New Zealand Geek - news page 65Geek - a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual.
Microsoft denies Zune phone, Blu-ray for XboxMicrosoft isn't planning an iPhone clone with its Zune player, and doesn't see too much of a future for Blu-ray with its Xbox, according to an interview today.
Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, told an SFGate interviewer that Windows Mobile is key to the company's strategy and that it has no plans to turn its Zune MP3 player into a phone/internet device. He said that about 20 million devices running Windows Mobile will ship this year.
June 09, 2008
Inside the music industry's piracy battleDeep inside the national headquarters of the Recording Industry Assn. of America (RIAA) is a purple room.
Tinted windows shade the faces of young men and women working behind computer screens. They are part of the team investigating the illegal sharing of music files over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, and they protect their identities carefully.
June 09, 2008
Yahoo harassment could backfire on IcahnAntagonistic investor Carl Icahn became a billionaire by bullying already distressed companies, but his harassment of Yahoo could leave him with a black eye - and a hole in his wallet - if he's wrong about Microsoft's desire to buy the internet pioneer.
Icahn, 72, has used a combination of guile, gall, grit and gamesmanship to get his way more often than not since he began tormenting vulnerable companies 30 years ago. The conquests helped Icahn build an estimated fortune of $14 billion after starting out on Wall Street with a $4,000 bankroll from his winnings playing poker.
June 09, 2008
Finally, a digital pen with the write stuffNow and then there's a push toward "pen-based computing" that doesn't get very far. But in a test of the latest crop of pens that combine ink with digital technology, at least one stands out as a useful tool and a complement to the keyboard.
All three pens I tested record what the user writes, and can transfer an image of those notes to a PC.
June 09, 2008
Google funks up its faviconGoogle has decided to get with the times and refresh its well-worn favicon. Marissa Mayer wrote on Google's blog that the favicon - the small icon that appears in browsers next to the URL, or in lists of bookmark - has been changed to better suit new web gadgets.
"We wanted to develop a set of icons that would scale better to some new platforms like the iPhone and other mobile devices," she wrote.
June 09, 2008
US trade body investigates IntelThe world's leading semiconductor maker Intel faces a formal investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) after fighting similar antitrust probes in Europe and Asia, the company said on Friday.
Smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc has long accused Intel of abusing its dominance of the US$280 billion ($365 billion) micro chip market; it filed suit against Intel in 2005. Intel's microprocessors - the electronic brains of personal computers - power over 80 per cent of the world's PCs.
June 09, 2008
Mapping out the digital futureThe Government's second grand vision of New Zealand's digital future is being knocked into shape for release some time around the middle of the year.
Crafting of the aptly named Digital Strategy 2.0 was kicked off at a two-day event in Auckland in November, after which a draft document was released that all and sundry were invited to make submissions on.
June 08, 2008
Grand Theft Auto brings home spoilsTake-Two Interactive Software raised its profit forecasts and posted higher-than-expected quarterly earnings yesterday, citing the success of its criminal action video game, Grand Theft Auto IV.
"They are executing phenomenally well on Grand Theft Auto," said Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter. The company, which has rebuffed a US$2 billion buyout offer from Electronic Arts, was also having "formal discussions" with other parties about strategic alternatives, chief executive Ben Feder said.
June 07, 2008
Broadband 'game has changed' but still ain't perfectVodafone's new network joining the high-speed broadband race should be a warning to Telecom, says Orcon boss Scott Bartlett.
Bartlett today welcomed Vodafone's new Red Network which, like Orcon's, uses ADSL2+ technology.
June 06, 2008
Commission studying telephone numbersThe telecommunications numbering system is under scrutiny, with the Commerce Commission today saying a study was needed as a result of market changes and technology development.
The commission issued terms of reference for the study on numbering management, and said it expected to deliver the final report in September.
June 06, 2008
Vodafone launches new broadband networkBroadband competition in New Zealand has heated up, with Vodafone today introducing its new, high-speed 'Red' network.
The launch of the ADSL2+ network has been made possible by 'local loop unbundling' - allowing companies to install their own equipment in Telecom exchanges - which began last year.
June 06, 2008
Low cost, ultra-portable laptops changing PC worldWhen 17-year old Yuna Hua bought a new notebook computer for school, she chose a smaller, lighter and cheaper one to replace her bulky and expensive laptop.
Like many consumers, Hua reckons she doesn't need a $1,500 laptop for her everyday needs.
June 06, 2008
Lost camera phones home to catch thievesAlison DeLauzon thought the snapshots and home videos of her infant son were gone for good when she lost her digital camera while on vacation.
Then a funny thing happened: her camera "phoned home."
June 06, 2008
Disgraced Broadcom founder 'spiked tech executives' drinks'Broadcom co-founder Henry T. Nicholas III has been indicted on fraud, conspiracy and drug charges - including allegations he spiked the drinks of technology executives and customer representatives with ecstasy and maintained a warehouse for ecstasy, cocaine and methamphetamine.
The charges were contained in two indictments unsealed by federal authorities.
June 06, 2008
Media: Kordia says hooray to HollywoodThe SOE - which has a key role in running Freeview - has shelved plans for a new Internet Protocol TV service through its internet service provider Orcon.
Orcon chief executive Scott Bartlett was proudly talking about potential for its new IPTV - programming downloaded off the internet - using new faster broadband. He showed it using new Apple TV hardware to get programming from the web from computer on to a TV set.
June 06, 2008
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