Google's Content Farming: Good for Consumers or Good for PR?

In another significant search announcement yesterday, Google said it was revising its algorithm to target makers of low-quality content.

Perhaps I'm being cynical, but the noisy search algorithm changes, while welcome to those using Google, also have a pretty clear goal to burnish the Silicon Valley company's image.

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Gaikai is live with streaming demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 and more

Following more than a year of media demos and beta testing, cloud gaming startup Gaikai is letting the public try out the fruits of its efforts: Demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, Spore and The Sims 3 are all playable from within your web browser. That is, if you have the bandwidth -- we don't, apparently. (Granted, we're on gratis Wi-Fi here at GDC.)

You might have better luck at home: You can visit Gaikai's site where you'll be prompted to launch Mass Effect 2. "Just wait and if your connection quality to our Server is fast enough," instructs CEO David Perry, "one of several pop-up designs will appear."

Additionally, taking a survey about the service will grant you access to the Dead Space 2 demo. Spore and The Sims 3 trials can be found here and here, respectively.

Gaikai is live with streaming demos of Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Week in gaming: Bulletstorm PC, Geohot cash, Tiny Wings

Even though the story was about how much of a pain in the butt it is to get Bulletstorm running on the PC without it feeling like a console title, I have to say it was fun to really dig into the .ini files and see what we could tweak. Made me feel like a kid again!

This week we checked out a great board game, a great iPhone game, and looked at some modular robots. Also, if you haven't watched the Battlefield 3 trailer yet, you need to do so. Here are the stories that everyone was talking about.

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HTC unveils their first Android 'world phone'

HTC has announced their first Android 'world phone,' the Merge.

The slider CDMA phone will go on sale in the U.S. during the "spring," and will likely be available on Sprint and Verizon.

Featuring a 3.8-inch multi-touch display, HTC did not say what the resolution of the Merge will be.

For the QWWERTY slide-out, it is unclear whether the phone will feature a four or five row keyboard.

As standard for other HTC smartphones, the Merge will run on Android 2.2 Froyo, include a 5MP camera with autofocus and flash, GPS, Wi-Fi, 720p video and Microsoft Exchange. There doesn't look to be a front-side camera.

Says HTC (via PCM):

HTC prides itself on creating unique solutions that meet the needs of different customers, and with features like a full keyboard and global 3G roaming, the HTC Merge smartphone is the perfect example of this commitment. Combining the functionality of Android with the HTC Sense experience, the HTC Merge is the perfect device for those customers who are looking for a reliable mobile experience with the features and functionality of a smartphone, whether it's at home or travelling around the world.

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Hunted: The Demon's Forge preview: Through thick and thin

Hunted: The Demon's Forge has a major problem. It's a Gears of War clone, but it also wants to be a deep, character-driven RPG. The issue is that it far too often relies on the gameplay mechanics of the former and doesn't offer the exploration elements of the latter.

During a recent San Francisco event, I was able to sample not only the introduction of the game, but a later mission in co-op mode. The game opens with a dream sequence, where the brawny and more burly of the two protagonists, Caddoc, is having a nightmare. Within, he catches a glimpse of a buxom, pale-skinned sorceress named Seraphine (voiced by Lucy Lawless) who'll play an integral role in his adventure.

Gallery: Hunted: The Demon's Forge (QuakeCon)

Continue reading Hunted: The Demon's Forge preview: Through thick and thin

Hunted: The Demon's Forge preview: Through thick and thin originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FEAR 3 behind-the-scenes shows where the spooky comes from

Why is FEAR 3 so damn scary? Well, the obvious answer is "because of all the blood and monsters and stuff," but the latest behind-the-scenes video shows that there's a little more to it than that. Well, a lot more to it than that, actually. Like, a whole universe of stuff to it than that.

Continue reading FEAR 3 behind-the-scenes shows where the spooky comes from

FEAR 3 behind-the-scenes shows where the spooky comes from originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blog Post: Controles, estad�sticas y dineros (para grupos de usuarios)

El Mi�rcoles 16 de Febrero, en colaboraci�n con Telerik y PreEmptive Soltuions, se lanz� una oferta para los grupos de usuarios y sus desarrolladores. La oferta ella se incluye lo siguiente:

- Los controles de Telerik para Windows Phone 7 que te ayudar�n a crear grandes aplicaciones

- Las estad�sticas de tus aplicaciones de PreEmptive que te ayudar�n a controlar y actualizar tu aplicaci�n.

- Una ayuda para potenciar tu grupo de usuarios proporcionando 100$ por cada aplicaci�n v�lida.

Si cre�is y public�is una aplicaci�n de Windows Phone 7 que haga uso de los controles de Telerik y la soluci�n de estad�sticas de PreEmptive para WP7 tu grupo de usuarios recibir� 100$. T�, como desarrollador obtendr�s algunos de los controles de Telerik y las estad�sticas de PreEmptive de forma gratuita hasta finales del a�o 2011.

La oferta est� limitada a los primeros 500 participantes. No esperes y env�a tus aplicaciones ya. Puedes encontrar m�s informaci�n sobre la promoci�n en http://www.telerik.com/products/windows-phone/getting-started/user-groups.aspx

Esperamos que os resulte de utilidad.

Saludos,

El equipo de MSDN Espa�a

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Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs Talks Firefox 4, Competition With Google's Chrome and More! (Video)

Yesterday, BoomTown paid a long overdue visit on the Mountain View, Calif., HQ of Mozilla, the unusual public-private company that makes the Firefox browser, to chat with its (relatively) new CEO Gary Kovacs (pictured here).

There is a lot to talk about with the new exec, especially the near-to-official launch of Firefox 4, the increasing competition with Google and its Chrome efforts and where Mozilla goes next (mobile).

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With David Eun Ousting, "The AOL Way" Makes Way for the Arianna Way

Despite all the polite throat-clearing in the various internal memos coming out of AOL today, with a rejiggering of its content management--including the ousting of Media and Studios President David Eun--what really happened was what sources said will be an about-face from a recent strategy of how to run its media business.

That is likely to begin with the hip-checking of "The AOL Way," which many sources tell BoomTown was Eun's brainchild, once the $315 million acquisition of the Huffington Post is completed.

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Battlefield Play4Free dev details Training Point customization

Colin Clarke, a game designer from EA's Easy who's currently working on the Battlefield Play4Free microtransaction-based shooter, has posted some information on the official blog about how the game's class customization system will work. Rather than just choosing to play as a Recon, Medic, Assault or Engineer character, each player will get to fill out two different ability trees: one powering up "Equipment Expertise" (which allows your equipment to be stronger and more versatile) and one working with "Combat Expertise" (which adds versatility regardless of equipment).

In other words, one Recon player can spec Equipment and take down targets from long range, while another can go Combat, and actually explore the battlefield, finding and flanking targets as needed. Both, says Clarke, should be valid ways to play, but the plan is that choosing Engineer won't necessarily lock you into one specific playstyle.

It's an interesting take on designing and creating a character built for an online shooter like this. Battlefield Play4Free is still in closed beta, though EA is taking registrations right now.

Battlefield Play4Free dev details Training Point customization originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What's Next for Protalix BioTherapeutics Shares Fall After FDA CRL?

Steven Breazzano submits:

Long investors in Protalix BioTherapeutics (AMEX: PLX) awoke Friday morning to a press release announcing a CRL (Complete Response Letter) from the FDA. While the stock immediately sold off to the mid 6?s before recovering to mid 7?s (a 19% discount to the previous closing price), investors are left asking, ?What went wrong?? Reading over the press release, the FDA appears to be concerned over two issues: CMC (chemistry, manufacturing and controls) and clinical. Directly from the press release:

In the clinical section, the FDA requested additional data from the Company's switchover trial and long-term extension trial. At the time the NDA was submitted, full data from these trials was not available. In the CMC section, the FDA requested information regarding testing specifications and assay validation.

Fortunately for investors, the FDA did not request long-term studies, and following a meeting with the FDA to ascertain exactly what needs to fixed,

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19 Companies Whose Growth Exceeds Their Stock Prices

Kurtis Hemmerling submits:

The hunt is on for the next undervalued stock pick that will pop once enough investors realize the market price is irrational. While this theory is grand to contemplate - that a stock will jump as soon as people come to their senses - the reality is that these picks often have valuation problems for a reason.

Still, if we can find companies increasing their net worth at a higher rate than share prices, there just might be a profitable pop if enough attention is driven their way or if earnings forecasts begin to rise.

How will we look for such undervalued picks?

1. PE ratios below their 5 year averages
2. Price to book ratio of 1 or less
3. Book value growth vastly exceeding share price growth (or share price drop vastly exceeding book value decline)

Keep in mind that these could be highly contrarian stock picks where share price is

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Video: 3DS Gameplay: StreetPass Puzzle

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iPad Envy? Tablet PC Alternatives Under $250

The iPad dominates the tablet market, but you don't have to spend $500 or more to get a tablet. Consider the pros and cons of saving a few bucks with a cheaper iPad alternative.

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Microsoft Web Privacy Clears W3C Hurdle

Microsoft gets support from the W3C--the governing body for HTML5--for its approach to implementing a do-not-track solution for Web surfing.

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MacBook Pro teardown reveals battery tweaks, Thunderbolt details

The crack team at iFixit has given the newest 15" MacBook Pro a "respectable" repairability score of 7 out of 10 after putting the machine through its obligatory post-launch teardown. The gadget repair team said that Apple made a number of good design choices with this round of updates, though it also questioned Apple's quality control after making a few discoveries.

According to iFixit, the latest MacBook Pro revision allows you to disconnect the battery without having to take it out of the notebook altogether—a helpful move for tinkerers, since all power is supposed to be disconnected before digging into the machine's innards. "The unibody design also allows for easy access to most of the other components, so it won't be terribly hard to replace things on the machine," said iFixit. "The only tricky repair is LCD replacement, which could easily result in shattering the front glass panel."

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