Libe Goad

Feel upset when the new millennium rolled around with nary a video phone or flying car in sight? It seems the future has finally been realized as companies roll out video-based communications faster than the black market can sell Louis Vuitton knock-offs. First there was four-way conferencing on Apples Tiger OS; then Motorola released the […]

Some might call it progress—others call it addiction. Whatever the title, its hard to turn a corner without seeing someone flipping open a cell phone or PDA to casually browse through their e-mail inbox. Some might be checking for important work-related messages, others to stay on top of their social life. And the rise in […]

This morning, two Republicans and two Democrats announced the formation of the Congressional E-Waste Working Group. The group, headed by Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Calif., Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y, and Mary Bono, R-Calif., plans to explore possible solutions for the growing electronic waste problem and to educate Congress about its possible dangers. “Today […]

AOL has introduced a new tool kit that will allow game developers to integrate AOL Messaging into online games. The release follows a successful trial with The Matrix Online, Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment Inc.s massively multiplayer game, which is loosely based on the film trilogy. The system allows users to search out other gamers or […]

SAN FRANCISCO—The Connections Digital Home Conference & Showcase here has covered a potpourri of topics—IP television capabilities, telephone companies struggle to offer the same bundled TV-Internet-phone services as cable companies, and how the general public will respond to the ongoing battle for the living room. “Im here to see what the hot new applications are […]

In his keynote speech at the Connections Digital Home Conference, Cisco-Linksys President Charlie Giancarlo talked about the blurring of lines between consumer electronics devices and the rapid growth of VOIP among the average population. After establishing how consumers have taken to the emergence of broadband—more than 115 million globally—and the new get-it-now environment in which […]

SAN FRANCISCO—After a full day of pre-game activities, America Online Inc.s Tina Sharkey kicked off the ninth annual Connections Conference in San Francisco with a general glimpse of the online services future plans. Sharkey, AOLs senior vice president of network & community programming, briefly mentioned the companys not-so-secret plans to relaunch its Web site, aol.com, […]

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is expected to release the details of the companys new mobile OS, code-named Magneto, during his keynote speech Tuesday at the Mobile & Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas. Details on Magneto have been scarce up to this point, but details on what many have called Microsofts “BlackBerry killer” have been […]

Google has introduced a new service for Blogger.com that enables users to create new blogs and post images and text via mobile devices. A consumer using Verizon, AT&T, Cingular, Sprint or T-Mobile can send an e-mail or MMS to go@blogger.com, which instantly creates a new Weblog containing the information sent to Blogger. Google will then […]

The Safe Games Illinois Act is forging a path through the Illinois Senate, as the states Senate Housing and Community Affairs Committee on Wednesday approved the new piece of legislation. It will allow the state to rate games independent of the Entertainment Software Rating Board and to stick retailers who sell violent titles to minors […]

Some voice over IP customers in select parts of the country could, within 6 months, have improved access to 911 emergency services, thanks to a new alliance forged between broadband phone service provider Vonage Holdings Corp. and Verizon. “Verizon is a responsible steward of the E911 [Enhanced 911] public trust,” Vonage CEO Jeffrey Citron said, […]

Apple Computer introduced an updated version of its iMac G5 computer Tuesday to include faster 64-bit processors and graphics capabilities. The machine is set to take advantage of the new “Tiger” operating system, which will be bundled with the new computers, along with a built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. “Reviewers have called the […]