Smart thermostat startup Nest has closed on a round of $80 million, we’ve learned, and the funding was done at a post money valuation of $800 million. Google Ventures led the round, and Venrock participated as a new investor, according to our sources. Nest is currently listed on Venrock’s site. The company has raised this round to continue its growth; it’s now shipping 40,000 to 50,000 of its lear

GamesBeat Next is connecting the next generation of video game leaders. And you can join us, coming up October 28th and 29th in San Francisco! Take advantage of our buy one, get one free pass offer. Sale ends this Friday, August 16th. Join us by registering here. Brian Reynolds has a booming laugh, but it won’t be heard in the halls of Zynga anymore. The company’s chief game designer has resigned,

To the untrained eye, all the suggestions we’re inundated with online might seem essentially the same. After all, there’s no big difference between “you might like,” “your friends liked” and “other people who bought this also bought,” right? Actually, there is, and the right approach to making recommendations can make or break a web business. The trick to doing recommendations right, according to

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More As the web infiltrates commerce and social life more each day, more consumers are becoming aware that their personal information is becoming less and less personal. While some websites and applications have transparent sharing policies, stating exactly what information the

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Netflix (s NFLX) has long been famous for giving its employees unlimited vacation time. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings justified this move in a slide deck he first published online in 2009, which also outlines the company’s approach towards hiring (no “brilliant jerks,” please) as well as firing (only keep the people that you’d fight for if they wanted to leave). Facebook (s FB) COO Sheryl Sandberg pra

Dio helps you create shared spaces and interactive experiences that let you relive your favorite moments. GamesBeat Next is almost here! GB Next is the premier event for product leaders and leadership in the gaming industry. Coming up October 28th and 29th, join fellow leaders and amazing speakers like Matthew Bromberg (CEO Unity), Amy Hennig (Co-President of New Media Skydance Games), Laura Navia