Waiting for your Apple TV? Yah, me too. The Apple store website has changed the shipping date from late February to mid-March, something disappointing. Reuters confirmed the change of date with Lynn Fox, a spokesperson from Apple, who said that “wrapping up Apple TV is taking a few weeks longer than we projected, and we now expect to begin shipments mid-March.” That’s just in time for Yours Truly’s birthday. So there you have it. Expect to see displays in stores any day, though, as Apple should be anxious to get word of the device out to as many brains as it can. Apple TV Delayed till mid-March [Reuters] → Read More
MySpace PR has replied to our request for comment on the Imeem blockage that we reported over the weekend. Julie Henderson, SVP Corporate Communications at Fox Interactive (MySpace’s parent company), says: If a widget violates our TOS, we block them. Breaches would include any person, widget or software that violates copyright, poses security risks, distributes pornography or engages in commercial activity. Commercial activity includes selling ads on a MySpace page through their widget or software. In the instance of Revver specifically, we told them we were going to block them if they continued to sell ads on our pages. They refused to stop selling ads on our pages – so we blocked them. No mystery there. Also, we have no plans – current or future – to charge a “toll.” Third party widget providers just need to follow our terms of service… There is still the matter of that statement made by Peter Chernin, COO of News Corp, last year: “If you look at virtually any Web 2.0 application, whether its YouTube, whether it’s Flickr, whether it’s Photobucket or any of the next-generation Web applications, almost all of them are really driven off the back of MySpace.” For now, MySpace is saying they have no plans to charge widget providers for distribution rights on their site. But it is clear that if they can find an excuse to ban them, they will. → Read More
Verizon is looking to topple Cingular as the nation’s largest carrier and Alltel is standing in their way. So what does a big bully do in this situation? They buy ‘em out. Word on the street is that Verizon is putting in a bid to swoop up Alltel and beat out Cingular/AT&T by about 10 million users. If the FCC gives them the thumbs up we’ll have to hear that annoying catchphrase over and over and over again. Verizon Beats Out Cingular [Mobile Mag] → Read More
Some of the top jobs this week from Crunchboard: Interaction Designer at Piczo Inc. in San Francisco, CA Blog Writer / Managing Editor at Briggs Media PTY LTD in Anywhere USA Sr. Software Engineer -Video Search Engine at Truveo in San Francisco, CA Web Developer at Warner Bros. Records in Burbank, CA Web Designer at NYTimes.com in New York, NY Information Architect at NYTimes.com in New York, NY Sr. Software Integration at NBC Universal in ENGLEWOOD Dir. Online Marketing at Blockbuster, Inc. in Dallas, TX Marketing Manager at BustedTees.com in New York, NY Web Developer at Paltalk.com in New York City Direct Marketers – Online at Blockbuster, Inc. in Dallas, TX Senior Database Software at Pandora Media in Oakland, CA → Read More
The crew over at Giz has word that a new firmware update is coming for iPods, giving you the Cover Flow function that’s in iTunes. They’ve also been tipped off that iPods will not get a refresh until after the iPhone has launched. I hate to say it, but I told you so. Cover Flow → Read More
Less than a week ago I filled you on the upcoming launch of the Samsung u620 which will be the first to sport Verizon’s V Cast Mobile TV. Now the official launch of both the phone and service has been sparse, but a quick tinker on the testman page has revealed a firm date. March 1 will be the official launch date, but a listing of cities is no where to be found. Plug in your zip and see if you’re a lucky winner. VZN Testman → Read More
, and one of our favorites has always been Soundwave. You’ll remember him as the blue, monotone-voiced lieutenant to Megatron, popular for his unwavering loyalty to the Decepticon cause. What made Soundwave so cool, though, was that he transformed into a Walkman, complete with lackeys in the form of cassette tape robots that would eject from his chest. You’ll remember Rumble and Ravage and Lasebeak, won’t you? Soundwave is back, updated for the portable digital audio era. You can have your iPod or even your Zune, I’ll take the Decepticon. Featuring MP3 playback, the new Soundwave is fully transformable. Add an SD card with your favorite Stan Bush tunes, you’re all set. We all wanted the toy to actually be able to play music, and now it can. You can pre-order yours today for just shy of $100. Kick ass. Soundwave, 2007 [Big Bad Toy Store] → Read More
The Samsung GX10 is a beefy DSLR from a company well-known for its slim-and-sexy point-and-shoots. While it’s done a consumer DSLRs before, this 10.2-megapixel beast is quite a step up from the previous 6-megapixel version, the GX1S, they sold for about $550 last year. As a burgeoning camera nut, I was excited to see the GX10 entering an already crowded marketplace. Does it have a chance against the EOS and Alphas of the world? Read on to find out. → Read More
http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-3938916002153088312&hl=en I don’t know what the Zune promo folks were thinking, but they put a big Zune car out in front of Max Fish at 3AM, angering more than one infinitely patient New Yorker in the process. Even in a city where it’s common to see people defecating on street corners at 4:45AM — true story! — it’s amazing that something like this didn’t engender a Molotov cocktail to the main subwoofer. Main Page → Read More
Sure, you could buy an upconverting DVD player to play any standard DVD at HD resolutions on your fancy HDTV. After all, they’re only about $100 new, sometimes less, and the upscaling stuff actually looks incredible. But with Sony’s latest Blu-Ray player at only $599, the idea of going truly hi-def for discs is looking good. What’s more, besides being cheaper than Sony’s $1000 previous Blu-Ray player, the new BDP-S300 will also feature CD playback. No, really! Sure, it’s only hi-def is from Blu-Ray discs, which are more expensive than standard DVDs, and the library of compatible titles is limited, but being the first company to price a player at such a low price point is a shot across the bow of HD-DVD. By introducing a player that the average consumer could actually afford (if they wanted to), Sony has finally done something right in its latest format war-of-attrition. Now if it can keep the prices of discs down, and get a few other studios on-board, Sony might actually win this one, something it hasn’t done with a format since the Reagan administration. Sony announces cheaper Blu-ray player [Seattle PI] → Read More
Alright, I’ll admit it. I’m arachnophobic. It’s like my only fear. Well that and germs. But that’s the only other thing. Aside from little people and gingers, though those aren’t so much of phobias as paranoias (there is collusion between the two to overthrow the world’s governments, sending us spiraling into apocalyptic chaos as they rise up [to the height of their tiny statures] to subjugate and enslave us—seriously, I saw it on Fox News). Anyway, getting back to spiders. → Read More
<img src="http://tctechcrunch2011.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/AT&T version, including a 2-Megapixel camera and EDGE. The T-Mo version, however, adds stereo Bluetooth. Unlike the Verizon and Sprint versions, there are no external playback buttons. But those weiners only have a 1.3-Megapixel camera anyway, so whatevs! Want 3G? Not on this phone. That's just as well, though, as T-Mobile's 3G network is still in the incubator, so if you're looking for a long-term fix, this phone might not be it, no matter how hot it is. It's like that girl at the club, she's miss right now, not miss right. Right? Right. Moto KRZR K1 coming to T-Mobile USA! [reaperPC @ proboards] → Read More
Further Update: This deal is now confirmed. Update:TellMe is saying that they have not been acquired by Microsoft, adding only “conversations are happening across the board.” More on this as it develops. Acquisition discussions are clearly occuring. Take TellMe off the IPO list for this year – We have multiple sources saying that Microsoft has acquired the company. We’re trying to find the price now. More details to follow. See our recent coverage of the company here. The company has raised a whopping $239 million in capital over four venture rounds, although the most recent round was back in 2001. The company is both profitable and cash flow positive – two years ago they were generating a reported $100 million plus in revenue. → Read More
Well, not quite. This is the Weemote 3 from SmartHome – a special remote designed for little kids so they don’t go watching scary flicks like Texas Chainsaw Massacre. An adult programs the remote so that kids can only watch approved stations that are safe for your children to view. The remote itself is incredibly kid friendly and only had a few buttons to deal with. It even has the remote codes for your TiVo built-in so your kids can watch Dora The Explorer whenever they want. Though it’s not from Nintendo, it’s still targeted for kids and is guaranteed to put a puzzled look on your friend’s face when you go “Check out my new Weemote!” Keeping your kids away from potty-mouthed programs will only set you back $21.99. SmartHome’s Weemote 3 remote control for kids [Popgadget] → Read More
TiVo has released version 2.4 beta of its desktop software. The new version allows users to transcode non-DRMed video from PC for playback on TiVo. In addition to transcoding capabilities, the new service can broadcast HD photos from PC to TiVO.The service costs $25 for the TiVo Desktop Plus upgrade. Sorry, no Mac version yet. Zatz [via Engadget] → Read More
Samsung has done it again. Samsung SDI, Samsung Display Interface, has outdone Samsung Electronics in creating the worlds thinnest LCD for mobile phones. The newest prototype is only 0.74 millimeters thick where as Samsung Electronics LCD is 0.82 millimeters thick. SDI also has the worlds thinnest OLED, which measures in at a slim 0.6 millimeters. No plans for mass manufacturing just yet. SDI will also be shipping the 1.9 millimeter LCD’s next quarter and they’ll be utilized in the Ultra Edition II. I’m not even sure I’d want a phone that thin, I’m liable to break it within 5 minutes. Samsung Still Has Problems [Korea Times] → Read More
If you’re one of those stern parents worthy of being called a fascist, then allow me to direct your attention to the SnoopStick. This USB device comes imbued with software that allows you to monitor remote systems. Simply plug the SnoopStick into a PC that needs spying and 60 seconds later its compromised and you can snoop on it from anywhere. The software is completely invisible, so basic users probably wouldn’t be able to discover it. To monitor the systems, just plug the SnoopStick into your own system and select the snoop function. It will show logs of all the systems you’ve compromised. Great. Available now for $60. Product Page [via OhGizmo!] → Read More
Seeking Alpha has a long story outlining Yahoo CEO Terry Semel’s failings since his hiring in 2001, and basically calls for his head on a platter. The bottom line: Google has grown its shareholder value 21 times more efficiently than Yahoo during the time Semel has been at the company. Semel supporters point out the Yahoo did buy Overture, keeping them in the game, but others note that Semel had the opportunity to buy Google instead for $3 billion or so in 2002 (Yahoo also didn’t buy YouTube or MySpace when the opportunity came up). The article also mentions Semel’s total compensation over the last 5 years – $550 million. Panama is off to a brisk and surprisingly strong start (more on this in an upcoming post). Forgetting Semel for a moment, it may be the single most important factor keeping Yahoo an independent company in the near term. It also might be the product that allows Semel to keep his job, or at least make a graceful exit later this year. → Read More
Not everyone needs a crazy, feature-rich phone for what they do in life. It seems the Samsung SGH-T219 caters to just that crowd, containing only the essentials needed for a usable cellphone. Aside from the beautiful candy red coloring, the phone has a 64k LCD internal display, a greyscale exterior display, IM, and supports SMS messaging. Yup. That’s it. It can also be used with T-Mobile’s myFaves service should you have enough friends to do so. Oh yeah, it comes in brown too, should you be into that sort of thing. → Read More
This concludes the submission phase of our Steelcase Worst Workspace Challenge. I’d like to thank everyone who participated. Over the next day we’re going to pour through the entries and select the best three. Tomorrow morning we’ll put the best three up for a vote that will run until Wed. afternoon. Everyone head over to Steelcase and iFrogz thank them for contributing such great prizes. EDIT: We’re going to start the voting tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. → Read More
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