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25 May 2010 22:26

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Tech: Microsoft loses two top geniuses who could stop hemorrhaging

  • The two dudes knocked out helped make the Xbox a hit. Robbie Bach and J Allard were two of the smartest guys working for Microsoft, and both left the company today in that much-hated method of change called corporate restructuring. Bach is retiring and Allard is quitting. While both claim that they’re simply moving on, it’s not a good sign for Microsoft, which, while still greatly profitable, is now playing catch-up in most of the categories it competes. Especially mobile. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 May 2010 22:37

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Tech: Publish2’s News Exchange: Any publishers need fact boxes, eh? (Eh?)

  • A little secret about us: We’ve grabbed more than a few article ideas for ShortFormBlog from Publish2‘s pretty excellent Link Newswire (and its corresponding WordPress plugin) and have enjoyed seeing what other journalists come up with. And many of the people involved are smart guys whose names we see everywhere on the Web, like Greg Linch and Ryan Sholin.
  • their new thang: “News Exchange“While we feel like certain things about Publish2’s system could be slickened up and simplified, they’ve got a pretty great thing already going. And it’s something they’re expanding, big time, with their new “News Exchange,” which expands the basic idea of Publish2 to something where your blood, sweat and tears can end up in print. It’s kinda like the AP, except without the false sense of superiority or the budget for a foreign bureau.
  • we’ll try it. give us a chance.Which leads us to say: We’ll try this out when it opens up to us plebeians. If any newspapers would like to use any of SFB’s content somewhere, let us know. We’d totally be wiling to throw you a bone or two if you throw us a link. We realize we’re a tad opinionated for some of you jerks, but we also think that there might be some pretty cool things you could do with a bunch of numbers. One request: Don’t cut our copy. It’s already short, jerks! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 May 2010 22:07

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Tech: Wal-Mart cuts the iPhone’s price, just in time for a new phone

  • $97 for the iPhone 3GS – just before the 4G launch source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 May 2010 21:44

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Tech: “Fuzzy Orb”: Facebook has nothing to worry about, guys

  • Currently in the upper reaches of the Google Trends “Hot Searches” is this incredibly awful-looking site called “Fuzzy Orb,” which promises a more private social networking experience but in reality makes us seriously afraid of getting a virus. It’s getting force-fed onto Twitter right now. Let this be a reminder to you, kids – Facebook may have privacy issues from time to time, but this is the alternative. And it ain’t pretty. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 May 2010 10:56

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Tech: Mark Zuckerberg writes inevitable “we screwed up” op-ed piece

  • Simply put, many of you thought our controls were too complex. Our intention was to give you lots of granular controls; but that may not have been what many of you wanted. We just missed the mark.
  • Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg • Admitting the privacy options on Facebook kind of suck for many users, and that they plan to change them. He wrote a lengthy op-ed piece for The Washington Post noting just that. One thing he says might be a bone of contention, though: Zuckerberg flatly denies that the company has shared personal information with advertisers. (Note the word “personal” in that statement – your more basic demographic data is fair game.) Oh, and Facebook will always stay free. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 May 2010 11:48

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Tech: GPS in need of an upgrade, and it’s gonna cost a couple bucks

  • $8 billion to upgrade the widely used geo-navigation system source
  • before The system had a margin of error of about 20 feet – OK for driving, bad for walking a city street.
  • after After the upgrade, the system will be able to get within an arm’s length of the location. Whoa, cool!
  • » Not just for nav: It’s used for all sorts of purposes, including tracking financial transactions from ATMs and stock trades. In 2007, when the system was knocked offline in San Diego, cell phones and hospital paging systems stopped working. In other words, the technology, which currently uses 24 satellites to do its dirty work, is pretty useful.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 May 2010 16:35

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Tech: It’s official: Apple ditches its classic “Get A Mac” ads

The Apple exec who decided to get rid of these always-funny commercials should be fired. Unless it was Steve Jobs. Then he shouldn’t be. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

22 May 2010 15:49

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Tech: Daring Fireball: Microsoft the odd man out in smartphone market

  • Microsoft can’t undercut Android on price, and it seems increasingly unlikely that they can beat Android in terms of features or experience. They didn’t warrant even a passing reference from Google at I/O. No chance, indeed.
  • “Daring Fireball” blogger John Gruber • Regarding Microsoft’s also-ran status in the phone market. Gruber argues that MS’s entire model hinges on the idea that they’ll monopolize the smartphone market, and since they’re far behind Apple and Google already, they don’t have a chance of succeeding. Gruber does say, however, that Google and Apple’s competition in the space is healthy and Google has some definite advantages over Apple right now. Hilariously, he also compares the iPad to a teenager that shouldn’t need its parents, but does. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 May 2010 20:25

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Tech: Did the “Fake Steve Jobs” guy choose to ditch the iPhone?

  • YEP and his comments kind of say it all; ouch source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 May 2010 14:13

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Tech: FTC to Google: OK, you jerks can acquire AdMob

Google went through months of back-and-forth about the acquisition, which kinda seemed silly after Apple made it clear they’d have competition. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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