WRAL Tech Wire

Google plans music service; CEO Page discloses vocal cord ailment

Search giant Google reportedly plans an online musice service to rival Spotify; meanwhile, Google CEO discloses what his health problem is - difficulties with his vocal cords.

Tech truce: Microsoft embraces a Google service for a change

In a rare bit of cooperation, Microsoft's Outlook.com is giving users of its free email service the option of logging into Google Chat to exchange instant messages and engage in audio or video conversations.

 Beaker builds recruiting chemistry with new life sciences hiring model

Raleigh startup Beaker isn't an executive search firm, a software company or a social network. But combining elements of all three brings a new twist to life sciences recruiting.

Beaker

YouTube says the battle with TV is already over

YouTube says more 18- to 34-year olds watch YouTube than any cable network.

Bankruptcy court gives OK to Dex One-SuperMedia merger

The approval clears the way for a stock-for-stock merger of the two companies with Dex One shareholders owning some 60 percent of the combined company.

 E-commerce firm ChannelAdvisor's going public party may be in trouble

The Morrisville-based company makes several changes in its SEC filing that indicate a proposed offering of stock is not generating traction among investors, sources familiar with IPO filings tell WRALTechWire. What are the changes, and what could they mean?

Smithsonian to share with world through new broadband initiative

Through a new initiative announced last week with Internet2, the Smithsonian now will be able to share historical and cultural collections, access remote instruments, and promote interactivity with its treasures all over the world.

The Castle

Google buys startup that summarizes online content

Wavii's natural-language technology could be useful for Google's Knowledge Graph, an 11-month-old feature that summarizes information in boxes that appear alongside some of Google's search results.

 Yahoo Chairman Amoroso joins boardroom exodus

Alfred Amoroso's departure announced Thursday marks the seventh member of Yahoo's board to leave since early last year.

 Online vacation rentals startup VacationFutures launches in Outer Banks

 New IT center will test equipment before the state buys

The patchwork of hardware, software and databases used across various state agencies makes it hard, if not impossible, for state government to get things done, Chris Estes, the state's Chief Information Officer, says. A new testing center may help solve the problem.

 Time Warner Cable reports fewer net subscribers than analysts expected

 Amazon reportedly plans set-top box for streaming video

The world's largest online retailer plans to release a television set-top box that would stream video over the Internet into customers' homes, sources tell Bloomberg news.

 Startup Shoeboxed is now profitable; partnerships help boost customer growth

Receipt management company Shoeboxed has become profitable for the first time, a milestone reached in part through partnerships that introduce its software to more users.

The Shoeboxed team

 IBM doesn't quite measure up to AT&T, Verizon in data hosting report

A review of managed hosting services by research firm Gartner gives "leader" status to AT&T, Verizon and two others. IBM comes in as a "visionary." Gartner also rates highly CenturyLink's service and Rackspace.

 Watch out, Netflix users - A crackdown on accounting sharing may be coming

As many as 10 million people are watching the online video service without paying, one analyst says. The company today has no restrictions on the number of PCs, tablets or phones that can use one account or the number of people who can sign in, though it limits each account to playing two video streams simultaneously.

 Southern Capitol backs another startup from Batanga founder

AudienceFuel, a startup focusing on delivering "premium audiences" to online advertisers, draws financing from Raleigh-based Southern Capitol Ventures, which is very familiar with the firm's CEO.

How AudienceFuel works

 Don't panic, Microsoft shareholders - Product integration will sustain its growth

Analysis: The continued decline of the overall PC market and increasing trends of cloud and mobility in both the enterprise and consumer spaces has negatively impacted the consistency of Microsoft's core Business and Windows Divisions in recent quarters. But unifying its capabilities should deliver growth.

 Chiquita moves IT infrastructure to Peak 10

It's the second big customer win this month for the data center operator. Peak 10 had previously announced Red Hat (NYSE:RHT) is moving "significant parts" of its IT infrastructure to the company's facilities.

 Wilson's own network to offer gigabit Internet service

The City of Wilson's Greenlight broadband service plans to offer gigabit Internet service no later than July. Thus the city moves into the ranks of areas such as Kansas City, which is deploying the much publicized Google Fiber.

Wilson proclaims its soon-to-be offered gigabit service