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2:10 PM ET, August 15, 2011

Techmeme

 Top Items: 
Larry Page / The Official Google Blog:
Supercharging Android: Google to Acquire Motorola Mobility  —  Since its launch in November 2007, Android has not only dramatically increased consumer choice but also improved the entire mobile experience for users.  Today, more than 150 million Android devices have been activated worldwide …
Discussion: GigaOM, Computerworld, CNN, The New Persuaders, L.A. Times Tech Blog, Tech Broiler Blog, AllThingsD, SiliconFilter, eWeek, The Business Insider, VentureBeat, parislemon, The Tech Trade, Tech Trader Daily, BetaNews, Daring Fireball, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, Business Wire, SiliconANGLE, Ars Technica, Wall Street Journal, FOSS Patents, Between the Lines Blog, Deal Journal, Ed Burnette's Dev …, All about Microsoft Blog, Network World, BaltTech, Motorola Media Center, Epicenter, asymco, Internet2Go, Digital Trends, 9to5Google, Examiner, Google Operating System, SplatF, MacRumors, Fast Company, SiliconANGLE, Fortune, VatorNews, LiveSide.net, TechFlash, TNL.net, DisplayBlog, AppleNApps, Geek Beat Technology News, GeekWire, Engadget, IntoMobile, @edbott, WinRumors, ExtremeTech, Internet Evolution, Guardian, Mashable!, Digits, AnandTech, TechCrunch, Android Phone Fans, The Next Web, Reuters, Shoutpedia, Techmamas, @eghosao, @parislemon, Tech and China, Connected Planet Online, SplatF, The Seattle Times, Mobilized, CNET News, Electricpig.co.uk, TechEye, CNNMoney.com, TechCrunch, The Business Insider, Reuters, Adotas, Andrew R H Girdwood, @dannysullivan, AllThingsD, Techie Buzz, SplatF, Pulse2, Lost Remote, Digits, Geek News Central, webOSroundup, Zatz Not Funny!, DSLreports, This is my next, Search Engine Land, ReadWriteWeb, Fast Company, AppleInsider, AppleInsider, Fudzilla, ZDNet, InfoWorld, The Next Web, mocoNews, Reuters, BGR, AllThingsD, DealBook, App Advice, Inquirer, 9to5Google and FreakGeeks, more at Mediagazer »
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Henry Blodget / The Business Insider:
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE GOOGLE-MOTOROLA DEAL: It Could End Up Being A Disaster  —  A very interesting move by Google this morning, buying handset hardware maker Motorola for $12.5 billion.  —  Google deserves credit for a big, bold move.  —  But let's be real: This deal could end up being a disaster.
Larry Dignan / Between the Lines Blog:
Google's $12.5 billion Motorola Mobility bet: 6 reasons why it makes sense  —  Summary: Google's purchase of Motorola Mobility solves the search giant's patent problems, gives it a bigger say in hardware integration and fixes a few other issues.  Here's a look at the moving parts.
Chris Ziegler / This is my next:
Google buying Motorola: Nokia, Samsung, and other industry players react  —  Google said this morning that it dropped its “top five” Android partners a line yesterday to let them know that this Motorola acquisition was taking place — so naturally, many of them had prepared statements ready to go.
Dan Lyons / Real Dan Lyons Web Site:
Suck on it, AppleSoft — Google pulls a rope-a-dope  —  Everyone was baffled when Google made those crazy bids for the Nortel patents last month.  Remember?  They bid things like the distance from the earth to the sun, the number pi, and some other wacky numbers from mathematics.
Discussion: The Business Insider
Marguerite Reardon / CNET News:
Google just bought itself patent protection  —  In what looks like an attempt to help guard against a legal patent assault by its large tech rivals, Google is spending $12.5 billion to buy mobile handset maker Motorola Mobility.  —  In the wee hours of Monday morning, Google dropped a bombshell …
Bloomberg:   Google Deal Said to Have $2.5 Billion Reverse Breakup Fee
Jonathan S. Geller / BGR:
Exclusive: 4G LTE iPhone currently in carrier testing  —  Apple's iPhone 5 is set to be unveiled in the next month or so, though no one quite knows what the device will feature thanks to the ongoing flood of rumors.  Sure, we have a pretty good idea of what it will look like …
Brian Heater / Engadget:
TabCo reveals itself as Fusion Garage, unveils Grid 10 tablet and Grid 4 smartphone  —  After months of teasing, TabCo finally revealed itself to the world — as suspected, the brand is, in fact a reboot of Fusion Garage, the company that gave the world the much maligned JooJoo tablet.
Florian Mueller / FOSS Patents:
Most Android vendors lost their Linux distribution rights, could face shakedown or shutdown  —  Last week I read about an Android licensing issue that I wasn't previously aware of.  It's a pretty serious one, and it's not that hard to understand.  The short version is that
Discussion: Electronista
Peter Kafka / AllThingsD:
Facebook Pal Buddy Media Raises $54 Million  —  Facebook is worth anywhere from $50 billion to $100 billion.  Now Buddy Media, which helps advertisers manage their presence on the social network, is worth $500 million.  —  That's the valuation sources say the company earned in its most recent $54 million financing round.
Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:
Official Steve Jobs biography set for November 21 release, based on forty interviews  —  According to Barnes and Noble's website, the official Steve Jobs biography - titled Steve Jobs: A Biography - is becoming available on November 21, 2011.  This is a big leap from the previously announced March 6 …
Discussion: AllThingsD, MacNN and iPhone in Canada Blog, Thanks:deancorp
Josh Lowensohn / CNET News:
Adobe debuts Muse, a no-code-required site builder  —  Adobe's targeting graphic designers with a new product codenamed Muse that aims to help them build working Web sites just like they'd design a prototype in one of the company's other design apps.  —  VIDEO  —  Your e-mail's been hacked: Now what?
Dieter Bohn / This is my next:
BlackBerry Bold 9930 now available on Verizon website for $249.99 on contract  —  With little fanfare, the BlackBerry Bold 9930 has appeared on Verizon's website.  Pricing is $249.99 with a 2-year contract and $509.99 off-contract.  Some reports have the smartphone at $199.99 depending on customer-specific upgrade pricing.
Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:
iOS 5 Assistant based on Siri technology, may tap into contacts, calendars, e-mail  —  Siri's iPhone app promotional video: how iOS Assistant will likely function  —  While we were able to exclusively report on substantial evidence that Apple is planning a system-wide voice navigation system called …
Discussion: SlashGear
Neal Gabler / New York Times:
The Elusive Big Idea  —  Neal Gabler is a senior fellow at the Annenberg Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California and the author of “Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination.”  —  THE July/August issue of The Atlantic trumpets the “14 Biggest Ideas of the Year.”
Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:
McAfee launches anti-theft mobile app for the iPhone  —  McAfee, one of the leaders in PC antivirus software, is launching a consumer-focused anti-theft app for the iPhone today.  The new McAfee WaveSecure allows users to protect their privacy and data in case their iPhones are lost or stolen.
Discussion: Inquirer and LAPTOP Magazine
Robin Wauters / TechCrunch:
Time Warner Cable Buys Cable Company Insight Communications For $3 Billion  —  Rumors about the news swirled yesterday, but Time Warner Cable just confirmed it has acquired Midwest cable operator Insight Communications for $3 billion in cash.  Insight serves over 750,000 customers in Indiana …
Ed Bott / The Ed Bott Report Blog:
Microsoft declares victory over Linux, names Apple and Google main rivals  —  Summary: Normally, reading a company's annual report is better than Ambien for lulling oneself to sleep.  But this year Microsoft's lawyers allowed some actual competitive insight to sneak into the normally dull 10-K reports …
Chris Yeh / Adventures in Capitalism:
The Lesson of Dropbox: Usage = Value  —  Word on the street is that Dropbox is about to raise a major round of financing at a $5 billion+ valuation.  While some will cry “Bubble!”, I think there's a different lesson we can learn: Usage = Value.  —  Let's face it—Dropbox isn't the most complicated business or technology.
Matthew Lasar / Ars Technica:
Feature: Mad about metered billing?  They were in 1886, too  —  Hopping mad about metered billing?  Spluttering about tethering restrictions and early termination fees?  Raging over data caps?  You're not alone.  Perhaps you can take some comfort from this editorial in The New York Times:
SF Appeal:
BART Calls In Feds After Hack Exposes User Info, Another Cell Block Possible For Protest Monday  —  Previously: BART Braces For Anonymous-Organized Protest Monday  —  BART Defends Decision To Cut Off Cell Service After Civil Rights, FCC Concerns Raised  —  BART Officer Contradicts Spokesperson …
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 More Items: 
Noreen O'Leary / Adweek:
IPG Sells Half of Facebook Stake for $133 million Return on $5 million investment
Claire Cain Miller / New York Times:
Flash-Sale Site Turns to More Traditional Retail Models
Discussion: Betabeat
Ross Rubin / Engadget:
Switched On: TabCo's tease
Frédéric Filloux / Monday Note:
Gunning for the Copyright Reformers
Juliette Garside / Guardian:
Superfast broadband gets ready to go UK-wide
Jack Purcher / Patently Apple:
The Grand eBook Conspiracy: Class Action Efforts Launched against Apple
Robin Wauters / TechCrunch:
Facebook Bans Netlog For Violating Its Policies
 Earlier Items: 
Aliya Sternstein / Nextgov.com:
Administration issues far-reaching plan for building cyber workforce
Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:
OS X Lion $69 USB stick enters Apple's inventory system, release is imminent
Alexia Tsotsis / TechCrunch:
Habit Labs Gets $250K To Turn Leading A Healthier Life Into A Game
David Murphy / PC Magazine:
Firefox 6 ‘Released’ Two Days Early
Discussion: InfoWorld, BetaNews and Inquirer
Kashmir Hill / The Not-So Private Parts:
‘London Riots Facial Recognition’ Vigilantes Abandon Their Project
Thanks:forbestech
Ryan Lawler / GigaOM:
Does Cinemax's iPad app violate Apple's no-porn policy?
Jean-Louis Gassée / Monday Note:
Steve, Please Buy Us A Carrier!
Discussion: Techland
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Benjamin Mullin / New York Times:
Authentic Brands licenses Sports Illustrated's publishing rights to The Players' Tribune owner Minute Media for 10 years, with plans to keep the print edition

Charlotte Tobitt / Press Gazette:
Ofcom rules that five GB News programs presented by Conservative politicians have broken its due impartiality rules and puts the channel “on notice”

Sam Wolfson / The Guardian:
A look at the rise of celebrity-hosted interview podcasts, whose long running times mean guests delve into deep and personal topics, resembling therapy sessions

 
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