. Poor San Francisco, who expected some tasty wi-fi from Earthlink later this year, is now left to fend for itself. Mayor Newsom says that the plan is still going head with public money and that Earthlink will not spoil the plans to roll out wireless throughout the city. → Read More
Fairy tales and magic, old man! JJ at Gadgets.BoingBoing.Net.Org has some damn good taste. What do you see here? Drifting. Dinosaurs. Fake beards. Arch-rivals. Dinosaurs. Great for a pre-long-weekend Thursday. Video: In Inassailable Awesomeness of Overdrift [Gadgets.BoingBoing] → Read More
Microsoft employees and even executives are very active on Facebook – over 13,000 of them have a profile on the service. By comparison, Google has 5,000 employees with profiles, although Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt are noticeably absent (Marissa Mayer does have a profile, however, and actively adds friends). Yahoo has just 3,500 employee profiles, and none of the most senior execs participate. On a percentage of employees basis, Google (47% of employees are on Facebook) and Yahoo (31%) are more active than Microsoft (17%). But the most senior people at Microsoft, including Bill Gates (Chairman), Steve Ballmer (CEO), Ray Ozzie (Chief Software Architect), all have profiles and appear to be very active on the service. Ray Ozzie has dozens of friends and is actively trying out different Facebook applications. In the last couple of days, he added and then removed a search app, for example. Bill Gates may be taking an even deeper dive. In addition to having a Facebook profile, he also maintains a profile on HotOrNot that can be viewed on Facebook (HotOrNot confirmed that this is the real Bill Gates). Since it’s unlikely that Bill, Steve and Ray have a lot of leisure time for social networking and online dating, I wonder why they’re spending all this time on the site? The two companies have a long term advertising deal, of course. But the success (or not) of that deal has little to do with Microsoft execs spending time on the site. It looks to me like they are genuinely testing the service, perhaps in the hope of making an aggressive acquisition move, or trying to emulate Facebook’s success. → Read More
Advanced Sound Devices is putting out one of the most hilarious speakers we’ve ever seen — a vintage-looking miniature wood and plastic jukebox with an iPod dock built-in. (It looks like some sort of freakish shrine to the GodPod/JesusPhone.) The Retro Tune Mini Jukebox can wake you up to music from your iPod or iPhone, CD player, or FM radio, and you can trip out to the rotating light column. The three speakers (two mains and a sub) pump out 40 watts worth of 2.1-channel audio. It measures 12″W x 9.5″D x 18″H and comes with a remote control. No word on pricing or availability yet, but it may finally be time to replace your old Wurlitzer with something for the digital age. Or not. Product page [via I4U News] → Read More
The Lumix DMC-L10 looks like it fits solidly in the mid-range DSLR market, a bit above the Rebel. At $1,300, it comes complete with 14-50mm LEICA lens, image stabilzation, and a 2.5-inch live LCD for looking at your friends an neighbors on screen instead of through the range finder. It should be available here in October but for now we can drool over multiple scene modes and face detection. Hotness, right? Full release post jump. → Read More
OhMyGod, it is real! Remember that Pacemaker pocket DJ thing that I raved (get it?) about a few months back? For whatever reason, Digital-Lifestyles played with the units for a little bit and have officially made me jealous. Check out the videos and drool with me. → Read More
It is hard to believe that this coming weekend is Labor Day. Next week kids (who aren’t already unlucky enough to be back in school) head back to the classroom. So it is a happy time for parents around the country. For those of us who never really grew up however, the end of summer is a bittersweet time. The days of fun in the sun are winding down, but this just means more time to load up with the latest games. Fall continues to be the time when the major companies roll out their heavy shooters (and some of the biggest games this season will in fact be first-person shooters). Here is a look at a few of those upcoming games for the fall. → Read More
AdMonitor, a Google Maps mashup from mobile ad serving company AdMob, provides real time data on who is viewing mobile ads worldwide, including the network they are on and the phone they are using. San Mateo based AdMob has seemingly slipped under the radar in terms of attention whilst competitors have been acquired; Third Screen Media was acquired bought by AOL and Screentonic was acquired by Microsoft. And yet this is a company with some great stats and backing. AdMob is now serving 1 billion mobile ads a month and has amongst its investors Sequoia and Accel Partners. Director Maynard Web was COO for eBay between 2002 and 2006 and staff include Tony Nethercutt, the former VP of Sales for YouTube and Kevin Scott, a former senior engineering manager for Google. The AdMonitor mashup provides an accessible way of seeing just how many ads AdMob is serving. Notably, Nokia would still appear to remain the world most popular provider of mobile phones. AdMob clients include ESPN and CBS. → Read More
Driving a Mercedes-Benz is a wonderful luxury, but Google and Yahoo! want to make your driving experience even easier. Now when you visit either Google or Yahoo! Maps, you’ll be able to send customized maps or directions to your vehicle by clicking the “Send to Car” option. A godsend for bad drivers? Absolutely. When you get into your SL500 or E320, hit the “I” button in your car to download the personalized maps and data to your car’s computer. It gets better though. Other people can send you maps while you’re driving, meaning if you need your wife or someone to send you directions to the restaurant you’re meeting at, she can do it from her laptop or home PC. Dubbed “Search and Send”, this technology is going to be a key selling point in future Mercedes models for sure. I wonder if I can send a route that shows all the available strip clubs on my trip… Google, Yahoo to direct your Mercedes [cNet] → Read More
I’ve been dealing with some tagging issues this morning – the new version of Ultimate Tag Warrior blew our MySQL server through the back door and out into the yard. I’m using simple-tagging now but if anyone knows of something better, let me know. → Read More
I hate dealing with waiters and waitresses, what with their stupid stares and demanding of tips. That’s why I’m thrilled to have read about a German restaurant that has replaced its human waitstaff with technology. Yup, no more wannabe actors and actresses, just the cold, unforgiving nature of automatic ordering and table service. The restaurant’s owner says that billions of euros could be saved each year in not having to pay for a waitstaff. Video clip inside… → Read More
MySpace has put the axe to yet another startup. Last night they made a call threatening legal action against freshly launched TellThem.mobi, a service that lets you message all your friends from your mobile phone. TellThem’s site simply reads: “On Wednesday August 29th, 2007, we got a call from MySpace threatning to take legal action if we didn’t take the website down. Apparently it violates their terms of service…. switch to Facebook.” Switch to Facebook indeed. TellThem is only one in a long line of startups getting bullied by MySpace. Previously they killed DatingAnyone, SingleStatus, copied RealEditor, stalled all widgets, and played chicken with PhotoBucket. I’m surprised this continues to happen when MySpace is trying to embrace developers through a developer platform. Overzealous legal stiff-arming is only contributing to the brain drain around growing MySpace and driving developers to greener pastures. TellThem plans to move on to Bebo as well. Thanks for the tip Marshall. Update: MySpace’s complaint centered around TellThem serving as a proxy for logging into people’s MySpace accounts. The concern is that services like this could be phishing sites collecting credentials for malicious use. Jason Cox, of TellThem said collecting the credentials was necessary because there is no API for accessing the messaging functionality they use. This was not the case for Jason’s last MySpace related startup, BuddyWave. The Director of Mobile operations has already emailed TellThem and asked them to develop for Facebook. → Read More
So you’ve got some swell photos of your trip to the Hamptons and don’t want to be bothered hitting buttons or clicking a mouse to show them off? Perhaps you’d be interested in checking out the Kodak Easyshare HD Dock, which essentially allows you to dock your memory card or Kodak camera and process your pictures via a remote. You can then output your photos in HD so you can show them off on your sweet REGZA or BRAVIA set. Slideshow, printing, charging battery, etc. is all here, as you’d expect with a dock. It’ll be available in October for $99. Probably only worth buying if you’re Kodak guy or girl. Press Release → Read More
Seedcamp, a European Y Combinator-like seed fund and mentoring program, has announced the final twenty candidates for funding. Next week, five of the twenty startup ideas will be funded, each receiving €50,000 to build out their business. We are one of the media sponsors of the program. In all, 240 applications were received from 40 countries. SeedCamp Finalists Company Location Description ArtFlock.com UK ArtFlock.com aims to be the foremost online destination for the sale and promotion of original art and craft by the worlds’ freshest artists and makers Avenue7 London, UK An online community for 12 – 17 year old girls to share ideas on the latest fashion trends & products, as well as their own personal styles Buildersite London, UK Buildersite is a web-marketplace for construction services. We aim to provide homeowners and tradesmen with the largest and most trusted venue for transacting business online Content Syndicate Dubai, United Arab Emirates Helps content providers and buyers commission, distribute, buy and sell content, that’s exclusive, customised and personalised for their requirements Debatewise London, UK Debatewise will enable people to compare the collective wisdom of one side of a debate with the collective wisdom of their opponents, to help them make up their mind about anything Facecontact Moscow, Russia Facecontact.com is a simple and effective tool for referral tracking and reward administration for referring job candidates, clients, investors and other prospects KillSushi Cadiz, Spain Krogos Software Development Bucharest, Romania Software development boutique Kublax London, UK Online personal finance management service Maple and Leek London, UK A social networking site aimed at inspiring like minded over 50s to build an online community of friends and fellow explorers OpenEra UK Online real estate information systems provider and the developer of the new and exciting Reavia portfolio collaboration service Picolex Paris, France Project Playfair Edinburgh, Scotland Our game is hypernumbers which will do to numbers what hypertext did to text Price Delivered London, UK The place for consumers to discover and share genuine bargains RentMineOnline Amsterdam, Netherlands Trusted online rental market The School of Everything London, UK The place to come to find independent teachers and classes in anything and everything Tablefinder Sweden Tablefinders’ mission is to aggregate the world’s online bookable restaurants through an awarding and open community Tickex London, UK Tickex is a search engine for tickets to live events – concert, theatre and sports. In one search, Tickex aggregates results from → Read More
Somehow I just don’t see the Nintendo Wii-skateboard connection, but Black Market does. Unofficially, that is. This upcoming skateboard deck—I think that’s what you call them; my Tony Hawk days are long gone—looks a hell of a lot like the Wii remote control. It also doesn’t seem to have Nintendo’s blessing, which means we can expect a lawsuit in 4.2 seconds. I don’t know, would riding around on a Wii skateboard add or remove “cred”? To me, gamers and skateboarders seem like opposing cliques. Black Market via Kotaku → Read More
Though Sony has ditched ATRAC and its music store, it doesn’t mean it’s going to stop putting out digital audio players. The ATRAC-less NWZ-A810 and NWZ-S610 are all about supporting AAC, WMA, MP3, AVC, and MP4 formats and support PlaysForSure audio. Both are supposed to get extremely good battery life around the 33 hour mark despite the 1.8-inch QVGA screen being lit up all the time. You can pick up the NWZ-A810 in 2GB for $140, 4GB for $180 and 8GB for $230. The A810 comes in silver, white, pink, or black, depending on how despondent you are. The S610 is the same deal except you should knock off $20 per model. You can pick them up online from Sony today should you not care about Apple’s big announcement September 5th. Press Release → Read More
Over the past three to four years, I’ve always kept an eye on Sony’s MP3 Walkmen players. Though they look cool at times and have some features I’d enjoy (like FM Radio), the fact that they are not OS X-compatible and use the ATRAC file format is what kept myself and possibly you from purchasing one. So it looks like it only took about half a lifetime for Sony to wise up and ditch ATRAC, which it has officially announced today. Also announced today was the shuttering of Sony’s music store, Connect. Not that it was insanely popular, but now all those ATRAC files you downloaded are about as useful as a bunch of rotten bananas when your Walkman breaks. If you peep this particular message from Sony, you’ll see that they really want you off Connect ASAP. Looks like they’ll even tell you how to convert those ATRAC files to MP3 or WMA. You’re a winner. Press Release → Read More
HP hasn’t made anything in ages that’s tickled my fancy, but this new Virtus desktop might do the trick. Aside from the huge, ornate design on the front, it looks like it’ll have plenty of ports, a built-in card reader, lots of cooling, and probably speed to match. Unfortunately, the only information available at this time comes in the form of leaked photos. Sorry! → Read More
During IFA, Daewoo, maker of all things cheap and imported, announced it would be dipping its feet into the waters of the Blu-ray market with its first player, the DBP-1000. Sleek blue looks aside, the player is slim and supports full BD-R specifications. It can access live content, output in 1080p via HDMI, upscale DVDs and photos to full-rez, and can playback DivX files. The DBP-1000 can also playback any burned CD or DVD, as well as burned BD-R and BD-RE discs in case you have friends with a lot of data (or burned movies). All inputs you’d expect are available, including digital sound, and a USB port is included on the front for flash drives. Sounds like an awesome player. As much as I’d love to get my hands on it, Daewoo failed to mention anything about price or availability. Daewoo demos ‘Blu-ray Disc 2.0′ player [Reg Hardware] → Read More
If you are interested in propaganda, you may already be following Propaganda III, a world art tour of the best poster propaganda art there is. The tour accepts entries from all over and doesn’t discriminate as to content. Some exhibits are anti-war, left bent or virally anti-Semitic. The artist can be fascists, communist, or somewhere in between. All entries are based on their merit not content. These fine pieces of art are now available to you on your mobile phone. The Propaganda III Mobile Widget makes political artwork from the World Tour available to mobile devices anywhere in the world, via a mobile content widget that can be added to any website in the world. But be careful, some of the content may be illegal in countries that don’t have strong freedom of speech laws. You don’t want to end up in a political re-education camp! Mobile wallpapers can be downloaded from the Propaganda III Widget for the low price of $1.99. All proceeds go to the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, an institution what will archive the artwork from the Propaganda III tour. Stop wearing your politics on your sleeve. This is the 21st Century. Make a political statement with your mobile phone, comrade. Propaganda III Widget Flickr (to review the art) Center for the Study of Political Graphics → Read More
