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Comcast deal for NBCU is about content, not broadband
Although Comcast is certainly America's largest broadband provider, at least for PCs, in most regards, today's deal with GE may not impact the Internet at all.
Mark Russinovich on MinWin, the new core of Windows
The next version of Windows three years hence will likely build onto a significant architectural change implemented in Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2.
Fee or free? Murdoch, Huffington square off over the cost of Internet news
Participants in an FTC workshop yesterday witnessed the two extremes of the Web news publishing debate, still centered on the issue of long-term profitability.
Security firm: Windows patches not responsible for 'Black Screen of Death'
On second thought, maybe that access control list thingie with the lockdown something-or-rather didn't trigger an alleged, perhaps non-existent, pandemic.
Google begrudgingly adjusts news crawling for paid publishers
If publishers want to make readers pay for news content, and thereby drive down its popularity and Google ranking, the company says, they can just go right on ahead.
Apple settles with Psystar except for 'circumvention devices'
The fracas with the Florida clone computer maker might have ended today had Apple not have muddled the issue over a cheap piece of Psystar software.
Microsoft denies latest 'Black Screen of Death' claims
After an anti-malware producer announced a fix to what it says is a swarm of recent KSoD problems, evidence of the swarm itself has yet to turn up.
Latest Firefox 3.6 beta fixes 133 bugs, promises faster page load times
A once-sluggish beta testing process has kicked into overdrive, with astonishing success at finding serious bugs. Will Mozilla be able to fix all the others in time?
Confirmed: Office 2010 to ship in June
Two weeks after Microsoft had been expected to draw a clearer roadmap for its principal applications suite, it's finally ready to commit to the end of H1.
New EU antitrust commissioner will oversee Microsoft, Oracle+Sun, Intel issues
As one of Europe's most prominent politicians shifts positions in January, her replacement remains a question mark over technology's biggest issues.
Without its own 'iTablet' yet, is Apple missing the boat?
Steve Jobs is on record as dissing "single-purpose" devices like e-readers. But given their recent popularity, was that a mistake?
Comcast challenges FCC's authority in sanction appeal
By Ed Oswald on September 5, 2008, 2:14 PM
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In a filing Thursday with the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, the broadband service provider argued that the agency did not have the authority to impose sanctions in the first place.
The FCC's order did not fine Comcast, instead ordering the company to make changes to the way it handles traffic. Comcast had already agreed to make such changes on its own, including targeted throttling and a 250 GB cap on bandwidth per customer.
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120 GB Zunes begin to appear in stores
By Ed Oswald on September 5, 2008, 1:15 PM
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Microsoft has confirmed that it has begun to ship the newer high-capacity Zunes at a price that makes it quite competitive against the market-leading iPod.
The 120 GB Zune will sell for $249, the same price as the 80 GB Apple iPod. Internet reports say the devices began shipping to retailers this week, and Microsoft says the rollout will continue to additional retailers over the next several weeks.
Where does John McCain stand on technology issues?
By Ed Oswald on September 4, 2008, 7:03 PM
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With over two decades in the Senate, John McCain of Arizona has developed quite the resume with respect to technology legislation. BetaNews' Ed Oswald takes a look at where McCain stands on some of the most high-profile issues.
Perhaps simply because he is 72 years of age, Sen. John McCain is often the brunt of jokes that presume he knows little or nothing about modern technology, consumer electronics, or the Internet. Yet McCain's record tells a different story.
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Korea Times: Sony home video at the tail end of a Korean exodus
By Ed Oswald on September 4, 2008, 4:09 PM
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Korea Times reports that Sony's DVD distribution arm in Korea has decided to stop selling discs in that country, making it the last of the major studios to do so.
A request for confirmation by BetaNews with Sony went unanswered as of press time. If the news is accurate, Sony would actually be the last of the major Hollywood studios to pull out of the South Korean market over the last two years, following Paramount, Disney (Buena Vista), Universal, and 20th Century Fox. It seems as if Korean consumers just aren't interested in DVDs any more.
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Toshiba debuts 'SRT' upconverting LCD TVs
By Ed Oswald on September 4, 2008, 2:44 PM
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Toshiba's new functionality -- dubbed Super Resolution Technology -- makes its debut in the company's Regza line of televisions, and promises to upconvert standard definition television to HD-like quality.
Toshiba has made several moves over the past few months following HD DVD's collapse that almost make it seem like it wants to sabotage Blu-ray, and this latest play could be considered one such move. It also announced plans in June to add firmware to SD DVD players to improve picture quality of regular DVDs.
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Samsung UK exec: Blu-ray's got five years to live
By Ed Oswald on September 4, 2008, 1:35 PM
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An official with one of the format's principal supporting companies gives it a rather short life span, saying another technology would replace it.
If Samsung UK consumer electronics chief Andy Griffiths is correct, the format would have spent only seven years as a commercially viable format. Compare this to DVD, which has been available to consumers for well over a decade.
Continue reading Samsung UK exec: Blu-ray's got five years to live...
TiVo debuts a super-sized 1 terabyte HD DVR
By Ed Oswald on September 4, 2008, 12:01 AM
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One day after announcing its new DirecTV deal, the DVR manufacturer announced its highest capacity HD DVR yet, with the ability to record up to 150 hours of high-definition programming.
Appropriately named the TiVo HD XL, the new device's storage capacity at "basic quality" is about 1,350 hours, and at "best quality" about 332 hours. These are estimates based on information disclosed to BetaNews by TiVo; and as current TiVo users may point out, few users prefer to record at "basic quality."
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Commodore introduces its own 10-inch netbook
By Ed Oswald on September 3, 2008, 1:23 PM
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The brand had already been through a line of high-end gaming PCs, however the familiar logo will make it onto a line of netbooks later this year.
Commodore is showing off the UMMD 8010/F at the IFA 2008 electronics show, held this week in Berlin. The device will have a 10" inch screen, and the base model will include a 1.6 GHz Via C7-M processor, 1 GB of RAM, and an 80 GB hard drive.
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State media: China Mobile close to iPhone 3G deal
By Ed Oswald on September 2, 2008, 12:43 PM
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After reports of an on-again, off-again relationship between Apple and China's state-run telco, a government-owned business paper is reporting talks are going well.
Nearly 800,000 iPhones have already been sneaked into the country and are believed to be in use, according to analyst estimates.
Continue reading State media: China Mobile close to iPhone 3G deal...
Microsoft slashes Xbox 360 price in Japan
By Ed Oswald on September 2, 2008, 12:40 PM
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Refusing to give up on the game console market in Asia/Pacific, Microsoft has cut the price of its Xbox 360 console in Japan, and is also adding a new model.
The Xbox 360 base model has been reduced from 27,800 yen ($257 USD) to 19,800 yen ($183 USD), while the high-end model with a 120 GB hard drive will now retail for 39,800 yen ($368 USD). A mid-range model with a 60 GB HDD will be introduced for 29,800 yen ($286 USD).
Continue reading Microsoft slashes Xbox 360 price in Japan...
Google Maps to get better satellite imagery from GeoEye
By Ed Oswald on August 29, 2008, 5:45 PM
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Search giant Google signed a deal with Dulles, Va. startup GeoEye to use imagery from its newest satellite after it launches in September of this year.
This is not the first time Google has dealt with GeoEye. It already uses images from its IKONOS satellite, as well as from other sources including DigitalGlobe. As part of the new deal, GeoEye would exclusively provide its imagery to Google.
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Apple looks to fix 'minor' iPhone security flaw
By Ed Oswald on August 29, 2008, 3:23 PM
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The expected 2.1 software update for Apple's iPhone in September will include a fix that could allow for disclosure of personal information when the device is locked, Apple said.
"The minor iPhone security issue which surfaced this week is fixed in a software update which will be released in September," Apple spokesperson Jennifer Bowcock said in a statement.
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Rogers adjusts data plans for iPhone, BlackBerry Bold
By Ed Oswald on August 29, 2008, 1:07 PM
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With the BlackBerry Bold now available, Rogers, Canada's leading carrier has decided to extend its iPhone 3G promotional data plan until next month, while adjusting other plans.
Rogers Wireless' data plans came under almost immediate criticism after the iPhone 3G's launch on July 11, for what many saw as overpriced data rates. The company later adjusted those plans to appease its detractors.
Continue reading Rogers adjusts data plans for iPhone, BlackBerry Bold...
Where does Barack Obama stand on technology issues?
By Ed Oswald on August 28, 2008, 6:20 PM
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In the second of our four-part series examining the positions of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on technology policy, BetaNews' Ed Oswald takes a look at the Illinois Democrat.
With respect to the growing middle ground between technology and politics, it could be viably argued that no one has embraced technology as part of his or her campaign -- at least as an ideal -- more than Sen. Barack Obama.
Continue reading Where does Barack Obama stand on technology issues?...
Competitors look to take on MobileMe for iPhone
By Ed Oswald on August 28, 2008, 3:29 PM
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In light of problems that plagued Apple's new e-mail synchronization service since its launch, it may soon have to fight third-party providers that are setting their sights on providing their own "push" services for iPhone.
The first of two potentially major MobileMe alternatives actually comes from one of Apple's partners for the iPhone, Yahoo. Its subsidiary Zimbra said Thursday that it had released a version of its application for the iPhone 2.0.
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Russia to get iPhone 3G through VimpelCom
By Ed Oswald on August 28, 2008, 12:45 PM
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The nation's second largest mobile carrier is the first to confirm that it would indeed be carrying the popular device, though other carriers are expected to follow.
"VimpelCom announced today it has signed an agreement with Apple to bring iPhone 3G to Russia, expected later this year," the company said in a very brief statement.
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Where does Joe Biden stand on technology issues?
By Ed Oswald on August 27, 2008, 6:27 PM
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As the Democrats' presumptive vice presidential nominee prepares to take the stage to accept the nomination of his party this evening in Denver, BetaNews' Ed Oswald takes a look at his long record.
Hailing from the state of Delaware, Senator Joe Biden has spent 36 years in the Senate. Along the way, he's gained a reputation for his direct, often outspoken, sometimes confrontational personality. His positions on technology, which reflect that personality, are sure to please some and enrage others.
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RIAA defendant sanctioned for destroying evidence
By Ed Oswald on August 27, 2008, 4:41 PM
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Defendant Jeffrey Howell was scolded by an Arizona court earlier this week in a move that could potentially give the recording industry a decisive victory.
Originally, the Howell case was the flash point for discussions surrounding whether simply making available songs for download through a shared folder constitutes piracy, or if actual downloading by a third-party needs to occur. For now, however, it's about destruction of evidence, as a case that had been been going the defendants' way -- in one turn of events already -- turned south once again.
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Apple iPhone ad pulled in UK over 'misleading' Internet claims
By Ed Oswald on August 27, 2008, 1:37 PM
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The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that an ad for the iPhone was misleading, and cannot be aired again as it misrepresents the device's Internet capabilities.
Two consumers complained to the ASA -- Great Britain's principal regulating body for advertising -- that Apple's claim of "all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone" was incorrect. It doesn't support either Java or Flash, which provide the backbone for many Web sites and services, they argued.
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FAA computer glitch briefly snarls flights across US
By Ed Oswald on August 27, 2008, 12:26 PM
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The Federal Aviation Administration's computer that manages flight plans failed early Tuesday afternoon, causing some airlines to delay departures.
According to spokespersons with the US Federal Aviation Administration, the problem lasted roughly from 1:30 pm to 6:00 pm Eastern time. The issue centered around a communications failure at the agency's Atlanta location.
Continue reading FAA computer glitch briefly snarls flights across US...