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As e-commerce continues to thrive, online retailers keep raising the bar higher for each other. Meanwhile, consumers these days don't just want lightning-fast online checkouts -- they expect flawless and customized shopping experiences too At last week's eTail Palm Desert, Cliff Conneighton, senior vice president of e-commerce platform providerArt ...

I got a lot of mail on the piece I wrote last week about retail data collection. The mail ran two to one in support, but it was still interesting to gauge the reactions of those who think the notion of collecting data like ZIP codes, drivers license numbers and the like is kosher Perhaps the best response to those who think all the numerology has ...

The software industry isn't what it used to be. Open source software, globalization and outsourcing have irrevocably changed the sector and the skills needed by those who choose to work in it. That's the reason given by the Western branch of a major Eastern university when it announced last week a new degree program that gives its students the necessary skills to succeed in the brave new world of software...

Giving digital images an artful twist isn't anything new in the computer world, but leave it to Alien Skin Software to take the technique to another level of elegance For those of you unfamiliar with Alien Skin, the company makes high-quality plug-ins for PC and Macintosh image editing programs....

New software is now making it possible to remove Advanced Access Content System (AACS) encryption from HD DVDs, enabling users to play discs on non-HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compliant graphics cards and displays SlySoft, a DVD-authoring software firm based in Antigua, has released the first version of its AnyDVD HD, a program...

AMD released two different kinds of desktop processors Tuesday, giving one product line a speed boost while dropping the wattage requirements for the other, more energy-efficient line On the high end, the company introduced the AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor 6000+, which should be available immediately from PC makers like Alienware, Fujitsu S...

The newly released American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI) provides fresh data illustrating consumers' growing love affair with e-commerce. The e-commerce industry registered a score of 80 on ACSI's 100-point scale -- less than a percentage point away from its all-time high score of 80.8 in 2003, according to the index, which was released by the University of Michigan and ForeSee Results...

Microsoft has released Service Pack 2 (SP2) for SQL Server 2005, making the software giant's flagship database system compatible with its newest operating system and Office 2007 The release is the second major update the company has issued for its enterprise grade database....

Sony plans to offer a video download service for its PlayStation 3 (PS3) gaming console, Phil Harrison, president of Sony's worldwide studios division, said in a recently published interview The media company's long-range vision for the PS3 includes the download, storage and playback of high-definition movies and TV programs....

Sirius and XM -- the two providers of satellite radio service in the United States -- on Monday announced a plan to combine operations in a US$4.6 billion merger, but by Tuesday the deal looked to face significant regulatory hurdles The two companies agreed to a "merger of equals," which would create a single satellite radio service with more than ...

Following a beta-test process involving half a million photographers, Adobe Systems on Monday released Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 Aimed primarily at professional photographers, Photoshop Lightroom is a software tool that allows users to import, manage and present large volumes of digital photographs. Using Adobe Camera Raw technology, it supports more...

Warner Music Group acknowledged Tuesday it is still interested in purchasing EMI Group, its slumping rival in the troubled music industry, but such a deal is unlikely to solve the long-term problems facing both companies New York-based Warner Music confirmed it approached EMI on Jan. 24 to discuss a purchase. EMI, based in London, announced the pos...

If you're responsible for performance-driven online marketing -- particularly for Web-based sales or lead generation -- then your mission is to optimize a funnel The online marketing funnel is an upside-down pyramid, sort of like a great, big waffle cone. At the top, you start with everyone who is exposed to your banner ads, paid search keywords an...

There is a secret battle raging within your enterprise and in your home: control of electronic data. It's being waged by the world's largest IT vendors and global entertainment giants. The outcome of this battle will have an impact on you, your company and your use of digital content and information Understanding the various technical implications,...

Online shopping has hit the US$211 billion mark, according to Forrester Research. It is no wonder, then, that a plethora of shopping comparison sites have sprung up, all purporting to help people find their way to -- and through -- the hundred of thousands of Web-based stores Many of these comparison sites appear to be linked to particular sellers,...

3GSM, the big cell phone show, just wrapped up in Barcelona, Spain, and there were a number of big announcements. We've already seen LG's Prada phone, which launched this month, take aim at the iPhone. At this show, we saw two others -- both of which are capable of doing more that the iPhone does for less money In addition, HP entered this segmen...

Industry participants and observers are looking for big things to happen in the smartphone space this year, as progress is being made in both technological and commercial realms The difficulties and challenges that lie ahead are considerable, however, certainly if the vision of converging "quad play" services that integrate fixed and mobile telecom...

Open source solutions provider Red Hat has joined the Interop Vendor Alliance in an effort to make its products more interoperable with Microsoft's extensive environment The move makes Red Hat the latest in a growing line of Linux distributors cozying up with Redmond by joining the alliance -- a group of tech companies working together to make thei...

It's the best of times and the worst of times whenever Microsoft releases a new operating system (OS). Both business and consumer users are filled with excitement to try out the latest and greatest technology from Redmond, Wash All too often, however, the thrill of purchasing a new OS is tempered by the awful realization that key software is not co...

Sharp has introduced a new Blu-ray disc player that is the first such device capable of recording high-definition content directly from television The new BD-HP1, a standalone device set to go on sale in Japan next month, allows the transfer of content from the company's Aquos digital tuner or Aquos HD Recorder to the Blu-ray Disc without losing th...