TechFlash

Cool new ferry app, Twitter's Retweet explained, and more

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:22:51 GMT

Oh, the Microsoft execs must have loved this: Windows Phone Thoughts has a very Mac-centric (and very funny) photo in this post about Microsoft's behind-closed-doors "Mobius" mobile-technology conference with bloggers and analysts. (Via MacDailyNews)

Report: AT&T, Clearwire among prospective T-Mobile partners

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:17:23 GMT

German newspaper Handelsblatt today identified AT&T, Kirkland-based Clearwire and MetroPCS as potential partners for T-Mobile USA as the Bellevue-based company's parent, Deutsche Telekom, looks to finance a network upgrade for its U.S. subsidary.

NYT's Kristof: Boycott Bing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:30:05 GMT

[UPDATE, 8 p.m.: In a response to Kristof's post Friday evening, Microsoft said it's "committed to comprehensive results" and made it clear that it believes any problems are related to its search technology, not a purposeful attempt to omit controversial content. Microsoft's Adam Sohn cited "some queries that provide very balanced web results," such as a search in Simplified Chinese for "June 4th Tiananmen."

Examining Windows 7's fast start

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:58:23 GMT

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer got lots of attention yesterday when he announced that the company has sold twice as many copies of Windows 7 as it did any previous version of the operating system in its first month. It's "a fantastic start," he told shareholders at the company's annual meeting.

Root Wireless pinpoints funding

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:24:58 GMT

Root Wireless, a Bellevue startup making online maps that show how the four major wireless networks perform in major cities, has raised more than $3 million in new funding, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Video: 2010 tech predictions

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:19:42 GMT

I had the pleasure of moderating the Washington Technology Industry Association's technology predictions dinner on Wednesday night. It was a lively discussion. And at times I just let our panelists -- Bill Bryant, Andy Sack, Glenn Kelman, Greg Gottesman and Kelly Smith -- have at it. My first question certainly prompted a fun debate on the value and revenue potential of Twitter, as you can see in the video below taken by Tim Reha. (The fireworks begin in minute 14).

Barnes & Noble's Nook sells out

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:59:36 GMT

Amazon's Kindle just improved its chances of being the stocking stuffer of choice this holiday season. Barnes & Noble says its new Nook reader, a highly anticipated "Kindle killer," has sold out, and won't be shipping again until Jan. 4. That follows news that Sony's latest e-reader, the Daily Edition, may or may not get to customers in time for the holidays.

Publishing giant McGraw-Hill goes digital in Bothell

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:25:26 GMT

Publishing giant The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. has been quietly building a digital center in Bothell, hoping to tap the Seattle area’s technology talent to develop online education programs for elementary and high school-age students.

RealNetworks in talks to reduce its Rhapsody ownership stake

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:23:09 GMT

RealNetworks and Viacom's MTV Networks are talking about restructuring their Rhapsody joint venture -- aiming to possibly reduce the Seattle company's ownership stake and end its majority control of the music service, according to a regulatory filing.

Pastor Hutcherson's advice to Microsoft on challenging Google

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:36:17 GMT

Google's dominance has perplexed Microsoft executives for years, but it sounds like Pastor Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond has got this whole Internet search thing figured out.

Gist says social networking in Outlook isn't a serious threat

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:53:33 GMT

After hearing about Microsoft's plans to let LinkedIn and other social networks integrate with Microsoft Outlook, one of the first questions that popped to mind was the potential impact on Gist. The service from the Seattle company, backed by Paul Allen, combines email, contacts, calendar items, online links, social-networking feeds and other data.

LOLcats still on top of the heap

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:00:40 GMT

The Cheezburger Network of comedy websites, which includes I Can Has Cheezburger, Fail Blog, and Engrish Funny, kept its hold on the number 1 slot in the Seattle Startup Index for the month of October, followed by Zillow, Picnik, BuddyTV and Wetpaint. The list of web startups, compiled by Marcelo Calbucci, added another 17 companies, and now totals 373.

Predictions 2010: The future of Twitter, Google, everything else

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:04:44 GMT

What should Twitter do in 2010? Where will the stock prices Google, Amazon, and Microsoft end the year? Which companies will be acquired in the next year? And which cloud-computing platform will dominate?

Wal-Mart rejects allegation of 'predatory' book pricing

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:31:47 GMT

Wal-Mart is hitting back against allegations of "predatory pricing" in its book war with Amazon.com and Target. Wal-Mart CEO Raul Vazquez told Bloomberg that the heavy discounting wasn't intended to drive others out of business and is consistent with Wal-Mart's overall retail strategy.

Automatic pancake machine maker stacks up $2 million

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:56:44 GMT

Remember Seattle's latest innovation -- the automatic pancake making machine? Turns out it's more than just a novelty. ChefStack, the company that produces the contraptions, just pulled in $2 million in funding from unidentified local investors to market the product to coffee shops, cafeterias and hotels.

Microsoft pilot aims to bring TV advertisers into Xbox Live

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:16:41 GMT

Microsoft this spring launched "1 v. 100," a prime-time game show for Xbox Live — an effort to combine an interactive video game with live television. Now Microsoft is taking that concept a step further, with a new pilot that aims to interest TV advertisers in this hybrid entertainment.

Shareholders quiz Ballmer about Macs, Windows, mobile phones

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:09:40 GMT

Microsoft's meeting with shareholders this morning was decidedly low-key, with investors overwhelmingly endorsing the company's compensation practices in their first "say on pay" advisory vote.

Diane Irvine on blood diamonds and Blue Nile's biggest sale ever

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:06:37 GMT

Diane Irvine, CEO of Seattle-based online diamond retailer Blue Nile, sat down for a segment on the Wall Street Journal's Talking Tech, and answered reader questions on everything from blood diamonds, how Blue Nile is faring against brick-and-mortar rivals, and her company's biggest diamond sale ever. Video below.

Notes on the future of news

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:15:07 GMT

Classifieds aren’t completely lost as a means of generating revenue for news outlets. Rupert Murdoch’s views on Google News aren’t shared by many others in the news business. A Seattle Times exec says the biggest problem for newspapers is revenue, not readership. Redmond-based msnbc.com is still growing and profitable.

The roar of Tom Burt's Tesla

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:08 GMT

Tech geeks who love cars and video games will get a kick out of this. Microsoft executive Tom Burt -- the proud owner of a Tesla Roadster for the past eight months -- put his new sports car to the test last month "all in the interests of better gaming experiences for the masses." Tough assignment, huh?