Geekly Update - 26 October 2012

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

It turns out the Internet might really be a Series of Tubes after all. Perhaps we owe former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens a big apology...

Synch, Sank, Sunk. After a middle school teacher in Anderson, Indiana accidentally synched a racy picture of herself from her iPhone to a classroom iPad, a group of four students stumbled onto the photo while using the iPad. The boys were suspended and threatened with expulsion, but the teacher remains on duty. Huh?

Physicists at New York University have invented a working tractor beam, a device which uses energy to move objects. This one isn't powerful enough to suck cows off the ground into hovering UFOs, but it can move tiny grains of silica.

Nomophobia, the fear of being out of mobile phone contact, is actually being treated by psychologist Elizabeth Waterman in group therapy sessions at the CA Morningside Recovery Center. I can totally sympathize... yesterday my phone was unable to get a 4G signal. Can you imagine spending a whole day at 3G data speeds???

Magic Finger is a prototype Velcro ring that senses touch through an optical sensor, enabling any surface to act as a touch screen. One potential use for the device would be the ability to stop a ringing smartphone by touching the bag or backpack that houses it.

Today is the official launch date of Windows 8. Microsoft has also confirmed the launch of the Surface RT, which is now available in limited pre-order at a starting price of $499.00 for the 32GB model.

Not to be outdone by Apple's announcement of the iPad Mini and Microsoft's October extravaganzas, Google sent out invitations for their Android event on October 29 and rumor has it that a 10-inch Nexus tablet and a new smartphone will debut.

A free app resembling Apple's Find My Friends works on both iOS and Android platforms. Glympse version 2.0 gives specific users or groups mutual location mapping in real time and includes calendar integration.

The Asus Padfone 2 has arrived and instead of hiding the smartphone inside the tablet's small door, it is placed into a dock on the back. This latest thinner, lighter version has a 1280 x 800, 10.1" display and the basic smartphone includes Android 4.0.4, Snapdragon S4, 2GB RAM and GPS.

Verizon Wireless officially launched the Droid RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD with prices of $199.99 and $299.99 respectively with a two year contract. Features include Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), a 4.7" Super AMOLED HD display, a dual-core 1.gGHz processor and front and rear facing cameras.

Another printed periodical bites the dust as Newsweek plans to go all-digital after December 31, 2012. It will continue its partnership with the Daily Beast and plans to expand its tablet and online presence as Newsweek Global. But will anyone care?