Top Items:
Walter S. Mossberg / Wall Street Journal:
Vista: Worthy, Largely Unexciting — XP Successor Doesn't Break — New Ground on Ease of Use, — But It's Best Windows Yet — A new version of Microsoft Windows, the world's most popular and important computer operating system, will finally arrive for consumers on Jan. 30.
Discussion:
TechBlog, CrunchGear, Blogging Stocks, Mark Evans, Engadget, Good Morning Silicon Valley and Slashdot
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Aaron Ricadela / InformationWeek:
Microsoft Plans Downloadable Versions of Windows Vista, Office — Microsoft plans for the first time to make its new Windows Vista operating system and Office 2007 productivity suite available for downloading by PC users over the Internet. — Downloadable software has become a standard …
Nick White / Windows Vista Team Blog:
Multiple announcements today — Good news arrives today on several Windows Vista-related fronts, my friends ... read on. — Windows Anytime Upgrade — Today we're announcing further detail on how Windows Anytime Upgrade works. Come 30 January, Windows Anytime Upgrade will allow customers …
Discussion:
All about Microsoft, CyberNet Technology News, Channel 9, Quick Online Tips and GottaBeMobile.com
Scott Kirsner / New York Times:
Some Bling for Your Blog — PASTOR BOB HYATT acknowledges that his widget fixation may be getting a little out of control. — On his Web log, Pastor Hyatt, the leader of the Evergreen Community in Portland, Ore., has woven in widgets, or mini-applications, that show a selection of book covers …
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Nick Wilson / Search Engine Land:
2007 Guide To Linkbaiting: The Year Of Widgetbait? — Way back in 2005 we started talking about linkbait, a term that was coined on Threadwatch which I owned and ran at the time. Linkbait was used to describe viral, linkable content designed to attract thousands of links.
Rob Kelley / CNNMoney.com:
Apple earnings skyrocket — iPod maker blows past projections with record earnings and revenue of over $7 billion; iPod sales up 50 percent. — NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Apple's profit soared in the latest quarter thanks to strong holiday sales of its iPod music and video player.
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Stephanie / About Skype:
Skype Takes Internet Communications One Step Further With New Pricing Strategy — Disruptive pricing gives Skype users more value and choice. — LUXEMBOURG, January 18, 2007 - Skype, the global Internet communications company, today announced its new global pricing structure which offers a simple …
Discussion:
21talks
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Thomas Ricker / Engadget:
The Google Switch: an iPhone killer? — Color us skeptics on this one, but we've got a tipster claiming to have the scoop on Google Switch. This version of the mythical Googlephone is said to be the result of a collaboration with Samsung — not Alpha Networks or HTC.
Terry Ott / Toronto Sun:
Deal for Beatles on iTunes in works — The worldwide Beatles grapevine is buzzing over the distinct possibility that the long-awaited remastering of the Fab Four's United Kingdom CD back catalogue will finally see the light of day — by June. — As per usual, Apple/EMI is presently mum …
Prince McLean / AppleInsider:
Mac OS X Leopard to sport next-gen DVD Player software (images) — A major upgrade to Apple's DVD Player software due to ship with the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system release will pack oodles of new features wrapped in a sleekly overhauled user interface, AppleInsider has learned.
Oliver / MobileCrunch:
Nokia N800; A Real World Review After One Month's Use — N800 Photos Posted a.k.a. Thwarted by My NDA — Sometimes being tight with a company is a double edged sword. Take the recent unveiling of the Nokia N800. I'd been using the device daily for a month but couldn't post the images …
Andrew Orlowski / The Register:
Orb brings iTunes to Wii console — Demonstrating that you can do convergence on a budget, Orb claims that Nintendo Wii owners have downloaded 50,000 copies of its software that permits them to access their home music and photo collections on their games consoles.
Owen Thomas / Business 2.0 Beta:
Google: We Own Green and Blue Links — Google's AdSense program, which places ads on all kinds of websites, is how a lot of Web 2.0 sites make their money. Now Google (GOOG) — has made a move to increase its lock on the market by shutting out rival services, the JenSense blog reports.
Om Malik / GigaOM:
MySpace Blocking Widgets? — A couple of days ago Robert Young hinted that MySpace might be looking to block-and-tackle-and squeeze some of the widget makers in an effort to bolster its bottom line. Well, looks like the day has arrived sooner that we thought.
Discussion:
Thomas Hawk's Digital …
Brad Stone / New York Times:
Don't Like the Dancing Cowboys? Results Say You Do — Most online advertisements are becoming less obtrusive and more tailored to the interests of individual Web users. Among the stubborn holdouts are the two-stepping cowboys, frisky rooftop dancers and weird tattoos in ubiquitous Web banners from LowerMyBills.com.
Kelefa Sanneh / New York Times:
With Arrest of DJ Drama, the Law Takes Aim at Mixtapes — In the world of hip-hop few music executives have more influence than DJ Drama. His "Gangsta Grillz" compilations have helped define this decade's Southern rap explosion. He has been instrumental in the careers of rappers like Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne.
Bill Tancer / Hitwise US:
Google Checks in with Checkout — This post from Danny Sullivan's Search Engine Land alerted us to the latest push by Google to promote their new checkout service. As we've seen in previous posts here and here, the prominent placement of a Google Service on the home page usually results in a surge of visits to that service.
