Transparency and Accountability -- YouTube keeping track of ISPs and letting you know:
YouTube starts rating US ISPs, puts its weight behind settlement-free peering — Tech News and Analysis: "Google wants you to know which ISPs provide the best streaming experience, and it wants ISPs to work with it to ensure HD-quality streams without buffering.... The report also shows which ISPs are capable of delivering SD quality video without buffering, and which ones deliver videos at a lower performance, or in other words will leave you completely frustrated. To get to these results, YouTube monitored streams over a 30 day period. Only ISPs that were capable of delivering HD at least 90 percent of the time are being called HD verified...."
for more info go to: Google Video Quality Report: "There are many factors that influence your video streaming quality, including your choice of Internet Service Provider (ISP). Learn how your ISP performs and understand your options."
Search for flair grows as gadgets become accessories
Boston Globe
Apple's $3 billion purchase of Beats Electronics, by far the company's ... The standard Google Glass product looks more like something out of Star Trek ...
Google steps up efforts for more racial diversity
Boston Globe
Google has had more trouble diversifying its workforce than its computer ... One year,Google says, there were just two black people in the United ... The company hired one of them, and Microsoft hired the other, according to ... to shareholder meetings this spring at such companies as Google, Facebook, ...
Google's Motorola Mobility to Close Factory in Texas
Wall Street Journal
Motorola, which Google plans to sell, opened the factory in May 2013. ... Apple's latest iPhone sells for $650 without a contract on the website of AT&T ...
Google now taking requests to censor results in Europe
San Jose Mercury News
SAN FRANCISCO -- Google is starting to accept requests from Europeans who want to erase unflattering information from the results produced by the ...
Apple hits new “Beats” ahead of WWDC
MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Well, now that you can scratch Apple Inc.'s acquisition of Beats Music and Beats Electronics off the list of things ...
Microsoft, Salesforce.com Make Nice, Marry Apps
InformationWeek
Salesforce apps will work with Office 365, Windows, Windows Phone. Microsoft keeps using ExactTarget. But don't expect Salesforce apps on Azure....
Google to test self-driving cars
Los Angeles Times
Self-driving prototypes will have manual controls to override the autonomous driving systems. But Google plans to build the bulk of the cars as fully ...
Microsoft Preparing To Jump Into The Wearables Market With Its Own Smartwatch
Forbes
A spokesman for Microsoft would not comment on the details. ... “Microsoft needs to run across Apple and Android platforms,” said a recent research ...
8 books Amazon is making it hard to buy
CNNMoney
Amazon has been pressuring Hachette to accept its terms -- consequently, ... Patterson wrote on his Facebook page: "What I don't understand about this particular battle tactic is how it is in the best interest of Amazon customers.
Apple is still an iPhone story, for now
MarketWatch
Last year, when Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) hosted its annual Worldwide Developer Conference, its shares were trading around $439. One year later ...
Surprise: Microsoft's working on a smartwatch of its own - Engadget
By Zach Honig
Apple's reportedly working on one, Google's developing an entire ecosystem and hundreds of smaller companies either have products already on the ...
Engadget RSS Feed
Apple Stock Rises iPhone 6 Rumors - Business Insider
By Jim Edwards
Apple Stock Is Going Through The Roof As People Figure Out Just How ... Yahoo Finance ... Login With Facebook Login With Twitter Login With Google .... Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wins Clippers bidding war for $2 billion.
Markets
What's the Most Expensive Thing You Can Find on Amazon? - Gizmodo
By Eric Limer
This week, Amazon added (absurdly expensive) commemorative coins to the long list of ... Just a year after starting it up, Google's shutting down its Texas-. ... Beats by AppleMakes Monster's Big Mistake Even Bigger ... bHide; EShare to Kinja; jShare to Facebook· iShare to Twitter · rGo to permalink.
Gizmodo
Jimmy Iovine, David Geffen & Oprah Winfrey Outbid by Ex-Microsoft Exec for LA Clippers - Radio.com
By Brian Ives
Music industry mogul Jimmy Iovine is about to get a big payoff for selling Beats Audio toApple, but it looks like a bid he was involved with to purchase ...
Radio.com
more technology news below ( @ web version--link below)
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler (appointed by Barack Obama) obviously cares nothing about the public interest, net neutrality, an open internet or internet freedom. He is only serving his masters in the communications industry (ISPs) and and their lobbyists! This is the worst public policy to come out of Washington DC in years!
FCC proposal would destroy net neutrality | The Verge: "....The goal of net neutrality rules is to prevent service providers from discriminating between different content, allowing all types of data and all companies' data to be treated equally. While it appears that outright blocking of individual services won't be allowed, the Journal reports that some forms of discrimination will be allowed, though that will apparently not include slowing down websites. Nonetheless, allowing some websites to pay for preferentially treatment would inherently favor larger, more successful companies.
A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE MEANING OF "OPEN INTERNET"
The actual draft of the proposed rules has not yet been released, but the FCC did release a framework of the rules back in February. These proposed changes, however, are a large departure from the original Open Internet rules as well as what was shown earlier this year...."
F.C.C., in ‘Net Neutrality’ Turnaround, Plans to Allow Fast Lane - NYTimes.com: " . . . The proposed rules are a complete turnaround for the F.C.C. on the subject of so-called net neutrality, the principle that Internet users should have equal ability to see any content they choose, and that no content providers should be discriminated against in providing their offerings to consumers....The new proposals, drafted by the F.C.C.'s chairman, Tom Wheeler, and his staff, will be circulated to the other four commissioners beginning Thursday, an F.C.C. spokeswoman said. The details can be amended by consensus in order to attract support from a majority of the commissioners. The commission will then vote on a final proposal at its May 15 meeting."
Samsung Galaxy Series Riding High on Overall User Engagement, but lukewarm Response to its Content and App Strategy.: "...Bonny Joy, Chief, Consumer Telemetry Platforms, said: “Clearly, Galaxy Sx series have succeeded in creating more engagement by growing the overall pie, but its own content and media strategy is faring low at the moment. Galaxy S5 is a step-upgrade from the Galaxy S4, but as far as content and media is concerned, little has changed to draw consumer attention to its latest launch.”..."
Megaupload seeks return of millions in frozen Hong Kong assets ( - Legal - Security ): "...The company's assets were frozen by Hong Kong at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice around January 2012 after its operators, including founder Kim Dotcom, were indicted by U.S. prosecutors for allegedly profiting from large-scale copyright infringement. On Wednesday, the High Court ordered Hong Kong's Department of Justice to respond to Megaupload's filing by June 4...."
Amazon's Prime Pantry service lets you ship 45 pounds of groceries for a $6 fee
By Sarah Silbert
Amazon's dead-set on killing off the grocery store, with a same-day delivery service and even a Dash gadget for restocking items around the house.
Engadget RSS Feed
Why Apple Can't Quit Steve Jobs
ABC News
Despite Steve Jobs' advice to never think about what he would do, the ghost of the visionary founder still rules at Apple two and a half years after his ...
Microsoft Earnings: 6 Questions
InformationWeek
Microsoft has been on fire lately, but new CEO Satya Nadella will face ... has turned a skeptical eye this year toward Apple, Netflix, Google, Amazon, ...
Facebook Profit Tripled in First Quarter
New York Times
For the last two years, Facebook has been growing like a beanstalk in mobile advertising, gaining ground against Google, its chief rival. Credit Luong ...
Amazon snares classic shows in deal with HBO
Boston Globe
Starting May 21, Amazon Prime members — who pay $99 a year for ... other content to televisions, competing with the likes of Apple Inc. and Roku.
Microsoft's Bing goes ad-free for all US schools
Computerworld
Although Microsoft used the pilot launch last year to take shots at rival Google -- part of its then-running "Scroogled" attack ad campaign -- the ...
Google Street View Offers Time Travel
InformationWeek
Google Maps Street View gained a new feature on Wednesday: a way to travel through time. Street View has always offered time travel of a sort: Its ...
Google, Facebook and other tech companies race to develop artificial intelligence
San Jose Mercury News
Facebook, Google and other leading tech companies are jockeying to hire ... each works differently, Tempo is vying with Siri, Google Now and Microsoft's new Cortana. ... But there are signs Apple is working feverishly to improve it.
Google, SunPower unwrap solar-power deal
MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Google Inc. on Wednesday said it has teamed up with SunPower Corp. for a big push to make solar power more ...
Heartbleed: why did a computer bug have a name and a logo?
The Guardian
The Heartbleed flaw is being fixed more quickly because of the decision to give the bug a memorable name and a cute logo, according to the firm that first identified it. The flaw was caused by a simple coding error which resulted in passwords and security ...more technology news below ( @ web version--link below)
"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
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 ...
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