Hasta La Gadget!

To say that Facebook has to tread lightly around privacy issues is an understatement, especially with a targeted ad push underway. Rather than navigate that minefield once more, the social network hopes to skip it entirely by posting an overview of how the ad system tracks habits while retaining our anonymity. For the most part, Facebook walks the fine line carefully. Its Facebook Exchange auction system relies on a unique, untraceable browser ID to target ads to specific people without ever getting their identity; both a mechanism targeting ads beyond Facebook and a Datalogix deal to track the ad conversion rate use anonymous e-mail address hashes that keep advertisers happy without making the addresses readable to prying eyes. The initiative sounds like it’s on the right course, although there’s caveats at work. Opting out of any Facebook Exchange ads requires tracking down individual ad providers, which isn’t likely to result in many of us leaving the ad revenue stream. Likewise, those who’d object even to the completely anonymous ad profiling don’t have a say in the matter. With those concerns in mind, it’s doubtful there will be many significant objections in the future — Facebook knows its advertising money train can only keep churning if its members are comfortable enough to come along for the ride.

Filed under: Internet

Facebook outlines its ad targeting strategy on one handy page, presents a complex privacy picture originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Cox TV Connect for iPad app that brings live TV streaming to the tablet while customers are at home has received another update that gives it some capabilities outside the house. While that doesn’t include the aforementioned TV viewing, version 1.1.2 integrates remote DVR scheduling (previously left to the company’s Mobile Connect phone apps) and allows access to the app and recently updated grid guide when the user is away from home. You’ll still need to have the proper TV and internet packages from Cox to make it all go, but there’s no additional charge for the app that’s available at the source link below.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD

Cox TV Connect for iPad gets remote DVR scheduling, access to the guide at home or away originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Believe it or not, most people still start their TV watching routine by hitting the guide button and browsing. After that, they might check to see what’s on the DVR, and eventually make their way through the streaming options available on their smart TV or game console. Dijit Media wants to change that with the new NextGuide iPad app which sets out to answer the age old question of “what am I going to watch next?” Essentially this hyper personal guide knows whats on TV, what your friends are watching and lets you easily filter by things like category, Facebook likes or even keywords in the metadata. Discovering content is the key theme here, but integration with other services like Rotten Tomatoes and the ability to schedule recordings on your DVR are also in the cards — currently scheduling recordings only works with DirecTV, but we’re told more are on the way. Although from the same company, NextGuide doesn’t work with the Beacon so you’ll need to keep using the Dijit remote for the majority of your remote needs, but both products will live on even though Dijit’s focus is on NextGuide, for now.

Continue reading NextGuide for iPad intends to get you to stop using the grid guide

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablets, HD

NextGuide for iPad intends to get you to stop using the grid guide originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Windows Media Center fans searching for a good looking remote app for their mobile devices, that wait is over, at least on a few platforms. The Ceton Companion app we’ve been teased with since CES 2012 is finally officially available, and ready for download from the Android and iOS app stores. We’re told the Windows Phone 7 version should be along shortly, as well as the Amazon Appstore edition once its approval goes through. If you’ve somehow avoided its specifics until now, we have walkthrough videos embedded after the break to show what kind of remote DVR scheduling, guide browsing and remote control action it’s capable of. To cover the possibility that a whole Lincoln is too rich for your blood, one way to defray the costs and pay for the app on two platforms is to follow the Ceton Twitter account and enter a contest for a $10 Google Play gift card — instructions are available at the link below.

Continue reading Ceton Companion apps for iOS and Android are available, bring WMC mobile control for $5

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Software, HD, Mobile

Ceton Companion apps for iOS and Android are available, bring WMC mobile control for $5 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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During the month of August, we published 14 back to school guides, covering product categories ranging from cameras and printers, to smartphones and ultraportables. With each post, we offered a selection of gadget must-haves, but we also gave you an opportunity to enter our massive back to school giveaway, including 15 identical bags stuffed to the brim (and far beyond) with some of the hottest devices of the season. You want these gadgets, and we want to help! The contest runs through noon (ET) on Friday, September 7th, so there’s still plenty of time to enter — simply leave a comment at each of our category pages, along with the giveaway post, to secure 15 chances to win. And to make things even easier, we’re including links to all of our posts just below. Good luck, and have a fantastic semester!

• Engadget’s back to school 2012 sweepstakes: win one of 15 gadget-filled bags!
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: smartphones
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: tablets
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: ultraportables
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: e-readers
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: mainstream laptops
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: gaming
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: HDTV
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: digital cameras
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: portable audio
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: accessories
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: docks and clocks
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: bags and cases
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: printers
• Engadget’s back to school guide 2012: fun stuff!

Continue reading There are just four days left to enter our back to school sweepstakes with nearly $50,000 in prizes!

Filed under: Announcements, HD, Mobile

There are just four days left to enter our back to school sweepstakes with nearly $50,000 in prizes! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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