lives

Steve Ballmer on Web 2.0

Steve Ballmer is being interviewed by Walt Mossberg on stage at D5. Dan Farber is blogging the talk over at ZDNet. Here are the Web 2.0 takeaways:

Ballmer is pushing the inter-relatedness of software and Web services. "We staked our ground... on that value proposition." Mossberg is asking Ballmer about Silverlight running on Linux and the Mac, given that theory. Ballmer says, "Some things will run better on Windows. People ought to be able to exploit the local richness if they want to."

Now Ballmer is showing the new "Surface" computer. OK, not … Read more

Zooming around online maps for real: SpaceNavigator

Here at O'Reilly's Where 2.0 conference, one of the few and the proud gadgets on the exhibition floor is 3Dconnexion's SpaceNavigator mouse. Calling it a mouse might be an insult though, it feels more like an airplane steering yolk.

Launched in November, the mouse integrates with big Web maps services like Google Maps and Microsoft's Live Maps. Users can navigate the maps with very little effort, pushing, pulling, and twisting the circular handle. I spent about five minutes with it on the show floor, and walked away from the booth dangerously close to purchasing one.… Read more

Microsoft offers browser-viewable 3D maps

On Tuesday, Microsoft began releasing photographic 3D renderings of landmarks in New York and a few other cities via its Live Search Maps site.

In November, the company released Virtual Earth 3D in beta, along with the API and a software developer kit for people who wanted to create 3D renderings for Live Search Maps. At the time, people could also view 3D terrain and some three-dimensional buildings in a few cities. The release of New York in virtual 3D marks the first major effort by Microsoft to create an almost complete rendering of a recognizable city.

Microsoft's attempt … Read more

CNET Live: Put another shrimp on the barbie

Most weeks, callers get to grill Tom and Brian on their most difficult tech quandaries. This week, the tables get turned!

Okay, so the boys won't be barbequing or grilling loyal callers with their issues (the legal department was not too happy with that pitch). However--they will be taking a look at the latest and greatest in outdoor-entertaining gadgetry. What's the difference between infrared cooking and traditional flame cooking? Cooley is determined to find out.

Also this week, Tom gets out his box of Star Wars toys to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars films. Tom'… Read more

BitTorrent to fire up CNET Live

In the Internet world, peer-to-peer sharing has always sparked discussion. This week on CNET Live, Ashwin Navin, president and co-founder of file-sharing site BitTorrent, will sound off on the hot topic. Navin contributed his perspective earlier this month about Ohio University's decision to ban peer-to-peer applications on campus. What does this mean for the rest of us? Tom Merritt is going to find out.

In addition to that fiery topic, the boys are going to figure out what is behind all those blazing batteries in laptops. Brian will reveal what tops his Crave list, and Tom is going to … Read more

The boombox is back, just like Rocky

It's official: The boombox is back. Or maybe it never really left and we just weren't paying attention. Whatever the case, whether it's a budget version or one with a 7-inch LCD, the addition of video seems to have breathed some new life into one of our favorite retro wonders.

But what if you're a purist who just wants to carry a box on your shoulder, destroying your eardrums and those of everyone around you? Take heart, for iLive knows you well. Its cleverly named "iPod Docking System/Boombox" will blare "Eye of … Read more

Microsoft Tahiti gets new name, goes open beta

Microsoft's Tahiti project (not to be confused with the forthcoming Fiji update for Vista), has been given a new name this morning. Now known as SharedView, the 3MB download is available to anyone who wants it, assuming they've got a Windows Live ID, a Windows PC, and collaborators willing to install it.

It's a little early for a hands-on with SharedView, but it feels polished for a work in progress. Here are my impressions so far:

Sending invites to join SharedView is fairly simple, although Microsoft assumes you're using their services, including Windows Live Hotmail and … Read more

CNET Live - Episode 5

Here are the links to go along with the crazy episode five of CNET Live. Right before today's episode started the following things broke:

All the graphics The screen capture machine (no shots of Brian or my laptop) The audio My brain (see call about graphics cards)

We got everything back together in time to do the show. Except my brain. In any case, here are the show notes for Ep. 5.

Things we Crave

Cooling glove

$150,000 turntable

First call - How do I take calls on a podcast?

Talkshow

Skype HotRecorder

-And what microphone should I … Read more

Molly Wood is back in the house!

On this weeks Mother's Day special edition of CNET Live, Brian and Tom talk to one of their favorite new moms--Molly Wood.

Molly will be in house this week to talk about her favorite tech that makes being a new mom just a little bit easier. From her high tech baby monitor, to a digital keychain, Little Eli is practically a Cylon baby!

Today, CNET Live will also take a closer look at Intel's new Santa Rosa technology, and try to locate where the Santa Rosa river is (aren't all Intel products named after rivers?) Plus, Brian … Read more