[Software News] MTV sees more ads with social nets, video metrics
[Software News] Broadband data collection bill clears Congress
Providing universal broadband may very well start with simply finding out who has broadband access and who doesn't. The House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill that could help answer that question by improving broadband data collection. Passed unanimously in the Senate on Thursday, the Broadband Data Improvement Act now awaits the president's signature. The legislation, introduce...
[Software News] Top firms band together behind Mobile Broadband
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top computer makers, mobile operators and technology providers announced on Tuesday that upcoming laptop computers would feature mobile broadband making them ready to surf right out of the box. Led by the GSM Association (GSMA), a global trade association of mobile operators, the group of 16 companies said the "Mobile Broadband" service mark would be pre...
[Software News] Internet pop-up "scareware purveyors" sued
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Microsoft and Washington state's top prosecutor have filed a lawsuit to stop "scareware purveyors" that trick people with pop-up messages claiming computers need critical repairs. Attorney General Rob McKenna and the US software giant filed suit on Monday against a pair of Texas businesses accused of sending invasive programs into computers to fri...
[Software News] Skype 4.0 beta 2 gives you more say
Skype 4.0 beta 2 (download when available) has done a lot of growing since the first beta for Windows rolled out this past June. While that release showed some success reorganizing Skype's services, we predicted that folks would protest the gawky layout. We were right. The ability to switch into the classic compact view is one concession to user demand that shows up in Skype 4.0 beta 2. Now y...
[Software News] Would Apple really shutter iTunes? Unlikely
Apple did indeed say that if it couldn't make a profit, it "most likely" will not continue to operate iTunes. You can find a copy of the statement here on page 4 (PDF). Fortune magazine published a bombshell of a story on Tuesday by reporting that Apple once threatened to close iTunes if forced to pay higher royalties for music. A more careful reading of the Apple executive's s...
[Software News] Congress OKs bill to improve broadband access
WASHINGTON - Congress has passed legislation that will require the government to keep closer tabs on who has access to the Internet and who does not. Supporters hope the Broadband Data Improvement Act will help policymakers better identify areas of the country that are falling behind when it comes to high-speed Internet access. The bill passed both houses of Congress, with the Senate approving a fin...
[Software News] Fans unite in auction to save Superman's house
CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Superman's home planet Krypton was destroyed, but his house on Earth will live on thanks to loyal fans and an online auction that raised $100,000 to restore the rotting home where the Man of Steel was created. Everything from original artwork to a role on the hit television show "Heroes" was sold in the month-long auction, which ended on Tuesday, to save th...
[Software News] California legislators back Google-Yahoo online ad deal
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Eleven California state political leaders are urging US regulators not to interfere with a proposed online advertising tie-up between Google and Yahoo. The legislators, from the state where both the Internet titans are based, signed a letter warning US Attorney Michael Mukasey that Internet market growth and innovation "could be stifled" by blocking t...
[Software News] Netflix to make Starz movies available for streaming
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - DVD rental company Netflix Inc said on Tuesday it has reached a deal to provide about 2,500 titles from Starz Entertainment LLC's broadband subscription service to the Netflix's Web streaming service. Terms were not disclosed. The deal marks a major milestone for Netflix in its efforts to license newer content for its "Watch Instantly" streaming service, ...
[Software News] Flaw in Flash Servers Allows Free Amazon Movies
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A security hole in Adobe Systems Inc software, used to distribute movies and TV shows over the Internet, is giving users free access to record and copy from Amazon.com Inc's video streaming service. The problem exposes online video content to the rampant piracy that plagued the music industry during the Napster era and is undermining efforts by retailers, movie studios an...
[Software News] Sprint Reveals XOHM WiMAX Pricing, Coverage
It looks like they did it. Today the XOHM Web site went live with details of how to get online with WiMax in Baltimore, with spotty coverage throughout the city and its suburbs. The Web site is pretty rich with coverage maps and options, and it also gives a list of the next cities to get XOHM: Boston, Providence, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago and Dallas. XOHM is launching with a $79.99 home ...
[Software News] New UK watchdog to protect children on the Web
LONDON (Reuters) - Children will be protected from suicide websites, bullying and pornography by a new Internet watchdog, the British government said on Monday. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said it will be the biggest coalition of public and private bodies set up to safeguard young people online. It will teach them about possible dangers, target illegal sites that contain harmful content and estab...
[Software News] Web Radio Compromise Bill Passes House
Amid the bailout frenzy on Capitol Hill this weekend, the House on Saturday passed a bill that would give its blessing to any compromise reached between Internet radio stations and copyright holders over royalty fees. "There may now be a light at the end of the tunnel in the fight over Internet radio royalties," bill sponsor Jay Inslee, a Washington Democrat, said in a Sunday statement....
[Software News] Apple faces iTunes test case in Norway
OSLO, Norway - Norway's top consumer advocate said Monday he is taking Apple Inc. to the government's Market Council in a test case seeking to force the American company to open its iTunes music store to digital players other than its own iPod. Norway is leading a European campaign that began two years ago to get Apple to make its iTunes online store compatible with rivals' digital music players. "W...
[Software News] Update: Broadband Data Bill OK'd by Senate, House
The House on Monday approved a bill that would improve the collection of broadband data and dole out $40 million to groups that enact plans to spur high-speed Internet adoption. The Senate approved the bill on Friday. Representatives made added a minor, technical amendment to the bill that calls for broadband reports to be sent to the Senate and House Commerce Committees rather than just the Sen...
[Software News] Microsoft Teases 'New Xbox Experience' Site
Microsoft still hasn't given an exact release date for when the "New Xbox Experience" dashboard overhaul will be released, but if you want to get an early impression of what to expect (coated in a delicious glaze of Microsoft's promotional exaltations), then head over to their new website -- itself modeled on the new navigation method coming in the update -- that's filled with videos that do just that. ...
[Software News] Sprint's XOHM: What You Need to Know
Sprint launched XOHM, a new mobile Internet network, on Monday in Baltimore. We've been following XOHM for a while now. Here's what you need to know. What is XOHM? XOHM is the first potentially nationwide U.S. mobile WiMAX network. In English, please. It's a new kind of Internet connection, like cable or DSL. But wireless. Why did you put "potentially nationwide U.S. mobile...
[Software News] Microsoft to back jQuery library
San Francisco - Microsoft plans to incorporate the jQuery JavaScript library into its Visual Studio platform, according to several blogs published on Sunday. JQuery, the jQuery Web site states, is "a fast and concise JavaScript library that simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and AJAX interactions for rapid Web development." The technology also was described as ...
[Software News] Sprint begins mobile WiMax network in Baltimore
Sprint Nextel Corp. opened its new wireless network to customers in Baltimore on Monday, offering Internet service for laptops for $45 per month. It's the first commercial network in the U.S. to use so-called WiMax technology for mobile customers. Compared to more mainstream cellular broadband technology, WiMax provides fast downloads and is cheap to deploy. Sprint is betting on the technology, cham...