Geekly Update - 21 November 2012

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

"Is there anything else I can help you with today?" A customer who complained about his bill in a T-Mobile store was stabbed by the T-Mobile customer service rep. The customer is in the hospital, the employee is on the lam, and the billing dispute remains unresolved.

"Yikes!" Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has reworded a bill he originally touted to increase email privacy. But now it proposes to give over 20 government agencies warrantless on-demand access to your email, Google Docs and Facebook info.

"Reaping what they've sown..." Samsung has reportedly raised its price 20% on processors made for Apple after being incessantly targeted by Apple's lawsuits. Apple has also had to pay the Swiss Federal Railways $21 million for using their clock design on an iPad app without prior permission.

The Queen has received a Galaxy Note 10.1 to use as a digital time capsule and it will be loaded with video, audio and text submitted to the Royal Commonwealth Society. (One thousand years later... "Oooh, a shiny black thing. And some AOL disks! We're rich!!")

"Wisely, they've scheduled this just AFTER the regifting season..." RIM has announced that the official launch of BlackBerry 10 will be January 30, 2013 in multiple countries. Features included with the smartphone are Flow for navigation, Hub for messaging and an "adaptable" keyboard.

Now Windows Phone owners can play games that other smartphone users already enjoy. Words With Friends and Draw Something are available in the Windows Phone store, and look for more popular titles in the future.

Those who reside in Japan can turn themselves into 4 - 8" action figures via the Omote 3D Photo Booth. With a starting price of $265.00, these can be created at a pop-up Tokyo store that will only exist November 24 through mid-January.

It may not be the first of its kind but the Galaxy Camera is certainly the most publicized for supporting apps. The cam runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, has a 4.8" HD Super Clear LCD panel, a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and was released by AT&T this week for $499.99, or $100.00 less if purchased with another Samsung connected device or Galaxy handset.

Warner Brothers' Midway Arcade is a free Apple app designed for those who love classic games. While many of the freebies are familiar titles like Joust and Rampage, additional $.99 Game Packs allow competition with friends.

"A Hail Mary pass?" It seems that TiVo got a new spokesperson after its CEO's son noticed a name similarity between the DVR and New York Jets' Tim Tebow. Tom Rogers is certainly hoping that the quarterback's popularity will help the recently ailing company reinvigorate its brand.