Section: Web, Websites It’s no big secret that AOL isn’t doing as well as it once did. Once it was the Internet to many people, now some people still keep their AOL email, but the company is struggling. A new CEO, former Google sales executive Tim Armstrong was brought in to help turn the company around, and today he announced where he thinks the future of the company will come from, and how it can survive. According to Armstrong, the future of AOL comes from the content it currently has, and what the content is capable of doing. One avenue Armstrong is looking at is the possibility of blending ad-supported and paid-for content, in making content that consumers will pay for, as The Wall Street Journal already does with it’s content. While the company’s Weblogs Inc. properties (such as Engadget, and Joystiq) are providing good content as of now, Armstrong is also looking at Patch.com to bring in some revenue. Patch brings so-called hyper-local news to AOL’s offerings, the site covers specific towns in New Jersey and Connecticut (with New York and Long Island towns coming soon), bringing residents (or anyone else) everything they would want about the towns. Armstrong’s announcement holds some promise for AOL, as content is always an important aspect of any web service. Bringing in Patch is certainly a good idea, as hyper-local news seems to be where a lot of news is going (if J-schools are to be believed, at least). It could be an uphill battle once AOL breaks from Time Warner, but it’s doubtful the company will go away any time soon. Armstrong is bringing hope to AOL, and if what he says is followed, it might just come out looking pretty good. Read [CNet News] Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Smartphones RIM has issued a patch for a bug in its browser that could allow BlackBerry users to be hit by a phishing attack. The bug involves the security feature that notifies a user if the website they are trying to visit has a certificate mismatch. The browser correctly identifies such sites but does not display the mismatch properly if it contains null, or hidden, characters. This means a user could easily think the notification was in error and continue to load the page. A hacker could take advantage of this bug by creating a fake site and purposely altering its certificate. They could then send an SMS text message to a user with the malicious link included. The user would click on it and be tricked into thinking it's a legit and trusted site. For example, say a hacker decided to create a phishing site for a major bank such as HSBC and purposely alter the certificate. They would then send out an SMS made to look like an alert from the bank with the malicious link included. Thinking it's a real alert the BB user clicks on the link (since it was sent via an SMS text the mouse hover trick would not work). When the BB user gets the warning the bug makes the warning look bogus so the user continues on and logs into the fake site. This bug affects all devices and OS versions and it is highly recommended that BB users download the fix and apply it ASAP. In the meantime avoid clicking on links sent via SMS. Read [ZDnet] Full Story » | Written by Sue Walsh for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Cellphones, Cellular Providers, Smartphones, Mobile  Motorola’s other Google OS Android phone, the Shoales or Tao now Droid, looks to be headed to Verizon but will not feature the new MotoBlur UI skin that we’ve been so excited about. Instead, the phone will tout support for Adobe Flash, Google’s brand name, and run a custom UI (not Blur, not Verizon). With Blur “wowing” most who’ve seen it, why didn’t Verizon choose to go with it?
Our guess is Verizon just didn’t have the confidence Motorola could nail it. Once the company that let the RAZR lead in phones slip through their hands, carriers have been slow to get behind Moto. The tide could finally be turning. This phone has a 3.7” capactive (the good one) touchscreen and a slide out QWERTY keypad and a 5 megapixel camera. BGR reports an announcement will becoming in the next couple of weeks. Read [BoyGeniusReports] Image Credit: BGR Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Communications, Mobile, Web, Websites, Google Yesterday, Google made two new enhancements for mobile users that have the Google app installed. The most significant is a feature called "Personalized Suggest," which will remember your searches when you switch between PC and mobile versions of Google.com. As you type your query in the search bar, these past records will appear as search suggestions. To get this feature to work, you need to log in when using your PC as well as your mobile device. The mobile browser has also made upgrades to your local searches for the mobile browser. The "Local" tab will allow you to search nearby restaurants, hotels, shopping, gas, etc. This feature has a similar interface to Google Maps. You'll also be able to view points of interest that you have saved in Google Maps. Right now, the local search feature has compatibility in the United States and China. The updates were low key as most of the world focused on Google Wave. The collaboration application permitted 100,000 invitees to test drive it this week. Read: [CNET]
Image Source: Boy Genius Report Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
FROM GAMERTELL - You’ve decided to be one of the PSPgo first adopters. Good for you! I wish I had your spare cash and hopeful optimism. If you’re taking the plunge and you’re already a PSP owner, you’ll find yourself suddenly in the possession of a number of useless games. Well, not totally… MORE » Full Story » | Written by NEWS for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Video, Portable Video It strikes me as a little funny that people are getting so excited about a little portable television with a 4-inch display. After all this is just a small dedicated device for the FLO TV service, which has been available on select AT&T and Verizon cellphones for a while now and never seemed to gain any attention. Why is it that a dedicated device is getting such attention? Anyway, the latest, and yes I realize that I am just adding to the rumor mill, comes in for form of another spy shot. The latest image shows off what appears to be the final packaging for the hopefully soon-to-be-released FLO TV Personal Television. Bottom line, the box looks real, and I suppose it is a nice follow up to the originally leaked concept art and previous spy shot. However, my question goes back to why people are getting so excited, are people actually going to be willing to make a purchase? Personally, and depending on the cost I would consider it, but then again I have two young kids who at times could use a distraction in the form of entertainment in the car. Via [Gizmodo] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Business News, Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation Apple quietly acquired Placebase, a mapping company that allows users to overlay maps with personal data. With the recent fallout between Apple and Google, we’ve got to wonder if Apple is looking to depend less on Google for its mapping, one of the stock apps on the iPhone and iPod touch. Interestingly, this news broke today, the same day that Strategy Analytics announced a survey that says mobile users in the US and Western Europe trust Google Maps more than any other. While Google Maps lack audible turn-by-turn navigation, the service is seen as being the most accurate as compared to others, including fee-for-service outfits like TeleNav. With the Google Voice App snafu, Google’s CEO leaving Apple’s board of directors, and Google Latitude remanded to just a web-app, it would seem that Apple is looking towards a future that may not include Google. Would that mean that the iPhone’s Safari browser would not have Google as its default search? As mobile becomes more and more lucrative for search, we’ve got to wonder if that will have an impact on future prospects for Google. The other concern is if Apple tries to invent a new location service like Latitude, will it be just for the iPhone? If so, the value of the service declines greatly for those of us that have contacts with other phones that likely won’t be compatible with Apple’s service. Google Latitude seemed almost perfect as it works over so many different devices and OSes. Read [Stuff.tv] Image credit: Apple Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
Section: Gadgets / Other, Miscellaneous  Amazon has never denied that the Kindle would eventually makes its way overseas, but at the same time they have never offered up even the slightest hint as to when we could expect that to happen. That said, it looks like that time may be coming up.
The story, which I would still consider nothing more than a rumor at this point is coming courtesy of “one digital director” who is claiming that they are “looking at October for a launch.” For what it is worth, that was also followed up by an additional unnamed source who stated that “Amazon is gathering a head of steam for launch.” Now as to whether we can believe these statements or not. They sound logical and may serve as a nice warning to anyone in the UK to start adding some cash to their gadget fund. But aside from that, I, for one, would need some further evidence. Read [BookSeller.com] Via [CrunchGear] Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »
 
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