Archives for News

Google recently put out a request for information to communities all across the country. It plans to use the information it receives to determine where to build its new fiber network.  Ann Arbor city officials are anxious to have its citizens be some of the first in the country to benefit from this super fast network by partnering with University of Michigan.  Attend the City Council Google Fiber for Communities public hearing on Monday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

If you are interested in showing your support for Ann Arbor’s efforts, go to

• www.a2fiber.com May

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Look out, your next Twitter post could be letting the whole world know exactly where you are.  The good news is that you can opt out of this new feature.  Full Story …

eBay continues to expand its mobile commerce presence with the latest addition to its application suite – the eBay application for Android.    Bringing a streamlined eBay experience to Android phones everywhere, the eBay application lets on-the-go shoppers search, buy, pay, and check status of their eBay activity no matter where they are. The app is enabled with convenient voice search, feedback capabilities, and listing status updates. …

An enterprising Detroiter is selling square inches of Southwest Detroit to people all over the globe.  Jerry Paffendorf owns some property near Vernor Highway and has nearly 600 “inchvestors” from around the globe who want to put up mailboxes, create miniature cities and otherwise artful projects on the land.  Jerry intends on installing a solar powered camera to stream the growing “inchopolis” to the world on the Web. Full Story in Free Press. …

WJR is now available “live” on your iPhone or certain models of Blackberry, thru the WJR APP.  To learn more you can go to WJR.com T he APP is free…and works better than ever.  The audio is from the WJR.com streaming feed.  Or if you have an APP search engine on your device, you can find the app as  WJRAM, and download from there.  Now, WJR is as close as your iPhone or Blackberry. …

Not everyone jumped for joy when Steve Jobs announced that the revolutionary iPad device would be serviced soley through AT&T.  The telecom giant has suffered severe customer backlash over dead spots, poor customer service and network congestion.  How does adding a whole new category of bandwidth sucking devices help?  And what about those brutally pointed Verizon comparisons of 3G networks?  Read Roben Farzad’s analysis of AT&T’s growing dilemma in Business Week. …

It was the most expected surprise in recent memory, but Wednesday morning in San Francisco, Apple launched what some feel will be the next “game changing” device, the iPad starting at $500 for the 16 Gig base model (there are a total of 6 models some of which will run 3G and all will connect through WiFi) and it will be available in 90 days.  Watch the complete launch on CNET.

The big question of the day is: In a bad economy, is there really a place for a luxury device like the iPad that combines functions of already existing devices?  Remember that all that is Apple does not necessarily turn to gold…anyone remember the Apple Newton, Apple TV or Apple MacBook Air? …

We are very proud to announce that Erik Anderson (aka Big Red, Mac Boy etc.) our very own producer, helped Oakland University take home an unprecedented FOUR Michigan Association of Broadcaster Awards for 2009.  Erik’s crew at WXOU helped garner: 1st place in News, 2nd place in Sports Play-by-play, 2nd place in Station Activities for the year and honorable mention in the Air Check category.  Congratulations Erik and all the members of Oakland University’s WXOU. …

Starting, Jan 20^th 2010, Comcast high-speed Internet customers can download Norton Security for free at www.comcast.net/security on a PC or Mac. Commercial customers can also download Norton Security Suite Business Edition at businessclass.comcast.net. The residential package is valued at $160 while the business offering usually sells for $490. Comcast has removed McAfee as parts of its Comcast Constant Guard initiative. Ed Rudel …

CNN reports that text messages from deep inside the rubble of a bank brought searchers back to the building to look for the lost amid the rubble.  Elsewhere “lower tech” ham radios are serving as  vital link to the outside world when more cutting edge Internet connections are down.  Ed Rudel …