Techmeme
March 12, 2013, 11:50 PM

Top News

Terrence O'Brien / Engadget:
Alleged Google Now for iOS video leaks on YouTube, is promptly pulled  —  iOS fans jealous of Jelly Bean's creepy Google Now might finally have something to get excited about.  An October update to the Google Search app finally delivered an updated voice recognition experience to Apple's platform …
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Nokia Lumia 928 to launch on Verizon in April with aluminum body and Xenon flash  —  Microsoft is gearing up to market Nokia's upcoming Verizon flagship heavily.  Sources familiar with Nokia's plans have revealed to The Verge that the company plans to launch its Lumia 928 handset in April on Verizon.
Jim Dalrymple / The Loop:
Apple's Maps being updated often and significantly  —  There is no doubt that Apple is working hard on improving its iOS Maps application in the past few months.  The results can be seen in an update to the app this week in Japan, but Apple has been steadily releasing updates for countries and cities from around the world.
More: MacNN, MacRumors and TUAW.  Tweets: @jbrodkin
Tom Warren / The Verge:
A look at Microsoft's top-secret Surface prototypes  —  From concept to reality: how Redmond's iPad competitor came to be  —  Microsoft made a bold bet to build its own hardware, competing directly with Apple's iPad, but it was never an easy task to create something new and unique.
Don Clark / Digits:
Stealthy Startup Unveils Bold Router Attack  —  Not many entrepreneurs would take on mighty Cisco Systems in its stronghold of router hardware.  A startup called Compass-EOS has been secretly planning that very attack for six years, with investors that include Cisco itself.
Owen Thomas / Business Insider:
Amazon Has An Estimated 10 Million Members For Its Surprisingly Profitable Prime Club  —  Amazon hasn't disclosed how many people have signed up for its Prime program, which offers free two-day shipping, a Netflix-like video service, and other perks for a $79 annual fee.
Noel Randewich / Reuters:
Apple's iPads to fall behind Android tablets this year: IDC  —  (Reuters) - Shipments of Apple Inc's iPads will fall behind the growing variety of tablets running Google Inc's Android platform for the first time this year as smaller-sized devices catch on with more consumers, research firm International Data Corp (IDC) said on Tuesday.
John Cook / GeekWire:
Google to double size of engineering center in Microsoft's backyard  —  Google will expand into this planned development next to its existing Kirkland campus, significantly boosting its presence in the Seattle region.  (Credit: Google, SRM Development and DLR Group.)
More: New York Times and CNET.  Thanks:@toddbishop
Gina Chon / Quartz:
Apple's plan for its cash: stock buyback or more dividends likely coming this spring  —  Apple is leaning toward additional dividends or a share buyback program as part of its effort to return more cash to investors, according to sources.  The US tech company could announce the move this spring …
Kim Zetter / Wired:
Retailer Sues Visa Over $13 Million ‘Fine’ for Being Hacked  —  A sports apparel retailer is fighting back against the arbitrary multi-million-dollar penalties that credit card companies impose on banks and merchants for data breaches by filing a first-of-its-kind $13 million lawsuit against Visa.
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Microsoft shutters its WebSiteSpark developer program  —  Summary: Microsoft is discontinuing a program it launched three years ago aimed at getting more Web developers to use its Expression and other development tools.  —  Unsurprisingly, Microsoft is phasing out its WebSiteSpark Web developer program …
Alex Wilhelm / The Next Web:
Dropbox refreshes its desktop client for improved file sharing, real-time notifications for incoming folders  —  Today Dropbox announced upgrades to its desktop client to allow for quick sharing of files with others, and improved updates that will help users keep up with the service.
Brian X. Chen / NYT Bits:
Eye-Tracking Tech Will Be Open to iPhones and Other Devices  —  Samsung Electronics won't be the only company that gets a fancy eye-tracking feature.  A start-up company called uMoove, which has been developing this type of technology for three years, says it will offer eye- and head-tracking to anyone …
More: BGR, Apple Bitch and Redmond Pie.  Thanks:@hilzfuld
Tamar Lewin / New York Times:
California Bill Would Force Colleges to Honor Online Classes  —  Legislation will be introduced in the California Senate on Wednesday that could reshape higher education by requiring the state's public colleges and universities to give credit for faculty-approved online courses taken …
Russell Brandom / The Verge:
Automatic's iPhone app makes your dumb car feel a little smarter  —  Automatic handles everything from fuel efficiency to to crash response  —  Cars have been equipped with onboard computers for decades now, but as they get smarter, they remain stubbornly closed off.
Rachel King / ZDNet:
Western Digital investing $51M in solid-state storage maker Skyera  —  Summary: Western Digital's investment arm has made a significant strategic investment in enterprise solid-state storage provider, Skyera.  —  Western Digital Capital, the investment arm of the hard drive giant …
Matt Brian / The Verge:
Google Now confirmed for Chrome OS and Windows, beta browser reveals  —  Google Now integration may soon become available in Google's Windows browser and Chrome OS platform in the near future, after engineers added a new reference to the feature in the latest Chromium release.
Casey Newton / CNET:
Google reaches $7 million settlement with states over Street View case  —  The settlement with 37 states bans unauthorized data collection and requires Google to train employees on privacy issues.  —  The long-running Google Street View privacy case was settled today, as the company reached …
Rik Henderson / Pocket-lint:
Steve Jobs to be manga hero in official Japanese comic series  —  To appear in Kiss magazine for girls  —  The life story of Steve Jobs is to be made into a manga comic book series in Japan and the first illustration from artist?  Mari Yamazaki has appeared online.
Bloomberg:
Google Benefits as Priceline Outspends Expedia on Web Ads: Tech  —  Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) has boosted annual ad spending to more than $1 billion for the first time, extending its lead over Expedia Inc. (EXPE) in the hotel-booking market and stepping up a rivalry that's benefiting Google Inc. (GOOG)
Tom Gara / Corporate Intelligence:
Paid Tweeters Beware: The FTC is Watching  —  In 2000, when regulators at the Federal Trade Commission last took a look at how its consumer protection rules should be applied online, the internet lived almost exclusively in browser windows, social networks didn't exist, and tweeting was what birds did on sunny afternoons.
Bryan Bishop / The Verge:
T-Mobile and MetroPCS merger approved by the FCC  —  We knew things were moving forward, and now the Federal Communications Commission has approved the merger between T-Mobile and MetroPCS.  In a statement released today, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski says that the allowing the two companies …

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