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Seventh Annual MSN Strategic Account Summit Celebrates Advertisers' Role in Microsoft Media Network Vision — CEO Steve Ballmer Announces the Launch of Microsoft adCenter in the U.S. — REDMOND, Wash., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — At the seventh annual MSN® Strategic Account Summit …
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Microsoft takes plunge with AdCenter — REDMOND, Wash.—A year after first announcing plans for a homegrown ad engine, Microsoft is now using the tool for all its U.S.-based search queries. — Microsoft is banking on AdCenter as the lynchpin of its efforts to increase advertising as a source of revenue across the company.

MSN adCenter Officially Launches & Changes Name to Microsoft adCenter — While MSN adCenter has been in pilot mode since mid-October, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is announcing the official launch of adCenter at Thursday's MSN Strategic Account Summit... as well as the new name change to Microsoft adCenter.


Gates: Microsoft will keep Google honest — REDMOND, Wash.—While Google has grabbed an early lead in search and Internet advertising, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates pledged on Wednesday that his company would "keep them honest." — Speaking to a crowd of MSN's largest advertisers …


Microsoft's adCenter is Google, Yahoo! rival — Microsoft today is launching its adCenter online advertising system in the U.S., and will now compete directly with Google and Yahoo! in selling ads on the Web. — The official announcement is coming this morning when Chief Executive Steve Ballmer addresses …
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I Hear Ringing and There's No One There. I Wonder Why. — SIX minutes 39 seconds into the Richard Thompson song "Calvary Cross," Mike Pelusi, a music reviewer in Philadelphia, will almost invariably check his cellphone. — Minka Wiltz, an actress in Atlanta, has tried to answer her phone …
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Skype putting town-hall idea on the Internet — NEW SERVICE LETS UP TO 100 HOLD AUDIO DISCUSSIONS — Internet phone-calling software maker Skype has created a way to transform blogs from soapboxes into live, town-hall meetings. — Starting today, people who have installed the free Skype software …
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Having fun with Apple's fun new ads — Dave Winer gives his review of Apple's new TV/online ads. He points out that while the ads are clever they aren't all that accurate. Yes, they are a caricature of the market, but as such they earn a little extra slack. — Dave touches on some of the realities though in his post.
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Life On the Wicked Stage, Macsimum News, scot hacker's foobar blog, FatBits and Valleywag

CBS Set To Debut Broadband Channel — With the broadcast upfront presentations in less than two weeks, CBS is angling to hog the multiplatform spotlight early by launching their long-awaited broadband video player before the upfronts even start. — The network plans to debut …

Everyone Wants to 'Own' Your PC — When technology serves its owners, it is liberating. When it is designed to serve others, over the owner's objection, it is oppressive. There's a battle raging on your computer right now — one that pits you against worms and viruses, Trojans, spyware …

Beware! ABC's hit Lost is leading us down a strange and new high-tech path — Get ready to get more Lost than ever. — Beginning Wednesday, when the popular mystery drama returns to the ABC schedule with original episodes for the entire month, fans will have new and, of course …


Abazab, a mobile video-sharing tool, launches; backed by DFJ — Abazab is a new Silicon Valley company (Campbell) that launches today to give bloggers and other Web site owners an easy way to let people instantly share video snippets from their mobile phones. — You can sign up for a beta (testing) account here.

U.S. DS Lite Price and Date Announced — Nintendo today launched a thousand smiles when they finally confirmed that the DS Lite, svelte brother to the bulky, yet handsome DS, will indeed be coming to the States. — The DS Lite will officially go on sale here on June 11 for a mere $130.

Microsoft to announce video-production deals for MSN online — WILL BE EXCLUSIVE SHOWS FOR THE NET — HOLLYWOOD - The world's largest software maker is going Hollywood. — Microsoft will announce today a series of deals with independent production companies to produce video for MSN online.
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This September: Original Unaltered Trilogy on DVD — Fans can look forward to a September filled with classic Star Wars nostalgia, led by the premiere of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy video game and the long-awaited DVD release of the original theatrical incarnations of the classic Star Wars trilogy.

Google's Mountain View Wi-Fi Network Hits a Snag — There's a chance that Google may miss the June launch date for a wireless network its building in Mountain View, Calif., or make the deadline, but with a network that doesn't have the promised coverage. — Google's begun testing the network and …

Philly Wi-Fi project passes final hurdle — Philadelphia's citywide Wi-Fi project overcame its final hurdle Wednesday, as a city council committee approved measures to allow the contractor for the project, EarthLink, to hang equipment from city-owned utility poles.

Intel seeks to rein in AMD case — update Intel filed a motion Wednesday asking a federal court judge to dismiss portions of an antitrust lawsuit brought by its archrival, Advanced Micro Devices. — In the motion, Intel seeks to have the U.S. District Court in Delaware strike portions …


Google Health: Probably coming next week — Marissa Mayer, Google's VP of search products and user experience, came to USA TODAY on Tuesday. She mentioned that there would be a couple of big announcements next Wednesday at the annual Google Press Day — which I will attend, along with my colleague Jefferson Graham.