Around Eastern time 3:30pm, Anonymous posted via its Twitter account the following tweet: “CIA TANGO DOWN: https://www.cia.gov/ #Anonymous.” The CIA website had become unresponsive likely due to a distribute denial of service (DDoS) type of attack that the hacker group commonly launches against its targets.

Following the recent MegaUpload shutdown, those targets have included websites belonging to the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the US Copyright Office. Anonymous also recently intercepted a call between the FBI and Scotland Yard in which the two agencies discussed investigations into the hacker group’s activities.

[via PCMag]

The Plugless Power system is supplied by Virginia-based Evatran, which plans to be selling the wireless charging kit as an aftermarket option for the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf by the end of this year. Hertz has a diverse fleet of EVs that currently includes these two models.

The wireless charging system is intended for both fleet and home use with a consumer price tag of $2,500. The solution will be deployed initially in low volumes and will include wall-mounted screens that guide drivers to park their EVs properly over the charging unit.

[via AutoBlog]

GSM Arena obtained the document, which reveals that the first samples for the Berry Pink Galaxy Note will arrive on the 8th week of this year, with public availability starting in the 9th week, or about three weeks from now. The device will also be available in its standard Carbon Blue and Ceramic White, with which we’ve recently spent some hands-on time.

The new color makes sense since Samsung has admitted to targeting the female demographic with the Galaxy Note. The device’s size is generally too big for comfort in pants pockets, but fine in purses and handbags. Unfortunately, the device just misses Valentines Day, but will likely make a showing at Mobile World Congress later this month.

[via Android Community]

Both the US DOJ and EC are expected to make their final approvals on Monday, February 13, after which the deal must still seek approval in China, Israel, and Taiwan. It’s possible that the Commission will decide to hold off on approval to open an in-depth investigation, but this is believed to be unlikely.

Google has promised that the massive trove of patents it would acquire from the Motorola deal would be licensed on fair and reasonable terms. It has placed a cap on the fees it would charge at 2.25 percent of the net selling price of each infringing device and has also outlined the conditions under which it would launch patent suits against infringing companies.

[via Reuters]

Citing a source familiar with the new MacBook Pro design, AppleInsider reveals that the new Air-like MacBook Pros will be phased in over the course of this year. The revamped version of the more popular 15-inch model will be introduced first, followed by the 17-inch model later.

For the new notebooks, Apple is expected to eliminate optical disk drives and traditional hard drives, replacing them with solid-state drives. They will rely heavily on Thunderbolt for data transfer as well as digitally distributed software and media, such as downloads from the Mac App Store

The notebooks will feature extended battery life, instant-on capabilities, and Intel’s upcoming Ivy Bridge chips that are set to ship in April. However, it’s not clear whether the new Apple notebooks will be branded as MacBook Airs or MacBook Pros.

[via AppleInsider]

The NY Times says that John Cozen is among the first of AT&T’s unlimited data customers to have reported receiving notice of throttled data speeds, despite having used only 2.1 GB of data. He received an email from AT&T that claimed he was in the top five percent of heavy data users and hence would be throttled until his next billing period.

Cozen argued that it was unfair since his unlimited data plan cost the same as a tiered data plan that offered 3GB of data usage per month. However, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel explained that since last summer, the top five percent of heaviest data users averaged about 2GB or more per month. He also adds that the throttling was decided on a case-by-case basis and that it depends on spectrum availability and the data usage of other customers.

“There’s a very good chance you wouldn’t be slowed,” said Mr. Siegel, adding that in the last month, less than 1 percent of AT&T smartphone customers were affected.

Gottheil dismissed rumors that the iPad 3 will have a quad-core processor due to the power requirements, believing instead that Apple may introduce a new A6 processor that’s a faster dual-core chip. However, he feels certain that the next-gen iPad will sport a high-resolution screen similar to the iPhone’s Retina display.

In more predictions, Gottheil believes that the next-gen iPad will integrate Siri and that the iPad 2 will get a price reduction to around $400 for the 16GB WiFi-only version.

Despite Steve Jobs’ previous objections to a smaller 7-inch form factor, Gottheil says that a smaller iPad has always been part of the plan. He believes that Apple is working on a 7-inch iPad that will be introduced later this year along with a wireless keyboard-case accessory for the tablet.

[via ComputerWorld]

The TiVo HD DVR combines the TiVo service with DirecTV’s HD content in a seamless interface along with TiVo’s unique peanut remote and Swivel Search feature. It allows users to easily set Season Pass Recordings, create WishList Searches, get TiVo show suggestions, record up to 100 hours of HD programming, and record two shows at once.

Users can access more than 7,000 on-demand movies and shows from both HD shows and movies from DirecTV Cinema. The set-top box costs $199, but an additional $5 per month TiVo service fee is required along with a $10 HD Access fee and a $7 DVR fee.

[via MarketWatch]

The PS Vita First Edition bundle will include the 3G-enabled unit itself along with a 4GB PS Vita memory card, a limited edition carrying case, and a physical copy of the Little Deviants game. The bundle will also include a set of AR Play game cards that enable augmented reality play with a host of mini games that can be downloaded for free.

Additionally, the PS Vita First Edition bundle packs an AT&T DataConnect Session Pass good for one free 250MB data session when you purchase one 250MB data session and a free PlayStation Network game that can be redeemed when you activate 3G for your PS Vita.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Users of the ARM-based Windows 8 will still be able to access the conventional desktop file system, Internet Explorer 10, and most other core features that are available to the x86 version of Windows 8. However, Windows 8 on ARM will not be sold separately and will be tightly integrated with the devices they ship on. Also, there will be a limitation on the apps available for it from the Windows Store.

Microsoft also revealed beta copies of its Office 15 applications in a preview video, including revamped Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Office 15 appears more Metro-styled with more white space and less lines along with touch and power optimizations, although it will be run in the conventional desktop environment.

[via Engadget]

The Creative Cloud offers access to the latest version of Creative Suite software, Lightroom 4, Muse, Edge, touch applications, and 20GB of cloud storage. Although $50 a month seems steep, it may still be more desirable to some than purchasing the full license for the Creative Suite, which runs between $1,300 and $2,600.

An advantage to using the Creative Cloud is that you will get the latest software updates right away, which may appeal to high-end users that tend to be early adopters. The 20GB of cloud storage plus syncing and sharing options also offer advantages over the traditional software route.

The shift towards the cloud-based platform will help Adobe curb the piracy issues it faces with its top-tier software. Adobe plans to sell a more secure version of the Creative Cloud to business users for $70 per month.

[via Wired]

The claims come from an Apple engineer who’s reportedly working on the Chinese-language version of Siri. The engineer claims that the Chinese language feature is already undergoing internal testing and that the version of Chinese will be the standard Mandarin or “putonghua.”

Currently, Siri only supports English in American, British, and Australian accents, French, and German. On Apple’s Siri FAQ page, the company promises support for additional languages to come later this year. Those imminent languages include Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Italian, and Spanish.

[via MacRumors]

The key differences between the iPad 2 and iPad 3 back panels include very different mounts for the logic board, which implies a major change in the shape of the logic board in the next-gen iPad. This change gives more space for a larger battery, which falls in line with rumors that the iPad 3 would offer greater battery life.

The back panel also reveals that the camera on the iPad 3 will be mounted at a new location, implying that there may be some tweaks to the camera as well. The mounting for the LCD is also modified suggesting a new display. The iPad 3 is rumored to sport a new high-res Retina Display.

[via AppleInsider]

The LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be given to each Suns player complete with the team’s playbook, video from team practices and games, and scouting reports on opponents. It will also be easier for the team to manage their master itinerary and other travel plans.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab will also be used by the Suns throughout US Airways Center on game-nights such as for showing clients interactive views of game seating, presentations for season ticketholders, and other in-game promotions. The tablets will also be integrated into the Suns’ TV and radio broadcasts as a way to interact with digital fans via social media.

The LS3 prototype is equipped with sensors that allow it to distinguish between trees, rocks, soldiers, and other obstacles in the terrain. An 18-month test will start in July before the LS3 is deployed in an actual field exercise for the US Marines. The LS3 will continue to be refined during this period and ultimately must be able to carry 400lbs for 20 miles without refueling within 24 hours.

Its vision sensors will be tested and refined to ensure that it can properly detect obstacles and autonomously correct its course as needed. Hearing sensors will be added so that the LS3 can follow verbal commands from soldiers. It also serves as an auxiliary power source that soldiers can use to recharge batteries for handheld devices.

[via Armed with Science]

The flaw was first discovered and reported on in January by a blog called Console Cowboys, which revealed that by simply appending a specific code to a camera’s IP address, the password requirement could be bypassed. The blog posted detailed instructions on how to breach Trendnet cameras, resulting in links being posted to various message boards.

Offices, children’s bedrooms, and even someone’s bathroom were viewable among the list of video feeds exposed. A list of 679 web addresses to exposed video feeds were posted to a message board within two days with more listings revealed that were also associated with Google Maps locations.

Trendnet is scrambling to release firmware updates to fix the problem, but estimates that there are 26 camera models that are affected. To see if your camera model could be a spy cam, check out the full list here. Also, be sure to check Trendnet’s download page for firmware updates.

[via PC Mag]

The Pentax Optio WG-2 camera is waterproof up to 12 meters or about 30 feet, dustproof, crush-proof, and hardy in cold weather down to -10C. Inside it packs a 16-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, with ISO up to 6400, and a 28mm-140mm lens with 5X zoom.

The Optio WG-2 can capture Full HD video and offers a slow motion option. It also features a 3-inch 16:9 display with 460k resolution and anti-glare coating. The camera will be available sometime in March, priced at $350. For an extra $50 you can opt for the GPS-enabled version.

[via Engadget]

The bundle will cost $899 and includes a Nokia Play 360 Wireless Speaker, Purity HD Stereo headset, and an in-ear Bluetooth headset. Initially, the Lumia 800 will not be sold separately from the bundle, but will likely be made available on its own soon alongside the recently announced white edition.

The Lumia 800 is Nokia’s first Windows Phone and has been available in Europe for some time already. Make sure to check out our hands-on for more details. A larger version of the device with LTE support, called the Lumia 900, has been announced for AT&T later this year.

[via The Verge]

Apple collaborated with Wolfram Research on Siri, deeply integrating the company’s algorithms that power its other product, Mathematica. Users can type in complex queries, which Wolfram Alpha computes accurate answers for.

Wolfram Alpha continues to expand its datasets and will be launching a pro version tomorrow that will add the ability to work with data and images. Wolfram Research was created by 52-year-old Stephen Wolfram, a computer scientist that published his first physics paper at age 15, earned his Ph.D. from Caltech, and won a MacArthur prize at age 22.

[via 9to5 Mac]

LG is planning to introduce a mid-range Windows Phone, according to a leak posted by PocketNow. An image of the device has surfaced and it’s reportedly the same handset as the LG Fantasy that was revealed in a leaked roadmap back in December.

The LG Miracle is expected to sport a 4-inch super-bright NOVA display, 1GHz Snapdragon single-core processor, 8GB of internal storage, front-facing VGA camera, and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera capable of 720p video capture.

The Miracle will also support HSPA connectivity and include an NFC chip, which supports expectations for NFC support in the next Windows Phone update. The device will likely be unveiled at Mobile World Congress later this month.

Before preliminary rulings, the ITC staff attorney assigned to a case makes a recommendation to the ITC judge. In this case, staff attorney Jeff Hsu revealed in an interview today that he will be recommending to judge Theodore Essex that there has been no violation by Barnes & Noble on the Microsoft patents in question.

However, the judge is not required to follow the recommendation and if Essex rules in favor of Microsoft, the Nook e-reader could face an import ban. The patent suit is part of Microsoft’s strategy against Android device makers, which has already successfully secured patent royalties from several manufacturers, including HTC, Samsung, and LG. The preliminary ruling for the Barnes & Noble case is set to be released on April 27.

Although SOPA and PIPA appear to be shelved for the time being, the letter highlights concerns that Congress will continue to push similar measures. It asks Congress to take a new approach to the issues, saying that the concerns cannot be addressed by simply revising the bills or negotiated behind closed doors with a small set of stakeholders.

The letter further accuses Congress of taking a narrow, single-industry perspective on the intellectual property issues, siding with a small group of rights holders, such as the RIAA and MPAA, that believe the current laws are too weak. It insists that Congress must also consider how the current laws have been too prohibitive, undermining free speech and innovation.

The project will initially involve building a solid fiber backbone. Once this infrastructure is completed, then Google Fiber can connect into homes across Kansas City. It will involve laying down thousands of miles of cables across Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.

The cables contain many glass fibers about the width of a human hair and can deliver data at 1Gbps speeds. The network will be tested for supporting gaming applications and intensive graphics programs.

The rebranding to Sony Entertainment Network will be applied to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in upcoming software updates, but it will not affect the PSP at this time. This change is part of Sony’s efforts to associate the service with the company’s broader entertainment services, including Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.

The discontinued use of the PlayStation Network name may help sweep away the bad memories of last year’s security breach and month-long outage. The company reported a massive loss and recently appointed new CEO Kaz Hirai. Unifying its services appears to be part of the company’s strategy to turn things around.

[via VentureBeat]

“Over the next year, we will begin expanding the use of our mobile technology by transitioning from the BlackBerry (RIM) platform that we currently use to smartphone technology via the iPhone,” said the company in an internal newsletter distributed to employees this month.

The company’s decision comes after “significant research” in comparing Google’s Android against Apple’s iOS platform. Ultimately, it was determined that Apple’s platform would provide the best controls, capabilities, and application development security.

[via Cult of Mac]

The Marketplace may take a few hours to be fully activated in all regions and not all apps may be available right away. Developers are encouraged to make their existing apps available in these new countries. To do so, log into the App Hub and select the “worldwide” option. This has to be done even if an app was previously set to be available globally.

However, apps submitted for Indonesia, Malaysia, and China are subject to additional requirements due to local regulations. With the addition of five new countries, the Windows Phone Marketplace now reaches 41 markets around the world. It also has more than 50,000 apps available since December.

“If you charge a fee for any book or other work you generate using this software (a ‘Work’), you may only sell or distribute such Work through Apple (e.g., through the iBookstore) and such distribution will be subject to a separate agreement with Apple,” read the original iBooks Author EULA terms.

Apple has changed those terms in today’s update, saying that only the iBooks Author files in the .ibooks format are restricted to distribution through Apple. The restriction does not apply when the content created with iBooks Author is distributed in other forms. This means that creators retain the rights to their content and can distribute it in other formats, such as PDF.

[via TNW]

During the fourth quarter last year, vendors shipped 158.5 million smartphones, which is a 57% boost from the 101.2 million units sold in Q4 2010. Vendors shipped 120.2 million PCs in Q4, but that number includes tablet PCs. If you take out tablets from the mix, only 93.7 million PCs were shipped.

Leading the pack in global smartphone shipments is Apple, which shipped a record 93.1 million iPhones in 2011, while Samsung came in second with 91.9 million. Nokia dropped to third place with 19.6 million followed by RIM, but the BlackBerry maker’s shipment numbers were not disclosed.

[via Business Insider]

The new Apps feature lets you type any search terms into the main Yahoo search bar and then gives you results for just those pertaining to apps. You can filter by price and category and view only iOS or Android apps. You can also go directly to the Yahoo Apps portal, where you’ll get to browse by categories.

When you find an app of interest, you can go straight from the search results to the Android Market or iTunes App Store to download the app, send a link for the app to your phone, or scan a QR code for the app. Yahoo also offers a “trending now” interface along with Yahoo user reviews for the apps.

[via Engadget]

Appleton is attributed with building semiconductor company Micron into one of the world’s largest makers of DRAM memory chips. He has a long history with the company, starting out as a production worker and eventually working his way up. He became an advocate for fair trade against Japanese rivals, which dominated the memory chip market back in the 80s by selling chips below cost, a practice known as dumping.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Appleton, Micron Chairman and CEO, passed away this morning in a small plane accident in Boise. He was 51. Our hearts go out to his wife, Dalynn, his children and his family during this tragic time. Steve’s passion and energy left an indelible mark on Micron, the Idaho community and the technology industry at large,” read a statement issued by Micron’s board.

Appleton had survived a plane crash back in 2004, where he sustained head injuries, a punctured lung, ruptured disk, and broken bones. However, he had not revealed the severity of his crash until 2006.

[via VentureBeat]

The Call of Duty Elite Drop 1: Liberation will take place in a militarized Central Park in the heart of NYC. It features a vast landscape great for long-range sniper and LMG kills with mounted turrets on each end of the map. Elite Drop 2: Piazza takes place in a seaside village where blind corners and complex branching pathways means danger lurks at every turn and ensures plenty of close-quarter combat.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3′s content season is co-developed by Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software. The new maps have already been released for the Xbox 360 last month due to an exclusivity deal between Activision and Microsoft. Hence, new DLC content for Call of Duty will always be available first for Premium Members on Xbox 360, but Premium Members on PS3 will also get the content ahead of non-premium members on the PS3.

[via Gamasutra]

The Huawei MediaPad features a 7-inch IPS multitouch display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and 5-megapixel rear-facing camera. The rear camera is capable of 4X zoom, AF, and 1080p Full HD video capture. The tablet also sports HDMI output and has a 4,100mAh battery for a six-hour battery life.

Although Huawei is set to launch MediaPads with the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on board, this MediaPad for AT&T will not. Instead, it will running Android 3.2 Honeycomb with the ICS update likely to come over-the-air sometime this first quarter of 2012. It’s not clear if AT&T will be releasing a more consumer-targeted version in addition to this enterprise offering.

[via PRNewswire]

According to WMPoweruser, you can pre-order your Nokia Lumia 900 today at Microsoft retail stores by paying $25 upfront and you can choose between the two colors of Cyan and Black. To see if there’s a Microsoft store nearby, you can see all the locations here. Also make sure to check out our hands-on video with the Lumia 900.

The Lumia 900 is expected to feature a 4.3-inch WVGA ClearBlack display, an 8-megapixel Carl Zeiss rear-facing camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 512MB of RAM, 1.4GHz single-core processor, 16GB of internal memory, and support for AT&T’s LTE network. Rumors have suggested that the handset will be priced at $99 with a new two-year contract.

AMD’s first APU for tablets is codenamed “Hondo” and will be built on a 40-nm manufacturing process. APUs combine a microprocessor and graphics on the same chip and feature ultra-low power consumption. The company revealed that the first AMD-toting Windows 8 tablet will be available this year.

AMD will also be refreshing its lineup with Brazos 2.0 chips that feature faster TurboCore and universal serial bus 3.0 built on a 40-nm process. A second-gen Trinity APU will be built on a 32-nm process and feature significant improvements in performance and power consumption. Additionally, AMD will be launching a new stand-alone graphics chip called Southern Islands, which is built on a 28-nm process and should debut this year.

In 2013, AMD will launch a successor to the Hondo tablet chip called Temash, which will feature new Jaguar processing cores. Kabini chip for laptops with Jaguar cores, a third-gen Kaveri APU with Steamroller cores, and a Trinity mobile chip will also be introduced in 2013.

[via VentureBeat]

The survey found that 69% of AT&T customers surveyed were “Very Satisfied” with their customer service experience. This is an improvement from the 65% ratio the year before. AT&T also dethroned the Now Network, which dropped 12 points to 59%. Tying with AT&T a year ago at 65%, T-Mobile has dropped 17 points to a miserable 48%, while Verizon remains unchanged at 60%.

Apparently, AT&T was able to improve customer service without its proposed T-Mobile acquisition, despite its arguments otherwise. However, T-Mobile’s customer service ratings appear to have collapsed along with the failed merger. Perhaps after some regrouping, T-Mobile will be able to recover this year. It was recently revealed that T-Mobile is offering additional support for unlocked iPhone customers on its network.

Revenue for the company is basically divided into two categories, the first being “Advertising” and the second being “Payments and other fees.” Advertising accounted for 85% of revenue in 2011, versus 95% in 2010 and 98% in 2009. The Payments and other fees revenue comes from payment processing fees related to the sales of virtual goods through game apps, a majority of which are through those made by Zynga.

Zynga has developed a variety of popular games for Facebook, including Farmville, Mafia Wars, and Words with Friends. The company also purchases ads from Facebook and its games generate a significant number of page views that add to Facebook’s advertising revenue. Hence, Zynga’s importance to the social network is highlighted in the paperwork.

“If the use of Zynga games on our Platform declines, if Zynga launches games on or migrates games to competing platforms, or if we fail to maintain good relations with Zynga, we may lose Zynga as a significant Platform developer and our financial results may be adversely affected,” said Facebook in its filing.

Specifically with bug fixes, the updates resolves a WiFi connection issue that has been occurring when Macs with Lion awake from sleep. Compatibility issues with Microsoft Windows file sharing and printing Microsoft Word documents have also been addressed.

The new languages now supported include Catalan, Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian. RAW image file support now extends to several new cameras, including the latest Olympus PEN cameras, the Nikon J1 and V1, and the latest Sony Alpha and NEX cameras.

The update is over 700MB in size and is available for download now. For more details on what improvements the update brings, visit the release notes.

[via TUAW]

Google has insisted that the change to its privacy policy does not collect any more information from users, but simply streamlines the privacy policy across its multiple services into one single document. The online ads it has purchased display a simple message saying, “We’re changing our Privacy Policy. Not your privacy controls.”

Privacy advocates reacted strongly when Google first announced the change, fearing that it would make it harder for people to control their own information. The US Congress also got involved, shooting a long list of questions to Google, which it must respond to later this month.

[via PaidContent]

The PS Vita has been available in Japan since last December and will be launching in the US on February 22 along with more than 20 game titles. Since Sony is pushing for more digital downloads, it only makes sense to give consumers added incentive with discounted digital copies.

Best Buy has already begun selling codes to redeem games from the PlayStation Network for MLB 12 The Show at $35.99, Reality Fighters at $26.99, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss at $44.99. The difference is about a 10% discount from boxed copies.

ShackNews reached out to Sony regarding the matter and a company rep responded with the following confirmation:

I can confirm that there will be a discount on the downloadable PS Vita titles from PSN. Exact details have not yet been revealed, but be on the lookout for an announcement in the very near future.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

Cernaianu also offered for sale software that he claimed would allow others to hack into these servers. He even demonstrated in videos how he carried out his attacks on the US government websites. However, the motivations behind his exploits were more to point out security flaws than for financial gain or anything truly malicious.

As TinKode, Cernaianu often published the security flaws of the websites he hacked into over the last few years, including high-profile websites of the US Army, NASA, the UK Royal Navy, the European Space Agency, MySQL, and Google. Regardless of his intentions, authorities claim that his actions have caused significant damage to the servers and hacking into websites is still a crime.

[via PCMag]