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Latest by Jason Hahn

Jetpac Google

Google acquires image-based city guides company Jetpac to improve visual search

Google has acquired Jetpac, an iOS app that uses public information from Instagram photos to create image-driven city maps and guides.
Robin Williams, Zelda Williams

Robin Williams will be immortalized with a character in World of Warcraft

Late actor and comedian Robin Williams, who was found dead in his San Francisco Bay Area home on Monday, will be memorialized in World of Warcraft.
Apple store iPhone upgrade line

More than 25 million U.S. iPhone owners may be anxious to upgrade to the iPhone 6

More than 25 million current iPhone owners in the U.S. may be ready to upgrade to the iPhone 6 when Apple debuts its new smartphone on Sept. 9.
Smartphone microphone gyroscope

Your smartphone’s gyroscope can be turned into an eavesdropping hacker’s microphone

If you own a smartphone, chances are it has a gyroscope that can be used (without special permissions) as a microphone to listen in on your conversations.
Robot olympics

Japan wants to see robots compete against each other in the 2020 Summer Olympics

South Korea has robot spectators at their baseball games? Cute. Japan wants to see robot athletes competing against each other at the 2020 Olympics.
Cubii

Stay fit in your cubicle with Cubii, an elliptical machine you can hide under your desk at work

The Cubii is a mini-elliptical machine that fits under your desk at work. The creators purport that you won’t leave work with bruised knees after using it.
imoji emoji

Turn your selfie into an emoji with the new iPhone app imoji

A new iPhone app called (what else) imoji, lets you turn your selfies or other beloved images into stickers you can text to your friends.
2015 Toyota Sienna

New Toyota minivan equips parents with mic to make it easier to yell at unruly kids in the back

The 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan will offer a feature called “Driver Easy Speak," which makes it easier for parents to yell at misbehaving kids in the back.
Chromebook

More than 1 million Chromebooks sold to schools in second quarter of 2014

In the second quarter, schools purchased more than 1 million Chromebooks. The Chromebook has strong momentum as we head toward back-to-school season.
Hicon social bracelet

Social media on your wrist: Hicon is a bracelet that makes social networking wearable

The Hicon is a unique bracelet with small, colorful buttons linked to your social media accounts. In other words, it’s wearable social media for your wrist.
MIT robot hand two fingers

Wearable robot adds two fingers to your human hand, gives you a better grip on life

Researchers at MIT have created a wrist-mounted robot that adds two long fingers to your hand so you can perform everyday routines more easily.
Ritot projection watch

You’ll know the time like the back of your hand, when this watch projects it there

The Ritot is touting itself as the world’s first “projection watch.” It's a bracelet that projects the time and phone notifications onto your hand.
Georgia Tech robot Angry Birds

Robot learns how to play Angry Birds and helps children with disabilities in the process

At the Georgia Institute of Technology, researchers are using a robot, a tablet and "Angry Birds" to help the rehabilitation of children with disabilities.
Facebook homepage

No secret experiment here: ‘99 Days of Freedom’ asks users to quit Facebook, see how they feel

“99 Days of Freedom” is calling Facebook users to quit the social network for 99 days to see how life without Facebook affects their happiness.
Third-person perspective augmented reality device

Get a new perspective on life with an Oculus Rift rig that gives you a third-person view

A team in Poland has assembled a wearable device equipped with an Oculus Rift and two GoPro cameras that gives you an out-of-body perspective on life.
Google search EU

Google restores links removed from search results due to right to be forgotten in EU

Google has restored some of the links it initially removed from its search results as part of its effort to comply with the "right to be forgotten" ruling.
Internet freedom

The 4 major threats to an open Internet in 2025, according to the experts

There are four looming threats casting a shadow of doubt on the prospect of maintaining an open Internet by 2025, the Pew Research Center Internet Project.
Apple company logo

Apple leads phone sales in May, Samsung gains, and LG loses steam

In May, Apple claimed a leading 41.9 percent of the U.S. smartphone market, according to a report from comScore. Samsung gained while LG lost market share.
Xbox vs. PlayStation

Xbox One beats PlayStation 4 and Wii U to win the presidential election of Facebook ‘likes’

If video game consoles ran for president, the Xbox One would win, according to research detailing state-by-state breakdown of Facebook "likes" for consoles.
Video game tournament

Video game athletes have a new achievement to unlock: college eSports scholarships

Robert Morris University Illinois is offering an athletic scholarship for avid League of Legends players who are enrolled at the university this fall.
Geek Wave

Geek Wave, a no-nonsense portable music player, proves that MP3 players aren’t dead

The Geek Wave is a portable music player that claims to deliver high-quality audio that your smartphone or iPod can’t hold a candle to.
Texting while driving

Scan license plates so you can text flirty messages to cute drivers with GM’s new app

GM's China R&D team has developed an Android app that lets a driver scan a license plate in order to start texting the owner of that car.
TrackR bravo

TrackR bravo is a coin-sized tracking device that makes you look forward to losing things

The TrackR bravo is a slim, round aluminum device that clips or sticks onto objects and makes them trackable via the company’s iOS or Android app.
Apple store logo

Apple recalls European iPhone chargers in 37 countries due to overheating and safety risk

Apple is recalling the 5W European USB power adapters that came with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S models in 37 countries due to overheating risks.
google fiber van

Portland opens its doors to Google Fiber, which could be an eyesore for residents

Portland, Oregon, is one step closer to basking in the glory that is Google Fiber gigabit Internet service. It's now up to Google whether to proceed.
Breast-feeding mother

Facebook and Instagram open up to breast-feeding and post-mastectomy photos

Facebook and Instagram have loosened their stances on breast-feeding and post-mastectomy photos -- even those including nipples.
Shattered phone screen

Say goodbye to shattered smartphone screens, thanks to a new miracle film

Scientists at The University of Akron have developed a film that's a rugged, bendable and cost-effective alternative to today’s delicate smartphone screens.
MobileOCT

MobileOCT uses a 3D printed case to turn smartphones into cancer screening devices

MobileOCT has developed a 3D printed smartphone accessory that leverages a mobile phone’s camera to detect cancer.
Tesla Model S

Tesla may be able to sell electric cars in New Jersey again – and open up two more stores

Tesla may be able to sell its electric cars in New Jersey again (and open two more stores), thanks to a bill that was passed with a 4-0 vote.
Quit smoking text message

Study finds text messaging support program doubles smokers’ chances of quitting

According to a new study, smokers who use text messaging programs double their chances of successfully quitting.
Facial recognition

The NSA might know what you look like, collects millions of digital images per day

The National Security Agency (NSA) has ramped up its collection of digital facial images in the past four years, according to The New York Times.
Brain

Brains are being hacked to fight mental illness, mine marketing-friendly data

Your brain was meant for hacking, and the U.S. military and a professor of electrical engineering are among the latest parties to espouse that view.
CleverPet

CleverPet is a smart device that rewards dogs for solving puzzles when they’re home alone

The CleverPet is a smart device that keeps your dog company when they’re alone by engaging them throughout the day with button-based puzzles.
Bicycle

Police use ‘bait bikes’ with GPS technology and public Twitter shaming to fight bicycle theft

“Bait bikes” are bicycles tagged with GPS tracking devices, and they’re being used by the San Francisco Police Department to catch and shame bike thieves.