Syber News

Apple’s Wednesday event is expected to include the announcement of a new Apple TV set-top box. That box will run $99, according to three anonymous sources, who also told Bloomberg that the new box will include video streaming from Netflix.

At the same time, Apple is expected to unleash a new iPod touch with a front-facing camera on the world, as well as perhaps a cloud-based iTunes and perhaps a new iPod nano version.

Netflix began as a DVD-rental-by-mail company. Later, it launched a video streaming service, and that service has become quite popular. It’s seen its reach extended beyond computers where it first began to mobile devices such as the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, as well as dedicated set-top boxes like the $69 Roku and all the current gaming consoles (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii).

Netflix services begins at $8.99 for a monthly subscription, which includes streaming, but users can get a one month trial at the site.

On the news, Apple stock rose $244.15 in after hours trading, up $1.05. Meanwhile, Netflix stock rose $3.38 to $128.90 in extended trading.

This story originally appeared as “New version of Apple TV to include Netflix streaming: sources” at HULIQ.com.

http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-apple-tv-to-support-netflix.html

Just days after a woman in the U.K. was berated and threatened for placing a cat into a garbage bin, where it sat for 15 hours, the latest such horror video is one of a young girl throwing puppies in a river, where they will most certainly drown. Once again, the forces of the Internet are marshaling to find her.

In the case of Mary Bale, the so-called “Cat Bin Lady,” she was tracked down by the Internet hacker group 4Chan. Reportedly, this same group is trying to find out the details on this puppy-throwing woman. If anyone can find her, they can.

There is a Facebook group devoted to Find the girl throwing puppies in the river!!!!! Right now that group has nearly 4,000 members.

One of the posts on the wall of the group says that there’s a theory that the video may be old. That same person, Marla Stormwolf-Patty, said that the video might be from Croatia, and that it might be old. Even if it’s old, the Web wants to get their hands on the person (really persons, as someone’s taping) involved.

There’s some possible information here. As Michael Vick can readily attest, one should not get on the wrong side of animals lovers (or decent human beings; we doubt the humanity of these persons).

Both LiveLeak, currently hosting the video, and the Facebook group emphasize that no vigilante action should be taken. Instead, they want the girl / woman found and reported to the authorities.

LiveLeak said, “Whilst we appreciate publicizing this video could lead to information that could be passed to authorities we would like to ask members that no personal information is posted here nor should any threats be aimed, or ‘action’ taken, against this person other than to pass information to any relevant authority.”

The Facebook group says, “Little is said in the video…….it is mostly the sound of puppies screaming…….. Please dont take matters into a vigilante way because we will suffer………not her. We need to find her and report her……….”

The wrath of the Internet is mighty, indeed.

This story first appeared as “Girl throwing puppies in river on camera attracts the might of the Web” on HULIQ.com

http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/08/web-mobilizes-to-find-girl-seen.html

The Gmail enhancements continue to come fast and furious. Shortly after unveiling Gmail voice calling, Google has now released a feature designed to manage your email “bacn” (not spam). It’s called Priority Inbox.

Google has dubbed email that isn’t junk mail (like spam is) but isn’t all that important “balogna,” although there’s already that existing bacn term. Many users, including us, have used Gmail’s filters to route these different less important, sometimes subscribed-to mailing list emails to different folders, to track them that way. Gmail Priority Inbox is supposed to automate that.

Here’s how it works: your inbox will be divided into three sections. These will be : “Important and unread,” “Starred” and “Everything else,” from top to bottom, by default. Essentially, these will be high to low priority in order.

Using past behavior and other signals, including those you email most and other messages you reply to, among others, Gmail Priority Inbox will organize your email into those buckets. Of course, it will have to learn, and you can help that by categorizing emails yourself with the + and – buttons that will appear at the top of your inbox when the feature is enabled.

You can also filters to mark certain things important or unimportant (of course, you could already use filters and labels to categorize things). You can also rearrange and customize the three inbox sections.

Obviously, there will be a learning curve involved, for both users and Gmail. The feature will show up in your Gmail gradually, as do all these cloud-based service updates. You’ll be alerted when you “New! Priority Inbox” link in the top right corner of your Gmail account (or the new Priority Inbox tab in Gmail Settings).

Note that we have noticed with Gmail updates that usually you must logout / login again to see the new functionality (meaning if you are like some of us, and never logout or reboot your PC, you’ll have to manually do so, against your normal behavior).

Watch a demo video below.

This story was first published as “Gmail’s Priority Inbox hopes to solve your email overload (automatically)” at HULIQ.com.

http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-gmail-priority-inbox-to-unclutter.html

The Gmail enhancements continue to come fast and furious. Shortly after unveiling Gmail voice calling, Google has now released a feature designed to manage your email “bacn” (not spam). It’s called Priority Inbox.

Google has dubbed email that isn’t junk mail (like spam is) but isn’t all that important “balogna,” although there’s already that existing bacn term. Many users, including us, have used Gmail’s filters to route these different less important, sometimes subscribed-to mailing list emails to different folders, to track them that way. Gmail Priority Inbox is supposed to automate that.

Here’s how it works: your inbox will be divided into three sections. These will be : “Important and unread,” “Starred” and “Everything else,” from top to bottom, by default. Essentially, these will be high to low priority in order.

Using past behavior and other signals, including those you email most and other messages you reply to, among others, Gmail Priority Inbox will organize your email into those buckets. Of course, it will have to learn, and you can help that by categorizing emails yourself with the + and – buttons that will appear at the top of your inbox when the feature is enabled.

You can also filters to mark certain things important or unimportant (of course, you could already use filters and labels to categorize things). You can also rearrange and customize the three inbox sections.

Obviously, there will be a learning curve involved, for both users and Gmail. The feature will show up in your Gmail gradually, as do all these cloud-based service updates. You’ll be alerted when you “New! Priority Inbox” link in the top right corner of your Gmail account (or the new Priority Inbox tab in Gmail Settings).

Note that we have noticed with Gmail updates that usually you must logout / login again to see the new functionality (meaning if you are like some of us, and never logout or reboot your PC, you’ll have to manually do so, against your normal behavior).

Watch a demo video below.

This story was first published as “Gmail’s Priority Inbox hopes to solve your email overload (automatically)” at HULIQ.com.

http://technologyexpert.blogspot.com/2010/08/new-gmail-priority-inbox-to-unclutter.html