Evernote Blog | Evernote’s Three New Security Features

Check the full post for details; e.g., two-step verification is, at this point, only available to Premium and Business subscribers

"The security and privacy of your data are our top priority at Evernote. Today, we’re happy to announce the availability of three new security features:

• Two-Step Verification

• Access History

• Authorized Applications"

Evernote Blog | Evernote’s Three New Security Features

What Is Elon Musk's Hyperloop - Business Insider

I think I'll wait until this transportation technology is well beyond beta, thanks...

"The closest to detail he's gotten is when he said the Hyperloop is a "cross between a Concorde, a railgun and an air hockey table."
He's been so vague that it seems like what he's talking about can't possibly be real.
But it can be real."

What Is Elon Musk's Hyperloop - Business Insider

LinkedIn Has Learned New Skills: Images And Documents – ReadWrite

Perhaps time to revisit the *Box product-or-feature debate

"The ostensible reason for this is to appeal to the people who follow a particular company on LinkedIn, who are typically employees, job seekers, customers, or other interested parties. One obvious way a tech company might use this, for example, is to post white papers about a new product it's rolling out.
One has to wonder, though, if this isn't also a move to carve out part of the document-sharing business that Dropbox, Box and YouSendIt have so far dominated. That's the public-facing sharing, where you're not sending a document to a particular person but merely alerting people to a place from which it can be downloaded."

LinkedIn Has Learned New Skills: Images And Documents – ReadWrite

For Galaxy Tab, odd Samsung-Intel partnership emerges | Mobile - CNET News

ARM wrestling

""[Intel's] Clover Trail+ delivers competitive performance and battery life with Qualcomm and Nvidia ARM chips," said Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight 64.
Brookwood continued. "It's the first [version] of Atom that can support both Android and Windows 8. In the past, Intel's platforms for Windows 8 differed from their platforms for Android. So, it would be possible for Samsung to build a Galaxy Tab that is physically the same hardware [as an Android product] and use it for a Windows 8 version," Brookwood said.
Here's another reason: Intel's upcoming Bay Trail chip -- a complete redesign of the Atom micro-architecture -- may be an even more attractive option for Samsung tablets and hybrids in the coming months."

For Galaxy Tab, odd Samsung-Intel partnership emerges | Mobile - CNET News

With Windows 8.1, a New Start That Looks Familiar - NYTimes.com

Some additional Windows 8.1 details

"There are a variety of other changes in Windows 8.1 that are likely to receive less notice. People using Windows 8.1 in the modern interface will be able to have four different windows open at once, rather than two, which will make it easier for multitaskers to jump among different applications. A new built-in search function will automatically create a slick-looking mash-up of different types of data relevant to a search term, including songs, videos, photos and Wikipedia entries.
The underlying bet Microsoft is making with Windows has not changed, though. Unlike Apple, which has one operating system for the iPad and one for computers, Microsoft believes the software that powers both types of devices should be the same."

With Windows 8.1, a New Start That Looks Familiar - NYTimes.com

Behind the 'Internet of Things' Is Android—and It's Everywhere - Businessweek

tbd if/when Microsoft will receive an Android royalty on your next espresso maker

"Android is becoming the standard operating system for the “Internet of things”—Silicon Valley’s voguish term for the expanding interconnectedness of smart devices, ranging from sensors in your shoe to jet engine monitors. As each of these devices hits the market, Google further outflanks Apple and Microsoft (MSFT) as the dominant software player in a connected world."

Behind the 'Internet of Things' Is Android—and It's Everywhere - Businessweek

Google's Eric Schmidt Invests in Obama's Big Data Brains - Businessweek

Politically decisive and divisive (e.g., National Journal asserts Civis "has pledged to serve only liberal causes")

"During the 2012 campaign, Barack Obama’s reelection team had an underappreciated asset: Google’s (GOOG) executive chairman, Eric Schmidt. He helped recruit talent, choose technology, and coach the campaign manager, Jim Messina, on the finer points of leading a large organization. “On election night he was in our boiler room in Chicago,” says David Plouffe, then a senior White House adviser. Schmidt had a particular affinity for a group of engineers and statisticians tucked away beneath a disco ball in a darkened corner of the office known as “the Cave.” The data analytics team, led by 30-year-old Dan Wagner, is credited with producing Obama’s surprising 5 million-vote margin of victory."

Google's Eric Schmidt Invests in Obama's Big Data Brains - Businessweek

Microsoft aims to simplify with Windows 8.1 - Business - The Boston Globe

Ensuring the continued success of Windows 7

"Microsoft believes the start-up screen replaces the need for a button, but its omission has ranked among the biggest gripes about Windows 8.
Microsoft is hoping to quiet the critics by resurrecting an omnipresent Windows logo anchored in the lower left corner. Users will also be able to ensure their favorite applications, including Word and Excel, appear in a horizontal tool bar next to the Windows logo. Accessing apps outside the toolbar will still require using the tiles or calling them up in a more comprehensive search engine included in the Windows 8.1 updates."

Microsoft aims to simplify with Windows 8.1 - Business - The Boston Globe

Cisco says Microsoft strengthened a monopoly with Skype deal | Reuters

Interesting voice/video times

"A third of the world's voice calls are now on Skype while over 280 million users use the service more than 100 minutes every month, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said in March. Skype had 170 million users at the time of the deal.
The case is important as Internet-based voice and video has become a vast market, with many consumers and corporates abandoning traditional fixed-line and mobile as a result, and is an area in which Cisco had hoped to expand its presence."

Cisco says Microsoft strengthened a monopoly with Skype deal | Reuters

Amazon Media Room: Press Releases: Amazon Announces Login with Amazon to Reduce Sign-In Friction and Drive Higher Customer Engagement

A new identity crisis for Facebook?

"Today, Amazon launched Login with Amazon, a new service that will enable the over 200 million active Amazon customers to securely and simply login to apps, games, and websites. Login with Amazon allows developers to easily reduce sign-in friction for their customers, leading to higher engagement and order conversion.
[...]
Login with Amazon is available at no charge to developers of apps, games, and websites. The service is easy to integrate, as developers can typically go from registration to launch in a matter of hours. It is based on the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework, allowing developers to leverage a widely-adopted open protocol. For additional details about Login with Amazon, including code samples and the SDKs for Android and iOS, please visit login.amazon.com."

Amazon Media Room: Press Releases

Google Overhauls Gmail to Take On E-Mail Overload - NYTimes.com

Categorically improved email

"The revamped Gmail automatically sorts incoming messages into categories, which appear as three tabs — primary, social and promotions — that users can toggle between in their in-box. The primary tab contains the e-mails that the service thinks are most important. Social contains message updates from various social networks, like LinkedIn, Tumblr and Yelp. Promotions contains newsletters, party invites and concert announcements. Users can also select to add additional tabs to help manage electronic bills, banking statements and messages from forum boards."

Google Overhauls Gmail to Take On E-Mail Overload - NYTimes.com

The Real Reason Hadoop Is Such A Big Deal In Big Data – ReadWrite

Back to data basics

"Sometimes the reasons behind something success can be staring you right in the face. For Hadoop, the biggest motivator in the market is simple: Before Hadoop, data storage was expensive.
Hadoop, however, lets you store as much data as you want in whatever form you need, simply by adding more servers to a Hadoop cluster. Each new server (which can be commodity x86 machines with relatively small price tags) adds more storage and more processing power to the overall cluster. This makes data storage with Hadoop far less costly than prior methods of data storage."

The Real Reason Hadoop Is Such A Big Deal In Big Data – ReadWrite

D11: Motorola Mobility CEO Says Make Way for Moto X - Digits - WSJ

A Motorola product line reboot ahead

"Motorola Mobility has lost sales ground to emerging handset rivals such as Samsung Electronics, which like Motorola makes smartphones powered by Google’s Android software.
But Woodside said Motorola is relaunching its entire product lineup between now and October. He said Motorola won’t make dozens of phones, but instead will concentrate on a handful that will show where the company is going under Google’s ownership.
[...]
Woodside didn’t disclose the price of the new phones, but he did say Motorola can afford to sell smartphones at smaller profit margins than other handset makers."

D11: Motorola Mobility CEO Says Make Way for Moto X - Digits - WSJ

The Reborn Flickr Offers Lots of Space, All Free - NYTimes.com

Check the full article for additional pro/con considerations

"Last week, the new Flickr was born. First, the good news: Every free account holder gets one terabyte of storage. That is an insane, historic, vast amount of space. That’s enough room for about 600,000 typical photos, enough to last you the next couple of birthday parties, at least.
That’s 70 times the free space of the next closest competitor, Google Drive. And those are full resolution photos, too — the originals. Flickr doesn’t compress photos, degrading their quality, the way Facebook does."

The Reborn Flickr Offers Lots of Space, All Free - NYTimes.com

Aereo’s Internet TV service is so good it’s scary - Business - The Boston Globe

Something the traditional TV broadcasters are watching closely

"On my iPhone and iPad, the pictures looked quite respectable. Aereo also let me beam shows from the iPad to my home HDTV set, with the help of an Apple TV unit. The images were darker and less sharp than usual, but decent enough. In all, Aereo is a pretty good substitute for traditional television broadcasts.
And that’s bad news for the broadcasters, who are already in trouble. Viewership is sliding; advertising revenue is stagnant. Internet streaming companies such as Netflix are competing head-on with original television series of their own. Now Aereo could ravage the broadcasters’ lucrative deals with cable companies."

Aereo’s Internet TV service is so good it’s scary - Business - The Boston Globe

Apple May Open a Little to Developers, Possible Android App - Ina Fried - D11 - AllThingsD

Changes at Apple's core?

"Cook did say not to expect Apple to go too crazy on that front, saying that people pay Apple to make choices on their behalf.
“I think you will see us open up more in the future,” he said. “But not to the degree that we put the customer at risk of having a bad experience.”
But will Apple open up more? Cook said. “Yes.”
Secondly, Cook said that even though he still dislikes Samsung as much as ever, he wouldn’t rule out Apple doing its own Android app at some point, though it hasn’t yet seen a reason to do so."

Apple May Open a Little to Developers, Possible Android App - Ina Fried - D11 - AllThingsD

Apple's Tim Cook Hints at Wearable Devices - WSJ.com

Some hints from Apple

""We have several more game changers in us" that the company has been "working on for a while," Mr. Cook said at the event.
Mr. Cook praised devices such as Nike Inc.'s FuelBand, an activity tracker worn on the wrist. He said such wearable products "could be a profound area for technology," while expressing less excitement about Google Glass, Google Inc.'s high-tech eyeglasses that serve as a kind of heads-up display to view Internet content. He said it's "tough to see" Google's product having mass-market appeal."

Apple's Tim Cook Hints at Wearable Devices - WSJ.com

What Better Place’s bankruptcy tells us about the future of electric cars [Washington Post]

Gone too: a Better Place

"Some notable news in the electric-car world: Better Place, the Israeli company that once hoped to revolutionize the auto industry with its innovative battery-swapping stations, has filed for bankruptcy."

What Better Place’s bankruptcy tells us about the future of electric cars

Lessons from Obama 2012: How Data Science Can Help Nonprofits | MIT Technology Review

Big donation data

"Now, with Obama again ensconced in the Oval Office, some veterans of the campaign’s data squad are applying lessons from the campaign to tackle social issues such as education and environmental stewardship. Edgeflip, a startup Ghani founded in January with two other campaign members, plans to turn the ad hoc data analysis tools developed for Obama for America into software that can make nonprofits more effective at raising money and recruiting volunteers."

Lessons from Obama 2012: How Data Science Can Help Nonprofits | MIT Technology Review

IDC: PC shipments worse than predicted, tablet shipments get better | Desktop pcs - InfoWorld

It's still more "PC-plus" than "post-PC," but that's probably small comfort for PC vendors at this point

"Tablets will play a major role in the Post-PC Era: IDC is now predicting tablet shipments will exceed those of portable PCs this year and will outpace the entire PC market (portables and desktops combined) by 2015.
"What started as a sign of tough economic times has quickly shifted to a change in the global computing paradigm with mobile being the primary benefactor," said Ryan Reith, program manager for IDC's Mobility Trackers. "Tablets surpassing portables in 2013, and total PCs in 2015, marks a significant change in consumer attitudes about compute devices and the applications and ecosystems that power them.""

IDC: PC shipments worse than predicted, tablet shipments get better | Desktop pcs - InfoWorld

Confidential report lists U.S. weapons system designs compromised by Chinese cyberspies - The Washington Post

Deeply disconcerting

"Designs for many of the nation’s most sensitive advanced weapons systems have been compromised by Chinese hackers, according to a report prepared for the Pentagon and to officials from government and the defense industry.
Among more than two dozen major weapons systems whose designs were breached were programs critical to U.S. missile defenses and combat aircraft and ships, according to a previously undisclosed section of a confidential report prepared for Pentagon leaders by the Defense Science Board."

Confidential report lists U.S. weapons system designs compromised by Chinese cyberspies - The Washington Post

Sold! Antique Apple-1 brings a record $671K - Computerworld

At this rate, Steve Wozniak is probably tempted to make a new batch

"According to the auctioneer's website, the Apple-1's sales price was €420,000, or $542,000 at current exchange rates. The total, including a 22.3% commission as well as taxes, was $671,400.
That eclipsed the $640,000 record for an Apple-1 established last November at an auction also conducted by Breker, and was nearly double the upper estimate of approximately $390,000 set by the auctioneer earlier this month."

Sold! Antique Apple-1 brings a record $671K - Computerworld

Sony’s Bread and Butter? It’s Not Electronics - NYTimes.com

From a stark Sony reality check

"Sony is best known as a consumer electronics company, making PlayStation game consoles and televisions. And it loses money on almost every gadget it sells.
[...]
But as Mr. Loeb pressures Sony executives to do more to revive the company’s ailing electronics arm, some analysts are asking, Why bother?
Sony, it is suggested, might be better off just selling insurance.
Or just making movies and music. But not electronics."

Sony’s Bread and Butter? It’s Not Electronics - NYTimes.com

Meet the Man Who Sold a Month-Old App to Dropbox for $100M | Wired Business | Wired.com

Check the link below for a co-founder/CEO interview

"When Mailbox sold itself to Dropbox for a reported $100 million or so this March, the month-old iPhone app wasn’t even available to the public. People could download the email organizer, but using it required joining a mailing list that stretched to nearly 800,000 names at one point.
Mailbox was popular because it provided innovative new ways to organize and clear an inbox. Users can swipe a message to the left to “snooze” it, a command that instructs Mailbox to resurface the email after a set period of time. Other swipes — hard left, right, or hard right — archive, delete, or file messages."

Meet the Man Who Sold a Month-Old App to Dropbox for $100M | Wired Business | Wired.com

Yahoo's Bid for Hulu in $600M-$800M Range (and It's Working on Others) - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD

A busy shopping season for Yahoo

"At the same time and separately, according to sources inside the company, Yahoo is also contemplating at least two other significant purchases — in the $150 million to $200 million range — each for a mobile and a communications company.
It’s certainly an ambitious and busy M&A agenda for Yahoo’s CEO Marissa Mayer, who just forked over $1.1 billion in cash to purchase youth-skewing blogging site Tumblr last week."

Yahoo's Bid for Hulu in $600M-$800M Range (and It's Working on Others) - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD

How Xbox One opens the door for the next Apple TV | TV and Home Theater - CNET Reviews

Excerpt from an overview of how Apple could capitalize on TV market dynamics

"If you think the Xbox One jams up Apple's plans, think again. The Xbox One is Apple's best friend. Apple needs the emerging TV landscape to be tackled, and whatever mistakes are made, Apple can improve upon them, and show everyone why that strategy was mistaken. This is the Apple Way. The iPhone was built on old smartphones, the iPad on failed tablets. The landscape now is littered with half-good, half-bad solutions: TiVo, Wii U and TVii, Google TV, Roku, Xbox 360, PS3, even the current Apple TV. None of them truly replaces your cable box. None of them is the true, absolute future of TV.
Yet."

How Xbox One opens the door for the next Apple TV | TV and Home Theater - CNET Reviews

New Computer Attacks Come From Iran, Officials Say - NYTimes.com

Excerpt from a stark cyberwarfare reality check

"American officials have not offered any technical evidence to back up their assertions of Iranian authorship of the latest attacks, but they describe the recent campaign as different from most attacks against American companies — particularly those from China — which quietly siphon off intellectual property for competitive purposes.
The new attacks, officials say, were devised to destroy data and manipulate the machinery that operates critical control systems, like oil pipelines. One official described them as “probes that suggest someone is looking at how to take control of these systems.”"

New Computer Attacks Come From Iran, Officials Say - NYTimes.com

Google to Fund, Develop Wireless Networks in Emerging Markets - WSJ.com

Expanding Google's mission "to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful" to its next ~billion users

"Google Inc. is deep into a multipronged effort to build and help run wireless networks in emerging markets as part of a plan to connect a billion or more new people to the Internet.
These wireless networks would serve areas such as sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia to dwellers outside of major cities where wired Internet connections aren't available, said people familiar with the strategy.
The networks also could be used to improve Internet speeds in urban centers, these people said."

Google to Fund, Develop Wireless Networks in Emerging Markets - WSJ.com

Finding your photos more easily with Google Search - Inside Search

A new way Google helps you leverage your own metadata; start a Google search with “my photos”, if you have photos stored on a Google+ enabled account

“Starting today, you’ll be able to find your photos more easily and connect with the friends, places and events in your Google+ photos. For example, now you can search for your friend’s wedding photos or pictures from a concert you attended recently. To make computers do the hard work for you, we’ve also begun using computer vision and machine learning to help recognize more general concepts in your photos such as sunsets, food and flowers.”

Finding your photos more easily with Google Search - Inside Search

With Ubiquity, Sears is Turning Shuttered Stores into Data Centers » Data Center Knowledge

Solid state Sears

"Will blinking blue lights of servers soon fill the aisles that previously offered the Blue Light Special? Sears Holdings has formed a new unit to market space from former Sears and Kmart retail stores as a home for data centers, disaster recovery space and wireless towers.
With the creation of Ubiquity Critical Environments, Sears hopes to convert the retail icons of the 20th century into the Internet infrastructure to power the 21st century digital economy. Sears Holdings has one of the largest real estate portfolios in the country, with 3,200 properties spanning 25 million square feet of space. That includes dozens of Sears and Kmart stores that have been closed over the years."

With Ubiquity, Sears is Turning Shuttered Stores into Data Centers » Data Center Knowledge

Two-factor authentication: What you need to know (FAQ) | Security & Privacy - CNET News

Summary version: if your service provider supports 2FA, use it...

"Twitter announced on Wednesday that they've started supporting two-factor authentication, joining a growing list of major Web services that offer the more secure login method.
Two-factor authentication, or 2FA as it's commonly abbreviated, adds an extra step to your basic login procedure. Without 2FA, you enter in your username and password, and then you're done. The password is your single factor of authentication. The second factor makes your account more secure, in theory."

Two-factor authentication: What you need to know (FAQ) | Security & Privacy - CNET News

How the U.S. Government Hacks the World - Businessweek

From a cyber-espionage reality check

"The U.S. government doesn’t deny that it engages in cyber espionage. “You’re not waiting for someone to decide to turn information into electrons and photons and send it,” says Hayden. “You’re commuting to where the information is stored and extracting the information from the adversaries’ network. We are the best at doing it. Period.” The U.S. position is that some kinds of hacking are more acceptable than others—and the kind the NSA does is in keeping with unofficial, unspoken rules going back to the Cold War about what secrets are OK for one country to steal from another. “China is doing stuff you’re not supposed to do,” says Jacob Olcott, a principal at Good Harbor Security Risk Management, a Washington firm that advises hacked companies."

How the U.S. Government Hacks the World - Businessweek

The Box Blog » Consumer-Grade Innovation: Welcoming Folders to Box

Thinking inside the Box

"With Crocodoc, their ability to quickly and smoothly extract and preview documents in web and mobile-friendly HTML5 is a breakthrough. We’ll leverage the Crocodoc team and technology to make every document experience on Box and across the web fast, striking, and “consumer-grade” in all respects.
Likewise, Martin’s work on Folders will be integral to the next-generation of Box on iOS. When we saw Folders we saw a beautiful experience and set of design patterns that we had to bring to Box’s users. Adding the Folders technology and Martin’s expertise to Box will help us to continue to improve how people collaborate and engage with their content on Post-PC devices. In the near term, Box for iOS will become cleaner, faster and more beautiful throughout 2013."

The Box Blog » Consumer-Grade Innovation: Welcoming Folders to Box

Google Follows Amazon's Lead on New Shopping Site, Delivery, Other Services - WSJ.com

Excerpt from an overview of the expanding Amazon/Google competitive landscape

"Google's moves to copy Amazon underscore how the tech companies are expanding into each other's areas—each trying to be the primary Web destination shoppers. As the two battle it out, each increasingly has assumed some characteristics of the other, with Amazon stretching into Google's realms of online advertising, video streaming, applications and devices such as smartphones and tablets. Rather than develop its own mobile operating system, though, Amazon relies on a version of Google's Android software for the Kindle Fire line of tablets."

Google Follows Amazon's Lead on New Shopping Site, Delivery, Other Services - WSJ.com

Apple-1 Computers Jump in Value at Auctions - NYTimes.com

An investment to consider, if you have a spare ~$400,000

"After the Apple II went on sale, the company began an aggressive trade-in program, offering Apple II’s and sometimes cash incentives in exchange for Apple-1’s, said Bob Luther, who is writing a book on the vintage machines, “The First Apple,” which he plans to self-publish, with help from a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
In his book research, Mr. Luther called Michael Scott, Apple’s president from 1977 to 1981, and interviewed him about the trade-in program. As Mr. Luther recalled, Mr. Scott told him, “If we had done a better job, you and I wouldn’t be having this phone call.”
“They just wanted the Apple-1 to go away,” said Mr. Luther, who bought an Apple-1 for $7,600 in 2004. (“Mine’s not for sale.”)"

Apple-1 Computers Jump in Value at Auctions - NYTimes.com

#35. A Summary of ‘The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business’ by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen | New Books in Brief

Another timely and detailed book summary by New Books in Brief

#35. A Summary of ‘The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business’ by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen | New Books in Brief

Microsoft’s Cheap Shot At The iPad Actually Points Out Exactly Why The Surface Sucks | TechCrunch

Check the full post for the Microsoft ad video and more analysis

"The problem is that not only is the Siri construct weak and her actual lines poorly written, but the abilities Microsoft chooses to highlight show exactly why it doesn’t “get” the tablet market. People aren’t looking for multitasking PowerPoint slide deck-creating machines; they have computers for that.
The closing bit here is maybe the worst part; showing that Apple’s iPad can easily provide a remarkably realistic experience for playing Chopsticks on the screen is not the way to trash your competition, especially if you noticeably can’t offer up an equivalent experience on your own hardware."

Microsoft’s Cheap Shot At The iPad Actually Points Out Exactly Why The Surface Sucks | TechCrunch

Microsoft's Xbox One: What's Windows got to do with it? | ZDNet

Time to update Dave Cutler's already amazing Wikipedia article

"In an under-the-hood architecture panel following the Xbox One reveal, Boyd Multerer, Director of Development for Xbox, confirmed that the team started with Microsoft's Hyper-V hypervisor in building the Xbox One operating system. Multerer said the team stripped out all the general-purpose "goop" to create an OS that allowd two virtual machines to run in side-by-side partitions. One of the partitions runs apps; the other runs games.
"David Cutler built the hypervisor that does the switching back and forth," Multerer confirmed."

Microsoft's Xbox One: What's Windows got to do with it? | ZDNet

Tesla Pays Off Its $465 Million 'Loser' Loan - Businessweek

On a roll

"Of all his recent moves, this one must be especially sweet for Musk. Critics have long taken swipes at Tesla and its all-electric hippieness for relying on a federal handout. The most public of such barbs arrived from Mitt Romney during the presidential debates, when he described Tesla as a “loser” alongside Solyndra and Fisker Automotive. Even back then, it seemed a bit silly to lump Tesla—a company employing thousands of people at an American car factory—in with that group of green lollygaggers. And now that Tesla has paid its way off the government dole, Romney may have sealed his fate as that rare capitalist-cum-politician rooting against a successful American car company. (Although Sarah Palin has recently threatened to keep him company.)"

Tesla Pays Off Its $465 Million 'Loser' Loan - Businessweek

Microsoft Creates 'Yammer North' in Redmond to Learn New Software Tricks - Venture Capital Dispatch - WSJ

A Yammer assimilation update

"Yammer North is composed of Microsoft people, not Yammer people–Yammer has retained its offices in San Francisco and is aggressively hiring, Teper said, while the Yammer North team, which is about 70 people, is responsible for integrating Yammer technology across Microsoft SharePoint and Office 365 and for “bringing Microsoft processes and approaches, where appropriate, back to the Yammer team.”"

Microsoft Creates 'Yammer North' in Redmond to Learn New Software Tricks - Venture Capital Dispatch - WSJ

Inside Google's Secret Lab - Businessweek

From an extensive Google X profile; also see Google X acquires kite-power start-up Makani (CNet)

"Teller has turned his sky’s-the-limit thinking into Google X’s most visible export. Last March he spoke at the South By Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Tex., telling a packed auditorium, “The world is not limited by IQ. We are all limited by bravery and creativity.” Last year, with longtime Google executive Megan Smith, he co-founded the company’s annual, invitation-only conference, Solve for X, a two-and-a-half-day gathering of a hundred or so big thinkers. At the recent session in February at CordeValle, a golf resort south of San Jose, speakers covered topics such as inflatable robots, eye examinations that can detect the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and nuclear fusion reactors. “There is really only one guarantee and that is if we don’t try, nothing is going to happen,” said Charles Chase, a senior program manager for Lockheed Martin’s (LMT) advanced development program, Skunk Works, who gave the fusion talk."

Inside Google's Secret Lab - Businessweek

In China, Hacking Has Widespread Acceptance - NYTimes.com

Interesting times

"The culture of hacking in China is not confined to top-secret military compounds where hackers carry out orders to pilfer data from foreign governments and corporations. Hacking thrives across official, corporate and criminal worlds. Whether it is used to break into private networks, track online dissent back to its source or steal trade secrets, hacking is openly discussed and even promoted at trade shows, inside university classrooms and on Internet forums.
The Ministry of Education and Chinese universities, for instance, join companies in sponsoring hacking competitions that army talent scouts attend, though “the standards can be mediocre,” said a cybersecurity expert who works for a government institute and handed out awards at a 2010 competition."

In China, Hacking Has Widespread Acceptance - NYTimes.com

Why The Apple TV Has Nothing To Fear From The Xbox One | Cult of Mac

For a different perspective, see Did Microsoft Just Kick Apple Out of the Living Room? (Mashable)

"The Xbox One demonstrates how to play to an audience. And that audience isn’t the same as Apple’s.
“Microsoft has included everything but the kitchen sink.”
While the Xbox One certainly looks like a fantastic entertainment hub, it would totally overwhelm my mother. Microsoft has included everything but the kitchen sink. To go from a traditional remote + controller combo to pinch and pull gestures with voice commands is quite the leap, even for a tech nerd."

Why The Apple TV Has Nothing To Fear From The Xbox One | Cult of Mac

Computer History Museum | Exhibits | This Day in History: May 22: Xerox Researcher Proposes "Ethernet"

Happy 40th birthday, Ethernet

"Robert Metcalfe, a researcher at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center in California, wrote his original memo proposing an "Ethernet." Metcalfe described the document, typed out on a Selectric typewriter, as follows: "Ether Acquisition" ... heavy with handwritten annotations -- one of which was "ETHER!" -- and with hand-drawn diagrams -- one of which showed `boosters' interconnecting branched cable, telephone, and ratio ethers in what we now call an internet.... I If Ethernet was invented in any one memo, by any one person, or on any one day, this was it.""

Computer History Museum | Exhibits | This Day in History: May 22

Pew: 94% Of Teenagers Use Facebook, Have 425 Facebook Friends, But Twitter & Instagram Adoption Way Up [MarketingLand]

For another take on the Pew/Harvard research, see Teenagers flock from Facebook to Twitter and share more info, poll finds (MercuryNews/AP)

“According to the report, 95 percent of teens (12 – 17) use the internet and 81 percent of them use social media sites. Facebook is by far the most heavily adopted social site, with 94 percent of social media teens reporting they have a profile there.

Twitter and Instagram are far behind Facebook, but both have made impressive gains. Twitter was used by only 12% of teens in 2011 but more than doubled that to 26% in 2012. with usage of 26% and 11%. Instagram doesn’t appear to have been measured in 2011, so surveyed growth can’t be determined. But it comes in with an impressive third place at 11%.”

Pew: 94% Of Teenagers Use Facebook, Have 425 Facebook Friends, But Twitter & Instagram Adoption Way Up

Xbox One runs three operating systems, including cut-down Windows for apps [Engadget]

Virtualization reality

"The latest update out of the currently unfolding announcement in Redmond: the next-generation Xbox will run three operating systems simultaneously. Complementing Windows 8 and RT on PCs and tablets, there'll be a third distinct version of Microsoft's operating system that has been pared down specifically for the new console. This will be the main system OS used to run apps such as Skype and other non-game titles downloaded from the Xbox storefront. At the same time, virtualization technology similar to Microsoft's Hyper-V will be used to allocate the bulk of system resources to a second, dedicated "Xbox OS" when the user loads up a game. This game OS will remain a fixed entity throughout the life of the console, so that game developers can be confident their games will run regardless of how much the Windows side of the machine gets updated. Finally, the third OS sounds like a small layer to assist with the virtualization, allowing the two main personalities of the console to talk to each other."

Xbox One runs three operating systems, including cut-down Windows for apps

Eight years later, one new Xbox | Tech Culture - CNET News

More Xbox One details

"The new console, black and sleek with a horizontal slit across its center and a modern Xbox logo, features 5 billion transistors, 8GB of RAM, USB 3.0, Wi-Fi direct, a Blu-Ray drive, and a native 64-bit architecture. In addition, it has a 1080P HD RGB camera and an all-new game controller.
The Xbox One will not be backward compatible, but Microsoft said it will continue to support the Xbox 360. The new console will be released later this year, but a pricing structure was not disclosed.
[...]
Naturally, Microsoft has boosted the Xbox Live infrastructure. The company said that when Xbox Live was first unveiled in 2002, it had 500 dedicated servers. When the Xbox 360 was launched in 2005, there were 3,000. Today, the number is 15,000 servers. For Xbox One, there will be more than 300,000 servers dedicated to Xbox Live, a number larger than the world's entire computing power in 1999, according to Microsoft."

Eight years later, one new Xbox | Tech Culture - CNET News

Xbox One Enters Changed Gaming Landscape - NYTimes.com

Final paragraphs from an Xbox One launch recap

"The games business could use a jolt. Total United States retail sales of game hardware and software fell 25 percent to $495.2 million in April from $657.5 million a year earlier, according to estimates by NPD Group, a research firm. That figure does not include the sale of downloadable content over the Internet.
Alex St. John, an entrepreneur who worked on Microsoft’s pre-Xbox game efforts, says he is pessimistic about prospects for gaming consoles.
“They’re coming out with the latest and greatest stone tool,” Mr. St. John said. “The new console that trumps the old console is called the Apple iPad. This generation of kids loves mobile games.”"

Xbox One Enters Changed Gaming Landscape - NYTimes.com

In Disarming Testimony, Apple Chief Eases Tax Tensions - NYTimes.com

Reality distortion field, Capitol Hill edition

"Timothy Cook came to the lion’s den on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, prepared to face down lawmakers furious over evidence that Apple, the famous company he runs, had avoided paying billions in taxes. By the time Mr. Cook walked out, the big cats on a Senate committee were practically eating out of his hand."

In Disarming Testimony, Apple Chief Eases Tax Tensions - NYTimes.com

Intel’s Data Economy Initiative Aims to Help People Capture the Value of Personal Data | MIT Technology Review

Related recommended reading: Who Owns the Future?

"Intel Labs, the company’s R&D arm, is launching an initiative around what it calls the “data economy”—how consumers might capture more of the value of their personal information, like digital records of their their location or work history. To make this possible, Intel is funding hackathons to urge developers to explore novel uses of personal data. It has also paid for a rebellious-sounding website called We the Data, featuring raised fists and stories comparing Facebook to Exxon Mobil.
Intel’s effort to stir a debate around “your data” is just one example of how some companies—and society more broadly—are grappling with a basic economic asymmetry of the big data age: they’ve got the data, and we don’t."

Intel’s Data Economy Initiative Aims to Help People Capture the Value of Personal Data | MIT Technology Review

Cisco: Big Data Is the Network, Too - NYTimes.com

Concluding paragraphs of a snapshot from the front line of the battle for "Internet of things" and big data market leadership

"As we rush to crunch data from more parts of both the Internet and the physical world, the argument runs, we will make analytics and computing part of everything. That could make it hard for independent analytics providers, or force them to also adopt networking or computing businesses. But that would require a lot of money.
The question could ultimately be whether the center of the system is in the data, as EMC thinks, or in H.P.’s servers, IBM’s software, or Cisco’s network. As the saying goes, where you stand has a lot to do with where you sit."

Cisco: Big Data Is the Network, Too - NYTimes.com

The 25 Most Popular Tumblrs Reveal the Challenge for Yahoo! - Businessweek

Sign of the times

"Tumblr has been quietly chopping down on the smut, and only one of its top 25 sites today is pornographic, according to Quantcast.
The rest of Tumblr’s most popular blogs are SFW, but they’re not exactly mainstream. The single most-visited Tumblr is dedicated to Minecraft, followed by a Portuguese-language site specializing in animated GIFS and one that translates people’s names into various languages spoken on science fiction shows. Professional media outlets and brands make up three of the top 25 (Comedy Central; Clarin, the Argentine newspaper; and Angry Birds). Other particularly popular sites are a blog juxtaposing handsome men and adorable kittens; a blog shaming people who act like douchebags on other social-media platforms; and various collections of cartoons."

The 25 Most Popular Tumblrs Reveal the Challenge for Yahoo! - Businessweek

The Jolla ‘Other Half’ is the Nokia version of an Android smartphone. Sort of | VentureBeat

MeeGo morphs and finds a path to market

"Jolla, a new and independent smartphone vendor which almost no-one but mobile wonks has ever heard of, took the core of Meego and built Sailfish, a new mobile operating system that is built on an open-source project named Mer that is the new incarnation of Meego, and is just now teasing the coming-soon release of its very first device, the oddly named and oddly designed but also oddly attractive “The Other Half.”
Surprise, surprise, Jolla is based in Helsinki, Finland, where there just happens to be a surplus of top-notch mobile talent available lately (shocking, isn’t it). And surprise, surprise, all of the top Jolla leaders are ex-Nokia employees. Almost two years ago, Jolla announced its intentions of bringing a new smartphone to market. The biggest surprise is that they seem to be succeeding."

The Jolla ‘Other Half’ is the Nokia version of an Android smartphone. Sort of | VentureBeat

In Media, Big Data Is Booming but Big Results Are Lacking - Ben Elowitz - Voices - AllThingsD

Excerpt from an insightful big data perspective

"The trouble with data is that it asks as many questions as it answers. Your engagement is down, bounce rate is up, search traffic is up — why is that, and what can we do to make it higher, lower and higher? Data almost never hands you the answers or insights directly; it just illuminates the issue. And it illuminates a whole bunch of them at once, so it’s up to you to figure out what the priorities are.
If this problem is an “opportunity in disguise,” most executives seem quickly scared off by the masquerade. In truth, Big Data raises the bar for how smart you have to be as an executive."

In Media, Big Data Is Booming but Big Results Are Lacking - Ben Elowitz - Voices - AllThingsD

Apple’s Web of Tax Shelters Saved It Billions, Panel Finds - NYTimes.com

Seems pretty obvious the only real solution is to eliminate the loopholes; otherwise, companies are likely to continue doing what they are financially incented to do; on a related note, see Schmidt: Don't like our tiny tax bills? Google this... 'Change the law' (The Register)

"Investigators have not accused Apple of breaking any laws and the company is hardly the only American multinational to face scrutiny for using complex corporate structures and tax havens to sidestep taxes. In recent months, revelations from European authorities about the tax avoidance strategies used by Google, Starbucks and Amazon have all stirred public anger and spurred several European governments, as well as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based research organization for the world’s richest countries, to discuss measures to close the loopholes.
Still, the findings about Apple were remarkable both for the enormous amount of money involved and the audaciousness of the company’s assertion that its subsidiaries are beyond the reach of any taxing authority."

Apple’s Web of Tax Shelters Saved It Billions, Panel Finds - NYTimes.com

But Wait. Didn't Yahoo Try a Deal Like This Before? - NYTimes.com

Excerpt from a Yahoo/Tumblr reality check

"The lesson of GeoCities raises this question about Tumblr: How can a company with zero profits (actually, multimillion-dollar losses) and just $13 million in revenue be worth $1.1 billion?
Inside Yahoo, officials dismiss the comparison to GeoCities. Instead, they compare the Tumblr deal to Google’s purchase of YouTube — that is, Yahoo’s management believes that Tumblr is one of a rare few transformative sites on the Internet. Google paid $1.6 billion for YouTube when it too made no money. At the time of that deal, it seemed heretical. Now, it seems genius.
To Yahoo, Tumblr is the equivalent of beachfront property. With more than 100 million user-generated blogs on Tumblr, there is no question that it brings Yahoo a younger audience. It adds a sense of hipness to a company that had lost its sense of cool."

But Wait. Didn't Yahoo Try a Deal Like This Before? - NYTimes.com

I know identity of Bitcoin's SECRET mastermind, says Ted Nelson • The Register

Deeply intertwingled

"Sociologist, philosopher, computer industry pioneer and inventor of the term “hypertext” Ted Nelson is claiming that he knows the identity of Bitcoin inventor “Satoshi Nakamoto”.
In a rambling – and, let's face it, odd – 12-minute post on YouTube, Nelson spins out the suspense, throws in a dialogue with himself as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, and finally ends with the statement that the mystery developer of the cryptocurrency is Japanese mathematician Shinichi Mochizuki, research professor of mathematics at Kyoto University."
[...]
Australian writer Stilgherrian told The Register that while it'd be easy to dismiss the claims, in spite of his eccentricities, Nelson "has the annoying habit of being right."

I know identity of Bitcoin's SECRET mastermind, says Ted Nelson • The Register

Editorial: Apple's billions are building an empire for the future [Apple Insider]

From an extensive and insightful Apple reality check

“Given that Apple now sits on well over $144.7 billion in liquid resources, there's lots of discussion about how the company could or should be spending it. What Apple is already doing with its cash is actually more interesting.”

Apple's growing cash, cash equivalents, and securities, via Asymco.

Editorial: Apple's billions are building an empire for the future

I/O Announcement: Google Analytics Premium data in BigQuery is coming soon - Analytics Blog

Check the full post for some example usage scenarios

"The upcoming BigQuery integration, happening later this year, is a planned feature for Google Analytics Premium that allows clients to access their session and hit level data from Google Analytics within Google BigQuery for more granular and complex querying of unsampled data. For those unfamiliar with Google BigQuery, it’s a web service that lets you perform interactive analysis of massive data sets—up to trillions of rows. Scalable and easy to use, BigQuery lets developers and businesses tap into powerful data analytics on demand. Plus, your data is easily exportable; you own it."

I/O Announcement: Google Analytics Premium data in BigQuery is coming soon - Analytics Blog

Wordpress' Mullenweg Says 72,000 Blogs Imported From Tumblr in 1 Hour - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD

Evidently some Tumblr users are not Yahoo fans

"Despite largely anecdotal media speculation, it’s not clear how the acquisition of Tumblr by Yahoo for $1.1 billion will be greeted by users of the New York blogging service.
But rival blogging service WordPress’ co-founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg posted a blog last night that said that imports from Tumblr to his service on Sunday had risen from a typical 400 to 600 blog posts an hour to over 72,000."

Wordpress' Mullenweg Says 72,000 Blogs Imported From Tumblr in 1 Hour - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD

Google TV: silent but not forgotten at I/O 2013 | The Verge

Final paragraphs of a Google TV reality check

"Despite its slightly awkward presence, like the nerdy kid that snuck into the school dance and hid in the corner hoping no one would notice, Google TV isn't gone. And Google believes it may be heading toward a comeback: we’re told to expect a steady drumbeat of Google TV products, from partners like LG, TCL, and others. But a steady drumbeat is what got Google TV where it is today.
What Google TV needs is a makeover, and a splashy re-launch. It needs to shows us why it’s different now, why it’s better. Google needs to convince users, developers, and manufacturers that the Android they love on cell phones can work on the big screen in their living room as well. Then Google needs to prove it, fast."

Google TV: silent but not forgotten at I/O 2013 | The Verge

Yahoo Deal Shows Power Shift - WSJ.com

The search for a Tumblr business model continues, under a new owner

"There are several risks for Yahoo. A popular venue for teens, Tumblr includes many Web pages of racially insensitive, pornographic and other sexually oriented content. Such pages wouldn't be attractive to advertisers. There is also the risk of diminishing Tumblr's appeal among some users with too-aggressive a push to bring in advertising revenue. Writing on his Tumblr blog Saturday, John Saroff, a former Google executive, estimated Tumblr could generate $108 million or more a year based on the rates advertisers generally are willing to pay for graphical ads online.
But he said Tumblr was "correct" to resist filling its site with advertising since doing so could upset its core audience. He added that Tumblr, as a blogging platform, would likely have to get permission from Tumblr blog writers like him before it could place ads on the blogs and share revenue. He compared the business model to that of Google's YouTube video site, where the company shares revenue with video creators."

Yahoo Deal Shows Power Shift - WSJ.com

Chinese Hackers Resume Attacks on U.S. Targets - NYTimes.com

Digital diplomacy

"In a report to be issued Wednesday, a private task force led by Mr. Obama’s former director of national intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, and his former ambassador to China, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., lays out a series of proposed executive actions and Congressional legislation intended to raise the stakes for China.
“Jawboning alone won’t work,” Mr. Blair said Saturday. “Something has to change China’s calculus.”"

Chinese Hackers Resume Attacks on U.S. Targets - NYTimes.com

Android has become a hedge against Microsoft and Windows | Microsoft - CNET News

HP now offers both Android and Chrome OS devices

"Hewlett-Packard rolled out another Android device this week. This could become a pattern as PC makers hedge against a world that's less about Microsoft and more about Google.
On Tuesday, the largest PC maker in the world -- a dubious distinction these days -- added a laptop-tablet hybrid to its growing stable of products based on Google operating systems.
The $479 HP SlateBook x2 is an Android first for HP. It's "powered by Android, the world's most popular mobile operating system...100 percent tablet, 100 percent notebook, 100 percent Android," according to the company's ad copy."

Android has become a hedge against Microsoft and Windows | Microsoft - CNET News

If Yahoo Buys Tumblr, What Will It Do With All That Porn? - Businessweek

A delicate digital decorum dilemma for Yahoo, if it is, as rumored, planning to acquire Tumblr

"But considering that Yahoo is ostensibly interested in Tumblr for the advertising, it’s hard to see the environment getting any friendlier for pornographers on the network. On the other hand, Yahoo may have to tread carefully with suggestive content. There are reasons why Tumblr is popular with young people. Prudishness is not high on that list."

If Yahoo Buys Tumblr, What Will It Do With All That Porn? - Businessweek

Tableau and Marketo Create Whopping Piles of Money With IPO Debuts - Arik Hesseldahl - News - AllThingsD

Irrational exuberance redux?

"Tableau Software started trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DATA. Its shares were priced yesterday at $31 and closed today $50.75. Its biggest shareholder is New Enterprise Associates, which invested a combined $29 million in three rounds between 2004 and 2010 for about 37 percent of the company.
It sold two million shares at $31 in the offering, but still has 17.6 million shares remaining, making its combined gain on Tableau, by my math, worth $955.2 million. On paper that amounts to a one-day gain of 3,194 percent.
Now are you convinced the IPO market is back?"

Tableau and Marketo Create Whopping Piles of Money With IPO Debuts - Arik Hesseldahl - News - AllThingsD

NEA-backed Tableau Software soars as much as 60% in biggest tech IPO of year - Puget Sound Business Journal

An impressive way with numbers (DATA closed up 63.7%)

"Shares of digital charting software company Tableau Software Inc. surged by as much as 60 percent on Friday after it raised $254.2 million in an initial public offering.
[...]
Tableau began trading with the stock symbol of DATA on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, jumping to as much as $50 in morning trading"

NEA-backed Tableau Software soars as much as 60% in biggest tech IPO of year - Puget Sound Business Journal

Schumpeter: Microsoft blues | The Economist

More from the toaster-fridge zone

"This is why Windows 8’s poor performance matters. It was an attempt to solve the innovator’s dilemma by creating an operating system and a user interface for both PCs and mobiles. Mr Ballmer hoped that consumers would want to move effortlessly from PCs to tablets to smartphones—and that Microsoft would be able to invade the mobile markets while simultaneously reigniting demand for its core PC products. But so far the reverse has happened: Microsoft has reinforced suspicions that it does not understand hand-held devices while simultaneously alienating its core PC users. It is possible that Microsoft will be able to solve this problem with future iterations of Windows 8. But it is looking likely that the two types of device need different operating systems. Microsoft’s biggest rival, Apple, has kept the two devices separate. That bodes ill for Mr Ballmer’s strategy."

Schumpeter: Microsoft blues | The Economist

Windows 8 won't hit critical mass in enterprises, Forrester says | PCWorld

So Microsoft will have to settle for first (Windows 7), second (Windows XP), and third (Windows 8) place enterprise desktop finishes, for now...

"Windows 8, the most significant upgrade to Microsoft’s operating system since Windows 95 and one of the most important products in the company’s history, will not achieve enough adoption in enterprises to be considered a standard, according to Forrester Research.
By the time the next major Windows upgrade is released, Windows 8 will be in less than 50 percent of workplace PCs, unable to overtake its predecessor Windows 7.
“I have to believe Microsoft expected better enterprise adoption for Windows 8,” said Forrester analyst David Johnson, the lead author of the report “IT Will Skip Windows 8 As The Enterprise Standard,” released Thursday."

Windows 8 won't hit critical mass in enterprises, Forrester says | PCWorld

Windows Phone Overtakes BlackBerry in Smartphone Shipments, Says IDC - John Paczkowski - Mobile - AllThingsD

Another smartphone market snapshot

“And, as I’ve noted before, third place in the current smartphone OS rankings doesn’t mean much. According to IDC, Google and Apple captured 92.3 percent of all smartphone shipments with their Android/iOS duopoly (Android: 59.1 percent; iOS: 23 percent). In other words, Windows Phone and BlackBerry are so far behind the two leading mobile platforms that their ranking is really just a moot point, anyway.”

Windows Phone Overtakes BlackBerry in Smartphone Shipments, Says IDC - John Paczkowski - Mobile - AllThingsD

The Tragic Beauty of Google+ | TIME.com

Closing paragraphs of a Timely Google+ reality check

"Therein lies Google+’s great challenge. Even if it’s good — even if it’s great — it’s not going to displace Facebook as the world’s primary social network. And most people don’t need a second social network. (Or at least a Facebook-like social network: Twitter, Pinterest and others that don’t take Facebook on directly can and do thrive.)
Mind you, there are worse fates than being the world’s second biggest general-purpose social network. After less than two years since Google+’s debut, Google says, 190 million people are active members. A total of 390 million take advantage of its features across Google, such as video calls in Gmail. Google+ isn’t going anywhere. But it has little mindshare among normal everyday folks, and it’s not clear what Google can do to change that. Unless Facebook implodes — hey, it’s not utterly unthinkable — Google’s service might never be more than what it is now: a beautiful disappointment."

The Tragic Beauty of Google+ | TIME.com

Google Makes Android, but Samsung Makes All the Money - Businessweek

Evidently design, marketing, and vertical integration skills are still valuable

“According to Neil Mawston at Strategy Analytics, Samsung captured almost 95 percent of all Android profits in the first quarter of 2013. It pulled in $5.1 billion, leaving only $200 million for LG (066570), Motorola (which, let’s not forget, is owned by Google (GOOG)), HTC (2498), Sony (SNE), Huawei, ZTE (763), and several others to fight over.”

Google Makes Android, but Samsung Makes All the Money - Businessweek

The Easiest Way to Automate Your Home With the Web - Businessweek

IFTTT meets the Internet of Things

"This week, the service jumped into the physical world, thanks to Web-connected bracelets, light bulbs and other devices. Now with a few minutes online and a Philips Hue light bulb, you can program an alert to have the lights turn on in your house at sunset each evening, or set them to flash every time you get an e-mail. (No one said these ideas would all be good ones.)"

The Easiest Way to Automate Your Home With the Web - Businessweek

New Apps Arrive on Google Glass - NYTimes.com

User discretion is advised

"So far on Glass, photos are shareable only through Google Plus. With the Facebook app, Glass users will be able to share photos taken with Glass on Facebook. Twitter’s Glass app lets people tailor their stream to only receive posts from certain people and transcribe new posts using voice. Tumblr’s app shows a user’s full feed or just select updates.
When people are using Evernote on the Web, they will be able to send notes, like a grocery list, to Glass, so it’s accessible when they need it."

New Apps Arrive on Google Glass - NYTimes.com

Google+: New Google+: Stream, Hangouts, and Photos

See the full post for more Google+ news, e.g., what Google did with the huge white space that used to be in the middle of the Google+ user interface; for more on Google's consolidated real-time tools, see Exclusive: Inside Hangouts, Google's big fix for its messaging mess (The Verge)

"Today’s real-time communication products make conversations difficult. Some require everyone to use the same operating system. Others support video calls, but not photo-sharing. And still others enable mobile messaging but ignore the web entirely. Patchy solutions (including our own) preclude meaningful connections online, and we aim to fix this.
Today we’re launching a stand-alone version of Hangouts that combines text, photos and live video across Android, iOS and your computer."

Google+: New Google+: Stream, Hangouts, and Photos

Google Introduces New Search Tools to Try to Read Our Minds - NYTimes.com

Apparently we need "the 'Star Trek' computer" to remind us when it's time to buy milk; also see OK, Google: Now app offers glimpse of hands-free future of search (CNet)

"Google Now, the service that sends you information on traffic and weather before you even ask for it, is also digging deeper into our minds. Google is adding more entertainment alerts, like new music based on videos watched on YouTube, and turning Google Now into a robotic to-do list and a stronger competitor to Apple’s Siri. Tell Google to remind you to buy milk next time you are in a grocery store, for instance, and the alert will automatically pop up when you step in a Safeway."

Google Introduces New Search Tools to Try to Read Our Minds - NYTimes.com

Coming Soon from Google, a $649 Galaxy S4 Running Stock Android - Ina Fried - Mobile - AllThingsD

In other Google I/O device news, from Google I/O: Music, Maps, Messaging and More (AllThingsD), "Sundar Pichai is giving out Chromebook Pixels to everyone at I/O, which they are rather stoked about."

"While not a new Nexus phone, Google said on Wednesday that it plans to start selling an unlocked version of Samsung’s Galaxy S4 through its Google Play store.
Like Nexus devices, the unlocked Galaxy S4 will be able to get Android updates as they are released, rather than having to wait for the carrier and device maker to customize and approve the new software."

Coming Soon from Google, a $649 Galaxy S4 Running Stock Android - Ina Fried - Mobile - AllThingsD

Google CEO Larry Page Takes the Stage, Touts New Software - WSJ.com

A 21st century coopetition snapshot; also see Microsoft’s Anti-Google Campaign Gets a Boost, From Google (AllThingsD)

"During Mr. Page's appearance, he lamented the "negativity" surrounding press coverage of competition among technology giants such as Google, yet criticized companies such as Microsoft Corp. for integrating a Google messaging service into its Outlook email service but not allowing Google to integrate Microsoft into Google's email service. "The Web is probably not as advancing as much as it should be" because of such actions by Microsoft, he said.
A Microsoft spokesman said Wednesday in a statement: "It's ironic that Larry is lending his voice to the discussion of interoperability considering his company's decision—today—to file a cease and desist order to remove the YouTube app from Windows Phone.""

Google CEO Larry Page Takes the Stage, Touts New Software - WSJ.com

Google Escalates the Competition in Map Services - NYTimes.com

A couple unifying themes

"On Wednesday, Google unveiled a new Google Maps, by far the biggest redesign since it introduced Maps eight years ago. Google announced the maps at its annual I/O developers conference, where it also showed off new tools for search, photo editing and to-do lists, along with a music service and features for Android and Chrome apps. Many of the announcements had an undercurrent — one-upping Apple. From its new music and photo services to maps to voice commands that rival Siri on the iPhone, Google seemed to be offering alternatives to Apple products.
But the new maps service was the biggest announcement."

Google Escalates the Competition in Map Services - NYTimes.com

Google Buys a Quantum Computer - NYTimes.com

A new Google/NASA joint lab; see this Google Research Blog post for more details

"The Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, as the entity is called, will focus on machine learning, which is the way computers take note of patterns of information to improve their outputs. Personalized Internet search and predictions of traffic congestion based on GPS data are examples of machine learning. The field is particularly important for things like facial or voice recognition, biological behavior, or the management of very large and complex systems."

Google Buys a Quantum Computer - NYTimes.com

Siri tells users: Get to the point | Apple - CNET News

You're saying it wrong

"If you're the type of person who asks long-winded questions, Siri would like to change your ways.
Apple's server-powered software assistant is now telling users to trim down questions that are too long or otherwise complicated -- a move that iLounge suggests is to retrain how users interact with the service versus an actual human being."

Siri tells users: Get to the point | Apple - CNET News

Facebook Mobile Misadventures Continue - Businessweek

For a different perspective, see Facebook Home Will Be ‘a Huge Flop’ Until It’s Not (Wired)

"But Home’s problems go deeper than a simple design fix. Facebook may be a large part of a user’s mobile experience, but it may not be the only experience people want to have. Evans refers to the launch event back in April: “Think about the photo stream they showed at the demo: All pictures of twentysomething Facebook engineers who’ve been attractively photographed at the beach.” The average user’s reality, Evans says, is far different. “Most people’s Facebook photo feeds are full of murky shots of half-eaten plates of food, so they may not want that crawling across their screen.”"

Facebook Mobile Misadventures Continue - Businessweek

Adobe Angers Users With Its Savvy, Reckless Photoshop-Subscription Plan - Businessweek

Perhaps Adobe's biggest contribution to the open source community -- inadvertently (via increasing market interest in open source + free (or relatively inexpensive) alternatives to Adobe's Creative Suite tools)...

"Not surprisingly, the announcement sparked a heated debate and no shortage of vitriol on design blogs and social media platforms. “For those of us who only buy what we need, and only update every few versions, this is a huge price increase,” wrote a blogger identified simply as David. “For small shops and part-time freelancers, it feels like Adobe is saying ‘You don’t matter.’” On TechCrunch, commenters called for alternatives like Gimp—or GNU Image Manipulation Program—a Photoshop-like program for Linux. Meanwhile, angry users are circulating an online petition asking the Obama administration to investigate Adobe’s business-model shift and accusing the company of grabbing a monopoly position via “backroom deals” and “predatory pricing.”"

Adobe Angers Users With Its Savvy, Reckless Photoshop-Subscription Plan - Businessweek

iPad Apps to Boost the Tablet's Productivity Level - WSJ.com

From a Walt Mossberg review of four iPad productivity suite offerings

"There's a major gap, though: Microsoft Office. The software giant doesn't yet offer a tablet-optimized version. So there are iPad apps that attempt to emulate the features of Office and can import and export files in Microsoft's Office formats. They generally don't offer all of the features of Office and don't always offer perfect fidelity with PC and Mac versions of Office. But I have found they are fine for the basic documents most people create or edit. And all can open and edit Office-type files attached to email, using the iPad's "Open In..." command. You just touch the attachment icon for a bit longer than usual and a grid of compatible apps to use for editing appears."

iPad Apps to Boost the Tablet's Productivity Level - WSJ.com

Microsoft Takes a Swipe at Gmail by Embracing Google Talk - Digits - WSJ

Meanwhile, Google is expected to unveil a consolidated and refined communications tool/service suite today

"It’s interesting if only because Microsoft is trying to lure users of Gmail, one of the widest-used email services on the Web, by using one of Google’s services. Microsoft has loudly railed against its rival in the past — sometimes the saber-rattling can get comical, like Microsoft’s big “Bing It On” campaign.
But a big organization employing an open service that happens to be run by a competitor — that happens. Even if Microsoft is a little louder when it comes to its fighting words with Google."

Microsoft Takes a Swipe at Gmail by Embracing Google Talk - Digits - WSJ

U.S. Now Paints Apple as ‘Ringmaster’ in Its Lawsuit on E-Book Price-Fixing - NYTimes.com

Price different; also see Apple tells U.S. of tough talks, not collusion, with publishers (Reuters)

"According to the Justice Department, that e-mail is part of the evidence that Apple was the “ringmaster” in a price-fixing conspiracy in the market for e-books, a more direct leadership role than originally portrayed in the department’s April 2012 antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five publishing companies.
In its suit, the government said that Apple and the publishers conspired to fix e-book prices as part of a scheme to force Amazon to raise its e-book price from a uniform $9.99 to the higher level noted by Mr. Jobs in the e-mail, which publishers wanted. That, the department said, resulted in higher prices to consumers and ill-gotten profits for Apple and its partners."

U.S. Now Paints Apple as ‘Ringmaster’ in Its Lawsuit on E-Book Price-Fixing - NYTimes.com

Subscribers Fear Bloomberg Is Becoming Their Rival - NYTimes.com

A week of data dilemmas for Bloomberg and its customers

"Long thought of as a company that serves the needs of Wall Street firms, Bloomberg L.P. is quietly becoming more like them, moving recently into businesses that have been the domain of the largest banks.
This relatively unheralded expansion by Bloomberg helps explain Wall Street’s consternation at recent disclosures that some customer data was freely available to reporters and others inside the company. The fear inside banks is that Bloomberg could use that data not only to write negative news articles but also to compete directly."

Subscribers Fear Bloomberg Is Becoming Their Rival - NYTimes.com

Snooping and the News Media - It’s a 2-Way Street - NYTimes.com

Final paragraph of recap of recent AP and Bloomberg incidents

"So, we have discovered anew that government will do what it needs to in a vain, but chilling, attempt to plug leaks. But best to keep in mind that the most ubiquitous threats to our privacy do not originate in some secret government bunker. In the media, in the general public, in business realms, we are keeping an eye on ourselves."

Snooping and the News Media - It’s a 2-Way Street - NYTimes.com

Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon hands-on [Engadget]

In other not-dead-yet news, see BlackBerry Live 2013: After Promises, Progress (AllThingsD)

"The Lumia 928's set to go on sale this Thursday at a very competitive $99 on-contract price (with mail-in rebate). If the only thing holding you back from a dance with a high-end Lumia was Verizon LTE, well, now's your chance to dive in. But no numerical name change can erase the fact that this is still a six month-old device, albeit made-to-order for Big Red. Surely, the next big thing's always around the corner and rest assured Nokia's cooking up yet another top shelf Lumia successor in its labs. For now, this is as good as Lumia gets on Verizon."

Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon hands-on

HTC's Facebook phone: Not dead yet | Internet & Media - CNET News

Still tbd if the First will not last

"The HTC First may not be dead, but it's still a big dud. Though considered AT&T's flagship smartphone for spring, the First seems to be the last device consumers actually want to buy. Last week, in an unusually swift move, AT&T drastically reduced the First's price tag from $99 to 99 cents with a two-year contract.
With unremarkable hardware and a software package that Android users don't want to make their home, the faltering Facebook phone could be on its last breath."

HTC's Facebook phone: Not dead yet | Internet & Media - CNET News

Amazon rolls out Cloud Player app for PCs | Internet & Media - CNET News

Sort of like a multi-platform iTunes app (Windows, Android, iOS, Mac soon)...

"Amazon quietly released a Cloud Player app for PCs as an extension of its music streaming service.
While PC users could already use the player through the Web, the new app, noted by Mashable on Monday, also allows for offline storage. [...]
The app automatically syncs your music library with any files on your computer that you haven't added to the cloud yet and exports your Amazon MP3s to iTunes and the Windows Media player."

Amazon rolls out Cloud Player app for PCs | Internet & Media - CNET News

Confirmed: Amazon Bought Liquavista - Color Kindle to Follow? - The Digital Reader

Amazon vertically integrates for next-gen/color Kindle devices?

"Liquavista got its start way back when battery life was still a serious issue for mobile devices.  This was one of a number of screen technologies that traded screen quality for battery life, but now that battery life is not such a serious problem for most devices there isn’t really much of a market for Liquavista’s screens.
The only market left for Liquavista screens is the ereader market, and I’m pretty sure that is why Amazon bought Liquavista."

Confirmed: Amazon Bought Liquavista - Color Kindle to Follow? - The Digital Reader

Web Browsers Are Reinvented - WSJ.com

From a timely browser market snapshot

"Mobile phones, wearable devices and self-driving cars are generating buzz as the future of technology. But the old Web browser is being reinvented too, in a trend with implications for how consumers work and entertain themselves online.
Companies from Google Inc. to small startups are introducing new features, such as taking and syncing notes and files within the browser, voice-recognition, video calls and messaging. They are also reinventing the browser for newly connected devices like cars."

Web Browsers Are Reinvented - WSJ.com

When Computer Games May Keep the Brain Nimble - WSJ.com

Puzzling

"A government-funded study published this month found that playing Double Decision can slow and even reverse declines in brain function associated with aging, while playing crossword puzzles cannot. The study builds on an earlier large trial which found that older people who played various cognitive games had better health-related outcomes, driving records and performed better at everyday tasks such as preparing a meal.
Such research has led groups like AARP, the big seniors group, to jump on board and offer discounts for certain games that have shown proven benefits."

When Computer Games May Keep the Brain Nimble - WSJ.com

Elon Musk’s Sweet Revenge | Monday Note

Excerpt from a Jean-Louis Gassée Tesla snapshot

"The numbers point to a future where Tesla can leave its niche and become a leading manufacturer in a too-often stodgy automotive industry. And, of course, we Silicon Valley geeks take great pleasure in a car that updates it software over the air, like a smartphone; that has a 17″ touchscreen; and that’s designed and built right here (the Tesla factory is across the Bay in the NUMMI plant that was previously occupied by Toyota and GM).
A last dollop of honey in Elon’s revenge: Coinciding with the Car and Driver screed, Consumer Reports gave the Model S its top test score. After driving a friend’s Model S at adequate freeway speeds, I agree, it’s a wonderful car, a bit of the future available today."

Elon Musk’s Sweet Revenge | Monday Note

Julie Larson-Green Talks about “Blue” and the Future of Windows | Windows 8 content from Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows

In other words, don't bother reading the Windows "Blue" rumor mill until the June conference

"Blue is not a major release. “There aren’t major changes, some things are wildly inaccurately reported [flips her hand, fan-like, in the air], some things are wildly accurately reported [flips the hand again], so somewhere in the middle [again with the hands]. We’re working hard on … enabling new kinds of hardware and new kinds of software and doing some innovations in the product, continuing on the things we started AND responding to customer feedback.”
When will Blue ship? “[Blue] comes out at the end of the year. In fact, you can get your hands on it [at the] end of June … at our developer conference [BUILD]."

Julie Larson-Green Talks about “Blue” and the Future of Windows | Windows 8 content from Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows

Bill Gates on Steve Jobs on "60 Minutes" - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD

The second video on the page, ~5.5 minutes long, focuses on the Gates/Jobs relationship over the years

"This week CBS news program “60 Minutes” had an interview with Microsoft co-founder and now major philanthropist Bill Gates called “Bill Gates 2.0.”
It also included some discussion of his longtime relationship with the late Apple legend Steve Jobs."

Bill Gates on Steve Jobs on "60 Minutes" - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD

How Facebook Ruined Comments (at Least for Me) | TIME.com

Perhaps Facebook is shifting to comments minus context in order to more directly compete with Twitter...

"Facebook says it’s doing this so that “the most active and engaging conversations among your readers will be surfaced at the top of your posts ensuring that people who visit your Page will see the best conversations.”
The problem is that all the comments on an item — whether or not they’re threaded — add up to a conversation. That’s particularly true now, since Replies are new, not active on all areas of Facebook and aren’t supported by Facebook’s mobile versions. That means that many people — the vast majority, at least on my page — leave a top-level comment even if they’re responding to another comment. Which means that Facebook can’t shuffle the order without destroying context."

How Facebook Ruined Comments (at Least for Me) | TIME.com

Personal Prediction Apps Google Now, Grokr, and Osito | MIT Technology Review

Check the full article for a snapshot of anticipatory system options

"But still, it represents a milestone in computing, she adds: “Google Now is kind of a sucky product, but I use it anyway. It’s important because it’s the first time Google has taken all they know about us to make a product that makes our lives better.”"

Personal Prediction Apps Google Now, Grokr, and Osito | MIT Technology Review

Documentary Film Investigates the (Alleged) Death of Books - Businessweek

From an interview with the director of a new documentary

"Out of Print frames one of the central cultural questions of our time: If books are the foundation of society, as the film’s narrator, actress Meryl Streep, asks in a voice-over, how does their gradual evolution change the world of ideas—and how does it change us?"

Documentary Film Investigates the (Alleged) Death of Books - Businessweek

The Evolution of the Web, in a Blink : The New Yorker

From a browser market dynamics historical review

"Chrome’s recent move to Blink undercuts the primary olive branch it promised to Web developers upon Chrome’s release in 2008; those developers now need to test their Web sites in an additional rendering engine. But there is an argument in favor of the change: WebKit is now very widely used, especially in mobile devices, in much the same way that Internet Explorer 6 dominated the market and brought a near-halt to real innovation in the look and feel of the Web a decade ago. “Fundamentally, the belief is that having multiple rendering engines—just as there are multiple browsers—will spur innovation and help ensure the long-term health of the open Web,” said Alex Komoroske, a Google product manager."

The Evolution of the Web, in a Blink : The New Yorker

Analysis - Google+ Struggles to Attract Brands, Some Neglect to Update - NYTimes.com

Excerpt from a Google+ advertising reality check

"An informal survey by Reuters showed that of the 100 most valuable global brands in 2012 ranked by Millward Brown, a media research firm owned by ad giant WPP, 72 have a presence on Google+, compared with 87 on Facebook.
However, roughly 40 percent of the brands with pages on Google+ have either never posted any content, or do so infrequently. Seventeen brands, including Nike and Pepsi, had not posted to their Google+ page in more than a week.
The McDonald's Google+ page did not have a single posting. A spokeswoman for the fast-food chain said only that the company was "not active" on Google+."

Analysis - Google+ Struggles to Attract Brands, Some Neglect to Update - NYTimes.com

Why The Onion Is Awesome for Publishing Details of Its Twitter Hack - Arik Hesseldahl - News - AllThingsD

No joking matter

"What The Onion has disclosed is that the attackers in this case used a sophisticated multilayered attack, using information gleaned in the first round to then launch a second that gathers more information, and so on, until at last they had penetrated the target: The Onion’s Twitter account, with a healthy five million followers.
This is by far the most detailed account of any of these attacks that I’ve read. And the more people who read it the better, because eventually the methods used will stop working."

Why The Onion Is Awesome for Publishing Details of Its Twitter Hack - Arik Hesseldahl - News - AllThingsD

For $300, a Utah Company Can Recover Vanished Snapchats - Businessweek

A timely reminder: verba volant, scripta manent (often translated as "The spoken word evaporates; the written word remains")

"For the millions of people who use Snapchat to send sexy messages and whatever else with impunity, this news should make them very, very nervous.
On May 8, researchers at Decipher Forensics, a company in Orem, Utah, announced that they have figured out how to retrieve the supposedly self-destructing photos from the popular now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t photo-sharing app Snapchat. And will do so for a fee."

For $300, a Utah Company Can Recover Vanished Snapchats - Businessweek

Box to Acquire Web Document Company Crocodoc - Arik Hesseldahl - News - AllThingsD

Bummer for Dropbox, which was a Crocodoc partner/customer; see Box CEO Aaron Levie's blog post, Box is Acquiring Crocodoc to Reimagine Documents in the Cloud, for more details; also see By Acquiring This Company You Never Heard Of, Aaron Levie Just Punched Dropbox In The Gut (Business Insider)

"CEO Aaron Levie just announced the deal in a corporate blog post. Crocodoc is a seven-person team hailing from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Its technology has powered the document sharing and embedding capabilities of Yammer, LinkedIn and SAP."

Box to Acquire Web Document Company Crocodoc - Arik Hesseldahl - News - AllThingsD

Salesforce Acquires Bookmarking Startup Clipboard for More Than $10M - Liz Gannes - News - AllThingsD

Salesforce acqhires a new VP of Engineering (Gary Flake; see this FAQ for details); hopefully it will also continue to invest in bringing Clipboard's founding vision to full fruition

"All but one of Clipboard’s five-person team will join Salesforce’s Seattle office, but they will be shutting down their own tools in favor of integrating similar functionality into Salesforce products.
Clipboard CEO Gary Flake is a respected tech research executive with history at Microsoft, Yahoo and Overture.
Clipboard told users about the shutdown today, saying the service would end on June 30 but users could download their data.
Calling the news “bittersweet,” the company disclosed it had 140,000 users over the past two years."

Salesforce Acquires Bookmarking Startup Clipboard for More Than $10M - Liz Gannes - News - AllThingsD

Amazon Is Building TWO Smartphones — WSJ - Business Insider

View different?

"One of the two smartphones Amazon is developing will reportedly have a 3D screen that can track your eye movements. The 3D screen on this high-end smartphone would not require glasses. Images would appear to float on the screen like a hologram, says Bensinger.
You never want to pre-judge a product that doesn't exist, but this sounds really bad. It sounds like a mess of horrendous gimmicks.
There is no value in a 3D screen. HTC made a phone with a 3D screen, the EVO 3D. It didn't come out with a second 3D phone, which tells you all you need to know."

Amazon Is Building TWO Smartphones — WSJ - Business Insider

Facebook Is Said to Be in Talks to Buy Waze - NYTimes.com

Acquisition probability high; winning acquirer tbd -- could be Apple, Facebook, or Google; also see A Waze Buy Would Put Facebook on Yet Another Collision Course With Google — This Time in Mapping (AllThingsD)

"If the sale is concluded, it would give Facebook the ability to better deliver locally tailored ads and content to its 1.1 billion users.
The potential purchase price, which some news reports have said could run as high as $1 billion, would rival what Facebook paid last year to buy Instagram, a fast-growing mobile photo-sharing service."

Facebook Is Said to Be in Talks to Buy Waze - NYTimes.com

F.C.C. Advances Plan for Faster In-Flight Wi-Fi - NYTimes.com

Probably still a let-down for Kansas City and Provo residents...

"The commission’s proposal is the first step toward a goal that it is likely to take a couple of years, at least, to reach: providing in-flight Internet service that can match or exceed the capabilities that most Americans have at home or can find in coffee shops.
The new format would use a more reliable system of contact between a plane and the ground, agency officials said, and should allow providers to offer more consistent service that is some 30 times faster than the service that many Americans have in their homes."

F.C.C. Advances Plan for Faster In-Flight Wi-Fi - NYTimes.com