Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Latest from TechCrunch

The Latest from TechCrunch

Link to TechCrunch

Chrome-To-Android Extension: Awesome, Deadly

Posted: 23 May 2010 08:45 AM PDT

One of the cooler, subtle things that Google showed off at Google I/O was its new Android Cloud to Device Messaging service that’s a part of Android 2.2. The “don’t call it Push Notifications” service allows you to automatically send links from your computer to your Android device.

Everyone is talking about the ability to push Android apps (and eventually music/media) to your devices — and rightly so. But also useful is this link push ability. For example, if you looking at a page on your computer than you want to take on the go (something I do all the time), you can now just use a Chrome extension and with one click, it automatically appears on your phone.

And it’s even more useful with maps. If you’re looking up an address in Google Maps on your computer, you can click the extension and it will automatically push it to your Android device — and open it in the Maps app.

This sort of reminds me of the television show 24. Jack Bauer is constantly telling Chloe O’Brien to send stuff to his phone — and magically it always seems to appear in seconds. With this, that would actually be possible.

Of course, there’s a downside to this too. Imagine a friend or co-worker is at your computer where you have the extension installed. They could easily push you any page. Porn, Rickrolls, etc — imagine the possibilities!

Watch it in action with both a link and a map below.

If you have Android 2.2 (and if you don’t yet, be patient, it’s coming) go to the Chrome-to-Phone Google Code page for instructions on how to make this work. Basically, you just install a Chrome extension and an Android app and you’re good to go. This all works because it syncs through your Gmail address over AppEngine.



Watch The #TCDisrupt Hackers Strut Their Stuff

Posted: 23 May 2010 08:04 AM PDT

The TechCrunch Disrupt Hackathon is drawing to a close, with over 300 hackers battling through the night, fueled by pizza and caffeine. The 90-second demos of the final products will commence now and by 2pm, one winner will be left standing. Every team that makes it through the Hackathon will get a free pass to Disrupt, but only the winning team will bask in the glory of presenting their creation on stage this Wednesday (alongside Startup Battlefield companies).

You can watch the presentation of the final products here.



While You Slept, They Hacked #tcdisrupt

Posted: 23 May 2010 05:46 AM PDT

Ah, I just enjoyed one of those great morning stretch/yawns that is right up there in awesomeness with the first beer after a hot day or talking a cop out of a speeding ticket. Good morning! And while people around the world, give or take your time zone, are just waking up and having a first cup of coffee, 300 + hacker gladiators have been battling it out all night at the TechCrunch Disrupt Hack Day.

In just a couple of hours the bell will be rung and all work must end. And then, we see what they’ve done in a blitz of 90 second demos.

There are hardware hacks. There are software hacks. There are projects that include both. One I saw in the works late last night involved a huge plastic knife, a robot and a swarm of some seriously nerdy hackers. Some of them will be fun, others unique, and still others just plain dumb. A very few are the seeds of future products that people will actually use, although that isn’t really the point.

The best and most creative projects will be seen in front of the proper TechCrunch Disrupt audience (the main event kicks off tomorrow morning). But everyone who finishes a project will get a full ticket to attend TechCrunch Disrupt, and they’ll always have the memories of an absurd night spent among old and new friends.

We posted a video of the event yesterday, but this morning we came across this video created by Jay Corcoran that gives a little more of an idea of what it’s like to be there.

Who doesn’t want to play Super Mario Bros. by singing? Enjoy.



Jay Leno Won The Tonight Show Fight, But The Resistance Movement Carries On At…Hulu

Posted: 22 May 2010 11:50 PM PDT

The Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien fight over the Tonight Show is long over. Leno soldiers on, and O’Brien is out mixing it up with real people on tour.

But the resistance movement carries on, and Coco supporters (as O’brien is known) have found a bunch of outlets to vent their frustration. Some trick Leno into taking pictures supporting Coco. Others hang out on a Facebook page supporting him called “I’m with Coco / Conan O’Brien.”

But now there’s another way, and this one is likely to piss off NBC. Go to any Tonight Show clip on Hulu and check out the user added tags that appear in the mouseover.

There’s a variety of tags added to the show, but popular ones include: i’m with coco, creep, sellout, douchenozzle and hack.

Ah, the power of the people to voice their opinion on things. Too bad these are going to be ripped down pretty darn soon. Hulu’s terms and conditions on tags arguably prohibit all of these keywords.



Inside Disrupt Hackathon [Video]

Posted: 22 May 2010 06:09 PM PDT

Just a quick update for those tracking the Disrupt Hackathon. Pizza has been delivered, the Red Bull girls have made their rounds, and the group seems to be in high spirits. TechCrunch developer Andy Brett and I made the rounds this afternoon, chatting with developers (who came from places as close as New York and as far as Israel) to discuss their projects and their strategy for the evening. Many expected to use a combination of potent caffeine and quick naps to power through the session. Some offered quirkier solutions: one team toyed with the idea of napping in the beginning and working during the late hours (to sleep through the noisiest part of the day) and another set a hard deadline of 2 am so that they could be the most refreshed team during the presentation round. We’ll find out who makes it and what they’ve made tomorrow at 11am— and for those who can’t be here, we plan to Livestream the event as well. Until then, enjoy our brief video of Hackathon (Andy doesn’t make frequent video appearances so this is a real treat, bonus points if you find his 2 cameos). This was all shot on a flip cam.



Google Confirms Froyo Launch: “The roll out to Nexus One devices has begun!”

Posted: 22 May 2010 05:54 PM PDT

Last last night (early this morning) there was some confusion about our post indicating that Android 2.2, Froyo, had started to roll out. Some thought we had Photoshopped the pictures (I wish I was that good at Photoshop), others though we were just using the developer build, and others thought we got some sort of special press copy. But rest easy people, I have in my inbox a confirmation from Google that says the following: “The roll out to Nexus One devices has begun!

Naturally, I asked the company what the deal was with the roll out, since I was as surprised as anyone to see 2.2 ready to install on my device when I picked it up last night. After all, Google itself had just tweeted out that the new OS would be available on the Nexus One in the “next few weeks.” But that looks to be a solid under-promise, over-deliver — very nice, Google.

Actually, like many other Google roll-outs, this will be a staggered one. So it may be a couple of weeks before everyone gets it (Google didn’t say). And yes, it does look like a lot of members of the press are getting it first (maybe because we got the device at the Nexus One launch event prior to its launch, who knows). But again, it is starting to roll out to everyone.

Those who can’t wait for the OTA update, can manually install a build. Phandroid details how to do that — sounds easy enough.

Having played with it for the past day now, I can safely say that Android 2.2 is indeed a big, big improvement over 2.1. The speed alone is the killer feature — and there are a number of other nifty feature upgrades as well. Now I just feel bad for the new EVO 4G, which Google gave to all attendees at Google I/O. Because it runs a customized Sense build of Android, it’s likely going to be a bit before we see the 2.2 version of that. And it makes the device feel sluggish compared to the Nexus One with 2.2 now.

[image via TFTS]



Google’s Gift Already On Resale: Sprint’s HTC Evo 4G Pops Up On eBay, Craigslist

Posted: 22 May 2010 03:45 PM PDT

Google had another Oprah moment this past Thursday at the Google I/O conference, giving all 4,000 plus attendees the Evo 4G, the new HTC Android phone being sold via Sprint. The phone is set to be released to the public on June 4, but attendees have gotten a sneak peak of the impressive device. Of course, many of these lucky recipients have already been quick to start peddling the phone on Craigslist and eBay, for as much as $1200.

On eBay, ‘buy it now’ price points range from $600-$1200, with many at $650-$750 range. Prices are more reasonable on Craigslist’s San Francisco site, with many of the devices being offered at $500-ish (the range is between $450-$750). There were a few offers to purchase an Evo for $250, with one person willing to buy it for $500.

Of course, if you wait until June 4, the Evo costs $199 with a two-year contract with Sprint. Usage plans start at $69.99 a month plus a $10 charge for 4G service. The plus of buying now? You get a free month of service with the Google I/O phone. Also, many of the sellers may be international recipients who cannot use the phone outside of the U.S.

Google has a history of giving its phones away to attendees at events. Last year, all attendees were given special edition, I/O-themed HTC Magics. At TED this year, attendees were given Nexus Ones. Developers were also offered the choice between a Nexus One and a Droid during IO registration this year.



Over 300 Battle At Disrupt Hackathon

Posted: 22 May 2010 01:27 PM PDT

It’s on. The Disrupt Hackathon is fully underway, over 300 hackers are battling through the night to create the very best app, gizmo, robot (or whatever these crazy kids can come up with) within 24 hours. Thanks to the sponsorship of Facebook, Media Temple and Air BnB, the hackers will have access to a pile of Aero beds and all the essential food groups: pizza and caffeine (boxes upon boxes of Red Bull).

The Hackathon will have experts on hand to help participants with the APIs of Facebook, Yahoo!, SimpleGeo, Etsy, Mashery, MeetUp and Google. For those who want to get their hands dirty, there’s a scrapyard station in the back, complete with a Hungry, Hungry Hippo set, the circuit board for a crosswalk sign and a Winnie The Pooh in a wizard outfit. (A gallery of the scrapyard: here)

There was also this thing: a plastic cup, marker, and motor contraption that swirled around, drawing circles on a large white piece of paper. In almost any other context, this would be weird. At Hackathon, this endearing thingamabob was perfectly at home.

Early in the session, there was a constant stream of chatter and activity, as teams formed and discussed their projects. The majority of the groups held court in the main hallway while other hackers sought solitary confinement in one of the many conference rooms.
This is a true battle of wits, endurance and speed.

The hackers have until 10 am Sunday to complete their projects, 90-second demos will commence at 11 am and by 2pm, one winner will be left standing. Every team that makes it through the Hackathon will get a free pass to Disrupt, but only the winning team will bask in the glory of presenting their creation on stage this Wednesday (alongside Startup Battlefield companies).



Miso Tunes Into Some Seed Funding For Check-Ins Based Around Content

Posted: 22 May 2010 10:47 AM PDT

Checking-in has so far mainly been thought about in terms of location. But there’s a growing idea that it can be ported to other things as well — such as checking-in when you’re watching a movie or television show to let others know. That’s the idea behind Miso, a product we first covered back in March following their first major movie partnership. Today, Miso has announced its seed financing and the alpha version of its website.

Previously, Miso only existed as an iPhone app. (It’s actually the second iPhone app the team behind Miso, BazaarLabs has come up with. Back at our Realtime Crunchup in November, they launched Flixup a sort of Rotten Tomatoes movie review aggregator based around what people are saying on Twitter.) But now, with a website, they should be able to broaden their reach.

And the timing is good for that — there’s something launching at our TechCrunch Disrupt conference this week which should compete with it in some ways (stay tuned on that).

Earlier this month, Miso also announced a partnership with the online video channel Revision3. Thanks to that partnership, you can check-in while watching Revision3 shows and earn special Miso badges — yes, just like Foursquare, but again, all based around media consumption.

Miso’s seed funding comes from individual investors such as Keith RaboisJawed Karim, and ex-Googlers Georges HarikRichard ChenThomas KorteKurt Abrahamson. The amount of the funding hasn’t been disclosed. Meanwhile, Rabois is also joining on as an advisor.

You can find Miso’s iPhone app here.



No comments:

Post a Comment