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As 2007 rolls to a close, Microsoft isn’t letting up on its efforts to push Windows Vista. The latest promotion is aimed at subscribers Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) or TechNet who provided Microsoft with Vista testing feedback. “As we approach the one year anniversary of launching Windows Vista we want to remember you as one of the many people who downloaded and tested one of the Windows Vista Beta or Release Candidates through TechNet or MSDN. YOU were a significant contributor to the development of Windows Vista. Your participation was extremely valuable to Microsoft, and we would like to say, ‘Thank You!’” according to an e-mail message I received about the promotion at the end of December. Under terms of…

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One of the pied-pipers of social networking is making some predictions about where the most talked about technology of 2007 is heading in the new year. In his blog post, Marc Canter proclaimed, “All software is about people and now all software will have social features in it.” His company, Broadband Mechanics, has been a pioneer in developing a open social platform. Marc optimistically predicts that in 2008 the social networking will get its act together in a more open way, such as via Google’s OpenSocial APIs: Humans are migratory beasts and they’ll not sit still, while they want to maintain the relationships they established in Friendster, Orkut or MySpace - they also wish to go onto Facebook, the Chocolate…

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Well, as we clear our throats to sing Auld Lang Syne, can’t let this year pass without paying homage to that so totally Digged post of ours, Clueless flight attendant to passenger: Turn off that iPhone movie NOW! This post captured dual honors as our most Commented upon, and most read post of 2007. Struck a nerve because it told a story that was not only funny, but acted as a confirmation for the widely held belief that in-flight services have really declined in the U.S. And for the record: as one formerly clueless flight attendant hopefully has learned by now, you can watch movies on your iPhone. Just stay in Airplane Mode and you won’t interfere with the tower….

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Sheesh!  What is it about Apple RAM that makes it so ridiculously expensive.  $700 to upgrade a 2GB iMac to 4GB.  What is this, RAM for millionaires?  Is it coated with precious metals and stones and come in a box lined with albino tiger cub fur or something? Seriously, when Dwight Silverman said that Apple charges $850 to upgrade an aluminum iMac to 4 GB when configuring a new unit, I thought he’d had too much mulled wine over the Holidays, but no, he’s right - an upgrade will set you back $850 notes.  Then I thought that this must be some kind of mistake, and that other systems are offered with more sensibly priced RAM upgrades - nope.  It doesn’t matter…

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A picture of what may or may not be the next-generation Blackberry 9000 popped up in an online forum. The device does not appear to have a touchscreen, but it does sport a black iPhone-like sheen. Again, this could be the real deal, a hoax, or some unrelated prototype. But one thing [...]

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Okay, final list for 2007. Here are the top-25 bookmarked or shared posts from the year, as determined by people who used the “Add This” bookmark button at the bottom of each post (see also our other year-end lists: Popular, Headlines, Launches, Deals, Deadpool):

1
 
The Secret [...]

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I’ll be back to regular postings on Wednesday now that the holidays are almost over, the in-laws are back home, and the new X-Box 360 has lost just a tiny bit of its original addicting novelty. However, for today, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about my New Year’s resolutions. We all make them but we rarely stick to them, so I’m not even going to bother with the usual “I’m going to lose 20 pounds this year” (even though I should) or “I’m going to exercise 3 times a week” (even though I really should). Instead, I’m thinking about resolutions for my job, career, and Ed Tech in general. I am going to prioritize tech support…

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The launch of Resolutions 2.0 by Revolution Health is the first shot in what will be a drumbeat of news releases from commercial health sites in 2008. A combination of technology, marketing, and corporate ambition should cause Revolution, and such rivals as Healthline and Healthcare.com, to break out the big PR all year. But while we’re poring through the public announcements, take a close look under the hood. That’s where the real battle will be fought. I personally think the target should be Healthways, which we profiled last month, and which is in the business of delivering health care information on behalf of insurance companies. The areas of disease management and wellness management are beginning to merge, thanks to the Web,…

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  As we get to roll in the new year we see that eok, marion and samuel from touchmods have rigged up a way to make a VoIP call over an iPod Touch. Not an iPhone, mind you, but an iPod Touch. I wrote that right. Watch the video for a play-by-play. Details, including download of available software to do this, coming soon. Soon as in next year, which as I write this is less than 18 hours away. Speaking of, “should auld….”

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Rounding out our year-end lists—see also the Most Popular Posts of 2007, the Year in TechCrunch Headlines, the Year in Deals, and the Year in Deadpool—here is a selection of some of the notable startup and product launches TechCrunch covered in 2007:

Ribbit Pulls Back the Covers On Its Voice 2.0 Master Plan (And Raises $10 [...]

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