Report: HTC and Facebook co-developing new smartphone

Strike up the band, it’s time to play an old favorite of ours around here. This tune goes by the name of “The Facebook Phone,” and though we have heard several variations on the theme over the past year or two we once again are being teased with a custom smartphone based around the social network. DigiTimes is reporting that an HTC scorned by Google’s decision to use Samsung for its Nexus line is now working closely with Zuckerberg and crew to develop a customized “platform exclusive to Facebook to enable and integrate all functions available on the social networking site.”.

Android Phone, Report: HTC and Facebook co-developing new smartphone

Sci-fi publisher announces Tor and Forge will go DRM-free with all e-book titles

Science fiction is often said to foresee the future, and today, that news couldn't ring more true. Tom Doherty Associates, a subsidiary of Macmillan and publisher of popular sci-fi and fantasy brands such as Tor and Forge, today announced that as of early July, all of its current e-books will be distributed without DRM restrictions. The company's president, Tom Doherty, revealed the shift as a long-time request of both its readers and authors - which unsurprisingly, are a rather tech-savvy bunch.

Engadget

See also:
technoleap, Sci-fi publisher announces Tor and Forge will go DRM-free with all e-book titles

Exo-Hand gives your arms a boost

Ever wondered just how much strength does Tony Stark have in his Iron Man suit. Of course, we will have to discount variants like the Hulkbuster suit which definitely contains technology of mythical proportions, but one thing is for sure – playboy, billionaire, philanthropist Tony's strength is certainly augmented. We might not have an Iron Man in our midst just yet, but that does not mean small steps cannot be taken in the right direction. Festo, a company that hails from Germany, has come up with a power amplifier for tired hands that they aptly call the Exo-Hand.

Ubergizmo, Exo-Hand gives your arms a boost

Chinese official says Proview owns iPad trademark in China, court battle continues

Who knew some funky capitalization could cause so much trouble. Proview - the purveyor of that 90s-era all-in-one called the iPAD - hasn't let up in its fight to wrestle the rights to the iPad name from iPad maker Apple. The legal antics started in China, where Proview temporarily managed to get Apple's tablet booted off store shelves before being rebuffed by a Shanghai court - after which the company promptly brought the case stateside. It's been all quiet on the iPad trademark front for a solid month now, buta report from All Things D indicates that the squabble is still going strong.

Engadget, Chinese official says Proview owns iPad trademark in China, court battle continues

Tim Cook: Apple isn't worried about potential carrier subsidy squeeze

. Apple on Tuesday reported a huge quarter, crushing analysts' estimates for the second fiscal quarter of 2012. During the earnings call that followed the company's release, Apple executives were asked if they feared a potential squeeze on carrier subsidies, talk of which recently sent Apple's stock tumbling.

Boy Genius Report, Tim Cook: Apple isn't worried about potential carrier subsidy squeeze

Apple and Proview likely to settle dispute over iPad trademark

. Last week, Apple and Proview initiated talks in an attempt to resolve an ongoing legal dispute over the iPad trademark, and the Chinese company is confident that it will receive a settlement offer from Apple, the Associated Press reports. “It is likely that we will settle out of court. The Guangdong High Court is helping to arrange it and the court also expects to do so,” said Ma Dongxiao, a lawyer for Proview. “Actually Proview always expected to settle out of court from the beginning.

Boy Genius Report, Apple and Proview likely to settle dispute over iPad trademark

Google Drive preview: an in-depth look at features and functionality

It's been a long time in the making, but the once-mythical cloud storage service known to all as Google Drive is real, and it made its official debut today - and even though Goog's taken plenty of time to make it available to the masses, our impatience certainly got the worst of us, and we immediately started digging through the new service. So what does this online storage option entail. Will it make you delete your Dropbox and SkyDrive accounts and jump for joy. Or has Google simply waited too long to start playing the game. Read on to find out our first impressions. Features Cloud storage.










Engadget, Google Drive preview: an in-depth look at features and functionality