901am

New Media News Every Morning

Microsoft’s Skype Assimilation (And Why Google Should Be Worried)

By

The software giant has snapped up one of the hottest VoIP startups from the jaws of Google by paying twice as much as the search engine giant in cold hard cash.

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: “MSFT”) and Skype Global S.à r.l today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Skype, the leading Internet communications company, for $8.5 billion in cash from the investor group led by Silver Lake. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype. (Microsoft)

Skype was on the verge of going public when Microsoft and Google entered a bidding war over the VoIP king.

Although the search engine giant has their own “VoIP” service via Google Voice, Larry Page (Google’s co-founder and new CEO) may regret the day that he did not purchase Skype. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 10, 2011 @ 12:14 pm

Google News Web App Now Local Friendly

By

Google has rolled out an update to their Google News web app that allows iOS and Android fans to receive local news while on the go.

To use this feature, visit Google News from the browser of your Android smartphone or iPhone. If this is the first time you are visiting Google News on your phone since this feature became available, a pop-up will ask you if you want to share your location. If you say yes, news relevant to your location will appear in a new section called “News near you” which will be added at the bottom of the homepage. (Google News Blog)

Embracing local via mobile should help Google compete with rival services like Topix (the latter who has been quietly dominating the local news niche).

Although it’s great to see a robust web app, hopefully Google will consider launching a native app in the not so distant future (as even Yahoo! has a native news app for Android and iOS fans).

Surprising Google seems to have overlooked supporting a few rival platforms (like Blackberry OS, webOS and Windows Phone 7) most who support HTML5.

Note: Can any readers upon other smartphones view the “News near you” feature? If so, let us know in the comment section below!

Originally posted on May 13, 2011 @ 2:18 pm

How HP’s TouchPad Can Avoid Tablet Purgatory

By

With the exception of RIM’s Playbook, every iPad 2 challenger has been greeted by consumers with a lack of interest (at least as far as Android tablets go).

Instead of taking cue’s from RIM (who didn’t go out of their way to challenge Apple), HP has decided to boast about TouchPad’s superiority over rivals, claiming that their tablet will not only be able to challenge iPad 2, but also beat Apple at their own game.

Although early reviews of the TouchPad have thus far been positive, HP will have to do more than match iPad 2 on price if they plan on stealing the gold away from Apple. [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 23, 2011 @ 1:34 pm

Filed Under: HP

If Skype Is Microsoft’s Cake, Qik Is The Icing

By

After swooping in and snapping up Skype (to the tune of $8.5 billion), Microsoft for the first time has serious leverage over Google in an arena that doesn’t involve operating systems (for computers that is).

While Steve Ballmer and friends are probably throwing a party for outbidding Google, they may want to take a look at Qik (which Skype purchased in January). [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 11, 2011 @ 1:48 pm

Google’s Chromebook: 3 Reasons Why I Won’t Buy (Even Though I Want To)

By

At long last Google has finally unveiled their Chromebook, which has the potential of reviving the dying netbook industry (which Apple has mortally wounded thanks to the iPad).

While it’s great to see Chrome OS court the traditional laptop over the tablet, there are a few reasons why I probably will avoid purchasing one in the future (despite some of the positive reviews Chromebook is receiving in techland).  [Read more…]

Originally posted on May 16, 2011 @ 3:04 pm