News From Yellow Business Pages » Items by Epicenter

Microsoft to Yahoo: Ditch the Board and Let's Dance

Posted: July 7th, 2008, 10:35am EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft adds insult to injury by telling Yahoo it won't deal at all with the current board -- but that anything is possible if the Carl Icahn slate is installed at the Aug. 1 shareholder meeting.

Microsoft/Yahoo Takeover Talks On Again

Posted: June 24th, 2008, 12:26am EDT by Epicenter

The on-again, off-again Microsoft/Yahoo takeover talks are on again, Techcrunch reports, citing several anonymous sources. Word that the seemingly estranged parties might yet meet at the altar sent Yahoo shares soaring more than 7 percent.

Spoof Yahoo Resignation Letter Lets You Tell 'Em

Posted: June 20th, 2008, 4:30pm EDT by Epicenter

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Wired contributor Matt Honan lets you vent at Yahoo just by using the handy pulldown menus. You can pick your reasons for why you'd quit Yahoo.

Oh Hai! Icahn Haz a Blog? LOLWUT?

Posted: June 20th, 2008, 2:03pm EDT by Epicenter

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The long-awaited blog by 'corporate activist' Carl Icahn went live this week, but it's sadly lacking in specifics. The blog doesn't even mention his latest target, Yahoo.

Ka-Ching: LinkedIn VC Investment Implies $1 Billion Value

Posted: June 18th, 2008, 10:40am EDT by Epicenter

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Professional networking site LinkedIn gets $53 million in new funding for an implied valuation of $1 billion. Profitable since 2006, LinkedIn says the money will be used to help "execute on our vision."

Yahoo Customers Pan Google Ad Deal

Posted: June 14th, 2008, 11:00am EDT by Epicenter

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Just one day after Yahoo's announcement of its plan to outsource some of its ad business to Google, marketers say they plan to cut their spending on Yahoo and take their business elsewhere.

Encyclopaedia Britannica to Follow Modified Wikipedia Model

Posted: June 9th, 2008, 4:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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It may not exactly be a sign of the Apocalypse, but the Encyclopaedia Britannica is dipping its toes in wiki waters with a plan to invite the general public to contribute to its online version. Not just anything will get into the main version, mind you, and comparisons to Wikipedia may be exaggerated, but the invitation to "lay contributers" is a first.

AT&T Embraces BitTorrent, May Consider Usage-Based Pricing

Posted: June 6th, 2008, 8:45pm EDT by Epicenter

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AT&T's chief technical officer John Donovan talked with Wired.com about the company's network growth, its position on BitTorrent and a planned test of usage-based pricing.

Amazon Goes Down

Posted: June 6th, 2008, 2:30pm EDT by Epicenter

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Users trying to get on Amazon's website this morning get a "service unavailable" message. What's up?

FTC Starts Formal Probe of Intel

Posted: June 6th, 2008, 1:30pm EDT by Epicenter

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The Federal Trade Commission, under new leadership, reverses course and begins a formal investigation of Intel and alleged anti-competitive practices. Intel says it's been cooperating with the FTC for years and that its business practices "are well within U.S. law."

Apple Bans Teens From Stores for Downloading iPhone Game

Posted: May 30th, 2008, 5:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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Four Palo Alto teens found themselves chased down a street and detained by Apple store security for 2.5 hours after they downloaded a third-party game onto a store phone.

The Dawn of Free Internet Access?

Posted: May 29th, 2008, 4:45pm EDT by Epicenter

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The FCC is considering auctioning off a slice of spectrum with a free provision -- meaning millions of Americans could eventually enjoy free, broadband web access.

Facebook, The Princess Phone and a Mattress for Sergey and Eric

Posted: May 29th, 2008, 8:21am EDT by Epicenter

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How hip (or young) do you have to be not to know what a Princess Phone is? It doesn't matter, if you're Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, the top faces at Facebook. When Barry Diller calls you the "Princess Phone of our generation" you go out and buy one and present it to Kara Swisher as she's about to interview you at D6.

Business Never Far From the Surface at D6

Posted: May 28th, 2008, 8:35pm EDT by Epicenter

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Arianna Huffington is blogging from the lobby. Jeff Bezos is wandering around looking crumpled. Security is thick at the All Things Digital conference, and business is never far from the surface -- even if Jeff Bewkes won't talk about his plans for an AOL property because Rupert Murdoch is in the front row.

Hookers, Teens, & Halo: Story Was Too Good to Be True

Posted: May 23rd, 2008, 3:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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The story had legs -- hooker's legs -- plus teens, stolen credit cards, and Halo. It got Dugg, play on Fox News and was widely blogged. It was also made up -- and the original "story" has a disclaimer to that effect (of course, you'd have to read it, and to the bottom). So internet marketer Lyndon Antcliff, who whipped this all up, is having the last laugh.

Apple Owns Your Home, Circa 2013: Forrester

Posted: May 22nd, 2008, 3:09pm EDT by Epicenter

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Figuring out what Apple might be up to in 18 days is child's play. What about Apple 2013? Forrester Research takes a stab at this favorite Valley parlor game and sees Apple in every room -- and hallway, for that matter.

Is Marc Andreessen Through with the Press?

Posted: May 16th, 2008, 3:52pm EDT by Epicenter

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Marc Andreessen has made two mid-year resolutions: “No more public speaking” and “More blogging.” They both seem related to his dissatisfaction with reporters. But Andreessen, in his widely-read blog, doesn’t exactly say what the problem is, and why now is the time to do something about it. Has he really stepped off the non-virtual stage for the last time?

Silicon Valley Book Party Turns Up the Heat

Posted: May 16th, 2008, 2:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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Digg CEO Jay Adelson, Slide CEO Max Levchin and a host of other Silicon Valley movers and shakers turned up to help celebrate the publication of BusinessWeek columnist Sarah Lacy's new book, Once You're Lucky, Twice You're Good.

Someone's Out to Get Wikimedia's Deputy Director

Posted: May 14th, 2008, 7:45pm EDT by Epicenter

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Wikimedia's deputy director, Erik Möller, has come under fire for early writings that suggest a disturbing defense of child pornography. Danny Wool, one of Wikimedia's most vocal critics insists he didn't leak the writings to the press, but he knows who did.

Sun's McNealy: 'I Don't Want to Be On the Network'

Posted: May 13th, 2008, 6:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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Sun Microsystems' chairman and Duke Energy's CEO share a stage to promote networking everyday devices like toasters to revolutionize the way that electricity is used.

Microhoo Tea Leaf Watch: Proxy Directors Set Free

Posted: May 9th, 2008, 9:30am EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft has released potential directors in a hostile takeover of Yahoo, in what the Wall Street Journal calls a "clear sign" the Redmond giant is really, truly walking away. Will this defining moment end once and for all the speculation which has helped Yahoo shares to remain comfortably above pre-takeover-talk levels? Of course not.

IBM, Microsoft Trounce Apple in Climate-Friendliness Showdown

Posted: May 7th, 2008, 4:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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In a survey of corporations' responsiveness to climate change, IBM scored well, Microsoft did middling, and Apple came in near the bottom of the pack.

Microsoft Walks! Says Yahoo Demands Don't Make Sense

Posted: May 3rd, 2008, 9:58pm EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft walks away from Yahoo after offering $33 a share -- $4 less than Yahoo was seeking. The announcement came at the end of a long, tense week of deliberations and three months after Microsoft first submitted an unsolicited offer for the web company.

WSJ: Miscrosoft Does The Bad Cop / Not-So-Bad Cop Routine

Posted: May 2nd, 2008, 8:02am EDT by Epicenter

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It's Friday, so this must mean that a) Microsoft is leaking to the WSJ that it is leaning towards going hostile about Yahoo, b) Ballmer is saying for the record that can take it or leave it and c) he's not willing to pay one more dime to make the deal than -- whatever Yahoo is actually worth. By his reckoning. TGIF.

Dark Day for DVDs: iTunes Gets Same-Day Movie Releases

Posted: May 1st, 2008, 2:45pm EDT by Epicenter

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Apple's announcement that iTunes will offer new movie releases on the same day they come out on DVD represents a threat to Netflix and Blockbuster.

WSJ: Ballmer Empowered to Talk or Walk by Microsoft Board

Posted: May 1st, 2008, 9:11am EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft's board couldn't come to a final decision Wednesday but it did empower CEO Steve Ballmer to go hostile or abandon the pursuit of Yahoo, the Wall Street Journal reports. A decision isn't likely until later this week, it says.

Microsoft's Next Move on Yahoo Imminent: WSJ

Posted: April 30th, 2008, 8:03am EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft's next move in its takeover attempt of Yahoo is imminent -- perhaps even today -- the Wall Street Journal reports. Options are the usual suspects, it says: try to pack the Yahoo board or appeal directly to shareholders.

Is It Time to Fire Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer?

Posted: April 29th, 2008, 12:45am EDT by Epicenter

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Critics say Microsoft CEO SteveBallmer is responsible for the company's fumbled release of Windows Vista, its foundering web strategy and its quixotic pursuit of Yahoo.

Microsoft Takes Its Sweet Time With Yahoo

Posted: April 28th, 2008, 7:20pm EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft says it's in a hurry to reach an agreement with Yahoo -- its actions speak otherwise.

D-Day: Still No Word From Microsoft

Posted: April 26th, 2008, 12:45am EDT by Epicenter

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It's been three weeks since Microsoft informed Yahoo's board that it would take its bid hostile if a deal was not sealed in three weeks' time, and there's still no agreement. But Microsoft hasn't gone hostile -- yet.

Microsoft CFO Explains Why the Stock Sucks: Yahoo

Posted: April 25th, 2008, 8:30pm EDT by Epicenter

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Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell said in an internal interview that the reason why shares have taken such a beating is fairly simple: Uncertainty surrounding Yahoo has dragged the stock down.

World Domination, or at Least a Couple of Bucks

Posted: April 20th, 2008, 12:15am EDT by Epicenter

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A crowd of 700 attend Startup School '08, a day-long conference at Stanford University for entrepreneurial wannabes hoping to be the next Sergey and Larry.

How Google Is Blowing It on Social Networking

Posted: April 18th, 2008, 2:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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The one sour note in Google's otherwise stellar Q1 report this week was its acknowledged failure in making money from social networking.

Google Still Raking In the Billions

Posted: April 17th, 2008, 4:20pm EDT by Epicenter

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Google's Q1 earnings report shows the company's profits are up 30 percent over the previous year, despite nervousness about the economy and dropping paid-click rates. Find live coverage of the conference call in Wired.com's Epicenter blog.

Google Guns for Amazon With App-Hosting Service

Posted: April 8th, 2008, 2:45pm EDT by Epicenter

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Google launched a web application-hosting business today, called Google App Engine, which is poised to give Amazon.com a run for its money.

Microsoft-Yahoo Proxy Fight Seems Likely

Posted: April 8th, 2008, 2:30pm EDT by Epicenter

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Now that Yahoo has again rebuffed Microsoft's acquisition offer, what's next? A proxy battle seems likely; we spell out the steps on that path in this post. In Epicenter.

Microsoft Threatens to Go Hostile on Yahoo

Posted: April 5th, 2008, 3:00pm EDT by epicenter

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Microsoft says Yahoo has three weeks to negotiate a decent deal, after which time Microsoft is going to get medieval on its ass.

'Google Slap' Destroys Revenue, Advertisers Say

Posted: April 2nd, 2008, 6:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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A major change made to its AdWords algorithm in March is having a dramatic, adverse effect on some advertisers.

Can Google Stop the Brain Drain?

Posted: March 28th, 2008, 1:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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Countless Googlers have fled the company in search of new challenges (and fortunes).

Google's Paid Clicks Continue to Slide

Posted: March 27th, 2008, 6:50pm EDT by Epicenter

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Bad news for Google shareholders: Paid clicks, or clicks on sponsored ads, over the Google network are stalling, according to a ComScore report.

Analyst: Apple Places Order for 10 Million 3-G iPhones

Posted: March 26th, 2008, 4:15pm EDT by Epicenter

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Citing various sources in Asia, Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney says Apple has placed a big order for 10 million 3-G iPhones. That's in addition to the 10 million v.1 iPhones Apple has ordered, Dulaney says.

Australian Company Calls WiMax a Disaster

Posted: March 24th, 2008, 5:30pm EDT by Epicenter

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Garth Freeman, the CEO of Australian company Buzz Broadband, described his company's experience with WiMax as a "disaster," and ultimately a "miserable failure."

Doubts Spread About Google's 1Q Earnings

Posted: March 24th, 2008, 5:20pm EDT by Epicenter

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With just a week left of the first quarter, Wall Street analysts appear nervous about Google's earnings.

Spark-Spewing iPod Prompts Japanese Investigation

Posted: March 12th, 2008, 2:00pm EDT by Epicenter

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Japan's trade and economy ministry is investigating a possible defect in older versions of Apple's iPod Nano (model number MA099J/A) after one particularly nasty incident where the device reportedly shot out sparks while recharging.

Lessig Calls on Geeks to Code the Money Out of Politics

Posted: March 6th, 2008, 11:30am EST by Epicenter

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In a presentation at O'Reilly's Emerging Technology Conference, Stanford law professor Larry Lessig calls on geeks to figure out ways of getting the corruption out of politics.

Wikipedia Founder Hit With Allegations of Excessive Spending

Posted: March 3rd, 2008, 6:45pm EST by Epicenter

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Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has been hit with allegations that he misused his expense account at the Wikimedia foundation.

Steve Wozniak 'Disappointed' With the iPhone

Posted: March 3rd, 2008, 4:00pm EST by Epicenter

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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has changed his tune on the iPhone. After raving that it's a revolutionary device, he now says he's disappointed.

Want to Win Google's Love? Pony Up the Cash

Posted: February 29th, 2008, 3:15pm EST by Epicenter

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The only way Ed Reese has been able to get Google to acknowledge his business is by paying monthly fees to local listing networks such as Superpages.com and Yellowbook.com. His experience begs the question: Does local search work, or do you need to pay to play?

TED 2008: Scientist Gives Riveting Account of Her Own Stroke

Posted: February 29th, 2008, 2:15pm EST by Epicenter

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When neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor experienced a stroke in 1996, the first thing to go was her sense of being separate from the objects around her. Taylor gave a first-person account of her experience at the TED conference in Monterey this week.

Google Tests Text-Ad Overlays for Videos

Posted: February 21st, 2008, 11:45am EST by Epicenter

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In an effort to boost ad revenue, Google rolls out AdSense for video beta. Under the program, publishers are expected to boost their advertising revenue.

Customers Shrug Off Amazon S3 Service Failure

Posted: February 15th, 2008, 6:00pm EST by Epicenter

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Amazon's virtual storage service, S3, suffered a 2.5-hour service failure Friday morning, causing outages and other problems at a wide range of web businesses. Most customers remained unconcerned, however.

Microsoft's Next Move Gives Shareholders the Shivers

Posted: February 11th, 2008, 7:15pm EST by Epicenter

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Microsoft shareholders have grown increasingly concerned that a deal with Yahoo will cut into earnings.

Starbucks Drops T-Mobile Hotspots, Brings in AT&T WiFi

Posted: February 11th, 2008, 5:30pm EST by Epicenter

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On Monday, Starbucks announced that it will be dropping T-Mobile as its exclusive WiFi provider and instead going with AT&T.

FCC's Spectrum Auction Approaches $20 Billion in Bids

Posted: February 5th, 2008, 2:15pm EST by Epicenter

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Since its 700-MHz auction began on Jan. 24, the FCC has raised more than $18.8 billion. That well surpasses the agency's own early estimates of attracting between $10-15 billion.

Microsoft-Yahoo: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid, Google Says

Posted: February 4th, 2008, 3:15pm EST by Epicenter

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Yahoo's fiercest competitor, Google, has raised concerns about the possibility of Microsoft's takeover. Google's motives, of course, are hardly pure.

Shock and Awe: Microsoft Bids $44.6 Billion for Yahoo

Posted: February 1st, 2008, 10:50am EST by Epicenter

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Smelling blood on the water, Microsoft's spectacular bid is intended to close the deal. Wall Street seems to like the idea.

EBay Sellers Angry About New Fees, Feedback Rules

Posted: January 30th, 2008, 6:00pm EST by Epicenter

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EBay isn't winning a whole lot of fans with its controversial new fee structure. Sellers say the new system equates to a rate hike. The company, by contrast, estimates that 60 percent of sellers will pay less in fees, so long as they provide quality customer service.

Yahoo Profits Slip; To Cut 1,000 Jobs

Posted: January 29th, 2008, 8:10pm EST by Epicenter

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After a challenging year, Yahoo posted a 23 percent decline in fourth-quarter profits and announced plans to cut 1,000 positions.

HD DVD to Buy Superbowl Ad, Prolong Inevitable Loss to Blu-ray

Posted: January 28th, 2008, 7:20pm EST by Epicenter

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The HD DVD camp purchased a $2.7 million ad for week's Super Bowl that will try to convince viewers that the high-definition format war is still far from over.

Yahoo Report Could Disappoint, Analysts Say Layoffs Likely

Posted: January 28th, 2008, 5:00pm EST by Epicenter

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When Yahoo posts fourth-quarter results after closing bell tomorrow, the company is expected to deliver a couple of disappointing announcements, including job cuts and a less profitable agreement with AT&T.

Weakness at Yahoo Doesn't Bode Well for Google

Posted: January 23rd, 2008, 8:00pm EST by Epicenter

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Investors are finally facing the facts: Yahoo isn't the only web company vulnerable to an economic downturn. Google is just as likely to get nailed if the economy slips into a recession.

EBay CEO Meg Whitman Confirms Rumors, Says She Will Step Down

Posted: January 23rd, 2008, 5:30pm EST by Epicenter

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Confirming days of speculation, eBay CEO Meg Whitman announced that she will step down from her position leading the online auction company, effective March 31.

DivX Partners With Sony Pictures and Takes on Apple With a New D-Link Media Hub

Posted: January 9th, 2008, 5:00pm EST by Epicenter

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DivX announced a new deal with Sony Pictures at this week's CES that will let online retailers offer the studio's entire library for download and playback on DivX-certified devices. The company also debuted a new D-Link media hub, which will compete with the Apple TV.