That didn't take long: DTV coalition says field tests are already done
It's already official, according to the Open Mobile Video Coalition: DTV stations in the US have already tried a combined approach to mobile broadcasting suggested by Samsung and LG, and the early results appear positive.
Yesterday, the two proponents of mobile DTV technology in North America using derivatives of the fixed DTV standard the US will adopt next February, joined forces to promote a single approach to a mobile ATSC signal, as BetaNews reported. At the time, it looked like LG and Samsung would encounter smooth sailing for a joint demonstration for the Open Mobile Video Coalition, a group of broadcasters seeking to establish a separate channel for mobile DTV that protects their existing interests.
Xbox 360 sells 10 million in US, Wii not far behind
While Microsoft is tooting its own horn over having the first console to sell 10 million units in the US market, Nintendo's own isn't far behind and is still gaining on the Xbox.
The Xbox 360 has been out for a full year longer than its two rivals, Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3. The milestone 10 millionth sale was reached apparently this week.
EU agency is 'confident' Google Maps will alter Street View
Google's all-seeing eye may bother US citizens, but the search company faces repeated difficulty even getting its technology adopted by other nations. This time, the European Union is skeptical about Street View.
Though a development in Google Street View identity obfuscation was announced only this week, the European Union's data protection agency is still hesitant to let Google's ominous-sounding Street View vans comb European streets.
New API enables Google Maps to be embedded in Flash apps
In a move that could signal a break from Google's dependence on HTML-structured pages with JavaScript code, the company today unveiled its first working API for embedding functionality inside an Adobe Flash-based application.
Google's new Maps API for Flash now enables developers of Flash-endowed Web sites to embed Google Maps directly, but also more importantly to acquire and manipulate the data on which those maps are based. The result can be something more than the way, say, a YouTube video is "embedded" into a Web site by dropping in its <OBJECT> element.
AT&T begins to choke iPhone purchases
It's another sign of the impending update to Apple's mobile phone: AT&T, the device's US carrier, has informed its retail staff to limit sales of the iPhone to customers.
Effective yesterday, customers can only purchase one phone at a time. This matches up well with moves around the world, where stock is either extremely low or depleted altogether.
Next-generation Mozilla Thunderbird in Alpha 1, called 'Shredder'
Download Mozilla Thunderbird for Windows 3.0 Alpha 1 from BetaNews FileForum now.
A developer preview release of Mozilla's next version of the Thunderbird e-mail client has been made available to the developer and tester community.
CBS to acquire CNET Networks for $1.8 billion
In what was a surprise even to its own staff writers, it appears, CNET Networks said Thursday that it had entered into an agreement with CBS Corporation to be acquired in an $11.50 per share deal.
Both companies urged shareholders to approve the deal, which they expect to close in the third quarter.
Air Force attorney suggests chaining old PCs in a counter-offensive botnet
A US Air Force staff judge advocate has published a treatise suggesting the US government should build a botnet of thousands of virus-infected personal computers it can control to counter-attack foreign-based computer networks.
In an opinion piece published in the May edition of Armed Forces Journal, Col. Charles W. Williamson, III compares America's current defense against cyber threats to that of Troy when it fell after ten years of warfare, after its leaders accepted the Greek's Trojan horse inside its own walls.
Sony plans to sell 10 million PS3s this year
Sony plans to boost sales of of Blu-ray drives to 7 million units in the year ahead, from 2 million over the past fiscal year, while also selling another 10 million PS3 game machines without "drastic" price cuts.
This according to Nobuyuki Oneda, Sony Corp.'s executive VP and CFO, during his company's quarterly earnings report late yesterday.
Comcast to acquire Plaxo: social TV en route?
Plaxo, the social address book service, has announced today that it signed an agreement to be acquired by former partner Comcast for an undisclosed sum.
Last Year, Comcast partnered with Plaxo among others, to provide its "SmartZone" centralized communications portal to Comcast subscribers, set to launch later this year. Building upon that collaboration, the cable company now plans to fully integrate Plaxo's properties -- which include social networking site Pulse -- into its own Web services Comcast.net, Fancast, and Fandango.
Intel backtracks on Atom iPhone claims
After a German exec seemed to suggest that Apple would use the Atom chip in an upcoming iPhone or tablet-like device, Intel has been doing its best to stop the surrounding rumors.
The comments came from Intel Germany's Hannes Schwaderer as part of an interview with ZDNet.de. He said the device would be slightly larger than its previous version, with a larger display -- implying a tablet of some sort, possibly.
Without 'Answers,' Dictionary.com's parent will become part of Ask.com
While some analysts have already deemed online search to be a territory that Google has already won, there are still competitors looking to assemble the right formula. This morning, some new pieces fell into place for the #5 provider.
On the surface, last July's announced deal between a Wikipedia-like reference service and an online dictionary and thesaurus publisher, looked like a sweetheart deal. But it later turned south after the dowry required to make the deal work failed to materialize. Now, after would-be groom Answers.com turned out to be something of a deadbeat, the jilted Lexico -- publisher of Dictionary.com -- finds itself wedded to a much more capable provider: Ask.com, with a new chief at the helm since just last January.
Adobe Flash Player 10 public beta now open
Today Adobe Systems launched the public beta for Flash Player 10, the company's ubiquitous runtime graphics platform. Added features include 3D animation and transformation support, new effects and filters, as well as new rich text layouts.
Flash developers can download the Pixel Bender toolkit at no further charge, and run it in conjunction with Flash Player 10. These together add the ability to create custom filters and animated effects similar to those found in Adobe After Effects.
Icahn names Yahoo's dissident dream team, including Cuban, Biondi, Chapple
In the opening move of a game he plays better than anyone alive, billionaire investor Carl Icahn has named a powerhouse team of investors and executives who would be ready and willing to lead Yahoo into a big future with Microsoft.
The dissident proxy slate of Yahoo directors proposed this morning by Icahn Capital chief Carl Icahn is comprised of frequent Icahn allies associates, along with extremely accomplished executives and investors. Icahn unveiled his team this morning in an open letter to Yahoo Chairman Roy Bostock.
Now a British educational agency raises alarms on OXML
A British watchdog agency has filed a complaint with the European Commission charging that Open XML -- on its way to standardization -- fails to do its stated job of supporting interoperability with software from other developers.
The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BECTA), a non-profit organization, wants the EC to find out whether, in obtaining standards approval for OXML, Microsoft might have intentionally withheld information from its competitors. This just weeks after the ISO's approval of OXML as international standard ISO/IEC 29500.
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