Wednesday, May 31, 2006

TechCrunch » Blog Archive » SixApart To Launch Comet, Renamed Vox, on June 1

TechCrunch » Blog Archive » SixApart To Launch Comet, Renamed Vox, on June 1

Everyone wants to know what is going to be the next MySpace; SixApart is hoping that their upcoming social networking, web 2.0 website will be that next Internet phenomenon. Vox will be available for beta testing beginning June 1.

Skype software to ship on Dell laptops | Tech News on ZDNet

Skype software to ship on Dell laptops | Tech News on ZDNet

With Dell now shipping laptops bundled with Skype software, more and more people will be aware of the product and may begin using it for their PC to PC calls and PC to phone calls. Integrating useful speakerphones into computers or providing headsets will help more and more every day people want to use Internet telephony.

Read Engadget's post

Cubed3.com :: Cubed³ Exclusive | Nintendo Wii to Launch on November 6th in USA

Cubed3.com :: Cubed³ Exclusive | Nintendo Wii to Launch on November 6th in USA

Nintendo's new gaming console, Wii, will be available November 6th, 2006. The console's price of $250 is almost half of what the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 costs. This bold move by Nintendo will keep them competitive in the gaming console market.

FileForum | avast! Home

FileForum | avast! Home

If you're needing an integrated antivirus solution at a reasoable price for your home PC, be sure to check out Avast! antivirus: it's free.

BetaNews | Disney to Offer Films on CinemaNow

BetaNews | Disney to Offer Films on CinemaNow

In the continuing saga of the new distribution of media content, Disney has signed a contract with CinemaNow to offer films, both new and old, via a download.

BetaNews | Microsoft Debuts Windows Live OneCare

BetaNews | Microsoft Debuts Windows Live OneCare

Microsoft has announced an all-inclusive, subscription-based security suite called Windows Live OneCare which will include antivirus and antispyware protection, automated system backups, and performance tools. Now you can have all the protection you need from Microsoft itself for only $49.95 USD a year.

Coca-Cola BlaK

Coca-Cola BlaK

Driving back from another town today I stopped to use the restroom and pick up a drink. I was intrigued by Coke's new product called Blak, "Coke effervescence with coffee essence." It was small, overpriced, and didn't taste good either. I give this technology two thumbs down.

BetaNews | Watch an Ad, Get Some Airtime

BetaNews | Watch an Ad, Get Some Airtime

Virgin Mobile is launching a new service entitled SugarMama which allows subscribers to Virgin Mobile to view and respond to advertisements in exchange for airtime. Currently there is no indication of when the service will be available on the Virgin Mobile website.

Read Engadget's article on SugarMama

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

BetaNews | WinHEC 2006 Brings New Office, Vista

BetaNews | WinHEC 2006 Brings New Office, Vista

Starting today Microsoft has made available the Beta 2 versions of the upcoming Microsoft Office System 2007 and Windows Vista operating system. Bill Gates announced these two products at the WinHEC convention today. The year 2007 will bring a huge change in the way computing is done from a business and personal perspective.

Dell gives retail another shot - Engadget

Dell gives retail another shot - Engadget

Dell announces that they will be starting their own retail store in which their products will be on display for consumers to touch and feel before they buy. However unlike other retail stores, there will be no stock in the store to buy; Dell will still be using their direct ordering through their website or phone. This announcement comes on the heels of Apple's Fifth Avenue store opening last Friday night in New York City, a 24x7x365 store.

Monday, May 22, 2006

BetaNews | ABC Streams 3 Million TV Episodes

BetaNews | ABC Streams 3 Million TV Episodes

ABC has seen great success in their TV content streaming venture with 3 million views already. Perhaps they are seeing the demand from the net-connected people of America.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

BetaNews | Microsoft Details Vista Requirements

BetaNews | Microsoft Details Vista Requirements

Windows Vista, Microsoft's next iteration of their flagship operating system due Q1 2007, will require a minimum 800 MHz processor with 512 MB RAM. If you want your computer to experience all that Vista has to offer you'll need a minimum of 1 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM. If you want to see if your computer will be able to run Windows Vista when it becomes available check out Microsoft's "Get Ready" web site.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

BetaNews | Microsoft, MTV Put URGE Service Live

BetaNews | Microsoft, MTV Put URGE Service Live

Microsoft is joining with MTV to provide whole new online music service called URGE (requires Windows Media Player 11 beta). Many see this move as Microsoft's attempt to take back the online music experience from Apple's iTunes Music store. The key to Microsoft's success may come from the design and usability of the new Windows Media Player 11, due other later this year and to be including with Windows Vista (due Q1 2007), simple integration with the online store, and seamless device synchronization.

BetaNews | Linksys Launches Wireless-G Phones

BetaNews | Linksys Launches Wireless-G Phones

If you haven't heard of Voice over IP (VoIP) or Internet Telephony yet, you'll soon have no choice. Vonage, Skype, and other companies are built entire on this technology that allows people to have regular phone conversations over the Internet. Now Linksys has announced a wireless VoIP phone which will allow you to talk over any WLAN like a cell phone would. While the phones start at $220 USD, this move will continue the revolution of what we know as the telecommunications industry.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

BetaNews | Discovery Offering TV Shows on iTunes

BetaNews | Discovery Offering TV Shows on iTunes

Discovery has just added a few offerings of their television shows to be available on the iTunes Music Store from TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health, and Discovery Kids. Apple has been suceeding in partnering with networks in providing television content on an on-demand, per epsidode basis. Discovery is just the latest to join in with these networks including ABC, NBC, Fox, Disney, and more (direct iTMS link). As more networks partner with Apple or seek to do their own online on-demand distribution the culture of television viewing will continue to change. In a few months to a year what we know as television may look drastically different from the last 100 years.

TechCrunch » Blog Archive » AOL to Release YouTube Clone

TechCrunch » Blog Archive » AOL to Release YouTube Clone

AOL is pulling out all the stops in attempt to hold on to the market share they have by releasing amazing new products directed at the web-saavy end-user. Soon they will be announcing a YouTube-type site which allows you to upload and share videos with your friends. Throughout the past few years the web has come from a static html gathering of pages to a dynamic multimedia community.

Introducing the Apple MacBook

Apple has finally released their consumer-end, Intel-based notebook computer called the MacBook. Coming in both bright white and sleek black, the MacBook starts with a Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz processor, 60 GB hard drive, 512 MB Shared memory, Front Row, built-in "g" wireless networking, and a 13.3 inch glossy widescreen (1280x800 native resolution). The base model starts at $1099 USD. The sleek black model sports a 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 80 GB hard drive, and the SuperDrive (DVD-Writer).

Monday, May 15, 2006

BetaNews | Skype Makes Outbound Calling Free

BetaNews | Skype Makes Outbound Calling Free

Skype has again made a bold move to shake up the entire telecommunications industry by allow free PC-to-phone calls (called SkypeOut). If you interested in having a land line phone number (SkypeIn) with Skype you can purchase one which comes with free voicemail for 10 ($10 USD) for three months. Visit the Skype Accessories shop as well to find USB headsets, phones, and analog (regular phone) adapters to work with your Skype account.

Friday, May 12, 2006

BetaNews | Apple Issues Security, App Patches

BetaNews | Apple Issues Security, App Patches

Windows users aren't the only ones who need operating system updates. Apple regularly releases security patches or updates for their operating system, OS X, including the built-in applications. If you are an Apple user be sure to check Software Updates for the new downloads.

Share Skype - Language Line® Personal Interpreter

Share Skype - Language Line® Personal Interpreter

Skype announces interpretation services for your Skype calls so that you can have a conversation through an interpreter with someone who doesn't speak your own language. Apparently this is targeted towards business users.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

A Web Revolution in the Living room: Opera partners with Nintendo to put browser on the Wii™ game console

A Web Revolution in the Living room: Opera partners with Nintendo to put browser on the Wii™ game console

While Nintendo may not have the whole naming convention under control, they do see the convergence of the media center console. They seem to be partnering with Opera to pre-package the Wii gaming console with the Opera web browser. The next generation of gaming consoles seem to be focusing more on networking players together as well as unifying your personal media (i.e. music, videos, online content, etc.).

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

BetaNews | AOL to Lay Off 1,300

BetaNews | AOL to Lay Off 1,300

Maybe AOL will go out of business.

TechCrunch » Waxxi is a New Kind of Podcast

TechCrunch » Waxxi is a New Kind of Podcast

What if instead of just listening to a pre-recorded podcast you could actually sit in on the live session like a conference call? It's now becoming a reality with Waxxi's technology as well as Skype's new Skypecast features.

Get started with podcasting: download iTunes and check out the iTunes Music Store Podcast directory. ($free$)

TechCrunch » AIM Pages: First Screenshot

TechCrunch » AIM Pages: First Screenshot

It seems that AOL is never going to die. They have been producing lots of new products that seem to really play to the people (AIM Triton, AOL webmail, and AOL Explorer. While their dial-up/broadband client is still very bloated, it does seem to fit the needs of their clients.

AOL's upcoming product AIM Pages seeks to be a Web 2.0 social networking website like Myspace.com, facebook.com, and the like. Many of these social networks seem to rise and fall depending on the trends.

Warner Bros. to sell films via BitTorrent - Tech News & Reviews - MSNBC.com

Warner Bros. to sell films via BitTorrent - Tech News & Reviews - MSNBC.com

While ABC and CBS seem to be looking to distribute television content via Flash video and your web browser, Warner Bros. is striking a deal with BitTorrent for online distribution of television and films. This bold move may cause some competition for the iTunes Music Store since they do not use any kind of distributed downloading technology (yet).

Monday, May 01, 2006

BetaNews | Netgear's Skype Wi-Fi Phone Launched

BetaNews | Netgear's Skype Wi-Fi Phone Launched

Netgear is trying to make the Net's easiest IP telephony client even easier by manufacturing a Wi-Fi Skype phone. This could begin an even greater competition in the telecommunications sector.

BetaNews | Napster.com Goes Free, But Low Quality

BetaNews | Napster.com Goes Free, But Low Quality

Napster is trying to get back in the game of online content subscribtions by making it free at a slight loss of quality. Oh Napster, I remember when you were in your prime.

BetaNews | ABC Primetime Shows Now Online

BetaNews | ABC Primetime Shows Now Online

As promised ABC is delivering four of their primetime shows via Flash video for free on their website. The show will be available the day after the show is aired as part of a two month trial by ABC.

BetaNews | Skype Surpasses 100 Million Users

BetaNews | Skype Surpasses 100 Million Users

100 Million users can't be wrong can they? Skype is an application for making Internet telephone calls either to other Skype users (for free) or to land lines (for $). Other features include voicemail, videoconferencing, and instant message. Of course Michael Robertson would have you believe that his product, Gizmo, is far easier and more compatible.