Since DVRs have basically eliminated the need to sit through commercials, we turn our attention to YouTube. That’s where Verizon’s first iPhone commercial has cropped up. It’s 30 seconds of clocks ticking, fingers and toes tapping, and a girl who smiles when one of the clocks strikes midnight—presumably on February 10th when the …
Companies
Larry Page: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Google’s New CEO
Google’s Eric Schmidt announced today that company co-founder Larry Page would take on the role of CEO in April of this year, a huge shake up for the tech giant. In a blog post, now-Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt revealed that he’ll be overseeing things from a new chairman’s post while Page would inherit the day-to-day operations …
The Eric Schmidt Era: Google 2001 vs. Google 2011
Will the end of Eric Schmidt’s nine and a half years as CEO of Google and the return of co-founder Larry Page to that role have an impact on the company’s direction? I’m no Google insider, but I’ll be startled if it has no noticeable effect. In announcing the news today, Schmidt said that Page will call the day-to-day shots while he …
Verizon ‘Deeply Concerned’ By Net Neutrality Rules, Files Appeal
The December ruling in favor of new net neutrality policies has Verizon “deeply concerned by the FCC’s assertion of broad authority for sweeping new regulation of broadband networks and the Internet itself,” the company said in a statement today.
The landmark ruling took place on December 22nd and called for internet traffic delivered …
Twitter Gets Sued For Creating “Virtual Community of Famous People”
Look out, Twitter, it looks like the folks at VS Technologies are after you.
The small company alleges that the micro-blogging site is infringing on patent 6,408,309, which discloses “a method and system for creating an interactive virtual community of famous people.”
Hold on–Twitter is a virtual community of famous people? Now, …
LivingSocial’s Daily Deal Sells $26 Million Worth Of Amazon Gift Cards
It was the offer that confused the internet: Buy $20 worth of Amazon value for $10. Daily Deal site LivingSocial brought the internet to its knees yesterday by offering “a once-in-a-lifetime deal”: a $20 gift card to Amazon.com for just $10. 1.3 million of the cards were sold by the end of the day, although it’s uncertain how many of …
Google Co-Founder Larry Page Replacing Eric Schmidt As CEO
Google CEO Eric Schmidt will be handing the reigns over to company co-founder Larry Page. In a blog post titled “An update from the Chairman,” Schmidt detailed that he’ll be serving as executive chairman, Page will take over day-to-day operations, and Google’s other co-founder Sergey Brin will simply take on the well-suited title of …
Amazon Buys European Netflix
Amazon is fighting back against the growing dominance of Netflix by purchasing British movie rental company Lovefilm. Amazon has owned a significant stake in the company since 2008, when Lovefilm bought Amazon’s DVD service, but today’s news brings the company entirely under Amazon control.
Lovefilm, which offers DVD rental through …
Spotify’s Sony Deal Doesn’t Mean US Launch, Yet
Streaming music service Spotify has finally landed its first US deal, with All Things Digital reporting that Sony has signed on to the service that offers users a set number of hours for free streaming music per month. The service, which has been becoming increasingly popular in Europe over the last few years, has found American labels …
Google Voice Number Porting Feature Looms Over Landlines
A warning shot across the bow of old-school landline telephone service sounds something like this:
“We’re continually testing new features to enhance the user experience. For a limited amount of time, we’re making the Google Voice number porting process available to users. We don’t have any additional details to share at this time, but
…
Mug Shots On Facebook: Should Police Publicly Shame Drunk Drivers Online?
This week, city council members from Huntington Beach, Calif. considered requiring their local police to post mug shots of all DUI offenders on Facebook. For a society that has moved on from physical punishment in public, our Scarlet Letter complex is still frighteningly unwavering.
(More on Techland: AMBER Alerts Now Dispatched Via …
Facebook Releases Mobile App For The Non-Smartphone Set
While most web companies stare drooling at framed photos of the iPhone on office walls, a few pay attention to the rest of the population. Today, Facebook is one of those companies.
(More on Techland: 5 Tips For A Savvier Facebook Profile)
Wednesday, Facebook announced a new mobile app for regular, old feature phones – no …