Skype releases Android app to the public: the pros and the cons
Tuesday, popular instant messaging and VoIP chat client Skype officially launched its Skype application for devices running Android 2.1 and up. While Skype is one of the most popular VoIP clients, bringing it to the Android platform has been quite problematic. With this release, we see those problems have persisted.
What it does
Hitachi-LG debuts second generation 'hybrid' optical drives
In the thin-and-light "ultraportable" class of notebooks, one of the first features to be removed as a space-saving measure is the optical drive. But these space limitations can be worked around with consolidated solutions like the so-called "Hybrid Drive" which combines an optical disk drive and SSD in a single drive enclosure.
Today, HLDS (the joint venture between Hitachi and LG) unveiled its second generation of hybrid drive, designed for use in smaller form factor devices such as ultraportable notebooks. It's an evolution of the HyDrive concept that HLDS showed off earlier this year, but with today's announcement, Micron is the supplier of the NAND flash components. The first run of these drives will come with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB of memory.
Evan Williams steps down as Twitter CEO, COO Costolo gets nod
Responding to the increasing size of Twitter, and a desire to go back to his roots in development, Evan Williams said Monday that he would be stepping down as Twitter's CEO, handing the company over to current COO Dick Costolo. Williams had served in the position since 2008.
The change would take effect immediately, Williams wrote in a blog post Monday. "Starting today, I'll be completely focused on product strategy," he said. "Building things is my passion, and I've never been more excited or optimistic about what we have to build."
Apple appeals $625.5 million patent verdict over use of Cover Flow
A Tyler County, Texas court slapped Apple with the fourth largest patent judgement in history on Friday, saying its use of Cover Flow infringed on patents held by Mirror Worlds LLC. The company originally sued Apple back in 2008, claiming infringement on three of its patents across the Cupertino company's Mac, iPod and iPhone products.
Tyler County jurists ruled against Apple on all three counts, and let Mirror Worlds collect $208.5 million for each patent. Apple in turn asked for an emergency stay in US District Court of the ruling, arguing that issues remained on the validity of Mirror World's claims, and that allowing it to collect seperately on each patent equates to "triple dipping."
October 11th Windows Phone 7 event marks generational shift for Windows
October 11, one week from today, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and AT&T Mobility & Consumer Markets CEO Ralph de la Vega will host a press conference in New York City to launch Windows Phone 7.
While It has not been explicitly stated whether the event next week will be an event to unveil the Windows Phone 7 launch devices, or be a ceremony to reveal the final RTM version of the mobile operating system (which was launched to OEMs and developers In mid-September,) the participation of De la Vega suggests it will be the former. Furthermore, it was at this same time last year that Microsoft launched the Windows Phone brand, so the timing of this event also falls in line with Microsoft's mobile development calendar.
Google TV official site goes live, content partners announced, features shown
In advance of the expected launch of Google TV this week, Google on Monday opened up the official Google TV website, which provides the first in-depth look at the Web-on-TV platform since it was unveiled five months ago.
In addition to the deeper look at the Google TV search bar, Chrome Web browser, and Android-based application environment Google TV brings, the company announced a host of partners who have developed Google TV-optimized sites or Google TV apps.
Microsoft brings back Windows 7 Family Pack -- that's three Home Premium licenses for $150
As marketing tactics go, Microsoft's Windows 7 Family Pack revival is shrewdly timed. That's right, Family Pack is back -- and for a limited time. According to Microsoft's Windows Blog, "while supplies last," whatever that means. Microsoft is drumming the public relations ahead of October 22nd global availability, when consumers can grab a box with three Windows 7 Home Premium licenses for about 150 bucks. The software deal already is available in the United States direct from Microsoft or from "select" retailers.
The reasons aren't rocket science for the timing, one of which Microsoft's blog post hints at -- Windows Live Essentials 2011, which officially released late last week. "Upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows XP also lets you take advantage to one of all the benefits of the new Windows Live Essentials 2011," Ashley Brown blogs. "Windows Live Essentials is a free suite of software designed to complete your Windows 7 experience." It's a marketing pitch but also an admission: Windows Live Essentials 2011 requires Windows 7 or Vista. XP users aren't allowed.
Barnes and Noble reveals e-book pricing 'sweet spot' with new self-publishing tool
Book retailer Barnes and Noble on Monday launched its independent e-book publishing platform Pubit! to attract independent and do-it-yourself publishers to the Nook e-reader.
Books released through Pubit! can be priced as low as 99¢ and as high as $199.99, but there's definitely a sweet spot where Barnes and Noble encourages publishers to list their e-books. That spot is between $2.99 and $9.99, where publishers take 65% of the money collected. Titles priced less than $2.98, and more than $10.00 only earn publishers 40% of the list price.
Movie Review: 'The Social Network'
Near the end of David Fincher's movie about Facebook, a young attorney tells CEO Mark Zuckerberg: "You're not an asshole, Mark. You're just trying so hard to be one." It's something of an apology for a movie that makes Zuckerberg appear every bit the asshole.
Early in the movie, Zuckerberg's girlfriend dumps him, saying: "You're going to be successful and rich. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a tech geek. I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole." Her comment and the one later bookends the movie. But there's something about the early asshole characterization that doesn't fit. The movie opens with Zuckerberg talking to the girlfriend (Erica Albright, played by Rooney Mara), and he comes off every bit the stereotypical over-intellectual, socially inept geek. He speaks his mind, to a fault.
Clear's board shakeup a possible sign of T-Mobile deal
In a surprising move said to address antitrust law change concerns, all Sprint executives nominated to Clearwire's board stepped down late Thursday. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, president of strategy and corporate initiatives Keith Cowan, and network operations and wholesale chief Steven Elfman have sat on the board since 2008's merger of Xohm and Clearwire.
Sprint had also nominated four others, but those appointees would keep their board seats. The wireless carrier did however reserve the right to appoint new people to those positions "at a later date." While that may indeed be true, some believe the move could be an effort to clear any concerns over a possible deal with T-Mobile.
New plugin turns Adobe InDesign into Amazon Kindle publishing tool
Amazon on Friday launched the beta of a new plugin for desktop publishing software InDesign which converts InDesign project files (.indd and .indb) into Amazon Kindle books.
The plugin lets InDesign book and document files keep their font styles, and text and paragraph alignment after being converted to Kindle Format, and allows links, images, tables, and lists (bulleted or numbered) to be embedded as well.
Samsung bets on Windows Phone 7 as it phases out Symbian
Samsung said Friday that it had committed to Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 operating system, planning to release "several" devices in the US, Europe, and Asia by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal also indicated that the first Samsung WP7 phone would be released on AT&T on October 11, citing sources.
The Korean phone manufacturer's announcement coincides with its phasing out of Nokia's Symbian platform. Developers registered with the company received an e-mail this week alerting them that Samsung planned to drop support completely for the platform, yet another blow to the now aging OS.
Microsoft says Motorola's Android phones are patent infringers
Microsoft has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the Western District of Washington against Motorola, Inc, a statement from Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's deputy general of IP and Licensing said today.
The suit accuses Motorola of infringing on nine Microsoft patents with its Android-based smartphones.
Blu-ray faces a solid five years of growth thanks to 3D, says research
Blu-ray player sales for the full year 2010 will total 24 million, well over double the total sales of 2009, Futuresource Consulting said in its annual Blu-ray and DVD Hardware Performance report today, and the growth is only expected to continue.
These figures suggest that Blu-ray still has a solid footing, despite the growing chorus of dissenters who think that Blu-ray has no future. In an interview last week, Microsoft UK executive Stephen McGill said, "Blu-ray is going to be passed by as a format. People have moved through from DVDs to digital downloads and digital streaming, so we offer full HD 1080p Blu-ray quality streaming instantly, no download, no delay. So, who needs Blu-ray?"
If iPad isn't cannibalizing Mac sales, what about Windows PCs?
That was my first question after reading a press release about NPD's new report "iPad Owner Study." This is why analysts aren't reporters: The report title has about as much reader appeal as a cardboard box (Maybe Bing or Google search will scoop it up). But, hey, people paying for the report want the data, not flashy titles. As to my question, Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, succinctly told me: The iPad "is cannibalizing nothing in the PC business."
Oh yeah, then why does NPD's press release, issued today, state that "13 percent of iPad owners surveyed bought an iPad instead of a PC." Baker had a good answer for that: "13 percent is a bite, not a cannibal, and just because sales are slowing when iPad is showing up doesn't mean the two are related; and just because everyone sees all these people using iPads doesn't mean they didn't buy a PC now. It may mean that in the future but the numbers argue that Windows 7, tough comparables, flat pricing, weak economy are much more to blame."
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