Latest Technology News

Motorola and Verizon Tuesday announced the Droid 2, the sequel to the popular Droid, which launched in November 2009. While the device has received a handful of important improvements, it remains nearly identical to its predecessor in every other way.

The Motorola Droid was arguably the first smash hit Android device, capitalizing on the popularity of Verizon's network and pointing out the shortcomings of both AT&T's network and the Apple iPhone. So, Motorola appears to be giving the Droid the same treatment it gave the Razr for many years, by sticking with what people know, and improving in areas that matter.

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GenosTV, a company billing itself as the first "virtual cable TV provider" is looking for beta testers for its IPTV platform. The service will differentiate itself in three ways: by not requiring a dedicated set-top box, by offering complete à la carte pricing, and by not being an on-demand service like Hulu and its competitors.

The service aims to be a platform agnostic linear streaming service, so any connected TV, media player, or set top box will be able to access the GenosTV service.

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While Craiglist's adult personals section has been the subject of a great many jokes, two alleged sex crimes as a result of the site may make you think more seriously about it. An interest group focused on human rights for women has blasted the site by taking out an ad in The Washington Post and San Francisco Chronicle asking for the adult services section to be shut down.

The Rebecca Project's ad tells the story of "AK," who claims to have been raped as a result of the site, and "MC." who was forced into prostitution as a result of the site. The ad claims that Craigslist makes $36 million yearly by charging for ads in this space.

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While much of the speculation surrounding Google and Verizon's discussions adjoining net neutrality appeared to significantly diminish the idea's central precepts, it now appears that the concept may not be dead after all.

The two companies announced Monday a framework from which the FCC and legislators can work from. Proponents of net neutrality appear to have scored a victory in that one of the seven key principles of the agreement appears to be that wireline internet traffic can not be prioritized. At the same time, there also appears to be several loopholes which may weaken the agreement overall.

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Apple confirmed over the weekend that mobile phone head Mark Papermaster has left the company, and will be replaced by computer engineering chief Bob Mansfield. The company has declined to give further details on Papermaster's departure.

Speculation and blog reports indicate that he was likely was let go for reasons surrounding the iPhone 4's antenna, as well as problems related with hardware on other products that he had some influence over. Others reported that Papermaster had an increasingly strained relationship with CEO Steve Jobs.

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Late last week, I posted a top-10 list of things Microsoft did right during fiscal year 2010, which ended on June 30. With every right there must come a wrong. What will surprise some readers is how some actions fit into both categories. A number of "wrongs" on this list also appear on my "did right" list but put into different context. With that introduction, during fiscal 2010, Microsoft wrongly:

1. Revamped its cloud computing strategy. Azure debuted a month late and a whole vision short. In 2008, Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie laid out a startling and potentially revolutionary cloud computing vision. Developers would write to the datacenter much as they did to the desktop operating system. I likened the approach to an operating system in the sky -- to a truly cloud OS.

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HP Chairman, CEO and President Mark Hurd resigned from his positions in the company on Friday after sexual harassment claims were brought against him by a former HP contractor.

"As the investigation progressed, I realized there were instances in which I did not live up to the standards and principles of trust, respect and integrity that I have espoused at HP and which have guided me throughout my career. After a number of discussions with members of the board, I will move aside and the board will search for new leadership." Hurd's official statement said Friday. "This is a painful decision for me to make after five years at HP, but I believe it would be difficult for me to continue as an effective leader at HP and I believe this is the only decision the board and I could make at this time. I want to stress that this in no way reflects on the operating performance or financial integrity of HP."

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Google on Friday officially announced it has acquired Slide Inc., confirming rumors circulating earlier in the week. Slide creates entertainment products that tie in with social networks and online communities such as SuperPoke! and its family of related games, Top Fish, and FunSpace.

"For Google, the Web is about people, and we're working to develop open, transparent and interesting (and fun!) ways to allow our users to take full advantage of how technology can bring them closer to friends and family and provide useful information just for them," David Glazer, Engineering Director at Google said Friday.

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Real-time collaboration app Google Wave was officially added to the dead pool this week. Despite plenty of hype and excitement, it failed to attract the adoption that Google hoped for. The site itself is expected to stay up through the end of the year, but users are likely to already be wondering about where to turn next in Web-based collaborative software. Here's our list of a few of the most promising candidates for replacing Wave in your workflow.

The first alternative to get out of the way is, which we won't count in the 10, Google Apps. Many users simply went back to this suite when they discovered Wave would continue to be confusing and cut off from the rest of Google's products. Look for Google to try and integrate more bits and pieces of Wave's technology into Apps now that its demise is imminent.

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Just ahead of the August recess Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed a $600 million border security bill introduced by Senators Chuck Schumer (D- NY) and Claire McCaskill (D- MO). The bill, according to McCaskill's press office, will "raise fees on a handful of foreign corporations that exploit U.S. visa programs to import workers from abroad."

"What a relief that the Senate is still capable of passing measures that are really needed without playing political games," McCaskill said in a statement.  "America must do a better job of securing our borders. This bill will help in a big way."

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A month following the end of Microsoft's fiscal year and two weeks after announcement of record earnings, it's time to take a long look back at the company's FY2010 accomplishments. Some of these items will partially repeat from my calendar year 2009 list and early calendar 2010 list. Numbers 1 thru 6 are new; the others derive from the previous two lists. With that introduction, during fiscal 2010, Microsoft rightly:

1. Launched Azure. Microsoft's cloud platform debuted a month late but still early enough in FY2010 to be meaningful. Timing is right, particularly given the economy. Many businesses are struggling to budget for technology upgrades, to manage IT resources and to provide employees with anytime, anywhere, on-anything informational access.

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Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission said it had called off private discussions with network operators, service providers, and Internet lobbyists focused on network neutrality legislation. Participants included representatives from Google, AT&T, Verizon, Skype, NCTA, and the Open Internet Coalition.

"We have called off this round of stakeholder discussions," FCC Chief of Staff Edward Lazarus said on Thursday. "It has been productive on several fronts, but has not generated a robust framework to preserve the openness and freedom of the Internet -- one that drives innovation, investment, free speech, and consumer choice.  All options remain on the table as we continue to seek broad input on this vital issue."

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Dish will allow free access to its programming on subscribers' mobile devices under plans first disclosed by the Associated Press on Thursday. The content will include live streaming as well as programming saved to the consumer's DVR. The offering requires either a Slingbox or a Slingbox-enabled DISH DVR.

The service will launch in October and be available to users of iOS devices as well as the BlackBerry. It was not immediately clear how the functionality would differ from the standard Slingbox offering.

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The first two "active content" apps for the Amazon Kindle e-reader have been released for download, consisting of the word games "Every Word," and "Shuffled Row."

In the first weeks of 2010, Web retailer Amazon released the Kindle Development Kit to partners to begin work on interactive applications for the popular e-reader. Formerly, the Kindle platform supported only a very limited amount of interactivity, which included note-taking, highlighting, and later, the ability to send clips and quotations to social networks Twitter and Facebook. Early attempts at games for the platform had to be corralled into the device's experimental browser, which made for a poor overall experience.

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Several news services including Bloomberg and Reuters are reporting that Google and Verizon have reached a deal which would regulate how Internet traffic would be handled. While generally upholding net neutrality principles, it does seem to offer Verizon considerable leeway.

Google defended itself on Thursday, claiming reports that it had paid Verizon for Internet priority were false, specifically the account provided by the New York Times was wrong. It did not refute reports that a deal had been reached, which was reported by other outlets.

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