[Technology] Google Maps North Korea

Google Maps North Korea
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323375204578271201719130798.html
With the help of "citizen cartographers," Google Maps has filled in some of North Korea's streets and prison camps. The WSJ's Evan Ramstad gives a preview of some places the world's most reclusive nation would rather keep a secret.

Budget iPhone 5 will be plastic and 'ready for China'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/9833610/Budget-iPhone-5-will-be-plastic-and-ready-for-China.html
The new iPhone will reportedly resemble the iPhone 5 from the front but Apple will replace that handset's aluminium body with a cheaper plastic casing.

Twitter Vine porn: searches for explicit content banned on app
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jan/29/twitter-vine-porn-search-explicit-content-ban
Twitter is taking action against hardcore pornography on its new six-second video app, Vine, banning searches for explicit content and deleting X-rated users.

Microsoft Office 2013 Subscriptions: Like Or...
http://www.macworld.com.au/news/microsoft-can-start-printing-money-as-soon-as-it-launches-office-for-ios-85520/
Microsoft Office 2013 has a splash page with the hashtag: #Timeto365 and the news that January 29, 2013 will give you more time. The ubiquitous software and platform is moving to the cloud with a new subscription model.

Whatsapp rebuked over stored contacts privacy policy
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/telecom/WhatsApp-snooping-on-data-of-non-users-Investigation/articleshow/18234880.cms
The Whatsapp messaging app has been criticised after a joint investigation by Dutch and Canadian regulators. Investigators said that when smartphone owners installed the app it asked to access their address books.

Darpa looks to self-destruct devices
http://www.tgdaily.com/hardware-brief/69097-darpa-looks-to-self-destruct-devices
We're all used to seeing self-destructing messages in the movies; in real life, not so much. And Darpa, understandably, would prefer to avoid Hollywood's alternative method of disposing of redundant communications devices or sensors by eating them.

Acer Group: Shipments of Chromebooks Turn Out to Be Solid.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/mobile/display/20130128234800_Acer_Group_Shipments_of_Chromebooks_Turn_Out_to_Be_Solid.html
As Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 8 operating system has so far failed to substantially boost demand towards personal computers, Google Chrome-based laptops are getting more popular, according to a highly-ranking executive from Acer Group, a top PC maker.

Millions of PCs exposed through network bugs, security researchers find
http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/this-definitely-falls-into-the-scary-category-researchers-warn-of-50-million-exposed-devices-20130129-2djav.html
Summary: Experts say that common networking standards are placing our devices and data at risk. Charlie Osborne. By Charlie Osborne for Zero Day | November 30, -1 -- 00:00 GMT (16:00 PST).

Steve Jobs and Tim Cook: Does Apple Still Have the Leadership It Needs?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2269283/Apple-CEO-Tim-Cook-dismisses-stock-price-free-fall-speech-corporate-employees.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
I was on CNBC Squawk Box earlier today talking about the leadership of Tim Cook and the decline in Apple's stock. The Squawk Box guys asked some great questions, which got me to thinking a little more about Tim Cook's management and leadership.

Pinterest testing new, faster design
http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Pinterest-tests-new-look-with-bigger-pins_13239.html
Pinterest announced Monday that it is testing a new design with a small number of users. The pinboard-based social network, which exploded onto the scene last year, said its new design makes navigating more intuitive "so it's faster to get to where you want ...

Twitter adds to mobile with Crashlytics acquisition
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/business/item/31228-twitter-snaps-up-app/
Summary: Twitter adds mobile app crash reporting company Crashlytics, but will leave it to continue developing tools for its impressive client list.

Kindle leads Android tablet market, but the Nexus 7 is gaining speed
http://readwrite.com/2013/01/28/the-amazon-effect-united-states-has-59-percent-of-android-tablets-worldwide
Localytics has released a report detailing the market share of Android tablets in the United States,and Amazon's Kindle Fire is enjoying an impressive lead.

PBS stares back at 1.8-gigapixel ARGUS drone imaging system
http://www.petapixel.com/2013/01/28/argus-is-a-1-8-gigapixel-drone-camera-that-sees-everything-and-then-some/
(Phys.org)â€"Described as the next generation of surveillance, and representing the world's highest resolution camera, the ARGUS-IS, which stands for Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System, is featured on PBS' NOVA ...

Five places to view Vine videos outside Twitter
http://www.zdnet.com/five-places-to-view-vine-videos-outside-twitter-7000010440/
Summary: Twitter has only just launched its Vine video service, but already sites are springing up to show Vine videos outside Twitter.