Google’s new Chrome web browser is still in beta, but they’ve released a new version which they claim is 30% faster than the previous version. Also new is some added support for HTML 5, and selectable themes. Personally, I’ve found myself gravitating more towards Chrome, but primarly because of the simple interface and the ability to separate a tab out to a new window, if desired.

Chrome, which currently runs on Windows XP or Vista, works fine on my laptops, but with an earlier version from 2008, it causes my desktop computer’s hard drive to “grrr grrr grrr grrr” constantly.

[via TechCrunch]

As part of the Microsoft Bing/ Yahoo Search deal, Microsoft has agreed to hire at least 400 employees from Yahoo. In addition, Microsoft will shell out $150M to Yahoo over three years. The deal is still subject to approval by SEC antitrust regulators.

On2 Technologies (Clifton Park, NY) and Google (Mountain, CA) just announced that Google is buying On2 for $106.5M. The purchase will be done with a stock-for-stock transaction.

Why would Google buy On2? The most obvious reason would be for use with YouTube. Their video sharing site recently added High-Quality content, and there’s been an increase in longer videos. So an increase in quality and length of content means a possible future need for video compression. (But consider some of the companies who are On2’s clients: Adobe, Skype, Nokia, Infineon, Sun, Sony, Brightcove.) There’s a great potential for revenue as well.

[via Mashable, On2 press release]

The site BarackObama.com has a new feature: Tweet Your Senator. Have a concern about healthcare reform? Use this mashup of Twitter and Google Maps to send a tweet to your senator. Don’t know who your senator for your is? Enter your zipcode and a Twitter window will pop up with a pre-written tweet to your senator’s Twitter username. Once you’ve tweeted, the Google Map will show roughly where you tweeted from, as well as other people’s live tweet locations (as determined by zipcode). (Note: you CAN change the text of the tweet as you desire.)

[via Mashable]

Microsoft hasn’t yet managed to acquire Yahoo, despite offers, but Mashable is reporting that Bing, Microsoft’s new search website, might be powering up Yahoo Search. AdAge further reports the pending deal to be announced would Microsoft as much as “30% of the search marketplace”. Yahoo would get eliminated as a search competitor, but would get compensated by running their own ads on Bing and Yahoo.

[via Mashable, AdAge]

Google is trying to promote their Google Books site by running a ten-day contest. Visitors to Google Books can win a Sony Reader eBook device, which retails at just under US$300 and is a competitor to Amazon’s Kindle eBook device. Visit Google Books’ contest page for more details. [via ReadWriteWeb]

Joost, the groundbreaking IPTV application from the same guys that came up with the ever-popular Skype VoIP application, has been creating a buzz for months. That’s because it’s been invite-only. Up until now, that is. Joost has finally opened itself up to the public.

I’ve written about Joost elsewhere on three or four tech and/or TV blogs. My thoughts about it:

1. Very cool first impressions.
2. Interesting content but not enough to impress everyone.
3. Incredible “video” quality, highly dependent on your computer’s RAM and Internet speed.
4. Incredible bandwidth hog. Your Internet access plan better be able to handle it. The beta version took up as much as 100Mb of hard disk space and 200-300 Mb per hour of bandwidth.

Overall, I watched it once in a while while beta testing it. But with a heavy workload and so many good new TV shows in the new Fall season, I haven’t fired up Joost in a while.

Steve, Steve, Steve Ballmer. Did you learn nothing from Billy boy? Haven’t you had your digital ass handed to you enough times? Leave off the peacock posturing and the bullying of Linux and do something really cool. You know M$ has the ability to come up with a bang up web mashup tool - one that can run on any browser, not just Internet Explorer. I can’t believe you’re stupid enough to just develop for one browser. That war has been going on far too long, and it’s because of that and Vista and your ranting that I will never buy another MS-based operating system computer again. Ever. And I’m not the only one that feels this way.

The exodus to Mac OS and Linux has begun. And maybe that’s why you think bullying Linux is good for M$. Wrong. Microsoft shareholders aside, there are many computer users that despise you. And if you keep acting like this, you’re going to bring the Microsoft house down.

Stop screwing around and give us great web apps already. For free. You can monetize with premium versions, ads, etc. Buy out Zoho. Just don’t bloody bury their software like M$ has been doing for a decade with acquisitions.

What is VoIP?

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, refers collectively to a set of technologies that allow for voice conversations to be transmitted via the Internet.

What is a PBX?

A PBX, or Private Branch eXchange, is a device - with or without software - that allows a business entity to easily configure and manage a block of phone numbers. Many medium to large businesses use PBXes for employee phones, over the PSTN (public switched telephone network).

What is an IP PBX?

An IP PBX is simply a PBX designed to work over the Internet. With some IP PBXes, everything is software based. Others have hardware components that allow for integration with the PSTN.

Why VoIP and IP PBXes?

VoIP and IP PBXes allow businesses to have advanced communications features at lower rates than with regular PSTN based technology. Part of the reason for lowered costs is a single set of wiring (your computer network), and the other is software based features. Additionally, if you’re using SIP-based IP PBXes and equipment, you have a wide array of equipment to choose from, instead of being bound to proprietary hardware of typical PSTN-based PBX makers.

What are 3CX’s Features?

Depending on your viewpoint, 3CX’s MS-Windows-based IP PBX phone system’s most important feature is that it is based on the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) VoIP standard. Besides making it thus compatible with other SIP VoIP systems software and hardware, phone numbers need not change when an employee has to move offices.

The 3CX system offers a VoIP Gateway, which allows it to be integrated with PSTN phone lines. So you can have a hybrid setup where internal calls are over VoIP and calls to and from outside the office are over PSTN.

Summary

3CX offers a fully integrated business grade VoIP solution with their partner netVortex. If you’re not yet ready to take a full plunge into enterprise IP PBXes, you can download a copy of their free edition, which includes a SIP server. This package works on Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, and offers voice mail, call transfer and other features - all supported at their 3CX forums. You wil need a proper SIP-based phone.

[Disclaimer: This is a paid review for 3CX sourced through ReviewMe.]