Are NFC and smartphones-as-credit-cards dumb ideas?

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DVICE:

…financial institutions, mobile handset makers and carriers have dreamed of turning your cellphone into a mobile wallet, to use your smartphone the same way you use a credit or debit card.Finally, this year we may finally reach this near field communication (NFC) nirvana, of simply waving our smartphone over a retail payment terminal instead of a credit or debit card to pay for our copiously consumed commodities.There’s only one problem. Using your smartphone as a credit or debit card replacement may be more trouble than it’s worth.

I can’t imagine doing this on a regular basis. Too many concerns about security and data integrity for me.

Sony taps Sorkin for Steve Jobs biopic

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Variety:

Sony Pictures has tapped its Oscar-winning “Social Network” scribe Aaron Sorkin to adapt “Steve Jobs,” Walter Isaacson’s bestselling biography of the late Apple co-founder.Sorkin, who earned an Oscar for adapting Ben Mezrich’s Facebook tome “The Accidental Billionaires,” previously wrote “Moneyball” for the studio. His other feature credits include the politically-themed trio “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “The American President” and “A Few Good Men,” as well as “Malice.”

This announcement alone guarantees the movie will be better than anything Ashton Kutcher stars in.

Facebook to stream Casablanca

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Mashable:

Grab some popcorn and your laptop. Facebook users on Wednesday night will be treated to a one-night only screening of the classic film Casablanca, which will be streamed from the film’s brand page.Casablanca — the winner of three Academy Awards in 1944 and often heralded as one of the best movies of all time (according to, among others, world-renowned film critic Roger Ebert) — will be complimentary streamed on Casablanca’s Facebook page on May 16 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Only one screening for each Facebook account is permitted.

I’m begging you – don’t do this. Rent the disc, sit in front of your TV on your comfy couch with a loved one and watch it. There’s no magic in watching this wonderful movie on your laptop.

Apple forced to drop “4G” name from some international iPads

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PCWorld:

Apple has stopped calling the new iPad “4G-capable” after regulators cracked down on its U.S.-only capability to connect to high-speed LTE networks. Although it is still listed as being “4G LTE capable,” the new iPad is now called “Wi-Fi + Cellular” instead of “Wi-Fi + 4G” in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and several parts of Asia.Apple’s labeling drew criticism from regulators in Australia because its advertisements misled regarding the device’s 4G connectivity, and Apple also got complaints from customers in Europe.

Astronut lands on iPad

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The hit game Astronut is now available on the iPad for a $1.99, with a nifty remote control function for the free iPhone version built in.

Lightroom 4 available on Mac App Store – with caveats

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Adobe:

We’re pleased to announce that Lightroom 4 is now available via the Mac App Store in North America.The Mac App Store offering is the same product offered on Adobe.com in terms of features and functionality but has been modified to comply with Mac App Store requirements. There are a few important pieces of information you should be aware of.

It’s $149.00, same price as if you buy it at Adobe.com but there’s no upgrade price if you own previous versions of Lightroom (there is if you buy it from Adobe.com). The Mac App Store version is for Mac OS X only – the version you buy from Adobe.com is Mac and Windows. The Mac App Store version can only be updated thru the Mac App Store. Adobe says that means they could update it on their web site but it may not happen at the same time, or at all, on the Mac App Store.

There’s more.

Adobe says there is no guarantee that upgrade pricing will be available to Mac App Store Lightroom 4 customers when Lightroom 5 and future versions of Lightroom are released and that Lightroom 4 is available only on the Mac App Store in North America.

Remind me again what the advantages of the Mac App Store are, Adobe?

On Zuck’s hoodie and Wall Street

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Analyst Michael Pachter recently took offense to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s lax dress code. CNet’s Jim Kerstetter says good for Zuck.