Microsoft buys PhoneFactor, adds smartphone authentication to its cloud services

Microsoft buys PhoneFactor, adds smartphone authentication to its cloud services

With a hand-in-glove relationship with the world of business, it’s key that Microsoft ensures it can keep companies data safe. That’s what prompted Steve Ballmer to whip out his checkbook to snap up PhoneFactor, a multi-factor authentication company that uses smartphones instead of code-generating security tokens. With its new toy, Redmond plans to integrate the feature into its services like SharePoint, Azure and Office 365, letting users sign on with their own device as a key element of the signing in process.

Filed under: , ,

Microsoft buys PhoneFactor, adds smartphone authentication to its cloud services originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 06:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceMicrosoft  | Email this | Comments

Logitech’s $180 WiFi webcam gets outed, targeted for the Mac

DNP Logitech WiFi webcam gets priced

That mysterious Logitech WiFi webcam we spotted on the FCC in July might have finally been outed, thanks to a tip sent to Zatz Not Funny. This Logitech Wireless Webcam for the Mac listed on B&H certainly fits the bill, as it touts both wireless capabilities and apparently a rechargeable battery. There also looks to be an interesting status indicator on the top. Seeing as most Macs already come with a pretty decent front-facing camera, we’re assuming the Logitech offers higher quality video (1080p perhaps?) and greater flexibility for broadcasting or recording to the cloud. The B&H Photo listing doesn’t exactly provide many details, but it does reveal a $180 price tag. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on this when it gets official.

Filed under: ,

Logitech’s $180 WiFi webcam gets outed, targeted for the Mac originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2012 02:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Zatz Not Funny  |  sourceB&H Photo  | Email this | Comments

Cablevision inks deal with The Walt Disney Company, brings WatchESPN and more to subscribers

Cablevision inks deal with The Walt Disney Company, brings WatchESPN and more to subscribers

For some time now, Cablevision subscribers have been missing out on many of the internet-based and other offerings from The Worldwide Leader in Sports. Today, however, folks will be happy to know that The Walt Disney Company (ESPN’s parent outfit) and Cablevision have reached a deal which will bring access to a variety of new content on different platforms, including WatchESPN, ESPN3, ESPN 3D as well as on demand channels from ABC and Disney’s extensive repertoire. Mum’s the word on how much cash was involved in the deal, but we do know it’s a multi-year agreement and that Walt & Co. feel rather content about it, with a company’s spokesperson saying, “With our robust and ever-growing multi-platform content offerings, we’re pleased to be able to expand our relationship with Cablevision.”

Continue reading Cablevision inks deal with The Walt Disney Company, brings WatchESPN and more to subscribers

Filed under: , ,

Cablevision inks deal with The Walt Disney Company, brings WatchESPN and more to subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceESPN  | Email this | Comments

Why Inflight Wi-Fi Sucks and Is Getting More Expensive—And How It Might Get Better [Internet]

The internet on airplanes sucks. Yes, it’s amazing. But it also very rarely works well, and it’s getting more expensive. Huh? Buzzfeed took a look into why that is, and if there’s any chance of things getting better. More »

Amazon Cloud Drive comes to Spain and Italy, users get new features

Amazon Cloud Drive comes to Spain and Italy, users get new features

Amazon’s Cloud Drive has rounded out its European tour with releases in the remaining major markets: Spain and Italy. Pricing in these regions matches that of the UK, Germany and France, with 8 euros (around $10) netting you 20GB of storage for a year, on top of the complimentary 5GB you get for signing up. You’ll be able to access this space through your browser, desktop apps, or any of the new Kindle Fires when they start hitting Euro doorsteps at the end of the month. Plus, Amazon’s giving US customers the ability to share files with whomever they choose, and Mac users worldwide can now upload their iPhoto library hassle-free. With Cloud Drive now available, the Appstore ready to roll, and Fire hardware making its way to the Continent, we’re starting to think Amazon quite likes it there.

Continue reading Amazon Cloud Drive comes to Spain and Italy, users get new features

Filed under: , , ,

Amazon Cloud Drive comes to Spain and Italy, users get new features originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Samsung files patent for auto-generating life diary, Mayans didn’t see it coming

Samsung files patent for auto-generating life diary, Mayans didn't see it coming

If the minutiae of people’s lives crowd your feeds and drives you to frustration, you really won’t be wanting this Samsung patent application to be approved. The USPTO filing outlines a process for creating a “life diary” by collecting all manner of information about your daily routine from your smartphone. Data such as where you’ve been, what the weather was like, what you’ve been listening to, et cetera, would be spun out in computer-generated sentences and compiled into a story of your day. Although it would lack the romanticism of a traditional, hand-written diary, we could see it having some use as a mundane log — as long as you’re happy for all that info to be recorded, that is. However, if this ever comes to fruition with sharing options, to boot, all the pictures of food, coffee house check-ins and FarmVille updates would seem insignificant in comparison. Some things, like the last time we sang along with the Bieb, are better left unshared.

Filed under: , ,

Samsung files patent for auto-generating life diary, Mayans didn’t see it coming originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceUSPTO  | Email this | Comments

Google, Association of American Publishers strike deal over book digitization

ImageThe Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Google today announced an agreement that marks the end of nearly seven years of litigation, kicked off in 2005, when five members of the organization filed an infringement suit against the online giant. The deal helps bring digitized books and journals to the Google Library Project, giving publishers control over what content will make it into Google’s collection. Publishers who opt to keep their book in the online library will get access of the digital copy for their own purposes. As a jointly issued press release notes, the deal, which includes McGraw-Hill, Penguin, Wiley, Pearson Education and Simon & Schuster, does not impact current Authors Guild litigation.

Filed under: ,

Google, Association of American Publishers strike deal over book digitization originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle  | Email this | Comments

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft complete Nook Media LLC partnership

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft’s mutual appreciation is getting a lot more real. The duo issued a joint announcement today, marking the completion of Nook Media LLC, a “strategic partnership” made up of the bookseller’s digital and college wings. The news comes after a $300 million investment in the pairing. Further plans for Nook Media are vague at the moment, as the companies note, “There can be no assurance that the review will result in a strategic separation or the creation of a stand-alone public company.” Until such key things are decided, B&N for one doesn’t plan on elaborating. You can find a bit more, however, in the press release after the break.

Continue reading Barnes & Noble and Microsoft complete Nook Media LLC partnership

Filed under: , ,

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft complete Nook Media LLC partnership originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

BFI to digitize 10,000 British films as part of Film Forever investment plan

BFI to digitize 10,000 British films as part of Film Forever investment plan

The British Film Institute plans to digitize and provide easier access to 10,000 British flicks as part of a new £500 million (approximately $800 million) “Film Forever” initiative. In addition to driving growth in the UK industry by investing in education, filmmaking and the like, the institute wants to put a mixture of free and paid content on its website, YouTube and VoD services. A BFIPlayer app will be providing a similar service to Samsung Smart TVs, PCs and mobile devices. Cinemas, DVDs and TV channels will also play host to the films, selected for digital rebirth by a bunch of experts and in part, by the general public. And, in the spirit of digitization, full details of the ambitious Film Forever enterprise (slated to run from 2012-2017) are available in e-brochure format at the source link below.

Continue reading BFI to digitize 10,000 British films as part of Film Forever investment plan

Filed under: ,

BFI to digitize 10,000 British films as part of Film Forever investment plan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Yahoo  |  sourceBritish Film Institute  | Email this | Comments

Facebook marks one billion users by launching its first major ad

Facebook marks one billion users by launching its first major ad

It’s managed to get to one billion users without the aid of a traditional ad campaign, but the social network has now taken advantage of that milestone to try something different. Mark Zuckerberg has today introduced the company’s first proper ad, a one minute and thirty second video dubbed “The Things That Connect Us” that was produced by ad agency Wieden & Kennedy and directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. According to Zuckerberg, the ad was made to “honor the people we serve” and “express what our place is on this earth,” adding that Facebook belongs to a “rich tradition of people making things that bring us together.” Like chairs. See it for yourself below.

Continue reading Facebook marks one billion users by launching its first major ad

Filed under:

Facebook marks one billion users by launching its first major ad originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFacebook  | Email this | Comments