Comment On Why The Idea Of A Netflix For E-books Makes Sense By Mathew Ingram

I agree, Darren -- it would be nice if libraries could come up with a competitive offering, and they still might, but Amazon so far looks best equipped to do so. Thanks for the comment.

Comment on Why the idea of a Netflix for e-books makes sense by Mathew Ingram

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Here's How Much Everyone Makes In Silicon Valley

Focus put together this great infographic of salaries for various technical positions in Silicon Valley, noting that there are more tech jobs there than at the apex of the dotcom bubble. (Then again, after more than 10 years of growth, irrespective of bubbles, there ought to be.)

It doesn't take into account stock-based compensation, but it does take into account cost of living. So that great $92,000 pay in Silicon Valley gets you about $50,000 worth of goods and services in San Diego. Worth keeping in mind. 

Don't Miss: The 20 Hot Silicon Valley Startups You Need To Watch →

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See Also:

• Steve Perlman Is Sick Of Silicon Valley Chasing Dinky Social Media Startups
• The 20 Hot Silicon Valley Startups You Need To Watch
• CHART OF THE DAY: Ex-Googlers Get More Funding For Their Startups Than Other Big Company Refugees

Here's How Much Everyone Makes In Silicon Valley

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Android Market Makes It A Lot Easier To Find Good Apps (GOOG, AAPL)

Android developers often complain that it's too hard for users to find their apps in the Android Market compared with iTunes.

Today, Google took some steps to resolve that.

Here's what's new:

• New top apps lists. Google is FINALLY adding "top free," "top paid" and "top grossing" lists like iTunes. There will also be a trending list that shows which apps are hot right now. The lists will be refreshed more often and will be country-specific.

• Editors' choice. This new page will consist entirely of apps chosen by the Android Market staff, similar to iTunes' staff choices.

• More related apps. Each app listing will have two lists of related apps: other apps that are browsed by people who use this app, and other apps that are downloaded alongside this app.

• Top developer icons. A nice perk for developers -- if Google likes your apps, it will put a little "top developer" icon next to them. It's starting with 150 developers today.

The improvements are in the Web-based Android Market today and coming to phones and tablets in the next few weeks.

 

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See Also:

• Inside Google I/O: Amazing Scenes From The Show
• Yes, Android Fans, Google Already Has Voice Commands -- And Rio Already Made MP3 Players
• This Is Why Google Thinks Its Music Service Is Legal

Android Market Makes It A Lot Easier To Find Good Apps (GOOG, AAPL)

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Microsoft Makes $8.5 Billion Skype Buy Official

Microsoft confirmed that it has agreed to buy Skype for $8.5 billion and plans to integrate it into a wide array of products, from Kinect and Windows Phone 7 to Lync, Outlook and Xbox Live. The deal caps a sudden turn of events for Skype, which had previously been the target of interest from Google and Facebook, but then attracted attention from Microsoft. Om first broke the news about Microsoft’s interest in Skype, and last night nailed the purchase price. With the deal, Microsoft is taking a product that eBay couldn’t integrate well and will try and use it to compete against Google, Apple, Cisco and others in the collaboration and communications space.

Microsoft Makes $8.5 Billion Skype Buy Official

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The Nook Color Makes A Weak Android Tablet, But Your Mom Will Love It [REVIEW] (BKS)

Despite a few initial glitches, the Nook Color update that went live on Monday, effectively turns the e-reader into a fully-functional Android tablet.

Not bad for $250.

Click here to see photos of the Nook Color running Android >

But despite the sweet price, don't expect the same performance or experience as you would from the more powerful Android tablets like the Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Nook's relatively weak processor (800 MHz) has some difficulty keeping up with the operating system.

That being said, the Nook Color is still a great option for casual users. The first thing I thought after spending some time with it was "I bet my mom would love this."

If you only plan on doing simple web browsing, emailing, or gaming, the Nook Color may be a good choice for you.

Here's what I thought:

• When you first install the update, don't expect your typical Android layout. This is still a Nook, and it runs a heavily-modified version of Android 2.2. You probably won't even notice much has changed at first.

• The screen isn't as bright as the iPad or Xoom's but it does make it easier to use outdoors. Touch responsiveness is satisfactory, but not as good as other tablets I've used.

• The new web browser is a bit slow. Scrolling through web pages can be jerky, but I love that Barnes & Noble included Flash support. Videos look great.

• The email app is nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. I like that there aren't any complicated settings. Just log in with your Gmail or other account and the Nook handles the rest.

• The app selection is surprisingly good, considering you don't have access to the full Android Market. The average user will find everything he or she needs like RSS readers and casual games.

• I had some problems with rich games like Angry Birds. Animation stuttered, and Angry Birds completely froze the Nook one time when I tried playing it.

• The standard, preloaded apps work well. You get a media player, email, and Pandora right out of the box.

Again, this tablet isn't a powerhouse, and it shows in how it handles apps and web browsing. It's hardly a substitute for most tablets out there. But at half the price of the cheapest iPad, I think it's still a good option for casual users.

You can arrange apps any way you want on your home screen. They don't automatically lock into place, so its a bit awkward to line them up.

Here's a view of the bottom. There's a micro USB port and the "Nook Button" that returns you to the home screen.

There's a headphone jack at the top. Great for watching web videos in the browser.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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See Also:

• Uh Oh, Nook's Android Update Is Bricking Some Tablets*
• HTC DROID INCREDIBLE 2: A Nice Upgrade To One Of The Most Popular Android Phones Ever [UNBOXING]
• Samsung's DROID Charge Launch Is Delayed Today Thanks To Verizon 4G Failure

The Nook Color Makes A Weak Android Tablet, But Your Mom Will Love It [REVIEW] (BKS)

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Microsoft App Makes It Easy To Sync A Windows Phone With A Mac (MSFT)

If you're an iPhone owner, it's a snap to sync your phone to your Mac through iTunes.

Just plug it in and all your contacts, music, and calendar events are automatically updated.

But if you have any other smartphone, it's not so easy.

Microsoft has bridged the gap between its Windows Phone 7 devices and Mac with a new app available in the Mac App Store.

The app lets you sync photos, music, and movies from iTunes and iPhoto with your Windows Phone or Zune player. There's even a capacity bar at the bottom that looks a lot like the one you see in iTunes when syncing your iPhone.

The only thing it's missing is iCal and Mail support. Microsoft probably wants you to stick with Outlook for that. But it's still pretty significant that they recognize so many people use iTunes to manage music.

You can download the Windows Phone 7 Connector app for free in the Mac App Store.

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Microsoft App Makes It Easy To Sync A Windows Phone With A Mac (MSFT)

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