Google buys mobile social networking service .. MS blogger leaks Office Mobile upgrade .. Top 10 programming concepts

IN THE NEWS

Google buys mobile social networking service
Google Inc. has acquired a mobile social networking start-up called Zingku Inc., the search company's latest move to provide more services through mobile phones.

Microsoft blogger accidentally leaks Office Mobile upgrade
A Microsoft Corp. employee on Thursday accidentally blogged about an upgrade to Office Mobile that shouldn't be available for another couple of weeks.

New update breaks hacked iPhones
Users are reporting that a new update to Apple Inc.'s iPhone is making previously unlocked iPhones unusable.

Microsoft gives OEMs five more months to install XP
Microsoft Corp. is extending the time it will allow original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and retail outlets to sell PCs with Windows XP as customers continue to balk on upgrading to Windows Vista.

Apple does major bug-fix for iPhone
Apple Inc. has released its biggest iPhone security update yet, fixing bugs in the mobile phone's browser, mail client and Bluetooth networking server.

Microsoft, others protest Google's DoubleClick deal
Google Inc.'s proposed merger with online advertising server DoubleClick Inc. would create a giant that would control a huge portion of online advertising and hurt the Internet, opponents of the deal told U.S. lawmakers Thursday.

Nokia selling $25,000 Ferrari phones
Nokia Corp.'s exclusive Vertu subsidiary is selling a €18,000 ($25,400) phone in shops in Paris, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Palm rolls out new smartphone brand
Palm Inc. introduced a smartphone with a new brand aimed at a younger audience on Thursday.

Verizon reverses decision to block text messages
Verizon Wireless Inc. has reversed a decision to block text messages on its network from abortion rights group Naral Pro-Choice America after an outcry from net neutrality advocates and others.


OPINION

Apple Controls the Flow of iPhone Apps
By Dan Blacharski

The difference between Apple and Microsoft has more to do with strategic marketing and business model than technology.


GADGET GIVEAWAY
_______________

It's Fall, and we have a new gadget giveaway ... just for the heck of it. We've brought back the ultimate geek tool, the Swiss Army knife equipped with USB flash drive, LED light, and ballpoint pen.

Enter now for a chance to win!


ITWHIRLED
_______________

She's a 10

- Top ten laughably bad tech ads
- Top 10 villains you love to hate
- Top 10 programming concepts for librarians to understand

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


POLL

Does the iPhone price cut change your mind about buying one?

- Not really - it's still too much for too little
- I'm holding out - it'll come down another $50 or so soon enough
- Now that it's in the sweet spot, I've got my credit card ready
- It sure made me change my mind about having bought one at the old price, I tell you what