Weekly high-tech hot topics in the blogs: Microsoft's creative destruction, Nexus One
Friday 05 February 2010
Latest in News
On Facebook
Life & Style blogs
Time for a new approach to alcohol
Ambulances were called and three drunk teenagers were brought to my care. One was so drunk we had to...
London Fashion Week countdown
London Fashion Week is nearly upon us (again) and the invites are fast piling up. Our fashion team w...
HIV orphans in Thailand prepare for the future
In Baan Gerda, a community for HIV infected or affected youngsters in Northern Thailand, a group of ...
Hot topics in the tech blogs for the week of February 5: Google's Nexus One customers receive multitouch support via an over-the-air update, Amazon disputes e-book price hikes but succumbs to major publishers, Microsoft gets red-faced when questioned about its future research and development plans, Amazon invests in a touchscreen company in the hope of refreshing its Kindle e-reader, and rumors suggest the future version of Apple's iPad will come with an inbuilt camera.
Nexus One gets multitouch
Technology bloggers and Nexus One consumers rejoiced when Google made the announcement it was sending out over-the-air firmware updates that would give Nexus One users the ability to use multitouch gestures in the smartphone's Maps, Browser and Gallery applications. Bloggers insinuated that the "gentleman's agreement" Google may have previously had with Apple (whose mulititouch patent was believed to be the original reason multitouch gestures were not implemented on the Nexus One until now) has been abandoned as the two companies step up rivalry.
Amazon e-book pricing
Technology blog Headlines sounded out sad news for e-book consumers; "The $9.99 EBook Is Dead". Amidst the news that Apple was announcing a tablet, Amazon was busy facing another battle with their major e-book publishers. During the week technology journalists feverishly covered the developing story that saw Amazon change their e-book pricing structure to accommodate Macmillan's demands. Bloggers reported that the other major publishers are starting to join Macmillan, insisting e-book prices are marked up to match physical editions.
Microsoft's creative destruction
A New York Times article written by former Microsoft employee Dick Brass caused a great reaction in the technology blogs. So much so it had Microsoft's PR reps trying to save face. The February 4 article, entitled "Microsoft's Creative Destruction" labelled Microsoft as a company that didn't encourage inventiveness or innovation. It is rare that a high-profile company would respond to an article posted on a blog, but Microsoft obviously felt a strong need to protect its dignity and to reiterate its research and development plans for the future.
Amazon to buy touchscreen company
A February 3 article in the New York Times revealed that Amazon was in the market to purchase a touchscreen company called Touchco. The purchase, wrote the New York Times, would bring its e-reading device into the future and put it in a better position to compete against Apple's iPad. Neither company would provide additional information to the press, leaving them to speculate about the future of e-readers and the integration of touchscreen technology. "Here's why we're excited," wrote technology blog Engadget. "[T]he startup claims its interpolating force-sensitive resistance tech can be made completely transparent, works with color LCDs, and can detect ‘an unlimited number of simultaneous touch points.'"
iPad to get a camera?
A post on Mac, iPhone and gadget (and soon iPad) repair specialists Mission: Repair's blog had technology writers hoping that Apple's iPad will be released with a built in camera. "iPad Camera rumor becoming a reality? We think so," read the blog post. Mission: Repair posted photos of the internal iPad parts which quickly circulated around the web. Gizmodo' article entitled "Proof" of Apple iPad Webcam Is Dubious" questioned the authenticity of Mission: Repair's iPad parts saying, "The question here is: How some obscure repair shop got parts for the Apple iPad when nobody has the Apple iPad itself?"
- 1 Spotify: 1 million plays, £108 return
- 2 How Koscielny became prince of the Emirates
- 3 Apple admits it has a human rights problem
- 4 Mark Steel: If religion is 'marginal', I'm the Pope
- 5 No secularism please, we're British
- 6 Lightning kills an entire football team
- 7 Matthew Norman: There's always the Human Rights Act, Trevor
- 8 Special report: The hungry generation
- 9 I was born to be a killer. Every night I see the Devil in my dreams
- 10 Six Grammys, five years off: Adele puts love before career
Free trial of new Independent iPad app
Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines
Win a three-week coastal jaunt
Spend three weeks exploring every nook and cranny of gorgeous Atlantic Canada.
Amazing restaurant offers
Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.
Latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
No secularism please, we're British




Comments