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Seattle Daily TechFlash News For March 30, 2010 View Mobile Version TODAY’S HEADLINES FEATURED SPONSOR MOD Systems co-founder arrested for wire fraud Seton Hall University promises iPads for all students Developers get ready for blockbuster iPad launch New Amazon patent: sending video of orders being boxed Concur bolsters 'war chest' as it looks for M&A candidates Microsoft patents 'guardian angel' idea for intelligent personal agent Myhrvold & Hood on computing, biology and breakthrough ideas Roundup: Outlook definitely on Mac, iPhone possibly on Verizon Nick Hanauer's three steps for creating breakthrough ideas WORD FROM OUR FEATURED SPONSOR Seattle University Software Engineering
Upgrade your career! Earn your Masters degree while continuing to work full-time. Our balanced curriculum of technical and management courses enhances professional leadership in planning, design and development of today's software systems.More information here. MOD Systems co-founder arrested for wire fraud
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 2:00pm PDT
Breaking News: Mod Systems co-founder and former CEO Mark Phillips, 35, has been arrested on two counts of wire fraud. Here's the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. More to come. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Seton Hall University promises iPads for all students
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 1:57pm PDT
We've written in the past about the efforts of Amazon.com to bring its Kindle electronic reading device to universities, including The University of Washington and Jeff Bezos' alma mater of Princeton University. But Amazon may have a new formidable competitor when it comes to students accessing textbooks and other information on slim computing devices. Seton Hall University, a small Catholic university located in Greensburg, Penn., said today that it plans to give each of its full-time students a new iPad beginning this fall. About 2,100 students attend Seton Hall, so at the lowest retail price point of $499 (and not factoring in any possible bulk discounts) it would amount to just over a $1 million initial investment. The University writes: The iPad initiative kicks off the University's Griffin Technology Advantage Program. This new program provides students with the best in technology and collaborative learning tools, ensuring that Seton Hill students will be uniquely suited to whatever careers they choose - even those that have not yet been created. Apple has historically been strong in the education market, and efforts like the one gaining attention today from Seton Hall might continue that trend. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Developers get ready for blockbuster iPad launch
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 1:14pm PDT
Very few people have actually seen an iPad, let alone picked one up or tested one out. But Apple's highly-touted touchscreen device -- scheduled to debut this Saturday -- is already capturing the imagination of consumers and developers. Some are projecting that Apple could sell between 200,000 to 400,000 iPads in the opening weekend alone, while high-tech analyst Toni Sacconaghi of Sanford & Bernstein estimates that Apple could sell five million iPads in the first 12 months, according to BusinessWeek. Apple is being extremely tight-lipped about the iPad launch, with Reuters reporting that Apple's retail store employees have yet to see the device. Meanwhile, some developers we've talked to are under strict orders from Apple not to tout their upcoming applications until Saturday. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP New Amazon patent: sending video of orders being boxed
By Eric Engleman on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 12:14pm PDT
We're all familiar with unboxing videos that people post to the web, capturing the moments when they get a first look at a new device. Well, it turns out Amazon.com is interested in the reverse process, taking videos of orders as they're being boxed and packaged in the warehouse. The online retail giant received a U.S. patent today for a method of sending images and video clips to customers of their order being packaged for shipment — to reassure them that everything is correct. That kind of feature would put a new multi-media spin on the standard e-mail order notification. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Concur bolsters 'war chest' as it looks for M&A candidates
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 10:58am PDT
Is Concur getting ready to go on a buying spree? That's a real possibility following an announcement yesterday from the Redmond-based maker of travel and entertainment expense management software, which said it planned a $250 million convertible note offering. One of the proposed uses of capital is for potential acquisitions and strategic transactions, according to the company. McAdams Wright Ragen stock analyst Sid Parakh -- who has a "hold" rating on the stock at a price target of $43 -- said in a research note today that Concur could use its "war chest" of nearly $470 million to expand its geographic footprint and product offerings. Possible M&A candidates, he said, could include Cambridge, Mass.-based ITA Software, Miami-based Farelogix, G2 SwitchWorks and European local travel booking service KDS. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Microsoft patents 'guardian angel' idea for intelligent personal agent
By Todd Bishop on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 6:28am PDT
Microsoft executives talk a lot about the potential for computers and devices to be smart, proactive assistants -- monitoring a person's environment, gathering relevant data, anticipating the user's needs, providing helpful information and recommending particular actions. And now the company has a patent on the concept. Bill Gates and Ray Ozzie are among the inventors listed on the patent for an "intelligent personalized agent," issued this morning by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It's not a new initiative: The company applied for the patent in September 2006, and the application made news two years ago. But the granting of the patent could put Microsoft in an interesting position if the world heads in this direction. The title of the patent is "Dynamic environment evaluation and service adjustment based on multiple user profiles including data classification and information sharing with authorized other users." These excerpts from the patent filing do a better job of describing the potential. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Myhrvold & Hood on computing, biology and breakthrough ideas
By Eric Engleman on Monday, March 29, 2010, 6:56pm PDT
Former Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Nathan Myhrvold and genomics pioneer Leroy Hood, head of Seattle's Institute for Systems Biology, explored the intersection of computing and biology in a provocative keynote at Xconomy Forum in Seattle today. The two tech luminaries talked about the vast potential for the two fields to work together — and the barriers keeping them apart. Myhrvold also had plenty to say about his controversial patent-collecting firm Intellectual Ventures, his efforts to build a new type of nuclear reactor, global warming, entrepreneurship — and why he thinks the Internet wasn't really a breakthrough idea. Read on for some of the choice excerpts from their keynote talk. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Roundup: Outlook definitely on Mac, iPhone possibly on Verizon
By Todd Bishop on Monday, March 29, 2010, 4:27pm PDT
We've known since last year that Microsoft's Mac software team was making a native version of Outlook for Apple computers, shifting away from its Entourage email client, but Boy Genius Report today has the first glimpse of Outlook for Mac, and other Office 2011 programs. They're slated for release later this year. Apple is working on two new iPhones, including one that would work with Verizon Wireless' CDMA technology, the Wall Street Journal reports, fueling another wave of speculation about the future of the popular device. Engadget says the next-generation iPhone, dubbed the iPhone HD, is slated to be unveiled in June. This week marks the 15th anniversary of the release of Microsoft Bob, and Technologizer looks back on the milestone with a retrospective on the "legendary software flop." For more on the subject, Monica Harrington wrote a great guest post on the subject on TechFlash last year: Innovation: The lessons of Bob. PAX East, the Boston version of Seattle's homegrown Penny Arcade Expo video-game event, looks to have been a big success over the weekend -- so much so that organizers are planning to hold it in a bigger venue next year. Don't worry, the Seattle version is still very much in business, scheduled for Sept. 3-5. A sign of the improving economy? Employee perks are making a comeback at Silicon Valley tech companies, according to this Los Angeles Times story today. Seattle-based journalist Glenn Fleishman has a great piece today in Ars Technica: The state of 4G: It's all about congestion, not speed. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Nick Hanauer's three steps for creating breakthrough ideas
By John Cook on Monday, March 29, 2010, 3:00pm PDT
As an initial investor in Amazon.com and founder of aQuantive, Seattle venture capitalist and entrepreneur Nick Hanauer has played a part in some of the region's biggest technological successes. But how do entrepreneurs really come up with breakthrough ideas? Hanauer -- speaking today at the Xconomy Forum in Seattle -- said it sometimes take entrepreneurs who have the right "oddity quotient" as well as what he terms a "black sheep instinct." In fact, Hanauer offered three key steps to coming up with breakthrough ideas. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP TECHFLASH CONTACTS JOHN COOK
johncook@bizjournals.com
(O)206-876-5441
(C)206-913-7926
TODD BISHOP
toddbishop@bizjournals.com
(O)206-876-5466
(C)206-300-0265
ERIC ENGLEMAN
eengleman@bizjournals.com
206-876-5430
STORY TIPS
techflashtips@bizjournals.com
SUBMIT AN EVENT
techflashevents@bizjournals.com
ADVERTISING: JOE HESLET
jheslet@bizjournals.com
206-876-5447
Cancel Email Subscription: Click here to unsubscribe.
Seattle Daily TechFlash News For March 30, 2010 View Mobile Version TODAY’S HEADLINES FEATURED SPONSOR MOD Systems co-founder arrested for wire fraud Seton Hall University promises iPads for all students Developers get ready for blockbuster iPad launch New Amazon patent: sending video of orders being boxed Concur bolsters 'war chest' as it looks for M&A candidates Microsoft patents 'guardian angel' idea for intelligent personal agent Myhrvold & Hood on computing, biology and breakthrough ideas Roundup: Outlook definitely on Mac, iPhone possibly on Verizon Nick Hanauer's three steps for creating breakthrough ideas WORD FROM OUR FEATURED SPONSOR Seattle University Software Engineering
Upgrade your career! Earn your Masters degree while continuing to work full-time. Our balanced curriculum of technical and management courses enhances professional leadership in planning, design and development of today's software systems.More information here. MOD Systems co-founder arrested for wire fraud
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 2:00pm PDT
Breaking News: Mod Systems co-founder and former CEO Mark Phillips, 35, has been arrested on two counts of wire fraud. Here's the press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. More to come. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Seton Hall University promises iPads for all students
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 1:57pm PDT
We've written in the past about the efforts of Amazon.com to bring its Kindle electronic reading device to universities, including The University of Washington and Jeff Bezos' alma mater of Princeton University. But Amazon may have a new formidable competitor when it comes to students accessing textbooks and other information on slim computing devices. Seton Hall University, a small Catholic university located in Greensburg, Penn., said today that it plans to give each of its full-time students a new iPad beginning this fall. About 2,100 students attend Seton Hall, so at the lowest retail price point of $499 (and not factoring in any possible bulk discounts) it would amount to just over a $1 million initial investment. The University writes: The iPad initiative kicks off the University's Griffin Technology Advantage Program. This new program provides students with the best in technology and collaborative learning tools, ensuring that Seton Hill students will be uniquely suited to whatever careers they choose - even those that have not yet been created. Apple has historically been strong in the education market, and efforts like the one gaining attention today from Seton Hall might continue that trend. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Developers get ready for blockbuster iPad launch
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 1:14pm PDT
Very few people have actually seen an iPad, let alone picked one up or tested one out. But Apple's highly-touted touchscreen device -- scheduled to debut this Saturday -- is already capturing the imagination of consumers and developers. Some are projecting that Apple could sell between 200,000 to 400,000 iPads in the opening weekend alone, while high-tech analyst Toni Sacconaghi of Sanford & Bernstein estimates that Apple could sell five million iPads in the first 12 months, according to BusinessWeek. Apple is being extremely tight-lipped about the iPad launch, with Reuters reporting that Apple's retail store employees have yet to see the device. Meanwhile, some developers we've talked to are under strict orders from Apple not to tout their upcoming applications until Saturday. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP New Amazon patent: sending video of orders being boxed
By Eric Engleman on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 12:14pm PDT
We're all familiar with unboxing videos that people post to the web, capturing the moments when they get a first look at a new device. Well, it turns out Amazon.com is interested in the reverse process, taking videos of orders as they're being boxed and packaged in the warehouse. The online retail giant received a U.S. patent today for a method of sending images and video clips to customers of their order being packaged for shipment — to reassure them that everything is correct. That kind of feature would put a new multi-media spin on the standard e-mail order notification. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Concur bolsters 'war chest' as it looks for M&A candidates
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 10:58am PDT
Is Concur getting ready to go on a buying spree? That's a real possibility following an announcement yesterday from the Redmond-based maker of travel and entertainment expense management software, which said it planned a $250 million convertible note offering. One of the proposed uses of capital is for potential acquisitions and strategic transactions, according to the company. McAdams Wright Ragen stock analyst Sid Parakh -- who has a "hold" rating on the stock at a price target of $43 -- said in a research note today that Concur could use its "war chest" of nearly $470 million to expand its geographic footprint and product offerings. Possible M&A candidates, he said, could include Cambridge, Mass.-based ITA Software, Miami-based Farelogix, G2 SwitchWorks and European local travel booking service KDS. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Microsoft patents 'guardian angel' idea for intelligent personal agent
By Todd Bishop on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 6:28am PDT
Microsoft executives talk a lot about the potential for computers and devices to be smart, proactive assistants -- monitoring a person's environment, gathering relevant data, anticipating the user's needs, providing helpful information and recommending particular actions. And now the company has a patent on the concept. Bill Gates and Ray Ozzie are among the inventors listed on the patent for an "intelligent personalized agent," issued this morning by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It's not a new initiative: The company applied for the patent in September 2006, and the application made news two years ago. But the granting of the patent could put Microsoft in an interesting position if the world heads in this direction. The title of the patent is "Dynamic environment evaluation and service adjustment based on multiple user profiles including data classification and information sharing with authorized other users." These excerpts from the patent filing do a better job of describing the potential. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Myhrvold & Hood on computing, biology and breakthrough ideas
By Eric Engleman on Monday, March 29, 2010, 6:56pm PDT
Former Microsoft Chief Technology Officer Nathan Myhrvold and genomics pioneer Leroy Hood, head of Seattle's Institute for Systems Biology, explored the intersection of computing and biology in a provocative keynote at Xconomy Forum in Seattle today. The two tech luminaries talked about the vast potential for the two fields to work together — and the barriers keeping them apart. Myhrvold also had plenty to say about his controversial patent-collecting firm Intellectual Ventures, his efforts to build a new type of nuclear reactor, global warming, entrepreneurship — and why he thinks the Internet wasn't really a breakthrough idea. Read on for some of the choice excerpts from their keynote talk. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Roundup: Outlook definitely on Mac, iPhone possibly on Verizon
By Todd Bishop on Monday, March 29, 2010, 4:27pm PDT
We've known since last year that Microsoft's Mac software team was making a native version of Outlook for Apple computers, shifting away from its Entourage email client, but Boy Genius Report today has the first glimpse of Outlook for Mac, and other Office 2011 programs. They're slated for release later this year. Apple is working on two new iPhones, including one that would work with Verizon Wireless' CDMA technology, the Wall Street Journal reports, fueling another wave of speculation about the future of the popular device. Engadget says the next-generation iPhone, dubbed the iPhone HD, is slated to be unveiled in June. This week marks the 15th anniversary of the release of Microsoft Bob, and Technologizer looks back on the milestone with a retrospective on the "legendary software flop." For more on the subject, Monica Harrington wrote a great guest post on the subject on TechFlash last year: Innovation: The lessons of Bob. PAX East, the Boston version of Seattle's homegrown Penny Arcade Expo video-game event, looks to have been a big success over the weekend -- so much so that organizers are planning to hold it in a bigger venue next year. Don't worry, the Seattle version is still very much in business, scheduled for Sept. 3-5. A sign of the improving economy? Employee perks are making a comeback at Silicon Valley tech companies, according to this Los Angeles Times story today. Seattle-based journalist Glenn Fleishman has a great piece today in Ars Technica: The state of 4G: It's all about congestion, not speed. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Nick Hanauer's three steps for creating breakthrough ideas
By John Cook on Monday, March 29, 2010, 3:00pm PDT
As an initial investor in Amazon.com and founder of aQuantive, Seattle venture capitalist and entrepreneur Nick Hanauer has played a part in some of the region's biggest technological successes. But how do entrepreneurs really come up with breakthrough ideas? Hanauer -- speaking today at the Xconomy Forum in Seattle -- said it sometimes take entrepreneurs who have the right "oddity quotient" as well as what he terms a "black sheep instinct." In fact, Hanauer offered three key steps to coming up with breakthrough ideas. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP TECHFLASH CONTACTS JOHN COOK
johncook@bizjournals.com
(O)206-876-5441
(C)206-913-7926
TODD BISHOP
toddbishop@bizjournals.com
(O)206-876-5466
(C)206-300-0265
ERIC ENGLEMAN
eengleman@bizjournals.com
206-876-5430
STORY TIPS
techflashtips@bizjournals.com
SUBMIT AN EVENT
techflashevents@bizjournals.com
ADVERTISING: JOE HESLET
jheslet@bizjournals.com
206-876-5447
Cancel Email Subscription: Click here to unsubscribe.
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