Geekly Update - 06 Jun 2011

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

"Hey, we've got the same dress!" Samsung is firing back after a San Jose Federal Court judge made the company produce samples of its current and upcoming Galaxy devices. Now, as this
Document shows, Apple must show them their iPhone 5 and iPad 3 to determine if either side stole "trade dress" designs.

Soon after it was known that Microsoft would be purchasing Skype, a strange program that it seems no one wants showed up on Windows XP. EasyBits produces apps from major brands like HP and Dell and needless to say, it is not only difficult to remove, but has their forums up in arms.

"Hear me roar!" Next week at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Steve Jobs should unveil the iCloudMac service and Lion, the new Mac OS X and mobile iOS.

In an interview in the Guardian, a former Jixi labor camp inmate claims that he and thousands of others were forced to play online games like WOW to build up credits. Those were then sold for real cash by the guards for their personal pockets. Hmmm, free internet in Chinese prisons? Maybe they are making some progress on human rights...

iPad users who crave their sports everywhere they go will cheer at the free WatchESPN app. Users will receive some live coverage, scores and other content from ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU.

"Nothing Happened." Lockheed Martin announced that they have successfully defended their company from an attack on their information systems network over the weekend. They say that their swift action kept any customer, program or employee personal data from being compromised. In related news, IBM, Walmart, Exxon, AT&T, General Motors, and Bank of America would like to remind the public that they also didn't lose any customer data over the weekend.

Been Verified, who previously built the Sex Offender Tracker app, created the free NumberGuru, a reverse phone number look-up for iPhone and Android. Users can also post comments online to identify potential spammers.

"What if I don't like my friends?" According to the book "How Many Friends Does One Person Need?" Oxford professor Robin Dunbar claims that one cannot handle more than 150 friends on social networks. And while the average user has about 130 buds, he says that your brain cannot manage anything over 150.

Nintendo lowered its price on the DS Lite by $30 this week, turning it to a more affordable $99.99. Look for many of their Mario games to have bright and shiny packaging makeovers as well.

Microsoft released System Sweeper, a beta malware recovery tool. Used for cutting down support costs and fixing systems that cannot start their antiviral programs, the tool actually boots from a CD or USB stick. And this just in off the wires... Seattle Drug Dealers Now Offering Free Visits to Rehab Clinic.

If you got carried away and plunged the big bucks for a Groupon Deal and now have buyer's remorse, DealsGoRound can help you recoup some of your lost dollars. The site charges 10% for helping you relieve yourself of that unwanted trip down the rapids, or you can buy someone else's yoga session. Ironically, GroupOFF.com is owned by Groupon.