Top Items:
Ina Fried / CNET News:
Ballmer says Microsoft at work to rival iPad — REDMOND, Wash.—Acknowledging Apple's early success with the iPad, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer insisted Thursday that the software maker is hard at work on Windows-based tablets. — “They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready,” Ballmer said …
Michael V. Copeland / Fortune:
Google: The search party is over — Yes, the company is still growing at rates that would be the envy of the rest of the Fortune 500. But its core business is slowing, its stock is down, its Android mobile platform generates scant revenue, and competition (hello, Facebook) is fierce.
MG Siegler / TechCrunch:
In April, Apple Ditched Google And Skyhook In Favor Of Its Own Location Databases — As you're undoubtedly aware, location is one of the hottest fields out there right now. Startups, services, devices, and advertisers are all hovering around it. As you're also likely well aware, Apple likes to be in control of their own devices.
Antony Bruno / Billboard.Biz:
Sources: Spotify Reboots U.S. Label Negotiations — Spotify's licensing negotiations with the major music labels have reverted back to square one, Billboard.biz has learned from multiple sources. — Having failed to persuade the major record labels to go along with its vision for a U.S. version …
John R. Quain / Fox News:
For Apple Followers, It's a Matter of Faith, Academics Say — Apple CEO Steve Jobs, with the Apple iPad displayed over his shoulder, delivers the keynote address during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Monday, June 7, 2010, in San Francisco. — Its tablet computer can't play …
Alexia Tsotsis / TechCrunch:
Google Confirms: We're Not Currently Blocked In China — We've just received word from Google that they are not currently blocked in China and that a server issue was most likely the cause of their dashboard misread. From Google: … While their statement also confirms that there was a small amount …
Discussion:
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Mia / YouTube Blog:
Upload limit increases to 15 minutes for all users — We want YouTube to be the best place to upload video. Without question, the number one requested feature by our creators is to upload videos longer than 10 minutes. We've heard you, and today we're pleased to announce that we've increased the upload limit to 15 minutes.
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Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:
How to hide yourself from Google and cell phone carriers — The problem with being private is that it increasingly means that you have to choose to drop out of society. You would never let the government put a tracking device on you, but you may be carrying a cell phone that tracks your location.
Anthony Ha / VentureBeat:
Y Combinator's Paul Graham: Say goodbye to traditional venture rounds — Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham today offered an overview of how he has seen the angel and startup world evolve in the last year. Among other trends, he argued that the traditionally structured venture round is becoming irrelevant.
Mary Jo Foley / All about Microsoft Blog:
Microsoft: We are focusing on eight core businesses — Microsoft critics tend to knock the company for being either too reliant on its cash cows (Windows and Office) or too scattered, chasing too many nonprofitable businesses. — At the kick-off of the company's annual Financial Analyst Meeting …
Discussion:
VentureBeat, eWeek, Bink.nu, Between the Lines Blog, The Register, ReadWriteWeb, The Microsoft Blog, Pulse2 and The Official Microsoft Blog
Quarup Barreirinhas / Google LatLong:
Rain or Snow, Now You Can See Weather in Google Earth — It's the middle of summer, but for those of us who long for the return of cold winter weather and warm cups of cocoa, throw on your favorite poncho and check out the weather in Google Earth 5.2. The latest version projects images …
Chris Ziegler / Engadget:
EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? (update: official for August 3rd!) — We're not certain that this date is going to hold — things like this have an uncanny tendency to slip at the last possible moment …
Discussion:
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MG Siegler / TechCrunch:
Google Opens Places API With Initial Focus On Check-In Apps — At Google I/O in May, the search giant indicated that they were about to take their commitment to location to the next level. Sure, Latitude had been around for a while, but everyone knew that Google could do more in the space.
Eric Savitz / Tech Trader Daily:
Oracle Sued By U.S. Justice Department For Contract Fraud — The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Oracle (ORCL) for contract fraud, alleging the company over-charged the government in hundreds of millions of dollars worth software sales. — Under a contrast with the General Services Administration …
Joel Schectman / Associated Press:
Adult industry sees iPorn potential in new phone — NEW YORK — It's a maxim of technology: Invent the newest gadget and the porn industry will find a way to cash in. — So when Apple Inc. launched the iPhone 4 and its FaceTime videoconference feature, it didn't take long …
Alexandra Odynova / The Moscow Times:
YouTube Banned by a Far East Court — A Far East court has banned YouTube and four other web sites for “extremist” content in a ruling that promises to raise new worries about free speech. — The Internet is widely recognized as the last uncensored media in Russia, and the ruling nudges …
ifixit.com:
Magic Trackpad Teardown — Have you ever wondered what makes a trackpad magical? Well wonder no more. Join us as we delve into the deep abyss of Apple's ocean of magical peripherals to explore the mysterious Magic Trackpad.
Discussion:
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Mary Jo Foley / All about Microsoft Blog:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 beta due in September — Microsoft is readying a beta of its Internet Explorer (IE) 9 browser that it will roll out in September, according to Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner. — Turner shared the beta date during his morning keynote …
Discussion:
Neowin.net, Redmond Pie, Ars Technica, GeekSmack, eWeek, BlogsDNA, Lockergnome Blog Network, The Microsoft Blog and Download Squad
Jessica Ramirez / Newsweek:
Blackberry Inventor Sees More Growth Opportunity — Mike Lazaridis, the man who virtually invented the smart-phone market, insists his company is just getting started. — If you know the name Mike Lazaridis, you've probably heard some variation of how he came up with the idea for the Blackberry …
Jonathan E. Skillings / CNET News:
Best Buy to offer Clearwire 4G service — Best Buy is beefing up its recently launched wireless broadband service in a deal with 4G provider Clearwire. — Through its Best Buy Connect service, which debuted just a few weeks ago, the electronics retailer plans to offer customers a new 4G tier starting in 2011.
Lauren Goode / Digits:
How Low Will E-Reader Prices Go? — As Amazon prepares to release a $139 Kindle e-reader next month, could even cheaper e-readers be close behind? — A small manufacturer already plans to introduce a $99 device this fall. Copia, a subsidiary of DMC Worldwide, is set to offer a $99 …
Erick Schonfeld / TechCrunch:
Google Introduces Location-Aware Mobile Display Ads — Google's mobile ads are becoming more location-aware. Today, Google is introducing mobile display ads for both the iPhone and Android phones which can be geo-targeted. Advertisers will be able to check a “location extension for display” …
Robin Wauters / TechCrunch:
Google's Mobile Search Market Share: An Estimated, Whopping 98.29% — How's this for absolutely dominating an increasingly lucrative and fast-growing segment? — Google currently boasts a mobile search market share of 98.29%, with it closest competitor Yahoo taking up just over .8% …
