Microsoft opens its own social network

(CNN) -- After a long period of closed beta testing, Microsoft made the beta version of its social network, Socl, available to everyone on Tuesday.

Socl initially launched this May. It's a search-meets-social networking website that looks more like Pinterest than Facebook, and has until now been open only to invited Microsoft employees and college students.

Microsoft has opened Socl, a search-meets-social website, to the public for beta testing.

The Pope gets Twitter account

So here are millions and millions of folks out there who already own a Twitter account, with some stalkers having more than just one. Well, one of the world’s most revered spiritual leaders, the Pope, has finally jumped aboard the Twitter bandwagon officially, where he is now able to send Twitter messages to the Catholic faithful via the handle @pontifex, which is actually his personal account, at least according to the Vatican. According to a spokesman, Pope Benedict XVI intended to “reach out to everyone” with tweets – and in order to achieve the maximum exposure, whatever the man of God tweets will be translated into eight languages.

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Microsoft to drop Messenger, switch to Skype

NEW YORK—Microsoft is dropping its instant-messaging program and forcing most users to switch to Skype.

Maintaining Windows Live Messenger made less sense after Microsoft Corp. bought Skype for $8.5 billion last year. A new version of Skype released a few weeks ago allows users to sign in with a Microsoft account. By merging the two services, people won’t have to maintain two separate contact lists.

Microsoft says much has changed in how people 

Microsoft is dropping its instant-messaging program and forcing mos

t users to switch to Skype. JUSTIN SULLIVAN/GETTY IMAGES/AFP

communicate. There’s more use of text messaging and social networking. 

Down but not out, Nokia hits back with Lumia

MANILA, Philippines—When Finnish electronics giant launched its Lumia line of smartphones, it signaled to the industry that the former world leader in mobile was not yet out of the game now dominated by Asian brands.

The Lumia line was the result of a partnership with software giant Microsoft, which itself was playing catchup in the mobile arena now ruled by Silicon Valley’s Apple Inc. and Google.

A the top of the new Nokia smartphone line is the Lumia 900, which remains, at least for the

IN A sea of iPhones and Samsungs, Nokia’s device appears to hold its own.

 Philippine market, the best Nokia phone money can buy. 

Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone sales pass 30M

SEOUL — Samsung says it has sold more than 30 million flagship Galaxy S III smartphones in about five months, making it one of the fastest selling smartphones in the world.

Samsung Electronics Co. launched the smartphone at the end of May, months before competitors began shipping the latest versions of their top phones.

The runaway demand for high-end smartphones fueled record profits at Samsung in recent quarters while other consumer electronics firms were hit by the global economic downturn.

Samsung, which also makes TVs, home appliances, semiconductors and display panels, got almost 70 

This handout photo taken and received by Samsung Electronics on

 October 12, 2012 shows a scaled-down, compact version of its 

flagship Galaxy S III for consumers looking for “more practical” smartphones. 

AFP /Samsung Electronics

Q Sensor: The data of our emotions

Adam Shaw checks out the Q Sensor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a wireless sensor, which measures electricity conducted through the skin.

It can detect whether people are bored, stressed or excited and can be used in market research, therapy or science

It is also being tested by autistic volunteers – it 

People are good at hiding their emotions. But now a device aims to make them visible for all to see. 

can read their feelings, where words fail to communicate their emotions. It’s helping those with seizures and autism better understand and manage their behavior. In fact anywhere there’s emotion; there could be an application for this kind of sensor – helping people across the globe better understand themselves.

source: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20121121-reading-your-mind