∞ Microsoft to challenge Apple TV with new set-top box

Microsoft may be ready to unveil a competitor for the Apple TV at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (more…)

∞ Darkest of Days FPS takes gamers on time travel trip

Virtual Programming’s new Darkest of Days is a first person shooter game with a twist. Players are plucked from General Custer’s army during the Battle of Little Big Horn and travel through history to relive famous events while protecting those whose survival is vital to history. The game costs $39.95. (more…)

∞ Facebook being investigated by SEC, raises $500 million

Facebook has reportedly raised $500 million, $450 million from Goldman Sachs and another $50 million from Russian investment group, Digital Sky Technologies. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Zynga Game Network and also the focus of an SEC probe into private shares trading.

It’s not clear what the SEC inquiry is focused on, but DealBook and other publications have suggested that the agency may be interested in a rule that limits private companies to fewer than 500 shareholders. After a company passes 500 shareholders, it must register its shares with the SEC and publicly disclose its financial results, according to SEC rules.

Reports: Facebook raises $500 million, faces SEC inquiry [Macworld]

∞ Report: Mac OS X Lion-compatible Final Pro updates coming in March

Users of Apple’s professional filmmaking software, Final Cut Pro, may be in for a new version in the next couple of months, according to a new report on Monday. (more…)

∞ Apple's market cap passes $300 billion

It’s been a good start to 2011 for Apple — the company’s market cap passed $300 billion for the first time. (more…)

∞ Apple service provider sues customer for complaining

An authorized Apple reseller and service provider in Greece is suing one of its customers after he publicly complained about the company’s service. (more…)

∞ Citibank: Apple could sell $2 billion in apps in 2011

The App Store is hugely popular, but according to one report, Apple is going to have a banner year in 2011. (more…)

∞ Apple sued by retail employee over perceived mental illness

Apple is being sued by a former retail store employee for discrimination after the employee sought the services of a mental health professional during a leave of absence. Did you know that the Silenced No More Act of 2021 bans non-disclosure agreements about workplace discrimination? The protected classes include age, gender, disability, and more. Workers who were unfairly treated or fired should consult with an attorney for wrongful termination and take legal action. (more…)

∞ A history of the hard drive

Technology moves fast. We have powerful computers, iPhones, iPads, televisions and all sorts of other devices. I think we tend to take most of the technology for granted these days — we just assume that components will be small enough to make things fit in the palm of our hand. The hard drive has been at the heart of our technology needs for many years, but it wasn’t always the tiny little thing we know today.

In the 1950s, storage hardware was measured in feet—and in tons. Back then, the era’s state-of-the-art computer drive was found in IBM’s RAMAC 305; it consisted of two refrigerator-size boxes that weighed about a ton each. One box held 40 24-inch dual-sided magnetic disk platters; a carriage with two recording heads suspended by compressed air moved up and down the stack to access the disks. The other cabinet contained the data processing unit, the magnetic process drum, magnetic core register and electronic logical and arithmetic circuits.

A brief history of the hard drive [Macworld]

∞ Apple patent shows Ping-like social networking for retail stores

If you’ve ever wanted to share your shopping experiences using your iPhone, Apple may soon have a solution for you. (more…)

∞ Amazon, Netflix, Apple among top picks in customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction among the top 40 online retailers dropped 1 percent in 2010 to 78 out of 100, but some of the biggest names in the business still saw good ratings from its customers. (more…)

∞ Infinity Blade, UDK pave way for bigger and better iOS games

Chair Entertainment’s hit game Infinity Blade stands apart from other offerings on the App Store: it’s the first iOS game built using Epic Games’ Unreal Development Kit (UDK) for iOS. The UDK has been used extensively in PC and console game development, but iOS is the first mobile platform to get the UDK treatment. The software’s creators are hoping this will lead to a new generation of more intense, console-quality entertainment for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. (more…)

∞ iPhone 4, Ping on CNN's 'fails' of 2010

CNN just published its list of the top 10 biggest technology failures of 2010 — topping the list is the iPhone 4. (more…)

∞ Nintendo warns of 3DS risks

Nintendo is warning its customers that its new 3D portable gaming system should not be used by kids under six years old. The company also warned older users to take a break after playing the gaming system in 3D mode for 30 minutes. I don’t know any kid that only plays a gaming system for that short of time before taking a break.

An advisory posted on Nintendo’s Japanese-language Web site says the eyes of children under 6 have not yet fully developed and that 3D viewing on the 3DS could disrupt that development. The company recommends that adults protect young players by way of parental controls on the 3DS that allow for the blocking of the 3D function while leaving 2D play accessible.

Reports: Nintendo warns of 3DS risk for kids [CNET]

∞ Apple sued over apps sharing info with advertisers

Apple and several iPhone and iPad application developers are being sued in federal court for sharing usage information from the devices without the customer’s consent or knowledge. (more…)

∞ Report: Apple readies three versions of iPad 2

Appple could be preparing to release three versions of its market-leading iPad, according to a report on Tuesday. (more…)

∞ Report: Apple to ship 5-6 million Verizon compatible iPhones

Apple has reportedly raised its shipment targets for the first quarter of 2011, and the company is also expected to begin shipping iPhones compatible with the Verizon network. (more…)

∞ U.S. Army to give iPhones, iPads to every soldier

The U.S. army is heading into a world where every soldier will be connected by a smartphone. The move is expected to revolutionize the way the army trains its soldiers and fights in the field. (more…)

∞ GadgetTrak for iOS tracks your iPhone, iPad's location

ActiveTrak, the company behind GadgetTrak, released an update to its iOS app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. (more…)

∞ President Obama uses Steve Jobs as example of the American dream

President Obama used Apple and CEO Steve Jobs as an example of how America provides opportunity to all its citizens to achieve the American Dream. (more…)

∞ AmpliTube 2 arrives for iPad

IK Multimedia released the latest version of its amp and effects modeling software for the iPad, AmpliTube 2. (more…)

∞ Bananas game for iPhone is addictive, great for kids

I tried out a new game yesterday called Bananas. While it’s made for kids, I really liked the game and had a blast playing it. (more…)

∞ Is there finally a good iPad blogging tool?

Find a good blogging tool for the iPad or iPhone is tough. I’ve looked at several and can’t find one that comes close to the experience I expect. The WordPress app even deleted posts from my site, so I haven’t been too keen to blog from my device. Cody Fink thinks he found the perfect app for the iPad, although you’ll need a Squarespace account to use it. Still worth checking out.

While many of us have struggled or implemented some wonky workflow to blog on the iPad, you may just want to ditch your Movable Type or WordPress blog for Squarespace simply because their iPad app is quite frankly amazing.

Squarespace Introduces Their Official iPad App: Why Can’t All Blogging Tools Be This Awesome? [MacStories]

∞ Pension fund pushes Apple for board election changes

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (Calpers) wants Apple to change the way it elects members to its board, but Apple is reportedly resisting the proposed change. (more…)

∞ Report: Apple stops sale of Steve Jobs figurine on eBay

Apple has reportedly asked eBay to stop the sale of a figurine that looks like CEO Steve Jobs. (more…)

∞ Apple removes WikiLeaks app from App Store

Apple on Tuesday joined several other companies that have decided people shouldn’t use their services to follow or support WikiLeaks. (more…)

∞ iPhone Configuration Utility 3.2 for Mac OS X available

In addition to updating iPhoto, Apple on Tuesday released iPhone Configuration Utility 3.2 for Mac OS X. (more…)

∞ Apple releases iPhoto 9.1.1

Apple on Tuesday released an update for iPhoto add a few items and fixing a few others. The latest version of the software is now 9.1.1. (more…)

∞ Rogue Amoeba releases Airfoil 4

In my rush to get everything ready for the holidays, I forgot all about a significant update to a really cool application from Rogue Amoeba. The company recently updated Airfoil for Mac. (more…)

∞ Apple's Mac OS X Downloads site to change with Mac App Store release

Apple plans to launch the Mac App Store on January 6, 2011. When it does, Apple has revealed that it will stop offering download links on its Mac OS X Downloads page. (more…)