MIT

Harvard and MIT Launch $60M Nonprofit Online EdX Platform

Liz Gannes in News on May 2 at 7:00 am PT

Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology today are launching a nonprofit, open source joint online learning venture called EdX, with the first courses to start in the fall of this year.

Put Down the Phone and Learn to Be Alone (And to Listen), Says Sherry Turkle at TED

Liz Gannes in Social on March 1 at 1:19 pm PT

All this time spent communicating digitally gives us “the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship,” according to psychologist Sherry Turkle.

Now Is the (Larry) Summers of Our Silicon Valley VC: Economic Guru Joins Andreessen Horowitz as “Special Advisor”

Kara Swisher in News on June 29, 2011 at 3:00 pm PT

In an unusual appointment for the longtime public servant, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers will join Silicon Valley venture powerhouse Andreessen Horowitz as a part-time “Special Advisor.” Summers got to know the firm with an assist from Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who was a student of his when he was a professor at Harvard University.

Want to Transfer Data to Your Phone? Just Point and Shoot.

Ina Fried in Mobile on June 16, 2011 at 11:30 am PT

While cellphone cameras are handy for taking pictures, they are also increasingly being tapped as a key input mechanism, capable of recognizing everything from bar codes to objects. Researchers at MIT and Google have found a way to use the camera to transmit code, simply by pointing it at a computer screen.

Voices

An Exit in Egypt

Christopher M. Schroeder, Angel Investor, CEO, HealthCentral.com in News on March 21, 2011 at 1:15 pm PT

These days the word “exit” in connection with Egypt often conjures the departure of a politician or business executive caught on the wrong side of historic, popular forces. Indicative, however, of a growing new narrative in successful entrepreneurship in the country, Intel announced last week its acquisition of Cairo-based SySDSoft, a leading 4G wireless software developer.

Bubbli, Push Pop Press and Bluefin a Hit at TED

Liz Gannes in Social on March 3, 2011 at 1:00 am PT

Some of the biggest hits and touchpoints so far at this year’s annual TED conference have come from tech start-up founders’ talks and show-stealing demos. Here are three companies you’ll likely be hearing about again.

Start-Up Watch: Smoopa Android App Helps Electronics Shoppers Compare Prices

Liz Gannes in Social on January 28, 2011 at 2:00 am PT

Smoopa, a new comparison shopping start-up with a pretty silly name, this week introduced its first app, which allows Android users to scan bar codes of electronics, movies and games, and find out whether they’re cheaper online.

Voices

Egypt.com: Is It Time to Invest in Egyptian Start-ups?

Seth Goldstein and Christopher M. Schroeder, Angel Investors and Entrepreneurs in News on January 25, 2011 at 3:35 pm PT

The current upheaval in Egypt reflects pent-up frustration with the regime across a wide swath of society. Among the discontent is a growing class of educated, tech-savvy entrepreneurs hoping for greater stability to attract and reassure foreign investors.

Who Isn't Rambus Suing at the ITC?

Arik Hesseldahl in Enterprise on December 30, 2010 at 9:27 am PT

The chip interface designer known best for its epic court battles is taking a virtual who’s-who among tech companies to the International Trade Commission.

My Kid Is an Honor Student at iTunes U

John Paczkowski in News on August 24, 2010 at 10:00 am PT

Downloads from Apple’s iTunes U program topped the 300 million mark today—a formidable feat for a virtual insitution of higher learning that’s just three years old.