A Korean publication says the next generation Galaxy flagship running Android KitKat could launch shy of the S4's first birthday. November 29, 2013 10:18 PM PST The Galaxy S4 and S3 could have a new sibling sooner than later. (Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) The latest round of rumors has the presumed successor to Samsung's Galaxy S4, a more powerful Galaxy S5, sporting unicorn-esque specs, perhaps some new flexible materials, and craziest of all: Launching as little as ten months after the Galaxy S4 was introduced. A Korean site reports that "industry sources" say production of the Galaxy S5 could begin in January with Samsung's next flagship phone shipping with Android KitKat and alongside a revamped Galaxy Gear 2 watch as early as February or March. That would be a few months ahead of many early-adopting Galaxy S4 owners' one-year anniversaries with their devices. While this sounds like wishful thinking on the part of some overzealous reporter and a who-knows-how-well-infomed supply chain source, it's also not a crazy plan for the likes of Samsung. The Korean monolith has the ability to make just about anything on a massive scale as quickly as it likes and likely has no qualms with cannibalizing sales of its zillions of other smartphone models, including the Galaxy S4. But more importantly, what kind of unicorn is Samsung's S5 team designing this time around? The same report claims the phone could be available in a plastic case or a more premium model with a metal body, and will come loaded with some serious digital beef -- a 64-bit processor, 3 GB of RAM, a 16 megapixel camera and a huge 4,000 mAh battery to power a 5-inch flexible display that could jam as many as 560 pixels into each inch of screen real estate. Samsung had no immediate response to a request for comment, but certainly many Galaxy S4 owners won't be as speechless when the flagship phone they proudly brought home this year is eclipsed in less than the time it takes us all to make a single trip around the sun. What do you think? Is it too soon for a new Samsung flagship or never soon enough? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @crave and @ericcmack.

A Korean publication says the next generation Galaxy flagship running Android KitKat could launch shy of the S4's first birthday.

November 29, 2013 10:18 PM PST

The Galaxy S4 and S3 could have a new sibling sooner than later.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

The latest round of rumors has the presumed successor to Samsung's Galaxy S4, a more powerful Galaxy S5, sporting unicorn-esque specs, perhaps some new flexible materials, and craziest of all: Launching as little as ten months after the Galaxy S4 was introduced.

A Korean site reports that "industry sources" say production of the Galaxy S5 could begin in January with Samsung's next flagship phone shipping with Android KitKat and alongside a revamped Galaxy Gear 2 watch as early as February or March. That would be a few months ahead of many early-adopting Galaxy S4 owners' one-year anniversaries with their devices.

While this sounds like wishful thinking on the part of some overzealous reporter and a who-knows-how-well-infomed supply chain source, it's also not a crazy plan for the likes of Samsung. The Korean monolith has the ability to make just about anything on a massive scale as quickly as it likes and likely has no qualms with cannibalizing sales of its zillions of other smartphone models, including the Galaxy S4.

But more importantly, what kind of unicorn is Samsung's S5 team designing this time around?

The same report claims the phone could be available in a plastic case or a more premium model with a metal body, and will come loaded with some serious digital beef -- a 64-bit processor, 3 GB of RAM, a 16 megapixel camera and a huge 4,000 mAh battery to power a 5-inch flexible display that could jam as many as 560 pixels into each inch of screen real estate.

Samsung had no immediate response to a request for comment, but certainly many Galaxy S4 owners won't be as speechless when the flagship phone they proudly brought home this year is eclipsed in less than the time it takes us all to make a single trip around the sun.

What do you think? Is it too soon for a new Samsung flagship or never soon enough? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @crave and @ericcmack.

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Unexplained technical issues caused the rocket launch to be canceled for a second time in one week. November 29, 2013 5:07 PM PST SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Vandenburg Air Force Base in September. (Credit: SpaceX) SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket was slated to hurtle into outer space on Monday, but unusual pressure readings canceled the launch. Then, Falcon 9 was scheduled to have a famed Thanksgiving Day lift off; but, once again, the flight was nixed -- this time due to unexplained technical issues. It's been a tough week for SpaceX but that hasn't deterred the company from working to get its rocket aloft. SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk took to Twitter after the second canceled launch on Thursday to say that the company was playing it safe. "We called manual abort. Better to be paranoid and wrong. Bringing rocket down to borescope engines," Musk tweeted. The Falcon 9 is SpaceX's most powerful rocket. The nine-engine, 224-foot-tall rocket features a longer first stage and triple redundant flight computers. This week, the rocket was scheduled to blast off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and carry a SES-8 communications satellite for placement in orbit. While SpaceX has launched satellites before, this would have been the first time SpaceX launched a commercial communications satellite. Related stories Dream Chaser's first flight a success but with bumpy landing Drone captures SpaceX Grasshopper hitting 2,400 feet SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket, its largest to date The Hyperloop will soon have its own company behind it Simulation verdict: Elon Musk's Hyperloop needs tweaking "This launch is obviously very important to the future of SpaceX," Musk told reporters at a pre-launch reception on Sunday, according to USA Today. "We're very appreciative that SES would place a bet on SpaceX here." In September, an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket successfully placed a Canadian science satellite into orbit. Ever since NASA retired its space shuttle program in 2011, private companies like SpaceX, Sierra Nevada, and Boeing have been competing for contracts that would allow them to fly astronauts to the International Space Station. NASA has awarded SpaceX $1.6 billion to provide 12 cargo flights to deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. SpaceX is also gearing up to one day provide commercial flights into space. According to Reuters, SpaceX is attempting another launch of the Falcon 9 rocket on Friday.

Unexplained technical issues caused the rocket launch to be canceled for a second time in one week.

November 29, 2013 5:07 PM PST

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifting off from Vandenburg Air Force Base in September.

(Credit: SpaceX)

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket was slated to hurtle into outer space on Monday, but unusual pressure readings canceled the launch. Then, Falcon 9 was scheduled to have a famed Thanksgiving Day lift off; but, once again, the flight was nixed -- this time due to unexplained technical issues.

It's been a tough week for SpaceX but that hasn't deterred the company from working to get its rocket aloft. SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk took to Twitter after the second canceled launch on Thursday to say that the company was playing it safe.

"We called manual abort. Better to be paranoid and wrong. Bringing rocket down to borescope engines," Musk tweeted.

The Falcon 9 is SpaceX's most powerful rocket. The nine-engine, 224-foot-tall rocket features a longer first stage and triple redundant flight computers.

This week, the rocket was scheduled to blast off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and carry a SES-8 communications satellite for placement in orbit. While SpaceX has launched satellites before, this would have been the first time SpaceX launched a commercial communications satellite.

Related stories

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"This launch is obviously very important to the future of SpaceX," Musk told reporters at a pre-launch reception on Sunday, according to USA Today. "We're very appreciative that SES would place a bet on SpaceX here."

In September, an upgraded Falcon 9 rocket successfully placed a Canadian science satellite into orbit.

Ever since NASA retired its space shuttle program in 2011, private companies like SpaceX, Sierra Nevada, and Boeing have been competing for contracts that would allow them to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA has awarded SpaceX $1.6 billion to provide 12 cargo flights to deliver equipment and supplies to the International Space Station. SpaceX is also gearing up to one day provide commercial flights into space.

According to Reuters, SpaceX is attempting another launch of the Falcon 9 rocket on Friday.

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The tech giant and its court-appointed antitrust monitor are having a hard time seeing eye to eye. Apple is objecting to the lawyer's "excessive fees" and "inappropriate manner." by Desiree Everts DeNunzio November 29, 2013 3:34 PM PST Just a month after a US judge appointed an external monitor to keep Apple in compliance with antitrust laws, the tech giant is raising a big stink about the lawyer's fees and other issues. Following Apple's loss in court earlier this year, Judge Denise Cote tapped former Assistant US Attorney and Justice Department Inspector General Michael Bromwich to keep tabs on the company for the next two years. Bromwich's job as a monitor is to work from inside Apple to maintain the company's compliance with US antitrust laws. But now the two sides are having a hard time seeing eye to eye. That's not surprising, considering that Apple is known for its culture of secrecy, and Bromwich hails from a different background. He filled a similar, independent monitor role within the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia a little more than a decade ago, and more recently served as part of US oversight on the oil industry. Apple claims in its filing that it's being gouged by Bromwich. The company pointed to the $138,432.40 he charged for his first two weeks of work. "Mr. Bromwich appears to be simply taking advantage of the fact that there is no competition here or, in his view, any ability on the part of Apple, the subject of his authority, to push back on his demands," Apple said in a filing. Apple said that Bromwich's hourly rate of $1,100 is "excessive," according to the filing. The company said Bromwich also is retaining a partner at law firm Fried Frank to assist him at an hourly rate of $1,025. In addition, Apple complained that Bromwich has stepped out of line, "operating in an unfettered and inappropriate manner." The company claimed that Bromwich's requests to interview executives and board members, including Tim Cook, Al Gore, and Jony Ive, were "premature" and not in accordance with the judge's order. Bromwich, for his part, isn't too thrilled with Apple either. In a letter to Apple's board of directors, he complained that Apple hasn't been complying with his requests. "Our requests to meet with key Apple personnel have been largely ignored, and when not ignored the responses have been extremely slow in coming," he wrote. He briefly mentioned the disagreement over fees, but much of the letter reiterates his disappointment with the company. "Apple has sought for the past month to manage our relationship as though we are its outside counsel or consultant, to whom it can dictate terms and conditions, and whose approval is required before we can undertake our work," he wrote. The two years that Judge Cote asked Bromwich to monitor Apple is a shorter time span than the actual five-year injunction that Apple faces, but she said it can be extended by one or more one-year periods.

The tech giant and its court-appointed antitrust monitor are having a hard time seeing eye to eye. Apple is objecting to the lawyer's "excessive fees" and "inappropriate manner."

by Desiree Everts DeNunzio

November 29, 2013 3:34 PM PST

Just a month after a US judge appointed an external monitor to keep Apple in compliance with antitrust laws, the tech giant is raising a big stink about the lawyer's fees and other issues.

Following Apple's loss in court earlier this year, Judge Denise Cote tapped former Assistant US Attorney and Justice Department Inspector General Michael Bromwich to keep tabs on the company for the next two years. Bromwich's job as a monitor is to work from inside Apple to maintain the company's compliance with US antitrust laws.

But now the two sides are having a hard time seeing eye to eye. That's not surprising, considering that Apple is known for its culture of secrecy, and Bromwich hails from a different background. He filled a similar, independent monitor role within the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia a little more than a decade ago, and more recently served as part of US oversight on the oil industry.

Apple claims in its filing that it's being gouged by Bromwich. The company pointed to the $138,432.40 he charged for his first two weeks of work. "Mr. Bromwich appears to be simply taking advantage of the fact that there is no competition here or, in his view, any ability on the part of Apple, the subject of his authority, to push back on his demands," Apple said in a filing.

Apple said that Bromwich's hourly rate of $1,100 is "excessive," according to the filing. The company said Bromwich also is retaining a partner at law firm Fried Frank to assist him at an hourly rate of $1,025.

In addition, Apple complained that Bromwich has stepped out of line, "operating in an unfettered and inappropriate manner." The company claimed that Bromwich's requests to interview executives and board members, including Tim Cook, Al Gore, and Jony Ive, were "premature" and not in accordance with the judge's order.

Bromwich, for his part, isn't too thrilled with Apple either. In a letter to Apple's board of directors, he complained that Apple hasn't been complying with his requests. "Our requests to meet with key Apple personnel have been largely ignored, and when not ignored the responses have been extremely slow in coming," he wrote.

He briefly mentioned the disagreement over fees, but much of the letter reiterates his disappointment with the company. "Apple has sought for the past month to manage our relationship as though we are its outside counsel or consultant, to whom it can dictate terms and conditions, and whose approval is required before we can undertake our work," he wrote.

The two years that Judge Cote asked Bromwich to monitor Apple is a shorter time span than the actual five-year injunction that Apple faces, but she said it can be extended by one or more one-year periods.

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Just in time for Black Friday, the low-cost sibling to the Moto X pops up on the e-commerce giant with shipping starting on December 4. November 29, 2013 3:40 PM PST Motorola's Moto G. (Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET) Motorola surprised the smartphone world by launching its new Moto G cell phone on it Web site months early. Now, the device can also be bought on Amazon. The e-commerce giant began selling both the 8GB and 16GB versions of the smartphone on Friday. The prices are the same as Motorola, which has the 8GB going for $179 and the 16GB at $199. Amazon says that the device will start shipping on December 4, while Motorola will begin shipping on December 2. Related stories 'Touchless' Chrome's here: Prepare for more search shouting iPhone 5S or Galaxy S4 owner? What's your problem? Surprise! The $179 Moto G hits the US early Take a Moto X, please: Amazon drops price to a penny Verizon first in line for Moto X's KitKat update The Moto G is a less expensive version of Motorola's Moto X. The Moto X, which launched only in the US earlier this year, stands out to customers because they can tweak how the device looks with different colors and accents. The Moto G is being launched around the world, which could mean it'll sell better than its costlier predecessor. It has nearly an identical design to the Moto X and also offers a host of colors, 720p 4.5-inch display, and the Android Jellybean operating system. Initially, Motorola said it was planning to launch the Moto G in the US in January. However, the company surprised users by debuting the device in the US this week. In an interview, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside told CNET that early demand for the phone has been strong overseas and the company was able to ramp up the manufacturing process faster than anticipated. Via Android Central.

Just in time for Black Friday, the low-cost sibling to the Moto X pops up on the e-commerce giant with shipping starting on December 4.

November 29, 2013 3:40 PM PST

Motorola's Moto G.

(Credit: Andrew Hoyle/CNET)

Motorola surprised the smartphone world by launching its new Moto G cell phone on it Web site months early. Now, the device can also be bought on Amazon.

The e-commerce giant began selling both the 8GB and 16GB versions of the smartphone on Friday. The prices are the same as Motorola, which has the 8GB going for $179 and the 16GB at $199. Amazon says that the device will start shipping on December 4, while Motorola will begin shipping on December 2.

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• Surprise! The $179 Moto G hits the US early


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• Verizon first in line for Moto X's KitKat update

The Moto G is a less expensive version of Motorola's Moto X. The Moto X, which launched only in the US earlier this year, stands out to customers because they can tweak how the device looks with different colors and accents.

The Moto G is being launched around the world, which could mean it'll sell better than its costlier predecessor. It has nearly an identical design to the Moto X and also offers a host of colors, 720p 4.5-inch display, and the Android Jellybean operating system.

Initially, Motorola said it was planning to launch the Moto G in the US in January. However, the company surprised users by debuting the device in the US this week. In an interview, Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside told CNET that early demand for the phone has been strong overseas and the company was able to ramp up the manufacturing process faster than anticipated.

Via Android Central.

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The e-commerce giant doesn't seem too worried about thousands of German factory workers threatening to strike during the busy holiday season. November 29, 2013 2:40 PM PST A worker loading orders in one of Amazon's factories. (Credit: Amazon) Hundreds of trade union workers in Amazon's German factories have staged a series of strikes over the last year demanding better wages and working conditions. They're now planning a major strike for the holiday season. However, Amazon executives don't see too much cause for concern. "Snowfall in Germany is the bigger problem in the Christmas business...That is what gives me worry lines," Amazon's head for Germany, Ralf Kleber, told Reuters in an interview Friday. Next to the US, Germany is Amazon's second-biggest market. According to Reuters, the company's nine German distribution centers employ 9,000 warehouse staff plus an additional 14,000 seasonal workers. Over the last year, Amazon's sales in Germany grew by nearly 21 percent to $8.7 billion, which is a third of the company's total international sales. With e-commerce becoming increasingly more popular and the holiday season being the busiest time of year, it would seem that striking workers might put a dent in Amazon's factory efficiency and delivery timeliness. But Kleber maintains the company's deliveries have been unaffected by the strikes. "We are talking about a minority who take part in actions brought on by the union," Kleber told Reuters. "Amazon is a fair employer. Many of our workers have been with us for more than 14 years. The majority of workers would say it is a good, well-paid job." Related stories Amazon now a prime source for U.S. Cellular prepaids Amazon toy sale rubs Nickelodeon in Netflix's face From Bordeaux to Warhol: Amazon goes high-brow Amazon: Who says Black Friday can't start early? Amazon said to be working on new high-res Kindle Paperwhite Trade union Verdi workers employed in Amazon's distribution centers in Leipzig and Bad Hersfeld are behind the series of strikes. They are asking the e-commerce giant to sign an agreement that would give them pay and working conditions similar to the company's German competitors. According to Reuters, this dispute between Amazon and its workers led to roughly 1,000 employees walking out from German distribution centers on Monday. Kleber said that Amazon pays its factory workers well and doesn't drive them too hard. He added that distribution center work can be demanding, but that's part of the industry. "We are a logistics company," Kleber said. "Trucks arrive, are unloaded. Goods are sorted, packed, and loaded into trucks again." CNET contacted Amazon for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.

The e-commerce giant doesn't seem too worried about thousands of German factory workers threatening to strike during the busy holiday season.

November 29, 2013 2:40 PM PST

A worker loading orders in one of Amazon's factories.

(Credit: Amazon)

Hundreds of trade union workers in Amazon's German factories have staged a series of strikes over the last year demanding better wages and working conditions. They're now planning a major strike for the holiday season.

However, Amazon executives don't see too much cause for concern.

"Snowfall in Germany is the bigger problem in the Christmas business...That is what gives me worry lines," Amazon's head for Germany, Ralf Kleber, told Reuters in an interview Friday.

Next to the US, Germany is Amazon's second-biggest market. According to Reuters, the company's nine German distribution centers employ 9,000 warehouse staff plus an additional 14,000 seasonal workers. Over the last year, Amazon's sales in Germany grew by nearly 21 percent to $8.7 billion, which is a third of the company's total international sales.

With e-commerce becoming increasingly more popular and the holiday season being the busiest time of year, it would seem that striking workers might put a dent in Amazon's factory efficiency and delivery timeliness. But Kleber maintains the company's deliveries have been unaffected by the strikes.

"We are talking about a minority who take part in actions brought on by the union," Kleber told Reuters. "Amazon is a fair employer. Many of our workers have been with us for more than 14 years. The majority of workers would say it is a good, well-paid job."

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• Amazon said to be working on new high-res Kindle Paperwhite

Trade union Verdi workers employed in Amazon's distribution centers in Leipzig and Bad Hersfeld are behind the series of strikes. They are asking the e-commerce giant to sign an agreement that would give them pay and working conditions similar to the company's German competitors.

According to Reuters, this dispute between Amazon and its workers led to roughly 1,000 employees walking out from German distribution centers on Monday.

Kleber said that Amazon pays its factory workers well and doesn't drive them too hard. He added that distribution center work can be demanding, but that's part of the industry.

"We are a logistics company," Kleber said. "Trucks arrive, are unloaded. Goods are sorted, packed, and loaded into trucks again."

CNET contacted Amazon for comment. We'll update the story when we get more information.

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Noticed an especially full photo feed on Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah? You're not the only one -- it was the social network's busiest day ever. November 29, 2013 1:03 PM PST Thanksgiving 2013 was Instagram's busiest day yet. (Credit: Instagram) Photos of golden-crisp cooked turkeys, dark red cranberry sauce, family football, and the lighting of menorahs crowded Instagram on Thursday. In fact, so many people took to the photo-sharing social network that the company announced it was its busiest day ever. "We saw record usage as Instagrammers shared a heaping helping of holiday cheer," the company wrote in a blog post on Friday. "Your Thanksgiving and Hanukkah-related photos and videos helped make yesterday our busiest so far -- and for that we give thanks to you." Related stories CNET's Tech Turkeys of 2013 Eat your Instagrams in marshmallow form Focal shift: Press photogs riled by White House social media The end of an era as Winamp shuts down Instagram, Waze land on Windows Phone Thanksgiving this year was historic in that for the first time in 125 years it shared the same date as the first day of Hanukkah -- something that won't happen again for tens of thousands of years. So, not only did people post photos of deep fried turkey, turducken, and pumpkin pie, they also added images of fried latkes, wooden dreidels, and family time. In the three years since it launched, Instagram has grown tremendously. The social network says it now has 150 million active users worldwide. Earlier this month, the service -- which sold to Facebook for $1 billion last year -- announced that it was starting to run advertisements in an effort to monetize its business. While Instagram noted that Thanksgiving this year was its "busiest" day ever, the company didn't provide specific details on the numbers of users and photos uploaded.

Noticed an especially full photo feed on Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah? You're not the only one -- it was the social network's busiest day ever.

November 29, 2013 1:03 PM PST

Thanksgiving 2013 was Instagram's busiest day yet.

(Credit: Instagram)

Photos of golden-crisp cooked turkeys, dark red cranberry sauce, family football, and the lighting of menorahs crowded Instagram on Thursday. In fact, so many people took to the photo-sharing social network that the company announced it was its busiest day ever.

"We saw record usage as Instagrammers shared a heaping helping of holiday cheer," the company wrote in a blog post on Friday. "Your Thanksgiving and Hanukkah-related photos and videos helped make yesterday our busiest so far -- and for that we give thanks to you."

Related stories

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• Eat your Instagrams in marshmallow form


• Focal shift: Press photogs riled by White House social media


• The end of an era as Winamp shuts down


• Instagram, Waze land on Windows Phone

Thanksgiving this year was historic in that for the first time in 125 years it shared the same date as the first day of Hanukkah -- something that won't happen again for tens of thousands of years. So, not only did people post photos of deep fried turkey, turducken, and pumpkin pie, they also added images of fried latkes, wooden dreidels, and family time.

In the three years since it launched, Instagram has grown tremendously. The social network says it now has 150 million active users worldwide. Earlier this month, the service -- which sold to Facebook for $1 billion last year -- announced that it was starting to run advertisements in an effort to monetize its business.

While Instagram noted that Thanksgiving this year was its "busiest" day ever, the company didn't provide specific details on the numbers of users and photos uploaded.

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The Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, and Nexus 5 can be forced to reboot or lose their network connection if an attacker sends a large number of Flash SMS messages to them, PC World reports. by Desiree Everts DeNunzio November 29, 2013 12:47 PM PST (Credit: Josh Miller/CNET) Google's latest Nexus smartphones are vulnerable to an attack in which someone could force the phones to reboot or lose their network connection by sending them a large number of a certain kind of SMS message, according to PC World. Bogdan Alecu, a system administrator at Dutch IT services company Levi9, reportedly found that the vulnerability can occur when an attacker sends around 30 so-called Flash SMS messages -- messages that appear immediately on the phone's screen upon arrival -- to the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus 4, or the Nexus 5. If the messages aren't promptly dismissed, it opens the phones up for attack. Alecu plans to present his findings Friday at the DefCamp security conference in Bucharest, Romania. Related posts Black Friday deal week: Wild Wednesday Odin Mobile rejiggers Nexus 4 for blind users Android 4.4 KitKat starts to flavor Nexus 4 iPad Mini's Retina Display finishes last in small-screen review 8 off-contract smartphones compete without breaking the bank One of the problems that Nexus users face is that they won't be automatically alerted with an audio tone when a Flash SMS message is received, which could allow an attacker to send a lot of them quickly before they're noticed or dismissed, PC World reports. According to Alecu, the SMS overload can result in several issues, including the phone rebooting, which is the most likely outcome. In that case, if a PIN is required to unlock the SIM card, the phone won't connect to the network after rebooting. Another problem that can occur is that the messaging app crashes, but the system then automatically restarts it. Alecu told PC World that while the issue appears to affect the latest Nexus smartphones running Android versions Ice Cream Sandwich through KitKat, it hasn't worked on other phones he's tested. We've reached out to Google for comment on how the company plans to address the issue and will update this post when we learn more. Alecu told PC World that he reported the issue to Google, but it hasn't yet been addressed.

The Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, and Nexus 5 can be forced to reboot or lose their network connection if an attacker sends a large number of Flash SMS messages to them, PC World reports.

by Desiree Everts DeNunzio

November 29, 2013 12:47 PM PST

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Google's latest Nexus smartphones are vulnerable to an attack in which someone could force the phones to reboot or lose their network connection by sending them a large number of a certain kind of SMS message, according to PC World.

Bogdan Alecu, a system administrator at Dutch IT services company Levi9, reportedly found that the vulnerability can occur when an attacker sends around 30 so-called Flash SMS messages -- messages that appear immediately on the phone's screen upon arrival -- to the Galaxy Nexus, the Nexus 4, or the Nexus 5. If the messages aren't promptly dismissed, it opens the phones up for attack. Alecu plans to present his findings Friday at the DefCamp security conference in Bucharest, Romania.

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One of the problems that Nexus users face is that they won't be automatically alerted with an audio tone when a Flash SMS message is received, which could allow an attacker to send a lot of them quickly before they're noticed or dismissed, PC World reports.

According to Alecu, the SMS overload can result in several issues, including the phone rebooting, which is the most likely outcome. In that case, if a PIN is required to unlock the SIM card, the phone won't connect to the network after rebooting. Another problem that can occur is that the messaging app crashes, but the system then automatically restarts it.

Alecu told PC World that while the issue appears to affect the latest Nexus smartphones running Android versions Ice Cream Sandwich through KitKat, it hasn't worked on other phones he's tested.

We've reached out to Google for comment on how the company plans to address the issue and will update this post when we learn more. Alecu told PC World that he reported the issue to Google, but it hasn't yet been addressed.

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For just one week, Google is offering shoppers credit when they purchase the wireless Web-to-TV device that streams Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, and more. November 29, 2013 11:43 AM PST Google's Chromecast media app-to-TV broadcasting dongle. (Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) In the spirit of Black Friday, Google is offering shoppers credit if they buy the Chromecast video dongle within the next week. Related stories Chromecast jumps on HBO Go's dragon bandwagon Sling ups the app ante: Android and iOS updates add Roku support, Windows 8 app on deck Chromecast adds Pandora to short list of apps so far Between Friday and December 7, a Chromecast purchase will get users a $6 credit on Google Play that can be used for an HD movie rental or anything else in the online store. The credit cannot be used toward a discount on devices or subscriptions, it's only for items $6 or less. To get the deal, shoppers can buy Chromecast at several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and on Google Play. Google's Chromecast is like a more limited version of an Apple TV or Roku. It's a small wireless video dongle that streams Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and Chrome to television sets using Android or iOS tablets as remotes. It retails for $35. Via The Verge.

For just one week, Google is offering shoppers credit when they purchase the wireless Web-to-TV device that streams Netflix, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, and more.

November 29, 2013 11:43 AM PST

Google's Chromecast media app-to-TV broadcasting dongle.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

In the spirit of Black Friday, Google is offering shoppers credit if they buy the Chromecast video dongle within the next week.

Related stories

• Chromecast jumps on HBO Go's dragon bandwagon


• Sling ups the app ante: Android and iOS updates add Roku support, Windows 8 app on deck


• Chromecast adds Pandora to short list of apps so far

Between Friday and December 7, a Chromecast purchase will get users a $6 credit on Google Play that can be used for an HD movie rental or anything else in the online store. The credit cannot be used toward a discount on devices or subscriptions, it's only for items $6 or less.

To get the deal, shoppers can buy Chromecast at several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and on Google Play.

Google's Chromecast is like a more limited version of an Apple TV or Roku. It's a small wireless video dongle that streams Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and Chrome to television sets using Android or iOS tablets as remotes. It retails for $35.

Via The Verge.

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The Southeast Asian nation is serving up harsh penalties, including fines and prison time, to people who post "propaganda against the state" on Facebook, Twitter, and other sites. November 29, 2013 10:49 AM PST The Vietnamese government is increasingly censoring its citizens online. The country's capital, Hanoi, is shown in the above photograph. (Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET) Vietnam is joining the ranks of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China, as being known as a country that censors its citizens on social media. The government introduced a new law this week that fines people $4,740 for posting comments critical of the government on social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, according to Reuters. Some people could also face extensive prison terms. While the law is unclear about what kind of speech sparks government censorship, it does says that "propaganda against the state" and "reactionary ideology" would elicit fines. Vietnam's communist government has increasingly censored its citizens' free speech over the past few years. According to Reuters, arrests and convictions for criticizing the government online has skyrocketed the last four years. Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the Vietnamese government for its crackdown on free speech. In a report published earlier this month, the group lists 75 prisoners of conscience in Vietnam who were jailed for alleged "propaganda" against the government. Some of these prisoners face harsh conditions, like solitary confinement and torture. "Vietnam is fast turning into one of South East Asia's largest prisons for human rights defenders and other activists," Amnesty International Vietnam researcher Rupert Abbot said in a statement. "The government's alarming clampdown on free speech has to end." Related stories Schmidt: Censorship could vanish within a decade 'Sex Criminals' still under review at Apple 'Say no to Internet censorship' petition nears 100K signatures China vows to shut down unapproved mobile news apps Facebook, Twitter once again on the outs in Iran Advocacy group Reporters Without Borders also named Vietnam an "enemy of the Internet" for the last several years in a row. In its most recent report published in March, the group said the Vietnamese government is one of the most repressive in terms of Internet censorship and extensive government surveillance. Vietnam isn't the only country that censors its residents on social media sites. Several countries in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Bahrain, either censor of forbid social networking. China is also known for extreme censorship when it comes to social media and blogging. In a recent Global Transparency Report, Google said that it has seen an alarming incidence in government requests to gather information on their citizens. Some of the top offending countries in Google's report include the US, India, and Germany.

The Southeast Asian nation is serving up harsh penalties, including fines and prison time, to people who post "propaganda against the state" on Facebook, Twitter, and other sites.

November 29, 2013 10:49 AM PST

The Vietnamese government is increasingly censoring its citizens online. The country's capital, Hanoi, is shown in the above photograph.

(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET)

Vietnam is joining the ranks of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China, as being known as a country that censors its citizens on social media.

The government introduced a new law this week that fines people $4,740 for posting comments critical of the government on social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, according to Reuters. Some people could also face extensive prison terms.

While the law is unclear about what kind of speech sparks government censorship, it does says that "propaganda against the state" and "reactionary ideology" would elicit fines.

Vietnam's communist government has increasingly censored its citizens' free speech over the past few years. According to Reuters, arrests and convictions for criticizing the government online has skyrocketed the last four years.

Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the Vietnamese government for its crackdown on free speech. In a report published earlier this month, the group lists 75 prisoners of conscience in Vietnam who were jailed for alleged "propaganda" against the government. Some of these prisoners face harsh conditions, like solitary confinement and torture.

"Vietnam is fast turning into one of South East Asia's largest prisons for human rights defenders and other activists," Amnesty International Vietnam researcher Rupert Abbot said in a statement. "The government's alarming clampdown on free speech has to end."

Related stories

• Schmidt: Censorship could vanish within a decade


• 'Sex Criminals' still under review at Apple


• 'Say no to Internet censorship' petition nears 100K signatures


• China vows to shut down unapproved mobile news apps


• Facebook, Twitter once again on the outs in Iran

Advocacy group Reporters Without Borders also named Vietnam an "enemy of the Internet" for the last several years in a row. In its most recent report published in March, the group said the Vietnamese government is one of the most repressive in terms of Internet censorship and extensive government surveillance.

Vietnam isn't the only country that censors its residents on social media sites. Several countries in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Bahrain, either censor of forbid social networking. China is also known for extreme censorship when it comes to social media and blogging.

In a recent Global Transparency Report, Google said that it has seen an alarming incidence in government requests to gather information on their citizens. Some of the top offending countries in Google's report include the US, India, and Germany.

Read More

The sun-grazing comet spent Thanksgiving visiting our neighborhood star, and seems to have emerged from its shadow to tell the tale. November 29, 2013 10:04 AM PST ISON (or fragments thereof) emerges from behind the sun on its path back out of the solar system and past Earth. (Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO/GSFC) It made for perhaps the nerdiest Thanksgiving moment ever when I plugged a Google Chromecast into my mother's TV on Thursday and proceeded to put a live NASA Google+ Hangout on Comet ISON's sun-grazing journey on the screen in the living room. By the time all the pumpkin pie had been knocked back and the turkey set to work lulling me into a coma, ISON had failed to emerge from the sun's shadow after reaching perihelion, leading many observers to conclude that the comet had been destroyed by its close encounter with the massive nuclear furnace at the center of our galactic cul-de-sac. ISON is a breed of comet fresh in from the Oort Cloud, the likes of which have not been observed from Earth in many years. If it were to survive perihelion, it would be flung back out to deep space, perhaps giving off a spectacular light show for us on planet No. 3 in the process. That's the best-case scenario. Worst-case scenario is that ISON is basically swallowed by the sun, and for most of Thursday that seemed to be the actual-case scenario as well. Then NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite sent back an image that seemed to show...something. Here's how NASA's Karen Fox described it in a blog post: The question remains whether it is merely debris from the comet, or if some portion of the comet's nucleus survived, but late-night analysis from scientists with NASA's Comet ISON Observing Campaign suggest that there is at least a small nucleus intact. In other words, Comet ISON seems to have survived in some form, but it's not yet clear if what remains of it will put on the spectacular light show in the coming weeks that we've been hearing about for months now. Fox says ISON has been behaving in unexpected ways, so the way its long-anticipated Thanksgiving perihelion went down seems true to form. Now it's time to sit back and await the big show...or the big disappointment. Meanwhile, NASA created an elegant GIF of ISON's encounter with the sun.

The sun-grazing comet spent Thanksgiving visiting our neighborhood star, and seems to have emerged from its shadow to tell the tale.

November 29, 2013 10:04 AM PST

ISON (or fragments thereof) emerges from behind the sun on its path back out of the solar system and past Earth.

(Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO/GSFC)

It made for perhaps the nerdiest Thanksgiving moment ever when I plugged a Google Chromecast into my mother's TV on Thursday and proceeded to put a live NASA Google+ Hangout on Comet ISON's sun-grazing journey on the screen in the living room.

By the time all the pumpkin pie had been knocked back and the turkey set to work lulling me into a coma, ISON had failed to emerge from the sun's shadow after reaching perihelion, leading many observers to conclude that the comet had been destroyed by its close encounter with the massive nuclear furnace at the center of our galactic cul-de-sac.

ISON is a breed of comet fresh in from the Oort Cloud, the likes of which have not been observed from Earth in many years. If it were to survive perihelion, it would be flung back out to deep space, perhaps giving off a spectacular light show for us on planet No. 3 in the process.

That's the best-case scenario. Worst-case scenario is that ISON is basically swallowed by the sun, and for most of Thursday that seemed to be the actual-case scenario as well.

Then NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite sent back an image that seemed to show...something. Here's how NASA's Karen Fox described it in a blog post:

The question remains whether it is merely debris from the comet, or if some portion of the comet's nucleus survived, but late-night analysis from scientists with NASA's Comet ISON Observing Campaign suggest that there is at least a small nucleus intact.

In other words, Comet ISON seems to have survived in some form, but it's not yet clear if what remains of it will put on the spectacular light show in the coming weeks that we've been hearing about for months now.

Fox says ISON has been behaving in unexpected ways, so the way its long-anticipated Thanksgiving perihelion went down seems true to form. Now it's time to sit back and await the big show...or the big disappointment.

Meanwhile, NASA created an elegant GIF of ISON's encounter with the sun.

Read More

Black Friday offers now abound across the world. Everyone seems to be catching on to the joyous consumerist festivities around Thanksgiving. A Black Friday 'hola' from Spain. (Credit: Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) This week, America's retailers have put on their finest makeup and highest heels in order to make themselves supremely attractive. My inbox has been full of enticements, all to celebrate the Feast of the Black Eye Friday. One seductive missive caught my eye, though. It promised: "Black Friday, sólo 3 días con ofertas irrepetibles?." Well, I suppose my name does look a little Spanish after a few sangrias. The offers were, of course, very special. A Lenovo Intel Core i7, for example. A mere 579. A Bosch washing machine for just 289. It was then that my brain intercepted my eyes and whispered: "Hey, those prices are in euros." This was, indeed, an e-mail from the Spanish department store El Corte Ingles. Oh, don't ask how I got on the mailing list. (Soccer aficionados will understand if I say I'm a Real Betis fan.) Ask what on Earth El Corte Ingles is doing celebrating Black Friday. More Technically Incorrect Your traditional Black Friday Walmart gadget brawl footage Google's gorgeous Thanksgiving doodle: Everyone can contribute Restaurant on Google Glasser: Man-child stinking up the joint It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says New Surface ads, old story: iPad is a lump of coal What used to be an American phenomenon (especially the Fight Club brawls over cheap TVs) has gone worldwide. As CNBC reports, there's scarcely a country that doesn't try to emulate America's need to put shopping before (and after) eating. It seems that Black Friday and Cyber Monday, celebrated on the very same days everywhere, are consistently the two days on which worldwide shopping reaches its peaks. Michael DeSimone, CEO of Borderfree, a company that works with major retailers to customize their online retail in different languages, told CNBC: "In the Middle East much of the population doesn't even celebrate Christmas, but they are still shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so I think it's an interesting way that we have sort of exported our American retail culture." They watch our movies. They listen to our music. They worship our shopping days. One reason that retailers in, for example, Australia are offering Black Friday bargains is that they feel the need to compete with American retailers who, naturally, think everywhere is America. How sad it would be if, the world over, these two days became symbols of rampant consumerism. Why can't America take on a few more traditions from overseas, at least to keep world culture in balance? I, for one, would definitely favor a Pamplona-style running of the bulls toward every store that opens early on Thanksgiving.

Black Friday offers now abound across the world. Everyone seems to be catching on to the joyous consumerist festivities around Thanksgiving.

A Black Friday 'hola' from Spain.

(Credit: Screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

This week, America's retailers have put on their finest makeup and highest heels in order to make themselves supremely attractive.

My inbox has been full of enticements, all to celebrate the Feast of the Black Eye Friday.

One seductive missive caught my eye, though. It promised: "Black Friday, sólo 3 días con ofertas irrepetibles?."

Well, I suppose my name does look a little Spanish after a few sangrias.

The offers were, of course, very special. A Lenovo Intel Core i7, for example. A mere 579. A Bosch washing machine for just 289.

It was then that my brain intercepted my eyes and whispered: "Hey, those prices are in euros."

This was, indeed, an e-mail from the Spanish department store El Corte Ingles. Oh, don't ask how I got on the mailing list. (Soccer aficionados will understand if I say I'm a Real Betis fan.) Ask what on Earth El Corte Ingles is doing celebrating Black Friday.

More Technically Incorrect

• Your traditional Black Friday Walmart gadget brawl footage


• Google's gorgeous Thanksgiving doodle: Everyone can contribute


• Restaurant on Google Glasser: Man-child stinking up the joint


• It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says


• New Surface ads, old story: iPad is a lump of coal

What used to be an American phenomenon (especially the Fight Club brawls over cheap TVs) has gone worldwide.

As CNBC reports, there's scarcely a country that doesn't try to emulate America's need to put shopping before (and after) eating.

It seems that Black Friday and Cyber Monday, celebrated on the very same days everywhere, are consistently the two days on which worldwide shopping reaches its peaks.

Michael DeSimone, CEO of Borderfree, a company that works with major retailers to customize their online retail in different languages, told CNBC: "In the Middle East much of the population doesn't even celebrate Christmas, but they are still shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so I think it's an interesting way that we have sort of exported our American retail culture."

They watch our movies. They listen to our music. They worship our shopping days.

One reason that retailers in, for example, Australia are offering Black Friday bargains is that they feel the need to compete with American retailers who, naturally, think everywhere is America.

How sad it would be if, the world over, these two days became symbols of rampant consumerism.

Why can't America take on a few more traditions from overseas, at least to keep world culture in balance?

I, for one, would definitely favor a Pamplona-style running of the bulls toward every store that opens early on Thanksgiving.

Read More

In an unusual twist that goes against its traditional Black Friday plans, Apple is offering gift cards up to $150 instead of straight product discounts. by Desiree Everts DeNunzio November 29, 2013 8:23 AM PST (Credit: Apple) Don't go to Apple's online and retail stores expecting to see its traditional Black Friday discounts. This year, Apple's thrown in a bit of twist to its holiday deals. Today Apple is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you purchase a gadget through its US online and retails outlets. This is a divergence from years past, when it would discount the products themselves. If you pick up a new iPad Mini or iPad 2, expect to get a $50 Apple Store gift card. The iPad Air is worthy of a $75 gift card. And if you buy a new iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, you can score a $150 gift card. Related posts Tablets outdo phones when closing holiday-shopping deals Black Friday deal week: The big day Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says Retailers set to offer Bitcoin Black Friday deals That's still less than what some other retail outlets are offering. Target, for instance, is touting an iPad Air for $479 (it's usually $499) with a $100 gift card to its stores. That's an in-store only offer. And at Walmart, you can get the iPhone 5S for $189 (its original price is $199) and the iPhone 5c (typically $99) for $45 with a two-year contract. After signing the contract, you'll get a $75 Walmart gift card. Apple appears to be going the usual route in Europe, by offering standard discounts on its hardware as opposed to the gift cards. The gift cards offering is only in Apple's US and Australian online and retail stores. We've reached out to Apple for comment on the Black Friday changes and will update this post when we hear back.

In an unusual twist that goes against its traditional Black Friday plans, Apple is offering gift cards up to $150 instead of straight product discounts.

by Desiree Everts DeNunzio

November 29, 2013 8:23 AM PST

(Credit: Apple)

Don't go to Apple's online and retail stores expecting to see its traditional Black Friday discounts. This year, Apple's thrown in a bit of twist to its holiday deals.

Today Apple is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you purchase a gadget through its US online and retails outlets. This is a divergence from years past, when it would discount the products themselves.

If you pick up a new iPad Mini or iPad 2, expect to get a $50 Apple Store gift card. The iPad Air is worthy of a $75 gift card. And if you buy a new iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, you can score a $150 gift card.

Related posts

• Tablets outdo phones when closing holiday-shopping deals


• Black Friday deal week: The big day


• Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday


• It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says


• Retailers set to offer Bitcoin Black Friday deals

That's still less than what some other retail outlets are offering. Target, for instance, is touting an iPad Air for $479 (it's usually $499) with a $100 gift card to its stores. That's an in-store only offer. And at Walmart, you can get the iPhone 5S for $189 (its original price is $199) and the iPhone 5c (typically $99) for $45 with a two-year contract. After signing the contract, you'll get a $75 Walmart gift card.

Apple appears to be going the usual route in Europe, by offering standard discounts on its hardware as opposed to the gift cards. The gift cards offering is only in Apple's US and Australian online and retail stores.

We've reached out to Apple for comment on the Black Friday changes and will update this post when we hear back.

Read More

In an unusual twist that goes against its traditional Black Friday plans, Apple is offering gift cards up to $150 instead of straight product discounts. by Desiree Everts DeNunzio November 29, 2013 8:23 AM PST Black Friday, Apple-style. (Credit: Apple) Don't go to Apple's online and retail stores expecting to see the iPad maker's traditional Black Friday discounts. This year, Apple has thrown in a bit of twist to its holiday deals. Today Apple is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you purchase a gadget through its US online and retails outlets. This is a divergence from years past, when it would discount the products themselves. If you pick up a new iPad Mini or iPad 2, expect to get a $50 Apple Store gift card. The iPad Air is worthy of a $75 gift card. And if you buy a new iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, you can score a $150 gift card. Related posts Your traditional Black Friday Walmart gadget brawl footage Tablets outdo phones when closing holiday-shopping deals Black Friday deal week: The big day Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says That's still less than what some other retail outlets are offering. Target, for instance, is touting an iPad Air for $479 (it's usually $499) with a $100 gift card to its stores. That's an in-store only offer. And at Walmart, you can get the iPhone 5S for $189 (its original price is $199) and the iPhone 5C (typically $99) for $45 with a two-year contract. After signing the contract, you'll get a $75 Walmart gift card. Apple appears to be going the usual route in Europe, by offering standard discounts on its hardware as opposed to the gift cards. The gift cards offering is only in Apple's US and Australian online and retail stores. We've reached out to Apple for comment on the Black Friday changes and will update this post when we hear back.

In an unusual twist that goes against its traditional Black Friday plans, Apple is offering gift cards up to $150 instead of straight product discounts.

by Desiree Everts DeNunzio November 29, 2013 8:23 AM PST

Black Friday, Apple-style.

(Credit: Apple)

Don't go to Apple's online and retail stores expecting to see the iPad maker's traditional Black Friday discounts. This year, Apple has thrown in a bit of twist to its holiday deals.

Today Apple is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you purchase a gadget through its US online and retails outlets. This is a divergence from years past, when it would discount the products themselves.

If you pick up a new iPad Mini or iPad 2, expect to get a $50 Apple Store gift card. The iPad Air is worthy of a $75 gift card. And if you buy a new iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, you can score a $150 gift card.

Related posts

• Your traditional Black Friday Walmart gadget brawl footage


• Tablets outdo phones when closing holiday-shopping deals


• Black Friday deal week: The big day


• Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday


• It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says

That's still less than what some other retail outlets are offering. Target, for instance, is touting an iPad Air for $479 (it's usually $499) with a $100 gift card to its stores. That's an in-store only offer. And at Walmart, you can get the iPhone 5S for $189 (its original price is $199) and the iPhone 5C (typically $99) for $45 with a two-year contract. After signing the contract, you'll get a $75 Walmart gift card.

Apple appears to be going the usual route in Europe, by offering standard discounts on its hardware as opposed to the gift cards. The gift cards offering is only in Apple's US and Australian online and retail stores.

We've reached out to Apple for comment on the Black Friday changes and will update this post when we hear back.

Read More

Somehow, the early beginning to Black Friday shopping didn't deter people from storming after their favorite gadget bargains. November 29, 2013 8:42 AM PST And so the police intervene. (Credit: TheBlackhawk715/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET) You might still be digesting your meal of vast gratitude. Indeed, you might have barely begun to digest it when many of your fellow humans lined up outside America's retailers to express their buyer's enthusiasm. For Black Friday came early on Thanksgiving this year. Which means the fights over gadgets at Walmart did too. A quick trawl of YouTube already reveals at least one brawl. More Technically Incorrect Google's gorgeous Thanksgiving doodle: Everyone can contribute Restaurant on Google Glasser: Man-child stinking up the joint It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says New Surface ads, old story: iPad is a lump of coal Microsoft's latest Scroogled ad: Chromebook's 'a brick' At this unnamed Walmart, there is frenzy beyond Bieberism. Yes, this is consumerism. There are cheap TVs to be had, and many people are desperate to have them. Shouts of "STOP!" are heard. But who can stop when the bargains are this good? Who can even muster any sense of control when Thanksgiving can be made more meaningful with one little purchase of a big TV? So it is left to the police to restore order. Two officers pin a woman to the ground, presumably for the offense of having torn the TV from another woman's grasp. A lady from Walmart shouts, apparently toward the person filming this pastoral scene. "STOP! STOP NOW!!" she screams. You might think this was an isolated incident, but, as the Sun reports, one police officer was taken to a hospital after a skirmish at the Walmart in Rialto, Calif. The store had decided to open even earlier than its scheduled 8 p.m. because 3,000 people had already gathered for the communal feasting on bargains. Perhaps they should rename it Black Eye Friday.

Somehow, the early beginning to Black Friday shopping didn't deter people from storming after their favorite gadget bargains.

November 29, 2013 8:42 AM PST

And so the police intervene.

(Credit: TheBlackhawk715/YouTube screenshot by Chris Matyszczyk/CNET)

You might still be digesting your meal of vast gratitude.

Indeed, you might have barely begun to digest it when many of your fellow humans lined up outside America's retailers to express their buyer's enthusiasm.

For Black Friday came early on Thanksgiving this year.

Which means the fights over gadgets at Walmart did too.

A quick trawl of YouTube already reveals at least one brawl.

More Technically Incorrect

• Google's gorgeous Thanksgiving doodle: Everyone can contribute


• Restaurant on Google Glasser: Man-child stinking up the joint


• It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says


• New Surface ads, old story: iPad is a lump of coal


• Microsoft's latest Scroogled ad: Chromebook's 'a brick'

At this unnamed Walmart, there is frenzy beyond Bieberism. Yes, this is consumerism.

There are cheap TVs to be had, and many people are desperate to have them.

Shouts of "STOP!" are heard. But who can stop when the bargains are this good? Who can even muster any sense of control when Thanksgiving can be made more meaningful with one little purchase of a big TV?

So it is left to the police to restore order.

Two officers pin a woman to the ground, presumably for the offense of having torn the TV from another woman's grasp.

A lady from Walmart shouts, apparently toward the person filming this pastoral scene.

"STOP! STOP NOW!!" she screams.

You might think this was an isolated incident, but, as the Sun reports, one police officer was taken to a hospital after a skirmish at the Walmart in Rialto, Calif.

The store had decided to open even earlier than its scheduled 8 p.m. because 3,000 people had already gathered for the communal feasting on bargains.

Perhaps they should rename it Black Eye Friday.

Read More

For online shopping, smartphones are good for browsing but tablets are used more when it's time to make a purchase. Also, iOS outdoes Android. November 29, 2013 7:35 AM PST iOS outdid Android for both the amount of traffic to online sales sites and for the amount of purchasing. (Credit: IBM) When it's time to actually spend the money in the mobile-device era, tablets were used 55 percent more often than phones during Thanksgiving-day shopping. Traffic from phones outpaced that of tablet for browsing sites, with phones accounting for 26.6 percent of visits to 15.3 for tablets, according to IBM data harvested from 800 retailers' e-commerce sites. But for purchasing, tablets were used 83 percent more often: tablets were used for 16.5 percent of purchases compared to 9 percent for phones. The mobile era is no longer a novelty, but the tech industry and customers are still adjusting to phones and tablets that have much of the power of a personal computer from earlier days. Mobile devices accounted for 42.6 percent of online traffic, an increase of 32 percent compared last year. Mobile sales grew even faster, up 49 percent and accounting for 25.8 percent of purchases, IBM said. Related stories Black Friday deal week: The big day Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says Retailers set to offer Bitcoin Black Friday deals As tablets grow more powerful and acquire detachable keyboards, though, the line separating them from personal computers is getting blurrier. iOS was more actively used than Android in IBM's data, a trend that's common for mobile-device activity in general. Specifically, iOS devices accounted for 21 percent of sales where Android devices accounted only for 4.6 percent, IBM said. iOS users spent more, too -- $122 per order vs $106 for Android. And site traffic from iOS was higher 30 percent compared to 12 percent for Android. Big Blue also studied which sites referred traffic to the online sales. There, Facebook outdid Pinterest. A Facebook referral was 2.8 times more likely to result in a sale, and the average order was worth $106 for a Facebook referral and $103 for a Pinterest order.

For online shopping, smartphones are good for browsing but tablets are used more when it's time to make a purchase. Also, iOS outdoes Android.

November 29, 2013 7:35 AM PST

iOS outdid Android for both the amount of traffic to online sales sites and for the amount of purchasing.

(Credit: IBM)

When it's time to actually spend the money in the mobile-device era, tablets were used 55 percent more often than phones during Thanksgiving-day shopping.

Traffic from phones outpaced that of tablet for browsing sites, with phones accounting for 26.6 percent of visits to 15.3 for tablets, according to IBM data harvested from 800 retailers' e-commerce sites. But for purchasing, tablets were used 83 percent more often: tablets were used for 16.5 percent of purchases compared to 9 percent for phones.

The mobile era is no longer a novelty, but the tech industry and customers are still adjusting to phones and tablets that have much of the power of a personal computer from earlier days.

Mobile devices accounted for 42.6 percent of online traffic, an increase of 32 percent compared last year. Mobile sales grew even faster, up 49 percent and accounting for 25.8 percent of purchases, IBM said.

Related stories

• Black Friday deal week: The big day


• Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday


• It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says


• Retailers set to offer Bitcoin Black Friday deals

As tablets grow more powerful and acquire detachable keyboards, though, the line separating them from personal computers is getting blurrier.

iOS was more actively used than Android in IBM's data, a trend that's common for mobile-device activity in general.

Specifically, iOS devices accounted for 21 percent of sales where Android devices accounted only for 4.6 percent, IBM said. iOS users spent more, too -- $122 per order vs $106 for Android.

And site traffic from iOS was higher 30 percent compared to 12 percent for Android.

Big Blue also studied which sites referred traffic to the online sales. There, Facebook outdid Pinterest. A Facebook referral was 2.8 times more likely to result in a sale, and the average order was worth $106 for a Facebook referral and $103 for a Pinterest order.

Read More

Dive into four new books that use Legos to depict gripping moments in history and lit, from Shakespeare's plays to a fateful motorcade in Dallas. November 29, 2013 4:00 AM PST John Wilkes Booth readies the killing shot on President Abraham Lincoln in the new book "Assassinated!" The book showcases the attempts on the lives of 12 US presidents. (Credit: Brendan Powell Smith/Assassinated!) You've seen the picture a thousand times. John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, sit in the back of the limousine. It's the final moments of JFK's life, as seconds later, the president would be gunned down. But you've never seen it like this before -- made entirely out of Legos. That scene, and others from the assassination attempts on the lives of 12 American presidents, are featured in " Shakespeare, tanks, and JFK's motorcade, in Legos (pictures) 1-2 of 18 Scroll Left Scroll Right The book is oddly educational: Did you know that Osama bin Laden tried to kill Bill Clinton in Manila in 1996, for example? "Assassination!" is just one of four new books from Skyhorse Publishing that showcase history and human achievement using nothing but Legos. In "Badass Bricks," Jake Mackay shows us how to use Legos to build 35 different famous weapons, while in "Extreme Bricks," Sarah Herman highlights dozens of gorgeous, artistic, Lego projects from a wide range of builders. And finally, in "Brick Shakespeare," Monica Sweeney, Becky Thomas, and John McCann present "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Julius Caesar" in Legos. The new books follow on other recent Lego book projects, including "Beautiful Lego," by Mike Doyle, and "Lego Space: Building the Future," by Peter Reid and Tim Goddard.

Dive into four new books that use Legos to depict gripping moments in history and lit, from Shakespeare's plays to a fateful motorcade in Dallas.

November 29, 2013 4:00 AM PST

John Wilkes Booth readies the killing shot on President Abraham Lincoln in the new book "Assassinated!" The book showcases the attempts on the lives of 12 US presidents.

(Credit: Brendan Powell Smith/Assassinated!)

You've seen the picture a thousand times. John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, sit in the back of the limousine. It's the final moments of JFK's life, as seconds later, the president would be gunned down. But you've never seen it like this before -- made entirely out of Legos.

That scene, and others from the assassination attempts on the lives of 12 American presidents, are featured in "

Shakespeare, tanks, and JFK's motorcade, in Legos (pictures)

1-2 of 18

Scroll Left Scroll Right

The book is oddly educational: Did you know that Osama bin Laden tried to kill Bill Clinton in Manila in 1996, for example?

"Assassination!" is just one of four new books from Skyhorse Publishing that showcase history and human achievement using nothing but Legos. In "Badass Bricks," Jake Mackay shows us how to use Legos to build 35 different famous weapons, while in "Extreme Bricks," Sarah Herman highlights dozens of gorgeous, artistic, Lego projects from a wide range of builders.

And finally, in "Brick Shakespeare," Monica Sweeney, Becky Thomas, and John McCann present "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Julius Caesar" in Legos.

The new books follow on other recent Lego book projects, including "Beautiful Lego," by Mike Doyle, and "Lego Space: Building the Future," by Peter Reid and Tim Goddard.

Read More

The chip giant has been working on "perceptual computing" technology that will drive more immersive gaming, detection of biometrics, and other uses. Anil Nanduri, an Intel executive working on perceptual computing, demos technology that senses users' individual fingers. (Credit: Shara Tibken/CNET) SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- If the next big wave in devices turns out to be gestures and eye tracking, Intel wants to be ready. Intel is the king of PCs, but it hasn't always been ahead of evolving innovations. Its processors power more than 80 percent of the world's computers and the vast majority of its servers, but Intel has made little headway in smartphones and tablets. To spur interest in PCs again, as well as persuade more mobile device makers to use its chips, Intel has devoted significant resources and efforts to something it calls "perceptual computing." Perceptual computing may sound like a jargony, marketing term, but it does just what it says -- it uses the senses to help technology interpret what's going on around it. Those features, such as gestures, facial recognition, and voice recognition, should all make devices more "natural, intuitive, and immersive," says Anil Nanduri, one of the Intel executives in charge of the company's efforts in perceptual computing. Inside Intel's perceptual computing lab (pictures) 1-2 of 8 Scroll Left Scroll Right The goal is getting "sensory inputs that make [computers] more human like," Nanduri said. "Once you give computers the ability to assess depth, a lot of wonderful things can happen." Devices will be able to sense emotion and detect a person's biometric data simply using a camera. They'll be able to carry on conversations with users and understand context -- or what "play me some jazz" means -- instead of simply following commands. Computers will be able to pick out individual fingers instead of simply recognizing an entire hand or the fact that a person is present. And they'll create more immersive augmented reality, such as digital versions of children's pop-up books. In the case of Intel, the company is placing particular emphasis on vision and teaching devices to recognize depth. That's made possible through 3D cameras. The company has partnered with Creative on 3D cameras, which should show up integrated into devices such as PCs and tablets in the second half of 2014. "Once you give computers the ability to assess depth, a lot of wonderful things can happen." --Intel's Anil Nanduri A big pitfall for companies like Intel is the hyper focus on speeds and feeds, making technology that's the most powerful without necessarily considering all the ways it might be used. For perceptual computing, Intel says it's starting with software and users first and then moving to the hardware. To do that, Intel released a software development kit last year to get developers interested in the technology. Since that time, the SDK has been downloaded more than 26,000 times. Intel is so serious about perceptual computing that it has even sponsored contests -- with $100 million in prizes -- to get app developers interested in the technology. Intel will announce the latest crop of winners soon. "For the users, what am I getting for it?" Nanduri said. "That's why we started a year early, focusing on the ecosystem more so than talking about bringing this into hardware or a device." Yuriy Kozachuk, an application engineer in Intel's perceptual computing lab, demos technology that tracks facial expressions and translates them to characters in a game. (Credit: Shara Tibken/CNET) But now Intel believes the ecosystem has advanced enough that it's time to talk hardware. Devices will show up next year that contain elements of Intel's perceptual computing efforts. And it hopes all of those will use its chips. Technically, some features could be possible using chips such as those from Qualcomm. However, Intel says the amount of horsepower needed to run the features smoothly will require its higher-end chips. Initially, the perceptual computing features will only work with Intel's Core line traditionally used in PCs and some tablets, not its lower-power Atom line used in mobile devices. However, the company plans to eventually make the features run on its more energy efficient processors, and it's also adding accelerators, tools, and graphics to its chips to take advantage of the perceptual computing capabilities. "We're already thinking ahead and looking at the use cases people need two to three years out from now and putting them into our silicon," Nanduri said. Some elements of perceptual computing have already shown up in products. The Kinect for Microsoft's Xbox is one example, as are Siri and Google Now for voice recognition. However, Intel says it's taking those a step further by focusing on short-range interaction of less than a meter. That means the technology needs a very fine level of recognition, with the ability to pick out specific fingers instead of just noticing an arm or if entire person is present. But it still will be a challenge for Intel to make features that are truly useful and not just gimmicky. Intel acknowledges that gesturse and other features won't be ideal for all instances. Computer users, for instance, won't be making slideshows by waving their hands in the air. But they might use gestures when showing the slideshow to friends. Gaming, in particular, is one area where perceptual computing could really take off, Nanduri said, as well as education and related fields. And it's not just about PCs. This technology will show up in a wide range of devices in the coming years, he said. The company is sure to provide more details and demos in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. "Perceptual computing is about everything and is device agnostic in many ways," Nanduri said. "It's going to be everywhere."

The chip giant has been working on "perceptual computing" technology that will drive more immersive gaming, detection of biometrics, and other uses.

Anil Nanduri, an Intel executive working on perceptual computing, demos technology that senses users' individual fingers.

(Credit: Shara Tibken/CNET)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- If the next big wave in devices turns out to be gestures and eye tracking, Intel wants to be ready.

Intel is the king of PCs, but it hasn't always been ahead of evolving innovations. Its processors power more than 80 percent of the world's computers and the vast majority of its servers, but Intel has made little headway in smartphones and tablets. To spur interest in PCs again, as well as persuade more mobile device makers to use its chips, Intel has devoted significant resources and efforts to something it calls "perceptual computing."

Perceptual computing may sound like a jargony, marketing term, but it does just what it says -- it uses the senses to help technology interpret what's going on around it. Those features, such as gestures, facial recognition, and voice recognition, should all make devices more "natural, intuitive, and immersive," says Anil Nanduri, one of the Intel executives in charge of the company's efforts in perceptual computing.

Inside Intel's perceptual computing lab (pictures)

1-2 of 8

Scroll Left Scroll Right

The goal is getting "sensory inputs that make [computers] more human like," Nanduri said. "Once you give computers the ability to assess depth, a lot of wonderful things can happen."

Devices will be able to sense emotion and detect a person's biometric data simply using a camera. They'll be able to carry on conversations with users and understand context -- or what "play me some jazz" means -- instead of simply following commands. Computers will be able to pick out individual fingers instead of simply recognizing an entire hand or the fact that a person is present. And they'll create more immersive augmented reality, such as digital versions of children's pop-up books.

In the case of Intel, the company is placing particular emphasis on vision and teaching devices to recognize depth. That's made possible through 3D cameras. The company has partnered with Creative on 3D cameras, which should show up integrated into devices such as PCs and tablets in the second half of 2014.

"Once you give computers the ability to assess depth, a lot of wonderful things can happen."

--Intel's Anil Nanduri

A big pitfall for companies like Intel is the hyper focus on speeds and feeds, making technology that's the most powerful without necessarily considering all the ways it might be used. For perceptual computing, Intel says it's starting with software and users first and then moving to the hardware.

To do that, Intel released a software development kit last year to get developers interested in the technology. Since that time, the SDK has been downloaded more than 26,000 times. Intel is so serious about perceptual computing that it has even sponsored contests -- with $100 million in prizes -- to get app developers interested in the technology. Intel will announce the latest crop of winners soon.

"For the users, what am I getting for it?" Nanduri said. "That's why we started a year early, focusing on the ecosystem more so than talking about bringing this into hardware or a device."

Yuriy Kozachuk, an application engineer in Intel's perceptual computing lab, demos technology that tracks facial expressions and translates them to characters in a game.

(Credit: Shara Tibken/CNET)

But now Intel believes the ecosystem has advanced enough that it's time to talk hardware. Devices will show up next year that contain elements of Intel's perceptual computing efforts. And it hopes all of those will use its chips. Technically, some features could be possible using chips such as those from Qualcomm. However, Intel says the amount of horsepower needed to run the features smoothly will require its higher-end chips.

Initially, the perceptual computing features will only work with Intel's Core line traditionally used in PCs and some tablets, not its lower-power Atom line used in mobile devices. However, the company plans to eventually make the features run on its more energy efficient processors, and it's also adding accelerators, tools, and graphics to its chips to take advantage of the perceptual computing capabilities.

"We're already thinking ahead and looking at the use cases people need two to three years out from now and putting them into our silicon," Nanduri said.

Some elements of perceptual computing have already shown up in products. The Kinect for Microsoft's Xbox is one example, as are Siri and Google Now for voice recognition. However, Intel says it's taking those a step further by focusing on short-range interaction of less than a meter. That means the technology needs a very fine level of recognition, with the ability to pick out specific fingers instead of just noticing an arm or if entire person is present.

But it still will be a challenge for Intel to make features that are truly useful and not just gimmicky. Intel acknowledges that gesturse and other features won't be ideal for all instances. Computer users, for instance, won't be making slideshows by waving their hands in the air. But they might use gestures when showing the slideshow to friends.

Gaming, in particular, is one area where perceptual computing could really take off, Nanduri said, as well as education and related fields. And it's not just about PCs. This technology will show up in a wide range of devices in the coming years, he said.

The company is sure to provide more details and demos in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

"Perceptual computing is about everything and is device agnostic in many ways," Nanduri said. "It's going to be everywhere."

Read More

A Google Glass developer with a clear vision of what Glass can be, Brandyn White sees how Glass can be a force for good with a feature that Glass doesn't even have yet. Brandyn White's eye tracking peripheral could become part of the next generation of Google Glass. (Credit: James Martin/CNET) Brandyn White's adventures hacking on Google Glass began not in a fancy Silicon Valley lab, but in a St. Petersburg, Fla., car repair shop in the mid-1990s. His dad gave him a Tandy personal computer. The classic Windows desktop tower, "which was old then," White said with a laugh, was part of a payment his dad had received for fixing a customer's car. Limited in what he could do with the Tandy, White soon picked up a programming book from his school library. He was 10. By the time he was a teenager, White had started a company called Connor Software, which involved him "knocking off" -- his words -- other software and giving it away for free. Related stories: Restaurant on Google Glasser: Man-child stinking up the joint Xbox One, you're not making my family life easier Google lets developers look into Glass Google Glass developers: We're still flying half-blind Google Glass may have found a prescription lens partner Tech Retrospect: Xbox One launches and Samsung loses again Xbox One: 20 things you need to know "Nothing's changed, I still have the same mentality," he told CNET after a Google Glass hackathon in San Francisco. But also by that time, the open source fan had received several other now-classic 1990s computer towers from his dad. White's mom was not happy with their blocky, beige appearance and told him to reduce their numbers to one. Since they were running servers and he unwilling to get rid of them, White got into casemodding to make them more visually appealing. Then the teenaged White learned how to run a business, he gained at 16 while managing Florida's Pinellas County Credit Union. Fast-forward two decades, and you get the current Brandyn White: a 27-year-old programmer working toward his Ph.D in computer science at the University of Maryland; co-founder of the computer vision consulting firm Dapper Vision; and developer and hacker who wants to change the world through Google Glass. To that end, he's built an eye tracker hardware attachment for Glass. It adds eye-tracking features that the current Explorer Edition lacks, but he thinks it's destined to be much more than a kludgy prototype Glass peripheral. Question: How did your interest in Glass lead you to eye tracking? White: I've been very interested in wearables for a long time, and I'm interested in doing automatic recognition in visual systems. You have this problem where you want to use machine learning, where you want lots and lots of little things. You need to know when you're in the kitchen, in the grocery store, when you're [physically] picking something up in the grocery store. "Right now, there's no way to control Glass that's acceptable in a large group of people." --Brandyn White, Google Glass developer I'm interested in solving the meta problem of how do you find things, find everything. My [Ph.D] research project is knowing everything about what you're doing, so that once I have that information I can add a lot of value. You just need to tack on to that data. People have the sense that Glass is the creepiest thing in the world, so I want to build a database that's on their side. It has strong cryptography, it's open source, and people know how their data is being used. I want this to be your advocate, your agent. We want to set it up so that if we ever wanted to be evil, somebody could just fork it and set up something better. Let's talk about why you built an eye-tracker for Google Glass. Why is it important? White: If you want things to line up between the real world and augmented reality, you have to know where the person is looking. All that information gives you an intimate understanding of where they are, just using the accelerometer. When it comes to wearables, not everybody can do wristbands, but many people can wear Glass. It's very hackable, it's very powerful. Right now, there's no way to control Glass that's acceptable in a large group of people. Touching it [via the touchpad on the side] shows that you're not paying attention. You can't use voice commands, or pull out your phone. Eye tracking, though, that's a use-case scenario. Can't Google Glass be controlled with blinks? Isn't that the same as eye tracking? White: Blinks is a private feature [that most developers can't program for] but it's public enough that I can talk about it. It has an infrared emitter on the inside and proximity sensor, but you can modify it to do things like get the ambient reflection off your face, such as knowing when you blink. But you can't get real eye-tracking. Google releases Glass Development Kit (pictures) 1-2 of 14 Scroll Left Scroll Right Blinks are not as good as looking at something with your eye. Using eye gestures is much simpler. What's the benefit of eye gestures? What can they do that other input methods can't? White: I'm interested in helping people with disabilities. I've been trying to push computer vision researchers into accessibility more. If people took what they already know, it'd make an enormous difference. But there's no money in it, no grant money. The reason that visual impairments are important to me is that in my background, computer vision, gets used for surveillance. And surveillance makes me feel bad. I've built technology that can detect things in the world. If I could tell you that there's a couch in front of you, that's almost never useful to you. Even if you're blind, you probably know that it's there. "I'm putting myself into a position where I'm not making any money, so I've been making my money consulting. I'd prefer to stay independent." --Brandyn White, Google Glass developer But if I could use the aggregate data, that could be useful. And for the visually impaired, that in turn could be useful. A sighted person could wear Glass and use it to identify all the objects in a room, couch and keys and table and remote control. Then if a visually-impaired person had it, Glass could tell them where things are. Or the visually-impaired person could use Glass to remember where he put his keys down. So people who are unable to use their hands or voice can still use the Internet, through an eye-tracking enabled Glass. How did you get into building the eye-tracking hardware? White: One of my colleagues in the media lab introduced me to the Pupil Project, which has the goal of building an open source eye tracker. I took their ideas and designs, and I built a much better tracker that they're now going to use. We basically took the two guys that built this device previously and they're going to start working with us on the next version. The eye tracking hardware only cost $25 for White to build. (Credit: James Martin/CNET) Right now it has to plug in to a host computer. We also have to do something to augment the power. So if you can imagine it looking just like Glass, it allows for very natural gestures. We wouldn't have to do the head twitch [the Google Glass activation gesture.] It's big and clunky and enormous [relative to Glass itself.] It works, and it cost $25. The goal of doing it was to see what it could do. I don't know that Google is going to have anything to do with it for sure, but if it's successful, if it shows that it's useful and easier to use, then it's serves its purpose. What's your stake in this? White: My goal is impact, not making money. Money is nice. I could work for Google and add a new feature to Glass, or I could make a video and impact the next version of Glass. I'm putting myself into a position where I'm not making any money, so I've been making my money consulting. I'd prefer to stay independent. I'm part of the Glass research program, so I get fairly close access. I've already impacted the next version of glass. I put out a video [two weeks ago] showing eye tracking. Everybody thinks Glass has it, but it doesn't. The reason I put it out was to show that it can be done, and it can be useful. White believes that there are several important use-cases for eye tracking, including eye gesture controls and eye-position based responses from Glass. (Credit: James Martin/CNET) Does Google Glass with eye-tracking constitute any kind of privacy violation? Won't this mean that Google just knows even more about you? White: Right now the rules say that you can't have ads on anything, but it's unavoidable. People are going to market back to you some other way. So, ads on Glass are unavoidable? White: The worst thing that would happen in Glass would be to siphon off user data and sell them on things. That would kill off wearable computing. I want people to have applications on their device that know everything about their lives, and not be creepy about it. It's not a bad thing that Glass can see everything that I can see, it just require a higher level of trust. It should go from I can check my email, which I can already do, to, "Oh, I can see how this can make my life better!"

A Google Glass developer with a clear vision of what Glass can be, Brandyn White sees how Glass can be a force for good with a feature that Glass doesn't even have yet.

Brandyn White's eye tracking peripheral could become part of the next generation of Google Glass.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Brandyn White's adventures hacking on Google Glass began not in a fancy Silicon Valley lab, but in a St. Petersburg, Fla., car repair shop in the mid-1990s.

His dad gave him a Tandy personal computer. The classic Windows desktop tower, "which was old then," White said with a laugh, was part of a payment his dad had received for fixing a customer's car. Limited in what he could do with the Tandy, White soon picked up a programming book from his school library. He was 10.

By the time he was a teenager, White had started a company called Connor Software, which involved him "knocking off" -- his words -- other software and giving it away for free.

Related stories:

• Restaurant on Google Glasser: Man-child stinking up the joint


• Xbox One, you're not making my family life easier


• Google lets developers look into Glass


• Google Glass developers: We're still flying half-blind


• Google Glass may have found a prescription lens partner


• Tech Retrospect: Xbox One launches and Samsung loses again


• Xbox One: 20 things you need to know

"Nothing's changed, I still have the same mentality," he told CNET after a Google Glass hackathon in San Francisco.

But also by that time, the open source fan had received several other now-classic 1990s computer towers from his dad. White's mom was not happy with their blocky, beige appearance and told him to reduce their numbers to one. Since they were running servers and he unwilling to get rid of them, White got into casemodding to make them more visually appealing.

Then the teenaged White learned how to run a business, he gained at 16 while managing Florida's Pinellas County Credit Union. Fast-forward two decades, and you get the current Brandyn White: a 27-year-old programmer working toward his Ph.D in computer science at the University of Maryland; co-founder of the computer vision consulting firm Dapper Vision; and developer and hacker who wants to change the world through Google Glass.

To that end, he's built an eye tracker hardware attachment for Glass. It adds eye-tracking features that the current Explorer Edition lacks, but he thinks it's destined to be much more than a kludgy prototype Glass peripheral.

Question: How did your interest in Glass lead you to eye tracking?

White: I've been very interested in wearables for a long time, and I'm interested in doing automatic recognition in visual systems. You have this problem where you want to use machine learning, where you want lots and lots of little things. You need to know when you're in the kitchen, in the grocery store, when you're [physically] picking something up in the grocery store.

"Right now, there's no way to control Glass that's acceptable in a large group of people."

--Brandyn White, Google Glass developer

I'm interested in solving the meta problem of how do you find things, find everything.

My [Ph.D] research project is knowing everything about what you're doing, so that once I have that information I can add a lot of value. You just need to tack on to that data.

People have the sense that Glass is the creepiest thing in the world, so I want to build a database that's on their side. It has strong cryptography, it's open source, and people know how their data is being used.

I want this to be your advocate, your agent. We want to set it up so that if we ever wanted to be evil, somebody could just fork it and set up something better.

Let's talk about why you built an eye-tracker for Google Glass. Why is it important?

White: If you want things to line up between the real world and augmented reality, you have to know where the person is looking. All that information gives you an intimate understanding of where they are, just using the accelerometer.

When it comes to wearables, not everybody can do wristbands, but many people can wear Glass. It's very hackable, it's very powerful. Right now, there's no way to control Glass that's acceptable in a large group of people. Touching it [via the touchpad on the side] shows that you're not paying attention. You can't use voice commands, or pull out your phone.

Eye tracking, though, that's a use-case scenario.

Can't Google Glass be controlled with blinks? Isn't that the same as eye tracking?

White: Blinks is a private feature [that most developers can't program for] but it's public enough that I can talk about it. It has an infrared emitter on the inside and proximity sensor, but you can modify it to do things like get the ambient reflection off your face, such as knowing when you blink. But you can't get real eye-tracking.

Google releases Glass Development Kit (pictures)

1-2 of 14

Scroll Left Scroll Right

Blinks are not as good as looking at something with your eye. Using eye gestures is much simpler.

What's the benefit of eye gestures? What can they do that other input methods can't?

White: I'm interested in helping people with disabilities. I've been trying to push computer vision researchers into accessibility more. If people took what they already know, it'd make an enormous difference. But there's no money in it, no grant money.

The reason that visual impairments are important to me is that in my background, computer vision, gets used for surveillance. And surveillance makes me feel bad. I've built technology that can detect things in the world. If I could tell you that there's a couch in front of you, that's almost never useful to you. Even if you're blind, you probably know that it's there.

"I'm putting myself into a position where I'm not making any money, so I've been making my money consulting. I'd prefer to stay independent."

--Brandyn White, Google Glass developer

But if I could use the aggregate data, that could be useful. And for the visually impaired, that in turn could be useful. A sighted person could wear Glass and use it to identify all the objects in a room, couch and keys and table and remote control. Then if a visually-impaired person had it, Glass could tell them where things are. Or the visually-impaired person could use Glass to remember where he put his keys down.

So people who are unable to use their hands or voice can still use the Internet, through an eye-tracking enabled Glass. How did you get into building the eye-tracking hardware?

White: One of my colleagues in the media lab introduced me to the Pupil Project, which has the goal of building an open source eye tracker.

I took their ideas and designs, and I built a much better tracker that they're now going to use. We basically took the two guys that built this device previously and they're going to start working with us on the next version.

The eye tracking hardware only cost $25 for White to build.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Right now it has to plug in to a host computer. We also have to do something to augment the power. So if you can imagine it looking just like Glass, it allows for very natural gestures. We wouldn't have to do the head twitch [the Google Glass activation gesture.]

It's big and clunky and enormous [relative to Glass itself.] It works, and it cost $25. The goal of doing it was to see what it could do. I don't know that Google is going to have anything to do with it for sure, but if it's successful, if it shows that it's useful and easier to use, then it's serves its purpose.

What's your stake in this?

White: My goal is impact, not making money. Money is nice. I could work for Google and add a new feature to Glass, or I could make a video and impact the next version of Glass.

I'm putting myself into a position where I'm not making any money, so I've been making my money consulting. I'd prefer to stay independent.

I'm part of the Glass research program, so I get fairly close access. I've already impacted the next version of glass. I put out a video [two weeks ago] showing eye tracking. Everybody thinks Glass has it, but it doesn't. The reason I put it out was to show that it can be done, and it can be useful.

White believes that there are several important use-cases for eye tracking, including eye gesture controls and eye-position based responses from Glass.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Does Google Glass with eye-tracking constitute any kind of privacy violation? Won't this mean that Google just knows even more about you?

White: Right now the rules say that you can't have ads on anything, but it's unavoidable. People are going to market back to you some other way.

So, ads on Glass are unavoidable?

White: The worst thing that would happen in Glass would be to siphon off user data and sell them on things. That would kill off wearable computing. I want people to have applications on their device that know everything about their lives, and not be creepy about it.

It's not a bad thing that Glass can see everything that I can see, it just require a higher level of trust. It should go from I can check my email, which I can already do, to, "Oh, I can see how this can make my life better!"

Read More