AT&T closes BellSouth acquisition ... Blu-ray, HD DVD copy protection cracked

HIGHLIGHTS
News: With FCC approval, AT&T closes BellSouth acquisition
News: Net neutrality advocates cheer AT&T concessions
News: Hacker: Blu-ray, HD DVD copy protection cracked
News: Apple clears Jobs in options probe, restates earnings
News: "Happy New Year!" worm on the move
Opinion: More than words can say
ITwhirled: Top 10 Web 2.0 crushes


NEWS UPDATES

With FCC approval, AT&T closes BellSouth acquisition
On Friday, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced that it had approved the $86 billion deal, one day after AT&T made a number of concessions to help push the acquisition through, including a pledge to maintain a "neutral network" for two years after the merger.

Net neutrality advocates cheer AT&T concessions
Net neutrality advocates celebrated this week after AT&T Inc. said it would pledge to maintain a "neutral network" in exchange for U.S. government approval of its proposed acquisition of BellSouth Corp.

Hacker: Blu-ray, HD DVD copy protection cracked
A computer hacker claims to have broken the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) encryption specification used to control unauthorized copying on HD-DVD and Blu-ray video players.

Apple clears Jobs in options probe, restates earnings
An investigation into past stock option grants at Apple Computer Inc. has found that Chief Executive Steve Jobs was aware of procedural irregularities but did not benefit personally from the grants or understand the accounting implications.

"Happy New Year!" worm on the move
Verisign Inc. is warning of a new e-mail worm arriving in inboxes with the subject "Happy New Year!" The message, currently being spread from 160 e-mail domains, requires users to click on the attached "postcard.exe" file in order to cause damage.

Italians welcome WiMax sell-off
Italian politicians and businesses welcomed the announcement that the government would begin selling WiMax-capable frequencies next June, saying it was an important step toward the technological modernization of the country.


OPINION

More than words can say
By Sean McGrath

Almost a year ago in this column, I opined the general lack of good diagrams on a certain class of Website. Websites that purport to help their readers figure out something physical like changing a tire or tying a Windsor knot or adding a WIFI card to your PC. Websites that might be selling books and supplementing the books with online information.


ITWHIRLED

She's a 10
Ten best geek quotes ... 10 online operating systems reviewed ... Top 10 point-and-shoot cameras ... Top 10 Web 2.0 crushes ... Top ten invented worlds