Non-Threaded Conversations Coming to Gmail, E-Mail Purists Rejoice

Google will today announce the ability to disable Gmail’s conversation view e-mail threading feature. Conversation view has been one of its most hotly debated features since the service launched in 2004. Google will be rolling out conversation view settings over the next several days. It will first be available to Google Apps users who have selected “Enabled pre-release features” for their organizations. Even with the release of a toggle for conversation view, it’s doubtful that the debate over its effectiveness will end any time soon. Fans of conversation view cite its ability un-clutter inboxes by threading conversations based on message connections. Naysayers, however, have complained that...

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Posted in: Google

10 iPhone Apps for the Global Foodie

Do you “eat to live” or “live to eat?” Regardless of your munching motto, in this day and age, there are endless food options available, and those that were once considered unusual and exotic are now mainstream. Sushi drive-thru, anyone? Yes, it actually does exist. With curious palates and a willingness to experiment, amateur eaters and gourmands alike literally have a world of food at their disposal. However, entering a new culture and food experience can be a little daunting. Unrecognizable smells, cluelessness about food pronunciations, and ingredients that you haven’t seen before can leave even an adventurous eater longing for the nearest burger joint. Luckily, there’s an app for that. Here are 10 iPhone apps that can help...

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Posted in: Apple,Tip

New Twitter Design Based on the Golden Ratio [IMAGE]

From Pythagoras to Darren Aronofsky, the Golden Ratio — an irrational mathematical constant found in everything from art to architecture — has come pretty far. Lately, it was apparently the basis of the design for the new Twitter. Check out the above picture from Twitter’s Creative Director Doug Bowman, found on Twitter’s Flickr page. According to the caption: “To anyone curious about #NewTwitter proportions, know that we didn’t leave those ratios to chance. This, of course, only applies to the narrowest version of the UI. If your browser window is wider, your details pane will expand to provide greater utility, throwing off these proportions. But the narrowest width shows where we started, ratio-wise.” Personally,...

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Posted in: Twitter

How Popular Is the iPhone, Really? [INFOGRAPHIC]

When it comes to tech news coverage, sometimes it seems like Apple is the biggest phone manufacturer in the world. While it is true that the iPhone is a very popular smartphone, Apple’s overall share in the mobile phone market is still very low compared to giants such as Nokia and Samsung. The folks from BillShrink have created a nifty infographic that puts many facts about the iPhone into perspective. Check it out below; an even bigger version is available here. [via mashab...

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Posted in: Android,Apple,BLACKBERRY,Motorola,Nokia,Samsung

Skype and Facebook to Announce Partnership [REPORT]

Facebook and Skype are working on a deal that would integrate Facebook Connect with Skype accounts, AllThingsD has learned, citing sources familiar with the situation. ATD has managed to get a hold of a screenshot showing the new features in action. Once you connect Skype with Facebook, you’ll be able to SMS, chat with or call your Facebook friends directly from Skype. You should also be able to log in to Skype with your Facebook credentials. The new features should go live on Skype 5.0 when the new version goes out of beta in a couple of weeks. It’s a logical step for both companies. Facebook’s chat capabilities are somewhat limited compared toGoogle Talk, which is deeply integrated...

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Posted in: Facebook,Skype

Nintendo 3DS Comes to Japan in February

Nintendo’s handheld gaming console with 3D capabilities, the Nintendo 3DS, now has an official launch date: February 26. According to Nintendo’s president Satoru Iwata, the 3DS will first launch in Japan, and it will cost about 25,000 yen ($300). The U.S. and Europe release date is sometime in March, but the price for those markets is still unknown. While Nintendo’s original announcement left room for speculation that the 3DS will launch by the end of 2010 and in time for the holiday shopping season, the folks from Nintendo claim they originally planned to launch it by the end of March 2011, and then hurried the release date to February. Nintendo 3DS is a portable gaming console that doesn’t require the user to wear glasses...

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Posted in: Entertainment,Tech

Which Words Does Google Instant Blacklist?

Some folks at the Hacker publication 2600 decided to compile a list of words that are restricted by Google Instant. Except in extreme and special cases, Google is known for anything but censorship, but as we’ve said before, there are some terms the web giant’s new instant search feature won’t work with. We understand Google’s intentions; the team over there is trying to make sure that no one sees pornographic or violent results they might fight disturbing unless they really mean to search for them. When asked about this feature a few weeks ago, Google’s Johanna Wright said the restrictions are in place to protect children. But Google has opened itself up to a potential PR problem, because some of these omissions...

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Posted in: Google

Motorola Aims to Optimize Comfort with Oasis Bluetooth Headset

The Motorola Oasis Bluetooth Headset will be released on October 3 through AT&T stores and online retailers. Motorola has developed the Oasis with a behind-the-ear design and a set of customizable gel ear cushions for optimum comfort. From a technological perspective, the Motorola Oasis isn’t a slouch. Not only does the device allow you to connect to two phones, it also has a sweet swivel boom mic with noise and echo cancellation for clear sound in crowds and wind. The Motorola Oasis Bluetooth Headset will be available for $80 on October 3. The price tag will put the Motorola Oasis squarely in contention with the Jawbone Icon and the Plantronics Discovery 975, which are generally considered...

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Posted in: Motorola,Smartphone,Tech

Foursquare for BlackBerry Gets Push Notifications and Upgraded Interface

Popular location and checkin app Foursquare has just announced push notifications for BlackBerry. With this new feature, BlackBerry users will instantly be able to know when and where their friends check in, all without having to leave the app running in the background (and eating up battery life). This is just one of the new features for Foursquare’s BlackBerry app. Push notifications are one way the app is saving on battery life; the company says it made a few other tweaks to ensure Foursquare’s app won’t unduly drain your battery, as well. Foursquare also says everything in the app will load faster and touch navigation has been improved. Do you use Foursquare on your BlackBerry? If so, will push notifications...

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Posted in: Google

5 Ways to Use Google Voice for Your Business

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business. Google Voice, which the search giant introduced in 2009, recently became freely available to everyone in the United States. Even though the service hasn’t dramatically changed since then, it’s still very useful to those that run small businesses, because it can give them an extra edge and make professional life much easier — at least, it can if you know how to use it. When you register you can choose a virtual phone number in any area code. You can use that number to send and receive text messages, record voicemails and even receive and make...

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Posted in: Google,Tip