Top Items:
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:
Bill Gates On The Future Of DRM — Microsoft convened a small group of bloggers today at their Redmond headquarters to discuss the upcoming Mix Conference in Las Vegas. Highlights of the day included: — The receipt of a Zune as a gift (the third I've received from Microsoft - I now have all three colors)
RELATED:
Steve Rubel / Micro Persuasion:
Our Sixty Minutes with Bill Gates — A group of bloggers and online influencers, myself included, got to sit down today with Bill Gates as part of Microsoft's special Mix n' Mash 07 event. The day's participants included an eclectic group of individuals. Some were bloggers …
Liz Gannes / GigaOM:
Bill Gates on the Future of Web Apps — I'm up at Microsoft HQ with a group dubbed "leaders in various aspects of the web community" for a day that closed with an hour-long conversation with Bill Gates. Gates opened with remarks about recent products, as well as the coming ascension …
Steve / The Tomorrow Times:
How to login to an expired Windows — Microsoft has a neat little way to prevent software piracy of their Windows operating system. "Windows Genuine Advantage"[edit: I stand corrected, it has nothing to do with WGA] with its "Product Activation" requirement.
RELATED:
Alexkoc / Windows Genuine Advantage:
The 'Frankenbuild' monster — Over the last few weeks, we've seen a number of attempts at workarounds for Vista product activation. As of now there are at least two distinct workarounds that have worked to some degree, but I'm sure there are more on the way.
Ina Fried / CNET News.com:Microsoft tries to stop Vista piracy monster
Discussion:
GigaLaw.com Daily News
Eric Auchard / Reuters:
Start-up Jaxtr lets friends phone you on your blog — SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A Silicon Valley start-up is gearing up to embed free, Web-based telephone services on a variety of popular social networking and blogging services, including MySpace, Friendster and Blogger.
RELATED:
Natali Del Conte / TechCrunch:
Glam Media Gets $18.5 Million And A CNET Chairman — Glam Media, a fashion and lifestyle Web site, has a trifecta of news today. It has received $18 million in Series C funding, CNET chairman Jarl Mohn is joining the company as an investor and strategic adviser, and there is a new partnership …
Discussion:
VentureBeat
RELATED:
Stuart Elliott / New York Times:
Online, P.& G. Gets a Little Crazy — A MARKETER once known as much for its moral rectitude as its soaps and detergents is pushing further into the brave world of new media with a provocative effort asserting that men can suffer from menstrual cramps. — Not long ago, the company …
Kevin J. Delaney / Wall Street Journal:
Google Tests New Ad Offerings — But Will Advertisers Follow? — Google Inc. has been racing to extend its reach on the Internet and in traditional media. Now it needs advertisers to follow. — Among those it is wooing is Alan Cohen, chief marketing officer of Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. Early …
Schneier / Schneier on Security:
Real-World Passwords — How good are the passwords people are choosing to protect their computers and online accounts? — It's a hard question to answer because data is scarce. But recently, a colleague sent me some spoils from a MySpace phishing attack: 34,000 actual user names and passwords.
Scott Ferguson / eWEEK.com:
Analyst: Look for Apple to Gain Market Share in 2007 — With its conversion to Intel processors, the so-called "halo effect" of the iPod and the availability of the Boot Camp software, Apple Computer's Macintosh will gain market share in 2007, according to one analyst.
Business Wire:
SEVEN Grows Leadership Team — Industry Veteran Joins as CEO; $42M in Expansion Capital — REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—SEVEN, the global leader in white-label mobile email, today announced that Ross Bott will join the company as its new chief executive officer effective January 1, 2007.
Discussion:
VentureBeat
Windows Live Local:
New Virtual Earth release launches — Although its a minor point release, this build of Virtual Earth packs a few great new features. I mentioned a couple days ago that the Birds Eye navigation control was being replaced soon, and today marks the day. Makes me want to sing the witch is dead song from Wizard of Oz.
BBC:
Skype users to get lie detectors — Callers using internet phone system Skype who might be tempted to tell a few porkies should beware - the user on the other end may have a lie detector. — Skype is to offer the KishKish Lie Detector, which is made by BATM, as an add-on for customers.
Discussion:
Gear Factor
Natali Del Conte / TechCrunch:
Yahoo Music Releases Video 3.0 — Yahoo Music launched Video 3.0 in beta today. The company sent us the screenshots below to give us a preview of the new video player. — Video 3.0 will have both Firefox and Mac compatibility through flash technology, higher quality video streams, and tailored playlist capabilities.
David Pogue / New York Times:
Vista Wins on Looks. As for Lacks ... After five years of starts, stops, executive shuffling, feature rethinks and delays, Windows Vista is finally complete. It's available to corporations already, and starting Jan. 30, it's what you'll get on any new PC.
Eric Bangeman / Ars Technica:
Debate over iTunes sales direction: what's going on? — A couple of days ago, Infinite Loop reported on a research note from Forrester Research which said that Apple's music sales were slowing and that sales of the company's venerable iPod were failing to drive downloads from the iTunes Store.
