The Frog lives: Warner resurrects The WB online in beta form
Today, Warner has announced that it will be bringing back The WB as a free, ad-supported online video network to showcase original Studio 2.0 content as well as offer hit WB shows from that networks' -- and others' -- past.
Launching in beta at the beginning of May, TheWB.com will offer free full-length episodes of The OC, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, and Everwood, as well as the current CW show Smallville -- considered by many TV analysts The CW's only actual "hit," in very relative terms.
Future Cray supercomputers will have Intel Xeon processors
An Intel spokesperson confirmed to BetaNews this morning that an alliance between the manufacturer and Cray Inc. will lead to future Cray supercomputers being endowed with Intel Xeon processors.
Itanium processors -- which are designed with explicit parallelism from the outset will not be involved in this partnership, according to Intel spokesperson Nick Knupffer. Instead, the partnership will center around what Knupffer described as "Cray's interconnect to Intel's future generations of processor technology."
Karaoke to become a keynote beta feature of MySpace
In what could either be described as the next innovation in two-way media streaming or Simon Cowell's worst nightmare made real, the world's leading social network site is launching a karaoke service.
Today marks the launch of the first public beta of MySpace Karaoke, a service that enables members to sing along with instrumental tracks and share the results with other members.
World-class stealing: Grand Theft Auto IV makes its global premiere
Rockstar Games/Take-Two Interactive have released the fourth installment of the popular Grand Theft Auto series for the Xbox 360 and PS3 -- easily the most important episode thus far for the fate of its publisher.
Sales of this game could help shareholders resist EA's $2 billion dollar takeover bid, as well as increase trading value of the company's stock. Already this morning, the company's value rose 17 cents a share in NASDAQ trading.
Comcast business customers get free speed boost
The CATV provider's Business Class Internet service is increasing its speeds to 16 Mbps download/2 Mbps upload nationwide at no additional cost to subscribers.
Previously, these speeds were only attainable when the company's PowerBoost speed enhancement was active in the "Enhanced" package deal.
Jajah to handle voice calling in Yahoo Messenger
In a move that could greatly expand the customer base of the growing voice over IP provider, Jajah has inked a deal to power the calling features in Yahoo's Messenger client.
Yahoo is making use of Jajah's new Managed Services offering, in which companies can outsource their Internet calls through Jajah's. Jajah handles the infrastructure, customer service and payments, taking a cut of revenues in the process.
Rogers confirms it will offer iPhone in Canada (again)
After jumping the gun last year in announcing a deal with Apple for the iPhone, Rogers is once again letting customers know it has struck a deal with the company.
Rogers issued press release about a year ago claiming it would be the exclusive provider for the iPhone in Canada -- not surprising since it is the sole major GSM provider in the country -- but later, the statement was retracted.
Centercode seeks mobile phone beta testers for study
Beta testing firm Centercode is seeking individuals that work or live in the greater New York Metropolitan area to help in a study related to mobile phone service. Although no new products will actually be tested, the study is a chance to help improve signal quality for both calls and data.
Those who participate in this test will also be eligible to join future beta tests held by Centercode, which works with companies such as Adobe, Apple and Palm. Requirements for the study are an active cellular plan with 600 or more prime time minutes. This test will consist of using the phone to perform various tasks and reporting on the successes and failures.
Oracle's $7.85 B buyout of BEA clears last regulatory hurdle
Software giant Oracle Corp., today won approval for its $7.85 billion buyout of middleware specialist BEA Systems from the European Commission, removing the only remaining obstacle in the antitrust space to completion of the deal.
While initially reluctant to merge with Oracle, BEA got swayed into changing its mind in mid-January after Oracle raised its buying price.
Microsoft presses on with Xbox 360 in Asia
Microsoft will cut prices between 5 and 20 percent across four of the five regional markets where it sells its Xbox 360 console..
While the Xbox 360 has generally done quite well outside of Asia, the company has seen its share of struggles in the region. The price cuts are obviously an attempt to reverse this trend.
Windows XP SP3 official release delayed, but download still available
Download Windows XP Service Pack 3 from FileForum now (316 MB).
1:20 pm EDT April 29, 2008 - As expected, the self-extracting .EXE version of Windows XP Service Pack 3 was made available to the general public by Microsoft this morning. However, due to a last minute problem, the official release to Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center was delayed.
Record labels take aim at a clever playlist 'sharing' operation
In what could be a precedent-setting case, recording companies are alleging that the Project Playlist Web site is guilty of infringement by enabling its own members to give other users access to unlicensed music files hosted by other sites.
Ostensibly, Project Playlist purports to be a site where users can share lists of their favorite music. But lists alone do not a business model make, as indicated by the fact that songs chosen by members can be made to play in sequence, in Windows Media, RealPlayer, or Flash.
Blockbuster expands gaming section in stores
Blockbuster has expanded its video game presence, now offering retail video games, hardware, and accessories in all of its company-owned stores.
Previously, the company had only offered game rentals and limited retail gaming items in its stores. In select locations, the company had a shop-within-shop Game Rush operation selling new and used games.
Were PND devices just a flash in the pan?
Dutch Personal Navigation Device company TomTom posted a dramatic 83% first quarter drop in European earnings thanks to a number of factors; many of which could add up to the commodification of GPS.
TomTom warned of its diminishing revenue first when it lowered its full-year guidance from €2.14 billion to €1.8-2.0 billion in the beginning of April as stocks dropped 13% in value internationally.
Verizon makes gains in FiOS and wireless customers
Verizon today announced the addition of 1.5 million new wireless customers and 263,000 new FiOS TV customers, on a net basis, in delivering financial results showing a 5.5% rise in revenues to $23.8 billion.
"Results for the first quarter were strong and demonstrate that we weathered the economic uncertainty," said Verizon CFO Doreen Toben, in a conference call with financial analysts today.
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