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Daily Roundup: Microsoft leaks, lens cameras and more!
In today's Daily Roundup, we look at a Microsoft document leaked in 2012 that foreshadowed the Xbox One and HoloLens, take a look at a new lens camera for smartphones from Olympus and discuss the US Navy's new firefighting robot. All that and more can be found past the break.
Dear BlackBerry, Ryan Seacrest isn't done with the QWERTY keyboard
Maybe you remember the bizarre collision of worlds at last year's CES when Ryan Seacrest touched down in Las Vegas to introduce the Typo, a physical QWERTY keyboard case for the iPhone 5/5s. If you do, then you may also recall the controversy and legal tussling over the original Typo's striking resemblance to BlackBerry's Q10 keyboard. One court ordered a sales injunction and another Typo revision later, Seacrest and his partner Laurence Hallier are back at CES to debut another physical keyboard accessory, this time it's the Typo2 for the iPad Air and iPad mini lines. The pair carved out some time during the madness of CES to speak to me about Typo's bumpy start, the impact of customer feedback on product design and the boldfaced names that swear by their QWERTY case.
Typo case marries an iPhone 5s and a BlackBerry Q10, with Ryan Seacrest officiating (hands-on)
Why Typo, of all the names for a smartphone keyboard? The company answers the obvious question with a Wikipedia quote. A typographical error (often shortened to typo) is a mistake made in the typing process ... The term includes errors due to mechanical failure or slips of the hand or finger. Well, yeah, sure, but that doesn't really answer the question we -- oh, wait, there's more: "For many of us at Typo, typing on our iPhones is a slow, tedious one- or two-finger affair. Our desire is to avoid making Typos by using the Typo Keyboard." Ah, so you named it "Typo" because you want people to use it to not make typos -- sort of a reverse Orwellian doublethink approach to product naming. You know, like the MacBook Backpain. The Typo harnesses Ryan Seacrest's deep pockets to the tune of $1 million, in order to address an issue that hardly anyone seems to talk (read: complain) about anymore: the death of the smartphone keyboard.
Morning news roundup for January 6
Welcome to the first Monday of 2014 -- officially the most depressing day of the year. But if going back to work in bitter, cold weather after the fun-filled holidays has you down, it could be worse: You could be getting sued, like Ryan Seacrest, which leads our morning news roundup for January 6. BlackBerry sues keyboard maker for iPhone keyboard that hasn't shipped. What happens when "media personality" Ryan Seacrest makes an iPhone keyboard that resembles the one found on a BlackBerry? He gets sued, of course. Chitika holiday usage share numbers reveal people like iPad and iPhones as gifts. This is a big "duh," but here is some hard data showing Apple had a good holiday season as far as the iPhone and iPad are concerned. New Mac Pro CPU can be upgraded. OWC found that the Intel Xeon E5 processor in the new Mac Pro was socketed and removable, potentially allowing for processor upgrades in Apple's pro desktop in the future. Could this mean Apple doesn't plan to update the actual hardware for years to come? Apple acquires SnappyLabs. Apple has officially made its first acquisition of 2014 in the purchase of the SnappyCam app, which allows users to take burst photos easily. Of course, if you haven't already bought/downloaded SnappyCam, you're out of luck -- the app has been removed from the App Store. Evernote CEO responds to claims of buggy software. Think Evernote has taken a turn for the worse in the past year? You're not alone. Evernote's CEO agrees -- and promises to fix it. Today is the last day of Apple's 12 Days of Gifts app. The gift? The Sweet Summer Sun, Live in Hyde Park 2013 (Live) mini-album by The Rolling Stones.
Daily Update for January 3, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some of the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Draw Something game show pilot coming to CBS
CBS will team up with Zynga to produce a pilot for a primetime gameshow based on the mobile game Draw Something. CBS beat a number of other networks in a bidding war to take on the Sony Pictures Television, Embassy Row, and Ryan Seacrest Productions project.Ryan Seacrest, Michael Davies, and RSP CEO Adam Sher are teaming up as executive producers on the project. The show has players and celebrities use their drawing skills to win money. Seacrest's website added that "viewers at home will also be able play along and compete with for prizes using phones and tablets, ushering in a new era in game show viewing."Seacrest is not anticipated to be the host of the show, according to Variety.
HDNet joins up with AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest to become AXS TV this summer
It held on as long as it could, but HDNet is following the path of INHD (which became Mojo before disappearing entirely) and Discovery HD Theater (now Velocity) by rebranding itself, and will see itself morph into AXS TV this summer. Of course, HDNet has always focused on "lifestyle programming" and from the looks of it the new channel (pronounced: access) will be very similar, at least for now. HDNet is bringing programming like HDNet Fights, Dan Rather Reports, its concerts and more to the joint venture, which will be combined with its partners AEG, CAA and Ryan Seacrest Media. If HDNet is currently on your programming lineup AXS TV will simply take its place when it launches, and Dish Network actually plans to increase the channel's distribution by adding it to the America's Top 120 package. If you're distressed over the future of Art Mann Presents, check out the press release after the break or a Q&A on the site for more information about what's happening to Mark Cuban's baby.
Firefall adds pets for you to cuddle... and kill
Just in case you thought Firefall was going to be nothing but guns, ammo, and models toting guns and ammo, Red 5 wants us to know that there's a softer side to the game for those who love fluff. Talking with Shacknews, Mark Kern revealed that the shooter MMO will include a pet system for grizzled combat veterans who can't bear to leave the base without the security of Rygel and Princess Pebbles. Of course, this being a red-blooded shooter, Firefall's pet system can't stop with extended grooming and cuddles. "We had had to do little things to actually make it interesting," Kern explained. "Not only can you get a pet, but we're thinking that there's actually an item you can buy in the store to load your gun with special ammunition so you actually shoot the other guy's pet." Red 5 will be hosting an upcoming promotion starting on Wednesday called Crystite Challenge that will give fans a chance to get into the beta and unlock a Penny Arcade "The Merch" pet. "The Merch is awesome because he's all about merchandising and he fits with our item-based theme," Kern said. Firefall is currently in beta and gearing up for a December launch. Curious onlookers would do well to check out Massively's hands-on impressions of the title from PAX.
Seen@E3: The best business card ever
We got this business card LEGO person from LEGO Universe Creative Director Ryan Seabury yesterday, and every single person we have showed it to since agrees that it is indeed the best form of sharing contact information ever seen. Seabury's name and likeness are on the front, and his phone number and email are on the back of the little guy. We've placed him atop the pile of business cards that's been handed to us this week. We've met a lot of fun people on the show floor at E3, but if we need any LEGO-related advice, we'll know exactly who to call.
