Top Items:
Ben Parr / Mashable!:
EXCLUSIVE: Google to Retire Blogger & Picasa Brands in Google+ Push — Say goodbye to the Picasa and Blogger names: Google intends to retire several non-Google name brands and rename them as Google products, Mashable has learned. — The move is part of a larger effort to unify its brand …
Discussion:
TechCrunch, Google Operating System, The Next Web, Marketing Pilgrim, SocialTimes.com, Examiner, Softpedia News, Engadget, Neowin.net, Android Phone Fans, PetaPixel, Pocket-lint, @kevinrose, Digital Trends, PC World, ReadWriteWeb, lalawag, SlashGear, Geek.com, TechSpot, @zee, The Business Insider, Google+ Info, The Digital Home, Digitizor, Between the Lines Blog, Search Engine Land, 9to5Google, 1001 Noisy Cameras, PSFK, Webomatica and Gadgetsteria
RELATED:
Tom Cheredar / VentureBeat:
Google retiring Blogger and Picasa brands for public launch of Google+
Google retiring Blogger and Picasa brands for public launch of Google+
Discussion:
SocialTimes.com, Google Operating System and Neowin.net
MG Siegler / TechCrunch:
On The Eve Of One Facebook Event, The Spartans Prepare For Another — Tomorrow morning at their headquarters in Palo Alto, Facebook is holding an event to show off an “awesome” new product. Our sources tell us that product with be the long-rumored Skype integration within Facebook for full …
Discussion:
OurielOhayon, ReadWriteWeb, Softpedia News, PC World, Electronista, Gadgetsteria, SlashGear, 9to5Mac and CNET News
Jenna Wortham / Gadgetwise:
Is Google's Hangouts Its Killer App? — Last night a chatroom changed my life. — But it wasn't just any chatroom. It was a virtual “hangout,” the group video chat service that is a prominent feature of Google+, Google's new social-networking service that aims to challenge Facebook..
Discussion:
Googling Google Blog, FierceVoIP and PC World
RELATED:
Janko Roettgers / GigaOM:
Google plans to open Hangouts for interoperability
Google plans to open Hangouts for interoperability
Discussion:
Google+ Info, VentureBeat, Softpedia News and juberjabber
Philip Elmer-DeWitt / Fortune:
Steve Jobs' bio gets a new title — “iSteve: The Book of Jobs” was the publisher's idea. The author had second thoughts. — Amazon still doesn't have the title quite right — The first biography of Apple's (AAPL) CEO to get Steve Jobs' blessing — and cooperation — hasn't yet been published.
Discussion:
9to5Mac, AppleInsider, The Business Insider, TUAW, MacRumors, CNET News, MacHackPC, everythingiCafe, Gizmodo, MacNN, Shiny Objects and The Next Web
FierceWireless:
Verizon confirms it will ditch unlimited smartphone data plans starting July 7 — Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) will switch to a new, usage-based pricing model for smartphone data starting July 7, a company spokeswoman confirmed. — Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney told FierceWireless …
Discussion:
Gadget Lab, VatorNews, BerryReview.com, Techland, Reuters, IntoMobile, L.A. Times Tech Blog, VzBuzz, SocialTimes.com, Examiner, DailyTech, CNNMoney.com, AndroidGuys, ITworld.com, Sidecut Reports, PC World, AppleInsider, Mobile Technology News, TechSpot, dailywireless.org, Evolver.fm, Gizmodo, Engadget, MediaPost, BetaNews, Know Your Cell, CNET News, TiPb, BGR, iPhone, AllThingsD, Phone Scoop, VentureBeat, GeekSugar, GottaBeMobile, App Advice, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, PhoneArena, Light Reading, blog.chron.com, GigaOM, DSLreports, PhoneDog.com, MobileBurn.com, LAPTOP Magazine, The Toybox Blog, Shelly Palmer Digital Living, SlashGear, Hardware 2.0 Blog, iPhone Download Blog, Daring Fireball, This is my next and Android Phone Fans
Lauren Indvik / Mashable!:
Twitter Testing Facebook-Like Message Wall [PIC] — Twitter is testing a Facebook-like message wall on profile pages, prompting users to send public tweets (a.k.a @ replies, or mentions) to specific users directly from their profile pages. — Twitter is testing the feature with a small percentage of users.
Discussion:
The Business Insider, Softpedia News, Lockergnome Posts, Redmond Pie, Marketing Pilgrim, FT Tech Hub and @dannysullivan
Florian Mueller / FOSS Patents:
Google says at least one of Oracle's patents-in-suit is not even used in Java — Today Google filed its reply to Oracle's opposition to its Daubert motion (a request by Google to exclude Oracle's damages expert Prof. Cockburn and his damages report). — The disagreement over damages calculation methodologies goes on.
Discussion:
V3.co.uk and ITworld.com
David M. Ewalt / Metagamer:
What Is Nintendo Planning With The Wii U? Reggie Fils-Aime Explains It All — Reggie Fils-Aime (Image by Getty Images via @daylife) — Reggie Fils-Aime is president and chief operating officer of Nintendo of America, a division of the Japanese video game giant.
Discussion:
The Toybox Blog, Electricpig.co.uk, Engadget, T3.com News, Eurogamer, Fudzilla, VG247, Digital Trends, GoNintendo, Joystiq and MTV Multiplayer
Miyoung Kim / Reuters:
Microsoft wants Samsung to pay smartphone license: report — (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp has demanded that Samsung Electronics Co Ltd pay $15 for each smartphone handset it makes based on Google Inc's Android operating system as the software giant has a wide range of patents used in the mobile platform …
Discussion:
The Next Web, Engadget, Electronista and WinRumors
RELATED:
Jon Brodkin / Network World:
Microsoft patent division taking cash from at least 5 Android vendors
Microsoft patent division taking cash from at least 5 Android vendors
Discussion:
AppleInsider, Seattle Times, @bradsmi, GeekWire, Geek.com, Engadget, The Next Web, Neowin.net, CNET News, TechEye and paidContent
Wall Street Journal:
New Financing Values Twitter as High as $7 Billion — Even as Internet companies such as Zynga Inc. and Groupon Inc. file to go public, Twitter Inc. is taking a different route: It is continuing to tap private investors. — The fast-growing Internet messaging service is currently …
Stuart Dredge / Music Ally:
Virgin Media announces its streaming music deal with Spotify — UK ISP Virgin Media has inked its long-anticipated partnership with streaming music service Spotify. The ISP will be offering Spotify to its customers over broadband, mobiles and TVs - the latter through an integration with its TiVO-powered set-top box.
Discussion:
Inquirer, mocoNews, Pocket-lint and The Next Web, Thanks:stuartdredge
MG Siegler / TechCrunch:
If Google Buzz Is A Black Hole For Sharing Traffic, Google+ Is The Big Bang — Back in March of last year, we noted that Google Buzz, Google's shiny new social network at the time, was getting smoked in terms of referral traffic sent our way, by a dead man, FriendFeed.
Discussion:
ZDNet, Technology Questions and @dannysullivan
Electronista:
Another iPad leak source pleads guilty — Shimoon pleads guilty to slipping iPad info — One-time Flextronics development head Walter Shimoon on Tuesday pled guilty to leaking iPad trade secrets and others. In return for a lighter penalty, the former executive admitted to passing along information …
Discussion:
9to5Mac, Fortune, The Register, DealBook, Sydney Morning Herald, TechEye, everythingiCafe, PalmAddicts, AppleInsider, Mac Post and DisplayBlog, Thanks:getwired
Matthew Panzarino / The Next Web:
As of July 31st, all Google profiles will be public — Google will no longer allow users to have private Google profiles after July 31st, reports Search Engine Land. The company had previously allowed users to create and maintain profiles on its service without publicly disclosing their existence.
Discussion:
VentureBeat, Digitizor, Engadget, The Business Insider, Mashable!, Search Engine Land, Gizmodo and msnbc.com
Leena Rao / TechCrunch:
Sequoia And Others Put $10 Million In Cloud-Based Demo SaaS CloudShare — CloudShare, a service that allows companies to demo software in the cloud, has raised $10 million in new funding led by Globespan Capital Partners with existing investors Sequoia capital, Charles River Ventures and Gemini Israel Funds participating.
MG Siegler / TechCrunch:
With “Beyond Check-In” Notifications, Foursquare Goes Android-First — Over their history, Foursquare has been an iPhone-first company. The app initially launched on the iPhone back in 2009, and new features have typically rolled out to iPhone first. But with a new feature today …
Discussion:
Foursquare Blog, VatorNews, About Foursquare and Mashable!, Thanks:luizgiannini
Todd Haselton / BGR:
Android market share jumps as BlackBerry slides; smartphones now owned by 1 in 3 Americans — According to a new report from comScore, 1 in 3 Americans now own a smartphone. Google's Android OS is ahead of the pack with a 38.1% share of the market during the 3-month period ending in May — up 5.1% from the last report in February.
Discussion:
Inquirer, comScore, Inc., Guardian, AllThingsD, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, PhoneArena, Examiner, The Equity Kicker, The Business Insider, CNET News, WMPU, Tech Trader Daily, 9to5Google and TechFlash
Jim Finkle / Reuters:
South Korean web attacks might have been war drill — (Reuters) - Attacks that crippled South Korean government websites in July 2009 and again in March 2011 might have been cyber war drills conducted on behalf of North Korea, according to security software maker McAfee Inc.
Discussion:
The Next Web
Yinka Adegoke / Reuters:
Media moguls focus on digital dollars at Sun Valley — (Reuters) - Media and technology moguls gather in Idaho this week to once more debate a shift to a digital world, but the talk this year will finally focus on how to make money off it. — Unlike in years past, this year's attendees …
Tricia Duryee / AllThingsD:
Groupon and Zynga: Cat Vs. Dog for Wall Street's Affections — Groupon and Zynga may not compete in the same business, but they are both racing to be the next darling on Wall Street. — Despite the obvious differences — Groupon is a local commerce company and Zynga is a social games company …
Discussion:
paidContent
Caleb Cox / The Register:
Sony quietly tests PlayStation Network revamp — Sony is developing a PlayStation Network design upgrade that could transform the online environment into a more image-driven layout along the lines of Xbox Live and Steam, Reg Hardware has learned. — Many PSN users say the current PSN …
Discussion:
PC Magazine, Neowin.net, The Next Web, VentureBeat, Digital Trends, VG247, Destructoid and Kotaku
Florian Mueller / FOSS Patents:
Lodsys sues The New York Times Company and five other companies who previously sued Lodsys — UPDATED — [Updated on July 6 to reflect Lodsys's motions to dismiss 5 of the 6 declaratory judgment complaints] — Lodsys filed a patent infringement lawsuit today in East Texas …
Discussion:
CNET News, Macworld, Gadgetsteria and MacRumors
David Kravets / Threat Level:
‘Massive Infringement’ Case Against CNET Dropped — Plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit accusing CNET of facilitating “massive copyright infringement” by distributing peer-to-peer software dropped their case Monday. — The May lawsuit was lodged in Los Angeles by a handful of musicians and filmmaker Alkiviades David.
Discussion:
TechEye, TorrentFreak and paidContent:UK