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Seattle Daily TechFlash News For March 31, 2010 View Mobile Version TODAY’S HEADLINES FEATURED SPONSOR Fans cry foul over spotty AT&T cell coverage at Qwest Field Software customized by users: UW prof wants to revolutionize UI Yahoo closing AdSense rival, Microsoft not getting referrals Google buys Picnik; Project Natal and other top posts of the month Confirmed: Zune HD, 64GB, $350 Cheezburger's latest idea: Slow motion egg fights and more Ford, Microsoft partner on energy management for electric vehicles One thing that Google, Microsoft and the ACLU can all agree on A Google microbrew? IBM appeals to startups; IPOs; InfoSpace's new hire; and more Novell loses Microsoft suit, wins verdict in Unix copyright case 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. Fans cry foul over spotty AT&T cell coverage at Qwest Field
By John Cook on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 12:54pm PDT
I cheered wildly when the Seattle Sounders defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-0 in the opening match of the Major League Soccer season. But when I tried to text a friend, call my wife and check the latest scores in the NCAA men's basketball tournament on my iPhone at last week's match at Qwest Field I was the one who was feeling shut out. And it appears I am not the only iPhone user fed up with poor coverage. Fans who attend Sounders and Seahawks games at Qwest Field routinely complain of poor cellular coverage at the city's largest sports stadium, pointing fingers at the much maligned AT&T network. AT&T recognizes the problem and says they're working on ways to offer better service when large crowds gather. Nonetheless, it can get a little ugly when a beer-fueled, iPhone-wielding Sounders fan can't text, talk or Tweet. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Software customized by users: UW prof wants to revolutionize UI
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 11:42am PDT
Researchers at the University of Washington are working on a way for computer users to customize PC software by changing the way pixels appear on the screen -- adding an iTunes control button to Microsoft Word, for example, in much the same way that web developers create mashups of online services. The research, announced yesterday, is scheduled to be presented next month at the Association for Computing Machinery's Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Dubbed "Prefab," the project is led by James Fogarty, a UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering, working with UW computer science and engineering graduate student Morgan Dixon. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Yahoo closing AdSense rival, Microsoft not getting referrals
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 10:22am PDT
Yahoo is closing the Yahoo Publisher Network, its rival to Google's AdSense program for delivering ads to third-party websites, according to an email sent to publishers today. As TechCrunch notes, Yahoo is referring those publishers to an alternative service, Chitka -- which seems strange on the surface given that Yahoo's new partner, Microsoft, has its own AdSense rival, dubbed Content Ads, that could certainly use the help. There's no official comment yet from Yahoo, but the move to shutter the Yahoo Publisher Network as of April 30 appear to be the latest step in the company's effort to narrow its focus under CEO Carol Bartz. The move means that the company will focus more on selling ads for its own online properties. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Google buys Picnik; Project Natal and other top posts of the month
By John Cook on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 10:09am PDT
"Picnik CEO: Google deal comes with a 'very happy number'" "Video: Microsoft Mobile Surface" "Top 5 worst Google Fiber pitches" "RealNetworks' Rob Glaser on why Apple's model must be stopped" READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Confirmed: Zune HD, 64GB, $350
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 9:48am PDT
We knew it was coming, thanks to an inadvertent leak from Microsoft itself, but the company this morning confirmed plans for a high-capacity version of its Zune HD portable media player, with 64GB of storage, at a price of $349.99. Microsoft also announce a $20 price drop for each of the existing Zune HD models, lowering the 16GB version to $199.99 (from $219.99) and the 32GB version to $269.99 (from $289.99). Combined, the moves make the Zune look pretty good compared with Apple's iPod lineup -- although direct comparisons between the two product lines are a little misleading given all the capabilities (i.e., apps) available on the iPod touch these days. That said, Apple sells the 64GB iPod touch for $399, and the 32GB version for $299. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Cheezburger's latest idea: Slow motion egg fights and more
By John Cook on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 8:43am PDT
Life is just a little funnier in slow motion, especially with the right soundtrack. That's apparently the thought behind a new site from the folks at Cheezburger Network, which recently unveiled a new YouTube channel called SuperSweetSlowMo. There you can see a human egg fight; dogs jumping in air; and a hammer smashing groceries -- all in slow motion video. Above is a video of plastic army men set on fire, via New Tee Vee which first reported on the site. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Ford, Microsoft partner on energy management for electric vehicles
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 8:32am PDT
Microsoft and Ford this morning announced plans to expand their partnership with a "joint solution" to help drivers and homeowners deal with the energy demands of electric cars, based on the Redmond company's Hohm online energy management service. The companies aren't being specific about how the Hohm service would be integrated into Ford vehicles. The solution is still into the design phase, scheduled to roll out beginning with the Focus Electric next year. They say a primary goal is to help people figure out the best time to charge their electric cars. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP One thing that Google, Microsoft and the ACLU can all agree on
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 6:20am PDT
Most of the time when big Internet companies talk about online privacy, it's in response to questions about how they're using personal data as part of their advertising systems. But companies including Microsoft, Google, AOL, eBay and others are raising the subject on their own this week, seeking a modernization of U.S. privacy laws to clarify the rules for police and government access to information about their users. The group, dubbed Digital Due Process, also includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and others. They contend that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 has been outpaced by technology and left courts struggling to figure out how to apply the law to location-based services, cloud computing and email archives. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP A Google microbrew?
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 11:37pm PDT
We've been writing about some of the ridiculous things people across America have been doing to entice Google to build high-speed Internet networks in their communities, from politicians jumping in freezing lakes to some really, really bad YouTube videos. But here's a project we could actually support. Portland brewery Hopworks has created "Gigabit IPA," a new beer which brewer Ben Love tells Taplister "honors Portland's new gigabit network project." READ FULL ARTICLE TOP IBM appeals to startups; IPOs; InfoSpace's new hire; and more
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 10:43pm PDT
Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer talks about the early days of Amazon, Insitu and aQuantive in part two of an Xconomy interview. Among other things, Hanauer had some choice comments about the future of the online ad business in which he said he's actively avoiding investments in the sector because he's just plain bored with it. "I feel like I did it. Been there, done that, it's just not intrinsically interesting enough anymore for me. And P.S., it's done. Maybe I'll be proved wrong, but plus or minus, the online advertising ecosystem is baked." A good read. Intelius founder Naveen Jain talks about entrepreneurship, people search and more in a Q&A interview with Search Engine Journal. "Openness to change, persistence and thinking without boundaries – both geographically and intellectually are key attributes I would point for being a successful entrepreneur today," Jain says during the interview. ZipCar, the Boston-based car sharing service which operates in Seattle, is planning to go public in 2010, according to PEHub.com. ZipCar merged with Seattle's Flexcar in 2007. Tweet of the day via @mulka: "Where is the Redfin of car dealerships??" READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Novell loses Microsoft suit, wins verdict in Unix copyright case
By Todd Bishop on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 4:59pm PDT
It's a big day for old lawsuits involving Novell, and it's looking like a split decision for the Linux vendor. Novell said today that it won a jury verdict in a longstanding dispute with the SCO Group over the copyrights to Unix. And in a separate blast from the past, a federal judge dismissed the remaining counts in Novell's antitrust complaint against Microsoft, which involved allegations dating to the mid-1990s. Of the two cases, Novell's victory in the SCO Group copyright litigation has the most relevance to the present day, because the Unix copyrights are pivotal to patent claims against Linux. Open-source advocates are celebrating the ruling. See Groklaw.net and Ars Technica for more details on the ruling. 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
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Seattle Daily TechFlash News For March 31, 2010 View Mobile Version TODAY’S HEADLINES FEATURED SPONSOR Fans cry foul over spotty AT&T cell coverage at Qwest Field Software customized by users: UW prof wants to revolutionize UI Yahoo closing AdSense rival, Microsoft not getting referrals Google buys Picnik; Project Natal and other top posts of the month Confirmed: Zune HD, 64GB, $350 Cheezburger's latest idea: Slow motion egg fights and more Ford, Microsoft partner on energy management for electric vehicles One thing that Google, Microsoft and the ACLU can all agree on A Google microbrew? IBM appeals to startups; IPOs; InfoSpace's new hire; and more Novell loses Microsoft suit, wins verdict in Unix copyright case 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. Fans cry foul over spotty AT&T cell coverage at Qwest Field
By John Cook on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 12:54pm PDT
I cheered wildly when the Seattle Sounders defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-0 in the opening match of the Major League Soccer season. But when I tried to text a friend, call my wife and check the latest scores in the NCAA men's basketball tournament on my iPhone at last week's match at Qwest Field I was the one who was feeling shut out. And it appears I am not the only iPhone user fed up with poor coverage. Fans who attend Sounders and Seahawks games at Qwest Field routinely complain of poor cellular coverage at the city's largest sports stadium, pointing fingers at the much maligned AT&T network. AT&T recognizes the problem and says they're working on ways to offer better service when large crowds gather. Nonetheless, it can get a little ugly when a beer-fueled, iPhone-wielding Sounders fan can't text, talk or Tweet. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Software customized by users: UW prof wants to revolutionize UI
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 11:42am PDT
Researchers at the University of Washington are working on a way for computer users to customize PC software by changing the way pixels appear on the screen -- adding an iTunes control button to Microsoft Word, for example, in much the same way that web developers create mashups of online services. The research, announced yesterday, is scheduled to be presented next month at the Association for Computing Machinery's Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Dubbed "Prefab," the project is led by James Fogarty, a UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering, working with UW computer science and engineering graduate student Morgan Dixon. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Yahoo closing AdSense rival, Microsoft not getting referrals
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 10:22am PDT
Yahoo is closing the Yahoo Publisher Network, its rival to Google's AdSense program for delivering ads to third-party websites, according to an email sent to publishers today. As TechCrunch notes, Yahoo is referring those publishers to an alternative service, Chitka -- which seems strange on the surface given that Yahoo's new partner, Microsoft, has its own AdSense rival, dubbed Content Ads, that could certainly use the help. There's no official comment yet from Yahoo, but the move to shutter the Yahoo Publisher Network as of April 30 appear to be the latest step in the company's effort to narrow its focus under CEO Carol Bartz. The move means that the company will focus more on selling ads for its own online properties. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Google buys Picnik; Project Natal and other top posts of the month
By John Cook on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 10:09am PDT
"Picnik CEO: Google deal comes with a 'very happy number'" "Video: Microsoft Mobile Surface" "Top 5 worst Google Fiber pitches" "RealNetworks' Rob Glaser on why Apple's model must be stopped" READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Confirmed: Zune HD, 64GB, $350
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 9:48am PDT
We knew it was coming, thanks to an inadvertent leak from Microsoft itself, but the company this morning confirmed plans for a high-capacity version of its Zune HD portable media player, with 64GB of storage, at a price of $349.99. Microsoft also announce a $20 price drop for each of the existing Zune HD models, lowering the 16GB version to $199.99 (from $219.99) and the 32GB version to $269.99 (from $289.99). Combined, the moves make the Zune look pretty good compared with Apple's iPod lineup -- although direct comparisons between the two product lines are a little misleading given all the capabilities (i.e., apps) available on the iPod touch these days. That said, Apple sells the 64GB iPod touch for $399, and the 32GB version for $299. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Cheezburger's latest idea: Slow motion egg fights and more
By John Cook on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 8:43am PDT
Life is just a little funnier in slow motion, especially with the right soundtrack. That's apparently the thought behind a new site from the folks at Cheezburger Network, which recently unveiled a new YouTube channel called SuperSweetSlowMo. There you can see a human egg fight; dogs jumping in air; and a hammer smashing groceries -- all in slow motion video. Above is a video of plastic army men set on fire, via New Tee Vee which first reported on the site. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Ford, Microsoft partner on energy management for electric vehicles
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 8:32am PDT
Microsoft and Ford this morning announced plans to expand their partnership with a "joint solution" to help drivers and homeowners deal with the energy demands of electric cars, based on the Redmond company's Hohm online energy management service. The companies aren't being specific about how the Hohm service would be integrated into Ford vehicles. The solution is still into the design phase, scheduled to roll out beginning with the Focus Electric next year. They say a primary goal is to help people figure out the best time to charge their electric cars. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP One thing that Google, Microsoft and the ACLU can all agree on
By Todd Bishop on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 6:20am PDT
Most of the time when big Internet companies talk about online privacy, it's in response to questions about how they're using personal data as part of their advertising systems. But companies including Microsoft, Google, AOL, eBay and others are raising the subject on their own this week, seeking a modernization of U.S. privacy laws to clarify the rules for police and government access to information about their users. The group, dubbed Digital Due Process, also includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Library Association, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and others. They contend that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 has been outpaced by technology and left courts struggling to figure out how to apply the law to location-based services, cloud computing and email archives. READ FULL ARTICLE TOP A Google microbrew?
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 11:37pm PDT
We've been writing about some of the ridiculous things people across America have been doing to entice Google to build high-speed Internet networks in their communities, from politicians jumping in freezing lakes to some really, really bad YouTube videos. But here's a project we could actually support. Portland brewery Hopworks has created "Gigabit IPA," a new beer which brewer Ben Love tells Taplister "honors Portland's new gigabit network project." READ FULL ARTICLE TOP IBM appeals to startups; IPOs; InfoSpace's new hire; and more
By John Cook on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 10:43pm PDT
Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer talks about the early days of Amazon, Insitu and aQuantive in part two of an Xconomy interview. Among other things, Hanauer had some choice comments about the future of the online ad business in which he said he's actively avoiding investments in the sector because he's just plain bored with it. "I feel like I did it. Been there, done that, it's just not intrinsically interesting enough anymore for me. And P.S., it's done. Maybe I'll be proved wrong, but plus or minus, the online advertising ecosystem is baked." A good read. Intelius founder Naveen Jain talks about entrepreneurship, people search and more in a Q&A interview with Search Engine Journal. "Openness to change, persistence and thinking without boundaries – both geographically and intellectually are key attributes I would point for being a successful entrepreneur today," Jain says during the interview. ZipCar, the Boston-based car sharing service which operates in Seattle, is planning to go public in 2010, according to PEHub.com. ZipCar merged with Seattle's Flexcar in 2007. Tweet of the day via @mulka: "Where is the Redfin of car dealerships??" READ FULL ARTICLE TOP Novell loses Microsoft suit, wins verdict in Unix copyright case
By Todd Bishop on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, 4:59pm PDT
It's a big day for old lawsuits involving Novell, and it's looking like a split decision for the Linux vendor. Novell said today that it won a jury verdict in a longstanding dispute with the SCO Group over the copyrights to Unix. And in a separate blast from the past, a federal judge dismissed the remaining counts in Novell's antitrust complaint against Microsoft, which involved allegations dating to the mid-1990s. Of the two cases, Novell's victory in the SCO Group copyright litigation has the most relevance to the present day, because the Unix copyrights are pivotal to patent claims against Linux. Open-source advocates are celebrating the ruling. See Groklaw.net and Ars Technica for more details on the ruling. 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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