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Google denies Google PC reports — Google has denied reports that it is working on a low-price personal computer or a "Google Cube" that would link up a user's PC, TV, set-top box and cell phone. — "We have many PC partners who serve their markets exceedingly well and we see no need to enter that market …
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Google Passes on PCs — Google (Nasdaq: GOOG - message board) and Wal-Mart are both denying reports that the two are planning to market low-priced, Google PCs via Wal-Mart stores. — The LA Times reported Monday that Google intends to market a fully functioning PC running a Google operating system …
Discussion:
Scobleizer, BASEMENT.ORG, Tech_Space, IP Democracy, Google Blogoscoped and Dvorak Uncensored

The buzz: What's Google up to? — FIRM EXPECTED TO ROLL OUT BIG, NEW INITIATIVE — LAS VEGAS - As the technology industry gathers in the Nevada desert for its biggest annual trade show, the buzz is all about Google. — Rumor control is already working overtime as reports surfaced Tuesday …
Discussion:
SiliconBeat

Paid Search to Grow 41% With Google Leading the Way — Paid search is expected to generate more than $14 billion globally in 2006, with Google leading in growth and market share, according to a new Piper Jaffray report. — The paid search industry, which generated an estimated $10 billion globally …
Discussion:
The Voice of Online …
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Analyzing Safa's $600 Google Target — Ah, memories... So Safa Rashtchy of Piper Jaffray upped his Google price target from $445 to $600. Is he INSANE? — No. He simply assumes that Google's recent growth trends will continue in pretty much a straight line for the next two years …

Hidden Virtual-World Prison Revealed — tagged Culture Design Internet Law On the Screen Other Space Second Life Virtual Reality Watchdog — Nimrod Yaffle, a resident of the virtual world Second Life, has revealed details of a bizarre and dark prison Second Life's maker Linden Lab is now using to lock up criminal avatars.
Discussion:
Boing Boing, Things That, Joystiq, Igniq - Gaming News, Kotaku, Press The Buttons and GameSetWatch

Followup to Chinese thing, off to CES — Working in a big company is interesting cause there are lots of moving parts. Tracking them all down is difficult, especially when you have a full day of meetings and other things to do and when the stakeholders of the decision you're trying to find …

Windows XP Home: obsolete sooner than you expect — Microsoft set out to adopt a formal and rigid support lifecycle in 2002, back at a time when most analysts were expecting to see Windows Vista (then, "Longhorn") within a couple of years. My own point of view was that this lifecycle business …

TUAW on Mac Mini Console — Apparently another blogger thinks the Mac Mini could get it's game on in the living room, just like I've suggested. The Unofficial Apple Weblog picked up the idea and then proceeded to bash it: — Interesting speculation, but I think it's just wrong.
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Blog debate: is Apple making a game console?
Discussion:
The Mac Observer

Karen Elliott House retires from The Wall Street Journal — Karen Elliott House is retiring as senior vice president and publisher's post at Dow Jones' Wall Street Journal. — House is a 32-year Dow Jones veteran and Pulitzer Prize winner. — Dow Jones also confirmed CEO Peter Kann's successor …
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Netgear + Skype = Major Trouble for Cisco? — I am hearing that Netgear and Skype, the popular VoIP calling provider, are going to make a joint announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show tomorrow. Not sure what the deal is about; I expect, Netgear will start manufacturing handsets/adapters for the Skype service.
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City-wide wi-fi rolls out in UK — A UK company that has created wireless hotspots in stations, coffee shops and hotels around the UK is planning to launch city-wide wi-fi this spring. — The Cloud will bring wireless broadband to nine cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham.
Discussion:
Om Malik on Broadband

Google Awarded Patent To Make Data Move Faster to Wireless Phones and Devices — News from Alexadria, Virginia (home of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) today that Google has been awarded a new patent in the wireless arena. It's far from search related but we still thought it was worth …
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Broadcasting, Podcasting, Webcasting and Blogging at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2006 in Davos — The World Economic Forum announced ambitious plans today to share the proceedings of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2006 in Davos with as wide a public as possible.

The Cute Factor — WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 - If the mere sight of Tai Shan, the roly-poly, goofily gamboling masked bandit of a panda cub now on view at the National Zoo isn't enough to make you melt, then maybe the crush of his human onlookers, the furious flashing of their cameras and the heated gasps …

9rules Communities — When we started the 9rules Network we always envisioned a place where readers could come to find the best content from the independent web and that's why we consider ourselves a content network first and foremost. Others wanted to label us as a blog network or blog ring …

Growing on-demand content may mean blockbuster's end — Just before going to see King Kong, my family found the 1933 and the 1976 versions airing simultaneously on back-to-back TV channels. So we kept flicking from one to the other, laughing at the Gumby-level special effects and Jessica Lange's acting.
Discussion:
PaidContent.org