Twitter is in talks to acquire Tweetdeck, the popular service for using and managing the micro-blogging program, according to the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ says the deal would be for about $50 million. Venture-backed Tweetdeck raised about $4 million from investors who include the Accelerator Group, Betaworks, Ron Conway and Howard Lindzon.The journal notes that the potential acquisition is only one of many moves Twitter is considering to make the range of its content more visible to new users.
Twitter did acquire the mobile app Tweetie in 2010 and has rebranded it as Twitter for the iPhone.
Twitter has 200 million registered accounts, but several studies have shown that a small percentage of users post the vast majority of tweets.
Apple sues Samsung over Galaxy tablet
Apple Inc. (Nasdaq:APPL) has filed a patent suit agains Samsung, alleging the Korean maker of the Galaxy smartphones and tablets infringe on its iPad and iPhone. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The suit says Samsung slavishly copies Apple design, interface and packaging. A Samsung spokesperson has said the Galaxy products are a result of its own research and development and it will defend against the suit.
Apple seeks an injunction to stop distribution of Samsung’s Galaxy products, damages, and a finding that Samsung “wilfully” infringed its patents. The later finding could lead to stiffer penalties.
We tested a Samsung Galaxy Smartphone, which runs the Google Android operating system. It performed well, although all the touch-based systems take a while to get used to. At least superficially, the Samsung devices do resemble the Apple products, but then, there are only a few form factors that will work for a smartphone or a tablet.
What do you think? Did Samsung slavishly copy Apple?
Yahool to keep search records 18 months
Yahoo (Nasdaq:YHOO) says it will increase the time it keeps records on what users search for online for 18 months.
The company will notify users this summer of the extension. Google also keeps search records for 18 months.
Yahoo told the Associated Press that it needs to keep the search records longer to establish patterns that allow the service to personalize shopping recommendations, news pages, and help users find exactly what they want.
Currently, it anonymizes personal data after 90 days.
The move, however, disturbs some privacy advocates, who see the huge databases these Internet firms hold as potential targets for identity theft, scams, and governement surveillance. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a “Do Not Track” tool, which some browsers are already incorporating, while some lawmakers have introduced legislation to create rules for companies collecting and storing online data on users.
FTC files suits against fake news sites
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has sued eight online marketers who it says posted fake testimonials for acai berry dietary supplements.
The FTC alleges the companies posted sites such as BreakingNewsAt6.com and news6reprts.com with testimonials the FTC says are phony.
“Reporters or commentators pictured on the sites are fictional and never conducted the tests or experienced the results described in the reports,” according to the FTC.
Defendants in the suits include Coulomb Media, Charles Dunlevy, Tanner Garrett Vaughn, Ambervine Marketing, Beony International, IMM Interactive, Ricardo Jose Labra, and Thou Lee. The FTC seeks orders prohibiting them from engaging in false advertising or deceptive practices and seeks financial penalties.
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