Daily Dispatch: Google to allow Analytics opt-out; Apple patent shows iGroups

Combing through hundreds of blog posts and news articles daily, Dirk Klingner, our technology-trend watcher, sifts through the noise to bring you the tech news most important to consumers. If you have a tip on a story you want to share, leave a comment below.

...It still remains to be seen how this opt out feature will actually work. According to Google, the Google Analytics team wants to offer a "global browser based plugin." This is a very vague statement and given that there is no standard for browser plugins, it remains to be seen how Google will implement this.

Apple patent reveals iGroups location-based social networking for iPhone (Engadget)

...Once group members are identified and linked up, they can securely share information and users carrying devices without GPS-abilities will be able to triangulate their position using the positions of other GPS-enabled devices in the group.

August Capital Bets Big On Blippy (TechCrunch)

...In addition to landing a bevy of top tier angels and venture capitalists in their first round of financing, we've now heard that Blippy is preparing to close on a new round.

Employers: Look to gaming to motivate staff (ITnews)

Gamer rewards could boost employee engagement. Clearly defined goals and fair, incremental rewarzds are two game design techniques that could motivate the 'gamer generation' in the workforce, according to a US academic.

Invisibility cloak created in 3-D (BBC)

Scientists have created the first device to render an object invisible in three dimensions. The "cloak", described in the journal Science, hid an object from detection using light of wavelengths close to those that are visible to humans.

Combat dogs take to the skies for secret missions in Afghanistan (TimesOnline)

..."Dogs don't perceive height difference, so that doesn't worry them. They're more likely to be bothered by the roar of the engines, but once we're on the way down, that doesn't matter and they just enjoy the view," said the dog handler.