Monthly Archives: June 2012

Story of the Week: Google’s new gadgets

June 30, 2012 3:09 pm by Maryam Nabi

Google’s tablet and living-room media device, unveiled at its annual developer conference, were enough to have some Google fans and tech commentators fawning over the company. Google also stepped it up another notch with a demonstration of the prototype Google Glass and a promise to turn it into a product by early 2014, reminding us that Google still has huge technology ambition – though some were not sure sure the company was taking the right direction. Read more

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Posted in Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Internet, Mobile, Tech |
From Personal Technology Column June 28, 2012

Sony Xperia Ion

Android smartphones have the summer to themselves in the absence of any new iPhone launch – so Sony and Samsung are taking on America this week with the Ion and Galaxy S III respectively. Also a look at a cellular Wi-Fi hotspot device from Tep that prevents rip-off roaming charges when using your smartphones abroad.

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Posted in Personal technology |

Tim Bradshaw Twitter is now a mobile-first company, says CEO

June 29, 2012 7:44 pm by Tim Bradshaw

As usage and advertising spending on Twitter’s smartphone apps begins to overtake activity on PCs, the company is refocusing on mobile, according to its chief executive.

Speaking to the FT earlier this week, Dick Costolo said that 55 to 57 per cent of Twitter’s users were on mobile, particularly as it expands outside the US, which now makes up around 25 per cent of its users, reaching as high as 80 per cent in the UK.

“That is great for us because our mobile users are more engaged,” he said. “When you are active on Twitter on mobile you use it more than if you were a desktop user.” Read more

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Posted in Mobile, Social, Tech |

Richard Waters Google’s “smart” glasses: a first hands-on

June 28, 2012 1:22 am by Richard Waters

The Google Glass project is an impressive demonstration of the search company’s willingness to confront big technical challenges in pursuit of a breakthrough product. But the chances of it having a meaningful impact in the short term are not high.

That’s the conclusion I was left with after a brief test of the glasses on Wednesday – though since this is still a long way from becoming a  consumer product, any judgments are highly provisional. Read more

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Posted in Consumer Electronics, Internet, Mobile, Personal technology, Tech |
From FT.com June 26, 2012

Now that the post-float hubbub has passed, it is clear that Facebook priced its initial public offering too aggressively. I don’t know if it was a quest for the bragging rights it felt went with a $100bn-plus valuation, but there was little or no consideration for the consequences. Instead of pricing the stock with some upward room for new investors, they let everyone who had invested earlier take the maximum out and cash in. Faced with high earnings expectations, Facebook will need to do more with a business model that is suspect at best. And now they are doing it with a full boat of shareholders who are underwater on their investment.

Continue reading: “Facebook lessons from a dotcom veteran” Read more

Posted in Tech |

Story of the Week: Microsoft reveals Surface

June 24, 2012 2:20 pm by Maryam Nabi

The way in which a new product is unveiled can sometimes be just as important as the product itself. However, in Microsoft’s case this week, a few hiccups didn’t appear to distract some tech commentators from writing glowing reviews of the company’s tablet computer, Surface, announced on Monday.  Read more

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Posted in Hardware, Mobile, Tech |

Chris Nuttall Cue aims to deliver our social lives on cue

June 20, 2012 1:11 am by Chris Nuttall

Cue is a new iPhone app aimed at making our increasingly complex, daily online lives form an orderly queue of events and reminders.

That’s a difficult nut to crack, but the startup has the confidence and financial backing of Bret Taylor, the departing chief technology officer of Facebook. He was also a co-founder of Friendfeed with Gmail creator Paul Buchheit - another Cue investor. Read more

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Posted in Personal technology, Social |

Tim Bradshaw Google+ chief: “I don’t think we’ve hit hyper growth yet”

June 19, 2012 11:48 am by Tim Bradshaw

“Growth continues” at Google+, up from the 170m users announced during the last earnings call, Bradley Horowitz, Google’s vice president for product management, said at London’s Le Web event on Tuesday.

But he acknowledged that Google’s social network still had some way to go.

“I don’t think we’ve hit that hyper growth phase,” he said, while pointing out that Google+ had still managed to reach the scale it had faster than many social networks. Read more

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Posted in Europe, Internet, Social, Tech |

Tim Bradshaw Kevin Systrom says Instagram’s future is in your past

June 19, 2012 11:10 am by Tim Bradshaw

Instagram’s future lies in extracting more value for users from all the photos they have uploaded in the past, founder Kevin Systrom told London’s Le Web event on Tuesday.

“We have all this data we want to let you explore,” he told host Loic LeMeur. “It’s not just about creation, it’s about exploration. That’s what we’re going to be most active in.” Read more

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Posted in Internet, Mobile, Social, Tech |

Richard Waters Microsoft attempt at an iPad-killer: the Surface

June 18, 2012 11:50 pm by Richard Waters

Microsoft has come up with its answer to the iPad: a magnesium-encased tablet sporting a colourful cover that doubles as a keyboard.

The FT’s Matt Garrahan was on hand at the launch event in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon for the great unveiling of the Surface. Read our live coverage of the event as it unfolded, after the break.


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Posted in Tech |
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