Internet & Media

Logitech unveiling Google TV product on Oct. 6

It looks as if Logitech will beat Sony across the Google TV finish line.

Sony recently trumpeted an October 12 event in New York City, at which the company will be revealing its Google TV-powered Internet TV. But now Logitech has scheduled its own Google TV event in Manhattan event six days earlier.

The invitation (see photo) promises that "Google TV will be a new experience that combines TV, the entire Web, and apps--as well as a way to search across them all." The press conference will be led by Logitech's Executive VP of Products, Junien Labrousse. … Read more

Memo from Bartz's 'foxhole' confirms Yahoo exec departures

Finally, a funny from Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, confirming what BoomTown reported yesterday about the departures of three top execs in an e-mail memo to the company's employees worldwide.

It just went out and began: "Carol from the foxhole here."

Actually, she's in Georgia. In the memo, Bartz said she expects to announce the new head of the Americas region for Yahoo to replace outgoing chief Hilary Schneider before the end of the year.

The company also released a similar statement, which is below, adding that Yahoo SVP of North America partnerships and business development Raymond Stern … Read more

Is this the end for loud commercials?

You're sitting there at home watching your favorite team toy with your emotions.

Suddenly, an extremely loud voice assaults your ears: "You know what your 2:30 in the afternoon feels like...right?"

At least that is the one commercial, peddling some fine caffeinated product called 5-Hour Energy, that, to my mind and ears, is louder than James Earl Jones shouting at a man who has just stolen his trousers in a cave.

There is no excuse for this excess racket. There even exist gizmos that help mitigate viewers' pain. Thankfully, it seems that sense might finally … Read more

Facebook Photos get high resolution, bulk tagging

Facebook today announced some notable upgrades to its photo-sharing product: the ability to share high-resolution photos, "tag" people in bulk, and browse photos in a more streamlined fashion that doesn't load individual pages each time a new photo is viewed. The announcement was made by Facebook Photos product manager Sam Odio, and the new features will be rolling out over the next month, starting with a small test group on Thursday night.

Previously, much of Facebook Photos had been "a clumsy experience," Odio explained, with image sizes limited to a relatively small 720-pixel resolution, tagging … Read more

So the Texas shooter wasn't on Facebook--so what?

Every time a student gets hold of guns and begins to shoot them all over campus, wise people theorize.

What was it that brought him (seems always to be a "him") to such extreme action? What personality factors should have made his state of mind obvious? What behavior should have been spotted so that he could have been offered care and guidance?

Such a discussion has again emerged after Colton Tooley, a 19-year-old math student, allegedly availed himself of an AK-47 and randomly shot it around before shooting himself on the University of Texas campus.

The AP reports … Read more

Fox News: Suicide is proof tech dehumanizes

commentary Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers University student, leaped off the George Washington Bridge last week, apparently committing suicide after learning that his college roommate had video recorded him during a sexual encounter with another man, according to The New York Times.

Because much of the tragedy has played out online and because a computer cam was used to do the recording, some critics are now warning the public of apocalyptic consequences involved with social networking and technology.

"This 'stunt' isn't just a college prank gone bad," wrote Dr. Keith Ablow, for Foxnews.com. "It is … Read more

Time Warner: Apple TV would 'jeopardize' shows

Don't expect Time Warner content on the Apple TV anytime soon.

Speaking at the Royal Television Conference in London this week, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes said that 99-cent rentals of his company's television shows makes no sense as far as the bottom line goes.

"How can you justify renting your first-run TV shows individually for 99 cents an episode," Bewkes said, according to the Hollywood Reporter. He added that doing so could "jeopardize the sale of the same shows as a series to branded networks that pay hundreds of millions of dollars and make … Read more

More top execs to depart Yahoo

The executive turmoil at the very top of Yahoo continues, with the company poised to announce the resignations of three top execs, including U.S. head Hilary Schneider, according to sources close to the situation.

The other execs also leaving, which Yahoo is planning on revealing Friday: U.S. Audience head David Ko and, as BoomTown previously reported, VP of Media Jimmy Pitaro.

Sources close to the situation said that Schneider, who presides over media and advertising sales at Yahoo, has wanted to leave the company for a while, but was convinced to stay on by CEO Carol Bartz.

Schneider … Read more

The short, sweet life of a retweet

New research from social-analytics company Sysomos reveals--surprise!--that your tweets have fleeting value over the course of a day and, moreover, a lifetime.

Using the retweet as a key indicator for the life of a short message, Sysomos examined 1.2 billion tweets posted in the last two months. The data shows that 29 percent of tweets produced a reaction, either a reply or retweet, and that 92 percent of retweets occur within the first hour of the original message.

This is an interesting set of data, with respect to the fact that companies have begun to embrace social media … Read more