Could hell freeze over again?

BusinessWeek is reporting that Apple and Microsoft are in talks to replace Google with Bing as the primary search engine on the Apple iPhone. Sources to BusinessWeek claim “talks have been under way for weeks” as the rivalry between Apple and Google intensifies.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone following the mobile industry as Apple and Google have increasingly become competitors in the mobile front with both companies offering a mobile phone (Nexus One vs iPhone), a mobile phone OS (Android vs iPhone OS), and of course online services (Google Apps vs. Apple’s Mobile Me). As the clashes increase, it’s only natural for Apple to consider other alternatives to Google services with Microsoft ironically now becoming “a pawn in that battle”.

So what’s at stake for Google here? In a phrase – “mobile advertising” or more specifically “mobile eyeballs” which translates to “mobile advertising dollars”.

With the majority of mobile advertising users coming from the iPhone/iPod touch platform, Google would be losing a significant volume of mobile search engine traffic if it were to lose the “default” status. Granted, mobile advertising stills commands a relatively small piece of the overall online Internet advertising industry but this will undoubtedly change as mobile devices become our primary means of interacting with the web.

Don’t think any of this matters to Google? Just look at Google’s own moves in the space. The company has purchased countless mobile related companies including AdMob, GrandCentral etc. Its pushed Android as an open source alternative to the iPhone, Symbian, and of course Windows Mobile in an attempt to ensure Google services remain relevant in the mobile space. It even began selling its own phone directly to T-Mobile customers (albeit to a less than stellar response from the media).

While Microsoft-fanboys might love the idea of Microsoft replacing Google on the iPhone, the win might end up being short-lived as many believe Apple is working on an in-house search engine replacement. As the BusinessWeek report states “Apple isn’t going to outsource the future.”

[Check it out]

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For those of you that have been waiting on the new social networking features of the Xbox 360 to arrive, you’ll want to check out the hands-on overview of the new apps over at News.com. The new features are due to arrive on the Xbox 360 at some point in November and will feature integrations with Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm. Expect the Xbox Live Video Marketplace to also receive a slight overhaul as it will be called the Zune Marketplace. According to News.com, this follows Microsoft’s desire to make “Zune” their music and video brand.

Of the three social-networking features due to arrive on the Xbox 360, I have to say that the Last.fm one is the app with most functional appeal. Have a social function to hold at home or need some music playing in the background? Seems that Last.fm would be the perfect solution for those needs – simply start it up and let the music stream through to your Xbox 360 from the Net.

Don’t get me wrong of course – the Twitter and Facebook integrations are certainly interesting.. but if I want to check on my friend’s status, I’m more likely to do so on my iPhone or PC than on the Xbox 360. And yes.. Twitter/FB folks – expect many more useless status updates to hit the web once the Xbox 360 integration rolls out because clearly we all need to know that so-and-so is playing Call of Duty 4 right now on some particular map.

Joy..

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Xbox 360, Social Networking, News.com

We finally have a “Microhoo” folks!

Although not quite the merger nor acquisition that some folks were clamming for in years past, Microsoft and Yahoo! have finally come to terms on an agreement that will hopefully position both companies for a better fight against search king Google. The basics of the agreement boils down to the following: Microsoft will now power Yahoo! search while Yahoo! will become the “exclusive” worldwide sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers.

Want more of the nitty gritty? Here ya go:

• This is a 10 year agreement
• Microsoft will acquire an exclusive 10 year license to Yahoo!’s core search technologies – with Microsoft having the ability to integrate Yahoo! search technologies into existing web search platforms
• It’s all about Microsoft Bing when it comes to search for both companies. Bing will power Yahoo! search and sites. Yahoo! will continue to use its own technology in other areas of business like enhancing display advertising technology
• Each company will maintain separate display advertising business and sales force
• Yahoo! will maintain their look and feel on their sites
• Yahoo! will focus on a core business or web content and products for its users
• Yahoo! and Microsoft search marketplaces will be combined making it easier for advertisers
• Microsoft will compensate Yahoo via revenue sharing agreement on traffic generated on Yahoo!’s network of sites
• Microsoft will pay traffic acquisition costs (TAC) to Yahoo at an initial rate of 88% of search revenue generated on Yahoo owned and operated sites during the first 5 yrs of the agreement

Yahoo estimates that at “full implementation”, this agreement will:

• improve annual GAAP operating income of approximately $500 million
• save capital expenditure by $200 million
• improve operating cash flow by approximately $275 million

The Microsoft-Yahoo agreement does not cover other areas of their respective businesses including email, IM, display advertising etc. Both companies are hopeful that the deal will close by early 2010. You’ll be able to read more about this on a site the two companies have established over at http://www.choicevalueinnovation.com/

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Yahoo

Those of you into making videos for YouTube might like this one. Starting today, HP and YouTube are running a project/contest called “HP You on You” which invites all of you to create and share videos that express who you are. The tagline – “Declare Your Story” – says it all. The contest challenges all of you to tell something about yourself (hopefully not everything about yourself) or your story (whatever that might be) in the context of a YouTube video. There’s only one catch – you can’t show your face in the videos.

Contestants will be able to use new video creation tools on YouTube which include video remixing and webcam video tools to help them create their shared videos.

The contest will be open globally and localized for 21 YouTube English and non-English countries. Each week, a panel of experts will select the top 20 videos as semifinalists. YouTube users will then vote to select the top four videos from the 20 weekly semifinalists – all of whom will be in the running for the grand prize of $40,000 along with some YouTube recognition. After six weeks, each of the 100 semifinalists selected by YouTube will receive a new HP Artist Edition notebook PC and the 20 finalists selected by YouTube viewers will each receive $2500 dollars. First place will get $40,000, second place will get $20,000 and third place will get $15,000. There will be other prizes available as well

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: HP, You On You Project

For what seems like an eternity now, the Taco Truck has been a mainstay of your typical Los Angeles neighborhood. Ask locals of a good truck to check out, and chances are they could tell you of at least one if not two in the area simply because these trucks never really moved.

 Well, times are changing and not surprisingly, technology is at the forefront of this change. A growing number of Asian-themed taco trucks are popping up sporadically through the streets of LA with legions of foodies tracking their every movement thanks to of all things – Twitter. These web-savvy mobile businesses are using Twitter both as a means to communicate with customers as well as an inexpensive way to market and spread their brand name. The phenomenon arguably started with the Kogi BBQ Taco Truck late last year and now, more and more Asian-themed trucks are joining the Twitter craze.

I had the opportunity to check out one such Taco Truck this Friday, which also happens to be run by two of my friends. The truck name? Don Chow Tacos. Their website? None other than http://www.donchowtacos.com/. Don Chow Tacos specializes in a mixture of traditional Mexican and Asian influenced meats – in both tacos and burritos. In an effort to differentiate themselves from the roving competition, Don Chow tends to specialize in Chinese-inspired recipes such as Kung Pao Chicken, Chinese BBQ Pork, Soy-Ginger Tofu, and Soy-Ginger Shrimp.

Here’s a glimpse of their menu – yes.. it’s a simple but effective menu:

So how was the food you ask? Pretty darn good – the near-perfect meal to have after a long night of hanging out at a club or a bar. I had a taste of their BBQ Pork Taco, their Kung Pao Chicken, and their more traditional Carne Asada Taco.. and YUM is all I have to say. My personal favorite – the BBQ Pork Taco which had a nice short zing to it.

Yet ordering and eating the food really is only a portion of the overall experience of eating at trucks like Don Chows. The real fun comes in trying to locate the trucks at any given point in time and this is where Twitter comes into play. All of these food trucks post their status and location updates via Twitter (as well as their respective websites). Customers get to “follow” and interact with business owners and there’s a real sense of community – even if it’s partially virtual. Just think about it.. if you’re curious as to where your favorite food truck is tonight – simply check out their twitter feed and find them. For the record, Don Chow Taco’s Twitter feed can be found at http://twitter.com/donchowtacos.

So to recap, all you need to do is find yourself a food/taco truck online – look up their website/twitter feed, find it on a map, and then hop in your car and drive off to it. Yes, it’s a bit more of an adventure than say driving to McDonalds or Jack in the Box but go with a group of friends and it can be down right fun. I had a blast navigating the streets of Venice looking for Don Chow Tacos myself! And let’s face it – there’s nothing like hanging out with crowds of slightly inebriated individuals on a Friday night in Venice.  As of now, Don Chow Tacos plans on being available Friday and Saturday nights – Friday nights in the westside and Saturday nights generally somewhere in Hollywood (by Area I believe).

None of this would ultimately matter of course if the food itself wasn’t worth traveling to and clearly from the popularity and buzz these trucks are generating, there’s something definitely to this.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out one of these food trucks then do yourself a favor and make sure to find one for yourself. Heck – check out Don Chow Tacos if you happen to be in Venice or Hollywood this coming weekend. And of course, if you’re particularly hungry and you feel like traveling, why not travel to as many Asian food trucks in you can handle in a single night?. Our next stop? Kogi BBQ Tacos followed by Yuri Truck and then Calbi Korean BBQ.

Oh and BTW – who thinks a Taco Truck Turf War will start up?  I’m kidding..

Here are more shots of our Friday night visit to Don Chow Tacos:

Technorati Tags: Don Chow Tacos, Asian Food Trucks, Taco Trucks, Los Angeles, Kogi Tacos,

Could Hulu find a home on the Apple iPhone? mocaNews certainly thinks so as they’re reporting that Hulu is currently working on a new streaming video application for the iPhone that will work over both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. As the article eludes to, perhaps what’s more interesting is the fact that the new app will work over both Wi-Fi and the 3G network of AT&T. Previous potential bandwidth hogging application were barred from using the 3G network and hence relegated to the Wi-Fi network. However, should this rumor be true, it’ll be interesting to see what the resulting video quality will be like over the 3G network.

[Check it out via Mobile Burn]

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: Hulu, Apple iPhone

The masses have spoken and it appears the powers that be at Time Warner Cable have decided to heed the masses by announcing today they are scrapping plans for their consumption-based billing until they can improve their “customer education process.”

In a blog posting over at longreply.com, Time Warner Cable’s CEO Glenn Britt stated the following:

“It is clear from the public response over the last two weeks that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about our plans to roll out additional tests on consumption based billing. As a result, we will not proceed with implementation of additional tests until further consultation with our customers and other interested parties, ensuring that community needs are being met. While we continue to believe that consumption based billing may be the best pricing plan for consumers, we want to do everything we can to inform our customers of our plans and have the benefit of their views as part of our testing process.”

I love how Time Warner Cable is attempting to shift the focus of this debacle away from their plans to do tiered pricing to the “customer education process.”

Clearly, we the customer are not away of their plans and how they believe these new price plans will actually help us save money (but in reality we won’t.. because the overall cable bill is still going up – at least it is in LA). I digress..

sorry TWC – we understand what you’re trying to say but we clearly don’t agree with it. Instead of trying to segment the bandwidth market – why not simply make it easy. 150GB a month for a price and then unlimited for the rest? Why not make it somewhat affordable too? And while you’re at it – take some of the money you’re earning and actually use it to improve that infrastructure of yours. I could care less about Science HD if it meant that I could actually get 6 mbps download speeds any time of the day. Afterall – I am paying for turbo download speeds aren’t I?

Ultimately it doesn’t matter for me. I’ve made my decision to switch away from TWC cable modem already… As for cable service – I’ve got no choice but to stay with them thanks to my building mgmt (although that’s technically illegal to do in LA). Sigh.. I just don’t have the time to fight these things…

But at least customers of TWC have won one small fight… for now. Don’t think this is the last of it folks.

[Check it out via PC Magazine]

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: Time Warner Cable, Broadband Caps Protest

Just a little news note – looks like Gmail is having issues again. I tried to access my mail account some time ago and received an HTTP 500 temporary error instead.  A quick check on twitter (via Twitscoop) revealed similar issues all over the net. What’s up Google? Gmail’s been problematic recently!!

BTW – not a great week for email eh? BlackBerry outage a few days ago and now this. Bet you that Google will never reveal why Gmail went down.

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: gmail outage

Forgot to post this one from a few days ago. Several folks over in Rochester NY are planning to stage a protest over the upcoming tiered pricing plan by Time Warner Cable. The protest is to take place on Saturday April 18th, from 11am to 5pm at the Time Warner Cable Store located at 71 Mt. Hope Ave in Rochester NY. I’m taking matters into my own hands – I’ll be ditching TWC for DSL (again). Faster speeds, lower prices – no caps.

[Check it out via Boing Boing]

Technorati Tags: Time Warner Cable, Broadband Caps Protest

Ah lovely. I stop following tech news for a few days and I end up missing some big news. The most notable news item IMHO was Time Warner Cable’s decision to start testing bandwidth caps for broadband subscribers. The company would introduce new plans featuring 5, 10, 20, 40, and 100GB caps with prices ranging from $29.95 to $75 dollars a month. Users would be charged an extra dollar for every additional GB they download during that effective month – up to a max of $75 dollars. Thus an “unlimited” package would basically cost you $150 dollars.

As you’ve probably guessed, folks on the net went in an uproar when they heard about these new bandwidth cap limitations – so much so that Landel Hobbs, COO of Time Warner Cable, even wrote a blog posting in response.

Yes, I can somewhat understand TWC’s predicament.. bandwidth usage is increasing and thus to keep up with the times, the company needs to charge more to make sure the customer’s experience is still pleasant. Plus another argument used in the past  – only a small percentage of the public will be affected by this since the majority out there don’t consume much bandwidth… right?

Hm.. I’m not so sure about that. With the proliferation of digital content via devices such as the Xbox 360, Sony PS3, and Apple TV, you have to figure that more and more families will be consuming more bandwidth per month – not just P2P users. As more devices become network-enabled, it’s inevitable that broadband usage will rise for the majority of Internet connected households. Just consider how much online video content you watch in a given month at home!

So what this ultimately means is – much in the way we watch how many minutes are left on our mobile phone, we’re going to have to watch how much broadband we’re consuming in a given month. Great. (Oh.. and this will really suck for those of you with infected PCs)

I can accept occasional price increases to accommodate for inflation .. and I can accept price increases if I actually witnessed better overall service. However aside from a few more HD channels here in LA, I can’t say that TWC has improved in any real way over the last few years. In fact, I’ve had several cable outages this past year – not to mention some super flaky DNS service which caused me to switch to OpenDNS.

So I should trust TWC that they’ll do the right thing with the price increases? That the higher prices won’t simply pad their bottom line and make their investors happy? Yeah.. I probably won’t stick around to find out. I was a DSL subscriber for nearly five years before switching to TWC a few years back. I might have to check out DSL again.

[Check it out via SlashGear]

Technorati Tags: Time Warner Cable, cable modem