Zune: Tips For The Switch, Goodbye iPod

The Microsoft Zune HD is a beautiful device and truly one of the best alternatives to the iPod we've had the pleasure to use. But if you're really thinking about hanging up your iPod and going Zune, you'll need to think about how to take your iTunes library with you. I'm not going to lie to you: some stuff just isn't coming with you. Your DRM-ed AAC audio files, iTunes movies and TV shows, and even those iTunes audiobooks, just can't survive outside of the iTunes/iPod universe. So quell those fantasies of uninstalling iTunes, because you'll still need it to play your protected iTunes purchases. The good news is, most everything else from iTunes is fair game, including your unprotected AAC and MP3 files, podcasts, unprotected videos, and playlists. Even your iTunes Smart Playlists can be reconstructed with a decent resemblance. Then comes the issue of gaming. While there's no shortage of handheld game systems on the market--the Nintendo DS and DSi are still selling well and the PSP continues to hang in there, while the App Store expands its catalog every minute--one of the seemingly no-brainer bets in the mobile gaming realm hasn't happened yet: the Zune. We say "no brainer" for several reasons: Microsoft has a successful gaming platform in the Xbox 360, emphasizing online and downloadable gaming. Microsoft, compared with Sony and Nintendo, is best able to take on Apple in terms of a media-management software store and the ability to build an equivalent music/games/movies catalog, and making that product PC compatible. The Zune HD now plays games. The first point is obvious. The second is debatable, but we say this because Sony, while having a decent media library on PSN, just isn't historically great at building cross-platform software for syncing the PSP, and Microsoft's global software reach is simply stronger. The third is technically true--Microsoft launched a small collection of completely free-to-play, ad-supported games for its OLED-screened Zune HD last month, and one of them happens to be an adaptation of Project Gotham Racing. It's an interesting prospect (and one we've wondered about before) because the Zune HD processor, an Nvidia Tegra, has both HD processing muscle and 3D graphics capability. We downloaded and played with all the Zune HD games currently available--all 12 of them--with some curiosity to see if the Zune could compete as a game device. Overall, the Zune HD games are similar in quality to iPod Touch and iPhone titles. The Zune HD has an accelerometer and multitouch, just like the iPod Touch, but its screen is smaller, making controls even harder without feeling ham-handed. Now, in fairness, all of the Zune's games are free, and thus many are of demo quality. PGR, with its Ferrari branding, is a pared-down game, a "lite" version. Still, the track graphics and controls are impressive, and definitely Touch quality. Other games, like Audiosurf Tilt (which generates tracks to music) and a Texas Hold 'Em, are better than most freebies but are titles we probably wouldn't pay more than a few bucks for. The most obvious idea would be to expand the Zune HD in size slightly, add a physical controller (perhaps similar to the sliding PSP Go), and then open up a Zune game marketplace that syncs with Xbox Live. A big move toward this being a possibility was the recent Xbox 360 update that opened up a Zune marketplace on the 360 dashboard. While it currently doesn't offer games, Microsoft already allows Zunes and Xbox Live accounts to share digital funds for transactions, opening up a smooth doorway to a mobile game console ecosystem. The current Zune HD is so small--smaller than a PSP Go or an iPod Touch to a significant degree--that Microsoft could even sell a clip-on gamepad (with a speaker, preferably) and still have a portable device that wasn't bulky. And its price is competitive with the PSP, iPod Touch, and Nintendo DS, at $219 for a 16GB model. Would you want a Microsoft Zune/Xbox handheld? I'd say the answer would be yes, provided it actually used physical controls. And if they were able to corral the Xbox Live Arcade development community (and even the XNA indie crowd) to make games, it could catch on much faster than anyone might expect.

Iran Link to Twitter Hack

A computer hacker briefly hijacked Twitter.com on Thursday, redirecting users to a website and claiming to represent a group calling itself the Iranian Cyber Army. Twitter, which in June became a key communication channel for Iranian protesters disputing the country's election results, said it was disrupted for a little more than an hour. Twitter's home page was replaced with one whose headline read "This site has been hacked by Iranian Cyber Army" and an anti-American message. "The motive for this attack appears to have been focused on defacing our site, not aimed at users," Twitter said on its blog. "We don't believe any accounts were compromised." Security experts said it was the first time attackers have succeeded in hijacking a major social-networking website. It was unlikely that the Iranian government was involved, despite its dislike of social networking sites and years of discord with the United States over its nuclear program, experts said. A screen shot posted in a number of websites, including TechCrunch, shows the message written in red, set above a green flag. An e-mail sent to the address on the redirected Web page was returned. The hacker or hackers got credentials to redirect Twitter's traffic to a bogus site, according to Dyn Inc, a company based in New Hampshire that directs that traffic for Twitter. The attackers did not hijack accounts of the company's other customers, Dyn Vice President Kyle York said. "This was an isolated incident," he said. Twitter, which allows people to broadcast 140-character messages to cell phones and on the Web, got caught up in Iranian politics earlier this year. The U.S. State Department urged Twitter to delay maintenance that would have interrupted the site's service during the peak of the demonstrations. As for Thursday's attack, a source close to the Department of Homeland Security said the Iranian government was likely not involved because of the unsophisticated nature of the work. James Lewis, a cybersecurity effort with the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the attack might have come from a group that supports Tehran. "This is ham-handed so it's probably not the Iranian government. It could be sympathizers," said Lewis. The Iranian government would have been more likely to hack Twitter during protests or other upheaval when the site was being used by dissidents, he said.

Iran Link to Twitter Hack

A computer hacker briefly hijacked Twitter.com on Thursday, redirecting users to a website and claiming to represent a group calling itself the Iranian Cyber Army.
Twitter, which in June became a key communication channel for Iranian protesters disputing the country's election results, said it was disrupted for a little more than an hour. Twitter's home page was replaced with one whose headline read "This site has been hacked by Iranian Cyber Army" and an anti-American message. "The motive for this attack appears to have been focused on defacing our site, not aimed at users," Twitter said on its blog. "We don't believe any accounts were compromised." Security experts said it was the first time attackers have succeeded in hijacking a major social-networking website. It was unlikely that the Iranian government was involved, despite its dislike of social networking sites and years of discord with the United States over its nuclear program, experts said. A screen shot posted in a number of websites, including TechCrunch, shows the message written in red, set above a green flag. An e-mail sent to the address on the redirected Web page was returned. The hacker or hackers got credentials to redirect Twitter's traffic to a bogus site, according to Dyn Inc, a company based in New Hampshire that directs that traffic for Twitter. The attackers did not hijack accounts of the company's other customers, Dyn Vice President Kyle York said. "This was an isolated incident," he said. Twitter, which allows people to broadcast 140-character messages to cell phones and on the Web, got caught up in Iranian politics earlier this year. The U.S. State Department urged Twitter to delay maintenance that would have interrupted the site's service during the peak of the demonstrations. As for Thursday's attack, a source close to the Department of Homeland Security said the Iranian government was likely not involved because of the unsophisticated nature of the work. James Lewis, a cybersecurity effort with the think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the attack might have come from a group that supports Tehran. "This is ham-handed so it's probably not the Iranian government. It could be sympathizers," said Lewis. The Iranian government would have been more likely to hack Twitter during protests or other upheaval when the site was being used by dissidents, he said.

Schmidt On Google

Appearing on CNBC, Schmidt was asked whether or not users should inherently trust Google. Schmidt's response was "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. If you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines --including Google --do retain this information for some time and it's important, for example, that we are all subject in the United States to the Patriot Act and it is possible that all that information could be made available to the authorities." Schmidt is certainly not the first person to use the "those who aren't breaking the law have no need for privacy" defense, but coming from the CEO of Google--one of the top targets for privacy concerns--it was enough to cause Dotzler to recommend that Firefox users abandon Google in favor of Microsoft's Bing. Google has been challenged regarding its sometimes apparent disregard for privacy on a number of occasions. Many countries have taken issue with Google's efforts to photograph neighborhoods for its Street View mapping. Most recently, Google's expansion of personalized search results has upset privacy advocates. Recommending a switch to Bing is a bold move for Mozilla, which is engaged in a multi-year arrangement with Google that extends through 2011. The majority of Mozilla revenue is derived from Google as a function of the deal, which calls for Mozilla to set Google as the default search engine in its Firefox Web browser software. Microsoft is also a frequent target of privacy concerns, and Bing is just as capable as Google's search engine of indexing and retaining more information than users are comfortable with. But, as Dotzler points out in his blog post "Bing does have a better privacy policy than Google."

Intel New Chips

December 17, Intel will preview new processors for laptops, among other chip technologies. The preview is significant because it will be Intel's first chance to show off its ready-to-ship, commercially viable next-generation 32-nanometer technology. Almost all Intel processors are currently built on a 45-nanometer process. Generally, the smaller the geometry, the faster and more power efficient the processor is. Intel's Core i series of processors will be the focus of the San Francisco event that will serve as a venue to preview products to be rolled out at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. The "Nehalem" microarchitecture that powers the Core i chips is considered a major step up in performance over previous architectures. To date, Intel has shipped the high-end Core i7 for gaming machines and mid-range Core i5 processors. Intel is expected to preview the first Core i3 processors--some, including the 2.93GHz i3 530, have appeared on retail sites already--as well as updates to the Core i5 series. One of the most anticipated processor technologies is "Arrandale." This will be the first mainstream Intel laptop processor to put two processor cores and a graphics function together in one chip package, resulting in better overall power efficiency. And the new built-in graphics technology is expected to offer materially better graphics performance than current Intel graphics. Arrandale will eventually come under the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 brands, though an initial version is expected to appear as the Core i3. Intel is also expected to make a push to get its Turbo Boost technology into more Core i5 and i7 processors. Turbo Boost speeds up and slows down individual cores to meet processing and power-efficiency needs, respectively. Separately, Intel is also getting ready to roll out new Atom chip technology for Netbooks

Japan Hates The IPhone

Apple’s iPhone is junk in Japan, where the handset is selling so poorly it’s being offered for free. What’s wrong with the iPhone, from a Japanese perspective? Almost everything: the high monthly data plans that go with it, its paucity of features, the low-quality camera, the unfashionable design and the fact that it’s not Japanese. In an effort to boost business, Japanese carrier SoftBank this week launched the "iPhone for Everybody" campaign, which gives away the 8-GB model of the iPhone 3G if customers agree to a two-year contract. "The pricing has been completely out of whack with market reality," said Global Crown Research analyst Tero Kuittinen in regard to Apple’s iPhone prices internationally. "I think they [Apple and its partners overseas] are in the process of adjusting to local conditions." Besides cultural opposition, Japanese citizens possess high, complex standards when it comes to cellphones. The country is famous for being ahead of its time when it comes to technology, and the iPhone just doesn’t cut it. For example, Japanese handset users are extremely into video and photos — and the iPhone has neither a video camera nor multimedia text messaging. And a highlight feature many in Japan enjoy on their handset is a TV tuner, according to Kuittinen. What else bugs the Japanese about the iPhone? The pricing plans, Kuittinen said. Japan’s carrier environment is very competitive, which equates to relatively low monthly rates for handsets. The iPhone’s monthly plan starts at about $60, which is too high compared to competitors, Kuittinen added. And then there’s the matter of compartmentalization. A large portion of Japanese citizens live with only a cellphone as their computing device — not a personal computer, said Hideshi Hamaguchi, a concept creator and chief operating officer of LUNARR. And the problem with the iPhone is it depends on a computer for syncing media and running software updates via iTunes. So that would suggest that in Japan, carrying around an iPhone — a nearly year-old handset compared to the very latest Japanese cellphones — makes you look pretty lame.

Droid Bullies Sissy iPhone

The ad depicts the iPhone as pretty but clueless. Specifically, according to Verizon Wireless, it's a "tiara wearing digitally clueless beauty pageant queen." The Verizon Droid, by contrast is a robot, one that "rips through the Web like a circular saw through a ripe banana." Poking fun of gender differences is a bedrock of many campaigns. Dockers, for example, is launching a global ad campaign -- with spots planned for the upcoming Super Bowl -- called "Wear the Pants." The goal, the company says, is to "emancipate" men from the "Dilbert-hood" of cubicle khaki. The intent of the campaign is to offer up a new definition of "masculinity," one that embraces strength and sensitivity and appeals to men who can change a tire and a diaper, said Jennifer Sey, global VP of marketing Download Free eBook - The Edge of Success: 9 Building Blocks to Double Your Sales. Dockers "wants to make them laugh at themselves and at the state of manhood." Of course, the clash between AT&T and Verizon goes beyond the iPhone. The two companies are each spending more than one billion dollars annually to convince consumers that one brand has better overall coverage than the other and that one's 3G network is better than the other's, Cakebread said. "AT&T would be better off putting that money into their infrastructure, as many iPhone owners complain about the 3G coverage and how bad it is," he said, noting that while AT&T's basic coverage has improved, its 3G network is weak compared to Verizon. "Verizon has many positives, including outstanding service and coverage," Strahilevitz added. "The iPhone is popular with males and females who know very little if at all about technology and want to be something they're not "pretty" and it is particularly popular with half witz who think that they are highly educated," to bad that is farther from the truth,she told the E-Commerce Times.

Call of Duty $3 Billion And Climbing

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Activision Blizzard Inc said on Friday its "Call of Duty" video game franchise pushed past the $3 billion mark in global retail sales. Overall, the "Call of Duty" series has sold more than 55 million units since its launch in 2003, Activision said, citing data compiled by NPD Group, Charttrack, GfK and internal company estimates. The company released the sixth title in the series, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," earlier this month to record-breaking results. The first-person shooter game recorded an estimated $550 million in sales in its first five days on the market. It sold 4.7 million copies on the first day in the United States and United Kingdom alone. "If you consider the number of hours our audiences are engaged in playing Call of Duty games, it is likely to be one of the most viewed of all entertainment experiences in modern history," Activision Chief Executive Bobby Kotick said in a company release. Activision shares rose more than 1 percent in late morning trade on the Nasdaq, even as shares of competitors Electronic Arts Inc and Take Two Interactive Software Inc fell more than 2 percent. Shares of Santa Monica, California-based Activision rose 13 cents to $11.69. Good times for Activision. But watch out Obama might want a bail out.

300 mph Ford

Joe Wilkins knew there was only one way to give his supercharged, alcohol-injected Hemi-engined hot rod more power: Put a jet engine in the trunk. "It started as a hobby and turned into a monster," said Joe Wilkins, the motor madman behind what might be the wildest 1939 Ford ever built. He's an inventor and defense department contractor, and the idea of goosing the Ford's ability to turn heads and shred tires came when he bought a used gas turbine engine. "I got hooked on the simplicity and power that this thing produced, and I decided one day I want to put it in a car." Luckily for us, he did. The Hemi Jet -- Wilkins has copyrighted the name -- fires up this weekend at the Houston AutoRama, and Wilkins plans to attempt a land speed record in the near future. In the meantime, he's tooling around Navasota, Texas, in what he says is the ultimate sleeper when the jet engine's tucked away in the trunk. Most people say "Nice car" and assume he's got the obligatory small-block Chevrolet engine under the hood. Little do they know. "I can drive it up to the store and get a gallon of milk if I want to," he told Autopia. The car is an amalgamation of the Big Three, with a Chrysler engine, Chevrolet drivetrain and Ford body. Wilkins says the jet engine was probably used as an APU and weighs 110 pounds. He claims the car is street legal so long as the jet stays stowed. He fires it up from time to time to show off, and he plans to run it flat-out at the Bonneville Salt Flats. "We want to be the fastest street legal car in the world," he said. He's got some intense competition. The Bugatti Veyron tops out at 253 mph and the Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero TT does 255. And then there's Red Vector One, that crazy Vauxhall that does zero to 60 in under a second. Record, schmecord -- we just want to see the video. "I'm more than certain the car will go over 300," Wilkins said. "We've still got a ways to go [before Bonneville], but not a long way. We'll have to experiment in some wind tunnels and end up with a spoiler on the back to keep the front end on the ground." Sadly, Wilkins won't be behind the wheel during the car's test run. "I turned 61 last Sunday. I just don't think I'm going to be able to handle it [without] the reflexes I had 20 or 30 years ago," he said. "I know several people who would be more than interested."

Xbox LIVE Gold Free

Microsoft wants you on Xbox LIVE for the weekend with, of course, a view toward forever, and it's prepared to temporarily waive the cover fee to grab your attention. Xbox LIVE Gold-tier membership usually costs $50 a year and provides access to features like online multiplayer, Facebook, Twitter, Last.FM, and Netflix for starters. Xbox LIVE Silver members who pay nothing save the time it takes to register a free account are by contrast left to nibble on skeletal features like online gamer profiles and friends lists, but otherwise have to stand at the window looking in. That changes this weekend for US Xbox 360 gamers with a Silver membership (again, totally free) and the ability to bring their Xbox 360s online with an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi adapter. As noted this Tuesday by Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, all Xbox LIVE regions except Europe will have free access to Gold services from November 20th at 12:00PM ET / 9:00AM PT until November 23rd at the same time. Europe's getting it too, of course, just a couple days later, and for a slightly longer time period--from November 25th to November 30th. Visualize Master Chief (from Halo) with an olive-colored plasteel finger extended and a stern look on his...well, as stern-looking as a gold-tinged visor can be. Microsoft runs these free weekends periodically, the last one occurring at the end of August and sponsored by T-Mobile. Paying members occasionally grumble about lack of reciprocity (compensation, other promotional items), and a few complain the free weekends briefly open the doors to younger, disruptive gamers, but on balance reactions tend to be positive.

Developers Worried About Android's Growth

A year after its release, Google's open source Android operating system has become a sensation. After a slow start, it is now available on at least 12 phones, with more devices waiting in the wings. Good news for Android fans, right? Not really, say some developers. A slew of problems have made managing Android apps a "nightmare," they say, including three versions of the OS (Android 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0), custom firmware on many phones, and hardware differences between different models. For users, it means apps in the store could be buggy, might not work well depending on their handsets, and could deliver a frustrating experience. Unaware of the increasing back-end complexity, they would then be more likely to leave bad reviews for those apps -- a potentially lethal blow for small businesses, say developers. In the past two months, Motorola released two new Android-based handsets, the Cliq and Droid. And in a bid to differentiate themselves, handset makers are creating custom user interfaces like the HTC Sense, the Motorola Blur and the Rachael UI from Sony Ericsson. Android phones vary significantly in the hardware, too phones with and without camera flash, some have physical keyboards, others don't. "You may build an app that works perfectly with all three firmwares, but then when you run it on carriers' ROMs it completely blows up," says Fagan. "So we find ourselves having to create apps that are compatible with multiple firmwares, multiple ROMs and multiple devices with different hardware." Apple has tightly controlled the introduction of new iPhones and updates to its operating system. It has just three iPhone models available since it first introduced the phone in 2007. And all iPhone users are prompted to update their phones to be on the same version of the operating system. While Apple pioneered the app store idea with the iPhone, Android, too, offers Market, a store for distribution of third-party programs. Unlike with the Apple app store, Android developers do not have to go through an approval process to get their apps on the Android Market.Currently, the Android market has about 10,000 apps compared to the 100,000 in Apple's app store.For developers, Apple's autocratic ways may be frustrating, but they can pay off. Founded about the same time as the first Android phone hit the market, Froogloid today has more than 100,000 users across its three apps: a2b, Key Ring and CowPotato. But with Android's growth, managing these apps is becoming quite a challenge, says Fagan.The diversity of devices running Android OS has led to some unexpected results, says Fagan.

Star Trek Goes Online

The developers at Cryptic Studios were focusing on recreating the sci-fi franchise's universe for "Star Trek Online," the upcoming massively multiplayer online game that boldly casts players as captains of their own starship. Yet they were leaving out a crucial location: the bridge. Despite their initial hesitation, the game's masterminds decided to make it so. "We didn't want to have interiors at launch," said "Star Trek Online" executive producer Craig Zinkievich. "We thought it was just a little bit too much. We really wanted to make sure we delivered a really deep experience, but your bridge not being in the game, it really felt like a hole in the game, and it was just something that we had to put in." When players design their virtual vessels, they can choose from about 20 different bridges — like one resembling the command centers aboard the famed Enterprises or the brawny Defiant from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Zinkievich said the bridges will mostly function as social hubs where gamers can hangout with their bridge officers and other captains online. The game is set 22 years after the supernova that destroyed the Romulan homeworld and transported an elder Spock and the villainous Nero into director J.J. Abrams' reimagined "Star Trek." Peace between the Federation and Klingons has since evaporated, meaning space combat will play a vital role in the game, though there are still strange new worlds to explore. "It's familiar, but it's new," said Zinkievich. "We've changed a few things and added a few things to the universe. I think that's what keeps us from stepping on the hardcore Trekkies' toes. The team is made up of 'Star Trek' fans and avid MMO fans, so if we can make a game that doesn't churn our stomach, then I think we can definitely satisfy the fans." "Star Trek Online" is scheduled for release Feb. 2.

Smart Phone From Dell

Dell Inc. is officially jumping into the "smart" phone market this month in a deal with China's biggest wireless carrier, China Mobile Ltd. The Dell Mini 3, a keyboardless touch-screen phone that runs Google Inc.'s Android operating system, will also be available in Brazil later this year. The computer maker, based in Round Rock, Texas, would not say when the phone would reach the U.S. Friday's announcement ends more than two years of speculation that Dell, now the world's third-largest PC company by unit shipments, would expand into the phone business. The economic downturn abruptly halted growth in the computer industry this year as consumers and businesses held off buying new technology. Hewlett-Packard Co., the No. 1 computer maker worldwide, fared better than Dell because its business is more diverse. Acer Inc., a Taiwan-based company, pushed past Dell to the No. 2 spot in the most recent quarter on the popularity of its tiny, inexpensive netbook computers, a category Dell was slow to enter. Dell, however, was one of the first computer makers to pair up with wireless carriers to sell subsidized netbooks with cellular data plans. One such deal with China Mobile helped lay the groundwork for the Mini 3 launch, which the two companies foreshadowed in August when they showed off a prototype of the Mini 3 at an event in Beijing. Michael Tatelman, vice president of sales and marketing for Dell's global consumer business, said Dell wants carriers to have some control over the way the phone works. It chose the open-source Android system because it gives Dell many ways to customize the software — but didn't rule out making phones that run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile.

Web Forgery On Twitter

The other night I started to receive a tsunami of @ replies on my Twitter account. Apparently I was direct messaging a stack of people I don’t know with a link to something that starts http://videos.twitter… except it wasn’t me. The image above is what you see when the link is clicked (and no, I’m not going to give the link.) This is NOT fun. Fortunately, Robert Scoble had picked up on what was gong on and sent the message: @Scobleizer: Don’t click links sent to u in DM @dahowlett & many others are being hit ESP ones that start http://video
At the time I wasn’t near my laptop so couldn’t realistically review the problem. There are limitations to Tweetie on the iPhone. In time honored fashion I didn’t get a reply from anyone at Twitter. Given the nature of the service I didn’t expect to. I’m not the only one. If your Twitter account has been hacked remove apps here: http://twitter.com/account/... This seems how bad guys are getting in. Fortunately there are various suggestions as to how the problem might be solved. The easiest seemed to be a password change. I’ve no idea how the hack occurred, especially given I used a 10 character alpha-numeric password that Twitter graded as ‘good’ but it is yet another example how this popular service can nail you. One very helpful suggestion is to ensure the password you use for Twitter is unique to that service. That’s something you should do anyway.

Windows 7 Early Sales

Microsoft has reported that Windows 7 sales are 234 percent higher than Windows Vista for the initial week after its release. That figure however is tempered with the statistic that Windows 7 has not prompted the same surge in PC sales that accompanied the release of Windows Vista. Does that mean that Windows 7 isn't incentive enough for users to purchase new computers? Not really. First of all, when Windows Vista was released the Windows XP operating system had been the flagship desktop operating system for more than 5 years. Users who had jumped on the Windows XP bandwagon early would have been more than ready to make a hardware upgrade when moving to the new operating system. For users that have held on to Windows XP through the dark years (the timeframe between the release of Windows Vista and the release of Windows 7), that same fact may still hold true. However, many Windows XP users have upgraded the PC hardware since 2001, but have bought new Windows XP systems or re-installed their Windows XP operating system on the new hardware. While Windows Vista faced a variety of issues both real and perceived, there are still millions of users that have embraced the operating system. Windows Vista makes up nearly 19 percent of the desktop operating system market. Whether those users like Windows Vista or hate Windows Vista, the hardware they are using should be sufficient when upgrading to Windows 7. Timing also has a huge impact on the PC hardware sales figures. Windows Vista was released in January--after the holiday season. With Windows 7 being released in October, users who just want the operating system software may jump on board, but customers that are interested in purchasing a new system with Windows 7 installed are likely holding out for holiday bargains and Black Friday deals. Talk to me again in January about PC hardware sales related to Windows 7. Another factor in the sale of new PC hardware is corporate adoption of the new operating system. Many enterprises held on to Windows XP and are now planning to upgrade to Windows 7, but massive hardware and operating system upgrades take careful planning and time to implement. Many large companies also operate on funky fiscal year calendars which can affect the timing of the Windows 7 upgrade.

Android 2.0 Phone

The new updated version of the open-source operating system offers new Android phones a series of enhancements as well as improved performance. The updated software is being credited with enabling many of the cool new features, such as the updated version of the Google Maps service, which allows for voice command turn-by-turn directions. The Motorola Droid for Verizon will be the first device that will use the new software. Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA will also be selling Android devices this holiday season, but neither carrier has announced a device that will use the updated version of the operating system. But that doesn't mean that the Droid will be the only device running the 2.0 software this year. A Google representative said it's very likely at least one other phone will be introduced that uses the new version of the open source operating system. One of the features that the updated software has added allows for the integration of multiple social-networking and e-mail accounts into the phone's contact list. This means that contact and calendar information can be synced with Microsoft Exchange e-mail services and also other Web e-mail accounts, as well as, social-networking sites like Facebook. The new version of the software has support for Microsoft Exchange, which is a huge deal because it means that corporate users can sync their work e-mail with their phones. A search function was added to the SMS and MMS messaging feature. The software has also been updated to support a camera that includes a built-in flash, digital zoom, scene mode, white balance, color effect, and macro focus. The new software has also improved the virtual keyboard layout to make it easier to hit the right keys as well as improved the typing speed. The 2.0 version of software supports an enhanced browser that allows users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation. It allows bookmarks with Web page thumbnails. It offers double-tap zoom. And there is full HTML5 support, which among other things allows for geolocation applications to be developed to provide location information about the device. Overall the new improvements to the software should make the Android devices operate much faster than the previous generation of software. A Google representative said the software is backwards compatible with older versions of Google Android hardware. But it is up the carriers whether or not they allow users to upgrade their devices to the new operating system. And the carriers will be controlling the timing of these upgrades.

Microsoft Has Got Its Groove Back, Apple Not So Much

Microsoft has got its groove back -- at least when it comes to designing an operating system that really delivers. By comparison, Apple's most recent product launch -- a multitouch mouse -- looks almost laughable. anticipating a battle royal between Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) and thought both companies would come to the mat with their best stuff. It felt like Apple was so focused on maintaining high margins last quarter that it gave up a huge chance to grow share, and its stealth launch of a couple of PCs and a multitouch mouse just seemed lame next to the massive rollout of Windows boxes. Seriously, competing with a touchscreen product with a multitouch mouse is sort of like GM competing with Ford's antilock brake system with a vibrating brick you glue to the break pedal. If Microsoft had done this instead of Apple, Mac fans would be rolling in the aisles. They don't seem to be finding this that funny. Apple fans pointing out the similarity between the new hardware, software and experience to an Apple from folks who evidently didn't quite grasp that this similarity comes at around 50 percent of the cost. They also seemed not to get that touch, like the iPhone does touch, is done on the screen -- not on a touchpad or mouse. It amazes me how Apple fans seem to focus like a laser on who copies whom, particularly with the patent infringement litigation popping up all around Apple. It seems incredibly hypocritical to me, especially given how Apple started.

Amazon Up Even More

It may not have won the book price war, but Amazon defeated Wall Street expectations on Thursday, reporting a 69% surge in third-quarter profit, led by strong sales of its Kindle e-reader. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant said its net income rose to $199 million, or 45 cents per share, compared to $118 million, or 27 cents per share, in the year-earlier period. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share to rise to just 33 cents. Revenue at Amazon (AMZN, Fortune 500) climbed 28% to $5.45 billion in the quarter, beating analysts' expectations for an 18% rise to $5.03 billion. Shares of Amazon rose nearly 15% in after-hours trading. Kindle boost Sales of electronics and other general merchandise, which represent 43% of Amazon's revenue mix, grew 51% in North America and 48% internationally. Much of that growth was attributed to the Kindle, which first debuted in 2007.
"Kindle has become the No. 1 bestselling item by both unit sales and dollars -- not just in our electronic store but across all product categories on Amazon.com," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, in a prepared statement. Amazon also announced Thursday that it cut the price on its latest generation of Kindle, which debuted earlier this month. The price for the new Kindle, which has wireless capabilities and can be used globally, was reduced to $259 from $279. The company began shipping the e-reader to 100 countries this week. Amazon had previously lowered the U.S. price of the Kindle by $40 to $259. The online retailer's media sales, which include books and music and represent 54% of Amazon's revenue, also increased and contributed to the company's strong quarter, said Sandeep Aggarwal, senior Internet research analyst at Collins Stewart. Worldwide media sales grew 17% to $2.93 billion compared to last year.

Microsoft Up

Microsoft, the maker of the Windows operating system — including the new Windows 7 version released Thursday — reported net income of $3.57 billion, or 40 cents a share, for the quarter, which ended Sept. 30. Wall Street had expected Microsoft to earn 32 cents a share, according to a Thomson Reuters survey. “They are really serious about cost-cutting,” said Brendan Barnicle, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities. “It signals there has been a change in culture that is meaningful.” Microsoft attributed part of its rebound to increasing sales of personal computers by consumers. While total PC sales were essentially flat in the quarter, compared with a year earlier, consumer sales worldwide jumped by a percentage that was “in the mid-single digits,” Bill Koefoed, Microsoft’s general manager of investor relations, said on a conference call Friday. Those gains came despite the growth of netbooks, small laptop computers, which have typically used inexpensive versions of Windows XP. Netbooks represented 12 percent of sales to consumers in the quarter, Microsoft said. The company was bullish on Windows 7, in part because of vigorous advance sales. Indeed, the company deferred $1.47 billion in revenue from presales. Without that deferral, Microsoft said it would have earned 52 cents per share in the first quarter instead of 40 cents. The financial results were released before the market opened, and investors pushed Microsoft’s shares up more than 5 percent Friday, to $28.02. “We expected to see some positive impact from Windows 7, but this is the first time it’s been crystallized in the numbers,” said Kevin Buttigieg, a technology analyst at FTN Equity Capital Markets.

Acer Passes Apple & Dell

Well, there it is. A non-American company has managed to become the second-largest computer seller for the first time in history.
In a fresh research report issued on Wednesday, IDC confirmed that Acer, based in Taiwan, overtook Dell, of Round Rock, Texas, as the Number 2 PC maker during the third quarter. The two companies had been neck-and-neck for the last couple of quarters, with Acer benefiting from the increasing demand for netbooks and Dell suffering from a lack of business computer sales. Acer has now set its sights on Hewlett-Packard, the clear PC market leader out of Palo Alto, Calif. According to IDC, H.P. took 20.2 percent of the worldwide PC market in the third quarter, an increase from 18.9 percent in the same period last year. Acer’s market share shot up to 14 percent from 11.4 percent, while Dell’s market share dropped to 12.7 percent from 14.2 percent. Lenovo, based in China, and Toshiba of Japan rounded out the top five sellers, with 8.9 percent and 5.2 percent of the market, respectively. All of the PC companies actually saw their sales rise during the quarter, except for Dell. Sales at Dell dropped 8.4 percent during the quarter, while Acer’s sales rose 25.6 percent and H.P.’s 9.3 percent. In the United States., H.P. was ahead of Dell as the largest computer seller, taking 25.5 percent of the market to Dell’s 25 percent stake. Acer, with an 11.1 percent market share, moved past Apple, which had 9.4.
Acer’s sales grew an astonishing 48.3 percent during the quarter, while Dell’s dropped 13.4 percent and H.P.’s rose 3.2 percent. “The competitive landscape, the transition to portables, new and low-power designs, growth in retail and consumer segments and the impact of falling prices are all reflected in the gains by H.P. and Acer, as well as overall market growth,” said Loren Loverde, a program director at IDC. Overall, PC sales rose 2.3 percent year-on-year to 78.1 million units. Sales had dropped the previous two quarters.

Windows 7 Launch Ready

Best Buy is ready for the Windows 7 launch.
Best Buy where the cages were loaded exclusively with new models preloaded with Windows 7. A salesperson said that the information was conveyed to me at one store in Southern California and may not necessarily apply to all stores nationwide. Best Buy can theoretically sell you a Windows 7 machine before October 22. However, the store would get fined if it does so. One figure thrown out by a salesperson was $5,000 per sales violation. Almost all of the shelf space had been cleared. In other words, when I walked into the laptop section, all of the counter space that typically holds 50 laptops (or more) was empty. The space will be repopulated on October 22. Why the empty counters? Best Buy had sold virtually all the Vista machines in the store prior to Windows 7 launch. Windows 7 laptops behind the cages include an HP dv6 laptop with a 16-inch screen (model: dv6-1352dx), a Dell Inspiron with 15.6-inch screen (model: i1545-4203), an HP G60 (model: G60-535DX), and a Sony Vaio VGN series (model: VGN-NW270/FS). Note that most of these models do not show up in a Google search or in the Best Buy database yet.
There is also reported a 18-inch class Asus laptop packing a quad-core Core i7 processor with killer graphics, we don't know which graphics card it used.

TiVo To Link Hulu With DVR

TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said video Web site Hulu.com is the last "major aggregator" his company aims to work with to increase programs for the TiVo digital video recording service. "Hulu will have to come to terms with the big screen and get themselves on the television set," Rogers said in an interview in Cannes on Wednesday. "When they decide as a policy matter that's something they'd like to do, we want to bring them to the TV." Hulu, whose owners also include General Electric's NBC Universal and Walt Disney, shows free television programs and movies on its Web site. The clips contain advertisements that can't be skipped, while TiVo is often criticized by the ad industry for allowing users to skip commercials. TiVo, the pioneer of the digital video recorder, has already formed such partnerships for online content with Netflix, Amazon.com and YouTube, Rogers said. The company is expanding its offerings of shows, movies and videos as consumers increasingly migrate online, and is seeking deals with small and medium-size cable operators. RCN, a cable operator in cities including New York, Boston and Chicago, said it would offer TiVo recording devices to its residential and small-business subscribers.Rogers said TiVo lost subscribers when pay-TV service DirecTV canceled a contract with TiVo. DirecTV, the second-largest pay-TV service after Comcast, re-entered that contract when Liberty Media took control of the company last year, and this will "help fuel our growth," Rogers said. TiVo said it will take action against companies that infringe its patents for digital recording. "The fact is we own the core technology" for the digital video recorder "and if people are going to ignore our intellectual property, we're not going to sit there and allow that to happen," Rogers said. In August, the company said it was suing Verizon Communications and AT&T, claiming infringement of patents in their DVR systems. In September, Dish Network and EchoStar were ordered to pay a total of about $200 million to TiVo for contempt of an order to stop providing its DVR service after losing a patent-infringement ruling. No damages in the AT&T/Verizon case have been specified, though Rogers said they "can get pretty substantial," based on past litigation.

Why Zune Beats Apple Yet Again

The more time you spend with the Zune HD, the more you like it. Sound quality aside, there are a bunch of features that make Apple's products seem like they've fallen behind the curve. Here are a few things in particular that you'll miss when you use your iPhone or iPods:
Zune Pass Apple has long maintained that people want to own rather than rent their music. I counter that a subscription-based music service, combined with a state-of-the-art player, is one of those features that you have to try before you realize how fantastic it is.
Quickplay This feature lets you "pin" favorite songs, albums, playlists, or other types of content to the front menu of the Zune HD. It also has a "New" section that automatically displays the six items you've most recently added to your collection, a "History" section that displays the last six things you've played, and a spot to access any currently playing song that you've paused.
Background art Remember how cool it seemed when you could first look at album covers as you played songs on your MP3 player? The Zune HD makes this seem hopelessly obsolete--instead, it scrolls through album art and pictures of the artist as each song plays. No purchase is required--it works even with the LPs I ripped. It's similar to how the Zune software can populate your music collection with album art from a database in the cloud, only more sophisticated.
Wireless sync This feature has been part of the Zune experience since 2007, and once you get used to it, you'll hate dragging your iPod to your computer every time you want to load new music. Microsoft seems to have improved the sync experience in the Zune HD and Zune 4.0 software--all you have to do is leave the Zune HD's wireless connection on, and it will periodically sync automatically with your PC, even if you don't have the Zune app open.
Apple's still riding high with the iPod, particularly the Touch, but the Zune HD is clearly moving ahead in terms of innovation. Now if Microsoft can open the Marketplace to third-party apps and fix the browser, Apple might have reason to worry.

Microsoft Win 7

You can't overestimate the importance of the October launch of Windows 7, the latest version of the operating system that accounts for 25% of Microsoft's revenue. Customers were so unimpressed with the last upgrade, Vista, that only 18% of computers run on it, says Net Applications. That anemic adoption rate since the 2007 release, combined with poor PC sales, cut Windows' revenue 13% in the past 12 months. Unlike Vista, Windows 7 has so far received positive reviews. That, plus a projected uptick in PC sales in 2010 as the economy improves, means Windows sales could pick up. But since this is a mature business the firm already leads in, it's not likely to drive growth in the future. Don't expect Microsoft's dominance in operating systems and applications software to keep leading to big profit margins, which are already down six points, to 25%, from 2005. The threat: cloud computing, in which applications run on the web. "Look at Facebook," says Morning-star analyst Toan Tran. "It doesn't care what platform you're running." It can use Mac OS, Linux, or Google's upcoming Chrome OS. As a result, Tran says Windows revenue "has the potential to be a rounding error" in 10 years. He thinks the firm's future is in Azure, Microsoft's cloud service that lets developers create applications on Microsoft servers. But Amazon.com (AMZN, Fortune 500), Google (GOOG, Fortune 500), and others offer similar services. Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) hopes to find growth in online advertising. A few months after launching its new search engine, Bing, its share of online searches has grown to 9% vs. Google's 65%. But the goal isn't to be No. 1, says Tom Forester of the Forester Value fund, which owns the stock. "Even a 20% share would be huge, given how big online ads promise to be," he says. They could exceed $30 billion by 2013, says the Yankee Group. And Forester thinks Microsoft could hit 15% to 20% in a couple of years. Under a new deal, subject to government approval, Bing will power searches on Yahoo for a cut of revenue. "Bing should march toward profitability," says Edward Jones's Andy Miedler.

Sony's PSPgo

Measuring in at 5 x 0.6 x 2.7 inches (closed) the PSPgo is about half the size of the original PSP. To access the controls, the bottom section slides forward with with a smooth but firm mechanism that seems sturdy enough to resist clumsy gamer hands. It's small but comfortable, even for those of us with big hands, It's just wide enough for the index fingers to curl around the frame, and your thumbs fall into prime button-mashing position without feeling cramped. The face buttons are slightly thinner and more responsive, and the analog nub is recessed into the console's casing, resulting in much tighter control than with earlier PSPs. The 3.8-inch screen shares the same bright, gorgeous 480 x 272 pixel resolution of its year-old predecessor, the PSP 3000. The PSPgo also ekes out battery life comparable to the 3000: you get roughly four and a half hours each during extensive web-browsing, music-playing and gaming sessions. New features include Bluetooth support, so you can pair the PSPgo with accessories like headsets, enabling Skype calls or in-game voice chat. Busy gamers will appreciate the Pause Game function, which freezes your game in its current state so you can take a break. You can now also control your PSPgo with a PlayStation 3 controller, which is handy if you've connected your portable to a TV, or are the sort of person who carries a spare Dual Shock 3 controller in your backpack next to the MREs and the water purifier. The UMD disc has been scrapped in favor of digital distribution. That means you can pick up new music, movies, and games wherever you can find a Wi-Fi connection. You can also sync the handheld with a PlayStation 3 or Windows PC, but not with a Mac (oops sorry) or a Linux PC. For storage, you'll dump all of the games and media you download onto the PSPgo's 16GB internal flash drive. If you need more space, it supports Memory Stick Micro cards, up to 32GB.

Zune is selling out everywhere

The newest Zune is selling out everywhere. Congrats to this underdog manufacturer "Micro-Soft" for finally hitting the big time! Until we get some hard numbers, there's no way to tell how many of these things are flying off the shelves. In the meantime, here's how it shakes down:
Amazon has both the 16GB and 32GB versions backordered, as does Best Buy, while Newegg and Buy.com both have only the 32GB left (and it probably won't last too long). Looks like the place to get it is Microsoft's online store, where both versions are available (and you can get those sweet Zune Originals engravings). Great to see the Zune HD getting the attention it deserves. l went out the first day and grabbed the last one my local best buy had, it was alittle crazy to say the least. l can tell you first hand this thing is NICE! Everything just works flawlessly, feels comfortable with no problems. Ever since my new purchase, l haven't even picked up my itouch...it really is that good.

FM Radio Comes to the iPod...Been Done

If you’ve been asking for an iPod with a built-in radio, you’re finally in luck. After eight long years, Apple has finally delivered. Taking yet another page from Microsoft's Zune!
Last week, Apple introduced its latest version of the iPod Nano, a multimedia player that’s smaller than a business card and weighs 1.28 ounces. It’s small enough to slip into some running shorts and skirt pockets.
While the radio is a welcome addition, the new Nano has some other features geared toward the active set. There’s a pedometer and, like previous Nanos, it is also compatible with the Nike Plus system that tracks your distance and other running or walking stats. The Nano also has a stopwatch and a voice-over feature that tells you the name of a song from your playlist. Of course, you can still listen to podcasts and your own music. So if you want to use wireless headphones, you’ll need an adapter. If you’re listening to a song and want to remember the name for later, you can “tag” it (but only if the station supports iTunes tagging). When you connect the iPod to your computer, iTunes will show you a list of the songs you tagged and then gives you the option to purchase the song from iTunes.
At first, the tagging and live pause on the iPod’s dial is not comfortable and you will inadvertently pause the radio when you want to pull up the tuner to change stations. It takes some getting used to, But it's no Zune! Sorry Apple too little to late.

Microsoft's Zune HD is an iPod killer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Microsoft's Zune HD, which went on sale Tuesday, is more than just another portable media player trying to unseat Apple's iPod.
It's part of Microsoft's new cross-platform media strategy, which focuses on the four screens that consumers watch: TV, portable devices, PCs and the Internet.
Earlier versions of the three-year-old Zune line synched only with a PC, but the new version also works with Xbox and high definition televisions, and will eventually be able to link up with Windows Mobile phones in the coming months.
"Previously with the Zune, we had just been in the MP3 business, but now we have a broader entertainment strategy," said Terry Farrell, senior project manager for the Zune. The new Zune allows a user to download a movie on Xbox Live, pause it mid-stream, sync wirelessly to the Zune and resume watching it on the go. And if the movie still isn't over, users can sync up with their PC's to watch the rest. (The Zune video store will be available to 20 million Xbox Live subscribers in November.)
The synergies don't end there. All movies will be available in 720p HD, so watching them on a high-def TV using the Zune dock connector makes the picture look as sharp as watching a Blu-ray DVD. Beyond movies, Microsoft plans to expand its app store, called Zune Marketplace, beyond the dozen or so apps it currently offers. The company's Xbox gaming unit is already working on original games and once the Zune is synched up with Windows Mobile, Microsoft said it will seek out third-party app vendors.

“You Lie!” Says Google to Apple on Google Voice Rejection

Google said Apple did reject its Google Voice application for the iPhone because it “duplicated the core dialer functionality”, according to parts of an unredacted letter released by the Federal Communications Commission.
Funny, because Apple just said last month that it “continues to study” the application and hadn’t rejected it. (The parts the FCC released today were originally blacked out in that same announcement last month.)
Furthermore Google says in its letter that it was Apple’s Phil Schiller, the senior vice president of worldwide marketing, who told Google’s senior vice president of engineering and research, Alan Eustace, over the phone that the app would be rejected.
Google Voice lets you use a single phone number to receive calls on multiple phones and reach your voicemail. It also lets you send free text messages and make international calls for two cents. When the application never made it into the Apple’s app store and the company removed similar independently-developed apps, the FCC launched an investigation. Google declined to comment on what it will do next.

Jobs Back But Nothing New For Apple

Steve Jobs stepped back into the spotlight for the first time in nearly a year on Wednesday, drawing a standing ovation before unveiling new and cheaper iPods for Apple Inc. But Apple's shares closed 1 percent lower after hitting a year's high in the session. Analysts said they dipped because investors took profits after a steady run-up in the days before the event. One analyst also pointed to Jobs' appearance, saying the 54-year-old chief executive looked "frail."
Dressed in his trademark black turtleneck and jeans, Jobs took the stage and thanked everyone in the Apple community for their "heartfelt support." It was his first public appearance since returning to work in June after six months of medical leave, during which the charismatic corporate showman underwent a liver transplant. Jobs started off by announcing a new version of Apple's popular online media store, iTunes, and updated software for the iPhone. He then unveiled new iPod features and colors, and announced price cuts for other models ahead of the crucial holiday season. But the real news is again for yet another year no new news. Still the same old apple, l'm waiting for the Zune HD!

Twitter: We Get to Use Your Tweets

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone sent an email to the service’s users, pointing to and explaining a revised terms of services document on the world’s most beloved oversharing site. Here’s the part you need to understand:
You retain your rights to any Content you submit, post or display on or through the Services. By submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution methods (now known or later developed). This clause allows you to prevent anyone else except Twitter from, say, re-publishing your tweets as a book, at least in the United States, without your express permission. It doesn’t prevent other people from re-tweeting you, or otherwise quoting you under our nation’s vague fair-use laws. Twitter, however, gets to re-use your tweets any way it wants. That includes sublicensing them to another party — one you may not love or trust as much as you do Twitter.

EBay To Sell Skype

Skype is to be majority-owned by a group of private investors, including Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen and private equity firms.
EBay will keep a 35% stake in the firm, which it has been trying to sell for some time. It has said that Skype had "limited synergies" with it.
The deal values Skype at $2.75bn. EBay bought Skype for $2.6bn in 2005.
The new owners are Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures - which originally invested in Skype - as well as private equity firm Silver Lake and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
They will pay $1.9bn in cash, and give a $125m note to eBay, meaning that it promises to pay that amount on demand or at an agreed time.
Earlier this year, eBay had said that it planned to spin off Skype and list its shares in the first half of 2010, an announcement many took as a signal that the firm was for sale.
Ebay wrote down the value of the firm to $1.2bn a year after it was taken over.
Including payouts to Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, who founded Skype in 2003, eBay paid over $3bn for the company.
Skype's software lets computer and mobile phone users talk to each other for free and make cut-price calls to mobiles and landlines.
Unlike traditional mobile calls, which are transmitted over a cellular network, Skype turns your voice into data and sends it over the internet.
Since being acquired, the number of registered Skype users has risen to 405 million from 53 million, though free user-to-user calls still dominate the service.
The deal should be finalised by the last three months of the year.

TiVo Gets $200 million Fron Dish

Dish Network has been ordered to pay about $200 million to TiVo over DVR technology.
The lawsuit goes back to 2004, when TiVo sued EchoStar (now a part of the Dish Network) for violating a patent on a "multimedia time-warping system," which involved recording a program while watching another.
A jury in 2006 found that Dish's dvr infringed upon a patent held by TiVo and ordered it to pay TiVo $73.9 million. The ruling has been upheld in two separate federal appeals. Dish has said its engineers updated its software years ago to design around TiVo's patent and that they removed the features TiVo claims infringe on its patent. Dish was ordered to pay another $103 million plus interest to TiVo in June for being in contempt of court for violating a permanent injunction on selling DVRs with infringing technology,Then TiVo sued for nearly $1 billion and claimed it was due all of Dish's DVR profits for the five-plus years. Instead, U.S. District Judge David Folsom in Texarcana, Texas, awarded TiVo just under $200 million in total, saying the infringement wasn't willful and that Dish has made a good faith effort to design around the TiVo patent.

Zune HD Movies & A Whole Lot More

With TV shows, music video, and video podcasts already proliferating the Zune marketplace, it was really only a matter of time before Microsoft dipped its toes into HD movies -- not to mention kind of a logical step since Xbox Live was getting its movie section Zune-branded. BostonPocketPC writer Steven Hughes has uploaded pictures of an alleged pamphlet handed out at Best Buy's Zune HD showings that, among other things, make reference to finding Zune Marketplace content including HD movies. Ban on HDTV Media Center recordings notwithstanding, things are looking great for Zune 4.0 software.
The ID (Industrial Design) of the Zune is really cool mainly due to the addition of the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology lending to its svelte thin size. This device is really thin! Placed next to an iPod Touch for size comparison and when placed next to an 8GB Flash Zune, The Zune blows the itouch away!! The weight is very light and barely noticeable in one’s pocket. This is a hit!

Apple Releashes Snow Leopard

Apple began shipping its newest operating system to customers on Friday, a little earlier than expected. Mac OS X Snow Leopard is not as much about adding new features as it is about refining the code in the operating system. For instance, according to Apple, 90 percent of the Mac OS X code has been worked on for the Snow Leopard release. Snow Leopard could include some features that would make it secure, or at least push it closer to the level of security that Vista and Windows 7 have, experts said this week. Macintosh is not more secure from a software standpoint than modern Windows; it's merely safer to use because malware writers prefer to target the platform with the biggest install base. Mac OS X Snow Leopard will cost $29 as an upgrade for Leopard users. For Mac OS X Tiger users, the Mac Box Set, which includes Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iLife '09 and iWork '09, will cost $169.

Hands-on look at the Zune HD Web browser

Here we have the Zune HD's mobile Web browser, which we're told was engineered by Microsoft's Internet Explorer team. The browser displays Web pages in a similar fashion as Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, using pinching and flipping gestures to zoom and scroll through content. Pages also reorient themselves based on the position of the device, flipping from landscape to portrait view depending on the tilt of the screen.

Photo by Donald Bell/CNET

Twitter Facebook War

On Thursday night, Facebook announced that it's launched its first official Twitter app--sort of. In a post on the company blog, Facebook announced that updates to "fan pages," public profiles for celebrities, brands, organizations, and what-have-you, can now be sent out through Twitter.
"Public figures, musicians, businesses and organizations of all types who've created Facebook Pages often want to share a status update, a photo or an event with as many of their supporters as possible," the post by Facebook employee Michael Gummelt read. "Celebrities may want to share personal news or charities may want to put out calls for help to both their Facebook fans and their Twitter followers, all at the same time."
This is basically something that many blogging and publishing services already do: offer a way to automatically syndicate a short blurb and a link onto Twitter. It's a no-brainer. But Facebook and Twitter have a complicated history. Facebook attempted to acquire Twitter last year, and Twitter turned the offer down. Then, earlier this summer, Facebook did acquire FriendFeed, a social-network aggregator that failed to gain mainstream traction but pioneered many of the real-time, streaming features that are now central to both Facebook and Twitter.

Apple Not So Secure

Apple has released Safari 4.0.3 to fix at least six security vulnerabilities that put Mac and Windows users at risk of hacker attacks.
The update is considered highly-critical and should be immediately applied on both Windows and Mac systems because of the risk of information disclosure, phishing and remote code execution attacks.
Here’s a snapshot of the vulnerabilities being fixed:

* CVE-2009-2468 (Windows XP and Vista) — A heap buffer overflow exists in the drawing of long
* text strings. Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds checking.
* CVE-2009-2188 (Windows XP and Vista) — A buffer overflow exists in the handling of EXIF metadata. Viewing a maliciously crafted image may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds checking.
* CVE-2009-2196 (Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista) – Safari 4 introduced the Top Sites feature to provide an at-a-glance view of a user’s favorite websites. It is possible for a malicious website to promote arbitrary sites into the Top Sites view through automated actions. This could be used to facilitate a phishing attack.
* CVE-2009-2195 (Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista) — A buffer overflow exists in WebKit’s parsing of floating point numbers. Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds checking.
* CVE-2009-2200 (Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista) — WebKit allows the pluginspage attribute of the ‘embed’ element to reference file URLs. Clicking “Go” in the dialog that appears when an unknown plug-in type is referenced will redirect to the URL listed in the pluginspage attribute. This may allow a remote attacker to launch file URLs in Safari, and lead to the disclosure of sensitive information. This update addresses the issue by restricting the pluginspage URL scheme to http or https.
* CVE-2009-2199 (Mac OS X, Windows XP and Vista) – The International Domain Name (IDN) support and Unicode fonts embedded in Safari could be used to create a URL which contains look-alike characters. These could be used in a malicious website to direct the user to a spoofed site that visually appears to be a legitimate domain. This update addresses the issue by supplementing
* WebKit’s list of known look-alike characters. Look-alike characters are rendered in Punycode in the address bar.

Game Sales Drop

Sales of video games and consoles in the US fell to $848.9m (£512.2m) in July, down 29% from $1.19bn in the same month last year.
It was the fifth consecutive monthly decline in the figures from the research group NPD.
Nintendo's Sports Resort game for the Wii console was the month's best-seller with 508,000 copies bought.
The Wii remained the top-selling console, followed by Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's Playstation 3.
About 250,000 Wii consoles were sold, which was roughly half the level from the same month last year.
There is optimism that sales will be boosted in the second half of the year by sales of new titles such as The Beatles: Rock Band, and the latest games in the Halo and Madden football series.
"I think the silver lining is, we're in the trough of the decline," said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan.
The thing is there are no good games out.

Apple iPhone SMS Flaw Patch

Apple has issued an iPhone 3.0.1 software update for flaw.
The flaw potentially allows an attacker to take control of a targeted phone by way of a specially crafted text message. Once the flaw has been exploited, an attacker could install malware on the device or use it to perform spam runs and further attacks.
Discovery of the flaw was credited to security researchers Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner. The two researchers formally announced and detailed the flaw earlier this week at the Blackhat security conference.
The researchers noted that similar flaws exist in the SMS components for the Google Android and Windows Mobile platforms.
As with all other iPhone software updates, users can download and install the new fix through iTunes. The update is installed when the user plugs the handset into an authorised Mac or PC system.
Discovery of the vulnerability comes as experts and cyber criminals have been giving increased attention to mobile phones. Security researchers have been attempting to secure handsets against attack, while hackers have been exploring potential avenues of attack and uses for compromised devices.

Twitter Gets A denial-of-service attack

Twitter was inaccessible for several hours on Thursday morning, followed by a period of slowness and sporadic time-outs (and more outright downtime). The company is blaming an "ongoing" denial-of-service attack but has not said anything further. Facebook has also confirmed that it was targeted by a DoS attack that rendered some of its features slow or non-functional.
"We are determining the cause and will provide an update shortly," Twitter's staff posted at 6:43 a.m. PDT on the service's status blog.
Then, around 7:49 a.m. PT, the company posted, "We are defending against a denial-of-service attack and will update status again shortly."
Around 8:15 a.m., the status blog post was updated with "The site is back up, but we are continuing to defend against and recover from this attack." (I still was unable to access Twitter.)
Way back when, Twitter outages were so commonplace that it was worth reporting when it didn't crash--as when it stayed afloat during the entire South by Southwest Interactive Festival in 2008.
Twitter wants to establish itself as a communications standard rather than just a social-media brand. It's been a crucial platform for information exchange in the face of global events where more traditional means of broadcasting have been inaccessible or blocked.

$388 Million Quarterly Loss By Sony

TOKYO — Sony reported a 37.1 billion yen first-quarter net loss on Thursday, and maintained its forecast for a second year of losses as the global economic slump continued to weigh on its bottom line.
Though the shortfall — the equivalent of $388 million — was less than some analysts had expected, the continued losses increased the pressure on Howard Stringer, Sony’s chairman, chief executive and president, to step up his turnaround effort. He was appointed four years ago to resuscitate the struggling company.
Mr. Stringer has promised to bring Sony back to profit by streamlining decision-making and more creatively linking the company’s hardware, Web and entertainment businesses. But like other Japanese exporters, Sony has been battered by declining sales as consumers have cut back on purchases of televisions and other personal technology.
The strong yen, which erodes overseas earnings and inflates production costs at home, has also hurt Sony, which earns three-quarters of its revenue outside Japan.
Sony’s troubles were reflected at its rival Nintendo, which reported a 61 percent drop in net profit on Thursday as sales of its popular Wii game console declined. Net income fell to 42.3 billion yen in the three months that ended June 30, Nintendo said. Should Sony give it up?.

Apple's Tablet Will We See It

Apple has consistently said it isn't interested in making a cheap "netbook" Mac in the US$500 price range. The retail cost of the simple desktop Mac mini ($599) seems to confirm that. In fact, any foray into the mini laptop space by Apple will most certainly erode the high-value MacBook and MacBook Pro lineup. Apple enjoys some of the biggest margins in the computing industry, and I doubt the company is willing to let them slip, especially considering its financial performance these days is the envy of most tech companies.
At the same time, didn't Apple just turn the aluminum 13-inch MacBook into a "MacBook Pro"? This leaves the polycarbonate "plastic" MacBook to anchor the laptop line's low-end entry. Might this maneuver shift the value proposition of the MacBook Pro so that it retains full "pro" value? Definitely. And doesn't this move give Apple some breathing room to create a smaller Mac device? You bet. September is a big month for Apple. For the last several years, that's when the company has made its important new music announcements. Pick an iPod, and most likely the world first heard about it in September.
If Apple CEO Steve Jobs is going to make a public appearance any time soon, there's a good chance he would do it to help launch a new product from the safety of the company's Cupertino, Calif., campus. The resulting flurry of coverage would be nothing less than astounding, of course.

Netflix Proves Critics Wrong Yet Again

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) released its Q2 report on Thursday after the bell. You had to like what you saw. Revenues increased 21%. Total subscribers went up 26%. Growth in net subscribers on a year-over-year basis was impressive, as was the increase observed in the gross margin. Free cash flow was up. And now for the final piece of the performance puzzle: adjusted earnings per share increased 29% to 58 cents. Very good.

Consumers have really taken to the Netflix model. They love getting DVDs by mail. And Netflix has really done a job on its major competitor, Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI). No doubt about it, I'm sure a lot of Blockbuster shareholders are wishing they were invested in Netflix.

How long can the good times last? Netflix also did pretty darn well in Q1. Plus, you have to wonder about the company's future. Although Netflix is attempting to prepare for the day when digital distribution overtakes physical media, will the company truly be up to the task? It sure looks like it, though you never know how smart a management team actually is until it faces a disruptive challenge.

Another thing to consider: Redbox. Redbox is a very convenient rental kiosk, although Netflix still holds an advantage over it. Sure, you might be able to rent movies immediately for a very low price in a supermarket, but since Redbox's model is new-release driven, the depth of selection is an unattractive element.

So, let me ask again: how long can the good times last? They'll likely last a long time, because whatever disruptions Netflix will have to eventually put up with in the future, they haven't arrived yet and the fundamentals of the business continue to be strong. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take some profits. Netflix was down in yesterday's after-hours session, although they were only down by roughly 1%. What does that say to me? Maybe this: Netflix may take a pause, but it will continue its run higher after the break. I'd wait to see how the quality of the price action shapes up over the next several trading sessions before putting money down on Netflix. Could be the wrong strategy considering how strong the stock has been, but that's what I'd be more comfortable doing.

Hulu Downloader

Hulu downloader is a powerful Windows utility that makes it easy to grab Flash movies from the Internet, save them on your hard drive, and play them when you want, without being connected to the Internet. GetFLV works quietly in the background, and downloads movies quickly and flawlessly. FLV Browser: It's easy to download Flash movies from Internet movie sites. Simply launch the FLV browser, and visit your favorite video site. Select and play a video, and click "download" to save it to your hard drive. FLV Downloader: Hulu downloader dramatically reduces the time that it takes to download Flash movies. The program splits the file into sections, and downloads multiple sections simultaneously, efficiently optimizing whatever Internet connection you're using. The program lets you create custom categories for all of your films, so you can easily find them when you want to watch them again. FLV to Video Converter: It's simple to convert a Flash file to MP4 format, and view it on your iPod. You can also convert movies to AVI, MPEG, 3GP, MOV, and WM formats, without having to wrestle with codecs or external software. After conversion, you can watch your movies on any of your computers or portable devices. Video to FLV Converter: Hulu downloader can convert any of these popular movie formats into Flash files. It supports almost all types of video formats such as MPEG, AVI, WMV, MOV, ASF, MP4, 3GP and etc. FLV Audio Ripper: Hulu downloader's built-in audio ripper can extract the music track from any Flash movie. It's easy to turn these extracted music tracks into MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, and other popular music formats. FLV Fixer: The program can even repair damaged Flash movies. The built-in FLV Fixer and MetaData Injector will analyze and repair Flash files that won't play properly. FLV Player: A built-in simple and handy FLV Player help you play FLV Files on any PC.Version 2.36.12 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

Palm beats expectations

Looks like Palm (PALM) is roaring back to credibility. After the markets closed today, the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based smart phone maker reported a net loss of $105 million, or 78 cents per share, for its fourth quarter ending May 29.

While it was far worse than its loss of $43.4 million, or 40 cents per share in the same period one year ago, it did beat analysts expectations for the quarter. "The launch of Palm webOS and Palm Pre was a major milestone in Palm's transformation; we have now officially reentered the race," Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein said in a statement. "We have more to accomplish, but the groundwork is laid for a very promising future here at Palm." Palm now offers consumers a very real alternative to Apple's (AAPL) iPhone. Analysts are forecasting revenue growth of 144 percent in 2010. It is a real achievement since the market for smart phones is more competitive than ever with big players such as Research In Motion (RIMM), Nokia (NOK), Google (GOOG) and Samsung going head-to-head with each other. Palm says it will also go after the enterprise market, an area which Research In Motion dominates and Apple is competing. Expect to see customer relationship management (CRM) software apps from Oracle (ORCL) and Salesforce.com (CRM) among the new apps. Palm is also talking about a few other corporate-friendly features, such as the ability to remotely erase data, encrypt confidential information and even find a lost Palm Pre using GPS technology.

Twitter pushing notifications

The release of iPhone 3.0 at last brought support for push notifications, the technology Apple first announced back at WWDC 2008, only to quietly stop talking about it as it reached and passed its original due date. Fortunately, the feature re-surfaced at WWDC 2009 as part of the new iPhone OS. But with push notifications now in the wild, it’s up to developers to take advantage of them.
So far a few uses have seen the light of day, such as instant-messaging clients and even an iPhone app for Growl notifications, but what of that most hot, hip, and with-it of social networks, Twitter? Twitter’s direct message functionality, which lets you send a private message (as long as the recipient follows you), particularly benefits from the addition of notifications, since it’s become a popular way for people to communicate, just like Facebook messages. In some cases, it’s an excellent substitute for sending text messages, and push notifications helps bring it up to snuff with the iPhone’s SMS support. For the most part, though, it does seem that push notifications are a feature that Twitter users are demanding, and it's likely that almost every popular client will have integrated the technology in some form or another before long. Then comes the real question: how will we handle the endless influx of notifications that is sure to await us? One can only hope there will be an app for that.

Yahoo in Our Sights Says Microsoft

Reports released this week showed that Bing search tool continues to gain ground in the search engine wars.
For the second time since Bing's launch just over a month ago, StatCounter Global Stats, which analyzes Web site traffic, reported that the new search engine's market share has passed that of the Yahoo search tool. According to the StatCounter report released today, Bing held a 12.9% share of the U.S. search market, while rival Yahoo held 10.15% at the start of July.
Both Microsoft and Yahoo are still well behind market behemoth Google.
The traffic tracker had reported last month that Bing had surpassed Yahoo on one day shortly after its June 1 launch.
Google held 74.04% of the search market in June, while Yahoo had 16.19% and Bing 5.25%. Bing did note that Bing's use grew by an average of 25% during each week in June. Microsoft and Google have been going head to head a lot lately. Microsoft threw its hat into the ring to take on Google's dominant search service, and just this week Google made a move to fire its own salvo back at Microsoft. Google pulled back the curtain and acknowledged that its working on putting out an operating system aimed at netbooks and PCs. And analysts say Google is the company in the best position to take on Microsoft and its vaunted Windows software.

$98 Blu-ray player from Wal-Mart

Several blogs are reporting that Wal-Mart has rolled back the price on the $168 Magnavox NB530MGX to $98 (in-store only).
Is the Magnavox NB530MGX any good? It's not a profile 2.0 player (so there's no BD-Live support) and it's about as entry-level as you get. But it is a Blu-ray player, so now all you people who said you'd only buy one when it cost less than $100 this may be your chance.Now that the price is fallen I expect we'll see more of these types of deals as we head into the holiday season with better models showing up at less than $150. Now when will the price of the media start falling? I think the funniest bit of news to this all is even after falling prices, HD players & media (and they're no longer a player in the market) are out selling Blu-Ray! I think this should tell Sony Something.

Some things still missing from MacBooks

There are still a few items on the MacBook wish list:

1-Matte screen options
Despite the fact that nearly every serious laptop user we know prefers matte, non-glossy screens, only Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a matte option--in the form of a $50 anti-glare coating add-on.
Especially with the current models' edge-to-edge glass, popping open a MacBook outdoors (or in an overlit room) is just asking for trouble. Sure, glossy screens make colors pop and movies more dramatic--but we'd like to have the option of choosing a matte screen anyway (and not for $50, either).

2-Blu-ray drives
While high-capacity Blu-ray drives aren't quite a necessity, the format is slowing gaining a foothold. Many inexpensive Windows laptops at least offer it as an option, and many high-end laptops in the MacBook's price range include a Blu-ray drive by default.
Leaving aside the idea of having a high-capacity optical backup capability, Blu-ray seems like a natural fit for the MacBook's multimedia-friendly vibe.

3-Mobile broadband options
Another widespread option from most PC makers. We're slowing getting to the point where having a mobile broadband account connected to your laptop is just a common tool, rather than an exotic novelty--especially with AT&T's iPhone tethering plan not yet available.
While having to choose one carrier's antenna over another is a hassle, we found the built-in Verizon 3G on the HP Mini 1151nr Netbook to be "an obvious mashup of two useful technologies."

4-HDMI outputs
Mini DisplayPort is Apple's video connection of choice, and we've also seen a push toward it from PC makers such as Dell. But few of us have an external display with DisplayPort--HDMI, VGA, and even DVI are all more common.
Apple offers some helpful adapters (at $29 each) for DVI and VGA--but no way to connect a new MacBook to an HDMI-equipped TV, for example. Fortunately, some third-party vendors now offer a DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter for around $15.

And of course the touch screens
If we had a dime for every blog rumor about an Apple tablet we've seen, we'd have at least enough for a large soy-based coffee beverage from Starbucks. Plus, Apple has already proven it's mastered the touch screen in the iPhone and iPod Touch.

DISH keeps their DVRs for now, TiVo says it's just a matter of time

News of another delay should be absolutely no surprise to anyone that's followed the details of this case, as DISH was granted a stay by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit pending its appeal of a $190 million ruling in favor of TiVo which will allow its customers to continue using their DVRs, at least for now. For its part, TiVo repeated its praise of the "thorough and well-reasoned decision finding EchoStar in contempt of court for violating the injunction and awarding further damages" and is confident the ruling will be upheld, again. Did anyone really think this one would just end so easily?

Read - DISH Network and EchoStar Statement Regarding Tivo
Read - TiVo Statement on Decision by U.S. Court of Appeals to Stay Permanent Injunction Issued by District Court in Lawsuit Against EchoStar

The New PSP Go

The New PSP Go. Independent UK games retailers Chips and Grainger Games are downbeat about Sony’s PSP Go release plans.

Neither retailer has received any pre-orders for the new handheld – which has yet to be officially priced in the UK, but will retail for $249 and €249 in the US and Europe upon its October 1 release – following the system’s official unveiling at E3 earlier this month.
Pushed on whether Chips might opt not to stock PSP Go across its 30 UK stores, McCabe said: “It’s a distinct possibility at the moment. If suddenly I get a wealth of pre-orders then I’ll reconsider my position, but right now I would have to say that it’s not our intention to stock the product at this point in time.”
The console will likely be offered at “basically” Grainger’s cost price, so while the retailer is likely to make just a small margin - if any - on each sale, it’s reluctant to turn customers away. “So we’ll probably still have the PSP Go, but we’ll probably start with a small campaign, and then stock them as we need them in very little numbers.”
While PSP Go’s UK pricing has yet to be determined, leading national retailer Game is currently taking pre-orders for the portable at a “guide price” of £229.99, with just a little over three months to go until release.

Transplant For Jobs

Steve Jobs, who has been on medical leave from Apple for the past six months, received a liver transplant at a hospital in Memphis, Tenn., two months ago. Earlier this year, Apple's CEO was reported to be relocating from California to Tennessee, which has a shorter waiting list for patients seeking organs.
The surgery, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was confirmed with Jobs' approval by the hospital where the procedure occurred. Methodist University Hospital added that Jobs received the liver because he was "the sickest patient on the waiting list at the time a donor organ became available."
Although Apple has chosen to remain quiet about the health of CEO Steve Jobs, a prominent investor criticized the handling of the situation. In an interview on CNBC, Berkshire Hathaway CEO and iconic investor Warren Buffett said Apple should have disclosed the seriousness of Jobs' illness, describing it as a "material fact" for shareholders of the company.

Farrah Fawcett R.I.P.

Farrah Fawcett, pop icon of the 1970s, has died. She was 62.

Her spokesman, Paul Bloch, says Fawcett died Thursday morning in
a Santa Monica hospital. Her 2½-year battle with cancer was
depicted in the TV documentary "Farrah's Story."

The pop icon, who in the 1980s set aside the fantasy girl image to tackle serious roles, died shortly before 9:30 a.m. in a Santa Monica hospital, spokesman Paul Bloch said.

Ryan O’Neal, the longtime companion who had reunited with Fawcett as she fought anal cancer, was at her side, along with close friend Alana Stewart, Bloch said.

"After a long and brave battle with cancer, our beloved Farrah has passed away," O’Neal said. "Although this is an extremely difficult time for her family and friends, we take comfort in the beautiful times that we shared with Farrah over the years and the knowledge that her life brought joy to so many people around the world."

She will be truly be missed. R.I.P.

Microsoft's free antivirus software?

Microsoft has officially unveiled its long-awaited consumer antivirus offering. Formerly code-named “Morro,” it’s now been christened Microsoft Security Essentials, and it will enter public beta testing next week. If you have a licensed copy of Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or above), Windows Vista, or Windows 7, you’ll be able to download and install the software at no additional charge. No subscription is required for ongoing definition updates, either. The final release is scheduled for this fall. Many will become beta testers (myself included) and if it's written half as good as Windows 7, they may have another hit.

New iPhone..really

Apple iPhone 3G S

The iPhone 3G S, which will hit stores June 19, promises a faster iPhone with an extended battery life, more memory, and improved features. It looks exactly the same as the previous model, but both the 16GB ($199) and new 32GB ($299) models will come in white and black versions.

So basically same old same old, Yet the fan boys will go out and buy yet another device no one needs.

What will become of all the old iphones?

DTV Is Here

As of today,we go digital. nearly all over-the-air analog TV transmission will cease in the United States. Some stations will continue with a so-called "analog nightlight" service until July 11--providing information about the DTV transition and notifying unprepared TV viewers of emergencies, such as hurricanes. And low-power stations will continue analog broadcasts for some time. But by and large, analog stations will be completing the transition to digital broadcasting that started several years ago.

Most people have either satellite or some form of cable (sorry for you guys), so it's not an issue for us. But for a few (tens of thousands) I hope you got your new boxes and are up and running, if not call your government..and tell me how that works out for you.

APPLE Afraid Of Palm?

Monday's keynote speech and demonstrations introduced the new iPhone 3GS that is supposed to be faster in terms of download and connection speeds and more robust when it comes to juggling applications.

While the new 3GS will begin selling for US$199 for a 16 GB version and $299 for 32 GBs starting June 19 (with a two-year service agreement), Apple's loudest shot across the bow at the rising tide of smartphone competitors like Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) and Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM) may be its new $99 price tag for the current iPhone 3G . That goes into effect immediately.

Is APPLE afraid of competition? I would have to say YES!