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Google raises the technology stakes for display ads

November 24th, 2009 12:26am
by Richard Waters

For Google’s rivals, one the hardest things to compete with over the years has been its relentless drive to bring continual improvements to the effectiveness of its search advertising.

Every quarter comes a stream of improvements designed to boost the monetisation of search results, increasing the click-through rate and ROI for advertisers - and Google’s own profits.

It is now on the same relentless path in a new market: display advertising. Today’s news that it has bought Teracent, a private company whose technology is used to customise and target display ads, is a warning to Yahoo that the pace of innovation is picking up.

Continue reading "Google raises the technology stakes for display ads"

November 24th, 2009 12:26am in Internet, Tech | Permalink | Comment

Roku opens TV app store for OTT channels

November 23rd, 2009 9:03pm
by Chris Nuttall

With streaming Netflix movies now available on TV screens through the Xbox, PlayStation 3, Tivo, several Blu-ray players and LG HDTVs, the little Roku set-top box, which became one of the first Netflix streamers 18 months ago, is in need of some differentiation.

That came today with the launch of 10 free channels on the box, which sells for as little as $80.
Pandora radio, Facebook and Flickr photos, FrameChannel feeds, MobileTribe social networking and video from Blip.TV, Mediafly, Motionbox, Revision 3 and TWiT make up the lineup. Continue reading "Roku opens TV app store for OTT channels"

November 23rd, 2009 9:03pm in Consumer Electronics, Digital media, Hardware, Internet | Permalink | Comment

Motorola takes 30 per cent Android share - AdMob

November 23rd, 2009 5:43pm
by Chris Nuttall

Embattled Motorola appears to be making an impression with its Android handsets, according to the latest figures issued by AdMob.

The ad network, bought by Google this month, analyses the handset-identifying ad requests it receives from more than 15,000 mobile Web sites and iPhone and Android applications.

Two weeks after its launch on November 6, the Motorola Droid represented 24 per cent of all Android requests worldwide, while its Cliq accounted for another 6 per cent. Continue reading "Motorola takes 30 per cent Android share - AdMob"

November 23rd, 2009 5:43pm in Hardware, Internet, Mobile | Permalink | Comment

Prettier in pink Pogoplug eases file-sharing

November 20th, 2009 11:55pm
by Chris Nuttall

The photo and video sharing trend, coupled with the growing use of high-definition video and higher megapixel cameras, means big files and longer upload times for users.

One way to avoid time-consuming transfers is to allow others to view files securely on a local hard-drive at home.

Opera’s Unite, incorporated in its latest browser release last month, turns a home PC into a media server, providing one option.  Another is the latest version of San Francisco-based Cloud Engines’ Pogoplug, unveiled today. Continue reading "Prettier in pink Pogoplug eases file-sharing"

November 20th, 2009 11:55pm in Digital media, Hardware, Internet, Software | Permalink | Comment

What’s happening? A lot, says Twitter COO

November 20th, 2009 9:35pm
by Chris Nuttall

Look out for a “fascinating..completely non-traditional …really cool…awesome” advertising strategy on Twitter early next year, as the microblogging service finally begins to monetise directly its tens of millions of users.

That sounds like sensational advertising, or self-promotion, in itself, from Dick Costolo, Twitter chief operating officer. He used all of those adjectives onstage on Friday in an interview at the Realtime Crunchup conference in San Francisco. Continue reading "What’s happening? A lot, says Twitter COO"

November 20th, 2009 9:35pm in Internet, Software | Permalink | Comment

Google Chrome OS - an Android in the making?

November 19th, 2009 7:05pm
by Chris Nuttall

Google gave us a good first look at its Chrome operating system today. It has some interesting features, but is far from finished - the first devices using it are still a year away.

Google’s ambitions for Chrome also seem modest at present - it will run on low-specification netbooks. But everyone seemed to have low expectations for Google’s other OS - Android - when it was launched last year, and look at it now. Continue reading "Google Chrome OS - an Android in the making?"

November 19th, 2009 7:05pm in Hardware, Internet, Mobile, Software | Permalink | Comment

FT techtalk - Polishing up Google Chrome OS

November 19th, 2009 5:55pm
by Chris Nuttall

Google is giving the world a first look at its new Chrome operating system today with a briefing for media at its Mountain View campus.

Chrome was announced in July and is due to be available to consumers in the second half of next year, but there has been speculation that the OS could be available in a beta version as early as this month.

FT techtalk this week came live from the Google event,  read our transcript below. Continue reading "FT techtalk - Polishing up Google Chrome OS"

November 19th, 2009 5:55pm in Computers, Internet, Software | Permalink | Comment

Zynga raises $15m, continues social gaming momentum

November 17th, 2009 7:57pm
by David Gelles

Zynga, the largest social gaming company, has raised an additional $15m in funding, in yet another sign that this nascent industry has quickly become big business in the Valley.

The San Francisco company, which operates games on Facebook, MySpace, and Apple devices, has attracted nearly 200m monthly users to its games. Continue reading "Zynga raises $15m, continues social gaming momentum"

November 17th, 2009 7:57pm in Games, Internet | Permalink | Comment

Where the internet lives

November 17th, 2009 5:09pm
by Chris Nuttall

Maija Palmer reports in today’s Business Life section on the growth of mega data centres:

In the middle of a scrubby business park on the outskirts of Dublin, a hulking grey building has recently sprung up. It is protected by high, spiked railings and two sets of steel security barriers that are thick enough to stop a tank.

There is no name above the door, but this 303,000 sq ft industrial building is Microsoft’s new mega data centre, its first large-scale computing facility in Europe, representing an investment of $500m (£300m, €335m).


Continue reading “Where the internet lives”…

November 17th, 2009 5:09pm in Hardware, Internet | Permalink | Comment

Elfin Pixi is a Palm for your palm

November 16th, 2009 11:49pm
by Chris Nuttall

Apparently robotic hamsters are the cute must-have gift this Christmas, but, as they’re in short supply, the Palm Pixi might make a good alternative.

Palm’s newest smartphone, made available on November 15 on the Sprint network in the US, has a cuddly form factor you can almost fit in your palm and an interface to coo over. Continue reading "Elfin Pixi is a Palm for your palm"

November 16th, 2009 11:49pm in Hardware, Internet, Mobile | Permalink | Comment

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