Facebook removes controversial feature
BlackBerry maker rumored to sell off hardware side, details of Google's 7-inch Nexus tablet leak, and Facebook disables user-finding feature after another app developer threatens lawsuit.
- Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
Break off a piece of that BlackBerry and friend some strangers on Facebook:
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has long been struggling to turn the company around. With thousands of layoffs ongoing, it could be time for the company to try something drastic. One report says RIM is considering spliting itself into two companies by diving the messaging network from the hardware side, and possibly selling the hardware division. RIM didn't comment on specifics of this report by The Sunday Times. But RIM did say it is examining a wide-range of strategies. Perhaps new BlackBerry 10 devices can shake things up. Word is that the next BlackBerry phones could have a better screen than the iPhone 4S.
Sony is launching a new Google TV set-top box next month for $200. The only problem... it's Google TV. Sony might have come out with new hardware, but the Google TV software is in dire need of an update. If you're looking to add some zing to your home theater set-up, Google TV still disappoints, as you can read in the full review.
Get ready for a ton of Google news to drop this week at the Google I/O developer's conference. The event kicks of Wednesday, but we're already seeing leaked specs and images about the Nexus tablet. Documents posted show it being a 7-inch Asus tablet with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and NFC support for things like Google Wallet. It'll start at $200.
And the Samsung Galaxy S III, which hit U.S. stores last week, could be the hottest phone this year. Samsung is projecting that 10 million Galaxy S III's will be sold by the end of July, but it's likely "sold" means "shipped."
Facebook has quietly taken down a questionable new user-finding feature it quietly launched on mobile. Called Find Friends Nearby, it let users see which other Facebook users are in the same geographical area. The idea is that it would be useful if you met someone at a venue or event, and you wanted to add them as a friend. But instead of combing through a list of names, just narrow it down to users near you and quickly send a friend request.
Facebook said in a statement that this was not a formal feature being released -- it was just a test. But the app Friendthem has been doing this for a year now, and accused Facebook of stealing the concept and threatened a lawsuit. Soon after, Facebook removed the Find Friends Nearby feature.
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