France backs down on iTunes DRM stance
The French government has apparently reconsidered a proposal to force Apple Computer to make the songs it sells through its iTunes Music Store playable on devices that compete with its iPods. — A Fr...
Microsoft's AdCenter May Fail to Topple Google From Dominance
May 3 (Bloomberg) — Microsoft Corp.'s new Web advertising software, three years in the making, may fail to crack Google Inc.'s dominance of the Internet ad market. — The AdCenter software will be de...
Google Health: Probably coming next week
Marissa Mayer, Google's VP of search products and user experience, came to USA TODAY on Tuesday. She mentioned that there would be a couple of big announcements next Wednesday at the annual Google Pr...
Screw YouTube
Okay. I'm out of YouTube. I refuse to use the service any longer. Recent changes made it very obvious they don't want users with large archives. The site is very very slow and I have over 30 pages...
Neutrality of the Net
This is an international issue. In some countries it is addressed better than others. (In France, for example, I understand that the layers are separated, and my colleague in Paris attributes gettin...
M:Metrics data indicates selection, pricing play a big role
SEATTLE, Wash May 2, 2006 — With E3 on the horizon, mobile gaming finds itself in the spotlight, with even Paris Hilton getting into the game. But despite Hilton's proclamation that, "mobile gaming i...
The dishonor of Blue Security
There was quite a bit of teeth gnashing across the web throughout the evening yesterday as TypePad, LiveJournal, and all the other hosted Six Apart websites went dark; we learned late in the night tha...
Skype 2.5
Skype just released the new addition of its software. As part of the new software enhancements, registration is simplified for new Skype customers, and dialing traditional phone numbers is more intui...
Microsoft says Vista still 'on track' despite Gartner doubts
The research firm notes that Windows 2000 took 16 months from beta 2 to final release — MAY 02, 2006 (COMPUTERWORLD) - While Microsoft Corp. has a good track record of hitting its release targets fo...
Microsoft Teams Up With Hollywood to Offer Original Web Shows
Nearly 10 years after wholeheartedly but prematurely embracing original entertainment programming on the Web, Microsoft is re-entering the fray. But instead of attempting to contort itself into a med...
News Bits: Skype, Pandora and Meebo
There are a few product updates going out tonight or tomorrow morning involving Meebo, Pandora and Skype that are worth mentioning. — Skype Adds Skypecasts — Skype is releasing version 2.5 beta of...
Bring E3 Home!
Can't make the trip to E3? Or worst, you live in LA and can't get in the show? We're committed to doing all we can to help you feel like you're there (without the sore feet, bad food, long lines, an...
First Official Sidekick 3 Marketing Shot
This is the first official marketing shot of the upcoming Sidekick 3. You can read my first official review of the Sidekick 3 here. This sweet shot is the highest resolution picture yet on the Inter...
Microsoft Is Pushing for Privacy?
WASHINGTON — When it comes to protecting customers' privacy, Microsoft doesn't have the best record. So when the software giant backs new federal privacy legislation, onlookers suspect the company is...
Best Cellphone Company? All of Them, to Hear Them Say It
FOR decades, marketers in crowded categories like banking and fast food have tried to avoid price wars by promoting qualities like service and convenience. Now cellphone companies have joined the fra...
Nowadays, It's All Yours, Mine or Ours
The "My life. My card" campaign from American Express was created by Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, part of the WPP Group. — My, my, my. — Madison Avenue has become obsessed with using the word "my" ...
Ask.com Launches Second Post-Jeeves Campaign
After showing the power of Ask.com's tools to civilize wild primates, the butler-less search engine will launch a second wave of TV ads today showcasing one of the company's top scientists. — Known ...
Google, Amazon and MSN
I awoke this morning while on the road in Sydney Australia to the news that Amazon was switching search providers from Google to MSN. I agree with Danny Sullivan's analysis here on Search Engine Watc...
Suit Levels Spyware, Typosquatting Allegations at Yahoo
A class-action lawsuit filed Monday against Yahoo! Inc. and group of unnamed third-parties accuses the company of engaging in "syndication fraud" against advertisers who pay Yahoo to display their ads...
OpenDocument Approved by ISO/IEC Members
The six month voting window for ISO/IEC adoption of the OASIS OpenDocument Format (ODF) standard closed on May 1, and at midnight (Geneva time) last night it was announced internally that ODF had been...