Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent

Microsoft, citing Google's tyrannical 95% share of the European search market, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission. It's not like Microsoft is breaking any ground here -- the European Commission has been investigating Google's alleged violation of European competition law since November 2010 -- but there's no doubt that the addition of Microsoft's gravitas will affect the proceedings.

Microsoft's complaint reads like a sincere and plaintive cry for help against the Google Overlord. Microsoft lists no less than six damning reasons why Google's behavior is anti-competitive -- from Windows Phone 7's incompatibility with YouTube, to its nefarious handling of Google Books -- and finishes with a wide-eyed plea to the European Commission to please find Google guilty.

For those of you that have been following Microsoft's own antitrust troubles over the last decade, don't worry: MS is quick to point out the irony in the situation. "There of course will be some who will point out the irony in today's filing. Having spent more than a decade wearing the shoe on the other foot with the European Commission, the filing of a formal antitrust complaint is not something we take lightly. This is the first time Microsoft Corporation has ever taken this step. More so than most, we recognize the importance of ensuring that competition laws remain balanced and that technology innovation moves forward."

It sounds like Microsoft, having well and truly gone through the wringer, wants Google to be held similarly accountable. That's fair enough, right?

Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia W7 and W8 tipped as first Windows Phone models

If you can accept what we're about to tell you as rumor, and nothing more, then we'd like to let you in on the latest scuttlebutt surrounding Nokia's first dip into the shallow Windows Phone waters. Eldar Murtazin, the eternal Nokia antagonist, claims to have the inside scoop on Nokia's current Windows Phone device plans while getting an early hands-on with a prototype. Besides demonstrating a natural extension of the Nokia naming strategy to accommodate the new Windows Phone devices, Eldar tells us that model W7 is built around an X7 hardware base while the new W8 handset is a variant of Nokia's N8 cameraphone (conceptualized in the above pic). According to Eldar, all of Nokia's WP prototypes are built upon Qualcomm chipsets per Microsoft's requirement (and Nokia's dismay). The W7 model is currently being used in-house for development purposes and will likely be the first to market, according to Eldar, with an 8 megapixel autofocus camera and flash. Murtazin claims that the W7 reminded him of the HTC Mozart without any noticeable customizations to the OS. If neither of these models appeal to you, hold tight -- Eldar says that Nokia has a dozen Windows Phone devices planed for 2012. Of course, it's early days so any, or all of this might change before Nokia ships its first device later this year or early twenty-twelve. Imagine it: Nokia hardware slathered in Mango -- mmm mmm good.

Nokia W7 and W8 tipped as first Windows Phone models originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 03:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft wants you to help set a Guinness world record for the biggest ever virtual sprint

Microsoft's Kinect has already claimed one Guinness world record, and the company's now asking for your help in setting another -- don't worry, though, you don't have to buy anything else. It's asking folks to take a bit of time during the free Xbox Live Gold preview weekend later this month to set a record for the "most people running a virtual 100m dash at one time." To take part, all you have to do is download a free Xbox Nations gamer pic that will automatically register you for the record attempt, and then load up the sprint mini-game in Kinect Sports and start running at the time specified below. Everyone that takes part will get the snazzy Guinness World Records avatar tee pictured above for their trouble -- actual Guinness certificates still have to be earned the hard way.

The Guinness World Record attempt will take place at:
o. 6pm UK Saturday 23/04
o. 7pm CET Saturday 23/04
o. 10am PDT Saturday 23/04
o. 1pm EDT Saturday 23/04

Microsoft wants you to help set a Guinness world record for the biggest ever virtual sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Best Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]

I think prices of products should be more creative. Instead of everyone using the silly mind trick of pricing things at $0.99 to make things seem cheaper, I think companies should artistically price products to specific numbers. Like soap that promises all day freshness should be $2.47 and canned food that lasts a year should be $3.65. Kanye West's 808 & Heartbreak album? $8.08. A pair of Air Force ones? $111.11. Maybe food can be priced with regards to how much calories they pack. Water? $0.00. Salad? $1.00. Big Mac? $5.76. Or maybe products can be personally priced! Like to the year you graduated college or something. Hey wait a minute! This 15" Macbook Pro quad core i7 costs $2008 (normally $2200) aka the year I graduated college. Oh those clever bastards think they can trick me to buying their products, don't they! —CC More »

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New York Hospital Irradiated Babies with Improper X-Rays [Blip]

The SUNY Downstate Medical Center has again been caught executing irresponsible X-ray scans of premature babies, who are extremely vulnerable to the radiation's dangerous effects. State inspectors say the scans were conducted without proper shielding, the second rash since 2007. More »

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