time

The New York Observer on the New York Times on News Corp.

There's something kind of funny about a blog entry around a recent article in one outlet indicating that another newspaper is working on an expose about yet another media outlet, but that really is what this post is about. According to Michael Calderone at the New York Observer, "The New York Times is currently undertaking a major news investigation, led by managing editor Jill Abramson, into News Corp.'s business dealings throughout the world, according to a source with knowledge of the project."

Amidst the heavily hyped negotiations between Murdoch's minions and the Bancroft family who currently own the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times has apparently decided to mount their own investigation in an effort to examine what should be expected from the possible merger. While there is no clear indication what spin the Times will put on the story, it seems unlikely that the paper will conclude that Rupert Murdoch is the patron saint of news media. The New York times is one of the last major independent media outlets (along with the Wall Street Journal - for now), and it's altogether possible that News Corp. may eventually set it's sites on the Times, so I think it is safe to anticipate that this article won't be a puff piece.

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Look out 2D search, you're one dimension behind

SpaceTime is a new tool for searching the Web in three dimensions. You can search using Google and Yahoo, or dig deeper into niche services like eBay and Flickr. Results show up in a swirling sky-like environment where you can sort through rendered pages in stacks, similar to Windows Vista's Flip 3D window-shuffling effect and the upcoming Time Machine in OSX Leopard. You can maneuver around any page, and zoom back and forth. To see any result up close, just double-click on it and it will revert to a customized browser window that's running a shelled version of … Read more

Time-lapse photo system for amateur science teachers

This seems like a lot of money to do some time-lapse photography, but if you're an aspiring science teacher it will undoubtedly produce better footage of plants growing than the reel-to-reel films we were subjected to in grade school. This all-in-one system from Harbortronics can also provide a lesson in alternative energy because it runs on solar power.

The package includes a Pentax K110D Digital SLR, two 2GB memory cards and an automatic shutter controller for $2,300, according to Uncrate. Let's hope the photos look better than the system itself, which resembles a camera stuck in a … Read more

Coordinate vacations with WhosOff.com

I am a big fan of simple Web tools that make annoying tasks easier. One of the latest tools in that vein: WhosOff, a free Web service that helps you coordinate vacation and out-of-the-office times for people in your company.

There are plenty of online in-out boards available (many are downloadable apps--feh). What makes this one somewhat different is it has smarts. You can set up rules to make sure your two customer service people aren't out of the office at the same time. The system also tracks vacation time that accrues annually, and won't let staffers book … Read more

MySpace launching branded video channels, possible Joost killer

MySpace will soon launch more than a dozen branded video channels, featuring content from big names like the National Geographic group, The New York Times, and Reuters. Users will be able to access the video content on branded content microsites similar to YouTube's partner channels with the BBC, NBC, and CBS. MySpace is allowing content providers to customize their content interface, with special backgrounds and color schemes. Expect something similar to Trailer Park, which MySpace launched last month.

The new service will tie in to MySpace's current videos platform, although there's no word yet on whether or … Read more

Never miss a game again

The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, and baseball season has just begun. A sweet time of the year it is indeed. But how can we keep track of all the schedules?

Enter the "Game Time" sports watch, which is programmed to alert you when your favorite team is about to play, and if you're running late it sounds a tune to let you know when the game is starting. And for the OCD fans out there--and we know there are a ton of you--it also includes schedules of future games, venues and start times … Read more

Testing the Blue Raven iPod battery kit

iPod battery replacement kits are nothing new. Manufacturers like Sonnet Technologies have offered reasonably priced do-it-yourself battery replacement kits for the past few years. What distinguishes the latest line of Blue Raven iPod batteries from previous efforts is a boast of 30 to 50 percent better battery life over the factory original (depending on your iPod model). The Blue Raven batteries are also much more attractively packaged than other replacements I've seen, which seems silly to mention, but I think packaging can have a huge effect on how intimidating a DIY project appears. Kits are available for around $30 … Read more

Toy Crave: Batteries not included

See what happens when I go away? Someone gives Tim a microphone and all heck breaks loose! Actually, I'm just jealous that I wasn't here to play with all of these awesome toys. Excuse me while I go liberate that Millennium Falcon from Tom Merritt's office...

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Time kills 'Life,' blames paper, and the world gets images

Time Inc. announced yesterday that it will stop printing its Life magazine newspaper supplement after the April 20, 2007 issue. The brand will live on through its various other ventures, such as its well-known hardcover and soft cover books, and a new Web site.

Describing the Web site as a "major portal," Time Inc. plans to offer Life's entire collection of photos, approximately 10 million images, on the Web site for free personal use. It is still unclear how Time will make the images available for commercial use, and the company will not disclose the URL for … Read more