TSA-approved laptop bags: $220+
The US Transportation Safety Administration's recent relaxation of rules on removing laptops from luggage at airport checkpoints, carried an announcement of soon-to-be available TSA pre-approved bags. This fall, we should see the first.
"The Checkpoint Flyer" by Tom Bihn adheres to TSA guidelines as presented in the group's five-month design challenge. To achieve this, it integrates a protective laptop sleeve into a messenger-style bag that allows the two to be separated for scanning in "less than three seconds" (re-attachment times were not included).
Apple releases iPhone 2.0.2 update, 3G problems remain
Just two weeks after the initial update to the iPhone's second generation firmware, another has appeared with promises of more "bug fixes."
At a little under 249 MB, the latest iPhone firmware update, version 2.0.2, is about the same size as the previous patch. While many had hoped for fixes to the 3G connectivity issues the device has been experiencing, reports on Apple's support forums seem to indicate there may be no fix in this patch.
Google: Android-based HTC Dream may not be alone for long
Hot on the heels of FCC approval of HTC's "Dream" phone, Google has hinted to BetaNews that the "Dream" isn't the only Android phone already under way.
"To prepare for Android's public launch, we are testing the platform on a variety of devices," a Google spokesperson said, in an e-mail to BetaNews.
Yahoo to open up Buzz submissions to public
While news aggregator Buzz has been up for about six months, until now, users could only vote for content, and the link inclusion process was limited to suggestions from only 400 publishers. That's about to change.
Beginning next Monday at 10:00 pm EDT, users will be able to submit content suggestions to Yahoo Buzz, as it emerges from beta. If a content item gets enough votes, it will appear on the front page of Yahoo.
Microsoft alters server app licensing for virtualization
It's been a slow, painful separation that's taken decades: divorcing Microsoft from its reliance upon per-processor licensing of its software. Today, the company took another hard step toward turning its back on an obsolete practice.
Up until this week, it has actually been a violation of Microsoft's Windows licensing terms for data center admins to do one of the quintessential tasks in their environment: moving running applications on virtual systems between physical processors. For data centers that consolidate their workloads by deploying multiple virtual servers on far fewer processors, live migration is a critical load balancing operation. In fact, it's one of VMware's key administrative features for its popular VMware Fusion.
Four US news broadcasters expand on fast-growing Facebook
With Facebook growing at a far brisker clip than any other major social network, four big news organizations, including Fox News -- whose parent company owns rival MySpace -- are now expanding their Facebook presences.
News opportunities on Facebook could loom huge. Although about 32 percent of all Internet users belong to social networking sites, only roughly 10 percent of them regularly receive news on those sites, according to a new survey by Pew Research.
Skyfire Beta 0.6 heats up pocket screens
Upstart mobile browser Skyfire this weekend rolled out its Beta version 0.6 to select testers in the US, using the Olympic craze to highlight the browser's native support of Microsoft's Silverlight.
Skyfire's default page provides a link to NBC Universal's glut of Olympic content, and no Silverlight plug-in needs to be installed, giving users almost immediate access to hours of video content. Add to this the browser's full support for Adobe's Flash, and Skyfire opens the user's handset to hundreds of hours of free video from Google Video, YouTube, Hulu and other content providers that deal in Flash.
CEO Mel Karmazin admits Sirius XM is in bad financial shape
The satellite radio company's CEO told reporters this past week that the company had to accept less than favorable debt terms to close the merger of the two companies.
The US Federal Communications Commission approved the deal on July 25, and the company wanted to move quickly to avoid any potential delays related to court challenges of the merger.
Android SDK moves to 0.9 beta status, on track for 1.0
It may be unusual for the SDK for a platform to be finalized on or about the same time as the release of the platform itself, but news from Android's key developers today indicates they're quite comfortable with cutting it close.
In yet another indication that the first mobile phone supporting the Android platform is imminent, the Open Handset Alliance took the "preview" label off of its SDK this afternoon, officially upgrading the project to a beta which it hopes will have the look and feel of the final 1.0 release.
Dell's cloud computing effort must proceed without exclusive trademark
Key to Dell's comeback as the leading server manufacturer is the repair of its image as a fair corporate citizen. So this week's public notice that it probably can't trademark the phrase "cloud computing" won't help.
An effort initiated by Dell in March 2007 to register the phrase "cloud computing" as a United States trademark appears destined for defeat, as the US Patent and Trademark Office's database now indicates it sent Dell a non-final action notice last Tuesday refusing its request.
Verizon users can now block numbers, track down children
Whether for screening out irate ex-spouses or persistent telemarketers, a new feature announced by Verizon Wireless today enables customers to block communications with specific phone numbers.
Beyond blocking only specified phone numbers, users of Verizon Wireless' new Usage Controls package can also opt to keep out all numbers except those they've designated as "trusted." Emergency 911 calls, however, cannot be blocked.
GOP uses Facebook-like site to expose Obama's 'friends'
Through a design that mimics the look of the popular social network Facebook, Republicans hope to build an image of Barack Obama based on the company he keeps.
The Republican National Committee has touted the creation of a site called "BarackBook" that includes profile pages for many of the controversial associates that Sen. Barack Obama's critics claim he is linked to in some way.
Android phone may have Google ads, but no Exchange support
With Google still touting the first Android phone for late 2008, reports state the forthcoming HTC "Dream" phone might lack support for Microsoft Exchange, and further, that it will come with Google's advertising software pre-installed.
After showing a primitive prototype of the initial Android phone at CES in January, Google gave demos of features in May that included a new interface and menu structure, a built-in compass, a port of the Pac-Man game, and access to Google Maps. One blogger who viewed the phone in May, Vincent Nguyen, exclaimed at that time, "The HTC Android Dream phone is a worthy competitor to the [iPhone] 2.0."
Qwest, unions reach agreement to avert strike
A communications strike that could have affected both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, set to be held within the next two weeks, has been avoided.
An agreement, announced early this morning with both the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, covers over 20,000 union members across 13 states, and is set for a period of three years. Both new contracts now go to their respective union members for a vote.
Toshiba: Not HD-DVD, 'HD' DVD!
Withdrawing from the fierce high definition format war was considered a "losing move" by Toshiba. Now, instead of concentrating on the next generation of hard-copy home media, Toshiba will focus on improving the 13 year-old DVD format.
Toshiba announced today a DVD player with full 1080p/24 fps upconversion. Called the XD-E500 that is expected to retail for $149.99.
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