Netflix box by Roku to get more content providers
Released several months ago as a part of Netflix's increasing emphasis on all-digital content delivery, the Netflix set top box by Roku will soon be streaming content from other providers.
Roku's set-top box definitely hit a sweet spot with consumers, at no additional fee to Netflix Ultimate subscribers other than the $99 cost of the hardware, Roku reportedly sold out of its initial shipment of devices in just three weeks. Though the Roku box delivers sub-DVD picture quality, and only 10% of the Netflix catalog is available for streaming, its popularity appears to follow a common theme in consumer electronics: If a device is cheap enough, people will be willing to sacrifice quality.
US Justice Dept. sued for info on cellular tracking practices
In purported efforts to help the public "understand the privacy risks of carrying a mobile phone," the ACLU and the EFF are suing the Justice Dept. for "documents, memos, and guides" about procedures used to track individuals through cell phones.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation aren't looking for money -- except to cover their own costs -- in their most recent lawsuit against the US Department of Justice. Instead, the two civil liberty advocacy groups want information about whether and how the government might be using the location capabilities in cell phones to find out where people are.
Next Patch Tuesday has few security updates, big Vista reliability fix
In its monthly advance notice the weekend before the second Tuesday of the month, Microsoft said it will only be addressing four security issues this time around, two dealing with Windows. But a surprisingly big Vista bug fix is under way.
If you think about it, the relative security of Windows Vista hasn't been the subject of much debate recently. If there's any problem consumers have with it, whether it's born out of market perception or real-world experience, it's a feeling that it's not all that reliable.
BlackBerry Pearl users can test voice input for Google Maps
Adobe pushes its Flash 10 beta 2 refresh
The latest beta update to Flash Player 10 has been made available, adding performance enhancements and many community-suggested features.
Download Adobe Flash Player 10 Beta 2 for Windows from FileForum now.
Nokia and InterDigital start to disassemble their running feud
You dream of seeing outcomes like this: One side asks the other, "What were we fighting about again?" The other side responds, "I don't remember." And the two shake hands and start picking up their mess. This may actually be happening.
It is perhaps the most bizarre patent licensing foray in the history of telecommunications -- so unusual that a third layer of lawsuits, filed beginning in July 2005 and extending into 2006, was literally convened to settle in court the question of what it was that the second layer of lawsuits was supposed to be about.
Do-it-yourself phone manufacturer declares its independence tomorrow
While many of us will be enjoying fireworks and barbeques tomorrow to help celebrate the Fourth of July, a Taiwan-based device manufacturer, Openmoko, plans to launch a new open source Linux handset that begs to be customized.
While there's no evidence yet that Openmoko's Neo Freerunner will be available through any major US carrier on a subsidized plan, the phone can be used on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and other mobile phone services in the United States, with customers apparently able to select which network they wish to use.
Study: US broadband access up overall, but down among the poor
When it comes to broadband Internet access in America, the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" is widening, suggests a Pew Research report released on Wednesday called "Home Broadband Adoption 2008."
On the whole, about 55% of all Americans today have a high-speed Internet connection, up from only 47% in 2007, according to results released this week by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Beta test a portable Web browsing device
Centercode is seeking beta testers in the New York City metropolitan area to try out a new device that serves as a portable Web browser. It works via cellular network, but comes already activated and won't require you to switch from your current phone to participate.
Beta testers will still need to have a mobile phone with active service. Those selected will be contacted over the next week to verify their shipping address and sign the testing agreement. Please note that if you are selected, you will need to keep your participation in this test very private. To apply, visit the Centercode beta callout.
Nvidia: 'Previous generation' GPUs failing at high rates
In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, graphics hardware company NVidia stated defective MCP and GPU products in certain notebooks will cost the company between $150-$200 million.
Warranty, repair, return, replacement and "other consequential costs and expenses" are expected to hit the company as a result of a weak die and material set in certain "previous generation" products causing an unexpectedly high failure rate in the field.
New Google Talk gives iPhone users a free messaging alternative
Google has pushed out a new version of its Google Talk service for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch owners designed the service to work solely through Safari, so there are no software downloads that need to be installed.
According to a blog post late yesterday from Google mobile team software engineer Adam Connors, interested iPhone users simply head to www.google.com/talk, sign in, start chatting with friends.
It's official: Mozilla's Firefox sets Guinness World Record
From 18:16 UTC on June 17, 2008 to 18:16 UTC on June 18, 2008, Mozilla indeed reached its goal of setting the record for "the single most downloaded piece of software in a single day."
"Mozilla set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of software downloads in 24 hours for the 8,002,530 downloads of Firefox 3!" a Mozilla spokesperson told BetaNews yesterday.
Is the latest YouTube court ruling really a 'privacy concern?'
Although privacy advocates are up in arms, a judge's decision in the ongoing court battle between Viacom and YouTube is likely to have little or no real impact on most people who have viewed videos on YouTube.
In the US District Court for Southern New York on Wednesday, Judge Louis Stanton ruled that Google must turn over all of its YouTube viewing logs to Viacom. Specifically, Judge Stanton ordered Google to turn over to Viacom a log containing the login IDs and IP addresses of sources from which videos were downloaded, and details about those videos.
'Metal Gear Solid 4' gives PS3 a sales boost in Japan
It's good to be on top of the heap, Sony discovered for perhaps a brief moment, and today gaming analysts are giving the PS3 a ray of hope for Japan. But that depends on just how carefully you slice the pie, as the market leader remains Nintendo.
Widely circulated reports attributed to Reuters, though not attributed to the Nikkei service, state that the relative ratio of sales of Sony's PlayStation 3 to Nintendo's Wii console, tightened to 1.7 : 1, during a five-week period that ended last week. In that period, the highly anticipated Konami game title Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was released in Japan exclusively for the PS3, evidently contributing to sales.
Sony pulls PS3 update after some gamers report bricked systems
Just hours after making it publicly available, Sony has pulled the PlayStation 3's latest firmware download (v2.40) due to reports of inoperable consoles after the update process.
SCEA's director of Corporate Communication and Social Media, Patrick Seybold, played down the problem, saying that incoming calls regarding failures have been of a low volume, and the removal is only temporary.
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