Technology meets people.

May 2009 Blog Posts (25)

Microsoft’s “Bing” Search Engine: Consumers or Advertisers Rejoice?

Microsoft’s new Bing search engine is actually an improved version of its existing “Kumo” search engine, and appears on the surface before it’s unveiling to the world on June 3rd to be vastly improved and a credible competitor to Google and Yahoo. Bing also benefits from Microsoft’s acquisition of the search technology company they acquired last year – Powerset, which is a semantic search technology. Microsoft of course is claiming the search engine… Continue

Added by Robert A. Clark on May 29, 2009 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

Xbox Continues to Conquer: OTT Video Trojan Horse Captures 20 Million Subscribers Via Xbox Live

Microsoft announced yesterday that sales of its Xbox 360 console have passed the 30 million mark globally, with its Xbox LIVE community growing to more than 20 million active members. With sales up 28 percent from last year, Xbox is so far showing the highest rate of growth in 2009 among the gaming consoles. What is most impressive is how it has grown over the years from primarily a gaming console to a virtual… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on May 29, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

ActiveVideo Networks Acquires Avinity Systems: A Growing Consolidation Trend?

In what may become a growing trend, interactive TV applications/middleware provider ActiveVideo Networks acquired Avinity Systems in a deal announced this week. It is not immediately clear if the real reasons for this deal were to create a global footprint for the combined company (as positioned in the announcement), or if Active Video Networks snapped up an Avinity in financial distress. At the end of the day,… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on May 28, 2009 at 1:00am — No Comments

Your LinkedIn Profile - Does Your Employer Own It or Do You?

The following story of LinkedIn Profile ownership is a true one, and as with my other blog posts, I am hoping to get your feedback as to what the “right” answer to this question should be.

Imagine that you began a job as a recruiter. Part of your job is, obviously, building out a network. After being hired you learn about LinkedIn and sign up using your personal name. You start inviting your network as well as new contacts to connect with you on LinkedIn. In order to… Continue

Added by Neal Schaffer on May 27, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Social Networks and Gaming: Who is Going to Catch and Overtake Zynga?

It isn’t enough to feel like a neophyte and a need to catch up with the rest of the social networkers and their religious use of social media, but to now learn that the most played social network games and gaming company out there is a name that I did not recognize immediately – Zynga. Not only did I not recognize their name, but didn’t know that they are eclipsing 10 million daily users across their portfolio of… Continue

Added by Robert A. Clark on May 26, 2009 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

Add Robots to the Long List of Warriors’ Friends

With our focus on consumer technology, we at Trender Research don’t often talk about industrial, government, or military devices (except when we jokingly daydream about flame-thrower equipped Roombas). But in honor of all veterans on this Memorial Day, we take a closer look at military robotics.

An MSNBC… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on May 25, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Wear Your Broken Earbud Headphones as Earrings Turn heads with this eco-chic project. Headphones are some of the toughest things to reuse.

Wear Your Broken Earbud Headphones as Earrings

Turn heads with this eco-chic project.

Headphones are some of the toughest things to reuse. Continue

Added by Joyce Pellino Crane on May 20, 2009 at 11:30pm — No Comments

NetFlix Streaming Ahead: Extends Video Streaming to Windows Media Center

NetFlix Streaming Ahead: Extends Video Streaming to Windows Media Center PCs

NetFlix will be busy acquiring the rights to content for video streaming over the Internet in the months and years ahead in hopes that it can ride the wave of increasing penetration of in-home digital devices that will let consumers view content directly on their TV sets. This was one of the main messages from… Continue

Added by Patti A. Reali on May 20, 2009 at 5:06pm — No Comments

AT&T Lookin' for a Ruckus!

WiFi migration and proliferation continues to progress in those locations where it makes the most sense over other broadband wireless alternatives whether outside or inside the home. The latest big news and announcement related is AT&T’s announcement that field trials are under way using WiFi, and specifically Ruckus Wireless’ router product (pictured in the middle) as an in-home alternative to U-verse configurations for content distribution… Continue

Added by Robert A. Clark on May 20, 2009 at 10:41am — No Comments

Crazy Eddy Returns ...

With a race to capture the electronics business, with the downturn of Circuit City, Walmart and Best Buy are in the battle for the customers, while specialty retailers, who often offer better performing products are changing too. Best Buy has been moving towards a interactive approach, helping customers make the right choice with a strong in-store experience. Walmart is redesigning their space to add more room with electronic displays for customers who have done their research to find the… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on May 19, 2009 at 3:03pm — No Comments

Vizio Makes Huge Jump to Top Spot for Flat-Panel LCD TVs

For value brands, a sour economic climate can be a blessing as folks that used to splurge on high-end tech gadgets are now looking for deals. This rule of thumb applies even more when the product costs a thousand dollars or more—a 10% savings is dinner out with the family, or groceries for a week, or a couple rounds of golf. And it is even more true when consumers feel like they are not really giving anything up but getting a great… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on May 18, 2009 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

Take the iMac Test Drive

Just released: The all-in-one iMac? This I had to see and headed to my local store today in NYC to learn more. As an artist, I always wanted a Mac. After a friendly greeting at the door, a staff member listened to my queries, and led me through the Apple experience knowing I was a longtime PC user.

I was impressed with the sleek design, aluminum surface, 24” display (1680x1050 resolution) and a smaller keyboard with 2 USB ports for mouse and camera devices. The display comes with a stand,… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on May 14, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Podcast: TVBLOB Aims to Put “Life Back In TV— the Web Way”

While working for one of the leading IPTV middleware providers (Espial), I saw how difficult it can be to implement the various manifestations of Internet and web-enabled IP set-top boxes being deployed in the market. The challenge has always been a lack of standards, and too many deployments that are specific to a set-top box manufacturer or service provider. This leads to many inefficiencies in terms of cost and time to build new boxes to meet the… Continue

Added by Brian Mahony on May 13, 2009 at 1:00am — No Comments

Green is More Than the Color of Your Lawn

A press release about a Green lawn care product popped into my InBox today. Here's a modified version:

Used by Golf Courses, it Drastically Reduces Disease, Improves

Environmental Quality and Cuts Cost

BOSTON, MA- Always dreamed of that elusive fairway-grade lawn? You may be in luck. Converted Organics, Inc., a company that diverts food waste from landfills to create all-natural, organic liquid fertilizer’s for agricultural… Continue

Added by Joyce Pellino Crane on May 12, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Mobile Medicine

The BCI 3180 Pulse Oximeter is an example of health tech monitoring devices that are transforming medicine and patient care. The portable device delivers 30 hours of on-screen pulse rate trending and pulse strength for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders who need careful monitoring. The device measures how much Oxygen is in a patient’s blood stream and is typically used after surgery, in a hospital’s intensive care unit, or at home.

The… Continue

Added by Joyce Pellino Crane on May 11, 2009 at 7:00pm — 1 Comment

EveryZing Makes It Easier to Find Everything: NBC Universal to Use EveryZing to Improve Video & Audio Search & Discovery on Internet Sites

EveryZing Makes It Easier to Find Everything: NBC Universal to Use EveryZing to Improve Video & Audio Search & Discovery on Internet Sites

If you can’t find it, it has no value… that’s the generally accepted wisdom about content whether it’s on the Internet or buried away somewhere in a VOD system being offered on by your pay TV provider. So it’s little wonder that there’s so much energy and investment behind… Continue

Added by Patti A. Reali on May 11, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Control the Power and Costs...

Is working from home costing money? I know bypassing the commute is worthy, but unless you invest in energy saving equipment to meet home office and entertainment needs, the tradeoff is an increase in your home energy bills. Homeowners are now factoring energy efficiency into purchase decisions of consumer electronics in an effort to reduce home energy costs, according to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) (5/8/09). The study finds homeowners using electronics to reduce… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on May 11, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Bang for the Buck! CANON Power Shot SD1100 IS Digital Camera

Long overdue for a new camera, my daughter did her research to find one to meet my needs…point and shoot with sharp images. I have had several Canon cameras, but this one is, by far, in the point and shoot category is impressive. It is speedy with an optical view finder and face detection, optical image stabilization to capture the moment, wide angle lens, though it doesn’t act like a DSLR. The images are sharp with high color resolution with 10 Megapixels, and solidly built with a range of… Continue

Added by Ellen Veden on May 8, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Brick-n-Mortar Shoppers: Don't Leave Home Without Your Smartphone!

There now are location-based and entertainment smartphone applications coming online that are targeted more so for Moms and Dads who already have upgraded or may upgrade to the various brands of smartphones out there. The apps are also mostly about how Mom and Dad may spend their time outside of work, and especially in support of their time at their favorite mall. The apps are for both shopping efficiency and shopping downtime. You see, “Location-Based Advertising” may… Continue

Added by Robert A. Clark on May 8, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Lovable Robot--A Teaching Tool in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Find more videos like this on Trender Research™

Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders sometimes appear to lack human emotions—much like a robot propelled by a power source.

But for all the recent media attention and attempts to explain the burgeoning numbers of children diagnosed with the disorder, the cause of autism remains a mystery and there is no pill or… Continue

Added by Joyce Pellino Crane on May 5, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments