centennial
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Spotify beats iTunes to the Windows Store
Microsoft promised back at Build that that a slew of big-name apps would reach the Windows Store, and it's making good on that vow. Spotify has released a Windows Store version of its app in every country where its streaming music service is available. This isn't a redesign, for better or worse -- Spotify is really just porting its existing app over using Microsoft's Centennial framework. The biggest immediate difference is that you'll get updates through the Windows Store. This release is more important in what it represents for Microsoft's long-term Windows plans than anything else.
Universal celebrates 100 years of movies, finally brings classics like Jaws and E.T. to Blu-ray
Blu-ray fans waiting to see classic flicks like E.T. and Jaws on the format can rejoice, as Universal has officially announced they will be released this year as a part of its centennial celebration. After being in the moving picture business for 100 years the studio has a lot to celebrate, and plans "extensive restorations" of 13 movies including To Kill a Mockingbird, All Quiet on the Western Front, Jaws, The Sting, Out of Africa, Frankenstein and Schindler's List. There's also the special celebration logo seen above, but really, as long as they finally deliver a proper edition of Spielberg's 1982 classic sci-fi flick, they can put whichever picture they want up before it -- check the press release after the break for details, lists and Tumblr links.
IBM turns 100, brags about bench pressing more than companies half its age
IBM is quite possibly the only tech company around that might have genuine difficulty whittling a list of its industry defining contributions down to a mere 100. And it's an impressively diverse collection at that, including the floppy disk, the social security system, the Apollo space missions, and the UPC barcode. All of this self-congratulation is not without cause, of course. IBM was born 100 years ago today in Endicott, New York, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, a merger between three companies, all peddling different technologies. That diversity has helped define IBM from its inception, and has offered a sense of flexibility, making it possible to keep in step with technology's ever-quickening pace for a century. In 1944, the company helped usher in modern computing with the room-sized Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, and 37 years later, it played an important role in defining the era of home computing with the much more manageable IBM Personal Computer. In 1997, IBM introduced a machine that beat the world's reigning chess champion, and earlier this year, it created one that trounced two of the greatest players in Jeopardy history. These days, when the company is not building machines dedicated to outsmarting mankind, it's looking to promote sustainable development through its Smarter Planet program. So, happy centennial, Big Blue, and here's to 100 more, assuming your super-smart machines don't enslave us all in the meantime.
AT&T closes Centennial Wireless deal
Wireless acquisitions tend not to be the most straightforward, easy-to-finalize business dealings in the world, and indeed, it's been almost a year to the day since AT&T announced that it intended to scoop up regional carrier Centennial to the tune of $944 million. Since then, thousands of pounds of red tape have been slashed and the deal has finally been sealed, meaning that Centennial stores will be fully rebranded in 100 US locations by January of next year, while the company's service in Puerto Rico will continue to carry the legacy brand through to mid-2010. For its part, AT&T plans to deploy 3G at "more than 100" Centennial cell sites and expand 3G coverage at 100 others, so it's a mutually beneficial relationship -- though we'll have to wait for feedback from old Centennial customers bearing the brunt of the transition before we start high-fiving. [Thanks, Zachary]
AT&T, Verizon swap wireless markets
We suppose you could think of AT&T and Verizon as football teams and wireless markets as high-priced players, because a few of 'em just got traded like the athletic pieces of meat that they are. It's no secret that Verizon had to offload some markets to satisfy government requirements following its Alltel buy, and AT&T has now agreed in principle to pick up about 1.5 million subscribers' worth of spectrum and equipment in 79 market areas -- mostly rural -- for some $2.35 billion in cash. In the other direction, Verizon will be cutting AT&T a check for $240 million in exchange for about 120,000 subs in five legacy Centennial markets -- contingent, of course, on the successful completion of AT&T's purchase of Centennial. Interesting moves, but it'll be even more interesting to see which move leads its team to the playoffs... er, you know what we mean. Read - AT&T agrees to acquire divestiture properties from Verizon Read - Verizon acquires certain Centennial Wireless properties from AT&T
AT&T picks up Centennial Communications for $944 million
For those who stick to one coast or the other, you may have never even heard of Centennial Communications. Not to worry, though, as AT&T just made said company entirely more relevant. Shortly before heading out of the office on Friday, AT&T decided it fitting to acquire Centennial for a few bucks shy of a billion, or $944 million for those seeking precision. The transaction will beef up AT&T's coverage for customers in rural areas of the Midwest and Southeast United States, not to mention in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. As always, the acquisition must first pass regulatory approval, the approval of Centennial's stockholders and "other customary closing conditions" before the little guy's 1.1 million subscribers officially make the shift, but we certainly don't expect that to be an issue.[Via The New York Times, thanks to everyone who sent this in]