Sun blames revenue drop on weak US economy

With its US$1 billion acquisition of MySQL now behind it, Sun reported financial results on Thursday that show the company is still struggling to boost its revenue. ...continue reading 'Sun blames revenue drop on weak US economy'

IBM to build apps marketplace for SMBs

IBM is trying to rally support for an online applications marketplace for small and mid-sized businesses that it plans to launch later this year. ...continue reading 'IBM to build apps marketplace for SMBs'

Microsoft releases new version of Web design tools

Microsoft Thursday unveiled a version of its toolset for Web and multimedia designers that includes the first native support for its Silverlight technology across all of the products in the suite. ...continue reading 'Microsoft releases new version of Web design tools'

AT&T treats iPhone owners to free Wi-Fi

AT&T Inc. is offering free wireless access to iPhone owners at several thousand of its public hot spots, including those it recently acquired in a deal with the high-end coffee shop chain Starbucks, users in the U.S. reported Thursday. ...continue reading 'AT&T treats iPhone owners to free Wi-Fi'

Microsoft hit with patent suit over RoundTable

A company that develops cameras that produce 360-degree videos is suing Microsoft for alleged patent infringement in its RoundTable conferencing product. ...continue reading 'Microsoft hit with patent suit over RoundTable'

Laptops may get more battery life from silver-zinc

Laptop users may soon get longer battery life from their machines, with ZPower set to plug in its new silver-zinc batteries, which it claims last significantly longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. ...continue reading 'Laptops may get more battery life from silver-zinc'

Laptops may get more battery life from silver-zinc

Laptop users may soon get longer battery life from their machines, with ZPower set to plug in its new silver-zinc batteries, which it claims last significantly longer than traditional lithium-ion batteries. ...continue reading 'Laptops may get more battery life from silver-zinc'

Adobe establishes Open Screen Project for Flash, AIR

Adobe launched a new community development project on Thursday aimed at using its Flash and AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) technologies to create a consistent application interface across all devices -- whether they are smartphones, PCs or set-top boxes. ...continue reading 'Adobe establishes Open Screen Project for Flash, AIR'

Analyst: IBM's services arm an asset for BI

If implementing business intelligence is more of an art than a science, IBM's Cognos division has a vivid palette at its disposal given IBM's stature as a services provider, Forrester Research analyst Boris Evelson suggested in a recent blog post. ...continue reading 'Analyst: IBM's services arm an asset for BI'

HP researchers build intelligent memory

Researchers at Hewlett-Packard have developed a working unit of a memory circuit that has existed in theory for 37 years, which could ultimately replace RAM and make computers more intelligent by tracking data it has retained. ...continue reading 'HP researchers build intelligent memory'

Infogrames to buy rest of Atari for $11 million

Infogrames Entertainment plans to buy the rest of beleaguered video games pioneer Atari for US$11 million, the companies said Wednesday. ...continue reading 'Infogrames to buy rest of Atari for $11 million'

AT&T to launch mobile TV in 58 US markets

AT&T will launch its mobile television service on Sunday, behind schedule and nearly a year after competitor Verizon Wireless began offering broadcast TV services. ...continue reading 'AT&T to launch mobile TV in 58 US markets'

EMC extends Mozy online storage to Macs

The MozyHome online backup service became generally available on Thursday after a long beta test and the acquisition of its creator by EMC. ...continue reading 'EMC extends Mozy online storage to Macs'

Report: Microsoft board meets over Yahoo bid

Microsoft's board met Wednesday to decide how to proceed with the company's bid to acquire Yahoo, although no final decision was reached, The Wall Street Journal reported. ...continue reading 'Report: Microsoft board meets over Yahoo bid'

Symantec ends fiscal year with strong earnings

With more than half of its revenue now coming from outside the U.S., Symantec ended its fiscal year on a high note on Wednesday. ...continue reading 'Symantec ends fiscal year with strong earnings'

Former Monster exec charged with backdating stock options

James Treacy, former chief operating officer and president of online job board Monster Worldwide, has been charged with securities fraud and conspiracy in connection with the backdating of millions of dollars worth of employee stock options, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced Wednesday. ...continue reading 'Former Monster exec charged with backdating stock options'

Report: AT&T will subsidize iPhone price by $200

AT&T will subsidize US$200 of the purchase price for new iPhones this summer, according to a story posted by Fortune Wednesday, reducing consumers' out-of-pocket expense for the popular device to as low as $199. ...continue reading 'Report: AT&T will subsidize iPhone price by $200'

SugarCRM to support iPhone, BlackBerry

SugarCRM is bridging the distance between mobile phones and PCs with a new version of its Web-based customer relationship management software now available for beta testing. ...continue reading 'SugarCRM to support iPhone, BlackBerry'

Xerox's research arm now a business, execs say

Since its establishment in 1970, the Palo Alto Research Center funded by Xerox has developed groundbreaking technologies, including Ethernet, the GUI (graphical user interface) and the computer mouse. PARC was spun off from Xerox in 2002 and now focuses its research on technologies that it can commercialize through its parent or startup companies. ...continue reading 'Xerox's research arm now a business, execs say'

United Online to buy FTD Group

Internet service provider United Online -- the owner of NetZero and Juno -- plans to get into the flower business. On Wednesday, it said it would pay about US$456 million in stock and cash to acquire FTD Group, the company that provides flowers and related services to about 20,000 retailers in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland. ...continue reading 'United Online to buy FTD Group'

LG enters thin-TV race with Scarlet sets

LG Electronics has officially thrown its hat into the thin TV ring with the launch this week of its Scarlet TV set. The TV, which was first unveiled at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January in Las Vegas, is LG's thinnest flat-panel TV yet. ...continue reading 'LG enters thin-TV race with Scarlet sets'

SpringSource launches Java application server

SpringSource, maker of the Spring Framework for Java development, will announce a new application server on Wednesday that it claims will 'liberate' Java users from 'antiquated legacy Java technologies.' ...continue reading 'SpringSource launches Java application server'

SAP cuts investment in ByDesign as net income falls

SAP is putting the brakes on the roll-out of Business ByDesign, its offering for small businesses, it said Wednesday, as it reported first quarter net income down 22 percent compared to a year earlier, on revenue up 14 percent. The quarter is the first to incorporate the results of Business Objects, which SAP acquired Jan. 21. ...continue reading 'SAP cuts investment in ByDesign as net income falls'

Alcatel-Lucent's losses continue

For the fifth quarter running, Alcatel-Lucent reported a net loss: during the first quarter of 2008, it increased to €181 million. ...continue reading 'Alcatel-Lucent's losses continue'

Sony Ericsson combines Java and Flash

Sony Ericsson is hoping to promote 'wow' mobile-phone applications by enabling developers to combine the best of Java and Flash in the same applications. ...continue reading 'Sony Ericsson combines Java and Flash'

Asus: Eee PC shipments to soar in second quarter

Asustek Computer on Wednesday forecast it will nearly double shipments of the popular Eee PC low-cost laptop in the second quarter, compared to the first. ...continue reading 'Asus: Eee PC shipments to soar in second quarter'

Skype claims improved voice quality for version 3.8 software

Skype has released an upgraded version of its VOIP (voice over IP) software client for Windows PCs that cuts out more background noise and drops fewer calls, the eBay subsidiary said. ...continue reading 'Skype claims improved voice quality for version 3.8 software'

Time Warner to sell cable division

Time Warner plans sell its stake in its cable division, the company said Wednesday during its quarterly earnings call. ...continue reading 'Time Warner to sell cable division'

Microsoft helps law enforcement get around encryption

The growing use of encryption software -- like Microsoft's own BitLocker -- by cyber criminals has led Microsoft to develop a set of tools that law enforcement agents can use to get around the software, executives at the company said. ...continue reading 'Microsoft helps law enforcement get around encryption'

LG enters thin-TV race with Scarlet sets

LG Electronics has officially thrown its hat into the thin TV ring with the launch this week of its Scarlet TV set. The TV, which was first unveiled at the International Consumer Electronics Show in January in Las Vegas, is LG's thinnest flat-panel TV yet. ...continue reading 'LG enters thin-TV race with Scarlet sets'

SpringSource launches Java application server

SpringSource, maker of the Spring Framework for Java development, will announce a new application server on Wednesday that it claims will 'liberate' Java users from 'antiquated legacy Java technologies.' ...continue reading 'SpringSource launches Java application server'

Microsoft delays release of Windows XP SP3

Microsoft has delayed the release of a third service pack for Windows XP, blaming a 'compatibility issue' between the software and a retail-chain-management application. ...continue reading 'Microsoft delays release of Windows XP SP3'

Microsoft System Center gets cross-platform support

Microsoft has released beta technologies that allow its network-management software to manage non-Windows environments as part of the company's strategy to make its software more conducive to managing large data centers. ...continue reading 'Microsoft System Center gets cross-platform support'

AOL and Yahoo make IM VoIP moves

AOL and Yahoo separately on Tuesday made changes to the Internet telephony features within their IM (instant message) services. ...continue reading 'AOL and Yahoo make IM VoIP moves'

Microsoft botnet-hunting tool helps bust hackers

Microsoft is giving law enforcers access to a special tool that keeps tabs on botnets, using data compiled from the 450 million computer users who have installed the Malicious Software Removal tool that ships with Windows. ...continue reading 'Microsoft botnet-hunting tool helps bust hackers'

IBM buys trading data vendor Infodyne

IBM has scooped up Infodyne, a privately held maker of software that quickly crunches hundreds of market data sources together into a standardized form for the trading industry, it said Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. ...continue reading 'IBM buys trading data vendor Infodyne'

New 3Com CEO Mao to be based in China

3Com, the U.S. networking vendor now looking to operations in China for a competitive edge, has named a new CEO who will be based in that country. ...continue reading 'New 3Com CEO Mao to be based in China'

Dream job at Microsoft too good to be true? Yep.

A New York man is facing up to four years in prison after pleading guilty last week to posting fake job ads for technology companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo and PayPal. ...continue reading 'Dream job at Microsoft too good to be true? Yep.'

Apple adds support for Java SE 6 to Leopard

Apple added support for Java SE 6 to Mac OS X 10.5 via a software update Tuesday. ...continue reading 'Apple adds support for Java SE 6 to Leopard'

Prototyping tool eases design of iPhone apps

Enterprises that want to create applications for Apple's iPhone will be able to build and try out prototypes using a special programming template unveiled on Tuesday. ...continue reading 'Prototyping tool eases design of iPhone apps'

Microsoft System Center gets cross-platform support

Microsoft has released beta technologies that allow its network-management software to manage non-Windows environments as part of the company's strategy to make its software more conducive to managing large data centers. ...continue reading 'Microsoft System Center gets cross-platform support'

AOL and Yahoo make IM VoIP moves

AOL and Yahoo separately on Tuesday made changes to the Internet telephony features within their IM (instant message) services. ...continue reading 'AOL and Yahoo make IM VoIP moves'

Oracle acquisition of BEA closes

Oracle has finalized its $8.5 billion deal to buy BEA Systems following the European Commission's approval, it announced Tuesday. ...continue reading 'Oracle acquisition of BEA closes'

Microsoft botnet-hunting tool helps bust hackers

Microsoft is giving law enforcers access to a special tool that keeps tabs on botnets, using data compiled from the 450 million computer users who have installed the Malicious Software Removal tool that ships with Windows. ...continue reading 'Microsoft botnet-hunting tool helps bust hackers'

LinkedIn prepares for lucrative push into Europe

LinkedIn is building up its European operations in order to carve out a larger piece of the social-networking pie. ...continue reading 'LinkedIn prepares for lucrative push into Europe'

Linux visionary convicted of murder

Linux visionary Hans Reiser has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his estranged wife in 2006 and faces life imprisonment. ...continue reading 'Linux visionary convicted of murder'

Ribbit launches phone service for Salesforce

The Internet telephony startup Ribbit announced Tuesday that one of its initial flagship projects -- an integration with Salesforce -- is now available. ...continue reading 'Ribbit launches phone service for Salesforce'

MySpace user ad targeting will be optional

MySpace will give users the option of whether they want to participate in a targeted advertising system that mines their profile's information, a senior company official said on Tuesday. ...continue reading 'MySpace user ad targeting will be optional'

Xerox showcases erasable paper, smart documents

Xerox's research arm Monday showcased its latest innovations, including erasable paper and tools that make documents "smart" by adding a deeper meaning to words and images. ...continue reading 'Xerox showcases erasable paper, smart documents'

Sony, Samsung launch new Blu-ray Disc products

Sony and Samsung, two of the biggest backers of the Blu-ray Disc format during its battle with rival HD DVD, are releasing new Blu-ray Disc products with the anticipation that consumers are finally ready to start upgrading to high-definition video discs. ...continue reading 'Sony, Samsung launch new Blu-ray Disc products'

Gadget tracks a good nights' shuteye

Lee Loree gave up a career as a stockbroker in Atlanta about eight years ago to work on his invention -- a wristwatch and software system designed to record a person's sleep pattern. ...continue reading 'Gadget tracks a good nights' shuteye'

Microsoft highlights efforts to police the Net

Microsoft spends millions of dollars each year developing security products that it gives to law enforcement agencies, knowing that it may not make any money directly in return. The work is part of the company's efforts to be a good corporate citizen, although there are also some business benefits from the work it does. ...continue reading 'Microsoft highlights efforts to police the Net'

Check Point adds VPN access for iPhone

Check Point Software Technologies on Monday announced support for the iPhone through its VPN-1 product, a Virtual Private Networking (VPN) software tool. ...continue reading 'Check Point adds VPN access for iPhone'

Security vendors slam Defcon virus contest

There will be a new contest at the Defcon hacker conference this August, inviting hackers to find new ways of beating antivirus software. Contestants will get some sample virus code that they must modify and try to sneak past the antivirus products. ...continue reading 'Security vendors slam Defcon virus contest'

Report sheds light on failure to sell safety spectrum

Lease payments sought by public-safety agencies on an adjoining block of spectrum were not the only factor in the failure of a portion of wireless spectrum to sell in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's recent 700MHz spectrum auction, the FCC's inspector general said Friday. ...continue reading 'Report sheds light on failure to sell safety spectrum'

Mobile, Fios push Verizon income up

Verizon Communications posted net income of US$4.3 billion in the first quarter of 2008, up 14.1 percent from a year earlier, driven by customer demand for its mobile voice and fiber-based Internet and television services. ...continue reading 'Mobile, Fios push Verizon income up'

Microsoft finally stays on message about services

The deadline Microsoft gave Yahoo for making a deal or facing a proxy fight came and went this weekend without a word from either party. But even if Microsoft doesn't succeed now in its bid for Yahoo, the company made clear last week, both in private meetings with reporters and in public comments, that it's determined -- come hell or high water -- to move forward with its services strategy. ...continue reading 'Microsoft finally stays on message about services'

AMD Business Class plan to help SMBs shave costs

AMD Monday announced Business Class, an initiative to gain market share among small to medium enterprises. Opening the door for longer lifecycles, it will lower PC total cost of ownership, according to AMD. ...continue reading 'AMD Business Class plan to help SMBs shave costs'

Dell to factory-install Windows XP after June 30

Dell will continue to install Windows XP on new PCs after Microsoft's June 30 retirement date by taking advantage of a little-known clause in the downgrade rights that come with Vista Ultimate and Vista Business. ...continue reading 'Dell to factory-install Windows XP after June 30'

Bank of Ireland data loss toll reaches 31,500 policies

The Bank of Ireland has admitted that the unencrypted personal details of 31,500 customers - three times as many as previously disclosed - went missing with the theft of four laptops last year. ...continue reading 'Bank of Ireland data loss toll reaches 31,500 policies'

Microsoft/Yahoo deadline passes with no deal

Yahoo failed to agree to an acquisition deal with Microsoft by Saturday, the deadline Microsoft had set for wrapping up negotiations. ...continue reading 'Microsoft/Yahoo deadline passes with no deal'

Payment fraud moves to Internet in Europe, says Commission

Despite recent efforts to clamp down on electronic payments fraud, the crime is still rife and is undermining citizens' confidence in buying and selling over the internet, the European Commission said Monday. ...continue reading 'Payment fraud moves to Internet in Europe, says Commission'

Researcher finds new flaw in QuickTime for Windows

A security think tank says it has found a vulnerability in Apple's QuickTime multimedia player that can be exploited remotely to compromise Windows Vista PCs upgraded to Service Pack 1, as well as XP SP2. ...continue reading 'Researcher finds new flaw in QuickTime for Windows'

Black Duck buying Koders for code search

Black Duck Software plans to announce Monday that it has purchased the assets of Koders, maker of a code search engine and other tools, for an undisclosed sum. ...continue reading 'Black Duck buying Koders for code search'

Microsoft: Massive site attacks not our fault

Microsoft late Friday denied that vulnerabilities in its Web and SQL server software had been exploited to hack hundreds of thousands of Internet pages. ...continue reading 'Microsoft: Massive site attacks not our fault'

What's behind Apple's P.A. Semi purchase

Apple's purchase of a microprocessor design firm has triggered a wave of speculation over what the computer maker plans to do with its newly acquired assets. Perhaps, the thinking goes, the purchase means a new chip to power future iPhone models. Or maybe it will push Apple into new areas of portable computing. It might even mean a return of sorts to the company's PowerPC days. ...continue reading 'What's behind Apple's P.A. Semi purchase'