Apple's latest headache: some iPhones developing cracks
Posters to Apple's support forums are complaining of what appears to be a defect in the iPhone 3Gs casing, which is causing hairline cracks.
It appears from a search of the initial thread in question that the cracks are most commonly appearing around the headphone jack, ringer switch, and volume controls.
Is Microsoft's Mojave Vista experiment backfiring with users?
Is a new marketing campaign what Vista really needs? The first stages of it -- already under way with the Mojave Experiment -- are certainly drawing attention to Vista. But in ignoring Vista's problems, could the campaign also be backfiring?
In Mojave, Microsoft fooled some end users into thinking they were looking at a new OS, when, in fact, they were viewing Vista. Participants in the test -- consisting of Windows, Mac and Linux users who hadn't tried Vista -- supposedly liked what they saw, and were shocked to learn the video demo was actually of Vista.
Google's plans to invest more money into startups with VC arm
In mid-2005, Google began experimenting with venture capital investments in startup companies. Now, over three years later, the Wall Street Journal reports the search company has plans to start an arm dedicated only to this kind of investment.
Google's earliest investments were in startups providing unique solutions for connectivity. In July 2005, the company joined Hearst and Goldman Sachs in a $100 million investment in Current Communications, a group working on providing broadband connections over power lines. In 2006, Google invested in Wi-Fi startups FON and Meraki, which both aimed to provide wireless access to communities based upon affordable shared routers -- sort of organically creating a Muni Wi-Fi network.
Dish first to deliver 1080p HD television programming
Satellite television service Dish will be the first to offer live programming "full HD" 1080p resolution, while the return of an all-HD package hearkens back to the days of Voom.
Dish purchased the assets of Cablevision's Voom in 2005, and much of its content was folded into the satellite provider's offerings. None of the Voom HD channels exist on Dish any longer, as they disappeared in May. Now, however, it seems like the company is ready to try the Voom approach once again: a package of only HD channels.
Scrabulous returns to Facebook as 'Wordscraper' with circular board
After being officially removed from Facebook less than two days ago due to a legal threat from Scrabble maker Hasbro, Scrabulous has returned to the social network site with a new name and visual changes.
Dubbed "Wordscraper," the Facebook application is technically a new word game, but it retains certain similarities to the now defunct Scrabulous.
Microsoft files patent infringement complaint over Best Buy mouse
Microsoft announced yesterday that it had filed an action with the International Trade Commission against Primax Electronics of Taiwan over several technologies used in mice, which are sold in Best Buy under the Dynex brand name.
After reportedly attempting to "engage in meaningful licensing discussions" with Primax over the course of several years, Microsoft has resorted to filing a complaint with the International Trade Commission (ITC) for patent infringement.
LG's latest Blu-ray player adds streaming movies from Netflix
Much disagreement remains about what will succeed: HD movies on optical disc, or streaming movies over broadband on-demand. LG is hedging its bets with its latest Blu-ray player that can also access 12,000 movies and TV shows through Netflix.
The two companies first announced their plans at CES in January, when details of a set-top box to be developed by LG was released. It is not clear whether the Blu-ray player is the device that was described, or if the two companies still plan a standalone Netflix box like the one from Roku.
Microsoft claims a consumer 'shift' to 64-bit Vista, but where are the drivers?
A big "shift" is now on to 64-bit Windows Vista PCs, even among consumers, according to Microsoft product manager Chris Flores. But he acknowledges that, even now, few if any 64-drivers are available for some categories of consumer products, including DVD/RW devices.
"The installed base of 64-bit Windows Vista PCs, as a percentage of all Windows Vista systems, has more than tripled in the US in the last three months, while worldwide adoption has more than doubled during the same period," Flores contended, late on Wednesday.
EarthLink eyes what's left of AOL's dial-up business
Saying it is "best positioned to be the consolidator in this industry," EarthLink may be looking at acquiring AOL's dial-up business, the Wall Street Journal reports.
EarthLink CEO Rolla Huff argued that it made sense for the industry to start consolidating, especially considering there are no longer any growth prospects for the market as consumers have moved onto broadband.
Yahoo exec builds Yuil to parody Cuil, but then removes it
Using Yahoo's Build your Own Search Service (BOSS), Yahoo Vice President of Platforms Sam Pullara built a parody of the newly-launched search engine Cuil, calling it Yuil.
Cuil launched this week with its proverbial fists swinging, claiming its search index was nearly triple the size of Google's, and promising superior privacy and zero data retention.
Surveys: Many people are now watching TV online
As much as 20 percent of all TV viewing in the US now happens online, says a survey released this week by Integrated Media Measurement Inc. (IMMI), supporting other recent research which also indicates that the Internet is fast turning into the top choice for many.
For the first time this year, a significant part of the online audience for primetime TV episodes is not watching some portion of the show on TV, according to IMMI's new survey results. Recent launches of sites like Hulu, offering full episodes of programs, is surely bolstering the trend.
Toshiba to shut down mobile broadcast TV service
Mobile Broadcasting Corporation, a subsidiary of Toshiba, announced yesterday that it will be closing down in March of 2009 due to weak consumer interest.
MBCO's service MobaHo! opened in Japan in 2004 and has only managed to gain around 100,000 subscribers since that time. Toshiba expected over a million subscribers by the fourth quarter 2007.
Microsoft says it needs more Internet Explorer 8 beta testers
With Beta 2 of the Web browser due next month, Microsoft is looking to sign up more official testers for Internet Explorer 8, saying it's the only way for individuals to directly file bug reports.
Like with Beta 1, the second beta of IE8 will be made available for public download. Still, there's good reason to become a participant in Microsoft's IE8 Technical Beta program. In addition to filing a direct bug reports, official testers can be invited to other beta programs, such as Windows 7 or Office 14.
Garmin nuvifone delayed due to 'carrier-specific requirements'
In Garmin's second quarter earnings announcement today, the GPS company said its nuvifone that was anticipated for release this year will be delayed.
The company's iPhone-like hybrid 3G handset and GPS device was originally expected to launch in the third quarter of this year in American markets. It was then gently pushed to a fourth quarter release, which Garmin has now rescheduled for the first half of 2009.
British hacker who broke into Pentagon may finally be sent to US
A British hacker who admitted hacking into Pentagon and NASA computers searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life has lost his latest extradition appeal. After fighting the case for more than six years in UK courts, the British House of Lords officially dismissed his appeal.
Gary McKinnon, 42, admitted to illegally accessing around 100 U.S. military and government computers while living in his north London flat from Feb 2001 to March 2002. While roaming around the systems, he was caught after downloading an image that he thought could have been an alien spacecraft.
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