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NEWS: Internet Explorer 8 and eBay join forces for "secure" Christmas shopping

Ben Crompton — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:24:12 +0000

Practise safe surfing

Utilising the Internet Explorer 8 Web Slice feature, Microsoft and eBay have teamed up to give real-time updates from eBay's daily deals.

"Customers will receive continuing updates and detailed information about these Daily Deals for eBay, all within the Favorites Bar in Internet Explorer 8", says Microsoft.

As part of this promotion Microsoft is also lauding IE8's built-in security and privacy features, and cites a study by NSS Labs showing "that Internet Explorer is the leading modern browser in malware and phishing protection".

This claim, however, should be treated with a pinch of salt as other browsers such as Firefox, Opera, Chrome and Safari also offer a wide range of add-ons and features which improve their protection - especially through layered security. Basically, do a little bit of homework before choosing.

You can get the Web Slice here and if you have an opinion on whether IE8 gives better security over other browsers make sure you let us know in the comments below.

Tags: Software Microsoft IE8 eBay Browsers Viruses And Malware

Internet Explorer 8 and eBay join forces for "secure" Christmas shopping originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:24:12 +0000

NEWS: eBay unveils BlackBerry auction app

Duncan Geere — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:25:33 +0000

Watch your auctions from your handset

If you're a hardened eBay fiend, then you'll know the value of watching your auctions like a hawk. If you're desperate to bag that multipack of pipe cleaners in rare colours, or R2D2 pencil sharpener, or sample of Chuck Norris' nostril hair, then you have to be there when the auction finishes to sneak in a last minute bid.

Well, now BlackBerry owners have something else to obsessively check along with their email, as eBay has rolled out a BlackBerry App World application for the auction site. It lets users search for, track, and buy an item from their handset.?It accepts PayPal payments, and will notify you of your bidding status, as well as place reminders in your BlackBerry's calendar.

The app could prove dangerous for some - we have a friend who once bought a DVD box set of all the episodes of Saved By The Bell ever following a drunken night out. Imagine the carnage if he had that access on his phone. Thankfully it was just the original series, not "The College Years" or "The New Class".

The app is free and available now.

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Tags: Software Mobile phone apps eBay BlackBerry App World

eBay unveils BlackBerry auction app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:25:33 +0000

NEWS: Banned Xbox 360s flood e-commerce sites

Duncan Geere — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:42 +0000

Gamers rush to offload consoles

If you're thinking about picking up a second-hand Xbox 360 in the next couple of months, be very careful. As a result of the mass banning of about 3% of the console's userbase from Xbox Live, many unlucky gamers are attempting to offload their consoles through eBay, Gumtree and Craigslist.

Some users are being honest about the fact that their console has been banned - after all, it'll still play games, it just won't connect to Xbox Live. Others, however, are likely being shadier about it. So if you're planning to buy a used Xbox, be sure that you grill the owner on whether it's been modded in any way.

If, however, you're after a console that'll play games and watch movies, but won't connect to Xbox Live to get updates or access multiplayer functions, then now is a great time to get yourself a deal. Banned consoles are going for as little as ?100 with a pile of games.

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Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 Microsoft Xbox Live eBay Gumtree Craigslist

Banned Xbox 360s flood e-commerce sites originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:42 +0000

NEWS: Skype and Joltid settle

Amy-Mae Elliott — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:11:46 +0000

Litigation ends

eBay's Skype has reached a settlement with Joltid over a breach of license that will now see the sale of the VoIP firm go through without litigation hassles.

Joltid Ltd, a Swedish firm owned by Skype founders Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, had claimed peer-to-peer technology owned by Joltid, and not eBay, was being used in a breach of license with every download of the Skype software.

It's now been announced that the investor group led by Silver Lake, which is to acquire a majority stake in Skype, has reached a settlement agreement with Joltid and Joost that gives Skype ownership over all software previously licensed from Joltid.

As part of the settlement, Zennstrom and Friis will join the investor group and the Skype board with a 14% share in exchange for providing Joltid software and a significant capital investment.

This now ends all litigation currently pending against the investor group and eBay.

"We'll be free to concentrate all of our efforts on building the world’s greatest communications software", says Skype in a blog post.

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Tags: Software Biz Skype Lawsuits eBay Joltid

Skype and Joltid settle originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:11:46 +0000

NEWS: Rare NES game sells for $20,100

Stuart Miles — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:22:53 +0100

It is the only copy known to exist

A NES game has just gone under the hammer for $20,100 on eBay in what is thought to be the most expensive video game ever sold.

The Nintendo Campus Challenge cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System was used during a national video game tournament Nintendo hosted in 1991 according to the auction blurb and gives its new owner, bidder p***s, the chance to play Super Mario Bros 3, Pin-Bot, and Dr. Mario against the clock.

Produced only for the event and presumed destroyed, the game is unique because it gives you one score for playing all three games based on a timer system.

The Campus challenges saw winners from each of the 58 locations sent to Orlando Florida to compete for the crown of National Champion at Disney World (think 80's movie The Wizard with Fred Savage).

Unlike the Nintendo World Championships held previously where Nintendo gave winner's copies of the special cartridges, the Campus Challenge cartridges were supposed to be destroyed.

It is the only copy known to exist.?

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NEWS: Spotify adds PayPal payment option

Duncan Geere — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:49:43 +0100

First non-credit-card choice

Spotify has finally caved in to popular demand and added a PayPal payment option to its subscription services. Until now, the site only accepted Visa and Mastercard, meaning that many people without credit cards weren't able to switch to Premium.

PalPal supports Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cards, and you can also link PayPal to your bank account to make direct payments. Spotify says: "If not having a credit card has been holding you back from subscribing, now is a great time to upgrade".

Unfortunately the PayPal service is only available to UK users at the time of writing. The company says it'll be adding more countries in the near future. Premium subscriptions cost ?10 per month and enable mobile access, removal of advertising, exclusive content and higher quality audio.

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NEWS: 10-year-old attempts to sell gran on eBay

Amy-Mae Elliott — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:18:53 +0100

Schoolgirl offers "moaning" relative to highest bidder

A 10-year-old schoolgirl's eBay listing for her grandmother has been yanked by the online auction site.

Although having attracted 27 bids in excess of ?2000, eBay has withdrawn Zoe Pemberton's gran for sale, as eBay "does not allow the listing of any human being on the site".

The story, according to the Daily Mail, goes that young Pemberton, tired of her grandparent's moaning, decided to offer her to the highest bidder.

Asking no reserve, the schoolgirl described her elder relative as "rare and annoying and moaning a lot", although did up the salesmanship with the added note that her gran was "very cuddly".

Zoe's father, a Mr Pemberton of Clacton in Essex, who helped Zoe with the listing, said: "It was all her own words and I just went along with it really".

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