The Minitel French, sentenced to death

Minitel, the French pioneer telematics service anticipated the popular use of the Internet's days are numbered. France Telecom, which launched in 1982, has decided to close down the service on June 30, 2012. This is the third such announcement since the company initially planned in 2010 and subsequently disconnect a decision postponed to 2011.

Now, the time seems short, Minitel's heyday dates back to 1990 when he was nine million users and 25,000 services. On Facebook there is a small group of a hundred members claiming its salvation. In 2010, 950,000 French Minitel consulting services and 810,000 still possessed the device. The simplicity of its management and the absence of viruses have been two factors that have always distinguished those who persist in using it.

Apple interested in the Hulu video service?

The computer group Apple could make a bid to video service Hulu, reports Bloomberg, Friday, July 22. The information site, citing two unnamed sources, said however that the discussions have only just begun. With this acquisition, Apple, which has more than $ 76 billion in cash and securities, may consolidate its position in the field of online video service and compete with Netflix.

Google deletes its toolbar for Firefox

Google is cleaning. Last Wednesday Labs announced the closing of its product testing area. The next day, in a post on the blog dedicated to the service itself explain the reason that close. Google does not update the toolbar for Firefox. In the farewell message are committed to continue providing support for version 4 of Firefox, but not 5.

Google believes that the network has sufficient bonusstars evolved not to need this type of navigation accessories. However, at no time mention is made one change since 2009 has shaken the world of browsers: the arrival of Chrome, made by Google.

Nokia: further losses in the second quarter

The world of mobile phones, Finnish Nokia, published Thursday, July 21, further losses in the second quarter. Nokia, struggling for over three years, suffered a net loss more severe than expected, from 368 million euros, against a profit of 227 million euros a year earlier, according to his financial report.

Analysts on average expected a loss of 104 million euros, according to Dow Jones, the second negative result after the historic loss for the third quarter of 2009. In the second quarter, Nokia posted a further decline in sales of 7% to 9.28 billion euros, slightly less than feared. The number of phones sold plunged 20% to 88.5 million units, against 111 million a year earlier.

Baidu launches its own Web browser

The group of Chinese search engine Baidu launches into the battle of cybernavigateurs. Available in beta for Windows operating systems, the browser interface is very similar to Baidu's Chrome, by Google. The user can, for example, from the home page, download extensions and customize the software. It is also possible to directly access the search engine Baidu, the Web address bar.

But beyond this similarity in the interface Chrome, the new browser also borrows the engine of Internet Explorer. By venturing into the area of Web browsing, Baidu wants to strengthen its presence in the Chinese market. The last census of the Chinese authorities reported 485 million Internet users in the country.

eBay exceeds expectations in the second quarter

The online trading company published Wednesday, July 20, quarterly results better than expected, thanks to the sustained growth of its subsidiary PayPal. Ebay posted a net profit of 283.4 million dollars (199 million), against $ 412 million the same quarter last year. Lower earnings were due in part to the cost of the acquisition of GSI Commerce this year.

The group also performed on a quarterly revenue of $ 2.8 billion, representing an increase of 25% over the second quarter of 2010. 100 million PayPal accounts Results from Ebay are particularly driven by the performance of its online payment subsidiary, PayPal, just enregistrer100 million active accounts.

Google Labs goodby

Google loses one of its most charismatic services, GoogleLabs, testing laboratories open to users. In this space were born some of the most innovative products were launched after a formal way. In a brief statement in one of the blogs of the company specifically how it will change. It can still visit the page but not to play with new programs, but to see how they evolve.

According to Bill Coughran, vice president of the company this service has already fulfilled its mission. "Although we have learned a lot by throwing prototypes Labs, we believe it is crucial to a greater focus on the challenges of the future", published in the blog. One of the services born from this laboratory has been Body interactive Browser, something like a Google Maps of the human body with advanced visualization.