Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today.
Facebook Unveils New Messaging System
Facebook (
) has launched what it calls the “Modern Messaging System,” a product that integrates e-mail, IM and texting in a unified inbox. We’ve put together a quick screenshot walkthrough here.
Google Unveils Social, Location-Based Recommendation Engine
Google (
) has just taken the wraps off Hotpot, an early release of a location-based recommendation engine “powered by you and your friends.”
Kinect for Xbox 360 Sells 1 Million Units in 10 Days
Microsoft announced Monday that it has sold more than 1 million units of Kinect for Xbox 360 in the first 10 days after the product’s launch. The tech giant says it expects to sell more than 5 million units by the end of the year.
The Beatles Are Coming to iTunes Today
iTunes will finally begin carrying The Beatles’s catalog of songs Tuesday, according to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
Further News
- Samsung is planning to launch Internet ()-connected TVs using Google’s software, according to Yoon Boo Keun, head of Samsung’s TV division.
- The CEO of Baidu, one of China’s largest and most powerful Internet companies, says 99% of China uses its search engine.
- Twitter ()’s location-specific Trends feature is now available in a total of 18 countries and 24 cities around the world.
- Link-sharing service Bit.ly has launched a new tool that allows users to package multiple links in a single shortened URL.
- Dell Inspiron Duo, the hybrid tablet that flips open to become a netbook, is due for a launch next week, Cnet has learned from sources familiar with the matter.
- Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk has released his latest album online for free.
- Mashable () has launched a new Startups channel.
Image courtesy of iStockphoto (), DNY59
