Yahoo-owned photo-sharing service Flickr is getting more flexible with regards to how users can sign in. The site has started to support OpenID, and Google is its first partner in this endeavor.
YouTube Crosses 1 Billion Subscriptions, Launches Tool for a Quicker 2nd Billion
YouTube announced that its crossed a billion subscriptions. That’s subscriptions to YouTube channels.
"Early on (we’re talking ’06 here, people!), the yellow subscribe button made its debut so the latest videos from your favorite channels could make a beeline to your inbox/eager eyes," YouTube Product Marketing Manager Georges Haddad, said in a blog post yesterday. "Today, the button that’s been immortalized as a throw cushion hits an important landmark: it’s been clicked over one billion times."
Verizon To Pay $25 Million For ‘Mystery Fees’
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reached a record settlement of $25 million with Verizon Wireless over what it calls “mystery fees” the carrier charged its customers over the last several years.
The payment is the largest in FCC history and the settlement ends the agency’s ten month investigation into the overcharges. In addition to Verizon Wireless’s payment, the company will refund a minimum of $52.8 million to some 15 million customers.
YouTube CEO Hurley To Step Down
A change in leadership will soon take place at the site Google bought for $1.65 billion. While speaking at a conference in Ireland, YouTube cofounder and CEO Chad Hurley announced that he’ll step down and assume an advisory role.
Hurley was the last of YouTube’s cofounders to have close ties to the organization, and it’s not every day that a CEO operating at this level gives up his position, which makes the change significant. In all honesty, though, this development may not be as exciting as it sounds.
Microsoft Chalks Up Win With Earnings Report
The three-month period ending September 30th – which Microsoft almost inexplicably refers to as the first quarter of its 2011 fiscal year – was good to the company. Microsoft shared its earnings report this afternoon, and it beat analysts’ estimates by a large margin.
The consensus estimate regarding revenue, for example, was $15.8 billion. Microsoft reported $16.2 billion, instead. Then, in terms of earnings per share, Microsoft was able to report $0.62 instead of $0.55.
Google Maps For Android Gets New Features
Google announced the launch of a new version of Google Maps for Android that has a new design for Place page reviews, more options to filter search results, and an option for Google Latitude real-time updating.
Place Pages On Android will look pretty much like they do on the desktop. Users can see reviews from around the web and from Google users (for those posted directly to Google Maps).
Users can filter by distance and ratings, as well as by "open now", "neighborhood", or "related searches".
Amazon Readies Kindle App For Windows Phone 7
Amazon.com said today it will launch a Kindle app for Windows Phone 7 sometime later this year.
The Kindle app for Windows Phone 7 includes new features, such as personalized book recommendations on the app home screen and the ability to send book suggestions to a friend from any book in your library without leaving the app.