Saturday, April 21, 2007

Hot pick on saturday...

Creative 73VF004000012 0.1MP Effective Pixels 352 x 288 30fps USB Interface WebCam Instant Bonus Pack » for $3.99 at NewEgg.com

List Price: $29.99 Exp: 04/25/2007
352x288 (CIF) CMOS sensor, Video and still image capture at up to 640x480 (software enhanced), Snapshot button, Flexible three-way base sits on flat surfaces and attaches to a flat panel or notebook displays, Works with Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, MSN Messenger, Windows Messenger, and other instant messenger services. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to NewEgg.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $23.99
  3. -$20 Mail-in Rebate (Exp 04/25/2007)
  4. Final Price : $23.99 - $20 = $3.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except CA, TN & NJ)
HOT!!

Motorola MA581 5.8 Ghz Cordless Phone w/Answering Machine » for $39.99 at J&R.com

List Price: $69 Exp: Limited time
Single Line Operation / Dual Keypads (Handset & Base) / Caller ID / Visual Call Waiting / 15 Minute Digital Answering Machine / Color: Gray. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to J&R.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $39.99
  3. Final Price : $39.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except NY)
HOT!!

AT&T 2.4GHz Dual Handset Cordless Telephone TAD - E2725B w/ answering system » for $39.99 at J&R.com

List Price: $119.99 Exp: Limited time
ATT E2725B offers 2 cordless handsets and a built-in Answering machine as a one-line telephone for a large home. The phones are 2.4GHz high frequency with a wide range of use and a strong signal. The caller ID/call waiting feature has a 50 name and number caller ID history (requires phone company service). How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to J&R.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $39.99
  3. Final Price : $39.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except NY)

Logitech 961471-0403 1.3 MP Effective Pixels 640 x 480 30fps USB Interface QuickCam Ultra Vision » for $69.98 at NewEgg.com

List Price: $124.99 Exp: 04/30/2007
Precision glass lens. Unsurpassed image quality through 5 precision engineered lens elements. Superior image clarity A true 1.3 megapixel sensor coupled with RightLight 2 Technology enables you to capture fine details in dim, side- and back-lit situations. Integrated microphone Logitech's exclusive RightSound technology ensures your voice comes through clear and echo-free. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to NewEgg.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $94.99
  3. -$30 Mail-in Rebate (Exp 04/30/2007)
  4. Final Price : $94.99 - $30 + $4.99 Shipping = $69.98 + No Tax (Except CA, TN & NJ)
HOT!!

Sandisk Sansa E270 6GB MP3 Player » for $136.94 at J&R.com

List Price: $149 Exp: Limited time
Sleek, attractive 1.8 TFT color screen / Up to 6GB Capacity / microSD card slot for expansion above 6GB capacity / PlaysForSure support. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to J&R.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $129.99
  3. Final Price : $129.99 + $6.95 Shipping = $136.94 + No Tax (Except NY)

Belkin F8V3080-APL TuneCast II Mobile FM Transmitter » for $17.93 at Buy.com

List Price: $49.95 Exp: 04/30/2007
We add a great convenience feature with our unique Auto ON/OFF function. It frees you from having to manually toggle your TuneCast II ON/OFF switch by simply powering on when an audio signal is detected. If no signal is detected for a period of 60 seconds, your TuneCast II switches off. This innovation preserves battery life while making your outstanding mobile audio experience simpler to enjoy. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Buy.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $27.93
  3. -$10 Mail-in rebate ( Offer valid from 4/1/2007 to 4/30/2007 )
  4. Final Price: $27.93 -$10 = $17.93 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except CA, MD, MA, and TN)
Enlarge Image

Malibu Shores Purple Floral 4 Piece Jacquard Comforter Set, Queen » for $19.99 at Amazon.com

List Price: $249.99 Exp: Limited Time
Elegant, amazingly affordable Jacquard woven comforter set for Queen beds; Includes mid-weight, polyester-filled comforter, two Standard shams, and dust ruffle with 15-inch drop; Classic, antiqued floral pattern with delicate texturing; Made of 55 percent polyseter and 45 percent cotton; All items are dry clean only.; How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Amazon.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $19.99
  3. Final Price : $19.99 + Free Shipping w/$25 purchase + No Tax (Except KS, KY, ND & WA)
Enlarge Image

Wallace Twill 53-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 8 » for $34.99 at Amazon.com

List Price: $250.00 Exp: 04/20/2007
53-piece Twill flatware set with service for 8 and 5-piece hostess set; Includes 8 dinner knives, 8 dinner forks, 16 salad forks, 8 dinner spoons, and 8 teaspoons; Also with tablespoon, pierced tablespoon, cold meat fork, sugar spoon, and butter knife; 18/10 stainless steel with traditional sizing, pressed borders, stitch motif, and mirror finish; Safe in the dishwasher; additional serving pieces also available; How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Amazon.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $34.99
  3. Final Price : $34.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except KS, KY, ND & WA)
Enlarge Image Valid only today!!

8-Piece Chef Knife Block Set » for $15.99 at Amazon.com

List Price: $40.00 Exp: 04/20/2007
Includes 6- and 8-inch chef's, 5- and 7-inch santoku, and 3-inch paring knives; 10-inch sharpener; shears; and 7-slot block; Blades forged from a single piece of high-carbon, stain-resistant steel; Sturdy, steel bolsters; tang extends the full handle length for strength; Ergonomically designed, slip-resistant, polypropylene handles with triple rivets; Hand-washing recommended; How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Amazon.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $15.99
  3. Final Price : $15.99 + Free Shipping w/$25 purchase + No Tax (Except KS, KY, ND & WA)
Enlarge Image HOT!! Valid only today!!

Patriot Signature 2GB 40X SD - PSF2G40SD » for $20.99 at Buy.com

List Price: $43.20 Exp: Limited Time
Secure Digital is the most popular removable flash memory card format. With a capacity of 2 GB and a read speed of 40X, the Patriot SD memory card offers the best solution for your portable digital needs. The Patriot Signature Line SD cards offer an affordable upgrade solution to securely and conveniently transport, access and store your digital information. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Buy.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $20.99
  3. Final Price: $20.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except CA, MD, MA, and TN)
Enlarge Image

Epson Perfection V100 PHOTO Flatbed Scanner - 48-bit Color Internal/External, 16-bit Grayscale Internal/External - 3200 dpi Optical, 3200 x 9600 dpi Hardware, 12800 x 12800 dpi Maximum - 1 x USB 2.0 Standard - PC, Mac - B11B184051 » for $51.97 at Buy.com

List Price: $99.99 Exp: Limited time
With the Epson Perfection V100 Photo enjoy automatic scanning of photos, film, and documents, as well as 3D objects. Get brilliant results every time with 3200 x 9600 dpi. The new high-rise lid can be lifted up and laid flat to accommodate large objects or scan 3D objects (up to 25mm thick) with the lid closed.The scanner built-in transparency unit and 3.2 D-max offers convenient scanning of both slides and film strips with remarkable details, while Epson Easy Photo Fix one-touch color restoration renews faded originals. New Epson Digital Dust Correction quickly and intelligently removes dust from film scans. New Backlight Correction software corrects under exposed images with better color accuracy. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Buy.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $91.97
  3. -$40 Mail-in rebate ( Offer valid from 3/4/2007 to 6/30/2007 )
  4. Final Price: $91.97 -$40 = $51.97 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except CA, MD, MA, and TN)
HOT!!

Sony Handycam DCR-HC48 Mini DV Digital Camcorder » for $349.97 at OneCall.com

List Price: $399.99 Exp: 04/22/2007
With a 1 megapixel CCD, the DCR-HC48 MiniDV Handycam® camcorder captures every detail of every frame. And you’ll get everything in the frame with the 25x optical/2000x digital zoom through the Carl Zeiss® Vario-Tessar® Lens. The 2.7”2 wide hybrid touch panel LCD displays your video in vivid detail while allowing you to easily control the camcorder’s features. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to OneCall.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $337.05
  3. Final Price : $337.05 + $12.92 3day FedEx Shipping = $349.97 + No Tax (Except ID, WA & WV)
HOT!!

Netgear SPH101 Skype Wi-Fi Phone - SPH101-100NAS - No PC Required! » for $94.99 at Buy.com

List Price: $333.00 Exp: 04/30/2007
Unlimited free wireless calls to Skype users, no PC required NETGEARs Skype WiFi Phone is the worlds first wireless Internet phone that can make free calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world, anytime you have WiFi access, without a PC. All of your contacts are shown right on the phones color display so you will know exactly who is on-line. You will also be more available for your friends to call, because you no longer have to be on your PC to be connected. How to get this deal:
  1. Activate $10 OFF $150 or more in Computer Store (Including Home Networking and Digital Cameras) New Customers Only! at Buy.com
  2. Add Netgear SPH101 Skype Wi-Fi Phone to Shopping cart for $154.99
  3. -$50 Mail-in rebate (Exp 4/30/2007)
  4. Final Price: $154.99 - $50 - $10 = $94.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except CA, MD, MA, and TN)
Enlarge Image HOT!! Price drop!!

Ultimate Sling Relaxer (French Roast Color) » for $39.99 at LNT.com

List Price: $59.99 Exp: 04/28/2007
The chair features a comfortable weather resistant fabric that is tethered to the frame by nylon. This unique design reduces pressure on the spine, relieves muscle tension and increases circulation while reducing stress on your heart. When you're finished, just fold the relaxer up and store it for the next time you are having a difficult day. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to LNT.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $49.99
  3. At Checkout apply 20% off Coupon Code : 175910189159 (Exp 06/10/2007)
  4. Final Price : $49.99 -20% = $39.99 + Free in-store pickup + State tax may apply

HOT!!

Mac Sports Camp Chair » for $7.19 at LNT.com

List Price: NA Exp: 04/29/2007
The Mac Sports Classic Highback Camp Chair comes with a handy carry bag with a pocket for keys or cell phone storage. The chair features duel cup holders and an oversized seat for extra comfort. An attachable umbrella is also available for shade against the elements. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to LNT.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $8.99
  3. At Checkout apply 20% off Coupon Code : 175910189159 (Exp 06/10/2007)
  4. Final Price : $8.99 -20% = $7.19 + Free in-store pickup + State tax may apply

Brother P-Touch QL-500 PC Label Printer » for $43 at Tigerdirect.com

List Price: $79.99 Exp: Limited time
Introducing the easy-to-use Brother QL-500 Quick PC Label Printer that prints address and shipping labels, up to 2.4" wide, on easy-to-peel, die cut paper and continuous length film labels. The Brother QL-500 also prints file folder, CD/DVD and visitor badge labels for just pennies a piece. Plus, no wasted sheets to worry about because you can print one label, a few, or even hundreds at a time! How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Tigerdirect.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $29.99
  3. Final Price : $29.99 + $12.x~$15appx Shipping = $43 + No Tax (Except FL, IL and NC)

JVC M-DV60DU10 (10 Pack) 60 Minute Metal Evaporated MiniDV tape » for $29.05 at OneCall.com

List Price: $29.99 Exp: 04/22/2007
1 hour, ME Tape Technology, DLC Protective Layer, Special Surface Treatment, Ultra-Compact Dust proof Shell How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to OneCall.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $24.99
  3. Final Price : $24.99 + $4.05 Shipping = $29.05 + No Tax (Except ID, WA & WV)

Panasonic SDR-H200 30GB 3CCD HDD Camcorder » for $694.97 at OneCall.com

List Price: $799.99 Exp: 04/22/2007
The internal 30 GB hard disk drive holds as much video data as about 22 8-centimeter DVD discs. That means you can record for around 27 hours without changing a disc, tape or anything else. This SD Card/Hard Disk camcorder is perfect for people who want to shoot for hour after hour without worrying about memory space. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to OneCall.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $682.05
  3. Final Price : $682.05 + $12.92 3day FedEx Shipping = $694.97 + No Tax (Except ID, WA & WV)

Argus DC-3195 3.2 Megapixel Digital Camera Starter Kit » for $47.99 at Buy.com

List Price: $99.00 Exp: Limited Time
1.5" LTPS LCD Display, 4X Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, 16MB Flash Internal Memory, SD/MMC Storage Card Slot, Hight Speed USB Download, Photo editing Software. How to get this deal:
  1. Click here to go to Buy.com
  2. Add to Shopping cart for $47.99
  3. Final Price: $47.99 + Free Shipping + No Tax (Except CA, MD, MA, and TN)
Enlarge Image

Friday, April 20, 2007

BlackBerry outage blamed on new storage feature

A massive service outage of BlackBerry e-mail devices earlier this week resulted from a new storage feature that was not sufficiently tested, device maker Research In Motion (Nasdaq:RIMM - news)said.

RIM said it was able to rule out concerns that the failure was caused by a security breach into its system or an inability to provide enough capacity to nearly 8 million subscribers, according to a statement issued late on Thursday.

RIM also found that the outage was not caused by any flaws in its hardware or its main software infrastructure.

The company had introduced new software designed to make the use of temporary storage on the BlackBerry device more efficient.

But the procedure caused an unexpected problem that "triggered a compounding series of interaction errors between the system's operational database and cache," the company said.

The crash left politicians, lawyers, business executives and other "CrackBerry" addicts without wireless e-mail service on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

RIM also defended the way it had handled the crisis, despite criticism that it was slow to communicate with subscribers about the extent and cause of the outage.

"RIM's first priority during any service interruption is always to restore service and then establish, monitor and maintain stability," the company said.

"Proper analysis can take several days or longer," it added, "and RIM's commitment is to provide the most accurate and complete information possible in such situations."

Dell once again offers Windows XP

Back by popular demand:
Windows XP. PC maker Dell Inc. said on its Web site Thursday it will once again let home PC buyers choose between Microsoft Corp.'s older operating system and Windows Vista when they purchase certain new machines.

Dell, like many computer makers, stopped offering XP on most home desktops and laptops soon after Vista launched at the end of January. By late March, the company said only two models aimed at home users could be configured with XP (the option still existed on many models for business users).

But on Dell's IdeaStorm Web site, where visitors can post suggestions for the company and vote on the ones they think are important, a plea titled "Don't eliminate XP just yet" racked up more than 10,700 votes.

"We heard you loud and clear on bringing the Windows XP option back to our Dell consumer PC offerings," Dell responded in a Web posting Thursday.

The company said it will immediately offer XP again an option for four models of its Inspiron notebooks and two models of its Dimension desktop PCs.

This comes just weeks after Dell said it is also planning to offer PCs with

Linux
, a free operating system that competes with Windows.

"This is really odd," said Michael Silver, research vice president at Gartner. "On new PCs, consumers usually do want the latest and greatest."

Microsoft countered that Dell's move was in response to a "small minority of customers" with a "specific request." Michael Burk, a product manager for Microsoft's Windows Client group, said in an e-mailed statement, "The vast majority of consumers want the latest and greatest technology, and that includes Windows Vista."

Google Acquires Marratech; Gets Into WebEx Territory

After reporting a monster fiscal quarter (the company has close to $12 billion in cash sitting around now and has hired nearly 2,000 new employees this year), Google made a quiet announcement on its corporate blog tonight - they’ve acquired Swedish startup Marratech for an undisclosed price.

This is the first I’ve heard of Marratech, which is broadly in the e-meeting space and certainly competes with WebEx (recently acquired by Cisco for $3.2 billion). Users are able to communicate via text chat, VOIP and video, and share applications in a virtual meeting.

Their service requires a download, whereas most of the newly released e-meeting solutions are browser based (and therefore have less functionality). The Windows version of the software is 31 MB; the Mac version is just 9 MB. Google already has software on many computers with their GTalk, Desktop and Toolbar applications. Bundling this in isn’t unthinkable.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Graphita Adds Personal Bling to Photos

graphitalogo.pngSan Rafael, California-based Graphita wants to let people add a little bling to their photos.

The company offers a Flash-based application that enables users to upload photos and add a personal touch via an easy to use toolset filled with stamps, text icons, captions, bubbles and more (Bubbleply does much the same for videos). The Graphita rich toolkit is easy to use to add, resize and customize each addition to a photo creation. The product is simplified for the masses and offers users the option of an authenticated or anonymous experience – thus positioning itself for higher adoption rates. Currently, Graphita is in closed beta and does not appear to support the addition of animated icons which might be something worth looking into implementing before its official launch in mid-May.

Upon customizing a photo, users can share them via email, print and send them back to their favorite photo sites (Flickr, MySpace, etc.), or even send them to photo pick-up locations (Costco, Walgreens, etc.). In addition, photo creations can be placed directly on consumer products like coffee mugs, tee shirts or other items. Graphita does not appear to offer its own social networking hooks but rather leverages existing products and services. However, registered users have the option to share uploaded photos in the public gallery or keep them private.

In the coming months Graphita is looking to further integrate with existing products so that users can have quick access to the Graphita toolset from their favorite online photo product. Competitors to Graphita include PikiPimp and Comeeko who both offer photo annotations. Of course, larger online photo products like AOL Pictures, Flickr and PhotoBucket could develop and add similar features right into their products, thus squashing Graphita chances for web annotation domination.

Editor’s Note: Frank Gruber writes Somewhat Frank, is the co-founder TECH cocktail and is a product manager at AOL. He is pictured below along with fellow AOL’er Orli Yakuel.

graphitascreen.png

Google’s Office Suite Complete: Google “PowerPoint” Confirmed

There’s no need for further speculation: Today at the Web 2.0 Expo Google CEO Eric Schmidt confirmed (here also) that Google will soon launch a PowerPoint clone, completing their basic office suite (they already have Word and Excel covered). Expect these services to be combines with Gmail, Google Calendar, GTalk and other services under a single brand for small businesses.

Schmidt also said that they’re office suite isn’t a threat to Microsoft. That, of course, is complete spin.

What Schmidt didn’t say is whether Google will build or buy this. They acquired Writely, and (mostly) built their spreadsheet application. The smart money is saying this is a build, not a buy. Update: Google has also announced the acquisition of Tonic Systems to power the presentations product. So much for the smart money being on a build, not a buy, and so much for concerns about yet one more disparate platform to integrate into Docs & Spreadsheets. Launch is planned for this summer.

Amazon S3 Reaches 5 Billion Stored Objects

While I was busy announcing the upcoming TechCrunch20conference and picking fights with venture capitalists today, Dan Farber was covering the news at the Web 2.0 Expo. One of the more interesting disclosures to surface: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos announced that their S3 storage-on-demand service, which launched just thirteen months ago, surpassed 5 billion stored objects. This is up from just 800 million stored objects in July 2006.

Income from S3 is little more than a rounding error for Amazon, with nearly $11 billion in 2006 revenue. But the service has some passionate users who are claiming to be saving a lot of money versus handling storage themselves. It’s not too early to say, as Dan does, that “Infrastructure as a service has arrived.”

Amazon does need to be careful on the expense side, however. A BusinessWeek article late last year got deep into the numbers:

Most worrisome to investors is Amazon’s three-year-plus binge on new technologies. So far this year its spending on technology and content, including hiring hundreds of engineers and programmers to produce all these new services and buy more servers to run them, is up 52%, to $485 million. As a result, operating margins, at 4.1% for the past four quarters, now come in at less than Wal-Mart’s 5.9%. Even Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS), that doughty bricks-and-mortar book chain that many expected to get remaindered by the Web, has higher margins, at 5.4%. “I have yet to see how these investments are producing any profit,” gripes Piper Jaffray & Co. analyst Safa Rashtchy. “They’re probably more of a distraction than anything else.”

'Office' fans flock to edit Wikipedia

In the NBC series "The Office," the boss Michael Scott turned to Wikipedia for tips on fending off an employee's request for a pay raise. Viewers quickly flocked to the online encyclopedia and added their take to its entry on negotiations.

Administrators at Wikipedia had to limit editing of the entry, most recently late Tuesday, placing it in "semi-protection" mode. That meant users couldn't make changes anonymously or from accounts fewer than four days old — to discourage those drawn to the site specifically because of the broadcast.

The site imposed similar restrictions on the entry twice before, only to see vandalism continue after they were lifted.

Wikipedia is a collaborative reference site where anyone can add, change or even delete entries, regardless of expertise. The thinking is that the collective wisdom results in a better product overall, and members of the community can watch for any vandalism and reverse it.

In the case of the "negotiation" entry, viewers quickly added phony tips in response to clueless advice from Scott, played by Steve Carell, in last week's episode.

One edit simply replaced the entry with a statement praising the television program. That was followed by the insertion of Scott's tips for getting the upper hand, including "suddenly changing the location" and "refusing to talk first."

Users made more than 100 changes, including those to reverse the vandalism, before the site imposed the latest restrictions on revisions.

Yahoo disappointing 1Q drags down stock

Exterior view of Yahoo! headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif., Monday night, April 16, 2007. Yahoo! Inc. is expected to release quarterly results on Tuesday, April 17, 2007. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)Investors were falling in love with Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO - news) again until the Internet icon's disheartening first-quarter results ruined the mood.

With both its profit and revenue missing analyst estimates for the first three months of the year, Yahoo left Wall Street wondering how much longer it will take the Sunnyvale-based company to regain its financial momentum after stumbling through much of 2006.

Reflecting hopes for a more rapid comeback, Yahoo's stock price had surged by 26 percent so far this year heading into Tuesday's earnings announcement.

But the optimism quickly faded after Yahoo revealed its first-quarter profit had fallen by 11 percent to $142.4 million, or 10 cents per share. That compared with net income of $159.9 million, or 11 cents per share, at the same last year.

The results were a penny below the average earnings estimate among analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.

The letdown zapped Yahoo's stock, which plummeted $2.53, or 7.9 percent, in after-hours trading Tuesday. Before the disappointing news, Yahoo shares had gained 48 cents earlier in the day to close at $32.09 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

AOL beats TV with word of upcoming shows

AOL stepped up its bid to capture advertising dollars normally spent on television by showcasing five new interactive programs a month before the broadcast networks announce their fall lineups.

The online company hosted more than 500 advertising executives and media planners at a "First Look" showcase Tuesday — what Chief Executive Randy Falco described as a "coming out party for AOL" as a major online advertising platform.

"Everything is growing online," Falco told the audience. "If you want to be where the consumers are going, you have to be with us."

The First Look event, at the corporate headquarters of AOL LLC parent Time Warner Inc., comes as AOL seeks to increase its advertising revenue to make up for rapid declines in its legacy Internet access business.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Tellme Launches Free 411 Business Search Service

tellme.jpgTellme Networks has announced that it will be launching a new service that enables users to quickly find information while on the go. The service functions similar to to 411, but users can request information through voice, SMS, or Mobile Web. By requesting “Business Search” at the voice prompt, the service will allow you to find businesses in a particular category and return local results based on location. The announcement comes just a week after Google announced its free 411 service, Goog-411.

448686630_3f47640fea.jpg448686626_9bbe7870b0.jpg

To use the service through voice, simply call 1.800.555.TELL. They have offered this service using their TellMe Mobile application, but this is the first time it is completely voice controlled.

Project San Dimas Beta: Cleaning Up eBay’s UI

ebaylogo.pngAt the Web 2.0 Expo, online auction giant eBay seems to finally be rethinking their user experience with the announcement of a new Apollo application currently called “Project San Dimas” released into a limited beta. The new application is meant to make buying and selling items on eBay more efficient, competing with third party “Power User” auction service giants Vendio and Marketworks, and the Y Combinator upstart Auctomatic. No word on whether it was named after the patron saint of reformed thieves (fraud detection?) or referencing the quiet suburb that served as the backdrop to “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure”.

The project was started last year by Alan Lewis of the eBay Developers Program, and eventually became an internal initiative for eBay after being demoed last year at Adobe MAX in Las Vegas. Ryan Stewart blogged the demo and Rob Abbott, a member of the San Dimas team, also has some coverage. San Dimas features a UI created by EffectiveUI and uses eBay’s API’s to make creating, and managing auctions easier and faster. Because it’s written in Apollo, the program can improve performance by cutting down on repetitive requests for data, caching it locally instead. The application will also feature real-time auction monitoring and allow sellers to add in pictures directly uploaded from webcams and cameras.

Today’s release is made on the backdrop of a continuing controversy between Microsoft’s new Silverlight and Adobe’s Apollo, outlined by the WSJ today. Microsoft has already effectively lost as an online video standard to Adobe’s Flash. Silverlight marks the being of a new battle over web standards as the two companies fight over the tools that will shape the future of web applications.

here is a video demoing the application here

san_dimas_prototype.jpg

Custom Search