Laura Khalil
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Laura is a tech reporter for Digital Trends, the editor of Dorkbyte and a science blogger for PBS. She's been named one of the most engaging women to speak about technology and has been featured on The Setup.
A member of the San Francisco hackerspace, Noisebridge, she is working on two robotics challenges, leading a puzzle team that competes in a variety of puzzle challenges throughout the US and obtaining a ham amateur radio license in her free time. She loves astronomy, gadgets and hardware hacking.
Soon you’ll be able to pay by smartphone with YESpay
YESpay International has announced that it's planning to enable smartphone based mobile payments at many of its selected merchants that participate in its web and mobile YESpay-Wallet card payment program, allowing customers to pay for web, mobile and in-store purchases with select smartphones.
Rate your boss at new work-related social networking site
ViewsfromtheCube.com is a newly launched work-related social networking site meant to give constructive advice about the best working environments in a particular area. Views from the Cube allows users to rank and review all aspects of their careers, from their individual strengths to managers to entire companies.
NASA finds Earth-size planets in habitable zone
NASA's Kepler mission has discovered its first Earth-size planet candidates and its first candidates in the habitable zone, a region where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
Find love this Valentine’s through social gaming
In what has to be one of the more bizarre ways to find love online, LoveFinderGames has announced the launch of its speed dating aquarium called, TheKissingFishGame.
Aperion Audio unveils the Aperion Verus Forte home theater speakers
Aperion Audio has launched its new the Aperion Verus Forte line. The new Verus Forte delivers an immersive audio experience combined with sleek looks.
Black Widow camera holster makes carrying a DSLR a breeze
Spider Holster, a company that makes holster-style carriers for photographers, has released the Spider Holster Black Widow camera holster, which offers photographers a comfortable and secure carrying solution that ensures quick-draw access for entry-level DSLRs.
LiveMind.com launches open marketplace for online learning
LiveMind.com is changing the landscape of adult continuing education and casual learning by putting teachers and students together in live, online interactive classrooms.
Export.ly helps marketers analyze social media data
Simply Measured has launched Export.ly to help marketers export, analyze and slice and dice social media data in Excel.
Backupify releases One-Click Restore for Google Apps
Backupify has made available One-Click Restore for Google Apps. For businesses using Google Apps, Backupify is the only service available that provides continuous backup and One-Click Restore for critical data stored in Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and Google Contacts accounts.
Military.com revamps SpouseBUZZ site for military spouses
Military.com has revamed and relaunched an improved version of its popular military spouse website, SpouseBUZZ.com.
Kabam releases new features for social game, Dragons of Atlantis
Kabam a leading developer off massively multiplayer social games (MMSGs) for social networks, has launched an exciting new ‘Dragon Attack’ feature in Dragons of Atlantis, a strategy and combat game on Facebook. The addition of Dragon Attack now allows players to unleash their Great Dragons to lay waste to enemy armies and lands.
Parse.ly closes $800K round of funding
Parse.ly has raised $800,000 from Blumberg Capital, ff Asset Management, Scott Becker (formely co-founder and CTO of Invite Media), Don Hutchison (formerly principal at Netcom, Work.com), Jeffrey Greenblatt (senior principal at Ankyra Capital) and Jon Axelrod (formerly founder/CEO at MusicGremlin).
Warner Bros taps into Facebook audience with Gossip Girl game
Warner Bros. Interactive is expanding into social games with the launch of Gossip Girl: Social Climbing, a new game playable on Facebook.
Introducing Vid.ly, the first universal video URL service
Encoding.com, the world's largest video encoding service provider, today has launched the private beta of Vid.ly, the first universal video URL service. Vid.ly simplifies the preparation and delivery of video to all mobile devices and browsers, solving one of the larger challenges facing online video publishers.
YOUBIQ gives iPhone 4 users a new way to capture and share media
YOUBIQ, a developer of smartphone accessories, apps and services, has introduced three new products, that when combined, form a unique solution for capturing, managing and sharing media with the iPhone 4.
Dolly Drive brings cloud storage to Apple’s Time Machine
Dolly Drive, the first ever cloud storage solution created specifically for Apple’s backup software Time Machine will be unveiled at MacWorld Expo in San Francisco.
Line2 brings unlimited calling/texting to Android phones
Line2, a tri-mode VoIP/cell calling app, is now available for Android phones and tablets. Toktumi, Inc., the company that developed Line2, announced today that its SMS-enabled VoIP app can now be downloaded in the Android marketplace.
Amazon 50% off coupon on LivingSocial goes viral
If you're one of the millions of people who loves the deals that come from the likes of Groupon, TownHog and LivingSocial, this is a deal for you.
Next Giant Leap receives second round of funding from eSpace
Next Giant Leap (NGL) announced that it has received a second round of funding from eSpace: The Center for Space Entrepreneurship.
TargetSpot closes $8 Million in financing
TargetSpot, the largest digital audio advertising network, announced today it has closed $8 million in equity financing from: Union Square Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, CBS Radio and Milestone Venture Partners.