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F35B completes first vertical takeoff

For the first time ever, a production Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II has performed a vertical takeoff (VTO) maneuver, followed by a short hover at low altitude and vertical landing. Though the US Marines had required such a function from the outset of the program (which has already been performed by prototype F-35Bs) it can only be used for very short jaunts. That's because the $300 million jet, like the Harrier before it, can't carry any armaments or much fuel in such a configuration -- meaning almost all of its takeoff and landings will be of the non-vertical, short variety instead. Meanwhile, the Air Force said it'll deploy the F-35B a year earlier than predicted in mid-2016, according to Reuters, giving the much beleaguered program a double-shot of good news. Head after the break to catch the rather dramatic video.

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TiVo adds MLBtv in the US today, nears IPTV launch in Sweden

TiVo announced its quarterly earnings yesterday, revealing a net loss for the quarter of $10.8 million. Despite that, its push to partner with cable companies seems to be going well, as it noted its largest growth in MSO customers in seven years, adding 277,000 subscriptions that way. More interesting to most users however, will be word that the MLB.tv app Zatz Not Funny mentioned in January launches today. Additionally, Scandinavian operator Com Hem is about to start offering an IPTV service built on TiVo's devices, and is accepter preregistrations to be an early tester. The Com Hem project will combine an internet TV service with the usual TiVo features -- including TiVoToGo -- and DVR capable of recording up to three HD channels at once. What we can see of the box looks very similar to the one offered by Virgin in the UK, we'll wait and see if any other operators look the company's way when/if they make the transition to IPTV service in the future.

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3D printed photos look great, but not how you think

Got hordes of old photos you don't know what to do with? Well, if you've got access to a 3D printer, what about blessing them with a third dimension? That's what Instructables stalwart Amanda Ghassaei (of 3D printed records fame) has done using an Objet Connex500, some algorithmic wizardry and a bit of left field thinking. The images, rather than full 3D renderings, are still meant to be viewed in 2D, but use different thicknesses of print to create a silhouette effect. Ghassaei converts images to black and white, and assigns different printing densities to each grayscale pixel value. The results are surprisingly intricate, and do still impart a sense of texture. Fortunately for those interested in doing their own, this is Instructables, so, all you need to do is follow along at the source.

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 Mobile

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DNP ASUS PadFone Infinity review the convertible phone goes full HD and beyond

Almost exactly two years ago, Motorola's Android-in-Webtop-OS solution was kicked off the stage by ASUS' PadFone, the world's first phone that could fully power a tablet module from its own OS. The original concept took a while to materialize, but since then the company has kept up with a surprisingly rapid product cycle. It was only five months from the first PadFone to the PadFone 2; and now seven months later, ASUS is offering the PadFone Infinity: a non-surprising full HD update for both the phone and the tablet module. The phone itself also benefits from a newer 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 SoC, as well as a new brushed-aluminum body. So, does this upgraded package have what it takes to kill the "glass is half empty" mentality? Or would consumers still rather have two separate devices? Read on to find out.

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Well, we can't say we didn't see this one coming. News that PowerKiss, the Helsinki-based wireless charging company, joined the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) hit in March. Even then, there was a chance that the manufacturer would continue supporting Qi, in addition to PMA. As of today, though, any hope of such support has been officially extinguished -- Powermat is calling the shots now. The two companies will combine under the Powermat Technologies umbrella, and will, of course, support PMA exclusively. PowerKiss will bring with it 1,000 existing charging spots throughout Europe, along with installations at select McDonald's locations on the continent. It's not clear when the transition will be complete, but there's no question that the PMA standard now has some very significant support. Catch the PR after the break.

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Galaxy S 4 Active caught on camera again, reported specs are lower than regular GS4 (video)

First came the model number mentions, then the pictures, and now Samsung's rumored and rugged Galaxy S 4 Active has been caught on film. In a situation that screams "controlled leak," MobileTechReview appears to have handled exactly the same tethered unit we've seen snaps of, and says the device sports a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU and an 8-megapixel main camera. Even though it's just another unconfirmed piece of the rumor puzzle, an alleged AnTuTu benchmark puts a Snapdragon 600 inside the Active, matching that of the regular S 4, which packs a 13-megapixel shooter. If MobileTechReview are correct, then it wouldn't really be a hardy version of the GS4 at all, but rather another new Samsung mid-ranger that'll put up with a bit of a beating.

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CellMaps by Mosaik Solutions brings accurate, detailed coverage maps to Android

Sometimes in the mobile world, selecting a carrier isn't determined so much by devices or plans, but rather which provider best suits your coverage needs. Sadly, the map tools on carrier websites are needlessly painful, and most coverage apps that you'll find rely on crowd-sourced data -- great if others contribute, but that's not always the case. Now, you'll find a better solution from Mosaik Solutions, which has released an Android app that provides data from the carriers themselves. Known as CellMaps Mobile Coverage, it brings a quick and easy visual overview into the likes of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon, which can be parsed by 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE signal.

The basic version of the app is free, but the real power comes with a premium subscription that runs $1.99 annually. Here, you'll find the ability to view map overlays from multiple carriers, along with the ability to zoom into a street-level view. Additionally with the premium version, you can drop a pin onto any given spot and get a complete breakdown of carrier service in the area. We've already taken the app for a spin, and were quite pleased with the utility. Now, you can hit up the Play Store link and discover the joys (and pains) of being a coverage nerd.

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Opera for Android drops the beta, available on the Play store now

If your ears perked up when you heard about Opera for Android going WebKit, but were holding out for the final, non-beta version, then that wait is over. More recent features of the browser include the option to toggle the nav-bar location, text-wrapping when zooming and a full screen view of active tabs, but beyond that, the "what's new" section on the download page isn't saying much. So, while it's mostly the Opera we saw back at MWC, tools such as off-road mode (for data compressing) and a discovery mode are finally set for primetime. Ready to let Opera take the stage on your Android? Get your tickets at the source.

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Windows 8 Major League Soccer app

If you're a Major League Soccer fan, there's now a Windows 8 app to keep up with North America's version of the beautiful game. The league has teamed up with Microsoft on an exclusive app to bring schedules, standings, video highlights, play-by-play, game stats, cards and substitutions to Windows 8 Pro and RT. You'll also be able to get custom updates on your live tiles to see how your team is doing with a glance at the start screen. MLS and Microsoft said they're also bringing "fan and stadium experiences," like trying out Windows 8 on Microsoft Surface tablet at over 40 games during the season, and alluded to bringing "immersive soccer experiences" to players, coaches and fans down the road. We'll have to see exactly what they mean by that, but meanwhile, you can grab the app at the source.

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Dish Anywhere on Android gets On Demand content streaming, tablet app

A fresh release of Dish Anywhere for Android just hit Google Play, bringing it up to speed with its iOS counterpart. Now, the application allows users to stream On Demand content from wherever they have an internet connection, and adds Facebook and Twitter sharing. The experience has also received a dedicated app for tablets running Google's mobile OS, sporting a look that makes better use of the extra screen real estate, and a skinned remote to boot. In addition to a few miscellaneous bug fixes, the update includes support for handsets with large screens, such as the Droid DNA. Jab the links below to grab ahold of the latest version.

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