Apple Patents Anti-Sexting Device

Today the US Patent and Trademark Office approved a patent Apple filed in 2008, which, get this, prevents users from sending or receiving “objectionable” text messages. The patent’s official title? “Text-based communication control for personal communication device” which actually doesn’t use the pretty ridiculous noun/verb “Sexting,” but come on, we all know what they mean.

The “Sexting” patent background info states that the problem it solves is that there is currently “No way to monitor and control text communications to make them user appropriate. For example, users such as children may send or receive messages (intentionally or not) with parentally objectionable language.”

And the patent itself:

In one embodiment, the control application includes a parental control application. The parental control application evaluates whether or not the communication contains approved text based on, for example, objective ratings criteria or a user’s age or grade level, and, if unauthorized, prevents such text from being included in the text-based communication.

If the control contains unauthorized text, the control application may alert the user, the administrator or other designated individuals of the presence of such text. The control application may require the user to replace the unauthorized text or may automatically delete the text or the entire communication.

Intel and Microsoft CEOs give iPad a nod, plan to kill it dead with Oak Trail next year


Intel CEO Paul Otellini said a number of interesting things while explaining away $11.1 billion dollars, as did Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in a post-Windows Phone 7 launch interview with CNET, but the pair individually touched on a common theme -- both desire to beat down the iPad, and both believe that Intel's Oak Trail chip might make a suitable club. Though Ballmer said that Microsoft partners would have tablets this holiday season, before Oak Trail is done, he called out the "enhancement" the new chips would bring to the Windows tablet experience, calling Oak Trail specifically "an important part of our roadmap." Meanwhile, Intel's Otellini explained just how much Chipzilla will bank on the touchscreen slates to come, saying that Intel will "utilize all of the assets at our disposal to win this segment" and calling the tablet market a viable third business alongside PCs and netbooks. "You will see Intel solutions that run on Windows, Android and MeeGo operating systems across a variety of form factors and price points," he said, and suggested that Oak Trail silicon would lead the charge.

You can read the other interesting things both men said at our source links, but there is one more we'll call out now: Otellini said that Intel intends to integrate the recently-acquired Infineon's 3G and LTE wireless capabilities directly into Atom processors for tablets and phones, starting in about three years.

SM Entertainment files injunction against sale of JYJ’s “The Beginning” album


With JYJ’s Jaejoong, Yuchun, and Junsu preparing to release their first official album, “The Beginning,” a law firm representative has just revealed that SM Entertainment filed an injunction against the trio, prohibiting the sale of the album.

The sale of JYJ’s first album is now left entirely in the hands of the court. However, since it will take a considerable amount of time before a decision is made, it’s highly likely that the album will be released onto the market first.

The reason behind SM Entertainment’s restraining order is said to be found in the problems still remaining in their contracts. It has already been over a year since the three filed a lawsuit against SME and began walking a separate path on their own.

“The Beginning” is to be distributed by Warner Music Korea. Stay tuned for updates on this breaking story.

Source + Photo: Star News

Jacky Cheung’s mainland China concert tour commemorates half a century

Jacky Cheung will kick off his concert at the end of the year with a 50 city tour in mainland China. Jacky named the concert "Jacky Cheung Half Century Concert" to commemorate having lived half a century. Yesterday, Jacky and his manager Florence Chan held a press conference in Beijing to officially announce that the Beijing leg of the tour will commence on January 21st through 23rd at the Wukesong Arena. [TN: Jacky’s World Tour concert will officially start on New Year’s Eve (12/31/10) in Shanghai].

Jacky indicated that next year, he will turn 50 years old and since 50 years is half a century, he decided to name his concert using this to commemorate his 50th birthday as well as the many years of beautiful memories he’s had in the music industry. Jacky expressed: “I will be 50 next year! When I was young, I looked down upon 50 year olds and felt that age was far away from me – now I regret using that type of attitude to view 50 year olds. I hope that today’s younger generation won’t look down upon people who are 50 – 60 years old.”

For his upcoming concert, Jacky expressed that he will be travelling to cities that he has never been to before – such as the city Ordos located in Inner Mongolia. Smiling, he states: “I’ve only heard of the city’s name while on an airplane, I’m not even sure which province it’s in! My geography is not very good, but I will make the effort to study about it to increase my knowledge of our mother country.” Jacky also indicated that he wants to hold a concert in his homeland of Tianjin so that he can see what types of changes the city has gone through these past couple years. Asked if he would ‘return the favor’ and ask Jay Chou to be a musical guest at his concert, Jacky said that he has not thought about a guest list yet.

He's got specs appeal! Justin Bieber heads for Tokyo in a pair of uber-geeky glasses

Justin Bieber arrived at the airport in Hawaii yesterday wearing a pair of very geeky thick black-rimmed glasses.

The pint-sized popstar was en route to Tokyo, and he clearly wanted to make sure he landed there looking cutting edge.

This isn't the first time the 16-year-old has worn glasses out in public, with a red pair and a white pair that he's experimented with in the past.



Bizarrely, the white plastic specs comprised of just the oversized frames and had no glass in them at all.

But, let's face it, at this point Bieber is so adored by his fans that he could step out in a bin bag and still get mobbed.

The pop star wowed the crowds when he attended the Jewish wedding of his guitar player and musical director Dan Kanter in Toronto on Sunday.

Joan Collins: Angelina Jolie Is Beautiful, Jennifer Aniston Isn't

Joan Collins has very specific thoughts about women in Hollywood--and she isn't afraid to share them. The former 'Dynasty' actress, 77, tells UK's Hello magazine that there just aren't that many beauties in Hollywood. In fact, she thinks there's just one.

"I have to say, there aren't that many good looking actresses around today. I mean, there's Angelina Jolie and there's... Angelina Jolie," she tells the magazine.

And then, she took it a step further by throwing in her two cents about Jennifer Aniston as well. "Jennifer Aniston is cute, but I wouldn't call her beautiful. She's no Ava [Gardner] or Lana [Turner]. I think that is why Cheryl Cole is so popular, because she is just so pretty and the public are starved of gorgeous people," Collins explained.

"When I was young, everybody on screen was gorgeous," she concluded.

Aniston hasn't responded to the comments made by Collins but we're guessing it might sting a little. In 2005, Aniston revealed she cried after reality starlet Kimberly Stewart called her 'homely.' As she told Vanity Fair, the comment "literally ruined my night. It hurt my feelings."

This Is Sony's $1399 Google TV-Powered Internet TV


At Sony's Internet TV press conference, where we're seeing the "world's first HDTV powered by Google TV" (and its gnarly remote). Not bad at all, $1400 for the 46-inch model, available this weekend.

Palm Pre 2 launch imminent, live pictures leak


Just yesterday we saw French carrier SFR inadvertently leak some details about the upcoming Palm Pre 2.

Not even a day has passed and now we have the first live hands-on pictures of the smartphone, courtesy of MobiFrance.

Along with the pictures came reconfirmation of the specs we heard about yesterday. As such, the Pre 2 will come with a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and will run WebOS 2.0.

Lindsay Lohan Trying to Shorten Probation

Lindsay Lohan is angling to shorten her probation period, which currently runs until August 2011, in hopes that will help her stay out of further trouble.

Of course, all you have to do is stay out of legal trouble in the first place and being on probation isn't a problem. But we're talking about Lindsay Lohan.

The troubled star's legal team is hoping for an early end to her probation period due to the "increased chances that she will get in trouble" during it.

Her lawyers acknowledge they are seeking the change "because of problems staying compliant with the terms." So why would Judge Elden Fox agree?

Some reasons would include: "Lindsay remaining in rehab for a longer period of time” or “attending alcohol education classes,” according to a source.

Lindsay is currently undergoing treatment at Betty Ford in Palm Springs, and will remain in rehab until further notice as she battles her drug addictions.

The source stressed that Lohan will comply with whatever the judge decides, but "a strong push being made for Lindsay's probation to terminate early."

"It's important to remember that Lindsay is on probation for misdemeanor charges relating to her two DUI's back in 2007," the insider added, truthfully.

iPhone 4 Cracked Glass Cases Almost Double the iPhone 3GS'


When the iPhone 4 was revealed, it was obvious that its design was more fragile than the previous generation: If you double the glass panes, the accidental shattering rate will increase too. Now there is data to confirm this theory.

According to consumer electronics warranty company SquareTrade, the "aluminosilicate glass seem to crack at least as often as the old glass." Their data shows that 3.9% of all iPhone 4 owners have reported a cracked screen—meaning the front and the back glass panes—within the first four months. On the iPhone 3GS, this percentage was only 2.1%.

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