PayPal vs Google(Buy)

PayPal vs Google(Buy): "pc-facile.com writes 'While Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt confirmed in press accounts that the company was building a payment service, Mr. Schmidt also denied it would directly compete with PayPal. Mr. Schmidt said Google didn't intend to offer a 'person-to-person, stored-value payments system,' which many people consider a description of PayPal's service. Mr. Jordan (PayPal chief) says he and his team immediately 'dissected the wording' of Google's statements. He says he doesn't believe Mr. Schmidt...' There's also a more in depth WSJ article about the service."

Google working on alternate Internet, sez insider

Google working on alternate Internet, sez insider: "Filed under: Desktops, Wireless
So it seems that Google may actually have a plan for world domination after all, involving cheap PCs that connect exclusively to a private 'Googlenet.' The London Times is reporting that 'a leading content provider' has been quoted as saying 'We are in discussions with Google to provide content for their alternative Internet service, to be distributed through their Google Cube product. As far as I'm aware they have been conducting negotiations with a number of other players in our marketplace to provide quality content to their users.' Whoa. If this information turns out to be accurate, it would help explain Google's MO in buying up so much 'dark fiber,' and may also jibe with the L.A. Times' January prediction (denied by the G) of a Wal-Mart-bound Google PC. We'll continue to bring you updates on this juicy story as it develops -- unless we jump ship and head over to Googlenet, in which case please visit us at www.engadget.goog.

Google deals with Sony, Motorola, and city councils as it works for free WiFi

Google deals with Sony, Motorola, and city councils as it works for free WiFi: "Filed under: Wireless
IDG has some interesting details on just how Google plans to work this whole free WiFi thing, including their efforts at interoperability with device makers such as Sony, Motorola, Nintendo, Siemens, and Philips. Apparently, a few development groups are even coming to Google 'behind [their] CEO's back' in instances of potential voice applications for the proposed San Francisco network, and the current one in Google's hometown of Mountain View. Along with the challenges of getting the PSP and other devices online, Google is looking at ways to monetize their network, which looks to involve a bandwidth capped free version, along with a premium version that could be resold. They're also working on location based advertising, allowing merchants to ping you with ads when you enter their area, making targeting more effective. Sounds like they have quite a bit to work through, especially with getting through all the bureaucracy involved in San Francisco, but hopefully it won't be long until they're busting out this free, VoIP-loving good stuff all over.

VW nav prototype incorporates Google sat imagery

VW nav prototype incorporates Google sat imagery: "Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Volkswagen's been hanging out with Google lately (well who wouldn't?) and they're trying to set up a match between VW in-vehicle nav and Google satellite imagery. The two services would seem to be a perfect match, but they need a little extra help from chipmaker/third-wheel Nvidia in order to handle the intense 3D imagery that results from their courtship. The project is being spearheaded by Volkswagen's Palo Alto-based Electronics Research Laboratory, and aims to provide drivers with Google Earth-like birds-eye views of upcoming terrain. Suits at VW say there are no definite plans to commercialize this technology in production vehicles, but we bet that we'll be seeing some uber-cutesy Googlers Wanted commercials sooner rather than later.

Electronic door opener hack brings laziness to new heights

Electronic door opener hack brings laziness to new heights: "Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
There are some crazy theorists out there who conjecture that we spend more time and work on creating time saving devices than it would ever take to perform the task in the first place, but as we said, those guys are crazy -- either that, or they're just jealous of Alexandre Novello and his l33t hax0r skills. It seems Alexandre grew tired of walking across the room to open the door for people, so he wrote himself some software and hooked up to the door's electronic opener via a hardware switch and a parallel port. Sounds like a nice calorie saving scheme he's got going, keep on slacking hard Alex!

Dell discontinues hard drive audio players

Dell discontinues hard drive audio players: "Filed under: Portable Audio
We've long since noticed Dell's lineup of hard drive-based portable audio players have vanished from their site, but this they officially commented on the death of the drive-based segment of their Dell Pocket DJ (Digital Jukebox) line and made it official that those devices were phased out over the last two months. Apparently the DJ Ditty is doing just fine though, and they hinted at being a flash player-only shop from here on in. Can't says as we're surprised, but we're still always disappointed to see another iPod competitor drop off the map.

Apple kills 17-inch G5 iMac

Apple kills 17-inch G5 iMac: "Filed under: Desktops Just days after slashing the price of the 20-inch G5 iMac by $200, Apple has apparently killed off the 17-inch version of the computer. The 17-inch G5 no longer appears in any of Apple's online stores, though it is still available from some resellers, which have begun slashing prices to clear inventory. At last check, MacMall was offering the 17-inch G5 for as little as $1,194 after a rebate, or about $100 less than the Intel-based version. We have to give Apple some credit here; they apparently managed to sell off all of their stock of 17-inch G5s without having to cut prices -- though it looks like resellers won't be quite as lucky.

More PlayStation 3 info leaked?

More PlayStation 3 info leaked?: "Filed under: Gaming Ok, now we have to admit that we're getting a little skeptical about that PlayStation Magazine Xbox Live-killer article leak a couple of days go. A second page appears to have made its way onto the PlayStation forums and has some very interesting details -- if a little disparate, unlikely, and even downright dubious. For example, besides a really obvious misspelling of 'Blue-Ray Disc' in a headline, the article says making the PlayStation 3 a DVR with media PC-like functionality is a 'top priority for Sony' -- even though right now we understand it's only slated to have an optional external hard drive attachment and doesn't appear to have video inputs. Also, you'll supposedly be able to control your PS3-DVR with your PSP, send files home to it remotely from your Memory Stick, and that the final hardware kits released to developers in January were even more powerful than originally anticipated. Wait, there's more: the PS3 will also have Location Free support and media streaming capabilities to counter the Xbox 360's Media Extender feature, and that unlike the 360 it'll be able to play back 'all major audio and video formats,' including media downloaded from an online service 'like the iTunes Music Store.'

PayPal to rival TextPayMe for SMS payments?

PayPal to rival TextPayMe for SMS payments?: "Filed under: Cellphones We ran TextPayMe by you last year, a service that allows you to make PayPal-like payments over SMS. Well now it looks like PayPal is hoping to make those SMS payments a little more PayPal-like, since they're advertising for a business manager and senior product manager for their 'PayPal Mobile' group, 'a new mobile payments 'start-up' unit' in the company. So it looks like we might have some friendly competition in the mobile payment space sooner rather than later, which sounds fine by us.

New Mercedes S-Class rocks Night View Assist

New Mercedes S-Class rocks Night View Assist: "Filed under: Displays, Transportation

It’s not too often that we hit up advances in car technology over here but this is just a bit too tasty to pass up. Now in addition to a PCMCIA slot, Mercedes-Benz is premiering their “Night view assist” system on their new, 2007 S-Class series which is said to increase nighttime visibility by up to 125 percent -- without blinding on-coming motorists. It uses infrared light to cast a broad beam ahead of the vehicle and then displays the 8-inch grayscale image on the dashboard LCD. Yeah, we know, what’s the big deal, other cage manufactures have offered these options in the past. But check out the vid over at AutoSpies though, we think it's worth your while.

Watch Super Bowl commercials on your cellphone, computer or TV

Watch Super Bowl commercials on your cellphone, computer or TV: "Filed under: Cellphones, Misc. Gadgets, Home Entertainment
If you need to take a break during the best part of the Super Bowl -- and, of course, we're talking about those multimillion dollar commercials -- don't worry. The NFL will be rebroadcasting all of the game's commercials next Monday and Tuesday, via the web, the football league's cable channel and Sprint's cellphone network. So there you go; you now have no excuse to miss this year's GoDaddy (or '1984') moment. Miss a key play or a halftime 'wardrobe malfunction,' on the other hand, and you're on your own.

Apple's patented the Tablet Mac (part II)

Apple's patented the Tablet Mac (part II): "Filed under: Tablet PCs

Well, what do you know? Yet another Apple tablet PC patent's shown up on the USPTO site, this one also with none other than Jonny Ive's Handcock on it (last time around it was both Jobs and Ive on the patent, though). Today's filing mainly pertains to touch-input user interface methods with multiple fingers, gestures, and motions, as well as methods for visually displaying and manipulating aspects of the UI -- exciting stuff, we know. But the point is that ok, we get it already Apple, you're working on a tablet PC. Now how about releasing it so you guys can focus those man-hours on a proper DVR / media Mac for us, eh?

Microsoft said to issue specs for "ultramobile lifestyle PCs"

Microsoft said to issue specs for "ultramobile lifestyle PCs": "Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCs

Word is trickling out that Microsoft has treated attendees at its Mobile Platform Division partner briefing to its vision of the next generation of 'ultraportable lifestyle PCs.' According to at least one report, Bill Mitchell, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Platform Division, showed a slide that outlined specs for the new PC category, including that it be wearable, always on, no larger than 10-inches, connected through 3G networks, pen-based, and have a suggested retail price of $500 or less. Sounds like something of a cross between Windows Mobile smartphones and tablet PCs (sort of like the Ruby concept PC, pictured) -- or a rehash of the long-forgotten Windows CE-based 'Jupiter' laptop platform, which didn't exactly take the world by storm. One notable spec that could differentiate this one: Microsoft is apparently insisting that this run the full version of Windows. If the company really succeeds in that endeavor, this could be a hit; if not, we'll get one to keep in the basement, next to our Clio.

Esther Dyson's perspective

Esther Dyson's perspective: "Esther Dyson has had a ringside seat for the development of the Internet. She was Interim Chairperson of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) when it was a fledging organization whose goal was to help move the burgeoning Internet's administration out of the US Department of Commerce. Dyson is credited with trying to make ICANN an open and transparent body, but she concedes that she was not completely successful. Today, Dyson is still involved with IT development around the world. She is also editor of Release 1.0, a quarterly report that outlines the opportunities and issues produced by the converging worlds of technology, communications, and the Internet, as well as organizer of the 25-year-old PC Forum conference. We asked Dyson for her perspective on today's IT world."

Phone-equipped pigeons take to the skies to monitor pollution

Phone-equipped pigeons take to the skies to monitor pollution: "Filed under: Cellphones
Some researchers at the University of California are giving 20 pigeons the mobile phone hookup to monitor pollution over San Jose. Not only will the pigeons carry air pollution sensors, GPS tracking, and phone communication in their little pigeon backpacks, but they'll also carry a camera to snap pics, which will be sent along with air quality text messages to their pigeon blog. We're just happy to know that with all the ways the US lags in phone tech, we'll at least have the most moblogging pigeons this coming August.

Analog TV shutdown all but set for 2009

Analog TV shutdown all but set for 2009: "Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
Mark your calendar for February 17, 2009. That's the date set by Congress, as part of a sweeping budget-cutting bill, that broadcasters will be mandated to shut down their analog broadcasts (both the Senate and broadcasters had previously agreed to the date, so the bill now only awaits the President's signature to become law). However, if you can't bear to part with that old Philco or Admiral, you won't have to toss it. The government will be setting aside $1.5 billion in subsidies to help consumers get converters to allow older analog sets to receive digital broadcasts. And, no, you can't request a piece of that to pick up a 60-inch plasma, so don't even think about it.

Imagining the Google Future

Imagining the Google Future: "'What kind of company will Google become in the coming decades? Will it succumb to hubris and flame out like so many of its predecessors? Or will it grow into an omnipresent, omnipotent force -- not just on Wall Street or the Web, but in society? We put the question to scientists, consultants, former Google employees, and tech visionaries like Ray Kurzweil and Stephen Wolfram. They responded with well-argued, richly detailed, and sometimes scary visions of a Google future.

'On the following pages, we've compiled four very different scenarios for the company. Each details an extreme, but plausible, outcome. In three of them, Google attains monopolistic power, lording over the media, the Internet, and scientific development itself. In the fourth, Google withers and dies. That may seem unthinkable now, but nobody is immune to arrogant missteps. Not even the smartest business minds of 2005.' From BUSINESS 2.0 "

The Optimus Mini Keyboard

The Optimus Mini Keyboard: "Zugok writes 'We all remember the Optimus Keyboard from last year. Now Art Lebedev and his team have designed the Optimus Mini Three keyboard. The 'Mini Three' builds on the idea of those extraneous keys on modern Logitech and Microsoft Keyboards but like the Optimus Keyboard utilises OLED technology for visual customisation of keys. This is not vapourware, pre-orders are being take now with a cut price until April 2nd. This is just a step closer to the Optimus Keyboard. They also have a mailing list for those who want to keep up with developments of the Optimus Keyboard. Happy salivating!' This is a far cry from the full keyboard, but it's still pretty nifty. Assuming it actually does ship."

"Select customers" to trial RFID NYC subway pass

"Select customers" to trial RFID NYC subway pass: "Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

We were a bit weary when we first got an offer for an RFID credit card, but we're defintely gonna fight tooth-and-nail to become the few, the proud, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority 'selected customers' who will be involved in a six-month trial for contactless NYC subway payment/entry. The MTA is teaming up with Citigroup and Mastercard to implement a version of MasterCard's PayPass system, which in a lucky coincidence for MasterCard, will also allow people to use their new passes at McDonald's, 7-11, and other such profitable locations. And to save our foreign readers precious commenting time, we already know that you all have had systems like this for 25 years now and compared to Europe/Asia/Canada the US is still in the technological Stone Age.

Disk usage analysis and cleanup tools

Disk usage analysis and cleanup tools: "Most of us use our hard disks like closets, stuffing in files and then forgetting about them. But no matter how big a disk you have, it's going to run out of free space one day, and running out of disk space during an OpenOffice.org install or a system update could hurt you badly. Keeping an eye on disk usage doesn't take much time or effort. Here are some tips and tools."