Apple still bests Samsung in U.S. smartphone sales

Arch phone enemies Apple and Samsung are still neck and neck in the great smartphone race. Although Samsung sold the most handsets in the United States, Apple sold the most smartphones during the first quarter of 2014. Together, the two rivals managed to sweep more than two-thirds of the smartphone market.



According to Counterpoint Research, Apple's iPhones did very well at the two biggest U.S. wireless carriers. At AT&T, 52 percent of all customers upgraded to an iPhone and a whopping 51 percent of Verizon customers did the same. At Sprint, the iPhone also outsold Samsung's smartphone lineup, with 36 percent of customers choosing Apple. The only carrier on the list that did not sell more iPhones than Samsung handsets was T-Mobile. Only 24 percent of the "Uncarrier's" customers went for the iPhone, while 38 percent opted for Samsung.



At all of the carriers except T-Mobile, Samsung was right behind Apple. Samsung came closest to dethroning the iPhone at Sprint, where it captured 30 percent of buyers, in comparison with Apple's 36 percent. At AT&T and Verizon, Samsung was much farther away from challenging Cupertino's dominance. Its smartphones accounted for 28 and 29 percent of all sales at AT&T and Verizon respectively. Overall, the two companies sold 70 percent of all LTE-enabled smartphones and claimed the lions' share of the entire smartphone market. Third-place vendors varied from carrier to carrier. 



Even though Apple is still the most popular smartphone vendor in the States, Android remains the operating system of choice at 59.2 percent. Apple's iOS controlled just 36.9 percent of the market in the first quarter. Windows Phone continues to flounder with only 4 percent of the market. It's pretty obvious that Android will once again win the OS wars, but when it comes to the great smartphone race, it's anyone's game at this point.



Either Apple or Samsung could come out on top this year, depending on how big of a splash the iPhone 6 and Samsung's multiple smartphone offerings make.

____________________________________



From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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Is Nicki Minaj Worried About Losing Her Hip-Hop Throne?

The Young Money rapper laughs off 'think piece' about her waning influence.



Nicki Minaj is gearing up to drop The Pink Print album, and after weeks of murdering her freestyles, the YMCMB rapper finally released the first official single, "Pills N Potions," on Wednesday morning.





But while The Barbz were out there shedding tears and praising the heavens that Nicki is about to storm 2014, Forbes was claiming that she has been "oddly quiet" this year, leaving Iggy Azalea to run the town. Needless to say, Nicki doesn't quite agree.



During an interview with The Breakfast Club on Power 105, the Queens rapper responded to the editorial piece, which failed to mention her recent releases like "Chi-Raq" and "Lookin' Ass N—a." No shade was thrown at Iggy, she just kept it 100.



"OK, I'm reloaded," Nicki said laughing. "All Forbes needs to worry about is my finances and when I'm gonna be selling Myx Fusions for $250 million. We rely on hip-hop connoisseurs and blogs for that kinda information, so we appreciate that, but no thank you."

____________________________________



From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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Is Nicki Minaj Worried About Losing Her Hip-Hop Throne?

The Young Money rapper laughs off 'think piece' about her waning influence.

Nicki Minaj is gearing up to drop The Pink Print album, and after weeks of murdering her freestyles, the YMCMB rapper finally released the first official single, "Pills N Potions," on Wednesday morning.


But while The Barbz were out there shedding tears and praising the heavens that Nicki is about to storm 2014, Forbes was claiming that she has been "oddly quiet" this year, leaving Iggy Azalea to run the town. Needless to say, Nicki doesn't quite agree.

During an interview with The Breakfast Club on Power 105, the Queens rapper responded to the editorial piece, which failed to mention her recent releases like "Chi-Raq" and "Lookin' Ass N—a." No shade was thrown at Iggy, she just kept it 100.

"OK, I'm reloaded," Nicki said laughing. "All Forbes needs to worry about is my finances and when I'm gonna be selling Myx Fusions for $250 million. We rely on hip-hop connoisseurs and blogs for that kinda information, so we appreciate that, but no thank you."
____________________________________

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Apple still bests Samsung in U.S. smartphone sales

Arch phone enemies Apple and Samsung are still neck and neck in the great smartphone race. Although Samsung sold the most handsets in the United States, Apple sold the most smartphones during the first quarter of 2014. Together, the two rivals managed to sweep more than two-thirds of the smartphone market.

According to Counterpoint Research, Apple's iPhones did very well at the two biggest U.S. wireless carriers. At AT&T, 52 percent of all customers upgraded to an iPhone and a whopping 51 percent of Verizon customers did the same. At Sprint, the iPhone also outsold Samsung's smartphone lineup, with 36 percent of customers choosing Apple. The only carrier on the list that did not sell more iPhones than Samsung handsets was T-Mobile. Only 24 percent of the "Uncarrier's" customers went for the iPhone, while 38 percent opted for Samsung.

At all of the carriers except T-Mobile, Samsung was right behind Apple. Samsung came closest to dethroning the iPhone at Sprint, where it captured 30 percent of buyers, in comparison with Apple's 36 percent. At AT&T and Verizon, Samsung was much farther away from challenging Cupertino's dominance. Its smartphones accounted for 28 and 29 percent of all sales at AT&T and Verizon respectively. Overall, the two companies sold 70 percent of all LTE-enabled smartphones and claimed the lions' share of the entire smartphone market. Third-place vendors varied from carrier to carrier. 

Even though Apple is still the most popular smartphone vendor in the States, Android remains the operating system of choice at 59.2 percent. Apple's iOS controlled just 36.9 percent of the market in the first quarter. Windows Phone continues to flounder with only 4 percent of the market. It's pretty obvious that Android will once again win the OS wars, but when it comes to the great smartphone race, it's anyone's game at this point.

Either Apple or Samsung could come out on top this year, depending on how big of a splash the iPhone 6 and Samsung's multiple smartphone offerings make.
____________________________________

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Surface Pro 3 vs. 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina: Specs, features, and prices compared

Microsoft has unleashed the Surface Pro 3 on the world, but should its competition be running scared? To this point, we've tossed four challengers from the computing space at Redmond's latest device: the 11-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Air, Lenovo Yoga 2 13, and the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro.

Now, it's time for Round 5, where the Surface Pro 3 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina are set to tango. Sound the Viking war drums! We'd like to think of this as the nerdy version of Rocky 5, but without the fail.

Here, we'll be comparing the $1,949 Surface Pro 3, which is the most powerful model you can get, to the $1,999 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina.

We'll take you through the two devices step by step, starting with specs, and including design, as well as price. So, how do the two measure up against one another? Scroll down to find out.

 
Surface Pro 3

13-Inch MacBook Pro Retina

Size11.5 x 7.93 x 0.36 (in)12.35 x 8.62 x .71 (in)
Weight1.76 lbs3.46 lbs
Screen12-inch ClearType Full HD display13.3-inch LED IPS
KeyboardType Cover (optional – $129.99)Backlit QWERTY keyboard
Resolution2160×1440 pixels2560 x 1600 pixels
OSWindows 8.1 ProMac OS X Mavericks
Storage512GB SSD512GB SSD
SD Card SlotYesYes 
Other PortsUSB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort2x Thunderbolt 2, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI
ProcessorIntel Core i7Intel Core i7 dual-core 2.8 GHz
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 4400Intel Iris Graphics
RAM8GB DDR3 8GB DDR3
Wi-FiWi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n/ac)
CameraFront 5MP and 1080p HD, Rear 5MP and 1080p HD720p
BluetoothBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0
BatteryUp to 9 hours of useUp to 9 hours of use
MarketplaceWindows StoreApple.com
ModesTablet, Laptop, StandLaptop
WarrantyOne yearOne year, 90 days of phone support
Price$1,949$1,999
AvailabilityAvailable nowAvailable now
DT ReviewHereHere
 

Specs

Though the $1,949 Surface Pro 3 and the $1,999 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina both sport Intel Core i7 processors, it seems that the latter is powered by better version of Intel's high-end CPU. This is tipped by the fact that the MacBook Pro has a newer GPU than the Surface Pro 3.

Here in the office, our pair of Surface Pro 3s are both of the Intel Core i5 variety, so we don't yet know what clock speed the Core i7 versions run at. We reached out to Microsoft about this, and are waiting to hear back.

Nevertheless, for an extra $50, you get a newer GPU. When it comes to RAM and storage, both the Surface Pro 3 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina match up (8GB, 512GB respectively). 

Design and input

Measuring 11.5 x 7.93 x .36 inches and weighing 1.76 pounds, there's no doubt that the Surface Pro 3 is significantly more portable than the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina (12.35 x 8.62 x .71 inches, 3.46 pounds). The Surface Pro 3 owes some of its slimmer frame to the fact that it rocks a smaller 12-inch screen, while the MacBook Pro wears a 13.3-inch display.

However, when it comes to usability, the MacBook Pro out-runs the Surface Pro 3 by a mile, due to the fact that it has an excellent keyboard built in with multiple backlight settings. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 3 doesn't ship with a keyboard to begin with. To get one, you have to pay an extra $129.99, and it doesn't even come close to matching the one that's built into the MacBook Pro.

The new Type Cover's touchpad is dwarfish by comparision, and the entire unit has a cheap, toy-like feel to it. The back is covered with a fuzzy material which reminds me of tennis balls. For $130, consumers deserve better.

Display

Microsoft outfitted the Surface Pro 3 with a 12-inch 2160×1440 display, which is an impressively high resolution to be sure. However, it still gets out-gunned by the MacBook Pro's Retina screen, which wields an excellent 2560×1600 panel. 

In the Surface Pro 3′s case, we have some concerns surrounding battery life. This stems from the fact that the Yoga 2 Pro, which has an even higher-res display (3200×1800) only lasted a little over three hours in our Peacekeeper benchmark test.

We already know that the MacBook has excellent battery life: Our review unit ran for six hours and 23 minutes in Peacekeeper before conking out. However, we'll wait until we conduct our own tests with the Surface Pro 3 before we decide that its high-res display is a detriment to its battery.

Ports

Though the Surface Pro 3 offers a USB 3.0 port, a mini-DisplayPort connection, and an SD card reader, it can't match what the MacBook Pro offers. Apple's MacBook Pro sports an extra USB 3.0 port, a pair of Thunderbolt 2 connections, HDMI, and a SD card reader. 

To us, the key here is the extra USB 3.0 port. Want to plug in a mouse? No problem, both the Surface Pro 3 and MacBook Pro can handle that. Want to plug in a mouse and something else, like a flash drive or an external hard drive? If you're using a MacBook, no problem. If you're on a Surface Pro 3, get ready to do some swapping.

Price

As we mentioned, this particular config of the Surface Pro 3 costs $1,949, while the edition of the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina it's doing battle with here goes for $1,999. 

Conclusion

Though Apple's opus is priced $50 higher, for a little extra cash, you get a newer GPU, the same amount of RAM and storage, a higher-resolution display, and an excellent keyboard. Remember, buying the Surface Pro Type Cover adds an extra $129.99 to this model's $1,949 price tag, making it roughly $80 more expensive than the MacBook. Also, in the MacBook's case, you're guaranteed to get excellent battery life, even with a more strenuous display weighing it down.

What do you think? Which of these devices would you get, and why? Sound off in the comments below.

____________________________________



From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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T-Mobile introduces super clear VoLTE ahead of AT&T

T-Mobile painted Seattle pink on Thursday, as it launched its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service in its hometown. The Uncarrier announced that it will roll out the service to the rest of the U.S. over the course of 2014. Rival carrier AT&T will debut its VoLTE in multiple cities on Friday and Verizon says it plans to add the service sometime soon.

The new VoLTE service will provide significantly better call quality and the signal will travel at much faster speeds. Traditionally, GSM and CDMA use the old-school circuit switching technique to handle calls. This method is not only inefficient, it also results in less than stellar call quality. In contrast, VoLTE turns your calls into a different data stream, which is then sent over the carrier's IP technology.

One of the main benefits of VoLTE is the HD Voice feature, which ensures crystal clear communication, whether you're on speakerphone, using a headset, or holding the phone to your ear. So, basically, there will be no more shouting during conference calls, and no more "what what?! I can't hear you!" or lost signals.

"VoLTE is the next major advancement in LTE and essentially brings both data and voice onto the same radio layer, as it should be," T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray said in a statement."Customer benefits include faster call setup times (almost twice as fast as a non-VoLTE call setup) and the ability to enjoy lightning fast LTE data speeds while on a call. HD Voice service is also included with VoLTE. We've been offering nationwide HD Voice since January 2013 – something our competitors couldn't do without VoLTE."

Unfortunately, T-Mobile's VoLTE will only be available on the LG G Flex, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and Samsung Galaxy Light to start. The Uncarrier did say that it plans to add more devices to that list soon, as well as extend the service to more cities across the United States.

Meanwhile, AT&T announced that it will debut VoLTE in select parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on May 23. It's new service will also be limited to just one device on launch day: the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. Talk about a limited launch! AT&T promises that it will rollout HD voice calls to more devices and cities this year, too. Verizon has made the vague promise of adding VoLTE sometime this year.

____________________________________



From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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Want A Body Like Rick Ross? Try ‘RossFit’

Rozay is getting healthy and losing weight.



He's still a big man, sure, but Rick Ross has been slimming down of late. The reason? RossFit.





What's that, you ask? A workout fit only for a Bawse, of course.



"I do this sh– called CrossFit. I call it RossFit," Rozay told veteran UK radio personality Tim Westwood during a recent trip overseas.



He was inspired to get in shape, and changed both his exercise and eating habits.



"Earlier this summer, Reebok had introduced me to a trainer, and what he turned me onto was — let's say, for instance, if you got on the treadmill, and you did that sh– for 30 minutes," he said. "Yeah, you burning calories, but you could be doing something that's burning calories and building muscle at the same time. So, it's like you working out for a shorter time."



"The most I used to do for exercise was stand up and count money," he said, before starting RossFit (which many will know as CrossFit).



As for his diet? "Now, they give me fruit to eat. I forgot what fruit tasted like. I eat pears now, and sh– like that."



"I could go out and do some sh– for 20 minutes, and you could be looking like this."



⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩





We should all be so lucky.

____________________________________



From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

T-Mobile introduces super clear VoLTE ahead of AT&T

T-Mobile painted Seattle pink on Thursday, as it launched its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) service in its hometown. The Uncarrier announced that it will roll out the service to the rest of the U.S. over the course of 2014. Rival carrier AT&T will debut its VoLTE in multiple cities on Friday and Verizon says it plans to add the service sometime soon.

The new VoLTE service will provide significantly better call quality and the signal will travel at much faster speeds. Traditionally, GSM and CDMA use the old-school circuit switching technique to handle calls. This method is not only inefficient, it also results in less than stellar call quality. In contrast, VoLTE turns your calls into a different data stream, which is then sent over the carrier's IP technology.

One of the main benefits of VoLTE is the HD Voice feature, which ensures crystal clear communication, whether you're on speakerphone, using a headset, or holding the phone to your ear. So, basically, there will be no more shouting during conference calls, and no more "what what?! I can't hear you!" or lost signals.

"VoLTE is the next major advancement in LTE and essentially brings both data and voice onto the same radio layer, as it should be," T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray said in a statement."Customer benefits include faster call setup times (almost twice as fast as a non-VoLTE call setup) and the ability to enjoy lightning fast LTE data speeds while on a call. HD Voice service is also included with VoLTE. We've been offering nationwide HD Voice since January 2013 – something our competitors couldn't do without VoLTE."

Unfortunately, T-Mobile's VoLTE will only be available on the LG G Flex, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, and Samsung Galaxy Light to start. The Uncarrier did say that it plans to add more devices to that list soon, as well as extend the service to more cities across the United States.

Meanwhile, AT&T announced that it will debut VoLTE in select parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on May 23. It's new service will also be limited to just one device on launch day: the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini. Talk about a limited launch! AT&T promises that it will rollout HD voice calls to more devices and cities this year, too. Verizon has made the vague promise of adding VoLTE sometime this year.
____________________________________

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Want A Body Like Rick Ross? Try ‘RossFit’

Rozay is getting healthy and losing weight.

He's still a big man, sure, but Rick Ross has been slimming down of late. The reason? RossFit.


What's that, you ask? A workout fit only for a Bawse, of course.

"I do this sh– called CrossFit. I call it RossFit," Rozay told veteran UK radio personality Tim Westwood during a recent trip overseas.

He was inspired to get in shape, and changed both his exercise and eating habits.

"Earlier this summer, Reebok had introduced me to a trainer, and what he turned me onto was — let's say, for instance, if you got on the treadmill, and you did that sh– for 30 minutes," he said. "Yeah, you burning calories, but you could be doing something that's burning calories and building muscle at the same time. So, it's like you working out for a shorter time."

"The most I used to do for exercise was stand up and count money," he said, before starting RossFit (which many will know as CrossFit).

As for his diet? "Now, they give me fruit to eat. I forgot what fruit tasted like. I eat pears now, and sh– like that."

"I could go out and do some sh– for 20 minutes, and you could be looking like this."

⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩ ⇩


We should all be so lucky.
____________________________________

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

Surface Pro 3 vs. 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina: Specs, features, and prices compared

Microsoft has unleashed the Surface Pro 3 on the world, but should its competition be running scared? To this point, we've tossed four challengers from the computing space at Redmond's latest device: the 11-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Air, Lenovo Yoga 2 13, and the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro.

Now, it's time for Round 5, where the Surface Pro 3 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina are set to tango. Sound the Viking war drums! We'd like to think of this as the nerdy version of Rocky 5, but without the fail.

Here, we'll be comparing the $1,949 Surface Pro 3, which is the most powerful model you can get, to the $1,999 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina.

We'll take you through the two devices step by step, starting with specs, and including design, as well as price. So, how do the two measure up against one another? Scroll down to find out.

 
Surface Pro 3

13-Inch MacBook Pro Retina

Size11.5 x 7.93 x 0.36 (in)12.35 x 8.62 x .71 (in)
Weight1.76 lbs3.46 lbs
Screen12-inch ClearType Full HD display13.3-inch LED IPS
KeyboardType Cover (optional – $129.99)Backlit QWERTY keyboard
Resolution2160×1440 pixels2560 x 1600 pixels
OSWindows 8.1 ProMac OS X Mavericks
Storage512GB SSD512GB SSD
SD Card SlotYesYes 
Other PortsUSB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort2x Thunderbolt 2, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI
ProcessorIntel Core i7Intel Core i7 dual-core 2.8 GHz
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 4400Intel Iris Graphics
RAM8GB DDR3 8GB DDR3
Wi-FiWi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n/ac)
CameraFront 5MP and 1080p HD, Rear 5MP and 1080p HD720p
BluetoothBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0
BatteryUp to 9 hours of useUp to 9 hours of use
MarketplaceWindows StoreApple.com
ModesTablet, Laptop, StandLaptop
WarrantyOne yearOne year, 90 days of phone support
Price$1,949$1,999
AvailabilityAvailable nowAvailable now
DT ReviewHereHere
 

Specs

Though the $1,949 Surface Pro 3 and the $1,999 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina both sport Intel Core i7 processors, it seems that the latter is powered by better version of Intel's high-end CPU. This is tipped by the fact that the MacBook Pro has a newer GPU than the Surface Pro 3.

Here in the office, our pair of Surface Pro 3s are both of the Intel Core i5 variety, so we don't yet know what clock speed the Core i7 versions run at. We reached out to Microsoft about this, and are waiting to hear back.

Nevertheless, for an extra $50, you get a newer GPU. When it comes to RAM and storage, both the Surface Pro 3 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina match up (8GB, 512GB respectively). 

Design and input

Measuring 11.5 x 7.93 x .36 inches and weighing 1.76 pounds, there's no doubt that the Surface Pro 3 is significantly more portable than the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina (12.35 x 8.62 x .71 inches, 3.46 pounds). The Surface Pro 3 owes some of its slimmer frame to the fact that it rocks a smaller 12-inch screen, while the MacBook Pro wears a 13.3-inch display.

However, when it comes to usability, the MacBook Pro out-runs the Surface Pro 3 by a mile, due to the fact that it has an excellent keyboard built in with multiple backlight settings. Meanwhile, the Surface Pro 3 doesn't ship with a keyboard to begin with. To get one, you have to pay an extra $129.99, and it doesn't even come close to matching the one that's built into the MacBook Pro.

The new Type Cover's touchpad is dwarfish by comparision, and the entire unit has a cheap, toy-like feel to it. The back is covered with a fuzzy material which reminds me of tennis balls. For $130, consumers deserve better.

Display

Microsoft outfitted the Surface Pro 3 with a 12-inch 2160×1440 display, which is an impressively high resolution to be sure. However, it still gets out-gunned by the MacBook Pro's Retina screen, which wields an excellent 2560×1600 panel. 

In the Surface Pro 3′s case, we have some concerns surrounding battery life. This stems from the fact that the Yoga 2 Pro, which has an even higher-res display (3200×1800) only lasted a little over three hours in our Peacekeeper benchmark test.

We already know that the MacBook has excellent battery life: Our review unit ran for six hours and 23 minutes in Peacekeeper before conking out. However, we'll wait until we conduct our own tests with the Surface Pro 3 before we decide that its high-res display is a detriment to its battery.

Ports

Though the Surface Pro 3 offers a USB 3.0 port, a mini-DisplayPort connection, and an SD card reader, it can't match what the MacBook Pro offers. Apple's MacBook Pro sports an extra USB 3.0 port, a pair of Thunderbolt 2 connections, HDMI, and a SD card reader. 

To us, the key here is the extra USB 3.0 port. Want to plug in a mouse? No problem, both the Surface Pro 3 and MacBook Pro can handle that. Want to plug in a mouse and something else, like a flash drive or an external hard drive? If you're using a MacBook, no problem. If you're on a Surface Pro 3, get ready to do some swapping.

Price

As we mentioned, this particular config of the Surface Pro 3 costs $1,949, while the edition of the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina it's doing battle with here goes for $1,999. 

Conclusion

Though Apple's opus is priced $50 higher, for a little extra cash, you get a newer GPU, the same amount of RAM and storage, a higher-resolution display, and an excellent keyboard. Remember, buying the Surface Pro Type Cover adds an extra $129.99 to this model's $1,949 price tag, making it roughly $80 more expensive than the MacBook. Also, in the MacBook's case, you're guaranteed to get excellent battery life, even with a more strenuous display weighing it down.

What do you think? Which of these devices would you get, and why? Sound off in the comments below.
____________________________________

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

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Jessica Alba Has A Body Made For Sin (City): See The Hot Pic

2005's it girl is back and wetter than ever.



The summer of 2005 truly was a magical time. "Hollaback Girl" and The Pussycat Dolls were on heavy rotation, Sandra Oh was still on "Grey's Anatomy" and Jessica Alba was in not one, but three big-budget movies.



Alba's movie career fizzled out after her golden summer — mostly because she decided to focus on raising her children — but fans of the actress formerly known as Sue Storm can rest easy. With "Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" hitting theaters on August 22 and four more films down the pipeline, Alba is poised to make a major comeback. Also, as you can clearly see from Entertainment Weekly's Summer Must List issue cover, she certainly hasn't lost that amazing bikini bod that helped launch her career in the first place.



Matthias Vriens-McGrath

Bow chicka wow wow. Alba may be a mother of two and the president of a multimillion dollar eco-friendly baby company, but she definitely just proved that she's not afraid to ditch those mom jeans and embrace her inner (and outer) sex symbol. "Fantastic Four" marathon, anyone?



What do you think of Alba's latest cover? Do you think she'll be the comeback kid of 2014?

____________________________________



From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Jessica Alba Has A Body Made For Sin (City): See The Hot Pic

2005's it girl is back and wetter than ever.

The summer of 2005 truly was a magical time. "Hollaback Girl" and The Pussycat Dolls were on heavy rotation, Sandra Oh was still on "Grey's Anatomy" and Jessica Alba was in not one, but three big-budget movies.

Alba's movie career fizzled out after her golden summer — mostly because she decided to focus on raising her children — but fans of the actress formerly known as Sue Storm can rest easy. With "Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" hitting theaters on August 22 and four more films down the pipeline, Alba is poised to make a major comeback. Also, as you can clearly see from Entertainment Weekly's Summer Must List issue cover, she certainly hasn't lost that amazing bikini bod that helped launch her career in the first place.

Matthias Vriens-McGrath
Bow chicka wow wow. Alba may be a mother of two and the president of a multimillion dollar eco-friendly baby company, but she definitely just proved that she's not afraid to ditch those mom jeans and embrace her inner (and outer) sex symbol. "Fantastic Four" marathon, anyone?

What do you think of Alba's latest cover? Do you think she'll be the comeback kid of 2014?
____________________________________

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Which Three People Is Selena Gomez Following On Instagram?

And check out this inspirational beach photo she posted.



Things have been pretty quiet on the Selena Gomez front lately, right? I mean, aside from the whole "attending the Met Gala" thing. C'mon, you know words are always relative when we're talking about famous people!



Anyway, the "Slow Down" chanteuse stopped her somewhat elusive streak by Instagramming a super-cute photo of herself wearing a bikini at the beach.



The inspirational caption paints a more revealing picture: "Taking my power back.. can't wait to show you where I've been. I love y'all. Ps, I still obsess over pickles."



Taking her power back? Yay! She's gonna let us know stuff soon? Can't wait! She loves us? STAHP! She still obsesses over pickles? Who doesn't?



Speaking of Instagram, remember when Selena recently unfollowed everyone she was following on Instagram? Neither Justin Bieber nor Taylor Swift were safe from the purge.



Well, the 21-year-old singer is now following three people on Instagram: her lifestyle brand Dream Out Loud, jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz and Bishop T.D. Jakes.



It looks like Selena was particularly inspired by Bishop Jake's recent episode of "Oprah's Lifeclass," 'cause she also Instagrammed the following quote of his: "You can't be who you're going to be and who you used to be at the same time." I guess that doesn't apply to pickle obsessions.



Well, whatever's going on, I'm glad Sel's got her power back. She seems to be in a really good place, you know? #loveandlight

____________________________________



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Emma Stone Is Enchanting In ‘Magic In The Moonlight’ Trailer

She's a spriritualist, he's a skeptic, what could possibly go wrong?



We all feel a certain connection to Emma Stone, that much is undeniable. In the trailer for Woody Allen's latest movie, "Magic In the Moonlight," however, it would appear that she has a connection to a world even beyond that of the living.





Colin Firth plays Stanley, an English performer who has a specialty in debunking magic tricks, being a practitioner of illusions himself. As a favor for a friend, he goes to scope out beautiful Sophie (Stone), a "visionary and a vision," who claims to be able to commune with spirits.



Once she floats a candle off a table at a seance, among other otherworldly acts, Stanley may not be quite so ready to call her out as a fraud. Oh, and the fact that he may or may not be a little into her doesn't help matters either. Oops.



Check out the trailer above and cast your vote. Emma Stone: Mythical, magical or both?



"Magic in the Moonlight" hits theaters July 25.

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Our favorite new albums this week: Coldplay, Morrissey, The Roots, and more

We listen to new music every week, but finding out what's new isn't always easy. Below is a list of our favorite new albums and single that dropped this week so you can keep your head bobbing all through your commute and drum on your desk to the dismay of all your co-workers. Here are the best releases for the third week of May 2014.

New Albums for May 21, 2014

Ghost Stories

Coldplay

iTunes | AmazonMP3

 

Coldplay took off into the stratosphere of success over a decade ago and still hasn't come down. Every album since 2000 has peaked at the top spot on U.S. charts and this collection of comfort music is poised to do the same.

…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin

The Roots

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

The legendary Roots crew continues to find time to produce full albums between being the house band for Jimmy Fallon. This album gives the band a chance to do some cultural examination through satire.

Wine Dark Sea

Jolie Holland

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

 

Versatile singer-songwriter Jolie Holland pulls more musicians into the studio to put together her sixth album, Wine Dark Sea. With the backing of multiple guitars, horns, and drummers, she explores a bluesy sound.

Forget the World

AfroJack

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify 

Dutch producer and DJ AfroJack has plenty of backup for his first official album. Already touring with some of the biggest names in music, his album features the likes of Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Sting, and more. 

Friendly Bacteria

Mr. Scruff

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

British electronic music producer and DJ Mr. Scruff has been mixing music since 1994. With plenty of experience under his belt, he offers up Friendly Bacteria, an album with more funk than previous releases.

Reachy Prints

Plaid

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

The duo of electronic musicians who have been pioneers of the genre have an updated sound on their sixth studio album while managing to maintain the intelligent edge they've always infused into their music.

Sound Mirror

Syd Arthur

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Hailing from Canterbury, the foursome of Syd Arthur has readied its sophomore release. The psych-rock band reaches into their bag of psychedelic tricks to create an impressive and well-produced album.

Kludge

Pujol

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Nashville's own Pujol has released his second studio album on Saddle Creek Records. Those familiar with the artist can expect more earnestness in this offering, while those new to Pujol will enjoy the catchy qualities. 

Behind the Light

Phillip Phillips

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

The second album from former American Idol winner Phillip Phillips offers a more mature sound while pulling upon new influences and capitalizing upon the success of the stripped down folk rock sound.

New Singles

You Don't Know What to Do

Mariah Carey f. Wale

iTunes

Music's other favorite diva (behind Beyonce) is back with a sneak peak at her upcoming album. Featuring rapper Wale, the song invokes the disco-style dance music a la Daft Punk.

Beware the Dog

The Griswolds

iTunes | SoundCloud | Spotify

Australian exports the Griswolds only have an EP out so far, but they've built up plenty of hype for a full length release soon. The first taste fans can get is "Beware the Dog," a teaser to what listeners can expect later this year.

Bartender

Lady Antebellum

iTunes | AmazonMP3 | Spotify

Country stars Lady Antebellum touches upon a popular topic in country music: Drinking. The song tells the story of a heartbroken woman who fights back the pain by partying with her friends. It's a tried and true country formula.

Upside Down Frankenstein

Tweak Bird

SoundCloud

Tweak Bird is a two-piece rock outfit consisting of brothers Caleb and Ashton Bird. Sharing a two-sided 7″-inch split with King Buzzo, the two rockers trot out a track that terrorizespopular dance tracks.

Istanbul

Morrissey

iTunes | Amazon | Spotify

The former frontman of the Smiths, Morrissey, has a new album due out this July, but he's slowly be revealing pieces of of in the meantime. The third single from the album, "Istanbul," dropped with a spoken word video.

Love Someone

Jason Mraz

iTunes | YouTube

Jason Mraz has become a summer standard, releasing lovely, light, and danceable music crafted perfectly for the warmer months. "Love Someone" follows that tradition and previews upcoming album Yes!

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Pharrell Williams Calls Out Iranian President Over ‘Happy’ Arrests

'Free these kids,' Skateboard P tells Hassan Rouhani.



Pharrell Williams was not enthused when six young Iranians were arrested for uploading a video of themselves dancing around Tehran to his global smash "Happy."



On Tuesday, he wrote, "It is beyond sad that these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness."



Then, early Thursday morning (March 22), he challenged Iranian president Hassan Rouhani by reposting the Rouhani's tweet from June 2013 about the importance of happiness.



Then free these kids..



When a self-described fan responded that "we all have a right to be happy … but dancing in public its against Islamic norms" — Skateboard P had to respectfully disagree.





He added, "It comes from a pure space; not a perfect place. For those loving life and want to express the gift of the present." The debate continued with another fan who chimed in about the power of social media.





According to CNN, the six dancers have been freed, but the director of the video is still in custody.





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Pharrell Williams Calls Out Iranian President Over ‘Happy’ Arrests

'Free these kids,' Skateboard P tells Hassan Rouhani.

Pharrell Williams was not enthused when six young Iranians were arrested for uploading a video of themselves dancing around Tehran to his global smash "Happy."

On Tuesday, he wrote, "It is beyond sad that these kids were arrested for trying to spread happiness."

Then, early Thursday morning (March 22), he challenged Iranian president Hassan Rouhani by reposting the Rouhani's tweet from June 2013 about the importance of happiness.

Then free these kids..

When a self-described fan responded that "we all have a right to be happy … but dancing in public its against Islamic norms" — Skateboard P had to respectfully disagree.


He added, "It comes from a pure space; not a perfect place. For those loving life and want to express the gift of the present." The debate continued with another fan who chimed in about the power of social media.


According to CNN, the six dancers have been freed, but the director of the video is still in custody.


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Emma Stone Is Enchanting In ‘Magic In The Moonlight’ Trailer

She's a spriritualist, he's a skeptic, what could possibly go wrong?

We all feel a certain connection to Emma Stone, that much is undeniable. In the trailer for Woody Allen's latest movie, "Magic In the Moonlight," however, it would appear that she has a connection to a world even beyond that of the living.


Colin Firth plays Stanley, an English performer who has a specialty in debunking magic tricks, being a practitioner of illusions himself. As a favor for a friend, he goes to scope out beautiful Sophie (Stone), a "visionary and a vision," who claims to be able to commune with spirits.

Once she floats a candle off a table at a seance, among other otherworldly acts, Stanley may not be quite so ready to call her out as a fraud. Oh, and the fact that he may or may not be a little into her doesn't help matters either. Oops.

Check out the trailer above and cast your vote. Emma Stone: Mythical, magical or both?

"Magic in the Moonlight" hits theaters July 25.
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Thailand under curfew amid army coup

The BBC's Jonathan Head, in Bangkok: "The BBC is off air, so is CNN. Most channels are now putting up a screen shot" A curfew has begun across Thailand after the army announced it had taken control and suspended the constitution following months of political turmoil.

The army chief imposed the 22:00 to 05:00 curfew, along with a ban on political gatherings and suspension of normal television programming.

Key political figures have been detained and others ordered to report to the military.

The army said it needed to restore order and enact political reforms.

It declared martial law on Tuesday but then gathered political leaders together for talks on the crisis.

However, army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha went on air on Thursday to announce the coup.

Several key figures at the talks, including opposition protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and pro-government protest leader Jatuporn Prompan, were detained.

The moment Jonah Fisher and other reporters realised a coup was under way
Acting PM Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan was not at the talks and his whereabouts are unclear. However, he and all cabinet ministers, along with ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra, were ordered to report to the military.

'In the dark'

Protest groups in and around Bangkok have been dispersed but the operations are reported to have been largely peaceful.

One key flashpoint was the pro-government "red shirt" protest camp on Bangkok's western outskirts.

At the scene: The BBC's Jonah Fisher in Bangkok:

The military has been consolidating its position over the past several hours.

There aren't soldiers all over Bangkok tonight. It is a lot quieter, but that is because of the curfew. The way martial law has been handled over the past two days has not involved large deployments of soldiers - that has not been deemed necessary.

The military has concentrated its efforts around the protest camps - both pro- and anti-government - and that is what we have seen this evening. That is where it has deployed soldiers to the biggest effect, trying to make sure there is no reaction there to the declaration that the military is now in control.

Questions remain about sudden takeover

Hundreds of troops blocked cars from getting within 2km (1.2 miles) of the site - which was left eerily quiet as protesters packed up.

One of them, Eungkan, told Reuters news agency: "The troops came, the leaders left. We weren't scared. This coup will not help anyone; it won't help this country."

Thai soldiers guard the Democracy Monument in Bangkok
Reuters also quoted Phuttiphong Khamhaengphon, a red shirt leader from the north-eastern town of Khon Kaen as saying: "We are completely in the dark. We haven't had any orders or coordination yet."

Anti-government protesters were also seen packing up in central Bangkok.

There was heavy traffic on the streets of the capital as the curfew deadline loomed but they are now largely deserted.

The coup comes after months of escalating tensions
The army has staged at least 12 coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.

One Bangkok flower seller, Pinkaew Pipatada, 65, was witnessing a fourth coup and said: "I hope the soldiers have come out this time to solve the problem once and for all."

Television has been restricted to broadcasts by the military. The BBC, CNN and other channels are off air.

The military issued a second bulletin in the afternoon, spelling out the key points of the takeover:

Key coup conditions

Curfew nationwide from 22:00 to 05:00
Gen Prayuth to head ruling National Peace and Order Maintaining Council
Senate and courts to continue operating
2007 constitution suspended except for chapter on monarchy
Political gatherings of more than five people banned, with penalties of up to a one-year jail term, 10,000 baht ($307) fine, or both
Social media platforms could be blocked if they carry material with provocative content

The UN responded to the coup by expressing "serious concern", with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging a "prompt return to constitutional, civilian, democratic rule".

US Secretary of State John Kerry said the coup would have "negative implications" for US-Thai relations, particularly in the military sphere.

The UK urged "all sides to put aside their differences, and adhere to the values of democracy and the rule of law".

French President Francois Hollande condemned the coup and called for early elections.

Anti-government protesters pack up their camp in Bangkok ahead of the 22:00 curfew

Many of Bangkok's normally teeming neighbourhoods were empty
The latest unrest began in the Thai capital late last year, when Ms Yingluck dissolved the lower house of parliament.

A court ordered her removal for alleged abuse of power this month.

Thailand has faced a power struggle since Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted by the military as PM in 2006.

Mr Thaksin and Ms Yingluck have strong support in rural areas. They are opposed by many in the middle class and urban elite.

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Apple may use solar-charging touchscreens on future iPhones, iPads, or iWatches

A new patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office points to Apple taking a greener approach to powering its mobile devices. The patent, which is for an "integrated touch sensor and solar assembly," shows solar panels integrated into a mobile device's flexible display. The technique looks much like the solar touchscreens we saw at CES this year from SunPartner and 3M.

According to AppleInsider, the new configuration is a modified version of US Patent No. 8.730,179, which was filed in 2008. The previous version of the patent described integrating solar panels into touch-sensing components in a portable device. Since this was meant for the iPod, its applications in newer mobile devices is very limited.

The new patent describes a "solar cell stack-up configurations" that includes one or more touch sensor layers and one or more solar cell layers. The integration of touch sensors and the solar cells into a stack-up is meant to reduce the surface area of the device. According to the patent, this configuration may include light channels that allow light to enter the device and direct light to the solar panel.

While the technology seems promising, you should hold on to your chargers for a while longer. If and when this technology appears on an Apple product, don't expect to fully charge your phone by putting it under the sun. More likely, this would just add longevity to your battery life. 

"Using solar cells on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices with small form factors, however, poses certain technical and/or design problems. For example, the small size of the portable device means there is a small surface area which can be used for placing solar cells. This surface area is typically further reduced by other components that appear on the surfaces of the devices such as input devices and display devices. Since the maximum solar energy that can be produced from a solar panel is roughly proportional to the surface area of the solar cells, this reduces the amount of solar energy that may be gained from the solar panel," the patent read. 

There's no word yet on whether solar panels are meant for the iPhone or the iPad, though we've heard that it could come to a future iPhone. When we get an answer, it would be after Apple performs a technological leap. Right now, the company is said to be struggling finding a suitable power cell for future iPhone models.

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The end of grieving? PetMatch helps you replace your dead pet with a new replica

Still reeling from the loss of your beloved tiger cat Meow Man? Are you considering extreme alternatives like taxidermy and cloning, so that your furry friend stays with you forever? Leave the stuffing of dead animals to Norman Bates. Go download PetMatch to find a new adorable, adoptable friend that looks just like your old one.

Then you can call him Meow Man the Second.

The app uses a complex machine vision algorithm to help you find a new cat or dog that looks similar to the one you have lost. All you have to do is upload a good picture of your pet to the app and PetMatch will find matches with similar characteristics in your area. The app analyzes the geometry of your pet's face, taking the distance between its eyes, nose, mouth, and other features like coat and eye color into account. After a second or two, PetMatch shows you the results.

For those of you searching for a Grumpy Cat or Lil Bub look-alike, PetMatch has got you covered. Searches for both of these iconic cats turned up some pretty decent results. Of course, no cat can compete with Grumpy's scowl or Lil Bub's cute poky tongue.

You can use any picture of your pet, but some images turn up better results than others. For example, if you use a picture of your cat in a strange pose, your PetMatch results might include a labrador and a parakeet instead of cats. The app is good at matching you with adoptable rabbits, but when you throw a picture of a human at it, the app doesn't quite know what to do.

For those of you who were hoping to find a replacement girlfriend, sorry; PetMatch won't be any help. I mean really, do I look like a dog to you? Wait. Don't answer that. 

Superfish, the company that made PetMatch, has already raised $20 million for the app's development and is hiring PhDs from MIT and Stanford faster than you can say woof. PetMatch may sound like some sort of absurd joke, but the PhDs behind the app and its funders think it's a great idea. Not only does PetMatch help you skip right past all that grief nonsense, it lets you save a cute kitten or puppy in the process. All of the pet matches you see are ready to be adopted.

You can download PetMatch for free on iPhone.

(Image © Savvy Kay Photography via Shutterstock)

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Lennon parts company with Celtic

Neil Lennon has confirmed he has left Celtic after four years as manager and will help the club find his successor.

It is understood the former club captain had been considering his position for some time despite securing a third straight Scottish title.

The 42-year-old Northern Irishman told Celtic's website: "I have supported Celtic all my life and the club will always be part of me.

"However, I feel the time is now right to move on to a new challenge."

Lennon's statement came after meetings with his representative, Martin Reilly, and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell.

"It was an absolute honour to play for this great club, to captain the team and, of course, to become Celtic manager, a position which I cherished dearly," he said.

"Of course, I am very pleased that I will be leaving Celtic as Scottish champions and with the club in such good health.

"I wish the club nothing but good fortune going forward. I will now assist the club in appointing my successor."

Lennon took charge of the Glasgow club, who have yet to comment on the departure, in 2010, leading them to three league titles and two Scottish Cups.

He also took Celtic to the Champions League last 16, with a victory over Barcelona in November 2012 his side's most high-profile achievement.

However, he had concerns about his playing budget for next season and is believed to have feared his present side would be unable to negotiate three rounds of qualifying.

Celtic chairman Ian Bankier had nothing but praise for the departing manager.

"Neil has given a huge part of his life to serving the club and we will always be grateful for all he has given us," he said.

"Ultimately, Neil brought Celtic back to the top of Scottish football, re-introducing the passion and drive which we needed to succeed and, of course, keeping us there for the last three years.

"Neil has shown the club a huge level of commitment and effort over his four years as manager."

With Lennon on a rolling contract, there had been annual speculation about his future and he is thought to have been close to leaving the club last summer.

West Bromwich Albion were believed to be aware of his availability before pursuing other targets, but are again seeking a new manager after the departure of Pepe Mel.

Lennon has often expressed his desire to eventually manage in the Premier League in England, but has been linked with the vacancy at relegated Norwich City.

Your device is not currently supported
Neil Lennon's managerial career at Celtic
Former Celtic defender Malky Mackay, sacked by Cardiff City last season, remains favourite to take charge at Carrow Road, with the Canaries having also interviewed fellow ex-Watford boss Gianfranco Zola and Neil Adams, who was given the job until the end of the season after Chris Hughton's exit.

Mackay will be among those linked with the vacancy at Celtic Park, although the early favourite with bookmakers is former Hoops striker Henrik Larsson, currently in charge of Swedish outfit Falkenbergs.

Speculation had heightened this summer about Lennon's position after his assistant, Johan Mjallby, confirmed he was leaving to "seek some different opportunities".

While Lennon's representative said that the Northern Irishman had "nothing lined up" at another club, Lawwell wished him future success.

"When we appointed Neil as manager, we did so knowing exactly what the club meant to him and knowing that he would give all he had to the job," said the chief executive.

"He has delivered great success to our supporters domestically and has brought us back to the table in European football.

"We now embark on a new and exciting chapter for the club."

A former midfielder who started his senior career with Glenavon in his homeland, Lennon played for Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra and Leicester City before joining Celtic in 2000.

He had a seven-year spell as a player at Celtic Park and returned as first-team coach in 2008 after short spells with Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers before taking over as manager in 2010 after time as caretaker boss.

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LG G3 Rumors and News: Leaked slides give us a better look at the specifications

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Apple may use solar-charging touchscreens on future iPhones, iPads, or iWatches

A new patent granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office points to Apple taking a greener approach to powering its mobile devices. The patent, which is for an "integrated touch sensor and solar assembly," shows solar panels integrated into a mobile device's flexible display. The technique looks much like the solar touchscreens we saw at CES this year from SunPartner and 3M.

According to AppleInsider, the new configuration is a modified version of US Patent No. 8.730,179, which was filed in 2008. The previous version of the patent described integrating solar panels into touch-sensing components in a portable device. Since this was meant for the iPod, its applications in newer mobile devices is very limited.

The new patent describes a "solar cell stack-up configurations" that includes one or more touch sensor layers and one or more solar cell layers. The integration of touch sensors and the solar cells into a stack-up is meant to reduce the surface area of the device. According to the patent, this configuration may include light channels that allow light to enter the device and direct light to the solar panel.

While the technology seems promising, you should hold on to your chargers for a while longer. If and when this technology appears on an Apple product, don't expect to fully charge your phone by putting it under the sun. More likely, this would just add longevity to your battery life. 

"Using solar cells on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices with small form factors, however, poses certain technical and/or design problems. For example, the small size of the portable device means there is a small surface area which can be used for placing solar cells. This surface area is typically further reduced by other components that appear on the surfaces of the devices such as input devices and display devices. Since the maximum solar energy that can be produced from a solar panel is roughly proportional to the surface area of the solar cells, this reduces the amount of solar energy that may be gained from the solar panel," the patent read. 

There's no word yet on whether solar panels are meant for the iPhone or the iPad, though we've heard that it could come to a future iPhone. When we get an answer, it would be after Apple performs a technological leap. Right now, the company is said to be struggling finding a suitable power cell for future iPhone models.
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This Kid Does Michael Jackson Better Than Michael Jackson’s Hologram

We'd hate to be the act that followed him. Michael Jackson's hologram had better watch himself: there's a new kid on the block, ready to kick his computer-generated butt in a dance-off.



This video from the Pitman High School Talent Rally in Turlock, California shows a shaggy-haired teenager absolutely crushing the competition to the beat of "Billie Jean", popping his pelvis and moonwalking as smoothly as the King of Pop ever did, while the crowd goes wild behind him. Who is this masked white-gloved lord of the dance?

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Miley Cyrus Posted The World’s Most Frightening Bathtub Selfies I will not be sleeping peacefully tonight.

celebrity in today's "WTF" world news, Miley Cyrus has posted selfies that I will never, ever unsee. Someone is having a little too much fun in the tub.



Yes, Miley, you're a "freakkkk." You win.



I'm pretty sure that pineapple is in the original photo. Why are you bathing with a pineapple, Miley? That cannot be good for your exposed delicate areas.



You know what, nevermind the pineapple. Sleep is overrated.

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Bella Thorne Responds To Miley And Selena Comparisons: ‘I Really Don’t Care’

The Disney star says she's carving out her own path.



If it makes you feel any better, Bella Thorne, you're in very good company.



Just like when Miley Cyrus was called out for mimicking Hilary Duff's career back in the day — or Lady Gaga for copying Madonna, or Beyoncé for being a little too Rihanna at the Grammy Awards — Thorne has recently felt the burn of constant comparisons to other artists. However, the 16-year-old Disney Channel star swears that whatever Miley (or Selena, or Demi) is doing has had no effect on her career trajectory.



"I don't think about anything close to that," Thorne told Billboard . "I don't think, 'Well, Miley went this way, and Selena went that way, so I have to go in the middle.' That's not it. I'm just being me. My song is called 'Call It Whatever.' You can call me whatever, if you like me or not like me. I really don't care."



To be fair, it's pretty easy to see how those who can't tell their Selenas from their Demis draw these comparisons. Just like many of her Disney sisters before her, Bella is breaking out of the Mouse House with some PG-13 film roles, and a debut album that will drop later this summer. However, Thorne insists that the album will still appeal to the fans in her Disney demographic — which isn't necessarily something you can say about, you know, Miley.



" 'Call It Whatever' is my youngest-sounding song," Thorne continued. "This song is definitely for my younger audience. I don't want to eliminate them, but my album is geared a little bit older. I have some more indie type of songs, some hip-hop, some with an 80s feel, and I have dance music on there."



Sounds great — and if "We Can't Stop" comparing Bella to Miley, we'd better "Slow Down" before she takes a "Wrecking Ball" to a "Skyscraper," or something.

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Facebook offers ‘Privacy Checkup,’ changes your posts so they aren’t public

Since when is Facebook concerned about user privacy? Facebook has a very bad reputation when it comes to user privacy, but now it seems that the social network is starting to take the criticism to heart. On Thursday, Facebook introduced several new privacy features, including a change to default posting settings and the addition of a "Privacy Checkup."

Facebook added the ability to post publicly back in 2009. Unbeknownst to most users, the default posting setting was "Public." Now, Facebook has changed the default to "Friends Only," ensuring that no one accidentally shares posts with the general public anymore. Finally, Facebook is putting that choice back into the hands of each individual user. In fact, Facebook will encourage users to keep their posts just between friends with little pop up windows that will prompt users to make the choice.

The icon that lets you choose between making a post viewable by the public or your just friends used to be hidden at the bottom of the screen as a small image. Now, in the mobile app, that selector has been moved to the top of the post and clearly says "Friends" or "Public," letting you know the choice is in your hands – not Facebook's. The selector is also more clearly marked on the Web version of Facebook. These new selectors will start rolling out in the coming weeks for testing.

In addition to the new selector tools and changed default setting, Facebook has also added a "Privacy Checkup" feature, which allows users to see what information apps are using and sharing from your account. It also shows you with whom you are sharing posts. Facebook will also soon add the new "Anonymous Login" feature that was announced at the F8 developer conference. The new feature will allow users to log into apps anonymously, so that they can test them out before they commit to sharing their personal Facebook data. 

Facebook will also add an updated control panel, where you can view all the permissions you have given to third-party apps. The new control panel will give you more control over what information from your profile you choose to share with each individual app using Facebook login. All of these updates will continue rolling out to users in the next few weeks.

Facebook will still undoubtedly collect and share your data with advertisers and other slightly unsavory characters, but now the social network will at least grant its users the semblance of control and privacy.

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Emma Stone Knows What Part Of A Cat You Think She Smells Like

The actress joined other celebs for the latest installment of 'Celebs Read Mean Tweets.'



The seventh installment of Jimmy Kimmel's "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets" series is here! And as always, we don't know whether to laugh or cry as we watch celebs like Emma Stone, Matthew McConaughey and Kit Harington reading aloud the nasty things that internet users have said about them.



…Well, okay, that's not entirely true. Watching Matthew McConaughey musing out loud over the possible definition of the phrase "d–k turd" is definitely worth a chuckle.



In addition to Emma Stone (who "looks like she smells like cat piss," according to one Twitter user) and Kit Harington (hashtagged with "#badcasting"), the video features a slew of Oscar-winning and -nominated actors including Julia Roberts, June Squibb, Andy Garcia and Don Cheadle.



Our favorite parts: the cute way that Emma screws up her nose when she gets to her assigned tweet's excretory flourish, and June Squibb's pleasant, grandmotherly suggestion that her insult twitterer do something unprintable.

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Bella Thorne Responds To Miley And Selena Comparisons: ‘I Really Don’t Care’

The Disney star says she's carving out her own path.

If it makes you feel any better, Bella Thorne, you're in very good company.

Just like when Miley Cyrus was called out for mimicking Hilary Duff's career back in the day — or Lady Gaga for copying Madonna, or Beyoncé for being a little too Rihanna at the Grammy Awards — Thorne has recently felt the burn of constant comparisons to other artists. However, the 16-year-old Disney Channel star swears that whatever Miley (or Selena, or Demi) is doing has had no effect on her career trajectory.

"I don't think about anything close to that," Thorne told Billboard . "I don't think, 'Well, Miley went this way, and Selena went that way, so I have to go in the middle.' That's not it. I'm just being me. My song is called 'Call It Whatever.' You can call me whatever, if you like me or not like me. I really don't care."

To be fair, it's pretty easy to see how those who can't tell their Selenas from their Demis draw these comparisons. Just like many of her Disney sisters before her, Bella is breaking out of the Mouse House with some PG-13 film roles, and a debut album that will drop later this summer. However, Thorne insists that the album will still appeal to the fans in her Disney demographic — which isn't necessarily something you can say about, you know, Miley.

" 'Call It Whatever' is my youngest-sounding song," Thorne continued. "This song is definitely for my younger audience. I don't want to eliminate them, but my album is geared a little bit older. I have some more indie type of songs, some hip-hop, some with an 80s feel, and I have dance music on there."

Sounds great — and if "We Can't Stop" comparing Bella to Miley, we'd better "Slow Down" before she takes a "Wrecking Ball" to a "Skyscraper," or something.
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Facebook offers ‘Privacy Checkup,’ changes your posts so they aren’t public

Since when is Facebook concerned about user privacy? Facebook has a very bad reputation when it comes to user privacy, but now it seems that the social network is starting to take the criticism to heart. On Thursday, Facebook introduced several new privacy features, including a change to default posting settings and the addition of a "Privacy Checkup."

Facebook added the ability to post publicly back in 2009. Unbeknownst to most users, the default posting setting was "Public." Now, Facebook has changed the default to "Friends Only," ensuring that no one accidentally shares posts with the general public anymore. Finally, Facebook is putting that choice back into the hands of each individual user. In fact, Facebook will encourage users to keep their posts just between friends with little pop up windows that will prompt users to make the choice.

The icon that lets you choose between making a post viewable by the public or your just friends used to be hidden at the bottom of the screen as a small image. Now, in the mobile app, that selector has been moved to the top of the post and clearly says "Friends" or "Public," letting you know the choice is in your hands – not Facebook's. The selector is also more clearly marked on the Web version of Facebook. These new selectors will start rolling out in the coming weeks for testing.

In addition to the new selector tools and changed default setting, Facebook has also added a "Privacy Checkup" feature, which allows users to see what information apps are using and sharing from your account. It also shows you with whom you are sharing posts. Facebook will also soon add the new "Anonymous Login" feature that was announced at the F8 developer conference. The new feature will allow users to log into apps anonymously, so that they can test them out before they commit to sharing their personal Facebook data. 

Facebook will also add an updated control panel, where you can view all the permissions you have given to third-party apps. The new control panel will give you more control over what information from your profile you choose to share with each individual app using Facebook login. All of these updates will continue rolling out to users in the next few weeks.

Facebook will still undoubtedly collect and share your data with advertisers and other slightly unsavory characters, but now the social network will at least grant its users the semblance of control and privacy.
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From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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