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Kelly Faircloth

By Kelly Faircloth 5/16 7:35am

Linkages

(Photo: NASA)

Booting Up: Microsoft and Google Are In a Tiff Over YouTube

Microsoft recently updated its YouTube app for Windows Phones, but Google isn’t too pleased with the results–going so far as to send a cease and desist. That’s because Microsoft built in features allowing users to block ads. [The Verge]

A spokesman said they’d be “more than happy to include advertising but need Google to provide us access to the necessary APIs.” [The Verge]

“Reading is an activity more likely to be on screen than on the printed page.” So there’s that. [BBC]

Car-sharing service Relay Rides has gotten the ax (locally at least) from the New York State’s Department of Financial Services, who said their insurance is “illegal and inadequate.” [PandoDaily]

Looks like, after technical problems, NASA’s other-Earth-seeking Kepler Telescope is powering down. [Popular Science]

“Throw in with Apple and see if we can all make a go of this to create a real mainstream e-books market at $12.99 and $14.99.” That’s the kind of email that, even if you are Steve Jobs, lands you in hot water with antitrust enforcers. [AllThingsD]

By Kelly Faircloth 5/15 5:20pm

Planet GOOG

(Photo: Screencap)

Hello, Computer! At I/O, Google Debuts Upgraded Maps and ‘Now’ for Desktops

Google made no attempt to top last year’s I/O keynote, featuring skydivers. Instead, viewers were treated to a long, rambling meditation on progress from Google CEO Larry Page, who seemed none too keen on talking about Google Glass.

“Technology should do the hard work,” Mr. Page informed us all, “so that people can get on with doing the things that make them happiest in life.” He also suggested that, “being negative is not how we make progress.” Somehow we doubt that outlook inspires Mr. Page to let his underlings off lightly when they screw something up.

The closest thing to a skydiver was when Robert Scoble popped up at the front of the line for Q&A, announcing himself as ”one of the first glassholes.” “Robert, I didn’t appreciate the shower picture,” Mr. Page replied.

But there were a few big announcements. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/15 1:40pm

Kickstart or Kill

(Photo: Screencap)

Explain THAT, Clarissa: Melissa Joan Hart’s Failed Kickstarter Canceled

It’s helped celebs like Zach Braff and Kristen Bell pull together the cash for their passion projects, but it looks like the Kickstarter gravy train has finally dumped a famous person right on her ass. Childhood sassiness role model and erstwhile teen witch Melissa Joan Hart’s project has, sadly, failed abysmally.

Ms. Hart wanted to raise $2 million for Darci’s Walk of Shame, about a school teacher who has sex with a waiter while in Thailand for her sister’s wedding (really). She appealed to her fans: “By playing Darci, I will get the chance to once again be in a fun and hilarious Rom-Com much like Drive Me Crazy…only all grown up and having a roll in the hay with the hot actors in the film!” Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/15 9:31am

Ballmer Time

Maybe tone it down just a tad.

RAMPAGE! Steve Ballmer Bound and Determined to Bring Basketball to Seattle

Looks like we’ve got a real barn-burner on our hands!

For months, hedge funder Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer have worked to relocate the Sacramento Kings to Seattle, which has been NBA-less for five years. Their plan: to make the owners, the Maloofs, an offer they can’t refuse.  But the mayor of Sacramento–who happens to be former NBA star Kevin Johnson–doesn’t want the team going anywhere. He’s rounded up rival techies who might buy from the Maloofs and prepared a big bushel of subsidies for them. Last month, the league rejected the Seattle group’s request to move the team.

And so here we are, at loggerheads and due for another NBA meeting today. But Steve Ballmer doesn’t do gridlock. A source tells NBC Sports: Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/14 3:18pm

Planet GOOG

Hi. (Photo: Twitter)

Dour Germans Disapprove of Insulting Autocomplete Results

Good news if you’re a) still dodging rumors about the massive piles of cocaine you did in college and b) German. Bloomberg News says a German high court has ruled that Google is responsible for anything libelous that might pop up in autocomplete.

“The search additions affect the plaintiff’s privacy rights as they convey the statement that there is a relationship between the plaintiff and the negative words,” the court ruled.

This is going to add, like, 15 minutes of work for Berliners trying to screen cult leaders and shady apartment brokers. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/14 12:52pm

It's Zuck's World We're Just Living In It

(Photo: screencap)

Facebook Talked a Professor Into Helping Build a Better Emoticon

Heedlessly disregarding the bad luck of looking anything like MySpace, Facebook recently added the option of emoticons for status updates. But, according to Popular Science, the social network couldn’t simply use the same smiley faces that’ve done the Internet perfectly good for more than a decade. No, besides the old standbys you’ll have the option of expressing your feelings with a custom-designed, “compassion-research-based set of emoticons.”

Hey, we’re willing to try anything that’ll keep drama out of our News Feed. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/14 9:51am

Parker Parade

So, yeah.

Sean Parker Reportedly Living at the Plaza, Just Like Eloise

Sounds like Napster cofounder, former Facebook president and Airtime never-you-mind Sean Parker is planning his $9 million wedding in suitably lavish surroundings.

For the last two years, Mr. Parker’s West Village townhouse has been undergoing renovations. But that doesn’t mean Mr. Parker, his khaleesi and his daughter have simply been working around the general contractors. Nope! The Daily Mail reports that instead, the couple has relocated to the Plaza Hotel. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 5/14 7:59am

Linkages

482px-Nick_D’Aloisio,_Founder,_Summly_@_LeWeb_London_2012_Central_Hall_Westminster-1238

Booting Up: You Can’t Use Square to Sell Guns Any More

The crooner Bing Crosby might’ve been a total dick, but it turns out he was a pretty smart angel investor. Guess the Biebs isn’t so special, after all! [New Yorker]

“They became a virtual criminal flash mob, going from machine to machine, drawing as much money as they could, before these accounts were shut down.” Don’t look now but someone lived out your wildest ATM-related dreams. [The Verge]

If you’re going to I/O, keep your eyes peeled for all the sensors tracking air quality, noise levels and lord knows what else. [TechCrunch]

Square’s TOS was recently updated to add that you can’t sell “firearms, firearm parts or hardware, and ammunition; or… weapons and other devices designed to cause physical injury” using the service. Guess you’re gonna have to start bringing duffle bags full of cash to the gun show again. [CNN Money]

Aereo launches in Atlanta June 17. [Aereo]