Facebook strategists clearly see the potential for growth in the mobile sector, seeing as 13% of their users log in from their phones. To some that number would have the appearance of success, but Facebook sees nowhere to go but up.
They’ve begun talks with pretty much everyone in the business, and are hoping to bring more Facebook to more handsets, including Palm’s much-anticipated Pre and hopefully a whole bunch of Nokias. → Read More
The open-source, Novell-sponsored Mono Project released Moonlight 1.0, which allows Linux desktop users to access Microsoft Silverlight content. Novell’s Moonlight also allows Linux users to access Windows multimedia content, including Windows Media Video, Windows Media Audio and MP3 files (all supported through the Microsoft Media Pack). This is one of Microsoft’s first real commitments in participating and supporting an open-source extension of one of their products. Moonlight 1.0 is based on Silverlight 1.0 with Moonlight 2.0 (compatible with Silverlight 2) set to be rolled out later this year. → Read More
Honda’s ASIMO has conducted an orchestra and even served cocktails. Now Honda has added a 360° look at the technology in ASIMO that lets him do all of that. You can see it here. → Read More
This is almost too good to be true. The Associated Press has uncovered the details of the Facebook/ConnectU settlement using, of all things, copy and paste. After taking drastic preventative measures to keep the settlement confidential, including barring reporters from the courtroom and redacting portions of the documents, Facebook has been foiled by the most laughable lull in security I’ve heard of:
Large portions of that hearing are redacted in a transcript of the June hearing, but The Associated Press was able to read the blacked-out portions by copying from an electronic version of the document and pasting the results into another document.
Read that again. Just, wow.
Now for the juicy details:
The document reveals that Facebook’s internal valuation of the company is $3.7 billion, or $8.88 per share – far less than the $15 billion implied valuation established by the Microsoft investment in 2007 (though this comes as no surprise, as a value around $4 billion has been rumored for months). → Read More
Doug Aamoth reporting from Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. Today in the B terminal I saw some good-looking New England Patriots cheerleaders, a good-looking Maria Menounos, and then everything went all haywire when two guys in bumblebee tutus showed up followed by Richard Branson dressed like a patriotic psychiatrist’s wet dream. → Read More
Despite some early worries, bad press, and several crashed prototypes, it looks like Tesla isn’t going to go down in flames, zeppelin-like, a warning to those who would challenge big oil. No, actually it seems they may turn a profit by midyear, and they say they’re selling the $100K Roadster as fast as they can make them. → Read More
If you were holding your breath until MWC to see if Samsung would drop its promised Android-based phone, you can exhale. It seems that the Samdroid will have to wait, as they’re still in negotiations with carriers and no hardware has been put forth. Shucks! It’s bad news for Samsung lovers, but there’s still a chance that HTC will give us a glimpse of the G2 (not this thing, which is totally fake). Hey, I like my G1, but believe me I’d be down like a clown if they put out something sexier. → Read More
Now this is what the Power Glove should have been like. It’s obviously not actually the game being played on an NES but the assets have been put into some freaky emulator.
Head on through for the video, complete with strange music. → Read More
It was only a few days ago that the world was spinning extra fast on its axis with the news that scientists had developed these super-duper LED light bulbs. The light bulbs are supposed to last extra long, at around 100,000 hours. But what does that even mean? It turns out, since the filed of LED light bulbs is so new no one can say for sure what those 100,000 hours represent. → Read More
Next time your spouse (or other nosy family member) tries to convince you that you’re wasting your time playing World of Warcraft, simply tell them that you’re training to be a better citizen. That’s what a university professor’s research suggests, at least. And if this research is good enough for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then it’s good enough for us. → Read More
Diddit, a new site launching today to the public, is looking to help you check off all the things you’ve done with your life, and discover new things that you’d like to do. The site allows users to browse through thousands of activities in categories ranging from the bars you’ve visited to “Bizarre Retro Candies” you’ve eaten at one time or another. To coincide with the launch, Ludic Labs, the company behind Diddt, has also announced that it has closed a $5 million funding round led by Accel Partners with KPG Ventures also participating.
At first glance, the site seems a little pointless – I don’t particularly care if my friends know that I’ve eaten Pop Rocks during my lifetime or that I’ve visited AT&T park (though I should note that I had similar thoughts when I first discovered Twitter). But after exploring the site a little more thoroughly, I can see why it might become very addictive.
For one, it’s a great place to look if you’re trying to think of things to do during a day trip or a night out on the town. Interested in California’s Gold Rush? Check out the list of historic museums, parks, and landmarks that focus on just that. Want to experience Polynesian culture in the San Francisco Bay Area? They’ve got a list for that too. → Read More
Valve is continuing is grand tradition of releasing quality content for free by giving away the Survival Pack, an expansion of everybody’s favorite zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead. This in addition to the upcoming Scout Pack for Team Fortress 2, again for free.
This is how it should be done, people, although I’m not sure how Valve can afford it. More deets inside. → Read More
Wanted to buy a Peek for your sweetie, but didn’t want to shell out $80 for one? Well, you’re in luck. Peek is running a deal from their website where you can get one of their email devices for $49.97 when you also buy a month of service. → Read More
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Looks like Sprint just updated their site with the Palm Pre’s specs. This news alone isn’t anything special as the specs have been available for quite some time, but we now know a few details about the Pre’s internal storage and some service details. Does this mean the Pre is coming soon or did Sprint and Palm just finalize some details? → Read More
Blockbusters Video’s mail rental program is about to get a shred of awesomeness in the form of game rentals. The program will slowly be rolled out starting with a pilot program with select subscribers. You know what this could mean though right? There will finally be a reason to subscribe to Blockbuster instead of Netflix. That is, of course, if the price is right and the game selection sufficient. → Read More
Look at this monster. This is a Breguet Transatlantique XX, one of the most accessible of watches in the house (the steel version goes for about $6,000 on a good day) but they’ve essentially destroyed it by making it out of gold with a white gold clasp. My initial impression after seeing the PR shots was “Huh, this is OK.” Then I saw the video after the jump. ABlogtoRead takes the video itself apart for sounding more like a 6th grade Sex Ed filmstrip than a sales video, but by gar if I hate the gold on this. → Read More
Ok, there are lots of cool applications associated with Twitter but one of the coolest I have ever seen is the new one out from Walter Higgins at Sxoop Technologies, makers of the excellent Pixenate imaging app. How about custom-made T-Shirts which print out a mosaic of images of your Twitter followers or friends? Or even a mug? Or even a shopping bag! It really doesn’t get more zeitgeisty than that. Enjoy. → Read More
It’s a sad day for Linux gamers. Well, at least for Linux gamers who like to play incredibly complex and complicated space simulations. CCP games (creators of EVE) announced via a developers blog post recently that while they are continuing to offer support for the Mac platform, they are discontinuing development on the Linux side. → Read More
The folks at Penguin United were generous enough to donate a couple PU 24X DS Gaming Pouches for us to give away. As my collection of DS games continues to grow by the day I’ve been running out of places to store them, so these pouches couldn’t have come at a better time. They store up to 24 games in transparent sleeves that remind me of the ones I used to store my Marvel Universe cards in and the faux leather cover adds a bit of class and mystery.
So, how can you win one of the two pouches we have to give away? Read on, friend, read on. → Read More
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