After eight years of competition, Microsoft’s Hotmail has been knocked off the top spot as most-used email service by Google’s Gmail.
Hotmail launched in 1996 as one of the first Web-based email services and was purchased the following year by Microsoft for an estimated $400 million.
“Hotmail has been continually revised, upgraded and refined by Microsoft, with the company even going so far as to introduce an ‘all-new’ update a year ago that mimicked many of the features that won users over to Google,” reports Digital Trends.
However, the update was not enough for the service to maintain dominance, as Gmail took the lead last month worldwide.
“This isn’t the first time that this shift has been reported; Google quietly boasted about it happening way back in June of this year, in the middle of a blog post about cloud computing when it announced that it had ‘more than 425 million active users globally,'” indicates the post, pointing out that comScore disagreed with Google’s numbers at the time.
But now it is official, as confirmed by third-party metrics. Digital Trends notes that Microsoft introducing Outlook.com as its Hotmail replacement in July could be a factor.
American email service use is slightly different than the global stats. Yahoo has 40.8 percent of the U.S. market, compared with Gmail’s 36.7 percent and Hotmail’s 18.9 percent.
Apple has sold three million units of the fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini since launching them on Friday, beating analysts’ expectations and setting a new sales record.
“We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis,” notes CEO Tim Cook. “We’re working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand.”
According to Apple, sales of the 7.9-inch mini and the fourth-gen iPad “easily topped the 1.5 million Wi-Fi only tablets sold during the third-generation iPad’s opening weekend in March,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “Apple will start shipping cellular-enabled versions of both new iPads in the U.S. within a few weeks.”
However, the company has been tight-lipped regarding the actual number of minis sold.
“ISI Group analyst Brian Marshall estimated iPad minis accounted for about two million of those initial iPad purchases over the past three days, putting sales well on their way toward meeting the research firm’s estimate of about five million iPad mini sales this December quarter,” explains the article.
The mini, which starts at $329, provides competition with rivals that offer 7-inch tablets running Google’s Android OS.
The Netflix board of directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan known as a poison-pill defense to prevent billionaire investor Carl Icahn from acquiring more shares in the company.
“The stockholder rights plan, approved unanimously by Netflix’s board on November 2, would be triggered if an ‘activist shareholder’ acquired 10 percent of the stock, or an institutional investor bought 20 percent,” reports Bloomberg.
The move is designed to make a potential hostile takeover too expensive, and fend off larger companies such as Amazon and Verizon.
“Netflix has received no takeover offer and has had no discussions with Icahn, said a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because it is private,” explains the article.
Icahn, who owns nearly 10 percent of Netflix’s shares, said in a regulatory filing that the company’s new poison pill was “particularly troubling” and criticized Netflix for “poor corporate governance.”
Last week, analyst Anthony DiClemente of Barclays Capital issued a report suggesting Icahn might have purchased his stake in Netflix with the intent of eventually selling the company. The assertion was based on Icahn’s prior history at Blockbuster and Lionsgate.
Amazon may be targeting Netflix and Hulu with its new monthly payment option for Amazon Prime.
The new subscription “includes free two-day shipping, access to e-books and instant streaming of movies and TV shows,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
Priced at $7.99, the new monthly option is actually more expensive than the $79 subscribers currently pay annually for Prime. However, this may not be an issue for consumers when they look at Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime, and realize all three have the same monthly fee — but Prime includes more perks.
“The monthly subscription comes as brick-and-mortar retailers are furiously battling with Amazon for shoppers this holiday season and rolling out all kinds of promotions such as price matching and free layaway,” notes the article.
“Analysts say the option could entice shoppers who don’t want to be locked into Amazon Prime for an entire year to sign up during the holiday months for free shipping.”
Additionally, Amazon has been installing “lockers” in retail, convenience and grocery stores, hoping that online shoppers looking for a more secure pick-up location will turn to the lockers. Staples announced on Monday that it will also install Amazon Lockers in its stores.
Hulu has announced a deal with CBS that will bring 2,600 episodes of shows such as “Medium,” “Star Trek,” “I Love Lucy,” “The Twilight Zone” and “CSI: Miami” to the video service starting in January.
CBS content will be restricted to classic series and recently canceled shows. The CBS website will continue as the sole venue for ad-driven episodes of current series.
The network finally joins competitors such as NBC and Fox, which have been offering content via Hulu for years. The streaming service currently has more than 400 content partners.
“Hulu says that the deal with CBS will be in effect for multiple years, but the company did not provide financial details on the agreement,” reports CNET. “Some CBS library shows will be available on the free Hulu.com, though Hulu wouldn’t say which programs will make the list.”
The majority of titles from the CBS library will be made available on the premium version, Hulu Plus, for customers who pay the $8 per month subscription fee.
“The CBS deal comes as Hulu faces a number of internal questions in the wake of buying out early investor Providence Equity Partners,” notes TechCrunch in a related post. That means that Hulu is controlled entirely by its parents and content partners Fox, Disney, and NBCUniversal.”
“That deal triggered a liquidity event, through which all employees with stock were able to cash out, leaving some key executives — like CEO Jason Kilar — little reason to stick around. There’s a lot to change ahead for Hulu in the next 12 months, so getting an unexpected content partner on board is positive news.”
Remember Furby? Hasbro’s hit robot from the 1990s is getting a second life thanks to a tech upgrade in which the furry little critter develops a personality as a child interacts with it.
An expensive and complex development project for Hasbro, the Furby reboot is already being promoted by Walmart, Target and Toys R Us.
The new Furby is one of more than 20 products that Hasbro is bringing back with improved tech capabilities. The company needs a hit, as the popularity of mobile devices has led to sagging sales for traditional toys.
Manufacturers are hoping that kids familiar with smartphones and tablets will gravitate toward a new generation of “app toys” (a new product category dubbed by toymakers).
“One of the best-selling gadgets at electronics chain Brookstone is the Rover Spy Tank, which is remotely controlled by an app on an iPhone or iPad,” reports Businessweek. “Mattel has a line that it calls ‘apptivity’ toys that includes Hot Wheels cars a child can move along the screen of a tablet as a digital racetrack scrolls underneath. Mattel’s Fisher-Price brand is even incorporating smart devices into toys for preschoolers.”
Upgraded sensors and a computerized brain will lead to each Furby behaving somewhat differently, depending on how it is treated by its owner.
“Furby also works with mobile devices,” notes the article. “A free app for Apple’s iOS operating software and one for Google’s Android later this year will allow users to translate what Furby is saying and feed him everything from coffee to a dirty sock, potentially eliciting a burp or other adorably rude noises.”
Seagate Technology, supplier of disc drives and data storage products, announced it has joined the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) — the cross-industry consortium behind the cloud-based UltraViolet digital content ecosystem.
“Digital distribution beyond DVDs and Blu-ray Discs is not only the way of the future, it is the present and we know that storage is key to this ongoing transition,” says Scott Horn, VP of marketing for Seagate.
“Seagate sees UltraViolet as a leader in bringing content to consumers in this new digital age and we are excited to be helping them make their vision a reality,” he adds.
“With UltraViolet, consumers enjoy the flexibility and security of cloud-based entertainment rights combined with the choice-expanding benefits of a widely-honored industry standard,” notes Mark Teitell, general manager of UltraViolet.
“As a DECE member, Seagate’s expertise and perspective on cloud solutions and storage devices will help the organization continue to evolve these benefits,” he says.
Seagate joins the nearly 70 member companies of DECE including Sony, Warner Bros., Fox, Paramount, NBCUniversal, LG, Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Netflix, Intel and others.
Barnes & Noble announced it has struck deals with NBCUniversal, Fox Home Entertainment and other major studios to bring more movies and TV shows to its NOOK tablets.
Consumers can now stream or download popular television series or movie titles such as “Snow White and the Huntsman,” “Battleship,” “Ice Age: Continental Drift” and “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.”
The NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ (which started shipping last week) also connect users’ UltraViolet video libraries “right out of the box,” reports RTTNews.
“The company stated that customers will be able to easily link their UltraViolet accounts to the NOOK Cloud allowing them to view their previously and newly purchased UltraViolet-enabled movies and TV shows across NOOK HD and NOOK HD+ devices and free NOOK Video apps coming soon,” the article explains.
According to the press release: “In addition to purchasing movies and TV shows via NOOK Video, customers can shop for DVDs and Blu-ray Discs with the UltraViolet logo in Barnes & Noble and other retail stores, add them to their digital collection, and instantly watch compatible titles from the NOOK Cloud to enjoy wherever they go and however they choose.”
“This is certainly a huge bonus for consumers that have a big UV library, and coupled with all the new content, we wouldn’t be surprised if NOOK sales start stealing a little heat from the Fire,” comments Engadget in a related post, referring to NOOK competitor — the Kindle Fire from Amazon.
AU Optronics is making a 65-inch TV panel that it says will offer 4K TV resolution while consuming less power than current screens.
The company has developed an “IGZO panel that wields the very light-friendly technology to reach 4K resolutions without the usual penalties — as the screen doesn’t need much backlighting to illuminate all those pixels, it can stay slim and keep the shocking energy bills to a minimum,” reports Engadget.
“The smaller size and miserly power draw also leave a real chance that any pricing will be closer to the mere mortal realm than current 84-inch behemoths,” comments the post, referring to early Ultra HD offerings from LG and Sony.
The AU Optronics’ panel uses indium gallium zinc oxide as its semiconducting material. However, it has yet to be announced whether there are deals in place for companies to use AUO’s display.
Additionally, “the Taiwan firm has simultaneously developed a more conventional, 55-inch 4K screen with a wide color range as well as a 50-inch, 1080p panel with an extra-skinny 0.14-inch bezel,” notes the post.
“It’s at least good to know that there’s already competition for technology that’s just getting started,” suggests Engadget.
IBM researchers have developed a new technique that greatly enhances the efficiency of silicon replacement technology based on carbon nanotubes.
“Carbon nanotubes are very small structures made of a lattice of carbon atoms rolled into a cylindrical shape, and a team of eight researchers have figured out a way to precisely place them on a computer chip,” reports CNET.
IBM researchers used advanced chemical processing to fit 10,000 carbon nanotube transistors onto one chip.
This marks an increase of 100 times in density over previous attempts — or the equivalent of 1 billion nanotubes per square centimeter.
“The new technique helps improve the nanotubes’ chances in the hunt for alternatives once today’s silicon transistor technology runs out of steam,” explains the article. “Today’s chips are made of tiny electrical switches called transistors, and carbon nanotubes are a potential substitute for the silicon channels that carry electrical current in those transistors.”
Although IBM has yet to commit to a commercial version, it is worth noting the new process is compatible with today’s chipmaking technology.
“This new placement technique is readily implemented, involving common chemicals and processes, and provides a platform for future CNTFET experimental studies,” the paper said. “Furthermore, these results show that CNT placement via chemical self-assembly is a promising approach for developing a viable CNT logic technology compatible with existing semiconductor fabrication.”
Chinese telecom giant ZTE plans to release a line of HTML5 set-top boxes that will support 3D TV and video calling over Google’s Android platform, which powers 90 percent of the company’s smartphones.
“The announcement comes after ZTE reached agreement allowing the company access to the digital TV systems of Kudelski SA’s Nagra division,” reports Bloomberg.
“The agreement enables the Chinese company to sell intelligent set-top boxes to customers of Nagra, which has a 70 percent share of Europe’s market for cable TV devices, and 18 percent globally, ZTE said.”
The company also plans to launch a new mobile operating system with Mozilla, developer of the Firefox browser, to lessen its dependence on Android.
“ZTE’s shares traded in Hong Kong fell 6 percent, the most since August 27, to close at HK$12.60, while the Shenzhen-traded stock gained 2.6 percent to 11.45 yuan,” notes the post.
“A U.S. House intelligence committee report to be released [October 8] says the company poses a security threat,” notes Bloomberg, “and ‘cannot be trusted to be free of foreign state influence,’ according to a draft provided by the panel.”
Yahoo announced on Friday it will not support Microsoft’s “Do Not Track” feature on Internet Explorer 10 since the anti-monitoring signal is activated by default.
“All other browsers require users to turn DNT on themselves — which is just how the advertising industry likes it,” reports Digital Trends. “Do Not Track is currently an option in all major Web browsers. When turned on, DNT tells websites’ third-party advertisers that the user does not what his or her Web activity monitored for the purpose of receiving targeted advertisements.”
However, only a fraction of users take advantage of DNT. Since IE10 automatically turns the DNT signal on, Yahoo is “calling foul.”
“Recently, Microsoft unilaterally decided to turn on DNT in Internet Explorer 10 by default, rather than at users’ direction,” wrote Yahoo in a blog post. “In our view, this degrades the experience for the majority of users and makes it hard to deliver on our value proposition to them. It basically means that the DNT signal from IE10 doesn’t express user intent.”
Therefore, Yahoo will ignore any DNT signal from IE10 “in order to preserve that coveted personalized user experience,” explains the post.
“Our users have come to expect a personalized Yahoo! experience tailor-made for their lives — whether they’re checking local weather, sports scores, stock quotes, daily news, or viewing ads on our site,” wrote Yahoo. “We fundamentally believe that the online experience is better when it is personalized.”
“Just because the signal is turned on doesn’t mean that a consumer wants no services that involve tracking,” countered Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith.
Instead, Digital Trends recommends installing third-party tracker blockers such as Privacy Fix, Ghostery or Do Not Track Plus.
Entertainment industry reps gathered at the second annual DOE Network Association (DNA) Conference earlier this month at USC.
The DOE industry includes business interests involving theme parks, education and edutainment, retail and mall advertising and enhancement, exergaming and more.
“Many of the attendees are involved in pressing the limits of digital technology and physical design to greatly expand the storytelling and engagement possibilities of out-of-home venues,” reports Phil Lelyveld for ETC@USC (the event was covered as part of the ETC’s service to its membership).
Consultant Randy White of White Hutchinson Leisure explained that 60 percent of arcade dollars have shifted to home entertainment in the last five years.
“Americans go to the movies on average four times per year. But they eat out approximately 167 times per year,” Phil writes. “Dining is a highly social experience. The top 20 percent of income households account for 48 percent of out-of-home spending.”
White suggests that arcades retool facilities to “attract this upscale market with restaurants, Wi-Fi-equipped lounges, and games that allow for more group social and competitive activities.”
Kevin Williams, organizer of the DNA conference, discussed the industry’s need to better embrace technology.
“There is no reason, he argued, why devices could not recognize players when they return to a facility, coordinate communications as they interact with devices throughout the facility, and — if they opt-in — connect them with people who have similar interests and skill levels anywhere on the planet,” notes the post.
“The DOE industry can compete with rapidly improving home and personal entertainment options by offering attractive, safe locations to socialize, access high-end specialized devices, and have location-specific blended physical and virtual experiences.”
Japanese phone maker NTT Docomo is hoping consumers will be interested in its Grip UI technology, which offers functionality through squeezing and pinching phones.
“Consumers have gotten used to pinching and swiping,” reports Fortune. “Soon phone makers may be adding bending, folding and squeezing to their repertoire.”
The primary goal of Grip UI is to create a mobile phone that is easier to control with one hand, freeing up the user’s other hand for carrying a briefcase, for example, or holding on to a pole in the subway.
NTT Docomo’s Android-powered handset has 270 sensors in the phone’s body that enables users to execute operations by squeezing the bezel.
“It is the latest in a range of emerging technology haptic gadgets — and even bendable phones — that promise commercialization soon and that exploit our innate love of manipulating tactile, responsive objects,” explains the article.
“Pressure sensitivity is a very interesting direction for phones so this is great technology,” says Ivan Poupyrev, haptics researcher at Disney’s labs in Pittsburgh.
Flexible objects and haptic interfaces could eventually lead to innovative products such as thin bendable media cards, interactive maps, mini photo albums, advanced OLED screens and various malleable electronic devices.
GoPro recently launched its new Hero 3 action cam lineup — three HD cameras that are 30 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the previous models.
The rugged new cameras, designed for extreme sports and outdoor enthusiasts, feature built-in Wi-Fi, boosted frame rates and 4K resolution (for one model).
“The latest cameras aren’t just your average next-gen improvements over the predecessors, either: GoPro has added a slew of new features that completely evolve the Hero,” reports Digital Trends.
The 1080p lineup comes in three different models: the $200 5MP white edition, $300 11MP silver edition and $400 12MP black edition (which also shoots at 60 fps). All three models include built-in Wi-Fi.
The black edition is capable of shooting 4K resolution when the frame rate is dropped to 12 fps.
“The question you have to ask, of course, is whether that’s useful at all,” notes Digital Trends. “Shooting at this resolution means, in addition to a low frame rate (hello, choppy video), your camera is creating massive files.”
