Three companies pay software licensing settlements

A stock brokerage firm and two mortgage companies have agree to pay a total of more than $420,000 to settle claims that they had unlicensed software on their computers, the Business Software Alliance (BSA) said Tuesday. ...continue reading 'Three companies pay software licensing settlements'

Microsoft: Flaw could lead to worm attack

Microsoft has fixed a critical flaw in the Windows operating system that could be used by criminals to create a self-copying computer worm attack. ...continue reading 'Microsoft: Flaw could lead to worm attack'

First Trojan reported for the iPhone

While not a huge risk, the first Trojan for the iPhone has been discovered. The first reports came from iPhone enthusiast site Modmyifone.com and were later confirmed by security research company F-Secure. ...continue reading 'First Trojan reported for the iPhone'

In rare pre-Macworld move, Apple unveils fastest-ever Macs

A week before Macworld San Francisco -- the trade show where Apple usually trots out new headline-grabbing hardware -- the company Tuesday unveiled a retooled Mac Pro desktop machine and a new Xserve server, calling them the fastest Macintoshes ever. ...continue reading 'In rare pre-Macworld move, Apple unveils fastest-ever Macs'

CES: Sony demos faster-than-USB wireless transfer system

Sony is developing a wireless data transfer system for gadgets that is capable of sending pictures, video and data over a range of a few centimeters. ...continue reading 'CES: Sony demos faster-than-USB wireless transfer system'

Study: Enterprises seeing Web 2.0 'explosion'

Nearly one-fourth of companies surveyed by ChangeWave Research are now using Web 2.0-social networking software in some form, and another 8 percent intend to do so within the next year. ...continue reading 'Study: Enterprises seeing Web 2.0 'explosion''

Study: Dutch navigation systems could cause accidents

Software errors in satellite navigation devices are putting lives at risk in the Netherlands by sending vehicles through residential areas not intended for heavy traffic, according to Dutch researchers. ...continue reading 'Study: Dutch navigation systems could cause accidents'

Microsoft bids $1.2B for Fast Search and Transfer

Microsoft has offered to buy enterprise search software company Fast Search And Transfer for 6.6 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.2 billion), it said Tuesday. ...continue reading 'Microsoft bids $1.2B for Fast Search and Transfer'

Mozilla gets a new CEO

Mitchell Baker has stepped down as the CEO of Mozilla Corporation, where she helped make the Firefox Web browser a potent rival to Microsoft's Internet Explorer. ...continue reading 'Mozilla gets a new CEO'

Researchers: Microsoft to patch Windows password flaw

Microsoft will patch a flaw in the Windows operating system Tuesday that could give attackers access to passwords on a victim's system, according to security vendor SkyRecon Systems. ...continue reading 'Researchers: Microsoft to patch Windows password flaw'

McAfee warns over open source use

McAfee has warned investors that the 'ambiguous' nature of open source licensing could turn into a business threat. ...continue reading 'McAfee warns over open source use'

CES: Otellini sees Internet search coming to users

Preaching mobility to an audience teeming with cell-phone and laptop users, Intel CEO Paul Otellini looked into the crystal ball and predicted that Internet search will approach users instead of users approaching search. ...continue reading 'CES: Otellini sees Internet search coming to users'

Virtualization will have the single largest impact on budgets for IT hardware and support over the next three years, a market that will be dominated by three large vendors, says a new study. ...continue reading 'Virtualization to eat into IT budgets'

Sears sued over privacy breach

Sears Holdings is facing a class-action lawsuit after making the purchase history of its customers public on its Managemyhome.com Web site. ...continue reading 'Sears sued over privacy breach'

EMC tackles growing SMB storage needs

As small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) save more data and rely on it more, they are turning to networked storage even under the burden of limited budgets and IT expertise. EMC is aiming at this growing market with its Clariion AX4, a platform that can scale from a few terabytes of storage to 60T bytes and take advantage of many advanced EMC storage management applications designed for large enterprises. ...continue reading 'EMC tackles growing SMB storage needs'

Five data leak nightmares

Jeff Vance, Network World

Data breaches cost companies an average of $197 per record in 2007, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute. Here's a look at the five worst data leak nightmares of the past year and how they may have been avoided. ...continue reading 'Five data leak nightmares'

E.U. receives Intel's response to antitrust charges

The European Commission confirmed Monday it has received a written response to the formal antitrust charges it filed against computer chip maker Intel, after some delays. ...continue reading 'E.U. receives Intel's response to antitrust charges'

Sony-BMG to sell DRM-free music downloads through stores

Sony BMG Music Entertainment will crack open the door to its music vaults on Jan. 15, taking the DRM copy-prevention wrapper off a limited selection of downloadable tracks. ...continue reading 'Sony-BMG to sell DRM-free music downloads through stores'

Boeing Dreamliner could be vulnerable to hackers

The electronics of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner jet could be vulnerable to hackers due to the way critical flight systems are linked with those used by passengers, the Federal Aviation Administration has warned. ...continue reading 'Boeing Dreamliner could be vulnerable to hackers'

After criticism, Sears plugs Web site's privacy hole

Sears Holdings has taken part of its Managemyhome.com Web site offline following revelations that the site was making customers' purchasing histories publicly available. ...continue reading 'After criticism, Sears plugs Web site's privacy hole'

Trolltech, Huawei join mobile Linux group

The LiMo Foundation has added some members, including Trolltech, Acrodea, ETRI, Huawei and Purple Labs, to its ranks as competition among new mobile Linux platforms heats up. ...continue reading 'Trolltech, Huawei join mobile Linux group

CES: Samsung shows off 128G-byte solid state drive

Samsung Electronics is showing off a new 128G-byte flash-based SSD (solid-state drive) at the International Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas, one of the largest such drives shown to date. ...continue reading 'Samsung shows off 128G-byte solid state drive'

Netezza will scale its appliance to petabyte range

Citing need among its customers and the broader market, Netezza announced on Monday that its Netezza Performance Server, a data warehousing appliance for BI (business intelligence) analytics, will soon be scalable to the petabyte level. ...continue reading 'Netezza will scale its appliance to petabyte range'

Meraki's SF Wi-Fi plan avoids roadblocks

Meraki Networks' plan to cover San Francisco with free Wi-Fi, with residents' help, could be a way around the political and business barriers some municipal wireless projects have run into. ...continue reading 'Meraki's SF Wi-Fi plan avoids roadblocks'

CES: IPhone hurt mobile gaming, expert says

While it would seem that the growth of smartphones, with their bigger screens and faster processors, would be good news for mobile gaming, handsets like the iPhone are in fact hurting the mobile game industry in the short term, says one expert. ...continue reading 'IPhone hurt mobile gaming, expert says'

Orange France sells 70,000 iPhones in first month

Apple's French mobile network partner Orange sold 70,000 iPhones in the territory in the first month of sales. ...continue reading 'Orange France sells 70,000 iPhones in first month'

Q&A - Gates: Innovator, deal-maker and philanthropist

By Marc Ferranti, IDG News Service

Microsoft founder and Chairman Bill Gates has been giving keynote speeches at Las Vegas conventions, including the Consumer Electronics Show and the now-defunct Comdex, for decades. In this interview, given before his last CES keynote speech as a full-time company employee, he talks about his legacy as an innovator, the background behind some of the deals announced at CES this week and directions for Microsoft. ...continue reading 'Gates: Innovator, deal-maker and philanthropist'

Wikia search engine to go live on Monday

Search Wikia, the widely awaited search engine from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, is slated to make its official debut on Monday, with the bet that an open-source, community-driven effort can disrupt and reshape this Google-dominated market. ...continue reading 'Wikia search engine to go live on Monday'

CES: Gates bids adieu to CES, sense of humor intact

Bill Gates has never taken himself as seriously as he does his company. So it was only fitting that it was with a humorous and star-studded video parody that he kicked off his final pre-show keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Sunday night in Las Vegas. ...continue reading 'CES: Gates bids adieu to CES, sense of humor intact'

Motorola buys Soundbuzz to expand music offerings

Motorola will acquire online music store Soundbuzz in a bid to expand its mobile music offerings in Asia, the company said Monday. ...continue reading 'Motorola buys Soundbuzz to expand music offerings'

CES: Intel: It's early for mobile quad-core processors

Intel Monday officially launched Penryn-based dual-core processors for notebooks, but also indicated that users expecting quad-core mobile processors may have to wait until issues surrounding power consumption are resolved. ...continue reading 'CES: Intel: It's early for mobile quad-core processors'

Dutch company sells media player -- with a worm

A batch of digital media players sold by a Dutch importer over the holidays appear to have been infected with a nasty stocking stuffer -- a worm. ...continue reading 'Dutch company sells media player -- with a worm'

CES: Yahoo invites third-party mobile widget developers

Yahoo Monday introduced new versions of its two primary mobile services as well as documentation that will let any developer or publisher write mobile widgets for the Yahoo services on Monday. ...continue reading 'CES: Yahoo invites third-party mobile widget developers'

CA's Web site hacked by malware authors

Part of security software vendor CA's Web site was hacked last week and was redirecting visitors to a malicious Web site hosted in China. ...continue reading 'CA's Web site hacked by malware authors'

Egypt grapples with divorce via text message

Under Muslim law, a man can divorce his wife just by telling her three times that he's divorcing her -- no lawyers or judge required. But does it still count if those three "I divorce yous" come via SMS message? Technological advance has sent Egypt's best legal and religious minds to work. ...continue reading 'Egypt grapples with divorce via text message'

A Wi-Fi virus outbreak? Researchers say it's possible

If criminals were to target unsecured wireless routers, they could create an attack that could piggyback across thousands of Wi-Fi networks in urban areas like Chicago or New York City, according to researchers at Indiana University. ...continue reading 'A Wi-Fi virus outbreak? Researchers say it's possible'

Facebook and Plaxo in data portability tussle

Facebook has reacted swiftly and sternly to an attempt to let members of the social networking site transfer their friends' contact information to Plaxo's address-book-management service. ...continue reading 'Facebook and Plaxo in data portability tussle'

IBM restructures systems division

With the aim to improve company performance and better meet customers' needs, IBM on Thursday said it was realigning its Systems and Technology group around types of clients. ...continue reading 'IBM restructures systems division'

Apple patent reveals docking station for ultramobile PC

A U.S. patent granted to Apple on Thursday seems to support reports that the company is working on an ultramobile PC to compete with Microsoft and its hardware partners in that market. ...continue reading 'Apple patent reveals docking station for ultramobile PC'

Microsoft readies for two Windows security updates

Microsoft plans to issue two security updates for its Windows operating system products next Tuesday as part of its regular software patch cycle. ...continue reading 'Microsoft readies for two Windows security updates'

Extreme IT: Accessing technology in unusual circumstances

We're all accustomed to daily Internet use -- usually at our desks -- but what about when you find yourself in extreme circumstances, say sailing the high seas, driving a racecar, or just routinely flying the friendly skies? ...continue reading 'Extreme IT'

Tell us your Extreme IT story. Our favorite will win a $50 iTunes gift certificate.

Sears puts customers' buying histories on the Web

Sears Holdings has come under fire from privacy advocates for making the purchase history of its customers publicly available on its Managemyhome.com Web site. ...continue reading 'Sears puts customers' buying histories on the Web'

U.S. indicts 11 over pump-and-dump stock spam

Eleven people, including one of the top spammers in the world, were indicted on Thursday for allegedly sending millions of unsolicited e-mails intended to inflate the price of Chinese penny stocks. ...continue reading 'U.S. indicts 11 over pump-and-dump stock spam'

Intel quits OLPC board over pressure to kill Classmate PC

Intel resigned from the One Laptop Per Child Project's board of directors after refusing a request to abandon its Classmate PC program, according to a source familiar with the situation. ...continue reading 'Intel quits OLPC board over pressure to kill Classmate PC'

A Wi-Fi virus outbreak? Researchers say it's possible

If criminals were to target unsecured wireless routers, they could create an attack that could piggyback across thousands of Wi-Fi networks in urban areas like Chicago or New York City, according to researchers at Indiana University. ...continue reading 'A Wi-Fi virus outbreak? Researchers say it's possible'

OLPC: Won't miss Intel's 'half-hearted' laptop effort

Intel's resignation from the One Laptop Per Child Project's board of directors will have 'no impact' on the group's operations, since the chip maker contributed little to the project since joining last year, OLPC President Walter Bender said in an interview. ...continue reading 'OLPC: Won't miss Intel's 'half-hearted' laptop effort'

CES: HP goes high-definition with new multimedia notebook

Hewlett-Packard Thursday introduced a multimedia notebook packed with high-definition features, including a screen that allows users to watch full HDTV movies. ...continue reading 'CES: HP goes high-definition with new multimedia notebook'

Wi-Fi startup to pick up where Google left off in SF

Wireless networking startup Meraki plans to deliver free wireless Internet access, supported by advertising, across San Francisco by the end of the year, it announced Friday. ...continue reading 'Wi-Fi startup to pick up where Google left off in SF'

Study: Open Document Format gained momentum in '07

The Open Document Format saw a marked uptick in use last year across the globe, according to the ODF Alliance's 2007 report. ...continue reading 'Study: Open Document Format gained momentum in '07'

NetApp to buy Onaro to boost storage management

Storage vendor Network Appliance said Thursday it plans to buy Onaro, a Boston company that develops storage management software. ...continue reading 'NetApp to buy Onaro to boost storage management'

How to choose the right application development technologies

By Sean McGrath, ITworld

Application design can involve dizzying oscillations as a result of the power of the available technologies. Should you start with a C# application and embed bits of XSLT as required? Or, alternatively, should you start with XSLT and step out into C# if/when required? ...continue reading 'How to choose the right application development technologies'

CES: Asus unveils terabyte laptop

Asus will unveil a laptop that should satisfy the storage needs of all but the biggest of power users: the M70S comes with 1T byte of storage space. ...continue reading 'CES: Asus unveils terabyte laptop'

Facebook tightens app development platform to curb abuses

Facebook kicked off the new year with additional tweaks to its development platform as it continues to grapple with external programmers who spur adoption of their applications among Facebook members through deceitful and abusive practices. ...continue reading 'Facebook tightens app development platform to curb abuses'

Netflix and LG plan to link TVs directly to Internet

LG Electronics and Netflix will work to develop a set-top box that can stream movies over the Internet directly onto a television screen, the companies announced Thursday. ...continue reading 'Netflix and LG plan to link TVs directly to Internet'

Qualcomm maneuvers around court's chipset ban

Qualcomm is shipping four new wireless chipsets that do not infringe on a video encoding patent held by competitor Broadcom. Qualcomm expects the WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) handsets containing the chips to go on sale in the U.S. by April, it said Wednesday. ...continue reading 'Qualcomm maneuvers around court's chipset ban'

LG.Philips LCD unrolls 14-inch color e-paper display

South Korea's LG.Philips LCD is out to impress at next week's Consumer Electronics Show and will unveil a 14.3-inch color electronic paper display. ...continue reading 'LG.Philips LCD unrolls 14-inch color e-paper display'

Oregon launches data center, virtualization initiatives

The state of Oregon is embarking on a data center consolidation and virtualization project that officials say will save $10 million to $12 million per year. ...continue reading 'Oregon launches data center, virtualization initiatives'

Eclipse reeling in Swordfish as SOA framework

The Eclipse Foundation with its Swordfish project is developing an open source SOA framework intended for applications ranging from enterprise environments to embedded systems. ...continue reading 'Eclipse reeling in Swordfish as SOA framework'

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'