Play .MKV’s in Windows Media Center (WMC)

For a long time I had resisted converting my DVD and Blu-Ray disks into any other format because I didn’t want to lose any quality.  I had lived by this rule for a long time, and thankfully companies like QNAP and Thecus came to my storage rescue.  However, the day has come where the cost of storing all the extra garbage that comes along with these movies has opened my eyes to benefits conversions.  With that, I have began converting my movie collection to a format that allows me to lose all the excess fat, but keep my movie loss-less. Read More…


Telegraph.co.uk

Apple preparing to deliver iPad twins (rumor)
ZDNet
According to DigiTimes, Apple will unveil two versions of its next-generation tablet next month at the Macworld|iWorld conference. According to DigiTimes, Apple will unveil two versions of its next-generation tablet next month at the Macworld|iWorld ...
Most small & medium businesses plan to buy Apple iPads in next 12 monthsApple Insider
Next-gen iPad: Sorting out screen, battery, chip, timing rumorsCNET
Small Businesses Eye Tablets, Especially the iPadPC Magazine
CNNMoney -eWeek -Christian Science Monitor
all 340 news articles »

Digitaltrends.com

Groupon Acquires Startup Campfire Labs
PC Magazine
By Leslie Horn "Groupon has been the most effective driver of offline experiences, in addition to being the fastest growing company in history," Campfire Labs wrote. "When we started talking to Groupon, we realized how much synergy existed in our ...
Groupon reportedly closes deal for Silicon Valley startupChicago Tribune
It Looks Like Groupon Acquired Campfire LabsDaily Deal Media
Groupon may have acquired stealth startup Campfire LabsVentureBeat
Washington Post (blog) -Digitaltrends.com -NASDAQ
all 11 news articles »

CNET

Apple Envisions Face & Presence Detection Security for iOS Devices
Patently Apple
On December 29, 2011, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of the next chapters for device security. In 2009, Apple's presence detection patent first came to light in relation to future MacBooks. ...
Apple's future iPhones & iPads could automatically personalize via face ...Apple Insider
Apple ponders facial recognition features for iOSCNET
Will Apple Take Facial Recognition Mobile?BusinessWeek
Daily Mail -San Francisco Chronicle -Mashable
all 100 news articles »

New York Times

Despite RIM Takeover Talk, Hurdles Would Be High
New York Times
By IAN AUSTEN OTTAWA — For beleaguered investors in Research in Motion, the drastic collapse of the company's share price through 2011 eventually became a cause for optimism. In December, shares of the BlackBerry maker spiked on reports that several ...
The Year in Review: Research in MotionPC Magazine
RIM Betting The Farm On QNX/BB 10InformationWeek
RIM now faces legal challenge on "BBM" trademarkReuters
DailyTech -CRN -Globe and Mail
all 175 news articles »

SlashGear

WiFi packing vending machines hit Japan
SlashGear
In my area, there are no hotspots to use for free anywhere. You can get access in some restaurants, but just being able to pick up a WiFi signal doesn't happen. In Japan on the other hand, even the vending machines are tossing out free WiFi signals to ...
This Japanese Vending Machine Dishes Out Free Wi-FiTom's Guide
Japan Gets Wi-Fi Dispensing Vending MachinesTechCrunch
Free Wi-Fi coming to Japanese vending machines in 2012Gizmag
Pocket-lint.com -Hot Hardware -Geek
all 14 news articles »

ITProPortal

Wi-Fi Protected Setup Flaws Make Wireless Network Brute-force Attacks Feasible
PCWorld
By Lucian Constantin, IDG-News-Service:Romania-Bureau Design flaws in the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) wireless standard can make it easier for attackers to obtain access codes for secured wireless networks by brute force. The vulnerabilities identified ...
Wifi 'Protected Setup': not that protected at allTG Daily
Wi-Fi Protected Setup is BustedZDNet (blog)
US-CERT Issues Warning About Current Wi-Fi Protected Setup StandardITProPortal
Bitbag -Engadget -The Verge
all 19 news articles »

Daily Mail

Bratty tweets about Christmas gifts disturb parents
Los Angeles Times
It's not easy being a kid today. Everywhere you turn it seems like adults are out to make you look like a spoiled, entitled brat. The most recent example is comedian Jon Hendren's list of real tweets from kids who were angry that they didn't get an ...
Guy Retweets Particularly Entitled Christmas Tweets, Becomes A PhenomenonTechCrunch
Take your Twitter Kid's gifts back NOWSlashGear
Twitter users shamed for whiny Christmas tweetsmsnbc.com
PC Magazine -Mashable -CBS News
all 25 news articles »

LAPTOP Magazine

Intel working to keep the netbook alive with "Cedar Trail" Atom platform
Ars Technica
By Peter Bright | Published December 28, 2011 7:00 PM Netbook sales have been declining, with major vendors deciding to leave the netbook market entirely. That hasn't stopped Intel from launching a new family of processors designed for small and cheap ...
Intel Still Flying the Netbook Flag with Atom-based Cedar TrailPC Magazine
Intel Launches Cedar Trail ProcessorsTom's Hardware Guide
Intel Atom N2600 and N2800 now shipping, Cedar Trail netbooks due early 2012The Verge
AnandTech -X-bit Labs -PCWorld
all 35 news articles »

Fox News

Find Out Which Brands Are Winning On Google+ With ZoomSphere (Hint: Android is #1)
TechCrunch
Facebook has AppData, Twitter has Twitaholic, and now Google+ has its own independent brand page rankings site: ZoomSphere. It shows which brands have the most followers, activity, +1s, shares, and comments, and slice the data by time, page category, ...
Google's iPad Killer Ready in 6 Months, Says Eric SchmidtFox News
Biz Break: Wall Street falls, but Google hits a new highSan Jose Mercury News
Google: Five things to look for in 2012CNET
Digitimes -eWeek -Wired News
all 99 news articles »

Sydney Morning Herald

STRATFOR Claims Damage from Security Breach Was Limited
eSecurity Planet
The security think tank says Anonymous hackers weren't able to access its confidential client list. Security think tank STRATFOR says Anonymous hackers are exaggerating the impact of a recent data breach. "After Anonymous ransacked think tank ...
AntiSec hackers to release 2.5 million of Stratfor's client emailsTechSpot
Hackers Breach the Web Site of Stratfor Global IntelligenceNew York Times
Victims in hacking of security analyst Stratfor targeted after speaking to ...Washington Post
CNET -Computerworld -PC Magazine
all 1,333 news articles »