White House Will Take To Twitter To Answer Questions About SCOTUS Obamacare Ruling. The United States Supreme Court today voted to uphold the Affordable Care Act (informally referred to as Obamacare), the health care reform bill that will require nearly all Americans to have health insurance coverage. It’s a very, very big deal — and it’s apparent on social media sites that many Americans have very impassioned opinions about the ruling, both positive and negative. And lots of people out there just want to know what it all really means. Well, the White House wants to clear up people’s questions and worries, 140 characters at a time. Today the Presidential administration announced it will hold a special session of White House “Office Hours” on Twitter. The event will start at 4:30pm ET (1:30pm PT) with Jeanna Lambrew, who serves as the Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy, answering questions.
Per the White House’s press release, here is how the Twitter Q&A will work today: Official White House photo of President Obama tweeting by Pete Souza. With New Mobile Apps, Eric Schmidt-Backed HealthTap Brings The House Call Back To Healthcare. Over 80 percent of people seek health-related information online, on everything from insurance to help diagnosing aches and pains. As the world goes mobile, so too does health. Instead of using Google for your health queries or perusing WebMD, HealthTap launched last year to give people a way to connect with doctors in realtime via their mobile devices. Today, the startup is announcing a significant update to their interactive mobile health network, including a suite of new apps for the iPhone, iPad, Android and the Web, and a revamped, cleaner UI. Since launching last year, HealthTap has built a network of 12,000 U.S. -licensed physicians — no easy task — to allow its users to get answers to medical questions for free without relying on algorithms — and has raised $14 million from Mayfield Fund, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Eric Schmidt’s Innovation Endeavors, Esther Dyson, and more.
Sending that initial text message costs about $10, with follow-up messaging at $5 a pop after one freebie. SendHub Expands Beyond Messaging, Now Rivals Google Voices With Support For Calls & Voicemail. SendHub, the messaging startup that allows businesses to communicate with customers through SMS, is expanding its service today to include support for voice calls and voicemail. These new features put SendHub in more direct competition with Google Voice, as users will now be able to use their SendHub phone numbers to both make and receive phones calls, while keeping their personal cell numbers private. Although the company only has an iPhone application and online service currently, these voice calls can be initiated and received on any device that supports messaging – even on feature phones.
This is an improvement on the previous setup, which only allowed users the ability to accept voice calls, not make them. Voice calls were previously routed to personal cell phone numbers, as Google Voice does today. But now, users of any device, whether a “dumb” phone, Android, BlackBerry, or anything else, can place a call, even if they don’t have a native app installed. Here’s how it works: Google Glass Coming to Consumers in 2014. Google co-founder Sergey Brin would like Google Glass to be available "in a broad consumer offering" in 2014, he told Bloomberg. The company introduced "Project Glass" as it was known, in April. The augmented reality-enhanced glasses let you record video, check your calendar, get weather updates and see messages from your friends.
At least those are the features outlined in a video Google released at the time. Google had been coy about a release date for the product, though. On Wednesday, Brin, speaking at Google's IO developers conference in San Francisco, reintroduced Google Glass as it's now known with a splashy video showing skydivers using the technology. Regarding availability, he also announced that pairs of Explorer Edition Google Glass will be available next year to developers for $1,500 each. In the video above, Brin doesn't get into what kind of price point Google Glass might carry in 2014. What do you think? Design Is Now Crucial to Startup Success. Remember the good old days? When a startup founder could draw up his own clunky logo, slap it on a Web page and call it a day?
Now every startup needs to spend time, attention and money on slick branding and design sophistication - just to get in the game. Design as a Differentiator 99designs, a marketplace for crowdsourced graphic design, polled more than 1,500 entrepreneurs, startup founders and small-business owners and found that 80% of them think the design of their logos, websites, marketing materials and other branding tools is either important or very important to their success. Just 3% said design was not important. Blame Apple, says 99designs CEO Patrick Llewellyn. The survey also found that 67% of respondents believe design will become even more important to business success over the next five years.
Blue Is the Color of Money So maybe it’s time to redo your company design. More results: Best logo: Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, Google, FedEx. The Collaborative Revolution Is Coming. EDINBURGH, Scotland — “I believe we are at the start of a collaborative revolution that will be as significant as the industrial revolution.” With bold proclamations like that, What’s Mine Is Yours author Rachel Botsman described how she sees online reputation reinventing the way we think about wealth, power, and personal identity in the 21st century. Citing a number of stories of what she calls micro-entrepreneurs — individuals that are making a living from services like Airbnb, Skillshare and Taskrabbit that match haves with wants — Botsman painted a picture of a future in which resumes and even credit scores are irrelevant, replaced by an aggregated digital reputation based on our interactions in the collaborative economy.
“I envision a real-time stream of who has trusted you when, where and why … that all lives together in one place,” she told the audience at TED Global. There are challenges to making the collaborative revolution a reality though. Why did Microsoft scrap the start button in Windows 8? People weren’t using it. Of all the confounding changes made in the latest Windows 8 consumer preview, few upset people quite as much as the removal of the Start button. But what hasn’t been clear is why Microsoft removed the feature, which has been a central pillar of Windows for over a 15 years. The answer might be obvious: People weren’t using it. In an interview with PCPro, Microsoft program manager Chaitanya Sareen said that as users began pinning more applications to the taskbar, start button usage took a major hit. Instead of going to Start menu to access applications, users were just clicking shortcuts.
The taskbar was just too fast and convenient. Microsoft, then, was at a crossroads: How could it make the Start menu useful again? The idea behind the feature has always been to provide a simple and central launching point for applications and tasks. So Microsoft Metro-fied it. North Korea Is Allegedly Building Its Own Tablet, The Samjiyeon. It’s unclear whether or not the tablet was made in North Korea or in China, though previous reports of a North Korean tablet demoed at the Pyongyang International Trade Fair were said to be developed at the Korea Computer Center. Then again, the national media has also said their computers were “designed and developed purely using [their] own expertise,” though a little digging proved otherwise. There is said to be no camera on the device, and it has no access to the Internet. There is, however, an encyclopedia, games, eBooks and a map service. They call it the Samjiyeon, which is a district in the Ryanggang province of North Korea that has its own airport, named after a group of three lakes.
So essentially, it’s a tablet named after a location named after a lake trio. Very meta. The translation gets difficult regarding price (any Korean speakers out there, a little help would be very appreciated), but we expect that this tablet, if real, will only get in the hands of an elite few. Chrome 20 brings 64-bit Flash with a dash of Pepper to Linux – Tech Products & Geek News. Will Google’s New Nexus Q Kill Google TV? When Google unveiled the combination of the Nexus 7 tablet and the otherworldly Nexus Q streaming device at the Google I/O developers conference in San Francisco, observers couldn’t help but think, “But what about Google TV?” The answer, I was told by several members of the Android and Google TV teams, involves Google thinking about the problem along a new axis: the social experience.
No, this isn’t the cloud-based “Google Entertainment System” some hoped for. And admittedly, the distinction still feels forced. But here’s the internal logic that drove Google’s decision. Google TV Is About, Well, TV As most people know by now, the first generation of the Google TV - as embodied by the Logitech Revue - maintained a rather Googlesque look and feel, emphasizing the Google browser, YouTube and shortcuts to the Web’s most popular video sites. The Nexus Q, on the other hand, is not a standalone device; it can’t function without an Android tablet or phone instructing it what to do. A New Approach. The Google Nexus Q, Made In The U.S.A. Take that, conventional wisdom! The oddball Google Nexus Q is made in the good ol’ US of A, proving that electronics can be assembled outside of China. This fun little tidbit wasn’t mentioned during the Nexus Q’s announcement yesterday.
Sure enough, a label on the bottom of the device says “Designed and Manufactured in the U.S.A.” That little label is also why the device costs so much. Speaking to the NYT Andy Rubin explained that making the device in the U.S. is a bit of an experiment. There was a time when electronics were made in the U.S. But things are changing again. The Q itself seems to be a bit of an experiment as well. The Q’s higher price is a direct result of assembling it in the U.S., says Google. [image via NYT and Wired] HTML5's New Tags Make Coding Suck Less. HTML5 has been a long time coming, and although what we normally call HTML5 is actually a combination of things, including existing and developing JavaScript advancements and CSS3, HTML5 on its own is still pretty exciting. This new standard will hopefully become default within the next two or three years , but that doesn’t mean the adventurous of us can’t start playing early.
That’s exactly what I’ve been doing, and even with the exciting potential of smarter Web apps, games and complex animations, my absolute favorite thing about HTML5 isn’t complicated at all — that’s the point. HTML5 makes more sense than any other iteration of HTML, which makes it significantly easier for newcomers to grasp and way less annoying to use. Of course, most of you will know that HTML5 isn’t news at all — its development has been entirely public from the beginning. Still, as we near its standardization, it’s worth watching closely (like heavy breathing behind your ear closely).
Google+ is One Year Old Today. Has it really been a year already? Apparently so. Google launched its latest attempt at producing a successful social network on June 28, 2011. We were on hand at the time, as it happens, to bring you the complete video tour of the product at launch. The debates, predictions and analysis kicked-off with immediate effect. What IS Google+? These arguments raged – nay, rage – for one chief reason – there is no right or wrong answer. One thing we can probably say, however, is that Google+ is going nowhere.
As we look back on a year in the life of Google+, we focus not so much on whether Google+ can topple Facebook, but more some of the milestone moments, observational tidbits and other random incidents that have taken place around the platform over the past twelve months. In the beginning… We all kind of knew that Google was working on a major social product, but we didn’t know what it would look like until it launched. Talk about bizarre. Going global Google gaming Building a better product. How to Upgrade to Windows 8. While the market becomes accustomed to the Windows 8 Release Preview, and awaits the coming RTM build, the product itself is still months from reaching shelves, both digital and physical, for sale. If you are thinking about moving to Microsoft’s new operating system, you will want to be prepared. Sources speaking to ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley have released the following information concerning upgrade paths to Windows 8 [condensed and formatted by TNW]: Upgrades are possible to Windows 8 [the basic flavor] from any consumer version of Windows 7.
This excludes Windows 7 Ultimate and Professional.Upgrades are possible to Windows 8 Pro from any version of Windows 7 that is not its Enterprise edition.Upgrades are possible to Windows 8 Enterprise only from Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise. For those upgrades, settings, files, and applications will be maintained. Upgrades are possible to Windows 8 from Windows Vista. Now, what does all that mean? Top Image Credit: BUILDWindows. Hometalk Aims To Be The One-Stop Site For Home Improvement Info. As someone who doesn’t know a two-by-four from a 4X4, I usually depend on the Internet for home improvement tips. For example, did you know you’re not supposed to flush dental floss? I didn’t discover that until I found my basement full of raw sewage and someone online told me what was up.
Before Hometalk, however, the online home improvement space was, at best, oddly disparate and at worst useless. Hometalk launched in March 2011 and just relaunched as a sort of Pinterest/Quora/Tool Time for the home-owning set. Hometalk’s CEO Yaron Ben Shaul aims to make Hometalk a fairly nondescript front line for his other company, Networx. “Hometalk has approximately twenty percent active users and have over 500,000 unique visitors a month and rapidly growing,” said Hometalk VP Matthew Shampine. The redesign implements a more visual interface and it allows popular posts to percolate to the top. He noted that many of the spots for home improvement talk are old and weird. Easily Seal a Bag with a Couple of Magnets. Murdoch Says Separated News Corp Publishing Biz Will ‘Push Even Harder’ On Charging For Content.
Old media, some think, is headed for the graveyard, and they’ll be damned if it takes young and cool new media with it. But it ain’t dead yet, and some growling comments made today by Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and chairman of News Corp., underscored how it will continue to keep on ticking for some time still. In a conference call today to discuss the confirmation that News Corp. will, in fact, split its empire into two businesses — entertainment/media and print/publishing — Murdoch sounded out to quiet the “naysayers” that think the board is concerned about the long-term fortunes of publishing, and therefore is cutting the business off.
“This could not be further from the truth,” he said. “People will pay for news. It is the most valuable commodity in the world.” There was a sign earlier this week of what he means by that. IVP raises $1B fund to usher in the next wave of awesome tech companies. Sunglass Launches With New API, Dropbox Integration To Democratize 3D Design. First Party Using Google+ Proves out "Party Mode" Google: Chrome Now Has 310 Million Active Users, Most Popular Browser In The World. Google Chrome has 310 million active users, 'most popular browser in the world' Google announces Chrome for iPhone and iPad, available today. How to Survive Without a DVD Drive In Your Laptop.
Google’s Chrome Browser Now Works On The iPhone And iPad. The Gmail logo was designed the night before the service launched. Gmail now has 425 million active users. Google releases Google Drive for iOS and Chrome OS. Facebook's iPhone app is about to get very fast – Cell Phones & Mobile Device Technology News & Updates. Chromebooks and Chromeboxes available at Best Buy, Dixons starting today. Valve releases the magically fiery ‘Meet the Pyro’ video. Google announces Compute Engine. Goodbye, Galaxy Tab 10.1: Apple posts $2.6M bond to secure ban of Samsung’s tablet. Soldier Needs a Home. The Poopy Joe Files. Meet the Pyro. Pyroland.
City on Fire. Doomsday. Pyromania. Heyzap launches a way for developers to reach its mobile game network users. Google to challenge Amazon with Compute Engine cloud infrastructure. Online Merchants Wrestle With The 'Creepy' Factor In Web Personalization. Before Jumping Ship to "Better" Bank, See If You Can Negotiate With Your Current One. Are you Chromebook curious? Google to put Chromebooks in Best Buy retail stores.
Freaking finally: Google announces offline editing for Google Docs. Google I/O attendees receiving special white edition Nexus 7 tablets. Second-Screen Engagement: The Marketer's Holy Grail? Sergey Brin shows off his Google Glass shade accessory. Google's Vic Gundotra and Bradley Horowitz on the future of Google+ (video) Google Compute Engine: Cloud-Based Supercomputing for All. Lara Craft will invade your Chrome web browser this fall. Google Play Is Central to Google's Android Mobile Strategy. [07/13/12] SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO at The Mid [FREE W/ RSVP] : chicagoEDM. Yesterday I broke up with my girl, today I find out my family is moving to Guatemala in a few weeks. It's high time I get the fuck out of this shitty city with it's shitty scene.. And so /r/minimal I ask you, where should I go? : minimal.
LHC discovers new particle (not the Higgs boson) : science. Breaking Bad (season 1) Features - Nexus 7. MC Chris-The Package (Skit) Teresa Sullivan reinstated as the president of the University of Virginia. Redline (2009 film) Evading Ticketmaster Louis C.K. sells tour himself. Build with Chrome. (Do You Think You're) Better Off Alone - DNAngel. Nanny state. m68v1lPcso1r88repo1_500.jpg (500×382) PR, Marketing, and Media Relations Software and Services. 06 Luna's Theme - Twin Sister, "In Heaven" 2011. Dial-up sound 700% slower (Creepy) UK | Magazine | Giving up my iPod for a Walkman. Egypt's new president to pick woman, Christian VPs. 4chan Trolls Ghost - Radio Graffiti - [June 17th, 2011] “Build” LEGO x Google Collaboration. Charleston style, proper sync. Louis C.K. in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno June 25, 2012. BulletSponge51 comments on Veterans of Reddit, what is war really like?
Open Letter from a Millennial: Quit Telling Us We’re Not Special « The Phoenix and Olive Branch. Future Hotel. "RADICAL OPENNESS" - for TEDGlobal 2012 by @Jason_Silva. Build with Chrome (use legos to build in Chrome) : chrome. Samsung struggles to keep up with Galaxy S III demand : Android. Samsung struggles to keep up with Galaxy S III demand « Mobile. YkoXR.jpg (497×960) Scientists Discover That Mars is Full of Water : science. The do's and don'ts of expanding foam. Religious circumcision of kids a crime - German court. In a Big Network of Computers, Evidence of Machine Learning. Hazard Cinema Top 10 Battlefield 3 Plays :: Episode 13. GoDaddy Online Storage Scam: Advertise unlimited file size in "Ours vs. Theirs" comparison, in fact limit is 1GB : technology.
If You Want to Actually Finish the Tasks on Your To-Do List, Include Why You Should Do Them. Want to Learn More About iOS and Mac Development? Get Apple's WWDC Content for Free. How To Filter Your Gmail Like a Pro. Gmail is Gmail everywhere. Customer Feedback Improvements in the Chrome Web Store. Supporting language preservation through technology and collaboration.