28 May 2011

VIDEO: The Srebrenica widow who lost whole family

VIDEO: The Srebrenica widow who lost whole family
Aid Pledge by Group of 8 Seeks to Bolster Arab Democracy
Arts & Leisure: The Pietà Behind the Couch
Russia joins Western chorus for Gaddafi to go (Reuters)
Beer Gardens Everywhere
Left Ill by Fugitive Life, Mladic Seeks to Avoid Hague
In Shift, Russia Offers to Help Ease Qaddafi Out in Libya
AP Exclusive: Behind the raid that nabbed Mladic (AP)
Gas tanks are draining family budgets (AP)
After Obama's European tour, challenges at home (AP)

VIDEO: The Srebrenica widow who lost whole family

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:59 PM PDT

When Ratko Mladic is handed over to the International Criminal Court, one of the gravest charges he will face is masterminding the slaughter of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in 1995.

Aid Pledge by Group of 8 Seeks to Bolster Arab Democracy

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:50 PM PDT

The world's leading industrialized nations said they would help revive the economies of Egypt and Tunisia to help anchor stability in the region.

Arts & Leisure: The Pietà Behind the Couch

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:50 PM PDT

How a Michelangelo, across centuries and continents, may have ended up outside Buffalo.

Russia joins Western chorus for Gaddafi to go (Reuters)

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:49 PM PDT

Reuters - Russia joined Western leaders on Friday in urging Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down and offered to mediate his departure, in an important boost to NATO powers seeking to end his 41-year rule.

Beer Gardens Everywhere

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:49 PM PDT

In a revival of an attraction said to date to 1824 in New York City, there are now more than 50 beer gardens scattered in its neighborhoods.

Left Ill by Fugitive Life, Mladic Seeks to Avoid Hague

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:49 PM PDT

The haggard state of Ratko Mladic, who eluded Serbian authorities for more than 15 years, may offer him one more chance to evade a prison cell.

In Shift, Russia Offers to Help Ease Qaddafi Out in Libya

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:49 PM PDT

The announcement, which came after intensive talks between President Obama and President Dmitri A. Medvedev, represents a marked shift in Russia's tone on Libya.

AP Exclusive: Behind the raid that nabbed Mladic (AP)

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:44 PM PDT

AP - The old man, hobbled by pain, couldn't coax himself to sleep. He got out of bed just before dawn, pulled on a blue baseball cap and headed for a walk in the garden. Maybe some fresh air would clear his head.

Gas tanks are draining family budgets (AP)

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:43 PM PDT

AP - There's less money this summer for hotel rooms, surfboards and bathing suits. It's all going into the gas tank.

After Obama's European tour, challenges at home (AP)

Posted: 27 May 2011 02:42 PM PDT

AP - Hope you've enjoyed your European trip, Mr. President. A lot's awaiting your attention on your return Saturday.

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle

By Matthew Rogers

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Android phones are spectacular little devices because they're able to so much that others simply can't, but one big snag in that greatness is that many of those best features require that the phones be rooted. Whether you plan on installing custom ROMs or not, you may want to root your phone just to use the great apps that require root access. Here are the ten most essential apps available for Android that require root.

Rooting, for those of you that don't know, means giving yourself root permissions on your phone. It's similar running programs as administrators in Windows, or running a command with sudo in Linux. With a rooted phone, you can run more apps or install custom versions of the Android operating system. Note that there's a big difference between installing a custom ROM on an Android phone and just rooting it. Custom ROMs may offer plenty of features that aren't available direct from the manufacturer, but most of them can be added to a rooted phone by simply installing the right apps. That's what we're after today.

If you haven't rooted your phone yet, but would like to know more about the process, be sure to check out our always up-to-date guide to rooting Android phones.

Superuser Allows Other Apps Root Access

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Superuser is the first app a user should install after rooting, if the rooting method didn't do it already. "Rooting" a phone allows a user to establish total control over the device, but Superuser is the app that provides the button for that control. With Superuser installed, any app that needs root privileges to run will have to ask permission, and an informative pop-up will display with the option to give it those privileges. This app is an absolute must for any of the other apps on the list to even run.

Titanium Backup Automates System Backups

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Titanium Backup is an enormously useful app. Not only can it backup apps, but it can backup apps and all their data, and it can delete apps—even system apps or bloatware. Making regular backups of all your apps (and their data) can ensure that if you ever really screw up, say in trying to install a custom ROM, that you can still have everything the way you left it should you need to wipe the entire phone and start from scratch. For more detailed information, see our full guide on using Titanium Backup.

ShootMe Takes Screenshots with a Shake

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle It's a sad fact that Android ships with no way to take screenshots. ShootMe is an extremely simple, user-friendly app that rectifies that situation, but it needs the phone to be rooted first. ShootMe's greatest feature is that it allows you to choose from several options in deciding what the trigger should be for the screenshot to take place—whether it's shaking the phone, covering the light sensor, or just yelling at it (my favorite).

Metamorph Applies Visual Themes to Anything

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Metamorph is a small app that allows you to theme any part of Android by applying simple patch files. Learning how to make your own themes isn't exactly the easiest thing in the world, but most users don't bother—there are plenty to choose from, made by other users who are absolutely nuts about theming. Parts of the system that can be themed by Metamorph include the lockscreen, menu screens, individual apps, or just about anything else that's ever displayed on the screen. It's all possible.

Adfree Blocks Ads Anywhere on Your Phone

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Adfree may actually be the greatest root-essential app available on Android, and it's one that you never see unless it needs updating. All Adfree does is block ads, but it does it for everything on the phone. Since the app works by blocking ad-serving sites at the IP address level (by modifying the phone's Hosts file), it doesn't slow your system down, and it does a remarkably good job. Even if you don't mind ads in your browser, using Adfree makes "free" apps from the Market much more tolerable, since most of them have pop-up ads that tend to ruin the experience otherwise.

SSH Tunnel Encrypts All Internet Traffic on Your Phone

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Recently mentioned SSH Tunnel is an app that allows an Android phone to connect to the internet using an ssh tunnel for a completely secure connection. It's great for those times when you've got no data signal, stuck at work or a coffee shop that only has public Wi-Fi available, and you need to be sure that nobody is snooping your sensitive personal information as you connect to sites like Gmail or Facebook.

Tasker Can Automate Almost Any Task

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Tasker by itself doesn't require root privileges to run, but some of its more impressive features do. Giving Tasker room to do what it does best is definitely a good thing, since it can practically automate your entire phone given the right amount of power. Rooting your phone is the only way to give it that kind of access.

SetCPU Controls the Speed and Behavior of Your Phone's Processor

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle SetCPU has been, is still, and will probably be for quite some time the de facto tool for controlling a rooted Android phone's processor speed. SetCPU allows the user to exert total control over how fast, or slow, the processor runs at any given point in time. As an example, SetCPU can force the processor to sit at its lowest setting whenever the screen is turned off, but to use a range between 240MHz and 806MHz as needed while the phone is awake. For phones that have the ability to drastically overclock, SetCPU can help ensure that they don't overheat by keeping watch on the temperature, and acting accordingly. Overclocking or not, battery savings and overall performance can be greatly enhanced using this app.

Busybox Adds True Linux Commands to the Android System

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Busybox is often called "the Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux," because that's what it basically is. It's not an actual app that you run, but instead provides all the Linux/UNIX commands that we know and love. Without the commands installed, the barebones "Linux" that Android runs on top of can't really do too much, making apps like Terminal Emulator nearly worthless.

Wireless Tether Turns Your Phone into a Wi-Fi Hotspot

The 10 Best Android Apps that Make Rooting Your Phone Worth the Hassle Finally, Wireless Tether. For many users, this feature is the single most important thing in the world of mobile devices, so having the ability to use it is a must. Wireless Tether turns an Android phone, regardless of carrier, into a full blown W-Fi hotspot for any nearby devices that need one. It's as simple as that, but only rooted phones can use it.

There are plenty of other apps out there that only work with rooted phones, and it doesn't seem likely that the carriers are ever going to allow phones on their networks to sell with root capabilities baked in. If you want the added functionality of these apps, there's just no way around it. You've got to go rooted. So, if you're convinced, head over to the rooting guide to see what's required to set your phone free.

Know of any other great apps for rooted Android phones? Have a personal favorite that's not on the list? Share them in the comments!

May 27th, 2011 Top Stories

Is Google Wallet Really the Future of Money?

By Adrian Covert

Is Google Wallet Really the Future of Money?

If Google has its way with Google Wallet, your bank and credit cards will be obsolete. The only things you'll need a wallet for are IDs and cash. But is Google's vision really the future of money, here today?

Google Wallet is a good idea, no doubt. Is tapping your phone really that more convenient than swiping a card? Probably not. Yet. But this might be the first time in a long time we use discounts and coupons (DEALS!) in the real world with any sort of regularity. And goddammit, this is so sci-fi-technologically speaking-that we should want to embrace this with open arms.

Based on the partnerships that Google has forged in all areas of the financial transaction sphere-it uses Verifone communication technology (which powers the actual point-of-sale transactions) as well as MasterCard's PayPass system-we have to assume Apple and Microsoft will respond with payment systems of their own, possibly using NFC as well. If they do, will they make Google Wallet an account option in their NFC apps? Or will they at least approve an app on their platforms that has deep access to the hardware?

Even if there are multiple NFC payment platforms, it's not necessarily a death knell of consumer confusion. According to Paul Rasori, Verifone's Senior Vice President of Marketing, the NFC payment partnership with Google is not exclusive, and requires Google to function with the same hardware other NFC partners use. So as long as other smartphone platforms also partner with Verifone, NFC payments will work in any location where Google Wallet (and/or PayPass) already exist. Plus, as Google suggested today, any issues with hardware compatibility in the phones themselves can be remedied by embedding an NFC radio on a sticker and having people plop it on any phone they like.

And will people actually use it? Those who aren't hardcore technophiles won't just hop on the bandwagon without a major push from behind. Look at PayPass, for example. How long has that system been available? How many times have you actually used it (or seen someone using it)? Any time I've attempted to use it at a store/food spot/cab, the person initiating the transaction looked at me like I was off my damn rocker and demanded that I just swipe the card.

That's where the deals come in. Using coupons outside the electronic world sucks right now. You have to print or save or scan things, and remind a cashier to add it to a transaction. Google Wallet will take care of all that for you automatically. You just have to tap a button. Not only do you avoid publicly feeling like a penny-pinching miser, but it will get people in the habit of using Google Wallet. And when your phone is already out, you might as well just use the thing to pay.

But if NFC payment systems are to succeed, they need to be everywhere. MasterCard's PayPass tech is in a lot of places now, but it (along with Google's deals) need to be anywhere and everywhere credit cards are accepted. It needs to be integrated into ATMs. And it needs to be a part of our personal lives. These systems should allow people to conduct transactions amongst one another. If I owe someone money, for lunch or any other random thing, I should be able to bump phones with that person and toss them some digital change. That's where the convenience factor will really come out.

NFC is beyond ready from a technological standpoint. Judging from what we've seen today, Google Wallet is secure, thoughtfully designed, and has favorable aspects for both consumers and retailers. Whole card numbers are never displayed, the NFC tech shuts off when the screen goes off, and you can lock your wallet if need be. Plus Google Wallet is free for any business who wants to use it (not counting the credit card transaction charges themselves). Now it's up to the world at large to ensure its longevity.

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27 May 2011

How To Save Money On Gas This Memorial Day Weekend

If you've already filled up your tank ahead of this holiday weekend, you know the price of gas is up over a buck since this time last year. Don't panic! Just use our comprehensive guide to help you cut the cash you're sending to big oil in no time.

Top ten most fuel-efficient cars for 2011

Don't have a fuel efficient Geo Metro? Is fuel economy a higher priority than your car being fun to drive? Here's our list of the ten new gas-powered cars (sorry, no electrics) for the 2011 model year with the highest city fuel economy. More »

Ten fuel-saving tips

Not looking for a new car? Then let's try to maximize the gas you already have in your tank. Here's ten fuel saving tips to increase your current car's fuel economy. More »

Seven ways to protect your tank from gas thieves

We figure since we just gave you how to steal gas it's prudent to also provide you with these seven ways to protect your gas from the shady characters out there wishing to make it their own. More »

The six best ways to steal gas

We're all looking for ways to reduce our expenses. Like other commodities, it's cheaper stealing gas than paying for it. So if you're looking for a way — totally for informational purposes, of course — here's how to do it More »

Ten fuel and money saving tips (via GasBuddy.com)

Our friends at GasBuddy.com have put together this great top ten list of ways you can save money and fuel. It's a great, handy compendium to help you through this fuel price spike. More »

How to save money on gas with apps (via Gizmodo.com)

Have a smart phone? Great, you can even use that to save money on gas. Here's how to use apps to do it. More »

USA National gas price heat map (via GasBuddy.com)

Now you can see what gas prices are around the country at a glance. Areas are color coded according to their price for the average price for regular unleaded gasoline. More »

"Fuel saver" devices will not save you fuel

Like the sun rising in the east or Donald Trump embarrassing himself, rising gas prices inevitably bring out a clutch of hucksters selling gizmos that magically boost fuel efficiency. They're scams, yet people still get suckered by the bushel. More »

New York isn't ready for electric cars

Want to know why there's no electric cars on our list of most fuel-efficient? Read our story of how we were lost without a charge in New York City. Thank god we had a Chevy Volt. If we'd have had a Nissan Leaf, we'd have been screwed. But, if you're still interested in our take on some electric cars (or quasi-electric hybrids like the Chevy Volt), read our first drive reviews below. They're all, ahem, electric! More »

Keep Gas Prices From Bankrupting You This Summer (via Lifehacker)

Gas prices have gone nowhere but up over the last few years, and it doesn't look like that's going to change this year. With summer road-trips approaching, here are some quick gas-saving tips to remember after hitting the pumps. More »

Why Brand Name Gas Is Rarely Worth the Extra Money

Lots of us buy generic products to save money, but there are some generic things a lot of us instinctively avoid. Personal finance blog Not Made of Money shares six items you should always buy generic, the most interesting one being gasoline. More »