Dueling quadruple-play architectures at CES
Scott Fulton, BetaNews: One of the major trends we're following all this week at CES concerns connectivity: Specifically, how all these wired services are supposed to make it to the gateway of your home or office, and who will be the ones who get it there? In the wired fiberoptic service arena (as opposed to wireless), there are two principal rollout architectures, dealing with whether the line to your house gets replaced with fiberoptic or gets left as copper.
There was news on both fronts at CES this morning, and our Sharon Fisher has more about it.
What is Microsoft planning with Fast's 'behavioral' search technology?
In a teleconference held today to discuss its $1.2 billion acquisition bid for Norwegian-based Fast Search & Transfer, Microsoft spelled out how Fast's technology will fill out its existing enterprise search capabilities.
Yet Microsoft appeared to skirt questions from the press and analysts around how the technology might also be used in Web search applications such as online advertising.
Imeem pens deal to bring MTV content to its service
Clips and television episodes from the Viacom division's broad lineup of cable networks will start to appear on imeem in February.
MTV Networks will be the first media company to strike such a deal with the social media provider. Among the cable channels included would be Comedy Central, MTV, Logo, VH1, Spike, and others, as well as content from its online media properties.
100 million copies sold, but Vista mostly absent at CES
Ahead of Bill Gates' keynote Sunday night, Microsoft said that 100 million copies of Vista have been sold, but the new OS has little presence here at CES.
In a meeting with BetaNews Monday, Aaron Coldiron, senior marketing manager for Windows Vista, acknowledged that Microsoft has done little to offer a compelling story for its flagship operating system, but promised changes were afoot.
Microsoft stands behind HD DVD for Xbox 360
Microsoft's director of global marketing for the Xbox 360, Albert Penello, told BetaNews this morning that the company will continue to push an HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360, but acknowledged the external nature would enable it to ship a Blu-ray drive if Sony's format became the new high-definition standard.
Penello also said that despite the rumors, Microsoft has never planned to ship an Xbox console with an integrated HD DVD drive, but the decision has nothing to do with the uncertainty in the format war. Because neither standard was finalized when the Xbox 360 shipped, Microsoft opted to use DVDs.
Update: Paramount denies plans to drop HD DVD
Paramount has officially denied rumors that it will break its exclusivity with HD DVD and switch to Blu-ray. The studio said in a statement that its current plan is to continue supporting the format.
The Financial Times claimed that Paramount will use a "get-out clause" in its exclusivity agreement with HD DVD to follow Warner in jumping ship to Blu-ray. The paper cited "people familiar with the situation," and offered little evidence.
LG spiffs up its dual-format DVD computer drive
The Korean electronics maker debuted the second iteration of its external drive that can read both next generation formats, and write to Blu-ray discs.
Still missing is any kind of capability to write to HD DVD, which the previous model also lacked. But speeds writing to Blu-ray have increased. The drive can read and write to the format at 6x speed versus 2x, although read speeds to HD DVD remain at 3x.
Vonage tries again with VoIP device strategy
Although its first attempt has so far generally failed to attract consumers interest, the VoIP provider is announcing 'MyVonage,' an effort to promote devices, services, and features that allow the customer to choose how he uses the service.
The first of these devices and services launched under the initiative Monday at CES in Las Vegas was the V-Portal, a digital voice adapter and router with an LCD display, and Contact Book, a software platform that would allow customers to better manage their service.
The Hague blocks Dutch gov't attempt to levy MP3 sales
The Dutch equivalent of the RIAA lost its bid to put a tax on MP3 players Tuesday, as The Hague said it would not remove a government block on any further taxes.
Norma had sought to have a ban on further taxes on MP3 players lifted, however the courts said it had not seen enough evidence that the group was managing an already existing tax on blank CDs and DVDs.
New Panasonic VIERA HDTV will have YouTube button on its remote
If you're tired of watching out-of-focus YouTube videos on your computer screen, now you'll be able to watch out-of-focus YouTube videos on your TV.
Matsushita's Panasonic unit is working with Google to develop high-definition televisions that let you browse and view videos from YouTube and photos from Picasa Web Albums. Google will set up servers for the purpose and the remotes for the TVs will have YouTube and Picasa buttons.
HD VMD: The third format that would not die
Just when you thought the high-def format war was over, the red-laser high-def format HD VMD pops up once again, like a third-tier political candidate, to start it up all anew.
New Medium Enterprises used the backdrop of CES 2008 to announce that its HD VMD players would be shipping into the US market. Unlike Blu-ray and HD DVD, this format uses the old red-laser technology found in standard DVD to produce a high definition picture.
Microsoft buys troubled "Fast" search engine firm for Web ad serving
In the midst of the world's CES frenzy, Microsoft today announced plans to acquire Fast Search & Transfer, a financially and legally troubled Norwegian-based software firm offering highly regarded search software for online ad serving.
The move could give Microsoft a leg up against its competitors in the online advertising space. Fast stock is traded in the Oslo Stock Exchange, where Microsoft has placed a bid for 19 Norwegian kroner per share -- what Microsoft calls a 42% premium over yesterday's closing price.
Sony division to enable downloads in DivX format
Sharon Fisher, BetaNews Senior CES Analyst: On top of yesterday's news, DivX has now announced a partnership with Sony that will let retailers offer Sony Pictures Television titles for secure download in DivX format on DivX Certified consumer electronics devices.
The companies did not say whether it would be all titles, when they would be available, or which retailers might participate. Sony Pictures Television produces shows such as Cashmere Mafia, Dawson's Creek, Days of Our Lives, Wheel of Fortune, and The Shield.
Sling Media expands into social networking, cable modems
Sharon Fisher, BetaNews Senior CES Analyst: Sling Media Inc., which announced its Clip+Sling service at last year's CES, is demonstrating it at this year's.
Similarly to YouTube, Clip+Sling lets users share clips of shows from their Slingbox systems. The Slingbox is a device that lets users remotely view their cable, satellite, or personal video recorder (PVR) programming from an Internet-enabled computer with a broadband Internet connection, known as "placeshifting."
Apple rolls out double-quad-core Mac Pro, Xserve
The company introduced a version of its top-of-the-line desktop that is twice as fast as its predecessor, as well as a server that will offer a similar performance boost.
The Mac Pro would now feature eight processing cores consisting of two quad-core Xeons, and the Xserve would offer a similar option. The standard configuration of the desktop system would start at $2,799, while the servers would begin at $2,999.
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