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    • Over half of all computer users admit to pirating software

      If you've ever downloaded software illegally, you're not alone

      Have you ever downloaded software illegally online, or installed software on more than one computer when you didn't have the right to? If so, you're not alone: over half of people with computers admit to pirating software.

      According to the annual BSA Global Software Piracy Study, 57% of computer users were willing to admit that they pirate software. All told, that adds up to an estimated $63.4 billion worth of software, though there's no way to tell how much of that hurts software makers' bottom line.

      Males pirate more than women, and more pirates — 68% — come from "emerging markets" (read: those who can't afford to buy software) than from "mature" markets that account for 24% of the total. The problem is at its worst in China, where the piracy rate is 77%. The study also found that businesses pirate more software than private users.

      Part of the reason for such a high piracy rate is partially due to people looking to save a few bucks, of course, but there are likely other causes too. 

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    • What do you do those days when your toddler is a bundle of energy, so much so that you can can barely keep up? In South Korea, a bunch of adults tapped into the youngsters' boundless energy by putting them to work building the tallest Lego tower on Earth. It took 4,000 kids, five days, and 50,000 bricks to build a tower that stands at a height of 31.9 meters, beating France's previous record of 31.6 meters. This humongous construction project made by itty-bitty kiddies was finished last weekend to celebrate Lego's 80th birthday on May 13. Check out the video above to see the Lego-building toddlers in action.

      (Source)

      This article was written by Mariella Moon and originally appeared on Tecca

      More from Tecca:

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    • If you're planning to buy a new computer in the next few weeks, try to hold off until after June 2

      If you're in the market for a new Windows computer this year, you've no doubt been keeping an eye on the Windows 8 development process. After all, you don't want to plunk down $1,000 on a brand new computer, only to have to spend another $100 in October to buy and install a brand new operating system, right? Well relax, there's no need to plan your life around Microsoft's schedule: If you buy a new Windows 7 computer after June 2, you'll receive a coupon that lets you upgrade to Windows 8 Pro when it's released for just $14.99.

      Full details aren't available on the offer yet, and it's important to note that the $15 price is just a well-sourced rumor until it's confirmed by Microsoft. The offer is meant to keep hardware sales chugging along while Windows 8 nears its final release. The rationale behind the added fee is likely to help cover the upgrade from the basic Windows 8 to the more feature-rich Windows 8 Pro. That upgrade is necessary since the most basic Windows 8 package lacks

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    • They make music sound great, but are you ready for the commitment?

      With the explosion that the mobile music market has undergone in the past decade or so, the options for just how to listen to your tunes have increased exponentially. Now, even with full-sized headphones making a comeback, earphones (also called earbuds) seem to be the go-to choice for any music lover with a smartphone in their pocket. The Munitio Billets line of in-ear phones are one such option — and the old adage "you get what you pay for" is certainly relevant in this particular case.

      Though you probably already own several pair, earbuds are a relatively new concept that was born out of the post-MP3 craze, and their mass-market appeal means most consumers don't consider spending more than $10 or $15 on a pair. Of course, your average consumer also doesn't expect much out of what amounts to cheaply-made plastic earplugs. That's where the Munitio Billets line is different: These are high-quality headphones you're going to want to take care of for a long time to come.

      They make music sound great, but are you ready for the commitment?Throwing out

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    • You don't even get a single megapixel for your money

      We've seen our share of expensive cameras. The Phantom v1610, for instance, is capable of shooting 1 million frames per second — a feat that will cost you $100,000. But that's a veritable bargain compared to this 1923 Leica camera that just sold at auction for 2.16 million euros ($2.8 million), an absolute record.

      German camera-maker Leica is one of the most famous names in high-quality cameras. A new Leica can run you as much as $31,700. But this 1923 0-series Leica is a piece of camera history, one from the first batch of 31 cameras the company ever created. Only about 12 are known to still exist; fewer still are in such a pristine condition. That means this camera can command top dollar — or, in this case, top euro.

      The camera was purchased by an anonymous European buyer. In 2007, a similar Leica 0-series sold for $430,000; in 2011 one sold for $1.7 million. Given the rapid increase of price in these cameras, we think we'll keep using Instagram to take our hipster-quality photos,

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