Sunday, 18 March 2012

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Sunday, March 18, 2012
TRENDING STORIES IN TECH & GADGETS
Was This Apple's Best Week Ever?
New iPad: Worth the Wait? [VIDEO]
The New iPad Is a Pure Joy [REVIEW]
ALL STORIES IN TECH & GADGETS

AT&T Loses Throttling Case, Pays $935 to Customer
Saturday, March 17, 2012 3:53 PMAlissa Skelton

AT&T decided to pay up after a California small claims court judge ruled it was unfair to throttle a cellphone data plan advertised as unlimited.

Matt Spaccarelli, 39, challenged AT&T in February after he noticed his 4G network wasn't operating as fast as it should. Spaccarelli is among the 5% of AT&T customers who use the most data. He told the court speeds slowed once he used 1.5GB to 2GB of data after the billing cycle began.

The judge said slowing down data violated AT&T's unlimited data plan terms and ordered AT&T pay $850 plus $85 for court costs.

The cellphone provider initially said it planned to appeal the ruling, but decided to pay Spaccarelli late Friday afternoon. He tweeted a picture of his check for $935:

It's official! I win! Thanks for all the support. @ATT @petersvensson @Team_Shep #netneutrality #throttling twitter.com/matthewspacc/s.— Matt Spaccarelli(@matthewspacc) March 17, 2012

In an email, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel confirmed AT&T wrote a check to Spaccarelli, but would not comment further.

AT&T is still throttling Spaccarelli's phone -- he had a .31 Mbps download speed on Saturday -- but he considers the court ruling a win. He said he plans to use the money to shut off his cellphone service before his contract is up and to go to the AT&T stockholders meeting in April in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"To me the check means AT&T didn't stand a chance in the appeal," Spaccarelli said. "If they did, they wouldn't have paid me."

AT&T's pay-up decision comes after the company offered to settle the case. AT&T asked Spaccarelli to sign a non-disclosure agreementthat threatened to shut off his phone service for tethering. Spaccarelli refused to sign the agreement.

"It isn't about the money," Spaccarelli said. "It's about getting the service I'm paying for. I pay $130 per month and with that I expect a little bit of reasonableness. "

SEE ALSO: Your Bandwidth Will Be Throttled. Here's Why.

Both AT&T and Verizon throttle users who gobble up the most data. About 17 million AT&T customers have unlimited data plans, according to the Associated Press. Small claims court is the only legal route that has been successful for challenging AT&T's throttling policies. A Supreme Court case last year ruled AT&T does not have to allow class action lawsuits, so customers can't rally in court for a policy change on throttling.

AT&T put limits on its "unlimited" data plans earlier this month. The company said 3G and 4G customers who use more than 3GB during a billing cycle will experience slowing speeds and 4G LTE customers won't be allowed more than 5GB. Even with the change, AT&T says 95% of its smartphone customers won't be throttled.

Spaccarelli said he has found a way to avoid slow speeds. He bought a second iPhone and plugged in a SIM card from Straight Talk, a reseller. He said the download speed is 3.83 Mbps on a AT&T 3G network. "Not bad for paying $45 per month for unlimited talking, texting, data and no contract," Spaccarelli said.



SpaceX Prepares Dragon Spacecraft for Human Flight [PICS]
Saturday, March 17, 2012 3:06 PMCharlie White

SpaceX is preparing a spacecraft to accommodate seven astronauts on its first flight. With the goal of sending a manned Dragon spacecraft first to the International Space Station, the company's built a prototype of the capsule, including seven comfy seats for those lucky voyageurs.

SpaceX, a company run by PayPal cofounder and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, hopes to soon pick up where NASA's 30-year shuttle program left off last July. With a little help from NASA, the company's designing the spacecraft's seating, lighting, storage spaces and environmental controls for the comfort and safety of its crew.

As you can see in the gallery below, this is not a tiny tin can where astronauts are crammed in like sardines -- the company says Dragon's big enough for seven adults that are up to 6'5" tall and weigh 250 pounds. There's enough room in the capsule for three others to stand and help the astronauts get comfortable in preparation for their mission.

Brags SpaceX on its website, "In fact, Dragon has so much interior volume, that we could place an entire three-person Russian Soyuz capsule descent module inside Dragon's pressure vessel."

How long will it be until this relatively large spacecraft -- atop its mighty Falcon 9 booster rocket -- makes it to the International Space Station? The company's not ready for human spaceflight just yet -- the first step is to send an unmanned cargo version of the Dragon spacecraft filled with supplies to the International Space Station, a mission that was originally scheduled for February 7 of this year.

The company announced Friday it is aiming for a April 30 launch with plans for docking with the space station on May 3, according Aero News. Although this upcoming mission will test maneuverability and docking, a first for a privately developed spacecraft. SpaceX has contracted two cargo missions for this year, the first of which is tentatively scheduled for July. In all, SpaceX has 16 flights on its manifest through 2015.

So far, SpaceX has successfully flown the Falcon 9 rocket with the SpaceX Dragon capsule on top, in a mission on December 8, 2010. The spacecraft orbited the earth at an altitude of around 190 miles for three hours, and the company was able to test its maneuverability before it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Earlier this month, the Dragon spacecraft and its Falcon booster passed a crucial test, a dress rehearsal for its unmanned first voyage to the International Space Station.

Do you think private space exploration will be as successful as NASA's exploits?

Take a look at this gallery of the interior of the Dragon spacecraft and some of its other attributes:



76 New and Hot Stories You Might Have Missed
Saturday, March 17, 2012 1:23 PMChristine Erickson

It's been a tough week for some of us to get back into the work groove after a week of networking parties at SXSW (First-World problems?) but never fear, because it's the weekend again and we've rounded up this week's features for you right here.

If you didn't get to attend SXSW, be sure to catch up on our coverage of the event -- there are photos, panels and infographics listed below. The new iPad also grabbed our attention this week, after months of speculation and waiting.

To get you in the St. Patrick's Day spirit, we've got a couple things for you. What's at the end of the rainbow? A pot of this week's social media resources!

Editor's Picks

How Iceland Is Rebuilding Its Economy With Social Media

We travel to Iceland to give you an exclusive look at how the country is using social media and tech to rebuild an economy.

Mashable Rocks SXSWi 2012/a>

Mashable's presence at SXSW this year was one to remember, thanks to our big party, food truck and special SXSWi newspaper edition.

New iPad: Everything You Need to Know

Now that the new iPad is here, we've rounded up all our coverage and resources for you in one place.

6 Things You Wish Your iPad Could Do for Business

Here's a roundup of tasks that businesspeople wish their iPad could do to make business more efficient.

The Best 'Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs' Parodies So Far

Internet satirists have already jumped on the "Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs" op-ed. Here are the best examples.

Social Media

KONY 2012: How Social Media Fueled the Most Viral Video of All Time

The Pew Internet and American Life Project investigated how KONY 2012 became the most viral video of all time.

Pinterest Scams on the Rise: Protect Yourself/a>

Pinterest scams have increased with the network's explosive growth, says an online security expert. Here's what to watch out for.

Top 3 Ways to Track the Republican Presidential Nomination Online

Check out these three websites with excellent interactive tools for keeping tabs on the all-important delegate race.

Foursquare on Facebook: Hands on With the New Timeline Integration

Foursquare is getting ready to release a new Facebook integration that puts a check-in scorecard on your Timeline.

How Rihanna Used a Groupon Strategy on Facebook to Launch Her Album

The pop star's "Rihanna Unlocked" campaign blew up social media. Check out how it worked.

SXSWi Award Winners Include Pinterest, Storify and a Few Surprises/a>

The 2012 SXSW Interactive Award Winners include a variety of unique sites, apps and services.

Who Dominated the Social Buzz on the Last Day of SXSWi?/a>

Here's a look at the trending topics on the final day of SXSWi.

Every Awesome Moment You Missed at SXSW/a>

Revel in a delectable gallery of unique images from SXSW 2012.

Consumers Believe Facebook Users Should be Older than Age 13 Requirement/a>

Although it is required by law for Facebook users to be at least 13 to join Facebook, some believe that age limit should be higher.

How to Track Traffic From Pinterest in Google Analytics

How many referrals does Pinterest generate? Are those visits valuable? Try these four ways to measure Pinterest using Google Analytics.

Why There Will Never Be One Social Network to Rule Them All

People aren't using just one social networking site -- they are embracing a dozen. When it comes to making quality connections, more is better.

20 TV Shows With the Most Social Media Buzz This Week/a>

Which TV shows generate the most buzz on social networks? Find out each week from our social TV chart.

How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Online

Check out this list of digital (and practical) resources to help plan a wedding.

What Men and Women Really Want, According to Social Media/a>

What do men and women say they want on social media? Analytics firm NetBase looked at 27 billion conversations over a year to discover that the sexes definitely have one thing in common: food!

SXSW 2012: Food Trumps Events on Social Media/a>

Food dominated the social conversation at SXSW this past weekend. Find out what other announcements and events had the social web in a tizzy.

See the Best SXSW Panels, Illustrated/a>

If you couldn't make it to Austin this year, and you're tired of following the hashtags, check out these sketches of what went down at some of the best SXSW panels.

What People Are Pinning on Pinterest

Home, Arts and Crafts, and Style/Fashion are the most popular categories on Pinterest, a third-party study indicates.

Do You Agree With Your Facebook Friends' Politics? Not Likely

A study has found that friends on social media don't always agree when it comes to politics.

10 Awesome Accessories to Organize Your Office

From cable management to tidying paperwork to writing implements, our stylish solutions will add some geek chic to your workspace.

Rainn Wilson Talks Altruism on the Web -- And Then Smashes a Guitar at SXSW

At a talk at SXSW 2012, Rainn Wilson discussed his website Soul Pancake and smashed a guitar onstage.

Top 10 Twitter Pics of the Week

If you're looking for the top 10 Twitter pics -- the most popular of last week, all concentrated together -- you've arrived.

SXSW Insights: What People Talked About on Saturday/a>

If there's one thing SXSW attendees love, it's talking about SXSW on their favorite social networks. We have specifics in this infographic.

Happy Birthday Chuck Norris: King of Internet Memes

To celebrate the manliest birthday in the world, we're providing you with the straight facts about Chuck Norris.

SXSW Tour: Rain, Food Trucks and Whimsical, Bizarre Promotions/a>

Are you at SXSW? Tweet your pics with the hashtag #mashsxsw, and we might include them in our roundups.

Dog Blogs: 15 Adorable Tumblrs for Canine Connoisseurs

We have picked our 15 favorite dog-themed Tumblrs, covering all kinds of canine capers.

Documentarians: KONY 2012 Achieved Its Goal

A SXSW panel of documentary makers addressed the effectiveness of KONY 2012 as social documentary.

For more social media news and resources, you can follow Mashable's social media channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Business & Marketing

Top 7 Tax Deductions for the Self-Employed

Learn about some of the key deductions available to freelancers or self-employed taxpayers with small or startup businesses.

12 Top Community Managers Share Their Tips for Better Engagement

Learn from 12 great community managers how to promote quality interaction with your fans and customers on social media.

Can a Startup Renaissance Fix Young America?

John Harthorne, CEO of MassChallenge, says we can alleviate youth unemployment through a "global startup renaissance."

How to Defeat the Social Media Skeptics in Your Company

When execs ask about the return on investment in social media, Jeff Hayzlett responds, "What's your return on ignoring?" Here's how to convince your company's skeptics that social media are worth their time.

Forget Touring: Can Musicians Make Money Singing on Skype?

Singer-songwriter Denison Witmer has embarked on his "Everywhere At Once" tour, where he plays songs for you live, via Skype, for $25. But it's not for everyone.

Making Fashion Personal: Macy's Smart Social Media Strategy

The retail brand's cross-platform and in-store tie-ins are designed to make customers feel personally styled. Here's how they do it.

How Facebook Sponsored Stories Can Boost Engagement

By incorporating social endorsement prominently into ads, Facebook sponsored stories are more relevant to the average user.

Yahoo's Facebook Lawsuit: Top 10 Twitter Responses

Yahoo's lawsuit against Facebook drew some heavy criticism on Twitter. Here are some of the best tweets.

Inside Tumblr's Memetastic New York HQ/a>

Take a peek into the microblogging site's colorful and busy NYC digs.

8 Best Practices for Food Brands on Pinterest

Food is a major topic on Pinterest. Learn how to use Pinterest to market your food brand, restaurant, dining blog and more.

Facebook's 6-Point Plan for Building Brands in the Social Media Age

Facebook recently published a study in conjunction with Forrester Research that found how brands have changed because of social media.

3 Ways to Woo a Startup Into Hiring You

Here are three stories of successful job searches that will inspire you to go above and beyond to score the gig of your dreams.

Survey: Telecommuting Becoming More Prevalent/a>

Working from home is not for everyone, but for many of us, it turns out to be more productive.

Pinterest's First Investor Explains the Secret to the Startup's Success

Pinterest's first investor, Brian Cohen, sat down with Mashable at SXSW 2012 to talk about the startup's path to today.

To Follow or Not To Follow: Should Small Businesses Follow Everyone Back on Twitter?

Is it wise for small businesses to follow back everyone on Twitter?

Beware: Top 10 Scams of the Year/a>

The Better Business Bureau has released this infographic, charting the biggest scams of 2011.

Here's What Happens When You Hate Your Job

Sometimes the place you thought you wanted to work is not the right fit. Here's how to recover from that job you hate.

Everything Your Employees Need to Know About Social Media/a>

This infographic explains how to train your employees to best represent your brand in social media.

For more business news and resources, you can follow Mashable's business channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Tech & Mobile

20 Most-Shared Guinness Ads on YouTube

In honor of St. Paddy's, check out the Irish brewery's top 20 most shared ads on YouTube.

'90s Tech Icons: Where Are They Now?

Let's catch up with some of the people that made '90s computers and Internet culture cool.

10 Best Beer Apps for St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's day is just around the wee bend. If you're preparing your belly for beer, check these 10 mobile apps for all things hop-related.

10 Classy Cases for Your New iPad

As the new iPad hits shop shelves across the world, let's take a look at 10 cases to match everyone's shiny new tablet.

Top Tech Buzzwords You Use But Can't Define/a>

The Global Language Monitor has released a list of the most confusing tech buzzwords of the decade, so far.

10 March Madness Brackets That Have Nothing to Do With Basketball

Not a fan of basketball? Don't worry, there's a bracket for you too.

Will Streaming March Madness Games Kill Your Office Network?

Streaming video of March Madness games at work has a large impact on office networks. Here's what to do.

10 Futuristic Products in Development Now

The future is here, and it's filled with all of the mind reading, car flying, robot powered inventions you can imagine.

Americans Don't Have Time For Slow Websites/a>

Got a minute? See how mere milliseconds of extra loading time can mean major lost revenue for websites and ecommerce companies.

How to Use Technology to Beat Obama's March Madness Bracket

The algorithm-based site Pick My Bracket might just help you win the Obama Bracket Challenge this March Madness.

SXSW 2012: Nothing You Expect, Everything You Need

Serendipity: That was the buzz word at this year's South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas. Here's an SXSW wrap-up.

Make Your Own Google Doodle, Origami StyleThe Google Doodle designer for the origami image is encouraging the public to re-create it by folding paper to create a real-life version.

7 Baller Apps to Follow March Madness Online

We've rounded up seven of our favorite apps to follow the March Madness activity.

7 City Parking Apps to Save You Time, Money and Gas

Check out these helpful apps that can ease the problem of trying to find parking on city streets.

Happy Pi Day: 10 Accessories for Math Geeks

We're geeking out with 10 awesome accessories that honor Pi!

How Intel Wants to Replace Your Cable Box

Intel plans to offer online access to U.S. TV cable channels, an invention Intel calls a "virtual cable operator."

The Radical Growth of the App Economy/a>

The mobile development boom hasn't just created Angry Birds -- it's also created thousands of jobs. Here's a look at the growth stats.

Why the iPad 2 is Far More Likely to Break than the Original iPad/a>

A survey by SquareTrade says the iPad 2 is far more likely to break than the original iPad. Will the new iPad be any different?

Homeless Hotspots: Not a Terrible Idea

Turning the homeless into wireless hotspots at SXSW has proven to be a controversial decision. But is it really such a bad thing?

3 Must-Have iPhone Apps for Business Travel

Are you constantly traveling for work? Here are three apps to make your jetsetter lifestyle much simpler.

Mobile Privacy: 5 Legal Concerns for Developers

Given recent FTC scrutiny, app developers should be conscious of how much data they collect from users. Heed these tips to stay ahead of the curve.

How One Man's Big Idea Changed Digital Map Making

Steve Coast made a single decision: Maps should be free for all. Eight years later, OpenStreetMap is changing the space like never before.

SXSW 2012: The Year of Infectious Optimism

South By Southwest Interactive conference couldn't dampen our spirits; it just made downtown Austin all the more sweet when the clouds finally parted on Sunday.

Doctors Believe Using Health Apps Will Cut Down on Visits/a>

Many doctors believe that accessing apps that keep track of your health will help cut down on doctor visits, a new report suggests.

How Cut the Rope Made it to Windows 8 Consumer Preview Edition

>Cut the Rope is one of the first apps to make it over to Microsft's Windows 8 Consumer Preivew. But how did it get there?

Entrepreneur Astronaut: Here's How You'll Get to Space

Richard Garriott, age 50, was the 483rd person to leave planet Earth -- and he'd like you to be one of the first thousand.

Top 10 Tech This Week/a>

In a week dominated by Apple's iPad event, there were a surprising number of fascinating tech products introduced at the same time -- we bring the best to you with the latest edition of Top 10 Tech This Week.

For more tech news and resources, you can follow Mashable's tech channel on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, johnwoodcock.



Happy Saint Patrick's Day: Celebrate With Google Doodles [PICS]
Saturday, March 17, 2012 11:16 AMAmy-Mae Elliott

Top of the morning to you! Today is Saint Patrick's Day and here at Mashable we're celebrating with a gallery of all the Doodles Google has ever posted on March 17.

There's plenty of different shades of green, a good few shamrocks and yes, you guessed it, a leprechaun or two to be spotted in our ultimate Saint Patrick's Day Google Doodle collection.

SEE ALSO: How to Animate Your Google+ Profile

So, don an oversized green hat, grab yourself a Guinness and take a look through our image gallery. Let us know in the comments below how you'll be celebrating St. Paddy's special day this year.



 
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