If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

                                                    

The extremely popular video sharing site YouTube doesn’t make a point of revealing its size, user activity, or demographics. But Lee Gomes of the Wall Street Journal pieced together much of that information by “scraping” YouTube for data. Here are the main stats uncovered:

more…

AT&T has announced that over the weekend "unauthorized persons"
illegally accessed credit card information and other personal data from
"fewer than 19,000" customers who purchased Internet equipment through
the company’s online store.

more…

The Big Three: Google, Yahoo and Microsoft always seem to be competiting for distribution of their online ads and services. But according
to this Wall Street Journal article (subscription required), Google is
leading the race with the recent announcement of a partnership between
Google and eBay.

more…

This photo is a hoax that is explained in detail here but is a good example of just how easily Internet rumors can permeate quickly and effectively. The photo was sent to me recently by a coworker, though it’s been circulating online for a while. It supposedly illustrates just how far home computers have come (click photo for full image). Pretty convincing, even if a hoax. Lesson to be learned: don’t believe everything friends send you in those fun, distracting emails!

more…

Google is bundling its online calendar, instant-messaging service, and
Page Creator (a web page builder) into one service called "Google Apps
for Your Domain." The company is targeting turf where Microsoft is the
current leader: the business and education market. In true Google
style, the package is offered for free and is supported by
advertising along the side (just like gmail).

more…

Search-engine giant Google has gathered so much cash that it runs the risk of being mistaken for an investment fund. Interested in diversifying its investment strategy but not wanting to be considered a mutual fund, Google has asked the Securities
and Exchange Commission to exempt it from regulations that can apply to
a company with large amounts of marketable securities on its books.

more…

Dell has announced it will discontinue selling its Dell-branded DJ Ditty MP3 music player. The company will redirect those financial resources to core consumer products like personal computers and televisions. The DJ Ditty product line was released only a year ago to take on Apple’s iPod Shuffle.

more…

According to Reuters, mainland China has officially opened its "first halfway house
for Internet addicts." The shelter offers counselling,
books, and — get this — computer use, as part of its program. Accordingly, up to four minors can take advantage of the program for any given one-night stay. The shelter hopes to "help bridge gaps between children and parents."

more…

Gateway Inc., that computer retail company you think of after you first think Dell or HP, has been struggling with fierce competition (among other things). But an unsolicited offer from eMachines Inc. founder Lap Shun Hui to buy the computer maker’s retail operations for $450 million has investors excited (shares are surging today). Here’s the copy of the full letter from Hui to Gateway:

more…

The University of New Hampshire’s Crimes Against Children Research Center, just released the results of its Second Youth Internet Safety Survey and has compared it to the results of the first study from five years ago. The report, financed by a grant from the U.S. Congress, explains that fewer young Americans are receiving unwanted sexual advances over the Internet compared to five years ago. The center surveyed 1,500 children between the ages of 10 and 17 and found
that 13 percent had received unwanted advances last year against 19
percent in 2000. But it’s not all rosy…

more…