BlackBerrys to get their own music service
While BlackBerry devices have been praised for their functionality, only recently have they begun cracking the "snazzy" barrier. Next month, the venerable communicators will have one more thing in common with iPods.
Downloadable music for the Research in Motion BlackBerry device was announced today from Canadian online music provider Puretracks, to be available next month at the CTIQ Wireless show.
Worst-kept secret: LG Glimmer comes to Alltel
The rumors proved to be true: Last month an advertisement leaked for LG's Glimmer touchscreen/slider handset had a big "Alltel" brand across it; and today Alltel announced it will be exclusively offering the device beginning tomorrow.
Based upon LG's Shine, the Glimmer has a slightly larger display (2.8" 240 x 400) with capacitive touchscreen functions. This 1900/800 MHz dual band CDMA device has EVDO data connectivity and is GPS-ready. It has 128MB of onboard memory expandable via MicroSD, Bluetooth 1.2, and a 2 Megapixel camera as well.
DivX is coming for Blu-ray players, while PS3 could lag behind
The single most popular Blu-ray player sold today isn't even a dedicated console, it's the Sony PS3. As we learned today, six forthcoming dedicated Blu-ray players could get something the PS3 lacks: total DivX support.
DivX announced today that six new Blu-ray players will soon come to market that have all achieved complete DivX certification. This means Panasonic, Phillips, and Denon will soon have players that fully support the format, allowing more than 25 hours of DVD-quality DivX content to be burned onto a single Blu-ray disc.
Now bigger, Google prepares to get smaller
Although yesterday's completion of the Google + DoubleClick deal gives the combined business a big boost against Yahoo and Microsoft, Google is already planning staff layoffs.
"I'm pleased to share the news that we completed our acquisition of DoubleClick today," Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt wrote in his blog yesterday, when the ink on the deal was still barely dry. "An immediate task we'll undertake over the new few weeks is matching and aligning DoubleClick employees with our organizational plan for the business...As with most mergers, there may be reductions in head count. We expect these to take place in the US and possibly in other regions as well."
New YouTube API opens embedded players to customization
A new set of functionality enhancements being released today to Web developers could enable them to build customized video libraries around their exclusive sites, with YouTube doing less to steal their users away.
Up to now, when you've seen a YouTube video appear embedded in a Web site (such as our own), it has had its own somewhat generic look and feel. And in recent months, you've seen that it has embedded search features which let viewers who've seen the first embedded video, go on to search for material that may be related or completely unrelated. In a way, that converts Web site users into YouTube users, albeit indirectly.
Apple told to look into iPod nano fires
Apple Japan has reportedly been ordered by the Japanese ministry of trade to investigate the cause of an iPod nano sparking while charging.
About 420,000 units of the first-generation device, model MA099J/A, were sold in Japan between September 2005 and September 2006. This latest incident reportedly happened in January outside Tokyo but Apple informed the trade ministry only in March.
AOL 'cleans house' at its Platform A ad business
Although it's way too early for spring cleaning yet, AOL's ad business is sweeping a bunch of key execs out the door. Curt Viebranz, the head of AOL's new Platform A ad unit since September, has now left the company, only a month or so after Dave Morgan, AOL's former EVP for global advertising strategy, and Kathy Kayse, the former VP of marketing solutions for Platform A.
Viebranz, who was inherited by AOL through the Tacoda buyout, is being replaced by Linda Clarizio, president of Advertising.com, an ad network that forms a large chunk of Platform A.
Time Warner chief won't rule out an addition to AOL
At an analysts' conference this afternoon, the new chief of Time Warner -- who was once suspected of wanting to cast AOL aside -- refused to rule out the possibility of AOL's involvement in a possible future rescue of Yahoo, or even some other firm.
Speaking at the Bear Stearns media conference in Palm Beach, Florida this afternoon, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes acknowledged that Microsoft's proposed buyout of Yahoo will intensify competition for AOL -- especially on the search side -- assuming that deal ever goes through. One way it might not go through, though, is if AOL steps in.
The IPv6 experience: Are you experienced yet?
Now that ICANN is in the process of upgrading its root servers to handle IPv6 records, somebody has to get the word out to businesses about the benefits of the updated protocol.
The Internet Engineering Task Force is hosting the "IPv6 Experience" in Philadelphia, a meeting geared largely toward generating interest in the next generation IP.
Samsung corruption probe to continue through April
Following a raid in January of the office of Samsung's chairman Lee Kun-hee, the lead Korean prosecutor in the case is being given extra time to complete his investigation.
Special prosecutor Cho Joon-woong asked for additional time as he claimed he would not be able to complete the investigation in the original 60 days he was granted.
Time Warner to spin off, not sell, its cable business
Although Time Warner is strongly considering a "separate" structure for its majority-owned cable business, the company will be not be selling off a cable spin-off, CEO Jeff Bewkes said today.
"Cable is a great business," said Bewkes, speaking today at the Bear Stearns media conference in Palm Beach, Florida. Later, during a Q&A session, he added, "We're not trying to get rid of or sell the cable business."
Wal-Mart to close out dirt-cheap 'Green' Linux PC
The world's largest retailer was willing to stock the Linux-based $199 Everex Green gPC starting last October. But customer demand for the product has been lackluster, and yesterday the retailer announced its test run for the gPC is now over.
Wal-Mart elected not to restock the original gPC, but interested customers can head to Walmart.com to purchase the gPC2 for $199 without a monitor.
GoMobile seeks to entice mobile widget developers
By releasing its Vadowerx SDK to developers and business partners, GoLife Mobile is hoping to spark interest in the object-oriented framework for development of mobile micro-applications more commonly referred to as widgets.
Since the client is Java-based, applications developed within the platform will be usable on many different handsets, regardless of OS. The idea behind widgets is that the tiny individual applications reside in their own framework, like Konfabulator or DesktopX for Windows, the sidebar in Windows Vista, or Dashboard for the Mac.
AMD appoints a former Dell exec as CIO
At the most critical time in the company's history, AMD appoints to its CIO role a veteran Dell process engineer who has already made inroads in fine-tuning the manufacturing process -- something AMD desperately needs.
One of the people who helped refine all types of processes at Dell Computer, including both online Web services and manufacturing, has joined AMD this morning as its Chief Information Officer. Ahmed Mahmoud's appointment points to renewed attention on process refinement, which is typically what that company is known for anyway, but which it finds itself doubly concerned with as it works to catch up with Intel in the 45 nm arena.
Anonymous web posting may become illegal in Kentucky
Although it's not exactly clear how the law could be enforced, the lawmaker said outlawing anonymous posting could curb online bullying.
Kentucky Representative Tim Couch introduced the bill in the state's Legislature last week. Under the policy, anyone who contributes to a Web site will have to submit a name, e-mail address, and mailing address.
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