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New Media News Every Morning

YouTube Knocks Out Viacom

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Today is a good day for Google. Not only are Android phones selling faster than expected, but it looks like the courts have dismissed Viacom’s lawsuit against YouTube.

Today, the court granted our motion for summary judgment in Viacom’s lawsuit with YouTube. This means that the court has decided that YouTube is protected by the safe harbor of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) against claims of copyright infringement. We’re extremely gratified by this decision and the now established judicial consensus that online services like YouTube are immune from liability when they work cooperatively with copyright holders to help them protect their rights online. (Official YouTube Blog) [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 23, 2010 @ 4:52 pm

Apple Snubs iPad, Launches iPhone App For Apple Store

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It looks like the boys and girls at Cupertino have launched an official app for their app store, allowing Apple fans too lazy to fight the iFaithful in the physical world to order their gear from the palm of their hands.

Buy Apple products and accessories, read customer reviews, find an Apple Retail Store, stay up to date with in-store events, and make Personal Shopping, Genius Bar, or One to One appointments.

The Apple Store app is also the easiest way to buy or reserve your new iPhone — right from your current iPhone. You can do it in just a few taps, without entering your AT&T account information. Order your new iPhone from the Apple Online Store and it’s shipped to you free and ready to use. Or reserve your new iPhone, pick it up at an Apple Retail Store, and we’ll set it up for you in minutes. (Apple Store App)

This should make pre ordering iPhone 4 (or even the glorious iPad) much easier for iFans, as the app connects directly with your iTunes account (so make sure you have plenty of funds available before ordering).

While an official Apple App was long over due, what is puzzling is the fact that Apple didn’t make their app “iPad friendly.” [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 15, 2010 @ 11:52 am

Video: Windows 7 Smartphone Copies iPhone (Still Ugly)

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Despite being late to the smartphone game, it looks like Microsoft’s Windows 7 smartphone could make a strong entrance into the smartphone arena, despite the crowded field.

While the mobile OS looks highly functional (in some ways more than Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android, especially in the social networking department), the overall layout of the OS remains an eye sore as one can tell from the video below. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 23, 2010 @ 10:58 am

Google Earth Makes Hiking Geek Friendly (Again)

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The search engine giant has released another update for Google Earth users that should please those who enjoy hiking, biking and running in the out doors (especially over long distances).

With Google Earth 5.2, you can now import existing GPS data as a new kind of “track.” With a track, you can move the time-slider to animate time and retrace your journey. Google Earth will draw an icon so that it is properly positioned for the given time that you are viewing. As you move through time, the icon will animate along your path. You can also select a window of time which will highlight the corresponding section of your trip.

In Google Earth 5.0, we introduced Tours: cinematic, narrated flights around Google Earth. With one click you can make a tour based on your track, which will fly you along your journey from a bird’s-eye view. You can play back the tour like a video and share it with friends. (Official Google LatLong Blog)

By integrating tracks with their 3D software, Google Earth will once again become a highlight among bikers, runners and hikers (who often like to brag how far and fast they have traveled on a particular route or trail, this author included). [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 14, 2010 @ 7:14 pm

Is Dell Creating A Google Chrome Laptop?

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Known mostly for creating PC’s powered by Windows, it looks like Dell could be pondering a laptop powered by the search engine giant’s official operating system (aka Chrome OS).

“There are going to be unique innovations coming up in the marketplace in two, three years, with a new form of computing, we want to be on that forefront … So with Chrome or Android or anything like that we want to be one of the leaders,” [Dell’s president for Greater China and South Asia] Midha said, adding that there were no firm announcements to be made but talks were underway. (Reuters) [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 21, 2010 @ 3:30 pm