HTC First pictured ahead of Thursday's Facebook event (update: now with more colors)

HTC First pictured ahead of Thursday's Facebook event (update: now with more colors):

The mysterious Facebook event is quickly approaching, and as luck would have it, @evleaks is hooking us up with an image of the device that we'll be introduced to on Thursday, known as the HTC first. If this is indeed accurate, the press render you see above is what was previously known as the HTC Myst (as well as the Opera and Buffy, if you go back in time far enough). We still don't have any confirmation on specs, but there are whispers that it will feature a program called Facebook Home, which will serve as the phone's home screen and launcher. While we can't glean much from the image itself, it at least seems as though the first will offer the same three-button capacitive key layout as most Android devices -- this is important to note, as HTC's last attempt at a Facebook-integrated smartphone featured a unique button specifically for the social media service.
In terms of actual specs, Android Police leaked quite a few: it's a midrange phone with dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960 processor, 1GB RAM, 5MP rear camera, 1.6MP front-facing cam, Sense 4.5 on top of Android 4.1.2 and a 4.3-inch 720p display. We'll have a lot more info coming your way on Thursday morning, but this is a good taste to get you going in the meantime -- if you have a love for smartphones with deep Facebook integration, at least.
Update: If the black casing of the purported HTC First left you feeling a bit... uninspired, then fret not, because @evleaks has just released additional glimpses of the device in question -- this time in red, white and blue. Hop the break for a peek of the patriotic colors. [via 9to5Google]
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, HTC, Facebook
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Source: @evleaks

What's Ahead for HIPAA Audits?

What's Ahead for HIPAA Audits?: OCR's McAndrew Describes Timeline, Offers Insights
The federal HIPAA compliance audit program won't resume until this fall at the soonest, says Susan McAndrew of the HHS Office for Civil Rights. She describes specific steps that organizations can take to prepare.

New leak suggests Galaxy S 4 begins shipping in two weeks

New leak suggests Galaxy S 4 begins shipping in two weeks:
The new king of Android smartphones is set to begin rolling out in just two weeks, according to a new leak. SamMobile has a solid track record when issuing leaked details about Samsung (005930) devices, and the blog on Tuesday published what it claims to be a Galaxy S 4 shipping schedule for the first markets set to receive the new flagship smartphone.

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HTC One finally hits AT&T on April 19 for $200

HTC One finally hits AT&T on April 19 for $200:

After a long wait, AT&T will offer up HTC’s new flagship Android phone — the HTC One — starting on April 19 for $200 with a two-year contract, the company announced today.
HTC is a troubled company that has seen consistent sales declines during the past few years, so the HTC One represents one of its last chances to make a serious dent in the smartphone market. Thankfully it’s a pretty cool phone.
Based on a bit of hands-on time with the device, we think the HTC One is an impressive piece of hardware. It features a rich 4.7-inch 1080p display, a 1.7-GHz quad-core processor, and runs Android 4.1.2 with the latest “Sense 5″ skin of Android. The device has a beautiful aluminum body that makes it feel premium, unlike cheap-feeling plastic found on many other smartphones.
The biggest threat to the One being a success is Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S IV, which will likely be released in the next few weeks. (AT&T starts pre-orders for the S IV on April 16.) But on the plus side, the HTC One looks and feels like a new kind of Android phone while the Galaxy S IV looks and feels an awful lot like the Galaxy S III with more features.
Check out photos of the HTC One below.
HTC One photos via Sean Ludwig/VentureBeat

Filed under: Mobile

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Garmin to power future Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems

Garmin to power future Mercedes-Benz infotainment systems:

It looks like Garmin has managed to lock down a very solid deal following its automotive group's compelling demo at CES. The company's in-dash infotainment solution is now set to roll out with future Mercedes-Benz models -- Garmin's navigation system is scheduled to be fully integrated within the next four years, and will begin appearing with select 2014 models. The solution sounds similar to the version we saw on display during CES, and includes a primary panel in the center console, along with a secondary display located behind the steering wheel, tasked with providing key driver stats, along with next turn info, for example.
Mercedes will share more details once specific launch vehicles are announced, but Garmin said to expect features like Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS), to help out with vehicle positioning, while the car manufacturer will bring tools like a rotary controller and voice commands to the table. What remains to be seen is how TomTom will fit into the mix -- last month, the company announced plans of its own to provide HD Traffic service to certain Mercedes vehicles, though it's unclear if the two GPS giants will be working together on this latest venture.
Filed under: GPS, Transportation
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Financial Times: AT&T and Verizon to buy Vodafone

Financial Times: AT&T and Verizon to buy Vodafone: This is the type of rumor that sounds incredible and makes you do a double take, but here it is; according to the Financial Times, which is Europe's answer to The Wall Street Journal, AT&T and Verizon will pool their resources in order to purchase Vodafone in a transaction that would be valued at a whopping $245 billion...

Samsung has Apple completely outgunned in advertising spending

Samsung has Apple completely outgunned in advertising spending:
Samsung (005930) will likely sell a lot of Galaxy S4s this year thanks in no small part to its gargantuan advertising budget that dwarfs the advertising spending of even the world's most valuable technology company. Asymco's Horace Dediu on Tuesday posted a chart on his Twitter account comparing the sales, general and administrative expenses for both Apple (AAPL) and Samsung, and it revealed a remarkable spending disparity between the two companies.

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