Globalscale D2 Plug offers HD video, 3D graphics in little Linux / Android machine -- Engadget

By Christopher Trout posted May 16th 2011 8:23AM

So it's not going to replace your big-boy PC anytime soon, but Globalscale's latest plug computer, the D2 Plug, does deliver some decidedly desktop-like traits. The latest lilliputian Linux / Android kit touts Marvell's PXA510, a 1GHz ARMv7 processor that supports 1080p video playback and 3D graphics. According to its makers, the D2 Plug runs on two watts and features 1GB of DDR3 memory, 8GB of NAND flash, an SD card slot, eSATA port and multiple points of connectivity, including two USB 2.o ports, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, and VGA. It measures a mere 6.7 x 3.22 x 1.3 inches, and sports a $249 price tag -- not exactly a small price, but there are plenty of other mini PCs in the sea.

via Globalscale D2 Plug offers HD video, 3D graphics in little Linux / Android machine -- Engadget.

Google unveils Acer Chromebook: $349, 11.6-inches with 6.5-hour battery -- Engadget

By Richard Lawler posted May 11th 2011 1:23PM

Breaking News

Google just showed off a new 11.6-inch Chromebook from Acer at Google I/O promising an eight second boot time with an Intel Atom N570 CPU, 16GB SDD, instant-on, two USB ports, webcam, HDMI and 6.5 hour battery life. It's cheaper than the Samsung Series 5 also announced, starting at $349 with optional world-mode 3G available for more cash and will be available for preorder on the same day -- June 15th from Amazon and Best Buy. Check more details at the source link below, with pics in the gallery and specs are after the break.

Google I/O Keynote day 2 Acer Chromebook

via Google unveils Acer Chromebook: $349, 11.6-inches with 6.5-hour battery -- Engadget.

Google Chrome OS Lands on Chromebooks and Chromeboxes You Can Actually Buy

Adrian Covert—We've already seen Google's Chrome OS. Now, it plays nice with USB storage and devices. And finally, there's hardware you can get your hands on.

When Google announced the OS, all they had to demonstrate the truest form of Chrome OS on was their CR-48 reference prototype, which was never intended for sale. It was attractively minimal, but didn't pack much of a punch when it came to its guts. Acer and Samsung have stepped in to solve this problem.

Better hardware. Trackpads are now multitouch and don't suck. Intel Atom processors running at 1.66 GHz are now used. Startup time takes 8 seconds. And devices now connect to Chrome OS. If you plug in a camera or thumbdrive, you can manage files or play media files. And Chrome OS will now let you run Gmail offline.

Samsung's Chromebook have a 12-inch screen with a battery that lasts 8.5 hours. The Wi-Fi model will cost $429 and the 3G model will cost $499. According to Samsung reps, it is 0.79-inches thick, has a 16:10 SuperBright display (that's 36% brighter than standard displays) and a full-sized keyboard. Plus it has all the usual crap, like an SD card reader, webcam, stereo speakers and two USB ports.

Acer's Chromebook has an 11.6-inch screen, has a battery that will last 6.5 hours and cost $349. Both the Samsung and Acer Chromebooks will be available on June 15.

Additionally, Google announced a Chromebox, a small, low-power desktop device intended for the business world. Like the Chromebooks, it runs Chrome OS, but comes with a bunch of utilities for system administrators. Google also teased a new reference Chromebook for developers (meaning you can't buy it) that will feature the new hardware specs. Like the two consumer models, it will be shipped out on June 15 to those at the conference.

via Google Chrome OS Lands on Chromebooks and Chromeboxes You Can Actually Buy.

Microsoft-Skype: A Win for Facebook, Loss for Google | PCWorld Business Center#tk.nl_bpx_t_cbintro

By Tony Bradley, PCWorld

Microsoft announced today that it purchased Skype for $8.5 billion. After a week of speculation about a possible acquisition by either Facebook or Google, the Microsoft news has shocked the tech world and stolen Google's thunder on the opening day of Google's I/O conference.

Ironically, I had been working on writing something up regarding the pros and cons of Facebook-Skype and Google-Skype to analyze which might be a better fit for Skype, and which combination would yield a better end result for businesses and consumers. It seems, I can throw that out...but not entirely, because Facebook and Google are both still affected by the Skype purchase.

Microsoft announced that it is purchasing Skype for $8.5 billion.According to the Microsoft press release announcing the Skype purchase, "Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms."

That last part is crucial. Skype is established as a communications platform across virtually all operating systems and mobile platforms. Pulling the plug on Skype for platforms other than Microsoft's own would be a huge blow to the many businesses and consumers that rely on Skype, and a huge mistake for Microsoft.

With the purchase, Microsoft strengthens its communications portfolio and expands the integration and capabilities of products such as Microsoft Office, and Xbox. According to Rob Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group, though, the strategy behind buying Skype is as much or more about making sure Google didn't buy it as it is about what Microsoft gains from the transaction.

There was speculation that Google was on the verge of buying Skype as well.Google already has Google Voice, but Google has struggled to establish the service as much more than a novelty. Purchasing Skype would have bought Google instant credibility with VoIP and video chat, and it would have provided Google with the core experience and skills necessary to become a leader in the space. Now, it will have to continue doing things the old-fashioned way, and go head to head with a revitalized Microsoft, and--by proxy--Facebook.

Enderle is less than optimistic that Google would have actually been capable of leveraging the value of Skype. "This might have improved Google far more, however Google is very cliquish inside and the more tenured employees would likely have prevented the Skype folks from having the impact they otherwise would have had."

A Microsoft-Skype marriage is better for Skype than a Facebook-Skype marriage. Microsoft is larger and more experienced than Facebook, and will most likely be a better steward of Skype technologies and intellectual property. But, because of the relationship between Microsoft and Facebook, Facebook still stands to gain from the purchase.

Overall, it seems like a win for Microsoft, a win for Skype, a win for Facebook, and some bad news for Google.

via Microsoft-Skype: A Win for Facebook, Loss for Google | PCWorld Business Center#tk.nl_bpx_t_cbintro.

Yes, Microsoft is buying Skype - The Term Sheet: Fortune\'s deals blog Fortune Finance

By Dan Primack May 10, 2011: 7:34 AM ET

So much for that Skype IPO.

Fortune has confirmed that Microsoft (MSFT) has agreed to buy the voice-over-Internet company for $8.5 billion, including the assumption of debt. Expect a formal announcement within the next hour.

There had been reports last week that Skype was in acquisition or partnership talks with both Microsoft and Facebook.

Skype will become a new business unit within Microsoft, to be run by current Skype CEO Tony Bates. He will report directly to Microsoft boss Steve Ballmer.

Luxembourg-based Skype began life as a VC-backed company, before being acquired by eBay (EBAY) for $2.6 billion in 2005. The combination didn't quite work out, and eBay gave public thought to either selling the unit outright or spinning it off into an independent public company. In November 2009, it agreed to sell a 65% stake in Skype for $1.9 billion to an investor group that included Silver Lake Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Index Ventures (the 7th-largest leveraged buyout of 2009).

Skype then filed for a $100 million IPO last August. The company reported a $6.9 million net loss in 2010, on nearly $860 million in revenue. It reported just $686 million in long-term debt, and just over $1 billion in liabilities.

A couple quick thoughts, as details continue to come in:

1. This is, obviously, a remarkable return for the PE/VC firms that carved out Skype in November 2009. Not just cash-on-cash, but also IRR (which takes length of investment into account). Remember, this was a very controversial deal at the time. Pretty sure the term "hairy" was used more than once. There were questions as to whether Skype's problems should be pinned on eBay or were inherent, and there were subsequent lawsuits from the company's founders (who ultimately received a small ownership stake). Moreover, this was the single-largest check ever written by Silver Lake, and the first time that Andreessen Horowitz -- a very new firm at the time -- had done something that didn't look at all like traditional venture capital. OH, and the buying group guaranteed the leveraged loans (which is very unusual)

2. Remember all that talk that Microsoft was on the M&A sidelines? Pretty sure that will be tamped down for a bit. After all, this is the largest acquisition in company history. d this clearly will improve the value proposition of Microsoft devices like XBox and Kinect.

3. The price-tag suggests that eBay made a shrewd move in holding onto a large Skype stake, rather than selling the entire thing in 2009.

UPDATE: The deal is now official. Here is the press release

via Yes, Microsoft is buying Skype - The Term Sheet: Fortune\'s deals blog Fortune Finance.

YouTube - Bonobo - Flutter

YouTube - Bonobo - Flutter

via YouTube - Bonobo - Flutter.

YouTube - Portishead - Wandering Star

YouTube - Portishead - Wandering Star

via YouTube - Portishead - Wandering Star.

YouTube - Portishead - Revenge Of The Number

via YouTube - Portishead - Revenge Of The Number.