Olbermann out at MSNBC; Comcast: We had nothing to do with it

Keith Olbermann signs off from MSNBC (CNN)

Comcast Response to Questions about MSNBC and Keith Olbermann (Comcast Voices |Comcast Corporate Blog)

Olbermann’s MSNBC Exit Was Weeks in the Making (New York Times: Media Decoder)

Deals up, venture investment flat in Philadelphia (Philly.com: Philly Inc)

An NBC Departure Before Comcast Takeover (New York Times: Media Decoder)

Earnings: NBC Ends Its Relationship With GE On A Positive Note (paidContent)

How Comcast Silenced One Objection to NBCU Deal
Albritton dropped opposition after reaching carriage agreement (Adweek)

Here’s What’s Hiding Behind Verizon’s Net Neutrality Suit (Gigaom)

Checkpoint Systems Launches EPC Numbering Service (RFID Journal)

USA Technologies, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal 2011 Second Quarter
Achieves Strategic Objectives with 109,000 Network Connections and $456,000 of Quarterly EBITDA
License and Transaction Fee Revenue Up 81%, Total Revenue Up 60% (Business Wire)

In-memory computing
In-memory computing is making its way out of R&D labs and into the enterprise, enabling real-time processing and intelligence (CIO.com)

Daily Links 1/20/2011: Verizon challenges FCC rules on net neutrality

HIStalk Interviews Todd Fisher, CEO, MobileMD (HIStalk)
Warminster Healthcare IT startup definitely worth watching.

An update from the Chairman (Official Google Blog)
Eric Schmidt steps aside as CEO while remaining Chairman; Larry Page to be CEO.

Verizon challenges FCC rules on net neutrality (Washington Post: Post Tech)
Verizon is doing something I believe Comcast will no longer be able to do per FCC conditions on the NBCU merger.

Aria Systems Triples Bookings in Fourth Quarter (Business Wire)
Aria is based in San Mateo and Media, Pa.

Tyco Electronics profit tops forecasts (Reuters)

Analysts: Comcast-NBC Universal Conditions Won't Promote Cord Cutting (Hollywood Reporter)
FCC Order on Comcast/NBCU (pdf)

Old Interface Learns New Tricks in Mobile Payments (American Banker)
On Philly startup Xipwire.

SAP AG ESTABLISHES $350 MILLION SAP VENTURES FUND I, L.P. (SAP Press Release)

HP Ads Meg Whitman, Four Others To Board (Barron's: Tech Trader Daily)

Philadelphia Fed Factory Index Decreased to 19.3 in January (Bloomberg)
January 2011 Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey

Clearwire spectrum auction interest dwindles: sources (Reuters)


Citizens Bank Park, Home of the Phillies, Goes HD! (Phillies.com)
Something to look forward to on long winter days.



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DuckDuckGo Challenges Google on Privacy (With a Billboard) (Wired Blogs: Epicenter)

Daily Links 1/19/2011: Franken can't let Comcast/NBCU deal go

Comcast’s Biggest Regulatory Win? What The FCC And DOJ Didn’t Do (paidContent)

Comcast-NBC Deal: What’s Next? (Wall Street Journal: Deal Journal)

Senator Al Franken: No joke, Comcast trying to whack Netflix (Ars Technica)


SAP sets ambitious goals, faces restructuring: report (Reuters)

ASUG to Launch Online Magazine (Business Wire)

SAP Community Podcast: Talking SAP On-Demand with SAP's John Wookey (SAP Community Networks Blog)

Microsoft Steps Up Competition With Dynamics CRM 2011 (Information Week)

Thoughts on Paul Greenberg's CRM 2011 Watchlist (Read Write Enterprise)

Verizon To Continue Rapid Cloud Ramp (Information Week)

What happens when the CD factory closes? (CNET News)
On the closing of Sony's Pitman, NJ CD plant.



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FCC votes 4 to 1 to approve Comcast/NBCU deal (with conditions)

FCC approves Comcast and NBC joint venture (Washington Post: Post Tech)

FCC Makes a Big Deal Out of Online Video With Comcast NBC-U Deal Approval (Gigaom: NewTeeVee)
Comcast must be hands-off in terms of Hulu's management.

Comcast will retain NBC's stake in Hulu, but is stripped of control
(LA Times: Company Town)

Copps: Comcast/NBCU 'Damaging and Potentially Dangerous'
Says many of the promised conditions do no more than maintain the status quo, which does not serve public interest (Broadcasting & Cable)

Comcast/NBCU Deal Approved By Justice (Multichannel News)

Regulatory Approval Received for Comcast/GE Joint Venture for NBC Universal (Comcast Voices |Comcast Corporate Blog)

Phiily Tech TidBits 1/18/2011

TechCrunch reported that the amount recently raised by Conshohocken's Viridity Energy was $14 million. The investors were Braemar Energy Ventures and Intel Capital. Viridity's software and systems help businesses create "microgrids" to optimize energy consumption and buy off and sell to the main grid.

First Round Capital now shows 100 companies as being in its portfolio, though that includes a few exits.

The Open Angel Forum is coming to Philly on March 16. OAF is a group started by Jason Calacanis to provide a no-fee venue for startups to present to angel investors. They are now accepting applications. Morgan Lewis is hosting the event.

PennApps Mobile was held at Penn this past weekend, and 23 of the 31 teams that started the hackathon produced a demonstratable application. The Grand Prize winner was an app called MeepMe. Teams surveyed overwhelmingly chose Android as their development platform.


The Harrisburg Patriot-News has an article detailing the many failures of Pennsylvania's wine kiosks, which were removed from grocery stores late last month for an attitude adjustment. A few kiosks are being reinstalled and tested this week before a decision is made about reinstalling the rest. The machines were developed by Simple Brands of Conshohocken.

West Chester's QVC has chosen IBM's recently acquired Netezza data warehousing system to analyze user-generated content from its web forums. QVC says it expect to achieve a greater understanding of its customer needs "based on the online conversations they are having about our products and services".

Bipin Shah, the primary architect of CoreStates Financial's Money Access Center (MAC) ATM network back in the 1980s, is behind a new Radnor-based venture,Universal Business Payment Solutions Acquisitions Corporation , which aims to raise $72 million for a "blank check corporation" which would seek to make acquisitions and roll up smaller companies in the payroll processing, debit and credit card transaction processing, and prepaid plastic markets. The company is awaiting an SEC response to its proposed public offering (via Flying Kite Media)

Former Detroit Lions star Barry Sanders, who has stayed largely out of the public eye since his early retirement from the game, is making a comeback-sort of. He is helping to promote Comcast Business Services in the State of Michigan.


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Perfect Market Raises $9 Million In A Round Led By Comcast (paidContent)

LLR, Tailwind Exit SDI (TheMiddleMarket.com)

NewSpring Capital Makes Growth Investment in Raritan Inc.
- Invests in Raritan's Power Management Business - (PR Newswire)

OWLnet times out (The Temple News)
Upgrades to SunGard Banner.

Students enjoy DrexelOne app (The Triangle)

Verve Wireless names new Chief Executive (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Verve cofounder Art Howe, former Inquirer reporter and exec, steps down as CEO but will
continue as Chairman.

Looking Closely at the Market Research Numbers for Sizing the Geospatial Technology Market (Directions Magazine)

Comcast/NBCU approval expected tomorrow (Washington Post)

Comcast-NBC merger approval expected Tuesday (Washington Post: Post Tech)

Daily Links 1/17/2011: SAP makes global field organization realignment official

Comcast/NBCU Expected To Gain Approval This Week
(Multichannel News)

SnagFilms Raises $10 Million From Comcast, NEA; Will Expand Beyond Docs
(paidcontent)

Verizon: Level 3's Net-Neutrality Charge Against Comcast Is Specious
Telco Says FCC Intervention Would 'Upset' a Well-Functioning Marketplace (Multichannel News)

SAP Realigns Global Field Organization (PR Newswire)
A confirmation of what was already out there.

Robert Courteau Named President of SAP North America
Assumes Role as Former President Robert Enslin Appointed to Lead Business Software Company's Global Sales (PR Newswire)

Intergraph settles $200M suit with Bentley Systems (Huntsville Times)

5 Big Themes in BI for 2011 (Information
Week)

2010 Achievements and 2011 Outlook: Safeguard Scientifics, Capital Markets, Regulatory Compliance and more (Safeguard Scientifics Blog)

Student Developers Prefer Android at University of Pennsylvania Hackathon [Infographic] (Read Write Web)