Groupon's do-or-die moment

Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national establishments.  They are the fastest startup company in history having grown from nothing to a staff of 6, 000 and annual of sales over $3 billion in just three years.  The next step in their business is a smart phone app that will provide their customers with coupons of locations in their vicinity.  There is said to be a I’m hungry button that when pressed can fill you in a on maybe a coupon for a burger place somewhere nearby.  The deals however will be time sensitive and good for just a few hours so you will have to move fast.  This is one of the most awesome things I have ever heard.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/09/technology/groupon_now/index.htm

AT&T starts capping broadband

AT&T announced recently that it will be putting a cap on their broadband use of their customers.  This means no more unlimited internet.  U-Verse is AT&T’s broadband, television and telephone network.  It is now limiting its users to only 250 gigabytes of internet usage per month.  It is even worse for DSL users who are limited to 150 gigabytes.  Oh yea, there’s a $10 penalty for anyone of goes over every 50 gigabytes.  AT&T is not the only company capping their services.  The largest broadband provider in the country is Comcast.  They too are putting a 250 gigabyte limit on their customers.  Time Warner Cable had also experimented with a tiered billing system back in 2008.  Luckily, this will only affect about 2% of AT&T’s customers.

You can catch rest of the article here: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/03/technology/att_broadband_caps/index.htm

Google doesn't get gadgets

Google is one of the largest and most successful corporations in the world today, specializing in web applications.  One aspect however that Google has had struggled with has been gadgets.  This plans to be a hot topic at the upcoming Google annual developer conference.  Why is this the case though that this web giant can struggle so much with developing gadgets?  A lot of it has to do with Google’s lack of middlemen.  When it comes up with a great web idea, it comes straight from the top.  However when it comes up with good gadget idea’s, they must consult with manufacturers and that is where the problem lies.  They also treat gadgets like they treat software by coming up with ideas and when there are problems with it they try to fix it on the fly.  This works for software but not for gadgets.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/09/technology/google_gadgets/index.htm

San Francisco backtracks on cell phone radiation bill

 According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the city of San Francisco has put their controversial cell phone radiation disclosure bill on indefinite hold and a “watered down” version will probably be enacted instead.  The original bill called for cell phone providers to post the radiation levels of the phones they were selling.  These levels have always been available to the federal government but California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom believes that the public deserves to know as well.  Some officials were worried about the exposure of radiation over the course of a lifetime cell phone use.  The city of San Francisco is worried it will face a law suit from cell phone companies. 

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/05/09/san.fran.ars.technica/index.html

Netflix CEO: We don't want World War III with cable

The days of driving to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video and renting movies to take home and watch is over.  This is large in part to the emergence of Netflix.  The company has rapidly become one of the largest sources of entertainment in the world.  CEO Reed Hastings is pleased with the rapid growth of his company but fears that it growing too large will cause world war III with the cable networks.  He believes in his “niche” philosophy of remaining not to small and not to large.  The one thing cable networks will always have over Netflix is their ability to broadcast live events such as sports and breaking news.  Netflix top priority remains upgrading the quality of the content that it makes available for instant streaming.  In 2012, it is scheduled to launch its first original series called “House of Cards” starring Kevin Spacey.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/03/technology/netflix_streaming_growth/index.htm

Now, To Find a Parking Spot, Driver's Look on Their Phones

As a student at St. John’s University in Queens, I can tell you that parking is one of the most frustrating thing that New Yorkers have to go through.  We sometimes spend fifteen, twenty minutes just driving around looking for a parking spot.  The scary thing is that this is Queens; it is a hundred times worse in Manhattan.  Experts say that about 30 percent of all New York City congestion is caused by people driving around looking for a parking spot.  Luckily, San Francisco is said to have found the solution.  Experts have come up with a new cell phone app that alerts drivers on empty parking spots available in the city.  It uses censors located throughout the streets of the city to recognize when spots are opened up and within seconds alerts drivers who have the app.  There are concerns about the new technology however.  Officials are worries that drivers on the prowl for a spot will be more focused on their phones rather than on the road.  Nonetheless, this new technology should hopefully eliminate some of the congestion in New York and help relieve some stress from drivers.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/technology/08parking.html?_r=1&ref=technology

Super Bowl Ads

The Super Bowl is one of the most viewed events in the world today.  What better time to do some advertising.  Different companies pend millions of dollars just to get a time slot during the big game.  They range from really funny to some more serious ones but the one thing they all have in common is that they are entertaining.  I decided to post a few of what I thought were the best ones.

Chrysler- Eminem

Volkswagen- The Force

Doritos- House Sitting

New Intel tech will create smaller, faster microchips

After a decade of research, Intel has created a processor that is smaller and faster than any ones before.  More importantly though, it is energy efficient.  The processor is called Ivy Bridge.  Intel is one of the major providers for big time pc companies such as Apple, Dell and Hewlett-Packard.  It has not yet made its way into the mobile arena.  This however is expected to change.  Mobile smart phones are the fastest growing technologies on the market.  These new processors are supposed to make an impact on mobile arena thus propelling Intel into the market.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/05/04/intel.event/index.html

Bin Laden news reinforces Twitter's strength, limitations

While the death of Osama Bin Laden is being credited as one of the greatest days in American history, it is also one of the proudest days in the young life of Twitter as well.  The social network has announced that during the hour in which President Obama spoke, there were 12.4 million tweets sent.  This incredible rate shows just how far Twitter has come since its birth in 2006.  What is even more remarkable is that this isn’t even the record for most tweets sent simultaneously.  That came on New Years Eve in Japan when there were more than 6, 000 tweets per second.  There are pros and cons however.  Twitter has absolutely become a very reliable source for news updates and the spreading of information.  It also however is filled with millions of drunken messages from people all over the globe.  While it remains so popular, it still does not make any profit.  We have watched Twitter grow over the years and now we must watch it mature.  Pretty soon, Twitter has the capabilities to become the frontline source of spreading credible news effectively.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/05/05/twitter.reveals.limitations.taylor/index.html

PlayStation users waiting to assail

The recent news that the PlayStation network had been hacked has left many of its users asking the question, “When do I get to play again?”  Sony’s answer was this week but still, there has been no change to the situation.  Congress even jumped into action, sending a letter to Sony asking them to get things in order and get the network back up and running.  Because this is affecting so many young voters, Congress felt that it was a good idea to get involved.  One of the biggest concerns of users however is ensuring that this does not happen again.  Sony has yet to come out with a solid response to the criticism.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/05/05/psn.when.can.we.play/index.html

Password-storing service may have been hacked

We all use passwords when using the internet.  Whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, school accounts or bank accounts, each requires you to have a password in order to access their information.  In order to keep you information more secure, it is recommended that you not use the same password for each.  Because of this, sites such as LastPass have become very popular because they help people store all their passwords in one secure location.

On Wednesday, LastPass announced that they may have been hacked.  That company is now asking its users to change their passwords to the site as a security measure.  The company noticed some anomalies in data traffic to and from its servers that it couldn't explain. But one possible explanation was a data breach.

"We're going to be paranoid and assume the worst: that the data we stored in the database was somehow accessed," wrote CEO Joe Siegrist.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/05/05/last.pass.gahran/index.html

Japanese lab invents Internet kissing machine

This is one of the more intriguing stories in current news.  A Japanese lab has created a device that allows people to French kiss over the web.  Yea it’s weird, but interesting.  By waggling your tougne on a plastic straw, you can cause someone else’s plastic straw to waggle in their mouth creating a kissing effect.  The people at Tokyo’s Kajimoto Laboratory say it is only the first step in creating a a full person to person experience over the web.

Here is a video on how it works.  

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/05/05/computer.kiss.device/index.html?iref=NS1

Facebook paying users 10 cents to watch certain ads

On Thursday, Facebook announced the launching a program that rewards its users for watching ads.  Facebook will now credit people for watching certain ads.  Each credit is equivalent to about ten cents.  By picking up credits, users will be able to purchase gifts on Facebook Deals, the company’s new Groupon-like daily deals service.  The ads will mostly be for games.  Sharethrough CEO Dan Greenberg says that Facebooks move is an attempt represents “a step away from interruptive advertising.”  They hope that people will be motivated to see the ads and then share them with their friends.

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/05/06/facebook.ads.mashable/index.html

Jerry Seinfeld puts his 30 years of comedy online

Legendary funny man Jerry Seinfeld has recently launched a web site that offers pretty much all the comedy he has ever performed.  JerrySeinfeld.com went live last Friday.  It shows three clips daily of some of his routines from over the course of his comedy career.  This includes some of his bits from appearances on the Tonight Show and other HBO specials.  Each clip ranges from 30 seconds to two minutes and is available on the site for 24 hours.  After that time is over, the site will post three new clips.

Seinfeld says his goal for the site is to offer young would-be comedians a chance to be inspired to maybe pursue their own careers in comedy.  Who better to emulate than Jerry Seinfeld? 

You can catch the rest of the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/05/06/jerry.seinfeld.launched.website.mashable/index.html?iref=NS1

A new tech solution for the social drinker

Pepsi has introduced what they are calling “The next generation of vending machines.”   The new machine includes a touch screen that allows you to buy a beverage for yourself but what makes it unique is that there is a feature that allows you to buy a beverage for someone else as well.  By typing in your friends name and cell phone number, the vending machine sends a message to your friend with instructions on how to pick up the beverage you bought for them at any nearby social vending machine.  It even includes a feature where you can record a video of yourself on the vending machine and send it as a video message to your friend.  You can also buy a beverage for a complete stranger in what Pepsi is calling “Random Acts of Refreshment.”

What is the point to this?  I really have no idea.  Pepsi says that they want to create a more social way of marketing their product as well as give their consumers a unique experience.  The concept seems very cool and high tech, not to mention thoughtful.  Pepsi will unveil the new social vending machines later this year.

You can catch the full article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/05/05/social.vending.machine.pepsi/index.html

MLK III Interested in Mets

A recent report came out regarding new ownership of the New York Mets.  According to New York Post, a group including television executive Larry Meli, ex-Met Ed Kranepool and Donn Clendenon Jr., the son of another ex-Met has expressed interest in acquiring a share of the.  One other party that is said to be involved with the group is Martin Luther King III, son of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Junior.

            The Mets ran into some financial difficulties this winter when team owner Fred Wilpon was sued by Irvin Picard, the trustee for the Bernie Madoff investors, for his involvement in ponzi scheme that landed the former investment advisor in jail.  A division of the New York Mets organization known as Mets Limited Partnership is known to have invested and profited from dealings with Madoff and his investment company.

            The Mets money problems were evident this off season due to their lack of activity in the free agent signing period.  In order to provide some cash flow to the organization, the Wilpon’s are looking to sell about a quarter of their shares.  The recent group interested, headed by MLK III, is said to want at least a 50/50 cut.

            The Mets came to life in 1962 as a way for New York fans to cope with the loss of the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers.  When the Mets built Citi Field in 2008, they dedicated the name of the Rotunda entrance to the great Jackie Robinson.  They also have plans to create a museum located near the Jackie Robinson Foundation in Manhattan to honor the baseball legend.

            Due to the Mets strong ties to Robinson and Robinson’s place in baseball history as the first African American to grace the major leagues in 1947, Martin Luther King III would be a great addition to the Mets family.  Said Larry Meli, “It's fitting with the legacy of Jackie Robinson essentially transferring to the Mets, what better place to have African-American ownership than with the Mets?"