SlashGear

TiVo HD DVRs for DirecTV now available nationwide

Rue Liu, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

After being released in only select markets, the TiVo-enabled HD DVR from DirecTV is now available nationwide. The set-top was set to launch in 2009 following the reconciliation of TiVo and DirecTV back in 2008, but has been delayed until last December, when it launched in only 10 markets. Read The Full Story

Steve Jobs FBI file pulled with Freedom of Information Act

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

There's quite a bit of hubub about the Steve Jobs FBI file that's been put up for download by any man, woman, or child who would dare read it today, but not a whole lot of people speaking about how it came to us all now, of all times. What's going on here is that the FBI was vetting Jobs for a tech job with the President - a Bush at the time. The result of this interview process was a set of papers with interviews of colleagues of Jobs speaking highly and in some cases not so highly of his character - this packet of papers is now available for download thanks to the Freedom of Information Act and a fellow by the name of Michael Morisy. Read The Full Story

Must Read Bits & Bytes

Google Motorola buy approved by EU

PS Vita First Edition Bundle unboxed early by Sony

Rue Liu, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Sony's PlayStation Vita portable is set to launch in the US on February 22, but a special First Edition bundle will be arriving on February 15 for those who've pre-ordered. With less than a week to count down for the bundle, Sony's US PR team has posted its own official unboxing video to give a tantalizing preview of the bundle's contents. Read The Full Story

MegaUpload’s takedown by the numbers

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Believe it or not, it was and is possible to track the traffic that MegaUpload and the rest of the piracy-laden file-sharing groups out there have compared to the rest of the web. A series of studies have been conducted by a few sources we're checking out today and the results are staggering, depending on how you look at it, with the first giant being the one hour following the January 19th raid of MegaUpload. In that one hour, the entirety of the Internet lost between 2 and 3 precent of its total volume in traffic. Read The Full Story

Microsoft confirms Windows 8 ARM desktop support, previews Metro-styled Office 15

Rue Liu, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 8 for ARM-based devices will support full desktop applications following concerns that only Metro apps would be supported. Via the Buildings Windows 8 blog, Microsoft's Steven Sinofsky further detailed Windows 8 for ARM and previewed a Metro-styled Office 15. Read The Full Story

Columns & Opinion

More Columns & Opinion »

President Obama posts his Spotify 2012 Campaign Playlist

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

As the 2012 election season for the President of the United States comes down upon is in a hailstorm of advertisements and pushes to do the right thing, so too do the brand collaborations begin - right here with Spotify. Though we've already seen the President go on Google+ to do a fireside chat after his State of the Union address just a few days ago, this is the first real place, I'd say, we're seeing Obama really jam on the youth-tip to get back in touch with the citizens of the United States so they can vote for him in 2012. While Barack Obama has never been one to get too far away from this environment, you're going to see one whole heck of a lot more of this tech-related business as the elections come up - what better way to start than with some Spotify music? Read The Full Story

Reviews

Acer Aspire S3 (Core i7) Review

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

The Ultrabook world is continuing its rise to glory as the Acer Aspire S3 (here with the Core i7 processer inside) runs the thin show at .68 inches at its thickest point. This is by no means the thinnest notebook on earth, nor is it the Ultrabook with the most impressive set of specifications, but this relatively basic (if any Ultrabook is basic) model has a stack of features and a full package that will satisfy any general use owner. This notebook has a 13.3-inch Active Matrix TFT display at 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, CineCrystal (glossy) and clear as day coupled with Intel HD Graphics 3000 and Dolby Home Theater v4 audio enhancement on built-in stereo speakers – that means good entertainment.

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Lenovo V370 promotions begin with Bruce Lee, Angry Birds, and Zombies

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Behold the first absolutely wacky advertisement spot for the Lenovo slim notebook V370, complete with no less than Plants vs Zombies characters, Angry Birds, and an epic battle to the death with Bruce Lee! The point this particular spot appears to be trying to get across is that the V370 is both strong and slim, but you wouldn't know it was a commercial for a laptop if you didn't see the first and last 5 seconds of the video. Thus is the way laptops must be promoted in the fact of Ultrabooks, we suppose, now that strength beats down the traditional size and shape of a standard laptop. Read The Full Story

Raspberry Pi $25 computer set for February 20th release

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

This little monster you see before you is essentially all you'll need to roll out on a couple of tens and a fiver - a computer for just $25. This is the Raspberry Pi, and after months and years of speaking about it behind the scenes, it's finally set to be released on the 20th of February. This device was originally supposed to be going on sale in December of 2011, but has now been officially announced by the creators to be coming out on the date announced, right here in the second month of 2012. Read The Full Story

Temple Run for Android postponed, still coming this month

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

The game that's still got iOS fans having heart attacks over how awesome it is, Temple Run, was originally scheduled to be dropped for Android today, but its developers have let us know that a bit of postponing is in order. Though we and the developers at Image Studios are hoping to get in on the game for a full release by the end of the month, it's likely not going to happen this week. Those of you on the iPhone version of this game can continue swinging in glee as your Android compatriots wait for some awesome temple running pleasure for just a few more days or weeks or forever more. Read The Full Story

Tesla Model X SUV teaser easter egg revealed

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Team members at the public relations group that represents Tesla have certainly got their ducks in a row - or perhaps its just Tesla CEO Elon Musk - as a leaked image showing up early today already has us giggling. This image shows the fabulous looking vehicle in just about as sparse a vision as possible with its falcon doors and smooth angles all around the only apparent features. But as the image is so dark, Tesla knew that we would be bumping up the whites in Photoshop - and what do you know, a lovely little super clever easter egg! Read The Full Story

Reviews

Tweetbot for iPhone Review

Chris Burns, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

If there’s one reason to continue using Twitter outside the desktop environment other than your all-consuming addition to checking updates, it’s Tweetbot. The little robot bird that sits on your iPhone’s display begging you to tap, showing you that using Twitter can actually be more fun on the iPhone than it is anywhere else. This app uses a selection of gestures to allow you to interact with each Tweet, has a perfectly excellent aesthetic to the entirety of it, and has customizable tabs to make your experience just what you want it to be.