Skype hints at online video

Skype, the Internet telecoms company newly acquired by eBay, has hinted it could soon offer online video services, reports Times Online.

Skype`s move into content distribution has begun with the launch of Personalise Skype, a feature that means callers can receive and send pictures, sounds and ringtones over the Skype network.

However, the report says Skype has not ruled out the possibility of providing other content such as online video or television services, quoting Skype marketing VP Paul Klein as saying the company is open to working with third-parties wanting to provide content.

Klein says video services have been discussed within Skype and suggests the company would unveil further new services in the next few months.

Google plans to work with NASA on a number of research and development activities, reports ZDNet.

Google and NASA have signed a memorandum of understanding that reportedly outlines plans for co-operation in various areas, including supercomputing and the combination of biological, information and nanotechnology research to make new materials.

According to NASA, the partnership presents an enormous range of potential benefits to the space programme, such as improved analysis of engineering problems.

The report says other technologies that are likely to be on the wish list of space enthusiasts include an extension to Google Earth to cover other planets, or even the entire solar system.

Eastman Kodak has begun distributing what the company claims to be the world`s first fully functional wireless camera.

Newsday.com says the new Kodak digital camera is able to send high-quality pictures directly into e-mail boxes by connecting with the Internet wirelessly at any wireless hotspot provided by a growing number of hotels, coffee shops, airports and other public places.

The report says although Nikon shipped a WiFi camera to stores last month, users of the Nikon P1 still need to download images to a computer before they can be sent via the Internet.

The report also says camera phones already offer instant photo-sharing capabilities but typically produce low-resolution images. The EasyShare-One boasts a 4MP resolution.

A trade group representing the US music industry has filed lawsuits against 757 people it claims used online file-sharing networks to illegally trade in copyrighted songs.

According to Reuters, the latest round brings the total copyright infringement lawsuits filed by the US music industry against individuals to 14 800.

The report says 64 of the latest lawsuits were filed against individuals using college networks.

Electronic music-playing creature "Iz" has been launched by toymaker Zizzle to cash in on the rising wave in portable music players, reports Reuters.

Zizzle, a new company founded by former executives from Tiger Electronics, had initially hoped to launch "Iz" in 2006, but was persuaded by retails to reschedule.

"Iz" is a three-legged plastic creature that kids can use to create music or use as an MP3 player speaker. The toy is to be marketed through the Toys R Us retail chain.