service

If there's one thing that Google can do well (and let's be serious -- there's certainly more than one thing), it's creating extremely useful applications for average computer users. Google Checkout, a service that centralizes online shopping by ... eliminating the need to maintain separate user names and passwords for different shopping sites, was launched back in June. However, Google has recently developed a promotional offer just in time for the busy holiday shopping season. Shopping malls are always crammed with shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving, which has come to be known as "Black ... (view more)

"It looks and feels like Gmail on the desktop." That's the proclamation made by Google product manager Tony Hsieh on the company's new Gmail mobile phone application. Hsieh compares the new mobile Gmail so favorably to its desktop cousin because ... it's a standalone application that doesn't operate through a browser. It can run on any cell phone with Java service. As a result, the new service "promises computer-like response times for viewing email," according to Reuters. (Source: pcmag.com ) Google lists the following features for its mobile service on Gmail's login page: It has the same Gmail ... (view more)

Microsoft recently announced a big change to the MSN Music website: as of November 14th (the launch date of the much-hyped Zune), the website will no longer be offering music downloads. While the MSN Music website will still remain, its focus will ... change toward offering information such as interviews with musicians and industry news, as well as hosting live concerts. The biggest change is that the "Buy Song" buttons will be taken off and replaced by links to the Zune and Real Rhapsody websites. In addition, the MSN Radio service will be free. (Source: news.com ) MSN Music was launched in ... (view more)

Google has forayed into the word processing industry by releasing a test version of Google Docs ... (view more)

Recently, Best Buy announced its alliance with SanDisk and RealNetworks to develop a music service set for release on October 15th, 2006. (Source: tgdaily.com ) The arrangement uses RealNetworks' Rhapsody service via the Best Buy Digital Music ... electronic store. The system will be available to customers of the SanDisk Sansa e200R line of Rhapsody MP3 players. (Source: technewsworld.com ) Rhapsody is currently the largest subscription-based music service, while SanDisk is the number two producer of MP3 players (falling behind Apple). The SanDisk Rhapsody MP3 players have been reported to cost $ ... (view more)

In today's age where millions of documents can be retrieved from search engines in a single click, students now have more and more opportunities to plagiarize. To combat Internet plagiarism, websites like Turnitin.com have been established, where ... teachers are able to reference previous student work through a massive online database. What is Turnitin.com? Turnitin.com is "an Internet based program ... most renowned for its plagiarism detection service. Institutions (typically universities and high schools) can buy licenses to use the plagiarism detection service. Teachers may then submit ... (view more)

Marking the network's largest venture into online video, NBC announced last Tuesday that it will offer a free ad-supported video player to web site operators that will feature content from NBC and its partners. The service was created as a joint ... venture between NBC and its affiliates and will be known as the National Broadband Company (NBBC). NBBC will pull together videos from NBC, its local stations, and from other networks for delivery of the online service. The Horror Channel, Forbes, and CNET are some of the content providers that will be providing the service. The ad revenue generated ... (view more)

Movies are making their way to some odd mediums lately. Recently, we reported on Apple's interest in releasing movies through its iTunes service, and AOL's similar but less impressive online films. Now, Sprint is trying to develop their own unique ... way of watching movies with the recent announcement of a pay-per-view service for its mobile phones. Called "Sprint Movies", the service will offer recent releases and "classic" titles for between $4 and $6 USD. Customers will be able to watch the movies in segments, or all at once. It might be that "on the go" way of watching movies that Sprint is ... (view more)

Announced earlier this week, a group of technology companies are planning to provide a vast wireless network that will give the entire Silicon Valley free high-speed Internet access. The free WiFi service will be available as early as next year and ... will be provided by Silicon Valley Metro Connect: a group that is comprised of IBM, Cisco, SeaKay, and Azulstar. (Source: abcnews.com ) Silicon Valley Metro Connect will provide the service for 38 cities in California's San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Santa Cruz counties -- an area covering roughly 1,500 square miles. This move takes advantage ... (view more)

After nearly a year of delays, Microsoft and Yahoo are finally ready to release a combined Instant Messenger (IM) service. As of July 13th, 2006, the two companies have begun to offer a limited beta test to the general public. The new IM service ... connects Microsoft's Windows Live Messenger (the newest version of MSN Messenger) with Yahoo Messenger, using a single user ID. The service is merely an added capability to the Microsoft and Yahoo messengers; all that is needed is to download the latest beta update to either messenger to begin using the new service. The merge will spawn a worldwide ... (view more)