Nvidia launches Ion netbook chips, new notebook drivers
Beyond rolling out a new graphics chipset for netbooks this week, Nvidia launched the beta edition of updated drivers for Windows XP and Vista notebook PCs outfitted with its graphics processors.
In addition to introducing the GeForce 9400M "Ion" graphics chipset for netbooks, Nvidia is now offering user-downloadable updated graphics drivers which extend its high-end CUDA architecture to notebook PCs.
Nationwide DTV test hits snags with Comcast, Dish
Joost drops P2P, steps to Flash for movies and TV
Fraught by competition from YouTube and Hulu, video start-up Joost is abandoning its P2P-enabled Windows and Mac client software in favor of a strictly Flash-based Web site for showing movies and TV.
Online video portal Joost has announced that, starting tomorrow, its Windows and Macintosh software clients will stop working. Users will instead need to go to the company's Flash-based Web site in order to access Joost's catalog of movies, TV shows, and music videos.
Live Search looks even more like Yahoo with Goldberg's exit
The Online Services division of Microsoft may look, work, and behave very differently come next quarter, as the marketing managers who had responsibility for it this year are making room for what could be a very new breed of executive.
Ending a string of appointments to general management and oversight positions in search of the one that would be just right, Microsoft announced yesterday the departure of Brad Goldberg, the one-time general manager of its most troubled Online Services division. The move could be indicative of a shift of mindset in the Live Search division from marketing to research, after the appointment of Dr. Lu to a president's post in charge of Online Services, effectively overseeing the post vacated by Kevin Johnson, that in turn oversees Goldberg's former post.
Take-Two beats previous its high score in Q4, but tilts
Record net revenue and income were high points in Wednesday's earnings call from Take-Two Interactive. But losses continue to mount, and astringent initial guidance for 2009 was accompanied by some sharp words for the analyst crowd.
There's money in the games game, if you don't mind a little whiplash now and then. The company, which offers such titles as the Grand Theft Auto series, Bioshock, and the 2K Sports roster, reported net income for its fiscal fourth quarter of $97.1 million or $1.28 / share, and non-GAPP net income of $158.2 million or $2.08 / share, for fiscal year 2008. In 2007's Q4, it had reported a net loss of, respectively, $138.4 million or $1.93 / share, and $81.0 million or $1.13 / share. Gross profit for the year, by the way, was $548.8 million -- that's right, over half a billion, more than double the 2007 take ($246.8 million).
RIAA ignores direct order from LA judge
A federal judge in Los Angeles could be less than pleased with lawyers for the Recording Industry Association of America after the group did something it was specifically instructed not to do.
The RIAA is currently working to line up cases against University of Southern California students accused of illegal file-sharing. On October 7, District Court judge Manuel L. Real gave Motown Record Company (the lead in the case) permission to subpoena USC to get the name of a student, whom the complaint named only as "John Doe."
French say Apple and Orange aren't a well-balanced diet
Unlock that phone! French regulators has ruled that Apple and the French telco Orange cannot maintain a long-term exclusive salad...erm, carrier arrangement for the iPhone in France.
This isn't a final ruling, but France's national Competition Council held that a complaint filed on September 18 by rival telco Bouygues Telecom has enough merit that competition for mobile customers was deemed seriously and immediately threatened. The decision (PDF available here, in French) is, therefore, provisional. It would limit exclusivity to a period of three months.
Sprint plans its first modem for 3G EV-DO and 4G WiMAX
Sprint-Nextel's new dual-mode modem will work on both Sprint's 3G EVDO network and Clearwire's 4G WiMAX -- apparently including a WiMAX network set for commercial launch on January 6 of 2009 in Portland, OR.
Sprint Nextel today rolled out plans for a dual-mode modem designed to operate on both its 3G EVDO network and the 4G WiMAX network now being built by its business partner Clearwire.
How to get a security hole fixed (two versions)
A common but dangerous vulnerability spotted weeks ago on American Express's site was plugged this week after the hole gained blog and then press attention. But there may have been a faster, better way.
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities are unfortunately quite common. An XSS hole allows an attacker to scarf up a legitimate customer's login info, in this case as he enters the site. In the case of the AmEx hole, that information could later be used by the attacker to snoop around the customer's personal information, or worse.
CES Countdown #13: Can automotive electronics maintain forward momentum?
As we approach a Consumer Electronics Show taking place in a business climate unlike anything the tech industry's ever known, consider if you will the automotive-electronics wares -- this year practically an index of these strange days in our history.
Automotive electronics are a major part of most CES shows, but you wouldn't necessarily know that from mainstream tech-publication coverage. (You also wouldn't necessarily know that AVN, a major adult-entertainment show, "happens" to overlap with CES, but that's another article.) Still, the car and auto-aftermarket exhibits are a big draw for a lot of geeks who double as gearheads -- so shiny, so loud, so fun, just the way CES is alleged to be if you're not trudging around actually working the show.
Motorola freezes salaries and benefits, but no layoffs announced
To cut costs, Motorola is reducing the salaries of its co-CEOs and freezing the pension plans of all employees, while avoiding job layoffs at the moment.
In response to what Motorola calls "continuing global economic challenges," the company is making changes to employee benefits and executive compensation. Yet the cost reduction measures don't include any job losses right now. Many of Motorola's existing employees will not receive salaries in 2009, also under the plan.
Jobs to duck Macworld keynote, drawing concern
Apple CEO Steve Jobs won't be delivering the keynote at next month's Macworld, a revelation that's sounding off new alarm bells about Jobs' health and Apple's succession plans.
After years of hotly anticipated Macworld speeches, in which Jobs typically announces new Apple products, he will break with tradition by skipping his appearance at the show.
Google tests ad placement in its Search Suggest
Google Search Suggest, the predictive text dropdown gadget that suggests search terms, will soon provide direct links, information, and sponsored links.
Search Suggest has been a default feature on the Google home page since the end of August. Now, testing has begun on providing more than just a prediction of what the user is searching for based upon the most popular queries. A random selection of US-basedGoogle users have found that their suggested searches offer slightly different results.
Firefox patches address three critical vulnerabilities
Download Mozilla Firefox 3.0.5 for Windows from FileForum now.
Internet Explorer is apparently not the only browser this week that's the subject of preventative measures, as Mozilla revealed this morning that the real reason for issuing Firefox 3.0.5 was to prevent a possible wave of page hijacks.
Intel readies touch Classmate PC netbook for CES
At CES 2009, Intel reportedly plans to release its second lunchbox-style Classmate PC for kids. Meanwhile, the Classmate's chief architect at Intel has jumped ship for competing NComputing.
More details keep unfolding about the Convertible Classmate PC, Intel's second entry into the same classroom market also targeted by NComputing and the MIT-spawned One Laptop Per Child (OLPC).
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