Top Tech Story of the Day
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New Facebook Privacy
Controls Take On Twitter |
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 In a move
that may actually pass without a huge uproar, Facebook has begun testing new
privacy options that will make the service pretty much just like Twitter, but
only if you want it to be. Or so they say.
If these changes pass without a big user protest it would mark
something of a return to normalcy for the service, which in the recent past has
become globally-recognized for its ability to tiff users at seemingly every
turn.
Once the changes--now in beta and not yet final--are complete,
users will be able to decide who can see their Facebook posts on a post-by-post
basis. The sounds like a chore, and may be if not implemented properly, but it
also makes Facebook potentially much more flexible and useful than Twitter.
With the enhanced privacy controls, described by Facebook execs here and
here, users will be able to select quite specifically--from everyone on the
planet down to a single friend--who sees which posts.
Read more... |
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Latest Tech News Headlines
 Bing beats Google to
the punch, launches Twitter search |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Google Inc. has been rumored to be casting an eye toward creating
a tool for searching social networking sites like Twitter. But today, Microsoft
Corp. came out and did that in its new search engine, Bing.
Sean Suchter, general manager of Microsoft's Silicon Valley Search
Technology Center, said in a blog post yesterday that the company is integrating
more real-time data into its search results. Initially, Bing will be picking up
tweets from only the most prominent Twitterers, such as former Vice President Al
Gore and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest. In the world of high technology, Bing
will pull tweets from Twitterers like Danny Sullivan, editor of
SearchEngineLand.com, and Kara Swisher, a technology columnist for The Wall
Street Journal.
"There has been much discussion of real-time search and the
premium on immediacy of data that has been created primarily by Twitter," wrote
Suchter, who was formerly Yahoo Inc.'s vice president of search technology.
"We've been watching this phenomenon with great interest and listening carefully
to what consumers really want in this space.... We're not indexing all of
Twitter at this time.... We picked a few thousand people to start, based
primarily on their follower count and volume of tweets."
Read more... |
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Windows 7 Beta Kill
Switch Activated |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Microsoft on Wednesday started the expiration process for the beta
version of its Windows 7 operating system.
Beginning today, users that are still running the trial version of
the company's next OS will see it shut down every two hours.
The interruptions are designed to encourage early adopters to move
to Windows 7 Release Candidate, a more polished preview version of Vista's
successor.
"If you're still on the Windows 7 Beta you should certainly look
at giving the Windows 7 RC at try!" Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc wrote in a
recent blog post.
Windows 7 RC will function until June 1, 2010. After that, users
will need to upgrade to a full, paid version of the operating system to continue
use. Microsoft plans to ship a final version of Windows 7 on Oct. 22nd.
Read more... |
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Consumer Reports:
iPhone bests Pre, BlackBerry |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Apple's recently released iPhone 3GS pulled out a victory in
Consumer Reports' latest smartphone showdown.
In handing the iPhone the top spot in this year's smartphone list,
Consumer Reports on Wednesday praised the iPhone 3GS for its "superior display,
reinforced by top-notch multimedia, navigation, Web browsing, and battery life."
However, the iPhone didn't win in all of the categories.
Consumer Reports gave high marks to the Palm Pre and BlackBerry
for their messaging functionality. The organization also praised the Pre as a
"superior multitasker" for its "deck-of-cards handling of multiple
applications."
In light of the changing features and needs of the smartphone
category, Consumer Reports changed some of the criteria for this year's
showdown. The changes helped some older phones--like the iPhone 3G--move up in
the rankings, while other phones--like the Samsung Blackjack II and BlackBerry
Pearl Flip--dropped due to the changes.
Read more... |
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Microsoft Pulls
Gross-Out Ad for IE8 |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
It looks like the image of a woman throwing up after inadvertently
viewing pornography was too controversial for Microsoft. As of this morning, the
online-only ad for Internet Explorer 8 called O.M.G.I.G.P. -- oh my God! I'm
gonna puke--has been pulled from all Microsoft and third-party video Web
sites--including the dedicated IE8 site, Browser for the Better.
A few days ago Microsoft's IE8 ad campaign started making
headlines with its four online only ads featuring former Superman Dean Cain. Two
of the ads--F.O.M.S. and S.H.Y.N.E.S.S.--had been up since June 10, but the ad
campaign only caught media attention earlier this week. The most outrageous spot
was O.M.G.I.G.P., which depicted a woman who couldn't stop vomiting after
inadvertently viewing hardcore pornography on her husband's computer. Dean Cain
then walked into the scene and suggested this situation could have been avoided
by using IE8's private browsing feature.
So why did Microsoft pull the video spot? True, O.M.G.I.G.P. was a
little on the disgusting side, but it was hardly controversial or subversive for
the online world of 2009.
Read more... |
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Windows 7 pre-orders
grab Amazon's top sales spots |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Microsoft and online retailers today kicked off Windows 7 sales in
the U.S., Canada and Japan, taking pre-orders at prices discounted by as much as
58%.
The upgrade for Windows 7 Home Premium, priced at $49.99,
immediately stormed to the top of Amazon.com's bestseller list. The $99.99
Windows 7 Professional Upgrade held the No. 2 spot in software, while Windows 7
Ultimate Upgrade, a $219.99 package that has not been discounted, claimed No. 4
as of 1:30 p.m. ET Friday.
Microsoft officially announced the limited-time deal yesterday,
although details had leaked earlier this month when the Engadget site published
a Best Buy memo that spelled out the prices and start date.
The discounted prices are good from today through July 11 in the
U.S. and Canada, or "until supplies last," Microsoft noted in fine print.
Pre-order prices will cease after July 5 in Japan. Customers in the U.K., France
and Germany will be offered similar pre-order discounts starting July 15.
Read more... |
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Broadband
Expansion Funded By $4 Billion Government Program |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
A whopping $4 billion in government loans and grants is on the
brink of release for the expansion of broadband access to rural regions
throughout the United States, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
President Barack Obama is taking an active role in promoting the
project, as it encourages growth in the U.S. economy by creating jobs in the
telecommunications sector. The funds are included in a $7.2 billion initiative
to build an inexpensive high-speed Internet structure in underserved areas.
"This funding is a down payment on the president's commitment to
bring the educational and economic benefits of the Internet to all communities,"
Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement.
The broadband program was imbedded into a $787 billion fiscal
stimulus package signed into law by Obama in February.
The government will begin accepting applications for loans and
grants July 14 through August 14. More specific information pertaining to the
funding process can be viewed at www.broadbandusa.gov.
Read more... |
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Macs Sales Growing
Faster Than PCs |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
A financial analyst with Morgan Stanley raised her forecast for
Mac sales in the second quarter, saying Apple is increasing shipments of its
computers at a higher rate than the PC industry as a whole.
The report from analyst Kathryn Huberty said that even before
Apple refreshed its MacBook Pros last month, the company increased Mac shipments
25% month-to-month in May, compared to just 1% growth for the total PC market,
Fortune magazine reported Wednesday.
With new MacBooks hitting the market and market data showing
steady growth in Mac shipments over the last few week, Huberty raised her sales
forecast in the second calendar quarter, which is Apple's fiscal third quarter,
to 2.5 million units from 2.4 million, Fortune said. The revised projection
represents a quarter-to-quarter growth rate of 12%.
In April, Apple reported a 3% drop in Mac sales for the calendar
quarter ended in March, compared with the same period in 2008. The decline was
in line with overall PC sales in the United States in the quarter, which fell
3.1%, according to IDC.
Read more... |
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Michael
Jackson-Related Internet Scams Rapidly Increasing |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Computer security experts are sounding the alarm that the number
of Internet scammers exploiting the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson is
growing rapidly.
The most common ploys are e-mails offering a peek at what's said
to be unseen pictures and videos of Jackson performing or samples of music the
"King of Pop" never released. The e-mails contain attachments that when clicked
on release a worm or virus, or provide links to bogus Web sites that collect
personal information.
Spammers and scammers are generally quick to take advantage of
major news events such as the recent swine flu outbreak or a major disaster such
as the Indian Ocean Tsunami that killed thousands in 2004, or the death of a
globally recognized figure like Jackson.
Sophos, a maker of computer security software, has issued a
warning about an Internet virus that's transmitted in an e-mail with the subject
line "Remembering Michael Jackson" and is sent from "sarah@michaeljackson.com,
according to the company. The e-mail says a Zip file attachment contains secret
songs and pictures of Jackson, but when opened the user's computer is infected
with a worm that begins spreading to the user's e-mail contacts.
Read more... |
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Microsoft: We're not
gouging Europe on Windows 7 pricing |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
A top Microsoft executive today denied reports that European users
will pay more for Windows 7 because of the company's wrangling with antitrust
regulators.
In a statement first posted as a letter to the Financial Times Web
site, Bill Veghte, the senior vice president for the Windows business group,
said "nothing about this [case] will mean higher prices for Windows 7 in
Europe."
Today, Microsoft's public relations firm forwarded the same Veghte
statement to Computerworld.
Veghte was countering a Financial Times story last Friday that
noted that because Microsoft has unilaterally decided to strip Internet Explorer
8 (IE8) from Windows 7, users would need "a fuller version of the new software
when they upgrade." The newspaper, however, also made it clear that Microsoft
was selling that software, dubbed "Full" or "Full Packaged Product" (FPP) to
differentiate it from editions labeled "Upgrade," at the lower prices of the
latter.
Read more... |
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Kindle DX Sold Out
(Again) |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Amazon’s Kindle DX, a wireless ebook reader with a 9.7″ display,
has sold out due to heavy customer demand.
However, according to blogs the reason that the Kindle is sold out
is that manufacturer E Ink may be having problems supplying Amazon with screens
for the devices. The Kindle DX was sold out a couple of weeks ago, but it only
took Amazon around two days to trace additional stock.
The Kindle DX will begin shipping again in 4-6 weeks.
Read more... |
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'Battlefield 1943'
storms Xbox, PS3 next week |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
The download-only first-person shooter Battlefield 1943 will
release July 8th and 9th on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network respectively,
Electronic Arts has announced.
The multiplayer game will host up to 24 players per match,
spanning across two game modes and four maps. Developers DICE are using
technology from the Battlefield: Bad Company franchise that allows for
destructible environments and "vehicular warfare," says EA in a statement.
Players can choose to side with the U.S. Marines or the Imperial
Japanese Navy during World War II. The game will sell for $15, or 1200 Microsoft
points. Battlefield 1943 will also release on PCs in September.
Read more... |
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China paper says Web
filter only a matter of time |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
It is only a matter of time before a controversial scheme to
install Internet filtering software on all computers begins in China, a state
newspaper said on Thursday, after the plan was abruptly delayed this week.
The surprise climbdown was reported late on Tuesday by Xinhua news
agency, which said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology would
"delay the mandatory installation of the controversial 'Green Dam-Youth Escort'
filtering software on new computers."
Officials said the software was intended to stamp out Internet
pornography, and computer companies had originally been told they had to bundle
"Green Dam" with any personal computers heading to stores for sale in the
country from Wednesday.
But the order was assailed by opponents of censorship, industry
groups and Washington officials as rash, politically intrusive, technically
ineffective and commercially unfair. PC companies have mostly avoided making
firm public statements on the issue.
Read more... |
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Federal Tech Czar
Unveils Tool to Follow Tax Dollars |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Want to know exactly where all those ducats you reluctantly turned
over to our Uncle in Washington are going? Things just got a little clearer
today, at least in terms of our tech taxes.
Today at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City, Federal
tech czar Vivek Kundra unveiled the new IT Dashboard at USAspending.gov, which
shows you exactly where all those sawbucks are flowing, in dollar amounts that
could make you dizzy.
Even if you don't care a whit about tech or government, it's a
damned impressive tool. You see not only how much of our annual $74 billion IT
budget is flowing to each agency, but which projects it's flowing to, which
contractors are raking in the most of it, which projects are on track, and which
ones are swirling down the toilet. (You can watch a video demo of it
here.)
Read more... |
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Even RIAA witness
'shocked' by Jammie Thomas verdict |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Gary Wade Leak, a Sony lawyer who was a star witness for the RIAA
in the recent Jammie Thomas trial has said today that even he is "shocked" by
the amount of money Thomas is now being forced to pay, a gigantic $1.92 million
sum.
Speaking at an alumni event at Columbia University, Leak added:
"We were shocked. I suspected we were going to win, but I really thought they
would come in with a lower number."
However, during the trial, Leak made it very clear that the jury
could charge the maximum $150,000 USD per song in damages, as it would be
"certainly appropriate" given the circumstances.
Leak did admit that he expects the award to be reduced either in a
settlement or on appeal, and it may be pushed back to the original award of
$220,000 or even less.
Read more... |
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Social Network
Gadget Site Launches - GDGT |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Normally we talk about phones and services related to them in this
blog but today I'm going to mention a new website for gadget lovers called gdgt.
The site is a mix of social networking, a wiki, tech forum and review site.
What's not to love?
The site was launched yesterday by Ryan Block and Peter Rojas.
Ryan Block is the former editor in chief at Engadget and Peter Rojas is the
co-founder of both Engadget and Gizmodo. Both of these guys have tons of
experience with gadget related sites and everyone was anxious to see what the
new site would be all about. I knew it wouldn't be another tech blog, but didn't
know what it would be.
They started doing the gdgt podcast last fall that lasts about an
hour each week. Cell phones certainly seem to take up a majority of the time,
which is fine by me as I think that is the most interesting part of the gadget
world right now. They do talk about a wide variety of technology though, from
the latest news at Apple to game consoles and the forthcoming Zune HD.
Read more... |
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Gamer steals from
virtual world to pay real debts |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Facing real world debts, a trusted figure in a popular online game
stole money from the virtual bank he ran and exchanged it for cash through the
black market.
It happened in EVE Online, where more than 300,000 subscribers pay
$15 a month to play. They gain wealth through hard work, manipulating the
market, or killing rivals in a distant future where humans have colonized the
stars in an online game similar to World of Warcraft and Second Life.
EBank, EVE's largest player-run financial institution which has
thousands of depositors, is at the center of the scandal.
"Basically this character was one of the people that had been
running EBank for a while. He took a bunch of (virtual) money out of the bank,
and traded it away for real money," said Ned Coker, of the Icelandic company CCP,
which developed the game.
Read more... |
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TerreStar Launches
Commercial Satellite For Internet |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
TerreStar Corp. (TSTR) launched Wednesday the world's largest
commercial satellite, with the goal of providing first-of-its-kind high-speed
Internet and wireless voice service from space.
The blast-off was delayed about an hour due to weather, but
otherwise proceeded without incident in French Guiana, South America.
The launch is significant because it could make the case to
policymakers, who may have government grants or business to offer, that
satellite Internet service is a viable alternative to cable or cellular hookups.
The sheer size of TerreStar's satellite, which has a 60-foot
antenna, will ensure that military personnel, emergency responders, and rural
customers are always connected, said TerreStar President Jeff Epstein.
TerreStar has developed a smart phone that operates both on its
satellite network and a traditional cellular network. The company has secured a
roaming agreement with AT&T Inc. (T), and it could pursue similar agreements
with other wireless carriers.
Read more... |
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Archos Unveils PC
Tablet |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Archos is throwing the keyboard out the window for its new netbook,
the Archos 9 PCtablet. The 9-inch screen is touch sensitive, so all typing is
done on onscreeen. The design allows this netbook to weigh under 2 pounds, and
it's only 0.63 inches thick.
It's not just about what's on the outside, though. The Archos 9
uses the new Intel Atom Z515 processor, boasts a 60GB or 120GB hard drive, has
built-in Bluetooth, and features two antennas to receive DVBT TV with diversity
reception. As a final bonus, this model comes standard with Microsoft Windows 7.
Look for the PCtablet to ship this fall; no pricing information
has been announced as yet.
Read more... |
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Intel-Nokia tie
takes few years to succeed: Barrett |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Intel Corp's former chief executive and chairman, Craig
Barrett, said on Thursday it would take "a few years" to see whether Intel's
technology partnership with Nokia succeeds.
Last week Intel announced a technology partnership with
Nokia that could potentially give the chip maker the breakthrough it has been
looking for into the mobile market.
The companies said they would work together on a new
class of mobile computing devices, but would not say when they would come to
market or give details on the kind of wireless products they hoped to develop
together.
"We will have to wait a few years to see if the deal is
successful," Barrett told a news conference in Helsinki.
Read more... |
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Apple Bans Another
iPhone App For Nudity |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
In another sign that Apple is having difficulty controlling the
content in its App Store, the company has banned an iPhone application for
reportedly featuring explicit pictures of a 15-year-old girl.
The "BeautyMeter" app enables iPhone and iPod Touch owners to view
user-submitted photos and rate them based on various body parts and clothing.
The program shows pictures of women and men in various states of undress. Before
it was pulled from the App Store Thursday it featured a picture of a topless
15-year-old female.
Apple controls and vets every app that gets into its App Store,
and it has a clear policy against pornography or explicit content. BeautyMeter
was likely approved by Apple because when it was submitted it did not feature
explicit photos. Later the app pulled images from a third-party server.
As content creators are eager to target the more than 40 million
iPhone and iPod Touch owners, this may become an increasingly important issue
that Apple has to deal with. Less than a week ago, the company removed the
"Hottest Girl" from the App Store because it featured pictures of topless women.
Like BeautyMeter, Hottest Girl app did not include nude pictures when it was
first approved by Apple.
Read more... |
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Jay Leno wins
cybersquatting case |
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Tech Junkeez Latest Tech News
Comedian and talk show host Jay Leno has won a cybersquatting case
against a Texas man found by a U.N. agency to have misused the domain name
thejaylenoshow.com to direct Internet users to a real estate website.
In a ruling issued on Thursday, the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) said Leno had common law trademark rights to his name after
a 30-year career in entertainment, even though Guadalupe Zambrano registered the
site in 2004.
Furthermore, real estate agent Zambrano did not have any
legitimate rights to the disputed web address and had registered it in "bad
faith," according to the ruling by William Towns, an independent arbitrator
appointed by the Geneva-based agency.
Read more... |
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