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171 'United States' stories June 2011 - August 2012

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Watch live streams of the 2012 London Paralympics on YouTube

Élyse Betters Aug 31 2012 - 2:00 pm PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9VWge-Q_08&feature=player_profilepage]

YouTube just announced to the world that it is live streaming the 2012 London Summer Paralympics.

The news comes roughly 48 hours after the games actually began, however. Better late than never I guess. Over 500 hours of live content and 1,000 hours of on-demand and behind-the-scenes footage will run until the Paralympics end Sept. 9, according to the YouTube Global Blog:

Whether your favorite sport is powerlifting, sitting volleyball or wheelchair basketball, you can catch all the action on the International Paralympic Committee’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/paralympicsporttv. The channel will feature 500 hours of live competitions accompanied by a real-time commenting feature for viewers in the United States and Canada. Additionally, others around the world have access to over 1000 hours of on-demand catch-up footage of current and previous games, interviews with Paralympic athletes and other behind-the-scenes footage.

The Paralympic Games is the second-largest international multi-sport event for physically disabled athletes. Folks can also watch original game content on YouTube by the United States Olympic Committee at youtube.com/teamusa.

YouTube also partnered with NBC earlier this summer to broadcast the 2012 London Summer Olympics online.

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Google pushes its Nexus 7 further worldwide into France, Germany and Spain starting at €199

Jake Smith Aug 27 2012 - 3:53 am PT

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Google’s Nexus 7 is now available in more countries worldwide. The ASUS-made pure Android experience launched in France, Germany, and Spain this weekend. Pricing is theoretically the same as in the United States, but it makes for a higher cost with the Euro-premium. The 8GB model is priced at €199 and the 16GB model at €249, as The Verge first noted.

Google updated its availability page with the change. The chart is formatted weird, for some unknown reason, but it does display the added regions:

The Nexus 7 originally launched in June in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. It saw a huge amount of pre-orders and initial sales, causing availability issues due to demand. The situation has since improved.

Read our review of the Nexus 7.

[Google via The Verge]

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Verizon: You might be a Redneck if you still don’t have LTE, opens 34 markets and now covers 75 percent of the US

Élyse Betters Aug 15 2012 - 1:42 pm PT

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Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network will blanket more than 75 percent of the United States population after it lights up 34 new markets and expands 38 other markets, bringing the carrier’s total U.S. LTE markets to 371, on Aug. 16.

The new markets include (via Verizon Wireless):

Hot Springs, Ark.; Redding, Calif.; Valdosta and Waycross, Ga.; Centralia and Danville, Ill.; Parsons, Salina and Topeka, Kan.; Alexandria and Monroe, La.; Pittsfield, Mass.; Battle Creek and Muskegon, Mich.; Mankato and Worthington, Minn.; Joplin and Sedalia, Mo.; Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot, N.D.; Chillicothe, Ohio; Reading, Pa.; Aberdeen, S.D.; Laredo, Odessa and Texarkana, Texas; Brattleboro and White River Junction, Vt.; Charlottesville, Va.; Longview, Wash.; and Eau Claire, La Crosse and Manitowoc, Wis.

The expanded areas include (via Verizon Wireless):

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara/Santa Maria, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Macon/Warner Robins, Ga.; Bloomington, Champaign/Urbana, Decatur/Effingham and Springfield, Ill.; Elkhart, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City, Iowa; Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend, Kan.; Lexington and Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans, La.; Boston, Mass.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; Missoula, Mont.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Manchester/Nashua, N.H.; Las Cruces, N.M.; New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Salt Lake City/Ogden, Utah; Roanoke, Va.; Charleston, W.Va.; and Green Bay, Wis. Additional areas include: Little Rock, Ark., expanding into Batesville, Ark.; Tallahassee, Fla., expanding into Thomasville, Ga.; Burley, Idaho, expanding into Twin Falls, Idaho; Chicago, Ill., expanding into DeKalb, Ill.; and Cedar City, Utah, expanding into St. George, Utah.

“Our 4G LTE network is currently in more markets than all other U.S. wireless providers combined, and our team is continuing to expand the network so that more customers across the nation can take advantage of 4G LTE speed and capabilities,” said Verizon Wireless’ Chief Technical Officer Nicola Palmer. “We are ahead of schedule with our 4G LTE market roll out and will provide 4G LTE network coverage to more than 400 markets in the near future.”

It looks like folks only in the most rural of areas will lack LTE after tomorrow’s massive rollout.

Read all the individual pressers at Verizon Wireless.

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Google wishes TV chef Julia Child a Happy 100th Birthday with doodle

Élyse Betters Aug 15 2012 - 6:47 am PT

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Google is celebrating Julia Child’s 100th birthday today.

The American chef, author, and television personality died at the age of 91 on August 13, 2004, as first noted by SearchEngineLand, but she is notable for seamlessly bringing the art of French cuisine to the American home with her first —and massive—cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, and later through her television programs, such as “The French Chef”, which began airing in 1963.

Child is now a part of American and worldwide culture, as she is the subject of many films and parodies in television and radio skits, and she is very well known for her striking height and memorable voice, personality and appearance.

Click here to Google search “Julia Child”.

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Motorola sets ‘big reveal’ for Friday, is it the Droid Razr HD?

Jake Smith Aug 7 2012 - 5:32 am PT

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Motorola is set to make a “big reveal” this Friday, according to its Facebook post from late last evening. The details of the reveal are scant, but Motorola shared that the device being unveiled rocks 4G LTE. Putting two-and-two together, we think it is more than likely Motorola will reveal the sequel to its Droid Razr (announced at a media event last fall)—the Droid Razr HD. The device is expected to feature Ice Cream Sandwich (sadly, no Jelly Bean), Verizon radios, a badass Kevlar body, and a 2530mAH battery. We will have to wait until the end of the week for the rest of the details.

The Droid Razr HD is also expected to be unveiled overseas and in Canada, but we think a United States announcement is more likely to come first since Motorola teased 4G LTE. Stay tuned. [Facebook]

Update: Cancelled by Motorola.

Ice Cream Sandwich now available to Verizon’s Droid Razr and Razr Maxx (9to5google.com)

Microsoft willing to settle with Google/Motorola, posts call for ‘A Solid Foundation for Patent Peace’

Jordan Kahn Jul 31 2012 - 1:10 pm PT

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Microsoft is no stranger to signing up Android vendors to licensing agreements. Most of the major Android device manufactures are already paying the company royalties, and Microsoft is currently involved in various cases with Motorola in the U.S. and elsewhere. The latest from Microsoft’s intellectual property group is a statement posted by the group’s head Horacio Gutierrez and Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith (via AllThingsD). In a message titled “A Solid Foundation for Peace”, Microsoft explained its willingness to negotiate a settlement of its current litigation with Motorola:

Microsoft has always been, and remains open to, a settlement of our patent litigation with Motorola. As we have said before, we are seeking solely the same level of reasonable compensation for our patented intellectual property that numerous other Android distributors – both large and small – have already agreed to recognize in our negotiations with them. And we stand ready to pay reasonable compensation for Motorola’s patented intellectual property as well.

However, within the post, Microsoft also noted its requirements for reaching a settlement over its various Android-related patent cases with Motorola—which include a comprehensive agreement covering all patents in question:

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Verizon extends 4G LTE to 33 new markets, touts more coverage than competitors combined

Élyse Betters Jul 18 2012 - 11:46 am PT

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Verizon Wireless plans to expand its 4G LTE coverage tomorrow to 33 new U.S. markets. The carrier will then boast 337 LTE markets, which places it ahead of competitors by a wide margin, and it hopes to reach 400 total by the end of 2012. Verizon also announced it is broadening coverage in 32 existing markets.

Check out the list below (via Verizon Wireless):

The 33 new markets: El Dorado/Magnolia and Russellville, Ark.; New London County, Conn.; Fort Pierce/Vero Beach and Melbourne/Titusville, Fla.; Columbus and Rome, Ga.; Burley, Idaho; Mattoon, Ill.; Anderson and Muncie, Ind.; Manhattan/Junction City and McPherson, Kan.; Lafayette/New Iberia, La.; St. Joseph, Mo.; Bozeman/Livingston, Kalispell and Missoula, Mont.; Goldsboro/Kinston, Roanoke Rapids and Rocky Mount/Wilson, N.C.; Zanesville, Ohio; Meadville and Punxsutawney/DuBois/Clearfield, Pa.; Orangeburg, S.C.; Sherman/Denison, Texas; Cedar City and Logan, Utah; Rutland/Bennington, Vt.; Lynchburg and Winchester, Va.; Bellingham, Wash.; and Beckley, W.Va.

The 32 expanded markets: Mobile, Ala.; Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Sarasota/Bradenton, Fla.; Hilo, Honolulu and Kahului/Wailuku/Maui County, Hawaii; Blackfoot/Idaho Falls/Rexburg, Idaho; Peoria, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Wichita, Kan.; Baton Rouge, La.; Baltimore, Md.; Kansas City and Springfield, Mo.; Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, Ohio; Allentown/Bethlehem, Harrisburg and Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Columbia and Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.; Provo/Orem and Salt Lake City/Ogden, Utah; Fredericksburg, Va.; and Seattle, Wash.

“With more markets than all other U.S. wireless providers combined, our customers are the first to learn of the great advantages of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network for streaming video, downloading files, uploading pictures and so much more, at consistently reliable fast data speeds,” said Verizon Wireless’ Chief Technical Officer Nicola Palmer.

This article is cross-posted on 9to5Mac.

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Verizon launching Galaxy S III on July 10 for $200

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2012 - 12:06 pm PT

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[tweet https://twitter.com/VZWnews/status/220229199443668992]

After beginning to accept preorders for the device in early June, Verizon Wireless confirmed today that Samsung’s Galaxy S III would officially launch on July 10 at $199 for the 16GB model and $249 for the 32GB model with both on the usual two-year contract. Verizon’s full press release is below.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ and DALLAS — Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the 4G LTE-powered Samsung Galaxy S^® III will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com/galaxys3 starting July 10. Galaxy S III customers will have access to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network which is available in 304 markets across the United States. Verizon Wireless 4G LTE will be in 400 markets covering 260 million people by the end of this year.

Customers can take advantage of 4G LTE-optimized apps like Color to share live video broadcasts of life’s special moments with their Facebook^® friends. Sharing live video with audio is an exclusive feature of the Color app on Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Customers can broadcast real-time footage of a newborn’s first step with family members who are miles away or share a beautiful view of a vacation spot to make friends at home jealous. Combining America’s largest 4G LTE network with the Galaxy S III’s 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED^™ display creates the perfect duo to watch movies, television shows and other video content with apps like viewdini. Viewdini brings the power of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network to the screen by streamlining access to videos from a wide range of content providers, including cable operators, websites and other popular video sources. The viewdini app can be downloaded from Verizon Apps and Google Play.

Additional features:

Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2 GB RAM
Share Shot – Create a temporary photo sharing network with a group of friends who are nearby at the same party or event; photos can be taken by any member of the group and shared with the entire group
S Beam – Share pictures, videos, documents and more by simply touching two Galaxy S III devices’ backs together
S Voice^™ – Featuring natural language recognition, you can control the apps and services used most with words instead of touch
Pop Up Play – Videos can be played in a small window while customers use the rest of the display to complete other tasks such as typing emails, organizing calendars and updating their social networks
Evolved camera capabilities – Burst Shot mode instantly captures 20 continuous shots and Best Photo feature selects the best shot to display
Enhanced camera – 8-megapixel rear camera with zero-lag shutter speed and a 1.9-megapixel front camera so customers can capture pictures and videos of themselves or video chat with family and friends
microSD^™ card slot for expandable memory

The Samsung Galaxy S III is available in 16 GB and 32 GB models for $199.99 and $249.99 respectively with a new two-year customer agreement. The 16 GB model will be available in stores and online starting July 10 and the 32 GB model will be available online starting July 10 and will be in stores in the coming weeks. Customers will also have the choice of the Galaxy S III in two colors: Marble White or Pebble Blue. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxys3 for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S III for Verizon Wireless

Google’s No.1 priority for US-made Nexus Q was faster design iterations, not cost

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2012 - 7:40 am PT

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Since Google unveiled its Nexus Q streaming device at Google I/O, more and more details have come out about what is essentially a set-top box (albeit orb-shaped) Apple TV competitor with a built-in stereo amplifier. Google was first to make it clear that the device was manufactured entirely in the United States, and a report from The New York Times later confirmed the Q “was being assembled in a large factory 15 minutes from Google headquarters.”

Today, a report from Reuters quoted Google’s Senior Director of Android Global Partnerships John Lagerling explaining that the decision was based on the ability to innovate faster and not necessarily cost:

“We wanted to innovate fast. This is the first end-to-end hardware product that Google has ever put out,” said John Lagerling, Google’s senior director of Android global partnerships.

The cost of building the orb-shaped Nexus Q, a cross between a streaming video box like Apple TV and a stereo amplifier, “was not the No. 1 priority,” Lagerling said. “We wanted to see if we could do fast (design iterations) rather than having our engineers fly across the world.”

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Google encouraged $80B in US economic activity in 2011, aims to get more businesses online

Élyse Betters Jul 2 2012 - 9:56 am PT

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Google is touting its successes again by explaining how it helped boost American business last year.

Vice President of Americas Sales Margo Georgiadis took to the Official Google Blog to first spew some economic statistics:

The growth of our Internet use has naturally helped the ecommerce industry to expand rapidly over the past decade. But the web is also positively impacting brick-and-mortar businesses. According to Boston Consulting Group, American consumers who researched products online last year spent almost $2,000 actually purchasing those products offline. That’s almost $500 billion that went directly to main street retail. All in all, it’s clear that the economic impact of the web is huge; the Internet is where business is done and jobs are created.

From there, the VP explained how Google is “committed to helping make the web work for American businesses.” The Mountain View, Calif.-based Company, through its search and advertising tools, helped provide “$80 billion of economic activity for 1.8 million advertisers, website publishers and nonprofits across the U.S.” in 2011. The full breakdown for each state is available at Google’s Economic Impact website.

“[…] Google is committed to getting even more businesses online. Over the past year, we’ve been traveling the country with our Get Your Business Online program, encouraging businesses throughout the U.S. to create free websites and reach more customers,” Gerogiadis wrote. “So far, we’ve worked with thousands of businesses to launch their new websites. It’s a fact that the Internet is creating jobs and helping the American economy grow. And we’re proud to be a part of that process.”

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Google bringing Chromebooks to 100 Best Buy stores in US, Dixon’s in UK

Jordan Kahn Jun 28 2012 - 11:03 am PT

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Google just announced at its second day of Google I/O that Chromebooks and Chromebox would come to 100 Best Buy stores in the United States and Dixon’s stores in the United Kingdom. Google’s Chromebook website already has a “Buy In Store” option, which will allow you to locate a Best Buy location near you that is stocking the Chromebooks. Google also promised more retailers and more OEMs would get their hands on Chromebooks before the 2012 holiday season. Lucky, I/O attendees were given a free Chromebox, which means we will soon have a hands-on for you.

[tweet https://twitter.com/googlechrome/status/218399112062701568]

Google introduces the new Chromebook and Chromebox, available today in US and UK (Video) (9to5google.com)
Google says more than 500 districts in US and Europe use Chromebooks actively (9to5google.com)

Google says more than 500 districts in US and Europe use Chromebooks actively

Élyse Betters Jun 25 2012 - 12:42 pm PT

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Google just revealed over 500 school districts in the United States and Europe use Chromebooks on a regular basis, while also naming a few new districts to adopt the technology in both North Carolina and Wisconsin.

In a post on the Official Google Blog, which is appropriately titled “In schools, all you need is web,” Google talked about the functionality of Chromebooks coupled with Google Apps and educational apps available on the Chrome Web Store. The company clearly wants the world to know its marketplace and lineup of notebooks are ideal for teaching, learning, and exploring the Web.

“There are tens of thousands of apps in the Chrome Web Store, and today we’re adding some new ones: ST Math, VoiceThread and Acheive3000,” wrote Chromebooks for Education Product Manager Vidya Nagarajan. “To give you an idea of what’s possible on the web: Leyden High School District from Illinois is rolling out Chromebooks to their 3,500 students and are using apps like WeVideo,EasyBib, Vernier Labquest2, SlideRocket, Geogebra and Pearson’s OpenClass as part of their 1-to-1 learning initiative.”

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Google supports LGBT Pride Month in search results

Élyse Betters Jun 25 2012 - 8:14 am PT

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Google is marking any LGBT-related query this month with a rainbow-colored banner under the search box.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based Company is once-again celebrating LGBT Pride Month, as it has down for the last five years in a row, by adding a bit of color to its search.

U.S. President Barack Obama declared June as LGBT Pride Month for 2012. The month-long stance is against discrimination and violence toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, with promotion for equal and civil rights.

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Samsung predicts Galaxy S III sales of over 10M units for July

Jordan Kahn Jun 25 2012 - 6:51 am PT

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JK Shin, head of Samsung’s mobile division, told reporters today (via Reuters) that the company expects to sell over 10 million units of the recently launched Galaxy S III during July. Despite concerns of component shortages for the flagship device, the company is expecting higher earnings for its current quarter compared to the $3.6 billion profit generated from January to March:

Samsung kicked off global sales of its Galaxy S III on May 29, but shipments have been affected by the tight supply of parts such as the handset casing for the pebble-blue model… In the United States, where sales were launched last Thursday, major carriers including Sprint Nextel Corp, T-Mobile and AT&T have not been able to offer the Galaxy with 32 gigabytes of memory, partly due to tight supply… “Due to overwhelming demand for the Galaxy S III worldwide, Samsung has informed us they will not be able to deliver enough inventory of Galaxy S III for Sprint to begin selling the device on June 21.”

Shin assured reporters that the company is not worried about the shortages affecting second quarter results. Shin noted “supply simply can’t meet soaring demand,” but he claimed, “things will get better from next week”:

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Samsung touts cutting-edge marketing campaign for converting iPhone users to Galaxy S III [Photos]

Élyse Betters Jun 20 2012 - 2:50 pm PT

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Samsung let New Yorkers experience the all-new Galaxy S III today at a release event in Manhattan, while the company reiterated its goal to “win over” the competition’s user base (ahem, iPhone 4S users) with this latest Android offering.

Chief Marketing Officer Tom Pendleton and Chief Product Officer Kevin Packingham were on stage this afternoon to celebrate the S III’s launch on all the major U.S. carriers. They also unveiled their marketing strategy, with a few numbers on mobile sales. The executives revealed that Samsung sold 61 million devices in the United States—just add another 80 million for the worldwide sales. They further pinpointed the S III as the fastest-selling pre-order smartphone in the company’s stateside history.

The Galaxy-branded smartphone boasts many impressive features, such as Ice Cream Sandwich OS, but the South Korea-based manufacturer focused on the S III’s uniqueness, 2100 mAh battery, 4.65-inch high-definition screen, 2 GB of RAM, LTE capability, and integrated sharing options.

“We want to show you five things no other phone can do,” added Packingham, while touting the S III’s bevy of highlights.

The chief explained how the Galaxy Nexus successor packs an “All Share Group Cast” feature for sharing documents and media anytime or anywhere. Meanwhile, the “Share Shot” tech specifically—and automatically—streams photographs to friends, but “S Beam” is available for those who want to send large video files or even contacts with just one tap. Next up is the “Smart Stay” feature, which maintains screen brightness, so users are never again interrupted by a dimming display. The last showcased feature is the “Pop-up Play” that allows S III owners to do multitask such as watching video and texting simultaneously.

A gallery of the event is below.

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Unlocked 16GB Samsung Galaxy S III hits eBay for $649.99, free shipping

Élyse Betters Jun 19 2012 - 9:57 am PT

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The unlocked Samsung Galaxy S III has not officially released in the United States, nor have pricing details, but at least one seller on eBay is offering the 16GB version for just $649.99.

The listing offers free standard shipping to the United States and Canada with a 30-day money back guarantee, and the top-rated seller has near-perfect feedback based on thousands of reviews. Hurry and purchase this off-contract device now, because the eBay page indicates “limited quantity available.” PayPal is the only form of payment accepted.

Check it out: New Samsung Galaxy S 3 I9300 16GB Unlocked GSM Phone Android 4.0 OS 8MP Camera

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Google acquires 50+ patents from Magnolia Broadband

Jordan Kahn Jun 18 2012 - 7:57 am PT

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According to a press release from New Jersey-based Magnolia Broadband (via TNW), Google acquired the company’s more than 50 patents related to its “Mobile Transmit Diversity beam forming technology.” The cost of the IP acquisition was not disclosed, but Magnolia noted it has invested more than $60 million in patenting and developing the technology. The acquisition was rumored earlier this month but just confirmed by Magnolia today.

As for what Google will get, the press release said the patent portfolio consists of over 10 years of R&D, testing, and development of “methods for increasing spectrum utilization (network capacity), expanding coverage, improving uplink transmission speeds at the cell edge, and improving device battery life.” Google will have access to the technology through the deal, but Magnolia will own the patents and continue to license them to other companies.

Google fine-tunes Hot Searches to showcase only a few top searches

Élyse Betters Jun 12 2012 - 8:55 am PT

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Google just announced that it revamped its Hot Searches feature under Google Trends to better hone results for the most searched and popular news.

Googler Nimrod Tamir described Hot Searches on the Official Google Blog:

With Hot Searches in Google Trends, you can see a list of the fastest rising search terms in the U.S. for a snapshot of what’s on the public’s collective mind. To create the Hot Searches list which is updated on an hourly basis, an algorithm analyzes millions of searches in the U.S. and determines which queries are being searched much more than usual.

The updated section now highlights the key word for queries with rich images and links to related reports for the most searched news in the United States. It also details how many folks Googled each spotlighted tidbit during the last day, while scaling back the amount of content it shows. Google previously displayed 20 results, but now it only shows a few Hot Searches (as indicated in the top image).

The new Hot Searches is live now.

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Google reaches ‘ground-breaking’ deals with French publishers for out-of-print books

Jordan Kahn Jun 11 2012 - 6:18 am PT

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According to a post on Google’s European Public Policy Blog, the company is forging groundbreaking partnerships with French publishers that it believes “will put France ahead of the rest of the world in bringing long lost out-of-print works back to life.” The agreements, Google claimed, will put an end to roughly six years of legal disputes with several publishers and authors in the country. The deals will also allow Google to continue ahead in its goal to bring the almost 75 percent of books that are currently out of print and unavailable to most. The result is publishers working with Google to “promote and commercialize” scanned copies of out-of-print works:

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Google’s Trusted Store program comes out of pilot, opens to all US merchants

Élyse Betters Jun 7 2012 - 11:01 am PT

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Google opened its Trusted Store program today to all United States merchants who apply.

The news comes in lieu of Google’s KikScore acquisition from earlier this week. The buyout is rumored to bulk the Trusted Stores program that helps online shoppers find stores with a safe and superior online shopping experience.

KikScore is a similar service that also offers seals for non-online retailers and local businesses. It foremost guarantees online businesses, however, and aggregates information about management, website history, and details on customer service satisfaction. The financial aspects of the acquisition were not revealed.

Google’s Product Manager Tom Fallows took to the Official Google Blog this afternoon to explain how the once-beta Trusted Store Program generated feedback from 50 online merchants and more than 10 million orders since last fall to develop a premium—yet free—shopping service:

Over the last nine months of the pilot, our tests show that participating in this program can help merchants big and small. For example, Wayfair, the largest online-only retailer of home goods and one of the top 50 largest online retailers as ranked by Internet Retailer, increased sales* on its site by 2.3 percent with Google Trusted Stores. And Beau-coup, a specialty online favors and gifts retailer, saw an 8.6 percent increase*. Take a look at our merchant success stories to learn more about how Google Trusted Stores has had a positive impact on website conversion rates and average order sizes for online retailers.

Google explained that when shopping online, the Google Trusted Store badge might appear. Shoppers can view a report card with grades for that merchant when they hover over the badge. The badge is only given to online stores that “deliver a great overall experience.” This helps shoppers to identify trustworthy and reliable online retailers.

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Apple seeks US preliminary injunction against Samsung’s Galaxy S III

Élyse Betters Jun 6 2012 - 1:47 pm PT

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Apple put forward a second California litigation against South Korea-based Samsung earlier this week when it sought the court’s consent to add the Android-powered Galaxy S III smartphone to its motion for a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Nexus.

According to FOSS Patents:

Apple made this move approximately 20 hours after I wrote about the Galaxy S III being “the obvious next target”. In my blog post I speculated that Apple might bring a preliminary injunction motion against it, possibly after awaiting tomorrow’s preliminary injunction hearing. Apple decided to forge ahead now. Apple is on the offensive against Android. Earlier this week it filed an ITC complaint requesting an immediate import ban of 29 allegedly-infringing HTC devices. There’s an important overlap: the “data tapping” patent that Apple is seeking to enforce against HTC’s current generation of products is one of two patents Apple is using against the S III.

Apple purchased the S III in the United Kingdom, where Samsung launched it on May 29. The U.S. launch date is June 21 — precisely two weeks after the preliminary injunction hearing.

Apple’s motion notes that “[a]ccording to press reports, Samsung has already sold over nine million preorders of the Galaxy S III; indeed, the Galaxy S III has been reported to be the most extensively preordered piece of consumer electronics in history.”

Apple filed the first preliminary injunction motion against the Galaxy Nexus in February over four disputed patents. The Cupertino, Calif.-based Company’s requested in its latest motion that Samsung withhold the launch of the device’s successor in the United States until the court rules on the preliminary injunction request.

Samsung replied to the motion this afternoon, contending Apple cannot continue to add to its record for the Galaxy Nexus:

“If Apple wishes to seek an injunction against the Galaxy S III, the Court should require Apple to file a new motion and allow the parties to develop a full factual record on all four factors. Accordingly, the Court should reject Apple’s motion to amend its current notice of motion for a preliminary injunction.”

This article is cross-posted at 9to5Mac.

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Report: T-Mobile USA’s Samsung Galaxy S III leaks with international home button

Élyse Betters Jun 1 2012 - 3:10 pm PT

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The Verge just posted a few leaked pictures (above) of T-Mobile USA’s Samsung Galaxy S III that is rumored to début in June.

The website noted the models depicted look more like the international versions, because American offerings tend to feature a customized iteration complete with a physical home button and four capacitive buttons. Despite the “Euro-style” button change, it seems the color flavors will remain the same—blue and white. The Verge wonders if this is in an indication that Samsung is starting to exert its power as the largest Android device manufacturer in the world, where as it previously cow-tailed to American carrier demands by modifying smartphone designs.

There are no details on pricing and availability at this time.

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ChipWorks delves inside the Samsung Galaxy SIII

Élyse Betters Jun 1 2012 - 2:13 pm PT

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ChipWorks and iFixit are hardcore when it comes to breaking open our favorite devices to see what is inside. The two websites decided to take it up a notch today by joining forces to publish a live teardown of the non-LTE Samsung Galaxy SIII. ChipWorks looked at the—you guessed—chips, while iFixit focused on repair aspects.

This is what the ChipWorks dissection unearthed:

Yep, that is Samsung’s Exynos 4412, 32 nm CMOS, 1.4 GHz quad core ARM processor.

“The Exynos is in a standard PoP (Package-on-Package) assembly with a Samsung LP DDR2 Green Memory K3PE7E700M-XGC2,” explained ChipWorks. “It is notable that this is the same process generation as we documented in the Apple A5 rev 2, APL2498, also fabricated by Samsung and for which you can see the general structure.”

The device also features the Sony IMX145 is an 8-megapixel, 1.4 um pixel pitch, back illuminated CMOS image sensor. Sony designs and manufactures this image sensor, which the Apple iPhone 4S also boasts. Samsung provides its own storage, however, with the KMVTU000LM. According to ChipWorks, it is a multi-chip Samsung MOVI N and memory module.

A few other chips worth mentioning:

-Wolfson WM1811AE Audio Codec
-Maxim Max77686 Power Management IC
-Maxim Max 77693 is a multifunctional device including PMIC, MUIC, flash LED control
-Audience 350B voice processor
-Silicon Image Inc 92240Bo RF Transmitter
-STMicroelectronics STD03 AMOLED Display Driver

Visit ChipWorks for more specs on the S III’s communications standards and touchscreen controller, or watch iFixit’s live teardown take place [here].

This article is cross-posted at 9to5Mac.

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Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Nexus for $370 on eBay

Élyse Betters Jun 1 2012 - 7:51 am PT

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There is currently an unlocked 16 GB Samsung Galaxy Nexus i9250 on eBay for $369.99.

It works on any GSM Carrier and sports Android 4.0, a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 5 MP camera, an 1850 mAh battery, a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display, as well as 4G (LTE or HSPA+) connectivity. The deal expires soon, but it includes free shipping and an additional $63 two-year warranty. Furthermore, eBay promises it will arrive at your doorstep on June 7 if bought today.

According to the listing that just went live yesterday, 557 devices were already sold. This is a rare bargain, so hurry up and get one before this limited offer ends.

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