Splinter Cell: Blacklist: spiderbots, morality and shotguns in the Clancy-verse

At the beginning of Splinter Cell: Blacklist you walk along a corridor littered with dying men, your colleagues finishing them off with occasional bullet fire. The men die and the narrative strides on into a different space. But in that corridor there was a rare, blink-and-you'll-miss-it twinge of discomfort over the actions onscreen.

Wired.co.uk decided to ask Ubisoft Toronto game designer Maxime Béland about how he approaches making a game that involves shooting representations of other human beings. After all, prior to Splinter Cell, he worked on three of the Rainbow Six franchise.

"I think the number one thing is respect," said Béland after a taking some time to think. "We're not giving you $5,000 more if you do a headshot and there's blood everywhere. We didn't go in and put blood everywhere. We're doing it realistically. I think what's great with our game is that it's up to the player. When you're playing Sam [Fisher] if you want to kill no-one you can."

The game rewards a non-lethal playthrough with an achievement. "If you complete the whole game with a full 100 percent non-lethal playthrough you get an achievement. So your question I will throw back to you and other gamers. How are you playing the game? If you feel bad about killing people you don't have to."

That moment aside, the game settles into familiar action-adventure territory with a side order of sneaking about. You're Sam Fisher who, this time around, is the leader of special ops unit The Fourth Echelon. Sam Fisher now has an office and a team but, because of the whole "being Sam Fisher" thing that office is a tech-crammed plane called the Paladin.

"It's a playable hub space for the player," explained Béland. "After each mission you go back to the plane, you can talk to the different characters, unlock co-op content, you can grab the phone and call your daughter if you want. You can customise the plane, upgrade it."

At the centre of the plane is the strategic mission interface (SMI) which presents as a map of the world in real time showing all the options available to the player. The idea here is to function as a menu that will tempt players into trying the different modes on offer in Blacklist. "You'll see solo missions, co-op missions, friends online and what they're doing. If they're joinable -- say a friend is playing a co-op map by himself -- you click and join. There's this idea of blurring the lines between modes."

One of these modes is "spies vs mercs" which takes the form of first person vs third person as the spies attempt to execute successful hacks while the mercs (mercenaries) try to take them down as quickly as possible. The basic concept as Béland explains it is a squad of Sam Fishers being pitted against a squad of Rainbow Six operatives.

The game also has a transversal economy system where money earned in any game mode funnels back to Sam who can spend it as he chooses. According to Béland, the idea is to always be rewarding time spent playing in the game world. A companion app seeks to develop these repeat visits to the Tom Clancy-verse further.

"We've released what we call Splinter Cell: Blacklist Spider-Bot. It's an app on iOS and it's going to be released on android soon. Right now there's only one game in it but it will end up being three games all featuring the spider-bot -- this little robot Sam can control."

The spider-bots in question were originally part of the main game but didn't make it into the final cut. "It was cool to be able to be this spider robot able to navigate everywhere and climb the walls. It really changed the perspective of how you saw the Splinter Cell world because suddenly everything was big. You could go at the feet of an enemy and see him like it's a wide angle lens!"
The points or currency you make on your tablet or smartphone are then transferred into the main game if you link the accounts via Uplay. In terms of spending this cash, you're looking at upgrades on technology, equipment, armour and so on.

"If you think Sam is a more brutal person who needs to take out everybody and make noise you can customise your Sam; buy gear to give better bullet protection, buy super powerful two-handed weapons, frag grenades. If you think Sam is the guy who's never seen and doesn't make any noise then buy boots to reduce the noise you make when you run, buy sleeping gas grenades to take out the guys non lethally. It's Sam, but your Sam."

Similarly the game monitors your playstyle keeping an eye on who your Sam manifests as. There are three categories his behaviour falls into. One is Ghost (non-lethal), another is Panther (stealth killing) and the last is Assault (bullety death for all).

With the awareness of these three distinct styles Wired.co.uk asked whether the Ubisoft team was considering something along the lines of a class-based Splinter Cell. "I used to play D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) and at some point my friends and I switched to GURPS (Generic Universal Roleplaying System)," said Beland. "One of the major differences is D&D is all about classes and GURPS is all about no classes but you need to make decisions. You need to spend points.

"I think Blacklist is a lot more like a GURPS system. If you want boots that don't make noise but have a crazy shotgun when you need it you can. We're not forcing you to go down a tech tree of stealth or Panther or Ghost. You mix and match what you want."
So what's Béland's Sam like?

"I'm a Panther. I like to take out guys and do it without getting detected. It's fluid and its beautiful in a way. When you're able to take out a lot of guys quickly it feels like a combo you're doing which feels rewarding. Splinter Cell is about thinking before you act."

US immigration classifies League of Legends as a sport

Professional e-sports players will now find their entry to the United States easier, as League of Legends' publisher has convinced US immigration services to recognise the game as a sport.

The US offers professional sportsmen and women the ability to stay up to five years in the United States. It's the visa that let David Beckham join LA Galaxy. But non-American e-sports players have been having difficulty joining US teams due to visa restrictions.

That appears to be about to change, as Riot Games has persuaded the US visa bureau that League of Legendsis a professional sport, allowing Canadian player Danny "Shuphtur" Le to compete in the country.

It's not the first time that the bureau has bent the rules to encompass games as well as sports - chess is the best-known example. But allowing League of Legendsplayers to receive the same visas as traditional athletes will make things easier for the burgeoning e-sport.

Riot Games' VP of e-sports, Dustin Beck, told Polygon: "This is a watershed moment. It validates e-sports as a sport. Now we have the same designation as the NBA or NHL or other professional sports leagues."

Sony drops hacking fine appeal over security concerns

Sony has dropped its appeal over a £250,000 fine levied by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in relation to a 2011 hack on Sony's PlayStation Network. The company maintains that it disagrees with the fine but that an appeal could compromise its current security measures.

The hack took place in April, 2011 and left customer details exposed. These details included names, passwords, email addresses, postal addresses and dates of birth. Sony had also admitted at the time that it could not rule out the chance that some credit card information had been accessed.

The ICO criticised Sony for not having up-to-date software and not providing adequate security for its customers' data. "If you are responsible for so many payment card details and log-in details then keeping that personal data secure has to be your priority," said David Smith, Deputy Commissioner and Director of Data Protection.

"The penalty we've issued today is clearly substantial, but we make no apologies for that. The case is one of the most serious ever reported to us. It directly affected a huge number of consumers, and at the very least put them at risk of identity theft."

The breach led Sony to completely rebuild its platform with more advanced security measures and alterations to prevent hackers from repeating their original attack. The company is now citing its security-consciousness as the reason for dropping its plan to appeal the fine.

"After careful consideration we are withdrawing our appeal," said a spokesperson for Sony. "This decision reflects our commitment to protect the confidentiality of our network security from disclosures in the course of the proceeding. We continue to disagree with the decision on the merits."
The explanation raises the curious potential scenario whereby appealing a fine over security practices and data hacking could lead to more security breaches and hacks.

Wired.co.uk contacted the ICO to ask whether safeguards are in place to prevent such an event. The ICO responded, stating: "This would be a matter for the First Tier Tribunal, where any appeal hearing would take place. However the Tribunal does have measures in place to ensure that information that should be kept out of the public domain is not released during the course of a hearing.

Super Smash Bros Melee stream: the record breaker that almost never was

Super Smash Bros Melee became the most-watched fighting game in history, according to EVO tournament cofounder Tom Cannon.

The stream, which formed part of the annual fighting game tournament's output, peaked with 130,000 concurrent viewers, although it couldn't hold on to the record for long. A later stream as part of the same event featuring Marvel vs Capcom peaked with around 140,000 concurrent viewers.

Not to detract from the Marvel vs Capcom accomplishment, but the game's achievement comes in the wake of a troubled few days -- Nintendo had initially banned the game from being streamed by the 2013 tournament at all. The company then relented but it was also revealed that Nintendo had attempted to ban Melee not just from being livestreamed but from the competition entirely.

Some commenters have cited the "no such thing as bad publicity" adage in relation to the high figures and the resultant promotion of Nintendo IP as a result. Fighting games expert and cofounder of gaming site Ready Up, Dan Bendon, explains the situation as follows:

"While Smash Bros might not be the most respected of fighting games it does have one of the most dedicated and good natured community followings. They made themselves heard and Nintendo, with a new Smash Bros game recently announced, simply could not ignore them. The resulting controversy both rallied the fans and piqued the interest of many others leading to some outstanding viewing figures and a decisive win for everyone involved."

Valve unveils Pipeline, a resource for teens eying up the gaming industry

Valve has unveiled Pipeline, a website created by teenagers and geared towards helping young people get into the videogames industry.

The site aims to answer questions teenagers might have about working in videogames as well as providing helpful content and information. The site will act as a forum for the discussion of related topics and is intended to very much be led by its audience and what they want to know.

Another aspect of Pipeline is more experimental and seeks to address one of the problems inherent in Valve's flat management structure -- that it gravitates towards very experienced employees because there aren't hierarchies within which to train people or schemes set up to take in and nurture new talent.

"Traditionally Valve has been a very good place for very experienced videogame developers, and not so good at teaching people straight out of school (the reasons for this and the tradeoffs are covered in the Valve employee handbook). Pipeline is an experiment to see if we can take a group of high school students with minimal work experience and train them in the skills and methods necessary to be successful at a company like Valve."

As for the name, Valve explains that it comes from "The idea of directing information at people who want it. The name pipeline displays a direct feed of knowledge from Valve to the general public." It's also the name of the process by which games get created.

Valve isn't the only company aware of the value of appealing to young people and new talent. For example, Sony's Academic Development Programme seeks to get students acquainted with its hardware and software as part of their university education, meaning that working on Sony projects after graduation is more of an organic process. By being more inclusive and helpful towards those hoping to start work in the videogames industry, Valve may be able to take advantage of talent in ways its setup currently resists.

Oculus Rift CEO: 'We'd love it to be free'

The team behind the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is looking to find ways to make the hardware free of charge at the point of purchase.

Speaking with Edge, CEO Brendan Iribe admitted that the lack of a price tag wouldn't happen for a while but that the team were investigating different business models with a view to lowering the price as much as possible. The dream scenario would be "free".

"The lower the price point, the wider the audience," said Iribe. "We have all kinds of fantasy ideas. We'd love it to be free one day, so how do we get it as close to free as possible? Obviously it won't be that in the beginning. We're targeting the $300 [£200] price point right now but there's the potential that it could get much less expensive with a few different relationships and strategies."

$300 is the current price of a devkit but no pricing structure has been announced for the consumer version. From Iribe's comments it seems the Oculus team is considering different options. One is having the hardware sell at a loss, as consoles have done, then make up the shortfall with software licensing and so on. So, with the right IP costs could plummet.

"Let's say there was some game you played in VR that everybody loved and everybody played and we made $100 (£66) a month -- or even $10 (£6) a month -- at some point the hardware's cheap enough and we're making enough that we could be giving away the headset."

To get an idea of the level of enthusiasm from potential consumers and from business investors, the company recently raised $16 million (just over £10 million) in venture capital funding to add to the $2.4 million (£1.5 million) it raised via donations on Kickstarter.

"Virtual reality will be one of the most significant technologies of the 21st century," said company founder, Palmer Luckey at the time. "It has the potential to drastically alter the way we play, communicate, and learn. I think that VR can (and will) be as widely used as Facebook or Twitter, and the societal implications will be far greater!"

Aiming for such a large potential userbase it makes sense to lower the initial cost as much as possible. The focus, then, will be on choosing the right business model with which to achieve that.

Nexus 5: What we expect about the announcement, specs, and release date of Google's next smartphone

Don't look now, but the LG Nexus 4 successor could make its formal debut by the end of this week.
Rumors and conjecture have been floating around for much of the summer, and now details seem to be falling into place quickly for the updated flagship Android smartphone.
Even though Google hasn't made anything official quite yet (not even the launch event date), there's certainly quite a bit we already think we know about the next Nexus. Here's what's expected and what still remains uncertain.

What we know

The Nexus 5 briefly popped up on Google Play before Google's official announcement, leaving no doubt now that Nexus 5 will be its official name, that it will cost $349 unlocked, and that it will at least come in black.

What we expect

October reveal date
The latest rumors point to either an October 31 or a November 1 unveiling for the Nexus 5, which is supported by the Google Play reveal that cases will also be ready by the end of the month.
A TechRadar report said that Google would announce and ship the phone in the last week of this month. Other sources, while not quite as specific, have also mentioned an October introduction.
This fits into Google's pattern as well. Last year's Nexus upgrade was also scheduled for the early autumn time frame, before Hurricane Sandy's interference pushed back the date.
For what it's worth, though, a tweet from @evleaks tells us to look for the Nexus 5 on November 1.

Android 4.4 KitKat
The Nexus 5 should be the first smartphone to run Android 4.4 KitKat, Google's next OS iteration, out of the box. Google has already formalized the platform, but the details are a complete mystery. The fall time frame falls in line with previous platform releases; Android 4.0 came in October 2011, and Android 4.2 showed up in November 2012.

LG will make it
All signs point to Google again calling upon LG as the hardware maker of choice for the Nexus smartphone line. Documents found in the FCC tell of a model called LG D820 with specifications not entirely unlike the G2's, which is the source we expect the Nexus 5 to stem from.

Biggest Nexus yet
The Nexus 5 should have a 4.96-inch screen, which would make it the largest Nexus smartphone to date. We should look for the same 1,920x1,080-pixel HD display as the G2's, which equals a 444-pixel density.

Design details
Thus far, images suggest that the Nexus 5 will maintain a form factor that doesn't stray far from the LG Nexus 4's. Early photos of the device, however, do not show the same design flourish or patterns on the rear.

An official press photo quietly sneaked into the Google Play store this week only to disappear again. Naturally, some fast-fingered fans were able to save copies of the smartphone pics.

The Nexus 5 may also be offered in the popular white

White version
Pictures obtained by tech blog Underkg, which have since been removed, show what looks to be retail packaging for the Nexus 5. Of particular note, however, is the fact that this model has a white back plate. Instead of the traditional white front and back, the LG device should just see the rear getting the color of cotton. More recently, oft-reliable source @evleaks posted a seemingly official render of the white Nexus 5, which confirms the same design.

Hardware
The Nexus 5 should be able to hold its own against the competition thanks to the quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU. Bolstered by 2GB of RAM, LTE support, and NFC capability, the handset is expected to employ wireless charging capability and a 2,300mAh battery. Leaked benchmark results have the Nexus 5 outperforming all other Android devices and rivaling Apple's iPhone 5S.
Confirming the specs recently, Canada's Wind Mobile today launched, then pulled, a preregistration page for the upcoming flagship smartphone. Describing the handset as "the smart, new phone made to capture the moments that matter," the hardware was the same as found elsewhere.
A 16GB Nexus 5 could sell for $299 and include a 2,300mAh battery, while a 32GB model could come equipped with a 3,000mAh cell battery and retail for $399. Additional storage via microSD is atypical of Nexus smartphones; a recently leaked manual made no reference of the external slot.

Carrier support
FCC documents indicate that the Nexus 5 is equipped for penta-band HSPA+ and multiple LTE bands and should support all four major carriers in the US: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. This could mark the first time that Google is able to offer one device across all top-tier carriers.

Camera technology
If the Nexus 5 is based on LG's G2 smartphone, then we may see the optical image stabilization (OIS) technology found in the camera. Google likes to introduce new camera features with Android releases, and OIS could make for a compelling user experience.

Price for larger capacities
Google Play listed the Nexus 5 price as "starting at $349." Presumably, this covers the 16GB model, with a 32GB version fetching $399 or more.

Sales model
We already know Google Play store, where customers can buy the phone unlocked or choose a wireless provider. The other will likely be through the carriers themselves, as with the Nexus 4 on T-Mobile. This time around, it's more likely that we'll see the top-tier carriers sell the device at the outset, rather than as a limited exclusive.

How secure is the deadbolt in the Kwikset Kevo smart lock

Experts and amateurs alike allege that Kwikset SmartKey locks are flawed and unsafe. What does this mean for the Kevo?

If you read my recent review of the new Kwikset Kevo Bluetooth Deadbolt, then you know that I was impressed with this new smart lock.
According to some of the comments, I shouldn't have been:

...the lock itself is so weak that a 10 year old kid can slam a screwdriver in it and force the cylinder to turn and unlock and be in your house in a matter of seconds...

Any thief with a "bump" key will open this 200+ dollar lock in 5 seconds...

Kwikset locks can be easily unlocked with a blank and a screwdriver. There are several videos on youtube showing how easy it is...

A quick Google search confirms the existence of a controversy. Look long enough, and you'll find article after article detailing the weaknesses of Kwikset deadbolts, not to mention numerous YouTube videos of people demonstrating how to take advantage of these weaknesses. Many of the arguments are centered specifically on Kwikset's SmartKey deadbolt, a deadbolt that's designed to allow users to rekey the lock themselves in a matter of seconds.
It also happens to be the kind of deadbolt that the Kevo uses, and for some, this all but disqualifies the lock. However, I'm not nearly as convinced that anyone should write the Kevo off just yet. Here's why.

You can't bump the pins in a SmartKey deadbolt, because there aren't any pins to bump.

It's bump-proof -- really
Many of the arguments against Kwikset that you'll find online focus on a practice called "lock bumping." To bump a lock, a thief will insert a special key called a bump key into the deadbolt, then tap on it with a blunt object like the handle of a screwdriver. The bump key transfers the force of the bumps into the lock's pins, jolting them into an unlocked position without damaging the lock or leaving any trace of a forced entry. Many standard pin-and-tumbler locks are vulnerable to this kind of attack, including some basic Kwikset locks. Some have claimed that this is a vulnerability that carries through to SmartKey locks, including the Kevo.

To be blunt, those people are wrong. The SmartKey deadbolt uses serrated disc tumblers and a unique horizontal slider in place of the classic pin-and-tumbler setup. Without those pins, bumping just won't work. When Kwikset calls the SmartKey deadbolt a bump-proof lock, the company isn't exaggerating.

Compared with Schlage's bump-proof SecureKey, the Kwikset SmartKey deadbolt is practically unpickable.

It's notoriously difficult to pick
The two most widely recognized and accepted organizations for assessing the quality of locks are the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). ANSI grades locks on their operation, key torque cycles, pull strength, and impact resistance. While certain SmartKey models meet Grade 1, which is the ANSI's highest grade, the Kevo's particular SmartKey deadbolt is Grade 2. This is still a very good score, certifying that the lock can withstand five 75-foot-pound blows, two blows from 120 foot-pounds, 5 minutes of sawing, and at least 360 pounds of bolt-end pressure.

UL certification focuses more on lockpicking and tooled entry, and here, SmartKey deadbolts (including the Kevo) pass the most stringent test, UL 437. This means that SmartKey deadbolts are resistant to a wide variety of lockpicking tools and techniques for certain amounts of time. To demonstrate this level of lockpicking security, Kwikset holds a yearly challenge, offering $5,000 to any locksmith who's able to pick the SmartKey deadbolt using standard lockpicking tools within 10 minutes. The overwhelming majority of these trained professionals can't do it. Even one of Kwikset's most vocal critics, Marc Weber Tobias (more on him in just a bit), told us that the SmartKey lock is virtually impossible to pick.

The problem with bypass tools
Other videos criticizing Kwikset point out that the lock can be easily compromised using a specialized bypass tool used by locksmiths. This tool was developed specifically because the SmartKey lock is so tough to pick -- locksmiths needed another way to force the lock open for their locked-out customers. Of course, if this tool falls into the hands of criminals, they can get past your lock in mere seconds. Doesn't this mean the security of the lock is compromised?
Yes and no. The first thing to keep in mind is that Major Manufacturing, the makers of this tool, specifically restrict its sale and information about its design and use to licensed locksmiths only, so it isn't something that a thief could just pick up at a hardware store or even order online (you won't even find one listed on eBay). If an unscrupulous locksmith sells his used tools under the table, then yes, that's a problem, but it isn't a problem that's unique to Kwikset, as tools like this exist for a variety of locks.

Second, using the tool to bypass the SmartKey deadbolt requires a degree of brute force, and will, in many cases, permanently damage the lock. This sets it apart from quieter means of entry, like creeping in through an unlocked window, carefully slashing a screen door, or even lock picking -- against which the SmartKey deadbolt is, again, highly resistant.

Could bypassing a Kevo really be that easy?

What about that screwdriver trick?
It isn't as simple a trick as some have made it out to be, but it's a legitimate point of concern. Abovementioned security expert Marc Weber Tobias has a video demonstrating the technique, which involves not just a screwdriver, but also a wrench, a hammer, and a filed-down section of a particular Kwikset key blank. In the video, Tobias and his associate use this method to bypass a SmartKey deadbolt in just under a minute (it's unclear what specific SmartKey model they're using, but it isn't a Kevo). Again, this technique is different from bumping, which is a finesse move. This one requires a degree of brute force, including some noisy banging and jimmying of the lock itself, and it leaves the lock damaged, with the keyway totally blocked. But still, since it uses tools available to the general public, it's something Kwikset needs to take seriously.

In addition, Tobias has demonstrated a method of hammering through the back of a SmartKey cylinder, then using a bent paperclip to manipulate the bolt-throwing mechanism. Again, there's nothing subtle about the technique (a thief might be able to enter your home less conspicuously by breaking a window), but it still appears to be a legitimate vulnerability.

I spoke to the engineering team at Kwikset about the issue, and they were quick to assure me that they take all security concerns seriously, including these. They also claim that the Kevo's specific SmartKey deadbolt -- model 925 -- includes some subtle engineering upgrades (which they understandably wouldn't specify) designed to prevent attacks like these. As for the videos, they claim that the techniques Tobias demonstrates are much more difficult to execute than he makes them appear. He and his team, after all, are very, very good at bypassing locks. Additionally, they point out that none of these videos or claims have focused on the Kevo-specific deadbolt, but rather, on earlier SmartKey models. Tobias also confirmed for us that he hasn't gotten his hands on a Kevo yet -- though he said that he plans to test one out as soon as it's available.

 

Proceed with caution?
If you've already preordered a Kevo, you don't need to panic. As a bump-proof, arguably pick-proof lock, it's of higher quality than most. Even if these screwdriver-based bypass methods turn out to be a real concern, it's still a lock that's essentially going to force thieves to break in your door if they want in. And, of course, that's only in the seemingly unlikely event that they don't try and enter through a sliding door, a basement window, or some other common household weak point, instead of through your front door.

As they say, locks only keep honest people out, and the SmartKey deadbolt is no different. If people are truly determined to break into your home, it's going to be impossible to stop them without investing in steel-reinforced doorframes and bars over your windows. Short of that, if you want to feel safer in your home, you should look into home security options, automated lights, or even just a good guard dog, all of which have been shown to deter burglaries.

As for us, we'd like to conduct our own testing. If the risk is that a common criminal could watch one of these videos and then compromise your lock, we intend to see for ourselves how easy these techniques are to replicate. Soon, we'll be installing a few more Kevos on our testing floor for this express purpose, so stay tuned. When we know more, so will you.

iPad Air benchmarks show 80 percent speed bump over iPad 4

The new iPad comes close to doubling the performance of its predecessor, according to Primate Labs.

The iPad Air is 80 percent faster than the fourth-generation iPad, say new benchmark tests.
Running the new iPad through the paces via Geekbench 3 tests, Primate Labs found that the tablet comes close to reaching Apple's promise of doubling the speed of the iPad 4.

The iPad Air is powered by an A7 processor, just like the iPhone 5S. But the new iPad runs at 1.4GHz -- which is 100MHz faster than the 5S, Primate Labs founder John Poole said on Wednesday. He said he's not sure whether the iPad Air's processor is faster due to a larger battery (which offers more power), a larger chassis (which offers better cooling), or a combination of the two. But he does expect the iPad Mini's A7 processor to also clock in at 1.4GHz.

The new Air is also five times faster than the iPad 2, leading Poole to question why Apple is still selling the second-generation model, especially at $399, just $100 less than the starting price for the iPad Air.

He said that, from a performance standpoint, the iPad Air is a great upgrade to the iPad 4.
"With most recent Mac updates showing only modest performance improvements, it's exciting to see iOS devices do the opposite, with substantial improvements between generations," he said. "I wonder how much longer Apple can keep this up?"
The iPad Air is due to hit stores on Friday

Facebook fesses up: Young teens are getting boredFacebook fesses up: Young teens are getting bored

The truth about a very real teen-appeal problem is revealed in the company's earnings call with investors.

Despite repeated assertions to the contrary, Facebook finally admitted Wednesday that its youngest users really are losing interest in the social network.

In its third-quarter earnings call with analysts, CFO David Ebersman addressed the matter of Facebook's teen appeal with the company's most candid admission to date.

"Our best analysis on youth engagement in the US reveals that usage of Facebook among US teens overall was stable from Q2 to Q3, but we did see a decrease in daily users, specifically among younger teens," he said.

Facebook, Ebersman said, doesn't have an entirely accurate way to measure teen activity as the audience is known to fudge birth dates, but the company has developed internal metrics to look at teen usage.

The reveal, which contradicts past statements from CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other executives, confirms the anecdotal: Teens are tiring of Facebook.
The good news is that Facebook had a stellar third quarter punctuated by an impressive overall engagement rate -- the ratio of daily active users to monthly active users -- of more than 61 percent. The company had $2.02 billion in revenue and made 49 percent of its advertising revenue from mobile products.

Unfortunately, the disconcerting drop in teens as daily active users, a representation of the group's dip in engagement, has rattled investors who initially drove the company's stock up by as much as 16 percent in after-hours trading. At the time of publication, Facebook is trading at just under $49 per share, or right around its Wednesday close price.

Intel to ditch Web TV project, hand it over to Verizon -- report

he company is in late-stage negotiations with Verizon, according to a new report. The hand-off comes after reports have suggested Intel will roll out the service next year

Intel's long journey toward the creation of a television service might come to an end.
The chipmaker is in late-stage talks with Verizon to hand over control to its Intel Media business, All Things Digital reported on Wednesday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of its plans. Intel Media is the unit that is charged with delivering a Web-based subscription TV service.

According to All Things Digital, its sources are unclear whether Intel would hand over the entire TV operation or if it would hold on to a piece. Verizon already offers a TV service through its FiOS unit, making it a seemingly reasonable partnership, should the companies go in that direction.

Intel announced earlier this year that it plans to launch hardware and software that allows for live TV, on-demand TV, and content streaming. The offering, dubbed OnCue, was supposed to be available this year, but it reportedly has faced hurdles securing content deals. Last month, Intel pushed the product launch to 2014.

Neither Verizon nor Intel have commented on their alleged plans to ink a deal. CNET has, however, contacted Intel for comment on the All Things Digital report and will update this story when we have more information.

Woman gets ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving

The ticket, handed out by a California cop, faults the woman for "Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass)."

Google Glass wearers may want to think twice before wearing their high-tech specs behind the wheel, at least in California.

Cecilia Abadie said she was ticketed by a police officer for wearing Google Glass while driving through the sunny West Coast state. The exact line as written on the ticket said: "Driving with Monitor visible to Driver (Google Glass)."

Abadie said the actual law tells drivers not to "drive a vehicle equipped with a video monitor, if the monitor is visible to the driver and displays anything other than vehicle information global mapping displays, external media player (MP3), or satellite radio information."
In her Google+ post, Abadie posed this question: "Is #GoogleGlass [illegal] while driving or is this cop wrong???" Seeking legal advice, she asked people if they knew of similar tickets doled out to Google Glass wearers anywhere in the US.

Abadie's legal predicament triggered a flurry of responses to her post. Many questioned the legality of the ticket and some have encouraged her to fight it in court. However, others see the ticket as valid, saying that Glass can obstruct your view and prove a distraction to driving.
Abadie did fess up that she was also speeding, which apparently was the reason she was pulled over in the first place. But the Google Glass infraction does pose a thorny legal question that police, judges, and drivers will have to face as these wearable devices become more prevalent.

NSA taps into Google, Yahoo clouds, can collect data 'at will,' says Post

National Security Agency secretly has tapped private fiber-optic networks that connect Google's and Yahoo's worldwide data centers, giving it access to user data, Washington Post reports.

The NSA has secretly tapped into the private fiber-optic networks that connect Google's and Yahoo's worldwide data centers, allowing the spy agency to suck up "at will" metadata and content belonging to users of the companies' services, according to The Washington Post.

Under a program called MUSCULAR -- a joint project with British NSA counterpart the GCHQ -- the NSA takes advantage of overseas taps to intercept data flowing within Google's and Yahoo's geographically distributed data "clouds," where multiple copies of user data are stored unencrypted, the Post reports. The article cites documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, as well as unnamed "knowledgeable officials."

Such data might include, for example, information in Gmail accounts or in Google Drive files.
The hundreds of millions of user accounts that are thus accessible to the NSA include many belonging to Americans, but the offshore taps allow the agency to presume the users are foreign and to sidestep the restrictions placed on domestic surveillance by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Post reports.

Through another program, revealed earlier this year and referred to in reports as PRISM, the NSA can -- given approval by the FISA court, and under Section 702 of the act -- compel tech companies to hand over certain user data.

In a statement to the Post, Google said it was "troubled by allegations of the government intercepting traffic between our data centers, and we are not aware of this activity.
"We have long been concerned about the possibility of this kind of snooping," Google said, "which is

why we continue to extend encryption across more and more Google services and links."
Google added, in an e-mail to CNET, "We are outraged at the lengths to which the government seems to have gone to intercept data from our private fiber networks, and it underscores the need for urgent reform."

Yahoo told the Post: "We have strict controls in place to protect the security of our data centers, and we have not given access to our data centers to the NSA or to any other government agency."
And the paper said, "White House officials and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the NSA, declined to confirm, deny or explain why the agency infiltrates Google and Yahoo networks overseas."

Blog Politico reports that NSA Director Keith Alexander was asked about the Post report while speaking at a cybersecurity summit. Queried on whether the NSA tapped the data centers, Alexander replied, "Not to my knowledge," Politico said. (Note: Wired's Kim Zetter later tweeted that the question Alexander answered was, Did NSA get into Google databases?)
(And another note: In an update note below, we've added the relevant section of a transcript of Alexander's remarks at the cybersecurity summit.)

Update, 11:35 a.m. PT: The NSA provided the following statement:

NSA has multiple authorities that it uses to accomplish its mission, which is centered on defending the nation. The Washington Post's assertion that we use Executive Order 12333 collection to get around the limitations imposed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and FAA 702 is not true. The assertion that we collect vast quantities of U.S. persons' data from this type of collection is also not true. NSA applies Attorney General-approved processes to protect the privacy of U.S. persons -- minimizing the likelihood of their information in our targeting, collection, processing, exploitation, retention, and dissemination. NSA is a foreign intelligence agency. And we're focused on discovering and developing intelligence about valid foreign intelligence targets only.

Update, 11:47 a.m. PT: Adds mention of PRISM.
Update, 12:58 p.m. PT: Adds mention of Zetter's tweet regarding question put to Alexander.
Update, 1:41 p.m. PT: Here's the relevant portion of a transcript of agency director Keith Alexander's comments, during a cybersecurity summit, regarding the Post report. The complete transcript can be found here.

[Bloomberg Television's Trish] REGAN: General, we're getting some news that's crossing right now being reported in The Washington Post that there are new Snowden allegations that say the NSA broke into Yahoo and Google's databases worldwide, that they infiltrated these databases. This is just crossing as I speak. Can you confirm or deny that?

ALEXANDER: Not to my knowledge. That's never happened. In fact, there was this allegation last June that NSA was tapping into the servers of Yahoo or Google or our industry reps. That is factually incorrect. The servers and everything that we do with those, those companies work with us. They are compelled to work with us. This isn't something the courts just said, would you please work with them and just show (ph) data over it? It is compelled.

And these are specific requirements that come from a court order. This is not NSA breaking into any databases. It would be illegal for us to do that. And so I don't know what the report is, but I can tell you factually we do not have access to Google servers, Yahoo servers. We go through a court order. We issue that court order to them through the FBI. And it's not millions. It's thousands of those that are done, and it's almost all against terrorism and other things like that. It has nothing to do with US persons.
If we want to get the content of a US person's e-mail or phone number -- now here's a key. Most of the incidents that we have are finding out that a person in a foreign government is a dual US person. That's a violation for us, or if it's a terrorist but it's also a US person, that's a violation for us. We have to expunge all that communication and go get a court order and work through the attorney general.

So I don't know all these allegations, but here's the hard part. So let me ask you this. So when you get something like that that people throw out that's spurious, how do you fix that? Any insights?
REGAN: How do you?
ALEXANDER: No, I asked you. You're the (inaudible).
REGAN: You're the expert. You're the expert. So are you saying in this particular -- and again, we don't have all the details, but Edward Snowden saying that the NSA has infiltrated Yahoo and Google databases. Would one assume then that if in fact the NSA was looking at data that these companies had, they did so via a court order?
ALEXANDER: That's correct. And so the question is I don't know what his allegation is. NSA does collect information on terrorists and on our national intelligence priorities, but we are not authorized to go into a US company's servers and take data. We'd have to go through a court process for doing that.

Google Glass accessories on the way: Shades, shields, earbuds

he tech giant adds new information to its Glass Explorers forum about shade and shield partners, how charging and earbuds work, swapping out the device frames, and more

With Google Glass being released into the wild in the coming months, Google has begun to partner with different companies to roll out accessories for its computer-enabled eyeglasses.

On the Glass Explorers forum a new thread popped up Wednesday pointing to help pages that outline how the earbuds will work, who Google has partnered with for shades and shields, how Glass charging works, along with other material.

While none of this information has been officially announced, it is publicly available for users to peruse online.

Google Glass is the company's foray into a wearable computer or smartphone. The device comes in the form of eyeglasses that can record videos, take photos, chat, get directions, look up facts on the Web, and more.

For Glass shades, Google has partnered with companies Maui Jim and Zeal Optics to provide a sunglass shade with every wearable device. This means it's possible that some stylish sunglass shades will be available along with what's included with the device now. Google also wrote that users will be able to swap out Glass frames.

For other accessories, Google wrote that Glass will come with a USB cable and charger; users can charge and transfer photos and videos by connecting the cable to their computers. A mono earbud also will be included with all devices, which will work for phone calls or listening to music. Google wrote that it will additionally include protective pouches for storing Glass.

Google started shipping the $1,500 Explorer Edition prototypes in April, and the device is expected to arrive on the market for the general public sometime next year. Google said that all Glass accessories will automatically appear in the Glass store whenever they are in stock. The company also plans to launch an app store serving Glass users in 2014.

Apple working on a fix for new Retina MacBook input issues

Apple says it knows of a keyboard and trackpad issue on its new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display and is working on a fix

Apple on Wednesday acknowledged an issue with some models of its newest MacBook Pro with Retina Display that would leave the keyboard and trackpad unresponsive.
Those computers were released last week alongside the debut of new iPads. Some users have been complaining of the issue on their devices since then, though it's been unclear just how widespread it is. In a new knowledge base page Wednesday afternoon, the company noted the issue and said a fix was coming:

Apple is aware of rare circumstances where the built-in keyboard and Multi-Touch trackpad may become unresponsive on 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (Late 2013) computers and is working on an update to resolve this behavior.

In the meantime, the company is encouraging users to try putting the computer to sleep for about a minute before re-waking it to see if that solves the issue.

The new MacBooks come a little more than eight months after an update that brought faster Intel processors and lower price tags on the 13- and 15-inch machines. Last week's update trimmed the thickness and updated both machines with fourth-generation "Haswell" Intel chips, Thunderbolt 2, and 802.11ac wireless antennas.

iOn pumps up performance for Air Pro 3 action cam

The iOn Air Pro 2 action cam only came out in March, but the company apparently didn't sit still after the release because here's No. 3.

The Air Pro 3 is not a complete redesign -- it's still the same cylindrical shape as previous models -- but the body looks and feels more durable while still being compact and lightweight, at just 5 ounces. Its waterproofing is improved, so you can dive down 49 feet with it, whereas the Pro 2 is limited to 30 feet. This is without an additional housing, so you can go straight from land to water without additional equipment.

Out in front is some new glass: a 16mm f2.8 fog-free lens with improved light transmission giving your videos a 160-degree angle of view. But, if that's a little too wide for your needs, you can make it a tighter 140- or 150-degree angle. The fixed-focus lens is good from 3.3 feet to infinity.

Behind the lens is a fast Sony-made 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, which should produce good low-light results. And judging by some of the recording capabilities of the Pro 3, the sensor is joined by a powerful processor.

The Air Pro 2 maxed out at a recording resolution of 1080p at 30 frames per second with a bit rate around 12Mbps. The Pro 3 can do full HD at 30fps or 60fps and 720p at 120fps, 60fps, or 30fps at about 22Mbps. And if you want smaller files for sharing, it'll do QVGA and WQVGA at 120fps, too. You can also turn on vibration reduction to help with shake and you can curb wind noise hitting the built-in mono mic with noise reduction.

In addition to the video, it'll capture 12-megapixel photos (they're in 4:3 aspect ratio, though, so you might want to do some cropping if you want to drop them in your videos). You can shoot them one at a time or as a 10-shot high-speed burst or as a time-lapse at intervals of 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds.
Controls remain the same as prior models. There's a big switch on top that you slide forward to quickly start and stop recordings, and the body vibrates to let you know what's going on. There's also a power/shutter release button in front of the switch.

A big reason to go with iOn over other action cams is its Podz system of exchangeable rear caps. The cap covers the camera's microSD card slot, Micro-USB and Mini-HSMI ports, and external mic jack, but also allows you to add things like Wi-Fi to the camera for a wireless connection to a computer or smartphone or tablet. Along with the Wi-Fi Podz, there's a wireless remote that can control up to eight cameras from up to 60 feet away. A battery Podz is also planned, which will extend the camera's 2.5-hour battery life.

Apps are available for iOS and Android and with them you can view battery level, change settings on the device, view and download recordings or photos, and remotely start and stop recordings as well as get a live view before and after you start recording so you can set up your shot. If you record movies in either 1080p or 720p at 30fps, the camera will simultaneously record a second 432x240-pixel-resolution clip for faster mobile uploads (frame rates are 15fps for 1080p and 30fps for 720p).

 

The $349.99 package includes the camera with the Wi-Fi Podz, a mini tripod, a helmet mount and an adhesive pad, a universal power adapter, and a Micro-USB cable, so you can get started right out of the box (though you'll have to supply a microSDHC card up to 64GB). There's a metal tripod mount in the bottom, but iOn has its own CamLock system that uses a little quick-connect clip that slides into several different mounts, including new ones for rollbars, boards of all kinds, and goggles.

New B&N Nook GlowLight e-reader gives the Kindle Paperwhite a run for the money

Mark Twain once remarked that the report of his death was an exaggeration. The same could be said of Barnes & Noble's Nook -- or so Mahesh Veerina, the new chief operating officer of Nook Media, told CNET, as the company officially launched its next-generation 6-inch e-ink e-reader, the Nook GlowLight, on October 30.

The new model shares the same shape as the earlier Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight, but it sheds its carbon-colored shell for a warmer, off-white housing that has a rubberized gray trim around its border. The silicone rim helps you get a good grip on the device and it's also supposed to help protect the device in the event of a drop. Just as importantly, the device as a whole has been trimmed down from the previous GlowLight model, dropping from 6.95 ounces to 6.2 ounces (175g), which works out to 15 percent lighter than Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite. (For those following the 6-inch e-reader weight standings, the Kobo Aura is the lightest, weighing 1 gram less than the Nook GlowLight).
I liked the overall look and feel of the new Nook. The back has a soft-to-the-touch finish, and since it's white, it doesn't show fingerprints like the previous model did.

The GlowLight, which features an improved lighting scheme, is shipping now for $119 (click image to enlarge).

 While Barnes & Noble has thankfully eliminated the "Simple Touch" title from the device's name, this is a touch-screen e-reader that sports a display with the same resolution (1,024x758 pixels, 212 ppi) as the Kindle Paperwhite and delivers similarly sharp text. I got to play around with it a bit in the days before the launch, and it seems nicely responsive, though I would have liked to have seen Barnes & Noble go with the 1GHz processor that's in the Paperwhite (and the Kobo Glo) instead of sticking with an 800MHz processor.

Aside from improving the display and slimming the chassis, the biggest enhancement Barnes & Noble has made is to the integrated light -- the GlowLight is now significantly brighter at its highest setting, looks whiter, and displays more evenly across the screen. On top of that, Barnes & Noble has completely eliminated the flashing you typically get from e-ink based e-readers (with e-ink, the screen needs to refresh every so often, which is what causes the flash).

It's also worth noting that this model comes with 4GB of internal memory instead of the Paperwhite's 2GB, and runs on Android 2.1 (Eclair). Both the Paperwhite and the new Nook offer up to two months of battery life with wireless off and, in the case of the Nook, the GlowLight set to the default setting or off.

In other words, they're both pretty energy-efficient. And not surprisingly, Barnes & Noble has matched the $119 price of the base Wi-Fi-only Kindle Paperwhite, which is known as the Kindle Paperwhite with Special Offers because it serves up some small ads at the bottom of the home page and as screensavers when the device is in sleep mode. Some people don't mind or even like the Special Offers, while some people hate them. If you're willing to pay an extra $20, you can get the version of the Kindle that's ad-free. The Nook doesn't have any ads.

The device has a silicone trim around its edge to protect it in the event of a drop (click image to enlarge).

Barnes & Noble is offering an additional discount through the end of the year: new and existing Barnes & Noble members get a 10 percent discount on the Nook GlowLight. You could put that $11.90 toward one of the new Clip On Covers, which attach to the left or right side of device and protect the screen while adding very little weight to your e-reader. That's all good, but the $29.99 price for the new covers is too high; they feel like they're worth about $14.99).

Why buy the Nook Glow Light over the Kindle Paper white?
Barnes & Noble was one of the first to market with an integrated light (Sony was first, but no one really remembers that) and when the Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light hit the market, Amazon was still several months away from releasing the first-generation Paperwhite.

As it stands today, Amazon already has its new Paperwhite out and it's a very solid product that earned a CNET Editors' Choice Award. At first glance, the new Nook GlowLight seems to measure up very well. It has a few advantages (it's lighter, has more memory, and for those who don't like ads, there aren't any). Barnes & Noble also likes to point out that you can get in-person assistance with your device by stepping into a Barnes & Noble brick and mortar store, where you can read any Nook book for free for 1 hour while connected to Wi-Fi at any location. Veerina, the new chief operating officer, also adds that the company has improved the shopping experience on the device. And there are new optimized fonts to choose from.

Barnes & Noble is selling Clip On Covers ($29.99) that protect the screen while adding very little weight to the device.

Those are all positives, but I don't think the new Nook GlowLight brings anything so revolutionary or different to the world of e-reading that one might turn from being a Kindle customer to being a Nook customer. However, I do think the new GlowLight will help Barnes & Noble retain its existing customers and maybe even acquire some new ones who aren't ensconced in the Kindle ecosystem, which continues to add features.

Of course, I'll withhold any final judgments until I get my hands on a final shipping product (that should be soon since the device is available as of October 30). So check back in the coming days for a more detailed comparison of the lighting schemes on the new Nook and new Kindle, as well as a closer look at their responsiveness.

The new Nook is slightly thinner than the previous model and also charges via USB.

Tizen makes stealth pitch to Samsung's Android acolytes

The operating system popped up in various places during Samsung's developer conference, including with cash incentives for app makers.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Android may have dominated Samsung's developer conference, but that sure didn't stop Tizen from making its quiet pitch.

Samsung hosted it first conference for app makers on Monday and Tuesday in San Francisco. The vast majority of sessions and talks focused on Android-based devices, but Tizen, the open-source operating system being developed by Samsung and Intel, made its own low-key appearance.
That presence wasn't through a high number of presentations or speeches by Samsung -- or really any public mention by the Korean electronics giant at all. Rather, Tizen popped up in discussions between developers, in pitches by Samsung partners, and in incentives offered to app makers. The operating system crept into many aspects of Samsung's show even as the company pushed developers to make Android apps unique to its devices.

"The whole conference has got to be seen in the context of Tizen," Ovum analyst Jan Dawson said. "Samsung is proving it's good at working with developers so they'll transition to Tizen when the time comes."

Samsung is the world's biggest Android device maker by a wide margin, but it has been developing Tizen as an alternative to Google's operating system for quite some time. Tizen gives Samsung more control over its own future, allowing it to rely less on Google and more on its homegrown software. That becomes increasingly important as Google puts more emphasis on its Motorola business and as Samsung tries to set itself apart from all the other handset makers in the market.

Development for Tizen hasn't been particularly smooth. CNET learned in July that Samsung delayed its Tizen phone release by several months to the fourth quarter of this year. Now, it appears that delay could be even longer, with one of Samsung's partners telling CNET that the latest plans are for a launch in January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. However, that date could change again. Samsung, meanwhile, hasn't publicly provided any recent updates about its first Tizen phone release. It declined to comment about timing for this report.

Tizen's delay has partially been due to app store issues. The group behind the OS has been working feverishly to garner developer support, holding hackathons and other events in recent months. The next such event will be the Tizen Developer Summit in Seoul, South Korea, in mid-November. But even then, the upstart OS is sure to be well behind other new operating systems competing for developer attention.

Even though Samsung's developer conference predominantly focused on Android, it gave Samsung and its partners a platform to tout Tizen's benefits and convince developers to jump on board.

Meet the Tizen operating system, running on a prototype Samsung phone.

 

 

Most app makers that CNET met at the conference said that Samsung or Intel has talked to them about Tizen at some point and that they were interested in learning more about the operating system. However, most of them appear to be taking a "wait and see" approach, preferring instead to devote their limited resources to iOS, Android, or even Samsung's special flavor of Android. That's true even for huge companies that have more developers.
"We're not looking at [Tizen] right now," said Adam Stein, senior director of mobile marketing for enterprise software giant SAP. SAP makes its own apps but also builds apps for various business customers. "The major enterprises are only interested in three or four operating systems at most."
That's something Samsung and Intel realize and will have to overcome. If there's one thing they've learned from BlackBerry and Microsoft, it's that apps matter. A lot. If popular titles don't work on a particular operating system, it's tough for that OS to gain much traction with users. One way Samsung and Intel are trying to attract developers to Tizen is by shifting the focus to HTML5 and away from native apps, partners say.
 
HTML5 first
HTML5, unlike other codes used for the development of apps, is a Web-based standard, so sophisticated programs can be run using a browser, rather than as a native program on the phone. The major advantage is that, in theory, a developer can build one HTML5 app and have it run on any phone with a good browser. That also means the app isn't stuck in just one platform such as iOS or Android.

"What Samsung is announcing with Tizen is 'HTML5 first' as the means of developing an application," said Abraham Elias, chief technical officer of Sencha, a company that provides tools for building Web applications. "That allows them to get the reach of developers who are already building on HTML5."

Sencha is working with developers and Samsung to ensure HTML5 apps work the best they can on Tizen, and Sencha also is helping Samsung develop a "world class and second-to-none" browser for the new operating system, Elias said.

Meanwhile, Alexis Menard and Kenneth Christiansen, two software engineers at Intel, noted during their presentation at the conference's only panel on Tizen, held Tuesday, that the operating system has various benefits for developers. That includes a "responsive design" that allows the OS to span various screen sizes and APIs for features like the battery.

The panel started out with a sparse crowd, but the room filled up by the end of the session, with about 40 people in attendance. Still, that number lags the attendance at panels for smart TVs and Samsung's Knox security software where it was standing room only.

Samsung's high-end phones may one day run Tizen, not Android like on the Galaxy S4, pictured here.

 
Money money money
As many OS makers have come to realize, just touting the benefits of their software isn't enough. For developers, what can really make a difference is funding.
Marmalade, a company that provides tools to port games and apps from one platform to others, announced during the conference that it will offer any developers who agree to make a Tizen app with its technology a free Tizen phone, a free Marmalade license, and up to $1,000 in "additional prizes." It's launching the program as part of a partnership with Samsung.

Nick Lambert, a marketing associate at Marmalade, said he signed up about 10 developers to Tizen on Monday and about 20 on Tuesday. In comparison, Samsung said about 1,300 developers attended its conference. Of course, many others could be working directly with Samsung or Intel or collaborating with another partner. But it sure doesn't indicate that interest is widespread.

AppBackr is doing something similar, paying developers with funds from Intel. It works with companies like Marmalade and Appgyver to attract app makers, and its cash incentives range from about $10 to more than $10,000, depending on the importance and AppBackr ranking of the app.
"We pay out [the funds] when an app gets verified on the Tizen store," said Sarah Cornwell, director of marketing at AppBackr. "It happens pretty fast now, within about 24 hours."
But not even cash is enough in some situations. A big drawback for developers is that Tizen won't be offered in the US, at least not at first. And there's also a lot of confusion about the platform. Samsung has said it will release Tizen as the operating system for a high-end phone, but many developers believe the software will be geared at cheap, mass-market smartphones. That disconnect doesn't help the Tizen group's efforts.

Han-Shen Yuan, senior director of engineering for new ventures and innovation at eBay, said his company is "currently evaluating" making a Tizen app because it believes the operating system could be popular in emerging markets. He added that even if Samsung first pushes the software for high-end devices, eBay still is interested as the focus likely will change over time.

"Tizen is interesting to us because if it's going to reach a large penetration from a mobile perspective, we want to be on a 'everyman phone,'" Yuan told CNET. "Part of our discussions is really looking at how this expansion is going to occur."
For Samsung's first Tizen phone to succeed, it better hope many more developers get interested pretty quick.

How long will it take to get an iPad Mini with Retina display?

Apple's newest iPad Mini might be tough to find when it arrives next month. There's a pattern here. Here's how long it took for Apple to catch up on its other products.

People waiting in line at an Apple store in London

During Apple's earnings call this week, CEO Tim Cook alluded to potential shortages of its next iPad Mini, which is set to go on sale next month.

"It's unclear whether we'll have enough for the quarter or not," Cook said. "You never really know the demand until after you start shipping." Analysts, of course, were clamoring for a more firm release date for the next-generation tablet, which is said to be in short supply. Cook's almost boilerplate CEO answer did little to assuage those concerns.

Customers may be disappointed this holiday season if they can't get their hands on Apple's sharper-screened miniaturized tablet. But if we pay attention to history, it's possible to make an educated guess as to how long shoppers will have to wait before they can simply walk right into a store and buy one. (Shipping estimates on Apple's Web site are usually good indications of how plentiful supplies are in retail stores.) Of course, each product release has a different set of circumstances surrounding it. For instance, there were reportedly parts and labor shortages at Foxconn around the time of iPhone 4 and iPad 2 production, which were said to affect supply.

Still, Apple's product cycle has very nearly become a clock you can set your watch to. That makes it helpful to look at a few of the company's launches over the last three years to see where we'll end up with the Mini:
 
iPhone 4
Release date: June 24, 2010
Time it took for shipping to stabilize: About three months. Almost two months after the phone was released, shipping estimates were still at three weeks. By September, wait times on Apple's Web site finally disappeared and the phone was listed as "in stock." And that's not even including the white iPhone debacle, which started shipping woefully late, in April 2011, just months before the iPhone 4S.

iPad 2
Release date: March 11, 2011
Time it took for shipping to stabilize: At least three months. A few days after launch, shipping estimates had swelled to four to five weeks. In an earnings call with analysts, Cook referred to the ship times as "the mother of all backlogs." On April 20, estimates became more manageable, falling to one to two weeks. Supplies became even more abundant in July 2011, when estimates dropped to three to five days.


iPhone 4S
Release date: October 14, 2011
Time it took for shipping to stabilize: About three months. This was, of course, the first major product release after Steve Jobs died, the day after the 4S was unveiled. Demand was high, but by mid-January, shipping times had fallen to three to five days.
 
iPad Mini
Release date: November 2, 2012
Time it took for shipping to stabilize: About one and a half to two months. In December of that year, shipping times on Apple's online store had lightened from two weeks to one.
 
iPhone 5S
Release date: September 20, 2013
Time it took for shipping to stabilize: We're in the thick of it. But earlier this month, Apple changed the wait time on its Web site from the vague-sounding "October" to two to three weeks. That shipping period still remains.
 
iPad Mini with Retina display
Reports have said that there are likely supply issues affecting the tablet. For example, a source told Reuters that one reason for potential problems could be because of a delay in certifying panel producers. The release date for the device is still the cloudy "later in November." So if the wait time is anything like its predecessor, the first Mini, shipping may stabilize after the new year. Of course, it all depends on how early or late in November the product actually launches.

Of course, cashing in on the holiday buzz and moving units is, for all intents and purposes, a good thing. But there's also a sense of gamesmanship. Aside from dealing with external problems with manufacturers, shortages of any product creates an allure, and excites throngs of fans that want but can't have.
Either way, that means some users could end up without devices in time for Christmas.

Themer will make your Android phone look amazing

One of the benefits of Android is its customisability, but that process isn't always easy for average users. An app called Themer is trying to change all that.

Themer allows users to switch between different homescreens with one click, browsing through a user-generated database of themes to find the one that best suits their needs. What's impressive, however, is the level of quality on offer.

Many Android themes aren't too elegant, particularly those included by default on many handsets. Themer, however, manages to surface the best with a voting system, allowing its members to favourite themes they particularly like. The result is that the most innovative, interesting and intelligent rise to the top.

What's particularly clever is how Themer deals with the wide range of apps used by Android users. Instead of including icons for Pandora, Spotify, Google Play Music and so on, theme-creators instead just include a music icon. The first time you press that, it'll ask you which of the music apps installed you'd like to use. From then on, whichever theme you install will open that app.

It's not perfect. Some of the included functionality -- the RSS reader in particular -- is basic and unfriendly. Some of the widgets, weather for example, don't let you pick your preferred app to use. Plus, many of the default app shortcuts are highly tailored to the United States.

But that doesn't detract from the fact that Themer makes it exceptionally easy to make your phone both attractive and  functional, leveraging Android's greatest strength - its openness. If you don't like what it does, it's simple to restore your previous homescreen from before you installed it.

Right now Themer is in private beta, and while you're free to download the app you'll need to request a code to make it work. Happily those codes, at the time of writing, don't take too long to arrive, and you can check your place in the queue by entering your email address into the app at any time.
Grab Themer from the Android Play Store, and give it a try