Tascam iM2: Hi-Fi Stereo Mic for iPhone, iPad

I wish I’d found out about this stereo iPhone mic yesterday. I was last-minute shopping for dictaphone for the Lady’s work, trying to find the cheapest MP3-recording model that wouldn’t suck. It was fine, but cost nearly $90. That’s $90 that could have been spent on this iM2 Stereo Microphone from Tascam, with money to [...]

ON SEMICONDUCTOR

Microsoft comments on Siri, proves they still don?t get it

In an interview with Forbes, Microsoft’s Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie poopoos Apple’s Siri intelligent virtual assistant, saying it’s nothing Microsoft’s TellMe hasn’t been doing since the introduction of Windows Phone 7 over a year ago.

You can take these Windows Phones now and you

...

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This Twisted Bridge Isn't a Failure At All [Image Cache]

At first glance it looks like this bridge in the Netherlands was an engineering failure, not unlike the infamous Tacoma Narrows that collapsed. But this is how the architects designed and built it to look, and it works just fine. More »

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Ask DLS: What's your primary Web browser?

Competition is a good thing, and the browser arena has been a fierce arena for years now. There are at least four "major" browsers each vying for your attention, along with lots of smaller spin-offs (SRWare Iron or Flock, anyone?).

While the browser usage charts we share from time to time show overall browser usage amongst the Web at large, Download Squad readers are not exactly the average bunch in terms of browser use. So today we have one simple question for you:

What's your primary Web browser?

View Poll

Ask DLS: What's your primary Web browser? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cracking The Krakow Code ? Poland?s Newest High Tech Cluster Emerges [TCTV]

I recently had the pleasure of visiting a European city which is to a great extent a true example of how technology is changing society and business across Europe today. Once, Krakow was a city infamous for its nearness to Auschwitz and a terrifying example of how the Nazis could destroy a previously peaceful society where people of many creeds had lived together in peace. Under the Soviet occupation, it was just another grey Polish city. But since liberation in the later 1980s and the emergence of a strong Polish market economy in the 1990s/2000s, Krakow is taking its place in the technology world, along with the major hub of Warsaw, as a crucible of technology innovation. I flew to Krakow to join the burgeoning startup group there known as Hive which showcased pitches from local startups aiming to go global. While there I shot the 'mini documentary' below which gives you a flavour of some of the early startup companies in Poland.

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Elephant Quest is an addictive, deep platformer

When someone tells me about a "platformer", my first thought is that it's probably a simple game that mainly revolves around running and jumping around, with a minimal plot. [Play a Zelda game! -Ed]

Elephant Quest is one platformer that managed to prove me completely wrong. Yes, you do run and jump around, and you also shoot at stuff. But the game has much, much more going for it.

Basically, as you run, jump and shoot, you gain experience points and level up. Hitting Space brings you into an interface where you can convert your experience points into Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Dexterity points. Once you've "specialized" your points, you then get to pick what exact skills you'd like to enhance in each field. For example, you could use your dexterity to enhance your weapons or increase your swiftness.

The game is played in a huge maze; you go through rooms using doors, and there's a large map. As the name implies, there are quests you can take, too. For example, one quest had me searching all over the place for ten balloons.

The bottom line is that this is a surprisingly deep game that just might ensnare you for a good bit longer than you intended to play. Beware!

Elephant Quest is an addictive, deep platformer originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brine Your Turkey, Fool. It's SCIENCE! [Thanksgiving]

Yes, there are all sorts of fancy newfangled ways to cook an incredible Thanksgiving Turkey. But there's no Norman Rockwell picture of a Sous Vide. And there's something magical about a whole bird roasting in the oven. It's almost as hypnotic as fire. More »

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You Won't Believe How Much the Government Paid to Make a Basic Weather App that Doesn't Work [Apps]

Today's government waste story isn't about stealth fighters, but the slightly less exotic world of smartphone software. How much would you guess a little app to generate the local heat index, and provide appropriate "tips." Price tag? $200,000. What. More »

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Security advocate, EFF go toe to toe with data collection company CarrierIQ

The push and pull between security (and privacy) advocates and a company that supplies several Android manufacturers with application metrics has reached a new level -- and lawyers are now involved. This stems from the CarrierIQ "app" that resides in a number of HTC Android smartphones that gained notoriety in early October when a flaw was discovered in the way it was collecting data. Depending on who you ask, CarrierIQ (recently named a "Company under $100 million to watch") either is a tool that provides OEMs a look at what you're using your device for under the auspices of giving you a better user experience in the long term, or it's an evil agent spying on your every move.

On Nov. 14, Trevor Eckhart -- aka TrevE -- sent us (and presumably other sites) a link to a post he'd written explaining in great technical detail what CarrierIQ does, how it does it, and why he believes it's a bad thing. (We declined to report on Eckhart's post.) Included in the post and mirrored off site are training documents Eckhart copied from the CarrierIQ website, and Eckhart explained how he believed he evaded no security in copying the documents.

CarrierIQ, however, believes Eckhart violated copyright laws by doing so, and has sent a strongly worded cease-and-desist letter demanding cease any infringement or face thousands of dollars in fines, as well as retracting "allegations on your website ... that are without substance, untrue, and that we regard as damaging to our reputation and the reputation of our customers." CarrierIQ also demands that Eckhart contact anyone directly or indirectly sent copies of the training material, send written retractions, issue a press release on the AP (Associated Press) wire admitting "inaccuracies" and to "apologize to Carrier IQ, Inc. for misrepresenting the capabilities of their products and for distributing copyrighted content without permission."

Eckhart has retained the help of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which responded to CarrierIQ's general counsel that Eckhart's copying and republishing of the training materials falls under fair use, and that CarrierIQ must specify the statements it believes are false. (CarrierIQ was most certainly purposely vague in its initial C&D letter. That's how it works.)

This isn't about fears over data collection anymore, folks. Now that lawyers are involved, it's about whether laws were broken. The short version is CarrierIQ thinks Eckhart copied and used the training materials illegally (remember that just because something's not behind a locked door doesn't necessarily give you permission to distribute it), and the EFF is arguing that CarrierIQ is using strong-arm tactics and threats of thousands of dollars in fines to silence Eckhart and force retractions. (If you're really into the legal stuff, it's also interesting that the EFF claims CarrierIQ is a public figure and that New York Times Co. v. Sullivan and Hustler Magainze v. Falwell apply here.)

It also should be noted that on Nov. 16, CarrierIQ posted a "media alert" titled "Measuring Mobile User Experience Does Matter!" that seeks "to clarify some recent press on how our product is used and the information that is gathered from smartphones and mobile devices." Eckhart's piece isn't explictly mentioned, but it's pretty clear what it's in response to.

The debate over CarrierIQ will continue as well (and as it well should). But it is worth mentioning that there we all gloss over a bunch of legalese every time we boot a smartphone for the first time that should (in small type) tell you your phone is collecting data about what it's doing. And it also needs reminding that when a potential security hole was found in the way CarrierIQ was collecting data, a fix was pushed out pretty quickly (for some phones, at least). And it's also worth mentioning that CarrierIQ's not acting unilaterally here. The manufacturer -- not you -- is CarrierIQ's customer. We'll all have to watch how this one plays out.

Additional links: "What is CarrierIQ?" | "Measuring Mobile User Experience Does Matter!" (pdf) | EFF post | EFF response (pdf) cease and desist letter (pdf)

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

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Sprint sets the date for a CES 'exclusive event'

Time to start the annual CES speculation, and Sprint's first out of the gate with the special events. As the invite notes, this one's immediately after the Tuesday keynote, which happens to be from Intel's Paul Otellini. We really have no idea what Sprint's got up its sleeve here -- could well be an Intel-based Windows 8 tablet (which in and of itself would be pretty cool), but remember that Intel's also getting into the Android game in 2012, so perhaps we'll get our first look at that fare? Or it could just be that the event's after the keynote and has absolutely nothing to do with Intel. We'll find out in about a month and a half.

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Another Strong Quake Hits Close To Fukushima Plant [Fukushima]

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck about 60 miles away from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant this morning. More »

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