Spotify now has more than 15 million active users, 4 million paying subscribers

. Spotify's music streaming service is now enjoyed by more than 15 million active users globally, including more than 4 million paying subscribers, according to The Next Web. The news was announced at the Global Business Summit on Creative Content in London on Tuesday by Spotify's chief content officer and U.S. managing director, Ken Parks, and comes shortly after the company released an update that added free streaming radio for the company's Android app. Earlier this year, Spotify revealed that more than 20%, or 3 million, of its active users paid for premium monthly access.

Boy Genius Report , Spotify now has more than 15 million active users, 4 million paying subscribers, Spotify now has more than 15 million active users, 4 million paying subscribers

Sony still investigating which 2011 Xperia phones will get Jelly Bean

When a Sony spokesman let it slip that the company wouldn't update its 2011 Xperia Android smartphones to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, users got upset. A lot. But now it's time to turn that frown upside down, for Sony has released an official statement that this information was given "in error". The company says it's still researching which of the devices will actually get to receive the tasty Jell Bean update.

This is great news for owners of 2011 Xperia devices like the Xperia Arc and Xperia Mini Pro.

GSM Arena , Sony still investigating which 2011 Xperia phones will get Jelly Bean, Sony still investigating which 2011 Xperia phones will get Jelly Bean

Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec in the cards?

Motor Authority has been apparently been exchanging whispers in the corner regarding the Veloster with someone from Hyundai, and has been told that there is "still left room in the lineup for a higher-performance variant" than the Veloster Turbo. The consensus in certain circles, including ours, is that the boosted version of the funky three-door is a healthy step above the base model but doesn't posses the true grit to joust with the segment's defining hot hatches.

Autoblog , Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec in the cards?

See also:
techabout, Hyundai Veloster Turbo R-Spec in the cards?

Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

We haven't seen any official information yet, but tipsters report and we've confirmed on our own that Hulu Plus is quietly rolling out to Apple TV set-top boxes this morning. It was on our hockey pucks when we turned them on, while reports on Twitter indicate losing the connection before the icon appeared once the box came back online. We're checking it out now, and like Netflix, it allows users to pay for the service via iTunes if they choose. The menus and UI are all appropriately Apple TV styled, if you're not seeing it yet on your box then it should probably be there after a reboot.






Engadget , Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV, Hulu Plus app live on Apple TV

Blizzard to remove Dial-In Authenticators from Battle.net accounts come 15th August

Blizzard has offered users a variety of security options which they can use to help take protection of their Battle.net accounts to the next level. While there are reports of Battle.net accounts with authenticators still getting hacked, these are definitely fewer compared to those without. That being said, if you are using Blizzard's Dial-In Authenticator to protect your Battle.net account, Blizzard has announced in a post that they will be removing the authenticator from related Battle.net accounts come 15th August.

Ubergizmo , Blizzard to remove Dial-In Authenticators from Battle.net accounts come 15th August, Blizzard to remove Dial-In Authenticators from Battle.net accounts come 15th August

Dual SIM Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562 with Android ICS coming soon

Samsung has a new dual SIM Android smartphone - it hasn't been officially announced, but it showed up recently on some websites around the Web. Called Galaxy S Duos S7562, the new handset runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and looks like a mix between the high-end Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Ace 2. The Galaxy S Duos S7562 features a 4 inch WVGA display, HSDPA, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front-facing camera, 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, and MicroSD card support.

Unwired View , Dual SIM Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562 with Android ICS coming soon, Dual SIM Samsung Galaxy S Duos S7562 with Android ICS coming soon

Samsung's ‘Retina' tablet finally begins to take shape; specs revealed in court filing

. Samsung's (005930) “Retina” display-equipped tablet might be coming a little later than expected, but it's coming. BGR reported late last year that Samsung was working on an ultra-high resolution tablet with a 2560 x 1600-pixel screen larger than 11 inches and a 16:10 aspect ratio. Now, court documents uncovered by The Verge on Monday evening confirm that the tablet is still in the works, and while it may have gone back into the shop for some tweaks, many key specs remain unchanged.


Boy Genius Report , Samsung's ‘Retina' tablet finally begins to take shape; specs revealed in court filing, Samsung's ‘Retina' tablet finally begins to take shape; specs revealed in court filing

Sony LT29i Hayabusa spotted in the wild again

Last week we spotted pictures of Sony's upcoming LT29i Hayabusa and now we've got even more pictures of the phone to show you. The folks over at ePrice managed to get some hands-on time with an engineering prototype of the phone and were kind enough to share the photographs of it online. The device is said to be the international version of the Japanese Xperia GX and is expected to be announced at Sony's IFA event next month. The phone is rumored to feature a 4.55" HD 720 x 1280 display, 1GB of RAM, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, Adreno 320 GPU, and a 13-megapixel rear camera.

Ubergizmo , Sony LT29i Hayabusa spotted in the wild again, Sony LT29i Hayabusa spotted in the wild again

Telindus recognised as Cisco Identity Services Engine Authorized Technology Provider Partner in the UK

Camberley, Surrey, UK – 31 July, 2012 – To support the expanding role of access control solutions that leverage the intelligence of the network, Telindus announced today that it has achieved Identity Services Engine (ISE) Authorized Technology Provider (ATP) status from Cisco. This designation recognises Telindus as having fulfilled the training requirements and program prerequisites to sell, deploy and support Cisco ISE products and solutions.

Press Release Distribution , Telindus recognised as Cisco Identity Services Engine Authorized Technology Provider Partner in the UK, Telindus recognised as Cisco Identity Services Engine Authorized Technology Provider Partner in the UK

Thermaltake cures clamminess with $80 Cyclone Edition gaming mouse

Just when we needed a modern-day equivalent of sailing down the Nile while being fanned by Assyrian slaves, Thermaltake gives us this: the Black Element Cyclone Edition gaming mouse, which has a 6,000 rpm rotor directed right at the point where slick skin meets plastic. Pictures of the device have been floating around the web for a while, but we've just heard it'll be available in US stores any day now (or officially, “in August”) priced at $80.

2DayBlog.com , Thermaltake cures clamminess with $80 Cyclone Edition gaming mouse, Thermaltake cures clamminess with $80 Cyclone Edition gaming mouse

Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam

The last we heard, all notions of a 10-inch PlayBook had been shelved, with rumors suggesting that RIM wanted to concentrate on its BB10 plans and next-gen smartphones instead. However, we've just received these images from Tinthe, showing off something that looks very much like the bigger BlackBerry slab. A handful of photos, comparing the tablet to the existing 7-incher and an iPad, were sent in by forum member quang3g, who appears to be involved in BlackBerry sales.

2DayBlog.com , Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam, Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam

Apple reveals ‘Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony

The previous batch of sketches revealed during Apple v Samsung suggested the iPhone may have actually borrowed ideas from Sony, but a new filing goes back even further into history to show that's not the case. The Verge spotted that the latest raft of paperwork includes a “Purple” prototype [above left] that was made around August 2005 and bears several hallmarks of the iPhone that finally appeared.

2DayBlog.com , Apple reveals ‘Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony, Apple reveals ‘Purple' phone prototype in court filing, to prove it didn't copy Sony

Online Casino Security Measures

Gambling is a pastime for which huge enthusiasm exists amongst the British public, and that has transferred into the digital era with the rise of online gambling options such as casino sites. However, some betting fans remain slightly wary of gambling online out of a justifiable nervousness about putting potentially sensitive personal and financial details into websites. After all, everyone is aware of the dangers of financial and identity theft, thanks to websites falling prey to hackers and malware, and this means that the security measures provided by casino sites should be an important issue for anyone looking to use them.

Trendy Gadget , Online Casino Security Measures, Online Casino Security Measures

The Official London Olympics 2012 Results App

For those who are closely monitoring the games on the recently opened London Olympics 2012, getting the updated results is usually a must. While most people would be able to get such results visiting other news sites on the Web covering the London Olympics, the updates would usually not be fast enough or proceed in real time as most people would want it to be. So why not get the results update from the organizers of the Games themselves. You can download the Official London Olympics 2012 Results App to get real time updates on results of the different London Olympics 2012 games.

Gadget.com , The Official London Olympics 2012 Results App

See also:
at2359, The Official London Olympics 2012 Results App

Music industry again hoards Pirate Bay booty, starves artists

. Wait, people didn't really expect the music industry to share copyright infringement winnings with the people who actually make music, did they. TorrentFreak reported over the weekend that a leaked report from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) stated explicitly that any compensation won by recording companies as part of the Pirate Bay verdict would go directly to anti-piracy campaigns rather than to the artists who were actually hurt by music piracy.

Boy Genius Report , Music industry again hoards Pirate Bay booty, starves artists, Music industry again hoards Pirate Bay booty, starves artists

US Census Bureau posts its first API, allows smartphone apps for the stat-obsessed

As much as the US Census Bureau has worked to embrace the digital space, its sea of data has been largely locked away from developers not keen on doing much of the heavy lifting. As of late last week, however, there's now a public app programming interface (API) for quickly putting all of that knowledge to work. Both mobile and web apps can hook into either the complete 2010 census or the 2006-2010 American Community Survey, bringing in basic demographics as well as more complicated subjects such as commuting habits and education.

Engadget , US Census Bureau posts its first API, allows smartphone apps for the stat-obsessed, US Census Bureau posts its first API, allows smartphone apps for the stat-obsessed

Telkomsel's new unlimited messaging plan gives Indonesians an alternative to BBM

As far as monopolies go, word on the interwebs is BlackBerry holds a pretty major one with its own BBM in Indonesian territory. According to DailySocial, though, that all could be changing soon thanks to Telkomsel's newly introduced all-you-can-message plans. The deal's fairly simple, the Indonesian carrier's bundling applications like Opera Mini, Line, WhatsApp and KakaoTalk in an unlimited package, with pricing starting at a mere 30,000 Rp (around $3) per month.

Engadget , Telkomsel's new unlimited messaging plan gives Indonesians an alternative to BBM, Telkomsel's new unlimited messaging plan gives Indonesians an alternative to BBM

Angry merging motorist gets clever revenge

And in today's episode of Road Ragin' Russians we have this, one big Toyota and one little Toyota trying to occupy the same space in line. Since we know that isn't possible without the word "quantum" being involved, one of them has to give, and surprisingly, it's the big Toyota. Yet when the Prado SUV pulls out to take another spot up the road, in most countries, that would be the end of it.



Autoblog , Angry merging motorist gets clever revenge, Angry merging motorist gets clever revenge

T-Mobile Galaxy Note going for $250 this August 8th

I am not quite sure whether “better late than never” applies to the Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile, as the world is already looking forward to the sequel, aptly known as the Galaxy Note 2, and here we are still talking about the original “phablet” from Samsung that is tipped to arrive this August 8th over at T-Mobile. The asking price for this relatively antiquated piece of technology. We are looking at $250 a pop with a new 2-year contract, and this comes about after you take advantage of the mail-in rebate.

Ubergizmo , T-Mobile Galaxy Note going for $250 this August 8th, T-Mobile Galaxy Note going for $250 this August 8th

Microsoft seals Perceptive Pixel deal, welcomes PPI team to the Office Division

In case you haven't noticed, Microsoft's been in a blissful shopping mood lately - and while we already knew the company had snatched up the creator of that enormous 82-inch touchscreen, today's the day a more formal introduction is taking place. Via its Official Microsoft Blog, the Redmond-based outfit is suitably welcoming the Perceptive Pixel team aboard the Office Division, also announcing that PPI's Founder, Jeff Han, will be joining as a "general manager" and reporting to Kurt DelBene.

Engadget , Microsoft seals Perceptive Pixel deal, welcomes PPI team to the Office Division, Microsoft seals Perceptive Pixel deal, welcomes PPI team to the Office Division

Another 2005 iPhone prototype emerges, could put an end to Samsung's claim that Apple copied Sony

A few days ago, photos surfaced that claimed to be prototype designs of Apple's iPhone. Samsung claims that these early designs of the iPhone were allegedly stolen from Sony which if proven true, would help with their case against Apple. However Apple has since released a photo of its "purple" iPhone design which they claim was created back in 2005, which appears to have the same design elements of the iPhone 4x4S, albeit slightly cruder (in our opinion). If the judge were to accept this particular prototype design, it could put an end to Samsung's claims that Apple copied designs from Sony.

Ubergizmo , Another 2005 iPhone prototype emerges, could put an end to Samsung's claim that Apple copied Sony, Another 2005 iPhone prototype emerges, could put an end to Samsung's claim that Apple copied Sony

Apple to unveil iPhone 5, iPad mini on September 12; iPhone release rumored for September 21

. Apple's (AAPL) sixth iPhone - constantly referred to as the “iPhone 5” for lack of a better name - is really starting to take shape now that production is ramping up. A fully assembled next-generation iPhone case was shown off in leaked photos over the weekend, and a subsequent report from iMore cites unnamed sources in placing the debut of Apple's next smartphone on September 12th alongside the “iPad mini” and a new iPod nano as well.

Boy Genius Report , Apple to unveil iPhone 5, iPad mini on September 12; iPhone release rumored for September 21, Apple to unveil iPhone 5, iPad mini on September 12; iPhone release rumored for September 21

Sony Japan announced the BDP-S590, a new 3D Connected Blu-Ray Player

Guess what, people are still watching movies on DVDs or Blu-Rays and this despite Apple's effort to kill these mediums. Announced for september first in Japan at around 24,000 Yen, Sony's new BD Player, the BDP-S590 is the company latest wonder. The BDP-S590 comes with the usual suspects including 3D Playback and DLNA but also Sony Room Link, Media Remote, Wireless Lan, Sony Music Unlimited service, Gracenote and most Japanese VOD services as well as Hulu Japan.

Akihabara News , Sony Japan announced the BDP-S590, a new 3D Connected Blu-Ray Player, Sony Japan announced the BDP-S590, a new 3D Connected Blu-Ray Player

LG Nitro HD for AT&T will get Android 4.0 on July 31

LG Nitro HD owners have a good reason to smile these days, as the handset's Android Ice Cream Sandwich update is finally coming their way. Starting this coming Tuesday, July 31st, AT&T will begin seeding the long awaited release of the Google OS. Along with the typical for Android ICS functionality, the LG Nitro HD will get updated to the company's latest Optimus 3.0 UI.

GSM Arena , LG Nitro HD for AT&T will get Android 4.0 on July 31, LG Nitro HD for AT&T will get Android 4.0 on July 31

Entry level Sony Xperia J leaks again ahead of announcement

The Xperia J leaked a few times before and we already know everything there is to know about it. This time though, the photos are a lot clearer and show three different flavors of the phone. The Xperia J is rumored to be an entry level droid based on the dated Qualcomm MSM7227(GSM)/MSM7627(CDMA) Snapdragon S1 chipset, which features a 1GHz Scorpion processor and an Adreno 200 GPU. The phone is built around a 4-inch WVGA TFT display and packs a 5MP camera with LED flash plus the whole connectivity shebang – Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G with HSPA and Bluetooth.

The Xperia J is expected to launch with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.


GSM Arena , Entry level Sony Xperia J leaks again ahead of announcement, Entry level Sony Xperia J leaks again ahead of announcement

iOS shoots ahead of Android in enterprise app developer interest

. Appcelerator and IDC have released another survey of app developers and this time they've found that Apple's (AAPL) iOS is now clearly favored by app developers when it comes to the being the best operating system for selling enterprise apps. When asked by Appcelerator and IDC which mobile platform was best-positioned to win in the enterprise long-term, 53% of app developers pointed to iOS while 37% chose Android.

Boy Genius Report , iOS shoots ahead of Android in enterprise app developer interest, iOS shoots ahead of Android in enterprise app developer interest

Kia teases all-new Carens, will debut in Paris

Kia is pretty smart. During these dog days of summer when the news is about as exciting as watching your grass turn brown, the Korean automaker has been tossing out information about upcoming models in fairly rapid succession. First there was the Quoris announcement, then the next-gen Forte, and now these teaser images of the Carens crossover. Kia says it will be officially introducing the Carens on September 27 at the Paris Motor Show.

Autoblog , Kia teases all-new Carens, will debut in Paris, Kia teases all-new Carens, will debut in Paris

Square Enix's Final Fantasy Now Available For Android

Square Enix has released the original Final Fantasy video game for the Android operating system. For your info, the original Final Fantasy game was first released in Japan in 1987. You can purchase this video game via Google Play Store for $10.18. The size of the application is 46.39MB.

TechFresh , Square Enix's Final Fantasy Now Available For Android, Square Enix's Final Fantasy Now Available For Android

HP ProBook 4430s 14-inch Laptop

The 14-inch HP ProBook 4430s is now available for just $479.99. The laptop is powered by a 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-2450M dual-core processor, which is combined with a 4GB of RAM, a 500GB 7200RPM hard disk drive, a DVD burner, 802.11n Wi-Fi and an Intel HD 3000 graphics. The HP ProBook 4430s 14-inch laptop runs on the Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit operating system.

TechFresh , HP ProBook 4430s 14-inch Laptop, HP ProBook 4430s 14-inch Laptop

Nissan pins Leaf's WattStation charging woes on a software bug, works on a fix

GE and Nissan had previously ruled out GE's WattStation as the cause of a few Leaf charging failures, and that story of EV tragedy looks to be winding to a close with a more definitive explanation. As the two tell us, a bug in the Leaf's on-board charging software can damage the relevant hardware under a perfect storm of conditions: if a drivers uses a specific (but not necessarily GE) charger, an undervoltage or similar power crisis can bring the Leaf to its knees. Nissan says it's hurrying towards a remedy, although we're working to confirm just what that entails.

Engadget , Nissan pins Leaf's WattStation charging woes on a software bug, works on a fix

See also:
mrnom, Nissan pins Leaf's WattStation charging woes on a software bug, works on a fix

NASCAR suspends driver indefinitely after positive drug test

NASCAR has indefinitely suspended Penske Racing driver AJ Allmendinger after a second drug test confirmed the presence of "a banned substance" in his system. Race officials have not clarified exactly which substance was found in Allmendinger's urine samples, but a spokesperson for the driver said he has contracted an independent lab to test the products he uses on a regular basis to see if there's a reason behind the positive result. The Allmendinger camp says the results were within nanograms of accepted parameters, though NASCAR has declined to comment on the levels themselves.

Autoblog , NASCAR suspends driver indefinitely after positive drug test, NASCAR suspends driver indefinitely after positive drug test

Four-foot Dodge Viper shifter mod is a head-scratcher

Where the outlandish reigns supreme, functionality and practicality take a back seat. That's why we admire folks who poke fun at the insanity of the automotive aftermarket. Take this particular Dodge Viper owner. Rather than swap in the latest short-throw kit, the guy bolted on a four-foot-long shift knob. Why? According to his YouTube account, he was jealous of drivers with longer knobs. Har Har.

He helpfully points out that the modification won't work on GTS coupes or hardtops due to clearance issues. Regardless, the owner promises the modification will "get you lots of attention GUARANTEED." No arguments there.



Autoblog , Four-foot Dodge Viper shifter mod is a head-scratcher

See also:
maximum, Four-foot Dodge Viper shifter mod is a head-scratcher

The List #0360: Learn to Drift

To let a car do what it wants is very different than making it do what you want. It's the difference between a car's rear end getting loose in a corner and the intentional act of drifting. There's a huge chasm of skill that lies between the two, though the end result might look the same sometimes. A few of us on the Autoblog team know a thing or two about drifting, particularly that it's not as easy as it looks. To control that moment of chaos the way professional drifters do takes incredibly precise inputs (from both your hands and feet), the right equipment and many hours of practice.



Autoblog , The List #0360: Learn to Drift

See also:
wareground, The List #0360: Learn to Drift

Bandwidth The New Measure Of Business Success

TalkTalk Business commissions Corporate IT Forum study into impact technology has on company performanceThe appeal of a prestigious address pales in the wake of advances in technology, a new study by TalkTalk Business suggests, with upgraded IT topping new office space as the choice investment for businesses with limited funds.42 per cent of British firms believe their business would be most disrupted without access to the internet and data services, according to the survey of more than 500 company owners and senior directors across the UK, with nearly a third (31 per cent) citing faster connectivity as the technology investment that would ha

Press Release Distribution , Bandwidth The New Measure Of Business Success, Bandwidth The New Measure Of Business Success

Facebook's stock is tanking – did investors get played by big banks?

. Although Facebook (FB) met expectations in its first-ever earnings report on Thursday, the reaction from investors has been decidedly ugly so far. By the end of trading on Friday, the company's stock price had dropped by 117% to close at $23.70, or about half the value of its 52-week peak of $45. Making things worse, Facebook's big slide came on a day when the NASDAQ closed up 2.24%, meaning Facebook can't plausibly blame its slide on weak U.S.

Boy Genius Report , Facebook's stock is tanking â€" did investors get played by big banks?, Facebook's stock is tanking â€" did investors get played by big banks?

Lapping it up at the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix [spoilers]

Monaco. Italy. Canada. Japan. There are a handful of grand prix host countries that Formula One could not do without, so central they are to the character of the sport. But Hungary?

The Hungarian Grand Prix actually dates back to the pre-war era when the legendary Tazio Nuvolari won its first running for Alfa Romeo, and the race has been held every year without fail at Budapest's Hungaroring since 1986.

Saturday's qualifying sessions left Lewis Hamilton on pole position for the third time this season.

Romain Grosjean, who has shown impressive form this season for Lotus, landed alongside the McLaren.








Autoblog , Lapping it up at the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix [spoilers], Lapping it up at the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix [spoilers]