Updates on HTC Evo 4G issues: Screen separation is minor, software fix coming for sensitivity trouble
It seems we struck a nerve with some HTC Evo 4G owners in our previous coverage detailing a few well-known problems with the Android device — which included reports of screen separation, and touchscreen sensitivity issues. Now there’s word that HTC is aware of the problems and has plans for fixing them, according to Engadget.
A tipster tells the tech blog that the screen separation issues are indeed real, but are considered to be minor. … Continue Reading
Palm working on new devices and WebOS upgrade, Flash delay unexplained
If you were worried that we’d never see a true successor to the Palm Pre after Palm’s announced acquisition by HP, especially after an HP executive made it seem like WebOS is its main concern, you can now rest a bit easier.
During an AT&T webinar for mobile developers on Thursday, Palm Developer Advocate Josh Marinacci confirmed that the company is indeed working on new devices, as well as a new version of WebOS, according … Continue Reading
Week in review: SeaMicro's powerful server, Office 2010's promising reviews
Here’s our roundup of the week’s tech business news. First, the most popular articles VentureBeat published in the last seven days:
SeaMicro drops an atom bomb on the server industry — Coming out of stealth, SeaMicro is dispelling the Silicon Valley myth that you can’t innovate in hardware anymore.
Droid X versus iPhone 4 — Apple’s next challenger is here. The Motorola Droid X that Verizon planned to announce next week turned up on Engadget. … Continue Reading
Econtact Pro finds a reliable method for card transcription: People
A number of mobile applications automatically scan and upload business cards. The problem is, none of them is completely accurate, so users still need to fiddle with the entries to make sure they’re correct. The makers of an application called Econtact Pro say they’ve found a more reliable transcription method — human beings.
Econtact Pro runs an office where workers actually transcribe the cards. So users just snap photos of any cards they’ve collected, upload … Continue Reading
EC Roundup: Motivation, arbitration and an obscure nation
Here’s the latest from VentureBeat’s Entrepreneur Corner.
Arbitration clauses: Should you forgo rights for cost savings? – Considering an arbitration clause in an upcoming contract? It can be a time- and money-saver in case of contention, but attorney Curtis Smolar points out that it’s not without its risks.
Chasing FanFeeder: Squatters, Eritrea and the missing e – When FanFeedr.com CEO and founder Ty Ahmad-Taylor tried to arrange for a URL that was spelled properly, he … Continue Reading
EA Playfish racks up stats with first branded soccer game, FIFA Superstars
Electronic Arts’ Playfish division rolled out its first major sports title under the EA Sports brand a few weeks ago, and the title has now racked up some interesting stats.
This game, a soccer title dubbed FIFA Superstars, is a big deal in part because it’s the first title that tests the value of EA’s $400 million purchase of Playfish from last November. Sebastien DeHalleux, a top Playfish executive who is now vice president of … Continue Reading
How much does it cost to reach a Facebook user?
Facebook’s annual revenues neared $800 million last year, driven largely by self-serve ads, according to a recent report. And its active users likely number around 500 million, although the company hasn’t released official figures in four months. So how much does it cost advertisers to reach one of those users?
Naturally, not all Facebook users are created equal in the eyes of advertisers. They’re willing to pay more to reach older users than younger ones, … Continue Reading
Veracyte brings in $9.3M for cancer diagnosis
Molecular diagnostics company Veracyte has raised $9.3 million of an expected $28.4 million in a second round of funding. According to a filing with the SEC, investors include Domain Associates, Versant Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and TPG Biotech. The South San Francisco company focuses on the accurate diagnosis of thyroid and non-small cell lung cancer. Veracyte, formerly known as Calderome, last raised $12 million in 2008.… Continue Reading
Voyage Medical raises $20.6M more for heart treatment devices
Voyage Medical, a startup that makes cardiac medical devices, has secured $20.6 million in a third round of funding, according to a filing with the SEC. The company’s devices help with treatment of the heart condition atrial fibrillation. Founded in 2006, the Redwood City, Calif. based company has raised more than $45 million to date. Backers include Three Arch Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and RWI Ventures.… Continue Reading
Baxano adds $28.5M to restore spine function
Baxano, developer of spinal medical devices, has raised $28.5 million in a new round of funding, according to a filing with the SEC. Based in San Jose, Calif., the company uses minimally invasive systems, like its iO-Flex System, to restore spine function and preserve healthy tissue. Baxano, which last raised $20 million in 2008, is backed by Prospect Venture Partners, Three Arch Partners and Kearny Venture Partners.… Continue Reading
The future of summer: Air conditioners that are 90 percent more efficient
Air conditioners are a pain. They use an incredible amount of energy, reflected in incredibly high electricity bills in the summer months. But in some places, like Texas and Arizona, it’s hard to go without them. Now, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory may have an answer to the problem: A brand new air conditioning design that could make AC units 90 percent more efficient than they are today.
This is not just a new spin … Continue Reading
Square's mobile credit card reader hits speed bump
Square attracted plenty of attention for its mobile payment technology when it launched last month, but it looks like the company has been running into some difficulty getting its credit card reader out into the world.
In a letter to users sent out today, titled “The Home Stretch,” chief executive Jack Dorsey acknowledged that the company “released parts of Square before they were fully baked” but said that the entire team is working to fix … Continue Reading
Nintendo CEO reveals how company toiled for years on 3DS concept
Satoru Iwata, chief executive of Nintendo, proudly waved the Nintendo 3DS on stage this week as the company showed off a surprisingly well received handheld game player that can depict movies and games in 3D without the annoying 3D glasses. We caught up with Iwata at the end of the E3 video game convention to talk about how Nintendo created the handheld, which was the talk of the show. Here’s the transcript of the interview.… Continue Reading
Layar to bring its augmented reality to one-third of global smartphones
The last time VentureBeat checked in with Dutch augmented reality startup Layar, it had just launched a store for different services that can layer information over the world around you via your mobile phone screen. Today, it is taking these services global with a round of deals that will make them compatible with one-third of the world’s smartphones.
Just one year after its founding, Layar says it is poised to bring tens of millions of … Continue Reading
Google unites its display ad efforts under one name
Google may have made its name and fortune with those text ads we see alongside our search results, but today it’s emphasizing the fancier display side of the advertising world with the announcement of the Google Display Network.
It sounds like the network doesn’t represent any real change in policy or product — it’s just “an umbrella name” for what Google already offers, namely the ability to run display advertising (usually website banners with images … Continue Reading
OneRiot opens up rich Facebook search data to developers
Real-time search engine OneRiot is opening up its sifted feed of Facebook search data to developers.
As we reported before anyone else last month, OneRiot was one of the very first third-party search engines to begin incorporating real-time “liking” and sharing data from the social network. It used this on top of similar data from MySpace and Twitter to offer up the most widely shared and popular stories and videos at any given moment.
Today, … Continue Reading
Apple upgrades MobileMe Mail, launches "Find My iPhone" app
Apple today made several announcements regarding MobileMe, its collection of online services that include webmail, cloud storage, and other features. Unfortunately, Apple didn’t make the $99-a-year MobileMe free, despite the many good reasons it should have. Instead, it unveiled upgrades to MobileMe Mail, as well as an iPhone app for the “Find My iPhone” service.
As expected, the new MobileMe mail is faster and offers increased SSL security (something that Gmail has had for a … Continue Reading
OnRequest Images takes $2M more for global custom photography
OnRequest Images, a service which takes custom photographs from around the world, today announced $2 million according to Seattle-based TechFlash, which is where the company is headquartered.
OnRequest Images helps marketers and brands to take customized photos for campaigns. The company hosts a network of a couple hundred photographers, stylists and production crews around the world. Many of those photographers can be seen right on the company’s website and range from 40-year-olds in Turin, Italy … Continue Reading
Energy Dept. prioritizes building energy efficiency, hands out $76M
The U.S. Department of Energy is leading a sea change in the way industry, investors and consumers are approaching the energy crisis: turning away from the hype surrounding solar, wind and other renewable generation technology, to focus more on energy efficiency.
Taking another step in this direction, the department announced today that it is allocating $76 million in stimulus funding to make buildings, commercial and residential, more energy efficient. On top of the technology, the … Continue Reading
Is TechCrunch really for sale?
Here’s the rumor roundup up on prominent startup blog TechCrunch and founder-editor Mike Arrington’s recent moves: In May, after five years in the Valley, Arrington relocated to the Seattle area, where he has family. He jokes about being a Seattle misfit.
Industry watchers looking for a money angle instantly concluded that Arrington plans to sell TechCrunch. He moved, say the wags, because Washington has no personal income tax.
Beyond the potential for a payday, Seattle … Continue Reading
