to 9 hours
• Standby: Up to 9.5 days
• Connections: microUSB, microSD 32GB, 3.5mm audio
• GPS: A-GPS mode
• Temperature Operational range: -4º F to 131º F
• Drop testing: 5.9 feet onto concrete
• IP rating: IP67 waterproof to 3.2 feet for 30 min; impervious to dust

Source: Business Wire

Come comment on this article: Caterpillar launches incredibly durable Cat B15 Android phone in North America

Sprint has recently announced three mobile broadband devices for those now in the vicinity of Sprint’s ongoing LTE rollout. The three devices include Novatel’s MiFi 500 LTE, the Netgear Zing Mobile Hotspot, and 341U USB dongle— they are expected to be available by the summer. Sprint also hinted at tri-band LTE phones from Samsung and LG to follow. Hit the break for the full press release.

Tri-Band 4G LTE Mobile Broadband Devices to Bring Sprint Customers Stronger In-Building Coverage and Better Network Performance

MiFi® 500 LTE by Novatel Wireless™, NETGEAR® 341U USB Modem and NETGEAR® Zing Mobile Hotspot ™ offer connectivity and security without the hassle of searching for a public Wi-Fi signal

LAS VEGAS (BUSINESS WIRE), May 21, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced the planned summer launch of a trio of mobile broadband devices that will take advantage of three bands of 4G LTE wireless spectrum available to Sprint’s network. These devices are expected to bring customers improved network performance and stronger in-building coverage as LTE is deployed on each of these bands. With the ability to leverage Sprint’s 4G LTE network at 1.9GHz and 800MHz as well as Clearwire’s LTE network at 2.5GHz, these new devices offer Sprint customers ideal solutions to easily stay connected on the go.

The first tri-band Sprint 4G LTE-capable mobile broadband devices will be the sleek MiFi® 500 LTE by Novatel Wireless™, international-capable NETGEAR® Zing Mobile Hotspot™ and the plug-in NETGEAR® 341U USB Modem. Pricing and exact availability dates for the three devices will be provided at a later date.

The three bands of spectrum accessible on these devices will provide Sprint customers a high-quality, consistently fast 4G LTE network experience, whether they are sitting at their desks, catching up with friends at a coffee shop, or riding in a cab in a crowded city:

The 800MHz spectrum that is being added to Sprint’s LTE network beginning later this year excels at in-building coverage. This spectrum is able to be repurposed for LTE as Sprint ceases operations of the Nextel National Network on June 30, 2013.
Using 1.9GHz spectrum as its primary band for 4G nationwide coverage, Sprint is making substantial progress with deployment of its new 4G LTE network. Sprint now offers service in 88 markets nationwide, including Los Angeles, Charlotte, Boston and Dallas. Average performance is in the range of six to eight MB per second for downlink and two to three MB per second or higher for uplink. Many Sprint customers are discovering Sprint 4G LTE in cities that haven’t yet officially been announced, including Washington, D.C., New York and San Francisco. Sprint has announced more than 170 additional markets where LTE will be available in the coming months.
Clearwire’s 2.5GHz spectrum for its LTE network, which excels at broad-based, high speed coverage, is expected to provide Sprint customers with increased speeds and capacity in densely populated cities.
The launch of devices that can operate on three spectrum bands is another milestone in Sprint’s rollout of Network Vision. Network Vision represents a nationwide update of the Sprint network using the newest, most-advanced equipment in the industry. Sprint plans to consolidate multiple network technologies into one seamless network with the goal of enhancing network coverage, improving call quality and increasing data speeds for customers. It will also offer financial benefits for Sprint shareholders.

“We are very pleased to reach another Network Vision milestone today as we continue to be on schedule to deliver a world-class LTE network experience for our customers,” said Steve Elfman, president of Network Operations and Wholesale. “These three devices from our partners at Novatel and NETGEAR provide a clear look at the benefits of consolidating networks and making the best use of our spectrum assets. Best of all, these new mobile broadband devices bring our customers innovative features, including touchscreens and international capability.”

Updated MiFi Packs In Features

Novatel Wireless, inventor of the mobile hotspot category, has updated its award-winning MiFi hotspot with the MiFi 500 LTE, adding connectivity to Sprint’s LTE network as well as 3G CDMA. Offering sleek and compact styling, MiFi 500 LTE makes it easy for families, students or work teams of up to 10 to wirelessly stay connected with the same 3G or 4G LTE connection.

This convenient mobile broadband device requires no software to install and offers advanced on-device security features to keep data and wireless service protected. An easy-to-use, on-device menu and intuitive navigation keys puts important information, such as battery status, signal strength and connected devices, at the user’s fingertips. The web interface provides additional information including data usage and power management options.

MiFi 500 LTE offers a powerful 1,800mAh battery with an average of up to 10 hours of use on a single charge. It also features GPS functionality over Wi-Fi, multiple security protocols and other advanced features required by many corporate customers.

International Sprint LTE Hotspot

Sierra Wireless’ AirCard® mobile broadband devices, including mobile hotspots, USB modems, associated accessories and software, are now part of the NETGEAR® family. Thinner than a hockey puck, NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot is Sprint’s first CDMA/LTE mobile hotspot to boast international roaming capabilities via GSM. It is also Sprint’s first LCD touchscreen hotspot and first hotspot with both the device and packaging meeting Sprint’s stringent environmental specifications.

NETGEAR Zing makes it easy to get work started quickly with access to the Sprint 3G or 4G LTE networks within seconds and real-time access to company resources, networks and data. The entire family can stay entertained on the go with high speed data for up to 10 users on Wi-Fi capable devices, such as laptops, eReaders, gaming devices, music players and tablets.

With a 2,500mAh battery, NETGEAR Zing allows users to remain connected for up to 10 hours of typical use. Users of the device can also manage connections and change network or device settings directly from the touchscreen. Additional settings are accessible through the web user interface.

First Tri-Band LTE USB Plug-In Modem

For those who prefer a plug-in option, NETGEAR 341U USB Modem will be Sprint’s first tri-band LTE-capable USB modem. This small yet powerful device features a built-in LCD screen display to monitor connection status, signal strength and data usage with a quick glance.

With no software to install or start-up delay, NETGEAR 341U USB Modem makes it easy to get work done on the go. Download large presentations, stream video, and keep up with email without having to hunt for a public Wi-Fi network anywhere within Sprint’s expanding 4G LTE or nationwide 3G footprints. Best of all, it provides flexibility for mobile workers who want to configure security and network access to keep their data safe.

Smartphones from Samsung and LG with tri-band capability are expected to be available to Sprint customers before the end of the year.

For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/network. For detailed 4G LTE maps, visit www.sprint.com/coverage. Customers are encouraged to check back often because the maps will be updated whenever coverage is enhanced.

 

Come comment on this article: Three tri-band LTE devices announced by Sprint for this summer

Country Music star Chely Wright is now a mother. According to a report in People magazine, the singer gave birth to identical twin sons this past Saturday.

The twins have reportedly been named George Samuel and Everett Joseph after their great-grandfathers. Wright released a short statement to People, saying that she and her wife are grateful for their medical care and “the love and support of family and friends.”

Wright’s pregnancy had been announced back in January, when it was revealed the singer was expecting twins. At the time, the due date for the twins’ birth was reported to be sometime in the summer. Though much speculation has surrounded the issue, Wright and her wife have declined to give details on how Wright conceived.

Wright found success in the 90s with hits songs such as “Shut Up and Drive” and “Single White Female.” She came out as a lesbian in 2010, making her the first major country music star to do so. She then married Lauren Blitzer (now Lauren Blitzer-Wright) the following year in a ceremony in Connecticut. Blitzer-Wright is a music executive and an LGBT activist.

Bernard Waber, beloved children’s author and illustrator, has died at the age of 91 after a long illness.

Waber is probably best known for his books The House on East 88th Street and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (including his many subsequent Lyle books).

Waber describes how he got into drawing in a biographical essay:

My own early efforts at drawing were mostly confined to the laborious copying of photographs of film stars and other celebrities of the day. I received respectable grades in art classes during my school years, but doubt I thought it seriously indicated a career direction. Perhaps art seemed too frivolous for one raised during the Depression. Besides, I grew up a rather earnest young man and chose instead to major in finance at the University of Pennsylvania. After just one year of schooling, World War II interrupted those rather high-minded plans. Perhaps it was moving about, meeting people of various backgrounds and experience – I don’t recall a precise moment – but somehow during those army days my interest shifted to drawing and painting.

“Waber’s warmth, energy, artfulness, elegance, and abiding respect for children were epitomized in his books,” said publisher Betsy Groban, SVP of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

“In one way or another, I seem to find myself thinking of children’s books most of the time. I even enjoy the period when I am between books, for it is then that I am (I hope) susceptible to all manner of adventurous thought,” said Waber.

[Image via Amazon]

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Something strange happened last week. My ultra-fast Nexus 7 started to freeze and run slow. The problem persisted for about a week and I feared that the tablet had become a paperweight. I turned to Google Search to research the issue and as it turns out, I was not alone. Other Nexus 7 users (and other Android device users) were reporting the same issue — if the device uses most of or all of the available storage, then the operating system is slow. When I say “slow”, I mean painfully slow. Users were reporting that they needed to keep at least 3GB free to keep the tablet running properly.

As a test, I wiped all data from my device and rebooted. Amazingly, the device ran as well as the day I bought it. Unfortunately, the solution raised a much bigger problem — I could not use all of the storage space that I had paid for. Was this a case of false advertising? Did Google lie to me about the available storage? I decided to contact Google for confirmation.

I called the tech support line and was connected to a CSR. I explained the situation to her. She confirmed that it was a known issue. I appreciated her honesty but was disappointed that Google was aware of the issue and was doing nothing. I explained that the device only had 13GB usable out of the box, since Android OS took up about 3GB. By keeping an additional 3GB free, I really only had 10GB available. I explained it seemed to be false advertising and that Google was essentially lying about the storage space.

What happened next was shocking. She told me that, if I knew I was going to be using that much storage, I should have bought the 32GB Nexus 7. Unfortunately, there was no Nexus 7 32GB available at the time, but even if there was, that is a pretty poor answer. You shouldn’t have to buy more storage than you need in anticipation of you using the full amount of storage that you paid for. I asked for a supervisor and was hung up on. I called back and got a supervisor who seemed sympathetic. He also confirmed that Android devices will run slow with most or all of the storage being used.

So, is Google lying to consumers about the advertised storage space? I sure think so. In my opinion, this is false advertising. Consumers are not getting what they paid for. If Google’s Android OS needs a percentage of free space dedicated to it, then it should be inaccessible to the user, and deducted from the advertised storage space. This way, the user knows the true available storage.

Have you encountered this issue? Which device do you own? Do you think it is false advertising?

Tell me in the comments below.

Photo Credit: Ron Leishman/Shutterstock

Jacqueline Walters Danforth, the daughter of television personality Barbara Walters, was arrested for DUI in Florida this past Sunday.

According to the Collier County Sheriff’s records, this was her first offense. It was officially listed as “TRAFFIC OFFENSE-DUI ALCOHOL OR DRUGS 1ST OFF”.

TMZ, who obtained the police report, says it describes the incident as follows: Danforth was in the driver’s seat of a Honda Pilot, which police stopped at 1:24 AM after reports about an SUV stopped on the highway without its lights. She and a male passenger were found to appear “extremely intoxicated,” and when they went to place the male in handcuffs, she grabbed at one of them and “began shouting.”

An arresting officer reportedly said in the report, “I was afraid that the suspect may run into traffic on the highway, so she was taken to the ground due to her unpredictable behavior, then secured in handcuffs.”

Danforth was released several hours after being booked, on $1,000 bond. Her court date is scheduled for June 12th.

Danforth is 44 years old.

Dan Rosenberg sent out a tweet this morning letting his followers know that he had successfully booted a custom recovery onto the Verizon version of the Galaxy S 4 and he is looking forward to the release.

If you’re going to be getting your Galaxy S 4 in the coming days you should keep a lookout for this method. We’ll be sure to update you once it’s public but we don’t know how long it will take for Verizon to issue a patch.

Source: Dan Rosenberg (@drjbliss)

Via: Droid Life

Come comment on this article: Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S 4 bootloader hacked, boots custom recovery

A new AnTuTu benchmark score has surfaced for a Samsung GT-N7200, believed to be the model number for the Galaxy Note III device. The test results, if accurate, show the device running Android 4.3 generated a score of almost 28,000. The device is thought to come with an Exynos 5 Octa chip, which tested considerably faster in a Samsung Galaxy S 4. It may be the device which tested at only 1.6 GHz has not yet been optimized as the Galaxy Note III is not expected to be released until later this year.

source: GSM Insider

Come comment on this article: AnTuTu Benchmark score for Samsung Galaxy Note III surfaces

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Seattle-based HasOffers, a startup that provides white-labeled software for ad networks and egencies to manage their performance advertising programs, has raised $9.4 million in its first round of funding. The round was led by Accel Partners and included participation by Seattle investors Rob Glaser, founder of RealNetworks, and Chris DeVore of Founder’s Co-op.

PRESS RELEASE:

HasOffers, the SAAS leader in mobile advertising attribution raises $9.4M in its first round of funding led by Accel Partners, with participation by Seattle investors Rob Glaser, founder of RealNetworks, and Chris DeVore of Founder’s Co-op. The bootstrapped startup with 79 employees will use the new investment to expand its engineering organization and accelerate development of its analytics and attribution software tools.

Founded in 2009 by twin brothers, Lucas and Lee Brown, HasOffers features two SAAS (software as a service) products:

HasOffers.com provides white-labeled software for networks and agencies to manage their performance advertising programs. Clients include: Bucksense, Tapjoy, SponsorPay, Applift, PocketMedia, OfferMobi, Crobo, Tapit
MobileAppTracking.com (MAT) attributes installs, in-app engagement and purchases back to ad partners (such as social networks, publishers, and mobile ad networks). Clients include: SuperCell, HotelTonight, Spotify, LivingSocial, Electronic Arts, Square, Yahoo! Integrations include: Facebook, Tapjoy, InMobi, Millennial Media, AdColony, Drawbridge
“We really didn’t need to raise money based on our current cash flow and ability to keep growing, but this partnership with Accel changes the game for us, allowing us to increase our engineering efforts and quickly scale our internal processes to meet a massive need in mobile advertising. I really believe Accel is the perfect partner for engaging this mobile ad ecosystem,” said Peter Hamilton, CEO of HasOffers.

As part of the financing, Rich Wong, Partner at Accel Partners will join the board. Rich previously worked with and led investments in leading mobile companies such as Mopub, Admob, Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, 3LM, and Mobilespaces. In addition, Accel Partners has also invested in leading global mobile companies such as Supercell, HotelTonight, Spotify, Kayak, Hailocab, Trulia, and others — many of whom are customers of the service.

“We’re seeing a market shift in online advertising from the CPM or display oriented world of the past to a more programmatic, performance based approach,” said Rich Wong, Partner at Accel Partners. “Mobile advertisers are igniting that progression by demanding real user engagement from their advertising partners, and MobileAppTracking provides them with an objective way to evaluate performance of these campaigns.”

MAT is integrated with over 150 major mobile ad networks and publishers to make it easier for mobile app developers to work with any partner they choose. As a third party, open platform, the company maintains an independent relationship with ad networks, RTBs, and agencies and presents marketers with truly unbiased reporting.

“Our roots in performance advertising lead us to believe that successful advertising campaigns are built on relationships. Whether advertisers are promoting mobile apps or web campaigns, they must find the right partners with the right users, and both parties should be held accountable to campaign performance,” said Lucas Brown, Co-Founder of HasOffers. “That is exactly why unbiased attribution is so important.”

In conjunction with the funding announcement, HasOffers released the new Cohort Analysis Report for MAT. This real-time report allows clients to select a segment of app installs and correlate the in-app purchases and engagement that came from those users over time, revealing the true life-time value and revenue per install generated by various advertising sources.

Mobile improvements to the HasOffers.com product provide new attribution technology and parameters for networks and agencies to engage with mobile advertisers. With major UI improvements and mobile oriented reporting, the product is well positioned to be the dominating measurement and reconciliation tool for performance driven marketers with campaigns across devices.

About HasOffers HasOffers was founded in Seattle in 2009 by twin brothers, Lucas and Lee Brown. The bootstrapped startup now employs 79 employees and is the leader in attribution analytics, providing marketers with the tools they need to measure and manage their advertising relationships.

About Accel Partners Founded in 1983, and managing over $9.6 billion in capital, Accel Partners has a long history of partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs and management teams to build world-class businesses. Accel today invests globally using dedicated teams and market-specific strategies for local geographies, with offices in Palo Alto, California, New York City, London, and Bangalore, as well as in China via its partnership with IDG-Accel.

Accel has helped entrepreneurs build over 300 successful technology companies, many of which have defined their categories, including 99designs, Actuate, AdMob, Agile Software, Alfresco, Angry Birds (Rovio), Atlassian, BBN, Bonobos, Braintree, Brightcove, Cloudera, ComScore, Diapers.com (Quidsi), Dropbox, Etsy, Exclusively.in, Facebook, Flipkart, Fusion-IO, Gameforge, GlamMedia, Groupon, Imperva, Infinera, Interwoven, IronPlanet, JBoss, Kayak, Lookout, Macromedia, metroPCS, MoPub, Myntra, OPOWER, Polycom/PictureTel, Playfish, Portal Software, QlikTech, Rapt, Real Networks, Redback, Responsys, Riverbed, Spotify, Squarespace, SunRun, Trulia, UUNet, Veritas, Walmart.com, Webroot, Wonga, XenSource and Zimbra.

SOURCE HasOffers

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/21/5436129/hasoffers-secures-94m-investment.html#storylink=cpy

The post HasOffers Has $9.4 Million in Series A Funding in a Round Led by Accel appeared first on peHUB.

Did Pope Francis, the latest to ascend to the Catholic throne, perform an exorcist on a wheelchair-bound young man this past Sunday? According to those who know what the ritual entails–beyond the movies, anyway–it appears as if the prayer the Pope performed over the man was done for exorcism purposes. There is video of the incident in question:

“Exorcists who have seen the footage have no doubt – this was a prayer for liberation from Evil, an actual exorcism,” said TV2000, which is owned by the Italian Bishops Conference. The station gathered a panel of clergy specialising in exorcisms who scrutinised the footage and concluded that the pope had performed an exorcism. (link added)

However, the Vatican is taking another point of view concerning Pope Francis and his healing hands:

“The Holy Father did not intend to carry out any exorcism,” said Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman. “Instead, as he often does for sick and suffering people, he simply intended to pray for a person who was presented to him.”

These words, however, did not go unanswered, at least by Father Gabriele Amorth, who, according to reports, is the head of the International Association of Exorcists. Father Amorth says, “It was a real exorcism. If the Vatican has denied this, it shows that they understand nothing.” Of course, it could also be the case that the Vatican is just having fun with semantics and not stoking the fires of exorcism. The Vatican’s explanation was purposely vague, reducing the action to a simple prayer. If, however, you read the Catholic Encyclopedia’s definition of the word “exorcism,” it’s easy to see how vague semantics will let avoid the “exorcism” word without lying about what Pope Francis did (or did not do):

Exorcism is (1) the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice; (2) the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon, in the name of God, or any of the higher power in which he is subject.

With that in mind, it would be very easy to replace the terms “demon” and “evil spirits” with a vague terms like “sick and suffering people” and while there’s obfuscation, no outright lie has been told. So, did Pope Francis actually perform a quick-and-easy exorcism, or was he just praying for the sick young man?

San Francisco-based Brightpearl, a software-as-a-service company that integrates orders, inventory, and customer data for small and medium-size businesses, has raised $8 million in Series B funding. The round was co-led by seed investors Eden Ventures and Notion Capital, which had previously given the six-year-old company $5 million in funding.

Additionally the company announced that Andy Young has joined as chief marketing officer, and Adam Smith has joined as senior vice president of finance and operations.

PRESS RELEASE:

Brightpearl (www.brightpearl.com), cloud software that integrates orders, inventory and customer data across multiple retail channels, today announced it has raised $8 million in a Series B financing, which was co-led by seed investors Eden Ventures and Notion Capital. Additionally the company announced that Andy Young has joined as chief marketing officer, and Adam Smith has joined as senior vice president of finance and operations.
“We believe Commerce Acceleration software for small to medium businesses is a multi-billion dollar global opportunity,” said Charles Grimsdale, Eden Ventures co-founder and a director of Brightpearl. “Brightpearl dominates this market with the ideal combination of technology, team and traction. We’ve seen customers experience growth rates of 40%-50% by adding new sales channels on the Brightpearl platform vs. single-digit growth for the overall retail sector.”

Brightpearl intends to use the Series B proceeds to invest in continued enhancements to its industry-leading Commerce Acceleration Platform, and to expand sales in North America and the UK.

“Brightpearl has an exciting opportunity to be a market leader in the small to medium-sized market, where significant customer pain is addressed by Brightpearl’s product,” said Chris Tottman, co-founder of Notion Capital and a director of Brightpearl. “Brightpearl is now well funded, building a world-class team, driving the product forward and rapidly expanding brand awareness.”

Andy Young, Brightpearl’s chief marketing officer, joined the company in early 2013, after leading marketing for Intuit’s TurboTax brand, and was a key member of the management team that increased TurboTax revenues by 40% in just three years. Prior to Intuit/TurboTax, Andy was vice president of web marketing for Adobe Systems, and managed all aspects of Adobe.com’s strategy, e-commerce, search / affiliate / direct marketing, analytics and creative services. Before Adobe, Andy was chief marketing officer for Shutterfly, a collection of brands that provide photo-based products and services, where he was responsible for driving revenues from startup through its successful initial public offering. Andy holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

“I’ve had the good fortune to help build some of the world’s leading brands,” said Andy Young, Brightpearl’s chief marketing officer. “Brightpearl has all the ingredients to build a multi-billion-dollar brand; and I’m excited to help make our vision a reality.”
Adam Smith, Brightpearl’s senior vice president of finance and operations, has over 25 years of experience in retail, direct channels and e-commerce. Before joining Brightpearl, Adam was eCommerce Development Director for Dixons Stores Group, and was part of the leadership team that took Sit-up Limited from startup to $400 million sales in just five years. Adam also has extensive experience working with multi-channel retail startups in the US, Asia and Europe. Adam holds a B.Sc. from the London School of Economics, is a qualified treasurer and qualified as a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen.
“I was originally drawn to Brightpearl while working for a retailer experiencing all of the headaches of rapid growth in multiple channels,” said Adam Smith, Brightpearl’s senior vice president of finance and operations. “Now, I look forward to contributing to Brightpearl’s meteoric growth and success in attracting retail customers in an enormous and dynamic market.”
About Brightpearl
Brightpearl is cloud software for multichannel retailers. It integrates orders, inventory and customer data and lets retailers do what they do best: focus on growing their businesses. With Brightpearl’s Commerce Acceleration Platform, multi-channel retailers can be confident their core data and processes are under control, saving time, money and creating a reliable foundation for rapid growth. Since 2011, more than $600 million of gross merchandise value has been traded on the Brightpearl Commerce Acceleration Platform. Brightpearl is fully integrated with a variety of sales channels including Magento, eBay, Bigcommerce, Shopify and Amazon, providing retailers with built-in access to multiple avenues for growth. To learn more, visit www.brightpearl.com.

The post Brightpearl Raises $8 Million in Series B Funding appeared first on peHUB.

You stare at the clock. It hasn’t moved in minutes. You’re starting to get a headache, and you remember that your dog chewed up your favorite pair of shoes last night. It’s only Tuesday and you’re ready for the week to be over.

I know your day is a bummer. I know you need a beer. But here’s something to make you feel better

[via AmazingLife247, YouTube]