Shazam updates its iPad app with auto-tagging and integration with Spotify & Rdio

Media discovery startup Shazam released a new version of its iPad app today that adds a ton of new features boosting your ability to identify music, TV shows, and advertising.

Microsoft uses Siri to slam Apple in new Windows 8 ad (video)

We all know Microsoft likes to challenge its competitors head on, especially Google. Now Microsoft is taking a swing at Apple in a new 30-second ad that uses Siri's voice to make fun of the iPad.

Ahead of earnings, Pandora brings your music listening activity to Facebook’s Timeline

Pandora's new Facebook integration adds a helpful social layer to the streaming music service that may help assure investors that Pandora is moving forward, despite a grim business outlook ahead of tomorrow's Q1 FY2014 earnings report.

Xbox One: Microsoft’s boldest attempt to unify its services is a game console

It's more a powerful home theater PC than it is a game console, making it a great tool for bringing Microsoft's services into your living room.

Zite’s new iOS app update welcomes (but doesn’t cater to) mournful Google Reader users

Zite was one of the first companies to answer cries from loyal Google Reader users when the service was shuttered back in March, building a "replacement" in about six hours. Yet in the news reader's latest iOS app update, Zite's management team makes one thing very clear: it's time to let Google Reader die.

Amazon introduces ‘Kindle Worlds’ for … selling fanfiction?

Thanks to Amazon, writing fanfiction about popular television show characters just became more than a passionate hobby that earns you ridicule from friends and co-workers.

Google’s cool new conversational search quietly hits Chrome

With little fanfare, Google has added its cool new conversational search feature to Chrome on desktops, following a demonstration last week at Google I/O.

Pandora starts playing music from unreleased albums

The new station marks an important step in Pandora's attempt to become just as vital to the music industry as the traditional radio stations were decades earlier.

What’s the technology in Microsoft’s new Xbox One?

The new Xbox One is built on native 64-bit architecture and includes a Blu-ray player and integrated Kinect sensor.

NFL will bring exclusive original TV content to Xbox One

With Microsoft's introduction of the new entertainment watching experience through its new Xbox One console, one of the biggest winners will obviously be for those that love live sports.

With the new Xbox One, you’ll never watch TV the same way again

Microsoft just blew the doors off of every integrated television experience with the reveal of its next generation console Xbox One.

Crunchyroll expands its revenue stream by selling anime-related merch

Streaming video service Crunchyroll has just rolleed out a new platform that allows its viewers to purchase merchandise related to the shows they're watching, the company told VentureBeat today.

HasOffers scores $9.4M first round led by Accel Partners

HasOffers, a Seattle-based provider of mobile advertising-tracking services, has raised a $9.4 million Series A led by Accel Partners.

Marissa Mayer explains how Yahoo will keep Tumblr from meeting Flickr’s fate

Some Tumblr fans want to know how Yahoo plans to avoid the fate of Flickr, Geocities, and other failed acquisitions. So we asked Marissa Mayer.

Is this the future of TV on Xbox? Microsoft launches interactive music show

Just a day shy of it's superimportant and highly publicized event to showcase the next-generation Xbox console, Microsoft's Xbox team has announced a new interactive TV show that's definitely worth paying attention to.

Dijit launches a web version of its NextGuide app TV utility

Streaming video and TV programming guide startup Dijit just released a new web app version of its NextGuide app that's every bit as useful as the mobile versions.

Yahoo confirms $1.1B Tumblr acquisition, CEO Marissa Mayer promises ‘not to screw it up’

While rumors have been swirling for days, Yahoo finally confirmed this morning that it has acquired popular blogging platform Tumblr for $1.1 billion.

Yahoo’s Mayer: we’re committed to monetizing Tumblr

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer held a press conference today to flesh out more details about its $1.1 billion acquisition of blog platform Tumblr, which was confirmed yesterday after days of rumors.

WordPress CEO: Yahoo deal led to 72,000 Tumblr posts imported to WP in one hour

While it may be too early to tell how Tumblr users will ultimately respond to Yahoo's $1.1 billion acquisition, we're seeing signs that are jumping to other blogging services.