Facebook, the Natural Resources Defense Council, energy information software maker Opower and 16 U.S. utilities launched the free app on Tuesday. The app connects your energy utility to your Facebook account, with your permission, and posts your energy usage each month.
This being Facebook, the app urges competition among friends to see who has the most energy-efficient home. It also compares your energy use to similar homes in your area, as well as homes that are considered energy-efficient.
Participating utilities include National Grid in New York and Massachusetts, Austin Utilities in Minnesota and City of Palo Alto Utilities in California.
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Online:
http://social.opower.com
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Dell buys Clerity in latest bet on cloud computing
ROUND ROCK, Texas — Dell has bought business software company Clerity Solutions, the PC maker's latest bet on cloud computing.
The Round Rock, Texas, company did not say Tuesday how much it was paying for Clerity.
Cloud computing is meant to save money and space by letting businesses keep their technology in far-flung data centers rather than on individual machines on-site. Workers can then retrieve computer programs and documents from any device that's connected to the Internet.
Clerity's technology helps companies migrate from older computer networks to new IT systems, including cloud computing. Clerity said its services help customers automate that transition, which it says can cut down on the cost and time of retesting systems and retraining IT workers.
Clerity was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Chicago. Dell said it welcomed Clerity's 70 employees to its services division.
On Monday, Dell said it planned to buy Wyse Technology, another cloud computing company.
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Police: Dubai watching the Web round the clock
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A senior Dubai cyber-crimes investigator says authorities are now conducting round-the-clock monitoring of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The stepped up Web watching in the United Arab Emirates comes amid rising crackdowns on alleged political dissent, including recent arrests of activists for Internet postings deemed challenges to the country's rulers.
Maj. Salem Obaid Salmeen, Dubai's deputy director of anti-electronic crimes, was quoted Wednesday by the news website Emirates 24/7 as saying social media sites are considered "public spaces" and the country's laws apply.
The UAE does not permit political parties and open protests for reforms can bring arrests.
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NYC's tourism arm to unveil free smartphone app
NEW YORK — A new free smartphone app will help tourists navigate New York City's restaurants, stores, attractions and more.
NYC Map comes from NYC and Co., the city's tourism and marketing arm. It was designed by CityMaps, a local start-up.
The app will provide access to nearly 90,000 restaurants, stores, attractions, hotels and bars. Its features include reservation bookings on OpenTable, movie ticket purchases via Fandago and information about public transportation. Users can also check in on Foursquare, send tweets and upload photos.
The iPhone app will be available for download on iTunes.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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