Gizmodo: around the web

Quick News: 100 HDTV Channels and More DRM-Free Music Talk [Announcements]

Ben Longo — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:17:59 EDT

How does 100 HDTV channels sound? Well, according to Time Warner Cable, that's how much bandwidth would be available if they were able to turn off analog programming in Staten Island.

And speaking of Time Warner, they have partnered up with FON to allow their Internet subscribers to officially start sharing their Internet bandwidth.

Amazon looks to be the latest company trying to get in on the "no more DRM" action. There have been reports that Amazon has been conversing with numerous major labels.

HP is suing Acer for patent infringement, again. This time HP is looking to have Acer banned from US sales, due to their patent negligence.

Vertical Computer Systems looks to be getting on the patent lawsuit bandwagon as well. VCS claims that Microsoft's .NET violates their patent for "a system and method for generating websites in an arbitrary object framework".– Ben Longo

Around the Web [Announcements]

Ben Longo — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:40:22 EDT

Crocs, those ugly little shoes that all the suburbanites seem to be wearing these days, have been banned in Swedish hospitals. Thanks to the possibility of creating a static "cloud of lightning" thereby disabling all of the hospitals equipment.

Froogle, Google's product search, has been shut down. But never fear price-savvy readers, now there's Google Price Finder.

And speaking of being price-savvy, Pioneer has a internal PC Blu-ray drive in the works. What's so special? How does a retail price of only $300 sound?

According to a Poll of IT security managers sponsored by Cisco, data theft has supplanted malware as the biggest security threat. – Ben Longo

Around the Web [Announcements]

Ben Longo — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:45:42 EDT

The TurboTax servers gave their last-minute filers a big ol' middle finger last night, when its servers went kaput Luckily, Uncle Sam isn't going to penalize them.

According to a report by MessageLab, MIcrosoft can breath a sigh of relief since Word is no longer the most exploited application. The new champion is PowerPoint. Dammit!

Sony Computer Entertainment is changing up everything. Today the head honcho of their Italian operation, Corrado Buonanno, said ciao, arrivederci & addio (He Quit).

For the gamers out there who are sick of video games being blamed for every national tragedy, there will be a protest at Bryant Park in NYC on May 5th.– Ben Longo

Around the Web [Announcements]

Ben Longo — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:40:29 EDT

Your next MP3 player just might charge a little bit faster thanks to a USB Charging Revision spec that ups the available current to 500 milliamps.

According to an internal memo from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, as many as 160 employees could be let go by tomorrow.

Another chapter in the Vonage "woe is me" story. Some analysts are claiming that Sprint might throw its hat into the mix, in the form of a buyout.

Cisco has invested in Avega's 2nd round of startup funding. The home networking company is known for its abilities to wirelessly network home electronics like media players, set-top boxes & PC's.– Ben Longo