Federal judge orders stop to Qualcomm chip sales

A U.S. federal judge has clamped further restrictions on Qualcomm's ability to sell and support certain wireless chipsets, saying that they infringe on three patents held by rival Broadcom. ...continue reading 'Federal judge orders stop to Qualcomm chip sales'

Researcher says Sears downloads spyware

Harvard researcher Ben Edelman has criticized Sears for failing to meet FTC guidelines with marketing software it installs on users PCs. ...continue reading 'Researcher says Sears downloads spyware'

Holiday electronics sales strong, says SIA

Sales of semiconductors in November indicate that consumer products such as LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs, digital music players and other devices sold well during the holidays, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) said Monday. ...continue reading 'Holiday electronics sales strong, says SIA'

Vonage, Nortel settle patent dispute for no cash

Vonage Holdings and Nortel Networks have preliminarily agreed to cross-license several patents, ending a dispute between the companies without any monetary payments, Vonage said Monday. ...continue reading 'Vonage, Nortel settle patent dispute for no cash'

U.S. bans spare lithium batteries from checked bags

New rules will go into effect on Jan. 1 that prohibit air passengers in the U.S. from carrying spare lithium batteries in their checked baggage. ...continue reading 'U.S. bans spare lithium batteries from checked bags'

Motorola settles patent dispute with Metrologic

Motorola has settled a long-running patent dispute with Metrologic Instruments, a maker of bar-code scanners. ... continue reading 'Motorola settles patent dispute with Metrologic'

OLPC CTO Jepsen quits nonprofit effort

The One Laptop Per Child project suffered a blow this week, with Chief Technology Officer Mary Lou Jepsen quitting the nonprofit to start a for-profit company to commercialize technology she invented with OLPC. ...continue reading 'OLPC CTO Jepsen quits nonprofit effort'

Baidu CFO killed in holiday accident

Shawn Wang, the chief financial officer of Baidu.com, China's top search engine, was killed in an accident on December 27, the company said Saturday. ...continue reading 'Baidu CFO killed in holiday accident'

AOL to end support for Netscape browser

An historic name in software will effectively pass into history in February as AOL discontinues development and active support for the Netscape browser, according to an official blog. ...continue reading 'AOL to end support for Netscape browser'

Preview: Will CES 2008 live up to the iPhone?

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has a tough job ahead of him when he kicks off the keynote speeches at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2008 in Las Vegas next week. ...continue reading 'Preview: Will CES 2008 live up to the iPhone?'

SCO bumped off Nasdaq

The SCO Group has been removed from the Nasdaq Stock Market because the company declared bankruptcy in September. ...continue reading 'SCO bumped off Nasdaq'

CES scorecard: what came true, what didn't in 2007

Martyn Williams

With more than 2,000 consumer electronics companies fighting for the attention of 140,000 attendees at International CES, the competition to get noticed is fierce. Companies will parade their newest and hottest products and promise starry-eyed consumers and journalists imminent release dates for their gadgets, while the more daring keynote speakers give their predictions for the year ahead. Sometimes they're spot-on -- but other times they're way off the mark, as this look back at the class of 2007 shows. ...continue reading 'CES scorecard: what came true, what didn't in 2007'

Court of appeals hands Google a patent setback

Google's browser toolbar is back in court on patent infringement charges, after a U.S. court of appeals overturned part of a lower court decision. Google's AdSense contextual advertising service, though, is in the clear. ...continue reading 'Court of appeals hands Google a patent setback'

Report: Apple to offer Fox movie rentals

Apple and News Corp. have signed an agreement to offer Twentieth Century Fox movies for rent through the iTunes Music Store, the Financial Times reported Thursday. ...continue reading 'Apple to offer Fox movie rentals'

Panasonic to unveil thinnest Blu-ray Disc drive at CES

Panasonic has developed a Blu-ray Disc drive for laptop computers and plans to unveil it at January's Consumer Electronics Show, the company said Thursday. ...continue reading 'Panasonic to unveil thinnest Blu-ray Disc drive at CES'

Samsung hits back at Sharp with US, Japan complaints

Samsung Electronics has replied to a patent-infringement lawsuit filed against it by Sharp by lodging complaints of its own with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Tokyo District Court, it said Thursday. ...continue reading 'Samsung hits back at Sharp with US, Japan complaints'

EMC will buy Document Sciences for $85M

Storage company EMC has agreed to buy Document Sciences, a developer of software for personalizing mailshots and other communications. It plans to incorporate Document Sciences into its content management and archiving division. ...continue reading 'EMC will buy Document Sciences for $85M'

The 25 most innovative products of the year

Make no mistake, the Web is taking over. Applications are moving to browsers en masse, and technology to take Web apps offline promises to smooth the road ahead. And let's not forget breakthrough devices advancing the Web-anywhere world: Apple has redefined the phone, and One Laptop per Child's sub-$200 laptop is delivering Internet-style collaboration to kids in developing nations. But innovation isn't all on the Web; the PC is evolving as well. Apple has reenvisioned backup, HP has created the first useful touch-screen PC, hybrid hard drives boost speed and battery life, and ultraportables have become even more useful. Chosen from the hundreds of products we reviewed in 2007, here are 25 that will change the way you work, communicate, and play this year--and beyond. ...continue reading 'The 25 most innovative products of the year'

8 new weapons to fight the talent wars in '08

Thomas Hoffman, Computerworld

The current demand for IT talent is being driven by a number of factors, including investments in new projects, a dramatic reduction in the number of IT grads from U.S. colleges and the first of the baby boomer retirements. Whatever the causes, savvy CIOs, recruiters, headhunters and other hiring managers are trying out new or updated weapons to fight for IT talent. Here are eight that you may want to wield in the coming year. ...continue reading '8 new weapons to fight the talent wars in '08'

Hackers quickly move to exploit Bhutto assassination

Within hours of yesterday's assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, malware makers exploited the breaking news to dupe users into downloading attack code, security researchers said Friday. ...continue reading 'Hackers quickly move to exploit Bhutto assassination'

'Saudi blogger arrested, held without charges

Saudi Arabian officials have reportedly detained a blogger whose writing has criticized religious extremism in the country, according to the two press freedom groups and a regional human-rights organization. ...continue reading 'Saudi blogger arrested, held without charges'

Warner to offer music via Amazon without DRM

Amazon.com has added songs from Warner Music Group to the range it sells as MP3 files without DRM (digital rights management), the companies said Friday. ...continue reading 'Warner to offer music via Amazon without DRM'

Firmware issues delay release of Optimus Maximus keyboard

The Optimus Maximus keyboard developed by Russian designer Artemy Lebedev has been delayed once again, this time by problems with the device's firmware. ...continue reading 'Firmware issues delay release of Optimus Maximus keyboard'

7 unwritten rules of the Internet for 2007

Reflecting on the stories of 2007, one thing becomes abundantly clear: A lot of people have very bad ideas that subsequently get played out on the Internet. So, in the spirit of learning from our mistakes, here are 7 rules that will keep you out of trouble in 2008. ...continue reading '7 unwritten rules of the Internet for 2007'

Poll: Coolest fictional vehicle?

- KITT
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- A-Team van
- James Bond's Aston Martin
- Batmobile
- Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet
- Starship Enterprise

Vote now!


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

What was your dream job as a kid?

Astronaut - 39.7%
Train engineer - 10.3%
Ballerina - 10.3%
Cowboy/girl - 2.9%
Army guy/gal - 7.4%
Doctor - 14.7%
Why, exactly what I'm doing now! - 14.7%

Answer another poll

Microsoft sues domain name registrar for typosquatting

Microsoft has sued domain name registrar Red Register claiming that it is illegally profiting from Microsoft's trademarks. ...continue reading 'Microsoft sues domain name registrar for typosquatting'

IBM dishes five predictions for future

Drained by your commute? Blood-sucking utility bills got you down? Wondering if that tomato in your dinner salad was really organic? IBM predicts that cures to those ills and more may arrive within five years. ...continue reading 'IBM dishes five predictions for future'

Hitachi, Canon, Panasonic tie in flat-panel displays

Hitachi, Canon and Panasonic have agreed to a wide-ranging collaboration that will see the three companies share the cost, burden and benefits of development and production of flat-panel displays. ...continue reading 'Hitachi, Canon, Panasonic tie in flat-panel displays'

iPhone and me: A love story

Elizabeth Montalbano, IDG News Service

Like the star on a Christmas tree, iPhone is perched atop all the top 10 gadget lists for 2007, and with good reason. Not only did iPhone revolutionize the way people think about their mobile phones -- as many writing those lists crow -- but in my case, it has changed the way I live. ...continue reading 'iPhone and me: A love story'

U.K. health chief defends plan for records database

The head of the U.K. National Health Service has defended plans to build a centralized database of patient records following another embarrassing loss of personal information by the government. ...continue reading 'U.K. health chief defends plan for records database'

Google replies to lawmaker's questions on privacy

Google has responded to a U.S. congressman's series of questions about its privacy practices, with the company defending its use of consumer data and repeating its call for Congress to pass a national privacy law that would create a 'uniform framework for privacy'. ...continue reading 'Google replies to lawmaker's questions on privacy'

Wikia search project to launch Jan. 7, Wales says

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has set Jan. 7 as the launch date for an open-source search project that eventually hopes to challenge Google and other established players. ...continue reading 'Wikia search project to launch Jan. 7, Wales says'

Cisco green plan looks beyond routers

Power is a growing issue in data centers as the cost of energy rises and concerns about global climate change increase. Being able to collect and analyze information about power usage is a big part of the battle and becoming more crucial in the age of virtualization, says Paul Marcoux, vice president of green engineering at Cisco. ...continue reading 'Cisco green plan looks beyond routers'

Storm worm tempts with Christmas strip show

Starting Monday, Storm-infected machines began sending out Christmas-themed spam in yet another attempt to trick victims into downloading malicious software. In this case, the site is named Merrychristmasdude.com, and the malware is a variation of the Storm Trojan horse program that has been plaguing systems around the world since January. ...continue reading 'Storm worm tempts with Christmas strip show'

The Queen logs on to YouTube

The Queen's Christmas message, an annual greeting from the U.K.'s Queen Elizabeth II to her subjects, will be available on YouTube for the first time this year as part of an official YouTube channel opened on Sunday by Buckingham Palace. ...continue reading 'The Queen logs on to YouTube'

Iowa judge: Workers have the right to enjoy Dilbert

David Steward was fired from his job at an Iowa casino after he hung up a Dilbert comic that compared managerial decision-makers to "drunken lemurs." But a judge says that this was "a good-faith error in judgment," not intentional misbehavior, and that he was thus eligible for unemployment benefits. Dilbert artist Scott Adams thinks it might be the first confirmed instance of someone being fired for posting his comic in the workplace. ...continue reading 'Iowa judge: Workers have the right to enjoy Dilbert'

McAfee to pay $13.8 million to settle backdating lawsuits

McAfee has taken two major steps toward closing the stock-option backdating scandal that has plagued the company for the past two years. ...continue reading 'McAfee to pay $13.8 million to settle backdating lawsuits'

Google's DoubleClick deal brings greater focus on privacy

Nearly lost in the news about the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's approval on Thursday of Google's acquisition of DoubleClick was another action by the agency: the publication of a proposed set of privacy principles governing online behavioral advertising. continue reading 'Google's DoubleClick deal brings greater focus on privacy'

U.S. trade agency to investigate antivirus patent claims

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to investigate claims by Trend Micro of competitors' patent infringement involving antivirus products. ...continue reading 'U.S. trade agency to investigate antivirus patent claims'

Lucent agrees to pay fines for China dealings

Alcatel-Lucent has agreed to pay $2.5 million in fines to resolve allegations that it provided Chinese government officials with free trips to Disneyland and other tourist attractions. ...continue reading 'Lucent agrees to pay fines for China dealings'

AT&T, Vonage finalize patent lawsuit settlement

A patent infringement lawsuit filed by AT&T against voice-over-IP telephony provider Vonage has been settled, Vonage said late Friday. '...continue reading AT&T, Vonage finalize patent lawsuit settlement'

Dad sells kid's video game as punishment, makes $9,000

A Canadian man was very excited to have found the much-coveted Guitar Hero III as a Christmas present for his son -- that is, until he caught the 15-year-old smoking pot in the backyard. As punishment, he sold the boy's game -- now virtually impossible to find anywhere -- on eBay, netting $9,000 from an Australian buyer. ...continue reading 'Dad sells kid's video game as punishment, makes $9,000'

E.U. group says Google-DoubleClick deal will harm privacy

European consumer groups warned the European Commission Thursday that Google's plan to take over the online advertising company DoubleClick, currently under investigation, would erode consumers' privacy and would push up prices for online goods and services. ...continue reading 'E.U. group says Google-DoubleClick deal will harm privacy'

'Bricking' bug threatens most HP, Compaq laptops

The hacker who posted an exploit last week that threatened a large swath of Hewlett-Packard Co.'s laptop lineup followed up Wednesday with new attack code that can 'brick' nearly every HP laptop. ...continue reading ''Bricking' bug threatens most HP, Compaq laptops'

Air France launches in-flight cell phone trial

Air France launched a commercial trial of an onboard cell phone service that would allow users to send and receive short messages and e-mails, although initally travelers won't be able to make or receive voice calls. ...continue reading 'Air France launches in-flight cell phone trial'

IBM unveils 'smart' e-mail search engine

IBM has created a free semantic e-mail search engine aimed at users of the company's Lotus Notes software and Microsoft Outlook. ...continue reading 'IBM unveils 'smart' e-mail search engine'

New York nears decision on ODF vs OOXML

Officials in New York are nearing decision-making time about which XML-based office document format, ODF or OOXML, that state will use across the IT systems of its agencies as the debate over a universal file format continues. ...continue reading 'New York nears decision on ODF vs OOXML'

Oracle's earnings soar

Robust software sales pushed Oracle's second-quarter net income up 35 percent compared to the same period last year, to $1.3 billion, or $0.25 per share, the company said Wednesday. ...continue reading 'Oracle's earnings soar'

Microsoft, Google, Yahoo settle gambling charges

Microsoft, Google and Yahoo have agreed to pay a total of $31.5 million to resolve claims that they promoted illegal gambling, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday. ...continue reading 'Microsoft, Google, Yahoo settle gambling charges'

Wi-Fi mesh lights up Mecca for Hajj

The millions of pilgrims in Mecca this week for the Hajj, an annual gathering of Muslims, can stay connected thanks to a temporary Wi-Fi mesh network covering a large part of the city. ...continue reading 'Wi-Fi mesh lights up Mecca for Hajj'

Many small companies look to bid in 700MHz auction

The upcoming 700MHz spectrum auctions by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission have drawn bid applications from giant companies including Google and AT&T. But a number of small companies and individuals have submitted bid applications as well. ...continue reading 'Many small companies look to bid in 700MHz auction'

Microsoft to release IE 8 beta 1 in first half of 2008

Microsoft plans to release the first beta of the next version of Internet Explorer in the first half of 2008, and said Wednesday that IE 8 has passed a key Web standards test that ensures the browser won't 'break' the Web. ...continue reading 'Microsoft to release IE 8 beta 1 in first half of 2008'

Microsoft to release IE 8 beta 1 in first half of 2008

Microsoft plans to release the first beta of the next version of Internet Explorer in the first half of 2008, and said Wednesday that IE 8 has passed a key Web standards test that ensures the browser won't 'break' the Web. ...continue reading 'Microsoft to release IE 8 beta 1 in first half of 2008'

FTC approves Google/DoubleClick deal

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will not try to block Google's acquisition of online ad-serving vendor DoubleClick, the agency said Thursday. ...continue reading 'FTC approves Google/DoubleClick deal'

Software AG pays $26M for mainframe UI tools

Software AG has bought the application modernization activities of Jacada, adding to its portfolio of tools for prolonging the life of mainframe applications by giving them a Web interface. ...continue reading 'Software AG pays $26M for mainframe UI tools'

Trojan bumps Google ads from Web pages

A security company has identified a Trojan horse program that replaces Google text advertisements on Web pages with ads from another source, depriving Google of revenue and potentially causing problems for end users. ...continue reading 'Trojan bumps Google ads from Web pages'

Microsoft offers work-around for IE security patch problems

Microsoft has offered a technical work-around for Internet Explorer users who have found their browsers crashing after installing a recent set of security patches. ...continue reading 'Microsoft offers work-around for IE security patch problems'

Apple update fixes freezing MacBooks

A software update addressing an issue that caused the keyboard to freeze is now available for Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro systems. ...continue reading 'Apple update fixes freezing MacBooks'

NetSuite raises estimated IPO price yet again

NetSuite on Wednesday boosted the estimated price range for its IPO (initial public offering) for the second time in just two days, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The range now stands at $19 to $22, after NetSuite raised it to $16 to $19 on Tuesday. ...continue reading 'NetSuite raises estimated IPO price yet again'

Cisco hires environmental guru for green efforts

Cisco has hired one of the founders of the 'Green Grid,' Paul Marcoux, to be its new environmental guru. ...continue reading 'Cisco hires environmental guru for green efforts'

Google Toolbar flaw opens door for phishers

Google is working to fix a bug in the Google Toolbar that could allow criminals to steal data or install malicious software on a system, a security researcher warned Tuesday. ...continue reading 'Google Toolbar flaw opens door for phishers'

MPAA wins copyright case against TorrentSpy

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

700MHz auction draws Verizon, Chevron

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday released lists of accepted and incomplete applications for the auction of 700MHz wireless spectrum, in which it will sell licenses to frequencies that are set to be vacated by analog TV stations. It has accepted 96 applications and reported 170 as incomplete. The latter need to be completed by Jan. 4. ...continue reading '700MHz auction draws Verizon, Chevron'

SugarCRM offers biggest upgrade yet

SugarCRM has released the 5.0 version of its open-source customer relationship management software following a long period of development and testing. ...continue reading 'SugarCRM offers biggest upgrade yet'

IE, Gmail bugs allow hijacking of accounts on public PCs

Microsoft Corp.'s Internet Explorer (IE) browser has an unpatched vulnerability that could let hackers hijack, then access, Google Inc. Gmail accounts, a California security company warned Monday. ...continue reading 'IE, Gmail bugs allow hijacking of accounts on public PCs'

Microsoft releases Dynamics CRM 4.0 to manufacturing

Targeted mainly at its VAR (Value Added Reseller) channel, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Version 4.0 was released to manufacturing this week. ...continue reading 'Microsoft releases Dynamics CRM 4.0 to manufacturing'

New Sprint chief Hesse faces a big inbox

New Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse has lots of choices as he takes over the ailing mobile carrier and looks for problems to start solving. ...continue reading 'New Sprint chief Hesse faces a big inbox'

Privacy groups: FTC has obligation in Google deal

Two privacy groups are stepping up the pressure on the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, saying the agency has an obligation to consider privacy concerns as it prepares to rule on the antitrust implications of Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick. ...continue reading 'Privacy groups: FTC has obligation in Google deal'

'Atlas' tools extend Lotus Connections

IBM on Tuesday released Atlas, a software toolset that provides advanced search and analysis functions for its enterprise social networking product, Lotus Connections. ...continue reading ''Atlas' tools extend Lotus Connections'

NetSuite raises IPO price range

NetSuite has raised the estimated price range for its IPO (initial public offering) to $16 to $19, from the original $13 to $16. ...continue reading 'NetSuite raises IPO price range'

Congress slow on tech issues in '07

Congress passed a handful of bills on many tech vendor and trade group wish lists, but in several cases, they represented partial victories. ...continue reading 'Congress slow on tech issues in '07'

Sprint Nextel names Dan Hesse CEO

U.S. mobile operator Sprint Nextel has appointed Dan Hesse as president and CEO. He replaces Gary Forsee, who resigned in October. ...continue reading 'Sprint Nextel names Dan Hesse CEO'

Facebook watchers offer advice against data leaks

A recent lawsuit filed against the operator of a Canadian porn site by social networking giant Facebook Inc. should serve as a security warning for both small and large enterprises, analysts said. ...continue reading 'Facebook watchers offer advice against data leaks'

Analyst: Apple TV leads pack in emergent industry

Apple's Apple TV leads the pack in terms of internet video delivery devices, though market growth has been stymied by lack of available content and the cost of entry, a report claims. ...continue reading 'Analyst: Apple TV leads pack in emergent industry'

IBM expects $1 billion in India revenue this year

IBM expects to make about $1 billion in revenue from India this year, as the company's hardware and services businesses in the local market soar. ...continue reading 'IBM expects $1 billion in India revenue this year'

New company encourages phone applications

A Mountain View, California, company is launching a platform designed to let developers create telephony applications they can embed in Web pages and existing Web-based services. ...continue reading 'New company encourages phone applications'

Software tracks messages sent to and from BlackBerrys

Gwava, the developer of security software, plans to introduce on Monday a new product that lets enterprises easily track and find text messages and phone calls that BlackBerry users send and receive. ...continue reading 'Software tracks messages sent to and from BlackBerrys'

IBM partners with ACI Worldwide on e-payment tools

IBM said Monday that it is partnering with ACI Worldwide, an electronic payment software vendor, to create a payments system based on service oriented architecture (SOA) principles. ...continue reading 'IBM partners with ACI Worldwide on e-payment tools'

Facebook sues Canadian porn company over hacking

Facebook is suing a Canadian Internet porn company and seventeen people for allegedly trying to mine its site for personal details. ...continue reading 'Facebook sues Canadian porn company over hacking'

Dell reinventing itself, but support issues linger

Dell's efforts to reinvent itself this year through a dramatic break from its direct-sales model, expanded services and new enterprise offerings have shown positive early results, but some users have lingering concerns about supply chain management and support -- long-time issues for the company. ...continue reading 'Dell reinventing itself, but support issues linger'

Toshiba shows first HD DVD-RW laptop

Toshiba will begin selling later this week the first laptop computer to feature a rewritable HD DVD optical disc drive, the company said on Monday. ...continue reading 'Toshiba shows first HD DVD-RW laptop'

Hack this school network, win a router

There's a wireless router gathering dust in Bob LaRocca's office. It's yours if you can hack into his network. ...continue reading 'Hack this school network, win a router'

Unix admin tried to axe power grid

A California man pleaded guilty Friday to charges that he shut down the data center responsible for managing the state's electrical supply. ...continue reading 'Unix admin tried to axe power grid'

FTC chairman won't recuse herself in Google deal

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras won't recuse herself from considering the antitrust implications of Google's proposed acquisition of DoubleClick, despite a request from two privacy groups that she do so. ...continue reading 'FTC chairman won't recuse herself in Google deal'

Sun will offer back-line support for OpenOffice

Sun Microsystems on Monday plans to announce that it will provide support for the OpenOffice.org productivity software suite, citing a wave of momentum behind the open-source project. ...continue reading 'Sun will offer back-line support for OpenOffice'

Opera seeks tougher remedy in Microsoft case

With its fresh antitrust suit filed with the Commission this week, browser maker Opera Software is hoping for a tougher penalty to rein in what it sees as Microsoft's illegal bundling of its Internet Explorer (IE) browser with Windows. One legal expert said that this time around, Microsoft might not be so lucky. ...continue reading 'Opera seeks tougher remedy in Microsoft case'

Google's Picasa optimized for iPhone

Google has introduced specific support for its online photo gallery service Picasa on the iPhone. ...continue reading 'Google's Picasa optimized for iPhone'

Cisco's WiMax focus is in developing world

Cisco Systems sees a big market for WiMax, but not primarily in high-profile deployments in the developed world such as Sprint Nextel's nationwide network, planned for commercial launch in the U.S. next year. ...continue reading 'Cisco's WiMax focus is in developing world'

AMD's Ruiz 'blew it' in 2007, but still gets raise

AMD Chairman and CEO Hector Ruiz acknowledged Thursday that 2007 was a bad year for his company, but that didn't stop AMD's board of directors from raising his salary anyway. ...continue reading 'AMD's Ruiz 'blew it' in 2007, but still gets raise'

After attacks, Apple fixes QuickTime bug

Apple has released a new security patch for QuickTime, its eighth update this year for the media player software. ...continue reading 'After attacks, Apple fixes QuickTime bug'

FTC, law firm hiding DoubleClick conflict

The Web site of a law firm employing the husband of U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras contradicts an FTC explanation that Majoras has no conflict of interest in reviewing DoubleClick's $3.1 billion acquisition by Google, two privacy groups said Thursday. ...continue reading 'FTC, law firm hiding DoubleClick conflict'

Google develops Wikipedia rival

Google is developing an online publishing platform where people can write entries on subjects they know, an idea that's close to Wikipedia's user-contributed encyclopedia - but with key differences. ...continue reading 'Google develops Wikipedia rival'

Forrester: 2008 to be a slow year for IT spending

Forrester Research has revised projections for IT investment in 2008 down from previous research published in October, predicting the year ahead will be a slow one both in the U.S. and globally. ...continue reading 'Forrester: 2008 to be a slow year for IT spending'

Atheros to acquire GPS chip maker u-Nav

Silicon vendor Atheros Communications has agreed to acquire u-Nav Microelectronics, a GPS (Global Positioning System) chip maker, for approximately $54 million in cash and stock, the companies announced after the close of trading Thursday. ...continue reading 'Atheros to acquire GPS chip maker u-Nav'

AMD gives up on 2007, aims Barcelona, profitability for 2008

AMD has delayed general availability of some key products until early next year, when it projects the chips, along with other new processors, will return it to profitability. ...continue reading 'AMD gives up on 2007, aims Barcelona, profitability for 2008'

10 reasons IT should not support the Apple iPhone

Al Sacco, CIO.com

A new report from Forrester Research suggests that the iPhone may never get a chance to succeed in business. Forrester says IT departments should refuse to support the devices for the following 10 reasons. ...continue reading '10 reasons IT should not support the Apple iPhone'

10 reasons IT should not support the Apple iPhone

Al Sacco, CIO.com

A new report from Forrester Research suggests that the iPhone may never get a chance to succeed in business. Forrester says IT departments should refuse to support the devices for the following 10 reasons. ...continue reading '10 reasons IT should not support the Apple iPhone'

Microsoft releases beta of Hyper-V virtualization technology

Microsoft Thursday did something it rarely does. The company released a beta for a long-awaited technology -- in this case its Windows Server 2008 virtualization technology Hyper-V -- ahead of schedule. ...continue reading 'Microsoft releases beta of Hyper-V virtualization technology'

Study predicts data center energy spike

An AMD study has revealed fascinating changes to global data center energy use, suggesting that even small shifts in operational procedures could cut new electricity consumption. ...continue reading 'Study predicts data center energy spike'

AMD fuses GPU, core logic, CPU on new 'Swift' chip

AMD plans to combine the functions of three chips - the GPU (graphics processing unit ), core-logic chipset and CPU (central processing unit) - into one code-named 'Swift', an executive said Thursday. ...continue reading 'AMD fuses GPU, core logic, CPU on new 'Swift' chip'

MS eScience group offers database advice to scientists

Microsoft Research's eScience group is helping scientific researchers use database and online sharing tools in ways they might not have imagined, and sharing those experiences with Microsoft product groups that can tweak their software for easier use by the scientific community. ...continue reading 'MS eScience group offers database advice to scientists'

Infidelity a problem? Offset your cheating online

A Web site is offering people the chance to offset their infidelity by paying random strangers to remain faithful in a satirical bid to highlight its view of carbon offsetting as an 'inadequate' and 'misguided' response to climate change. ...continue reading 'Infidelity a problem? Offset your cheating online'

Doris Lessing and the Internet: "We never thought to ask"

Dan Blacharski, ITworld.com

The tech blogs have been abuzz with criticism of British writer Doris Lessing's Nobel Prize acceptance speech, in which she referred to the "inanities" of the Internet. Much of the blogosphere took immediate offense. But as much as we love to defend our favored medium, one cannot deny the hard truth of the matter. She's right, the Internet is indeed full of inane and meaningless nothings, wild inaccuracies and unpolished drivel. But we cannot limit this observation to the Internet alone, and blame technology; there is also a high crap-to-quality ratio on television, and yes, even in printed books. ...continue reading Doris Lessing and the Internet: "We never thought to ask"

Opera files EU antitrust suit against Microsoft

Opera Software has filed an antitrust suit against Microsoft in the European Union, accusing it of stifling competition by tying its Internet Explorer Web browser to Windows, the Norwegian company said Thursday. ...continue reading 'Opera files EU antitrust suit against Microsoft'

AMD to face tough questions at analyst meeting

Amid further delays of AMD's quad-core server chip and plans to write off goodwill from the acquisition of ATI, AMD executives are going to face tough questions when they meet financial analysts in New York Thursday. ...continue reading 'AMD to face tough questions at analyst meeting'

Group asks FTC chairman to step down from DoubleClick review

U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras is consulting with the agency's ethics officer to see if she should recuse herself from a review of Google's planned acquisition of online ad network DoubleClick. ...continue reading 'Group asks FTC chairman to step down from DoubleClick review'

International Trade Commission rules in Nokia's favor

A U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) judge made an initial ruling in Nokia's favor in an ongoing and long-running dispute with Qualcomm. ...continue reading 'International Trade Commission rules in Nokia's favor'

Facebook to license its platform for other social sites

Facebook already encourages developers to build applications that work with its site, publishing details of the tags and APIs needed to exchange data. Now it plans to license those details for use by other social networking sites and platforms, according to the Facebook Developers blog. ...continue reading 'Facebook to license its platform for other social sites'

HP looks to SMBs with new shared storage

HP is preparing to launch a new MSA2000 disk array product family for clustered servers, which it is targeting at SMB deployments and remote offices. ...continue reading 'HP looks to SMBs with new shared storage'

Centric CRM changes name, releases 5.0 version

Centric CRM said Wednesday it has changed its name to Concursive Corp., a move that coincides with the 5.0 release of its product. ...continue reading 'Centric CRM changes name, releases 5.0 version'

Top 10 tech stories of 2007

Marc Ferranti, IDG News Service

This year has been a time of realignment and redefinition, as Apple launched its second zeitgeist-defining product of the new century, Dell and Intel battled to regain their former dominance, the software sector consolidated, Google rallied industry heavyweights around a common mobile device platform, and major vendors scrambled to embrace social networking. So without further ado, here are the top 10 stories of the year. ...continue reading 'Top 10 tech stories of 2007'

Microsoft buys Multimap to boost advertising strategy

Microsoft continues to make acquisitions to boost its online services and advertising strategy. Early Wednesday the company said it snapped up Multimap, a U.K. company that provides online mapping for Europe, North America and Australia. ...continue reading 'Microsoft buys Multimap to boost advertising strategy'

Groups launch new white spaces campaign

A coalition of technology vendors, consumer groups and think tanks has launched a campaign to persuade the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to approve wireless devices that would operate in unused television spectrum. ...continue reading 'Groups launch new white spaces campaign'

OpenLogic wants to count open-source users - openly

Open-source enterprise software developer OpenLogic wants open-source users to stand up and be counted in a worldwide census -- and is offering a new software tool to help the process. ...continue reading 'OpenLogic wants to count open-source users - openly'

Ex-JBoss head Fleury joins startup

JBoss founder Marc Fleury has resurfaced as a paid advisor to Appcelerator, a startup based in Atlanta that makes a toolkit for developing rich Internet applications (RIA). ...continue reading 'Ex-JBoss head Fleury joins startup'

iPhone malware attacks for 2008

Security researchers are warning that the iPhone may generate a new hacker crime wave, becoming 'a primary target for hackers in 2008.' ...continue reading 'iPhone malware attacks for 2008'

Open source and the corporate elephant

More and more open-source developers these days are employees of companies, paid to work on open-source projects, rather than independent programmers doing it for fun. The change raises issues for projects, programmers and employers alike. ...continue reading 'Open source and the corporate elephant'

Survey: Interop is top open-source customer worry

The Open Solutions Alliance, a nonprofit group backed by a number of commercial open-source vendors, released a survey on Wednesday that found interoperability is a foremost concern among open-source-software customers. ...continue reading 'Survey: Interop is top open-source customer worry'

US-CERT: Attackers targeting Access files

Online criminals are exploiting a flaw in the Microsoft Office Access database to install unauthorized software on computers, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) warned Monday. ...continue reading 'US-CERT: Attackers targeting Access files'

Innovators reminisce about the PC wonder years

PC innovators Jack Tramiel, Commodore's founder, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak reminisced about the old days of PCs in a panel discussion celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Commodore 64 PC. ...continue reading 'Innovators reminisce about the PC wonder years'

FTC charges payment company in $200M fraud

The Federal Trade Commission has filed charges against a payment processing company, accusing it of attempting to debit consumers' bank accounts for up to $200 million on behalf of dishonest merchants. ...continue reading 'FTC charges payment company in $200M fraud'

Led Zeppelin clips may be hard to wipe off YouTube

YouTube's technology for finding videos posted without the copyright holder's permission may be useless to identify footage posted to the site from Led Zeppelin's reunion concert on Monday. ...continue reading 'Led Zeppelin clips may be hard to wipe off YouTube'

Cisco's EOS online-content platform coming next year

Cisco will introduce next year its Entertainment Operating System (EOS), a platform for delivering multimedia content to online communities. ...continue reading 'Cisco's EOS online-content platform coming next year'

Nokia invests in contactless communications company

Nokia Growth Partners, the private equity and venture capital arm of Nokia, led a $38 million round of investments in Inside Contactless, the fabless semiconductor company that makes contactless chip platforms. Nokia did not reveal how much of the investment it contributed. ...continue reading 'Nokia invests in contactless communications company'

MSN puts ads on mobile phones

Microsoft began displaying advertisements to mobile users of its MSN site in the U.S. on Monday. ...continue reading 'MSN puts ads on mobile phones'

Oops! Skype forgets to tell users of bug or patch job

Skype Ltd. on Monday blamed an "unintentional communication oversight" for not notifying users a month ago that it had patched the Windows version of its voice-over-IP client software against a critical bug. ...continue reading 'Oops! Skype forgets to tell users of bug or patch job'

Microsoft fixes bug in Windows Live file-sharing service

Microsoft confirmed it has fixed a bug in its online file storage and sharing service Windows Live FolderShare after users reported problems that the service was deleting files without user authorization. ...continue reading 'Microsoft fixes bug in Windows Live file-sharing service'

Tempe Wi-Fi network on the block

An early municipal Wi-Fi network in Tempe, Arizona, has only 500 subscribers, but it may have a buyer. ... continue reading 'Tempe Wi-Fi network on the block'

Beware of 'blended threats,' phishing zombies in 2008

'Blended threats' - online security attacks that combine several techniques - are likely to become more pervasive in 2008, security industry insiders say. ... continue reading 'Beware of 'blended threats,' phishing zombies in 2008'

Microsoft details Vista SP1 changes

Microsoft Corp. has posted a detailed account of the changes to Windows Vista in the service pack it is scheduled to roll out as a public beta this week. ... continue reading 'Microsoft details Vista SP1 changes'

'08 IT forecasts: XP lives and the greening of tech

The predictable flood of 2008 IT prognostications has rolled in over the past few weeks and we have listened to analysts, vendors, consultants and our geek friends, accepting some forecasts and rejecting others. Turns out we did pretty well culling the wheat from the chaff last year and gazing ahead, though maybe we weren't bold enough in our declarations. So, this year we'll stretch a little. ... continue reading "'08 IT forecasts: XP lives and the greening of tech"

CIA no role model for CIOs

The recent news that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency destroyed videotapes of interrogations of two terrorist suspects may offer a timely reminder for CIOs at private companies in the U.S., tasked with electronic evidence preservation rules since last December. ... continue reading 'CIA no role model for CIOs'

Facebook partners quiet on Beacon fallout

Many of the companies that were part of the launch of Facebook's new advertising platform intend to continue, despite privacy concerns. ...continue reading 'Facebook partners quiet on Beacon fallout'

NetSuite IPO auction begins

NetSuite on Monday said the auction period for its first initial public offering has begun and that it expects the price will be finalized after the stock market's close on Dec. 19. ...continue reading 'NetSuite IPO auction begins'

Mobile Linux group releases first specification

While Google's Linux mobile phone platform, Android, has been stealing the spotlight, another longer-standing mobile Linux group is also moving ahead. ...continue reading 'Mobile Linux group releases first specification'

CNBC taps Microsoft for banner, contextual ads

CNBC has picked Microsoft to be the exclusive provider of display and contextual advertising in the U.S. for the CNBC.com Web site. ...continue reading 'CNBC taps Microsoft for banner, contextual ads'

Toshiba launches its first tablet PC with LED screen

Toshiba on Monday launched its first tablet PCs with LED screens, taking some thunder away from Dell, which later in the day is expected to launch Latitude XT, its convertible PC with an LED screen. ...continue reading 'Toshiba launches its first tablet PC with LED screen'

Paris on Rails welcomes Ruby on Rails 2.0

Organizers of the Paris on Rails conference that opened Monday were so busy preparing over the weekend that they hadn't heard the good news: Version 2.0 of the Ruby on Rails software development framework was released Friday. ...continue reading 'Paris on Rails welcomes Ruby on Rails 2.0'

EMC adds VMware support to Invista SAN tools

The first upgrade of EMC's Invista networked storage virtualization tool will feature the ability to integrate with VMWare virtual servers. ...continue reading 'EMC adds VMware support to Invista SAN tools'

Iona upgrades open, closed source SOA technologies

On Monday, Iona Technologies is updating its Artix and Fuse SOA product lines, which feature the Artix closed source enterprise service bus and the Fuse open source technologies. ...continue reading 'Iona upgrades open, closed source SOA technologies'

World of Warcraft helps boy survive moose attack

When 12-year-old Hans Jørgen Olsen and his sister encountered an ornery moose while walking in the forest near their Norwegian home, the boy applied skills he acquired playing World of Warcraft. He first diverted the beast's attention away from his younger sister and then played possum, 'just like you learn at level 30', to avoid being attacked. ...continue reading 'World of Warcraft helps boy survive moose attack'

LinkedIn opens site to developers, jazzes up design

LinkedIn will let developers build applications for its professional networking site, an approach recently undertaken by social networking competitor Facebook, to make its site more interactive, the company said Monday. ...continue reading 'LinkedIn opens site to developers, jazzes up design'

Toshiba to make flash-based notebook drives

Toshiba will begin manufacturing flash-based solid-state drives for laptops early next year, which the company said will offer faster boot times and lower power consumption than hard disk drives. ...continue reading 'Toshiba to make flash-based notebook drives'

Dutch government threatens to sideline Microsoft

Proposed legislation that would mandate the use of the Open Document Format (ODF) across the entire Dutch government has infuriated Microsoft. A group promoting open standards sees no threat, however, and has invited Microsoft to join its ranks. ...continue reading 'Dutch government threatens to sideline Microsoft'

Via shrinks the PC with Artigo do-it-yourself kit

Via Technologies is shipping a do-it-yourself computer kit, called Artigo, that's based on the credit card-sized Pico-ITX motherboard announced by the company earlier this year. ...continue reading 'Via shrinks the PC with Artigo do-it-yourself kit
'

Fraud charges for former Microsoft employee

A former Microsoft employee has been charged with fraudulently charging the company $1 million in domain name registration fees. ...continue reading 'Fraud charges for former Microsoft employee'

Stolen laptop had 268,000 blood donor IDs

Following a laptop theft, Memorial Blood Centers in Minnesota is notifying 268,000 blood donors that their Social Security numbers may have been stolen. ...continue reading 'Stolen laptop had 268,000 blood donor IDs'

Delay, repairs, even success hit Palm's profit

Struggling smartphone maker Palm can't win for losing. The company's shares plunged Friday after it forecast a revenue shortfall and a loss for its fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30. Even the success of its newly introduced Centro hurt its financial results, Palm said in a news release. ...continue reading 'Delay, repairs, even success hit Palm's profit'

Free software group files copyright suit against Verizon

A group of lawyers focused on protecting open-source and free software has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Verizon Communications, alleging that routers the company uses with its Fios broadband service violate the GNU GPL (General Public License). ...continue reading 'Free software group files copyright suit against Verizon'

Mozilla, Opera look to make video on the Web easier

New features in the Firefox and Opera browsers could make it less complex and cheaper for people to incorporate video into their Web sites, representatives of Mozilla and Opera say. ...continue reading 'Mozilla, Opera look to make video on the Web easier'

Google disables Gmail accounts by mistake

Google this week mistakenly disabled the Gmail accounts of an undetermined number of users due to an apparently overzealous attempt by the company to combat spammers. ...continue reading 'Google disables Gmail accounts by mistake'

Senate passes extension of R&D tax credit

The U.S. Senate has passed a one-year extension to a research and development tax credit program supported by many technology trade groups. ...continue reading 'Senate passes extension of R&D tax credit'

Analyst: NetSuite IPO should find success

NetSuite's decision to hold an auction-style initial public offering later this month will probably pay off, one analyst judged on Friday. ...continue reading 'Analyst: NetSuite IPO should find success'

Hackers launch major attack on national labs

Hackers have succeeded in breaking into the computer systems of two of the U.S.' most important science labs, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. ...continue reading 'Hackers launch major attack on national labs'

'Zombie' exploits cached by search engines

Over a year after first coming to light, the cache engines of major search engines are still providing a safe hiding place for malicious code, warns security company Aladdin. ...continue reading ''Zombie' exploits cached by search engines'

Facebook doesn't budge on Beacon's broad user tracking

Facebook's CEO and Founder Mark Zuckerberg has profusely apologized for missteps in the design and deployment of the Beacon ad system, but he remains unrepentant about what privacy advocates consider a particularly egregious feature. ...continue reading 'Facebook doesn't budge on Beacon's broad user tracking'

Microsoft uses new XBRL data tags in SEC filing

Microsoft has submitted data to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) using a newly released taxonomy for a financial reporting language designed to make it easier to compare companies' financial figures. ...continue reading 'Microsoft uses new XBRL data tags in SEC filing'

Multimedia sharing off limits on NAS drive

Concerned about piracy of multimedia files, Western Digital has disallowed the sharing of multimedia files on its 1T-byte network-attached storage drive, the WD My Book World Edition. ...continue reading 'Multimedia sharing off limits on NAS drive'

IBM system to scan streets at Beijing Olympics, NYC

When the 2008 Olympic Games kick off in Beijing next year, organizers will be using a sophisticated computer system to scan video images of city streets looking for everything from troublemakers to terrorists. ...continue reading 'IBM system to scan streets at Beijing Olympics, NYC'

Report: Apple threatens shops selling iPhone in Singapore

Apple recently threatened retailers in a Singapore mall with legal action if they continue to sell unlocked iPhones, prompting many to stop selling the handsets, The Straits Times newspaper reported Friday. ...continue reading 'Report: Apple threatens shops selling iPhone in Singapore'

HP touts BI services growth, NeoView success

Hewlett-Packard's business intelligence (BI) services business saw its customer base grow 50 percent in fiscal 2007, the company said this week, while also trumpeting the success of its Neoview data warehousing appliance. ...continue reading 'HP touts BI services growth, NeoView success'

IDC: Disk storage capacity sales soared in Q3

The capacity of disk storage systems shipped worldwide in the third quarter grew by nearly 50 percent from a year earlier, and EMC maintained its lead in most types of disk storage systems, research company IDC reported Thursday. ...continue reading 'IDC: Disk storage capacity sales soared in Q3'

Media formats to be the focus of upcoming Microsoft patches

Microsoft will issue seven security updates next Tuesday, including critical sets of patches for Windows and Internet Explorer. ...continue reading 'Media formats to be the focus of upcoming Microsoft patches'

Seagate buys e-discovery company

Storage vendor Seagate Technology said Thursday it plans to buy MetaLINCS, an e-discovery software firm. The vendor's move follows Iron Mountain's purchase earlier this year of Stratify, which is also focused on e-discovery. ...continue reading 'Seagate buys e-discovery company'

IDC forecasts IT spending slowdown in '08

IDC forecasts slower growth in IT spending globally and particularly in the U.S., where economic uncertainty will take its toll. ...continue reading 'IDC forecasts IT spending slowdown in '08'

Microsoft reschedules PDC for October 2008

Microsoft has scheduled its Professional Developers Conference for next year after cancelling a meeting that was to be held in October. ...continue reading 'Microsoft reschedules PDC for October 2008'

Best Buy to distribute Dell PCs

In an effort to put more of its PCs on retail shelves, Dell on Thursday signed up with consumer electronics retailer Best Buy to sell its desktops and laptops. ...continue reading 'Best Buy to distribute Dell PCs'

Cisco warns of bug in desktop software

Cisco is advising Windows users of its Cisco Security Agent software to upgrade the product because of a security bug. ...continue reading 'Cisco warns of bug in desktop software'

'AT&T says its wireless network also open to outside devices

AT&T says its wireless network has been open to outside devices and applications for years. ...continue reading 'AT&T says its wireless network also open to outside devices'

Toyota premieres violin-playing robot

Toyota unveiled on Thursday a violin playing robot and said it hopes to have a viable human assistance robots in the early 2010s. ...watch Toyota's new violin-playing robot in action

SourceForge opens eBay-like marketplace

SourceForge Inc.'s open-source, project-hosting Web site now has an eBay-like marketplace, where users can offer support services for sale. ...continue reading 'SourceForge opens eBay-like marketplace'

Oracle buys Dutch apps performance manager Moniforce

Oracle has bought Moniforce, a Dutch vendor of Web application performance management software, for an undisclosed sum. ...continue reading 'Oracle buys Dutch apps performance manager Moniforce'

IBM researchers build supercomputer-on-a-chip

IBM may bring supercomputers to laptops with its newest research project in which pulses of light replace electricity to help cores on chips communicate. ...continue reading 'IBM researchers build supercomputer-on-a-chip'

Dell closes hardware design unit in India

Dell moves its hardware design operation out of India, focusing instead on software development in the country. ...continue reading 'Dell closes hardware design unit in India'

Microsoft to trial XP on OLPC in January

Microsoft said it plans to conduct field trials in January of Windows XP running on the One Laptop Per Child XO laptop. ...continue reading 'Microsoft to trial XP on OLPC in January'

Silicon Valley wireless group seeks new builder

The big-name backers of Silicon Valley's proposed wireless network are looking for a new company to build and operate the system after potential financiers rebuffed the original vendor. ...continue reading 'Silicon Valley wireless group seeks new builder'

Facebook dims Beacon ... Google releases iPhone Web app ... Santa please bring me an HDTV

In this issue:
- Facebook tweaks Beacon again, Zuckerberg apologizes
- Tech groups call on Congress to extend R&D tax credit
- Novell delays financial results due to SEC inquiry
- Google releases iPhone Web app
- Big brands slip up in antivirus tests
- Santa please bring me an HDTV
- Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
- Google integrates AIM into Gmail
- Ten highest-radiation cell phones


TODAY'S NEWS

Facebook tweaks Beacon again, Zuckerberg apologizes
Facebook is giving members of its social network the ability to completely decline participating in the company's controversial Beacon ad system, a reaction to intense criticism that Beacon is too intrusive and compromises people's privacy.

Tech groups call on Congress to extend R&D tax credit
More than 40 trade groups, many representing the IT industry, have renewed their calls for Congress to extend a research and development tax credit that expires this month, saying the tax break protects U.S. jobs.

Novell delays financial results due to SEC inquiry
Novell on Wednesday said it has postponed announcing its fiscal fourth quarter and year-end 2007 results due to an SEC review of its accounting practices.

Google releases iPhone Web app
Google on Wednesday announced the release of a new interface to enable iPhone users to navigate Google's various services through a unified interface.

Big brands slip up in antivirus tests
Many big-brand security products fail to spot commonly-circulating malware, testing outfit has Virus Bulletin found in its latest tests.

Santa please bring me an HDTV
High-definition televisions and high-end game consoles are at the top of holiday wish lists in 2007, according to the results of a new web poll conducted by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
Security researchers have shut down a network of computers responsible for sending out nearly 200 million spam messages supporting the U.S. presidential candidate last month, and after analyzing the server's software, it's clear that there is no such thing as a Ron Paul botnet, according to Joe Stewart, a senior security researcher with SecureWorks. "It probably wasn't even set up by a Ron Paul supporter," he said. "This whole system has been around since 2004. This [spam] somehow just landed in this underground spam economy."

Google integrates AIM into Gmail
Google has integrated AOL's popular AIM instant-messaging service into its Gmail Web-based e-mail client, the company announced on Tuesday.


OPINION

Tim Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web
Dan Blacharski, ITworld

Tim Berners-Lee coins a new term "giant global graph", and gets the joint a buzzin.


ITWHIRLED

Ten highest-radiation cell phones
Worried about all those power emissions coming off of your phone and going straight into your brain, but can't untether yourself from the gadget? This list lets you know which models you should be most freaked out about.


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POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web ... Verizon hedges on using Android ... Ron Paul is not a botmaster

In this issue:
- Tim Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web
- Verizon hedges on using Android
- Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
- Salesforce offers data sharing for customers
- Orange sells 30,000 iPhones in five days
- Former Motorola CTO takes the same position at Cisco
- Ten highest-radiation cell phones
- Poll: What's your current cell phone opinion?


TODAY'S NEWS

Salesforce offers data sharing for customers
Salesforce.com has introduced new features for its on-demand enterprise software designed to let customers share hosted data among themselves.

Ron Paul spam traced to Ukrainian botnet
Ron Paul is not a botmaster.

Orange sells 30,000 iPhones in five days
French mobile phone operator Orange sold 30,000 iPhones in the five days following its Nov. 29 launch, the company said Wednesday.

PDF approved as international standard in ISO vote
Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format) 1.7 has been approved as an international standard by the International Standards Organization (ISO), according to a company executive.

Verizon hedges on using Android
Despite reports to the contrary, Verizon Wireless hasn't yet decided whether it will use Android.

Red Hat aims MRG software at IBM, Tibco
Red Hat on Tuesday unveiled software that combines messaging, real-time and grid capabilities for enterprises that need an OS that can process messages and transactions at lightning speed, such as those in the financial services industry.

Former Motorola CTO takes the same position at Cisco
Padmasree Warrior, who quit as Motorola's CTO Monday, will take the same title at Cisco Systems.

Google integrates AIM into Gmail
Google has integrated AOL's popular AIM instant-messaging service into its Gmail Web-based e-mail client, the company announced on Tuesday.


OPINION

Tim Berners-Lee on Redefining the Web
Dan Blacharski, ITworld

Tim Berners-Lee coins a new term "giant global graph", and gets the joint a buzzin.


ITWHIRLED

Ten highest-radiation cell phones
Worried about all those power emissions coming off of your phone and going straight into your brain, but can't untether yourself from the gadget? This list lets you know which models you should be most freaked out about.


Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

700MHz filing deadline: What's next? ... SAP puts Web 2.0 spin on CRM ... Nokia plans more Internet services

In this issue:
- SAP puts a Web 2.0 spin on CRM upgrade
- Nokia lays plan for more Internet services
- UPDATE: Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
- F-Secure: Malware samples doubled in one year
- Court lets T-Mobile sell locked iPhones in Germany
- New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
- Poll: What's your current cell phone opinion?


TODAY'S NEWS

SAP puts a Web 2.0 spin on CRM upgrade
SAP on Tuesday announced an update to its customer relationship management software with a Web 2.0-style interface that could help to increase usage rates among workers.

Nokia lays plan for more Internet services
Nokia unveiled an ambitious plan on Tuesday to move beyond cell phones and deeper into the world of Internet services, where it will compete more directly with Google, Apple and Microsoft.

UPDATE: Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
Sun Microsystems on Wednesday will release details of a new award program meant to spur growth and activity within the company's open-source efforts, according to a post by Sun's open-source officer, Simon Phipps, on his corporate blog.

F-Secure: Malware samples doubled in one year
Finnish security vendor F-Secure has collected twice as many malicious software samples this year than it has over the last 20 years, a trend that highlights the growing danger of malicious software on the Internet.

Court lets T-Mobile sell locked iPhones in Germany
T-Mobile Germany need not sell an unlocked version of Apple's iPhone, a court in Hamburg ruled Tuesday.

CDT urges changes to wiretapping legislation
The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) has urged the U.S. Congress to make changes to a bill that would extend a controversial wiretapping program.

700MHz filing deadline: What's next?
Companies wishing to bid in the upcoming 700MHz auctions at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission were largely silent about their plans Monday, the deadline for submitting bid applications.

Motorola CTO leaves company
Motorola's chief technology officer has left the company, just days after Motorola announced it will replace CEO Ed Zander.

Adobe upgrades Flash to high definition
Adobe on Tuesday slashed the price of its Flash Media Server, making the system compatible with additional movie codecs and potentially opening the floodgates to making more video content available online.

Dell pressures suppliers to cut emissions
Dell has become the first IT company to sign up to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) plan to report on supply chain carbon emissions.


GO FIGURE

IT personnel are to blame in 30% of all data breach incidents. That's the finding of new research from security services firm Orthus. The next-highest offender is the customer service department at 22%.


ITWHIRLED

New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
The city of Westminster, a part of the bustling core of greater London, has launched a service where you can send a 50-cent text message to get directions to the nearest free public bathroom. Officials hope this makes a dent in the increasingly gross problem of public urination -- they estimate that 10,000 gallons of urine end up on city streets every year.


Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Beacon tracks non-Facebook users ... System restores made easy ... Intel, AMD price war winds down

In this issue:
- CA: Beacon's reach extends to non-Facebook users
- Microsoft: Windows flaw could steer IE to hackers
- Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
- Windows Tip: System restores made easy
- Price war between Intel and AMD winding down, study says
- Microsoft to beef up anti-piracy checks in Vista SP1
- New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

CA: Beacon's reach extends to non-Facebook users
If you think that just because you have never signed up for Facebook you're immune to the tracking and collecting of user activities outside of this popular social networking site, think again.

Anti-virus testing guidelines coming early next year
Consumers should have more accurate information with which to compare security software suites under a new set of software testing guidelines to be finalized early next year.

Price war between Intel and AMD winding down, study says
Pinched by microprocessor price wars, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are trying to move away from competing over prices, to competing on microprocessor features and functionality instead, according to a study released by iSuppli on Monday.

EBay, Yahoo Japan to tie up in auctions
EBay and Yahoo Japan are tying up to make it easier for their respective users to bid on and buy goods available on each other's sites.

Microsoft: Windows flaw could steer IE to hackers
Microsoft Corp. said Monday that a flaw in the way its Windows operating system looks up other computers on the Internet has resurfaced and could expose some customers to online attacks.

Sun to dangle prize money over open-source efforts
Sun Microsystems on Wednesday will release details of a new award program meant to spur growth and activity within the company's open-source efforts, according to a post by Sun's open-source officer, Simon Phipps, on his corporate blog.

Real-time Linux launched by Red Hat
Red Hat has launched a real-time version of Linux, aimed at applications needing predictable responses, from process control to financial market traders.

Microsoft to beef up anti-piracy checks in Vista SP1
Microsoft will change the user experience of its automatic anti-piracy checks in Windows Vista and also make it harder for hackers to bypass the system in the first service pack for the OS due out early next year.


WINDOWS TIP

System restores made easy
By Mitch Tulloch, Microsoft MVP

Restore a backup to a different hardware platform using virtualization. ...continue reading 'System restores made easy'


ITWHIRLED

New cell phone service helps Londoners find public toilets
The city of Westminster, a part of the bustling core of greater London, has launched a service where you can send a 50-cent text message to get directions to the nearest free public bathroom. Officials hope this makes a dent in the increasingly gross problem of public urination -- they estimate that 10,000 gallons of urine end up on city streets every year. ... read more


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GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Facebook cops to tracking logged-off users ... Apple's OS market share jumps ... IT spending to see slow start in '08

In this issue:
- Facebook admits Beacon tracks logged-off users
- Microsoft buys startup to boost Web, mobile services
- Study: IT spending to see anemic start in 2008
- French auction regulator sues to close down eBay France
- Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
- Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

Facebook admits Beacon tracks logged-off users
Facebook has confirmed findings of a CA security researcher that the social-networking site's Beacon ad service is more intrusive and stealthy than previously acknowledged, an admission that contradicts statements made previously by Facebook executives and representatives.

Microsoft buys startup to boost Web, mobile services
Microsoft has purchased Seattle startup WebFives, which provides a Web-based file-sharing service for Internet and mobile video, photos, audio, and blogs.

Study: IT spending to see anemic start in 2008
The new year will see belt-tightening in the IT industry, as many customers look to hold down their technology spending, according to a study from ChangeWave Research.

French auction regulator sues to close down eBay France
The French auction regulatory authority is seeking to close down eBay France for operating an online auction without a permit, it announced Monday.

Shell, Rolls Royce reportedly hacked by Chinese spies
Britain's domestic intelligence agency is warning cybercrime by China is on the rise following attacks against Rolls-Royce and Royal Dutch Shell.

Activision hopes Blizzard merger can take it online
Activision hopes a planned merger with Vivendi's games units, Blizzard Entertainment and Sierra Entertainment, will help it take its game portfolio online, company executives said Monday.

Apple seizes 6.81% online market share
Apple has jumped to 6.81 percent market share of the OS market, according to the latest research from Net Applications.


OPINION

Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
Shane Schick, ComputerWorld Canada

On this, Vista's anniversary, the occasion feels less like a cause for celebration but a ritual in self-righteousness on the part of those who want to prove how astute they were. I'm not going to bother, because Vista's prospects weren't that difficult to forecast. ...continue


ITWHIRLED

Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
A Korean quarry worker was found dead on the job, his cell phone battery melted and burn marks on his torso consistent with an explosion in his shirt pocket. The police drew the obvious conclusion -- the cell phone done it! Perhaps unsurprisingly, LG, the phone's manufacturer, protests that such an incident is "virtually impossible."

Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo ... Vivendi, Activision to create computer games giant

In this issue:
- Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
- Shell, Rolls Royce reportedly hacked by Chinese spies
- Vivendi, Activision to create computer games giant
- Facebook's Beacon more intrusive than previously thought
- Intel's Diamondville will be based on Silverthorne processor
- Alfresco aligns with Adobe, bashes SharePoint
- Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

Intel's Diamondville will be based on Silverthorne processor
Intel's Diamondville is to use the Silverthorne core, which will also target markets in consumer electronics, embedded applications, and Internet mobile devices.

Alfresco aligns with Adobe, bashes SharePoint
Quickly following up on its recent integration with Facebook, Alfresco is expected to release the 2.9 version of its open-source content management platform on Tuesday. Features in the release include integrations with popular Web-based services like iGoogle and MediaWiki, as well as Adobe's Web development tools.

Vivendi, Activision to create computer games giant
Vivendi plans to acquire a majority stake in games publisher Activision and merge the company with its own gaming unit to form a massive video games publisher.

Russia's SUP buys LiveJournal
Russian online media company SUP acquired blogging and community site LiveJournal from Six Apart on Monday, giving the company ownership of Russia's most popular blogging site.

Shell, Rolls Royce reportedly hacked by Chinese spies
Britain's domestic intelligence agency is warning cybercrime by China is on the rise following attacks against Rolls-Royce and Royal Dutch Shell.

Attackers target unpatched QuickTime flaw
Attackers are trying to exploit an unpatched vulnerability in Apple's QuickTime software that could let them run code on a victim's computer, Symantec warned in a DeepSight Threat Management System alert issued Sunday.

CA: Facebook's Beacon more intrusive than previously thought
A CA security researcher is sounding the alarm that Facebook's controversial Beacon online ad system goes much further than anyone has imagined in tracking people's Web activities outside the popular social networking site.

Verizon's 4G move may signal consolidation
The decision by Verizon Wireless to start testing LTE (Long-Term Evolution) mobile technology for rollout early in the next decade may lead to an even bigger change down the road.

Suit over Intel chip speeds pushed back
An Illinois judge threw out a ruling that would have launched a nationwide class-action lawsuit against Intel for misrepresenting the speed of Pentium 4 chips.


OPINION

Vista a year later: Why IT clung to the status quo
Shane Schick, ComputerWorld Canada

On this, Vista's anniversary, the occasion feels less like a cause for celebration but a ritual in self-righteousness on the part of those who want to prove how astute they were. I'm not going to bother, because Vista's prospects weren't that difficult to forecast. ...continue


ITWHIRLED

Exploding cell phone kills man - or does it?
A Korean quarry worker was found dead on the job, his cell phone battery melted and burn marks on his torso consistent with an explosion in his shirt pocket. The police drew the obvious conclusion -- the cell phone done it! Perhaps unsurprisingly, LG, the phone's manufacturer, protests that such an incident is "virtually impossible."

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GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!

Ed Zander replaced at Motorola ... EFF: Comcast blocks P-to-P ... Google to make Street View anonymous

In this issue:
- Ed Zander replaced at struggling Motorola
- Google working to make Street View anonymous
- EFF: Comcast continues to block P-to-P
- Samsung in crisis following federal raid
- Government-sponsored cyberattacks on the rise, McAfee says
- Google to bid for 700MHz spectrum
- After winning patent suit, z4 sues Microsoft again
- Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!


TODAY'S NEWS

Ed Zander replaced at struggling Motorola
Ed Zander will step down as CEO of Motorola at the end of the year, as the company continues to battle declining revenue and profit.

Google working to make Street View anonymous
Google is thinking about changing its Street View map feature to protect the privacy of those who appear in its photographs.

EFF: Comcast continues to block P-to-P
Comcast continues to slow down customers' connections to some P-to-P (peer-to-peer) applications, using hacker-like techniques against its own subscribers, according to a report released by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

Samsung in crisis following federal raid
Samsung appears to be in deep trouble Friday, after 40 government investigators raided its key financial offices.

Government-sponsored cyberattacks on the rise, McAfee says
Governments and allied groups worldwide are using the Internet to spy and launch cyberattacks on their enemies, targeting critical systems including electricity, air traffic control, financial markets and government computer networks, according to McAfee's annual report examining global cybersecurity.

Google to bid for 700MHz spectrum
Google intends to bid on wireless spectrum in the 700MHz band when the U.S. Federal Communications Commission begins auctioning that resource in late January, the company announced Friday.

After winning patent suit, z4 sues Microsoft again
A company that was just awarded more than $140 million from Microsoft in a patent-infringement suit has sued the software giant again, this time for alleged infringements in Windows Vista and Office 2007.

Cloudsmith service pushes 'virtual distros'
A new company, Cloudsmith, has created a Web-based service meant to let developers access and exchange 'virtual distros' or custom configurations, of open-source software


UNIX TIP

File extensions and you
By Sandra Henry-Stocker, ITworld

It's good to have a resource available to help you identify the type of unusual files when you run across them or to learn a little more about the format of a familiar file type.


ITWHIRLED

20 worst VC investments
All those hilarious, cringe-inducing dot-com flops? They were getting money from somewhere, and we all know it wasn't from making a profit from their business. One venture capitalist discusses how VC fools and their money were parted.

Subscribe to the ITwhirled alert - weird tech news direct to your inbox.


GIVEAWAY

Win a Wi-Fi Detector T-Shirt!

More than just a T-shirt; it's a public service. This fantastically functional shirt displays loud and proud the current wi-fi signal strength. Enter for a chance to win!


POLL

What's your current cell phone opinion?

- Confusing gewgaw
- Frivolous annoyance
- Necessary evil
- Fun plaything
- Life-affirming miracle gadget

Vote now!