Sony “Sort Of” Removes “No Bloatware” Fee

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
You may recall that Jimmy earlier wrote about Sony’s $50 charge for its “no bloatware” Fresh Start Option. They’ve since, after an explosion of bad publicity, rescinded that fee. I personally felt that since, in order to get the “Fresh Start” option and no bloatware, you had to select [...]

P4P Aims to Speed Peer-to-Peer File Transfers, Reduce Traffic

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
I’m guessing I’m not the only one who’s never heard of P4P. That’s because it’s still being developed. The Distributed Computing Industry Association and its “P4P Working Group” is working on a new peer-to-peer protocol, called Proactive network Provider Participation for P2P or P4P. It’s described as a “carrier-grade [...]

Ink Jet Ink Now $8,000 a Gallon

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
I just saw $3.99 on a gas station pricing sign this weekend, and you know it’s not going to get any lower. Being an optimist, I decided to see what other fluids are even more pricey than light sweet crude. Turns out - Ink Jet ink has now reached an unbelievable $8,000 a [...]

Ultimate Travel Gadget: Belkin Mini Power Strip

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
Anyone who travels a lot will simply look at this device and sigh with relief. Why? Hotels are awful about providing enough power outlets near the desk - and with more and more gadgets hitting the road, it means a room strewn with charging cell phones and laptops and headsets, etc. One room [...]

Sony/ATV, Apple Deny Rumors of iTunes Beatles Deal

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Sorry, Beatles fans: two sources are throwing cold water on rumors that Paul McCartney has sold the rights to the Beatles back catalog to iTunes.
First, a denial by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which is the joint venture owned by Sony and singer Michael Jackson. Sony/ATV owns the publishing rights to the vast [...]

McCartney Signs Deal with iTunes for Beatles Catalog: Report

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
If nothing else, it appears that the contentious divorce between Paul McCartney and Heather Mills has led to one good result - well, not for either of them, but for music fans. McCartney has authorized the release of the Beatles’ back catalog on iTunes in a deal that is valued at [...]

Circuit City Extends Return Time for HD-DVD Players

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Some retailers have been offering credits or trade-ins for returns of HD-DVD players, but you always need to buy a new Blu-ray player in exchange. Circuit City is going them one better, extending its 30-day return policy to 90 days for HD-DVD players.
Of course, since the avalanche of bad HD-DVD news [...]

Microsoft Opens “Office Live Workspace” to the Public

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
I first wrote about Office Live Workspace when pre-registration opened in early October. At the time it was a very limited beta open to select few registered participants, but as of late Monday it was opened up to the general public.
Go to the Office Live Workspace site to sign up.
Still in [...]

Nine Inch Nails Uploads New Album to BitTorrent Sites

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Nine Inch Nails has released its new album, Ghosts I-IV, online and in a somewhat Radiohead-eque way. You’ll recall Radiohead released its In Rainbows album with “you” naming the price. Nine Inch Nails doesn’t go quite that far, but it’s still the sort of experimentation more bands should be trying [...]

Intel Announces “Atom” Branding for Silverthorne CPUs

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
You can stop using the code name Silverthorne. On Sunday Intel announced the new branding for its upcoming low-power CPUs; Silverthorne and its derivatives will now be called Atom.
The new branding will include both Silverthorne for ultra mobile devices and Diamondville for desktops and notebooks (in the Asus Eee PC style).
Intel’s [...]

Microsoft Cuts Vista Prices in Hopes of Spurring Adoption

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
As we close in on the public release of Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft has taken what’s likely an unprecedented step: it’s cut the prices of many of the retail versions of the OS. The timing is obvious: Microsoft has been betting heavily on SP1 as many corporations have been waiting to [...]

Electronic Arts’ $2 Billion Offer for Take-Two: Rejected!

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Shades of another takeover bid we’ve been discussing - a lot - lately. On Sunday, Electronic Arts announced it has offered $2 billion in cash for Take-Two Interactive Software, best known for - what else? - Grand Theft Auto. Anyone want some Hot Coffee?
It didn’t take long for a response. [...]

Microsoft Drops External HD-DVD Drive for Xbox 360

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Took ‘em long enough. They didn’t file a press release, but Microsoft did use its Gamerscore blog, which it says is the “inside scoop from Microsoft Xbox and Games employees.” Saturday Microsoft announced they would halt production of HD-DVD drives for the Xbox 360.

John Porcaro, Sr. Group Manager in Microsoft’s Global [...]

Toshiba Confirms Withdrawal from HD-DVD

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
With the announcement yesterday that Wal-Mart was dropping HD-DVD, this announcement was inevitable. When the world’s largest retailer drops your product, it’s time to cut your losses and get out.
It had already been rumored a few days ago that Toshiba was planning to get out, but it seems that now [...]

Microsoft Responds to Yahoo’s Rejection

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
As you’re probably aware, Yahoo! officially rejected Microsoft’s unsolicited bid this morning. Microsoft has already fired back, via a press release. My guess is they probably had this all prepared and ready to go over the weekend.
Like a spurned lover, Microsoft doesn’t sound too happy.
The press release says:
It is [...]

Starbucks Signs Deal with AT&T for Wi-Fi, Dumps T-Mobile

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Today Starbucks and AT&T announced a deal which will bring AT&T wireless service to Starbucks outlets across the company - while (unsaid) at the same time tossing T-Mobile wi-fi to the curb. I certainly didn’t see this one coming.
T-Mobile and Starbucks had been partnered for six years.
In the press release, [...]

modu’s Modular Cell Phone: Some Assembly Required

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
How would you like a cell phone that has a business-like QWERTY keyboard when you want it to, or a 12-key at other times, or can even be slipped into some future Kindle-type device as its cellular guts? That’s the basic premise behind Israeli startup modu’s new modular cell [...]

Intelius Shuts Down Controversial Cell Phone Directory

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Only a few months after launching an online cell phone directory with over 90 million numbers, Intelius has shut it down, following an outcry from both the wireless industry as well as consumers.
In a press release, Liz Murray, Communications Manager at Intelius said:
“As a company, we have strived to be [...]

Dell to Cut 1,200 Jobs

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Not a good week to be employed in tech. First Yahoo!, now Dell.
Dell Inc. is cutting more than 1,200 jobs, about 900 of them at a call center in Canada, as the computer maker reduces its sales and support work force.
It’s one of the biggest rounds of layoffs at Dell [...]

Microsoft Offers $44.6B for Yahoo!

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
This sort of deal has been rumored for some time, but now it’s reality - or at least the offer is. Microsoft has made a proposal to Yahoo!, offering $31 / share, or $44.6B, to acquire the company. This would be a 62% premium over yesterday’s closing price. The [...]