Roundup: Xbox defects rise, Windows Live Messenger comes to websites, and more

Roundup: Xbox defects rise, Windows Live Messenger comes to websites, and more

Here’s the latest action:

Joystiq reports rising Xbox 360 defects — Errors with the E74 code have been rising since the New Xbox Experience update on Xbox Live, according to a survey.

Windows Live Messenger adds chat to websites – In the words of TechCrunch’s Erick Schonfeld, “AIM, the ball is in your court.”

MySpace brings in Fotoflexer to allow photo customization — Up until this point, those features have only been available through third-party photo-editing tools.

Sohu files for an… Continue Reading

Intellectual Ventures raising $1B more for patent trolling?

Intellectual Ventures raising $1B more for patent trolling?

Intellectual Ventures, a controversial investment firm run by former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold, is buying up patents and milking them — and is reportedly raising as much as $1 billion more to extend its portfolio.

We mentioned this last week, noting that some critics say the firm is a patent troll, doing nothing more than leaching on others’ innovations, sucking up patent licensing fees. But other aspects of the WSJ story are worth nothing: Universities such… Continue Reading