Golden Globes 2013 Winners List

Ben Affleck has won best director for his film Argo at the Golden Globe awards.

Argo, set amidst the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, also won best drama.

Best actor in a drama went to Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in the biopic Lincoln, while Jessica Chastain won best actress in a drama for Zero Dark Thirty.

Earlier, British singer Adele won best song for the theme to the James Bond film Skyfall.

Collecting her trophy, she said: "Honestly, I've come out for a night out with my friend Ida - we're new mums - I have literally come for a night out. I was not expecting this."

Dame Maggie Smith won best supporting actress in a series for her role in Downton Abbey.

Homeland took best TV drama, with Damian Lewis winning best TV actor for his role in the series.

Quentin Tarantino, accepting the best screenplay award for his film Django Unchained, said: "This is a damn surprise, and I'm happy to be surprised."

Christoph Waltz took best supporting actor for his role in the film.

But the western lost out to Argo in the best drama category along with Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, Life of Pi, Ang Lee's adaption of the Yann Martel novel, and Zero Dark Thirty, Kathryn Bigelow's film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden.

Amour, directed by Austria's Michael Haneke, won best foreign film.

The Golden Globes gives a separate accolade for best film musical or comedy, which was won by Tom Hooper's film of stage hit Les Miserables.

Silver Linings Playbook, Moonrise Kingdom, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel were also shortlisted for this prize.

In the drama actor category, Day-Lewis was shortlisted alongside fellow Oscar candidates Denzel Washington and Joaquin Phoenix.

Les Miserables lead Hugh Jackman won best actor in a musical or comedy prize. Silver Linings Playbook star Bradley Cooper was also nominated for the award, with both men also nominated in the best actor category at the Oscars.

The best actress in a musical or comedy category was won by Cooper's co-star in Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence.

Comedy actresses Amy Poehler and Tina Fey took over presenter duties from Britain's Ricky Gervais, who had hosted the ceremony for the last three years.

The pair were both nominated for the best TV comedy actress prize for their work in 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation respectively.

"Tina, I just want to say that I very much hope that I win," said Poehler, as the ceremony began.

However, they were both pipped by Lena Dunham, creator and star of sitcom Girls, which also won best comedy TV series.

Assisting Poehler and Fey on stage were Mr and Miss Golden Globes, the recipients of honorary titles that are traditionally awarded annually to the children of celebrities with their own ambitions in the industry.

Sam Michael Fox, son of Michael J Fox, and Clint Eastwood's daughter Francesca were the two scions selected this year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HPFA), organisers of the awards.

Jodie Foster, a seven-time Globe nominee and two-time Oscar winner, received the Cecil B DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

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Android challenges iPhone

For the past month, I have been using an HTC Droid DNA, which has similar specs to the rumored upcoming Samsung Galaxy S4. People approach me at grocery stores, airports, coffee shops, even on the street and ask me about the phone. The device is indeed quite compelling, even from a distance.
The HTC DNA has an amazingly bright 1080p HD display with a higher resolution than Apple's iPhone 5 Retina display. The operating system is modern with dynamic widgets that tell you at a glance what's going on. The apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and such are equivalent to those available to iOS, and Google Apps such as Google Now, voice recognition, and Google Maps are sleek and modern. This is hands down a better device than the iPhone 5, and people seem to intuitively recognize it.

What phone would I recommend for my mom? An iPhone. It's safe, predictable, and uniform. What would I recommend for anyone under 40? Definitely one of the new breeds of Android phones. Android might still be a bit quirkier than an iPhone, but it's definitely not confusing for people who interact daily with a variety of advanced technology. Samsung really nailed it in its commercial where a young woman is waiting in line for a new iPhone and it turns out she is holding the spot for her parents.
The new breed of Android devices exceed the iPhone 5 in every category -- hardware, operating system, and apps.


The spec is alive and well -- and killing Apple 

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Hardware from Samsung, HTC, LG, and others has now caught up and eclipsed Apple's devices. Smartphones don't really have that many specs to evaluate, and each of the specs actually means something tangible to an average consumer. After five years of advanced smartphones, specs like screen size, screen density, screen brightness, camera speed, camera megapixels, physical dimensions, physical weight, amount of memory, and battery life are easily understandable and relevant to even the average smartphone consumer. Even specs like the number of processor cores and speed that are typically not easy to understand are easily understood when framed as "faster than the iPhone 5."

Conversely, the spec is definitely irrelevant when purchasing Apple products. There are so few products to choose from that decision making is essentially boiled down to a Goldilocks-style small/medium/large decision mainly driven by cost rather than actual features. While this is great for my mom and MG Siegler, the lack of spec-based decision making is not necessarily a good thing in a world where consumers actually understand each of the specs and would like to choose how to balance them out relative to cost. Apple has been a follower on many specs, particularly in terms of form factors, trailing the market in both 4-inch phones and 7-inch tablets.

iPhones are definitely gorgeous devices, but they are relatively uniform and monotone. Aluminum is definitely great. I was surprised by how many women commented on the red accents on the HTC DNA, which are part of the DNA's crossbranding with Beats Audio. People like colors and variety, and they don't necessarily like having to completely cover a phone's shell and make it bulkier in order to express themselves.
Let's not forget that all of those Samsung Galaxy phones you see cost the same as an iPhone -- their owners are not bargain shoppers; they are spec and style shoppers.


The screen should actually show you something!

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As mobile app developer Ralf Nottman recently noted, the new generation of Android 4 Jelly Bean is a fundamentally better operating system than iOS -- better rendering, better cross-app sharing, better app/OS integration, and more polished.

But the real standout for Android is the customizability of the display. Rather than iOS static icons with embedded notifications, with Android, apps are front and center, displaying the time in different time zones, the weather, appointments, emails, texts, whatever you want in numerous themes that can completely reinvent the user interface.

Windows Phone 8, the dark horse in this race, is actually even more integrated, with a unified messaging interface that consolidates emails, texts, and Facebook messages into a single thread, and a consistent tile interface with which apps can display information on the home screens.
The operating system is not as important as the apps, and this is where Android is beginning to shine.


The cloud behind the app is more important than the app 

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In a world where the hardware and operating system have become commoditized, the apps are the differentiator, and more and more, the apps are a viewport into a cloud service driven by machine learning.
The vast majority of Internet users rely on Google Search, Maps, YouTube, Mail, and such, and spend more time in those apps than in the mobile operating system itself. As people are beginning to note, Google's apps are way better than Apple's. What good is Siri if it thinks "Hurricane Sandy" is a hockey team, when Google knows what's actually going on? Google Now is adding ambient awareness to Android devices, letting people know what's going on around them and what they need to do in a very personal way, with features like a notice that you need to leave for your next meeting because there is now traffic en route.

Perhaps, as is rumored off and on, Apple will start snapping up cloud services such as Waze. However, it is hard to buy and integrate a new type of product category into a large company that doesn't have it in its DNA. Competing with Google, an entrenched, dominant player in machine intelligence that recently added Ray Kurzweil to its roster is going to be a challenging affair. Microsoft actually had a better track record of delivering large-scale cloud services, such as mail, mapping, and storage, than Apple.

Beyond Google's apps, the reality of the app market is that all of the applications that matter are now on Android, and it actually will soon have more apps than iOS. Dan Lyons of ReadWrite is lambasting the Silicon Valley tech press for living in an iPhone echo chamber, and he does have a point. Pundits are lauding Google Maps features on their iPhones that have been available on Android devices for literally years. Bloggers breathlessly reveal new Facebook iPhone app features such as "Find Friends Nearby" that had been available for over a month on Android.

The feedback loop of the echo chamber is that developers initially develop apps on iOS, much like the recently popular Cinemagram. However, developers like Nottman like cool devices, and are starting to shift over to Android. In addition, developers are feeling limited by iOS user interface patterns and its skeuomorphic apps and are branching out. Like the Mac OS of the early '90s, the consistent UI across applications will likely splinter.

The numbers speak for themselves. Android has a 75 percent smartphone worldwide market share, as evidenced by the hordes of Samsung devices in use throughout Europe and Asia. While Apple is regaining market share in the U.S. with the iPhone 5, it is about to face an onslaught of 5-inch Android phones with specs that far exceed the iPhone 5's. Wall Street clearly sees a shift coming, and has hammered Apple's stock price over the past quarter.

The average consumer has moved past the days of pious, scruffy haired, unshaven, thick glasses-wearing dudes lecturing us on how Apple is so cool. Perhaps soon Silicon Valley will catch up. When you see someone in a cafe with a MacBook Air, iPad, and iPhone on the table in front of them, is "Think Different" really what comes to mind?

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Cheap iPhone in 2013

Apple's rumored cheaper iPhone would cost anywhere from $99 to $149, according to a new report.

The device, which would debut in late 2013 "at the earliest," is part of an effort to attract more customers from developing markets, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed source. Among them, Apple is particularly eyeing China.

Last December, CEO Tim Cook said the country is "a very important market for us." At the time, Apple had sold more than 2 million units of the iPhone in China, setting a record for best first-weekend sales in the country.


A lower-cost version of the iPhone would also help Apple compete with Google's Android phones, which are available in a wide range of prices.

As one of the mobile market's pricier smartphones, the iPhone 5 starts at $199 for 16GB of storage with a two-year contract. There are also 32GB and 64GB models available for $299 and $399, respectively. In terms of its older phones, Apple now offers the 8GB iPhone 4 for free, while the 16GB iPhone 4S costs $99 (both requiring two-year contracts).

The company has been developing a more affordable phone since "at least" February 2011, Bloomberg said. It has spoken to one or more major U.S. wireless carriers about its plans, the newspaper added.

Earlier reports suggested that the lower-cost iPhone would look like a standard iPhone 5, but made with cheaper materials. Polycarbonate would replace the aluminum shell, and other components could be sourced from parts designed for older iPhones.

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Great ways to make money online

The year 2013 is barely out of the starting gate, and some finance experts already predict that the U.S. economy will make a roaring comeback this year. Of course, other pundits warn that we should be very worried.

Whatever happens, you can resolve to improve your personal economy this year.
Digital technology, combined with your talent and passion, is a money-making opportunity waiting to happen. Whether you're looking to pocket a little extra cash or significant part-time income, these ideas could put you on the road to a prosperous new year.


1. Sell art, crafts or collectibles online

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If you have a talent for making jewelry, pottery or other crafts -- or just a knack for finding vintage gems at garage and estate sales -- consider selling your objects through an online storefront.
Etsy is the largest and most popular marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. You can also try ArtFire and Zibbet.

Have you designed a killer line of iPad cases or Kids' tees? Take a look at up-and-coming Redbubble. Want to display traditional art? Artbreak is a fast-growing online gallery for traditional artists -- and it's commission-free.

If you have an e-book, song, template, computer wallpaper or other kind of digital file to sell, take a look at commission-free UploadNSell. Amazon-owned CreateSpace can help indie authors, musicians and filmmakers sell works to online buyers.


2. Cash in on your photos

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Licensing your best photos to microstock agencies such as iStockphoto, Shutterstock and Dreamstime is a great way for above-average photographers to make money. Click here to learn how to get started selling your photos online.

There's a lot of competition, but Web designers and other electronic publishers buy tens of thousands of photos every day to illustrate stories and ads. Research top-selling images at microstock sites to get a feel for what buyers want, and then do whatever you do best, whether that's food, portraits, sports or landscapes.
Illustrators and videographers can find opportunities in microstock, too.

If you're a fine-art photographer, try selling through print-on-demand sites such as Imagekind or Fine Art America. You set your price for various sizes, and the sites take a cut for printing, matting, framing and shipping to the customer.


3. Take on microjobs and quick tasks

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Many folks pick up pocket money every day by doing quick field work assignments for companies, or doing odd jobs for local businesses and homeowners.

Businesses big and small post micro-projects through a free iPhone app called Gigwalk (an Android version is in the works). A winemaker, for example, might need someone in your town to visit a retailer and take a smartphone picture of a product display.

Homeowners across the U.S. browse the TaskRabbit website if they need help assembling Ikea furniture or grocery shopping. Local businesses also call on TaskRabbits when they need on-demand workers, delivery drivers or event staff. You do need to ace a video interview and a thorough background check in order to become a TaskRabbit.

If your friends look to you for fashion and shopping advice, check into becoming an affiliate for the shopping site Beso. It works the same way as a traditional blog, except you don’t need to think up 500 fresh words every day. You make a few cents every time friends and followers click on links you share within brief posts to social network sites.


4. Tutor and teach

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Put your experience as a tutor or teacher to work on the Internet. All you need is a fast broadband connection and a way to video chat.

Online tutoring is also a good way for starving college and grad students to put food on the table. Specialists in finance, math and science are always in high demand. Sites such as Smarthinking or Tutor can help get you started.

Can you speak a foreign language fluently or have experience as a language tutor? Hang up a shingle at Verbalplanet. There's also a keen need to teach English as a second language to executives around the world.


5. Freelance

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Freelancing is a time-honored way for writers and graphic designers to make money. It's not uncommon for administrative assistants, accountants, computer programmers and other professionals to also find freelance opportunities. Look at niche job sites such as Elance, Guru and FreelanceSwitch.

If you're a super-speedy typist, have a good ear and write well, you might be cut out for transcription work. Transcribers provide closed captioning for films and TV shows and written transcripts of academic presentations and focus groups. Visit Tigerfish to get started.


6. Telecommute

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You don't have to be your own boss to work from home. You just need to find telecommuting opportunities. Regular job boards often list telecommuting work. Use "telecommuting" as a keyword. Also try Telework Recruiting or FlexJobs, which require small membership fees. The National Telecommuting Institute helps individuals with disabilities find telecommuting opportunities. It offers listings and advice.

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iOS jailbreak app store Installous Shuts Down

Installous, a major portal for pirated paid apps from Apple's App Store, won't be around anymore.
Development team Hackulous today announced the closure of Installous on their official Web site. As of today, the pirated app store no longer works, and only shows these errors: "Outdated version. Installous will now terminate" or "API Error. API unavailable."


For many years, Installous offered complete access to thousands of paid iOS apps for free for anyone with a jailbroken iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Think of it as being able to walk into a fancy department store, steal anything you want, and never get caught.

Installous made it possible to download the latest iOS applications and games for free from a variety of sources in mere seconds. After downloading an app, users could then install it on their iDevice as if they had purchased it from Apple's App Store. Additionally, during Installous' prime, it wasn't unrealistic to expect expensive App Store apps to hit the pirated app store mere hours after their release.

Hackulous composed a short swan song on its Web site titled "Goodnight, sweet prince" about the closure of the pirate app store:

Regardless of Installous' shuttering, Apple can't breathe easy just yet -- hackers can still download pirated apps quite easily in a number of ways.

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PSY Perform Gangnam Style At Times Square

PSY Performs Gangnam Style at Times Square in front of a million New Year's Eve revelers. Check out this video if you have missed out the live performance on abc network. 

Notable guest appearance: MC Hammer and Yoo Jae Suk (yellow shirt) from Running Man. 

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New Year's Resolution

First of all, Happy New Year to dear readers and welcome to a new year of 2013. At the beginning of a new year, we prepare -- or hope -- to become our better selves. Resolutions often focus on our diets and health, or balancing our families and careers, but you might want to consider adding some tech-focused resolutions to your New Year's to-do list.

Completing tasks like digitizing your photos and cleaning out your inbox will go a long way to make you more organized in 2013.

Check out some of these tech-related New Year's resolutions to accomplish in this New Year.

• Clean your keyboard. After a year of eating at your desk, crumpling papers, opening boxes, who knows what junk and residue is in your keyboard? Use a duster to eliminate any nasty particles and buildup in your keyboard to make it look like new again.


• Digitize your photos. There's really no need to keep shoeboxes filled with photos anymore. Clean out your closet and transfer your images to digital files. You can store your photos online or even print them out in a photo album, which at least keeps them neater looking.


• Go through all your emails. This is a difficult one for many people. After signing up for sale alerts and being included in dozens of reply-all emails, perhaps your inbox seems unmanageable. Make a promise to yourself to take some time out each day to delete old emails.


• Set privacy filters on your social networks. We've read (and at Mashable, we've written) dozens of stories about privacy changes happening at your most used social networks. Take some times to make sure the information you're publishing to the Interwebs is stuff you want people to see.


• Clean up your digital trail. Remember that blog you started, wrote a few posts for, then never logged in again? Make sure if an employer Googles you, all content is appropriate and relevant. Deactivate any old accounts you no longer use, although keep in mind that information may not be gone forever.


• Delete apps you're not using . Go through your phone and delete any apps you haven't used in a couple months, so they're not taking up space on your device. Same goes for files on your computer -- delete what you don't need.


• Go paperless. This is the year! If you have a laptop, tablet and/or mobile device, you're well equipped to pay your bills and access important documents from anywhere. Scan old papers and convert your paper files into digital files for safe storage -- or at least, as a backup.


• Get outside. As much as we love our gadgets, getting fresh air and human interaction should be a high priority. Don't stay glued to your laptop or tablet all the time.

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