Appbistro launched at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference what can best be referred to as an application marketplace for Facebook Pages.
Using the Web-based service, Facebook Page administrators, be it global brands or small local businesses, can quickly discover relevant applications that they can (and should) swiftly integrate into their Facebook presence(s). → Read More
The BlackBerry 9800 Slider.. leaked? Preposterous! I can’t imagine such a thing happening. Except for that one time. Or that other time. Or any of those other times. And now, the leak to end all 9800 slider leaks: a video walk through of the handset, including BlackBerry OS 6.0. → Read More
Audioo bills itself as the “Blippy for Voicemail”. As you’re probably aware, Blippy lets users share information that’s considered to be really private by most people (credit card transactions) with others – and sometimes, much more than just transactions.
Audioo basically lets you do the same thing, but with voice mails. → Read More
The Audi A8 is already a nerd’s wet dream with more gadgets and technology than any baby boomer can handle. But Audi wasn’t done with the available option lists, though. Now buyers can order an HSDPA hotspot modem directly from the factory. Unlike other options — like Autonet — this system is polished and seemingly beautifully integrated into the vehicle. This is the future. → Read More
Betterment, a new startup that is launching today at TechCrunch Disrupt, is looking to become the “replacement for your savings account” — it earns you more money than a standard savings account while offering more flexibility than you’d get from higher yield accounts. And, unlike most financial services, Betterment is designed so that anyone can use it, regardless of their knowledge about the market and financial products.
The site has established two portfolios, one of which consists of numerous stocks and another of ‘ultra-safe’ bonds. After linking your bank account with the service you use a slider to adjust how much risk you want to take, which determines how much money is allocated into each portfolio. → Read More
There’s a handy option in the DirecTV menu guide for “HDTV Channels.” On the rare occasion when I’m actually sitting in front of the TV looking to “channel surf” (more like “menu surf” nowadays), it’s only “HDTV channels” I’m concerned with. Nearly halfway through 2010, it has come to the point where, unless I absolutely have no other choice, I simply won’t watch a network unless the program is in HD. Has it come really come to that? That, unless a show is in HD, you’ll simply skip it? → Read More
Today at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York City the Startup Battlefield got off to a quick start. Ujam, a service which lets you take any melody in your head and turn it into an actual piece of music with a few mouse clicks wowed the crowd. But they used a professional singer for their demo. So what better way to prove the product than to get one of the Battlefield judges to sing? That’s exactly what Chris Sacca did.
Sacca sang “It Had To Be You” with no musical backing. A few clicks later, Ujam added a few layers for an amazing result. You’ll definitely want to see this video (taken by Robert Scoble) below: → Read More
Back at CTIA 2010, Motorola announced the world’s first rugged Android handset with iDEN push-to-talk functionality: the i1. At launch, Motorola was only willing to spill the beans on one carrier who’d be getting the handset: Sprint.
We just unearthed some pretty irrefutable proof that someone else will be getting the i1: Boost Mobile. Yep — say hello to the first pre-paid Android handset in the US. → Read More
It’s a TV with Street Fighter IV branding. Just what the world needs. [ChipChick] → Read More
They say a car loses half its value the minute you drive it off the lot. The same can often seem true of a brand new computer — after that lightning-quick first boot or two, PCs have the nasty habit of gradually bogging down until that new quad core processor doesn’t seem much faster than the last one you had. Enter TC Disrupt finalist Soluto, a startup that’s looking to help restore your computer to its former glory. And better yet, it’s going to hold those bloated, CPU hogging applications accountable.
Soluto has developed software that monitors your PC for things that are likely to annoy users — printing problems, crashy apps, resource hogs, and those frustrating applications that randomly cause your mouse to become useless for a few seconds at a time → Read More
A few years ago, Terry Jones sold his Barcelona apartment so that he could single-mindedly pursue a rather radical idea. What if a database worked like Wikipedia—it was not only readable by everybody, but also writeable by everybody?
The problem with databases today is that they are silos of data. Even the databases on the Web are separated from one another and must speak to each other through highly-defined APIs. While most developers equate the flowering of machine-to-machine APIs with the open Web, Jones sees them as controlling. So Jones created a new kind of database called FluidDB (and a company, FluidInfo) with a much more flexible database language which can essentially create database mashups and allow developers to pull data together in unanticipated ways. → Read More
Do you like computer mice? Do you like ambidexterity? Do you like looking at renderings of concept products that are not yet real? Today, my friend, is your lucky day. Gaze upon the Nink wireless optical mouse. Imagine the feel of that corrugated shell under either your right or your left palm. Visualize the sensation of using either index finger to tenderly scroll that wheel up and down, up and down. You can almost feel the mild resistance as the Nink lovingly caresses your desk, gliding back and forth at your slightest bidding… → Read More
Ever dreamt of staying in a world-class, five-star hotel at rates that would be more appropriate for your local inn? Off & Away, a new site that’s launching at TechCrunch Disrupt, may be exactly what you’re looking for — assuming you’re not afraid of a little risk. If you’ve ever tried ‘entertainment shopping’ sites like Swoopo, then Off & Away should sound familiar.
When you visit the site, you’ll see a listing of upscale hotel rooms at rock-bottom prices. Click on one, and you’ll see that the price is actually slowly increasing — that’s because Off & Away auctions off each reservation, and other people are bidding for the same room. To participate you need to buy bids (they’re a dollar apiece); then you can bid as many times as you’d like until time runs out. Once that happens one user will walk away with the cheap hotel price. → Read More
Google didn’t invent giving stuff away. Oprah did that. Google just made — or at least greatly popularized — the trend of companies giving their latest and greatest handsets to all the attendees of the developer events in hopes of spiking their interest. The latest company to pull a Google: Samsung. At a Developer Day in South Africa, the company just passed out Bada Wavesto everyone around. They also revealed a number of new details — some good, some.. not so good. → Read More
According to the latest issue of GamePro, Killzone 3 will be fully in 3D, at least if you have the hertz for it. Props to them for taking the bull by the horns; let’s hope it’s less of a sham than that last Killzone media frenzy. I’ve heard it said that games are the only worthwhile application for 3D — that’s a statement that I don’t agree with, but perhaps Killzone 3 may be a good example of just how good 3D can be. → Read More
We all have them: those brief, spontaneous little melodies that pop into the back of our heads, undoubtedly destined for greatness if only we had an ounce of musical talent or a five piece band at our disposal. Well, now you wannabe-maestros have your chance. UJAM is a new startup making its debut today at TechCrunch Disrupt that can turn your humming, whistling, kazoo-playing or not-so-in-tune vocals into something people might actually want to listen to. And it’s really, really cool.
There’s plenty of advanced technology working in the background, but to the user, the site really seems like magic. Whistle a few notes of ‘Ode to Joy’, and in seconds you’ll hear your tune played back by a grand piano. Or an electric guitar. Or a full orchestra, complete with sweeping crescendos that somehow fit your tune perfectly. You can swap between these options in a few clicks, tweaking the results until they suit your fancy. If you happen to sing a few notes out of key, UJam will fix them for you. And if you play an instrument (or at least, try to), you can also use this to quickly turn your one-man show into a full band. → Read More
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is joining Khosla Ventures, the VC firm. He will join as a senior adviser. Khosla is putting about $1.1 billion into clean technology companies and and tech companies right now.
One of the companies is Calera, a UK company which has a process to sequestrate carbon emissions in cement, while another, Kior, turns wood chips into biofuels.
Mr Blair said: “I am increasingly and crucially aware of the fact that the answer to these twin challenges — climate change and energy security — lies in developing the technological solutions of the future.”
It’s clearly a win for Khosla which will now get access to his significant global network. → Read More
Today at TechCrunch Disrupt, Michael Arrington is sitting down with MySpace’s co-Presidents Jason Hirschhorn and Mike Jones to talk about the status of the evolving site and what it will look like in the future. My notes on the talk are below.
Mike: MySpace is in such a transformative stage it’s important for everyone to question it. We have 120 million unique visitors worldwide. US numbers have been fairly flat. Page views are down… substantially by design. MySpace used to have processes that took 10 page views that should have taken 1. → Read More
It looks like Kindle firmware 2.5 is trickling out to certain Kindle DX owners right this very second. This ought to mean that the update will hit a Kindle near you rather shortly. → Read More
Oh rapture! GPS 800G watch phone is here and it’s ready to rumble! This phone has GPRS tracking, an SOS button, and can record how fast you’re moving, allowing alerts to be sent to scared and frightened parents. But don’t take my word on it:
1.SMS & GPRS Tracking: Capable of text message (SMS) tracking & internet (GPRS) tracking 2. A SOS button for emergency help. 3. Have Timing & Positioning function , it can search the signal of GPS automatically ,then set the time according the time of satellites to choose the different time of every country . 4. It can store three alarm phone number . you can press any one alarm number button to get help actively…
