Yahoo Brickhouse, a new semi-autonomous business unit to foster new product development, is yet to be formally launched. They’ve been busy, though. Yahoo Pipes, which launched on February 7, is a Brickhouse project. Tomorrow they’ll announce that Salim Ismail, a non-Yahoo entrepreneur, has been hired to run Brickhouse. He takes the operational reigns from (Flickr co-founder) Caterina Fake, who will continue to lead strategy and vision at Brickhouse (see her post here). Ismail’s most recent startup, Confabb, just announced the hiring of a new CEO, David Dell. Ismail remains at Confabb in the Chairman role. As to recent rumors that Confabb is being acquired, Ismail says that the company is currently talking to venture capitalists about a round of financing, as well as exploring other strategic alternatives. He says Confabb is doing well, noting that they are starting to get traction with paying customers and will be powering a “major political conference” later this year. I had a chance to talk with Ismail about Brickhouse this evening. There’s little available information about the project (see this recent Business Week article). Ismail says the purpose of Brickhouse is to foster innovation in a startup-like environment. Brickhouse is located in San Francisco, far from Yahoo’s Sunnyvale headquarters. Project ideas will come from inside Yahoo – Ismail says Yahoo’s numerous Hack Days have generated hundreds of ideas for new products, with additional ideas coming directly from Yahoo staff. Brickhouse will tackle the most promising ideas, and plans to release 4-6 new products in the coming year. Brickhouse employees will be recruited mostly from inside Yahoo, who may take a sabbatical from their normal jobs to work on a project. Ismail told me that Brickhouse will also hire from outside of Yahoo as necessary. They are also putting a bonus system in place that will reward employees for successful projects in a similar manner as if they were at a true startup with venture financing. Ismail will report to Bradley Horowitz, Yahoo’s VP of Product Strategy. Congratulations to Yahoo for hiring a seasoned entrepreneur to run Brickhouse. Bringing in new blood to stir things up is exactly what they need, and I’m looking forward to seeing the new Brickhouse projects in the near future. Pipes is an excellent start. → Read More
Those familiar with Paris-based RadioBlogClub were greeted with a service outage this morning. You may remember it from the comments in our coverage of the web iPod emulator, Blogmusik, which is also down. The music streaming service’s traffic has busted the seams of their old web server and they’re moving on to a beefier one. It’s easy to see why. A quick glance at the Alexa stats shows them in Pandora’s ballpark. While the original intent of the site is to provide easy song streaming embeds for music bloggers, I have a feeling RadioBlogClub is so popular because it’s also an easy way to get free music. The service works by acting as a hub, linking the music stored on various members websites (kind of like the inverse of HypeMachine). Bloggers feed the site links to their music by running their songs through a converter before uploading them to their site. The converter changes MP3s to the site’s RBS format and registers the songs with their database. All the songs registered on the site can be played individually or in user generated playlists on the main site or in embedded widgets like the one below. http://stat.radioblogclub.com/radio.blog/skins/mini/player.swf While the site streams and doesn’t explicitly promote downloading, sites have already popped up to enable them. This is the same lesson YouTube learned when we released our own YouTube movie downloader and got slapped with a take down notice. It hits home on the same content control problems we’ve ranted about before. Any content streamed to your system can be captured and DRM systems have a bad habit of getting cracked. Bill Gates is understandably dissatisfied with the state of DRM and Steve Jobs publicly called for the its death. The music (TV/Movie) industry needs a new revenue model fast (not a music tax). We like Amie Street’s model so far, especially their free Barenaked Ladies album. TechCrunch France broke the story. UPDATE: Ouriel Ohayon of TCF reported RadioBlogClub has been forced to move their hosting provider (currently OVH) under pressure of the French version of the RIAA, called SACEM. → Read More
Google just announced integration of their instant messaging service, Google Talk, with Google IG, their personalized home page. The flash-based widget plugs into your Google Personal Home Page as an integrated buddy list and IM window. The new widget can be added to your page here. Google IG is still only 1/7th or so the size of Yahoo’s competing product according to worldwide Comscore numbers. But Google’s integration with it’s own widget platform puts it ahead of the personal page giant Yahoo, which hasn’t integrated with it’s own konfabulator widget platform. Yahoo widgets have also been tough for others to wrangle. Netvibes’ Universal Widget API won’t include the platform in its first iteration. The widget isn’t just a copy of the Gmail version, it also has some of its own cool new features. Compared to popup message windows in the Gmail version, the widget’s conversations open up tabs instead. The new widget will also will also intelligently parse Picassa and YouTube links, displaying the content embedded right in the conversation. Here’s Google’s run-through of the new functionality. → Read More
Although it looks like a pool toy, this is indeed a theoretical keyboard with a Zune dock. It’s also got two USB ports on the back to save you even more precious on-PC ports. It’s even in white to match your white Zune. No word on if this comes in black or Zunebrown, but we’re guessing no. Besides the Zune connection, this media keyboard has specialized keys for your media apps, including control of the Zune itself. Neat idea. Otherwise, we have nothing to tell you about this bright, white QWERTY typer. Razer Zune Docking Keyboard? [Coolest Gadgets] → Read More
Peep this for a blast from the past. This video totally sums up my childhood. The only intro’s missing are Voltron, Thundercats and TMNT. Enjoy… you deserve it! → Read More
The first entry in our Laptop Horror Stories contest. I had an RDI laptop for doing enterprise software demos at customer sites. The laptop was a SPARC Solaris workstation (only slightly smaller) that ran on 4 rechargeable D-cell batteries taped together (lasted 20 minutes on a charge if it was new). The system was the size of today’s big media-center laptops, so not fun to travel with. Most of us left the battery at home. So during a fabulous onsite demo, the laptop started smoking heavily and a single flame shot out of the empty battery bay. I quickly unplugged the laptop and said, “And that concludes my demo of our software, which I assure you doesn’t use very much CPU”. → Read More
That draft-N/pre-N 802.11n WiFi router you just picked up is now one step closer to being all officialize, the current draft has passed the working group’s needed 75% margin of the vote with room to spare. That means that if you’ve been on the edge about upgrading to the latest, fastest, mostest rangiest WiFi standard because it’s not, like, standard, you need wait no more. If you already have your N router, it’s all good for you, too, as the final passing draft is the draft that’s been in retail boxes for a couple of months now, meaning this is good news for everyone. Yay, IEEE! 802.11n gets thumbs up from working group [Ars Technica, via Jason Chen's Gizmodo] → Read More
Hitachi and LG join forces to bring us the GGW-H10N, the world’s first! PC drive that can read both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. (Who could forget the first player that could read both Blu-ray and HD DVD, the Super Mulit Blue Mega FunTime Happy Player that LG unveiled at CES in Janurary?) It can read and write CDs, single layer DVDs and Blu-ray discs, filling up an entire, single layer Blu-ray disc in 24 minutes or so. Hitach and LG will make the GGW-H10N available to OEMs, its partners, etc. this May. (They don’t sell directly to consumers, you see.) It’s expected to go for around $1,200 to OEMs… who knows how much you’ll actually end up paying for this SATA wunderdrive. Hitachi-LG to Show Blu-ray/HD-DVD PC Drive [Digital Trends] → Read More
When Viacom announced that it was going to sue YouTube and Google, plenty of folks on the Web did that whole, “you’ll never beat YouTube, YouTube forever, etc” schtick. Turns out these silly geese may have a point. → Read More
In HS, one of my buddies decided to put an 18-inch subwoofer in the back of his Civic coupe. It was the most ridiculous thing ever, but damn it was cool to get such a big-ass sub in the trunk. Sitting in the backseat caused me to get nauseous whenever the stereo was turned up. It was very uncomfortable. I imagine the subwoofer chair has the complete opposite effect. My suspicions also lead me to believe that females will LOVE this chair – if you know what I mean. It’s a great concept and I’m sure the calcium carbonate poly-coned woofer does a great job with the beats. I think it’ll just give us guys hemorrhoids. Product Page [via Born Rich] → Read More
If there is any one single country that understands addiction to the internet it’s South Korea. Every visit to SK ends up with me watching my cousin play WoW for a few hours in the PC방. We’ll get home to my aunt yelling at him for spending so much time playing video games. The addiction needs to stop, not only in SK, but everywhere around the world. → Read More
Click To Play I think I’d rather fight the MPAA and RIAA than piss off the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They’ve absolutely destroyed Michael Crook, the man who placed a fake Craigslist sex ad and then published as many personal details as possible about the people who responded. Crook got the attention he wanted, including a spot on Fox News. A number of websites posted an image of Crook from that Fox news spot, and Crook responded by sending out fake DMCA takedown notices. The EFF sued Crook on behalf of one of the sites to receive the notice, 10zenmonkeys. Crook settled the case, and was required to record this video apology. He is also being required to take a copyright law course. Crook is clearly a loser, has destroyed the lives of many people who responded to his bogus Craigslist ad, and deserves this kind of humiliation. But it also seems to me that the EFF may be getting a tad over zealous in its desire to defend our right to violate copyright and other intellectual property laws, and needs to take a step back and consider if the oppressed are now becoming the oppressor. In requiring the creation of this video, it seems to me that they’re lowering themselves to the same level as Crook. The guy has been completely humiliated in public now, which makes for great content, but the EFF needs to be careful in how far they go. Defending individuals against huge multi-corporation entities is one thing. Destroying human dignity is something else. → Read More
Though it looks less like a dashboard gadget holder and more like a Japanese pervert’s honeymoon bed, the Dashboard Gadget Holder appears as if it will do what it’s supposed to, holding your gear within easy reach, yet keeping it from flying everywhere. As a guy who handles many gadgets at the same time while driving (iPod, Treo, Supermodel), I find the idea of letting these fingers do (most) of my dirty work enticing. Sadly, it’s a standard option of some Renault models that don’t sell in America, but I’m sure some enterprising young iPod accessory maker will come up with a suitable substitute. (Looking at you, Belkin.) Dashboard Gadget Holder Makes ‘Em Cool Not to Use [MobileMag] → Read More
I’ve been hitting the Apple store every few days looking to see when my Apple TV is shipping. However, I never thought to check my credit card statement. A blogger checked his and saw that Apple charged his account for the AppleTV which, if the Apple store is to believed, means stuff is going out the door as we speak. It doesn’t look like its shipping according to my account screen at Store.Apple.Com, but who knows. Soon I’ll be able to watch all kinds of goodies on my big old TV. tv Is NOW Shipping [GWhiz] → Read More
This is filed under WTF for a good reason. Why would you want to spend $9.99 on this? I can understand wanting a privacy screen on your work PC or laptop, but your 5G iPod? The screen is only 2.5-inches! I suppose it’s an added bonus for being a screen protector. Alright, I’d probably get one because I hate people looking over my shoulder when watching stuff on my iPod. Product Page [via Gadgets Town] → Read More
Hot on the tail of Slacker comes another social music service, MyStrands Mobile. This S60 application offers music discovery as well as music sharing and builds on a library of 6 million tracks. You and your friends can share your current playlists and collects your playback history on your own MyStrands page. Read the rest on MobileCrunch… → Read More
If you missed seeing JVC at CES you probably weren’t alone. That’s because the company typically does their own thing off the show floor. So every year they invite the press out to see their offerings during the company’s annual dealer showcase. Among the products that might have been lost in the mix in Vegas were their new sleek home audio products, which now feature connectivity for the iPod, as well as XM Satellite Radio readiness. The line up includes the soon to be released UX-EP100 ($149.95), an ultra compact two-channel desktop music system with CD/MP3/WMA playback and the MX-KC58 ($199.95), a 400-watt mini system that is XM-ready. Both systems include an iPod connection for control and charger of the player, and both will be out in April. But the showcase at the event was the UX-EP300 (pictured), which will debut this fall for $249.95. This 2.1 channel DVD theater system features 3D phonic front sound technology to convincingly simulate surround sound. It features a USB host, allowing playback of files directly from a flash audio player or flash memory drive, with WMA, MP3 and WAV files. Finally a feature that people might actually use. → Read More
Microsoft announced the acquisition of Tellme this morning, confirming the two week old rumors. The Price, previously rumored in the $800 million range, is undisclosed. The WSJ says “up to $800 million” and Gigaom is saying “over $800 million but below a billion dollars.” My bet is that GigaOm has the better information. The core Tellme executive team is staying on board. → Read More
Samsung just showed off three new HDTV models in London on the eve of CeBIT. The Tulip line of LCDs comes in 37-, 40-, 46- and 52-inch sizes and fully supports 1080p. They’ll be the successor to the Bordeaux line that tore up the LCD charts last year. The Tulips all have three HDMI ports (two in the back, one on the side), while the three largest ones also feature a 15,000:1 contrast ratio and what Samsung calls MoviePlus technology. Hooray for the complete lack of explanation of what that does! There’s also a 9-in-1 memory card reader. On the plasma front, Samsung’s got the Q, available in 46- and 50-inch sizes. Same deal here: three HDMIs, MoviePlus, memory card reader and 15,000:1 contrast ratio. Hopefully we’ll get better shots and U.S. release date and pricing info in the days to come. Samsung M87, R87, Q97 televisions announced [Pocket-lint.co.uk] → Read More
NBC Universal has announced they will be providing on-demand mobile TV content in conjunction with MobiTV for the US market. Primetime NBC shows like The Office and Heroes will soon be available on your mobile phone. A slew of other NBCU channels, including USA, Bravo, SCI FI, Telemundo and mun2, will offer ad-supported programming. MobiTV will also have several ad-supported on demand shows for free including Friday Night Lights. Service will be $1.99 per primetime show for a 24 hour viewing period. No word on who the provider will be, but service is expected to hit the ground running sometime in Q2. My prayers have been answered: Hayden Panettiere on my phone whenever I want. MobiTV Press Release [via Reuters] → Read More
