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Google is preparing to launch a music download service, according to research firm Caris & Company.  It is rumored that Google has been meeting with leading music executives for “networking opportunities.”  The new site is expected to gain support from the music industry, as iTunes does not offer flexible pricing or a subscription service.  Rumors were also confirmed at a recent analyst meeting where Google highlighted plans to expand into downloadable media.


Read More | Forbes


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Google Romance“Pin All Your Romantic Hopes on Google” - That’s right ladies and gents, Google wants to help you find that special someone (or at least, that regular someone) all for free. Finding your soul mate can be hard work, but everyone knows that Google can find anything you look for, so why not your soul mate? Best of all, searching is a very simple process:

What is Soulmate Search?
Here on the Google Romance team, we follow the philosophy “Don’t be medieval,” so we brought only the latest psychographic and search algorithms to bear on the problem of hooking up our users. First you fill out an extensive personal profile carefully designed by a team of both married and single Google engineers for the express purpose of gathering and analyzing romantic information. Then you fill out an equally obscure and elaborate profile describing various attributes of the person with whom you wish to spend the rest of your life and click ‘Search Romance.’ It’s that simple.

What are you waiting for? Take the tour now! Remember to read the FAQs before committing to any life changing decisions.


Read More | Google Romance


KTF EV-K100

If you have seen the new movie ‘V For Vendetta,’ you would have certainly noticed the futuristic phones that the characters were carrying. KTF Technologies will be marketing the phone in Korea next week.  The company claims the phone is compatible with Verizon and Sprint networks, and a spokesperson for the company told a reporter that it’s not a big deal to convert the phones to work in the US (though we are sure we won’t be seeing it here.)  At the moment, the EV-K100 is the world’s thinnest wireless phone, measuring in at 7.9 millimeters, and 2.1 ounces.  The phone features an internal antenna, built-in 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 player, 165 megabytes of storage, and a 1.8-inch screen.


Read More | PDA Street


Wireless Extension CordsGood Lord!  Is this for real?  ThinkGeek has introduced wireless extension cords, which use microwave technology to beam power (wirelessly) up to three hundred feet.

Just plug the Wireless Extension Cord (WEC) base unit into a standard wall outlet, and plug whatever you need into the satellite unit. The WEC uses microwaves in the 7.2GHz range, so it won’t interfere with wireless networks, Bluetooth components, etc. Now, all you need to do is adjust the antennae on the two units so they are aimed at each other. Turn everything on and you have the power! The distance the WEC units can broadcast differs from situation to situation (due to interference of such things as walls, power lines, and microwave ovens), but we’ve beamed power over 300 feet!

These puppies will run you about $35 at ThinkGeek. Have a good time trying to get through checkout though…


Read More | ThinkGeek


PSP UMDIt’s a shock, we know. As it turns out, those Hollywood movie releases that have been released on UMD over the past year or so? It seems no one is interested in buying them. While we are not sure if this is a surprise to anyone buy Sony, it just makes sense to us that the media would sell poorly. I mean, why would I buy a movie that I can only play on one dedicated device - especially when that device isn’t my television? If Sony was smart about the whole idea, they would have done a bit more planning. If I buy Spider-Man: The Movie, I want the game in there as well. Or vice versa. Otherwise, I am buying the DVD and ripping it to my Memory Stick. Anyways, expect to see Wal-Mart drop shelf space for UMDs altogether very soon. Even better, know that Universal and Paramount Pictures have already stopped UMD production.


Read More | Playfeed


BioPay

Newly released research by Sanford Bernstein analyst Emme Kozloff, found that by using “electronic wallets” companies like Wal-Mart could save big.  By using customer’s fingerprints as a payment method, companies could speed up the checkout process; reduce the potential for fraud and identity theft, and most importantly save money by lowering the transaction fee.  This type of system is already in use by Albertsons, Cub Foods, and Piggly Wiggly.  While this might save time at the checkout, privacy advocates are still very concerned about the process. 


Read More | CNN


iPhone MockupRecently there have been rumors that Apple is planning to release an iPod with phone features, some say within the next few months.  Insiders at cell phone maker BenQ say that Apple executives have begun talking to various Taiwanese manufacturers about supplying parts for a new product.  Apple has not commented on the possibility of an iPod with phone features.  Some market analysts believe that if Apple does go through with its plans for an iPod with phone features, that it will have the biggest impact on Motorola, the leading cell phone maker in the United States.


Read More | SmartHouse


Windows VistaIt came as no surprise to anyone when Microsoft announced that the consumer versions of Windows Vista would be delayed until January 2007.  Following swiftly was news that Microsoft is reshaping its Platforms & Services Division (Windows and Windows Live) by bringing Senior Vice President Steven Sinofsky over from the successful Office Division, where he has worked since 1994.  Steven was picked to bring the misguided division back on track and on schedule.

Today we have more news that Office 2007 will be purposely delayed to coincide with the 2007 launch of Vista, and a disturbing rumor that 60% of the Windows Vista code will need to be rewritten prior to its release.  Luckily, Robert Scoble posted earlier that this rumor was completely false, killing the notion that employees were being pulled from the Xbox division (among others) to help with the rewriting of code.


Read More | Smarthouse (60% code rewrite)
Read More | Microsoft (restructuring details)


Dell AlienwarePure speculation on the part of Rahul Sood (President and CTO of VoodooPC), but he seems to be of the mind that Dell will be beaming Alienware up into the Texas mothership.  A quick blurb from his blog gives us an inkling into his thoughts on the matter.

  1. Dell is not unlike a big bad bear that has been awoken from his hibernation.
  2. Dell knows they need to grow, and they need to be perceived as a leading edge company.
  3. Dell can’t crack the “cool” factor with the Dell brand.
  4. I’m pretty sure if offered a check (cheque for my Canadian/U.K. brothers and sisters) the guys at AW may jump at the chance to cash it.
  5. Dell could take on another brand and grow it as an individual brand separate from Dell – perhaps?

I think it’s easy to agree with number three, and logic dictates they follow number five.  If we believe that Dell can’t “crack the cool factor”, and they were to suck up another company that does have a better gaming/performance image, they would almost have to run it as a separate entity.  If not, they’d risk diluting that which they sought after so desperately.  On the other hand, with the introduction of their quad-SLI rig at CES, Dell certainly stunned the community, certain members of which never would have given Dell the time of day otherwise (and possibly still won’t).

Here’s a question for you - if you don’t buy Dell because they lack “street cred”, but Alienware is appealing to you, what happens if Alienware is owned by Dell?  Is Alienware still worthy, or when you look at their little alien emblem do you picture Dell’s logo emblazoned across it’s head?


Read More | Rahul Sood


Origami Project

We have held off on all the Origami Project speculation, as it has mostly remained a mystery. Earlier today, the image above started circulating around the internets, and it grabbed our attention. Of course, we have no real proof that this is Origami, but if it isn’t, we do hope that it is a real product. The thing just looks amazing. As for what Origami really is, we are not yet sure. However, Scoble is quick to tell us what it is not. Okay, not an iPod/OQO/PSP/Nokia N90/Treo 700w/Palm killer. We are cool with that, but mostly because no matter what Origami turns out to be, it wouldn’t kill any of the aforementioned products. It also isn’t a portable Xbox, which we didn’t even consider, seeing as how new game consoles have a ton of fanfare behind them before ever being shown.

So what is it? If the image is even close to being real, we gather that Origami is a smart way to carry around your digital life. Sure, that will include music and video - but we think that also includes contacts, email, RSS, and email - all wrapped up in wireless mobile broadband. Our bet is that Origami is an extension of your home computing experience, but not a replacement for it.


Read More | Origami Portal


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