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Google Goes Grassroots in FCC Lobbying Push
Call it a digital land rush; a stampede along the broadcast spectrum, the invisible areas of the air where TV signals, phone calls, wireless Web access and emergency alert frequencies roam. Google has its sights on some potentially lucrative tracts of the spectrum, so it's asking YouTube users to help sway the Federal Communications Commission.
Patent Office Casts Shadow on Dell's Claim to 'Cloud Computing'
To the surprise of few, Dell is losing its preliminary approval to trademark the phrase "cloud computing." The Patent and Trademark Office has sent the company a "non-final" refusal of its application to own the term. Dell has six months to submit counter-arguments or the PTO will abandon the application.
Google Tries Milking Mobile YouTube for Ad Money
Search engine giant Google has begun testing video ads on its mobile version of YouTube in the U.S. and Japan. The move is an attempt by the Mountain View, Calif.-based search engine to monetize YouTube's video ad potential. Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion in October 2006.
Metrics Mavens: Vista Gets Dumped From One-Third of New Enterprise PCs
An independent software development company claims to have statistics showing that one out of three new enterprise PCs purchased are running Windows XP, not Windows Vista. The numbers from Devil Mountain Software, based on a study of more than 3,000 machines, found that enterprises are purchasing new machines with Vista pre-installed and downgrading them to Windows XP.
Are Business Methods Patentable?
In recent years, patents have been sought in a wide variety of fields once thought beyond the reaches of the patent laws, including tax strategies, executive compensation schemes, and dispute resolution. On May 8, 2008, the Federal Circuit heard en banc oral argument on In re Bilski, a case that directly raises the patent eligibility of so-called business method patents.
Search Sites Edge Out Portals in Customer Satisfaction
It's rare to see Google command anything less than a large presence in just about any given e-business study these days, and the latest annual American Customer Satisfaction Index from the University of Michigan is no exception: ACSI scores for e-business rose 5.5 percent to 79.3 on ACSI's 100-point scale. That jump can largely be attributed to Google's own 10 percent climb to a score of 86.
SCO's New Approach: Selling a Product
Buoyed by a court ruling and prospects for new mobile phone products, The SCO Group says it is on track for a Phoenix-like rebirth. The company believes those two factors have finally given it the breathing room to emerge from bankruptcy and continue its traditional computer server business, as well as market promising new mobile products and pursue its high-profile legal battles.
US Consumers Buying Fewer but Fancier Phones
U.S. consumers have been buying significantly fewer cell phones but paying higher prices for them, according to a research firm. The NPD Group said in a report Tuesday that 28 million cell phones were sold in the United States in the second quarter, a decline of 13 percent from the same period a year ago. It was the third quarter in a row with a year-over-year decline.
If Users Are 'Integrating' TV, Web News, Why Can't Journalists?
When I covered the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show for CNN, I wasn't just peeking into the future of technology. I was getting a very personal look at how technology is changing journalism and the consumption of news. For the four days I was in Las Vegas, I was a true multi-platform journalist.
Net Radio Royalties Have Pandora Teetering on Brink
The future of Internet radio may be in jeopardy. Pandora -- one of the largest online radio services -- is on the verge of shutting down, its founders told the Washington Post. The problem? Royalty hikes put in place last year are costing the company most of its income. And it's not alone.
EA Strikes Softer Tone in Take-Two Buyout Talks
The dance between two of the biggest players in the video games sector continues, and it's taking on a new tone. Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive Software held discussions over the weekend regarding EA's attempt to acquire Take-Two. EA is best known for sports titles such as the "Madden NFL" series, while Take-Two's best-known titles include the "Grand Theft Auto" series.
Chapter 2 in Yahoo's Summer of Drama
Yahoo is starting its first full week with an updated board of directors and a fresh outlook for the future. Former Viacom CEO Frank Biondi Jr. and former Nextel CEO John Chapple -- both recommended by outspoken shareholder-turned-board-member Carl Icahn -- were officially appointed to leadership roles Thursday. Now, the company will try to find the path away from public battles and into success.
Picking Up the Pieces in the Fragmented Universe of Online Video
Online video is currently the buzz topic dominating news cycles -- technology, content, search, distribution, syndication, aggregation, advertising, widgets ... OK, I think you get it. The migration of content delivery has done just that: migrated. Consumption of online video has shifted from cable TV, to satellite and digital video recorder, and now to the Internet.

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FCC signs off on Samsung i770 — global version of Verizon’s i760?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Remember when we caught wind that Verizon was prepping a worldband version Samsung's i760 Windows Mobile piece? That rumor's suddenly gained a lot more credence now that we've seen a so-called SCH-i770 pass through the FCC's hallowed halls, especially considering the device outline's uncanny resemblance to that of the aforementioned i760. We'd previously heard that there might be some HSDPA on board, and while we're not seeing any evidence of that from the FCC's test reports, we can confirm that it'll feature EV-DO, WiFi, and Bluetooth in addition to all the GSM you'll need to get by while roaming through mysterious foreign lands. No word on when we might actually see an announcement about this one, but we imagine Verizon doesn't want to wait that much longer -- the i760 design isn't getting any younger, y'know.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Bug-bot video reveals swarming drones, extreme rocking

Filed under: Robots

We know that you love swarming bug-bots as much as we do, so of course we were thrilled to tell you about BAE Systems' MAST project the other day. Luckily, the Army-contracted company didn't stop at mere photos to scare the living daylights out of humanity, they also created a really cheesy, yet deeply frightening video to go along with them. Enjoy a glimpse of the Skynet-controlled / shredding-guitar future of warfare after the break -- and don't say we didn't warn you.

Continue reading Bug-bot video reveals swarming drones, extreme rocking

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Sony creates micro-sized fuel cell system

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Finally we can all sleep at night, safe in the knowledge that Sony has created a prototype fuel cell system that fits in the palm of your hand. The combination lithium-polymer battery, backup battery, and control circuit are destined for future mobile devices. According to a company engineer, "We have been aiming to mount (a fuel-cell system) in mobile devices and finally reached a level of commercial design." The tiny power-pack uses methanol as a fuel and controls supply with a hybrid pump, which allows it to regulate the amount of power used based on a system's needs. The company claims that just 10ml of methanol can power a mobile device through 14 hours of 1seg movie watching. Sure, it sounds good on paper, but does this mean soon we'll have to visit tiny, methanol refilling stations manned by a team of mice in jumpsuits? Probably not.

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Lenovo IdeaPad U110 overview and video

Filed under: Laptops

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Lenovo_IdeaPad_U110_overview_and_video'; After giving the new IdeaPad U110 its 15 minutes of fame in front of the camera, we got down to business. The 11.1-inch ultraportable is built like a tank -- a really, really lightweight tank. The uniquely-designed lid and (overly) glossy motif is a welcome change for Lenovo, but after a good bit of use, it's easy to see this one won't appeal to the masses. Click on for the full rundown of impressions and notes (and a video, too).

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U110 overview and video

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Nike Dunks + WiFi = A Step in the Right Direction

Filed under: Wearables, Wireless

Get ready to pay atelier sneaker prices for these babies, because designer MSTRPLN (not to be confused with MSTRKRFT) and Ubiq (not to be confused with Ubiquio) teamed up to produce some straight black Nike Dunks with built-in WiFi detection. It's called A Step in the Right Direction, and we might actually agree.

[Thanks, JideOsan]

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Los Angeles becomes home to Tesla Motors’ first dealership

Filed under: Transportation

Nary two months after the Tesla Roadster finally hit production, the automaker's first dealership has swung its doors wide open. Not surprisingly, the establishment is planted in gridlock heaven, better known as Los Angeles, California. Even less shocking is the fact that it opened at one of the busiest intersections in the city -- near the practically useless (we kid... sort of) 405 freeway and the always-packed corner of Santa Monica and Sepulveda boulevards. Of course, the 10,000-square-foot dealership isn't exactly rolling cars off of the showroom floor just yet (something about a lingering transmission issue), but it's hoping the $2 million cost of construction more than pays itself off in a couple of years. And if you're hankering for a Telsa Motors store near you, you can look forward to others popping up in Menlo Park (CA), New York, Miami, Seattle and Chicago in the next year or so.

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Screen Grabs: Nokia’s N95 appears to appear on the small screen

Filed under: Cellphones

Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

What say you? Is resident Big Bang Theory brainiac Howard Wolowitz super-stoked that Penny is conked out on his shoulder? Or is he just incredibly jovial to have his hand around what appears to be a Nokia N95? We're thinking a little bit from column A, a little bit from column B.

[Thanks, Matt]

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Microsoft pulls bid for Yahoo!, Microhoo will never be

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Well, that's that! Microsoft has officially pulled its bid for Yahoo! -- inflated for good measure this weekend by another $5 billion -- after the company did "not move toward accepting [the] offer", asking again for even more, another $4 bil (totaling $9b more than the original offer). In a letter from Ballmer to Yang, he states that Microsoft also won't be looking at its option for a hostile takeover, stating that Yahoo! likely "would take steps that would make [it] undesirable as an acquisition"; Ballmer then goes on to make a few backhanded criticisms of Yahoo's possible new partnerships with Google (which is no surprise). Good night, Microhoo, the monstrous, hamstrung, lumbering mega-merger that might have been.

Update: Yahoo! makes its public response here. Yang sums it up: "With the distraction of Microsoft's unsolicited proposal now behind us, we will be able to focus..." etc. Alright then.

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OLPC reshuffles, gets new president and COO

Filed under: Laptops

There's been a rash of defections at OLPC lately, with NickNeg himself looking to leave soon, so it's nice to hear that the charitable endeavor is filling in the vacancies. Only it's not, really. Although Negroponte has said that's he looking for someone "similar to Kofi Annan" to lead the project, it looks like he's just shuffling people around, instead promoting part-time CFO Charles Kane to President and COO. Negroponte is going to focus on fund-raising and promotion, while Kane will handle the day-to-day matters of actually manufacturing and distributing the laptops. That's certainly a good first step -- and perhaps Charles Kane is really Kofi Annan's long-lost twin -- but with developers suddenly miffed over Negroponte's overtures to Microsoft and talent leaving from the top, it seems like OLPC would do well to bring in some fresh vision and leadership, no?

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