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Technology News
for 11/17/2009

(last updated 7:30am EST 11/17/2009)

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• FAQ: Recognizing phishing e-mails FAQ: Recognizing phishing e-mails
11/17/2009
Phishing attacks have spiked this year, recent reports show. Here's a primer on what phishing is and how to avoid it. (1 h ago)

• Real-time newcomer Factery Labs finds yo... Real-time newcomer Factery Labs finds you facts
11/17/2009
A new semantic search tool promises to both sort out search results as well as cut down some of the need to read them. Is it too good to be true? (1 h ago)

• Chip designer ARM leads Android alliance Chip designer ARM leads Android alliance
11/17/2009
Chip designer launches an alliance of 35 companies to support developers of products running Google's operating system. (1 h ago)

• Adobe releases new Flash, AIR betas Adobe releases new Flash, AIR betas
11/17/2009
Flash Player 10.1 gets a hardware video boost, and AIR 2 gets tighter integration with desktop computing resources such as USB drives and multitouch interfaces. (1 h ago)

• Report: Countries prepping for cyber war Report: Countries prepping for cyber war
11/17/2009
U.S., Israel, Russia, China, and France are gearing up for cyber offensives, according to a new McAfee report. (1 h ago)

• Crowdsourcing cartography with PublicEar... Crowdsourcing cartography with PublicEarth and OpenStreetMap
11/17/2009
Can a crowd of amateur mappers create better guidebooks and maps than professionals? Signs point to yes. (1 h ago)

• Google scoops up ex-Microsoftie Don Dodg... Google scoops up ex-Microsoftie Don Dodge
11/17/2009
Microsoft's former director of business development takes a position at Google, evangelizing their technologies to the developer community. (1 h ago)

• A new antidepressant really turns women ... A new antidepressant really turns women on
11/17/2009
Flibanserin, designed to fight depression, turns out to be a poor antidepressant but a great libido booster in women who report low sex drives, new studies find. (1 h ago)

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 banned in... Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 banned in Russia
11/17/2009
Russian gamers and politicians are offended that Russians are portrayed as somewhat terroristic, so they ban the console version and force edits in the PC and Steam versions. (1 h ago)

• Audio Slideshow: Hackers use tech to sol... Audio Slideshow: Hackers use tech to solve disaster relief challenges
11/17/2009
At Hacker Dojo in Mountain View, Calif., developers come together with NASA, the World Bank, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft to exchange emergency response ideas. (1 h ago)

• Firefox-syncing Weave updates to beta Firefox-syncing Weave updates to beta
11/17/2009
Mozilla's homegrown tool for synchronizing Firefox across computers and devices graduates to beta and introduces incremental syncing and a more streamlined, less obtrusive experience. (1 h ago)

• Paul Allen diagnosed with cancer Paul Allen diagnosed with cancer
11/17/2009
The Microsoft co-founder has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to a memo sent by his sister. (1 h ago)

• Finding safe toys this holiday season Finding safe toys this holiday season
11/17/2009
Toys might top your kids' holiday lists this year, but finding safe toys for them might be a little difficult. This roundup offers resources for determining whether your prospective purchase is a safe toy. (1 h ago)

• Senate to disclose findings in Web 'myst... Senate to disclose findings in Web 'mystery charge' probe
11/16/2009
Numerous shoppers have traced mystery credit card charges to Webloyalty, Affinion, and Vertrue. Congress will reveal the results at a hearing Tuesday. (1 h ago)

• CNET News Daily Podcast: Supercomputers ... CNET News Daily Podcast: Supercomputers and the future of Hulu
11/16/2009
We talk supercomputers and Hulu, in just that order. Who's got the fastest supercomputer? And will you soon have to pay to use Hulu.com to watch TV shows and movies? (1 h ago)

• Microsoft opens app store to more phones Microsoft opens app store to more phones
11/16/2009
Although Microsoft has just made its mobile marketplace available for Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1, Microsoft will have to do more if it wants to reach Apple's 100,000 apps--and counting. (1 h ago)

• Office 2010 beta available for developer... Office 2010 beta available for developers
11/16/2009
The updated test version is now available to members of Microsoft's MSDN and TechNet developer programs. (2 h ago)

• Antitrust concerns linger in Google Book... Antitrust concerns linger in Google Books deal
11/16/2009
Opponents of Google Books settlement say the search giant will still have exclusive rights to digitize orphaned out-of-print works. (2 h ago)

• Upping the ante in the supercomputer sta... Upping the ante in the supercomputer stakes
11/16/2009
roundup This week's SC09 conference puts the spotlight on the highest of high-end computing systems. (2 h ago)

• Intel unveils supercomputer chip, NEC pa... Intel unveils supercomputer chip, NEC partnership
11/16/2009
Intel has disclosed a version of its Xeon processor line optimized for high-performance computing. The company also announces it's teaming up with NEC. (2 h ago)

• Sanyo Delays Increase in Solar Cell Prod... Sanyo Delays Increase in Solar Cell Production
11/17/2009
Sanyo Electric has delayed a planned increase in production of solar cells citing poor market conditions. (1 h ago)

• AMD-Nvidia Showdown Looms as Demand for ... AMD-Nvidia Showdown Looms as Demand for Graphics Recovers
11/17/2009
Demand for add-in graphics cards showed signs of recovery during the third quarter, analyst says. (1 h ago)

• China Rules Microsoft Violated Intellect... China Rules Microsoft Violated Intellectual Property Rights
11/17/2009
A Beijing court ruled that Microsoft violated a Chinese company's intellectual property rights in a case over fonts used in past versions of Windows. (1 h ago)

• Boxee to Unveil Set-Top Box on Dec. 7 Boxee to Unveil Set-Top Box on Dec. 7
11/17/2009
The device, compatible with the Boxee service, will have its public debut (in mock-up form) at a Dec. 7 event in New York. (1 h ago)

• Google Docs Won't Topple Word Any Time S... Google Docs Won't Topple Word Any Time Soon
11/17/2009
While Google believes its online office suite will soon be a "Microsoft Office killer," it's really an idea based on vaporware. (1 h ago)

• Google Sites Gets Dozens of Templates Google Sites Gets Dozens of Templates
11/17/2009
Project sites, intranets, and team pages are now easier for business users to create--for free. (1 h ago)

• Guess Who's Hawking Internet Explorer No... Guess Who's Hawking Internet Explorer Now?
11/17/2009
Redmond makes a smart move, hiring country music fixture Dolly Parton to pitch IE8 and its Web Slices feature. (1 h ago)

• HP Pushes Thin Clients With New Hardware... HP Pushes Thin Clients With New Hardware, Tools
11/17/2009
HP is trying to tackle concerns about the cost and complexity of thin-client computing with new products and tools announced Tuesday. (1 h ago)

• Google Offers Templates for Sites Projec... Google Offers Templates for Sites Project Collaboration App
11/17/2009
Google is providing templates for its Google Sites application for creating group Web pages and sites. (1 h ago)

• GameStop to Sell Digital Downloads GameStop to Sell Digital Downloads
11/17/2009
Boxed retail games aren’t dead yet, but could this be the beginning of the end? (1 h ago)

• Hello, Sezmi -- Goodbye, Cable Hello, Sezmi -- Goodbye, Cable
11/17/2009
The Sezmi TV service aims to provide a more personalized, Net-savvy, inexpensive alternative to cable and satellite. (1 h ago)

• Japan May Put Brakes on Fastest-supercom... Japan May Put Brakes on Fastest-supercomputer Project
11/17/2009
A Japanese government panel has recommended to freeze spending on a project to build the fastest computer in the world. (1 h ago)

• Apple's New Patent Is Patently Crazy Apple's New Patent Is Patently Crazy
11/17/2009
Analysis: Jobs & Co. have filed for a patent on tech that embeds ads into operating systems and makes you prove you've watched them. (1 h ago)

• Technology We'll Miss When It's Gone Technology We'll Miss When It's Gone
11/17/2009
As tech speeds inexorably forward, many gadgets and services will be left in heaps on the roadside. Problem is, we'll truly miss some of them. (1 h ago)

• Apple vs. Psystar: What's Left to Fight ... Apple vs. Psystar: What's Left to Fight Over
11/17/2009
A judge agrees with Apple that the clone-maker violated its copyright, but the case isn't closed. (1 h ago)

• Microsoft Cofounder Paul Allen Has Lymph... Microsoft Cofounder Paul Allen Has Lymphoma
11/17/2009
Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (1 h ago)

• The Future of Linux is Google The Future of Linux is Google
11/17/2009
Google's slow, steady march into the OS realm has begun to pay off. It's time for the Linux world to rally. (1 h ago)

• Barnes & Noble Nook Reader on Its Way --... Barnes & Noble Nook Reader on Its Way -- Slowly
11/17/2009
If you're in the market for a Nook e-reader, don't hold your breath -- the wait will be a bit longer than originally expected. (1 h ago)

• Windows Marketplace Reveals Fragmentatio... Windows Marketplace Reveals Fragmentation
11/17/2009
Microsoft said there are now 800 apps in its Marketplace, although not all of those apps are available to all Windows Mobile customers. (1 h ago)

• Fragmentation Prevents Viral Marketing i... Fragmentation Prevents Viral Marketing in Mobile
11/17/2009
Mobile developers can't rely on word of mouth to grow their user base because of the heterogenous nature of the mobile market, an executive said. (1 h ago)

• Online Maps: Everyman Offers New Directi... Online Maps: Everyman Offers New Directions
11/17/2009
From Petaluma to Peshawar, volunteer cartographers are logging details of neighborhoods near and far. (1 h ago)

• Evernote Raises $10 Million From Investo... Evernote Raises $10 Million From Investors
11/17/2009
Evernote, the application for collecting and saving ideas and notes, has raised $10 million in venture capital. (1 h ago)

• Cisco Raises Bid for Tandberg of Norway Cisco Raises Bid for Tandberg of Norway
11/17/2009
Cisco’s new bid values the video conferencing equipment maker at $3.41 billion. (1 h ago)

• AOL Spin-Off Is Set for Dec. 9 AOL Spin-Off Is Set for Dec. 9
11/17/2009
Once heralded as the merger of the century, the union of Time Warner and AOL in 2001 quickly soured; the divorce will be final on Dec. 9. (1 h ago)

• A Co-Founder of Microsoft Has Lymphoma A Co-Founder of Microsoft Has Lymphoma
11/17/2009
Paul Allen, who left Microsoft earlier for treatment of Hodgkin’s disease, now has non-Hodgkins lymphoma. (1 h ago)

• Paying Extra for Green Power, and Gettin... Paying Extra for Green Power, and Getting Ads Instead
11/17/2009
It is proving difficult to say exactly how customers’ voluntary payments for wind and solar power are actually used. (1 h ago)

• An Air-Traffic Upgrade to Improve Travel... An Air-Traffic Upgrade to Improve Travel by Plane
11/17/2009
A computer specialist, Deepak Chauhan, with an onboard GPS navigation system for aircraft.A plan by the Federal Aviation Administration would replace radar with the Global Positioning System. (1 h ago)

• YouTube + Univision = TuTube YouTube + Univision = TuTube
11/16/2009
With the Univision deal, YouTube gets Spanish-language television shows popular with Latinos in the United States. (2 h ago)

• From Treasury, an Invitation to Financia... From Treasury, an Invitation to Financial Bloggers
11/16/2009
Timothy Geithner and other senior officials had a two-hour round table with financial writers this month. (3 h ago)

• About Half in U.S. Would Pay for Online ... About Half in U.S. Would Pay for Online News, Study Finds
11/16/2009
Americans were tied with Britons at 48 percent, the lowest figure among nine Western nations surveyed. (5 h ago)

• Obama Walks China's 'Great Firewall' Obama Walks China's 'Great Firewall'
11/16/2009
In remarks that were not easy to see in China, President Obama implicitly criticized China's censorship of the Internet at a forum in Shanghai on Monday. (5 h ago)

• Is Palm’s Comeback Losing Steam? Is Palm’s Comeback Losing Steam?
11/16/2009
If the market has room only for a few smartphone standards, Palm could well find itself struggling as the perpetual also-ran. (6 h ago)

• Video Game Review | New Super Mario Bros... Video Game Review | New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Mario and Luigi, Back to the Wii: The More Players, the Deadlier
11/16/2009
New Super Mario Bros. Wii is nothing close to a casual party game. It will drive many children into a tantrum or a sulk. (15 h ago)

• A Product (You Think) You'll Never Need A Product (You Think) You'll Never Need
11/16/2009
A new low-cost LCD alternative to the magnifying glass can help the visually impaired. (17 h ago)

• At Checkout, More Ways to Avoid Cash or ... At Checkout, More Ways to Avoid Cash or Plastic
11/16/2009
Instead of leather wallets, consumers could some day carry virtual wallets, with their credit card and bank information stored on remote computers. (18 h ago)

• Glyde Aims to Simplify Online Sales of U... Glyde Aims to Simplify Online Sales of Used Media
11/16/2009
The company will be challenging eBay and Amazon.com in the market for used books, video games and DVDs. (18 h ago)

• Little Benefit Seen, So Far, in Electron... Little Benefit Seen, So Far, in Electronic Patient Records
11/16/2009
A new study shows that electronic health records have so far not improved health care quality or cost. The reason may be that the technology is not being fully exploited. (18 h ago)

• NASA to begin escape attempt for Mars ro... NASA to begin escape attempt for Mars rover
11/17/2009
The effort to free the Spirit rover will begin in earnest today, when engineers send the first escape commands to the stuck robot to try to move out of its trap late tonight. (1 h ago)

• Space shuttle lifts off amid tons of twe... Space shuttle lifts off amid tons of tweets
11/17/2009
With 100 Internet-savvy NASA fans cheering on the shuttle and churning out constant Twitter updates, Atlantis sailed smoothly into orbit Monday with six astronauts and a full load of spare parts for the International Space Station. (1 h ago)

• It’s prime time for colorful meteor show... It’s prime time for colorful meteor shower
11/17/2009
One of the best annual meteor showers will peak in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, and for some skywatchers the show could be quite impressive. (1 h ago)

• Cosmic Log: Shooting stars on the Web Cosmic Log: Shooting stars on the Web
11/16/2009
Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: The Internet can help you get a great view of any meteor shower, on your computer screen or in the honest-to-goodness night sky. (41 m ago)

• Facebook’s ‘unfriend’ is Word of the Yea... Facebook’s ‘unfriend’ is Word of the Year
11/16/2009
There are 300 million plus users on Facebook in the United States alone. Even if you and your spell check don’t approve of the New Oxford American Dictionary's newest verb “unfriend,” odds are, you’ve done it. (50 m ago)

• Tiny insect brains can solve big problem... Tiny insect brains can solve big problems
11/16/2009
Insects may have tiny brains, but they can perform some seriously impressive feats of mental gymnastics. (1 h ago)

• Devoted ‘Twihards’ get their fix online... Devoted ‘Twihards’ get their fix online
11/16/2009
While the “Twilight” books form the core of the phenomenon and the films spread the stories throughout Cineplex Nation, the online community buzzes like an electric generator at peak capacity. (4 h ago)

• A third of teens say they’ve texted whil... A third of teens say they’ve texted while driving
11/16/2009
A third of teens ages 16 and 17 say they have texted while driving and 48 percent of teens ages 12 to 17 say they have been in a car when the driver was texting, says a new Pew study. (4 h ago)

• Future of evolution: What will we become... Future of evolution: What will we become?
11/16/2009
The past of human evolution is more and more coming to light as scientists uncover a trove of fossils and genetic knowledge. But where might the future of human evolution go? (6 h ago)

• Army using spray foam to keep tents cool Army using spray foam to keep tents cool
11/16/2009
To cool down sweaty troops and improve energy efficiency, the U.S. military recently began coating 900 air-conditioned tents with spray-on insulating foam. (7 h ago)

• Twitter scrapping its suggested user lis... Twitter scrapping its suggested user list
11/16/2009
Social-media site Twitter plans to scrap its hand-picked list of "suggested users" to follow after controversy erupted over the selection of people on the list, a company executive said Monday. (8 h ago)

• 10 cool gadgets we really, really want 10 cool gadgets we really, really want
11/16/2009
Santa's little helpers have been busy cranking out some great stuff, from connected media players and multitouch screens to wafer-thin HDTVs and groovy netbooks. (9 h ago)

• 6 ways to smarten the electricity grid 6 ways to smarten the electricity grid
11/16/2009
Check out some of the technologies supported by President Barack Obama’s $3.4 billion in grants for projects designed to modernize the grid with cutting-edge innovations. (10 h ago)

• Windows Mobile 6.5 phone gallery Windows Mobile 6.5 phone gallery
11/15/2009
Microsoft's mobile platform is decidedly less flashy than the iPhone or Palm's WebOS, but it'll get you through the work day with its eye towards productivity. (1 d ago)

• BeeJive IM Review BeeJive IM Review
11/17/2009
I’ve always wondered why Apple’s Messages app on the iPhone didn’t support IM like iChat. I’ve tried a couple different IM apps on the iPhone, but never found one I liked and for some reason I never saw or heard of BeejiveIM. That is until the recent news stories showing pirated versions of the app popping [...] Filed in categories: Reviews , iPhone related Tagged: Chat , iPhone App BeeJive IM Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 17, 2009 at 7:15 am. (1 h ago)

• mypressi TWIST Espresso Machine mypressi TWIST Espresso Machine
11/17/2009
The mypressi TWIST espresso machine puts the hand-held gadgetry in coffee making. This little 10.5 X 3.5 X 3.5 inch device looks a little like one of those mesh tea infusers on steroids. It makes a single or double espresso shot, with crema, in about … [visit site to read more] Filed in categories: [...] Filed in categories: Home Tech , News , Spotlight Gadgets Tagged: Appliance , Coffee , Kitchen Gadgets mypressi TWIST Espresso Machine originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2009 at 7:52 pm. (1 h ago)

• Yamaha PDX-60 Portable Player Dock for i... Yamaha PDX-60 Portable Player Dock for iPhone/iPod Review
11/16/2009
My 5 disc Denon CD changer hasn’t been powered on in several years and my 200+ CD collection has been sitting idle on a shelf for just as long. It’s not that I don’t listen to music anymore, just the opposite. Now I listen to everything on my iPod or iPhone through whichever compatible speaker [...] Filed in categories: Audio / Video Gear , Reviews , iPhone related Tagged: iPhone , iPod , Speaker Yamaha PDX-60 Portable Player Dock for iPhone/iPod Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2009 at 3:46 pm. (3 h ago)

• Moshi Voice Control Alarm Clock Review Moshi Voice Control Alarm Clock Review
11/16/2009
Even though I hate getting up in the mornings to get ready for work, I have a thing for alarm clocks. It’s not that I enjoy hearing them go off in the morning as much as I just like finding clocks with cool and unique features to make the early morning wake ups a bit [...] Filed in categories: Reviews , Watches and Clocks Tagged: Clock Moshi Voice Control Alarm Clock Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2009 at 2:33 pm. (4 h ago)

• Deal of the Day – Nintendo Wii Console +... Deal of the Day – Nintendo Wii Console + Wii Fit Plus + $50 Amazon Gift Card
11/16/2009
The LogicBUY deal of the day is for a Nintento Wii Console bundled with Wii Fit Plus ($99.99 value) and $50 Amazon.com Gift Card for $289.98 plus FREE shipping. Nintendo Wii includes Wii Remote … [visit site to read more] Filed in categories: NewsTagged: Deal of the DayDeal of the Day – Nintendo Wii [...] Filed in categories: News Tagged: Deal of the Day Deal of the Day – Nintendo Wii Console + Wii Fit Plus + $50 Amazon Gift Card originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2009 at 11:12 am. (7 h ago)

• HTC Droid Eris Review HTC Droid Eris Review
11/16/2009
This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series HTC Droid ErisThe Droid Eris is the first Android phone with the Sense UI I have been able to play with. I was suspicious about the add-on (see previous post) but was pleasantly surprised. … [visit site to read more] Filed in categories: [...] Filed in categories: Android related , Reviews Tagged: Android , eris , HTC , verizon HTC Droid Eris Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 16, 2009 at 6:52 am. (12 h ago)

• Hobo knives – For chowing on the go Hobo knives – For chowing on the go
11/15/2009
Here’s a nifty gadget for your gear bag. It’s a replica of a hobo knife from the early 1900’s. This one from W.R. Case has a bone handle with a knife, spoon and a fork with a can opener. It’s … [visit site to read more] Filed in categories: Gear, News, Spotlight [...] Filed in categories: Gear , News , Spotlight Gadgets Tagged: Knives , Outdoor Hobo knives – For chowing on the go originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 15, 2009 at 4:09 pm. (1 d ago)

• USB Bear Head Hand Warmer Review USB Bear Head Hand Warmer Review
11/15/2009
This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Gadgets for cold hands So you look at these and think, “You gotta be kidding.” This is what I have to put up with because my hands are freezing at the office? Do I really have to sacrifice my dignity with these and subject myself to [...] Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear , Miscellaneous Tagged: Health , USB USB Bear Head Hand Warmer Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 15, 2009 at 9:45 am. (1 d ago)

• TiVo Deals for the Holidays TiVo Deals for the Holidays
11/15/2009
It’s that time of year when people start stressing about Christmas gifts. I don’t think you can go wrong with the gift of a DVR. One of the originators of that product type is TiVo. Can you believe I’ve never tried a real TiVo? I started out with the ReplayTV and then went with the [...] Filed in categories: Audio / Video Gear , News Tagged: TiVo Deals for the Holidays originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 15, 2009 at 8:00 am. (1 d ago)

• Deal of the Day – Samsung 2494SW 24in 10... Deal of the Day – Samsung 2494SW 24in 1080p HDMI LCD Monitor + Logitech Bundle
11/14/2009
The LogicBUY deal of the day is for a Samsung 2494SW 24in 1080p LCD Monitor ($260 value) and a Logitech Desktop MK300 Wireless Keyboard & Mouse ($40 value) on sale for $279.99 – $90 off … [visit site to read more] Filed in categories: NewsTagged: Deal of the DayDeal of the Day – Samsung [...] Filed in categories: News Tagged: Deal of the Day Deal of the Day – Samsung 2494SW 24in 1080p HDMI LCD Monitor + Logitech Bundle originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 14, 2009 at 9:53 am. (2 d ago)

• Two cheers for Google Books Two cheers for Google Books
11/16/2009
Friday's settlement offers an awkward resolution on "orphan works." The real problem, says lawyer Larry Downes, is the sad state of copyright law. (4 h ago)

• Hulu's backers bicker as Web video soars Hulu's backers bicker as Web video soars
11/16/2009
The Web video site, with its stockpile of professional content, may not be the cash cow that everyone involved had hoped for. (5 h ago)

• Oxford's word of the year? 'Unfriend' Oxford's word of the year? 'Unfriend'
11/16/2009
The ubiquitous Digital Age insult, brought into the mainstream with the rise of Facebook, is the dictionary's top term of 2009. (5 h ago)

• Cisco boosts bid for Tandberg to $3.41 b... Cisco boosts bid for Tandberg to $3.41 billion
11/16/2009
After its initial bid got the cold shoulder, Cisco has upped its buyout offer for the video conferencing equipment maker. (9 h ago)

• Apple relents on Mad artist's caricature... Apple relents on Mad artist's caricature app
11/15/2009
Company apparently has a change of heart about the Bobble Rep app, which features caricatures of congressional politicians and provides contact information. (1 d ago)

• Verizon sending antipiracy notices for H... Verizon sending antipiracy notices for Hollywood, too
11/14/2009
Long considered disinterested in playing copyright cop, Verizon apparently has a change of heart. The company is now forwarding violation notices on behalf of NBC Universal--as well as the RIAA. (2 d ago)

• In Factery Labs' Search Engine, Facts Tr... In Factery Labs' Search Engine, Facts Trump Links
11/17/2009
Despite Google's inexorable gains in Internet search market share, search startups (and behemoths ) keep trying to improve upon the search giant's results. Factery Labs , debuting early Nov. 17, aims to pick up where Google leaves off. Instead of providing the usual list of Web pages, the Menlo Park (Calif.)-based startup reads all those pages first and then extracts facts from them by zeroing in on sentences--strings with a subject, then a verb--and assuming they represent facts of some kind. Then it creates an index of those facts and ranks them. The technology is called FactRank, in a nod to Google's patented PageRank . "People want facts" out of their searches, says Factery Labs cofounder and President Paul Pedersen, a veteran of search engines such as Infoseek, Google, and Powerset and founder of data management firm Mark Logic . "They want to know right here and right now." (1 h ago)

• Moto Droid Off To A Good Start. But Is I... Moto Droid Off To A Good Start. But Is It Good Enough?
11/16/2009
Market research firm Flurry , which tracks smart phone market share by monitoring usage of thousands of mobile apps, says Motorola sold 250,000 of its Droid smart phones in the device's first week on the market. That's not bad. HTC's MyTouch sold just 60,000 in its first week. And analysts believe Palm sold between 90,000 and 100,000 of its Pre smart phone when it came on the market earlier this year. But the question is what happens to Droid sales in week two, three and those that follow--as dozens of other Android phones are expected to hit the market, as Olga Kharif points out in her story in the magazine. As of now, the device--which has gotten mostly good reviews--is benefiting from a huge marketing push from Verizon, estimated to total around $100 million. No doubt, you've seen the "I Don't" ads , which clearly position Droid as a superior alternative to Apple's iPhone. That's an effective advertising campaign, especially when combined with Verizon's "there's a map for that" ads that bust on AT&T's reputation for spotty 3G coverage. Former Motorola CEO Ed Zander, for one, thinks Moto "has a good shot to sell a ton of Droids" if the device emerges as the gotta-have phone on the Verizon network. Indeed, if Motorola can maintain this 250,000-a-week clip for a quarter, it would move 3.25 million Droids. That would make it a blockbuster and the iPhone's nearest rival. Apple sold 7.4 million of its iPhone 3Gs in the company's just announced fiscal quarter. And Flurry's Peter Farago says the firm's data shows that Apple sold 600,000 iPhones during Droid's debut week. But Droid's main competition isn't really the iPhone: it's fragmentation of the Android market. Clearly, Apple will have no problem keeping consumers focused on its device. The iPhone is the only smart phone Apple sells, and the company spends beaucoup bucks reinforcing a clear, powerful message: buy an iPhone, and get the benefit of Apple quality as well as those 100,000 apps in the App Store. Now consider Motorola's challenge. Within weeks, consumers who go into a Verizon store will have many of different phones to choose from. Many of these devices will have a different "skin", a layer of software interface to make it stand out. That may make strategic sense on paper, but all these different interfaces is bound to confuse consumers. Also, it's not clear to me whether all of those 12,000-plus Android apps will run on all Android devices, further muddling the message. And Zander wonders if consumers will be put off by the complexity of the Android model. It's bad enough with the iPhone, where Apple is responsible for the device and AT&T for the network. With Android, "are you buying from Verizon, or Google or Motorola?" While Zander thinks current Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha has done "a helluva job," he also thinks "there are a lot of competitors in this space. It's going to be an interesting Christmas." (6 h ago)

• Startups: Job Creation Engines (Are You ... Startups: Job Creation Engines (Are You Listening Obama?)
11/16/2009
In this week's issue of BusinessWeek, we published the inaugural list of "The World's Most Intriguing New Companies." I am thrilled that we launched the package right as Global Entrepreneurship Week kicks off, taking place Nov. 16-22, in 85 nations. In my lead story for the package, "Fertile Ground for Startups," I made two big points: 1. Startups are playing an increasingly important role in American business 2. Startups may play a central role in any recovery. There was one startling new study, based on 2007 Census data, I was unable to work into the story that I want to highlight now, which provides some empirical evidence supporting the second point. According to a new study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation , which was co-written by the respected economist Robert Litan, companies less than five years old generated nearly two-third of the net new jobs created in the U.S. in 2007. Without these startups, "net job creation for the American economy would be negative in all but a handful of years." The upshot: It is clear more than ever that new companies and the entrepreneurs that lead them are the engines of job creation and economic recovery. It is well known within economic circles that new companies produce the majority of new jobs in the U.S. economy. What this reports reveals for the first time is extent of that trend, and the fact that startups play a particularly important role in growing jobs out of a recession. New companies have produced all of the net new jobs in the U.S. from 2001-2007, and also from 1980-1983, the last big American downturn, according to the study. This has huge implications for the Obama Administration as it tries to get the economy growing again. It also suggests a shift in focus and policy. Instead of focusing on saving large and dying industries (i.e. automakers and banks), the Obama Admin. should "begin paying more attention to removing roadblocks to entrepreneurs who will lead us out our current (well-founded) pessimism about jobs and sustain economic expansion over the long run," wrote the authors of the report. One idea the authors float: granting a payroll tax holiday for new companies. This is a great and timely idea, especially since the expected health care reform law is supposed to increase the cost of doing business for new companies. Such a targeted tax cut could help offset the pain of health care reform and give new employers more of a reason to ramp up hiring. This isn't to discount the role that big companies play in job creation. Large companies with 10,000 or more employees account for more than 10% of net job creation. But even then the authors note that those new net jobs may stem from the process of big companies acquiring young ones. "One of the only ways for big companies to add net jobs is to acquire younger companies that are not only generating jobs, but also are responsible for a good number of innovations that will keep the bigger company's revenue from diminishing," write the authors. Where Will the Jobs Come From? Startups! (6 h ago)

• Hands on: BlackBerry Bold 9700 Hands on: BlackBerry Bold 9700
11/16/2009
After a big run of flashy smartphone announcements, including the Motorola Droid/Milestone and even the BlackBerry Storm2, it was easy for the BlackBerry Bold 9700 to slip in under the radar. But this very solid, if unflashy, handset shows why Research In Motion continues to thrive even in a very difficult market. The original Bold 9000, which hit the market in May, 2008, has been the flagship of the BlackBerry line. The Bold 9700, available today from T-Mobile for $200 on a two-year contract and on Nov. 22 from AT&T, offers everything the Bold did--sometimes better and sometimes smaller. Physically, the Bold strongly resembles assorted Curve models, though it retains the Bold's premium look and feel with a metal bezel around the top of the handset and a leatherette back. Like recent curves, it replaces the fidgety track ball with an optical sensor that tracks finger movement on a pad below the screen--a big improvement. It weighs about half an ounce (14 g) less than then original Bold. (7 h ago)

• Why Cisco Sweetened Its Deal For Tandber... Why Cisco Sweetened Its Deal For Tandberg
11/16/2009
Cisco has sweetened its acquisition offer for Norway-based videoconferencing company Tandberg by 11%, to $3.4 billion. That should be enough to satisfy the 90%-plus of investors who had withheld their support for the existing deal. The company says more than 40% of Tandberg shareholders, including the largest ones, have "pre-accepted the offer." More details here from Bloomberg. I'd heard that an increase of 10% to 15% would likely get the deal done, so this improvement seems designed to accomplish two simultaneous goals: to put the acquisition over the top, without sending the message that Cisco will panic and radically pay up when shareholders of acquisition targets hold out for more. That's critical for a company as acquisitive as Cisco, which has done four large deals in just the last 45 days. At Cisco's shareholder meeting on Nov. 12, Cisco CEO John T. Chambers warned that "I'll walk" rather than overpay. "We're not going to pay a price that we don't think is good for shareholders." One way or another, Chambers needed to get this deal done . He has said that video is his number one strategic priority, and video-conferencing in particular is a great opportunity for Cisco. Few, if any, forms of traffic chew up bandwidth and require more sophisticated routing and switching than videoconferencing--which needs to be not only high-res, but real-time. And buying Tandberg was clearly the best way to accelerate his grand video plans. The company is not only the market leader in videoconferencing gear, but it's by far the hottest player in the market--not only with the mid-tier conference room systems that are the bulk of the industry, but also for high-end telepresence systems like the ones Cisco sells. Multiple industry sources I've spoken to say Tandberg routinely beats Cisco in deals for these systems, which create the illusion that you're actually sitting in the same room with other attendees, wherever they may be. Also, Cisco needed to find a way to embrace open standards for its telepresence offerings. Currently, Cisco's systems only work with other Cisco systems, for the most part. That's unacceptable, for a company that built its Internet equipment empire by championing the most important open standard of them all--the Internet Protocol. Analysts say Tandberg is a leader not only in product innovation, but in making its gear inter-operate with other brands. Here's a video of Chambers and Tandberg CEO Fredrik Halvorsen talking about the deal at the time. (9 h ago)

• Glyde Debuts New Online Marketplace. E-C... Glyde Debuts New Online Marketplace. E-Commerce 2.0?
11/16/2009
You wouldn't think the world would need another place for people to buy and sell used media such as DVDs, books, video games, and CDs. eBay and Amazon.com, along with innumerable smaller e-commerce Web sites, dominate a multibillion-dollar market that obviously provides a satisfactory experience for a great many people. Glyde , a startup created by former eBay Motors founder and chief Simon Rothman , is betting there's plenty of room left for newcomers that can make the whole buying and selling process much faster and easier. On Nov. 16, the Palo Alto-based company is debuting the site, which it promises will provide single-click purchasing for buyers (after the first one, during which you have to fill in your credit-card and shipping information) and 10-second item listing for sellers. (18 h ago)

• Google Books: Scan First, Ask Questions ... Google Books: Scan First, Ask Questions Later
11/14/2009
In a revision to the Google Books Settlement filed in federal court late Friday night, Google and the Authors Guild made concessions to industry groups, regulators and others who have vocally opposed the plan. But the search giant refuses to budge on one of the agreement's most controversial points. So-called orphan works, millions of books for which copyright laws still apply but whose rights owner is unknown or cannot be located, will still be scanned and sold in an online registry. New revisions to the plan call for an independent trustee to collect revenues generated from orphan works for up to 10 years, or until the rights holders are found. After 10 years, that money will be donated towards the continued effort to seek out copyright owners. In September, head of the US Copyright Office Marybeth Peters said Google's initial "opt-out" proposal to scan orphan works before attempting to find rights owners amounted to a throwing out of "fundamental copyright principles." Though the most recent revisions stipulate more rigorous steps for collecting and distributing money to authors and publishers, the proposed agreement is still opt-out, as Danny Sullivan pointed out in his blog Search Engine Land. Peters is still likely to object. Other revisions which are likely to sway some critics include a new geographical limit to the the deal. Now, the Google Books Settlement applies only to U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia. That will please the governments of France and Germany, who have objected to the plan. In the next week, U.S. District Court Judge Denny Chin is expected to schedule a fairness hearing to hear arguments for and against the revised agreement. Expect to hear from groups like the Open Book Alliance, the coalition led by former Microsoft antitrust watchdog Gary Reback, which has already objected to the new agreement in a blog post . (2 d ago)

• Apple Crushes Clone Maker in Court Apple Crushes Clone Maker in Court
11/14/2009
Apple won a sweeping legal victory against Macintosh clone maker Psystar Corp. Nov. 13 when a federal judge in San Francisco ruled (PDF, courtesy of Groklaw ) that Psystar had violated Apple's copyright and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Judge William Alsup struck what may be a death blow for Psystar by granting Apple's motion for summary judgment while denying Psystar's counterclaims. The only real surprise here was the swiftness and thoroughness of Apple's victory. Judge Alsup basically ruled that the OS X End User License Agreement (EULA), which prohibits the installation of the software on non-Apple hardware, is legal and means exactly what it says. It is just the latest in a long string of ruling upholding EULAs, sometimes called shrinkwrap or click-wrap licenses. (2 d ago)

• Size and Strength Not a Mate-Choice Fact... Size and Strength Not a Mate-Choice Factor for Everyone
11/16/2009
Unlike most Western guys and gals looking for love, Africa’s Hadza foragers pair up without regard to each other’s size and strength, a new study finds. And that stature-may-care approach underscores the often unappreciated variety of human mating strategies, the researchers say. Hadza marriages don’t tend to consist of individuals with similar heights, weights, body mass [...] (2 h ago)

• Civilian Supercomputer Shatters Nuke Sim... Civilian Supercomputer Shatters Nuke Simulator’s Speed Record
11/16/2009
The retooled Jaguar supercomputer blew away the competition on the latest list of the 500 fastest computers in the world, clocking an incredible 1.759 petaflops — 1,759 trillion calculations per second. VIDEO: How to Upgrade a Supercomputer, 37,376 Chips at a Time The machine, housed at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, added [...] (2 h ago)

• Birth of New Species Witnessed by Scient... Birth of New Species Witnessed by Scientists
11/16/2009
On one of the Galapagos islands whose finches shaped the theories of a young Charles Darwin, biologists have witnessed that elusive moment when a single species splits in two. In many ways, the split followed predictable patterns, requiring a hybrid newcomer who’d already taken baby steps down a new evolutionary path. But playing an unexpected part [...] (3 h ago)

• Titanic Thirty Meter Telescope Will See ... Titanic Thirty Meter Telescope Will See Deep Space More Clearly
11/16/2009
SANTA CRUZ, California — Four hundred years after Galileo’s telescope revolutionized humanity’s view of the universe, a gigantic telescope is in the works that could take us to a new, deeper level of understanding. digg_url ="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/thirty-meter-telescope/"; The enormous Thirty Meter Telescope, with a primary mirror the size of a blue whale, is part of a new generation [...] (4 h ago)

• Plastic Boat: The Building of a High-Tec... Plastic Boat: The Building of a High-Tech Eco-Stunt
11/16/2009
<< previous image | next image >> Not all plastics are created equal — and to prove it, a rakish banking heir and a team of young adventurers have built a huge ship out of plastic. Called Plastiki, the 60-foot catamaran’s hull is made of a newly developed plastic that’s easier to recycle than the standard man-made [...] (18 h ago)

• Top 10 Cyborg Videos Top 10 Cyborg Videos
11/16/2009
With each passing year, the boundary between man and machine gets slimmer. Bionic ears have become commonplace, motorized prosthetics allow wounded soldiers to care for themselves, and electronic eyes are just over the horizon. digg_url ="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/11/cyborg-videos/"; Neuroscientists have almost jacked rodents into the matrix: They have used electrodes to read signals from individual mouse brain cells [...] (23 h ago)

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• The virtual doctor visit: Health monito... The virtual doctor visit: Health monitoring at home
11/17/2009
Every morning at 10 a.m. sharp, Juanita Wood, 87, taps "okay" on a screen to start up a device that takes her blood pressure and transmits the information to her medical clinic. At 10:30 a.m., her husband, Arthur, 91, touch-starts his own device, neatly lined up next to hers. The machine calculates... (1 h ago)

• Electronic games turn slots casinos int... Electronic games turn slots casinos into 'Vegas lite'
11/15/2009
When Maryland legalized slot machines last year, the state stopped short of welcoming blackjack, roulette and other table games because of qualms about building full-scale casinos. (1 d ago)

• Google relents with revised digital boo... Google relents with revised digital books settlement
11/15/2009
In a move to allay its critics and the Justice Department, Google filed in federal court a revised legal settlement that would allow it to distribute millions of digital books online. (1 d ago)

• Copyright overreach goes on world tour Copyright overreach goes on world tour
11/15/2009
Some of the better ideas in the computing industry never make it into stores, and not because of expensive hardware, complex code or inadequate bandwidth. You can blame laws that keep otherwise desirable products off of the market. (1 d ago)

• Technology takes the guesswork out of s... Technology takes the guesswork out of sailing into stormy weather
11/15/2009
When stormy weather threatens, modern technology is a sailor's best friend. (1 d ago)

• Help File: Whatever happened to Microso... Help File: Whatever happened to Microsoft's MSN software?
11/15/2009
Q: I'm having issues with the MSN software Verizon gave me. Is there a newer version, or should I get another program? (1 d ago)

• Green Wave Energy is trying to... Green Wave Energy is trying to turn wind power market on its axis
11/17/2009
The company and investors are banking on the unconventional design of its microturbines that can generate energy by capturing breezes from any direction. The potential for profit is blowing in the wind, and Green Wave Energy Corp. plans to catch it. (1 h ago)

• Tony Hawk's latest game adds s... Tony Hawk's latest game adds skateboard trick
11/16/2009
He talks to The Times about his first title in two years as well as the unique sensor-board controller and $120 price tag that go with it. Tony Hawk, the former professional skateboarder and the name behind a billion-dollar video game franchise, hasn't had a runaway hit in a while. (16 h ago)

• Hoping 'Avatar' is the new fac... Hoping 'Avatar' is the new face of filmmaking
11/15/2009
James Cameron's futuristic thriller, opening next month, may be the most expensive movie ever. And Hollywood is in sore need of a game changer. Inside a dark mixing stage at 20th Century Fox a few weeks ago, writer-director James Cameron, surrounded by nearly a dozen colleagues, stared at a clip from his upcoming movie, "Avatar," unhappy with the look of the precipitous peaks on the horizon. (1 d ago)

• Same article, Different headlines... Same article, Different headlines...
11/16/2009
The New York Times discusses how Palm is doing in the smartphone arena (3 h ago)

• That's Just Swell... GSM Upgrade Knocks ... That's Just Swell... GSM Upgrade Knocks Out Treo 680 Phone Calls
11/16/2009
T-Mobile users in UK and U.S. are among those impacted. (10 h ago)

• Hanging onto the Treo 680... Hanging onto the Treo 680...
11/16/2009
At Squidoo, AndyPo makes an interesting argument in favor of the Treo 680 over the other smartphones invading the market. (21 h ago)

• PRS-500 owners: Will you take advantage ... PRS-500 owners: Will you take advantage of Sony's upgrade/trade-up offer?
11/15/2009
http://www.mobileread.com/upload/news/2006-04/sm_prs500.jpgSony has made PRS-500 owners a great offer (MR News (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62252) and Sony Offer (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644683012&N=4294953907)): * A free firmware upgrade to support ePub, including free shipping, or * A trade-in discount on a new device ($50 or $75 depending on the model) What will you do? (Please participate in the poll, and share your thoughts in the thread.) So now the reality sets in - I don't want to part with my PRS-500, even if I buy another device and the 500 goes into storage in "museum mode"! Am I willing to part with it for a "measly" $75??? And am I willing to part with the custom navigation hacks just to get e-pub support? Do I want to upgrade - the new devices are a significant upgrade in usability. Or, heaven forbid, after such a nice offer do I want to consider a Daily Reader or even a non-Sony device like the Daily new Plastic Logic large screen device? These are some serious questions! Can't wait to hear what others are going to do. Share your thoughts! (1 d ago)

• Firmware update for PRS-500 available - ... Firmware update for PRS-500 available - EPUB!
11/15/2009
http://www.mobileread.com/upload/news/2006-04/sm_prs500.jpgAlas, it's not updateable by user and the device must be sent in. ---Quote--- Update your Reader firmware, compliments of Sony. Sony has created a firmware update for your Reader, allowing it to remain compatible with the new eBook Store format. This update will allow your PRS-500 to support the ePub and Adobe DRM format and add the ability to re-flow PDF documents. Due to the nature of the work required, you will need to send your PRS-500 Reader to the Sony Service Centers for updating. All you need to do is complete the request for firmware update through the link below, or call 866-962-7669. We will provide you with a pre-paid UPS label for sending in your Reader. You should have your PRS-500 back within 14 days, with the firmware update installed. ---End Quote--- Alternatively, you can trade it for a newer model. ---Quote--- Trade in for a new Reader Pocket Edition or Reader Touch Edition: Trade in your PRS-500 when purchasing a new Reader Pocket Edition or Reader Touch Edition. You will receive $50 off of the Reader Pocket Edition or $75 off the Reader Touch Edition. ---End Quote--- Linky (https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644683012&N=4294953907). (1 d ago)

• Seen that? - Download.com, the Censor Seen that? - Download.com, the Censor
11/16/2009
Download.com, the Censor at P2P File Sharing Download.com announced: This week, we've upped the ante: we're launching a new zero-tolerance policy toward all bundled adware. That means every time you download software from Download.com, you can trust we've tested it and found it ... (21 h ago)

• The fight for developer hearts and minds The fight for developer hearts and minds
11/16/2009
I don't know if you want to make this into a meta-pattern or what, but Google again seems to be stepping up where Microsoft has stumbled, today hiring laid-off business development director of Microsoft's Emerging Business Team Don Dodge, according to TechFlash. Dodge will reportedly be working for another former Microsoft development evangelist, Vic Gundotra, who Google picked up a couple years ago and who currently heads their own developer evangelism efforts. Dodge will be focusing on Google Apps, an effort that many (although, notably, ... (9 h ago)

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