While other players are closing and selling their stores, Microsoft opened its first online store in the U.S., selling all of its products at a one-stop-shop. Customers will be able to buy and download products via Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) and can also get direct shipments. With the launch, U.S. customers can buy first-party software and hardware directly from the company via an online catalog. Products include software, devices and hardware, such as Office 2007, Vista, Visual 2008, Windows Server 2008, Xbox 360 consoles and accessories and the new Zune. (more…)

The United States is stepping in to help Georgia restore key radio and television stations bombed and looted during recent hostilities with Russia.  The assistance will help the stations resume broadcasting reliable and unbiased news to residents, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. Together the stations had been reaching 30 percent of Georgia before the conflict began.  In Abkhazia, one of Georgia’s disputed regions, most information has been strictly controlled by the region’s authorities. (more…)

There are two basic types of elections primary and general. In addition to the primaries and general elections held in even-numbered years, which include political races for the U.S. Congress, some states and local jurisdictions also holdoff-year? elections (both primary and general) in odd-numbered years for their elected officials. A primary election is a nominating election in which the field of candidates who will run in the general election is chosen. Victory in a primary usually results in a candidate being nominated or endorsed by a political party for the general election. A general election is an election held to choose among candidates nominated in a primary (or by convention, caucus or petition) for federal, state and/or local office. The purpose of a general election is to make a final choice among the various candidates who have been nominated by parties or who are running as independents (not affiliated with a major political party) or, in some cases, write-in candidates. Measures such as proposed legislation (referendums), bond issues (approving the borrowing of money for public projects) and other mandates on government also can be placed on the ballot. (more…)

Harmonix and MTV Games have turned up the heat on this summer’s concert season by putting Rock Band on the road. The best-selling video game is going mobile and bringing music to the masses — hitting State Fairs across the country and some of this year’s biggest tours and festivals, including Bonnaroo, the Vans Warped Tour and Crue Fest, to name a few. So grab your family and friends and live out your own rock ‘n roll fantasies at the following locations: (more…)

Nokia is going to launch many new phones in U.S., with help with carriers in coming months to grab a bigger share of the lucrative cell phone market, the company said. (more…)

O2 Wireless, a MVNO in US, is bringing the new Alcatel OT-E206a phone in America. The sleek, new OT-E206a is the first Alcatel mobile phone to be approved by a major GSM carrier in the US. Functional and stylish, the compact OT-E206a is packed with power and is an economical value for the trendsetter looking for a sleek phone at an affordable price.
TCL Communication Technology Holdings, the exclusive manufacturer of Alcatel mobile phones, felt that O2 Wireless’ national reach, low long (more…)

U.S. Internet users viewed more than 10 billion online videos during the month, representing a 3-percent gain versus January (despite February being two days shorter) and a 66-percent gain versus February 2007, according to comScore Video Metrix. In February, Google Sites once again ranked as the top U.S. video
property with nearly 3.6 billion videos viewed (35.4 percent share of all videos), gaining 1.1 share points versus the previous month. YouTube.com accounted for 96 percent of all videos viewed at Google Sites. Fox
Interactive Media ranked second with 586 million videos (5.8 percent), followed by Yahoo! Sites with 293 million (2.9 percent) and Microsoft Sites with 293 million (2.9 percent). (more…)

Based on data from market research firm the NPD Group’s MusicWatch survey that captures consumer reported past week unit purchases and counts one CD representing 12 tracks, excluding wireless transactions. The iTunes Store became the largest music retailer in the US based on the amount of music sold during January and February 2008. (more…)

Overall, 62% of adult Americans have either accessed the internet with a wireless connection away from home or work or used a non-voice data application using their cell phone or PDA, according to the Pew Internet Project’s December 2007 survey. “People’s growing reliance on their cell phones, together with wireless internet access from laptops, suggests a shift in expectations about cyberspace,” said John B. Horrigan, Associate Director of the Pew Internet Project and author of the report. “For many people, access to digital information and resources is an ‘always present’ utility for answering questions and documenting what is going on around them through photos or video recording.” (more…)

The YES! Road- ster 3.2 will be on display during the 100th Chicago Autoshow from February 6th to February 17th 2008. We are looking forward to welcoming on the exhibition stand SH34 in the South Hall. The overwhelmingly positive response from media, customers, experts and business partners reflects the great interest of the public in the puristic lightweight and proves once again the successful implementation of this concept, true to the motto: PURE DRIVING PLEASURE.
Due to the equally positive feedback from America, Funke & Will AG has extended distribution of the YES! Roadster 3.2 to North America and Canada this year. For this purpose the company has founded YES! North America Inc. (more…)