Sources are claiming that Apple will release its newest phone -- the iPhone 5 -- at a Cupertino event on Sept. 12. Bloomberg Businessweek is going so far as to cite two unnamed sources who claim the phone will get a full design overhaul. Reportedly it will be thinner with a larger screen. Surprised, anyone? Follow @metroweekly Get Technocrat in ... [Read]

Microsoft announced several accessories for its upcoming Windows 8 and Surface tablet launch in October -- the Sculpt Mobile Keyboard, the Sculpt Touch Mouse, the Wedge Mobile Keyboard and the Wedge Mobile Mouse. The Wedge Mobile Keyboard is especially interesting in that the keyboard's cover not only serves as a screen protector for the Surface, but can be converted into ... [Read]

Sight is a well-done Israeli student short that takes a look at what augmented reality may one day become for us. The storyline is relatively basic, and the kicker ending perhaps a little obvious, but the execution is stunning for a student film, with slick special effects and a compelling overall aesthetic. In short, life's going to be just ... [Read]

Techcrunch is reporting that the latest version of Instagram is missing a previously popular feature -- the "Find Your Friends" component for Twitter. The feature allowed Instagram users to follow the same people they follow on Twitter. Writes TC's Alexis Tsotsis: We've learned that the feature is missing due to API restrictions from Twitter's end, restrictions that possibly came about ... [Read]

Both Twitter and Google Talk are having a spot of trouble today. Starting with the Twittering Blue Bird, USA Today's Technology live has been following the service's global outage with a religious fervor. The bird seems to have come back to life -- not unlike Mimi in Rent or E.T. -- and is now busily chirping away. Google Talk, on ... [Read]

It's been an odd time for Netflix. After raising prices 60 percent last year, the company suffered public outcry at plans to separate its DVD and streaming businesses (later scrapped), lost subscribers across a financial quarter for the first time in years, lost $5 million in Q1 2012, and watched share values fall from $130 in February to $62 in ... [Read]

Version 10.8 of Apple's home-grown OS, Mountain Lion, will be available to download today, according to Apple. The company made the announcement in its Q3 earnings report with little fanfare, but the news is sure to please devoted users who have been eagerly awaiting its release since Apple demonstrated the OS back at WWDC in June. Costing $19.99 -- or ... [Read]

Forbes reports today about a new power strip that allows one backdoor access to an entire network. It's from Pwnie Epxress and is called the Power Pwn. The strip is slated to be released at the end of September. Writes Adrian Kingsley-Hughes: "[The device] could sit unnoticed in a home or work environment and yet be spying on an entire ... [Read]

The New York Times is reporting that Google is purchasing Sparrow, an app that allows people to use Gmail on the iPhone. There was no disclosure of purchase price, but sources estimate it's in the millions. The news was reported first in a blog post from Sparrow's CEO, Dom Leca. We're excited to announce that Sparrow has been acquired by ... [Read]

A UK judge has ruled that Apple must publicly declare on its website and in British publications that Samsung did not copy the iPad's design for it's Galaxy Tab 10.1. According to Bloomberg, Apple must post the statement on its UK homepage for 6 months, and take out notices in newspapers and magazines such as the Financial Times and T3. The decision ... [Read]

After months of teasing and speculation, Microsoft has finally come clean and given Windows 8 an official launch date. At the company's annual sales meeting, Steven Sinofsky told attendees that, whether in upgrade format or on a new system, Windows 8 will be made available October 26. Not only is this a Friday, giving prospective purchasers -- of which we ... [Read]

Google is introducing face-blurring technology to its YouTube site. It's largely an effort to protect civil and human rights activists and protesters whose identities could put them at risk in certain inhospitable countries. According to Britain's Guardian, Google said the move was designed to help protect the identity of protesters who appear on the video-sharing site from being exposed to ... [Read]

Things have been getting very touchy-feely at Ford as of late. Taking cues from their satisfied European counterparts, Ford has employed the Robotized Unit for Tactility and Haptics -- or, RUTH -- to test the interiors of 2013 Fusions. The aim, according to Ford, is to increase the quality of their interiors to something a user "might feel if they ... [Read]

Amazon apparently has reason to be worried. Since debuting last month, Google's new Nexus 7 tablet has garnered rave reviews for its rock-bottom price and fast performance, and has sold-out at many physical stores carrying the device. It's in direct competition with Amazon's own Kindle Fire tablet, released last year with a similarly low price (albeit less powerful innards), and ... [Read]

Right on cue, Microsoft has released a preview of their long-awaited update to Microsoft Office, the software firm's hugely popular productivity suite. With a greater emphasis on cloud integration, and a streamlined facelift to tie in with Windows 8's new Metro interface, Office is aiming to further increase its market dominance by winning back users lost to Google Docs ... [Read]

Talked about one of your Skype friends with someone else in your contacts lately? You should probably start to draft an apology letter -- or schedule a grovelling video chat -- as a number of users are reporting a rather serious bug in the popular service. After a June update, messages sent between users are being delivered to other contacts ... [Read]

Apple has rejoined the EPEAT program, which certifies products as environmentally friendly. Apple had dropped out of the registry in June with no explanation, though speculation surrounded the recently-released MacBook Pros which features a Retina Display and reportedly may not be as easy to recycle. Apple's move led to public criticism, customer outcry, and, in at least one case, a ... [Read]

Google started selling its Nexus 7 at brick-and-mortar retailers this weekend and, according to numerous sources, retailers are having trouble keeping up with demand for the Android-based tablet, revealed at Google's I/O conference last month. The tablet is sold out at most major chains, with some having stopped taking orders altogether.Reports PCWorld: GameStop has pulled the Nexus 7 tablet ... [Read]

According to a report in USA Today, Microsoft will unveil the latest version of its popular Office suite on Monday, July 16. It's just in the nick of time, as Microsoft's $22 billion clerical-tool cash cow has seen market erosion to Google's online Google Docs platform and Apple's iWork suite, in particular the highly-functional, low-cost iPad versions. According to ... [Read]

QuakeCon -- often described as the "Woodstock of Gaming," albeit without the rampant nudity, Jimi Hendrix guitar riffs and LSD -- just released its 2012 Tournament Lineup. The event, expected to draw roughly 3,000 participants, is August 2 to 5, at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, with over $30,000 in prize money. The event is free and open to ... [Read]

Wondering whether or not your Mac will upgrade to Mountain Lion when Apple releases their latest OS later this month? The company has published a list of which systems will run it. They are: iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) ... [Read]

Facebook's logo may be blue, but research just issued by the University of Wisconsin suggests that using the world's most popular social networking site will not turn you blue. Or, rather, your mood. Katherine Bindley at The Huffington Post, reports: "People have looked at things like jealousy, and more transient moods or whatnot, but we really looked at clinical depression," ... [Read]

According to a report from the BBC, San Francisco city officials are planning to block local government agencies from buying new Macs, following Apple's decision to pull out of EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool), "a green certification scheme designed to identify which electronic devices pose the least risk to the environment." According to the BBC report: US government rules ... [Read]

id Software and Bethesda Softworks have announced that AT&T is the official sponsor for this year's QuakeCon, mirroring a similar deal for last year's event. QuakeCon 2012 is America's largest bring-your-own-computer LAN party and gaming festival, and has been keeping enthusiasts of id Software's products entertained since 1996. This year's event is expected to draw 3,000 attendees, all enticed by ... [Read]

RIM is apparently seeking to do a little "myth busting" regarding apps for its BlackBerry devices, but instead of calling Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman they've taken to their Inside Blackberry blog. Apparently, enough people believe that there aren't sufficient apps for BlackBerry smartphones and the PlayBook tablet that RIM feels compelled to point out otherwise. In a little ... [Read]

*Allegedly. Bloomberg is reporting that Amazon and Chinese manufacturer Foxconn are currently in talks for the online giant to launch its own smartphone, expected to run on a heavily-skinned version of Android -- much like the company's Kindle Fire tablet. According to "two people with knowledge of the matter," the secret device is intended to allow Amazon to further penetrate ... [Read]

Google launched its "Legalize Love" campaign on Saturday, July 7, in Singapore and Poland. The campaign, reports dot429.com, is meant to inspire countries to legalize LGBT marriage. The initiative was outlined at a Global LGBT Workplace Summit in London and will "eventually expand the initiative to every country where the company has an office." It will focus on places with ... [Read]

Okay, the truth is this post only impacts an estimated 45,619 computer users in the U.S. and more than 252,000 of you worldwide. Not a ton, and yet it seems a big enough number for your friendly neighborhood Technocrat to issue a friendly neighborly warning. You might be infected. Or, rather, your computer might be infected. As noted in The ... [Read]

The rumors swirling around the Apple cart are that the company is planning to launch an iPad "Mini" by year's end, according to reports by both The Wall Street Journal's Marketwatch and Bloomberg. The smaller iPad will boast a screen of either 7 to 8 inches, according to Bloomberg, and is aimed at competing directly with Google's Nexus 7 tablet, ... [Read]

On its blog yesterday, Google officially announced the shutdown of several applications, notably the Google Mini, an Enterprise search tool; Google Talk Chatback, which "allowed websites to embed a Google Talk widget so they could engage with visitors"; Google Video, which stopped taking uploads in 2009 and is now seeing its final days before eradication (if you still have ... [Read]

HBO Go, HBO's terrific streaming service, is now available on Android Tablets, reports Mark Raby at Slashgear. This is great news for HBO subscribers who don't own an iOS device or a Kindle Fire or an Android Smartphone, all of which currently run the latest version of HBO Go. Now Android tablet owners can catch up on the necks bit ... [Read]

Ian Paul reports in PC World that Best Buy has cut prices on several Apple computers, including the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display. It's rare enough to see Apple products discounted for more than a few bucks, but Best Buy has dropped the price of the new Pros by an impressive $110, to $2,090. The sales are in-store ... [Read]

The Great Facebook E-Mail Mess of 2012 continues with some users apparently reporting missing emails and altered address books. Reports Violet Blue at CNET: An alarming number of people are reporting that the new e-mail address Facebook forced on users this week is changing their address books while intercepting and losing unknown amounts of e-mail. Facebook users say contacts' ... [Read]