Internet

American broadcast heavy NBC recently launched the beta of a new direct-download initiative, NBC Direct , which offers many of the channel's new hits for free download. While functional and attractive, it doesn't hold up to the competition: NBC. The ... catch, in addition to the randomly-placed ads, is that it doesn't make sense when compared to the near-identical NBC Universal web app, Hulu , not to mention other "options". Unlike Hulu, which offers streaming episodes at any time, NBC Direct offers the ability to download episodes directly to your machine (which you can stream during download), ... (view more)

What's a bigger waste of time: Facebook or MySpace? According to one web security company, name recognition could be a problem for the latter. In the world of social networking, MySpace is the reigning royalty. Founded in August, 2003 and based out ... of sunny California, the site celebrated its hundred millionth account creation in August of 2006. Some 300 staff work out of its Beverly Hills headquarters. That kind of established name may not be so positive for MySpace when it comes to web filtering. In a survey released last week, security firm Barracuda Networks Inc. found that 44% of ... (view more)

Storage space? Meet the grim reaper. Nobody cares about you any more. In a move that will no doubt delight amateur filmmakers, content rippers, and people who love filming their cats doing wacky things, YouTube announced this past Wednesday that it ... has increased it's upload limit from 100MB to an impressive 1GB. (Source: Readwriteweb.com ) With the thousands of hours of content already on the site at only 100MB per file, there's no telling how large the company's storage capacity must be now that files can go up to 1GB. While it is unclear if the increase in file size will translate to an ... (view more)

The kids are are raging about two websites these days, with both boasting enough addictive content to distract them from homework, chores, and life in general. As popular as the two may be, Facebook and YouTube may be headed in very different ... directions. In past weeks, it's been announced that Facebook will be infused with Microsoft money and all-new mobile features from BlackBerry developer Research in Motion. That's good news for the social networking site that is creeping up fast on MySpace. The news hasn't been so hot for YouTube, which was recently sued for its rather natural display of ... (view more)

Last week, Microsoft proudly announced it was the new papa of the web's hippest and most powerful young site, Facebook. Now, even as they battle it out in other spheres, it appears both the Redmond-based company and Waterloo firm Research in Motion ... will be major contributors in shaping Facebook's future. Elsewhere in the tech world, Microsoft and Research in Motion, or RIM, are at each other's throats. Microsoft is currently unveiling its own server-based tool for managing Windows Mobile devices, dubbed "System Center Mobile Device Manager". It should provide direct competition for RIM's ... (view more)

As if social networking site Facebook wasn't already enough of a titan on the web, it's about to become even more powerful. Why? Because the Redmond gods have just injected it with $240 million bucks. That's right, Microsoft recently purchased a ... minority stake in Facebook, which accepted the bid over another from search engine giant Google. The deal with Microsoft will lead to an expansion of social networking services (as if Facebook didn't already have enough), and, sigh, more advertising. For those of you who have yet to dabble in Facebook -- and that number continues to dwindle every day ... (view more)

When Google purchased popular online video site YouTube for over a billion dollars a year ago, many industry analysts raised eyebrows in disbelief. The Big G is still struggling to make a profit with that investment, and recent copyright lawsuits ... demanding billions more dollars are not helping. That's why Google and YouTube have now officially unveiled a "content identification system," which will give copyright owners control over how their material appears on the video-based site. The new service's official name is YouTube Video Identification, and Google hopes it will calm angry legal seas ... (view more)

Two new start-up companies are looking to entice the average consumer to make all of their telephone calls over the Internet and bypass the high-priced local phone and cable television companies. Using the service will may result in free calls, and ... will be compatible with almost all standard-issued phone handsets. But, in a world where most good things come with a catch, the "free calls" are not initially free. The one-time hardware cost and subsequent low annual membership fees have many believing that nationwide calling from a regular home phone is getting really close to eventually ... (view more)

We've all seen them: spam messages purporting to help us guys in the act of "getting it up". Although it's a legitimate problem and many men do turn to medication helping with erectile dysfunction, this segment of the male population typically, and ... wisely, consult their doctors for help. But, what about those email messages that promise such medication so cheap? Do those actually work? According to one curious and frisky Canadian research group, some of these spammers will in fact fill your order. The University of Toronto-based Centre for Global eHealth Innovation perused 4,000 spam messages ... (view more)

Money makes the world go 'round. That's hardly surprising to anyone, although for a long time it seemed Internet hackers were more interested in simple, wanton destruction than the almighty dollar. According to security guru Symantec, that's all ... changed. At one time, many viruses were created just to cause trouble. These were largely referred to as "nuisance" attacks, not much different than "teepeeing" mean old Mr. Anderson's house down the street. It seems that web hackers have discovered being loud and destructive doesn't exactly pay well, and have instead turned to more subtle ... (view more)