New reports say American solar outlook is bright, but Germany still dominates
Several reports have come out lately about the progress of the U.S. solar market. The numbers are mostly positive, showing growth, though there’s less demand and investment in the sector compared to the previous year. Germany, with its generous solar incentives, is still projected to be a global leader in solar, accounting for more than half of the world’s solar installations next year. Here’s a rundown of the latest solar reports:
U.S. solar and solar … Continue Reading
eBay cashes in on PayPal as online auctions stop growing
For the first time in more than a year, eBay has not seen any significant revenue growth from its auctions. That has left PayPal, which continues to grow at a healthy rate, as the flagship revenue stream for the once-leading online auction site, according to its most recent earnings reports released today.
As online retailers like Amazon.com and others have emerged as the dominant force in online marketplaces, auctions have begun to lose some steam. … Continue Reading
See a demo of Apple's new MacBook Air, iLife '11 and Mac OS X Leopard
Here’s a video demo of the new MacBook Air (11.6-inch screen version) that Apple introduced just hours ago. I had a chance to see it up close and walk through a demo of the iLife ’11 multimedia software that Apple also introduced today. The iLife ’11 suite has new versions of iMovie, iPhoto, and GarageBand.
This video will give you a good look at what’s new in the iLife ’11 suite. You can, for instance, … Continue Reading
Electronic Arts picks up Angry Birds publisher Chillingo
Mobile gamers have become obsessed with small, pudgy and vehemently Angry Birds — mostly playing a game that sends them flying into walls and watching the sparks fly. So much so that Electronic Arts has decided to acquire the game’s publisher, U.K.-based Chillingo, for a reported $20 million.
Chillingo publishes a number of other mobile games, like Cut the Rope and Predators, but none are as popular as Angry Birds. Gamers had already downloaded the … Continue Reading
Another blow to boxed software: Apple brings its App Store to Macs
Traditional software seems pretty unsexy nowadays, compared to what you can find in mobile app stores. So it’s clear why Apple announced today that it will be bringing its App Store, developed for the iPhone and other mobile devices, to the desktop.
In other words, Apple has created a new gateway for folks selling software for Macs. As with the App Store on other devices, users will be able to download apps with just a … Continue Reading
How to maximize the value of your organization’s IP investment
While many companies understand the importance of investing in innovation, they often fail to realize how managing intellectual property (IP) is essential to ensuring long-term success. To address this issue, Harvard Business School offers Intellectual Property and Business Strategy. Taught by world-renowned faculty from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, this Executive Education program helps you maximize the value of your firm’s IP investment.
As a previous program participant shared, “My firm … Continue Reading
Apple's one more thing: 13.3-inch and 11.6-inch MacBook Air laptops
For his signature “one more thing” unveiling at Apple’s “Back to the Mac” event today, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs revealed two new versions of the company’s MacBook Air laptop.
The new laptops are just 0.68 inches thick at their thickest part and 0.11 inches at the thinnest. They come with flash memory only, not hard drives, and sport fast new Core 2 Duo microprocessors from Intel as well as Nvidia mobile graphics chips. With … Continue Reading
Why Silicon Valley won't be Detroit for green carmakers
We don’t hear “death of Detroit” stories as often now as we did a year ago.
When GM and Chrysler plunged into bankruptcy and the entire U.S. industry laid off tens of thousands of workers in one year, the effects on an already battered Detroit region were dire.
And they led to a rash of stories that Detroit was done with. Many predicted that the new, green auto industry of the future would be built … Continue Reading
Apple to launch Lion version of Mac operating system with iPad-like features
Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said today that the Mac operating system will gets its eighth version soon. Code-named Lion, the new release will include some innovations taken from the iPad and the iPhone.
“That’s the philosophy behind it: Mac OS meets the iPad,” Jobs said, speaking on stage at Apple’s “Back to the Mac” event in Cupertino, Calif., today.
The Mac will now accommodate multitouch gestures on a computer. You can also get an … Continue Reading
Microsoft lifts New York City into the cloud
Earlier this week, VentureBeat reported on New York City’s efforts to modernize its government. The Big Apple is moving ahead quickly, announcing a partnership with Microsoft today that will anchor the city’s technology infrastructure firmly in Microsoft’s cloud.
The five-year deal will move the city’s 30,000 employees to Microsoft’s Internet-based service, including email, instant messaging, and collaboration tools like SharePoint. The deal will also deliver email to an additional 100,000 city employees who currently lack … Continue Reading
Apple announces iLife '11 with new iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand (video)
Apple today announced the latest version of its flagship software suite, iLife ’11, at its “Back to the Mac” event. The suite includes 2011 versions of iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and more.
Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller demonstrated the new features in iPhoto ’11, which seems to be taking some cues from iPad applications with its new fullscreen mode. He showed off the new places view, which plots your photos on a world map using … Continue Reading
Apple: Mac growth crushes PC growth
Newer products like the iPhone may be dominating most of Apple’s press coverage, and they contribute a big portion of the company’s fast-growing revenue, but that doesn’t mean the Apple’s Macintosh computers are irrelevant.
To kick off today’s “Back to the Mac” event in Cupertino, Calif., Apple shared some numbers about Mac sales.
Macs have 20.7 percent of the consumer market in the United States
There are 600,000 registered Mac developers
Mac sales make up
A startup once again, Kontiki raises $10.7M to give each company its own YouTube
Kontiki, a startup with clever Web video technology and a storied past in Silicon Valley, announced today that it has raised $10.7 million in its second round of funding.
Kontiki gives companies a way to publish and stream video content, much like YouTube, within an internal network by using peer-to-peer technology similar to torrent programs like BitTorrent.
The company was originally backed by the late former Netscape executive Mike Homer, who was widely mourned in … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: MBA Polymers raises $25M, Solar Components gets $2.8M
Here’s the cleantech stories we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Japanese manufacturer Solar Frontier has signed an agreement to develop IBM-designed thin-film solar cells, CNET reports. The copper, zinc, tin, sulfur and selenium modules have 9.6 percent efficiency — less than other thin-film and silicon photovoltaic options — but are made from more abundant ingredients.
Solar Components has raised $2.8 million of an expected $4.9 million in equity. The company makes a portable, … Continue Reading
Lenovo delays LePad Android tablet until summer 2011
Lenovo, the giant Chinese-American PC maker, won’t be bringing its LePad Android tablet to the U.S. until summer 2011 and has ruled out a Windows 7-based tablet entirely, PC Magazine reports.
The last we heard about the LePad, Lenovo was aiming for a late 2010 release. Now the company’s president and COO Rory Read says that it’s waiting until Google releases its tablet-friendly Android version — which is going by the codename “Honeycomb” — before … Continue Reading
Samsung's Galaxy Tab Android tablet hitting Verizon Nov. 11 for $599
That faint, sad whistling sound you hear in the tech blogosphere is Samsung’s relentless hype for its Galaxy Tab devices deflating in an instant. Verizon announced today that it will offer the Android-powered tablet on November 11 for $599.99.
To be fair, Verizon is offering the Tab for $30 less than Apple is selling the cheapest 3G-enabled iPad. The Tab’s data plan — $20 per month for 1GB of data — is optional and contract-free, … Continue Reading
The blessings of inexperience
(Editor’s note: Serial entrepreneur Steve Blank is the author of Four Steps to the Epiphany. This story originally appeared on his blog.)
Ask people what makes entrepreneurs successful and you’ll hear a familiar list of adjectives: Agile, tenacious, resilient, opportunistic, etc.
What you don’t hear is that often they didn’t know any better.
I was just rereading Jessica Livingston’s book Founders at Work, and a common thread through the stories reminded me that … Continue Reading
SkillSlate grabs $1.1M to find local service providers
SkillSlate, a website for easily finding local service providers such as dog walkers, DJs and movers, today announced it has secured a first funding round of $1.1 million. The company plans on using the funds to expand the service outside of the New York area and add more work categories.
The company has created an online directory of local service providers who can easily create a profile that includes the company’s location, contact information, prices … Continue Reading
Doxo might end your billing headaches
Until now, Seattle startup Doxo has been pretty secretive about what it’s up to. All it’s revealed is that it’s backed by Jeff Bezos’ Bezos Expeditions and Mohr Davidow Ventures, and that it’s been developing a paperless billing product.
Today, however, co-founder and chief executive Steve Shivers gave me a demo of the service. And the site is now handing out invites and letting in users.
Shivers and his team tried to answer this question: … Continue Reading
Symbian CEO Lee Williams steps down
Symbian Foundation CEO Lee Williams has stepped down from his position citing “personal reasons”, Mobile Industry Review reports.
The foundation is a non-profit organization, founded in June 2008, that spearheads the development of the Symbian mobile operating system. Williams served as chief for two years and will be replaced by Symbian chief financial officer Tim Holbrow. Interestingly, Williams isn’t taking his time with the move — he’s gone, effective today.
The move may be a … Continue Reading
