SlashGear

iOS 5.1 rumored for a March 9th public release

Michael Crider, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Developers and other beta testers have had their hands on the first major update for iOS 5 for months now, but according to YourDailyMac, the public release could be coming exactly one month from today. A tipster found operator strings in the latest iOS 5.1 builds pointing towards a March 9th release, which incidentally falls pretty closely to those iPad 3 rumors. Take that for what it's worth. Operator profiles for mobile carriers in Japan, France, Greece, Finland, and Sweden were discovered, pertaining to the iPhone 4s, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, the third and fourth generations of the iPod Touch and both current iPads. Read The Full Story

Aston Martin puts the V12 Zagato into production

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Aston Martin has revealed the road-going version of the new V12 Zagato sports car. The car uses the V12 Vantage platform and places a new aluminum/carbon fiber body on the aluminum structure of the base car. I think the car looks pretty cool, but I don't care for the wheels that look like flowers to my eyes. Apparently Top Gear doesn't care for the rear spoiler, but it looks good to me and isn't is outrageous as some cars on the road. Read The Full Story

Must Read Bits & Bytes

Google Motorola buy approved by EU

Google retail store rumored to open in Dublin

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Rumors are flying that Google may be set to open its first stand-alone retail store near its European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. The store was tipped in a filing made by Google on a local planning application. The shop would be about 1323 square feet and would apparently have a mezzanine floor extension. Google already has a shop selling branded items in the US on its California campus. Read The Full Story

Nikon D800 pre-ordering frozen as demand surges

Chris Davies, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Demand for Nikon's D800 36-megapixel DSLR has apparently outstripped initial supply, with online retailers no longer accepting pre-orders for the much-anticipated FX-format camera. Sales of the D800 and its D800E low-pass filter-free sibling began shortly after the DSLR's announcement on Monday, ahead of their release in March and April respectively; now, though, pre-ordering has been frozen. Read The Full Story

2013 GM Acadia gets first center airbag in the industry

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Air bags have been in vehicles for many years now, and while they have undergone changes over the years, they are undeniably saving lives in accidents. It's common today to have both driver and passenger side airbags. In the backseat, many vehicles even have side curtain airbags for the backseat passengers near the doors. Where airbag protection has been lacking has been from the center for the front seat occupants. GM is changing that with the addition of a center airbag for front seat passengers to its 2013 Acadia models. Read The Full Story

Columns & Opinion

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Google: We want 2.25% of the iPhone sticker price

Chris Davies, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Google intends to continue Motorola Mobility's demands for 2.25-percent of Apple's iPhone sales in royalties, the search giant has revealed, once its acquisition of the smartphone manufacturer goes through. Although Google's letter to the IEE standards agency this week ostensibly called for fair patent licensing deals, it also reiterates commitment to maximum 2.25-percent per-unit royalty that Motorola was roundly criticized for, FOSS Patents spotted. Read The Full Story

Samsung SUR40 Microsoft Surface gets unboxed and booted

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

A group of Scottish geeks from Robert Gordon University in Scotland laid their hands on the slick and very cool second-generation Microsoft Surface computing system. The system in question uses the Samsung SUR40 display. The guys go through the unboxing of the Samsung display unit and its assembly. After all the screws are turned, they start the system up and fiddle about with a bit. Read The Full Story

Alibaba raising $3 billion to buy Yahoo’s 40% stake back

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba.com is looking to raise $3 billion from six different banks reports the Wall Street Journal. The e-commerce giant wants the money to buy out the 40% stake that Yahoo owns and officially ditch the flailing search engine. The tip comes from people familiar with the situation according to the WSJ. Read The Full Story

Nokia N9 runs Ice Cream Sandwich in Android port

Chris Davies, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Efforts to get Nokia's N9 running Android look to be bearing fruit, with modders coaxing the MeeGo smartphone into loading Ice Cream Sandwich. The handiwork of Alexey Roslyakov, the NITDroid project builds on earlier work porting Android to the Nokia N900, though there's not yet a public release or guidance on how you can get your own N9 to dual-boot between the platforms. Read The Full Story

Google Wallet PIN on rooted Android devices at risk

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

If you are an Android smartphone user who is taking advantage of Google Wallet on a smartphone that is rooted, you need to be aware of a potential major issue. As you know, when you're making a purchase with your Google Wallet must enter your PIN number to complete the transaction. A reputable security firm called Zvelo has alerted Google that it has discovered the PIN is at risk. Read The Full Story

Lytro camera gutted: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi inside

Shane McGlaun, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

The FCC has laid its grubby little mitts on the cool Lytro Light Field Camera and torn the device apart to see what's on the inside. The normal camera hardware was spied along with something that was unexpected. Inside the camera, a Marvell Avastar 88 W8787 SoC was discovered, which adds in a couple capabilities that we didn't know the Lytro camera offered previously. Read The Full Story

Apple Stores face protests over iPhone labor ethics

Chris Davies, Feb 9th 2012 Discuss [0]

Apple stores across the world will face demonstrations over worker mistreatment among suppliers today, though research by SlashGear suggests public opinion is strongly divided over whether Cupertino company should shoulder the ethics blame. Two concurrent petitions demanding Apple force change among its manufacturing partners have prompted the protests, with Change.org telling CNN that the signatures will be presented at six Apple stores at 10am local time today. However, in a SlashGear survey, votes were split between holding Apple responsible or whether the electronics industry as a whole is flawed.