Coins2Day’s curated selection of newsworthy tech stories from the last 24 hours. Sign up to get the newsletter delivered to you every day.
* The initial crop of iPhone 4S reviews are out, and while the smartphone’s chassis might look virtually identical to its predecessor, the upgraded components — a dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, among them — and brand spanking new software (hello, Siri) are enough to make the phone another successful Apple (AAPL) release. “Is this the best phone ever made? That’s debatable,” writes Joshua Topolsky over at This is my next. “But I can tell you this: the iPhone 4S is pretty damn cool.” Walt Mossberg over at All Things D recommends it as well. “The iPhone 4S is one of Apple’s less dramatic updates, but, when combined with the Siri, iOS 5 and iCloud features, it presents an attractive new offering to smartphone users. … those buying the phone will likely be happy with it.” (This is my next and All Things D)
* Before he passed away, Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson why he wore those black Issey Miyake turtlenecks. Meanwhile, David A. Kaplan looks back at his own experience with the tech icon. (Gawker and Coins2Day)
* Zyngaunveiled several new games, including the puzzler Hidden Chronicles, the company’s first sequel, Mafia Wars 2, and five releases for Facebook’s new HTML5 mobile app. Also revealed: Project Z, a new gaming platform aimed at bypassing other social networks like Facebook and directly reaching consumers. (CNET and PC Magazine)
* HP (HPQ) reportedly laid off some 500 employees previously responsible for TouchPad and webOS development. (TechCrunch)
* eBay (EBAY) may reveal a new online identification service called PayPal Access which would reportedly let consumers shop around the Web with their PayPal email credentials and password. (Reuters)
* Enterprise-focused file storage and collaboration startup Box.net announced it’s raised $81 million in a Series D expansion round with new investors like Salesforce.com (CRM), SAP Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners and NEA. For those who like to keep count, that brings Box’s total capital to a whopping $162 million.
* According to Comscore, Amazon’s (AMZN) page views in the U.S. Climbed 26% last month, while unique visitors jumped 25% to 79 million. (Business Insider)
* How not to get “Netflixed.” (Coins2Day)
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