It’s officially over. After Dell pulled out of the running this morning, HP has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire data storage company 3PAR, for $33 per share in cash, or a value of $2.35 billion. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies
Windows: Popular video chat client Skype released an update to its version 5 beta today, bringing a new interface and the long-awaited ability to participate in video chats with more than two people. More
After a flood of leaks , Verizon’s just officially announced its prepaid data plan for smartphones. The new 3G Prepaid data package will offer smartphone users “unlimited” data for $30 a month, while feature phone users can score 25MB of data a month for $10 with a 20-cent-per-meg overage fee — all contract-free, of course. The prepaid smartphones include all of Verizon’s Android phones, the Pre and Pixi Plus, as well as most recent BlackBerrys, which is a pretty solid list of choices — and you can sign up for them today or online on September 28.
For the past two years, Fwix has been building a hyperlocal news site for cities and neighborhoods around the country in a very automated fashion. Its homepage for every city has been three columns filled with recent news and blog headlines, along with other local data like weather (see second screenshot below).
Whether it’s your daily commute or a random road trip, your iPhone can help you drive, park, and stave off passenger boredom. Here are our picks for the best iPhone apps for when you’re on the move. More
If Samsung’s Galaxy Tab reads like a how-to for making a decent Android tablet, Toshiba’s Folio 100 seems to serve an opposite purpose (starting with that unfortunate name ), which is disappointing for a company like Toshiba. The tablet just got official here at IFA, after being spotted on the show floor earlier today , but there’s nothing in the press release to change our initial impressions of the device.
It looks like the bidding war for 3PAR could be over. Dell has just issued a release indicating that it will not increase its most recent $2 billion proposal to acquire 3PAR, and the company’s has ended acquisition talks for the data storage company. Dell is entitled to receive a $72 million break-up fee from 3PAR upon the termination of its merger agreement.
Windows only: Ever get embarrassed by how little you know about the world outside your immediate area? Enigio, a free Windows quiz app, brings you up to speed with quizzes that fill in all the map gaps.
The Blu-ray Disc Association believes that the latest innovations in the technology will be a boon for the games industry, with the likes of Sharp’s new 100GB capable BDXL upping storage significantly. The PS3 is currently the only console to offer Blu-ray support, and it can only currently read a dual-layered 50GB disc. But the BDA believes that spinning media still has a future in gaming - despite the growing weight behind downloaded content
The iTunes-for-apps , Allmyapps , has just announced its first round of funding with French VC fund, Elaia Partners - the same firm that has backed French all-stars like Goom Radio , Goojet and Criteo . With 1 million in the bank, the Paris-based company founded in June 2009 plans to focus on product development and emerge as the leading Microsoft-dedicated app store. Just so happens that Allmyapps, founded by Thibauld Favre and Arnaud Coulondre , is also the company that won the startup pitch competition at TechCrunch Paris in March.