MSI Net, Inc. & mCloudServ

January 22, 2019

Google spent $21.2M on US govt lobbying in 2018, up from $18.04M in 2017; Facebook spent $12.62M, up from $11.51M; and Microsoft spent $9.52M, up from $8.5M (Paresh Dave/Reuters)

Paresh Dave / Reuters: Google spent $21.2M on US govt lobbying in 2018, up from $18.04M in 2017; Facebook spent $12.62M, up from $11.51M; and Microsoft spent $9.52M, up from $8.5M — SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google disclosed on Tuesday that it spent a company-record $21.2 million on lobbying … Google spent

Viacom to buy video streaming service Pluto TV for $340M – CNET

Move comes as several rivals are reportedly exploring expansion into streaming. Viacom to buy video streaming service Pluto TV for 0M – CNET Source: CNet

Google Hangouts to begin heading into the sunset in October – CNET

Chat and Meet will take its place. Google Hangouts to begin heading into the sunset in October – CNET Source: CNet

Oracle accused of underpaying women, minorities by $400 million – CNET

Labor Department says the company “channeled” women and people of color into lower-paying careers at the software maker. Oracle accused of underpaying women, minorities by 0 million – CNET Source: CNet

How anonymous tweets helped ignite a national controversy over MAGA-hat teens

Twitter suspended one of the main accounts behind the viral video, raising more questions about the integrity of social media platforms. How anonymous tweets helped ignite a national controversy over MAGA-hat teens Source: Washington Post Tech

January 22, 2019

NPD Group: US video game revenue in 2018 reached a record $43.4B, up 18% YoY, with software earning $35.8B, up 18% YoY, and hardware earning $7.5B, up 15% YoY (Rebekah Valentine/GamesIndustry.biz)

Rebekah Valentine / GamesIndustry.biz: NPD Group: US video game revenue in 2018 reached a record $43.4B, up 18% YoY, with software earning $35.8B, up 18% YoY, and hardware earning $7.5B, up 15% YoY — Red Dead Redemption 2 crowned best-selling game of 2018; Super Smash Bros. Ultimate takes December NPD Group: US video game revenue

January 22, 2019

You’d be surprised how many VPNs are owned by the same company

The VPN industry has exploded over the past few years. Fuelled by a greater awareness of online security, a desire to watch geo-restricted content, and yes, piracy, more people are hiding their online identities than ever. But did you know that many VPN providers are owned by the same few companies? A report from The

Build A Seismometer Out Of Plumbing Parts

For those outside the rocking and rolling of California’s tectonic plate, earthquakes probably don’t come up on a daily basis as a topic of conversation. Regardless, the instrument to measure them is called a seismometer, and it’s entirely possible to build one yourself. [Bob LeDoux] has shared his article on how to build a Fluid

Backdoor.Exemyr

Risk Level: Very Low. Type: Trojan. Backdoor.Exemyr Source: Symantec lastest threats

January 22, 2019

Why the next innovative leap in shaving tech looks like a step backward

Advances in technology aren’t always what they seem. Take, for example, Gillette’s latest “breakthrough” in shaving tech — a heating mechanism that complements the razors that are already packed with blades. It’s as if Gillette, upon realizing that it would be physically impossible (or even more worthy of parody than their previous efforts) to cram

Netflix lets you use Instagram Stories to share what you're watching – CNET

Feed the addiction. Netflix lets you use Instagram Stories to share what you're watching – CNET Source: CNet

Qualcomm didn't have enough power to hurt chip competition, expert testifies – CNET

Tasneem Chipty says during an antitrust trial there’s no evidence Qualcomm had enough market power to force handset makers like Apple to sign excessive licensing fees. Qualcomm didn't have enough power to hurt chip competition, expert testifies – CNET Source: CNet

January 22, 2019

Viacom to acquire Pluto TV, a free, ad-supported streaming service, for $340M in cash; Pluto TV to operate as an independent subsidiary when the deal closes (Sara Fischer/Axios)

Sara Fischer / Axios: Viacom to acquire Pluto TV, a free, ad-supported streaming service, for $340M in cash; Pluto TV to operate as an independent subsidiary when the deal closes — Viacom announced Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Pluto TV — one of the fastest-growing free, ad-supported TV streaming services in the U.S.

January 22, 2019

GOP pushes porn as the answer to border wall funding

An Arizona Congresswoman introduced a bill to the House yesterday that, if passed, would fund President Trump‘s border wall — at least in Arizona. Introduced by Republican Rep. Gail Griffin, HB 2444 would levy a one-time $20 fee per-device on Arizonans wishing to access pornography online. In peddling porn, it would seem the “family values”

Samsung 15.6-inch OLED laptop screens enter production in mid-February – CNET

Those 15-inch 4K OLED laptops teased at CES come one step closer to reality. Samsung 15.6-inch OLED laptop screens enter production in mid-February – CNET Source: CNet

This year's Oscar nominations are surprisingly good – CNET

Commentary: After years of struggling to balance and subvert the idea of “Oscar-worthy” movies, the Academy did OK this year. This year's Oscar nominations are surprisingly good – CNET Source: CNet

Huawei CFO may face formal extradition to US, says report – CNET

Canada’s ambassador to the US tells the Globe and Mail about the upcoming request. Huawei CFO may face formal extradition to US, says report – CNET Source: CNet

January 22, 2019

IBM beats with Q4 revenue of $21.76B, down 3% YoY, vs. $21.71B analyst estimate, and full-year cloud revenue of $19.2B, up 12% YoY; stock up 6%+ after hours (Pushkala Aripaka/Reuters)

Pushkala Aripaka / Reuters: IBM beats with Q4 revenue of $21.76B, down 3% YoY, vs. $21.71B analyst estimate, and full-year cloud revenue of $19.2B, up 12% YoY; stock up 6%+ after hours — (Reuters) – IBM Corp reported a smaller-than-expected 3.5 percent drop in fourth-quarter revenue on Tuesday, as higher sales … IBM beats with

January 22, 2019

The Motion Picture Association of America has added Netflix as a member, the first internet-based service to be added (Anthony D'Alessandro/Deadline)

Anthony D’Alessandro / Deadline: The Motion Picture Association of America has added Netflix as a member, the first internet-based service to be added — UPDATED with Netflix officially joining: It’s official, Netflix is a member of the MPAA. The Washington, DC-based organization just dropped the following release: The Motion Picture Association of America has added

Viacom Buys PlutoTV Streaming Service, Its Biggest Digital Push Yet

The once mighty cable giant is paying $340 million for the free, advertising-based service, which has about 12 million active viewers a month. Viacom Buys PlutoTV Streaming Service, Its Biggest Digital Push Yet Source: NY Times Tech

January 22, 2019

Twitter begins limited rollout of a new web interface with a two-column layout, keyboard shortcuts, a dedicated emoji button, and a revised trends section (Jon Fingas/Engadget)

Jon Fingas / Engadget: Twitter begins limited rollout of a new web interface with a two-column layout, keyboard shortcuts, a dedicated emoji button, and a revised trends section — Don’t be surprised if Twitter looks very different on the web in the near future. The social network has started rolling … Twitter begins limited rollout

January 22, 2019

US DoL files complaint against Oracle for discrimination against women and people of color, seeks $400M+ for workers who have suffered pay inequities (Sam Levin/The Guardian)

Sam Levin / The Guardian: US DoL files complaint against Oracle for discrimination against women and people of color, seeks $400M+ for workers who have suffered pay inequities — US labor department accuses company of rampant exclusion of black and Hispanic people in hiring and higher pay for white men US DoL files complaint against

January 22, 2019

SCOTUS declines to hear case over whether Yelp is responsible for removing defamatory reviews from its site after CA Supreme Court ruled in Yelp's favor in 2018 (Adi Robertson/The Verge)

Adi Robertson / The Verge: SCOTUS declines to hear case over whether Yelp is responsible for removing defamatory reviews from its site after CA Supreme Court ruled in Yelp’s favor in 2018 — The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a case regarding whether Yelp is culpable for removing defamatory reviews from its site

A Drum Set In Your Pocket

Cargo pants can fit drumsticks in the pockets if you don’t mind them sticking out. They can also hold this drum set and still have enough room for a pair of headphones, some pens, and a small notebook. At least, guy’s cargo pants can fit all that. Now your pocket is decked out with enough

'Prehistoric' stone circle dupes archaeologists by a few thousand years – CNET

Stonehenge it’s not. 'Prehistoric' stone circle dupes archaeologists by a few thousand years – CNET Source: CNet

Blog