Month: May 2013

Business Google

Google Capital to make investments in maturing tech firms

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As reported on Engadget. By Jon Fingas Google Ventures has a reputation for backing tech winners early on — it gave a boost to this little startup called Nest, for example. It wants to exert influence every step of the way, however, and it’s launching Google Capital to make this happen. The new fund is investing in firms that aren’t quite so young, but are doing “amazing things” aligned with Google’s interests, according to general partner Mike Pearson.…

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Business Marketing

Twitter’s Lead Generation Card gives brands your info with just the click of a button

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As reported on Engadget. By Sarah Silbert Twitter Cards are meant to enhance a user’s — er, advertiser’s — tweets with relevant links and photo previews. Three such cards currently exist, but today the social network introduced a new one: the Lead Generation Card (marketing speak, much?), which essentially lets users accept discounts and provide the required personal information directly from a business’ tweet. The feature is located within a brand’s expanded tweet: you simply click a…

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Google Security

Hackers Who Breached Google in 2010 Accessed Company’s Surveillance Database

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As reported on Wired. BY KIM ZETTER   Hackers who breached Google’s network in 2010 obtained access to the company’s system for tracking surveillance requests from law enforcement, according to a news report. The hackers gained access to a database that Google used to process court orders from law enforcement agencies seeking information about customer accounts, including classified FISA orders that are used in foreign intelligence surveillance investigations, according to the Washington Post. The database contained years’ worth…

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Military

With New Mini-Satellites, Special Ops Takes Its Manhunts Into Space

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As reported on Wired. BY NOAH SHACHTMAN A U.S. soldier participates in a night-raid training mission during Emerald Warrior 2012, an exercise put together by U.S. Special Operations Command. Photo: USAF   In September, the U.S. government will fire into orbit a two-stage rocket from a Virginia launchpad. Officially, the mission is a scientific one, designed to improve America’s ability to send small satellites into orbit quickly and cheaply. But the launch will also have a…

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Business Games

The new Xbox: what do we know about Microsoft’s next console?

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As reported on The Verge. By Tom Warren An ‘Xbox 720’ rumor roundup Microsoft’s next-generation console has been the subject of intense rumor and speculation for what feels like years now. Gamers have been poring over leaks, rumors, accidental Twitter updates, and a whole lot more. From the “Xbox 720” name, to a “Durango” codename, Microsoft has kept fairly quiet on its official plans for an Xbox 360 successor. That all changed this week after the software maker…

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Application Art Google

Google Glass apps: everything you can do right now

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As reported on The Verge. By Paul Miller We test every Google Glass app so you don’t have to Google Glass isn’t ready for prime time. Even Google knows this, which is why it hasn’t shipped to the masses yet. Instead, Google floated a few units to “Explorers,” glorified guinea pigs who can enjoy the joys and trials of this cuttingest edge of cutting edge technologies. But nascent or not, Glass exists, and it works. Or at…

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Business Cloud

Dell Kills Project To Build Out Public Cloud, Sends Layoff Notices

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As reported on TechCrunch. by ALEX WILLIAMS Dell has decided not to build out its public cloud and will instead rely on partners such as Joyent to provide infrastructure services. A source close to the matter said layoff notices at the company went out on Friday. The group had more than 300 people in it. It is not known who was laid off or offered other jobs in the company. A spokesperson said Dell would not comment about…

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Business Engineering

Yahoo’s Unwatchable Live Stream Proves Its Next Acquisition Should Be A Proper Video Platform

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As reported on TechCrunch. by RIP EMPSON It’s easy to forget that Yahoo has had a long on-again-off-again love affair with online video. Remember Broadcast.com, which kicked off the Mark Cuban Era? But you might not remember that, because other online video platforms long ago left Yahoo in the proverbial dust. Today, as Yahoo streamed its Flickr product and Tumblr acquisition announcements, we were given a demonstration of why Yahoo has been left in the dust — and why…

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Application Google

Google Checkout Nixed In Favor of Google Wallet

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As reported on TechCrunch. by CATHERINE SHU Google Checkout is being sunsetted as the company focuses on shaping Google Wallet into a viable PayPal rival. Google Commerceannounced today that Google Checkouts will be retired on November 20. Google suggests that merchants who do not have their own payment processing transition to Braintree, Shopify or Freshbooks, which are offering discounted rates for Google Checkout users. U.S. merchants who do have their own payment processing can apply for Google Wallet Instant Buy. Developers…

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Application

Real-Time Parking Startup ParkMe Launches An Android App

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As reported on TechCrunch. by RYAN LAWLER Real-time parking startup ParkMe wants to help find you parking — in real-time. The company, which originally started out on the Web, has been making a big push behind mobile apps, which is really smart, because most times when you’re looking for parking, you’re not on a PC, but you have a smartphone nearby. There was just one problem — this app to find parking spots in real-time was only available on…

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