Latest Apple Rumors: iPhone in September, iPad Mini in August

The week wouldn't be complete without a new Apple rumor, or at least an update to an existing one. The news today: Apple's next iPhone will reportedly launch in September and a 7-inch iPad will landing in August, according to Digitimes.

• Link to Story

Hot sauce ingredient reduces 'beer belly' fat as a weight-loss surgery alternative

The ingredient that gives hot sauce its heat could play a role in the future of weight loss.

• Link to Story

Why Not Just Stuff Vending Machines With Healthy Snacks Instead Of Junk?

I remember an episode of My So-Called Life where Rayanne was trying to get an apple out of a vending machine at school and thinking, "That would be great. Why aren't there more healthy vending machines? I'd eat an apple with Jordan Catalano.* " Seems one school district in Dallas also saw that episode and is trying out just such an idea to promote healthy eating among its students. While it's not an all-carrot vending machine, or even an apple machine a la MSCL, the offerings from the Fresh Healthy Vending machine at the Academy of Dallas Charter School are healthier than your average candy bars, cookies and chips. School officials put the new machine in the cafeteria as part of a healthy eating initiative, reports CBS DFW News. "We have growing concerns about what our students are eating, with childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes," explained the principal. "So, we wanted to bring something into the school that gets students moving and teaches them appropriate eating habits." The franchise owners of Fresh Healthy Vending in Dallas County says kids didn't quite get it at first. "When we installed the machine, we had a kid joke, 'What's going in there, apples and oranges?' And we laughed," said one owner, "because kids don't realize when you snack, it's still snacks, but it's so healthy." There are sweet and savory snack options, but the products don't have artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, and the ingredients are all natural. "All organic, gluten-free products. All the products are just better for you," said the franchise's other owner. "It's going in schools, businesses all throughout the City of Dallas." Students are digging it thus far, as well, which is the important part when it comes to changing unhealthy eating habits early on. "It's actually better," said one, with another adding, "It also tastes really good. My mom said the same thing, because I used to eat a lot of junk food. And she says if you start early, you won't be able to stop later on." *I would totally still eat an apple with fictional character Jordan Catalano any day. Company Offers Healthy Vending Machine Food [CBS DFW]

• Link to Story

Soybeans soaked in warm water naturally release key cancer-fighting substance

Soybeans soaking in warm water could become a new "green" source for production of a cancer-fighting substance now manufactured in a complicated and time-consuming industrial process, scientists are reporting.

• Link to Story

Is Traveling After Graduation a Good Idea When You're Unemployed?

I've seen a lot of advice for new grads, but there's one that often pops up - travel after graduation. Personally, I'm a little bit torn on that advice. I think it's good to take a trip after graduation (if you can afford it) only if you've secured a job for yourself. Although a trip is a nice break, it may just serve as a distraction for job seekers. Further, the money you're spending on the trip can be socked away to your emergency fund, which may certainly come into good use if you find yourself unable to find a job for a good while. That's not to say that you shouldn't take any travel breaks. A short weekend trip to somewhere close by won't disrupt your job hunt nor drain your wallet. However, I can see the appeal of traveling after you've graduated. Taking a trip can get you out of the gloomy job-hunt rut, and you'll be spending money on experiences, not material possessions. What's your opinion: is it a good idea for new grads to travel even if they haven't secured employment? Source: Flickr User Todd Huffman Is Traveling After Graduation a Good Idea When You're Unemployed? Yes - Everyone deserves a break. No - You should focus on your job hunt.

• Link to Story

Dolphin speaker to enhance study of dolphin vocalizations and acoustics

To gain new insights into how dolphins communicate, researchers in Japan created a prototype of an extremely broadband “dolphin speaker” capable of projecting dolphins’ communication sounds, whistles, burst-pulse sounds, as well as detection sounds such as echolocation clicks.

• Link to Story

TV stations explore broadcasting to phone, tablets

New ventures Syncbak, Dyle, Mobile500 and Aereo are among those aiming their mobile digital TV technology at consumers who want to eliminate or reduce the cost of their cable or satellite subscriptions."It's watching TV in your car or on the train," says Colleen Fisher, CEO of TV station owner Fisher Communications. "There will be a time when consumers don't care how they get TV."•Syncbak, a Marion, Iowa-based company, has partnered with 60 stations nationwide to pilot its technology that streams via a free app to iPhone, iPad and Android devices. "The only thing missing after Netflix and Hulu was live broadcast TV," Syncbak CEO Jack Perry says.•Dyle, a joint venture of 12 TV station owners, plans to launch a service later this year that will broadcast local TV content over the air for free. Gannett, parent of USA TODAY, is a partner in the venture. Dyle's service for tablets will be available to iPad and Android users willing to pay for a small antenna that connects to the tablet. The broadcast service will be available on cellphones only to the customers of wireless carrier MetroPCS who own a Samsung 4G phone. Salil Dalvi, co-general manager of the Dyle venture and senior vice president of NBC Universal Digital Distribution, says Dyle may become a subscription service in the future.•Mobile500 Alliance, a joint venture of 50 TV station companies, plans to release an antenna and an iOS app (Mydtv) in the summer that will allow iPhone and iPad users to receive local TV station broadcast signals. At launch, it'll have about 40 stations nationwide that will broadcast through the Mydtv app, says Fisher, who also chairs the alliance. Content will be free, but the antenna will cost $50 to $100, she says.While broadcast TV content is free for users, copyright issues linger. Several broadcasters have sued Aereo, a start-up backed by IAC/Interactive Corp., citing copyright infringement related to its trial subscription service in the New York area.Aereo runs "a remote antenna farm" that receives local station broadcast and leases each antenna — about the size of a dime — to subscribers for $12 a month. Aereo customers download an Aereo app to access the TV content through the Internet.Chet Kanojia, Aereo's CEO, denies copyright violation and claims he simply leases antennas. But other companies that have sought to deliver TV via Internet — Filmon, Ivi.tv, iCravetv — have been blocked by lawsuits from content owners, says Dennis Wharton, executive vice president of communications for the National Association of Broadcasters. The lack of program options remains an issue. Only a small number of stations nationwide have signed on, meaning many consumers, particularly in small to midsize markets, will not be able to view network stations. Dalvi says the channel lineup will grow. Dyle has signed 91 stations in 35 markets.Future adoption also depends on viewing quality and consumers' willingness to watch TV on smaller screens, says Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics. "There might be a market for tablets, but people don't want to pay for it," he says.Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin Wordpress | Android Forums | Wordpress Tutorials

• Link to Story

Springwise: City Of London Urges Workers To Run Home

'Home Run' offers alternative transportation method that improve fitness and alleviate overcrowding on the tube.

• Link to Story

Paralyzed Patient Moves Robot With Their Mind

Scientists in Switzerland have demonstrated a robot that can be controlled by a quadriplegic wearing an EEG cap fitted with electrodes.

• Link to Story

Are Moms Taking Over The Blogosphere? [Infographic]

H&R Block takes a look at the ascent of these online moms and provides a Top 10 of those with the most power and reach.

• Link to Story

Innovative Laptop Cleans The Air In Your Work Space

The Japanese electronics maker debuts a new line of ultrathin laptops, even one equipped with an air filtration system to purify the in your home or office.

• Link to Story

Sorry, No Dentist Pulled Out All of Her Ex-Boyfriend's Teeth

Remember that delicious "hell hath no fury" story about an angry dentist in Poland who pulled out all of her ex-boyfriend's teeth? You may be shocked to learn that it didn't really happen. The story — which came complete with names and funny quotes, but no pictures or video — began with a report in the U.K.'s Daily Mail last month, then lit up the internet, getting picked up by nearly every major news outlet including Pulitzer Prize winners like The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and others like Fox News and The New York Post. It was such a great story that it was almost too good check ... until MSNBC.com's Erin Tennant decided to actually check it and came up empty. Tennant called some police departments in Poland and discovered there was no such crime being investigated. There is also no dental practitioner named Anna Maćkowiak anywhere in the nation's registry of dentists. (By the way, MSNBCN.com and their network partner, MSN spread the story as well.) So it just goes to prove the old maxim that you should "never trust thinly-sourced stories about weird things that happened to unknown people in Eastern European countries without a little more evidence." Still, it wouldn't hurt to be nicer to your dentist and your girlfriend or boyfriend.  Photo non-Polish dentist by Sheff via Shutterstock

• Link to Story

The Tyranny of Butt-Dialing Ends Now

After coming across the alarming statistic that forty percent of the New York City's 911 calls came from "butt dials" we were baffled that people still keep phones so near their butts, as this is generally a very bad idea.  We figured America had long since recognized that the back pocket is one of the least ideal places to store a fragile electronic device, but 4 million of the 10.4 million accidental 911 calls this year came from butts according to numbers provided by the city and reported in The New York Daily News. Or at least enough of them did for "butt dial" to act as the common man's term for these inadvertent calls. And imagine how many other non-911 numbers our tushes dialed this year alone. Guys, butt dialing shouldn't happen, because cell phones should be nowhere near your butts.  The back pocket is an unreasonable place to keep one's phone for more reasons than just the occasional accidental phone call. Here are just a few reasons we stopped storing our cells back there. Butts often sit down on hard surfaces, which can crush or crack fragile electronics. The back pocket gets awfully close to the toilet. Water is bad for electronics -- learned that one the hard way ... twice. Your butt looks like it has a goiter.  It hurts to sit on a plastic block. There are a lot of other, better places to keep a phone, where it is less susceptible to getting smashed up against chairs or falling into water. Like, front pockets or purses or backpacks.  Perhaps, even after reading these rational points, you refuse to remove the phone from that back pocket. Okay, fine. But, then let's work on the dialing part. Dumb or smart, most phones these days have screen locks of some sort. It takes far too many swipes and codes to butt dial an iPhone or Android with the screen off. But that requires the user click the little button that turns the screen off after usage. Do that! Flip-phoners probably encounter this issue far less, as the clamshell protects the keys. So if you insist on staying low-tech, consider a less naked phone. So many solutions.  Why are we so passionate about this issue? Not only are empty calls and 8 minute voicemails an annoying time-suck, but being on the receiving end of a butt-dial is soul-crushing. You feel wanted, until you realize you're a mistake. Also, it's probably a hassle for the police, who had to sift through 4 million butt calls, rather than deal with the other 6.4 million legitimate emergency calls.  Image via Shutterstock by dukibu

• Link to Story

Is YouTube Killing the Viral Video Star?

As YouTube continues to ramp up original programming and push for its partner channels, viral video stars of the past are beginning to feel the heat. At the web culture conference ROFLcon, Matt Harding (Where the Hell Is Matt?), Judson Laipply (“Evolution of Dance”), Liam Sullivan (“Shoes“) and DeShawn Ray (Parody Rap Battle) discussed their fame on YouTube and how the platform’s recent changes have affected them, for better or worse. All of the panelists were making videos before YouTube launched in 2005, and some didn’t discover their video’s success until it was brought to their attention. “You have that one thing that makes you memorable,” says Judson Laipply, whose “Evolution of Dance” was at one point the most-viewed video on YouTube. “I was not an online person at all,” says Sullivan, explaining that a friend had to tell him when his video went viral. In fact, Sullivan didn’t even put his video on YouTube — someone had taken it from his website. Before Google acquired YouTube in 2006, creators relied on brand sponsorships for their video to be monetized. Harding, who was sponsored by Stride, says that he was fortunate to have creative freedom from the corporate company. “[Stride] said ‘We really like what you do, we want you to do it again for us and we don’t want to change anything about it,’” says Harding. “Every company would say that, but very few sincerely mean it.” Today, creative ad agencies and social media departments within companies are more likely to just create videos themselves. YouTube has a partner program, a revenue-sharing platform that pays users a portion of money for ad clicks. SEE ALSO: Entertainment in Flux: How Nerdist Stays Ahead of the Curve These channels and partnerships create consistency, something Laipply notes is YouTube’s advantage when it comes to marketers. “They don’t want one video to get a million views; they want somebody to put out a video a week for 40 weeks that gets a million views per video,” says Laipply. “It creates a mutual audience, and audiences are always easier to sell marketers on.” Now production studios pool together YouTube talent, providing the resources to make content. Maker Studios is one of the most well-known of these companies. Some of its services include production, management, distribution, sales and marketing. “It’s like old Hollywood right now,” says Sullivan, who now works with Maker Studios. “You get together with all these other people, and you make all the stuff you want to make that the big studios would say no to.” According to Maker Studios’ co-founder, Lisa Nova, the company was founded on the belief that YouTube is the future of entertainment — partly because of advanced tech. “Our belief in the YouTube platform has only been strengthened and supported with technologies like connected TVs that further blur the lines between TV and the Internet,” says Nova. “We see the devices as one in the same, as our content can be seen on both online and through connected TVs.” Do you think there’s a future for viral video stars? Share your thoughts in the comments. Image courtesy of Liam Sullivan More About: features, ROFLcon, viral videos, YouTube, youtube partnership programFor more Social Media coverage:Follow Mashable Social Media on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Social Media channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

• Link to Story

Anti-theft sensors could open car windows to save life

Infrared anti-theft sensors in cars could be programmed to wind down windows if they detect movement inside, preventing child and animal heatstroke deaths

• Link to Story

Magically Levitating Balls Could Be the Future of Computer Interfaces [Video]

Until we can activate our computers by simply addressing them (think more "Scotty to the Enterprise computer" than "Samuel L Jackson to Siri"), we'll just have to rely on MIT Media Lab's new floating-point system to talk to the machines. More »

• Link to Story

Bigger Words Make Emotions More Intense [Science]

Scientists have shown that words printed in larger font sizes elicit a stronger emotional response. A report, published in PLoS ONE, has show that reading all kinds of words—positive, neutral, or negative—printed in larger fonts causes higher electrical potential in the brain than when words are printed in smaller fonts. Those increased voltages are experienced as more extreme, longer-lasting emotions. The researchers suggest that our reaction to large words may be a result of an ancient, biological response, through which things that are larger subconsciously appear closer, and as such are treated with more caution. No word yet on how the brain responds to blinky text. [PLoS ONE] More »

• Link to Story

President Obama Wants Campaign Song Requests for Spotify Playlist

President Obama will now take your song requests. President Obama’s team has set up a page on BarackObama.com for voters to submit potential campaign songs that could be added to his Obama 2012 Supporter Picks playlist on Spotify. “As we head into rally season, what music gets you fired up?” the page asks. “Submit your favorite tracks below, and you could see them on the Obama 2012 Supporter Picks playlist on Spotify.” Spotify is a music streaming site that gives users free access to millions of tracks on their computers and mobile devices. It also allows users to create playlists, see what their friends are listening to and to download third-party apps to discover everything from song lyrics to recommendations. SEE ALSO: Obama Supports Gay Marriage, ABC Breaks News Online Obama’s team is no stranger to using Spotify to get the word out about his campaign and connecting with supporters. In February, they introduced their first playlist which featured songs from a variety of artists, from Bruce Springsteen and Earth Wind & Fire to No Doubt, Florence + The Machine and Sugarland. It also featured “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green, which Obama sang a few weeks earlier at the Apollo Theater in New York. In other presidential news, Obama also declared his support for same-sex marriage in an interview with ABC News Wednesday. Which songs do you think are good for political campaigns? Let us know in the comments. More About: Facebook, Mobile, Music, president obama, spotify, Twitter, U.S. presidential election

• Link to Story

Facebook could lead to financial stress

Could constantly logging on to Facebook lead to financial stress? According to a recent report, people may feel a sense of financial failure when they look at all of the things their friends are able to do.

• Link to Story

Facebook Is Making Its Own App Store Called App Center [Facebook]

Facebook just announced that its making a new app store called App Center that will help Facebook users download apps on any platform—Facebook, the web, iOS, Android, etc. App Center will work over the web and on Facebook iOS and Android apps too. More »

• Link to Story