http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/news Latest news, updated every five minutes http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20988 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20990 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20989 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20987 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20986 The idea of putting email management in a Web browser dates back—well, let's just say if that if the concept were a child, it would be hitting puberty. However, the concept was mostly aimed at consumers and Internet end-users until Google decided to pitch its Gmail services to businesses as part of its Google Apps package. Now, technology giant IBM thinks Google might be on to something: International Business Machines is launching LotusLive iNotes, a new Web-based email services specifically targeting corporate email users. And IBM plans to charge just $3 a month ($36/year) for LotusLive iNotes, less than Google charges corporate clientsRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:50:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20985 Google Inc. is giving Web surfers a few more ways to refine their search results, signaling its resolve to ward off rival Microsoft Corp.'s aggressive campaign to lure traffic.The changes announced Thursday might be hard to notice because they require clicking on a "show options" link above Google's search results. The feature has been around since May, making it possible to focus the results exclusively on videos, discussion forums, reviews or books. Now news and blogs are joining the list of options.MicrosoftRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:07:34 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20984 Graphics technology developer Nvidia has formally introduced its next generation graphics architecture, codenamed Fermi, which Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang described as putting a supercomputer into a GPU. Unlike traditional GPUs, which are optimized for rendering and graphics tasks, the Fermi architecture is intended to put standard computing operations and graphics procedures on equal footing, enabling developers to leverage the computing power of the GPUs for things like physics simulation, supercomputing, and medical imaging…and, of course, there will still be some applications for gaming.The Fermi chip currenRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:20:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20983 Almost a year ago big-ticket audio gear maker Monster threw down Beats by Dr. Dre, a line of Dre-endorsed headphones and earbuds designed to pummel user's hearing across a wide variety of devices and environments. Now Monster has expanded out the Beats line to include Heartbeats, a new collaboration with pop star Lady Gaga. And Monster is quick to boast that the pop diva didn't just put her stamp of approval on a product: she helped design the earbuds so they'd look like nothing else on the market.The in-ear HearRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20982 There are still some people in this work who get by with a single handset connected to a landline—and then there are people who's lives and careers take them almost anywhere, often infuriatingly out of range of any sort of cell phone coverage. For these highly mobile types, early next year AT&T plans to offer the Terrestar Genus, a Windows Mobile device that combines a traditional cell phone with a satellite phone, offering communications in places off the beaten track—sometimes way off the beaten track."TerreStar is pleased to announce AT&T as a distribution channel," said Terrestar president Jeffrey Epstein, iRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20980 ViaSat Inc. is acquiring Wild Blue Communications Inc., a provider of high-speed Internet access via satellite, for $568 million in cash and stock, the companies said Thursday.Privately held Wild Blue, in which Liberty Media Corp. holds a 37 percent stake, will become an operating subsidiary of ViaSat, which makes satellite communications equipment for defense and consumer markets.Carlsbad, Calif.-based ViaSat plans to buy Wild Blue for $443 million in cash and $125 million in new common stock. Liberty Media, controlled by media mogul John Malone, wRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:32:02 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20981 Cisco is already a giant name in Internet infrastructure, making a substantial amount of the routers and gear that keeps the buts flowing within and between networks, but the company is also transforming itself into a major player in digital video with offerings ranging from the very high-end TelePresence video conferencing solution, the business-oriented WebEx service, and even consumer video hardware like the Flip digital camcorders acquired via PurRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20979 The Obama administration has given a green light to the Department of Homeland Security to hire up to 1,000 new cyber experts over the next three years, the first major personnel move to fulfill its vow to bolster security of the nation's computer networks.The announcement follows a wave of cyber attacks on federal agencies, including a July assault that knocked government Web sites off the Internet and earlier intrusions into the country's electrical grid.DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, who made the announcement on Thursday, said the hiring plan reflects the Obama administration's commitment to improving cyber security.At the same time, however, it underscores the adRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:12:25 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20978 Frustrated by inaction in Congress, a growing number of states are trying to reduce the rising tide of junked TVs, computers and other electronics that have become one of the nation's fastest-growing waste streams.Nineteen states have passed laws requiring the recycling of old electronics, which contain both precious metals and toxic pollutants and are piling up in garages and closets — or worse, getting dumped overseas. Thirteen other states are considering laws.But as these state measures take effect, the electronics industry is pushing back against what it calls a hard-to-follow "patchwork."Two trade groups, the Consumer Electronics Association and theRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:03:55 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20977 Sony has been playing up its new handheld gaming rig for a while now, but today is when the SKUs hit the shelves: Sony's PSPgo portable gaming system is on sale at North American retailers for a suggested price of $249.99. The PSPgo features a 3.8-inch display that slides up to reveal gaming controls, 802.11b Wi-Fi (for connecting to available networks and the PlayStation Network), and Bluetooth wireless networking (for handling headsets or Dualshock controllers).What's missing? Sony's little-loved UMD disc drive, which helps the PSPgo be over 40 percent smaller than its predecessors. Sony plans to make up for it by offering fullRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20976 Back in April, a Rhode Island jury award Uniloc and its Singapore-based parent company some $388 million in damages, finding the Microsoft infringed on Uniloc's antipiracy technology in Windows XP and Microsoft Office. Uniloc had been seeking $194 million in damages, but the jury doubled the damage award, presumably finding the Microsoft's conduct in the dispute. The finding was one of the largest damage awards ever laid down in a civil case.Now, Microsoft has managed to get the whole $388 million bill tossed: U.S District Judge William Smith has nullifieRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:10:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20975 Folks who have to archive serious amounts of content pour a lot of money into hard drives—but in many cases it would be handy to be able to move some of that content to less-expensive media, like Blu-ray discs. One problem, of course, is that burning to Blu-ray is much slower than writing to hard drives…plus, in the case of video content, you can't pop hard drives into many consumer disc players.Looking to ease the pain, Pioneer has introduced its BDR-205 Blu-ray Writer, an SATA unit designed to pop into an optical drive bay on a compRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20974 It's no secret that Intel's Atom processors don't back enough punch to keep up with the big chips in desktops and gaming rigs—but then, they weren't supposed to, either: instead they're intended to bring enough oomph to handle common communications and Internet tasks without draining a netbook battery in less than 20 minutes. But now new computer maker Haleron seems to be thinking where one 1.6 GHz Atom processor isn't enough, maybe two will do the trick: the company's new Swordfish Net 102 Dual sports dual Atom processors, aloRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20973 Back in September Motorola showed off an upcoming phone based on Google's Android platform: it was called the Cliq and featured MotoBlur, a communications solution that brought together email, messaging, social networks, photos, and more from a variety of sources right to a users' home screen. Now, U.S. carrier T-Mobile will put the Cliq on pre-sale to existing customers beginning October 19, marking the first time a Motorola Android devices will be available to consumers. Everyday consumers who aren't already T-Mobile customers will be able to set handsRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:35:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20972 In television's latest quest to discourage viewers from skipping ads, actors from NBC and ABC shows are appearing in character in commercials to interact with products in parallel story lines. This new kind of commercial further blurs the line between program and advertisement and comes as traditional product placements within shows, an early response to fast-forwarding, have become common.A series of spots that debuted this week weaves Palm Inc.'s Pre phone more deeply into the story line of two primeRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:26:40 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20971 Accessory and peripheral maker LaCie has announced its new Sound2 Speaker system designed for use on Macs, PCs, or any other A/V device (like, say, a media player) that needs some premium quality audio output without a ton of bells, whistles, and blinky LEDs. The Sound2 Speakers look like just a roudn grille that balances on a desktop, but connect up using USB or a line-in port and pump tunes with up to 30 watts of power.The Sound2 Speakers were designed by LaCie favorite Neil Poulton, and the company partnered with French high-end audio company Cabasse to dial in the loudspeaker tRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20970 As Internet use expands worldwide, the United States said Wednesday it will give other governments and the private sector a greater oversight role in an organization whose decisions affect how computers relay traffic such as e-mail and Twitter posts.The move comes after European regulators and other critics have said the U.S. government could wield too much influence over a system used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Those critics have complained, among other things, about the slow rollout of Internet addresses entirely in languages other than English.However, the U.S. government stopped short Wednesday of cutting its ties completely with the Internet organization, the InternRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:32:51 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20969 The value of the compensation package granted to Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer fell about 6 percent in fiscal 2009, a year in which weak computer sales cut into the software maker's profits.Ballmer received a pay package valued at $1.28 million for the year that ended in June, according to an Associated Press calculation of figures disclosed in a regulatory filing Tuesday.Ballmer's salary, which is set at the beginning of the year, increased by 4 percent to $665,833. The CEO's bonus was cut by 14 percent to $600,000 from $700,000 in 2008, according to the company's annual proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to the filiRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20968 General Motors Co. said Tuesday that it is concluding its partnership with eBay Inc. in which the automaker used the auction site to sell new cars through California dealerships, as it shifts focus to broader, national marketing programs.GM and eBay said the program was slated to end Sept. 30, and was not canceled for lack of participation. GM spokesman John McDonald deemed the program a "success" because it helped the Detroit-based company improve strategies to reach car buyers who typically don't consider GM products."We're taking what we learned from eBay and applying it to our digital and social marketing media marketing strategies,&qRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:48:39 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20967 Late last year, Warner Music demanded all its music videos be removed from the video sharing service YouTube in a licensing spat: although Warner was one of the first big content providers to partner up with YouTube—dating back to before the site's acquisition by Internet titan Google, the company wasn't happy with the revenue arrangements. But now they're back: Warner Music Group is bringing its artists and video back to YouTube in a woRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20966 The talented folks over at Hard Graft are expanding into headwear and to do this they've teamed up with Mühlbauer, a family-owned Austrian millinery that has been making hats since 1903. As with all their accessories the line is carefully constructed and uses premium materials like fur felt, merino wool loden, and merino wool knit.Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:23:44 -0400