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Google AirPlay alternative


Rumor has it that Google is about to take on Apple's AirPlay with an open version of its own. So, it appears that DNLA and Miracast functionality is not enough for the Mountain View web search giant. No wonder, as both features are somewhat of a bag of hurt and have received lackluster reviews. 

Google will attempt to get other venders to adopt its open streaming alternative and, perhaps, have the same huge success that AirPlay is having with customers. Apple has had vendors like Denon, Panasonic, JBL, Pioneer, Philips, Yamaha, Logitiech, iHome and Bower & Wilkins, to name a few, that have integrated AirPlay functionality into consumer products.

Click to continue reading Google planning to release AirPlay alternative

Read More | Gigaom

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will.i.am i.am+

Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame apparently doesn't think his iPhone is smart enough, so he's planning to do something about it. He's even received a development license from Apple to produce and sell what he claims will turn the iPhone into a "genius phone" under his new i.am+ brand.

We have our own sensor and a better flash. You dock your phone into our device and it turns your smartphone into a genius-phone. We take over the camera...

"I was just hanging out [after a photo shoot], and one of the models took an iPhone picture, which circulated the planet before the shoot was even over... I took one of the photographer's lenses and held it up on my [phone] and said "imagine this one day". Then I said: "I'm going to do this"."

The camera attachment will clips onto the iPhone, bumping the 8 megapixel camera to 14 megapixels. A website is currently being produced (www.i.am) where users will be able to create profiles and assumedly share pictures and other content created with Will.i.am's app.

I.am+ is scheduled to make it's debut in London later this week, where pricing will also be announced.

Read More | The Telegraph

Notable Highlights:

  • 15.3% of online sales were mobile.
  • iPad made up 9.8% of purchases made.
  • iPhone made up 8.7% of purchases made.
  • Android devices made up 5.5% purchases made.
  • 20.7% increase of online shopping.
  • 11:45 EST was the peaked shopping time.
  • $181.22 was the average order value spent.
  • Department stores grew 16.8% over Black Friday 2011
  • 58% of consumers used smartphones to shop for deals.
  • 41% of consumers used tablets to shop for deals.

Full breakdown after the jump.

Click to continue reading iPad mini leads in Black Friday sales

Read More | IBM

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Google Play Store Sale

For techies, the Black Friday deals are just beginning. Google and other app creators are looking to extend the Black Friday madness into the Thanksgiving weekend, with deals on a wide range of apps and media.

Android apps are especially discounted, with apps like SwiftKey 3, Shadowgun, and Documents To Go among the cheapest, but there's no shortage of deals in categories across the board. You'll also find some nice deals on books, movies and music, from Diana Krall to Kendrick Lamar. Head on over to Google Play to check out all the deals on the apps you wish you had.

Read More | Google Play

Thanksgiving is a time for sharing, and that's exactly what Instagram users did, giving Instagram it's most shared photos ever.

Over at the Instagram blog, the social network reported that over 10 million Thanksgiving specific photos where shared yesterday. The post didn't mention previous statistics, but it did provide a graph detailing the hour by hour photo traffic it received. The majority of photos came in around noon, averaging out to over 200 photos shared every second.

In it's post, Instagram stated, "We’re thrilled to see people use Instagram to share their holidays. Whether celebrating with friends and family or sharing photos with them halfway across the globe, we’re excited to see the intimacy and immediacy of the Instagram experience bring us all closer together over this holiday season."

With Christmas on the horizon, Instagram might see another record-breaking day sooner than later.

Read More | Instagram Blog

SpacehawkI'm stuffed with the turkey of Thanksgiving, but there's always time to unstuff some of the internets. Let's take a look at things to read between naps.

This has gotten a lot of play, but it’s too funny to not link to: Tom Spurgeon at The Comics Reporter has compiled his list of the 10 Least Powerful People In Comics. Number five made me laugh out loud.

And Spurgeon does it again: I think Howard Cruse is one of the great cartoonists to have emerged from the Underground Comix movement. Spurgeon’s interview with him is an excellent read.

The Dandy, the long-running British comic book for kids, is getting cancelled in December and the line-up for the last issue is spectacular - 75 stories in a 100 page issue. I want one. Oh yes I do! Lew Stringer shares some details.

Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Spacehawk, The Dandy, Kirby and Howard Cruse


XBox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Video games are always a hot item, with kids and adults alike wanting to get in on the action. We've put together eith different video game-related gifts that you pick pick up for your loved ones this holiday season, and we did our best to find something for everybody, starting with the Xbox 360 4GB Kinect holiday bundle. If you know someone who doesn't yet have an Xbox 360, then this is the one to get. They get the Kinect accessory included in the box, along with Disneyland Adventures and Kinect Adventures, two fun games. You can pick this one up for $249.99. Read on for the rest of our list!

Click to continue reading 7 hot holiday gaming gifts for 2012


Double Life of Miranda TurnerMy pal the artist and writer George Kambadais has thrown his stylus into the ring and launched his own webcomic.

The Double Life of Miranda Turner follows the adventures of Miranda, whose life is about to get shaken up. Her sister, Linda (who, according to George, "is based on the public domain Harvey Comics character Black Cat"), was a costumed crimefighter who was killed. She exists now as a ghost, seen only by Miranda. And the ghostly Linda wants Miranda to pick up where she left off and save the world... something Miranda doesn’t believe she can do.

There's crime, mystery, adventure, and the ongoing sibling banter between two sisters that continues even though one of them is deceased. It's just getting going, and George says his "plan is to do 5 pages every 15 days."

If the page on this page is as appealing to you as it is to me, you'll like Miranda!

Click to continue reading Webcomic: The Double Life of Miranda Turner

Read More | The Double Life of Miranda Turner

Apple Mac Sale black Friday

If Apple merchandise is on your holiday buying list this year, you're gonna wanna be sure to check out MacMall's 60-hour Black Friday sale, which features up to $350 off of Mac computers. The sale includes all Macs, so you can even get a nice discount on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display for example. They've got other items as well, including discounts on the iPod touch, Apple TV, and major discounts on a bunch of consumer electronics like digital cameras, Blu-ray players, and more. Definitely a sale to check out to get the jump on your shopping--whether it's for someone else, or yourself. Here's the quick list:

MacMall has plenty more where that came from, so head on over and check out their full 60-hour Black Friday 2012 sale for all the deals.

Read More | MacMall 60-hour Black Friday sale

Target Black Friday 2012

We've been busy posting some of the tech-heavy Black Friday 2012 sales that we're finding, and now we've arrived at Target. Doors at Target will open at 9:00pm on Thanksgiving, but you can get a ton of deals online, which is always our preferred method of beating the crowds. We've got the full list of the more noteworthy items the break, and it's definitely worth taking a look. Can't wait a day or two? Target is also running a Beat the Rush sale right now!

Click to continue reading Black Friday 2012: Target


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