SpaceX historic ISS launch streams live from NASA
Starting this afternoon we’ll we’ll be keeping our eyes toward the heavens as the historic International Space Station-bound launch of the SpaceX program streams live via NASA‘s own video portal. This launch will take place at 4:55 a.m. EDT and will be inside what’s called an “Instantaneous Launch Window” – this essentially meaning that if they can’t get a perfect launch time, they’ve got to move to their backup date, May 22nd in this case. This mission is important to the history of space travel and science in general because it will be the first Commercial Company ever to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station – and we can’t wait to see it go well!
This launch will be pushing the company’s Falcon 9 rocket into space with their Dragon spacecraft ready to make the journey all the way to the ISS this month. Elon Musk, owner and chief designer for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is one of the centers of interest here because of his Tony Stark-like real life and history with blockbuster tech projects such as SpaceX as and Tesla Motors. Have a peek at the NASA-made animation of the process this SpaceX mission will go through extremely soon:
Currently SpaceX is getting lots of help from NASA engineers and flight controllers as they work hand-in-hand with the private company to coordinate efforts and reach a successful launch, birthing, and completion. If successful, this will be the first in a long line of NASA-funded cargo deliveries to the ISS. NASA’s COTS space act agreements to SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation have started this ecosystem up in recent years with this mission being a beacon for their future collaborations.
You can watch the launch of this SpaceX mission in the UStream-hosted NASA Television stream above starting at 3:30 a.m. with the launch scheduled for 4:55 a.m. EDT on May 19th. Until then you can check out SpaceX/Falcon 9 Dragon Pre-Launch Briefings from KSC through this same streaming window below all afternoon!
SpaceX historic ISS launch streams live from NASA is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Facebook sued for $15bn over privacy
Facebook opened the markets this morning starting off with a value of $42 a share, but the world keeps on turning. Bloomberg is reporting the Facebook is being sued for $15 billion over a claim that privacy was violated by tracking internet usage. The lawsuit has been filed in California, and combined 21 individual cases that were spread out across the United States.
Stewarts Law, one of the firms leading the case, says that Facebook illegally tracked users activity even after they had logged out of the social networking service. “This is not just a damages action, but a groundbreaking digital-privacy rights case that could have wide and significant legal and business implications,” says David Straite, a partner at Stewarts Law.
It’s not the first time that Facebook has been the subject of privacy concerns. A German privacy watchdog believes that Facebook falls foul of German law, saying that it forces responsibility onto users rather as opposed to looking out for their best interests. Face-tagging in photos was the main cause for concern, especially for those who don’t have a Facebook account and wouldn’t want to be tagged.
Facebook sued for $15bn over privacy is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Verizon Unlimited Data need not end for you
This week we’re feeling the firestorm that’s surrounded Verizon’s double-announcement that they’d be effectively doing away with Unlimited Data plans by the end of this summer – but the whole truth is not that simple. Where many would read that headline and immediately assume Verizon was taking their precious away from them, there’s no reason to fret if you’re the sort of person that doesn’t want (or need) to pick up a new smartphone every couple of years. Instead this new deal from Verizon allows you to stay on the phone you’re on OR upgrade to an unsubsidized phone if you like, all the while letting you stick with your grandfathered plan – and it’s not just 3G.
At the moment, you’re not going to be able to walk into Verizon and start up a new Unlimited Data plan – that no longer exists for new customers. For those of you with Unlimited Data plans from the past, that is if you’ve been paying for Unlimited Data since it was still available for new purchase from Verizon, you’ll still be good to go through the future. If you do the following though, you’ll need to let go of your ever-loving Unlimited Data forevermore:
• If you want a new device at a subsidized price (that is, with a new 2-year contract), you will indeed need to drop your Unlimited Data.
If on the other hand you do not mind paying “full price,” that is the unsubsidized price for any smartphone on Verizon, you can keep your Unlimited Data, and that DOES include LTE. The price of an unsubsidized smartphone as opposed to a subsidized phone price can be relatively vast, so you might want to weigh your options before diving head-first into the future here.
For those of you looking to start up with limited data, as it were, you’ve got 2GB for $30, 5GB for $50, and 10GB for $80 USD on the market right now, and that’s per month. Verizon has not yet announced their prices for shared data plans that will be popping up later this year.
Verizon Unlimited Data need not end for you is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
TRON: Uprising full trailer goes live
This week the folks at Disney have release the first full-length trailer for the upcoming TRON feature “Uprising”, complete with release date. This next chapter in the TRON universe sits between the original movie and the recent feature-length sequel TRON: Legacy, here taking on a new form as a mix between 2D and CGI animation as opposed to live-action sequencing. This series contains a host of big-name voice actors and is set to run as a 10-episode mini-series via Disney.
TRON: Uprising is the story of the rise of Clu 2, the evil form of the main protagonist Kevin Flynn from both of the main films. This rise to power is rebelled against by the main protagonist of this series “Beck”, voiced by Elijah Wood, a young program trained by no less than the original TRON character – voiced here by the one and only Bruce Boxleitner, the only person to ever play TRON throughout the whole series. Have a peek at what you’re in for here:
This series is the first giant-scale release from Disney XD, the company’s newest look at “Television Animation” as they call it and set to be released on June 7th. Here we’re seeing a style that, again, mixes computer animation and the most classic 2D animation style known as Anime – lovers of classic series such as the original Batman and Samurai Jack will recognize the roots of this style, and it is interesting to note that the director of this Uprising series, Charlie Bean, was also a storyboard artist for Samurai Jack for a run of 7 episodes in 2002 and 2003.
This TRON series has the likes of Mandy Moore, Lance Henriksen, and even Paul Ruebens playing characters throughout. Stay tuned for more TRON history as it unfolds, and stick around our Entertainment hub as it expands through 2012 and beyond – and don’t forget our reviews of both TRON: Legacy and the original TRON (believe it or not) as well!
Story Timeline
- TRON Inspired Messenger Bag Features EL-Wire [Video]
- Tron Guy Banned from Seeing Tron in his Tron Suit
- Tron: Legacy designer talks digital art & gooey holograms
- Tron Lightcycle PC case mod is the coolest ever
- Tron scooter is perfect for tiny Users
- Tron Duck Tape commercial is best ad ever
- Electric Tron Lightcycle is perfect for green users
- Galaxy Nexus site goes live, Android page gets Tron-style Ice Cream Sandwich video
- Lit Motors C-1 self-balancing motorcycle brings Tron to reality
TRON: Uprising full trailer goes live is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Official Google Wallet app requesting root permission
Something odd is going on with the Google Wallet app. After a recent update the app appears to be requesting root access, though the initial report is that nothing has changed within Google Wallet that would need root access.
Some suggest Google is doing this to check if a phone is rooted or not so they can deny access, but the app has worked for some whether they grant it access or not.
Another odd thing is that some people were not able to use the app after allowing it root access, but were able to use it once they disallowed it. In other words, we have no idea what’s going on with Google Wallet. Nothing in the changelog suggests Google made this change intentionally. It’s just one big mind scrambler. How is it acting for the lot of you? [via Droid-Life]
Virgin Mobile giving $25 in Google Wallet credits to everyone who activates an LG Optimus Elite
Virgin Mobile is running an interesting promotion to get people to buy their newly-launched LG Optimus Elite. They’re giving $25 of Google Wallet credit to use at participating retailers and shops.
This is no doubt a promotion to highlight the device’s NFC chip and to encourage users to try out mobile payments, a fairly new field of technology for American consumers. You’ll first get $10, and another $15 will show up after three weeks of the device being activated.
If you return the phone before then, you’ll lose out on the full promotion. This ends in July so you have a fair amount of time to take advantage.
Don’t forget that you’ll also get a $35 account bonus good for one month. That specific promotion is for new customers only and it ends on the 30th of this month. Head to Virgin’s site to get started and read on for full press details.
The Ultimate Pay Phone
MAKE YOUR VIRGIN MOBILE LG OPTIMUS ELITE YOUR WALLET AND GET $25
From 5/18/12 through 7/18/12, you can get $25 credited to your Google Wallet™ account by first purchasing and activating an LG Optimus Elite™.
Then activate your Google Wallet and Google Wallet prepaid card within 7 days of activating the device on a Virgin Mobile USA Beyond Talk monthly plan.
With Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities and built-in services like Google Wallet, you can now use your LG Optimus Elite like never before - as a wallet – making it one of the fastest, easiest and flat-out coolest ways to make a purchase at participating retailers.
For more information on the LG Optimus Elite:
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phones/lg-optimus-elite-phone.jsp
For more information on Google Wallet:
http://www.google.com/wallet/what-is-google-wallet.html
Limited time offer, promotion runs from 5/18/2012 through 7/18/2012 ("Promotion Period"). Not available in all markets/retail locations. $25 Google Wallet offer Terms and Conditions: Offer requires: (1) purchase of a new LG Optimus Elite from Virgin Mobile and activation on a Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk account; and (2) activation and set up of Google Wallet prepaid card within seven (7) days of Virgin Mobile account activation, during the Promotion Period. Upon successful activation, Google™ will: (i) add a $10 credit to the Google Wallet prepaid card within 48 hours of activation; and (ii) add an additional $15.00 credit to the Google Wallet prepaid card within three weeks of successful activation and set up. No personal credit card information is required for offer to apply. To see where Google Wallet is accepted, please go to http://www.google.com/wallet/where-it-works.html. NOTE: Credits applied toward Google Wallet accounts are performed by Google or its designees. For more questions or inquiries about this offer, or about the status of your credit, please call Google Wallet: 855-492-5538. Other restrictions apply.
©2012 Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. All rights reserved. VIRGIN and the Virgin signature logo are registered trademarks of Virgin Enterprises Limited and are used under license. The LG Electronics, Inc. and Optimus Elite logo are registered trademarks of LG Electronics, Inc. The Google logo and Google Wallet is a trademark of Google Inc. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Get an Android PC on a stick for $74
While a proper Android-based computer has yet to form in a practical way, this new option is a viable alternative for its price. It’s the $74 MK802 stick from retailer All Express. The device comes with Android 4.0, apparently, and while the listing’s title mentions “Google TV,” we can’t seem to figure out whether or not that’s the Google TV we all know and love or just an SEO trick.
The device is equipped with hardware that can be found inside a mid-range phone. It’s sporting a 1GHz Cortex-A8 processor, 512MB o RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 1080p playback capabilities and more. If the 4GB of storage is a little on the low side, fret not: a microSD card slot is available for expanding storage up to 32GB.
WiFi is included for downloading apps and browsing the web, and it all hooks up to your monitor or TV using an HDMI port (cable not included). It’s an interesting device for $74. If the development community gets their hands on it this could become an inexpensive, yet functional Google TV module. I wouldn’t fully bet on that, of course, but it’s possible. Find it at All Express. [via Electronista]
Apple assuming retail lease, plans to open new UK Apple Store
Apple's march to world domination continues, this time with a new Apple Store planned for the UK seaside city of Plymouth. What's surprising about this store announcement is that Apple apparently made managers of a successful Zara fashion store at the Drake Circus Shopping Centre (above) in Plymouth "an offer they can't refuse."
The Zara store, which fills a 21,045 square-foot space in the mall, has about ten years to go on a fifteen-year lease. Zara is out; Apple will assume the lease for the remainder of the time. ifoAppleStore notes that this space is almost double the size of the standard Apple Store, so Apple may just occupy the ground floor and sublet the upper level.
26 Zara employees are losing their jobs as a result of the announced closing, but there's a good chance that more jobs than that will be created when the Apple Store opens. The Drake Circus store is about 45 miles from the Princesshay Apple Store in Exeter, and fills in coverage for the Devon and Cornwall region of the country.
Apple assuming retail lease, plans to open new UK Apple Store originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple receives regulatory approval for solar farm in North Carolina
As noticed by AppleInsider, the North Carolina Utilities Commission approved Apple's application to build a 20-megawatt solar farm on land adjacent to its Maiden, North Carolina data center. The proposal was filed on February 15 and publicly announced at the end of March. It received no complaints and was approved by the Commission on May 14.
This approval gives Apple the green light to continue work on the solar farm, which will provide a portion of the power required by its data center. The solar array is expected to be completed by November and will start providing power late in December. Apple has said it will be the largest user-owned solar array in the United States.
Apple's data center has been the target of several Greenpeace demonstrations around the world. The environmental activist group criticizes Apple for its reliance on coal and says the company could improve its usage of clean power.
[Via AppleInsider]
Apple receives regulatory approval for solar farm in North Carolina originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sparrow 1.6 for Mac available with POP support, more
After releasing its mail app for the iPhone, Sparrow is back again with another update of its Mac email client. Version 1.6 adds the highly-anticipated support for Pop accounts, giving you a true unified inbox. There's also a handful of minor tweaks and bug fixes that'll make it easier for you to send and receive mail on your Mac. You can see the full list of changes on Sparrow's blog.
Sparrow for the Mac is available from the Mac App Store for US$9.99.
Sparrow 1.6 for Mac available with POP support, more originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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