Searchme launches private beta with help from Adobe
Searchme is a new visually-oriented search engine which gives its results in the form of a viewable "stack" of page snapshots. The graphical flow of those snapshots may give Web developers a clue as to what's possible with Flex.
Anyone who's used iTunes will immediately see the similarity between Searchme's results page and iTunes' "Cover Flow" view. The two are practically identical. However, the search engine isn't merely aping an existing method of categorization, but is showing off what can be done in Adobe's new Flex 3 open source framework. The free SDK was released at the end of February with Adobe's AIR runtime and SDK.
EU clears Google + DoubleClick; merger complete
The two largest players in the Internet advertising industry are now officially one this morning, as the final hurdle to their merger has been cleared, and the final lines on the papers have officially been signed, according to Google's CEO.
On the theory that display advertising provider DoubleClick wasn't really a competitor to contextual advertising provider Google anyway, the European Commission concluded this afternoon, Brussels time, that a merger of the two entities would not actually result in the elimination of competition.
Hulu set to launch tomorrow
The ad-supported streaming video site, and product of a partnership between NBC Universal and Fox, is opening its doors to the general public tomorrow after approximately five months in private beta.
For the first time, users will be able to freely stream Hulu's Flash-based, ad-supported TV and movie content. Many had actually expected the site to go live today, and several sources simply reported that it already had.
Firefox 3.0 Beta 4 released, this time for real
A few days after an unusual false start, during which testers at a virtual worldwide party made do with a release candidate, Mozilla gives the public its next taste of what's coming in Firefox.
BetaNews FileForum has posted Firefox 3.0 Beta 4 this morning, and the good news is, it's still there.
IBM invests in 'collaboration lab' for Web 2.0
This morning, IBM and the Rochester Institute of Technology announced they will coalesce toward the creation of what they're calling an Innovation and Collaboration Lab. The new Rochester-based laboratory will help students prepare for the further adoption of Web 2.0 technologies.
"The overarching aim of RIT's Innovation and Collaboration Lab is to bring real-world access of IBM emerging technologies to RIT undergraduates so that they go beyond learning about software trends and actually start developing real code for IBM technologies," an IBM spokesperson told BetaNews today.
Third party apps for iPhone: let the deluge begin
The iPhone SDK has not even been available for a week and we're already seeing the preliminary versions of software for the smart phone. Early entrant Socialthing! has opened in private beta, showing off its Web-based "digital life manager."
Socialthing is an application that lets users post content on its service which gets aggregated to all social network sites of which the user is a member. It effectively acts as a social network of social networks. Unlike Friendfeed, which is a site that creates a feed of a user's social network updates on a single site, Socialthing actually populates the participating sites while simultaneously informing friends.
More execs leave Motorola, with mobile spinoff likely
With more and more execs marching through Motorola's revolving door, a spinoff of Motorola's mobile phone business seems increasingly imminent -- although it's unclear yet who might buy the failing business unit, or for how much.
Motorola's most recent departures include Stu Reed, who had headed up Motorola's Mobile Devices Unit, and Kenneth "Casey" Keller, who'd been in charge of Motorola's marketing.
Next, TV Guide makes its way to the Wii
Gemstar's G-Guide interactive program guide, the company's Asian market equivalent of the TV Guide Channel will be coming to the Nintendo Wii, with no launch date yet determined.
G-Guide has found its way onto practically every platform in the Japanese market: DVRs, TVs, Mobile phones, and online. This marks the first example of Gemstar's IPG making its way into a video game console.
One-click access to AAA comes to BlackBerry 8130, 8830
Starting today for a monthly fee for AAA members, BlackBerry users will have the ability to call for roadside assistance, alerting emergency crews to their exact location.
If you've ever planned a road trip, you know how invaluable those AAA "Trip-tics" can be, especially for spotting the best stops along the way and for finding the best motel deals. But if you've ever had to go down the same route year after year, for hundreds of miles each way, you know how quickly those little spiral-bound maps can get torn, waterlogged, and dog-eared.
Logitech denies rumors of a Microsoft buyout
Rumors resurfaced this week that Microsoft is targeting PC mouse and keyboard maker Logitech for a multibillion dollar takeover bid. But this time around, the speculation was scuttled by a statement from Logitech's chairman.
Rumors of some sort of behind-the-scenes deal between Microsoft and PC accessories and universal remote maker Logitech have been festering and dwindling away, like a cold sore at the height of flu season. That is until yesterday, when Logitech Chairman Guerrino de Luca was quoted in an Italian newspaper as characterizing such a deal as "an operation without sense.
Unlimited calling from Alltel concentrates on voice
Another day, another wireless carrier announcing an unlimited calling plan. This time it's Alltel, though surprisingly, its plan may not be as bold as its competitors'.
Today, without a lot of fanfare, Alltel Wireless launched its "My Circle" unlimited calling plan for $99.99 per month, joining the likes of T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint. Alltel's plan offers unlimited voice and long distance, though text and photo messages are not included.
Microsoft revamps its FolderShare remote access beta
It's perhaps the simplest example of cloud computing there is: two gigabytes of free storage space sitting out there on Microsoft's servers to be used for file synchronization, and all for free. But there's an added feature that purports to be a benefit, that some users might not expect.
Ostensibly, the new version of Windows Live FolderShare offers a convenient pocket for files you may need to access from remote locations. The surprise is, it's also a remote access system to your computers' complete file systems.
Microsoft cuts Xbox 360 prices across Europe
Microsoft moved to adjust Xbox 360 prices in the European market, likely in an effort to both line up its cost with other regional markets while also taking into account a weakening US dollar.
The changes are taking place in both the UK and markets where the Euro is the currency of choice. In the UK, the base Xbox 360, the Arcade, will fall to £159, down £20, the standard model to £199 from £249, and the Elite £259 from its original £299 price.
Iomega scoffs at buyout offer from EMC
Iomega received an "unsolicited and inferior proposal" from EMC, one of the world's largest providers of data storage solutions, to purchase the company for approximately $178 million, and has promptly rejected it.
According to Iomega, its board of directors met on March 9 and unanimously determined that EMC's proposal both undervalued the company and contained due diligence contingencies that were too broad. During mergers and acquisitions, due diligence reviews are used to identify and assess business risks.
Lionsgate debuts iTunes Digital Copy on select DVDs
Lionsgate became the first movie studio to incorporate a digital copy of its movies intended for playback within iTunes for purchasers of select DVDs.
The first two films to include the file on the DVD are Rambo and The Eye. The former will be available on May 27, while the latter will be available this summer.
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