technology-groups

Notetaking Tools for Firefox

2011-12-27T22:51:00.000-08:00

Notetaking Tools for Firefox

Evernote’s Clearly Comes To Firefox | TechCrunch
@Sidian Jones
I guess I just don't find web pages hard enough to read to really need this. I do think Evernote is a great company though.
@Jeff Howery
If you are using evernote for reference archiving or want to send specific information to someone, Clearly is useful.
@Vivek Karuturi
This is absolutely brilliant as is the company that made it.
@Vivek Karuturi
Please give us a Chrome extension too in the near future though!
@Andrei Thorp
Vivek Karuturi It's already out! Search for "Evernote Clearly" or "Evernote" in the Chrome Web Store.
@Ronald Toledo
Vivek Karuturi Clearly is already available for Chrome. http://www.evernote.com/about/download/clearly.php
@Jeff Jennings
Great now I can have a TWO gigabyte memory leak.
@Oladele Ayuba
what would Google do? if this catches on wouldn't it dent pay per clicks.
@Yoni Ende
It will b like online tv. They will remove ads and then slowly put them back in slowly in less distracting manner.

Qwiki at TechCrunch Disrupt

2011-12-27T22:45:00.000-08:00

Qwiki at TechCrunch Disrupt
Qwiki Moves Headquarters To NYC, Preps Big Update For 2012 | TechCrunch
@Brad Dwyer
Where were they located before?
@Andrew Cohen
Seriously. Worst ever fact omission from an article.
@Anibal Damiao
and why did they?
@Kara Smith
Sf
@Yishan Wong
Brilliant commentary, as always.
@Peter J. Sullivan III
NYC continues to get hotter and hotter.
@Max Woolf
Not true. It's like 32 degrees over there.
@Peter J. Sullivan III
actually its above freezing :) but come on... you need to have better material than that...
@Max Woolf
I do, but it's much more risky. Commenting humor is a weighing of risk/return. It's much more complicated that people give it credit for.
@Rachel Sterne
Congrats Doug and Team Qwiki, we are thrilled to welcome you to NYC.
@Panggah Tikus-tikus Makan'kakus
Like back
@Ø§ØÙØ¯ Ø¹Ø¨Ø¯ Ø§ÙØ¹ÙÙÙ
yes
@Simon Applebaum
First saw Qwiki at the initial TV of Tomorrow Show last December in NYC. Was clear this could be a wonderful interactive TV service, as good for the TV set as on the Web or mobile. Now that we have every TV set maker doing connected/smart TV and cable/DBS operators providing ITV in some flavor, time for Qwiki to jump into mass greatness via TV.
@Anik Doht
The update needs to have a less robotic voice and options in the settings to be able to pick different accents and languages (maybe even someone who can do a phone sex voice). I typed in a lot of topics that weren't available, so they need more coverage. Qwiki is neat, but I can't figure out who would use this instead of just checking wikipedia or doing a google search. The only big benefit I can see would be young learners who need more interactive learning. If anyone older uses Qwiki regularly, please tell me why you use it.

Open Home Pro for the iPad Demo Video

2011-12-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

Open Home Pro for the iPad Demo Video
Open Home Pro Helps Realtors Sell Homes Via Their iPads | TechCrunch
@David Ng
congrats to Andrew Machado on Open Home Pro launch!
@Nikki Beauchamp
Terrific! Congrats Andrew Machado and Open Home Pro on your launch!
@Ben Koo
way too many apps are centered around being "cool" or "fun" but OHP is aimed directly at solving a problem and adding value to professionals in a very competitive field. These guys shouldn't have any problem finding funding. Product is very robust for an early stage company.
@David Fung
Congrats my man. Best of luck to you Andrew Machado.
@Micah Baldwin
Congrats to Andrew and the team! I know how hard they have worked on this project and its exciting to see it come to life!
@Sumit Gupta
I'm with Ben Koo, this is an app that actually will streamline an existing business cleanly. Instead of disrupting a market and requiring major shifts in all the relevant players, it just makes all their lives easier. Can't wait to go to my next open house and sign in on OHP.
@Bruce Robert Abbott
This app solves a need in an industry where solutions are clunky and mostly out-of-date. There are many industries where simple, useful app experiences can help professionals be a little more efficient in their daily work (pilots, doctors, sales reps, etc.), especially on a tablet interface. Looking forward to seeing this evolve.
@Harold Blakez
If you move and sell the home before you have recouped the costs, you won't end up receiving a financial benefit from refinancing. Use our refinance calculator to help you decide. Check out 123 Refinance calculator to find your refi rates in seconds.
@Chris Smith
As someone who covers real estate and the technologies within the space daily I can tell you open home pro solves a big problem for Realtors. The small difference between data entry on an iPad and handwritten has led to exponentially better lead conversion for 1,000's of agents around the country. Props for that Andrew Machado.
@Jimmy Mackin
Echoing what others have already said - It's great to see a product that solves a real problem, not just a cool app. Kudos to the OHP team for shipping an awesome product!
@Matt Wilkins
Really liking the most recent update to the app
@Jimmy Mackin
@[1007881887:2048:Matt Wilkins] -@[554908160:2048:Andrew] and his team clearly put a lot of thought and effort into this latest version.

Swype keyboard on the Nokia N8

2011-12-27T02:27:00.000-08:00

Swype keyboard on the Nokia N8

Swype Learns To Listen Better, Type More Accurately | TechCrunch
@Travis M Knight
Oops. We Swyped too soon. BETA DELAYED BECAUSE: a) We forgot to buy vowels. b) Our beta build server crashed. c) Upper management kept accelerating the beta schedule. d) All of above!#@$!&.
@Jonathon Chambers
I just saw that and was like Dam* I love the swype keyboard and wanted the update.
@Ashwan Lewis
Jonathon Chambers If you already have it on your phone, long press the "Swype button" on the keyboard anywhere and that will take you into the Swype options. You should be able to then download and install the update from the menu there.
@Jonathon Chambers
Ashwan Lewis I recently did a factory reset on my phone so I am in the process of getting apps back.
@Justin Melville
So now I will end up with "...decided McDonald's" instead of "...sexual McDonald's", score.
@Jordan Rackie
I recently changed from Droid to iPhone, and the one thing I really miss is Swype... Anyone know if/when it's coming to Apple products?
@Billy Upchurch
In May 2012
@Cameron Murphy
Never because apple is a locked ecosystem that abhors anything that is even available on android. You're not allowed to mention an android version in your app anywhere or they pull it.
@Jordan Rackie
Cameron Murphy - Well then the brand Swype aside, I'm just looking for the same feature and effectiveness. Don't care if it's brand is Swype.
@Cameron Murphy
Jordan Rackie As far as I know there are no other keyboard options on iOS other than what apple gives you. If you jailbreak there might be, but I ditched iOS for everything but development back when apple decided that the 3GS wasn't allowed to have mobile me tracking for no reason other than to make a profit on the iphone 4.
@Chewayne D. Harrod Jr.
Cameron Murphy THATS NOT TRUE........you have to make the app avalible IOS first, then make a crappy verison on Android
@Keith Philliban
my friend already has Swype on his iPhone, his is jailbroken so may be why he is able to have it. so it is possible if you like that kinda thing
@David Vo
Jordan Rackie I don't think you understand what Cameron is saying. You will NEVER get Swype or any alternate keyboard on the iPhone because it's a locked ecosystem. Cameron was not trying to be facetious.
@Blue Moon
I hope you will be able to get the build sans Dragon.
@Anik Doht
This is the first time I've heard of Swype and I can't believe this thing would work accurately, but if it really does, I'm sold.
@Keith Philliban
swype is pretty goodl, i had it on my X10 but never gave it a chance. it was already installed in my galaxy s2 and i made more use of it, just takes a little getting used to and the version i'm on isnt always great at picking the word you want so i'm keen to try out this newer version and see how much its improved
@Dave Almaguer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAYi5k2AjjQ
@Ann Irons
I'll say it.. I just love the way the thumb explodes at the end. Cute stuff.
@Jeff Whetstone
I have the beta version on my HTC Vivid, and it works great, and I have big fingers.I like the auto space feature.
@Adrian Gibbs
dammit, the screen size is not supported using my galaxy nexus... not cool bro not cool.
@Joe Braidwood
I'm biased, but context is something SwiftKey's been doing far better since it launched. If you want to see what typing in a personal way is truly like, check it out.

Crackdown on Microblogs Targets More than Vulgarity: Chinese Dissidents

2011-12-27T02:22:00.000-08:00

Crackdown on Microblogs Targets More than Vulgarity: Chinese Dissidents
ComScore’s 2011 Social Report: Facebook Leading, Microblogging Growing, World Connecting | TechCrunch
@Odile Beniflah
Fascinating and very clearly presented: thank you!
@worldbeat media
Useful insights - thanks for the clarity!
@Askur Koras
My friend's sister makes $85 every hour on the laptop. She has been fired from work for 9 months but last month her income was $7997 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Go to this web site and read more...MakeCash18.com.
@Seth Maxwell
Pretty crazy to think almost as many people are surfing facebook (and other social media) as they are the Internet in general...what they're not telling us is productivity at the workplace is probably dropping in direct proportion to the rise in social media surfing. Take me for example... j/k :)
@Rajit Khadgi
yeap .. productivity has highly dropped i think .. hmmm see it's exam time and i'm fbing :(
@Isaac O'Leary
HA! Funny you say that - There's actually studies that have shown as a whole, for every hour people spend on social media at work, 2 hours is spent at home doing work! Interesting ey - of course it depends on what industry you're in though!
@Constantine Antonakos
Numbers show we are social creatures! Or we just have a lot of time on our hands to spend online... ;)
@Dave Nattriss
Be careful not to compare 'users' with active users (daily or monthly). G+'s 65 MM sounds impressive but the majority tried it and rarely/never go back. Given how many users Google has overall, or even who use Gmail, it's not that big a number. Twitter has over 100 MM monthly active users now (Facebook is over 800 MM) - I suspect G+ is around 10 MM.
@Eric Rosser Eldon
This is all monthly uniques based on comScore's numbers. At least that's my read.
@Dave Nattriss
Eric Rosser Eldon - ah, so that means registered users who access sites from different machines/locations (mobile/work/home) can easily be double/triple counted?
@Eric Rosser Eldon
Dave Nattriss You should definitely take a closer look at comScore's methodology.
@Dave Nattriss
Eric Rosser Eldon - I did, thanks :-)
@Jack Hernandez
pretty awesome to see this and that people are using social media networking pages such as http://www.acade.me.
@Jeff Panikar
Nice way to spam!
@David Perlmutter
Incredible insights - 82% of all Internet users are on social networks [read=Facebook].
@Matt Varga
Shows how addicting it has become. Considering the average American spends 8 hours a day in front of some screen.
@Peter Austin
No they aren't. You wouldn't say that 82% of Internet users were on drugs, if the truth was merely that they had used one drug, at least once in the past.
@Nars Samuy
Philippines users avg 8.7 hrs/month..crazy.
@Alfons Boltjes
What about close relations, people taking care, safety is always and only yours, privacy settings, long lasting, for ever, without all former faults, mistakes etc....
@Manish Sharma
Ever since Tech Crunch has faced an exodus of people. Its not the same place - an unscientific study shows that engagement level has fallen dramatically. Wonder what they are doing about it.
@Yvan Morkovic
What's happening with Japan? Only 58%. Is society so fundamentally different or what? I can understand China's 53% - it's internet usage directly or indirectly shaped by tight government regulation's and because of that numbers incomparable to others. But Japan puzzles me.
@Manu Singhal
highly inflated figures.. wrong data ,, definitely for India.....
@Patrick Wagner
5-7 years back many people thought the Internet was slowing down especially when it comes to quality content & what else could be said. Content has become smaller and smaller allowing more people to share their content with and all from their Smartphone. Mobile browsing is push the content creation tsunami currently happening.
@Ryan Swearingen
Does anyone know if this data includes interaction with SM from OTHER sites via Like/Share buttons, etc? At this point, I'm not sure social and non-social internet usage can cleanly be separated anymore. It's nearly ALL social now. Even reading reviews on Amazon could be considered interacting socially, no?

SXSW 2011: Samsung TV integration with Android apps

2011-12-27T02:21:00.000-08:00

SXSW 2011: Samsung TV integration with Android apps

Samsung Teases Android-Controlled Smart TVs For CES 2012 | TechCrunch
@Tom Brander
Sure hope they will update the "Smart TV " I just purchased this month to G TV the current Smart TV is just about unusable..
@Pablo Lillia
Finally something "smart" :) I always use my Android smartphone with XBMC (and Linux HTPC). I love it. And it's free xD.
@Nick Fleker Felker
I'm glad they're getting rid of the glasses. Those 3d glasses looked really strange. Smart TVs are the future, for now.

Intel's Medfield Based Android Smartphone Reference Design

2011-12-27T02:14:00.000-08:00

Intel's Medfield Based Android Smartphone Reference Design

Intel Shows Off Smartphone Reference Design, Claims Performance Gains Over ARM | TechCrunch
@Ryan Seibert
That looks exactly like the iPhone 4/S. Set your egg timers, I can already see the Apple Lawyers feverishly writing cease and desist papers.
@Robin Ashe
The screen isn't centred.
@Jonathon Chambers
Robin Ashe If this device becomes popular enough, it won't matter to apple they will sue anyways. Apple sues any competition.
@Mohammad Farhan Husain
Jonathon Chambers I thought that is particularly true for Microsoft. They scared Android handset makers with lawsuits and now earn more money from Android sales than its own Windows Phone 7.
@Robin Ashe
Mohammad Farhan Husain The difference between Apple and Microsoft is Microsoft doesn't stop other companies from operating and selling. Apple tries to make sure they're the only game in town.
@Ahmed 'Kush' Karam
Did you think that perhaps, Intel would be powering the new iPhone 5? That's a thought. Apple and Intel are not competitors more than they are partners.
@Nick Fleker Felker
Ahmed 'Kush' Karam I think Apple makes their own chips and will continue to do so indefinitely.
@Robin Ashe
Nick Fleker Felker Samsung makes the chips for Apple.
@Nick Fleker Felker
Robin Ashe you're right. What I meant was that Apple designs them. Samsung just manufactures the chips.
@Alvin A. Smith
I bet this phone has a fan in it.
@Alex Reimers
Intel's process CAN allow them to achieve higher performance per watt than any of these ARM companies. They just until recently have set their mind to do it. I imagine what they have done is cut out a lot of unused instructions therefore reducing it's total footprint. Combine that with some of the power management techniques that are available in desktop computers and you have a really powerful solution. At this point the only people that could possibly rival them is Apple with their ARM SoCs. Apple has made extremely good use of chip real estate (read: power consumption) by removing unnecessary things in order to optimize it for the iDevice's hardware. But this begs the question, should Apple bother anymore? If Apple and Intel teamed up together to make a custom SoC solution for the iDevices they could destroy the competition.
@Adham Kurush Shaazi
Alex Reimers "..allow them to achieve higher performance per watt than any of these ARM companies.." - that is a possibility, but not a a certainty. ARM is not standing still either. They are innovating and improving just as Intel is. Just because a company like Intel set its mind to be the best doesn't mean it will. But more competition is good for the consumer. Bring it on, Intel.
@Alex Reimers
Adham Kurush Shaazi - I disagree. ARM is a fabless semiconductor company. They don't actually make any chips themselves, they just license the architecture and the reference design to other companies which actually fab the chips (Samsung, Broadcom, Marvell, etc). Intel's process is way ahead of any of these companies. Case in point is that Intel has their tri-gate transistor and will fab in a 22 nm process before any of these companies can. This is why they can outpace any competition if they set their mind to it. The challenge for them will be keeping the right set of instructions/features that are available in the laptop/desktop/server processors in order not to break existing software. This is why Android is so lucrative for them in the mobile market. For Android to work perfectly all they need to ensure is that Dalvik (the Android JVM) works and they have full compatibility. ARM processors will now have to compete on price as Intel will command a higher price because this is a new market for them.
@Adham Kurush Shaazi
Alex Reimers You are disagreeing in that you are saying that Intel's future dominance in this segment is not a possibility, but a certainty? Wow...
@Eric Imasogie
without an insanely great OS you cant beat Apple. Apple is the greatest tech company ever and its only going to get better. Everyone might as well wave their white flags, but I guess it pays to be #2 or #3. ehh....oh well.
@Adewale Jay-jay Taiwo
Apples os isn't great! It's just simple. Even 5 year older can develope apps. I mean nothing is wrong with simple. Tell you the truth simple is great. The reason I even hate is that a 5 year old can fully interact with a device that a tech expect would use. I mean I learned for years just to barely understand stuff I just hate that I wasted all my time specializing around tech when apple simplifies every aspect of it to a point where many specialist are No longer needed.
@Eric Imasogie
lol! JJ you sound like a hater lol!
@Adewale Jay-jay Taiwo
@[37526818:2048:Eric Imasogie] I said I was one like 20 times! Don't you get it thats why engineers hate because we were always in control when it came to technology. Now anyone can do almost anything we can. (apps like icircuit can turn the average man into a household electrician) I dont hate the product I hate how powerful and versatile it is! I hate how its so productive yet only one company is benefiting from it. The best things in life are free (internet, Facebook, sex, food) or worth little work! Apple is taking all that should be open source and free and taxing the shyt outta consumers!
@Nick Fleker Felker
Adewale Jay-jay Taiwo I disagree that Apple makes everything easier. Apple makes many tech things easier, like buying music, or downloading applications. However, if you want to do something different, you'll still need some technical knowledge.
@Adewale Jay-jay Taiwo
Nick Fleker Felker oh yes I understand that have thousands of outstanding engineers working under them. They simplify things for non-technical people cutting out what would've have been the middle man. No one takes piano lessons because theres an app for that. No one goes out and buys things when they can get them right in front of them. Thats not even my issue. My issue is that they do all these things just to capitalize on people. I personally dont like the way the do business I love everything the create!
@Narayan Babu
Something tells me, this is going to be huge!
@Simon Broenner
While I highly doubt that this is true, I sure hope it is. Just imagine a full-blown Windows device with this, along with something similar to Motorola's lapdock and a dock for your desktop. Full desktop Windows interface when you're docked (or if you manually select it for running certain non-Metro apps undocked), and Metro when you're out and about... no more syncing data or relying completely on the cloud - just always have your main computer in your pocket. I love my Thinkpads and all, but try as I might, they just won't fit in my pants pockets :(
@Peter Austin
Battery life?
@Michael Widrick
Is Intel even aware that Apple is a customer and they are actually growing share? I mean, seriously, why don't they just post a youtube of Otellini pissing on Jobs' grave?
@Andy Luchuan Liu
Why don't they replace those 4 hardware buttons with the 3 navigation buttons like honeycomb and ics?

AOL Shares Rose 7% After Reports About Likely Sale to Yahoo

2011-12-27T02:11:00.000-08:00

AOL Shares Rose 7% After Reports About Likely Sale to Yahoo

Aol Shareholders Freak Out Over Exec Departures — As They Should | TechCrunch
@Marius Schulze
Ego kills success. It happens everywhere!
@Ferris Salameh
they don't deserve you, Alexia.
@Hua Zhong
Is this a resignation letter?
@Rick Rodriguez
More like a "i don't want to resign but I will if you jack asses don't get it together" letter.
@Dirk de Kok
when in doubt, quit.
@Sardar Mohkim Khan
i wonder if she would actually quit. That doubt is just to help her write "one more article", that's about it.
@Dirk de Kok
ha, let's see!
@Abid Azam
Sounds like a good short.
@Joe Harper
You rock. Are you going to gut a bass atop a pile of T.P.S. reports in your cubicle tomorrow? I hope things work out for you. Life is too short. Say what you feel. Always.
@Steve Parent
*waits for Michael Arrington's witty reply* - It's sad. I would love to see Mike take his money, or hell even go for an investment round and rehire every single one of you for uncrunched. Can you imagine AOL? In twelve months it would be the most exciting tech blog all over again. Instead, we have TC which..... well... great post.
@Daniel Velmon Lynch
if you can write like this about your company without getting fired you should stay...when's the last time you saw a scathing newscorp story at wsj?
@Abiel Abuy
Like reading Paul Carrs work... with less F word!! :)
@Alexia Tsotsis
I agree. Will keep you guys posted.
@Nallai Wickreman
AOL Investor Arrington, ha ha ha
@Peter Austin
Alexia Tsotsis I've just been in a similar position, after an unsuccessful take-over (my business continued growing for a while, until it was "integrated"). It's clear that AOL's ownership of TechCrunch is destroying value, due to a clash of business models. Probably the other titles too. The only realistic solution is for AOL to demerge its media titles voluntarily, before this happens anyway because key people leave and start-up elsewhere. The problem is, this requires core AOL management to admit their strategy has been a mistake, which will be really bad career-wise, so it's not going to happen until things get *really* bad - losses of Â£100 millions. Rationally, they should restructure and run the original core business as a hugely-profitable cash cow, but they won't. Your advice will be ignored, but also they can't afford to sack you unless you do something really stupid - e.g. something Paul Carr would do - so stick around until something better comes up.
@Blue Moon
Alexia Tsotsis You belong at the Verge
@Seyi Taylor
Let's see how long she stays. I've already placed my bets.
@Avery D'Alessandro
Hire Max Woolf. He's the answer.
@Max Woolf
Max Woolf's 3 Step Plan To Fixing AOL: Step 1: Teach AOL executives that increase in Revenue = Good. Step 2: Teach AOL executives that increase in Losses = Bad. Step 3: Fire Arianna Huffington. It's a guaranteed success!
@George Daskalakis
Max, it looks like Arianna is going back to her roots and doing what modern Greeks in power do best, destroying value and driving away talent through crippling bureaucracy and politics.
@Dom Anthony Narducci
Max Woolf 1 and 2 might be substantially easier if 3 happens first.
@Max Woolf
Dom Anthony Narducci True, but it would be much more dramatic! She will be all "WTF WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS, I'M ARIANNA FUCKING HUFFINGTON, BITCH! I BUILT A FUCKING BLOG FROM THE GROUND UP! AND I CAN....wait are you firing me? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS. YOU ARE ALL MORONS!"
@Randy Stuck
Max Woolf All you have to say back is, You built a blog founded on stealing other's content... big deal...
@Craig Kanalley
Thank you for posting this, Alexia. I recently moved on myself. I really enjoyed my two years with the Huffington Post, have nothing but good to say of Arianna and HuffPost personally. Amazing experience and talented people. But AOL has some serious problems and it's sad to see the talent exodus that's taken place. First step to solving problems is to acknowledge them, and it's kind of shocking to see AOL hasn't. To the contrary, as you say... this statement that everything is fine, which it's not. People who work there aren't stupid.
@Luca Falda
Craig, I just read "I have nothing good to say of Arianna" and has a split-second stroke :-) Coming from you!
@Oye Aborishade
Techcrunch is falling apart slowly ahhhhhhh!
@Brian S. Hall
Another TechCrunch post about...TechCrunch. Lot easier I guess than going out and actually breaking news. Oh, and new rule. You can only hit up Arrington for a job once per blog post. Kthx.
@Jim Shaw
I agree. The quality of articles has gone downhill since Arrington left. I come to TechCrunch for the witty writing, not just tech news. Without the personalities, TC would be a lower quality Engadget.
@Karthik Bhoopathi
In the recent management departures from the link. http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-damning-letter-a-massive-aol-shareholder-just-sent-tim-armstrong-2011-12?op=1 why do all the people announced leaving on11th of the month?
@Craig Kanalley
It's 2011... they're all leaving in 2011.
@Michael Mitchell
You are the worst writer/journalist in the UNIVERSE. You don't don't need to capitalize after a semi colon--"iâm concerned; From what"--but, punctuation aside, you're just a bad writer. You say "four of these people are the smartest blah blah" but you don't say which 4 and since you had mentioned 5 or 6 people, the reader is left to wonder what the hell you're talking about and why.
@Alexia Tsotsis
It's meant to be a mystery -- five of those people I know, four I think are brilliant.
@Alice Bradshaw
Alexia Tsotsis But you're a total idiot, how would you even have the mental tools to judge who is brilliant in the first place? Still remember how you got bored over a 3+ Billion enterprise acquisition just a few weeks ago.
@Subhasish Ghosh
alexia was never hired as a writer... more as an eye-candy i guess... lololzzz.. she damn cant write, must agree!
@Robert Boyle
Why in the world would the three of you take time out of your day to write about how someone is the "worst" "idiot" "eye-candy"? This; makes me... sad For you. (intentionally ironic punctuation)
@Subhasish Ghosh
Robert Boyle thanks dude... for being sad... everyone cant be darn happy... some losers needs to be sad as well... looks like we got ourselves a winner here!
@Rick Rodriguez
Wow you guys are assholes. That is all.
@Alexia Tsotsis
Alice Bradshaw @subhasish Ghosh "Total idiot," "eye candy." Amazing.
@Subhasish Ghosh
Rick Rodriguez rick, "you guys" includes you as well, eh?
@Subhasish Ghosh
Alice Bradshaw alice... damn... u ought to work at TC... am sure by the way u look (abs gorgeous), u will get million page views in a month... am sure Alexia wud kill u for that anyways... kidding!
@Max Woolf
Subhasish Ghosh Please don't hit on blog commenters.
@Thomas Vellaringattu
It looks like Alexia has a new job in hand. Michael Arrington wrote such an article before he got booted. Good luck Alexia.
@Seth Eheart
as many will tell you Alexia... get while the gettings good.
@Vanessa Camones
great post Alexia. what a shit show.
@Carlos Nieto
Ugly.
@Philip Lindblom
I think AOL has become an under-stimulated company, in need of challenges to direct the focus towards something everyone is involved with and a part of...This power struggle, badmouthing and clowning around is a clear sign of restlessness and lack of better things to do...
@Sardar Mohkim Khan
It is so surprising to note how politicized AOL actually sounds ad functions. While it is good to read about concerns, etc, it just shows how inefficient AOL is actually turning into. $15 Million in revenue and yet you can't prevent your Star from leaving (or actually forcing him to leave) is pointless.
@Seth Eheart
But seriously... AOL needs some SERIOUS re-branding. Name and logo change and completely change its business. I hear AOL and I think of those CD's I got back in the day. I would kill off 75% of the company projects and start fresh. Go after Google in search or something. They need to be bold. If not, they will always stay the punchline of every joke.
@Shomari Ewing
"The only question left to ask now is, Who's coming with me?"
@Abiel Abuy
AOL is actually accepting suggestions on how to save the company, just send in your suggestion at stevecase@aol.com! :)
@Michael Birch
Did someone call my name?
@Alexia Tsotsis
This made my day.
@Victor Osaretinvbeniyaghagha Asemota II
Wow!
@Shabooty Bieber
AOHELL2k12, anyone?
@Ashley Hawkins
I'm not going to say I'm sad this is happening to AOL, because they've had it coming to them for quite a while now, only they've been ignorant of it. What with Huffington and this whole TechCrunch drama, AOL's definitely lost more talent in a shorter time than it's gained talent.
@Anders Bach Waagstein
Will Tech self-destruct in 2012?
@Anders Bach Waagstein
*TechCrunch
@Habibullah Khan
Sir. I am not going to underestimate the size of balls needed to write a post as open and frank as this about the company that owns you. R.E.S.P.E.C.T
@Dave Paisley
RESPECT, but not much in the checking the byline...
@Ariel Adams
Alexia, Really, congrats to the courage it took to write this. I was an Aol casualty. I was one of the main writers for Luxist. A great website at the top of its niche that Aol shutdown because this simply didn't know how to handle it. The writing on the wall of how Aol mismanages its acquisitions has been around for 10 years at least. The company is full of strong by unqualified egos (not entirely, but more and more the fact), and routinely buys, eats, and spits out otherwise good assets. Keep us in the loop.
@Flynn Like
are you still around? confirms the complete lack of talent in tc nowdays...
@Andrew James Villarose
Bye Arianna!
@Jason Vicinanza
When all the best talent leaves it's clearly a sign that it's time to go.
@CiarÃ¡n Norris
You lost me when you claimed that Arrington & Carr leaving were signs that disaster is imminent. Disaster may well be imminent (probably is in fact), but it's not & won't be because either of those two amazing self-publicists decided to take their skills, and egos, elsewhere. AoL isn't screwed because people like those left, it's screwed because it's been paying way too much for businesses like Techcrunch and Huff Post, and can't monetise them sufficiently to make up for it. That and the fact the subscription business is dying.
@Felix Sulla
I agree. AOL has been AOL a long time before Arrington sold out. He may have made some money but his former colleagues are all f*cked.
@Christopher Westfall
Quick question: Why don't you just quit?
@Chuck Van Court
And your goal for this article is what exactly?
@Kirk Goodwin
Alexia, You should move on as from the writing of this story, you are part of the problem. If you are writing this publicly, then you are most likely also poisoning the coffee in the lunch room conversations. You obviously do not buy into the leadership of your employer for whatever or possibly many reasons. You need to stop drawing a paycheck immediately and move on. Don't play it safe! Give yourself a Christmas gift and rid yourself of your unhappiness called your job. Launch out - show the world how a media company should be run rather than griping about the one that is putting food on your table. I wish you well on your new endeavor and look forward to your future success.
@Blue Moon
That coffee was poisoned a long time ago
@Adrian Esquivel
Feels like I read more about what's going on at AOL/TechCrunch than actual tech...when's the book/movie going to come out?
@Akemi Sue Williams
I read TechCrunch every morning! Total nerd I know!
@Ivan Mladenovic
Techmeme.com you will never read anything else
@Chuck Van Court
Clearly Alexia is not a happy camper. She is also a spoiled brat who thinks she "breaks hearts" and has no accountability to her readers for the quality of her work. Question her work and she just tell you to stop reading. Ironically, this little "piss on AOL" article will probably give her some time since AOL now has to be considerate of the message they would send by letting her go for just doing what any good writer does when they write what they believe to be true. Nice maneuver Alexia to buy some time!

Netflix vs. Blockbuster Online - Which is Better?

2011-12-27T02:08:00.000-08:00

Netflix vs. Blockbuster Online - Which is Better?

Citi Survey: 27 Percent Watch Netflix Online Versus 15 Percent For Hulu | TechCrunch
@John Luetke
I saw the price hike as unjustified, and told myself that I was going to give Netflix 6 months to do something big or lose me as a customer. With 2 months to go, they have already revived the greatest show ever, and grown there streaming to include more modern videos. Am I extremely satisfied? Not yet. DVD offerings haven't expanded to new releases (mostly due to litigation), and whatever happened to them offering console games, which was a promise of Qwikster? Based on what they've done, will I be dropping them at the 6 month mark? No. I might extend the deadline a bit, but they've proven to me that dispute there missteps, they are still committed to their customers.
@Julian Hugh
With so much success with the Kindle Fire, I wouldn't be surprise by next year Amazon will surpassed both. I still love Netflix though and still watching great shows on there.
@Paul Silverstein
I've been with Netflix for many, many years and have not flinched when they raised their prices. It is a good service and it still beats any other way to get physical discs to your house. When I crunch the numbers, I am paying about $2.00 a blu-ray disc, sometimes less depending if I watch the disc that day and return the next day. And while I can get a redbox for less, the boxes often don't have the disc I want and is not always convenient gas-wise. It also smears Vudu cost-wise.
@Earvin Rahming
I think the price hike was justified. It was a way to combat those who were sharing Netflix accounts. It's a shame that the majority had to suffer on account of the few, but this is America so....
@Martin Nahuel Rabaglia
and...http://www.cuevana.tv?
@David Francoeur
They need more titles, that's it. Other than that current platform are good and reliable to use.
@Don Ouchy
Netflix has more offerings than Hulu so its stands to reason they get more traffic. I am interesting in is what companies fold into the âotherâ category. Most notable YouTube â are they in the âotherâ category or do they not even register for long form content viewing?
@Jackson Calame
Lost my business. One classic show won't capture my attention. I'm sure Netflix will make things better, but I'm not going to pay for something that doesn't exist. You just can't raise prices in America without adding something new or more. You have to bite the bullet. Maybe it would have sunk the ship, in which case I may have made the same mood. But I'm sure they expected to lose a lot of business. I just so happen to have 4 redbox locations in EVERY direction of my house so it's too bad for them. And I'm wasting less time on movies! Woo hoo! I can waste a little time on TechCrunch!

Makara's Approach to Cloud Application Management

2011-12-27T02:07:00.000-08:00

Makara's Approach to Cloud Application Management

Cloudability Raises $1.1M To Help Businesses Manage And Monitor Cloud Costs | TechCrunch
@Just Merrick
Congrats to Mat, J.r. and Jon! Very proud to be on the round. Go Portland!
@Jeff Cutler-Stamm
Congrats to our friends at Cloudability! Another great Portland startup on the scene.
@Mat Ellis
Props to AngelList, Portland Incubator Experiment and Just Merrick. We would have done a very different round without them.
@Scott Ling
Congratz Guys
@Aaron Parecki
Congrats guys!
@Brad Heller
Nice work guys! It's been really fun to watch you guys ramp up.
@Misha Logvinov
Congrats Mat & team.

Making Waves: Google Cloud Innovation (Google Atmosphere Session 6)

2011-12-27T02:05:00.000-08:00

Making Waves: Google Cloud Innovation (Google Atmosphere Session 6)
Amazon Stops Hiding Competitors’ E-Reading Apps On The Kindle Fire | TechCrunch
@Leslie Tita
Your article was really pleasant to read, you make valid arguments and great counter arguments, MG Siegler should learn a tip or two from you.
@Tou Karl
Amazon, welcome to Apple world. How does it feel now that you are sporting a similar show?
@Kristjan Kanarik
Amazon, just make better apps and make more/better/cheaper books available and people will not go to those other apps. Simple as that.
@Ken Schoenberg
I believe Amazon is going through a process on each app to make sure it is compatible with the Kindle. Similar to Apple's App store. That the process might have taken less than a month for some apps isn't inconceivable.How many months was it before Apple released Opera for the iPad? As for the re-directing of the Android Market. They should have said what they were doing and explained through a pop-up the problem. While I understand that I can't use the Android Market there are still reasons to go there such as sending apps to other Android devices. Unlike Apple allows apps to be installed from many other sources without any form of hacking/jailbreaking necessary. There are also other app stores that can be installed on the Kindle Fire like GetJar. It's also nice that Amazon allowed Adobe Flash to run thus supporting hundreds of thousands of websites that Apple chose to basically block. I'd say Amazon has done a very good job in the support area, including the release of the patch this week which fixed and improved performance dramatically. Apple made me wait seven months to get a fix for the horrid WiFi issue on the iPad. I guess it's time for the torch and pitchfork crew to find some other small issue to highlight.
@Robin Wauters
No, the apps were already approved by Amazon, and worked on Android tablets (including the Kindle Fire) just fine. The problem was that they weren't listed on the Fire. Again, for whatever reason (I asked Amazon but haven't heard back yet).
@John Gelroth
I guess we should all thank Wattpad for talking to Amazon and reminding them that competition is good, and that Google's Android platform was built to address that issue of Apple's closed market.
@Sean McGee
Still cant find Kobo app on Kindle Fire... Wattpad works, but Kobo doesn't.
@Robin Wauters
Thanks, see update.
@Reto Perdida de Peso
Still no app.
@Kevin Zweier
Sideloading Kobo app does not work either. The Kindle Fire allows you to install it, but not open or use the app.
@Ade Molajo
Yeah because Amazon made the fire so that it could be an open and competive eco-system. Sarcasm aside, third party readers e.g. alkido etc are a black cloud on the publishing industry. There are a lot of premium, newly released books swimming around on piratebay... I'm not a SOPA supporter but its not good for the stakeholders.

Best iPhone App For Submitting Photos - Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa and More!

2011-12-26T05:15:00.000-08:00

Best iPhone App For Submitting Photos - Facebook, Flickr, Photobucket, Picasa and More!

Flickr Updates Its iPhone App, But Where’s Flickr For iPad? | TechCrunch
@Max Woolf
High-resolution display is irrelevant when the iPad has a 1.3MP front-camera.
@Thomas Weisbach
The point, in this case, would be the browsing of photos on Flickr, not viewing pictures taken with the iPad camera.
@Tyson Call
I am absolutely amazed that their new app doesn't support notification center. Right now I get an email every time a photo is faved or commented on, because that is the only form of notification that is offered. I thought for sure they would add this in the next update since they don't update it very often. The only thing keeping me on Flickr instead of 500px is the users. Flickr's service was awesome in 2008 when I signed up, but has remained almost exactly the same, not adapting to changes in tech, and thus has slowly degraded in relation to what it could be.
@Zajaath Abdurraheem
It is................
@Shane O Sullivan
Just pick up a TouchPad and download Flickr Mundo HD. Best Flickr tablet app out there!
@Chester Bullock
They stopped innovating when Yahoo bought them. As a user, it has been quite disappointing to watch.
@Lascan Emy
Hello friends, I guess that everybody want an iPad 2, as I wanted, and I want to announce that I have found a method by which you will receive a free ipad2. All you have to do to enjoy this super gadget is to fill in your real data. Just so. You do not have to give bank account or credit card data, only your personal information, and soon you will receive a free ipad2. All you have to do is to go on free-us-ipad.com and fill the form with your data in order to get a free ipad2.It is that simple? don`t believe me? what do you have to lose? Just fill in your real data and soon you will enjoy your free ipad2. I'm telling you this because I have nothing to lose, I just want to help others. Think about it, you can lose max 2 minutes, but think what you get a ipad, so what do you say, does it worth?
@Vladislav Rakov
Apps are what is needed to make your smartphone smart and unique.Im fond of app creating and find it really helpful to use site like snappii.com where I can build apps in minutes.
@Ernest Millan
In the meantime, until there's an official iPad app, I highly recommend giving the free Photo Carousel by Tap-It Labs a try. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photo-carousel/id408793073?mt=8

Blind Guardian: Wacken 2011 (6) Imaginations From The Other Side

2011-12-26T05:14:00.000-08:00

Blind Guardian: Wacken 2011 (6) Imaginations From The Other Side
The Other Side Of Open | TechCrunch
@Andrew Mager
I think Amazon has done a way better job than Google marketing Android.
@Michael C Butler
Technically they're not marketing Android, they're marketing their system of content and apps. Much like what Apple does.
@Carlos Solis
agreed, maybe that's why they're having such a success
@Peach Collar
Hell, Ive done a better job marketing android to my friends and colleagues than Google does to the public.
@Conrad Barrett
@[116101705124404:274:Peach Collar] and look how big it is - 500k activations a day.
@Mahmoud Hossam
MG hating on Google and Android, nothing to see here, folks.
@Brandon C. Hall
Haha, so true about MG, although he makes a valid point in the article.
@Jason Diaz
Brandon C. Hall "Because sometimes the truth isn't good enough." - The Dark Knight
@Hugh Isaacs II
Brandon C. Hall I don't see how the point is valid. Google clearly did this on purpose. If Amazon becomes successful in pushing their version of Android (which isn't much of a change from the OS itself other than looks), this just means more Android developers. Google is better off with opponents supporting Android than opponents supporting WebOS, iOS, Windows Phone, etc...
@Brandon C. Hall
Hugh Isaacs II Well said. You're exactly right
@Philip Frick
I think MG is just pissed that Gruber is way out fanboying him. As to the article, the missing cog that makes the whole thing fit together is MS. Android is not a product that Google wants to do, it is product they have to do. Apples' business model is to sell high margin devices. It is a very good business model. What it isn't is a 50% market share model. If not for android the majority of handsets would be running some for of windows now. Google can't permit that, they have not choice but to throw whatever resources they have at it. Before android Apple and Google worked very well together, hell Schmidt was on Apples' board. Apple and Google can both coexist, and in fact compliment each other very well. Google had no desire to compete with Apple but Apple was willing to cede the low end market to MS.
@Shannon Clarke
I like MG's writing. His own blog is proof that he has skill and boy does he know to argue a point. But I don't understand why he wanted to write this post. I mean, GigaOM reported this change on the KindleFire more than 12 hours before the first version of this post was created which promptly had to be updated with the change. What was the point of writing this then? To beat an old horse? We all know that Amazon is going to provide a curated app store to Kindle Fire owners, so what if they block Android market? It's like making news of the fact that some html5 apps are becoming more attractive to businesses than iOS apps especially the businesses without the resources/knowledge to make an iOS app work for them. In the end, once Android is being used in some form or fashion and especially in successful devices (and devices outside of mobile devices like cars, fridges, etc which is possible) then Google wins. It's not the same model as Apple's own but it never was.
@Ronald DeSilva
agree... MG just hating!
@Zorlac Realm
MG moved from Apple Resident Enthusiast to Apple Resident Kiss-Ass. Any of the so called "analysis" from this iSheep is deemed to be fart that needs to be release. MG from time to time again fail to understand what open-source means. He mixed up community driven projects to open-source, making this bullcrap analysis without really participating in an open source community or even researching about is a joke.
@Daniel Jones
I have a Kindle Fire and I like it, however I really don't like the limitation of not being able to use the Android Market. I understand why Amazon did it, but I think anytime you limit a products ability for business reasons you are doing a disservice to your user base. I find myself using my Asus Transformer much more thank the Kindle, mainly because it has all the apps I want. For reading boo, s, I think the Kindle is great.
@Bruce A. Sarte
Dan -- It is a Kindle that happens to be a tablet, not a tablet that runs a Kindle app. This is what Amazon intended. Nothing more than that. Amazon delivers exactly what they promise. They didn't promise a fully functioning Android tablet at all. Think of the Kindle Fire as a media entertainment device...
@Michael C Butler
Bruce A. Sarte hmmm sounds like a poor man's iPad. Amazon limits what you put on it, the user is restricted.
@Bruce A. Sarte
Michael C Butler No, I disagree. I think you have to look at the market that Apple was going after and the market that Amazon was going after. Apple was innovating and trying to create a market -- Amazon's market already existed (I mean, they created it years ago). Amazon was shooting to expand their existing market so people didn't feel like they needed to have one device to listen to music, check email, watch movies and read books. The iPad is geared more towards a "Personal Assistant and Media Device" more than anything else. I would love to say that Apple wants the iPad to be the one device you use, but their actions say otherwise.
@Daniel Jones
Bruce A. Sarte I agree that Amazon delivered a product pretty much as described, and they have made a really nice product. My view however, is that if the Kindle Fire can run the Facebook app, it could run the Google Currents App or the Google Search App just as well. The reason it is restricted is more about Amazon's business goals. I would like to see Amazon not block and redirect visitors to the Android Market as I think it would make the Kindle Fire that much better.
@Aakar Anil
Hey! MG Com'on! Why are you hating Google so much? :O Google must have some moves in their mind.
@Josh K Willuhn
We all drive cars (or don't), they all do things different, some people don't care if its a Boxer 4 engine or an inline 4, independent suspension or axle, they just know its 4 something and smooth not a fast v8. some people swear by the v8 one brand one type, some just want fast who cares about a badge? its all just competition. it started off just a few different things get a new ford back in the day "in any color so long as its black" now its so many options and things nobody thought of back then. innovation and competition is the key to advancing any industry. google should be happy. we are just at the start of things I would hope.
@Thomas McGuire
Thought MG was only going to write about Apple? I remember it like it was 2.5 months ago... http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/03/mg-siegler-will-become-our-apple-columnist-and-join-crunchfund-as-a-vc/ "The scope of what he will write about will be very narrow: Apple... Apple is a big enough company and a big enough story to keep him busy as a columnist." Apparently not.
@Noel Wan
well the 2nd law of apple fanboyism states that writing about apple = bashing non apple stuff. the first is of course apple's strategy is always the best today and not so good yesterday!
@
Siegler and friends have gone down this path quite a few times -- some bizarre belief that Google has been caught off guard by Amazon et al. Hardly, dear friend. Such a scenario has been obvious and inevitable since the early days of Android. Here's the thing -- the Android alliance is a tenuous one. Samsung has no interest in being Google's bitch. Neither does HTC. Neither does LG, or Sony, or Huwei or any other maker. They were all drawn into the Android alliance based upon the premise that if Google got too arrogant, they could part ways without having to completely undermine the platform they relied upon. Samsung has been idling their own market for years, as have some of the other makers. So long as they all work to each other's goals, they stay together, but good organizations plan for the future. Further the notion that the Fire undermines Android is laughable. It is adding *millions* of Android 2.3.x clients for developers to target. Millions. There are no special tricks or different tools to target the Amazon Market for Android developers -- it is simply submitting to a different location. The benefit to Android is incredible, and is already evidences by the activity on the market and the hordes of incoming developers. Or maybe Google just really didn't think this all through, and Sielger is the one setting them straight...
@Hugh Isaacs II
You need to be voted to the top here. Nobody seems to realize that spin-offs like this were apart of Googles goal. Supporting Android is like supporting HTML5 to them, it's a platform that anyone can support and Google can profit off of. The openness part is to attract developers which is the same reason why they chose to use Java instead of another programming language. Android being open means I can code an Android app and know that if Google falls apart, there'll be a hoard of other companies that I could send my app to without having to rewrite it.
@Jim Renaud
That's not entirely true. The code does have to be at least modified for all the flavors of Android. And then if you want an exceptional app, it needs to be modified for tablet dimensions, screen resolutions, hard keys, soft keys. It can be a major pain.
@Hugh Isaacs II
Jim Renaud code your app to be responsive. How do you think developers that make applications for Windows XP, Vista and 7 work?
@Casey Rosengren
Signed in using Hotmail.... how is this guy commenting from 1998?
@Checks Balances
Casey Rosengren That his is one of the top-rated comments must speak about his experience. That you think he is from 1998 is just a testimony to this experience.
@Casey Rosengren
Checks Balances Sarcasm, my friend. Sarcasm.
@Nicolas Cerveaux
"It is adding *millions* of Android 2.3.x clients for developers to target. Millions." Yay it's adding more old device to a Market already endangered by fragmentation. Plus you miss the point that and I quote "the Kindle Fire redirects all Android Market requests to Amazonâs Appstore." so it's not adding anybody really... Today I would recommend to Android developers to move all their application to the Amazon Store in the long run they would make more cash. Content is king, and Amazon is winning this part. Like iPhone owner tends to spend 4x more than Android, I think Amazon owner tend to spend more than Android as well.
@Mathieu MÃ©a
You're all forgetting that THE main reason why Google did Android is having more people capable of browsing the web and therefore more people capable of clicking on Google ads, and the Kindle Fire displays Google ads just fine. This is also THE main reason why Google is doing Google TV.
@Jason E Perkins
"Plus you miss the point that and I quote "the Kindle Fire redirects all Android Market requests to Amazonâs Appstore." so it's not adding anybody really..." Nicolas Cerveaux, please re-read what Dennis Forbes said. He's saying that the Kindle Fire helps Google because every Kindle Fire sold is just another reason for developers to target Android as a platform when building their apps. "Today I would recommend to Android developers to move all their application to the Amazon Store in the long run they would make more cash." Why would any developer move his app off Google's Market to put it on Amazon's App Store? Why wouldn't he just have it on both?
@Moiz Ali
I have to imagine that hardware manufacturers will not sign search deals with Bing (i) for fear of pissing Google off and thus, having Google charge for Android and (ii) because users will think the manufacturers are sell outs for putting a crappy default search engine (see Dell, HP, Gateway, etc). More than that, I imagine smartphone and tablet owners are more tech savvy than the general population and would change to Google search, making the default search less lucrative than on desktops... Still agree that Google has something to fear with hardware manufacturers trying to own the phone/tablet; there are just some mitigating factors out there, I think.
@Brand James
There are actually android powered phones in which the defaulted search engine is BING.
@Jason Diaz
MG is also highlighting Google's track record. The facts are self evident.
@Bruce A. Sarte
Google makes money every time an Android device ships. Open Source does not mean free. Amazon still has to license the OS. I know, I know, that's not Google's business model but hey, it's the breaks sometimes.
@Hugh Isaacs II
Untrue. Those Android licenses are for Google integration and the Android Market. The OS itself is free to be used in devices without such.
@Bruce A. Sarte
Hugh Isaacs II Hm. That's interesting. That wasn't my understanding. If you are correct Hugh, then Google shot themselves in the foot for not requiring device makers to license Android itself -- and they should simply include Market with it. These devices that come without Market are misleading to consumers and generate a bad taste in the mouths of the people that think they can get a cheap Android tablet and end up with a brick that surfs the web.
@Kervin Pierre
MG are you even trying anymore?
@Arhen Richmond P. Nuguid
If Google created and developed Android, then Amazon has to pay Google for what they have done! Android is open-source, but you should also consider that you should also give credit to the developer of the OS that you are modifying. Samsung and HTC created their own with their TouchWiz and HTC's Sense, but they included the Google Mobile Suite.
@Hugh Isaacs II
Uh no. Android is open as in open source, Amazon is free to do what they want with the code. The only thing they have to do is state somewhere that it's Android and who it was made by (and also provide some source code at some point). Google shouldn't force anyone to pre-install their content. Imagine if Linus Torvalds (maker of Linux) forced everyone to install an app that made him money on every Linux build. That means every WebOS device, Android phone, Chumby, Google TV, Chromebook, Kindle, Nook, almost every Nokia smartphone, and TiVo box would come with his app. That's not the type of company Google is trying to position themselves as. They profit from being open in every sense of the word (good or bad).
@Abhijeet Kumar
There are two obvious flaws in this article. 1) The android marketplace redirecting thing on Fire has been fixed by the latest update, 2) Amazon has not closed down Android technically, they released as open-source the modified code (excluding proprietary in-built apps).
@Abhijeet Kumar
Google would atleast publicly (check Andy Rubin's reaction) have no problems with the use of android, the way it is in Fire. It only explains Google's word of openness on android is not just a marketing gimmick.
@Noel Wan
Abhijeet Kumar nooo mg is the genius. he knows everything. including how to run google. and the whole world, as a matter of fact.
@Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos
If Google really was worried about the platform they would release the Proprietary Apps that MG says is not on the device and considering just how popular they are Amazon would probably include them in future Fire's or at least in their market place, thus Google is not worried...
@Miad Hoque
Google needs to drop the open and start licensing to manufacturers and make a minimum specifications requirement.
@Bryan Miller
This is the smartest thing said on this whole page The openness of android can be a good thing for some devs but is kinda confusing some and now companies like amazon are using androids openness to their advantage by basically making their own operating system using android and purposely hiding the normal android experience so google is screwing themselves by allowing android OS to be that open, apps from amazon market don't pat google at all I personally think that amazon should buy webOS to have as their tablet and phone OS and say hell to android And then google needs to then lock down the OS more so you don't get the tons of bloat where from cellular carriers , different skins like touch wiz, and you can actually have consistent firmware updates across phones that aren't even a year old yet, as of November 40.7% of android devices still hadn't got gingerbread yet
@Mark Sigal
What's interesting to me is that for all of the platitudes Google has uttered about "open this," "open that," they have said zero about what Amazon is doing (to the best of my knowledge). Am I wrong on this? Either this is the genius of open, and they should verbally acknowledge it as kosher, and gain the badge of honor for fully walking the talk. Or, they should raise their hand, and say that it's not cool, and embrace their 'open-ish'-ness. To sit silent, as they are, is to let others define the narrative, IMHO.
@Barry Lance Leo
nothing new here! One of the worst articles of MG.
@Joshua Rogner
Even if that happens it will probably benefit Google.
@Michael C Butler
Amazon is doing what it wants with the Android system on the Kindle Fire thanks to the "Apache License". Google knew years ago what it was getting into with open source and the Apache License. It says that you can make derivatives of it and close the source. That is what Amazon is doing here and you know what? They're going to fail if they do stuff like this. This is just Amazon being stupid, thanks to this behavior I won't buy a Kindle Fire and I hope more consumers will look to tablets with open systems such as those made by Samsung (if they haven't been banned yet).
@Abhijeet Kumar
Technically speaking Amazon hasn't closed the source code. They released as open-source, the bare-bones android (fire) source after modification without the proprietary Amazon apps. This is just like how Google distribute android without the proprietary Google apps.
@Michael C Butler
Abhijeet Kumar OK so the outlook is not as bad as I thought. The bad part is not letting users use the Android market *even if they want to*. This is an Apple-ism, and is bad for users.
@Abhijeet Kumar
From what I have read, this is again a licensing issue. Amazon is not working with Google as a part of the open handset alliance, that explains the lack of Android marketplace and the Google apps, which I think they would have had to license, as these are not available with the free distribution of android.
@Michael C Butler
Abhijeet Kumar Interesting...but isn't the Android Market just an app itself? I don't think I or anyone else has a problem with not including apps with an OS due to legal problems, but why couldn't a user install the Android Market APK -- without root access -- and then go from there?
@Hugh Isaacs II
You'd think that MG would've got it by now that Google made Android open to competition from other companies on purpose. Next we'll hear that Apple is in danger because WebKit is used in their competitors browsers.
@Felix Mak
there're different degress of openness, open doesn't have to mean open source, even though windows isn't open source, it's still way more open than apple's shit.
@Felix Mak
android is built on linux, so it couldn't have costed google to make android as much as it did microsoft to make windows.
@Somy Andriyanto
it's a beautiful risk of open sourced software, every body could to modify or even rewrite it totally. I think Google know what they do. Innovation will win at last.
@Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos
Seriously why does Tech Crunch allow to an iOS fanboy to write an article about Android? It's like asking a Democrat about Republican policy or asking an Obese person to write about why diets don't work. MG should leave the Android commentaries to those who use the platform and know what the hell their talking about...
@Michael C Butler
Because it creates controversy and page hits
@Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos
Michael C Butler This doesn't seem like reporting but rather an attempt to make iOS look some kind of fruit of the God's brought down to mortal man and if you haven't tasted of it you won't live forever in their technological heaven. That's just bullshit, Google knew what Amazon was doing and was okay with it, if Amazon creates a hit with their new version of Android, guess what it's open source which means they have to release the code which means Google can copy and use on their own newer versions. That's the beauty of open, one can steal from another and vice versa without any lawsuits or drama unlike her majesty Apple...
@Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos
PS - I have removed my like button from Tech Crunch until they get their shit together...
@Richard Grossman
Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos: Removed your like button? How many sarcastic comments can I make in 60 seconds: 1 Gosh I'm sure you can expect a retraction and an apology from TC ASAP ! 2 NORAD is going to DEFCON 2 ! 3 And 30 days later AOL filed for bankruptcy! 4 No please not the like button! Anything but removing your like button! 5 Aye these be dark days indeed when a even a poor old software developer must remove his like button... :)
@Felix Sulla
Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos, yes, iOS is the mobile OS like God wanted it. Android comes straight from Hell.
@Glenn Norris Lau
Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos Did I miss the part about Godly iOS fruit? Because nowhere in the article does even mention or even imply iOS, let alone spin it to be superior. I think you're seeing things.
@Chris Wyatt
I thought I read somewhere that MG was going to be the Apple columnist? It's amazing how often I start reading a column and can realize who wrote it a couple sentences in on TC....If it's snarky, it's MG; if it's random, craziness it's definitely Steve Gilmore.
@Wilhem Pujar
The old "fork you" opensource debate. Well, I don't think the ability to fork Android represents such a risk for Google. The PC-like hardware distribution model and the long-tail pricing strategy have proven quite useful until now. I believe they will continue to do so. No... The issue here is clearly about apps mediocrity. And that's probably what Eric Schmidt meant at LeWeb : "Talented developers, come leverage our dominant position and build actually beautiful apps with maximum reach". Your bet?
@Jared R. Byer
Google does not make android as tool to push its app store. It uses its app store as a tool to push android. Amazon is creating their own system and reasons to use android on their devices. I think google is happy. More people using the internet means google gets what it wants. The only thing google probably misses in amazon's device is mobile advertising revenue.
@Nick Fleker Felker
Don't forget about developers and the benefit from that. If everyone uses the same essential code base, then an app runs on the Kindle Fire, the normal Android marketplace, and any other Android flavor. Developers could easily create apps and add them to Google's marketplace for regular Android users to buy.
@Luis Fernando Franco
I don't know who is more annoying the original MG Siegler or his cloneâ¦ what was her name? Crook-something?
@Sudhakar Vemuri
In my Opinion, Google has long seen this coming and hence the Motorola Buy off, so that they can still stay in the game.
@Hua Zhong
I am not sure Google is too upset about it. Yes it's open and it's expected. This is how it works.
@Anurag Kalia
Haha! Though I have nothing against the author. But here is an alternate industry in comment sections where people ignore content and write about the author. "Typical MG", "You are not even trying" etc. My heart goes out to the author who writes an article hoping for some breakthrough, but can he do if his name is synonymous with shame! MG seems to be a dirty word now. It is funny but very cruel. Now I suddenly know why there are no "dislike" buttons on facebook. :D
@Hugh Isaacs II
Breakthrough? Google made an OS open for even competitors to take it and create versions of it to cater to themselves on purpose, and MG complains about it as if Google wasn't aware that they did this. And you think he's trying?
@Anurag Kalia
Hugh Isaacs II No! I didn't say anything like that. I don't actually like him. I cringe when I see the author's name. But as I said, it's cruel as well as funny. I myself can't do it; I don't believe in taking an eye for an eye. :) And I am taking your word because I don't know anything about all these open source licenses. And so I couldn't comment on it. i was just passing by and seeing an odd but interesting observation. :D
@Manrique Fernandez
Seriously he is proposing a scenario where companies are going to close search to one provider... And choosing Bing as there only provider over Google for money... Doesn't sound like a smart move. And Google will collapse and burn to ashes... MG really dislikes google. Not even Windows based systems use Bing as there only search provider. It is the case with facebook but facebook search sucks indeed. More than a threat to Google I see a threat to amazon or other hardware makers to keep their costumers happy while they try to impose their app store to consumers. As a user I want freedom to download available content. Amazon's app store is weak, it feels like you can only shop in the small shopping center and you have a huge mall next to it, you know it's there but you're not allowed to shop in it. One thing is true Google will have to work harder to keep their app store as the most desirable and keep improving and adding more Google apps.
@Ashutosh Mishra
And I thought MG was TC's "part time Apple columnist".
@Ashutosh Mishra
Dear Closed MG, #1. Google Wallet is on the Galaxy Nexus. But since Google has zero leverage on crappy Verizon, they can't include it in the US version (just so you know, there is a world outside the US where the carrier situation is much better and the Galaxy Nexuses are overflowing with Wallet goodness). Add to the fact that Wallet has presently little to no usage, and I don't see why you have to be whining. And if you really want Wallet on the Verizon Nexus, you have to run a simple APK file without rooting or jailbreaking the pone. Open. #2. The Fire will fuel the growth of apps for vanilla Android as well. When someone makes a Kindle Fire app, they're basically making an app that can run on over 200 million Android phones (and growing at 0.7 million a day) with the slightest modification. The developers would have to be really stupid to stay put in the Amazon Appstore and not eventually jump over to the Android Market. Btw, if you're in the US (again, there's a world outside the US and both Google and Apple are thriving in it; Amazon, not so much yet), you can already load the Appstore on your Android device and use those Kindle Fire specific apps. Open.
@Sojo Varughese
"Never mind the fact that a good percentage of the time itâs pure marketing bullshit" - "Amazonâs Kindle Fire runs on Android, but nothing about it is Googleâs Android" - Is it Google's fault that the writer does not know what it means when poeple call a platform open?
@Will Paccione
Ha, I just wrote the same comment. MG is a contradiction machine.
@Sojo Varughese
True :)
@Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos
Yet we read this bullshit, what got me was this comment of "Never mind the fact that a good percentage of the time itâs pure marketing bullshit" that's anything but starting off objective, and he puts it on the very first paragraph of his article... Not to MG, Google has released all versions of Android including 3.1 and 3.2 with the 4.0 release so tell me what's bullshit?
@Sojo Varughese
MG is!
@Ashish Hablani
I think I should read the comments section before reading the article. At least they are entertaining and informative unlike the article!
@JÃ¼rg Rinaldi
actually that's whay i'm doing on MG's articles :) it's quiet funny. and to be honest: it's not even necessary to read the article. :D
@Dave Allen
The fact is that open source changes the way we, and the companies, are used to deal with the products. Yes, Microsoft has dominated the market with Windows. But now a lot have change since and now sharing and collaboration seem to be a more modern and smart way to work in the technology market. Dave Allen Miracle Technologies
@Sankar McMoonlander
The kindle fire now let's you browse the Google app market but not download. I think Amazon has done this just to regulate their apps for support purposes, not to cut Google's business. As a developer, you can still put your apps on the Amazon Market, under their contract. I don't think Google are too fussed about this whole ordeal. From Google's perspective, it could be a strategy to increase its market share over iOS.
@Ana Fernandez
nosvemos el sabado en la casa de beiha. trae unplato decomida bebida y un regalito de no mas de 10 $ para el secret Santa......
@Ana Fernandez
nosvemos el sabado en la casa de beiha. trae unplato decomida bebida y un regalito de no mas de 10 $ para el secret Santa......
@Will Paccione
The better Android does, the more negative spin MG does. It's his defensive mechanism when he feels iOS is up against the wall. It's no coincidence that this just came out after Rubin's tweet of 700,000 Android devices being activated/day. "Amazonâs Kindle Fire runs on Android, but nothing about it is Googleâs Android. It doesnât look like Android and it doesnât feature Googleâs own apps." ---umm, yeah that's what Open means. "But what happens if the rumors are true and Facebook releases a phone with an OS built on top of Android?" ---Yeah... open. Google won't sue, unlike your beloved Apple who is now suing on patents on phone cases. "And what if they do the exact same things that Amazon is doing? Say they create their own app store, bake in their own payment and content services, and eventually cut a deal with Microsoft to make Bing the default search engine." ---Yeah, once again, your proving that open isn't BS... much like this article.
@Michael Cabral Poubel Bastos
It's a win for consumers, what Seigler doesn't see is that what is a win for consumers is a win for Google, they've always been user first even if that means cutting into their own bottom line or have we forgotten why very little has changed about Google's front page?
@Preeth Kp
THE ANDROID AND IOS STORY CONTINUES HERE http://techplugged.com/apple/android-following-the-same-success-story-of-what-windows-did-to-mac/.
@MatthÃ¤us Krzykowski
Hmm. Then we also have, straight from the horse's mouth, Rich Miner's presentation at the MWC 2009 in Barcelona on the meaning of "open" for mobile platforms: http://www.slideshare.net/MobileFacts/2009-2-19-rich-miner-open-your-open-your-network.
@Raveesh Bhalla
I thought you're just an Apple correspondent? Let's keep it that way, please (preferably not even that).
@Adam Kubalica
Google is killing itself, they own the OS, Social Network(G+), hardware(Motorola), browser(Chrome) and still they want to spread their open products...MAKE A CLOSED LINE! Integrate as much as you can all these platforms, nobody has so much in their pocket (Apple has browser, hardware+OS, but they don't have a social network). And besides that play along with this OPEN PR. http://baretech.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/the-mighty-will-fall-google-isnt-innovative-in-mobile/
@Rick Anderson
I find the comment section on MG Siegler's articles on TechCrunch to be one of the most unbelievable things on the Web. Most of you are commenting on the author, not the content of the article. If you disagree with him, explain why. Attacking the messenger just looks petty. Still, it's amusing to read comments by people who took the time to come here and claim Siegler's articles aren't worth their time.
@Ken GjÃ¸ran Leren
You are taking time to read comments and complain about other users reading articles and complaining about authors? That doesn't really make sense now does it. Are you: a) cooler than everyone else, or b) just yet another hypocritical fan-boy?
@Simran Gee
Ken GjÃ¸ran Leren @[109640085728235:274:Rick Anderson] haha... love it :) rick, people are attacking the author because of a constant barge of rubbish... the quality of TC has gone down the drain in recent months - time to unsubscribe... what you are noting is the comments that come prior to an unsubscribe... he should be thankful people are complaining... that means there is still a chance if content improves... if not, the next step is obvious... first MG becomes irrelevant, and because Alexia (who had at least got me to the stage where i look at the author and any post by her i ignore and move on) and others are even worse, TC becomes irrelevant... mashable, gigaom... they give you all you need now...
@Rick Anderson
Ken GjÃ¸ran Leren Don't really understand the definition of "hypocritical," do you?
@Rick Anderson
Simran Gee Your explanation is a tad convoluted. I'm going with my theory that TC is overrun with fanboys of all stripes and they're more interested in crapping on the author instead of debating his viewpoint.
@Fredi Merkiuri
MG, thanx for sharing your observations! Good points. I am curious to see how Google will make business out of this 'open'. Sorry for the folks who can't catch the meaning of the article, obviously they don't run business. In the end of the day the blood of the economy are money.
@Archit Joshi
@MG : Are you even aware of the fact that there is a a world outside the US? Entire countries where the iPhone does not have a significant market share *gasp!*? Once you are able to wrap your head around this notion (take your time, there is no rush) maybe you'd realize that without something like Android being open source, its pretty much impossible for anyone to make a smartphone that they can sell profitably for less than 100 USD, off contract. Apple does not do it. Microsoft is unable to. Nokia, RIM...yeah well. Google creates a specification for device manufacturers that their devices must comply with before the device is given access to the Google app suite and the Android Market. Beyond that, pretty much whatever the manufacturer does, Google is okay with. Best case, they comply fully with Google and more customers come to its services and content. Worst case, customers go elsewhere for content and services, but still come online using a mobile device, where Google is most likely to be their search provider, who serves them with more ads. App developers who use Admob are still driving traffic to Google's services, regardless of what platform/app store they're using to deliver the app to customers. Either which way, Google wins. Google wins every time a new user starts using the mobile web, and that is a pretty unique distinction. Nobody else, not Microsoft, not Apple, not Amazon, is able to pull that off. Apple follows their business model because it works. For Apple. And they do a phenomenal job of it. But please, have the sense to give credit where its due. Google does a pretty good job with Android, but to see that, you just might have to pull your head out of wherever you've got it stuck currently. Again, take your time, no rush.
@Archit Joshi
Oh and to the people in the comments complaining about Android's device sizes and resolutions and "fragmentation" . Boo-frickin-hoo. Go read the developer documentation. It takes half an hour to understand how to build apps that work across every conceivable screen size and resolution. If you're a game developer or use OpenGL and what not extensively, I agree, Android's not particularly great. But for most developers, quit whining. There is NO platform that lets you target every kind of screen out there without having a learning curve.
@Sojo Varughese
This side of open: http://techedin.blogspot.com/2011/12/this-side-of-open.html.
@CiarÃ¡n Norris
There are some good points here, but also plenty of valid rebuttals in the comments. If Amazon is using an Android app store of any sort, it means that the apps placed there are open to AdMob ads (owned by Google). What I'd love to see is the same sort of thought go into an article by MG actually analysing Apple, rather than slavishly worshipping it. Being a fanboy (whether Apple, Android, Nike or Addidas) is not cool, geeky or interesting. It's weird and, frankly, kind of unnatural.
@Vernon Morris
"Despite what they may have you believe sometimes, Google is not a pro bono company" awesome quote!
@Lascan Emy
Hello friends, I guess that everybody want an iPad 2, as I wanted, and I want to announce that I have found a method by which you will receive a free ipad2. All you have to do to enjoy this super gadget is to fill in your real data. Just so. You do not have to give bank account or credit card data, only your personal information, and soon you will receive a free ipad2. All you have to do is to go on free-us-ipad.com and fill the form with your data in order to get a free ipad2.It is that simple? don`t believe me? what do you have to lose? Just fill in your real data and soon you will enjoy your free ipad2. I'm telling you this because I have nothing to lose, I just want to help others. Think about it, you can lose max 2 minutes, but think what you get a ipad, so what do you say, does it worth?
@Vivek Iyer
Brutal. Google scratches too hard to get past apple only to get beaten up by its own product. Sent f from an open device.
@Phil Simon
The Age of the Platform is here. Expect these frenemies to battle in 2012 and beyond. I can't wait to see what happens.
@Eric Yao
So you are basically saying Google needs to be like MS or Apple, but the thing is Google is neither of them, not even close. What if the Kindle Fire scenario was exactly what Google wanted to see in the beginning of Android? Everything needs a balance. You lose some, you gain some. Some company greedy like Apple won't last too long.
@Horace Nelson
Dude. You are officially stupid. You so obviously try to stir up Android controversy... it's painful to even read your stuff anymore. If Google didn't want this to happen, they could've easily protected their interests with different licensing. As if Google went and decided to make Android open source, and then were like "Oh my god, no way, somebody's actually using it... whatta we do now?" The success of the Kindle Fire is such a positive (and an intended one) for Google. It's not just about Google's Android ecosystem, but about the Greater Android ecosystem unseating iOS. Scares ya, don't it, fanboy?
@Bryan Miller
Its not a success for google at all, the kindle fire is more of a big FU to androids, the more people buy kindle fires the less reason people have to buy google android tablets thus screwing them out of their own profits with the openness that's their own fault
@Ryan O. Hicks
"why exactly isnât Google Wallet on Googleâs own Galaxy Nexus device?" hey if you're going to post an article at least do your research before posting it. Within the first paragraph I knew this article was a joke. The above quote is due strictly because of Verizon not wanting it on the device; has nothing to do with google. As it is with any phone, the carrier decides a lot of what it ships with, and has the final say in a number of other things. And you can put google wallet on the gNex. &_& http://www.droid-life.com/2011/12/17/download-google-wallet-apk-for-galaxy-nexus-lte-all-users-no-root-or-zip-flashing-required/
@Abbas Shanmugaiah
I won't be surprised, if TechCrunch turns off commenting feature altogether! I've been able to see this sort of posts (and comments, of course! I personally believe Comments always reflect the quality of the post) and I'm sure, Techcrunch isn't happy about it.
@Tundey Akinsanya
after reading this, you have 2 options of what to believe: Google has been blindsided by Amazon even though they created this open source platform and MG is smarter than them all. Or you can believe the truth i.e. MG is an Apple fanboy/apologist that's bent on using any and every thing to prove that Apple's approach is better, even if he has to give a back handed compliment to Microsoft. It's your choice.
@Carlos Lu
"Open. Open. Open. Open. Open. Open. Open. Open. Open." This guy, what a great writer...
@Jim Danz
As the legend has it, overheard in SFO (~20 years ago): A: "Know what it means when a company says 'we're open'?" B: "No, what?" A: "It means they're in second place."
@Ahmed Adel
The first article from Siegler that make sense...
@Oladele Ayuba
And when google releases the next major upgrade of the android? What would amazon do?
@Katelyn Maguire
This practice is not new in open source. Open Source community been debating this for years, not just in Android world. I'm sure Google have thought about it when they made Android an open source. Whatever happens, Customers win.
@Richard Grossman
Android does not advance Google's business, it's a (successful) defensive move against Microsoft. IOS was never going to get licensed and Apple will therefore never own the market, just a very profitable niche. Android prevents Microsoft from being the only multi-manufacturer OS standard. As we now know, Microsoft did not "beat" Apple at all. But Microsoft crushed Unix. Siegler's article shows how Android may go the way of Unix, becoming hopelessly splintered in terms of presenting a big common platform market for developers. Every breathless angry comment here actually supports this viewpoint; the more angry and indignant the more clearly the writer makes the opposing viewpoint. WTF difference does it make if the article's author usually covers tunafish? Look up "ad hominem" attack - its the last refuge of the loser.
@Onlinestrategies OnlineStrategies
Can we expect an Amazon Android SDK?

(Fly or Die) Mid-Size Tablets

2011-12-26T05:13:00.000-08:00

(Fly or Die) Mid-Size Tablets

Fly Or Die: The Mid-Size Tablet Revolution | TechCrunch
@Robin Ashe
After using the PlayBook I figured that 7" really was the ideal tablet size - 8" if the bezel is way smaller. There's a reason the Nook Color went that size, and the Kindle Fire went for it as well. 10" is really only good for a design like the Asus Transformer - so it works well with a keyboard.
@George Sibble
I'm loving my Samsung Galaxy Note. Big and powerful enough to use as a tablet and small enough to be very portable.
@Nick McGhie
I'm sure the Samsung Galaxy Note has certain nice features, but a device with a 5.3" screen that's "big and powerful enough to use as a tablet"?? Have you used an iPad before? =) Seriously though, I'm curious why exactly you consider it big enough to use as a tablet. Please elaborate.
@Jimmy Selix
Nick McGhie let me know what you define tablet specific functionality as? i have used nearly every form factor of tablets (ipad 1,2; samsung galaxy tab 7", bb playbook, lenovo TPT 10") and just because they are smaller doesn't mean they don't function like a tablet. I think the 5.3" size is the most beneficial for me and add on top of that inking abilities and you have a very useful tablet. my main issues w/the 10" tablets is that they are not that portable or usable in public spaces (ie public transportation). just my .02. I'm holding my breath and hoping we see a 7" ipad. i've been wanting one ever since i bought and used the original galaxy tab.
@Nick McGhie
Jimmy Selix...when the iPad first came out, I was among the many doubters who saw it as just "a big iPhone/iPod Touch." However, as iPad-specific apps with new interfaces that took advantage of the large screen were released, I began to see the difference. One functionality that immediately comes to mind to illustrate this point is web browsing. Viewing a website on an iPad is more akin to viewing it on a computer than on a modern smartphone. Doing so on a 5.3" screen, on the other hand, feels far more cramped. In this regard, it really is more like "a big iPhone/iPod Touch." In that case, why not just a standard smartphone? I'm not saying devices with ~5" screens don't have their uses. It's just that there does not seem to be much of a market for them.
@Jimmy Selix
Nick McGhie makes sense.. :) i do have to agree w/you on the tablet optimized apps are pretty sweet on the ipad. but yes, the 5" form factors really don't have that much of a market except for us few tablet geeks. i'm more of an android user these days and have yet to really see that many tablet optimized apps on the market. i guess i'm still looking for the 'notetakers' pipe dream of a 5" notepad sized device that does inking very well and in turn can replace all of those paper notepads i bring to meetings. :)
@Michael Brinkworth
Nick McGhie and Jimmy Selix the 5 inch form, like every other size range will fit with many peoples needs, students and business people alike. And think of millions of delivery people that require a signature. It is extremely portable and can be carried in a pocket, unlike 7 and up, and I personally love this format (size and weight) for ebooks and dev work. There are also millions of people out there who have failing eyesight (big screen) or trembling hands (stylus), and this becomes a superior option to smaller phones, being fundamentally a phone, not just a tablet. Apples mentality of all humans settling for one size and color doesn't suit most people, and it took me many years to understand why we don't all eat just one perfect of cheese, or all just watch the one genre of movie, or drive the one perfect car. I just hope apple don't sue me for that sentence, after all they have a patent on the letter A. In conclusion...yes there is a market for this size.
@Joe On
Love the Samsung Galaxy 7.0 plus tab....awesome.
@Mike Marticorena
Indeed, yes. Smaller is my choice. Hmm, yes...
@Annes Notrya
Funny, that's not what she said...
@Francisco Medina
7.5 inches: the perfect size. There is not doubt about it.
@Bob Yesselman
For those of us with big fingers, 7" doesn't work at all. Nerve wracking. I finally gave up and bout a 10.1. Perfect size for a tablet.
@John McEvoy
Several companies make portable bluetooth keyboard you can carry around w/ your ipad. Plus most owners I know by a cover/case. Nothing like paying more for a tablet and building it back into a notebook.
@Jazzy Jazz Keith
Fact Check - "a recent interesting trend..." HUH? the smaller 7 - 8" Tablet have been around for most of a year and a half! Where have you been author? Locked up in Cupertino in those Apple Media Hacks "Brain Washing" sessions that last most of a year? There have been loads of Android 2.0, 2.1, 2.3 and well as 3.0 Honeycomb 7 and 8" tablets around since summer of 2010! Most with off-brands from China, many with brand names like View Sonic, Arcos, Pandigital, Lenovo, Dell, Sylvania and even Acer! Sure the bigger brother Android 10+" Tabs have been getting all the press, because they are a direct competitors to the BIG and clunky Apple iFAD. But of course in TYPICAL CrApple Media Hack "Revisionist" story writing, now that CrApple is spinning "rumors" of a 7 or 8" iFAD, you clowns that dare to call yourself journalists will surely claim CrApple is CREATING the mid-size Tablet market. The FACT is that CrApple and the iFAD did NOT create the Tablet.... in 2002 Gateway Debuted an 11" TRUE Tablet (no external keyboard) which had an 11" Touch LCD screen, Handwriting Recognition, a Pop-Up Keyboard on the screen and built-in mic and speakers! MSFT created a special Tablet version of Windows XP for it and Gateway sold it for 3 years. Unfortunately, the world wasn't ready for Tablets yet. I reviewed it for a major publication and it was pretty damn neat! CrApple, the Great iNOvator..... but exceptional at SPIN and Stealing Ideas. There is a place for both Tablet sizes; just like there is a reason for Digital SLR's to Pocket Point n Shoots, and Notebooks to Desktops. I do think that there will be more 8's sold then 10's ultimately.... and that CrApple will get there ass kicked even faster in the Tablet market then they are recently in the Smart Phone market. Android OS 55% to iOS 22%, Samsung outselling Apple now one on one for the last 3 months.
@Annes Notrya
I think there is room for both... it isn't about which size will win. If I'm just doing email, facebook, and maybe watching a movie on the road, smaller is cool. If I'm using my tablet to surf the web or give a presentation at a coffee shop, 7" is inadequate and 10" is perfect. Different sizes for different needs and we have enough companies out there to provide us with choice. That's a good thing.
@Dan Katz
Companies still have not convinced me that I need ONE tablet; you're suggesting that everybody have two?
@Annes Notrya
Dan Katz â No. I'm suggesting that people think about what they will use a tablet for and choose the best tablet to fulfill that need.
@Annes Notrya
Dan Katz ... and no, not everyone needs a tablet.
@Dan Katz
Annes Notrya Okay, fair point. :)
@Dan Katz
...How is this deserving of the word "revolution"?
@Dan Katz
Annes Notrya Sorry, I tried to comment on your post after your first reply, but it somehow did not get posted. You made a good point in saying that people must consider their own needs; I misunderstood what you meant by your remark.
@Annes Notrya
Dan Katz cool.
@Abbas Shanmugaiah
I vote for 8" Tablet. Need a reason? I give 2! 1. It's bigger than 7" Tablet. 2. It's not as big as 10" one!
@Tj Ficklepeople
It nice for manufacturers to come out with different sizes, now the consumers are spoilt with choices.
@Vladislav Rakov
Apps are what is needed to make your smartphone smart and unique.Im fond of app creating and find it really helpful to use site like snappii.com where I can build apps in minutes.
@David Fox
If I had to make a choice of one, my 1st Gen iPad hands-down. My 3G connected Galaxy Tab is useful out and about - I think of it as a big phone rather than small tablet. Can't imagine Samsung has sold all that many - I recall seeing only one other in the field, vs literally hundreds of iPads.
@Barrett Duke
I have a Samsung 8.9" tablet. I like everything about its size. It is very thin and light. It works great as a reader. To me, the 7" screens are just too small for serious reading. The 8.9 is a good size for travel as well. The 10.1" screens are too big to put in a carry-on bag when I'm flying, and while the extra screen size is nice to have, it isn't necessary. The 1.2" smaller size makes an incredible difference. And the Android operating system is great. I think Samsung found the sweet spot with the 8.9" tablet.

All Good Things (Come To An End) (US Version)

2011-12-26T05:12:00.000-08:00

All Good Things (Come To An End) (US Version)

Last-Minute Gift Guide 2011: Things For The Audio Lover In Your Life | TechCrunch
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@Ben Marvin
Would love to have seen some over-the-ear headphones or car audio headsets in this list, but I guess we can't have everything we want.
@Dan Ofer
The RE-0 from head-directkick ass in the subb 100$ price range. The audio quality is unbelievable for the price. (Haven't tried the Klipsch though, only 100-200 Etymotics & senheisers).
@Lascan Emy
Hello friends, I guess that everybody want an iPad 2, as I wanted, and I want to announce that I have found a method by which you will receive a free ipad2. All you have to do to enjoy this super gadget is to fill in your real data. Just so. You do not have to give bank account or credit card data, only your personal information, and soon you will receive a free ipad2. All you have to do is to go on free-us-ipad.com and fill the form with your data in order to get a free ipad2.It is that simple? don`t believe me? what do you have to lose? Just fill in your real data and soon you will enjoy your free ipad2. I'm telling you this because I have nothing to lose, I just want to help others. Think about it, you can lose max 2 minutes, but think what you get a ipad, so what do you say, does it worth?
@Mackenzie Price
Logitech's customer service can't be beat? I had the Z-5500. The backlight on the control pod stopped working about 6 weeks after I got it and the volume knob on the control pod was also very firm to turn. I called up support to try get this issue sorted out. I thought, "How easy could this be? I'll disconnect the control pod and send it to Logitech and they will send me a fresh one." How wrong was I. They wanted me to take all the speakers that I had mounted on the wall with wiring through the roof off and the subwoofer that would of weighed 10kg+ and mail it back to them. For speakers that in Australia cost $750US it was 100% unacceptable. (Though props must be given to Logitech as they had great sound.) I also had a G19 Keyboard that had the worst software I have ever used. The keyboard was barely usable because of it because it relied so heavily on it. After both of these incidents, this was the last time I ever purchased Logitech products.
@Khaled Mourad
my favorite is the Ultimate Ears http://t.co/izRZJxkT 100s Artists, Athletes & Celebrities, great for iphone, ipad, ipod, Blackberry, Android.
@Marcin Karbowniczek
I'd rather get a Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1 over the Logitech. Sure it doesn't have as many connections for consoles and such but better sound and bass from it. It too is discontinued but can be found for around 400-500 when it shows up. Had my set for about 5 years before I upgraded to an actual home theater but still held on to them.

AOL CEO Tim Armstrong Might Be Meeting With Top Shareholders To Push Idea Of Sale To Yahoo

2011-12-26T05:11:00.000-08:00

AOL CEO Tim Armstrong Might Be Meeting With Top Shareholders To Push Idea Of Sale To Yahoo

Aol Shareholders Freak Out Over Exec Departures — As They Should | TechCrunch
@Marius Schulze
Ego kills success. It happens everywhere!
@Ferris Salameh
they don't deserve you, Alexia.
@Hua Zhong
Is this a resignation letter?
@Rick Rodriguez
More like a "i don't want to resign but I will if you jack asses don't get it together" letter.
@Dirk de Kok
when in doubt, quit.
@Sardar Mohkim Khan
i wonder if she would actually quit. That doubt is just to help her write "one more article", that's about it.
@Dirk de Kok
ha, let's see!
@Abid Azam
Sounds like a good short.
@Joe Harper
You rock. Are you going to gut a bass atop a pile of T.P.S. reports in your cubicle tomorrow? I hope things work out for you. Life is too short. Say what you feel. Always.
@Steve Parent
*waits for Michael Arrington's witty reply* - It's sad. I would love to see Mike take his money, or hell even go for an investment round and rehire every single one of you for uncrunched. Can you imagine AOL? In twelve months it would be the most exciting tech blog all over again. Instead, we have TC which..... well... great post.
@Daniel Velmon Lynch
if you can write like this about your company without getting fired you should stay...when's the last time you saw a scathing newscorp story at wsj?
@Abiel Abuy
Like reading Paul Carrs work... with less F word!! :)
@Alexia Tsotsis
I agree. Will keep you guys posted.
@Nallai Wickreman
AOL Investor Arrington, ha ha ha
@Peter Austin
Alexia Tsotsis I've just been in a similar position, after an unsuccessful take-over (my business continued growing for a while, until it was "integrated"). It's clear that AOL's ownership of TechCrunch is destroying value, due to a clash of business models. Probably the other titles too. The only realistic solution is for AOL to demerge its media titles voluntarily, before this happens anyway because key people leave and start-up elsewhere. The problem is, this requires core AOL management to admit their strategy has been a mistake, which will be really bad career-wise, so it's not going to happen until things get *really* bad - losses of Â£100 millions. Rationally, they should restructure and run the original core business as a hugely-profitable cash cow, but they won't. Your advice will be ignored, but also they can't afford to sack you unless you do something really stupid - e.g. something Paul Carr would do - so stick around until something better comes up.
@Blue Moon
Alexia Tsotsis You belong at the Verge
@Seyi Taylor
Let's see how long she stays. I've already placed my bets.
@Avery D'Alessandro
Hire Max Woolf. He's the answer.
@Max Woolf
Max Woolf's 3 Step Plan To Fixing AOL: Step 1: Teach AOL executives that increase in Revenue = Good. Step 2: Teach AOL executives that increase in Losses = Bad. Step 3: Fire Arianna Huffington. It's a guaranteed success!
@George Daskalakis
Max, it looks like Arianna is going back to her roots and doing what modern Greeks in power do best, destroying value and driving away talent through crippling bureaucracy and politics.
@Dom Anthony Narducci
Max Woolf 1 and 2 might be substantially easier if 3 happens first.
@Max Woolf
Dom Anthony Narducci True, but it would be much more dramatic! She will be all "WTF WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS, I'M ARIANNA FUCKING HUFFINGTON, BITCH! I BUILT A FUCKING BLOG FROM THE GROUND UP! AND I CAN....wait are you firing me? YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS. YOU ARE ALL MORONS!"
@Randy Stuck
Max Woolf All you have to say back is, You built a blog founded on stealing other's content... big deal...
@Craig Kanalley
Thank you for posting this, Alexia. I recently moved on myself. I really enjoyed my two years with the Huffington Post, have nothing but good to say of Arianna and HuffPost personally. Amazing experience and talented people. But AOL has some serious problems and it's sad to see the talent exodus that's taken place. First step to solving problems is to acknowledge them, and it's kind of shocking to see AOL hasn't. To the contrary, as you say... this statement that everything is fine, which it's not. People who work there aren't stupid.
@Luca Falda
Craig, I just read "I have nothing good to say of Arianna" and has a split-second stroke :-) Coming from you!
@Oye Aborishade
Techcrunch is falling apart slowly ahhhhhhh!
@Brian S. Hall
Another TechCrunch post about...TechCrunch. Lot easier I guess than going out and actually breaking news. Oh, and new rule. You can only hit up Arrington for a job once per blog post. Kthx.
@Jim Shaw
I agree. The quality of articles has gone downhill since Arrington left. I come to TechCrunch for the witty writing, not just tech news. Without the personalities, TC would be a lower quality Engadget.
@Karthik Bhoopathi
In the recent management departures from the link. http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-the-damning-letter-a-massive-aol-shareholder-just-sent-tim-armstrong-2011-12?op=1 why do all the people announced leaving on11th of the month?
@Craig Kanalley
It's 2011... they're all leaving in 2011.
@Michael Mitchell
You are the worst writer/journalist in the UNIVERSE. You don't don't need to capitalize after a semi colon--"iâm concerned; From what"--but, punctuation aside, you're just a bad writer. You say "four of these people are the smartest blah blah" but you don't say which 4 and since you had mentioned 5 or 6 people, the reader is left to wonder what the hell you're talking about and why.
@Alexia Tsotsis
It's meant to be a mystery -- five of those people I know, four I think are brilliant.
@Alice Bradshaw
Alexia Tsotsis But you're a total idiot, how would you even have the mental tools to judge who is brilliant in the first place? Still remember how you got bored over a 3+ Billion enterprise acquisition just a few weeks ago.
@Subhasish Ghosh
alexia was never hired as a writer... more as an eye-candy i guess... lololzzz.. she damn cant write, must agree!
@Robert Boyle
Why in the world would the three of you take time out of your day to write about how someone is the "worst" "idiot" "eye-candy"? This; makes me... sad For you. (intentionally ironic punctuation)
@Subhasish Ghosh
Robert Boyle thanks dude... for being sad... everyone cant be darn happy... some losers needs to be sad as well... looks like we got ourselves a winner here!
@Rick Rodriguez
Wow you guys are assholes. That is all.
@Alexia Tsotsis
Alice Bradshaw @subhasish Ghosh "Total idiot," "eye candy." Amazing.
@Subhasish Ghosh
Rick Rodriguez rick, "you guys" includes you as well, eh?
@Subhasish Ghosh
Alice Bradshaw alice... damn... u ought to work at TC... am sure by the way u look (abs gorgeous), u will get million page views in a month... am sure Alexia wud kill u for that anyways... kidding!
@Max Woolf
Subhasish Ghosh Please don't hit on blog commenters.
@Thomas Vellaringattu
It looks like Alexia has a new job in hand. Michael Arrington wrote such an article before he got booted. Good luck Alexia.
@Seth Eheart
as many will tell you Alexia... get while the gettings good.
@Vanessa Camones
great post Alexia. what a shit show.
@Carlos Nieto
Ugly.
@Philip Lindblom
I think AOL has become an under-stimulated company, in need of challenges to direct the focus towards something everyone is involved with and a part of...This power struggle, badmouthing and clowning around is a clear sign of restlessness and lack of better things to do...
@Sardar Mohkim Khan
It is so surprising to note how politicized AOL actually sounds ad functions. While it is good to read about concerns, etc, it just shows how inefficient AOL is actually turning into. $15 Million in revenue and yet you can't prevent your Star from leaving (or actually forcing him to leave) is pointless.
@Seth Eheart
But seriously... AOL needs some SERIOUS re-branding. Name and logo change and completely change its business. I hear AOL and I think of those CD's I got back in the day. I would kill off 75% of the company projects and start fresh. Go after Google in search or something. They need to be bold. If not, they will always stay the punchline of every joke.
@Shomari Ewing
"The only question left to ask now is, Who's coming with me?"
@Abiel Abuy
AOL is actually accepting suggestions on how to save the company, just send in your suggestion at stevecase@aol.com! :)
@Michael Birch
Did someone call my name?
@Alexia Tsotsis
This made my day.
@Victor Osaretinvbeniyaghagha Asemota II
Wow!
@Shabooty Bieber
AOHELL2k12, anyone?
@Ashley Hawkins
I'm not going to say I'm sad this is happening to AOL, because they've had it coming to them for quite a while now, only they've been ignorant of it. What with Huffington and this whole TechCrunch drama, AOL's definitely lost more talent in a shorter time than it's gained talent.
@Anders Bach Waagstein
Will Tech self-destruct in 2012?
@Anders Bach Waagstein
*TechCrunch
@Habibullah Khan
Sir. I am not going to underestimate the size of balls needed to write a post as open and frank as this about the company that owns you. R.E.S.P.E.C.T
@Dave Paisley
RESPECT, but not much in the checking the byline...
@Ariel Adams
Alexia, Really, congrats to the courage it took to write this. I was an Aol casualty. I was one of the main writers for Luxist. A great website at the top of its niche that Aol shutdown because this simply didn't know how to handle it. The writing on the wall of how Aol mismanages its acquisitions has been around for 10 years at least. The company is full of strong by unqualified egos (not entirely, but more and more the fact), and routinely buys, eats, and spits out otherwise good assets. Keep us in the loop.
@Flynn Like
are you still around? confirms the complete lack of talent in tc nowdays...
@Andrew James Villarose
Bye Arianna!
@Jason Vicinanza
When all the best talent leaves it's clearly a sign that it's time to go.
@CiarÃ¡n Norris
You lost me when you claimed that Arrington & Carr leaving were signs that disaster is imminent. Disaster may well be imminent (probably is in fact), but it's not & won't be because either of those two amazing self-publicists decided to take their skills, and egos, elsewhere. AoL isn't screwed because people like those left, it's screwed because it's been paying way too much for businesses like Techcrunch and Huff Post, and can't monetise them sufficiently to make up for it. That and the fact the subscription business is dying.
@Felix Sulla
I agree. AOL has been AOL a long time before Arrington sold out. He may have made some money but his former colleagues are all f*cked.
@Christopher Westfall
Quick question: Why don't you just quit?
@Chuck Van Court
And your goal for this article is what exactly?
@Kirk Goodwin
Alexia, You should move on as from the writing of this story, you are part of the problem. If you are writing this publicly, then you are most likely also poisoning the coffee in the lunch room conversations. You obviously do not buy into the leadership of your employer for whatever or possibly many reasons. You need to stop drawing a paycheck immediately and move on. Don't play it safe! Give yourself a Christmas gift and rid yourself of your unhappiness called your job. Launch out - show the world how a media company should be run rather than griping about the one that is putting food on your table. I wish you well on your new endeavor and look forward to your future success.
@Blue Moon
That coffee was poisoned a long time ago
@Adrian Esquivel
Feels like I read more about what's going on at AOL/TechCrunch than actual tech...when's the book/movie going to come out?
@Akemi Sue Williams
I read TechCrunch every morning! Total nerd I know!
@Ivan Mladenovic
Techmeme.com you will never read anything else
@Chuck Van Court
Clearly Alexia is not a happy camper. She is also a spoiled brat who thinks she "breaks hearts" and has no accountability to her readers for the quality of her work. Question her work and she just tell you to stop reading. Ironically, this little "piss on AOL" article will probably give her some time since AOL now has to be considerate of the message they would send by letting her go for just doing what any good writer does when they write what they believe to be true. Nice maneuver Alexia to buy some time!

FBMaxed - Facebook HTML5 iFrame Template and Guide - Facebook Maxed

2011-12-26T05:10:00.000-08:00

FBMaxed - Facebook HTML5 iFrame Template and Guide - Facebook Maxed

The Definitive Guide To HTML5: 14 Predictions For 2012 | TechCrunch
@WebsPlanet
For all of you HTML lovers - heres an overview of what's coming from Tech Crunch.
@Alvaro Osvaldo LÃ³pez-GarcÃa
There is a big problem... data caps
@Marc Luetten
Is device function integration such as the camera available for html5 web apps yet?
@Hugh Isaacs II
Firefox 9 and the Android 4.0 browser provide some camera support. Full camera support should be shipped in browsers sometime 2012 (many are already working hard at this).
@Zsolt Vasvari
"Everyone loves Appleâs iOS". Not me, and I guess millions of others neither, but thanks for generalizing.
@Daniel Sun Yang
don't be so touchy lol. While I have my qualms with IOS, i applaud it for its marketable powers.
@Zsolt Vasvari
Daniel Sun Yang That's fine, but I certainly would want my web browser to be a static grid of icons, like this article implies that browser UIs will look like.
@Matt Labour
Daniel Sun Yang that's the exact problem. It creates biased fanboys.
@Alice Bradshaw
Why some developers still like Apple's closed-garden practices, encouraging user ignorance and blind consumerism is beyond me. The massive profit margins on consumer products, the huge toll of developers, the fact that all company operations are in China... no person capable of writing a "hello world" XHTML document should buy, support or develop for Apple
@Tj Ficklepeople
Never a fan of Apple but I can't deny the iOS is one of the most user friendly OS out there that even senior citizens can pick it up real fast.
@William Beard
I think he's just referring to jQuery mobile
@Daniel Kay
yeah had my laughs too: "Everyone loves Appleâs iOS".
@John Martins
Zsolt Vasvari Sounds like you just enjoy bitching. God damn you're cool.
@Ryan Takahashi
William Beard I hope not. I hate using jquery mobile. The W3C needs to come up with better mobile standards.
@George Hale
Alice Bradshaw As a developer myself I can vouch for their terrible practices and policies. Imagine being a guy who spent days and days cracking out an idea for an application, putting it into place over months, then Apple chooses that instead of working a deal with me, or competing legitimately, they'll make a clone of your application and sell it themselves. Because of Apple's market it will of course dominate, and you were crushed then by non-ethical practices and a marketing team creating zombies that are super-brand loyal for no logical reason.
@Sean Voss
Microsoft's "Latest" Browser is going to not only work, but be 10x faster. There's where you lost me. What make this time different from the glory that was supposed to be IE7, 8, and now 9?
@Jeff Kibuule
Because their basing most if their Windows 8 development platform in HTML5? All of the Metro apps Microsoft has written so far have been in HTML5, so they have some incentive for it not to suck.
@Flavius Saracut
Jeff Kibuule And coupled with their move to automatically update browsers for all users, Microsoft will have a word to say in 2012 in regards to HTML5.
@Bryson Connolly
Sigh, I believe the differences were explicitly outlined. (hardware acceleration, etc). What software company doesn't hype their product? IE7 was crap, but IE8 and IE9 and dramatically better in all categories.
@Alex Clapcott
All looks and sounds exciting & interesting... I think tech needs Microsoft to continue to engage at a serious level - keeps the playing field competitive and that's got to be good for everyone.
@Seth Eheart
The piece lost all credibility after "Everyone loves Appleâs iOS". Check the recent mobile growth charts? 80% of the his article is bullspit and the other 20% is duh.
@Mike Duganets
You forgot to mention: "Apple has invented new type of games: deaf-games."
@Grant Goodale
Mobile Safari in iOS5 and Android's browser in Honeycomb and ICS all support hardware accelerated canvas already, as do Firefox, Chrome and Safari on the desktop. No need to wait until 2013!
@Harry Tormey
sure, but the problem re Android is that Honeycomb represents about 3-6% of the market and it will take ICS more than a year to get a decent share of the market (re 25%+). Developing hardware accelerated apps for iOS will not have these problems.
@Varun Khurana
"Internet Explorer & Microsoft will dramatically improve in coolness." I really doubt it..
@David Smith
Well it's not a high bar for them to jump over. A dramatic improvement will just be developers not hating it so my guess is the author is correct. Anyway, when IE supports openGL is the day they really compete again.
@Ryan Takahashi
David Smith I'd be happy if they could at least get everyone to IE9. With none of these opt-out forced upgrade options.
@David Smith
to be precise on IE, I should say when Microsoft supports webGL which is based on openGL -ES but you know what I mean, and that lack of webGL/openGLwill hurt them on phones too, big time. That's really their last big arrogant stint, clinging to Direct-X only for most 3D, other than that IE 10 is pretty damn compliant to be fair, and if you program on the web you know that's actually true. Yes we all still have IE6 nightmares though and our lives are permanently damaged by it ;)
@Varun Khurana
Can't agree more about IE6 nightmares.. :)
@Bryson Connolly
Biased and unsubstantiated "opinion". Windows 7/8 and IE 9/10 are extremely dramatic improvements. Anyone that knows technology and software should respect all the major companies, as they all contribute to the overall advance.
@Vincent Amari
Ryan Takahashi Not until there is a version of IE9 for Windows XP, most people still use this version of Windows.
@Ryan Takahashi
Vincent Amari More people run win7 over winXP since august.
@Ade Molajo
A positive opinion on IE... doesn't this fly in the face of the "tech-literate" commandments. Thou must hate MS and all its products.
@Matt Labour
fuck the over-generalisation here @ TC. I hate the Apple fanboys writing articles here.
@Shaikh Naseer
HTML5 is the future....
@Yash Kumar
"Apple will NOT fix HTML5 sound in mobile Safari". Disagree totally. There are so many high-quality native music player apps in the App Store.. why would apple try to sabotage HTML5 audio just to go after web music players that can already suffer from a poorer user experience? IMO, Apple restrictions on HTML5 audio/video are explainable from a power/mobile usage perspective.. not some evil plot to kill other competitors.
@Harry Tormey
@yash kumar I totally agree. The article also does not mention the severe problems with html5 audio and Android, which will not magically get fixed in 2012. This article really is quite poor.
@Alistair MacDonald
I think it would make *a lot* of sense for Apple to fix sound in Mobile Safari. Audio takes very little battery life. You should take a look at this W3C article: http://www.w3.org/QA/2011/12/sounding_out_the_audio_apis.html - Advanced HTML5 Audio Processing already works in Safari Nightly builds... the logical next step would be mobile.
@David Smith
and I have a bridge to sell you Yash
@Ashraf Alhashim
"Taking a cue from Apple, browser manufacturers will start to realize that they are missing out by not being in the app store business. Google Chrome already has an integrated app-store as its splash page. " So, let me get this right: you're saying other browser manufacturers will begin to take Apple's lead, and do what Google already did before Apple released iOS 5? Cause that's not stupid at all.
@Kervin Pierre
He also credits Geolocation and push notifications to IOS even though those were in widespread use long before IOS had them.
@Daniel Burke
Kervin Pierre "in widespread use long before iOS"? False. There are those who are fanboys...and there are those that hate for one reason or another. You only make yourself look silly when you make outlandish comments like this without any substantiation. The word 'App' was in use before Apple also...but ask the next 10 people the first thing/word that comes to mind when you say the word 'App' and then lie to me and tell me that the first word is not something Apple-related. Give them the credit they deserve and knock them where they can be knocked. Don't just hate them universally, as it seems you are.
@Jason Ivers
Daniel Burke That's BS... Phone related, but as likely Android as Apple with the asking ten people about "App" thing. Also, to others, Geolocation already exists in Chrome, and I'm assuming other Webkit browsers. I think a universal Chrome notification bar would be really cool, though. Google is already using Chrome (in Chrome OS) as a GUI interface for a computer... that's why they are ahead of the game as far as what the author is talking about.
@Joe Wong
"push notifications, geolocation, and offline capable applications". are we talking about Google Chrome or Safari in iOS?
@Joe Wong
and Square Enix is remaking their famous titles on Google Chrome btw
@Scirra
Actually IE9/IE10 are 2 to 3 times *slower* than other browsers if you render with WebGL! See: http://www.scirra.com/blog/58/html5-2d-gaming-performance-analysis Also, Firefox and Chrome already hardware accelerate their canvases in their latest stable releases, and Opera 12 will when it comes out too, so who exactly is left outside of mobile browsers..
@Kuba 'owca' Siemiatkowski
there already is a 'ville' like game from Wooga called Magic Land Island which runs on mobile.
@Yuri Dobronravin
HTML5 Sound on iOS is not really such a problem. We have done own HTML5 tech http://www.logicking.com/index.php?page=html5 and it has sounds on both iOS and Android. Yes only one sound at time is allowed but for most of games it's pretty sufficient. Apple done a great job with iOS 5.0 regarding to HTML5 release, Android is also doing good with 4.0 release. I very confident that in 2012 we will see a lot of quality HTML5 games. HTML5 is clear winner to me.
@Julio Vargas
LOL.... Wow, this article could not be more disconnected. All it does it outline some of the HTML5 feature and forgets that HTML5 is a DRAFT specification and is years away. But he's amusing.
@Christopher Parker
But all HTML5 is is a collection of features built on top of HTML4 / XHTML 1.1. HTML5 features are here, right now, and they're usable. "Years away"?
@Julio Vargas
Christopher Parker Actually that is incorrect. HTML5 is NOT a collection of features. HTML5 is a structure mark up language. The industry is misusing the term and therefore individuals are getting the wrong information. While people are using other languages (CSS3, JS, JQuery) along with html5 to make things work it is NOT what HTML5 is. Just go over and review the W3C on HTML5 and you'll quickly understand. Finally, while you can use "some" of HTML5 features they are not all supported by all browsers and the end user must have a modern browser.
@Can Arbaz
Oh crap, a new ugly Internet Explorer version too :(. Tired to write fixes for IE while coding.
@Taizo Nakamura
Future is just around the corner.
@MicheÃ¡l Ã HÃgÃ¡in
Oh yeah, that's really going to fly, browsers that copy a product from a company that sues over things like push-to-call from an email.
@Lazar Radakovic
Judging by mobile marketshare, I'm pretty sure everybody loves Android.
@Taylor H. Perkins
I started laughing when you said Internet Explorer is going to blow away other browsers... Like laughing out loud...
@Seth Eheart
Me too. MFST will never be sexy or fast. Its not in their nature. Who the hell hires these writers?
@Bryson Connolly
And you're a software engineer? wow
@Peter Glassman
Typical "journalism" in the modern age. Absolute horseshit. Who paid who to say what? It only gets worse over time. Go away shill. Or be smarter about your shilling you fucking hack.
@Hironori Narushima
This feature was drawing in 1996. Sun micro-systems with Java/Applet... but this is not realized, and next decade will not comes this feature. Every application depend on device and OS platform. Drawing software will not move to HTML5 never ever.
@Stefan Parker
To your second to last point, although we never advertised it we support drag & drop cover photo uploads.
@Ouriel Ohayon
my prediction 2012 is the year of the native app. big time
@Keshav Singh
I have used Inkscape and has seen lots of limitation, I doubt if SVG format is even working correct. Will have to see how it shapes! But one thing is for sure - Browser will be the most important Desktop application on your computer :)..
@David Smith
I've used inkscape for years, it's wonderful. As a tool it's great, it is different than working with bitmaps so you have to get used to it.
@Luca Candela
HTML5 Ads authoring... we already emerged. Sencha makes Animator. You can mention that in the article, I don't mind.
@Chandan Benjaram
+1 to author predictions based on facts. In my view, HTML5 may not replace natives but serve as first choice for implementing native like apps over browsers and much more. Firefox should really look into making performance and canvas speed as high priority to compete in next generation even against IE. I can see there are several onshore/offshore companies emerging to serve future/HTML5 needs. One of them I have great experience with is Maisa Solutions. http://www.maisasolutions.com
@Dallon Feldner
"Internet Explorer 10 is faster" - yawn, heard it before for IE9, and IE8 before that. As a web developer, I just want Microsoft to stop making web browsers; or at least base IE on WebKit.
@Vadim Berman
An interesting topic, but you focus on several big players and less on general trends. Ads will definitely get as annoying as they can, I agree here (also likely more difficult to get rid of). BTW, you forgot to mention probably the most major development: an OS which runs HTML5 pages as native applications (the upcoming Windows 8).
@Nick Fleker Felker
Your predictions were okay. You didn't actually back them up with facts or statements from any browser companies. I am excited about what the web has to offer and now the Microsoft is finally stepping up its game, the web will serve as the best platform for developers.
@Costin Tuculescu
Where's the webcam and microphone support? WebRTC?
@Trevor Twining
I think the author successfully managed to piss off all the special interest groups, and therefore likely means the article is fairly balanced.
@Jon Finegold
the html5 ads opportunity is the most interesting, display ads need to get better and html5 / javascript will enable some captivating experiences with high engagement within the ad...it also opens up some potential risks and challenges for publishers, many start-up opportunities in this area - 2012 is just the beginning for html5ads.
@Carl Friend
I don't like web apps. Nice mention of inkscape though.
@Josh Whiting
Not even a mention of the camera access issue. I can't help but wonder if the lack of camera access is a conspiracy on the part of the big device and OS players to force a stronger market for native apps.

Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Tips from Consumer Reports

2011-12-26T05:08:00.000-08:00

Netflix vs. Blockbuster: Tips from Consumer Reports

Citi Survey: 27 Percent Watch Netflix Online Versus 15 Percent For Hulu | TechCrunch
@John Luetke
I saw the price hike as unjustified, and told myself that I was going to give Netflix 6 months to do something big or lose me as a customer. With 2 months to go, they have already revived the greatest show ever, and grown there streaming to include more modern videos. Am I extremely satisfied? Not yet. DVD offerings haven't expanded to new releases (mostly due to litigation), and whatever happened to them offering console games, which was a promise of Qwikster? Based on what they've done, will I be dropping them at the 6 month mark? No. I might extend the deadline a bit, but they've proven to me that dispute there missteps, they are still committed to their customers.
@Julian Hugh
With so much success with the Kindle Fire, I wouldn't be surprise by next year Amazon will surpassed both. I still love Netflix though and still watching great shows on there.
@Paul Silverstein
I've been with Netflix for many, many years and have not flinched when they raised their prices. It is a good service and it still beats any other way to get physical discs to your house. When I crunch the numbers, I am paying about $2.00 a blu-ray disc, sometimes less depending if I watch the disc that day and return the next day. And while I can get a redbox for less, the boxes often don't have the disc I want and is not always convenient gas-wise. It also smears Vudu cost-wise.
@Earvin Rahming
I think the price hike was justified. It was a way to combat those who were sharing Netflix accounts. It's a shame that the majority had to suffer on account of the few, but this is America so....
@Martin Nahuel Rabaglia
and...http://www.cuevana.tv?
@David Francoeur
They need more titles, that's it. Other than that current platform are good and reliable to use.
@Don Ouchy
Netflix has more offerings than Hulu so its stands to reason they get more traffic. I am interesting in is what companies fold into the â€œotherâ€ category. Most notable YouTube â€“ are they in the â€œotherâ€ category or do they not even register for long form content viewing?
@Jackson Calame
Lost my business. One classic show won't capture my attention. I'm sure Netflix will make things better, but I'm not going to pay for something that doesn't exist. You just can't raise prices in America without adding something new or more. You have to bite the bullet. Maybe it would have sunk the ship, in which case I may have made the same mood. But I'm sure they expected to lose a lot of business. I just so happen to have 4 redbox locations in EVERY direction of my house so it's too bad for them. And I'm wasting less time on movies! Woo hoo! I can waste a little time on TechCrunch!

Angry German Kid wants an Atari 2600 from Ebay

2011-12-26T05:06:00.000-08:00

Angry German Kid wants an Atari 2600 from Ebay

eBay acquires German ‘purchase-on-invoice’ technology company BillSAFE
@George Paulson
As far as making/saving $ and eBay goes, forget the stock and use the website. Use a site like Ebuyersedge.com to set up saved searches. You get an e-mail whenever a matching item is newly listed. Especially good for "Buy It Now"s that are priced right. Try a misspelling search using a site like Typojoe.com to hopefully find some great deals with items that have main key words misspelled in the title. Other interested buyers might not ever see them. If you see an auction that you want to bid on, use a sniping service such as Hidbid.com to place your bid for you. It'll bid in the last few seconds, helping you to save money and avoid shill bidding.
@Cheapink Cartridges
nice information thanks for this.
@Philip Charles Cohen
"PayPal / eBay... claims that purchase on invoice is already the most popular form of payment in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands." Dream on JD... Study Sees PayPal Adoption Down Among Multi-Channel Merchants. âTwenty-two percent of EPIS merchants who had accepted PayPal on their own websites and off-eBay stores in October 2010 stopped accepting PayPal as a payment method on those sites in October 2011. âThere were 19% more merchants who accepted credit cards on their own websites and stores in October 2011 than in October 2010.â. http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y11/m11/i21/s02 Even better, Visa is to launch its new online payments gateway âV.meâ next year. The idea is similar to that offered by PayPal: you upload details of your payment cards to Visaâeven if they're not Visa-brandedâand Visa will process the payment without revealing your card details to the merchant. At least off-eBay online merchants will at last be able to free themselves from the parasitic, most unprofessional, unscrupulous and âclunkyâ PreyPal. And, undoubtedly, PreyPal will then atrophy back to itâs mandated use on the eBafia marketplace only, from whence, without its mandated use thereon, PreyPal would never have had the success that it has had. But, be in no doubt, except for its mandated use on whatever will be by then left of the Donahoe-stagnated eBay Marketplace, the clunky PreyPal will elsewhere be quickly buried by Visaâs professional offering, âV.meâ, once it is up and running in 2012. So, no more underpinning of eBayâs sagging bottom line by the clunky PreyPal. What will the âeBafia Donâ do then? Maybe, if Mittless Romney wins the GOP nomination we can hope that he will pick as his running mate his fellow âPain from Bainâ, the headless turkey, John Donahoe. Donahoe's nearing the completion of his destruction of the eBay marketplace and so he should soon be looking for an even bigger challenge. PayPal claims PayPal Is Not a Payments Processor! http://forums.auctionbytes.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=24148 eBay / PayPal / Donahoe: Dead Men Walking.
@Christian Thaler Wolski
nice job but still quite sad German entrepreneurs too often sell out too quickly.... strategic investors are useful in the beginning but bite you in the back in the long run...
@Paula Marttila
PayPal gearing up for Klarna's German invasion with DST cannonballs :) Agree on strategic investors, slippery slide not to end up being their bitch.

Akamai Whiteboard - How We Improve Internet Delivery

2011-12-26T05:05:00.000-08:00

Akamai Whiteboard - How We Improve Internet Delivery

Done Deal – Akamai Buys Rival Cotendo For $268 Million | TechCrunch
@Innovation Israel
Lots of action going on here :)
@Karthi Keyan
Nice., I hope this merger would help us technically to offer a CDN enabled web application development for more clients., Because akamai may be a 1 to 1 competitor for Amazon AWS S3.
@Richard Kligman
Very happy for the Contendo Team and a great deal for Akamai! Nice Chanukah Present.

Japan future gadgets

2011-12-26T05:03:00.002-08:00

Japan future gadgets
Japan’s Top 3 Mobile Carriers Agree To Support Global NFC Standard | TechCrunch
@
It is good that the top 3 mobile carriers in Japan want to join the global community of cell phones carrier service providers but our top carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Sprint) in the U.S. are strong competitors and are offering very good deals for the holidays. http://bit.ly/tAKPJ3
@RH Blanchfield
I'm really hoping NFC catches on in Europe and the US. I lived in Japan and paying by mobile is one of the most convenient things ever created. Google Wallet is a great start, but the device & service that will propel it hasn't come to the masses yet.
@Geo Rodriguez
This is huge news for NFC. A push in the right direction for what I believe is a grossly under estimated form of future technologies. I'm seeing the biggest marketing ploy throughout with this technology.
@Tatsuki Konno
Type A and Type B NFC standards?
@Karl Baron
My phone is Type O, since it's sociable, optimistic and a bit rude and jealous
@FranÃ§ois RejetÃ©
The real question is why didn't the rest of the world adopt osaifu keitai which has worked for years here in Japan, instead of re-inventing the wheel with a new standard (or 2, wtf is Type A and Type B)?

Business Photos from Google

2011-12-26T05:03:00.001-08:00

Business Photos from Google

Cloudability Raises $1.1M To Help Businesses Manage And Monitor Cloud Costs | TechCrunch
@Just Merrick
Congrats to Mat, J.r. and Jon! Very proud to be on the round. Go Portland!
@Jeff Cutler-Stamm
Congrats to our friends at Cloudability! Another great Portland startup on the scene.
@Mat Ellis
Props to AngelList, Portland Incubator Experiment and Just Merrick. We would have done a very different round without them.
@Scott Ling
Congratz Guys
@Aaron Parecki
Congrats guys!
@Brad Heller
Nice work guys! It's been really fun to watch you guys ramp up.
@Misha Logvinov
Congrats Mat & team.

Eric Schmidt at Mobile World Congress

2011-12-26T04:58:00.000-08:00

Amazon Stops Hiding Competitors’ E-Reading Apps On The Kindle Fire | TechCrunch
@Leslie Tita
Your article was really pleasant to read, you make valid arguments and great counter arguments, MG Siegler should learn a tip or two from you.
@Tou Karl
Amazon, welcome to Apple world. How does it feel now that you are sporting a similar show?
@Kristjan Kanarik
Amazon, just make better apps and make more/better/cheaper books available and people will not go to those other apps. Simple as that.
@Ken Schoenberg
I believe Amazon is going through a process on each app to make sure it is compatible with the Kindle. Similar to Apple's App store. That the process might have taken less than a month for some apps isn't inconceivable.How many months was it before Apple released Opera for the iPad? As for the re-directing of the Android Market. They should have said what they were doing and explained through a pop-up the problem. While I understand that I can't use the Android Market there are still reasons to go there such as sending apps to other Android devices. Unlike Apple allows apps to be installed from many other sources without any form of hacking/jailbreaking necessary. There are also other app stores that can be installed on the Kindle Fire like GetJar. It's also nice that Amazon allowed Adobe Flash to run thus supporting hundreds of thousands of websites that Apple chose to basically block. I'd say Amazon has done a very good job in the support area, including the release of the patch this week which fixed and improved performance dramatically. Apple made me wait seven months to get a fix for the horrid WiFi issue on the iPad. I guess it's time for the torch and pitchfork crew to find some other small issue to highlight.
@Robin Wauters
No, the apps were already approved by Amazon, and worked on Android tablets (including the Kindle Fire) just fine. The problem was that they weren't listed on the Fire. Again, for whatever reason (I asked Amazon but haven't heard back yet).
@John Gelroth
I guess we should all thank Wattpad for talking to Amazon and reminding them that competition is good, and that Google's Android platform was built to address that issue of Apple's closed market.
@Sean McGee
Still cant find Kobo app on Kindle Fire... Wattpad works, but Kobo doesn't.
@Robin Wauters
Thanks, see update.
@Reto Perdida de Peso
Still no app.
@Kevin Zweier
Sideloading Kobo app does not work either. The Kindle Fire allows you to install it, but not open or use the app.
@Ade Molajo
Yeah because Amazon made the fire so that it could be an open and competive eco-system. Sarcasm aside, third party readers e.g. alkido etc are a black cloud on the publishing industry. There are a lot of premium, newly released books swimming around on piratebay... I'm not a SOPA supporter but its not good for the stakeholders.

Amazon Kindle Fire - A real competitor.

2011-12-24T02:17:00.000-08:00

Amazon Kindle Fire - A real competitor.
Amazon Stops Hiding Competitors’ E-Reading Apps On The Kindle Fire |

@Leslie Tita
Your article was really pleasant to read, you make valid arguments and great counter arguments, MG Siegler should learn a tip or two from you.
@Tou Karl
Amazon, welcome to Apple world. How does it feel now that you are sporting a similar show?
@Kristjan Kanarik
Amazon, just make better apps and make more/better/cheaper books available and people will not go to those other apps. Simple as that.
@Ken Schoenberg
I believe Amazon is going through a process on each app to make sure it is compatible with the Kindle. Similar to Apple's App store. That the process might have taken less than a month for some apps isn't inconceivable.How many months was it before Apple released Opera for the iPad? As for the re-directing of the Android Market. They should have said what they were doing and explained through a pop-up the problem. While I understand that I can't use the Android Market there are still reasons to go there such as sending apps to other Android devices. Unlike Apple allows apps to be installed from many other sources without any form of hacking/jailbreaking necessary. There are also other app stores that can be installed on the Kindle Fire like GetJar. It's also nice that Amazon allowed Adobe Flash to run thus supporting hundreds of thousands of websites that Apple chose to basically block. I'd say Amazon has done a very good job in the support area, including the release of the patch this week which fixed and improved performance dramatically. Apple made me wait seven months to get a fix for the horrid WiFi issue on the iPad. I guess it's time for the torch and pitchfork crew to find some other small issue to highlight.
@Robin Wauters
No, the apps were already approved by Amazon, and worked on Android tablets (including the Kindle Fire) just fine. The problem was that they weren't listed on the Fire. Again, for whatever reason (I asked Amazon but haven't heard back yet).
@John Gelroth
I guess we should all thank Wattpad for talking to Amazon and reminding them that competition is good, and that Google's Android platform was built to address that issue of Apple's closed market.
@Sean McGee
Still cant find Kobo app on Kindle Fire... Wattpad works, but Kobo doesn't.
@Robin Wauters
Thanks, see update.
@Reto Perdida de Peso
Still no app.
@Kevin Zweier
Sideloading Kobo app does not work either. The Kindle Fire allows you to install it, but not open or use the app.
@Ade Molajo
Yeah because Amazon made the fire so that it could be an open and competive eco-system. Sarcasm aside, third party readers e.g. alkido etc are a black cloud on the publishing industry. There are a lot of premium, newly released books swimming around on piratebay... I'm not a SOPA supporter but its not good for the stakeholders.

Inside Amazons new distribution centre, Swansea

2011-12-24T02:16:00.000-08:00

Inside Amazons new distribution centre, Swansea

Amazon To Invest $270 Million In New Distribution Centers In Virginia, Tennessee | TechCrunch
@RH Blanchfield
Wow, and I though jobs were created by bailing out banks & other old industry institutions! /s
@Yuliya Karnaukh
Tennessee sounds good to me. And not only me)).
@Julian Hugh
Sounds awesome to hear. Another reason to love Amazon even more.
@Matt Keithley
wonder when they'll announce ways to apply for jobs?
@Kervin Pierre
" to warehouse and shop items".
@Robin Wauters
good catch, thx
@Sidian Jones
Robin Wauters Hey there Robin, could you impart to me how to get one's "Subscribe" button to show up here in the comments section by our names? I notice only some people have it. Thanks so much in advance, I've been looking all over on how to do this.
@Chad Pfeffer
Awesome....should be a nice boost to the local economy here in Nashville area. Thanks Amazon.
@George Daskalakis
So Robin are we supposed to be excited about 3,300 new distribution jobs with minimal benefits that will barely pay a living wage? I know in parts of Tennessee and Virginia jobs are scarce and they'll take them any way they can get them, but the trend towards distribution oriented hourly jobs is concerning.
@Jon Moss
Amazon, VW and Wacker are leading the charge here in Chattanooga for long term growth. That and innovative new startups like LifeKraze, not to mention the The Gig City initiative. 2012 promises to be an exciting year for the southeast!
@Sandeep Chowdary Dhulipalla
love to apply, no need to relocate.
@Sidian Jones
Well, we can show that at least some tech creates jobs.