Archive for October, 2007
MySpace is moving into a new arena — casual gaming. The social-networking giant announced a deal with New York-based Oberon Media on Tuesday to create a new, free gaming destination.MySpace Games, which will launch in early 2008, will let members choose from hundreds of award-winning casual games, from online puzzles to the famed Bejeweled, to play with friends in the community. Users can add and share games through their personal profiles pages.
“Bringing entertainment in the form of fun, social, casual games will enhance our user experience,” Amit Kapur, vice president of business development for MySpace, said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide our members with an easy way to play with their friends and give them additional ways to interact.”
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
October 24th, 2007
With news of eBay’s Skype-related losses besmirching the VoIP 
provider’s reputation, the company has been making aggressive moves in search of profits to get back on Wall Street’s good side.After last week’s announcement that MySpace would offer Skype to its millions of members, the firm is now rumored to be exploring opportunities in the mobile phone arena. With over 220 million people from many different nations using Skype already, the company has a potential built-in customer base for a mobile device.
Reuters is reporting that Skype is expected to announce a deal soon with wireless provider 3 to sell its first mobile phone. Reuters cited “a person familiar with the matter.” While eBay representatives were not immediately available for comment, Reuters confirmed with Skype that the company is working on a new product to make the service mobile.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
October 24th, 2007
On Monday, mobile service giant AT&T said it would begin offering wireless downloads of full-track songs over the air from Napster. AT&T’s deal with the once-controversial digital music subscription service extends an existing agreement.Beginning in mid-November, the Napster Mobile service will let AT&T wireless customers search a music catalog of more than five million songs, preview samples of each song, and purchase and download music from their wireless handsets, the companies said.
The deal gives AT&T the largest mobile music platform, according to Mark Collins, vice president of Consumer Data for AT&T’s wireless unit. AT&T, which is the largest carrier with more than 63 million customers, is competing with Verizon Wireless and Sprint for wireless downloads.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
October 23rd, 2007
A Greenpeace report could spark yet another lawsuit against Apple. On Monday, The Center for Environmental Health gave Apple 60 days notice that it might file suit against it after tests Greenpeace commissioned revealed several hazardous chemicals in both the external and internal components of the iPhone.According to a Greenpeace report entitled “Missed Call: The iPhone’s Hazardous Chemicals,” the iPhone contains several dangerous chemicals, including phthalates in the vinyl plastic earphone wiring at levels that are prohibited in young children’s toys in San Francisco and in the European Union.
This is the third time that Greenpeace has tested an Apple product since 2006. Similar analyses of a MacBook Pro and an iPod Nano revealed the presence of phthalates and brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
However, the latest study marks Greenpeace’s first test of an Apple product since CEO Steve Jobs made a public commitment in May to make a “Greener Apple.” Apple specifically pledged to phase out all polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics and BFRs by the end of 2008.
Click here to read the rest of this story on CIOToday.
October 22nd, 2007
MySpace and Facebook are duking it out at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco this week. Analysts said MySpace is making some smart moves and that Facebook has undeniable momentum. Others are speculating that Facebook’s recent traffic dip speaks of its demise. In the meantime, both companies are planning for the future.MySpace is following the footsteps of Facebook in some areas. This week, MySpace announced plans to open its platform to outside developers to keep up with its fast-growth competitor, something Facebook did earlier this summer. MySpace also announced a VoIP deal with Skype that lets its members talk to one another for free. Late last month, MySpace launched a version of its social-networking platform for mobile phones.
For its part, Facebook is answering with plans to double its workforce from 300 to about 700 in the year ahead. The company said it wants to make member profile data portable so users can move it to other online services. Facebook might even develop its own advertising platform. However, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declined to offer any specific timelines on these initiatives or how it would get the cash to do it.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
October 18th, 2007
When Yahoo reported its second quarter earnings in July, cofounder and CEO Jerry Yang said the company’s management was focused on doing everything it could to strengthen the business, capture long-term growth opportunities, and create increased value for shareholders.With third-quarter earnings to be released on Tuesday, financial reporters are waiting for the official word on Yahoo’s progress over the past three months. Yahoo’s second quarter saw revenue growth, profitability, and strong free cash flow, but the company still isn’t competing head to head with Google on most fronts.
Yahoo made plenty of moves in the third quarter, including revamping Yahoo Mail, striking new strategic partnerships, making acquisitions, remodeling its search engine, and adding new newspapers to its consortium. It’s the consortium that’s in the spotlight on the eve of Yahoo’s latest earnings report.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
October 18th, 2007
Google is offering new details about YouTube copyright-protection initiatives first leaked to the media in February. Dubbed YouTube Video Identification, Google’s new beta technology, released Monday, aims to help content owners identify pirated videos that community members upload to the site.This type of technology is the online world’s answer to demands on the part of content owners to protect copyrights in the wake of rampant illegal uploads. MySpace, for example, is licensing technology from Audible Magic to screen videos that social networkers upload to the site.
“Video Identification is the next step in a long list of content policies and tools that we have provided copyright owners so that they can more easily identify their content and manage how it is made available on YouTube,” YouTube Product Manager David King wrote in the company’s blog on Monday.
Click here to read the rest of this story on NewsFactor.
October 18th, 2007
Next Posts
Previous Posts
