Obama Breaks Reddit; Google+ for Business; Samsung's Galaxy Note II Unwrapped

Topping tech headlines Wednesday, President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to social news site Reddit, causing an online traffic jam and a flurry of excitement among Web users.

Obama spent about 40 minutes on the site, as verified by a photo of the president studiously typing on his laptop, supposedly reading through the hundreds of posted questions, and choosing about 10 to answer directly (including naming his favorite basketball player, Michael Jordan, natch). Obama also discussed Internet freedom and gave a shout-out to recently deceased space pioneer Neil Armstrong and space exploration, calling it "a reminder of what remains to be discovered."

In other news, Google+ is going to work, announcing Wednesday that it will begin rolling out new features tailored for corporations. Google Apps users can get a sneak peek at the tools, which include more distinct control over posted content and additional Hangouts options. The tools will be available for free through the end of 2013 and a mobile version of the new business suite, plus more administrative controls, will be rolled out in the near future.

Meanwhile, Samsung recently unveiled its Galaxy Note II phablet, winning praise from PCMag senior mobile analyst Jamie Lendino as "a significantly improved Android device" that more closely toes the line between phone and tablet. A combination of the best features from the Galaxy S III smartphone and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet, the phablet runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and has a 5.55-inch screen with 1280-by-720 resolution. The Note II will be hitting U.S. shelves before the end of the year.

Also making headlines Wednesday:

• Grooveshark Android App Returns to Google Play: The Grooveshark music app has returned to Google Play more than a year after it was removed.
• Apple, Samsung to Face Off Over Product Bans Dec. 6: Apple this week requested that eight Android-based Samsung phones be banned as a result of last week's patent infringement verdict, but the two sides will not face off in court until December.
• TiVo Stream Lets You Watch On Your iPad: The new TiVo Stream can stream and transfer shows to iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices.
• IBM Preps Watson for Business-Based Smartphone Assistance: IBM researchers are working to turn Watson into a smartphone-sized attendant, a la Apple's Siri, for businesses.
• World of Warcraft Cut Off in Iran Due to U.S. Sanctions: Activision Blizzard blocks access to the MMOG to comply with U.S. sanctions against Iran.
• Cricket Announces New Wireless Plans, Muve Music Expansion in Lieu of 4G: Beginning Sept. 2, Cricket Android phones will be equipped with Muve Music, as well as any one of its new wireless rate plans.
• Google Now Displaying Birthday Reminders on Search Page: As if Facebook's reminders weren't enough, now you really just have no excuse to forget someone's big day ? Google has joined the birthday nagging game.
• Samsung Announces First Windows Phone 8 Smartphone, Ativ S: Samsung is first out of the gate with a next-gen phone running Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 OS.
• Vimeo Partners With Dropbox for Automatic Uploading: Vimeo on Wednesday announced that it has teamed up with cloud-based file-storage and synchronization service Dropbox to ease the process of uploading videos.
• Sprint Continues 4G LTE Rollout in Four New Markets: Sprint on Wednesday announced four additional cities where residents can now turn on their smartphones' 4G LTE access.
• California Approves Facebook, Instagram Deal: The California Department of Corporations Wednesday approved Facebook's acquisition of Instagram, the final step in a five-month process.
• Original Apple 1 Headed to Auction: Want to get your hands on a small piece of tech history? Get your checkbook ready, because Christie's in London is auctioning off one of the first Apple computers.

For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.

Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2409105,00.asp?kc=PCRSS05039TX1K0000749

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