http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Web Blog Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2013 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Sun, 19 May 2013 20:13:31 GMT Sun, 19 May 2013 20:13:31 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Feng-Office-352563.shtml
The Feng Office system was designed with business goals and requirements in mind and is perfect for helping local or remote team members collaborate and synchronize their tasks and activities from afar.

Team members will need to create an account, where they'll have various tools at their disposal for collaborating with each... (read more)]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 16:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Feng-Office-352563.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Feng-Office-352563.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Catalin Cimpanu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Translate-Is-Used-by-200-Million-People-Each-Day-354483.shtml
The fact that they don't even notice it is not a bad thing necessarily, tools are supposed to get the job done and get out of the way.

Of the 200 million, plenty are using the automated translation feature in Chrome, which has proven very useful especially... (read more)]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 12:51:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Translate-Is-Used-by-200-Million-People-Each-Day-354483.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Translate-Is-Used-by-200-Million-People-Each-Day-354483.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ponies-Pitchforks-and-Dinosaurs-the-Google-Hangouts-Easter-Eggs-354482.shtml
Which means you can now check out some of the Easter Eggs Google built into the app and which Googler Moritz Tolxdorff shared with the world. These are on top of the 800 emoticons that Google included in Hangouts, something it was quite proud of.

The codes only work on Google+, in Gmail and with the st... (read more)]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ponies-Pitchforks-and-Dinosaurs-the-Google-Hangouts-Easter-Eggs-354482.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ponies-Pitchforks-and-Dinosaurs-the-Google-Hangouts-Easter-Eggs-354482.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Discourse-352553.shtml
While forums have been around for over twenty years now, everybody just got bored with their model of conversation and have moved on to more real-time platforms like chats, tweeting, video calls, etc.

Discourse practically revamps the forum, using modern day tools for a modern day result... (read more)]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 16:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Discourse-352553.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Discourse-352553.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Catalin Cimpanu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Facebook-and-Microsoft-Are-Also-Taking-an-Interest-in-Tumblr-354422.shtml
Apparently, Facebook and Microsoft are also interested in Tumblr and have been negotiating a take-over, Forbes reports.

If the deal with Yahoo falls through, Tumblr can look at the other competitors. However, rumor has it that Marissa Mayer is pushing hard to make the purchase, since it is a key puzzle piece in her strategy.

T... (read more)]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 09:40:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Facebook-and-Microsoft-Are-Also-Taking-an-Interest-in-Tumblr-354422.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Facebook-and-Microsoft-Are-Also-Taking-an-Interest-in-Tumblr-354422.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-to-Be-Investigated-by-Canadian-Competition-Bureau-354411.shtml
Canada’s Competition Bureau has notified Google of its intentions, but it is yet to ask for specific information or documents, The Verge writes.

The Internet giant seems to be open to cooperating with the Competition Bureau, so things should go smoothly at least from this point of view.

Google’s search an... (read more)]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 09:11:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-to-Be-Investigated-by-Canadian-Competition-Bureau-354411.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-to-Be-Investigated-by-Canadian-Competition-Bureau-354411.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/AOL-s-Patch-Gets-New-CEO-354388.shtml
Brod will go back to running AOL Ventures, just as he did when he joined the company, AllThingsD reports.

The company is still planning on downsizing its workforce. According to the memo notes that were sent out, a little less than three percent of the 1,400 employees at Patch will be laid off.

The layoffs are going to... (read more)]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 08:32:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/AOL-s-Patch-Gets-New-CEO-354388.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/AOL-s-Patch-Gets-New-CEO-354388.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Board-to-Decide-About-Tumblr-Buyout-on-Sunday-354374.shtml
According to AllThingsD, Yahoo has been thinking about the deal with Tumblr for some time after going from considering a strategic investment to an acquisition.

Judging by the recent buyouts the company has made, adding Tumblr to their list isn’t as far-fetched as many would think.

The pla... (read more)]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 07:58:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Board-to-Decide-About-Tumblr-Buyout-on-Sunday-354374.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Board-to-Decide-About-Tumblr-Buyout-on-Sunday-354374.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Planning-on-Glass-with-Prescription-Lenses-354368.shtml
Well, now, at Google’s I/O 2013 conference, the company presented a new version of the Glass that was integrated with a pair of prescription lenses, Engadget reports.

Apparently, this is only a prototype the company is experimenting with for now. It uses the same software as the Explorer Edit... (read more)]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 07:26:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Planning-on-Glass-with-Prescription-Lenses-354368.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Planning-on-Glass-with-Prescription-Lenses-354368.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Chrome-May-Support-Mozilla-s-Asm-js-for-Native-Speed-Web-Apps-354281.shtml
Granted, asm.js is just JavaScript, but a full-blown app converted to asm.js would run painfully slow in other browsers.

Thankfully, Google may be looking to back up asm.js. There's nothing official just yet, but there is some interest from inside Google.

As it turns out, during I/O, Google boas... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 22:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Chrome-May-Support-Mozilla-s-Asm-js-for-Native-Speed-Web-Apps-354281.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Chrome-May-Support-Mozilla-s-Asm-js-for-Native-Speed-Web-Apps-354281.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Check-Out-the-High-Tech-Scooters-Google-Shoots-Underwater-Street-View-Photos-With-354237.shtml
This obviously requires specialized equipment. Up until now, Google built its own Street View cars, trikes, carts or backpacks. But it teamed up with the Catlin Seaview Survey for the underwater imagery.

Once you see the equipment used to shoot panoramic images ... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 19:11:02 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Check-Out-the-High-Tech-Scooters-Google-Shoots-Underwater-Street-View-Photos-With-354237.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Check-Out-the-High-Tech-Scooters-Google-Shoots-Underwater-Street-View-Photos-With-354237.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Showcases-the-New-Chrome-quot-Native-quot-Web-Apps-at-I-O-Video-354147.shtml
There have been some packaged apps built on the new platform, many from Google itself, but most have been experimental.

Not so with the Hangouts Chrome app which is as official and as production-ready as it gets. There are some rough edges, but the simp... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 18:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Showcases-the-New-Chrome-quot-Native-quot-Web-Apps-at-I-O-Video-354147.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Showcases-the-New-Chrome-quot-Native-quot-Web-Apps-at-I-O-Video-354147.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/12-Percent-of-Americans-Are-Netflix-Adulterers-354134.shtml
This creates a problem for those who have a hard time abstaining from something good. It turns out most people just can't help themselves and become Netflix adulterers, sometimes remorseful, sometimes not.

Plenty of people watch Netflix shows together, but many ... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 18:21:02 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/12-Percent-of-Americans-Are-Netflix-Adulterers-354134.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/12-Percent-of-Americans-Are-Netflix-Adulterers-354134.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Twitter-Will-Cost-You-quot-This-World-and-the-Afterlife-quot-Saudi-Arabia-Religious-Police-Chief-Warns-BBC-354334.shtml
According to the Saudi Arabia religious police chief, Twitter users, all 200 million of them, are doomed, their souls lost for eternity.

And don't think you can escape just because you don'... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 16:21:02 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Twitter-Will-Cost-You-quot-This-World-and-the-Afterlife-quot-Saudi-Arabia-Religious-Police-Chief-Warns-BBC-354334.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Twitter-Will-Cost-You-quot-This-World-and-the-Afterlife-quot-Saudi-Arabia-Religious-Police-Chief-Warns-BBC-354334.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Bookings-Engine-352546.shtml
While most WordPress usage scenarios include using it as a blogging platform, WordPress is also used as a CMS, mainly by developers, for their client work.

And as many developers know, doing client work mainly revolves around companies that need a website for their business, and since most businesses want to run a booking system for their services, a good reservations or booki... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 16:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Bookings-Engine-352546.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-Bookings-Engine-352546.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Catalin Cimpanu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-to-Be-Investigated-Over-Tax-Presence-in-the-UK-Reuters-354313.shtml
Apparently, Amazon will follow search giant Google, which had the same issues with the Parliament’s Public Affairs Committee over its tax affairs, Reuters reports.

Over the past six years, the online retailer has paid about $9 million (€7 million) in income tax on over $23 billion (€18 billion) in sale... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 14:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-to-Be-Investigated-Over-Tax-Presence-in-the-UK-Reuters-354313.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-to-Be-Investigated-Over-Tax-Presence-in-the-UK-Reuters-354313.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Facebook-Asks-Court-to-Give-quot-Like-quot-Free-Speech-Protection-Bloomberg-354285.shtml
The company is hoping to reverse a lower court ruling in Virginia, which arose from a lawsuit which suggested a Facebook “Like” isn’t First Amendment speech, Bloomberg reports.

The case Facebook is referring to involved a man who was fired after posting a picture of his boss’ opponent on his personal page and clicking th... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 14:13:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Facebook-Asks-Court-to-Give-quot-Like-quot-Free-Speech-Protection-Bloomberg-354285.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Facebook-Asks-Court-to-Give-quot-Like-quot-Free-Speech-Protection-Bloomberg-354285.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firefox-22-Beta-Supports-Asm-js-for-Native-Speed-JavaScript-Unreal-Tournament-in-the-Browser-354258.shtml
This, in turn, makes it possible to run powerful apps and even games inside the browser using only stock and standard technologies.

Firefox 22 Beta supports asm.js, via the OdinMonkey optimization module for the IonMonkey JavaScript JIT compiler, which means applications written for asm.j... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 13:34:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firefox-22-Beta-Supports-Asm-js-for-Native-Speed-JavaScript-Unreal-Tournament-in-the-Browser-354258.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Firefox-22-Beta-Supports-Asm-js-for-Native-Speed-JavaScript-Unreal-Tournament-in-the-Browser-354258.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Photo-Sharing-App-Tadaa-Introduces-Edge-Detection-354217.shtml
The company claims that this feature that they’re trying to patent is a “world first” for a mobile app, The Next Web reports.

“We can’t wait to see how our users react to this new feature,” said Nikolas Schoppmeier, co-founder & CEO.

“There is no other app out there with a feature as sophisticated as th... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 12:24:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Photo-Sharing-App-Tadaa-Introduces-Edge-Detection-354217.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Photo-Sharing-App-Tadaa-Introduces-Edge-Detection-354217.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Glass-to-Get-Monthly-Software-Updates-354191.shtml
The company has said that many of the updates would incorporate suggestions from developers and Glass Explorers, The Next Web reports.

The announcement was made during a chat held by some Google Glass team members with developers and ... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 11:37:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Glass-to-Get-Monthly-Software-Updates-354191.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Glass-to-Get-Monthly-Software-Updates-354191.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Visit-the-Hermitage-and-Many-Other-Legendary-Museums-in-Street-View-354188.shtml
Thanks to indoor Street View, you can visit them right now, on your laptop or tablet.

Google has already highlighted several museums, and today it's talking about The State Hermitage Museum, in St. Petersburg.

Previously, it showcased scenes from the National Gallery of Australia, Musée... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 11:33:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Visit-the-Hermitage-and-Many-Other-Legendary-Museums-in-Street-View-354188.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Visit-the-Hermitage-and-Many-Other-Legendary-Museums-in-Street-View-354188.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Maps-Helps-Chinese-Abductee-Find-His-Family-23-Years-Later-354161.shtml
But technology, in any form, is a force for good even if it only enables people to do things they wouldn't have been able to do otherwise.

Things like find the home they were abducted from 23 years after the fact. One Chinese man, Luo Gang, used Google Maps to track down his hometow... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Maps-Helps-Chinese-Abductee-Find-His-Family-23-Years-Later-354161.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Maps-Helps-Chinese-Abductee-Find-His-Family-23-Years-Later-354161.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Glass-Gets-Twitter-Facebook-And-Tumblr-Apps-354132.shtml
The apps join those that have already been created by various developers that allow users to wink to take pictures, lock their device and many more, Phandroid reports.

The apps that have just been released let you have access to content on their respective websites. For instance, CNN’s app lets you select which kind of t... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 09:20:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Glass-Gets-Twitter-Facebook-And-Tumblr-Apps-354132.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Glass-Gets-Twitter-Facebook-And-Tumblr-Apps-354132.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Brings-Tweets-to-Newsfeed-354116.shtml
Thanks to the new partnership between Yahoo and Twitter, you’ll receive the newest tweets straight to your newsfeed, which means that you can view them all in the same platform, without having to switch between the websites.

“As users explore our nearly endless stream of content, we will seamlessly include relevant and personalized Tweets... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 08:46:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Brings-Tweets-to-Newsfeed-354116.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Brings-Tweets-to-Newsfeed-354116.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/You-Can-Send-Pins-Privately-on-Pinterest-Now-354074.shtml
Now though, it's possible to send pins directly to friends, so you can make sure they see something you pin or something that you stumbled upon and like.

"Just tap Send from either web or mobile to send a pin. You can send pins to fellow pinners (if you both follow each other), Facebook friends, or email contacts. We'll show you... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 07:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/You-Can-Send-Pins-Privately-on-Pinterest-Now-354074.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/You-Can-Send-Pins-Privately-on-Pinterest-Now-354074.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Google-Maps-Invites-Already-Being-Sent-Out-354066.shtml
Since the new Google Maps was just announced on Wednesday, those who have requested invites are already beginning to receive access to the features, Phandroid reports.

So far, the service is still in beta version, which means things are going slow and some users are reporting that driving directions are broken.

However, if you’re on... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 07:24:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Google-Maps-Invites-Already-Being-Sent-Out-354066.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Google-Maps-Invites-Already-Being-Sent-Out-354066.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/72-Videos-from-Google-I-O-Are-Now-Available-More-Coming-354064.shtml
There are 72 videos from Google I/O available on the Google Developers YouTube channel already, and more are coming.

They're also available on the Developers Live page, and that's probably a better place to start since it should be easier to find the videos you're... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 07:23:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/72-Videos-from-Google-I-O-Are-Now-Available-More-Coming-354064.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/72-Videos-from-Google-I-O-Are-Now-Available-More-Coming-354064.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Lucian Parfeni) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-Instant-Video-Service-Gets-Exclusive-NBC-Universal-Shows-354048.shtml
According to the company, the additions include the first seasons from Grimm and Suits, as well as the first two seasons of Covert Affairs.

Hannibal and Defiance are set to come at later dates as well, the deal says.

Since Amazon has exclusivity over these shows for the next four years, they won’t be able to air on competing services such a... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 07:01:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-Instant-Video-Service-Gets-Exclusive-NBC-Universal-Shows-354048.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-Instant-Video-Service-Gets-Exclusive-NBC-Universal-Shows-354048.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Wins-2-7B-2-13B-Appeal-in-Mexico-354036.shtml
The mentioned case involves World Wide Directories and Ideas Interactivas who filed a suit against Yahoo! Mexico and Yahoo Inc. in 2011.

In November 2012, a non-final judgment said that the company would have to pay $2.75 billion (€2.13 billion).

Now, the court has gone... (read more)]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 06:44:00 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Wins-2-7B-2-13B-Appeal-in-Mexico-354036.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Yahoo-Wins-2-7B-2-13B-Appeal-in-Mexico-354036.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Gabriela Vatu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-jtwt-js-352538.shtml
jtwt.js uses Twitter's public JSON API streams to fetch desired tweets, either for a given username or for a given search term.

The plugin is perfect for creating nifty little Twitter widgets that can be embedded anywhere on a page without having to dabble with server-side programming languages.

All is done via ... (read more)]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 16:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-jtwt-js-352538.shtml Web Blog http://news.softpedia.com/news/Script-of-the-Day-jtwt-js-352538.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Catalin Cimpanu)