Tude Beams It can be perilous to expose one’s softer side whilst amongst friends. For example by stroking a small kitten. Or by commenting on how pretty the flowers are looking that day. Your friends may not understand your comments and may laugh. See price Tags: gadgetry, lcd, pvr, home theater (Read the full post about ‘Tude Beams’…)
Online DVD rental company Netflix will soon announce a trio of partnerships which will allow subscribers to watch films streamed straight from the Internet to the TV, with LG already being one of the partners. Apparently Netflix has spilled the beans that three of the four partners are major companies that move millions of devices annually, and we ought to see Netflix functionality in some of these devices by the time Q4 rolls around this year. The online TV streaming feature will be included in its entire range of price plans, regardless of whether you pay $4.99 monthly or $16.99. Just make sure you live in an area where the Internet connection is decent enough for streaming. (Read the full post about ‘Netflix To Announce Partnerships’…)
Do you see a pair of speakers in the image on the right? Yeah, I was fooled at first glance too, until I realized that a pair of Photo Frame Speakers were actually sitting camouflaged. These USB-powered speakers also double up as standard photo frames, where you will be able to place your favorite 4″ x 6″ memories within. The speakers are located behind, which means sound will travel away from you instead of towards you. It would’ve been cool if the Photo Frame Speakers came with lcd panels though, but that would definitely push up its price way beyond the $50 point. (Read the full post about ‘Photo Frame Speakers’…)
Zune fans have a new reason to rejoice — and no, it’s not due to the untimely destruction of One Infinite Loop. Audible.com has unofficially announced it’s bringing its library of audio books to the Microsoft-backed media player. According to an email we received from Audible.com, the online audiobook store is rearing to go even though Redmond hasn’t announced a launch date:I understand that you have contacted us today in regards to whether or not the Microsoft Zune is compatible with our service. We have great news! After much anticipation, Audible and Microsoft have completed negotiations on making the Zune AudibleReady! (Read the full post about ‘Confirmed: Zune Slated for Audiobook Compatibility’…)
Popular social networking site Reunion.com’s latest marketing technique has come under fire. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the site dupes people into joining by sending an email pretending to be from someone they know who’s been looking for them, and banks on the recipients curiosity being enough to get them to click on the link and join the site. Once the person signs up, their address book is scraped and the site spams those addresses with the same type of email. The site doesn’t let a member choose who the email is sent to-it simply sends it to every contact they have. Needless to say this has caused embarrassment for many. (Read the full post about ‘Reunion.com’s latest marketing technique under fire’…)
eBay has given Skype one more year to prove its viability and relevance to eBay’s online auction service. Skype was acquired by eBay with the hopes of the VoIP company helping boosts its online commerce business. However, since its acquisition, Skype failed to live up to eBay’s expectation of bringing more tie-ins between Skype and eBay’s online payment system through call-billing arrangement. Citing an interview with the Financial Times, News.com reports that eBay CEO John Donahue said that eBay is giving Skype until the end of this year to test its synergies and if the synergies are strong, eBay will keep Skype in its portfolio. (Read the full post about ‘eBay will not sell Skype if “synergies are strong”’…)
Yesterday, Motorola announced that it has made a critical investment in the future of virtualization for mobile phones. While the idea itself seems to have a single device simultaneously operating as a blackberry, Windows Mobile or Palm device with just the push of a “next OS” button, in reality it’s to help make the OS running on the mobile phone itself more secure.
The company making the virtualization products is called VirtualLogix. According to Motorola’s press release, “VirtualLogix is a leader in real-time virtualization—an innovative technology that is shaping the future for communications devices and equipment.
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The QNAP NVR-1012 Network Surveillance Kit targets both home and office use, featuring professional grade live video recording and real-time remote monitoring/playback service. It relies on the Linux OS as the base where performance is a proven thing, and is extremely easy to set up even for the uninitiated. The entire system configuration and recording/monitoring functions of the NVR can be performed via Internet Explorer with no need for complicated software installations. Besides the built-in Ethernet connection the cameras also provide a great alternative for home users to connect wirelessly. The state-of-the-art 2-way communication system supports synchronized video and audio monitoring and recording. (Read the full post about ‘QNAP NVR-1012 Network Surveillance Kit’…)
T-Mobile is giving its users a treat by including JuiceCaster, a mobile social networking service, to twelve of their handsets. JuiceCaster lets users share pictures and videos with their social network friends through the use of mobile phones. To be offered as an unlimited add-on service which will costs $2.99 per month, JuiceCaster 6.0 will start appearing on T-Mobile handsets starting in early May. Once T-Mobile users subscribe to the service, they can start sharing pictures and videos, update their social networking profiles, friend lists, comments, ratings and personal statuses using their mobile phones. JuiceCaster currently works with top online social networking sites which include MySpace, Facebook and Twitter among others. (Read the full post about ‘T-Mobile, JuiceCaster bring mobile social networking to the US’…)
The current economic conditions have begun to take its toll on US companies. Among them is AT&T, which is in the process of cutting 1.5-percent of their workforce. This news was revealed by a ruling filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T employees who will be hit by the layoffs are those who have no direct contact with AT&T customers and are said to include those in management. The plans for the layoff’s are part of AT&T’s ongoing streamlining of operational activity. Despite laying off a big chunk of their employees, AT&T is expecting to get a pre-tax charge of $374 million as a result of this layoffs. (Read the full post about ‘AT&T to cut 1.5% of workforce in effort to streamline operations’…)
