02/09, 1:25pm
Apple hits symbolic stock value
An exceptional run on Apple stock over the past few days has made Apple's stock value worth more than either of its two most direct rivals combined. A comparison has shown that, as of mid-day Thursday, Apple's market cap of about $456 billion was greater than both those of Google ($198.9 billion) and Microsoft ($256.7 billion). As noted by AppleInsider, Apple was taking advantage of both Google missing targets and bruising its share as well as Microsoft's historic inability to excite shareholders.
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02/01, 11:25am
Microsoft full-page ad tackles Google policy swap
Microsoft has started running a slew of full-page newspaper ads in an attempt to scare users over Google's simpler privacy policies. It claims that Google's attempts to simplify and clarify its policies are disingenuous and that the real goal is to "connect the dots" between Google's services and track users. It goes on to insist that the policy makes it difficult to back out.
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01/19, 7:45pm
Nokia brand will show up on competitors' devices
The Nokia brand will begin showing up on non-Nokia devices running Microsoft's Bing Maps app. CEO Stephen Elop revealed in a recent
conversation with Pocket-lint that Microsoft had agreed to the cross-promotion as part of its Windows Phone deal. The news means that the Nokia brand will begin appearing on competing products such as BlackBerrys and Android phones.
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01/18, 10:40am
EU may start formal Google dispute in two months
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia in a discussion late Tuesday raised the possibility that a formal antitrust dispute with Google could start in late March. He informed Reuters that comments from investigators would come in near the end of the quarter, which ends that month, and that he didn't "expect anything sooner" for a full complaint. Leaks had tipped an early 2012 filing, if it went ahead at all, but hadn't been corroborated directly until now.
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01/17, 5:20pm
Yahoo loses Yang as new CEO takes over
(Update: more to come?) Yahoo on Tuesday said that its co-founder Jerry Yang was leaving the company. He had immediately resigned both from the Board of Directors and "all other positions" at the search giant, including a board spot at Alibaba. He sought to "pursue other interests" beyond the company but cast it as an amicable leap, putting his confidence in new CEO Scott Thompson.
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01/17, 4:35pm
World IPv6 Day to launch standard is June 6
The IPv6 Internet addressing standard will get a more formal launch by its backers on June 6, which is being devoted World IPv6 Day. Seven global ISPs will back the new standard then, including AT&T, Comcast and Time Warner. Also onboard are heavily trafficked websites, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft's Bing, as well as hardware makers Cisco and D-Link.
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01/04, 9:45am
Yahoo settles on permanent CEO from eBay division
Yahoo confirmed rumors Wednesday and picked PayPal president Scott Thompson as its new CEO. The nomination of the eBay division head followed months of uncertainty at the company following the firing of Carol Bartz in September. Thompson takes the position January 9.
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12/22, 4:25pm
Google to pay $300m per year in Mozilla deal
When Google and Mozilla renewed their search royalty deal earlier this week, they didn't reveal that Google will pay $300 million per year, AllThingsD learned. For this amount of money, Google will be the default search engine in Mozilla's Firefox browser. The numbers are a sharp increase from the previous arrangement because of the new competition from Yahoo and Microsoft.
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12/20, 2:55pm
Google funds Mozilla with three-year ad deal
Google kept Firefox active after Mozilla said that it was renewing a deal to make Google the default search in Firefox. A "significant and mutually beneficial" deal will keep Google as the default for a minimum of three years. Neither side would reveal what the terms of the deal were.
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12/15, 4:10pm
Experiment integrates social networking & search
Microsoft has gone public with details on its So.cl network service. The "research experiment" is an attempt to help people learn informally from their friends and colleagues by integrating more closely Internet search and social networking. Microsoft has been beta testing the project with about 150 students, but is planning on inviting up to 1,000 more students and academics to participate.
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12/05, 12:30am
Microsoft outlines launch plans for X360 live TV
In sync with the fall Xbox 360 Dashboard update, Microsoft has provided a listing of TV providers that will be ready to go this week. Along with existing access to ESPN, Hulu, and Netflix, the December 6 update will also bring EPIX authenticated video in the US, Lovefilm in the UK, MediaSet's Premium Play in Italy, Sky Go in Austria and Germany, Telefonica España's Movistar Imagenio, and MSNBC's Today in the US.
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12/01, 3:50pm
Gadgets retake Yahoo spotlight
"iPhone" was the top search term on Yahoo during 2011, the company has announced. Most of the top 10 list consists of celebrities, the second- and third-place spots in fact belonging to Casey Anthony and Kim Kardashian. Yahoo remarks that a piece of electronics hasn't dominated the list since 2002, when Sony's PlayStation 2 occupied the top spot. The last technology-related term to peak was filesharing service KaZaA in 2003.
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11/22, 8:20am
Xbox 360 gets definitive fall 2011 UI update time
Microsoft on Tuesday narrowed down a firm date for its fall 2011 Xbox 360 Dashboard. The Windows Phone-derived revamp should go live on December 6, about three weeks after beta testing began. The update is expected to go live worldwide, although not every feature will follow suit due to the need for local deals.
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11/04, 11:10am
Bing for Mobile version 3.0 now out with HTML5
Microsoft this week updated its Bing app for Android (free, ) and iOS (free, App Store). The Bing for Mobile version 3.0 app now supports HTML5 for a consistent experience whether using the app or Bing from the browser. It will also make the experience very similar, if not identical, across multiple platforms.
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10/26, 4:30pm
Mozilla intros Bing add-on for Firefox browser
Mozilla has taken its relationship with Microsoft and its Bing search engine up to another level. It is now offering to add Bing to its Firefox browser, with the add-on setting the Microsoft search engine as the default and Bing as the homepage. The add-on for the latest version of Firefox also includes the Awesome Bar, Mozilla's hybrid search and address bar. Older versions of Firefox need to be upgraded, and doing so includes the switchover to Bing as the default search engine.
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10/20, 4:35pm
Microsoft summer results shy on Windows and phone
Microsoft posted record results for the summer that were nonetheless muted. Its profit was up six percent from year to year but was enough to get it a new high of $17.37 billion in pure revenue, up seven percent, and a six percent hike in profit to $5.74 billion. Most of this came from the Business and Server groups, which grew eight and ten points each to make $5.62 billion and $4.25 billion each.
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10/11, 11:25am
Xbox 360 fall 2011 Dashboard gets early testing
On cue, Microsoft has started up its Xbox Live Public Preview for the fall 2011 Xbox 360 Dashboard. Gamers who sign in with a Windows Live ID and register for Microsoft Connect should be entered into the running to be included in the public phase of testing in the last few weeks before the official launch. Access isn't guaranteed, although Microsoft hasn't said what if anything affects a user's chances.
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10/05, 3:40pm
Microsoft looking again at buying Yahoo
(Update: possibly no) Fresh leaks have hinted that Microsoft is entertaining the idea of buying Yahoo again. Tipsters told Reuters that Microsoft was taking advantage of the disruption at Yahoo to take over the early search pioneer. It might get a partner to help out, such as an equity partner.
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10/04, 8:40pm
Yahoo advisers share financial information
While it's no secret that Yahoo is looking for buyers, the latest unofficial update has its long-time advisers, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Allen & Co, readying to give out financial information to potential buyers. An unnamed source for Reuters said various types of companies have been making various creative offers for Yahoo and its various businesses. Just this past weekend, Alibaba's CEO said he was interested in buying all of Yahoo.
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09/30, 10:55am
Nokia Windows Phone could use special maps
A pre-release T-Mobile Germany promo banner for Nokia's Windows Phone hardware uncovered Friday could point to Nokia having a special turn-by-turn GPS app. Called Nokia Drive, it would be an adaptation of Nokia Maps with 3D buildings and voice-command navigation, WinRumors saw. Windows Phone 7.5 has better GPS mapping than before, but 3D and direct voice navigation aren't part of Microsoft's official feature set.
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09/21, 5:30pm
Google attorney uncertain on Apple search terms
Google's representing attorney Susan Creighton in a follow-up Senate hearing was unclear on the financial incentives Google might have given Apple to become the default search engine on the iPhone. Following earlier testimony by Eric Schmidt, she acknowledged that Google had made a deal with Apple but that she 'didn't know' if it involved paying Apple to choose one over the other. She admitted that it "wouldn't surprise" her if cash had traded hands.
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09/21, 12:40pm
Microsoft claims Google multiplied ad costs by 50
Microsoft complaints against Google have led the FTC to launch an investigation into Google's practices, says an unnamed person as he's not authorized to comment publicly. Google allegedly illegally raised Microsoft's advertising rates by a factor of 50, AdAge reported. Other allegations against Google regarding advertising will also be looked into and are part of a larger antitrust Google probe.
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09/09, 3:20pm
AOL and Yahoo may unite in post-Bartz era
AOL and Yahoo are considering merging in the wake of Carol Bartz' ouster from Yahoo's CEO spot, according to leaks. AOL chief Tim Armstrong purportedly believes uniting the two would strengthen them and was in talks with Yahoo advisors. He may have wanted a deal as early as last year, Bloomberg's Emily Chang said, but was shot down as long as Bartz was in the lead.
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09/06, 7:55pm
Yahoo chief Bartz uses iPad to reveal departure
Yahoo chief executive Carol Bartz today said she had been fired from the top spot. Using her iPad to send the news, she told staff that the Chairman of the Board Roy Bostock had dropped her "over the phone." A copy gleaned by TechCrunch showed a terse note without indications of who would take over or the reasons why.
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09/06, 5:55pm
Korea launches into raids on Google on Android
South Korea's Fair Trade Commission raided Google's offices in Seoul on Tuesday over questions of anti-competitive search practices in Android. The objective of the raid was kept secret but is believed to be checking claims from local search engine makers Daum and NHN that Google was unfairly restricting what default search options phones could use. Google in a statement said it would cooperate but reiterated its position that Android was reportedly open.
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08/19, 6:55am
Microsoft releases social location app for WP7
Microsoft has released a new social location app from Bing for Windows Phone. The We’re In app is designed to help users organize social gatherings more easily by also integrating Bing maps within the app. The app works by a user inviting their friends to a meeting place, and when they accept, the user’s location is revealed as are the friend’s who have accepted the invitation.
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08/01, 5:20pm
Microsoft reduces device location tracking
Microsoft's Windows Phone Partner Group program lead Reid Kuhn said in a response Monday that his company would desensitize its location tracking system. Following a discovery online that the system had published the locations of phones and notebooks on a public map, Microsoft would no longer guess at the position of a source when only one MAC address (hardware ID) appears in the system. The company had been in direct conversation with the finder, Elie Bursztein, to curb its location checks.
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07/21, 11:05am
Live tiles being tested for Bing search engine
Microsoft is currently internally testing live tiles, or small windows, that remain fixed while users scroll down the screen to keep navigation tabs in view for the HTML5 version of Bing, WinRumors reports. The tiles will enable animated pictures and automatically-generated slideshows so users can visually explore a search query. They depend on a user's location and provide weather information, local news, mapping, targeted advertising and trends.
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07/05, 2:40pm
Feature said to be expanding beyond search box
Microsoft has announced an update to its Bing app for the iPad. The latest version adds a new feature, referred to as Lasso, that enables users to quickly select text to use as a search. Rather than relying on the traditional copy-and-paste process, Lasso automatically begins a search after touch gestures are used to encircle a group of words.
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07/05, 12:25pm
Timing and shape of return is unclear
Google has suddenly and quietly stopped its Realtime Search service. The move comes after the two-year contract with Twitter, the primary content provider for this particular search engine, expired. There is no indication if a new arrangement is under discussion at this time.
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06/29, 5:00pm
Microsoft taps Disney brand lead for Windows 8
Microsoft is looking to shake up its marketing strategy with the launch of Windows 8, a new hire's position has uncovered. It has just recently hired Disney's former brand strategy director Jay Victor to serve in the same role at its project. While he hasn't outlined his plans, Victor's job listing has him developing the marketing and positioning for all the major brands, including Windows, Bing, Office, and the Xbox.
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06/23, 12:30pm
FTC to serve Google subpoenas in antitrust case
The FTC will soon formally subpoena Google in a large antitrust investigation, insiders uncovered Thursday morning. Requests for information should go out in the next several days, first to Google and then to its partners. The investigation outlined at the WSJ would determine whether Google's search business was illegally steering ads and users to its platforms while denying rivals a fair chance.
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06/16, 11:55am
Search results show what your friends like, want
Most of us ask family and friends for their advice before we decide what movie to see or new restaurant to try, because getting feedback from others is part of the decision-making process. Bing is a big believer in getting opinions from people you know, too. That's why they've chosen to show what your Facebook friends like in your Bing search results.
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06/06, 5:05pm
Xbox 360 NXE 2011 to bring cloud saves and beacons
In a quietly seeded tip after the new Xbox 360 experience was unveiled at an E3 keynote, Microsoft's Marc Whitten unwrapepd a pair of new and heavily requested Xbox Live features that will come with the update. It should now store saved game info as well as a full Live profile. The method lets anyone hop to another Xbox 360 and resume progress without having to act as though they're recovering from scratch.
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06/06, 2:15pm
Microsoft shows WP7-based Xbox dash and
Microsoft at its E3 keynote planned a major overhaul of the Xbox 360 Dashboard to focus more heavily on media and compete with hubs like the Apple TV. The new Xbox experience now adds live TV and will let users see real-time streaming video. Few details are available, although live UFC fights will be available separately as a feature.
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05/25, 9:10am
LG Revolution gets official release date and price
Verizon ended one of the longer waits for its 4G smartphones by committing to a launch date for the LG Revolution. True to leaks, the Android LTE phone will ship May 26 for $250. The production version will also be the first phone to ship with Netflix for Android preloaded for movie viewing.
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05/23, 1:20pm
Toyota, Salesforce team on social as Entune shown
Toyota and Salesforce on Monday teamed up on a social network for cars. Nicknamed Toyota Friend, it would put out micro updates similar to Twitter either between fellow drivers or even updates from a car. An electric or plug-in hybrid car could automatically post when it's low on battery, Toyota gave as one example.
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05/17, 3:45pm
Leak shows LG Revolution due on May 26
A new leak shows LG's Revolution smartphone is due to arrive on May 26 at Verizon, making it the third 4G LTE-capable device at the carrier. That same Thursday should also see the launch of the Droid X2 and Xperia Play. The images below brought to us by Droid-Life also show some changes compared to the version of the handset seen last.
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05/10, 11:05am
Microsoft believed overpaying for Skype by 4.5b
Microsoft's $8.5 billion purchase of Skype may have been the result of it being fooled into paying more. Multiple tips claimed Tuesday that Google was bidding but had stopped at $4 billion, less than half what Microsoft paid. TechCrunch was told that Facebook had never been in competition and, while not intentional, ended up convincing Microsoft it had to bid more to stay in the running.
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05/09, 8:45am
Windows Phone 7.5 said getting Windows Live chat
Among the features expected to come with Windows Phone 7's Mango update should be tight Windows Live Messenger support, according to a possible scoop Monday. Instant messaging would be built into the People hub and would be used intelligently to reach contacts. By default, LiveSide heard by way of an accurate leaker's Twitter update, WP7 would use Live Messenger over SMS texting to reach a contact as long as that person was shown as online.
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05/09, 6:50am
Windows Phone 7 "Mango" brings major new features
The forthcoming major Windows Phone 7 update codenamed “Mango” is said to bring Bing AV features, native podcast support and turn-by-turn GPS. Bing Audio is a Shazam-styled service that is now an integrated component of the Bing search window. When a user plays a snippet of a tune, the software will search for the corresponding tune in the Marketplace where it can be streamed or purchased.
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05/06, 1:25pm
Puts Bing maps into iOS apps
Microsoft has released Bing Maps Control for iOS, a new developer download. The package is an Objective-C control, and should allow developers to embed Bing maps directly into iOS titles. Its gesture interface comes from Seadragon, and developers can toggle pushpins and other types of map overlays.
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05/03, 11:00am
Bing integration to be at OS level
RIM during its BlackBerry World day two keynote on Tuesday landed a pair of key deals. Microsoft's Steve Ballmer took to the stage in an unusual move and promised that Bing would form the core search engine not just for Bing Maps, as on the BlackBerry PlayBook, but all BlackBerry devices. The feature would reach devices during the holiday season, but it wasn't said if this was for BlackBerry 7 or a future revision of the OS.
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04/30, 11:50am
FTC talking to firms in possible Google antitrust
The Federal Trade Commission is gathering information from technology firms for an investigation into Google's control of the search industry, possibly including in mobile, a trio of contacts claimed Saturday. Deliberately waiting on the Google-ITA deal, the agency was described as sending out civil investigative demands to unnamed companies that would legally require information. What that information was didn't come out of Bloomberg's sources but presumably centered on whether or not they were hurt by Google's terms.
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04/26, 10:15am
Casio G'zOne Command Android phone hits Verizon
Continuing with a wave of Android phone launches in the past week, Verizon confirmed the launch of the Casio G'zOne Commando [updated soon]. The phone is the first Android phone with Casio's rugged label and meets the US military's 810G spec for brief immersion in water as well as resistance to drops, dust, vibration, and temperature. A special G'zGear portal is meant for outdoor hikers and gives them tools like a pedometer, a trip history, temperature, star charts, and a compass.
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04/15, 10:45am
Korea search firms say Android anticompetitive
Google faced mounting signs of antitrust concern on Friday as two South Korean search engine firms filed complaints with the country's Fair Trade Commission over Android. Daum and Naver's creator NHN both accused Google of blocking mobile search competition by making its search engine the default and supposedly making it difficult to change. Android was "systematically designed" to complicate this, NHN said, and wasn't letting carriers have distinctive search options.
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04/14, 3:15pm
Apple hires Microsoft datamanager GM Timmons
Apple's cloud ambitions became clearer late Wednesday with reports that Apple had lured away Microsoft's Datacenter Services General Manager Kevin Timmons. His new role wasn't known but came just two years after he had left a role as the operations lead at Yahoo. The move spotted by Green M3 is believed to have been very recent, and Timmons has yet to update his LinkedIn profile (above) to reflect the change.
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04/13, 2:30pm
HP webOS 3 beta 1 leaks out in full
A prominent leak Tuesday (video below) of webOS 3.0 beta 1 has shown virtually every detail of what should show on the HP TouchPad. The emulator shows elements like the Launcher and Just Type mostly expanding to fill out the new space, but other elements are clearly much more advanced over webOS on a phone. PreCentral in spotting the details saw a browser and music player that were more like those on a desktop, and Maps has received a complete overhaul by switching to Bing and significantly improving the interface versus the old Google Maps app.
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04/13, 12:30pm
LG Revolution nears launch as it ships to testers
The LG Revolution that showed up at CES is said to now be arriving for testing, indicating the release is close. A slip from AndroidCentral is believed to be welcome news to those who want to access Verizon's 4G data network on an alternative HTC Thunderbolt.
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04/07, 11:20am
Provides optimized interface
Microsoft has released a new iPad-only Bing app. The title is similar in many respects to Bing for the iPhone, providing search and mapping functions as well as news, weather, movie listings, trending topics and other content. Searches can be run using either text or voice.
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