Google and Microsoft have sued the US government for the freedom to disclose FISA data surveillance requests, after demands from the two companies to reveal to users when the NSA requests information went unmet. “We believe we have a clear right under the U.S. Constitution to share more information with the public” Brad Smith, Microsoft’s […]
We’ve been hearing rumors surrounding Apple’s possible launch of an iPhone trade-in program for quite some time now with the latest rumor pegging its release to occur some time next month. It looks like the sources behind that prediction were slightly off as Apple has just announced they have indeed launched their trade-in program starting today. (more…)
Apple Launches iPhone Trade-In Program Across U.S. Stores original content from Ubergizmo. 
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The folks at Twitter are the latest in a group of app developers to take advantage of the Google Play app beta program, this allowing users – friendly bug-seekers, to take part in an early release schedule. This program works quite simply – just sign up through a Google Group, agree to be a tester, […]
![15 [KOOZIE-LIKE HOLDERS] That Definitely Aren't Koozies™](https://i0.wp.com/img.gawkerassets.com/img/18yjecwjxct07jpg/ku-xlarge.jpg?resize=640%2C360){kind=small}
Did you know that whatever you’re keeping your beer cold with this summer, chances are it’s not a Koozie™? That’s right! Koozie™ is a word owned by Norwood, an Illinois-based company that produces customizable novelty items such as plastic trophies, keychains, and flashlights who will threaten legal action against your company if you refer to a non-Koozie™ branded product as a Koozie™.
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The Nintendo 2DS is just like a 3DS, except for the fact that it’s cheaper and has no 3D. Deal breaker or deal maker? Meanwhile, Matt still seems to fancy the Pebble smartwatch, while the rest of us are sick of hearing about it. And finally, the Unikey Kevo (currently available for pre-order) will make its way into homes in about a month with plenty of competition from Lockitron and others. But which is the better product?
We discuss all this and more on the latest episode of the TC Gadgets podcast, featuring John Biggs, Matt Burns, Jordan Crook, and Darrell Etherington.
Enjoy!
We invite you to enjoy our weekly podcasts every Friday at 3pm Eastern and noon Pacific. And feel free to check out the TechCrunch Gadgets Flipboard magazine right here.
Click here to download an MP3 of this show.
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Intro Music by Rick Barr.
The iPhone 5 is officially past its retail prime.
(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Mack/CNET) iPhone 5 prices are tumbling as anticipation builds that a new iPhone 5S and perhaps a less expensive iPhone 5C will be introduced on September 10.
Retail monolith Walmart has allowed the cost of a new iPhone 5 (with a two-year contract) to slide all the way to $98 for a 16GB model in white or black on AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint, effective Friday. The megastore already had some of the lowest prices on a new iPhone 5, which were previously set at $129.
For Android fans, Walmart has rolled back the price of a new Galaxy S4 (with a two-year contract on Verzion or AT&T) to $138. That’s $10 less than the previous price for a new GS4 on Verizon, and a $30 price drop for the AT&T version.
Related Links:
Walmart turns your iPhone, iPad, or Galaxy S3 into grocery money
Tips for buying and selling used iPhones
What happens to used iPhone prices before and after an Apple event? (chart)
How will a cheaper iPhone 5C affect pricing for older iPhones?
New, high-quality shots of ‘iPhone 5C’ casing appear
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You know what stinks? Loving a movie that doesn’t have any actions figures that you can collect. Blade Runner is a good example. There are no official Blade Runner action figures, and that’s just plain wrong.
However, San Francisco freelance artist Scott Petterson has created a custom and very realistic series of 12″ action figures based on Ridley’s Scott’s 1982 sci-fi thriller. Scott works in wax when he sculpts to get those incredible details. He even created some “end of the movie” versions of Deckard and Roy Batty, when the characters are covered with battle wounds.
It takes two to three months to create one of his reproductions, but the end result is really amazing. I wish toy companies could do this good a job. I wish I could buy the whole set.
He plans on making more characters from the film, like Dr. Eldon Tyrell and Gaff. You can buy some unpainted head sculptures from his art blog if you like what you see.
[via Geek Magazine via Laughing Squid]
Amazon has price-matched Best Buy’s $200 discount on all Retina MacBook Pros. If you’re eligible for an education discount (.edu e-mail address), then sign up with Best Buy here to get a full $300 off. If not, go through Amazon and take advantage of Prime shipping and potential tax avoidance depending on your state. [Amazon OR Best Buy]
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Each week Joshua Fruhlinger contributes This is the Modem World, a column dedicated to exploring the culture of consumer technology.
Consider this headline: “Researcher controls colleague’s motions in 1st human brain-to-brain interface.”
This. Happened.
University of Washington nerds put an electrode-speckled cap on Rajesh Rao and attached it to a computer that was connected to the internet. They then put Andrea Stocco in another room on the other side of the University of Washington campus, plopped another electrode cap on him and connected that to a computer.
Leaked from today’s 404 episode:
– The 404 Special Feature: Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant (podcast).
– The Internet explained by (three) prisoners who have never seen it.
– Three years after being banned, Bang With Friends returns as “Down.”
– Computer scientists figured out how to execute the perfect Reddit submission.
Listen Now: … [Read more]
Related Links:
Researcher: Snapchat names, aliases, phone numbers vulnerable
Bang With Friends back in the App Store — with a new name
Hola, Kindle! Amazon launches Mexican e-book store, publishing
With Frontback, there are two sides to every iPhone photo
Supreme Court justices don’t do e-mail (Trust issues?)
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