James Bond

When Autonomous Flying Robots Fail (Video)

Liz Gannes in News on March 2 at 11:05 am PT

Heard of the amazing flying-robot TED talk? Here’s the flying robot blooper reel.

Viral Video: Bond Vlog … James Bond Vlog

Kara Swisher in Media on February 22 at 10:00 am PT

Time for a little 007 poking.

Viral Video: James Bond As a Lady

Kara Swisher in News on March 9, 2011 at 1:56 am PT

This is perhaps the oddest video in honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, in which James Bond–played by actor Daniel Craig–puts on a dress. No, really.

Viral Video: "Let It Be" With D-List Celebs in Norway (Really!)

Kara Swisher in News on December 9, 2010 at 12:05 am PT

Here is one of the oddest videos out on the Web right now. It’s a six-minute ad for a Norwegian television talk show called “Gylne Tider” in which a strange collection of some very whatever-happened-to celebrities lip-synch to the Beatles’ “Let It Be.”

Ask’s Small Search Share = Garugantuan Ad

Peter Kafka in Media on May 21, 2009 at 12:35 pm PT

IAC’s search engine has stagnant market share and declining revenue. Here’s one way to fix the latter, brought to you by Ben Stiller and pals.

Would Microsoft's New Search Name Smell as Sweet if It Were Named After a Cherry or a Soprano?

Kara Swisher in News on April 21, 2009 at 11:03 am PT

What’s in a name? Well, a lot, actually, and BoomTown supposes it would be just like those Pacific Northwest types at Microsoft to name the new version of its search service “Bing,” presumably after the cherry that is a big product in the company’s home state. That moniker is one of many being bandied about in a group the software giant could be considering for the big relaunch of its search service, which it has been prepping. But Microsoft should forget the fruity metaphor, also rename its MSN online service “Bada” and use this motto: “Bada Bing, Bada Boom, Notta Bada Algorithm!”

Who Will Be Twitter's Bestest Search Friend? Google and Microsoft Engage in Yet Another Pick-Me Face-Off.

Kara Swisher in News on April 9, 2009 at 10:24 am PT

In this digital era’s version of “Spy Vs. Spy,” Microsoft and Google find themselves in yet another sharp-elbowed battle to be the one to strike some sort of commercial search deal or product partnership with Twitter, many sources with knowledge of the situation said, as they also jockey for position to evaluate the potential of the much-hyped microblogging start-up. After last week’s explosive rumor that Google was in “late-stage” talks to acquire Twitter, which BoomTown reported was wildly premature, I set out to try to sort out exactly what was going on. As I found out, there was a lot–mostly much talking related to possible product and distribution partnerships, centered around Google or Microsoft, as both struggle to gauge the importance of Twitter. It’s a familiar roundelay for the two most powerful companies on the Web.

Birds of a Feather Twitter Together

Katherine Boehret in The Mossberg Solution on December 2, 2008 at 5:20 pm PT

If you’ve heard of Twitter but don’t exactly know what it is or how it works, you’re in good company. In the past two months a bunch of my friends, ranging in age from early 20s to late 30s, have asked me about Twitter–or Tweeter, as one person accidentally called it. To clear things up, I’ve put together a basic Twitter guide that explains how to use it, Twitter lingo, privacy options, mobile applications that can be used with the service and problems that it has.

Shocker: Yahoo Shoots Carl Icahn as Microsoft Messenger

Kara Swisher in News on July 12, 2008 at 9:57 pm PT

When sources at Microsoft last week told BoomTown that it was going to use Carl Icahn as a kind of messenger for a new ad search proposal, I thought: Uh-oh. And tonight, like clockwork, Yahoo rejected Microsoft’s latest bid to buy its search and ad search business, which was delivered in conjunction with the billionaire activist investor, who is waging a proxy fight against the company. Why? Well, it’s kind of like sending Pepé Le Pew to a garden party. Sources tell me the bid included a $20 billion ad search revenue guarantee over 10 years, as well as other small improvements on Microsoft’s previous proposal. Still, Yahoo turned up its nose at it.

Memo to Carl Icahn: Please Simmer Down!

Kara Swisher in News on June 10, 2008 at 5:21 am PT

One might have hoped that the Apple iPhone 3G media Hypestar that descended on the tech news arena would have been able to drown out the irksome bickering that has seemingly become a daily occurrence between billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Yahoo via dueling public letters. But no! And, unless Microsoft mercifully steps in and forks over $34 a share to rebid for all of Yahoo, it’s likely this playground-level of fighting will go on until August 1.