Productivity and business

"We just released an API!" are usually words that make my brain glaze over like a Krispy Kreme doughnut. But in the case of Tubemote, which now has its own API, there's some very neat stuff going on behind the scenes that turns the Web-based remote control service into a full-fledged remote control platform for other sites.

Tubemote's primary function is letting people utilize a cell phone or spare computer as a way to control YouTube video playback on another machine. The service acts as an intermediary, letting the person who's in control do a … Read more

There may be a category of business apps on the iPad, but most people I've spoken with struggle to see how a tablet is currently relevant as a standalone business device the way that a laptop or even a smartphone is. Fuze Box (operated by CallWave) is attempting to bridge the gap with Fuze Meeting HD, a free audio conferencing app for the iPad that joins the company's other mobile apps for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry.

As with most Web conferencing tools, Fuze Meeting HD has audio and visual components. You can both host and participate in meetings, … Read more

Apple has acquired Malmo, Sweden-based Polar Rose, a facial-recognition company with several products that could be integrated into Apple's current and future product lines.

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not comment on our purpose or plans," Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet told CNET when asked about Polar Rose, all but confirming the widely reported acquisition.

Polar Rose closed down a free face-tagging service it operated on September 6, citing interest by larger companies in licensing its technology. Thijs Stalenhoef, director of solutions for Polar Rose, wrote on the company's Web site … Read more

Updated at 2:00 p.m. with additional information from Google.

Google has added a new option in the labs section of Gmail that lets users pump up the quality in video chats.

The new setting, dubbed "video chat enhancements," ups not only the size of the video chat window, but its resolution too. The difference in size between the old and the new is considerable, both in the window of the person you're talking to, and the preview of your Webcam that appears in the bottom right-hand corner.

Here's a before and after:

Here also … Read more

Correction: The headline of this story has been changed to address an inaccuracy with how many LinkedIn users were updating their profiles.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Any perceptions of LinkedIn being a place where people fill out their profile information then come back to it only when job hunting have been squashed by the company's CEO.

Responding to an audience member's statement that 99 percent of users who come on the service never come back to update during an on-stage interview at the Demo Fall conference, LinkedIn's Jeff Weiner responded by saying "thankfully, less than 99 percent … Read more

Using Google's vast resources in ways that company did not intend is not a new thing, though rarely is it done right. A new service from the Philippines called Insync falls into that small category, while still managing to play by the rules.

Insync does one thing and does it well, which is to use your Google account as a storage locker. This in itself is not that big of a deal since Google has offered general file storage within Google Docs since January. What Insync does that's so special is turn that storage into a local folder … Read more

It's no surprise that everyone wants in on PayPal's successful payments strategy, and MasterCard is no exception. On Wednesday, the credit card giant launched a version of its MoneySend mobile app for BlackBerry.

Similar to the iPhone version, MasterCard MoneySend for BlackBerry can settle peer-to-peer balances by sending money to friends and family, and purchasing goods from an informal vendor. The app's tool lets you request cash (via text message) that others owe you and receive credit and debit card payments made to your account.

Since MoneySend operates as a form of prepaid credit card, you can … Read more

Cisco Systems may be making a play for Internet phone service Skype, according to a TechCrunch report.

The blog cited an unnamed source who claims that Cisco has made an offer to acquire Skype before the company completes its initial public offering. Skype filed for an IPO with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month.

TechCrunch admited that it wasn't able to confirm the rumor, which might indicate that its source is not directly related to the talks. It also mentioned that Google had been interested in buying Skype but is not planning to make an … Read more

Quicken Online has officially made its way into the history books, welcoming Mint.com to replace it, as of the weekend.

But unlike other migrations from one software product to another, many of which do a lot of the heavy lifting for the user, this switch from Quicken Online to Mint is no day at the beach. Because the platforms for the two products are so vastly different--including the way transactions are handled--the migration has been less than ideal, the company acknowledged.

Specifically, Quicken Online users weren't converted to Mint.com customers automatically. Users were required to establish new … Read more