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Verizon CEO: Windows Phone will play a crucial role in the mobile industry
By Taylor Soper at 9:12 am on 05/08/2013 | 3 Comments
At least one high-level mobile exec is optimistic about the long-term success of the Windows Phone. Verizon CEO Dan Mead said today that the Windows Phone has received good traction with OEM's and thinks both Windows and Blackberry will play a crucial role in the mobile industry. Mead added that there needs to be more than just Apple and Google dominating the smartphone … Read More...

Amazon Cloud Player enables iOS update, allows music streaming in Ford vehicles
By Taylor Soper at 8:32 am on 05/08/2013 | Leave a Comment
Good news for Ford and iPhone owners wanting to blast their tunes with Amazon's Cloud Player: Amazon's streaming music service updated its iOS app today to allow iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad devices to play music in Ford Sync AppLink-enabled vehicles. Last February, Amazon is brought its Cloud Player music service to vehicles equipped with Ford Sync AppLink, … Read More...
2013 State of Technology Luncheon featuring Rich Barton
Join Washington’s innovation community on May 29th at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel for a keynote conversation with one of Seattle’s most prolific and successful entrepreneurs: Rich Barton, co-founder of Zillow and Glassdoor and founder of Expedia. Networking begins at 11 am; program is 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Presented by the Technology Alliance.

Microsoft hunts internally for CFO: Report suggests it’s Tami Reller vs. Amy Hood
By John Cook at 7:43 am on 05/08/2013 | 2 Comments
Microsoft is on the hunt for a new chief financial officer, and a report out from Bloomberg suggests that two internal candidates are in the running. Citing people with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reports that Tami Reller — the finance chief for the Windows division — and Amy Hood — the finance chief for the Office division — are the top candidates. If … Read More...

Trulia to buy Market Leader for $355 million, planting stake in Zillow’s backyard
By John Cook at 3:21 am on 05/08/2013 | 2 Comments
Trulia is making its biggest bet yet. And it is doing so in Zillow's backyard. Today, Trulia announced a plan to purchase Kirkland-based Market Leader for $355 million — an 18 percent premium over Market Leader's stock close on Tuesday. The deal also values Market Leader — originally founded in 1999 as HouseValues.com — at about $100 million more than its $257 … Read More...

T-Mobile sold 500,000 iPhones in Q1, but revenues fall 7%
By Taylor Soper at 12:54 am on 05/08/2013 | Leave a Comment
Bellevue-based T-Mobile USA posted first quarter earnings late Tuesday and it was largely a mixed bag. Though revenue declined 7 percent from the same time last year, the company saw the first growth in branded customers since the first part of 2009. T-Mobile's adjusted earnings, excluding interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), was $1.2 billion. That's … Read More...

Valve experimenting with gameplay that changes depending on perspiration
By Taylor Soper at 2:44 pm on 05/07/2013 | Leave a Comment
Imagine yourself playing a first-person shooter. As the gameplay gets intense, your heart starts racing. The game detects your pulse and the beads of sweat dripping down your face and in response, speeds up the action and gives you less time to complete a mission. But, if you're calm and not perspiring, everything remains normal. This could very well be reality if … Read More...

Zillow posts record revenue and $3.7M loss, tops 52 million visitors in April
By John Cook at 1:57 pm on 05/07/2013 | 1 Comment
Zillow today posted record first quarter revenues of $39 million, but losses accumulated as the fast-growing Seattle company digested acquisitions and spent heavily on a nationwide advertising campaign. "We are pressing our advantage," said Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff in an interview with GeekWire. Rascoff called the nation's housing recovery "gravy" to Zillow's … Read More...

B-52 2.0: Boeing’s bombers can now change missions, redirect weapons in flight
By Taylor Soper at 1:17 pm on 05/07/2013 | 2 Comments
In the past, B-52 bombers would simply receive mission information before a flight and then head up into the air. But now, thanks to an upgrade from Boeing, these high-powered bombers will be able to receive information in-flight from aircrews via satellite links and change mission plans or redirect weapons. Boeing Defense, Space & Security, a unit of Boeing, … Read More...

Tech Moves: Amazon vet joins Relaborate; MG Siegler leaves CrunchFund; Jawfish; and more
By John Cook at 11:49 am on 05/07/2013 | 1 Comment
Last week, we noted how difficult it is for startup companies to compete against Amazon.com and other tech giants in the region for software engineers. Well, here's a counterexample. Relaborate, a new technology startup, just tapped software developer Grant Gavares as chief technology officer. Gavares most recently spent three years at Apptio, and before that was one of … Read More...

Microsoft to cover Yahoo search revenue shortfalls in U.S. for another year
By Todd Bishop at 10:42 am on 05/07/2013 | 6 Comments
Microsoft and Yahoo will give their search partnership more time to meet their financial expectations. Microsoft has agreed to extend, for another year, its commitment to cover revenue shortfalls experienced by Yahoo in the U.S. since turning over its underlying search technology and related advertising to be operated by Microsoft. The extension, disclosed in Yahoo's … Read More...
Who wrote that song? Rhapsody becomes first music service to offer liner notes
By Taylor Soper at 10:40 am on 05/07/2013 | Leave a Comment
To many listeners, one benefit of purchasing physical music is the ability to learn who was responsible for the behind-the-scenes production, like the names of songwriters, background vocalists or song producers and engineers. Unfortunately for those music fans, often-used digital players today now only include basic information like song title, artist name and … Read More...

Hotel tech startup Buuteeq inks major deal with top franchisor Choice Hotels
By Taylor Soper at 10:02 am on 05/07/2013 | 3 Comments
Buuteeq, an online marketing platform and content management system which powers the Web sites of more than 4,000 independent hotels across the globe, just inked a deal with Choice Hotels in what could be the company's biggest deal yet. The fast-growing Seattle startup, which is a finalist for the GeekWire Awards Startup of the Year, has become the exclusive vendor for … Read More...

Windows Phone app nirvana: YouTube and Foursquare refreshed, as Hulu arrives
By Todd Bishop at 9:41 am on 05/07/2013 | 2 Comments
Microsoft is releasing a new version of its YouTube app for Windows Phone 8 today, with new capabilities that take advantage of Windows Phone's core features. It's part of a broader effort by Microsoft to strengthen its lineup of Windows Phone apps to better compete with the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry. Also new today: An updated Foursquare app, developed in … Read More...

Cray debuts air-cooled supercomputer for just $500K
By Taylor Soper at 9:16 am on 05/07/2013 | 1 Comment
Seattle-based Cray, which builds some of the world's fastest supercomputers normally priced in the millions, just debuted a new "budget" option for those not looking to break the bank. Available today from Cray is the air-cooled XC30-AC, which is essentially a cousin of the XC-30 that normally sells for $10 million to $30 million. The XC30-AC shares the same software … Read More...

In ‘bittersweet’ decision, Susan Sigl to step down as CEO of the WTIA
By John Cook at 9:13 am on 05/07/2013 | 1 Comment
In a blog post titled "Transitions," Washington Technology Industry Association CEO Susan Sigl has announced that she plans to step down as head of the organization. "There’s only one place to start with this message: I love Washington’s tech industry," wrote Sigl. "This is why it’s bittersweet to announce that after three years leading the WTIA, I am stepping … Read More...

Google Ventures, Maveron and others bankroll crowdfunding platform CircleUp
By John Cook at 7:58 am on 05/07/2013 | Leave a Comment
Maveron, the Seattle venture capital firm led by Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz and former investment banker Dan Levitan, has joined with Union Square Ventures, Google Ventures and Clayton Christensen’s Rose Park Advisors to bankroll crowdfunding startup CircleUp. The San Francisco company is bringing in $7.5 million in series A funding, described as the largest … Read More...

All Property Management makes a buy, inks deal for Rental Property Reporter
By John Cook at 2:00 am on 05/07/2013 | Leave a Comment
Zillow has been gobbling up companies with a ferocious appetite in the past few months. But today we're telling you about another acquisition in the online real estate arena, and this one has nothing to do with Zillow. Seattle's All Property Management today is announcing that it has acquired Rental Property Reporter, described as the oldest online resource for … Read More...

Windows 8 hits 100M licenses: ‘Very good, but not good enough,’ says Microsoft exec
By Todd Bishop at 9:01 pm on 05/06/2013 | 27 Comments
Microsoft says it has sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses since the launch of the new operating system last fall, as the company looks ahead to a new wave of devices and a major "Windows Blue" software update that aims to ease the transition to Windows 8. The Windows 8 sales milestone, announced by the company tonight, is not far off the record-setting pace … Read More...

Panna brings celeb chefs into home kitchens with digital tutorials, raises $1.35M
By Alisa Reznick at 6:14 pm on 05/06/2013 | Leave a Comment
From cooking shows to cooking competitions, it's no secret we like watching chefs at work — it's nearly as exciting as the dish itself. Maybe it's something about the live action of it all, a sort of performance art of ladles and cast iron. Maybe we just like to feel like there's visual evidence the dish can be done. According to Panna, a digital cooking magazine app … Read More...

Apple surges to No. 6 on Fortune 500 list, the only tech company in the top 10
By John Cook at 6:10 pm on 05/06/2013 | 1 Comment
Apple is already considered the biggest company on the planet in terms of market value — clocking in at $433 billion despite a 13 percent stock slide so far this year. But the maker of iPads and iPhones also is surging up the charts when it comes to the Fortune 500, which ranks corporations by annual revenues. Apple moved from 17th place last year to No. 6 on the … Read More...

Gates: ‘Frustrated’ iPad users create opening for Microsoft
By Todd Bishop at 5:17 pm on 05/06/2013 | 22 Comments
Are iPad users truly frustrated that the Apple tablet can't do everything a Windows PC can do? Bill Gates thinks thinks a lot of them are, and he's betting that Microsoft will be able to capitalize on the situation over time. "With Windows 8, Microsoft is trying to gain share in what has been dominated by the iPad-type device. But a lot those users are frustrated. They … Read More...

Nike Accelerator Spotlight: GoRecess helps you find, book fitness classes
By Taylor Soper at 2:00 pm on 05/06/2013 | Leave a Comment
Editor's note: Nike Accelerator Spotlight takes a look at the ten startups participating in the Nike+ Accelerator, a three-month startup program based in Portland, Ore. and put on by Nike and TechStars. GeekWire is featuring each company leading up to the June 10 demo day. For many of us, exercising alone is sometimes boring. Fitness classes, on the otherhand, can be … Read More...

RealNetworks returns to roots, plans move to smaller offices near Safeco Field
By John Cook at 1:32 pm on 05/06/2013 | 1 Comment
RealNetworks got its start in Pioneer Square in 1995, and now the Seattle company is heading back to the quirky neighborhood known for its old brick buildings. But Real isn't going into one of the historical structures this time. The company announced today that it has secured 85,000 square-feet of space at the new Home Plate Center building, located on 1st Avenue south … Read More...

Seattle tech vet Matt Hulett named CEO of ClickBank
By Todd Bishop at 1:23 pm on 05/06/2013 | 6 Comments
Matt Hulett, the Seattle startup veteran who was most recently president of RealNetworks' video-game division, has been named the CEO of ClickBank, a Boise-based digital content creation, distribution and marketing platform. Hulett, the former AdXpose (Mpire) CEO and Expedia Corporate Travel president, announced his departure from RealNetworks' GameHouse unit a month … Read More...

Why you should apply to TechStars (and my tips on how to get in)
By Aaron Bird at 12:10 pm on 05/06/2013 | 2 Comments
“Should I apply?” = Stupid Question I almost didn’t include the “Why you should apply to TechStars Seattle” part of this post, because in my mind it’s just a ridiculous question. Somehow it still comes up. We started at TechStars Seattle last fall with about three months of cash in the bank. Within three months we had been mentored by the best … Read More...

Report: Next Xbox won’t require always-on Internet connection, after all
By Todd Bishop at 10:44 am on 05/06/2013 | 3 Comments
Gamers have been up in arms over reports that Microsoft would require an Internet connection to use the next Xbox even in situations when it wouldn't normally make sense to have one. A Microsoft Studios creative director found himself in hot water, and ultimately left the company, after he implicitly defended the strategy on Twitter. But it looks like the policy is dead … Read More...

Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff: International expansion is not in the cards for now
By John Cook at 10:29 am on 05/06/2013 | Leave a Comment
Zillow is growing like gangbusters, employing nearly 700 employees and posting a 73 percent revenue growth rate during the fourth quarter. It's also attracting a whopping 50 million unique visitors per month, the vast majority of whom are located in the U.S. So, one might wonder if the Seattle online real estate powerhouse could take its brand overseas? After all, … Read More...

Gates, Buffett say online purchase taxes are fair and good for state budgets
By Taylor Soper at 10:07 am on 05/06/2013 | 2 Comments
Billionaire buddies Bill Gates and Warren Buffett wholeheartedly agree on one thing: Online retailers need to be taxed. Speaking on CNBC this morning, Gates and Buffett discussed a bevy of topics including the bill that's expected to pass the U.S. Senate today which could make it easier for states to collect sales tax from purchases made online, whether the online … Read More...
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