Month: November 2009 (Page 4 of 9)

      YouTube launches citizen journalism site

      November 17, 2009 /

      YouTube logo.This morning YouTube announced a new site aimed at connecting citizen journalists with one another and with larger news networks. Called YouTube Direct, the site also allows news editors to make requests for footage of events, like natural disasters and political rallies. I’ve not been a huge fan of citizen journalism in the past, mostly because of the unedited trash people tend to gobble up as truth. This, though, puts that news back into the hands of the editors, which admittedly is its own problem, but I’ll take it over the alternative.

      The site allows editors to post call-out videos requesting footage from your average Joe, a service that’s being tested by large news sources like the Huffington Post and NPR. The new site isn’t about revenue, though, according to YouTube’s head of news and politics, Steve Grove. “It’s an incentive to upload great video, because of the recognition you’ll get from legitimate news organizations.” The blog post announcing the site linked to videos you’ve probably seen of a teacher slapping an autistic child and a Chinese earthquake.

      You can check out more about the service at the official blog.

      Video, Websites

      Verizon lawyers file a catty response

      November 16, 2009 /

      AT&T 3G coverage map.Verizon had to respond to the AT&T lawsuit at some point, but I didn’t think the response would be so catty. And boy is it catty. Verizon lawyers have dropped all the legalese in order to get a few more digs at AT&T and its crappy network.

      The response opens like this: “AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon’s “There’s A Map For That” advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true and the truth hurts.” So it’s gonna be like that then? And that’s just what the lawyers are saying. Imagine how much worse things could get over the airwaves.

      As Engadget points out, the rest of the response reads more like a press release than a legal document. Here’s another tidbit:

      In the final analysis, AT&T seeks emergency relief because Verizon’s side-by-side, apples-to-apples comparison of its own 3G coverage with AT&T’s confirms what the marketplace has been saying for months: AT&T failed to invest adequately in the necessary infrastructure to expand its 3G coverage to support its growth in smartphone business, and the usefulness of its service to smartphone users has suffered accordingly.

      Me-ow. This one’s definitely not over.

      Mobile

      Facebook for WebOS is as weak as the App Catalog

      November 16, 2009 /

      facebook-palmLike most things involving WebOS and the new Palm devices, the Facebook app for WebOS is underwhelming. Actually, it’s worse than that, considering how far app development has come since the smartphone app craze started. Maybe they should get Joe Hewitt involved? I hear he’s done with that other project he’s been working on.

      The problem is just a total lack of features. You get unfiltered news feeds, even if you’ve unselected application updates in your profile, and videos and links pull you out of the app. Sure it’s nice to multitask but to do so unnecessarily is just silly. There’s seemingly no search feature, no way to access events, and clicking another person’s name seems to bring up little more than contact info.

      What can you do? Well, you can upload pictures and post status updates and…well that seems to be about it. Another compelling reason to get a Palm Pre.

      Apps, Mobile

      Apple beats Psystar in infringement case

      November 16, 2009 /

      Psystar running OS X.This should come as no surprise, but Apple officially came out the victor in its case against Psystar. We could get into specifics, but it just seems easier to say that Psystar failed to get anything it wanted. Well, that’s what happens when you’re copying, modifying, and redistributing another company’s software without permission.

      There’s still going to be a trial, as the courts need to determine, “Apple’s allegations of breach of contract; induced breach of contract, trademark infringement; trademark dilution; trade dress infringement; and state unfair competition under California Business and Professions Code ยง 17200; and common law unfair competition,” or, how bad will things really get for Psystar. The answer: terrible. It’s goodbye money, hello damage payouts.

      Source: Groklaw

      Apple, Computers

      CrunchPad steamrolling toward production

      November 15, 2009 /

      CrunchPad.It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything about Michael Arrington’s CrunchPad, the slim little web tablet the TechCrunch founder was developing. As Arrington has it, though, the project is moving forward, headed for production at some still unannounced date. The price has gone up from the original $200 to somewhere between $300 and $400.

      A few months back everyone thought the CrunchPad was dead, doomed because of rising production costs. While the price has gone up, the new range is definitely reasonable, but what about the features? The longer the CrunchPad gets delayed, the less likely that it can really be competitive. Apple already has a desirable tablet in the works and ereaders like the Nook are getting sturdy enough to make the CrunchPad look irrelevant.

      I can’t say a November release for $400 would have been better, because that’s the weird price point everyone seems to want to avoid. At this point, though, the CrunchPad needs some new life, or it’s going to be a huge flop.

      Source: YouTube (Gillmor Gang)

      Computers, News

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