Chestnuts roasting on an iYule log
Go to iYule.tv to download a Yule Log video for your iPod, Zune, or computer. Costs $5 to $10, with a small portion of proceeds going to charity.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/26/iyuletv-a-yule-log-for-your-iphone/
Cyber Monday
According to the National Retail Federation, 72% of online retailers offered discounts on Cyber Monday, up from 43% two years ago. An estimated 72 million adults shopped online, which is 31.9% of the adult population. http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=123003UFVJQU&nl=5
Hey Ma! Check Out This Here Internet!
A government advisory board is urging the FCC to devote $300 million of its $7 billion fund toward bringing broadband service to rural areas. Currently, only 33% of rural homes have high-speed access. http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=71580&Nid=36716&p=910435
Google's Head in the Cloud
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is still pursuing it’s dream of "cloud" computing by prepping to launch a service in a few months that allows people to store all their computer files online, to be accessed and shared from any computer or mobile device. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119612660573504716.html?mod=us_business_whats_news
http://www.roughtype.com/archives/2007/10/googles_cloud.php
Can You Hear Me NOW, Google!?!
Verizon Wireless has announced it will open up its network to unlocked phones. Is Verizon buttering up the FCC for the upcoming 700 mhz auction? Or striking back at Google’s Open Handset Alliance? All of the above?
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/27/verizon-wireless-opens-up-it-network-whos-next/
Skype Me
The 3 Skypephone is available in the UK, Australia, and Italy this month, with Hong Kong, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Ireland coming soon. In addition to free Skype-to-Skype calls and messaging, there's Internet functionality.
http://www.mobile-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=123005585D29&nl=8
NBC: Why skip ads when you can watch more of them?
NBC has announced a partnership with TiVo to offer interactive ads. Marketers will have the option to add a TiVo “tag” to their commercials. This tag will trigger an icon asking viewers if they want to watch a longer video about the product.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSWNAS320520071127
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=122231
X-Box Live Gets Social
Starting in December, users of X-Box Live will become a pseudo-social network by offering players the ability to see friends of people in their contacts list. The more to frag, the merrier. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/26/microsoft-brings-social-networking-style-feature-to-the-xbox-360/