For one-quarter of smartphone users, their device is the primary way they access the Internet, according to new data. It’s a sign of the growing dependence on smartphones and also shows that for a sizable chunk of users, it’s out of necessity. Read More »
Archive for July 2011
Deaf and hard of hearing users may soon get more use out of Google’s much-hyped new group video chat service Hangouts, thanks to a field test that looks at ways to add support for American Sign Language. Initial feedback from hearing-impaired users is enthusiastic. Read More »
The furor over Michael Stonebraker’s criticism of Facebook’s scaling of its MySQL database we covered last Thursday has continued to generate comments on the post itself and on Twitter. Friday, Amazon’s CTO Werner Vogels weighed in with a tweet that seemed to accuse Stonebraker of hubris. Read More »
Most of us are drowning in email. Could a solution be to impose a Twitter-like character limit on emails? Baltimore, MD-based 410Labs thinks so; its Shortmail service enforces concise emails by limiting messages to 500 characters or less and disallows attachements Read More »
A lot of the attention on Google+ has focused on whether it’s a “Facebook killer,” but it’s actually more likely to become a competitor for Twitter than Facebook. Is the Google network just benefitting from “shiny new object” syndrome, or could it pose a real threat? Read More »
Underneath Twitter’s fun and trendy public image, the data streamed through the microblogging service is apparently worth some big bucks. DataSift, one of only two companies authorized to re-syndicate Twitter’s content using its “firehose,” on Monday announced a $6 million venture capital funding round. Read More »
Apple is ratcheting up its patent war against HTC, filing a new complaint with the ITC seeking the ban of “personal electronic devices.” The filing comes after an initial complaint lodged against HTC last year and a similar case filed last week by Apple against Samsung.… Read More »
RealNetworks has made a strategic investment in ClipSync, which makes it easy to create social viewing rooms online. RealNetworks uses ClipSync for its SuperPass subscription service, which allows Big Brother viewers to get a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens on the reality TV show. Read More »
A new iPhone is expected to debut soon, but will it support new LTE networks? Based on a teardown of another LTE handset, Apple’s costs could rise more than 23 percent with an LTE radio. But that’s not the real reason this scenario is highly unlikely. Read More »
Microsoft could be rolling out a new subscription video service later this year, pitting it against services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, as Microsoft seeks to grab more revenues from Xbox subscribers. But it will need to be available on other devices, too. Read More »
Venture funds raised a mere $2.7 billion during the second quarter this year, and the industry trade association is sounding the alarm about a shrinking number of funds. What does it mean for the industry when the diversity of funds decrease? Read More »
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