A computer virus known as “Stuxnet” was released into the wild in 2010 and crippled Iran’s nuclear program. The sophisticated attack, which has been described as the atom bomb of cyberwarfare, is widely believed to have been the result of a joint project from Israel and the United States. This is just one of several attacks that have taken place around the world over the last decade. The filmmakers behind Skyfall, the latest James Bond movie, acknowledged the growing number of cyberattacks and inserted the title character into a realistic world where he faces off against a high-tech villain. This isn’t your grandfather’s James Bond, and while the film still features near-endless action, high-class equipment and beautiful women, Skyfall is also stark reminder of the growing number of problems we face in a high-tech society.
Roku and 3M have a new streaming media device that has something the Apple TV and older Roku boxes don’t: a built-in projector. Touted as “the first-of-its-kind,” the Streaming Projector combines 3M’s history of tested portable projection technology with Roku’s expertise in providing digital media content. Armed with a rechargeable battery, the Streaming Projector can project an image up to 120 inches in size for up to two hours and 45 minutes on continuos play, which does seem a little short. In addition to the 600 channels from services including Amazon (AMZN) Instant Video, Hulu Plus and Netflix (NFLX), smartphones and tablets can also be connected to the projector to stream content via an iOS and Android app. More →
We’re live at HTC’s (2498) press conference , which is set to get started in just a few minutes. What will HTC announce? Will it be the rumored Droid Incredible X ‘phablet’ with a 5-inch 1080p resolution display? The Windows Phone 8-powered HTC 8X? Or perhaps the HTC One X+ with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean? Rumors suggest HTC has some Windows Phone news in store and whatever the company announces, the big question on everyone’s mind is: Will it be enough to keep Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone 5 and Samsung’s (005930) Galaxy smartphones from stealing the holiday season? Hit the break for our live coverage of HTC’s press conference, which is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. EDT, 8:00 a.m. PDT.
UPDATE: Be sure to check out our hands-on look at the Windows Phone 8X and Windows Phone 8S! More →
We’re on the scene at Motorola’s press conference, where the company is expected to unveil its latest killer Android phone. Motorola is set to announce the DROID RAZR M and possibly a device called the DROID RAZR HD, though it’s unclear if there will be an additional flagship smartphone as Bloomberg has reported. Hit the break for our live coverage to check out all the news as it breaks. More →
Nokia (NOK) has seen limited interest in its early Windows Phones, but not nearly enough to prevent three consecutive quarterly losses that topped $1 billion each. 2012 is a year of transition for Microsoft’s (MSFT) software platforms, however, and Microsoft previewed its next-generation Windows Phone 8 platform back in June. Nokia is Microsoft’s premier Windows Phone partner, and now we finally get to see what the Finnish vendor has in store for its new line of Lumia smartphones. Recent leaks suggest the Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 will be among the handsets Nokia unveils today, but who knows what else might be in store? Our live coverage of Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 press conference, which is scheduled to begin at around 10:00 a.m. Eastern, follows below.
UPDATE: Sorry, guys — the site crashed midway through our coverage of Nokia’s event due to ridiculous traffic volume. We apologize for the inconvenience and recommend you check out our hands-on post with the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820. More →
Imagine if the Star Wars Kid could have had a real light saber, or if Chris Crocker could have had Britney Spears show up to comfort him in his time of sorrow or if Keyboard Cat could have a professional pianist teach him to play Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto? Per the Telegraph, it seems that Google (GOOG) is trying to make such wonderful dreams come true by opening up a new studio aimed at helping “some of the most popular YouTube posters make their videos look more professional.” More →
It’s a good thing that Bruce Wayne is so filthy rich because otherwise, his vigilante heroics would send him to the poor house. The Centives economics blog, run by econ students at Lehigh University, has been trying to figure out what it might cost for a real-life Wayne to run around in a giant bat costume every year, and has concluded that he probably pays $2.8 million annually, including $2 million for graphite helmets, $262,800 for Alfred’s salary and $74,880 a year for personal training, among other things. Although one has to wonder, given Batman’s effectiveness at fighting crime relative to the Gotham police force, why the city isn’t providing him with subsidies of some kind of help offset his personal expenses. More →
Microsoft is reportedly working on a new streaming music service that will tie in to its Xbox suite of gaming and entertainment services. Bloomberg on Thursday cited multiple anonymous sources in stating that Microsoft is in talks with major music labels in order to secure licensing for a new streaming music service that will compete with the likes of Spotify when it launches later this year. Details are limited, but the service sounds very much like the Zune service Microsoft already offers, which allows users to purchase digital downloads or stream unlimited custom radio stations. Bloomberg notes that Zune music services will be shuttered following the launch of Xbox Music, and users will be moved over to the new offering. More →
Purported details surrounding Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox video game and home entertainment console emerged earlier this week when a 56-page document leaked onto the Web. The supposed internal document pointed to a $299 price point for Microsoft’s “Xbox 720,” and it also outlined specs for the unit, including Blu-ray support and true 1080p output, as well as a new Kinect 2 motion and voice-based controller. The authenticity of the leaked file was questionable, however Microsoft’s actions in the days that followed suggest that it is indeed the real deal. More →
After saving things for the very last minute in an effort to keep today’s news under wraps, Microsoft is finally ready to get the show under way here in Los Angeles, California. The topic of today’s event is still something of a mystery, though a pair of well-sourced reports from last week suggest Microsoft is about to enter the the tablet game with its first own-brand offering. Microsoft is no stranger to hardware, though it has seen mixed results in the past; the Xbox 360 is still the best-selling console in the world seven years after its 2005 debut, but the Zune player was a mess from start to finish. Nothing is confirmed until we hear it straight from the horse’s mouth, however, so hit the jump to follow BGR’s live coverage of today’s event, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern, 3:30 p.m. Pacific.
UPDATE: Be sure to check out our hands-on with the Microsoft Surface tablet. More →
Amazon on Wednesday announced that it has reached a licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures that will enable Prime Instant Video customers in the U.S. to stream hundreds of new hit movies over the next three years. The service, which is available for $79 a year and offers customers free two-day shipping, now features more than 17,000 movies and TV episodes. “We are continuing to invest in building a vast selection for Prime Instant Video and are excited to bring Prime customers some of the most renowned and popular films in cinema history under this new agreement with Paramount,” said Brad Beale, director of digital video content acquisition for Amazon. “This deal will bring Prime Instant Video customers hundreds of new movies to enjoy on their Kindle Fire or any device connected to Amazon Instant Video, including titles such as Star Trek, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Top Gun, The Italian Job and The Truman Show, and we will remain committed to adding even more great movies and TV shows to Prime Instant Video in the future.” Amazon’s press release follows below. More →
