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Microsoft isn't going to let Apple have all the app-store fun. On Monday, the software giant announced more details about Windows Phone 7 Series applications in its online store as it moves to get third-party developers excited about the new platform.

In one of the funnier moments of Sunday's Academy Awards, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin thought they spotted Avatar director James Cameron in the audience. The hosts whipped out 3-D glasses to scan the audience for the man whose top-grossing film has fueled more interest in 3-D viewing.

Common Sight

While the gag got some laughs, it may not be unusual for more people to carry around 3-D glasses this year. All the top manufacturers are planning 3-D television models.

Marvin J. Cetron with David A. Patten in NewsMax Magazine:

2009, defined by the deep recession, forced consumer brands to do more with much less.  However, this stressful environment drove  marketers to try non-traditional and less expensive channels, fostering the development of some unique engagement programs in social media.  In this series of posts, I’ll revisit a few of the more interesting campaigns from the past year and explain how these programs can guide our 2010 engagement strategies.

Over the last year, location-based social networks such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Brightkite have exploded among early adopters. It’s no question—with increasing adoption of smart phone usage, location-based social networks are rising in popularity every day.

While the computer industry waits for Apple to release an expected color tablet computer later this month, ASUS is already there. According to news reports, the company is releasing a six-inch OLED color touchscreen tablet e-reader called the DR-570 that includes Adobe Flash, either 3G or Wi-Fi -- and a capacity of 122 hours on a single battery charge.

With the addition of color and additional computing power, the emerging categories of e-readers and tablet computers may begin to merge. The DR-570 is expected to be released by the end of this year.

'Moving at a Fast Rate'

Flanked by a coterie of gadgets in a private suite at the USA's biggest consumer electronics show, Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers might seem like the proverbial fish out of water.

Yet the leader of the computer-networking giant had delivered a keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show [and] was outlining its consumer plans.

It's all part of Cisco's audacious gambit to plunge into new markets, spend billions to snap up companies and partner with others, despite a sour economy.

Tim Westergren doesn't have to beat the drum as loudly anymore.

Thanks to the popularity of the iPhone and other smartphones, listenership has quadrupled since 2008 at Pandora, the free online radio service he founded. The private company just had its first profitable quarter and brought in about $40 million in revenue last year. It expects even more growth this year.

Not bad, considering that two years ago Pandora was on the verge of shutting down over new copyright royalties that threatened to bankrupt it before a settlement was reached.

A New Jersey company says it has developed "the world's first sex robot," a life-size rubber doll that's designed to engage the owner with conversation rather than lifelike movement.

At a demonstration at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas on Saturday, the dark-haired, negligee-clad robot said "I love holding hands with you" when it sensed that its creator touched its hand.

If Apple is hoping to keep a tablet computer unconfirmed until it reveals the product later this month, a comment made Monday by a France Telecom/Orange executive undermines those plans. In a broadcast interview with French television, France Telecom Deputy CEO Stephane Richard confirmed that a tablet is coming.

In the interview, Richard indicated the tablet will include a webcam that offers real-time video streaming. And his answer of "Oui" to a question about whether Orange customers can use it is being taken to mean that the tablet will have 3G connectivity.