Microsoft gets a Spice Girl on Skype -- ask her what you want, what you really, really want (to know)
If you wanna be my lover, you've got to...err, enough of that. If there is one thing that technology enthusiasts love, it's the Spice Girls. Yes, their girl-power pop is the soundtrack for computer programmers, gamers and IT professionals the world over. In the BetaNews newsroom, we often have arguments over which Spice Girl is best. While I am partial to Baby Spice, Mark loves Scary.
However, many people love Posh Spice, otherwise known as Victoria Beckham. After all, she is married to the dreamy soccer player, David Beckham. Besides being a great singer, she is also a fashion designer. Today, Microsoft announces that it has managed to get her on Skype to field fashion-related questions from fans.
FlightGear 3 improves scenery and aircraft models, now faster, easier to use
The FlightGear team has announced the availability of FlightGear 3.0, the latest edition of its powerful open source flight simulator.
A host of scenery enhancements mean the program looks better than ever. Smarter atmosphere rendering delivers more natural haze and fog, a global sea map ensures that ocean color now changes with depth, there are improved random building textures, and the new Scenery 2.0 delivers improved road and terrain data.
Google Capital -- investing in the future
Starting a business can be very tricky. First of all, you need the money to put up in order to get it going. If you have no money, starting from scratch can be impossible. Many people who dream of starting a business probably plan on making money from it. In other words, it is a Catch 22 situation.
Sadly, if you do manage to get your business off the ground, having it be profitable is something else altogether. It is not uncommon for a new business to fold. Even if your business plan and products are solid, that does not guarantee success. However, there may be a new lifeline for innovative young companies. Today, Google announces that it is looking to invest in up-and-coming solid businesses through Google Capital.
Amazon spreads the wealth, Coins come to all Android devices
Amazon Coins have mostly flown beneath the radar -- you don't really hear much about them, but you probably know of their existence. That's because, in the past, they were available only for Kindle Fire tablets. Despite the popularity of those devices, the Coins haven't made big news.
Now Amazon is expanding the service out to encompass all Android devices, no matter what brand of phone or tablet you happen to be using. This does come with a requirement -- you'll need to be running the Amazon Store on your slate or handset, and it needs to be the latest version as well.
Skyhigh helps quantify the risk from corporate cloud usage
The cloud is increasingly popular with businesses because of its flexibility and low infrastructure costs, however, it does present risks when compared to running systems in house.
A new product from California-based Skyhigh Networks is aimed at quantifying the risks associated with public cloud services and takes the guesswork out of understanding and managing them.
Mount ISO, ZIP, CISO files as virtual drives with Pismo File Mount Audit Package
One small but welcome addition to Windows 8 is its support for ISO files. Right-click your image, select Mount, and it’s immediately available as a virtual drive, which you can browse, read or write like any other.
This is useful enough, but it’s a little basic. If you’d like more control, and support for many more file formats, then you might prefer the free Pismo File Mount Audit Package (PFMAP).
Misplace things often? Nokia Treasure Tag helps you find them
That is the message Finnish maker Nokia tries to convey with its new Treasure Tag accessory. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the accompanying mobile app that is exclusively available for the company's Windows Phone 8 lineup, running the Lumia Black firmware which started to roll out earlier this year worldwide.
Nokia Treasure Tag is a small device, that comes in at 30 x 30 x 10 mm and 13 grams, which leverages Bluetooth and NFC (Near Field Communication) to communicate the position of the item it is linked to (attached) to a compatible Lumia smartphone. A common use for the nifty accessory will likely be attachment to the car and house keys (as shown in the marketing pic displayed in this post).
Simpler, faster analytics for QuickBooks with InsightSquared
When it comes to invoicing and accounting packages for smaller enterprises QuickBooks is one of the first names that comes to mind
Now analytics specialist InsightSquared has launched a SaaS package for QuickBooks that lets users have immediate access to financial dashboards and reports, in addition to sales & marketing data.
Yandex.Kit gives Android vendors a free substitute for Google apps and services
While Android itself is a free, open-source operating system that can be used by any company and individual commercially, the Google apps and services we see bundled on popular devices do not share the same philosophy. Handsets have to be approved by the search giant in order to use the bread and butter of the Android world, which, among other things, includes access to the coveted Play store, and the Gmail and YouTube apps.
Because Google apps and services are not part of Android, we see lots of devices that are sold across the globe without them. Those come from lesser-known vendors, and may be available in anywhere from supermarkets to retail stores in emerging markets. To give those vendors a fighting chance against more popular rivals and increase its reach, Russian tech giant Yandex has announced Yandex.Kit, an Android suite that offers the company's own apps and services as a viable substitute for Google's own offerings on the platform.
You don’t need an app for that: four ways to leverage mobile without building an app
No one could argue very convincingly that mobile isn’t one of the most disruptive, transformational factors in business -- and in life -- today. Consumers are armed 24/7 with ever more powerful smartphones and tablets. But most aren’t dying to download the app you paid handsomely to develop.
Most consumers are using their mobile devices to access the web while away from home and from the couch. They’re using them to read your opt-in emails, clicking on your links and forwarding your offers to friends. They’re comparison-shopping, pitting brick-and-mortars with online stores, and reading reviews as part of their decision-making process. They’re relating their experiences with ratings and photos in real time with their social networks.
Oracle delivers enterprise financial planning in the cloud
Effective financial planning and budgeting is essential for all businesses, but the software needed to support it can be expensive.
ERP specialist Oracle has released its Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service to help businesses harness the power of integrated financial planning cost effectively and fast.
SkyDrive relaunches as OneDrive, adds new features
Following a legal battle with satellite broadcaster BskyB, Microsoft was forced to change the name of its popular cloud storage service SkyDrive, opting to go with OneDrive. The name change was unveiled three weeks ago, but today the update begins rolling out across all compatible devices.
Microsoft hasn’t simply just changed the name and logo of its product, and switched the web address to onedrive.com, it’s added some additional features too, and to celebrate the launch is giving away a grand total of 10 petabytes of free storage.
Google offers do's and don'ts for classless Glass owners
When I was young, one of my favorite things to do was read Highlights Magazine. If you aren't familiar, it is a magazine designed for kids. Besides looking for hidden pictures, my favorite was Goofus and Gallant. It was a short comic strip that showcased two boys that were polar opposites -- Goofus was a jerk and Gallant was good. For example, Goofus would run with scissors, while Gallant would walk nicely with them.
Unfortunately for Google, it seems owners of its Glass product are far more Goofus than Gallant. In other words, the search-giant seems concerned that rude owners will give Glass a bad reputation. And so, Google has produced a list of do's and don'ts for these knuckleheads.
Google brings the Drive API to Code School
For many people, learning to code or program is very hard. Young computer nerds often dream of becoming programmers, but reality hits them like a ton of bricks when they experience the level of difficulty. Of course, it doesn't have to be difficult. Quite frankly, many factors can cause a student to be overwhelmed by learning, such as a poor teacher or outdated curriculum.
With that said, where there is a will, there is a way. Many discouraged people may find that they can learn to program if they do it at their own pace and think outside the box. This is what makes Code School so intriguing -- students can pick what they want to learn and take it slowly. Today, Google announces that it is partnering with the online school.
Showtime launches on Roku
Roku has been continuously adding content, or what it terms channels. This refers to, in some cases, actual channels, while in others it is a service, like YouTube and more. Now the little set-top box company has partnered up with one more network to deliver content to its customers.
Showtime Anytime is the new addition, as reported by Roku's Ed Lee. "Users can now watch current and past seasons of award-winning Showtime original series including Homeland, Ray Donovan, Masters of Sex, House of Lies, Dexter, Nurse Jackie and more on available on all current-generation Roku devices in the US".
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