Facebook now lets you specify a custom gender in your profile

Many in the queer community identify themselves through genders that don't fit into binary male and female definitions, but social networks typically don't allow for that kind of nuance. Thankfully, Facebook is more accommodating as of today. You can now specify a custom gender as well as a preferred pronoun. If you're not always comfortable with sharing that gender, you can limit who sees it. Facebook isn't accounting for every aspect of gender -- you still have to describe family relationships in binary terms, for instance -- but this is an important first step.

Windows 8 sales pass the 200 million mark, still trail Windows 7's success

Back in May, Microsoft announced over 100 million sales of Windows 8, but how much progress has the software made now that we're in 2014? Today the company reported shipment of more than 200 million Windows 8 licenses. As usual, Microsoft didn't specify whether or not that figure includes Windows RT licenses as well.

Naturally, those numbers mean nothing without context. Compared to Windows 7 sales a few years back, the latest-gen operating system is lagging. Windows 7 passed the 240 million mark within its first 12 months on the market, while Windows 8 is just hitting 200 million after more than 15 months of availability. Several reasons factor into Windows 8's slower pace -- among them lackluster sales of Microsoft's Surface tablets and a shortage of touch- and tablet-optimized apps. The company hasn't said much about the upcoming Windows 8.1 Update 1, but rumors point to better compatibility with budget tablets and an interface that favors the classic desktop over the Start screen. Look for that update to hit the market in April.

Biggest-ever solar thermal power plant goes online in California

Solar power just hit the big time in the US -- BrightSource Energy has confirmed that the world's largest solar thermal plant, the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California, is up and running. The array, also backed by Google and NRG Energy, produces a total 392MW of power through 173,500 multi-mirror units. That's enough to power 140,000 nearby homes, and it represents 30 percent of all the solar thermal energy in the US. The Ivanpah harvester has its drawbacks; with roughly 5.5 square miles of mirrors, it's creating trouble for birds and other nearby wildlife. Even so, it represents an important breakthrough for delivering clean energy on a grand scale.

Twitter hopes to grow by making it easier to follow your friends

You may have noticed that Twitter is very celebrity-focused; at least for awhile, it was more likely to suggest that new users follow a Kardashian than their friends down the street. That's changing, however. CEO Dick Costolo tells those at a Goldman Sachs conference that he plans to revive the social network's slowing user growth by encouraging newcomers to get involved. Twitter is reducing the number of steps it takes to sign up, and it's suggesting people who are more likely to follow back, such as phone contacts. Not that Costolo is betting everything on that one approach, though. The company is also experimenting with more ideas, including additional cards and commerce. It's too soon to tell whether or not the chief executive has the right idea, but it's safe to say that he doesn't want Twitter to stand still.

Samsung Galaxy S4 on Sprint now getting Android 4.4 KitKat

Though Samsung kindly bestowed Android 4.4 KitKat onto the Google Play edition of its Galaxy S4 late last year, the TouchWiz variants of the same phone have not received the same attention, at least in the US. That ends today, however, as Sprint is finally rolling out said update to the Galaxy S4, making it the first US carrier to do so. This means that GS4 users on Sprint will finally get to enjoy the benefits of KitKat, such as better security, full-screen mode and of course, the new Hangouts. Sprint's changelog also indicates that the update will add Zact Mobile compatibility to the phone. There's been a sizable user demand for KitKat from GS4 owners, so hopefully this update shows that their phone is still relevant. Especially, you know, as there might be a successor coming up any day now.

PlayStation 4 tops next-generation console sales in the US for January

As it turns out, Microsoft's lead in US next-generation console sales was short-lived. The NPD has just released estimates which show that the PlayStation 4 outsold the Xbox One during January. Neither the NPD nor Sony is providing exact numbers, although Sony Senior VP Guy Longworth states that PS4 sales were almost twice as high as Microsoft's. The system was certainly alluring enough to drive game sales during the quarter -- the PS4 was the platform of choice for five of the top 10 games, while the Xbox One was never higher than second.

Microsoft also isn't divulging Xbox One figures, although the NPD tells us that the system was the runner-up in hardware sales. The company can trumpet the strength of the overall Xbox brand, though. Together, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One represented 47 percent of game sales; the Xbox 360 was also the most popular system for five of the top 10 software releases. Nintendo has a silver lining on its dark cloud, too. Game sales for the 3DS and Wii U respectively increased by six and 26 percent year-over-year compared to last January. That's no mean feat when overall spending was down by a quarter. Whichever platform you prefer, we wouldn't declare the console wars over -- not when expected system sellers like Titanfall could easily shift the balance of power.

Google Play Music for Android now lets you take radio stations offline

If you thrive on Google Play Music's radio stations but would love if they kept playing while you're away from an internet connection, congratulations -- Google has just granted your wish. An Android app update rolling out today lets you pin whole stations to your device, guaranteeing a fresh set of tunes when you're on that WiFi-less flight. The upgrade also allows you to remotely manage the devices that can access your collection, and a "play next" command will queue up a song that you just have to hear. The new Play Music software doesn't appear to be widely available just yet, but those who refuse to wait can download the installer from Android Police.

Geeksphone's Firefox-and-Android phone launches February 20th for 289 euro

Spain's Geeksphone has been teasing the Revolution for a few months now, but today's the day we find out how much the thing will actually cost. The device, which can switch between Firefox OS and Android, will be priced at 289 euro ($395) when it lands on February 20th, just four days before MWC 2014 begins in Barcelona. If you're fast, however, the company has hinted that it'll offer the handset for 269 euro with an online-only early-bird sale. There's no word on how much more (or less) this one will set you back if it arrives over in the US, but we'll keep our ears close to the Iberian ground.

Qualcomm Toq smartwatch update brings activity tracking beta, keeps progress in plain view

If you've splurged for Qualcomm's pricey smartwatch (or may be considering it), a new update looks to expand the capabilities of the wristworn wearable. Thanks to an update to the Toq's Android app, the gadget now packs activity-tracking software in beta form. During a 24-hour time period, the feature will track your adventures and tally up point totals. In order to keep tabs on progress throughout the day, there's a new clock face that displays just that, in addition to the hours and minutes. Of course, you can open up the app on your phone in order to see that score, too. The update also adds a world clock with time and weather in cities around the globe and the ability to select either Celsius or Fahrenheit for the trusty temperature scale. If you haven't been alerted to new software just yet, scoot over to the source link to grab it.

Rdio for iOS delivers playlist editing and on-the-go review composition

For those using Rdio on iOS devices, today's update adds two new functions to the software for Apple's mobile gadgets. First, users can edit playlists from the app on an iPhone or iPod touch without having to log in on the desktop in order to do so. The curation feature allows for the usual addition, removal and rearranging of tracks while also including custom artwork, visibility and collaboration settings. Fancy typing out those music critiques while they're fresh in your mind? Well, the latest version allows for composing on that mobile device plus the ability to peruse reviews from the pros and fellow Rdio listeners -- a feature that popped up on Android last week. It's time to stop procrastinating and start compiling that Yacht Rock playlist, you guys.

With an Android search update, you can tell your phone to 'call Mom'

One of Siri's cleverer tricks is its support for terms of endearment -- you can tell an iPhone to "call Mom" rather than saying your mother's name every time. Today, that handy shortcut is reaching Android through a Google search update. You can now rely on shorthand when using the search app to call or text family members. If you haven't already established the appropriate relationship in your contacts, Android will ask you to clear things up. The feature is already live, so you can test it out right away -- we're sure your folks would be glad to hear from you.

Titanfall beta sign-up list is open now for PC and Xbox One gamers (update)

Titanfall has become something bigger than a multiplayer mech game. It's the reason many people decided to invest in an Xbox One, and the reason why many others decided to postpone their next-gen console purchase altogether -- the finished title won't arrive until March 11th, and it's coming to the PC and 360 (slightly delayed until March 25th) too. In the meantime though, the developer behind Titanfall, Respawn Entertainment, is providing early access via a beta and you can sign up for access starting tonight at 9PM ET. The good news is that you don't need to pre-order the game to get in, but the bad news is that it's not open to all, so we don't know how many slots there are to go around. Go ahead and try your luck at the sign-up page -- we'll let you know the URL once it's posted "shortly before" 9PM ET, according to Respawn founder Vince Zampella.

Update: The beta sign-up page is live a bit early, interested Xbox One and PC (with an EA Origin account) gamers can apply here (protip: The USA is actually near the top of the country list, not all the way at the bottom). The accompanying FAQ answers a few questions you might have about the beta. There's no Xbox 360 beta planned, once the game is installed on an Xbox One any user on that console can play it, and the beta is available to gamers around the world, although all text will be in English. If you weren't first to sign up don't worry, it doesn't appear to be first-come, first- served. Sign-ups close on the 14th at 7PM ET, and those admitted will be notified via email by midnight pacific time on February 17th.

Judge denies re-retrial in never-ending Apple v. Samsung patent battle

It turns out we're not the only ones who are ready to see this patent battle royale come to an end. Last night, Judge Lucy Koh denied Samsung a retrial in the case that will not die, but took the opportunity to shame Apple's lawyers for bringing the Korean company's foreignness into the equation. The court-appointed shaming comes as a result of closing arguments made during a partial retrial that saw a portion of Apple's original award bumped from $450 million down to $290 million in damages. At the time, Apple's attorney argued that Samsung's infringement of Apple's patents could have an impact on the US economy.

When I was young, I used to watch television on televisions that were manufactured in the United States. Magnavox, Motorola, RCA. These were real companies. They were well known and they were famous. They were creators. They were inventors. They were like the Apple and Google today.
But they didn't protect their intellectual property. They couldn't protect their ideas. And you all know the result. There are no American television manufacturers today.

Samsung originally moved for a mistrial in that case based on those comments, but was denied. Instead, Koh informed the jury to avoid letting prejudice inform its decision. While Koh didn't see the need for yet another trial, she repeatedly referred to the comments as "troubling," saying they "could have been perceived as invoking racial or ethnic prejudice."

Dyson invests over $8 million into robot research lab (and it's not just for vacuums)

Dyson has announced that it'll invest £5 million into a robotics labs at Imperial College London, aimed at developing vision systems to help robots "understand and adapt to the world around them." The company had in fact planned to launch a robotic vacuum cleaner way back in 2001, but Sir Dyson said the prototype was too heavy and expensive... and it never hit stores. This time, research won't only concern itself with automated vacuums but other domestic robots, according to the BBC. Dyson has apparently been working on robotics with Imperial College since 2005: the university's Professor Andrew Davison is set to head up the new lab.

"We now have the mechanical and electronic capabilities, but robots still lack understanding"

James Dyson says there's still a lot of work to be done: "My generation believed the world would be overrun by robots by the year 2014. We now have the mechanical and electronic capabilities, but robots still lack understanding... mastering this will make our lives easier and lead to previously unthinkable technologies." -- and probably some new Dyson hardware that's harder to imitate.

Google Play Newsstand gets a widget, adds mini view for easy reading

The idea behind a magazine or a newspaper is that you will actually sit down and read it -- but if you only have time to glance at a few headlines, the latest update to Google Play Newsstand is for you. The content aggregator now features a "mini card" view that compresses each story down to just its headline, expanding to the full story only when tapped. A new widget offers truncated versions of the latest stories too, allowing users to click through a limited set of stories from their device's home screen. The update also adds new organization features for magazines, additional language support, a smattering of bug fixes and the ability to translate foreign news sources instantly. It's hardly a visual overhaul, but the the update is certainly a no-brainer for the Google Play news junkie.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: floating cities, vegetable synthesizer and a syringe that seals gunshot wounds

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

All eyes turned to Russia last week as the Winter Olympics kicked off in Sochi. The opening ceremony took place in the Fisht Olympic Stadium, a venue designed by Populous that was inspired by Fabergé eggs. But despite promises that this year's games would be zero-waste, environmental groups have countered that the event won't live up to its green claims. In other green design news, Paris is planning to turn abandoned underground metro stations into restaurants, auditoriums and even underground swimming pools. In London, a series of impressive origami-inspired pavilions popped up in Canary Wharf. In Abu Dhabi, Inhabitat obtained some exclusive photographs of the Al Bahr Towers, which are cooled with the world's largest computerized façade. A new study suggests that white roofs are actually more effective at fighting climate change than green roofs, but planning for climate change will require more than just a coat of white paint. Some prominent thinkers are suggesting that as ocean levels rise, we will be forced to build floating cities -- or at the very least, buildings that are better adapted to water.

IRL: Motorola Droid Mini

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

After a quiet first half of the year, Motorola finished off 2013 by releasing a staggering five devices. Three of them were sold under Verizon's exclusive Droid brand, and here's the crazy part: aside from differences in battery life and screen size, they were exactly alike. We reviewed the two higher-end models, known as the Ultra and the Maxx, but we now want to return our attention to the smallest of the three, the Droid Mini. This 4.3-inch device came out a few months ago, but it's aging quite well, having recently received an update to Android 4.4 KitKat. Also, it's now free on-contract, so it's definitely worth a closer look, especially compared to the Galaxy S4 mini which costs $50 with the usual two-year agreement.

Flappy Bird no longer available from the App Store or Google Play

Oh no! We sure hope you were able to download Flappy Bird before its imminent extinction. Because, as promised, developer Dong Nguyen has officially removed the insanely popular game from both the App Store and Google Play. There's no need to shed tears if you've already installed it, since you can still play it and continue to frustrate over how terribly low your scores are. Even so, it's a little sad to see Flappy Bird go -- especially given that there are probably some people (like this editor's mom) who never got to experience it. Who knows, maybe it'll make a triumphant comeback one day.

Motorola drops device exclusivity from Droid Zap photo sharing app

Would Twitter, Instagram or Vine be any fun if you couldn't participate in the social experience? No, probably not. This is the problem that Motorola's Droid Zap had: it was a unique, localized photo-sharing service that left non-Droid owners out to dry. Users of any Android phone could call up the app and see what other users in a 1,000-foot radius were sharing, but were barred from sharing anything unless their device was Droid-branded. Now, Motorola is finally letting other phone owners become part of the conversation, opening the app's photo-sharing features to all Android devices. Unfortunately, the full experience still isn't available to everyone: the new Zap Zone feature (a timed, live and shared photo album) is exclusive to Droid devices, as is the ability to send videos and regular files. Still, with the ability to participate at least a little, non-Droid users finally have a reason to try the app.

How would you change Sony's Xperia T?

Much as we love Sony, it's an open secret that the company has somewhat lost its way. For example, when we reviewed the Xperia T, Sony's late-2012 flagship, we found that it really wasn't any better than the Xperia S, its predecessor. In fact, when placed side-by-side, we struggled to work out which one best. What we want to discuss this week, therefore, is what were your impressions of the Xperia T, and more generally, where did Sony go wrong? Head on over to the forum and vent some spleen.

Microsoft starts selling ASUS' VivoTab Note 8 for $329

ASUS, like many other companies, took to CES 2014 to introduce a number of new products. Among these was the often-leaked VivoTab Note 8, an 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet with support for Wacom pen input. If you were remotely intrigued back then, it looks as if Microsoft has now (quietly) placed it up for grabs in the US. Currently, Redmond's online store is selling the 32GB model of ASUS' VivoTab Note 8 for $329, which is slightly different than the $299 price tag it was announced with in Las Vegas. Strangely enough, there's also no apparent sight of the 64GB flavor, which makes us think that this Bay Trail-powered, pen-friendly slate may have been listed ahead of time. Regardless, it's very much available here -- at least for the time being.

Jolla's intelligent phone covers are now on sale, and you can make your own

One of the signature features of Jolla's first smartphone is The Other Half -- an intelligent phone back that uses NFC to automatically customize the phone's software. Early owners haven't really had a chance to try the feature for themselves, but that's changing now that Jolla is selling The Other Half covers through its website. Paying €29 ($40) will get you an Aloe- or Keira Black-colored shell, either of which changes the system sounds and wallpaper to reflect a cohesive theme. And if you're not happy with Jolla's designs, you can make your own -- the company has released a developer kit that includes the 3D printer file, software instructions and tech specs that you'll need to get cracking. It currently takes two to three weeks for The Other Half units to ship to European customers, but anyone who's unwilling to wait can grab the do-it-yourself tools right away.

HTC admits it took its 'eyes off the ball' in neglecting low-end phones

Did you know that HTC still made cheaper phones like the Desire 601? Possibly not, considering the attention lavished upon the company's One series of flagships. HTC is now expecting its next quarter to be the worst so far, with the company's top executives admitting that the outfit "took [its] eyes off the ball" in terms of the range of devices that it sold, and that concentrating on the HTC One caused it to miss out on a "huge chunk of the mid-tier market." The company has also conceded that the $1 billion spent to get Robert Downey Jr. onto billboards hasn't boosted sales of HTC phones. Instead, CEO Peter Chou has promised that the company will build a new, compelling portfolio of affordable devices in the hope of clawing back some of that lost ground -- and lost profit.

IMO messenger enables video calls right from your browser

There's a big surprise waiting for IMO users who log into the redesigned website today: a new video chat feature that works right from a browser. Yes, that means there's nothing to download, as the messaging service can now make and receive video calls (using WebRTC) on its web interface. It's supposed to work even between platforms, so friends can call each other from a computer to a mobile device (via IMO's Android or iOS app) or vice versa. The problem, of course, is getting friends married to other messengers to join you on IMO, but that's another story.

Over one million people are streaming gameplay on Twitch every month

With the inclusion of Twitch streaming functionality in the PlayStation 4 (and soon in the Xbox One), it's no surprise that the service is now achieving more than 1 million "monthly active broadcasters." What that means in human speak is more than 1 million people are streaming out gameplay via Twitch every month -- that's a ton of opportunity for both informative broadcasts and rampant nudity!

Should there be any doubt that the new game consoles are goosing the numbers, Twitch already confirmed that PS4 activations account for at least 100,000 new accounts thus far. With Xbox One support coming in the not-so-distant future, we only expect that broadcaster number to grow ever higher. Perhaps 2 million by summer? At the rate these consoles are selling, it's not hard to imagine.

Worms Battlegrounds and Nutjitsu are the first self-published games on Xbox One

Microsoft caught everyone's attention back when it introduced ID@Xbox. Now, nearly six months after the indie developer program was revealed, we're finally seeing the first titles to come out of it: Worms Battlegrounds and Nutjitsu. At this point, there are no specific details on when either game will be available on Xbox One -- all we know is that they'll land sometime in 2014. However, Joystiq does point out that ID@Xbox is expected to launch in Q1 of this year, which means the games' debut on Xbox One probably isn't far off. Oh, and don't fret if you're a PlayStation 4 owner, because Worms Battlegrounds is also headed your way.

Shazam's new iPhone app gives you faster access to lyrics and music videos

If you're like us, you usually stop using Shazam as soon as you've identifed that catchy tune -- while the software has a lot of features under the hood, they haven't been easy to find. That's why the company is rolling out the first phase of an iPhone app redesign. Its new song interface (available later today) puts real-time lyrics front and center, and a song's music video is just a short hop away. Shazam is also making it easier to buy or stream content, whether it's a hit song or a TV show. iPhone owners should expect further big updates later this month. Android-based listeners will have to be more patient, however, as today's interface revamp won't hit their devices until sometime in the "coming weeks."

LG cuts the price of its curved OLED TV to a vaguely reasonable $7,000

The US price of LG's first curved OLED TV dropped from $15,000 to a slightly less stratospheric $10,000 late last year, but that five-digit sticker was still bound to scare away all but the richest buyers. It's a good thing, then, that LG has cut the 55-inch set's price a second time. You can now pick up the curved screen for $7,000 -- or rather, $8,000 plus an instant $1,000 rebate. It's not a great bargain when you can buy a larger 4K display for less, but those who insist on having an exotic-looking TV in the living room will likely appreciate the savings.

Nokia is reportedly unveiling its low-end Android phone this month

If you're eager to get an officially sanctioned glimpse at Nokia's rumored Android cellphone, you may not have to wait long. Sources speaking to the Wall Street Journal claim that Nokia will unveil the low-end handset, currently nicknamed Normandy, at Mobile World Congress later this month. The tipsters haven't shed new light on the hardware itself, but they support beliefs that the device's customized interface will revolve around Microsoft and Nokia services while stripping out Google content. If the leak is accurate, Microsoft may be in an awkward position once it closes its acquisition of Nokia's phone business -- it might have to sell a phone using the very platform it has been trying to destroy.

Verizon will offer Google's Nexus 7 tablet starting this Thursday

As reported yesterday, Google's Nexus 7 tablet will finally become available on Verizon Wireless with support for the carrier's LTE network. And it looks like rumors got the date right, too; the 7-inch Android slate will go on sale at Verizon this Thursday, February 13th, with the 32GB model priced at $350. The Nexus 7 will also be available on a two-year contract for $250, though only for a limited time.

If you already own a 2013-edition Nexus 7, you'll be able to access Verizon's LTE network once you've downloaded the latest Android software update. Adding the tablet to your Share Everything plan will cost an extra $10 per month. Google's 7-incher had to undergo a lengthy certification process before gaining support for Verizon's network, so today's announcement is good (if overdue) news.

New PlayStation Vita coming to North America this Spring for $199, packs in Borderlands 2 and 8GB memory card

Thinking of coughing up your tax return to import one of those new, slimmer PlayStation Vitas? Hold up: Sony just announced that the revised handheld will see a North American release soon. According to Sony's John Koller, the portable is slated to arrive sometime this Spring, complete with a copy of Borderlands 2. The company's new home console can expect more than 100 PS4 releases during 2014, he says, and the current stable of games is already being put to good use: PS4 owners collectively spend 34 million hours playing games every week.

Bose's new SoundLink III has improved sound, battery life

Today Bose unveiled the SoundLink III, a pint-sized speaker the company says is its best-performing Bluetooth model yet. Designed to be used primarily while you're out and about, the $300 portable speaker comes packing a longer-life 14-hour battery than its predecessor, as well as some sound improvements under the hood.

Inside the three-pound speaker you'll find four neodymium transducers and dual-opposing passive radiators, a combination that makes it louder than previous models, while still maintaining "balanced and natural" sound. Music is streamed from your favorite mobile device to the SoundLink III using Bluetooth A2DP, and the speaker remembers the last six devices to connect, so you don't have to worry about constantly pairing. Five optional $35 cases keep it protected during your travels. Hit the source link for more details.

Comcast is bringing its online Olympics coverage to Xfinity TV subscribers

By its nature, conventional TV offers limited coverage of large sports events like the Olympics -- much to the chagrin of fans. Comcast's Xfinity TV subscribers won't have that problem with the Sochi Olympics, though. The cable giant is bringing its NBC Sports Live Extra app to X1 set-top box owners for the first time, giving them 1,000 hours of live Olympics video streams that would previously have required a desktop browser or a mobile app. Comcast is augmenting its regular coverage with recent technology as well. X1 users in some regions will get to watch prime-time coverage through Xfinity On Demand as soon as the programming begins, and all Xfinity TV customers can use SeeIt to switch to an Olympics broadcast when it's mentioned on Twitter. While we'd like to see the NBC app available through other TV providers, it's still good news for athletics enthusiasts who insist on big-screen viewing.

HP's first Chromebox arrives this spring

HP has revealed more about the Chromebox that it's making to support Google's video conferencing system, and we have good news: it won't be confined to meeting rooms. The company's inaugural Chrome OS desktop will be available to both home and business customers when it ships sometime in the spring. It should also be more powerful than the North American version of ASUS' Chromebox, since at least one US variant will arrive with a Haswell-based Core i7 processor inside. DisplayPort, HDMI and four USB 3.0 ports will come standard. There isn't any mention of pricing at this point, although it's safe to presume that the Core i7 Chromebox will cost more than ASUS' $179 entry-level model.

Here's a possible sneak peek at the homescreen for HTC's next flagship

The online rumor mill's been working overtime where HTC's upcoming M8 flagship is concerned, with some even going so far as to conjure fake mock-ups of the device. Leave it to @evleaks then to give us our first alleged glimpse of the handset, albeit via the device's homescreen. From what we can see in the image above, it looks as though HTC's given Blinkfeed, its Flipboard-like service, a slight makeover. There's also the presence of onscreen virtual navigation buttons, which gives some weight to the recent gossip we've heard about the M8's build. Beyond that though, it's hard to tell just how much HTC's evolved its Sense UI for the device. But with Mobile World Congress just a few weeks away, we should know the full monty soon enough -- that is unless HTC's cooking up a separate event of its own.

Verizon's HTC One is finally getting a taste of KitKat

Well, that was quick. Just a few hours after an HTC product manager tweeted the good news, Verizon Wireless customers have found that the much-anticipated KitKat update is landing on their HTC Ones. Start mashing that software update button if you haven't already, friends.

In addition to Android 4.4.2, the update also packs a handful of performance improvements and HTC's Sense 5.5 UI. Fans of the HTC One Max are already familiar with HTC's new Sense tweaks -- BlinkFeed is more easily customizable, the Gallery and Music apps have gotten a facelift, and there's a new Do Not Disturb mode for those private moments -- but it's nice to see them trickle down onto a slightly smaller handset. For those of you keeping score, Sprint earlier this week became the first major US carrier to update the One with KitKat. That leaves just AT&T and T-Mobile to push through the update, but sadly, there's still no word on when they'll follow through.

Call of Duty moves to a three-studio rotation to keep up the quality

Many gamers are frustrated with publishers that like to release franchise sequels every one to two years, regardless of the quality -- just ask the Battlefield 4 players still grappling with bugs. Activision is clearly aware of the problem, however. It just announced that Modern Warfare 3 creator Sledgehammer Games will become the third studio regularly producing Call of Duty titles, joining Infinity Ward and Treyarch. The new rotation gives each developer three years to finish a COD game instead of two; they'll have "more time to polish" without interrupting the yearly release cycle, according to publishing chief Eric Hirshberg. The addition won't please those who'd rather see more original games, but it's good news for fans worried that Activision might cut corners to ship its first-person shooters on time.

Reporter for iOS tracks your life through mini surveys and pretty graphs

Nicolas Felton is something of a data nut. (Hopefully he won't take umbrage with that characterization.) The man has been reporting various metrics of his personal life since 2005 in the annual Feltron Report. Eventually he created Daytum so that others could join in his obsessive tracking, but while the web and iOS apps were slick, they could be quite daunting for the uninitiated. A person needed to make a habit of tracking their habits -- counting how many cigarettes they smoke, how often they make it to the gym, etc... So, after a stint at Facebook, the world's premier self quantifier went back to the drawing board with a few friends and came up with Reporter.

The new app is iOS only, sadly, but does offer a much lower barrier to entry while maintaining the nearly infinite level of customization that Daytum did. Instead of aiming for completeness, Reporter asks you at random times to track specific things with "lightweight surveys." This allows the app to still monitor broad trends in your lifestyle, without worrying about ruining your data by forgetting to log each cup of coffee you drink. Felton says that through randomized push reminders that "sample your life" you can still learn a lot without becoming a slave to meticulously monitoring your every act. Reporter still requires plenty of manual tracking, but the creator argues it's the best way answer the most interesting questions. There is some help provided through data harvested from Foursquare and your contacts for autocompletion, and it can also tap into the power of the M7 processor for tracking your steps.

While there are no concrete plans at the moment, Felton left open the possibility of expanding the number of sources that Reporter can pull data from. For instance heart rate or sleep tracking information from a wearable, or the media you consume on your Apple TV. Reporter is available now in the iTunes App Store for $3.99.

Is this a UFO... or just a 4.3billion-year-old meteor plummeting towards Earth at 45 miles a second?

This eerie photograph showing a UFO flashing across the sky was captured by a grandfather who has been left baffled by the 'mysterious object'.
Amateur photographer Michael Potter took the image while photographing the cloud formations above the seaside resort of Mount's Bay in Cornwall.
He was about to delete the picture when he noticed the unexplained flash of light streaking across the sky.

Mystery: This photograph by Michael Potter shows a mysterious flash of light in the top left-hand corner

'I uploaded the photos to my laptop and had decided to delete the picture because of the apparent sunspot over part of the image,' he said.
'But just as I was about to press delete I noticed the image on the left of the photograph of what I thought was either an aircraft or the sun shining through the clouds.
'Something which had not been apparent when I took the photo. I enlarged the photo the best I could and was intrigued by what I saw.'
Mr Potter has since been puzzling over the identity of the UFO, which he initially thought was the result of a problem with his camera.

UFO: Mr Potter intended to capture the cloud formations over Mount's Bay in Cornwall

Unclear: The amateur photographer has been unable to work out what the picture shows

'I have showed the image to friends - and from dirt on the lens, sun shining through the clouds illuminating an aircraft, to it being a substantial meteorite we have explored every option,' he said.
'But I took 40-odd photos that day and only this one is blemished. The photo hasn't been Photoshopped or tampered with, so what is the mysterious object?'
The object, which appears to have a triangular shape, appeared in the so-called 'UFO Triangle', an area off the Cornwall coast where spooky sightings are common.
The region has more paranormal activity than anywhere else in Britain, according to the Cornwall UFO Research Group.

Cosmic? The object could be a meteor giving out a bright light as it burns up in the sky

However, sceptics may suggest that it is more likely to be a meteor burning up in the sky as it shoots towards Earth.
Meteors are typically tiny pieces of space debris which can date back as far as 4.3billion years.
They create a bright light as they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, travelling at speeds of up to 45 miles per second.
The orange colour of the UFO suggests that it may have been a meteor composed primarily of sodium, which typically produces an orange or yellow hue.

Twitter posts small earnings in first quarter as a public company, but user growth is slowing

Now that Twitter is a publicly traded company, it's time to add the business to our collection of quarterly earnings reports. So how did it do in the first go-round? Well, there are pros and cons: In what CEO Dick Costolo says was the "strongest financial quarter to date," the company posted a small earnings of $45 million for the quarter and $75 million for the year, which doesn't take into account the $511 million loss attributed to stock-related expenses. Still, the earnings of two cents per share beat Wall Street's estimates, which predicted a loss of three cents. Quarterly revenues were at $242 million, which is a 116 percent jump from this quarter last year.

More interestingly, Twitter's active user growth appears to be slowing (chart below); the company boasted a total of 241 million active users as of New Year's Eve, which is only a bump of 9 million from the previous quarter. Compared to previous quarters, this 4 percent growth is a drop from 6 percent in Q3 2013, 7 percent in Q2 and 10 percent in Q1. This growth will need to accelerate if the social network wants to start catching up with Facebook's 1.2 billion users. Additionally, 184 million people used Twitter on their mobile devices, which the company says is an increase of 37 percent year-over-year.

Twitter also projects an estimated $230-240 million in revenues for the first quarter of 2014, rising to $1.15-1.2 billion for the full year. It also expects adjusted earnings to show up around $10-16 million this quarter, with a range of $150-180 million in 2014.

KnowRoaming's international sticker SIMs begin shipping to backers today

KnowRoaming, the company behind the roaming SIM "stickers" that popped up on Kickstarter last year, has begun shipping its device to the first 500 backers. The $35 pre-order kit, which includes a SIM sticker and a single-use applicator, enables international roaming at rates far lower than what you'd normally get with your carrier (unless, of course, you're using a Simple Choice plan with free global data from T-Mobile). What makes KnowRoaming unique, however, is a design that integrates with your existing SIM.

Once you attach the sticker to your carrier-issued card, your unlocked smartphone will detect when you've traveled abroad, switching your device over to a partner network. Current rates range from 13 cents per MB of data, 9 cents per minute of talk time and 16 cents per text in the UK, to a whopping $34.80 per MB, 27 cents per minute and $1.07 per SMS in Chad (though most countries offer tariffs at the cheaper end of the spectrum). CEO Gregory Gundelfinger plans to ship between 25 and 50 sets each day, so if your sticker isn't in this initial batch, you can expect to have it at your door soon.

A bionic arm and a nerve implant give one amputee a sense of touch

Nothing can quite undo the trauma of losing a limb, but a team of EU researchers has been trying to help by bringing sense to senseless prostheses. They're doing pretty well at it too: they recently spent a full month giving one lucky test subject some of his sense of touch back. A series of electrodes were implanted into the two main nerve bundles in test subject Dennis Sørensen's left upper arm, where they were left for 31 days. Sørensen was then fitted with a special sensor-laden prosthetic hand, and algorithms chewed on the data from those sensors to determine just how to stimulate those nerves.

Before Sørensen knew it, bzzzt! That sensory data was converted into nerve impulses so Sørensen could "feel" those objects in real-time. Not only he could discern the different shapes of objects he picked up, he could get a sense of what they were made of too. Unsurprisingly, Sørensen -- who lost his left hand in a fireworks accident nine years ago -- is itching to use one full time. We're still a long way off from portable models that don't require support from a lab, but there's plenty of interest (not to mention progress) in crafting a new generation of sensitive prosthetics.

HTC says it's solved the smartwatch battery life issue, still plans to launch wearable this year

It's been tough times for HTC. But it's not going to let a little thing like a competitive, over-saturated smartphone market stop it from dipping its toe into the... competitive, over-saturated world of wearables. Talking to Bloomberg about its offering, Chairman Cher Wang said that the company started looking at smart watches "many years ago," and that it finally reckons it's solved the battery issues that have plagued other wearables. Wang added that LCD lighting for these wearables is another problem that the company has tackled and that both were very much "customer-centric problems" -- they're certainly some of the main issues we've had with several premium smartwatches seen so far.

Apple and Samsung to spar over iPhone 5, Galaxy Note II at next trial

Perpetual court combatants Apple and Samsung have revealed their final list of allegations ahead of a trial starting March 31st. Though each started with five disputed patents, Samsung only has four now since a multimedia sync patent was knocked out earlier by Judge Lucy Koh. She also gave Apple a summary judgement win on its auto-complete IP, putting it ahead before the trial even begins. As for the rest, it's worth noting that all of Apple's patents are related to user interaction, while two of Samsung's are standards-essential (FRAND) patents -- which companies are normally obligated to license out. Samsung did have one point in its favor, however: the USPTO has agreed to take a second look at the validity of Apple's aforementioned auto-complete patent.

As for the devices accused of infringing those patents, none are very recent models and many aren't even on the market anymore. However, the historical sales of each will affect the size of any award given by the court if an allegation is upheld. That's a lot of infringement for ultra-popular models like the Galaxy Note II, Galaxy S III, iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s, which have far outsold disputed models from the previous trial (like Samsung's original Galaxy S). Other names on the list include the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 from Samsung, along with Apple's iPad 2, iPad with Retina display (3rd-gen), iPad with Retina display (4th-gen) and iPad Mini (the original, without a Retina display). Of course, there's always the upcoming negotiations between company CEOs to avoid all that, but... nah, who are we kidding.

Steve Jobs wanted Sony VAIOs to run Mac's operating system

If Steve Jobs had gotten his way, that VAIO in your lap could've been running OS X, Apple's operating system. It sounds like fiction, but consider the source: former Sony president Kunitake Ando. The revelation, which stems from an interview Ando gave to Japanese journalist Nobuyuki Hayashi in 2011, highlights the close relationship Jobs reportedly shared with Sony's co-founder Akio Morita -- a relationship that led Jobs to make an exception to Apple's walled off ecosystem. And according to Ando, it was on a 2001 golf trip in Hawaii that Jobs decided to surprise Sony executives with a version of Mac OS X running on a VAIO, four years before the Intel transition was made public
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As we all now know, that Apple/Sony partnership wasn't meant to be. For Sony, the proposal was simply a case of bad timing, as it ran counter to not only the success the VAIO line was experiencing at the time, but also the wishes of its engineering team. After having spent so much time optimizing VAIO for Windows, Ando says Sony's engineering team saw OS X on VAIO as a diversion of resources and were "opposed [to] asking 'if it is worth it'." It was because of these two factors that Sony never pursued the prospect of Mac-compatible VAIOs any further.

While we'll never know the impact Mac-compatible VAIOs would've had on Sony's bottomline today, the news does come at an odd time for the struggling Japanese tech giant. Recently, its VAIO PC division's been surrounded by rumors of a possible sale; rumors Sony isn't exactly dismissing as inaccurate. And with Sony now looking to home entertainment and gaming as two key areas for growth, that potential sale seems right in line with the company's current strategy.

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