FCC screwed up, ISP blocking legal, time for Google to step up?

"Netflix, ... YouTube and Amazon ... face higher costs of doing business, changing the industry's economics. In Netflix's case, the expenses could climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars a year ... 'Goodbye, open Internet,' said Jennifer Fritzsche, an analyst at Wells Fargo." (source: Mike Allen, POLITICO Playbook)

Is the current FCC up to the task of protecting internet freedom, an open and free internet under net neutrality rules? Apparently not. Maybe Google will come to the rescue of the US and offer Google fiber and Google wireless everywhere? --

How the FCC screwed up its chance to make ISP blocking illegal | Ars Technica: "... broadband providers like AT&T and Time Warner have acknowledged that online video aggregators such as Netflix and Hulu compete directly with their own 'core video subscription service.' … Broadband providers also have powerful incentives to accept fees from edge providers, either in return for excluding their competitors or for granting them prioritized access to end users. Indeed, at oral argument Verizon’s counsel announced that 'but for [the Open Internet Order] rules we would be exploring those commercial arrangements.'" AT&T is already implementing new fees for content providers in the wireless market, which wasn't subject to all the provisions of the Open Internet Order. We can expect such arrangements to happen in the wired broadband market unless something changes. Verizon is ecstatic ... (read more at link above)

Google Adds Optional Data Compression Feature To Chrome For Mobile, Reducing Your Data Usage By Up To 50% | TechCrunch: "... a data compression feature for its Chrome mobile web browser which allows you to reduce your data usage on smartphones and tablets, potentially saving you money on your monthly cell phone bill or data plan. The feature is one of several new additions coming to Chrome’s mobile browser, which also sees the inclusion of Google Translate on iOS, support for Application shortcuts for favorite websites on Android, and other fixes. The data compression feature, however, is the highlight of this forthcoming release. When enabled, it will also include Chrome’s Safe Browsing technology to protect against malicious webpages. Google says the feature will roll out via app updates on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store over the next few days..."

Google releases Moto G Google Play Edition for $179/$199 | 9to5Google: "There isn’t much of a difference between the Google Play Edition and the regular unlocked GSM model of the Moto G selling through other retailers. The Moto G is already just about stock Android to begin with, and the pricing is around the same you’ll find through third-party retailers. Either way, with the GPE Moto G you’ll be guaranteed completely stock Android and updates when other Google Play Edition devices receive them. The Moto G is available now through the Google Play website for customers in the US and will run on AT&T or T-Mobile networks."

Google Chrome 32 is Out: Noisy Tabs Indicators, New Windows 8 Look: "Chrome 32 launches with noisy tab indicators, new Windows 8 look, better malware blocking, and supervised users - The first feature is arguably the most useful one as it finally ends the annoying search to figure out which tabs are producing sound. Furthermore, not only can you now scan for a speaker icon to quickly find that noisy tab, Chrome will also indicate which tabs are currently using your webcam or are being cast to your TV."

If Motorola returns to tablets, look for it to flaunt Moto Maker customization | News | TechRadar: ""We are looking at tablets," Woodside said. "A lot of people have asked us to build a tablet using Moto Maker, to customize their tablet. There might be a day we do that, but the bigger opportunity for us is the five billion people without smartphones.""

Apple misses out as iPod creator flies Nest to Google

USA TODAY
Palihapitiya holds Apple and Google shares through Social + Capital's ... few years you will be an iOS, Android, or possibly Microsoft connected home....

ABC News

Apple CEO Says Greater China iPhone Sales Hit Record in 1st ...

Wall Street Journal
Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company's deal to offer its devices through China Mobile will help it to bolster sales in the world's biggest smartphone ...

CNBC.com

Google Prepping Tiered Channel Program For Google Cloud Platform

CRN
Google plans to expand its channel business with the introduction ... Hat Cloud Symposium also brought executives of both Google and AmazonWeb ...

CRN

Amazon's all-new Kindle Paperwhite goes up for pre-order at Rs ...

IBNLive
New Delhi: Amazon has announced the launch of its all-new Kindle Paperwhite in India. The device is now available for pre-order at www.amazon.in ...

IBNLive

Apple, Google anti-poaching class action suit to proceed after court ...

Apple Insider
Apple, Google, Intel and other big-name tech companies will face a class action lawsuit over alleged anti-poaching measures after an appellate court ...

Apple Insider

Microsoft's developer problem isn't about trust, it's about relevance

ZDNet
Summary: Yes, Microsoft has a trust problem when it comes to developers. But if they fix that, does the company remain relevant to modern developers ...

Microsoft Trumpets Surface Gains in Biz: Hype or Hope?

PC Magazine
Microsoft has struggled with its Surface lineup of tablets, but Redmond is not giving up. I spoke with two execs at the National Retail Federation ...

eWeek

Microsoft Starts 2014 With Four Security Advisories

eWeek
For the first time in more than a year, Microsoft is not including an Internet Explorer patch in a Patch Tuesday update. Is that a cause for concern?

CIO Today

Microsoft squashes new Halo movie rumors

GameSpot
The frequently resurrected project from Microsoft's biggest franchise won't be getting the motion picture treatment anytime soon.

GameSpot

Tech stocks: BlackBerry, Symantec sink: "The rating update follows BlackBerry's decision to drop the interim label from CEO John Chen's title. Chen assumed the top role at BlackBerry after the company announced it was taking itself off the market, instead accepting a $1 billion investment from Fairfax Financial Holdings. Chen replaced Thorsten Heins, who helped launch the company's struggling line of BlackBerry 10 devices."

HP releases enormous 'voice tablets' in IndiaWashington Post
It's a Bob Dylan-esque question for the modern age: Just how big must a phone's screen be before you can call it a tablet? The answer, my friends, appears to be 6 inches — at least according to Hewlett-Packard. The firm announced a new line of “voice ...

Microsoft's developer problem isn't about trust, it's about relevance
ZDNet
Microsoft has been struggling with a developer trust problem for some time. At some point during the whole "hey, let's reimagine Windows into Windows 8 thing", as an organisation they stopped communicating well, and started to make some really strange ...
more technology news below

Follow @expricom