Monthly Archives: May 2012

Amazon to start collecting sales tax in New Jersey beginning July of next year

Posted on by

Amazon to start collecting sales tax in New Jersey beginning July of next year

Taxes. Taxes. Taxes. That's what you folks living within the Garden State will have to pay on Amazon purchases starting July 2013. The recent news -- which is likely to cause some of you to throw a minor temper tantrum -- comes shortly after Jeff Bezos & Co. settled with the Texas government to also begin collecting sales tax in that state. Similar to the Lone Star deal, though, Amazon's agreed to create about 1,500 full-time jobs by building a couple of distribution centers in New Jersey -- and let's face it, job creation is always good news. Sorry, but looks like the Jersey Shore crew will have to spend a couple extra bucks the next time they place an order for that weekly stock of tanning lotion.

Amazon to start collecting sales tax in New Jersey beginning July of next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Forbes  |  sourceState of New Jersey  | Email this | Comments

Amazon.com to Charge Sales Tax on New Jersey Orders Starting in 2013

Posted on by

We have some bad news for people who like to shop on Amazon.com in New Jersey. The giant retailer is out to build two huge distribution centers within New Jersey that Governor Chris Christie says...

Skype CEO Tony Bates confirms 250m monthly users, talks Microsoft partnership and future plans

Posted on by

Tony Bates and Kara Swisher at D10

Skype CEO Tony Bates just took the stage here on the final day of D10, and he got right into the news delivery mindset: as of now, there are 250 million monthly connected users. Said Bates, "When we closed [the Microsoft deal], we had 170 million monthly users, so haven't skipped a beat in terms of momentum." Continuing on when asked from Kara Swisher about integration with Microsoft, Bates said: "I'm not going to talk about future products, but I'll steal a line from Tim Cook. We're going to double-down on integration with Windows 8, and we're doing to double-down on secrecy." Specifically, he mentioned that there'd be some "great integration points" with Windows 8, noting that Skype is viewed as an "experience, with most folks viewing it as a Swiss army knife, regardless of where and how it's used." Kara followed up with a question on Kinect, and Bates did his best to dodge the bullet by re-referencing intent on Windows 8 and Windows Phone -- there wasn't a peep mentioned in either direction on if it'd end up there.

Kara asked what his most important smartphone platform was, and Bates said: "I wouldn't classify it as one most important. As far as download numbers, it's absolutely iPhone, but Android is gaining momentum. Our top priority is mobile; we made two acquisitions in that space. The Android marketplace -- as many know -- is quite fragmented, and this was a big challenge for us from an engineering standpoint. This team in the Qik acquisition really helped us there. I'm very hopeful -- Windows Phone is very exciting for me because of that people-centric nature." Kara pushed to see if Windows Phone would get a "special" version of Skype, and Bates simply said that he "hopes they can add value." Given that both Windows Phone and Skype now live under the same roof, though, we're guessing that he's underselling things in the effort of "doubling-down on secrecy."

Continue reading Skype CEO Tony Bates confirms 250m monthly users, talks Microsoft partnership and future plans

Skype CEO Tony Bates confirms 250m monthly users, talks Microsoft partnership and future plans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Microsoft outs Windows Server 2012 release candidate ahead of big Windows 8 reveal

Posted on by

Microsoft outs Windows Server 2012 release candidate ahead of big Windows 8 reveal

Today marks the much-anticipated debut of Microsoft's Windows 8 Release Preview, and just ahead of that unveiling Redmond has posted the server edition of the new OS. Now available for download, the Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate includes a made-over Server Manager and replaces the Start Menu with the Metro UI. Moreover, Microsoft has reportedly removed legacy code that would allow users to boot into the classic desktop Start Menu. Windows Server 2012 will also feature the new Resilient File System for handling heavy-duty data and managing shared storage across machines. Applications that run on the current Windows Server 2008 should be compatible with this new version

Microsoft outs Windows Server 2012 release candidate ahead of big Windows 8 reveal originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink The Verge  |  sourceMicrosoft TechNet  | Email this | Comments

Bubble Baby Bed is Clearly the Best

Posted on by

bubble baby bed 650x605 Bubble Baby Bed is Clearly the Best
This oddly transparent crib called the Bubble Baby Bed was designed by Lana Agiyan. It’s designed to rock around like a top without tipping over, returning to center thanks to a weighted bottom. It looks like you are raising a space baby, and maybe you are (lay a trail of Reeces Pieces to find out for sure). The clear plexiglass is easy to clean (which is good because it’s going to get way more fingerprints and dirt on it than say a regular wooden crib) and the crib can be used as a toy storage container when the child outgrows it. Or you could just use it to hold the world’s largest bar of soap because it looks like a soap dish.

via Gizmodo

Bubble Baby Bed is Clearly the Best


PSA: Verizon Galaxy Nexus’ Android 4.0.4 update is rolling out now

Posted on by

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus with cases

Verizon said it was pushing out the Android 4.0.4 upgrade for its edition of the Galaxy Nexus, and it meant business: we've received tips and reports that some owners have been getting the update over the air within the past day. The long-overdue update upgrades the calendar and sorts out problems with email as well as the 4G device itself. It will likely take a few weeks before every Galaxy Nexus owner on Big Red is up to speed, but there's no doubt that many of them will just be happy to have caught up to the One True Nexus in features and fixes.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

PSA: Verizon Galaxy Nexus' Android 4.0.4 update is rolling out now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 14:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Central  |  sourceVerizon (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

Office Ninja Blowgun Set

Posted on by

office ninja blowgun Office Ninja Blowgun Set
Protect the company at all costs! A trained office assassin can never have too many weapons at their disposal so why not add one more to your office warfare arsenal with the Office Ninja Blowgun Set Office Ninja Blowgun Set? Comes with a pair of plastic blowguns in red and blue, a set of 12 matching darts for each, and a styrofoam practice target (Steve from Marketing is your real target, btw. You can find him either in the break room for his 4th coffee of the day or flirting with Amy from Accounting at her cubicle. The time is near, the mission’s clear. This message will self destruct in 3..2..1…)

buy now Office Ninja Blowgun Set

Office Ninja Blowgun Set


Harvard Researchers Make Smileys with DNA

Posted on by

Scientists from Harvard University have been able to coax DNA into assembling themselves into numbers, letters, symbols, Chinese characters, and even emoticons such as the ubiquitous smiley. These tiny strands of DNA measure billionths of a meter long and represent the next stage in “DNA origami.”

dna font smileys

DNA is usually arranged into a double helix, which looks like a ladder that is twisted. Researchers have “unzipped” the ladder and then cut it lengthwise. The team used short lengths of DNA each having 42 rungs that interlock with complementary stretches of the molecule to bend themselves into specific shapes.

The scientists were able to create 107 different designs including smiley faces and other shapes, including one that appears to be in the shape of a man and one that looks like an army tank (or maybe it’s a duck.) Each character measures just 64 nanometers by 103 nanometers, and has a total of 310 available pixels.

Coaxing DNA strands to take on specific shapes isn’t simply for fun and games. The scientists say that being able to create specific shapes could allow DNA to be used as a framework for at the molecular scale for building medications and more.

[via ABC]