Category Archives: Technology

Public Nuisance? Cell Phone Use Might Actually Spark Conversations with Strangers

By Guest PostMarch 27, 2011Technologycell phone, frequency of cell phone, mobile, mobile communication, mobile phone, nojin kwak, public, relational use, scott campbell, Technology, texting, university of michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— Talking or texting on a cell phone in public might seem off-putting to people nearby, but a new study suggests that using mobile devices may actually help spark conversations with strangers.

The University of Michigan study examined how mobile communication influences the extent to which people engage with others in public. The new findings indicate that overall frequency of cell phone use in public does not cause them to shun nearby strangers. In fact, the result may be the opposite. (more…)

Study Reveals Microsoft Partner Ecosystem Revenues of $580 Billion in 2010

By Guest PostMarch 24, 2011Technologydarren bibby, global research firm, idc, it marketplace, Microsoft, microsoft cloud, microsoft ecosystem, microsoft partner network, revenues, slalom consulting, tom chew, windows azure

*Leading analyst firm points to opportunities for Microsoft partners both in cloud computing and with current Microsoft products.*

REDMOND, Wash. — March 24, 2011 — Today, global research firm IDC issued a new white paper which estimates that members of the worldwide Microsoft ecosystem generated local revenues for themselves of $580 billion in 2010, up from $537 billion in 2009 and $475 billion in 2007. This demonstrates strong revenue growth when total worldwide IT spending increased less than half a percent, and validates the substantial opportunities and benefits available through the Microsoft Partner Network, the program that equips Microsoft partners with training, resources and support they need to successfully compete in today’s marketplace while allowing customers to easily identify the right partner for their technology needs.

Through the Microsoft Partner Network https://partner.microsoft.com, partners can extend their market reach for greater opportunities and profitability while delivering innovative solutions to help customers achieve their business goals. The IDC study estimates that for every dollar of revenue made by Microsoft Corp. in 2009, local members of the Microsoft ecosystem generated revenues for themselves of $8.70. In an additional study on Microsoft Core Infrastructure Optimization, IDC found that partners that invested in more difficult or a greater number of Microsoft competencies enjoyed 68 percent larger deals and 28 percent more revenue per employee, compared with partners that invested less. (more…)

Yahoo! Introduces Search Direct – A Simpler Way to Find Answers Fast

By Guest PostMarch 23, 2011Technologybeta, digital media company, rich answers, search direct, shashi seth, web, Yahoo, yahoo content, Yahoo! Search

*New Yahoo! search technology adds immediate, rich media content, going beyond just links*

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 23, 2011 – Yahoo!, the premier digital media company, today announced Search Direct, which delivers answers and direct access to websites before you complete a query, hit the search button, or go to a search results page. This search innovation supports Yahoo!’s strategy to fundamentally shift the way people experience the Web – by providing the richest, most integrated content faster and more efficiently.

This new feature, currently in beta, taps into Yahoo!’s unique opportunity to combine content and structured data and to provide a rich search experience. Search Direct predicts search results as fast as a person types, character by character, and presents those results dynamically, generating a fast, simple search experience that goes beyond a list of blue links. Search Direct rolls out in a public beta to Yahoo! users across the U.S. today, and will be available in other Yahoo! products and markets later this year. (more…)

Introducing Amazon Appstore for Android

By Guest PostMarch 22, 2011Technology1-click payment, Amazon, amazon appstore, android phone, angry birds, angry birds rio, appstore for android, mikael hed, paul ryder, rovio, test drive, Twentieth Century Fox, web browser

*Customers Can Try Apps Before They Buy with New Test Drive Feature*

*Angry Birds Rio for Android Available Exclusively in the Amazon Appstore–Free for a Limited Time*

SEATTLE, Mar 22, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Amazon.com, Inc. today announced the launch of the Amazon Appstore for Android at www.amazon.com/appstore. Customers can now find, discover – test! – and buy Android apps using the convenient shopping experience that Amazon customers know and love. An innovative new feature called “Test Drive” will enable customers to test apps on a simulated Android phone. Customers control the app through their computer using a mouse.

“Test Drive lets customers truly experience an app before they commit to buying. It is a unique, new way to shop for apps,” says Paul Ryder, vice president of electronics for Amazon.com. “Our customers have told us that the sheer number of apps available can make it hard to find apps that are high quality and relevant to them. We’ve spent years developing innovative features that help customers discover relevant products. By applying these features – plus new ones like Test Drive – we’re aiming to give customers a refreshing app shopping experience.” (more…)

Microsoft Pushes Private Cloud Computing Forward With System Center 2012

By Guest PostMarch 22, 2011Technologyblack boxes, brad anderson, chris wolf, cloud computing, complex demands, concero, Microsoft, microsoft hyper-v cloud programs, microsoft management summit, microsoft technologies, public cloud computing, system center 2012, virtual machine

*In-depth application management paves the way from virtualization to the cloud.*

LAS VEGAS — March 22, 2011 — Today at the Microsoft Management Summit, Microsoft Corporate Vice President Brad Anderson demonstrated how private clouds built with Microsoft technologies can help IT organizations meet their companies’ demands for more agile services. Anderson introduced the new System Center 2012, which will enable IT managers to deliver private cloud services that empower business teams, provide greater insights into application performance, and allow IT to carry forward current investments as they adopt public cloud computing.

“Our IT customers have told us that their focus is helping their businesses deliver the critical applications that will strengthen their bottom line, while maintaining necessary control and compliance,” Anderson said. “Virtualization and server consolidation are important steps toward cloud computing, but it’s essential to have management tools that provide intelligence about how the apps themselves are doing, not just management of virtual machine black boxes. Microsoft’s management solutions provide that insight, along with the needed oversight.” (more…)

Retail Websites Now Reach 75 Percent of European Internet Audience Each Month

By Guest PostMarch 21, 2011Technologyalbert heijn, bing ciao, Comscore, Europe, european markets, france, Germany, groupe ppr, henk pleiter, internet sessions, ireland, Netherlands, online audience, online shopping, otto gruppe, retail category, retail sites, russia, shopzilla sites, turkish visitors, united kingdom

*U.K., France, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands Lead in Retail Site Visitation and Engagement*

LONDON, UK, March 21, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results from a study of online shopping in Europe. In January 2011, 270.6 million unique visitors in Europe visited sites in the Retail category, representing a market penetration of 74.5 percent of Internet users, up 8.5 percentage points versus last year. Retail sites also showed high penetration in individual markets, reaching at least 75 percent of the total online audience in 7 out of 18 European markets. In 2010, approximately one out of every ten Internet sessions in Europe included a visit to a retail site.

Retail Penetration and Engagement Growth in Europe

In the United Kingdom, the Retail category reached 89.4 percent of the total online audience (up 6.3 points from last year), the highest penetration of any European market. France ranked second with a reach of 87 percent (up 10.5 points), followed by Germany at 82.1 percent (up 9.0 points). Ireland and the Netherlands round out the list of markets with highest penetration, with Retail reaching 80.7 percent in Ireland (up 15.8 percentage points) and 80.2 percent in the Netherlands (up 4.9 percentage points). (more…)

Latin America’s Internet Population Grows 15 Percent in Past Year to 112 Million People

By Guest PostMarch 18, 2011Technologyalejandro fosk, argentineans, brazil, brazilians, Comscore, comscore media metrix, internet audience, latin america, mexicans, Mexico, spanish, Venezuela, webinar

*Venezuela and Colombia Web Populations Experience Highest Growth, Brazil Home to Most Engaged Users*

*comScore Presents Complimentary Webinar “The 2010 Digital Year in Review: Latin America”*

Santiago, Chile, March 18, 2011 – comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released the latest results from a study of the growth in the Internet audience in Latin America based on data from its comScore Media Metrix service. The study found that in the past year the Internet population in Latin America has increased 15 percent to 112.7 million visitors as the region’s digital ecosystem continued to grow and develop. The results of the study will be presented along with other key online trends via a complimentary, live webinar 2010 Digital Year in Review Latin America on Tuesday, March 22. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/255678857 Note: Webinar will be presented in Spanish. (more…)

Gadget Shopping Made Fast and Simple

By Guest PostMarch 18, 2011Technologyalgorithms, bizspark one startup, cell phones, digital cameras, do not add to cart, electronics product, Google, isuppli corp, jiang wu, laptops, manish rathi, market research firm, microsoft technology, retrevo, technology startups, vipin jain, windows phone 7

*Retrevo, a BizSpark One startup, makes you an instant gadget expert.*

Redmond, Wash. — Retrevo, a BizSpark One startup, offers consumers comprehensive, unbiased, up-to-date consumer electronics product information.

Consumer electronics are used nearly everywhere these days, from digital cameras to laptops to cell phones. With new versions coming to the market daily and new vendors jumping in, making a purchasing decision can be overwhelming. How do you get smart fast, and whose opinion should you trust? (more…)