According to a Reuters report, Rubin, the Google VP Engineering who oversees Android development, has been deep in talks with record labels and hopes to have the service up and running by Christmas.

Google's service would be an iTunes challenger that would be deeply connected to the Android mobile operating system. As we reported over the summer, it seems the company plans to first launch a music download service and progress to an online subscription service by next year. Ultimately, Google Music would be a cloud-based subscription service with the ability to stream directly to Android mobile devices.

An anonymous record label exec confirmed to the newswire that Google was, indeed, in talks with labels about launching such a service and that labels aren't at all upset about the prospect.

Finally here's an entity with the reach, resources and wherewithal to take on iTunes as a formidable competitor by tying it into search and Android mobile platform. What you'll have is a very powerful player in the market that's good for the music business, the source said.

Right now, the ever-more-popular swarm of Android phones have an integration with Amazon's MP3 store, but it's not the best-integrated solution. If Google can perfect a music downloading system and include some of the mobile-desktop syncing features we saw at Google I/O, they just might have a killer app on their hands one that would continue to allow Android to successfully challenge Apple's iPhone in the mobile market, too.

Google began its work in the music space last year with the launch of a music search feature. When users searched Google for any kind of music, among search results would be streaming audio previews and music discovery features from music-centric companies including Pandora and Rhapsody.

With the recent launch of iTunes 10 and built-in music social network Ping, Apple is aiming for a major revitalization of its music offering. But so far, users' reactions to the new software has been lukewarm at best.

Do you think Google could emerge in just a couple months with a winning approach to music downloading? How do you think this move might or might not affect Apple's bottom line? Let us know your opinions in the comments.

More About: apple, Google, google music, music, music download, Ping

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Top Spenders

The top spender in June, AT&T Mobility, spent $8.08 million on search ads to coincide with the release of the iPhone 4. According to Ad Age, AT&T's the third-largest U.S. advertiser overall, so its Google spending is not a big surprise.

Other companies that made up the top 10 include:

• Apollo Group You know them as The University of Phoenix and they spent $6.67 million in June 2010
• Expedia $5.95 million
• Amazon $5.85 million
• eBay $4.25 million
• Hotels.com $3.30 million
• JC Penney $2.46 million we'll admit, this one surprises us
• Living Social $2.29 million
• ADT Security $2.19 million

Why Brands Buy Google Ads

The data shows us that for big brands, a heavy investment in Google is usually tied to revenue that comes directly from search traffic (as in the case of Amazon, eBay, Expedia, Hotels.com) or in instances where companies are trying to build awareness (AT&T) or weather a PR crisis (BP).

It's also interesting to note some of the brands that aren't on the list. The documents obtained by Ad Age indicate that companies like GM, Disney and BMW spent less than $500,000 on Google ads in June. Even Apple spent just less than $1 million on Google ads, despite its high-profile launch of the iPhone 4.

However, we also think it is possible that some big brands are spending money on search, but not directly with Google. For instance, although Ad Age cites Walt Disney as one of the companies that spent less than $500,000 on Google ads in June, the movie studio released Toy Story 3 that month, a film supported by a massive ad campaign. The film has gone on to gross more than $1 billion worldwide, making it one of the most successful animated films of all-time. It seems odd that Disney would spend only $500,000 on search terms for its big summer release.

What seems more likely, however, is that Disney purchased advertising through companies like Fandango or MovieTickets.com and those companies have their own arrangements with Google. In other words, when it comes to evaluating search spending, don't count out the potential middle men.

This also makes sense when taking a big-picture approach to Google's own revenue. The top 10 brands only accounted for 5% of U.S. revenues for the month.

Google is a big target for advertisers because of its strength in search and because of its ubiquity across devices. We do wonder if ad buys will shift to other outlets, like say, Facebook, as users spend more and more time on those networks.

More About: ad age, advertsing, att, bp, Google, google adwords, online advertising

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Automata guru and MAKE pal Dug North says:

For a limited time, Cabaret Mechanical Theatre is offering a free download of an eighteen page booklet by famed automata-maker Paul Spooner. This is a great resource for the mechanically-curious and must have for automata-makers.

The PDF is free to download until September 30.

[Thanks, Dug!]

Filed under: Hardware

Logitech launches new line of PC gamepads originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just a few hours ago, the superstar rapper let loose a barrage of 70+ tweets, starting with a declaration of his love for Twitter and ending with an apology to Taylor Swift. His apology refers to last year's VMA incident, where West rushed onto the stage and interrupted Swift's acceptance speech for best female music video. The incident has since turned into an Internet meme. More importantly, the 33-year-old rapper was vilified by music fans, the media and even President Obama.

Yes, the rapper apologized on national TV and on his blog, but he has never been able to shake off the 2009 VMA incident, and if his Twitter is any indication, there are a lot of people that (understandably) won't let him live it down.

For whatever reason though, Kanye West decided today to make his case, and he used his brand new Twitter account to do it. Whether you think his stream of consciousness is the rambling of a broken man or his most heartfelt attempt yet to put the incident behind him, you can't help but appreciate the rawness of each tweet. There is no filter or middle man between his thoughts and the rest of the world.

I won't repost all of his tweets (check out his Twitter stream if you want the whole thing), but I do want to highlight a few of the tweets that encapsulate the raw nature of today's barrage of tweets:

- Had to let employees go for the first time I felt the impact of my brash actions I felt the recession from an ownership side

- How deep is the scar I bled hard.. cancelled tour with the number one pop star in the world closed the doors of my clothing office

- That's when you realize perception is reality. I've been straying from this subject on twitter but I have to give it to you guys raw now.

- If you google Asshole my face may very well pop up

- I'm the guy who at one point could perform the Justin Timberlake on stage and everyone would be sooo happy that I was there

- When I woke up from the crazy nightmare I looked in the mirror and said GROW UP KANYE I take the responsibility for my actions

- These tweets have no manager, no publicist , no grammar checking this is raw

- It starts with this

- I'm sorry Taylor.

Communication Revolution

A few months ago, we would never have heard something like this from Kanye West. That's because his publicity team would never have let him say these things. Then he got a Twitter account, giving him an opportunity to talk to his fans and to the rest of the world directly, without anybody to say no.

Social media has changed the way we communicate. Information has never traveled faster. It has created frank and transparent conversations. It has given people a chance to directly express their thoughts to the rest of the world in a mater of seconds.

For years we've chronicled the amazing impact Twitter has had on our world here on Mashable. In 2008, a Berkeley grad student used Twitter to tell his friends he was arrested in Egypt, leading to a mobilization effort that got him out of jail. Last year, Twitter rose to prominence for its role in the Iran Election crisis. Earlier this year, Twitter showed us the devastation in Haiti in a way that has never been possible.

These are just a few examples of what Twitter has done. While Kanye West's tweets don't come close to the level of importance these events carried, his raw line of communication is another shining example of just how Twitter has changed our lives. Information has been set free.

More About: entertainment, kanye west, taylor swift, trending, twitter

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Apple makes computers, tablets, phones, portable media players, TV set-top-boxes, displays and a dozen other things, but to date, it hasn't made a wristwatch. Oh, wait, actually, it has! It's called the new iPod nano.

Sure, battery life will be a problem when you leave that screen on the whole time, but you could just act like it's an LED watch and it's nighttime by hitting the button to see the time.

People have dreamed of fancy computer watches for a long time, and they've recently become a reality in a sufficiently usable form. LG started the latest upswing trend by introducing a watch phone concept at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show.

Apple may not have intended the nano to be used this way, but the above Flickr photo from Kei Ogikubo leads us to believe that maybe tablets aren't the only geek fantasy that Apple is recently the first to get right!

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

More About: apple, flickr, ipod, ipod nano, iwatch, trending, watch

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Luckily, some web designers have chosen to end the misery of encountering a 404 error page. Instead of letting their site readers bump heads with a nasty dead-end error message, they've managed to squeeze a little entertainment out of it.

Below you'll find some of the most entertaining 404 error pages on the web. We've listed them alphabetically to avoid playing favorites, but they're all worth a look. Share your favorite 404 error page designs in the comments below!

1. 501st Legion

501st Legion is a Star Wars costume organization. It only makes sense that its 404 page would play on Obiwan's famous jedi mind trick with a "weak-minded" stormtrooper.

2. Abduzeedo

Yes, Houston, a 404 is definitely a problem.

3. Apartment Home Living

A nice ol' chap comes to your assistance on ApartmentHomeLiving.com if you run across a 404 error page. Click the lovely lady peering from behind the frame for proper navigation suggestions.

4. Astuteo

"Uh-Oh! SpaghettiOs!" You know you're a part of pop culture if your jingle makes it into a 404 error page. The popular SpaghettiOs marketing jingle is here to stay.

5. Blippy

Head over to Blippy's 404 page for an adventure. Keep clicking on the boy dressed in a unicorn outfit to discover a triple rainbow! Who knew a 404 page could be so fun?

6. Factor D

In an ode to early horror films, Factor D features an appropriately horrific 404 error accompanied by a beautiful, yet terrified scream queen.

7. SureDev

Many 404 error pages apologize for the error. Not this one. It's obviously your fault.

8. Blue Daniel

This 404 error page is a beautiful depiction of "Track 404," a fictitious NYC subway line. Check it out to experience the full animation.

9. Brandstack

"You can click anywhere else, but you can't click here." Love it.

10. Center'd

Bottom line: You can't go wrong with cute kittens.

11. Chris Jennings

Most of us would like to run into a 404 error page just as much as we'd like to run into the Grim Reaper.

12. Colour Marketing & Design

When you're facing "sharks with laser beams attached to their frickin' heads," what do you expect? Definitely a 404 error.

13. CSS-Tricks

Well, that can't be good.

14. CSSscoop

Picking a 404 error page design that is consistent with your name is an appropriate move. CSSscoop chose a melting ice cream cone, with a scoop of ice cream, of course.

15. Digitalmash

Sarcasm in dire situations is always appreciated, right?

16. Good Old Games (GOG)

Try not to make any missteps on GOG, or you'll end up lost in the cosmos.

17. HomeStarRunner.com

Insulting your readers doesn't usually help, but this 404 made me chuckle.

18 Hoppermagic

Hoppermagic chose to stick to its brand imagery when creating its 404 page.

19. iFolderLinks

There's just something about a really frustrated baby that catches your attention. And if you've made it to this 404 page, you probably feel his pain.

20. Itchy Robot

If you can't think of something clever to say on your 404 page, just write exactly what your users are thinking.

21. Jackfig

Jackfig added a creative touch to its 404 error page, with an inspirational haiku.

22. Jolie Poupe

Jolie Poupe, creator of eco-friendly children's clothes, serves up an audience-appropriate 404 on its site.

23. Mark Dijkstra

This 404 error page is reminiscent of the kitschy tourist shirts that your lousy friends and relatives buy you when they visit amazing places.

24. Merge

Prithee, go medieval on your site's visitors if need be.

25. Milrayas

Imagery always makes a 404 more entertaining.

26. OrangeCoat

Some 404 error pages do a wonderful job of explaining to users exactly what caused the 404 error. OrangeCoat provides a fun decision tree for lost web surfers that is sure to help them along their merry ways.

27. Oroza

Have fun with colors, shapes and exclamations.

28. Sick Designer

Sick Designer captures the depression that a 404 can cause on its error page.

29. Student Market

How fitting that a student-centric site would feature an addition problem on its 404 page.

30. The Brand Surgery

This page just pops. We like it.

31. The North Face

For true entertainment value, why not just tell a story? The North Face does just that by creating a tale about link-eating mountain goats.

32. Tinsanity

You might have been pwned, burned, punk'd or rickrolled recently, but have you been 404'd? Click here to join the party.

33. TK Designs

Excitement! Adventure! Ahhhhh, where I am?!

34. Urban Outfitters

Our sentiments exactly.

35. Urban Pill

If, after searching for hours, you still can't find the page you were seeking, Chuck Norris probably has it.

More Web Design Resources from Mashable:

---

- 12 Beginner Tutorials for Getting Started With Photoshop
- Use Adobe Fonts in Your Own Web Designs
- 10 Essential Free E-Books for Web Designers
- 12 Beginner Tutorials for Getting Started with Adobe Illustrator
- 6 New Mac Apps for Designers and Developers

More About: 404, 404 error pages, error page, web design, Web Development

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Filed under: Windows Mobile, Microsoft

Windows Phone 7 remote lock and wipe, find my phone features pictured originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Filed under: Utilities, Productivity, Web services

AirDropper lets people put files into your Dropbox ... without signing up for Dropbox originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you have ever searched for a Wordpress theme before, you will have probably noticed that some theme designers use some weird text when showing off their themes which looks like Latin. I have always wondered what it was, why designers choose to use it and where it came from.

After a bit of research I have some answers.

What Is Lorem Ipsum?

Lorem Ipsum is a group of text that people commonly use as filler text, or dummy text. It's basically a bunch of mumbo-jumbo (at least that's what it looks like) that people use to show what a design layout will look like when the proper text has been inserted.

Why Do Designers Use Lorem Ipsum?

What I kept asking myself is why they would use this jumbled up mess of a foreign language and not some English text? It all comes down to focus. It's a known fact that if they were to use actual copy, someone trying to look at only the design would be distracted by what the text says. That is one of the major reasons people choose to use Lorem Ipsum. With text that is unrecognizable, there's nothing to read.

Where Did Lorem Ipsum Come From?

As it turns out, Lorem Ipsum did come from Latin. It's actually a modified version of it. What does it actually say? According to Lipsum.com,

Lorem Ipsum comes from sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 of de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum (The Extremes of Good and Evil) by Cicero, written in 45 BC.

Lorem Ipsum has been used since the 1500's. It was made popular in the 1960's and has survived into the digital age with desktop publishing programs like Aldus PageMaker. As we also know, it is still being widely used among web designers such as Wordpress theme designers to show different design elements.

Can I Use Lorem Ipsum For My Projects?

Sure, why not? It is still widely used so join the proverbial club. In fact there are many tools out there that make using it so easy. Here are a few of them.

Lipsum.com

I have already quoted from this site because it contains quite a bit of information on the subject. It also contains a tool to generate a portion of the text.

MakeUseOf's Directory contains a writeup about it. Since that time they have released both a Firefox plugin and a Chrome plugin.

Lorem2: Lorem Ipsum Text Samples

This isn't really a software program or tool per se. It's really a website containing different sample Lorem Ipsum texts. It contains short paragraphs, long paragraphs, short list items and long list items. Web designers should add this site to their tool belt.

HTML-Ipsum

This tool takes Lorem Ipsum usage to a whole different level for web developers.

They offer much of what the last tools offers but with the HTML tags included, making development that much easier.

Tell us, do you use Lorem Ipsum? If so, in what way? What tools do you use that we should know about?

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According to Search Engine Land, the state of Texas' investigation is focused on whether Google manipulates its search results to the detriment of its competition. The investigation was sparked by complaints from vertical search engines Foundem, SourceTool/TradeComet and myTriggers. While none of these companies operate out of the state of Texas, they only need customers in the state to help spark an investigation.

Google has since responded to the report via a blog post from Deputy General Counsel Don Harrison. In it, Harrison addresses the questions about the fairness of the Google search engine while providing background on Foundem, SourceTool/TradeComet and MyTriggers. This background refutes each company's argument that Google is engaging in anticompetitive behavior.

We look forward to answering their questions because we're confident that Google operates in the best interests of our users, Harrison said in the company's response.

Google is facing a similar investigation from the European Commission over whether it manipulates search results to stifle competition.

What do you think of the investigation? Do you think Google is engaging in antitrust behavior, or is this smoke and mirrors? Let us know in the comments.

More About: Antitrust, Google, investigation, privacy, texas

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The lawsuit dates back to February, when lawyers filed a class action complaint against Google on behalf of Eva Hibnick, a 24-year-old Florida resident and Harvard Law School student. The complaint alleged that Buzz violated several communication privacy laws related to protecting user privacy.

Google Buzz caught a lot of flak for its auto-follow and opt-in features, so much so that Google quickly made privacy fixes after launch. They weren't enough to quell the criticism though, so Google launched a privacy reset for Buzz, giving users a new opportunity to adjust their privacy settings.

According to the settlement, these changes addressed the key privacy issues surrounding Buzz. Google has made changes to the Google Buzz user interface that clarify Google Buzz's operation and users' options regarding Google Buzz, it stated.

That's not all, though. While the settlement acknowledges that Google Buzz's privacy issues have been resolved, it says the company must do more to educate users about Google Buzz's potential impact on privacy. The $8.5 million from the settelement will go towards lawyer fees (30%) and the seven named plaintiffs (up to $2,500 each), with the remainder going towards organizations and non-profits focused on Internet privacy.

Now that the privacy issues have been settled, Google can focus on a more important problem: actually producing a winner in the social media space.

[via AFP]

More About: Googl, google buzz, law, lawsuit, privacy

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Filed under: Downloads, Adventure

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars Directors Cut comes to PC and Mac originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Android: If you prefer to use your Android as hands-free as possible, Taskos is a voice-driven to-do list manager that supports contexts, alarms, dialer integration and more.

Taskos supports easy task creation via voice input. Tap the mic button and throw your tasks at it, Taskos transcribes them without a hitch. In addition to voice-to-list transcription you can tag tasks with contexts like calls, home, work, errands, and more. You can also set priorities, reminder alarms, and add notes as well as rank by priority and context. If your task needs the assistance or input of someone else you can share your task via email, text message, Facebook, or Twitter.

Taskos is a free Android application. Download it by searching in the Android Marketplace for Taskos or by scanning the QR code at the right.

Autodesk releases its first Windows gadget.

Use the Autodesk Performance Monitor to gauge the virtual memory utilized by running versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD-based vertical products.

The Performance Monitor is a Windows desktop gadget that provides a color-coded status bar indicating the level of usage of virtual memory by AutoCAD products (AutoCAD 2009-2011 and some verticals). When large amounts of virtual memory are in use, the running process may become unstable.

For obvious reasons this will only work on Vista and Windows 7 systems.

Free Download of Performance Monitor for AutoCAD via Autodesk Labs (in a limited number of countries)

Test comments:

The location after installing the gadget was half way outside the screen.

Using the Close drawing button did close the drawing but put AutoCAD in a Not Responding state.