November 8, 2005

Yahoo! and TiVo Form Partnership


Today Yahoo! Inc. and TiVo Inc. announced that Yahoo! will provide streaming content and services on TiVo devices. Starting today (November 7), users of Yahoo’s TV page will be able to remotely schedule recordings of a television program by clicking on a record-to-TiVo button. Future plans of the service include the ability to view other Yahoo content (traffic and weather reports), as well as personal photos and other user content, all on your television via an on-screen menu system (maybe we can browse the Internet on it!). However, Edward Lichty, TiVo’s vice president of corporate strategy, feels differently. “It’s not about having a Web browser on your TV and having a keyboard on your lap. It’ll still be focused on the TV experience and navigating with the remote control,” Lichty said. “And this builds on existing use patterns. It doesn’t require people to relearn anything.”And the great thing is I have a TiVo! Just for the note, this service requires the new version, TiVo Series 2.

Originally from AMCP Computer Privacy TECH BLOG on November 7, 2005, 8:47pm

October 27, 2005

Client-side Password Strength Checking


When you sign up for a Google account these days, they elavuate your password strength as you type it. The area marked “Weak” above said “Too Short” until I had six characters, then it said “Weak,” until I added a few numbers and punctuation symbols to the end, and it finally read “Strong.”

I didn’t bother to look how they did it, though I’m assuming it was all client-side and not Ajaxed.

Originally by Deane from Gadgetopia on October 26, 2005, 10:21pm

Google Base Confirmed



Google, by ways of Clickz, has confirmed their newest tool: Google Base. As mentioned yesterday, Google Base will be a Craigslist/eBay. Google’s spokesperson, Eileen Rodriguez wrote in an email:

We are testing a new way for content owners to submit their content to Google, which will complement existing methods such as Web crawl and the Google Sitemaps program.

Apparently, they have also been ‘quietly approaching’ classified sites and job boards, requesting that they submit their info via XML feed.

No confirmation on the coupling of Google’s eWallet system, though.

Originally from Gadget Review on October 26, 2005, 7:04pm

Apple Launches iTunes Australia

It seemed to be one of the last places to finally get access to an iTunes store, but that is not the case anymore. Apple has officially launched the iTunes Australia store.

By UK standards, the songs are cheap: AUD1.69 per track, equivalent to 72p a song. Videos are priced at AUD3.39 (£1.44), while “most” albums sell for AUD16.99 (£7.22). Prices include Australia’s Goods and Sevices Tax (GST).

Originally by jeremy from Forever Geek on October 25, 2005, 8:27am

Google Base = Ebay?

In case you were hiding under a rock yesterday, there have been rumors that Google will release an Ebay-killer called Google Base. After the news got out about Google Base, Google took it offline: http://base.google.com. You can see screenshots here. One screenshot reads:

Post your items on Google.

Google Base is Google’s database into which you can add all types of content. We’ll host your content and make it searchable online for free.

Examples of items you can find in Google Base:

  • Description of your party planning service
  • Articles on current events from your website
  • Listing of your used car for sale
  • Database of protein structures

Later that night, Google responded to these rumors:

You may have seen stories today reporting on a new product that we’re testing, and speculating about our plans. Here’s what’s really going on. We are testing a new way for content owners to submit their content to Google, which we hope will complement existing methods such as our web crawl and Google Sitemaps.

Originally by AlexTan from Forever Geek on October 26, 2005, 11:15am

Search Engine for Sale

Want to buy a search engine? Now you can. Jux2.com is now onsale on Ebay for $28,100.00. I was surprised to find that there is 73 bids for the so called search engine. Actaully, it’s not a search engine. It’s a meta search engine. Meaning: it uses other search engines such as Google and Yahoo to find results. Mamma and Search.com are like this too.

Originally from AMCP Computer Privacy TECH BLOG on October 25, 2005, 5:15pm

October 24, 2005

Microsoft Reveals Beta1 of Business IM Client


As reported back in March (Ah! Look how long ago that was!), Microsoft revealed “Microsoft Office Communicator”, a business IM Client. On Thursday, Microsoft allowed testings of Beta 1 of that product, officially dubbed “Microsoft Office Communicator Mobile client”. Microsoft said to expect the final version of the product to ship some time in the first half of 2006. As the Communicator Mobile beta is closed, there is no public download available for now. I really don’t understand why Microsoft would be wasting their time on a business version of IM when most use MSN Messenger. I know that many tech companies use MSN Messenger to exchange ideas within the company (maybe because it’s pre-installed on Windows computers).

Originally from AMCP Computer Privacy TECH BLOG on October 23, 2005, 6:14pm

A SBlog Search Engine?


What is the world coming to? We are supposed to hate spamblogs! Not index them and build up a search engine just for sblogs. The SplogSpot search engine was created to index spam blogs. It lists spam blogs, linkfarms, “Just for ads!” blogs, “Click my adsense” blogs. I have no idea who would want to look over SBlogs. Maybe this is some funny prank…

Originally from AMCP Computer Privacy TECH BLOG on October 23, 2005, 3:05pm

October 23, 2005

Verizon VoIP phone the “One” phone

Verizon is now selling the Verizon One Phone to Verizon DSL customers. This is an all-in-one device combining a telephone, high speed DSL modem, and 802.11g wireless router. Don’t confuse this with a VoIP phone because it isn’t. However, the Verizon One phone combines three different functions into one convenient device. The Verizon One phone comes with a color touchscreen display providing information on News, Sports, Weather, Stocks, and local movie listings and showtimes. There’s a built in memo pad, address book, and calendar which can be shared with the entire family. Since the device is also a DSL modem, you can browse the Verizon SuperPages for additional information. Via - Mobilewhack

Originally from New Launches on October 22, 2005, 4:11am

Opera Preparing Version 9




Opera is fast on its heals to release a new version of their browser following the announcment of free browsing. Opera Software has announced that v.9 is in beta (or as they call it: a “technology preview”). I couldn’t find the download link anywhere, but fear not: I found it, and we have screenshots! Opera 9 will have an enhanced popup blocker, an internal source viewer, a new bookmark tab in the address bar, and a few more minor upgrades. Version 9 also now identifies itself through the UserAgent string as “Opera”. Opera has also introduced a new storage format for e-mail and a multitude of page rendering tweaks. You should not download Opera 9 onto a system that is already running Opera software. You should uninstall those pieces of software Opera has warned. I have no idea when Opera Software plans to release v.9 to the public, but I think I may stick with Firefox or Flock.

Originally from AMCP Computer Privacy TECH BLOG on October 21, 2005, 5:21pm

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