| Zynga shares slide after privileged status with Facebook ends Posted: 30 Nov 2012 08:17 AM PST  (Reuters) - Shares of gaming company Zynga Inc fell as much as 10 percent, a day after the "Farmville" creator reached an agreement with Facebook Inc that reduces its dependence on the social networking giant. The companies reported in regulatory filings on Thursday that they have reached an agreement to amend a 2010 deal that was widely seen as giving Zynga privileged status on the world's No.1 social network. ...
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| EBay's double tax base prompts calls for investigation Posted: 30 Nov 2012 11:47 AM PST  LONDON (Reuters) - Britain and Germany may have missed out on a combined $1 billion in sales tax since online marketplace eBay picked a tiny Luxembourg office as its base for EU sales, a shift that lawmakers say should now be investigated. EBay's nomination of Luxembourg unit eBay Europe Sarl - with a staff of nine - as its provider of services to EU clients allows it to charge customers in Europe a low rate of sales tax, often known as Value Added Tax, helping it to compete against rivals. However, the unit doesn't actually receive the money from sales. ...
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| Chinese bid for A123 may raise security risks: Senators Posted: 30 Nov 2012 04:06 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Chinese company's attempt to take over government-backed battery maker A123 raises serious national security concerns, a bipartisan group of lawmakers said this week, adding to growing congressional opposition to the deal. China's Wanxiang Group Corp is currently competing with U.S.-based Johnson Controls Inc to buy bankrupt A123, which makes lithium ion batteries for electric cars. The government must ensure that any sale of A123's technology, which has also been used by the military and to support the U.S. ... |
| Name Your Price for Gadgets on New 'Priceline for Tech' Site Posted: 30 Nov 2012 06:40 AM PST  Want to buy a specific camera for someone for the holidays, but can't find it in your budget range? A new website called Greentoe is bringing price negotiation to the consumer electronics world -- think Priceline for gadgets.
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| The 12 Most Memorable Marketing Campaigns of 2012 Posted: 30 Nov 2012 03:42 AM PST 1. Red Bull Stratos Space Jump |
| SAP co-founder sells shares worth 120 million euros Posted: 30 Nov 2012 08:02 AM PST FRANKFURT (Reuters) - SAP's co-founder Hasso Plattner sold shares in the German business software maker worth 120 million euros ($155.74 million), divesting a portion of his overall stake, the company said on Friday. To protect the stock price, a bank will place 10 million euros worth of the shares every month until no more are left. "The sale will be carried out at the bank's own discretion in the stock market or over the counter, for the first time in November 2012 and then again in the months January through November 2013," SAP said in a regulatory statement. ... |
| How a desperate HP suspended disbelief for Autonomy deal Posted: 30 Nov 2012 11:59 AM PST  SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - For Leo Apotheker, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, a July 2011 meeting with Autonomy founder Mike Lynch at a chic seaside resort in France was pivotal to his effort to remake a storied technology giant. In the nine months since taking the helm at HP, Apotheker had tried furiously to find a way to move the lumbering company away from its low-margin computer hardware business and into the lucrative corporate software and services arena. ...
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| Mexican court enters preliminary $2.7 billion judgment against Yahoo Posted: 30 Nov 2012 02:51 PM PST  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A civil court in Mexico entered a preliminary $2.7 billion judgment against Yahoo Inc for breach of contract involving a yellow pages listings service, Yahoo said on Friday. Yahoo said that it believes the claims are without merit and that it will vigorously pursue all appeals. Shares of Yahoo were off 1.7 percent at $18.45 in afterhours trading on Friday. The lawsuit was brought by Worldwide Directories S.A. de C.V. and Ideas Interactivas S.A. de C.V. against Yahoo and Yahoo de Mexico, Yahoo said. ...
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| New iPhone apps worth downloading: Squrl and Resultly updates, RunSanity Posted: 30 Nov 2012 03:48 AM PST Search your way through all kinds of video with a new update to Squrl. Today's leading app makes searching through everything from YouTube to Netflix quick and easy. Next up is Resultly, an app that creates notifications for anything you want, sort of like Google Alerts for your life. Finally, RunSanity takes the endless runner formula and throws in the ability to compete against friends. |
| Google buys BufferBox for $17 million, may be invading Amazon’s e-commerce territory Posted: 30 Nov 2012 08:00 PM PST  It turns out that Google (GOOG) really did make a significant acquisition this week after all, if not one that's related to becoming a wireless carrier. Per TechCrunch, the Mountain View-based company on Friday acquired e-commerce company BufferBox for $17 million, thus giving Google a potential presence in a market that has long been dominated by Amazon (AMZN). BufferBox is a nifty solution for people who receive a lot of important packages but who aren't often home to sign for them. Essentially, users choose a nearby location that hosts BufferBoxes where they want their packages delivered. BufferBox then gives them a PIN that they can use to open the box and retrieve their package at their own convenience. Think of
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| Average wireless bill increased 7% in 2012 , 70% of subscribers now own smartphones Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:01 PM PST  We all love our smartphones, but they are a costly addiction to support. According to Consumer Reports, American wireless subscribers saw their wireless bills increase by 7% between 2011 and 2012, and the big culprit is the continued proliferation of smartphones. Overall, 70% of wireless subscribers who took part in Consumer Reports' survey owned smartphones this year, up from 50% in 2011. As the publication notes, "upgrading from a plain cell phone at a major carrier isn't cheap" since "you have to buy the smart phone itself (usually $100 to $400 when signing a two-year contract) and fork over $70 to $110 a month for a plan with data service… a lot more than a basic phone plan, which generally costs $40
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| A wave of apps like Wavii and Summly serve news on the go Posted: 30 Nov 2012 06:58 PM PST SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Silicon Valley may believe that mobile devices represent the future of information technology, but they've yet to come up with a slick and comprehensive way to read and process news. A growing group of technology entrepreneurs hopes to change that. This week, Wavii, a start-up founded by a former Microsoft Corp employee, Adrian Aoun, unveiled a free iPhone app that filters news stories from around the world, crunches them through a natural language processing algorithm and presents them in five- or six-word summaries. ... |
| Netflix competitor Redbox Instant to reportedly offer video streaming for just $6 per month Posted: 30 Nov 2012 06:07 PM PST  Verizon (VZ) and Coinstar (CSTR) earlier this year announced a joint video streaming service to compete with Netflix (NFLX) and Amazon (AMZN). The service, which is called Redbox Instant by Verizon, is now in its testing phase and is set to become available by the end of the year. Janko Roettgers of GigaOM found some key details about the service while digging through the Redbox Instant website, which has now become password protected. Verizon and Redbox will reportedly offer an unlimited streaming subscription starting at $6 per month, compared to Netflix's $7.99 monthly fee. The smaller fee, however, will be due to the fact that Redbox Instant is expected to have a smaller library. For an additional $2 per month, the service will offer subscribers four Redbox credits
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| Is Facebook planning to develop its own games? Revised Zynga terms open the door Posted: 30 Nov 2012 05:13 PM PST  As Zynga (ZNGA) continues its free fall into irrelevancy with layoffs and its one-hit social games, the gaming company has revised its contract with Facebook (FB) to free it from being "forced to launch games exclusively on the Facebook platform" and "obligated to use Facebook Credits for Zynga game pages," according to AllThingsD. The change of terms filed with the SEC also includes a clause that states "Facebook will no longer be prohibited from developing its own games" on March 31, 2013. Could Facebook start developing its own social games? Theoretically, yes. But would Facebook really jeopardize its relationships with game developers who already make games for its social network? Probably not. "We're not in the business of building games and we have no plans to do
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| Microsoft updates Android Xbox SmartGlass app for 7-inch tablets Posted: 30 Nov 2012 04:19 PM PST  While Nintendo (NTDOY) has chosen to create second-screen experiences with the new Wii U GamePad, Microsoft's (MSFT) strategy for the Xbox 360 involves bringing your own devices (BYOD) with the Xbox SmartGlass app for Android, iOS, Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. One of the more frustrating things initially about the Xbox SmartGlass app was that it wasn't natively compatible with 7-inch Android tablets such as Google's (GOOG) excellent Nexus 7, but Microsoft's gone ahead and updated the app to take advantage of 7-inch Android tablets while squashing a batch of bugs at the same time. While still in its infancy, Xbox SmartGlass is a glimpse at the future of smartphones and tablet and how they connect to the TV. Last month, we
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| NY appeals court skeptical about startup's live TV Posted: 30 Nov 2012 04:03 PM PST A startup company trying to defend the legality of how it sends live TV programming to laptop computers, iPhones and other mobile devices encountered a skeptical appeals court panel on Friday. |
| VeriSign wins .com renewal, but can't hike prices Posted: 30 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST The federal government has cleared VeriSign Inc. to manage the databases that house ".com" domain names for another six years, but the company won't be allowed to raise prices without approval. |
| Verizon may soon launch Samsung Galaxy Camera with 4G LTE Posted: 30 Nov 2012 03:28 PM PST  Samsung's (005930) ingenious idea to cram Android Jelly Bean into a camera with a 21x optical zoom, 4.8-inch screen and with cellular connectivity is nothing short of impressive. The only bone we have to pick with the Galaxy Camera is that it's only available on AT&T (T) in the U.S. and it only supports HSPA+ instead of faster 4G LTE networks. A newly discovered FCC filing indicates Verizon (VZ) is already testing a variant of the Galaxy Camera on its 700MHz band that does have 4G LTE, however. Verizon and Samsung haven't made any official announcements yet, but it's likely that battery life for the Galaxy Camera will take a hit with LTE turned on. If you've had your eye on
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| Samsung smartphones with flexible displays may launch as soon as next year Posted: 30 Nov 2012 02:34 PM PST  We've known about Samsung's (005930) and other companies' plans to release smartphones with flexible displays for a while now, but according to BBC News, such devices could hit the shelves as soon as next year. Specifically, BBC News says there are "rumors abound" that Samsung's production capabilities for the flexible displays are now strong enough where the company may be able to release its first bendable smartphone sometime in 2013. The report notes that several other companies, including LG (066570), Nokia (NOK) and Sony (SNE) are working on similar flexible display technology as well.
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| Sony introduces ultra-high-definition video player Posted: 30 Nov 2012 02:08 PM PST  "The Amazing Spiderman," ''Taxi Driver" and "The Karate Kid" are getting some real resolution.
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| Specs surface for alleged low-end $99 Nexus 7 Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:44 PM PST  It's been rumored for a while that Google (GOOG) and ASUS (2357) are working on a $99 Nexus tablet. Although benchmarks can easily be faked, a new GLBenchmark for a tablet identified as only "ME172V" and reportedly built by ASUS has popped up with specs well below those of the Nexus 7. According to the GLBenchmark, the entry-level Nexus 7 could have a 7-inch display with a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution display, 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 4270mAh battery and Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Interestingly enough, the purported low-end Nexus 7 also has a micro SD card slot, which the original Nexus 7 does not. It's possible that the entry-level tablet could be an entirely
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| Specs surface for alleged low-end $99 Nexus 7 tablet Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:44 PM PST It's been rumored for a while that Google (GOOG) and ASUS (2357) are working on a $99 Nexus tablet. Although benchmarks can easily be faked, a new GLBenchmark for a tablet identified as only "ME172V" and reportedly built by ASUS has popped up with specs well below those of the Nexus 7. According to the GLBenchmark, the entry-level Nexus 7 could have a 7-inch display with a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution display, 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 4270mAh battery and Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Interestingly enough, the purported low-end Nexus 7 also has a micro SD card slot, which the original Nexus 7 does not. It's possible that the entry-level tablet could be an entirely |
| Should We Be Able to Patent Human Genes? Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:18 PM PST  Depending on how the Supreme Court decides on the case it decided to take up Friday afternoon, biotech companies might soon be able to patent ownership of essential parts of our bodies. Actually, one company, Myriad, already has patents for two genes, BRCA 1 and 2, that when found in women signal a higher likelihood of breast cancer. Weird, right? Because of that legal ownership, Myriad claims exclusive rights to genetic screenings for the disease, which, as NYU's Miles Jackson points out, makes it very expensive for women who might not have the money. ...
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| HP bought Autonomy ‘out of frustration and desperation’ despite red flags Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:08 PM PST  Dating someone out of frustration and desperation is never a good idea, and it's apparently not a good idea when it comes to corporate mergers either. Reuters recently posted a mammoth report detailing HP's (HPQ) disastrous acquisition of IT software firm Autonomy, and it doesn't make former CEO Léo Apotheker look very good. Essentially, unnamed sources told Reuters that Apotheker was so desperate to transform HP from a hardware manufacturer into a software firm that he overlooked several warning signs when he agreed to buy Autonomy for $11.1 billion back in 2011. "What happened is he talked to Autonomy and they got into a dialogue and he told the board that we have to do something," one source with direct knowledge of the
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| House votes to expand visas for high-tech workers Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:57 PM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to create a permanent visa program for foreigners with advanced science and technical degrees cleared the House of Representatives on Friday, the latest salvo in the broader fight over U.S. immigration reform. The Republican-backed measure proposes reserving 55,000 permanent residence visas for foreign graduates of U.S. universities with master's and doctoral degrees in the "STEM" disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math. ... |
| The First Music Video Filmed Entirely Using Instagram Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:47 PM PST  We've all heard a picture is worth a thousand words. So how much is a music video created entirely out of still photos worth? Yes, you read that correctly. Mexico City-based Indie band The Plastics Revolution created a music video for their song, Invasión, using only...
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| Windows 8 adoption reportedly growing more slowly than Windows 7 Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:33 PM PST  Despite Microsoft's (MSFT) claims that sales of Windows 8 were outpacing its predecessor, global web traffic results paint a much different picture. According to data compiled by StatCounter, the total Internet usage of computers running Windows 8 over a four-week period ending on November 26th equaled a mere 1.31%, compared to the 4.93% Windows 7 achieved one month after its launch in 2009. Usage of Windows 7 on November 26th totaled 49.48% of the market in the United States, while Windows XP and Mac OS X made up 16.07% and 15.48%, respectively. "Microsoft has reported license sales of 40 million for Windows 8, however this has not yet translated into significant usage figures," said Aodhan Cullen, CEO of StatCounter. "This may be due to sales to
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| The Boy Genius Report: Microsoft is blowing it and RIM could too Posted: 30 Nov 2012 11:38 AM PST  Who would have thought a couple of years ago that Research In Motion (RIMM) would be on the ropes and Microsoft (MSFT) could be getting close? Well, me… but not many others. Microsoft's latest strategy of trying to make a no compromise tablet has resulted in, you guessed it, compromise. It's not as polished as an iPad, it's more limited in almost every possible way, it's slow, clunky, unresponsive at times, offers a worse display, weighs more, and is thicker. Plus it costs over $100 more when you factor in a Touch Cover or Type Cover keyboard. Plus, you can't even run Windows applications even though you get the actual Windows desktop. The best part is the Surface Pro. An
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| Twitter in legal spat over data clampdown Posted: 30 Nov 2012 11:34 AM PST  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Twitter Inc's steadily tightening grip over the 140-character messages on its network has set off a spirited debate in Silicon Valley over whether a social media company should or should not lay claim over its user-generated content. That debate has now landed in court. ...
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| iPad mini shortages may soon be resolved Posted: 30 Nov 2012 10:53 AM PST  Immediately following its launch earlier this month, Apple's (AAPL) iPad mini ran into a problem that many iOS devices have faced in the past: Apple can't build enough of them. The company sold more than 3 million iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad tablets combined during their first weekend of availability. The tablet has seemingly seen steady demand since then, and new orders placed on Apple's website still take two weeks to ship. Citing unnamed industry sources, Digitimes on Friday reported that Apple's iPad mini supply woes may soon come to an end as the company seeks a third display panel manufacturer to offset difficulties that AU Optronics continues to face. As a result of AUO's yield issues, iPad mini shipments
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| Electronic braking system in vehicles saves thousands: U.S. study Posted: 30 Nov 2012 10:20 AM PST (Reuters) - Computer-controlled braking systems in cars and light trucks are saving thousands of lives in the United States, according to a three-year study released on Friday by federal safety regulators. The systems have been required on all light-duty trucks and passenger vehicles under a 2007 federal safety regulation. The requirement was phased in over the years covered by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study. It estimated that the technology saved more than 2,200 lives from 2008 through 2010, including 634 in 2008, 705 in 2009 and 863 in 2010. ... |
| Zynga stock falls after Facebook terms change Posted: 30 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PST Shares of Zynga slumped Friday after it disclosed with its partner Facebook that they have loosened their close ties to one another. |
| Apple’s shift away from Samsung processors could take 12-18 months Posted: 30 Nov 2012 10:10 AM PST  Samsung (005930) was estimated to pull in $13 billion in revenue from Apple (AAPL) next year, however in the wake of the ongoing legal disputes between the two companies, the iPhone-maker has begun to shift away from its dependence on the South Korean manufacturer. Apple is now relying on companies like LG Display, AU Optronics and others for many of its components. Recent reports have suggested that the Cupertino-based company will also be shifting its CPU business away from Samsung. Amit Daryanani of RBC Capital noted that such a move would require "a complete redo of production and manufacturing processes," and could take a minimum of 12 to 18 months to complete. "Shifting chip manufacturers isn't easy and requires a complete redo of production and manufacturing process,"
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| Jelly Bean update for DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD set to roll out next week Posted: 30 Nov 2012 09:45 AM PST  Verizon (VZ) on Friday approved the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD. The latest software version delivers a variety of new features to Motorola's two flagship smartphones, including enhanced notifications, improved performance and functionality of the user interface, and access a service dubbed the "Innovation of the Year", Google Now. In addition, Verizon and Motorola have improved voice and data connectivity and have removed the Color and Verizon Video applications while adding Amazon's (AMZN) mobile app suite. Both the DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD are equipped with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor and feature 4G LTE connectivity, 1GB of RAM, NFC, a microSD slot, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 4.7-inch
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| First Apple iMac teardown reveals Apple’s mastery of component shrinkage Posted: 30 Nov 2012 09:10 AM PST  Now that Apple's (AAPL) redesigned iMac is available for purchase, the only logical thing to do is to pull out the suction cups and take the svelte computer apart. Japanese site Kodawarisan took the first shot at opening the new iMacs up and as expected, found the 21.5-inch model to be very light and very thin. One of the reasons why the new iMacs are so thin is because they don't have optical drives anymore. Another reason discovered by Kodawarisan appears to be the simplified internal design of the iMac's components. As can be seen in the teardown photos, the new iMacs have fewer serviceable parts thanks to more components such as the RAM being soldered in now. Even with a bulge on the back that
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