US pilots get approval to play with iPads during flight

Many’s the time we’ve been told off for playing on our iPad when we should be working — but we’re not controlling hundreds of tonnes of metal. Pilots in the US, however, are now officially allowed to use them while flying their planes. The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has approved the gadget for use by American …

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How to turn your iPhone into a keyboard and mouse

Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET The ultimate Internet-connected TV accessory isn’t Roku. It’s not Apple TV, and it’s not Boxee. It’s something you probably already own: a computer. With an inexpensive cable (like this one for Mac), you can mirror your computer on your television, giving you complete access to any Internet streaming services or local content on your hard drive. …

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iPad 3 retina display hinted at by iBooks 2 code

The third iPad could arrive boasting an eye-treating retina display, if hi-res imagery hidden within the iBooks 2 app is to be believed. iBooks 2 — the new version of Apple’s ebook store that introduces interactive textbooks — was only announced yesterday, but already its code is being enthusiastically dissected. 9to5Mac has found image assets with a ‘2x’ label at …

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Is AT&T’s data plan price hike justified?

AT&T has jacked up the prices of its data service, but it’s giving customers more bandwidth each month. Is the carrier offering its subscribers more bang for their buck or simply trying to squeeze more cash from its customers? In this edition of Ask Maggie, I offer my opinion and offer some advice to AT&T customers troubled by the new …

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LG X3 may be Android 4.0 flagship model

LG, not wasting any time, is off and running with plenty of Android for the new year. Just days after announcing its first 4G LTE Android tablet, the Optimus Pad LTE, details have emerged for a high-end smartphone. Based on the rumored specifications, LG may be ready to unveil a flagship Android 4.0 handset next month at Mobile World Congress. …

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Developer turns $35 Raspberry Pi PC into an Apple TV

If you’ve been following the development of the Raspberry Pi, you know that it’s a $25 bare-bones PC that could go on sale as early as this month. What would you do with such a tiny, low-powered machine? How about turning it into a poor man’s Apple TV? That’s exactly what one Raspberry Pi developer did, as shown in this …

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Virgin Mobile will throttle data speeds come March

Just as disappointing it is to see that the mimosa brunch you’re attending isn’t really that “bottomless” if the waiter is going to frequent your table a lot less after your sixth drink, so too is the news that Virgin Mobile will start slowing down their customers’ data speeds once they exceed a certain point. Recently, Virgin Mobile released a …

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Samsung Galaxy Note now in white

It’ll be all white on the Note. The Samsung Galaxy Note oversized smart phone — or undersized tablet, whichever you prefer — is now available in white. The Note packs a medium-sized screen somewhere between phone and tablet. Pop down to John Lewis to see if the white Note hits the right notes. The Galaxy Note hit shop shelves back …

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iPads in classroom provide 20 percent jump in math scores, study says

After a yearlong pilot program in California initiated by publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, the math scores of students using iPads jumped 20 percent compared with classrooms that used traditional paper textbooks. Apple HMH Fuse: Algebra I was instituted at Amelia Earhart Middle School in the Riverside Unified School District as the world’s first iPad-driven algebra curriculum. According to the HMH …

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Samsung Galaxy S2 HD not coming to the UK

Bad news for Brits, the Samsung Galaxy S2 HD will not be arriving on these shores. We heard about the souped-up S2, which boasts a 720p 4.65-inch screen, way back in September. Back then, the drool-worthy mobile had only been announced for Samsung’s native South Korea. Following news from Recombu that the S2 HD wouldn’t be coming out over here, …

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Apple patent application details redesigned, thinner batteries

Apple has long been at the forefront of battery technology, especially for mobile consumer electronics. One of Apple’s most recent patent applications details a new line of thinking for battery design that could lead to thinner, more efficient power on the go. Patently Apple Apple believes that the current standard for battery design is approaching its maximum limitations. But, not …

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Apple battery patent could mean thinner devices

An Apple patent application describes a new, space-saving battery design that could lead to thinner devices. Read on for the skinny. Ahem. Apple’s slender new battery tech involves a “set of electrode sheets of different dimensions”, according to Patently Apple. Those sheets can be stacked on top of each other to make various shapes in order to save space. A …

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T

T-Mobile USA’s stores may not offer the Double-Double burger, but they do have their own secret menu a la In-N-Out. Starting January 25, existing and new customers who sign up for a T-Mobile premium data plan–which consists of signing up for 5 gigabytes to 10GB of data each month–can get the mobile hot-spot capability for free–as long as they ask …

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5 TV

Buying a new TV for your football-watching party? Sure something big is a must, but there are different features and specs to consider when buying a TV for the big game. Plasma or LCD? Online or in-store? These are just some of the questions I’ll answer after the jump. 1. Viewing angle If you’re buying a TV for a big …

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How did Sony Ericsson lose £200m, and can Sony do better?

Sony Ericsson has revealed it had a disastrous winter and a truly terrible 2011. The company has posted net losses of £173m for the final quarter of 2011 and £206m for the whole year. But just how do you lose £206m? IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo told us the results “show how fierce the smart phone competition is”, with Sony Ericsson …

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