David Lidsky's Blog, page 4858

ASBOrometer Heralds the Future of Anti-Social Smartphone Apps

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An App developer has seen the future--and it's anti-social networking. Working with data.gov.uk, which allows government data in the U.K. to be made public, Jeff Gilfelt's has created an iPhone and Android app that tells you just how many people have been served with an ASBO--that's Anti-Social Behavior Order--in that neighborhood.

Last weekend the ASBOrometer became the most popular free download on the U.K. iTunes App Store, with 80,000 apps under its holdin'-up-ma-beergut belt.

The...

Spotify Users Buy 13% Less Music? Not So Says Spotify [UPDATED]

Spotify, the successful European company (and our #15 most innovative company of the year), which plans to enter the U.S. market this year, offers up free streaming of music--great for users, but it's not helping the industry, according to fresh research firm NPD Group. Consumers using free streaming music sites that let them choose any song at any time make 13% fewer purchases of digital music, NPD says.

Six million European users already take advantage of Spotify's collection of six...

On Superfreak-Fest ChatRoulette, Normal Is the New Weird

You've heard of ChatRoulette, right? That new video-chatting Web site that--according to the technorati, and our very own Cliff Kuang--is one of the freakiest things that's ever emerged from the annals of the Internet? The one with the the catpeople and the weird men wearing lingerie and oh my God, is that the cast of Jersey Shore?!

That's where I spent roughly an hour goofing off--excuse me, "doing research"--on a recent Saturday night, alongside several friends. And much to my surprise...

Spotify Users Buy 13% Less Music, Record Labels 100% Concerned

 

Spotify, the successful European company (and our #15 most innovative company of the year), which plans to enter the U.S. market this year, offers up free streaming of music--great for users, but it's not helping the industry. According to fresh research firm NPD Group, consumers using free streaming music sites that let them choose any song at any time make 13% fewer purchases of digital music.

Six million European users already take advantage of Spotify's collection of six million...

Sign of the Times: For Newspapers to Survive, They Must Put Users First

Recently, in an attempt to recoup the damage the Internet has wreaked on the publishing industry, The New York Times announced that it will move to a subscription model on its Web site. Whether this gambit will work any better than the last time they tried it is anybody's guess. But nobody's arguing that we're at a make-or-break moment in publishing.

If publications continue to rely on selling advertising to support their costs, then I have one question for them: How does that serve the...

Chevy's Volt Innovator Leaves for California Battery Startup

GM just can't seem to catch a break. After billions of dollars in losses and rumors that the prized electric Chevy Volt won't make it into production (now proven false), the auto giant's so-called "battery czar" has announced that she is leaving for an unidentified California battery startup.

Denise Gray, the director of global battery systems engineering at GM, is leaving on March 5 for a senior management position at the as yet unnamed battery company. Green Car Reports explains:

What...

Social Network Rockets Houlihan Restaurants' Profits

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HOULIFANS: From left, Curt Cuscino, Lara Espinoza, Charity Kerr, and Adrian O'Hara enjoy Houlihan's small-plates menu. | Photograph by Austin Walsh

Casual-dining stalwart Houlihan's reboots its chain with the help of its own social network.

When Houlihan's launched its "small plates" menu in September 2009, what was supposed to be a hip selling point -- tapas-style American classics at recession-friendly prices -- turned out relatively tasteless. Customers complained that the white-bean hummus...

How Does the Bloom Box Energy Server Work?

Now that the dust has started to settle on the unveiling of the Bloom Energy Server, we thought it might be useful to take a more detailed look at some of the technology behind the fuel cell-powered electricity generator.

The Bloom Energy Server is made out of fuel cells, or electrochemical cells. A single fuel cell consists of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte stuck between the two. As fuel flows in through the anode side and an oxidant comes in over the cathode, a reaction is...

Facebook Really Wants to Know Where You Are, Considers Buying Loopt

Rumors are swirling that Facebook's looking to purchase location-aware social net Loopt. It makes perfect sense, given the sudden arrival recently of Google's Buzz mobile, which is location-aware from the get-go. Facebook's playing catch-up.

According to TechCrunch Facebook is busy doing due diligence on the potential deal, indicating that the idea is in its very early stages. And at such a point in deals like this, before negotiations have really kicked off, it's usual for everything to be...

Earl Cox's Tesla Charging Station Makes Electric Roadtrip From L.A. to S.F. a Reality

Planning to take a road trip from L.A. to San Francisco in an electric Tesla Roadster? The car needs to be recharged about halfway through the 400 mile journey. That's a problem if you don't happen to have a friend willing to lend their Tesla Home Charger for a few hours. Fortunately, a kind-hearted Tesla supporter named Earl Cox has donated one of the $2,000 devices to Harris Ranch, a restaurant and inn located in Coalinga, California--just about halfway between the two cities. In addition...