The flood starts: Layar, Urbanspoon bring augmented reality to iPhone

The flood starts: Layar, Urbanspoon bring augmented reality to iPhone

Two big entrants in the world of augmented reality today brought their apps to the iPhone today.

Both Layar, one of Europe’s pioneers in augmented reality browsing, and the popular restaurant-finding app Urbanspoon are using the technology to mark up the real world. Augmented reality is… Continue Reading

IAC buys restaurant recommender Urbanspoon

IAC buys restaurant recommender Urbanspoon

Urbanspoon, the startup behind a popular restaurant recommendation application on the iPhone, has been acquired by web giant IAC. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but TechCrunch hears it was in the millions of dollars.

The Seattle startup has a web-based recommendation service, but… Continue Reading

Roundup: Yelp allegedly extorts, Twitter embraces its origins, Tesla CMO defects and more

Roundup: Yelp allegedly extorts, Twitter embraces its origins, Tesla CMO defects and more

Here’s the latest action:

The downturn finally hits HP — The company announced a 10 percent drop in earnings yesterday and plans to cut salaries. CNet has more.

Yelp accused of extortion, again — Local business owners report that the trendy review site offers to hide negative critiques in… Continue Reading

Active Network acquires online campsite booker ReserveAmerica

Active Network acquires online campsite booker ReserveAmerica

The Active Network, a network of sites targeting athletic and active-lifestyle users, announced today that it’s buying ReserveAmerica, an online service for booking campground space across the U.S., for an undisclosed amount.

It was formerly a subsidiary of IAC, a conglomerate of interactive web-based businesses (including… Continue Reading

IAC, conglomerate of web properties, launching new “content venture”

IAC, conglomerate of web properties, launching new “content venture”

update: rumors are beginning to spill out; Alley Insider suggests the venture is a collaboration between IAC’s Ask and Digg.com, and will launch “very soon.”

With the bid by Microsoft to purchase Yahoo potentially reducing the number of major Web companies, other conglomerates may also come… Continue Reading

Citysearch, Merchantcircle connect their local business services

Citysearch, Merchantcircle connect their local business services

Citysearch, an online guide service about local US businesses, has partnered with MerchantCircle, in an effort to hold their own in the increasingly competitive area of local reviews.

The move comes as Citysearch is under attack from newer, fresher sites like Yelp, which offers reviews about… Continue Reading

Roundup: Silicon Valley hot in mobile, Jaiku, LinkedIn, IAC, more

Roundup: Silicon Valley hot in mobile, Jaiku, LinkedIn, IAC, more

Here’s the action that you missed over Thanksgiving break:

1. Silicon Valley becoming mobile innovation hub
2. Why Google bought Jaiku
3. LinkedIn drawing suitors?
4. IAC to spend $100M in China
5. NeoEdge launches ad network for casual games
6. Feds may subsidize broadband access

Silicon Valley becoming mobile innovation hub… Continue Reading

Roundup: IAC to split, new Time Warner CEO, and more

Roundup: IAC to split, new Time Warner CEO, and more

Here’s the latest action:

1) IAC splitting into five companies
2) Sea change ahead for Time Warner
3) Google’s merger plans may be foiled by the EU
4) Synthasite launches website creation
5) Whrrl opens local opinion site
6) Internet users like their free stuff
7) Andersen exacts revenge on PR flacks… Continue Reading

Roundup: Six Apart’s memo, VCs and sex toys, WiMax in 2008, Newser.com & more

Roundup: Six Apart’s memo, VCs and sex toys, WiMax in 2008, Newser.com & more

Here’s the latest (updated) action:

Six Apart’s headaches — The blogging software market is highly competitive, so small differences in quality can make a difference in user adoption. Six Apart, a Silicon Valley start-up that offers several blogging software platforms, including Movable Type, has released a product… Continue Reading

Interactive Corp opens venture arm, but how long will it stay?

Interactive Corp opens venture arm, but how long will it stay?

(Update: IAC’s venture arm will be called Primal Ventures)

IAC, the New York media conglomerate run by Darry Diller, and owner of Match.com, Ticketmaster and Evite.com, is opening up a venture capital investment arm in San Francisco.

It will be run by Match.com’s chief executive Jim… Continue Reading

Citysearch snaps up Insider Pages in local search race

Citysearch snaps up Insider Pages in local search race

Citysearch, the division of IAC focuses on local reviews of restaurants and other services, has acquired the struggling local review start-up, Insider Pages.

The purchase (amount undisclosed) comes at a time of increasing competition in the race to deliver a compelling local search services. Citysearch’s parent,… Continue Reading