Google Opens Gmail Signups Further
After opening its formerly invitation-only Gmail webmail service to anyone with a mobile phone in August 2005, Google removed that requirement Wednesday. Now, anyone can signup for a Gmail account by creating a Google Account.
The mobile phone requirement was designed to prevent Gmail accounts from being created by robots and stop spammers from signing up multiple times. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Gmail signup URL still redirected users to the SMS-based method, but a
T-Mobile to Test Monitoring Software
T-Mobile is seeking beta testers in the San Diego, Calif. area to trial a new software application for their mobile phones that tracks user activity without the use of GPS. Applicants would need to reside in the 619, 760 or 858 area codes, and have more than one phone on their account.
Wireless carrier Sprint launched a child tracking service last April, which relies on GPS technology built into handsets. Parents would be able to see the location of their kids on a map using their computer or cell phone. The T-Mobile beta test begins later this month; interested individuals can apply via Centercode.
Amazon Brings 'Unbox' Service to TiVo
TiVo and Amazon have entered into an agreement that would bring the online retailer's "Unbox" movie download service to the set-top boxes of TiVo customers in the near future.
Both the rental and purchase functions will be available to broadband-enabled TiVo boxes. Amazon is no doubt banking on Unbox on TiVo as a way to jumpstart its download business, which has seen a rocky start.
Samsung Settles DRAM Price Fixing Suit
Samsung and a US subsidiary have agreed to pay $90 million to settle charges that it colluded to keep the price of DRAM memory artificially high.
Money will be used to reimburse consumers as well as the legal costs of state and local governments nationwide. The action settles cases brought by 41 states, and several private class-action suits.
New NBC Universal Chief Takes Hard Line on YouTube
The day of his coronation as the new CEO of NBC Universal, replacing long-time executive and GE appointee Robert Wright, Jeff Zucker wasted no time taking a stand against YouTube, taking the video sharing site and NBCU partner to task for failing to implement copyright protections.
The public statement, along with the new division of labor in his organization in addition to comments made for The New York Times this morning, are fueling speculation that Zucker's company may be planning to expand its own experiment in video sharing, perhaps becoming a competitor to YouTube.
Microsoft Acknowledges Anti-Virus Failed VB100 Test
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to BetaNews this afternoon that it has learned its Windows Live OneCare anti-virus package has failed a test conducted by the respected British laboratory Virus Bulletin using Windows Vista Business Edition, disqualifying it from carrying the "VB100" logo denoting 100% detection of a selected battery of common "in the wild" viruses.
However, the information Microsoft gave us indicates the company is not yet certain - at least officially - why it failed the VB100 test, nor has it apparently tested to verify Virus Bulletin's results.
Microsoft Expands IE7 Phishing Filter
Microsoft announced at the RSA security conference this week that it has expanded the number of data providers for the phishing filter built into Internet Explorer 7, which warns users when they are about to visit a potentially risky Web site.
Australian Computer Emergency Response Team (AusCERT), BrandProtect and MySpace.com are joining current partners Cyveillance, Digital Resolve, Internet Identity, Mark Monitor, and RSA. Netcraft has also agreed to provide Microsoft with data it obtains through its own anti-phishing toolbar for both IE and Firefox.
Sony Ericsson Revamps Handsets with Java-based Phones
Among a plethora of revamped handsets announced by Sony Ericsson this morning is one very thin Walkman phone that peeked out from behind the curtains at CES last month, and whose official announcement enthusiasts weren’t expecting for maybe another three months. The handsome W880 is expected to replace the already successful W850 and W810, while reducing its profile to a mere 9.4 mm.
As a Sony Ericsson spokesperson confirmed to BetaNews this afternoon, the Java Platform 7 platform on which the W880 and seven other models released today are based, includes support for a game rendering engine called MascotCapsule Micro3D, a compatible version of the Mobile 3D Graphics API for Java.
Apple's Steve Jobs Calls for End of DRM
Apple CEO Steve Jobs has made a surprise call for the end of digital rights management technology, which is designed to stop copyrighted music from being shared illicitly. Jobs says Apple would sell only DRM-free music on iTunes if it could.
The revelation came in an open letter published on Apple's Web site, which largely responds to concerns over DRM that have come from European countries such as Norway and France. Jobs offers three possible outcomes for the future, but highlights the abandonment of DRM by record companies as the best possible solution for consumers.
Transmeta Exits Engineering Business to Concentrate on Licensing
The company that at the start of this decade appeared poised to beat Intel and upset AMD in the race to produce a low-power notebook processor for the masses, announced yesterday it is exiting the engineering business altogether. Transmeta will be laying off up to 68% of its current workforce by the end of the third calendar quarter, concentrating the remainder of its resources on the licensing of its existing designs to AMD and others, as well as to pursue the final resolution of its courtroom battle against Intel.
Since last June, Transmeta has been licensing its low-power CPU design to AMD for use in its Efficeon processor line, which is marketed exclusively to emerging markets. Efficeon-based systems utilize a Microsoft technology called FlexGo, which lets lower-income families purchase PCs on an enforced version of the installment plan.
Apple Sets Date for 2007 WWDC
Apple said Tuesday that it had set a date for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, a gathering where the company shows off development techniques and technologies to Macintosh developers. This year's conference will take place in San Francisco, Calif. from June 11-15.
It is possible that Mac OS X 10.5, code-named Leopard, may make its first appearance at the conference, as WWDC has sometimes been used as a launch pad for new software and hardware products. For example, at last year's event, Apple completed its transition to the Intel platform with the Mac Pro, as well as offering a sneak peek at Leopard.
Verizon: WV Cable Thefts a Public Safety Threat
While cable thefts and vandalism are a problem for telecommunications companies nationwide, Verizon said Tuesday the problem is especially bad in West Virginia, where over 17,000 customers have experienced service interruptions as a result of the issue.
Across the state, 45 occurrences of either vandalism or theft have occurred. In one recent case, a 20-foot section of cable was stolen and caused both fire and police departments to lose telephone service, posing a threat to public safety.
LG Wins Low-Cost 3GSM Phone Contest
A barrier to 3G adoption has long been the price of the phone itself. However, LG has been selected as a winner of a contest to produce a low-cost handset that would retail for about $100 and operate on GSM Networks.
The contest, sponsored by the GSM Association, was judged by some of the worlds biggest operators using the technology, including AT&T, Globe Telecom, Hutchison 3G, KTF, MTN, Orange, Smart, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, Telenor, T-Mobile and Vodafone.
Wal-Mart Tests Movie Download Service with All Major Studios
This morning, the US' leading retailer is rolling out what it calls a "beta" of its pay-per-download video service, though the "pay" part is clearly turned on. What immediately differentiates Wal-Mart's Video Downloads Store from its competition -- other than undercutting their prices by about 11 cents -- is that it features new and recent releases from every major Hollywood studio, including Sony (Columbia, Screen Gems, MGM), Warner Bros., 20th Century-Fox, Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Lionsgate.
So while studios continue their long bargaining process with technology brands such as Netflix, Amazon's Unbox, and Apple's iTunes, holding firm on their retail price "suggestions," it behooves them to not risk alienating themselves from their principal retail outlet, which analysts estimate is responsible for at least 40% of all DVD sales to US customers.
Kodak Throws Hat Into InkJet Printing Ring
Kodak is entering the home printing market with a line of printers that use better quality ink developed by the company, saving consumers up to 50 percent on ink costs while allowing them to print the same number of pages.
The printers used pigment-based ink, and would retail for $9.99 for black ink, and $14.99 for the five-ink color cartridge. The consumer says home printing of 4x6 photos could be as little as ten cents per print with their system.
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