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<title>Haaze.com / Sophia01 / Published News</title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com</link>
<description>Test Web 2.0 Content Management System</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<language>en</language>
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<title><![CDATA[Beta Shell protects lenses from water, shock]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=beta-shell-protects-lenses-from-water-shock</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=beta-shell-protects-lenses-from-water-shock</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:10:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=beta-shell-protects-lenses-from-water-shock</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:Beta Shell)While your dSLR is important, you can't take pictures without lenses. So, it's important to offer equal protection for your optics and camera body. dSLR bodies can go into bags with ample padding, and lenses can go into the Beta Shell. These lens containers are watertight so you don't have to worry about getting drenched in the rain. They are also capable of regulating temperature so the lenses won't get too hot or cold in extreme climates. The polymer plastic case is also shock-resistant, while the neoprene cushions inside will dampen any vibrations that may damage the optics. The company makes cases for most popular Canon and Nikon's lenses, and you can check out the list on the product Web site. The shells cost between $45 and $84, depending on the size. Check out the video below to see just how tough the Beta Shell tubes are. (Source: Crave Asia via PDN) <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Road Trip Pic of the Week, 12/2: What is this]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=road-trip-pic-of-the-week-122-what-is-this</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=road-trip-pic-of-the-week-122-what-is-this</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 08:10:34 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Gaming</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=road-trip-pic-of-the-week-122-what-is-this</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If you know what this is and where it was taken, you could win a prize in the Picture of the Week challenge.(Credit:Daniel Terdiman/CNET)That's one heck of a long slide. Or is it Could it be something else entirely Then what is it And where is it locatedIf you know, you could win a prize in the CNET Road Trip Picture of the Week challenge. If you have those answers, please e-mail them to me no later than 6 p.m. PDT Friday (to daniel--dot--terdiman--at--cnet--dot--com, and PLEASE include &quot;Picture of the Week&quot; in the subject line).This week, I'm giving away three sets of the really cool magnet toys, Buckyballs (see video below). So I'll choose three winners at random from among everyone who sends in both pieces of the correct answer. Please forgive me if you don't hear from me if you're not a winner. I get dozens of responses. Also, I've turned off comments because some people would post the correct answers there. I hate to shut down discussion, but I want you to figure out the answer on your own.One caveat: no individual can win more than two prizes. Also, for everyone who played regularly during Road Trip 2010, please note that this is the 15th of the weekly Picture of the Week challenges. With Road Trip 2010 officially finished--and therefore no more new Road Trip pictures per se--the challenge is now taking place each Thursday, and the photos could come from anywhere, not just Road Trip 2010 locations, and might be related to stories I've written in the past. So, please have fun playing today, and then come back each Thursday. For most of the summer, Geek Gestalt was on Road Trip 2010. After driving more than 18,000 miles in the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and the Southeast over the last four years, I drove 5,266 miles this summer looking for the best in technology, science, military, nature, aviation and more throughout the American Northeast. You can follow me on Twitter at @GreeterDan and @RoadTrip and find the project on Facebook.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Full review: Samsung 470 solid-state drive]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=full-review-samsung-470-solid-state-drive</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=full-review-samsung-470-solid-state-drive</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Nov 2010 08:10:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=full-review-samsung-470-solid-state-drive</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Motorola countersues Microsoft in patent case]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=motorola-countersues-microsoft-in-patent-case</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=motorola-countersues-microsoft-in-patent-case</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:10:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=motorola-countersues-microsoft-in-patent-case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[On the heels of Microsoft's second patent-related suit against Motorola filed Tuesday, Motorola has fired back with lawsuits of its own.Yesterday, Motorola accused Microsoft of infringing 16 patents in itsXbox gaming console and in Windows for servers, PCs, and mobile devices, the company said. The accusations are in complaints filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Western District of Wisconsin.The suit is one of a rash of patent cases that's broken out in the mobile-device market, with other combatants including Apple, Nokia, HTC, Google, and Oracle. Microsoft accused Motorola of infringing its patents in an October lawsuit' the second suit, filed Tuesday, accused Motorola of breaching its contract by overcharging for patents for wireless communication and video-decoding technology used in the Xbox.Motorola has requested Microsoft stop using its patented technology and pay compensation. Here's Motorola's description of the patents it alleges Microsoft violates:The Motorola patents directed to PC and server software relate to Windows OS, digital video coding, e-mail technology including Exchange, Messenger, and Outlook, Windows Live instant messaging, and object-oriented software architecture. The Motorola patents directed to Windows mobile software relate to Windows Marketplace, Bing maps, and object-oriented software architecture.In a statement, Motorola issued the customary words touting its own intellectual property and regretting that Microsoft chose to bring its complaint to the courts. &quot;Motorola's R&amp;D and intellectual property are of great importance to the Company and are renowned worldwide. We are committed to protecting the interests of our shareholders, customers and other stakeholders and are bringing this action against Microsoft in order to halt its infringement of key Motorola patents. Motorola has invested billions of dollars in R&amp;D to create a deep and broad intellectual property portfolio and we will continue to do what is necessary to protect our proprietary technology,&quot; said Kirk Dailey, corporate vice president of intellectual property at Motorola Mobility. &quot;It is unfortunate that Microsoft has chosen the litigation path rather than entering into comprehensive licensing negotiations, as Motorola has mutually beneficial licensing relationships with the great majority of technology companies industrywide.&quot;Update 9:55 a.m. PT: Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft's corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of intellectual property and licensing, had this response: &quot;We are still reviewing Motorola's filing, which we just received. This move is typical of the litigation process, and we are not surprised. We remain confident in our position and will continue to move forward with the complaints we initiated against Motorola in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and with the International Trade Commission (ITC).&quot;<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Microsoft lets Hotmail users set encryption by default]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-lets-hotmail-users-set-encryption-by-default</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-lets-hotmail-users-set-encryption-by-default</comments>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:10:35 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-lets-hotmail-users-set-encryption-by-default</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Hotmail users can set the e-mail service to automatically use https for their sessions.(Credit:Microsoft)Microsoft announced today that it is offering Hotmail users the ability to take advantage of encryption when using the free e-mail service.  To enable full-session HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) for Hotmail you can type in &quot;https://hotmail.com&quot; or set it as the default for e-mail, calendar, and contacts at https://account.live.com/ManageSSL. Previously SSL was only used at the time of sign-in, but now it's available from the start until a user logs off, a Microsoft spokeswoman said.  Also starting today, SkyDrive, Photos, Docs, and Devices pages will all automatically use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption.  Enabling HTTPS means Outlook Hotmail Connector, Windows Live Mail, and the Windows Live application for Windows Mobile (version 6.5 and earlier) and Symbian won't be available, Dick Craddock, group program manager for Windows Live Hotmail, wrote in a blog post.  Google has always offered Gmail users the ability to use HTTPS and made it the default setting in January, and offers it as an option for Google Docs as well.  The Microsoft encryption announcement follows new security features Microsoft added in September that make it harder for e-mail accounts to get hijacked and easier for victims to recover them if that happens. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Images to art and a galaxy in turmoil: iPhone apps of the week]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=images-to-art-and-a-galaxy-in-turmoil-iphone-apps-of-the-week</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=images-to-art-and-a-galaxy-in-turmoil-iphone-apps-of-the-week</comments>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 Oct 2010 07:10:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Technology</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=images-to-art-and-a-galaxy-in-turmoil-iphone-apps-of-the-week</guid>
<description><![CDATA[(Credit:CNET)Business Insider uncovered some big news this week regarding an upcoming secret Apple conference designed for iOS app developers. Apparently, the invite-only event will focus on improving the quality of apps at the iTunes App Store, which can only be good news foriPhone,iPad, andiPod Touch users. To be frank, I have no complaints so far, but any push for even better apps to choose from is great news in my book. According to the article, this push for better apps is a reaction to the growing success of Google's Android platform that is becoming more attractive to developers because of an easier app approval process and continued growth with Android on several new smartphones. Whatever the reason, a little competition can only mean good things for the iTunes App Store, and I look forward to the next generation of iOS apps. This week's apps include a unique image manipulation app that turns pictures into art and a vast galaxy exploration game where you pilot a ship and defend the human race. Turn a regular picture into a piece of art in only a few minutes.(Credit:Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET) Mobile Monet (99 cents) lets you make great-looking hand-drawn and artistic representations of your images. Though there are many photo apps in the iTunes App Store that let you distort and add effects to images, with Mobile Monet you can create truly unique projects using a two-step system. You start with either a photo from your library or you can snap a fresh picture using your iPhone camera. From there, Mobile Monet makes a black-and-white line drawing of your image. Touch the screen to use a spray-can-like tool to add colors back in to your photograph with paintlike effects. You have a number of variables you can adjust, like line width, flow speed, and other settings you can experiment with to see which type you want to use for your project. Though it sounds like a simple program, Mobile Monet produces amazing results without much work. As you experiment with the app, try only coloring certain parts of the image to bring out highlights for a really nice effect on portraits, for example. But even when you color an image in completely, the paintlike effects give your once real image a good-looking artistic feel. Overall, if you like to experiment with photo effects, Mobile Monet's unique and simple system for creating artistic projects will make a great addition to your iPhone or iPod Touch. Travel to more than 100 different space stations as you upgrade your ship and bring peace to the galaxy.(Credit:Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET) Galaxy on Fire 2 ($6.99) is a fully 3D space trader game with sleek graphics, fun missions, and a engrossing storyline--as long as you can stomach the less-than stellar voice acting. Cut scenes early in the game explain your situation: a malfunction in your hyper drive has somehow managed to warp your ship across the galaxy and 30 years into the future. With only your basic ship and the help of friendly people at various space stations you visit, you'll slowly learn the ins and outs of equipping your ship, buying and selling commodities for cash, mining for minerals, and how to acquire side quests in space station lounges. This latest installment comes with a lot more polish than the original Galaxy on Fire, sporting smooth, beautiful graphics on the iPhone 4 Retina Display. There is an enormous amount of content to explore as you upgrade your ship and go on missions throughout the galaxy visiting more than 100 different space stations. Galaxy on Fire 2 has several cut scenes as you play, but there's plenty of shoot-'em-up action as well. You get a couple of control options for steering your ship, but I found the accelerometer-based controls to be much more responsive than the onscreen joypad. I also like how the game forces you to experiment with equipment' certain situations require you to use an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) missile, for example, which means you must learn how to unequip other ship parts, buy EMP missiles from a space station hanger, then equip your EMP missiles as a secondary weapon. Similarly, you'll quickly learn that you can't loot an enemy ship without first equipping a tractor beam, forcing you to go through the process for earning the money, then buying and equipping that. These experiences make it easy to understand the interface because the game cleverly requires you to learn the process for upgrades. Even with the smart way the game teaches you how to play, my only complaint is the inability to look at a map while in flight, but I quickly learned to check the map before leaving a space station.  Overall, Galaxy on Fire 2 is an excellent space exploration and trading game that looks and feels like a console or desktop-level game. If you have the time for an involved game on your iPhone or iPod Touch, Galaxy on Fire 2 has plenty of content, shockingly good visuals and audio, and support for both OpenFeint and Apple's Game Center to keep you coming back for more. What's your favorite iPhone app Are you amazed at how easy it is to create artistic shots using Mobile Monet What do you think of Galaxy on Fire 2 Let me know in the comments! <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Microsoft updates Internet Explorer 9 test version]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-updates-internet-explorer-9-test-version</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-updates-internet-explorer-9-test-version</comments>
<pubDate>Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:10:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Mobile &amp; Electronics</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=microsoft-updates-internet-explorer-9-test-version</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks to PDC 2010 attendees about HTML5.(Credit:Josh Lowensohn/CNET)REDMOND, Wash.--Microsoft kicked off its Professional Developers Conference today, releasing an updated test version of Internet Explorer 9, the company's effort to reassert itself in the Web browser market.&quot;We've tried to make the Web feel more like native applications,&quot; CEO Steve Ballmer said as part of a keynote speech this morning.The update is a new platform preview that developers can use to test Web sites, but is not an update to the more full-featured beta version that Microsoft released earlier this year. Microsoft had said it would continue to update the platform preview versions for developers even after releasing the beta. Unlike the beta, the platform preview can be used alongside earlier versions of the browser. Microsoft said there won't be a second beta of IE9, but there will be a near-final &quot;release candidate&quot; before the final version is released.Ballmer also talked about coming improvements to Windows Azure and noted that it expects to have more than 1,000 apps for Windows Phone when the devices go on sale November 8.&quot;We're driving hard,&quot; Ballmer told a crowd at the Microsoft conference center here. Although he talked aboutWindows 7, phones, and the browser, Ballmer stressed the role the cloud is playing in all areas of computing. &quot;The cloud is a backplane on which to program and rapidly deploy applications. These are powerful new platforms.&quot;A demonstration of Amazon&amp;39's just-announced Kindle app for Windows Phone 7(Credit:Josh Lowensohn/CNET)Ballmer said that HTML 5 is the glue that will allow all kinds of new programs and devices to emerge.Microsoft changed the format of its conference this year, having fewer people at the conference itself, but broadcasting it on the Web and having 30,000 people at local events worldwide.Ballmer also took a moment to tout Microsoft's consumer efforts, touting Windows 7 PC sales, the release of Windows Phone, as well as the gesture-recognizing Kinect add-on for theXbox 360.&quot;It is really remarkable,&quot; he said.As for the phone, Ballmer said, &quot;I think we really kind of nailed it,&quot; noting that it is more personal, offering more options than a one-size-fits-all approach (i.e. Apple) while offering more coherence (clearly a knock on Android). Microsoft showed several Windows Phone apps including Facebook, a TurboTax title from Intuit, and, for the first time, the Kindle app for Windows Phone 7.Ballmer also excited the crowd by telling the developers in attendance that each of them would be getting a free Windows Phone. Paid attendees will also get a free registration for the Windows Phone marketplace and Ballmer urged them to write some cool programs for their phone.&quot;We need your best work,&quot; he intoned, promising that in return Microsoft is going to put its full marketing muscle behind the new phone operating system.Ballmer also showed the crowd some of the advertising forWindows Phone 7--ads that depict the phone as easy to access at a glance, contrasting humorously with current smartphones which often have users with their heads buried in their device as life passes them by. &quot;Man, are we going to pump and thump,&quot; Ballmer said of the company's ad push for the new phones. &quot;You're going to see a lot of these ads.&quot;On the PC front, Ballmer said, as he has frequently, that Windows 7 machines will take new shapes and forms in the coming year, but didn't announce any new efforts on that front. The company has been under pressure to offer up a competitive response to Apple's iPad.Bob Muglia, Microsoft&amp;39's president of the server and tools business, talks about upcoming additions to the Windows Azure platform. (Credit:Josh Lowensohn/CNET) &quot;You'll see people push,&quot; he said, noting ink (the ability to write onscreen using a stylus) and touch is built into Windows 7.Ballmer gave way to server and tools boss Bob Muglia, who talked about Microsoft's effort to move from selling server software to offering tools and services for a world in which businesses can move more of their efforts to the cloud.Muglia noted that, while it is a major shift, the move offers the ability to shift work from IT managers who today spend much of their time dealing with patches, updates, and other maintenance work.&quot;You are dealing with a lot of changes that aren't helping you,&quot; Muglia said. &quot;That is all a lot of work,&quot; he said.Windows Azure, Muglia said, allows businesses to offload much of that work. Even other virtualization options, he said, require hands-on work from businesses. &quot;With today's world there is a lot of assembly required.&quot;Microsoft announced some new options for Azure, including a lower-priced tier of the service as well as enhanced capabilities for moving existing virtual machines and applications onto the cloud-based operating system. The company also plans to add the ability to create virtual machines on Azure.The goal, Muglia said, is to give businesses more time to spend on the applications that benefit the bottom line. To highlight the point, Muglia brought Disney's Pixar on stage to talk about how Azure will allow smaller moviemakers that can't afford their own huge data center farm the ability to use high-end rendering software.Pixar's Chris Ford said the company has moved its RenderMan rendering software--an application that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux--to Windows Azure, which allows smaller studios to tap into the cloud only when they need server capacity.In addition, Microsoft announced it has finalized a new marketplace for Windows Azure including a way to get data feeds, known as DataMarket. Formerly known by its &quot;Dallas&quot; code name, DataMarket allows companies to sell or make available for free various feeds that application makers can include in their programs. <br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[VentureBeat and DEMO head to Canada &8212' calling all Vancouver startups!]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=venturebeat-and-demo-head-to-canada-8212-calling-all-vancouver-startups</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=venturebeat-and-demo-head-to-canada-8212-calling-all-vancouver-startups</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=venturebeat-and-demo-head-to-canada-8212-calling-all-vancouver-startups</guid>
<description><![CDATA[If youa4a4re a technology entrepreneur or professional in the Vancouver area, please join us for a cocktail meetup at George Lounge in downtown Vancouver.The meetup takes place on Thursday, December 2 from 6-8pm. The first 50 drinks are on VentureBeat and DEMO, which is the conference we co-produce every six months that showcases awesome emerging tech products. The address is 1137 Hamilton Street. Please register here if you&amp;'d like to come.This is my first time hitting Canadian soil, so I&amp;'m jazzed. As VentureBeat begins to expand its coverage of tech companies globally, it&amp;'s about time we made it up to Canada.Separately, prior to the meetup, I&amp;'m taking meetings with up to six entrepreneurs who are contemplating launching technology products soon (they may be eyeing the upcoming DEMO event February 27 &amp;8211' March 1 in Palm Desert, or possibly DEMO in fall 2011). The meetings will be held at The Westin Grand hotel downtown, and I&amp;'ll be providingfeedback on the ideas. If you&amp;'d like to attend one of these meetings, please fill out this form, and we&amp;'ll get back to you as soon as possible with a time to meet.Sutus is a Vancouver-area company that launched at DEMO last year, and raved about the press coverage it got.This is part of my ongoing quest to find the best companies from around the world to launch at DEMO, an event where we select 60 or so finalists to demo their product to the world&amp;'s leading technology press corps. DEMO is where everyone from Netscape, to E-Trade, Boingo, Palm, Symantec, Salesforce.com, and VMWare have launched over the years. Aside from the press, DEMO is also attended by leading venture capitalists as well as corporate and business-development execs. It&amp;'s an awesome event for getting unprecedented publicity and for striking deals.We also have meetings coming up in Seattle on Tuesday, Nov. 30, and at Sequoia Capital on December 7.Looking forward to coming to Canada, and seeing some of you there!Next Story: 5 pitfalls of online advertising Previous Story: WikiLeaks documents suggest China&amp;'s leaders were behind Google hack attackPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: DEMO, DEMO Spring 2011, Vancouver          Tags: DEMO, DEMO Spring 2011, VancouverMatt Marshall is editor and CEO of VentureBeat. Follow him on Twitter at @mmarshall, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Chrome Extension Lets You Just Add Jimmy&nbsp'Wales]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=chrome-extension-lets-you-just-add-jimmynbspwales</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=chrome-extension-lets-you-just-add-jimmynbspwales</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=chrome-extension-lets-you-just-add-jimmynbspwales</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It&amp;'s the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, Christmas has come early again this season with the launch of Jimmy Wales&amp;' annual appeal for Wikimedia Foundation donations. Wales&amp;' ubiquitous banner ad is now in its seventh year and the company is shooting for $16 million dollars to keep their impressive collaborative encyclopedia afloat ad free.And while Wikipedia tested out different banners for the 2010 launch, none came close to the effectiveness (a 3% click through rate!) of the unintentionally hilarious image of Wikipedia founder Wales gazing at you intently.a4sThe image is so beloved that someone actually created a Google Chrome extension that allows you to take the Wales banner with you wherever you go online. And so we did.You can download the extension here. Thanks: ZorgloobCrunchBase InformationJimmy WalesWikipediaInformation provided by CrunchBase<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[How Spotify Almost Sold To Google For $1 Billion, Plus New Apple&nbsp'Rumors]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-spotify-almost-sold-to-google-for-1-billion-plus-new-applenbsprumors</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-spotify-almost-sold-to-google-for-1-billion-plus-new-applenbsprumors</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=how-spotify-almost-sold-to-google-for-1-billion-plus-new-applenbsprumors</guid>
<description><![CDATA[&amp;''Apple, Inc. (AAPL) in negotiations to acquire Spotify,&amp;'' read the tip that came in yesterday via email from an anonymous source. Most tips are just outright false, but we dug into this one a little bit.Here&amp;'s what we heard &amp;8211' Apple and Spotify are in on-again, off-again discussions about an acquisition, but at best it&amp;'s very early in the process. No firm price has been offered, no term sheet tabled. Still, it&amp;'s interesting that the two are talking.But way more interesting is this &amp;8211' Last year, around the time that Apple acquired music service Lala, Google and Spotify were deep in acquisition discussions, says a source with knowledge of the negotiations.Ultimately no deal happened, and the two companies tried to negotiate a deal to have Spotify pre-installed on all Android phones instead.But the deal almost happened, says our source, and Google was going to pay nearly $1 billion for the service. Ultimately the deal went sideways because Google was demanding that all label deals be grandfathered in. And Spotify wanted a $800 million+ walk away fee if the deal faltered (Google had a similar provision in their Admob acquisition).Here&amp;'s what &amp;''grandfathering&amp;'' label deals means: The deals that music labels do with online music companies contain a provision that if the company is acquired, the deals terminate. That&amp;'s exactly what tripped up Facebook when they were looking to acquire or partner with a music startup a few years ago.So if a company like Spotify gets great label deals, like they have in Europe, those deals have to be completely renegotiated if they&amp;'re acquired. It ends up making these companies largely un-buyable.So the deal never happened. And Spotify is yet to launch in the U.S. after protracted but fruitless negotiations with U.S. music labels.The service is apparently profitable in Europe based on really attractive deals with labels there. But those five year deals won&amp;'t last forever, and will need to be renegotiated soon. What Spotify needs is to launch in the U.S. and soon. Even without a free version.CrunchBase InformationSpotifyGoogleAppleInformation provided by CrunchBase<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[Neustar beefs up its location data by acquiring Quova]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=neustar-beefs-up-its-location-data-by-acquiring-quova</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=neustar-beefs-up-its-location-data-by-acquiring-quova</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=neustar-beefs-up-its-location-data-by-acquiring-quova</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Quova, a company that claims to power 95 percent of location searches on the Web, has been acquired by Neustar.We heard about the news from a tipster, and a Quova spokesperson confirmed the deal. The financial details were not disclosed, but Quova will continue to operate from its Mountain View, Calif. headquarters as a subsidiary of Neustar.Founded in 1999, Quova helps online retailers, government agencies, and other organizations determine where their website visitors are located. That allows them to improve search results, fight online fraud, regulate digital content, and deliver geographically targeted advertising. Originally distributed as traditional software, Quova launched a Web-based version of its service in 2008.The company has raised about $38 million in funding from Sequel Venture Partners, IDG Ventures, Mobius Venture Capital, and others.Neustar, meanwhile, is a publicly traded business. The official description on the website is a bit hard to parse, but basically the company has amassed large databases that include telephone numbers, area codes, and website addresses &amp;8212' ita4a4s the authoritative directory for the .us and .biz domains.Next Story: Tesla cofounder raises $5 million for Wrightspeed Previous Story: Kik, the Skype of text messages, continues crazy growth (chart)PrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: geotargeted ads, location dataCompanies: Neustar, Quova          Tags: geotargeted ads, location dataCompanies: Neustar, QuovaAnthony is VentureBeat's assistant editor, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining VentureBeat in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. (All story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com) You can also follow Anthony on Twitter.VentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[News Corp has spent $30M on The Daily iPad newspaper]]></title>
<link>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=news-corp-has-spent-30m-on-the-daily-ipad-newspaper</link>
<comments>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=news-corp-has-spent-30m-on-the-daily-ipad-newspaper</comments>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Sophia01</dc:creator>
<category>Latest News</category>
<guid>http://www.haaze.com/story.php?title=news-corp-has-spent-30m-on-the-daily-ipad-newspaper</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Rupert Murdoch is finally launching The Daily today, but there&amp;'s already been plenty of talk about the long-rumored iPad newspaper. One of the big topics of speculation has been the amount of money Murdoch is pouring into this effort.Now News Corp has confirmed that it has already spent $30 million on The Daily and that it will cost about $500,000 a week to keep it going. Back when the $30 million number was reported last fall, other publishers were scratching their heads &amp;8212' Sarah Chubb, president of Conde Nast Digital, said it &amp;''doesn&amp;'t make any sense.&amp;'' (News Corp&amp;'s digital media chairman and CEO Jon Miller said in December that the $30 million estimate was too high, but, uh, I guess he didn&amp;'t get the memo)That means The Daily it going to have to be a huge hit. At 99 cents a week (split with Apple), it will need hundreds of thousands of subscribers to break even on subscription revenue alone. (Murdoch said he eventually hopes to make half the revenue from advertising.) In comparison, Conde Nast&amp;'s Wired iPad app averaged 31,000 in monthly sales between July and September.Next Story: Apple brings news subscriptions to the iPad, starting with The Daily Previous Story: Social media tracker Tynt debuts tools to follow sharing activityPrintEmailTwitterFacebookGoogle BuzzLinkedIn      DiggStumbleUponRedditDeliciousGoogleMore&amp;8230'          Tags: iPad, The DailyCompanies: News Corp, The DailyPeople: Rupert Murdoch          Tags: iPad, The DailyCompanies: News Corp, The DailyPeople: Rupert MurdochAnthony is a senior editor at VentureBeat, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining the site in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. (All story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com) You can also follow Anthony on Twitter. Have news to share Launching a startup Email: tips@venturebeat.comVentureBeat has new weekly email newsletters.  Stay on top of the news, and don't miss a beat.<br/><br/>0 Vote(s) ]]></description>
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