Top Items:
Ben Parr / Mashable!:
Google to Launch Groupon Competitor [EXCLUSIVE] — Google is preparing launch Google Offers, the search giant's Groupon competitor, Mashable has learned. We have the documents to prove it. One of our sources has sent us a confidential fact sheet straight from the Googleplex about the company's new group buying service.
Discussion:
BaltTech, Ars Technica, Post Tech, Digital Trends, VatorNews, Venture Capital Dispatch, Forbes, Computerworld, SAI, msnbc.com, Techie Buzz, Deal Journal, Changing Way, DailyTech, Yipit Blog, Understanding Google …, Wall Street Journal, The Register, VentureBeat, Gearlog, CNET News, @gaberivera, Techland, SlashGear, eMoney, Softpedia News, Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim, Examiner, paidContent, Electricpig.co.uk, Gizmodo, @tristanwalker, The Domains, Go Rumors, Neowin.net, Screenwerk and The Next Web, more at Mediagazer », Thanks:edwardaten
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Greg Sterling / Search Engine Land:
Confirmed: Google Readies “Google Offers” Groupon Clone — Google is about to launch a Groupon clone according to Mashable. Called “Google Offers,” the blog showed some promotional collateral that presents a very Groupon-like daily deal offering: [Google Offers Image] As everyone reading this knows …
Discussion:
The Next Web, Fast Company, Switched, TechEye, Tnooz, Black Web 2.0 and Fortune
Ken Auletta / New Yorker:
Why Is Eric Schmidt Stepping Down at Google? — Was Eric Schmidt pushed or did he jump? Both. According to close advisors, the Google C.E.O. was upset a year ago when co-founder Larry Page sided with his founding partner, Sergey Brin, to withdraw censored searches from China.
Discussion:
MediaFile, VentureBeat, SAI, The Atlantic Online, Thoughts from the Sidelines and Felix Salmon
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Eric Schmidt / The Official Google Blog:
An update from the Chairman — When I joined Google in 2001 I never imagined—even in my wildest dreams—that we would get as far, as fast as we have today. Search has quite literally changed people's lives—increasing the collective sum of the world's knowledge and revolutionizing advertising in the process.
Discussion:
Fortune, Mobile Marketing Watch, SAI, All Facebook, Guardian, BuzzMachine, Gizmodo, ITworld.com, Search Engine Land, DailyFinance, Socialnomics, OStatic blogs, CNN, Internet Evolution, Softpedia News, MacDailyNews, Network World, Mashable!, TechCrunch, Macworld, asymco, AOL News, VatorNews, Between the Lines Blog, Newsbook, Disruptors, Inquirer, The Tech Report, Peter O'Kelly's Reality Check, PC Pro, The Huffington Post, Examiner, NBC Bay Area, Thoughts from the Sidelines, Redmond Pie, InformationWeek, CNET News, The Consumerist, Computerworld, 901am, Kotaku, @qhardy, @edbott, @anildash, TechEye, fierceonlinevideo.com …, Open Source Blog, WebProNews, The Next Web, Digital Daily, LAPTOP Magazine, Silicon Valley Watcher, @cdixon, Epicenter, AndroidGuys, VentureBeat, paidContent, MediaMemo and Xconomy, more at Mediagazer »
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch:
TechCrunch Interview With Eric Schmidt, Larry Page And Sergey Brin — Late last summer we were ready to break a big story - that Eric Schmidt would be stepping down as the CEO of Google. Multiple sources and all that jazz. The basic story was that he was tired (who wouldn't be) …
Discussion:
Computerworld, SAI, SAI, paidContent, Wall Street Journal, Wall Street Journal and Between the Lines Blog, more at Mediagazer »
Google Investor Relations:
Google Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2010 Results and Management Changes — Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced financial results for the quarter and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. — “Q4 marked a terrific end to a stellar year,” said Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google.
Nathan Olivarez-Giles / L.A. Times Tech Blog:
Eric Schmidt, Google's outgoing CEO, to cash out shares worth $335 million
Justin Scott / Mozilla Add-ons Blog:
Blocking the Skype Toolbar in Firefox — The Skype Toolbar for Firefox is an extension that detects phone numbers in web pages, and re-renders them as a clickable button that can be used to dial the number using the Skype desktop application. This extension is bundled with the Skype application …
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Robin Wauters / TechCrunch:
Mozilla To Block Skype's Browser Toolbar - Skype Responds, Recommends Upgrading
Discussion:
The Next Web
Mark Gurman / 9 to 5 Mac:
iPad 2 will have the same cameras as the iPod touch — Oh, hello. We've done some digging in the latest SDK it looks like Apple's much rumored second-generation iPad will not feature some fancy 5 megapixel camera, but will instead shoot your flicks and take your pics with something close to a 1 megapixel camera.
Discussion:
MacRumors, VentureBeat, Thoughts from the Sidelines, Gearlog, Erictric, MacNN, everythingiCafe, SlashGear and App Advice
Sam Gustin / Epicenter:
Tweets Hit Techmeme, Bloggers in a Tizzy — For years, Techmeme has been considered the tech news website of record. A quick glance at the site, which aggregates tech news headlines from across the web, will tell you the topics that people are discussing, and who is discussing them, at any moment in time.
Discussion:
broadstuff, @thestalwart and @jason, more at Mediagazer »
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Gabe Rivera / Techmeme News:
Tweets can now become Techmeme headlines or discussion. So tweet away.
Discussion:
SEO and Tech Daily
Theuni / XBMC:
You asked for it: XBMC for AppleTV2, iPad, iPhone4. — The XBMC team is proud to present our first ARM-based release, and it's a big one. Scott Davilla, with the help of Edgar (gimli) Hucek and Zeljko (amet) Ametovic and several other developers and testers, is finally ready to pull the curtain off of his fun little secret.
Discussion:
Geek.com, TUAW, Engadget, TiPb, Zatz Not Funny!, AppleInsider, SlashGear, Pocket-lint, MacStories, Download Squad, Lifehacker, MacRumors, BlogsDNA, GeekTonic and eHomeUpgrade
Ryan Tate / Gawker:
Meet Apple's New Boss, The Most Powerful Gay Man in Silicon Valley — It looks increasingly like Steve Jobs' reign at Apple is over. If the CEO doesn't return from his third, indefinite medical leave, COO Tim Cook will succeed him, marking a new era not only for Apple but for gay progress.
Discussion:
blogs.chron.com, Apple Headlines, AppleInsider, @jevaun and SFist
Jeanette Borzo / Wall Street Journal:
Can Employers Fire Over Facebook Gaffes? — Facebook gaffes that can cause trouble in the workplace aren't unique to drunken college students any more. As more companies—and their workers—tap into the world of blogs, Twitter and Facebook, employers are tripping over legal potholes in social media.
Florian Mueller / FOSS Patents:
New evidence supports Oracle's case against Google — Google faces a steep challenge in its defense against Oracle's lawsuit over seven Java patents and some copyrighted material. More than five months after Oracle's complaint, Google appears unable to countersue Oracle over patent infringement …
Discussion:
Engadget, Inquirer, Electronista, SAI, Android Community, Geek.com, Android Phone Fans, PalmAddicts, SlashGear, CNET News, V3.co.uk and Gizmodo
Matt Cutts / The Official Google Blog:
Google search and search engine spam — January brought a spate of stories about Google's search quality. Reading through some of these recent articles, you might ask whether our search quality has gotten worse. The short answer is that according to the evaluation metrics that we've refined …
DigiTimes:
Apple adds Taiwan suppliers for iPhone 5, says paper — Apple has added Foxconn Electronics, Foxlink, Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) and Epistar as component suppliers for the iPhone 5 smartphone, scheduled for launch during summer at the earliest, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report.
Discussion:
9 to 5 Mac, Computerworld, Electronista, MacStories, The Next Web and iClarified
MG Siegler / TechCrunch:
Verizon's First iPhone Commercial: It Begins — Well that didn't take long. Here it is, the first Verizon iPhone commercial. — As you can see, the focus is on clock — the first one on 11:59 — implying that people in all different walks of life are waiting for something.
Discussion:
Engadget, MacRumors, DSLreports, IntoMobile, Crave, Daring Fireball, PhoneArena, GottaBeMobile, VentureBeat, Digital Daily, App Advice, MacStories, Phones Review and TechCrunch Japan
Ryan Kim / GigaOM:
Google's Android Market Rules Could Squeeze Amazon's Android App Store — Google's stance on prohibiting apps in Android Market from being mini-app stores led to the quick demise of Kongregate Arcade, a Flash game portal app that was pulled Wednessday less than a day after it launched.
Discussion:
TechEye, ITworld.com, Techie Buzz and Business Wire
Adrian Chen / Gawker:
What a Stolen Credit Card Costs on the Digital Black Market — Cybercriminals have gotten so sophisticated recently that their operations are almost indistinguishable from the legit businesses they rip off. Here's a “menu” of services offered by cybercriminals, including working physical credit cards …
Kyle VanHemert / Gizmodo:
Apple's Making It Impossible To Open Up Your iPhone By Secretly Swapping Its Screws — Apple's products are notoriously difficult to open and repair—surprise, they want you to buy new stuff!—but this is especially ridiculous. During repairs, they're replacing the iPhone 4's Philips screws …
Discussion:
Digital Trends, TechEye, Crave, Gadget Lab, AppleInsider and MobileWhack.com
Mark Gurman / 9 to 5 Mac:
Mass shipments of iPad 2 now expected in April — Although Apple was rumored to launch the iPad in February or March, a new report from Digitimes claims Apple's next-gen tablet will hit the mass shipment stage in April of this year. In addition, Apple has upped their amount of PCB suppliers …
Discussion:
Computerworld, DigiTimes, SlashGear, Appolicious Advisor and Electronista
Doug Palmer / Reuters:
Analysis: Hu addresses U.S. stress over China high-tech drive — (Reuters) - China's plan to change itself from a major manufacturer to a leading global source of innovation poses an enormous challenge for U.S. companies whose competitive edge depends on coming up with the next big idea.
comScore, Inc.:
Email Evolution: Web-based Email Shows Signs of Decline in the U.S. While Mobile Email Usage on the Rise — Growing Number of Communication Channels Prompts Shift in Consumers' Email Behavior — comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results …
Discussion:
Internet2Go, Online Dating Insider, MediaPost and Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim
Rob Jackson / Android Phone Fans:
Motorola Apologizes For PR Gaffe, Promises Better Bootloader Policy — Despite Motorola continually making some of the hottest Android handsets - and the pattern continues with the Atrix - some of the most passionate Android fans refuse to become customers because of a “locked bootloader”.
Discussion:
Engadget
Riley McDermid / VentureBeat:
VCs roared back in 2010, investing the most money since 2007 — Venture capitalists invested the most money last year since 2007, pumping $21.8 billion into 3,277 deals in 2010, according to a MoneyTree Report released today by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.
Discussion:
GigaOM, Datamation and DealBook
Andrew Nusca / Between the Lines Blog:
Zero Day blogger Dancho Danchev: he's back — Boy, Dancho, you had us worried. — Our dear cybersecurity expert Dancho Danchev, who mysteriously disappeared back when the leaves were only begin to turn colors here in New York City, is back in the saddle. (And doing just fine, thank you.)
Discussion:
TechCrunch, @danchodanchev, @danchodanchev and Gawker
