Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

This story has all the makings of a tragic soap: a vulnerable love sick teenager, a sick vengeful adult and death.  Unfortunately this story is not confined to the pages of a book, but is a reality that took place in October 2006 and resulted in Megan Meier, aged 13 at the time, taking her own life.  But why did she do it?  What had happened before?  Who caused it?  And what does this have to do with technology?

It all started when Megan fell out with the daughter of her neighbor Ms Drew in St Louis, prompting Ms Drew to take it upon herself to spite Megan.  She did this by creating a fictitious 16 year old boy, Josh Evans, who lived in the local area which she did by creating a fake MySpace account.  This was then used to contact the unassuming Megan, and create a friendship, although the implication is that Megan believed it to be more serious than that.  Contined . . .

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Sections: Web, Websites

Microsoft just announced that they are giving Windows Live a major face lift.  They plan to debut a whole bunch of new beta Windows Live features to help users combine all parts of their online life.  These features are not going to just be Microsoft services either.  But they will all be under the Windows Live umbrella page.

Even though they already hold the title of the most used messenger program; they obviously want to reach even farther into the online cookie jar.  Microsoft wants to offer competition with the popular social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.  Whether or not they can actually provide any kind of competition coming into the game this much later remains to be seen.  What’s Microsoft’s plan?  Keep reading.

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Software / Applications, Web, Downloads, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

In news straight out of 2006, BlackBerry and MySpace have finally gotten together and jumped on the app train.  Seems straight laced corporate types have been clamoring for a way to keep tabs on their social networking bit for years and finally it is happening.  BlackBerry already has a FaceBook app.

The new MySpace application will do what you’d expect it would:

• Send and receive MySpace mail
• Update your Status and Mood
• View and send Bulletins
• Add comments
• Post your photos
• And much more

I don’t know about you, but “and much more” bugs the heck out of me and BlackBerry doesn’t go on to discuss the much more bit.  Of note, the application requires your device to have 64MB of on-board memory and 100KB free.

The timing suggests this move is all about adding features that the young folks buying the BlackBerry flip phone want.  As the lower priced flip phone trends into younger users, BlackBerry wants to make sure it is hip with the young ones. 

App page: [BlackBerry ] and [MySpace]

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Sections: Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Mobile, Web, Downloads, Web 2.0, Websites

Just Wednesday, Microsoft announced a site set up exclusively for tech startups.  No, working with startups isn’t a new concept for Microsoft.  But often, the programs weren’t very well known, and the scope was rather narrow.  This latest launch, BizSpark, is a different story. 

First off, when joining, you get the what you might expect—Microsoft products.  Of course, there are the obvious Office, Visual Studio, Sharepoint, as well as both Windows and SQL Server.  But that isn’t all.  BizSpark works with over 300 Network Partners who can offer the program right to startups.  The really big bonus?  There is absolutely no upfront cost to join.  You do however, have to pay $100 when you leave the program.

Learn more about what you can do with Microsoft’s help after the break.

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Sections: Computers, Desktops, Laptops, Networking, Security, Software / Applications, Wireless, Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

Sit down in front of my computer and you will find upwards of five Internet windows each with at least eight tabs, all open to different sites.  Pages just don’t load fast enough for me.  The moment it takes a page to load, I feel like I need to be doing something else or it is time wasted.

I am going be in trouble when they make things even faster than the cable Internet I have now.  It is in the works to increase Ethernet speed from 10 Gigabit Ethernet (“GbE”) to 40GbE or 100GbE (or 80 GbE,120 or even 160 GbE as the actual number is undetermined at present).  From the way it looks, I have about two years to figure out what to do about that and come off my multi-window addiction.

How does this effect you?  Keep reading to find out.

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Looking for an easy way to share video of what’s happening right now, but only have a BlackBerry with you?  Next2Friends is trying to help out with that by releasing the “First Live Mobile Streaming Video for BlackBerry Devices.“  The apps will work on the BlackBerry Curve and Pearl models, and allow you to stream live video over the Internet.  It also allows for the videos to easily be shared via social networking sites like Facebook, blogs, or any other sort of website.

The applications are also available for Symbian S60 and S40 devices, as well as Windows Mobile 6.  This is the first time this suite of applications is available for BlackBerry, and Next2Friends is currently working on extending the applications to work on “a number of other popular operating systems,“ which would presumably (or at least hopefully) include Android and iPhone.  Find out more about this app after the break.

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Sections: Video, Communications, Cellphones, Smartphones, Web, Web 2.0

You have FaceBook and MySpace and YouTube…..and now…A-Space.  Only unless you have top level clearances, you won’t be joining this social networking site. Well, let’s hope that’s how it really goes down. (Kind of scary that the government thinks the internet is secure when you really think about it).

The soon to be launching A-Space program is a site for analysts working within the 16 US intelligence agencies. “It’s every bit Facebook and YouTube for spies, but it’s much, much more,“ said Michael Wertheimer, assistant deputy director of national intelligence for analysis.  “It’s a place where not only spies can meet but share data they’ve never been able to share before,“ Wertheimer said. “This is going to give them for the first time a chance to think out loud, think in public amongst their peers, under the protection of an A-Space umbrella.“  Ummm….an A-Space umbrella? I sure hope it can weather a decent storm.

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Sections: Computers, Networking, Security, Web, Web 2.0, Web Apps, Web Browsers, Websites

With signs popping up all over the urban and even suburban landscape, “Free Wi-Fi” seems to be the newest hipster selling point for hotels and coffee shops. But in the internet revolution few seem willing to miss the bus. Big box retailers, goliath in the retail wars, are moving at an unusually rapid pace to meet the demand. With Borders Books and Barnes and Noble already on board and Northeastern Supermarket chain Super Stop and Shop offering free Wi-Fi to its customers among the fresh produce and snack crackers. Wal-Mart, the store that has everything, and seems to be everywhere would not respond to my query regarding any possible Wi-Fi offering in the future, which reinforces the notion that I am merely a bug on life’s windshield. To Wal-Mart, an entity at least twice as expansive as all life itself I am even more insignificant I suppose.

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London based company En-Twyn have shown at CeBIT a great new networking device to make sure problems like poor Wi-Fi signal and wire clutter are kept to a minimum.

The idea is simple. You share the broadband connection of one room, and users can pick it up from other rooms. The socket fits on to any regular front, and the 4 LEDs indicate power and internet activity. It allows up to 64 users to take up the circuit, but in my opinion, if you’ve got a house that big, Ethernet is the least of your worries.

The En-Compass is at the stage where it was shown during at CeBIT, but I really hope it will catch on and become available worldwide.

Via [Digital Lifestyles]

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Why routers had traditionally been so boxy in design is anyone’s guess but Linksys finally says goodbye to its blue-face square design for its new range of wireless routers. The ugly looking antennas are also history. The new WRT160N and WRT310N not only look cool in black with its new sleek design, it also use internal antennas instead of external ones. I wish Linksys had already introduced this new design when I bought my WRT54G many months back so that it can sit in perfect harmony alongside my black-themed desktop PC, LCD screen, keyboard, mouse and speakers. At $100 and $130 for WRT160N and WRT310N respectively, I would have happily parted with my hard earned cash for either one.

Via [CNET]

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• MySpace suicide court case begins
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