Syber News http://news.syberplanet.net All The Tech News U Wanted Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:34:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 SyberNewshttp://feedburner.google.com Bump Goes Cross-Platform With New Android App; Upgrades iPhone Version Too http://news.syberplanet.net/bump-goes-cross-platform-with-new-android-app-upgrades-iphone-version-too/ http://news.syberplanet.net/bump-goes-cross-platform-with-new-android-app-upgrades-iphone-version-too/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:34:21 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=119246 It's a big night for Bump Technologies, the mobile software startup that recently landed a round of funding led by Sequoia Capital. The company makes mobile apps that let users share their contact information (and other data) simply by tapping their phones together. Up until now the app has been available for the iPhone only, where it's developed quite a following, and tonight it's launching on Android as well. The iPhone is getting some love too, as Bump's 1.2 update was just approved by Apple (you can grab it here). The updated iPhone app includes a 'Friend Compare' feature that looks at the address book and Facebook profiles of you and the person you're bumping with to see if you have any mutual friends, which can be a good way to break the ice if you're meeting someone for the first time. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/bump-goes-cross-platform-with-new-android-app-upgrades-iphone-version-too/feed/ 0 Dealtaker’s @couponbot Will Fetch Coupons For You On Twitter http://news.syberplanet.net/dealtaker%e2%80%99s-couponbot-will-fetch-coupons-for-you-on-twitter/ http://news.syberplanet.net/dealtaker%e2%80%99s-couponbot-will-fetch-coupons-for-you-on-twitter/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:20:02 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=118989 As the holiday shopping season approaches, more consumers are looking for online coupons to provide discounts. In fact, Google Insights for Search indicates that searches for coupons and promo codes are steadily growing with 68% of consumers reporting that they plan take advantage of coupons this season. Free coupon site DealTaker is making it easier for consumers to find coupons on Twitter via a Tweet command @couponbot. Here's how it works. You send a Tweet to @CouponBot with a specific store name (@CouponBot BestBuy). DealTaker calls on an army of Twitter agents to search thousands of coupons in the DealTaker database and return links to the most current coupons to you via an @reply (not a DM). The links could be from DealMaker or the retailer's site and you will receive a maximum of ten @replies. And Users do not have to follow DealTaker to use @CouponBot. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/dealtaker%e2%80%99s-couponbot-will-fetch-coupons-for-you-on-twitter/feed/ 0 MOG Shows A Teaser Video Of New Music Service http://news.syberplanet.net/mog-shows-a-teaser-video-of-new-music-service/ http://news.syberplanet.net/mog-shows-a-teaser-video-of-new-music-service/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:51:13 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=119230 A month ago we were criticizing MOG for over promising and under delivering with their new All Access music service. Our chief complaint was that the service wasn't free, which was the original vision. Today though, we reported that the odds are against Spotify launching for free in the U.S., and MySpace Music may move to a subscription model. Suddenly, MOG may be right in the thick of things, despite the fact that they will charge $5/month for the service. So the timing was right today for MOG to release a first teaser video of All Access. This shows off just a part of the service - playlists. But from watching the video it's clear that they are creating one heck of a user experience. Search looks to be extremely fast, with intelligent auto-complete. Adding songs from various places in the service is simple (compare to MySpace Music, which is still cumbersome after a year). And users can make the playlists private or public. The social aspect of the service, including public and shareable playlists, is an advantage over Spotify. Spotify is mostly about you and your music, and you aren't bothered with stuff from other people. But I like the idea of finding new playlists from friends, or that have been made popular by others. I also like that MOG is browser based and doesn't require a download. I've been testing Spotify but only have it on one computer, so I can't use it all the time. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/mog-shows-a-teaser-video-of-new-music-service/feed/ 0 Simple Is As Simple Does: The Risk Of Retweet http://news.syberplanet.net/simple-is-as-simple-does-the-risk-of-retweet/ http://news.syberplanet.net/simple-is-as-simple-does-the-risk-of-retweet/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:38:52 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=119094 Despite starting Blogger, Evan Williams rarely blogs. But yesterday, for the first time in several months, he decided to put the digital pen to the digital paper in order to layout his thoughts for Twitter's new Retweet functionality. It's a great view into the mindset behind what is already becoming a controversial change. Why is there so much controversy? The answer is simple — literally. When Twitter began, you could do one thing on it: Send a blurb about what you were doing in 140 characters or less. This led to an immediate outcry from a wide range of people who thought that it was just about the dumbest service in the world. Others saw the potential behind such a simple service, precisely because it was so simple, and history has proven time and time again that sometimes simple ideas can explode into the biggest ones. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/simple-is-as-simple-does-the-risk-of-retweet/feed/ 0 StuffBuff: Real-Time Auctions With A Viral Twist http://news.syberplanet.net/stuffbuff-real-time-auctions-with-a-viral-twist/ http://news.syberplanet.net/stuffbuff-real-time-auctions-with-a-viral-twist/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:23:27 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=119195 When it comes to online auctions, most people think of the lengthy, generally unexciting (at least until the last few minutes) auctions found on eBay. But in the last year we've seen some more interesting action in the space — Swoopo is one site that comes to mind, but it is an "entertainment shopping" experience that has an element of gambling to it (you can walk away empty handed and still lose money). StuffBuff is a new site that's taking a different approach: it's looking to combine the real-time nature of sites like Twitter with traditional auction sites like eBay. The company made its debut in the TechCrunch50 Demopit, and is today launching in private beta. We've got 500 invites for TechCrunch readers. To join, use the invite code "TechCrunch". A standard StuffBuff auction (called a 'Live Haggle') looks quite similar to a chat room, with a few key differences. The top of the chat window shows a 'time left' indicator that lets you know when the auction ends, and there's a bidding window below the chat box where you enter how much you're willing to pay (entering a bid is considered binding). ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/stuffbuff-real-time-auctions-with-a-viral-twist/feed/ 0 The New Palm Pixi Commercial: The Mystery Witch Is Dead! http://news.syberplanet.net/the-new-palm-pixi-commercial-the-mystery-witch-is-dead/ http://news.syberplanet.net/the-new-palm-pixi-commercial-the-mystery-witch-is-dead/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:08:43 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=119200 It’s a new day at Palm. The Pixi, Palm’s Treo-esque addition to the WebOS line-up, is getting new commercials without Miss Crazy Face and her magical Pre. Instead, you get hot people taking pictures of each other and having fun. This is the kind of commercial that I call the McCafe (or Devin’s lifestyle in Seattle) - excited people doing something exciting. It’s a big departure from Palm and a points to a move towards the mainstream. Video after the jump. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/the-new-palm-pixi-commercial-the-mystery-witch-is-dead/feed/ 0 Facebook Coming To PS3 In Mystery Update http://news.syberplanet.net/facebook-coming-to-ps3-in-mystery-update/ http://news.syberplanet.net/facebook-coming-to-ps3-in-mystery-update/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:40:08 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=119189 Some leaked screenshots from Sony show a PS3 running with what looks like a native Facebook client configurable. There's also a new photo browser and the ability to change the color of your gamercard, but at those features I make a dismissive gesture— thusly. A Facebook app would be handy, though a constant stream of status updates from heavy players might be lead to mutings by less gaming-orientated friends. "Devin found a new item!" There's one small picture of Facebook on the PS3 (yes, that's all there is), and it's not even of a client. It's a user accounts configuration screen that happens to include Facebook. So it's not much to look at, but it was traced to Sony UK's site, so we're pretty sure it's legit. Sony "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation," obviously, so we won't be hearing from them, but it would be ridiculous to think that a all-in-one entertainment device like the PS3 wouldn't have Facebook on it eventually. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/facebook-coming-to-ps3-in-mystery-update/feed/ 0 Interview With Matt Bromberg, CEO of Major League Gaming http://news.syberplanet.net/interview-with-matt-bromberg-ceo-of-major-league-gaming/ http://news.syberplanet.net/interview-with-matt-bromberg-ceo-of-major-league-gaming/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:28:16 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=118220 This past weekend, thousands of gamers descended upon the Anaheim Convention Center to spectate and compete in one of the biggest video game competitions of the year, put on by Major League Gaming. Over two hundred teams of four individuals competed for the Halo 3 Championship where prize money totaled almost $60,000; while an additional $60,000 was up for grabs for titles such as Gears of War 2, Wold of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and EA Sports Madden NFL. I had the opportunity to speak with the CEO of Major League Gaming, Matt Bromberg, about MLG's continued growth through this recession and their plans for the upcoming years. ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/interview-with-matt-bromberg-ceo-of-major-league-gaming/feed/ 0 Microsoft: Windows 7 Inspired By Mac OS X http://news.syberplanet.net/microsoft-windows-7-inspired-by-mac-os-x/ http://news.syberplanet.net/microsoft-windows-7-inspired-by-mac-os-x/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:10:00 +0000 Syberplanet tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17059798.post-6430289280122984016 Honesty is the best policy, but one has to wonder if Steve Ballmer is pulling what's left of his hair out over this comment by Microsoft's Partner Group Manager, Simon Aldous. In an interview with PCR, he admitted (horror) that Windows 7 took inspiration from Mac OS X.

He also added that those who call Windows 7 "Vista on steroids" aren't far from the mark. Too late, Simon.

Here's what he said about the Windows 7 inspiration:
One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it’s very graphical and easy to use. What we’ve tried to do with Windows 7 – whether it’s traditional format or in a touch format – is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics. We’ve significantly improved the graphical user interface, but it’s built on that very stable core Vista technology, which is far more stable than the current Mac platform, for instance (it is?).
This is a great talking point for Apple, and here's another question: how long before this shows up in a Mac vs. PC ad?
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]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/microsoft-windows-7-inspired-by-mac-os-x/feed/ 0 The Crunchies Are Coming, The Crunchies Are Coming! http://news.syberplanet.net/the-crunchies-are-coming-the-crunchies-are-coming/ http://news.syberplanet.net/the-crunchies-are-coming-the-crunchies-are-coming/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:51:41 +0000 Syberplanet http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=118647 Let the trumpets sound and the games begin. It's not the Oscars or the Olympics, but it is the commencement of the 3rd annual Crunchies Awards that we're pleased to co-host with GigaOm and VentureBeat (click for their coverage today). Yes, this is the time of year that we stop bickering among ourselves as bloggers, and come together to honor the startups, products and entrepreneurs who make our lives so much fun. The Crunchies Awards celebrate the best technology accomplishments of 2009. There are 18 award categories to recognize accomplishments across a variety of fields and roles. And to keep things fresh, we have a few new award categories this year too. Our focus is start-ups, but big companies and products can be winners too. Starting today, nominate your favorite companies, products and people for consideration in 18 different award categories. Self nominations are welcome. Grab a badge here and get your community to support you for finalist consideration. Nominations are open through midnight pst December 4, 2009 . ]]> http://news.syberplanet.net/the-crunchies-are-coming-the-crunchies-are-coming/feed/ 0