From Reuters | BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion is tweaking its smartphone while hinting that a new operating system is on the way.
Read the full story: reuters.com
Filed under: Technology
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April 22, 2010 at 1:18 p.m.
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Filed under: Computers, Entertainment, Internet, Technology Google opens YouTube rental store
Dow Jones Newswires | Google Inc.’s YouTube on Thursday opened a
video rental store, the company’s latest step in its effort to
transform the popular video Web site into a profitable business.
The rental store features a variety of independent movies, Bollywood
content and television episodes. Rentals cost 99 cents to $3.99, with
fees paid through Google Check-out. Customers can view their rentals for
48 hours.
McAfee antiviral hiccups, computers reboot
Associated Press | Workplace computers across the world got stuck
rebooting themselves Wednesday after an antivirus program identified a
normal Windows file as a virus.
Antivirus vendor McAfee Inc. confirmed that a software update caused its
antivirus program for corporate customers to misidentify a harmless
file. It has posted a replacement update for download.
April 21, 2010 at 5:45 a.m.
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Cell phones, Consumer electronics, Technology, Wireless Online pre-sales for the Droid Incredible begin
By Wailin Wong | Verizon Wireless began online pre-sales this week for the Droid Incredible, a new smartphone manufactured by Taiwanese company HTC Corp. If the Droid name sounds familiar, that’s because it’s already attached to two other phones at Verizon, including the Droid by Motorola, which was launched with a splashy marketing campaign late last year.
Verizon is using “Droid” to signify certain phones that run Google’s Android operating system, said spokesman David Clevenger. The carrier licenses the name “Droid” from Lucasfilm, the production company founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas.
Google reports government requests for user data
Dow Jones Newswires | Google Inc. released data about the number
of requests it receives from government agencies for data about users
and to remove content, in a move it says is aimed at exposing the
growing problem of Internet censorship.
Through a new mapping
tool, Google is displaying the number of requests it receives for user
data related to criminal investigations as well as the number of
government requests it received for removing content from services such
as YouTube. The company also lists what percentage of the content
removal requests it complies with by country, except for China, where it
says numerating the requests would be illegal.
Chinese hackers stole key Google program
Associated Press | Computer hackers stole a program that
controlled access to most of Google Inc.’s services when they attacked
the Internet company late last year, according to a report published
late Monday.
The story in The New York Times provided more details about an
intrusion that provoked a politically charged showdown between Google
and China’s government over Internet censorship and computer security.
Nissan to start taking orders for Leaf
McClatchy/Tribune News | Nissan will start taking orders for its Leaf electric sedan on Tuesday. Priced around $25,000 after incentives, the compact is set to go on sale late this year.
Read the full story: Nissan to start taking orders for Leaf.
NBC posts $223 million 1Q loss on Olympics
Associated Press | The tally is in: NBC lost $223 million on the Winter Olympics in the first quarter.
That’s slightly better than the most recent estimate of $250 million in losses. Advertising sales have improved a bit since NBC parent General Electric Co. made that projection in late January.
The Olympics did bring about $800 million in extra revenue to GE. But NBC had a lot of production and other expenses, including $820 million just to acquire the rights to carry the Vancouver Games on television and online. That expense was cited as the main culprit for the red ink.
Idex Corp. buys British company Seals Ltd.
From Forbes | Northbrook-based Idex Corp., which produces pumps and metering products, announced on Thursday that it bought British company Seals Ltd. for about 35
million British pounds ($54 million). Seals, which is based in Blackburn, England, is a provider of seals for a broad range of
industries such as semiconductor and solar technologies.
Get the full story: forbes.com.
April 15, 2010 at 10:02 a.m.
Filed under: Consumer electronics, International, Policy, Politics, Technology, Wireless Israel bans imports of the Apple iPad
(AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)
Associated Press | Israel has banned imports of Apple Inc.’s hottest new product, the iPad,
citing concerns that the strength of its wireless receivers and
transmitters are incompatible with national standards and could disrupt
other wireless devices.
Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10
iPads since Israel announced the new regulations this week.
The blanket ban prevents anyone — even tourists — from bringing an iPad
into Israel until officials certify that the computers comply with local
transmitter standards.
April 14, 2010 at 5:40 p.m.
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Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Food, Sports, Technology Kraft takes ‘Cheddar Explosion’ campaign online
From BrandWeek | Northfield-based Kraft Foods is launching a new social media effort to continue promoting its Macaroni ‘N Cheese Dinner Cheddar Explosion. Kraft will be showing videos of its sponsored implosion of the former home of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Stadium. One video features the voice of ESPN’s Chris Berman counting down the minutes to the stadium’s implosion.
Get the full story: brandweek.com.
Obama blasted for space privatization plan
Jim Lovell, left, with Neil Armstrong, speaking at O’Hare in March 2010. Lovell and other astronauts criticized Obama’s proposed space program changes in two scathing letters sent to the White House. (Brian Cassella/ Chicago Tribune)
By Julie Johnsson | President
Barack Obama is expected to reshape his vision for NASA to emphasize
Mars exploration as opposition builds to his controversial plan to move
NASA away from manned space missions while commercializing spaceflight.
Lake Forest’s Jim Lovell, commander of the Apollo 13 mission, and Neil
Armstrong, the first man to step on the moon, were among the more than
two dozen space explorers to criticize the president’s plan, unveiled in
his fiscal 2011 budget, in two scathing letters sent to the White House
this week.
‘Where I’ve Been’ gets funding from Lightbank
Tribune staff report | The Chicago-based social travel network Where I’ve Been has received $750,000 in additional funding from Lightbank, the investment fund created by Groupon founders Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell. Where I’ve Been
hopes to use the money to expand its user base. On Facebook, Where I’ve Been is a very popular application; it currently has 1,034,601 monthly active users on the social network. “Where I’ve Been exemplifies our strategy of identifying innovative and disruptive business models,” said Lefkofsky in a statement released by Where I’ve Been. “With its rich user data including travel intentions and high user engagement, Where I’ve Been has enormous potential to change the landscape of the travel industry.”
Previous coverage of Groupon from Chicago Breaking Business.
Automakers seek more U.S. subsidies for electrics
Dow Jones Newswires | Automakers are pressing the Obama
administration for more government subsidies to spur mass-market sales
of electric vehicles, including new tax breaks for consumers, utilities
and car companies.
The Obama administration has committed billions to electric-car
programs, including aid to auto makers to revamp plants and tax credits
for car buyers.
Samsung issues 3D TV warning
From the Problem Solver | Samsung is alerting owners of 3D TVs in Australia that the 3D technology may pose a seizure risk to children with a history of epilepsy and strokes.
Read the full story: Samsung alerts children and teens of 3D TV danger
