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Wednesday, April 30

complete coverage Awaiting Microhoo
The next move in Microsoft's takeover quest is due any day now. Will Redmond go hostile, or is there another, better route to take?
• Microsoft money for Yahoo employees
• Steve Ballmer's to-do list for the 'day after'
Google diving deep into 3D ocean maps
New feature will allow people to "fly" through oceans and seas and view high-resolution images of the underwater topography, researchers say.

Switching, virtualization, and more at Interop
Attendance is down at Interop Las Vegas 2008, but the networking industry is making the best out of it.
(Posted in News Blog by Jon Oltsik)

OMG! The Webby Awards are coming!
The annual digital-media awards will be held in June in New York. Until then, there's a whole lot else going on to distract us.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Confirmed: Mister Wong acquires Lifestream.fm
German social-bookmarking site makes purchase to get a foot in the hot "social feed" market, representatives tell CNET News.com.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Robots to swarm English village in military contest
U.K. Ministry of Defense is sponsoring its version of the DARPA Challenge this summer, with robot teams scouting out potential dangers.
(Posted in Military Tech by Mark Rutherford)

Artsy side of search: Designers, pop stars create iGoogle themes
New campaign from Mountain View draws attention to iGoogle personalized home pages with "themes" from folks including Jeff Koons, the Beastie Boys, and Jackie Chan.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Time Warner to split off cable services
CEO of media giant, which owns 84 percent of Time Warner Cable and has been struggling, says "separation...under the right circumstances" is best for shareholders.
(Posted in News Blog by Margaret Kane)

Latest quad-core chips creep into consumer desktops
Processors boasting lower power demands and more transistors from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are being added to PCs from Hewlett-Packard and Gateway.
(Posted in Nanotech: The Circuits Blog by Brooke Crothers)

Video: Wednesday QuickCast, 1st edition
Here's what's happening: Google Ocean to offer users a map of the world under the sea; Grand Theft Auto IV set to break sales records; and dealing with a virus-struck iPod.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Slashdot parent company experiences overnight outage
SourceForge Inc., parent company of several geek site staples, appeared earlier Wednesday to be in the midst of a server outage, but the sites are now back up and running.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Report: Microsoft earmarks $1.5 billion to keep Yahoo employees
Microsoft expects to spend upward of $1.5 billion to retain Yahoo employees, should it be successful in its unsolicited takeover attempt, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

Tuesday, April 29

XP update delayed over glitch
Microsoft says just-found problem prevents Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista SP 1 from working properly with its own retail management product.
• Vista SP1 auto updates also halted

Senators, states whack Real ID plans
Homeland Security has pushed back new driver's license standards, but some politicians worried about cost and privacy still want to kill the law.

Start-up eyes eBay turf with online market
CEO says Wigix is the better place to buy and sell goods like cell phones and iPods, and you can even share in the revenue. But it's got a lot to prove.

Microsoft's dissident-directors slate taking shape
TechCrunch rolls out a few more names for folks to chew on should the software giant enter into a proxy fight with Yahoo.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)
• Microsoft-Yahoo roundup

'Extreme' solar concentrators to match grid power
Start-up Sunrgi shows off prototype of a solar concentrator that packs some serious heat--but also boosts the efficiency of solar cells significantly.
(Posted in Green Tech Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Steve Ballmer's to-do list for the 'day after'
When he looks down his bench, Microsoft's CEO doesn't have a no-brainer choice to put in charge of Yahoo. This occasion may call for a Solomonic decision.
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

Rogue trader lands job in computer security
High-risk financial trader Jerome Kerviel, released from jail last month, takes a job in Paris for a computer security company.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)

Video: Tuesday QuickCast, 2nd edition
Here's what's happening: Yahoo outsources the Internet telephone functions of its instant-messaging program, Microsoft releases a new version of its Mac Messenger program, and a start-up hopes to outdo eBay.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Site created to share Live Mesh invites
Blogger Long Zheng creates a site where those with beta Live Mesh invites can share them with others eager to try the Microsoft service.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

Foes slam 'GTA IV' without test drive
Politicians and organizations seek to cut off "Grand Theft Auto IV" even before its Tuesday release.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)
• Images: 'Theft' at large
• GameSpot review: 'GTA IV'

To green the Capitol, lawmakers follow tech titans
Members of Congress are turning to Silicon Valley for inspiration while pledging to help renewable energy start-ups get off the ground.
(Posted in Green Tech by Elsa Wenzel)

EFF: Microsoft betrayed MSN Music customers
Advocacy group sends letter to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer advising him to issue refunds after doing away with DRM-licensing servers.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Monday, April 28

Static raised over powerline broadband
Responding to amateur radio operators, court tells FCC to revisit rules on speeding rollout of new Internet service while squelching interference.

Searching for ways to improve Office
Microsoft offers up an alternative to the Ribbon interface: just search for the command you want. The add-on is the first product from a new Office Labs group.
• What's up in Office Labs

Soybean prices gum up biodiesel efforts
The burgeoning biofuels industry continues to have growing pains with the cost of soybean oil more than doubling in the past year.
• Bigger Prius en route

Yahoo directors battle-tested on 'hostile' takeovers
As Yahoo and Microsoft prepare to do battle, it turns out two of Yahoo's directors have waged proxy wars in the past.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)
• Microsoft-Yahoo roundup
• Yahoo, Microsoft shares sag, post-deadline

RIAA files copyright suit against Project Playlist
Music industry accuses company that makes embeddable music player of infringing on intellectual property.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Democrats vote for Microsoft
They still haven't centered on a presidential candidate, but Democrats have picked the Web technology for their upcoming convention--and Redmond is the winner.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

Video: Monday QuickCast, 2nd edition
Here's what's happening: Microsoft and Yahoo keep quiet as the Saturday deadline passes; the rising cost of food affects the biodiesel industry; and the upcoming release of 'Grand Theft Auto IV' already has fans and detractors alike speaking out.
(Posted on CNET TV)

Want a plug-in hybrid? Get in line for a battery
Battery maker A123 systems is offering to "upgrade" the Toyota Prius to a plug-in hybrid. Depending on driving conditions, drivers can get more than 100 miles per gallon.
(Posted in Green Tech Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Microsoft funds research for computer energy efficiency
Redmond steps up its "green IT' initiatives with $500,000 in university grants to lower computers' power consumption.
(Posted in Green Tech Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Intel links with Cray for supercomputers
The two companies enter into a multiyear agreement on high-performance computing. That's not going to sit well with AMD.
(Posted in News Blog by Michael Kanellos)

Photos: High-tech fashion, San Francisco style
Tricked out and trippy describe the high-tech fashion that emerged on the catwalk at opening night of the San Francisco Exploratorium exhibit, 2nd Skin.

Verizon is still on a roll
Second-largest U.S phone company saw big first quarter gains thanks in large part to demand for wireless and its Fios fiber service.
(Posted in News Blog by Marguerite Reardon)

Photoshop guru leaves Adobe for Microsoft
Mark Hamburg, the second engineer to work on Adobe Systems' Photoshop and a leader of the Lightroom software project, is headed to Redmond.
(Posted in Underexposed by Stephen Shankland)

Sunday, April 27

Why it's time to dump the Web 2.0 label
Technology is moving too fast, and increasingly, enterprise companies are taking the lead. So why are we sticking with a marketing term that's so yesterday?
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

Rumor: Apple to add tactile feedback to iPhone
Apple insider says the company is in talks with Immersion to license its haptic technology for use in the iPhone, according to a report.
(Posted in News Blog by Jennifer Guevin)

Saturday, April 26

Is the Microhoo wedding off or just postponed?
Saturday deadline set by Steve Ballmer for the two companies to try to resolve their differences has passed with no news. We're on the edge of our seats.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)
• Microsoft CFO: 'We'll see what next week brings'
• Yahoo investor guide to Microsoft's A, B, and C options
• Five reasons Oracle/PeopleSoft was more fun than Microhoo
• Full coverage: Microsoft's big bid for Yahoo

Digital fashion takes center stage
At opening night of an exhibit celebrating digital clothing, designers show how fashion can be high-tech and how high-tech can be fashionable.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)
Video: 2nd Skin
Photos: Tech sashays

Saudi blogger freed
"Godfather" of Saudi blogging, who'd been held without charge since mid-December, was warned about his activist bent before the Saudi government arrested him.
(Posted in News Blog by Natalie Weinstein)

Jonathan Schwartz's Twitter Q&A posted
After a technical glitch prevented the head of O'Reilly Media from asking Twittered questions of Sun's CEO at a keynote address, both of them go beyond the call of duty to follow up.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)
• MySQL closes $10 million deal

Mexican official accused of lifting White House BlackBerrys
Aide to Mexico's president loses his job in diplomatic flap over whether he stole the devices or--as he claims--took them to return them to their proper owners.
(Posted in News Blog by Natalie Weinstein)

Friday, April 25

The Web 2.0 economy hangs in limbo
Earnings are healthy and new digital-ad networks are debuting by the day, but no one can deny that these economic times demand caution.
• Full Web 2.0 Expo coverage
• Yahoo's new platform due later this year

Can green energy make dent in carbons?
Researchers have examined how much fossil fuel the world consumes and the state of the renewable energy market. The conclusion is ugly.

As Intel ships 10 millionth quad-core, AMD gets it in gear
Intel has hit the 10 million mark for quad-core processors shipped. AMD is now in a position to step up and ship millions of its own quad-core chips.
(Posted in News Blog by Brooke Crothers)

Geoengineered cooling of planet would have 'perilous effects'
Trying to mimic the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions by injecting sulfur into the atmosphere would badly damage the ozone layer, an NCAR study concludes.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

Dollar-a-gallon ethanol plant in U.S. operation next year
Pennsylvania lures cellulosic ethanol maker Coskata to build a $25 million commercial demonstration plant that would make 40,000 gallons per year.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

Silverlight to shine in NBC's Olympics coverage
NBC's digital media group is counting down the days to the start of the Games in Beijing--and Microsoft will play a key role in online coverage.
Find more stories in: TV programming, Media

A rarity: Click fraud declines
A study finds that click fraud rates for online advertising dropped slightly from the last quarter of 2007 to the first of 2008.
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)

Nintendo: No plans for Wii, DS price cuts
A top exec at the gaming company says he doesn't think the company will need to trim prices to meet sales goals, according to a published report.
(Posted in News Blog by Margaret Kane)

A post-redesign AOL hits new traffic records
After a major overhaul of its Web sites, the Time Warner unit reports double-digit growth, alongside strong March measurements from ComScore.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

Skype co-founders said to be raising new venture dollars
Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, who also co-founded Joost and Kazaa, may be amassing $450 million for new investments.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Kleiner Perkins said to form 'Green Growth' fund
The idea behind this sort of late-stage fund--this one would have input from Al Gore--is to help start-ups survive the transition from tech development to commercial sales.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

'Spore Creature Creator' to see light of day in June
Electronic Arts plans to give gamers the summer to tinker with characters for Spore, ahead of the game's long-awaited September release.
(Posted in News Blog by Jonathan Skillings)

Thursday, April 24

Today's green news
Nanosolar to set sights on residential market; BigBelly Solar compactor now squeezes recycling; start-up rides the power of undersea waves; and more.

Ballmer: You want XP, we'll keep XP
Microsoft's CEO says Windows XP could live beyond a June 30 deadline if customers demand it. So far, they have not.
• Who's selling Windows XP in July?
• The push for Vista SP1

special coverage Web 2.0 Expo: App frenzy in S.F.
Comparing social-developer platforms; Microsoft's Live Mesh service; and much more. Get the latest news from the giant show.
• Measuring Slide founder's success
• Video: A spin around the showroom

Peering into Apple's future

 Crave: Edimax's IP camera

 Web 2.0, meet Internet attack 2.0

 Time runs out on Microsoft's SPOT watches

 Real solar homes come to 'Second Life'

 Anticipating what's on tap at Interop

 Live chat: Bluetooth headsets, 11 a.m. Pacific

 Create an easy-access, keyboard-shortcut list

Report: Apple wants P.A. Semi's engineers, not its chips
EETimes says P.A. Semi is telling customers that it no longer plans to produce PWRficient chips after being acquired by Apple, which wants just its intellectual property and engineering talent.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

New dating site caters to smarties
IntelligentPeople.com requires that you pass an IQ test to access its pool of (allegedly) brainy singles. Be sure not to say anything too dumb on your dates.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)

Can China now claim most Internet users?
More Chinese are now surfing the Net than even Americans, according to figures from China's government. But ComScore says otherwise.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

Study: Teens say e-text isn't writing
A majority of kids say that common writing styles from the Web, like emoticons and "LOL" acronyms, can creep into their writing for school.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Videophlow tries to enliven YouTube
Photophlow was for sharing and chatting about Flickr photos. Now there's Videophlow, which presents a similarly elaborate interface for YouTube videos.
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)

MySpace's developer application gallery goes live
Social-networking site hasn't seen a huge uptake on its developer platform, so it's likely hoping that linking to an application directory from the home page will help.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

BigBelly Solar compactor now crunches recycling
First, there were solar-powered garbage cans. Now municipalities can put the squeeze on recyclable trash and cut down on the number of trips garbage handlers make.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

Weak phone sales hurt Motorola earnings
Losses for the maker of the Razr are greater than a year ago, while sales are down amid efforts to reorganize its mobile-phone business before breaking into two companies.
(Posted in News Blog by Margaret Kane)

Microsoft's Tellme launches voice app...for BlackBerry
CEO says Tellme had the voice-activated cell phone application well into development when Microsoft acquired his company. But why BlackBerry at all?
(Posted in Webware by Rafe Needleman)

Wednesday, April 23

roundup Microsoft: The Web is the hub, not PC
Redmond unveils its new Live Mesh service--and allows that computing no longer revolves around the PC.
• Live Mesh: One piece of the platform plan
• The Mesh lives but the cloud Office is vaporous
• FAQ: Making sense of Live

FBI eyes widespread monitoring of Net
Proposal seems to go beyond a current plan to monitor traffic on U.S. government networks, in an effort to track "illegal activity."
• A renewed push for ISP data retention laws
• FBI grilled again over computer upgrade woes

Republicans push for phone company immunity
GOP leaders hope to force a vote on a controversial rewrite of surveillance laws that would, if it became law, wipe out pending lawsuits against AT&T and others.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

Google brings display ads to mobile devices
Google has begun offering advertisers the ability to place graphical ads on Web pages geared to be seen on mobile devices.
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)
• Complete Web 2.0 Expo coverage

Investor: Consumer Web best bet for high returns
You'd do better to put $2 million in 100 Web start-ups than $200 million in one energy company, says Steve Jurvetson.
(Posted in News Blog by Michael Kanellos)

Spamming via Google Calendar
Spams are now arriving as meeting invites sent through Google Calendar.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Few answers, debates at a very civil Web 2.0 panel
Representatives from Facebook, MySpace, Google, Six Apart, and Bebo share the stage at panel about developer platforms. Sadly, no feathers flew.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Zoho to integrate with Google sign-on
Users of online productivity suite will be able to use their Google username and password to log into Zoho applications, CEO says at Web 2.0 Expo.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)

Report: Yahoo, Google talk with DOJ on ad test
Yahoo and Google say they proactively notified regulators about the test project in which Google provides search advertising for a small number of Yahoo's queries.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

Circuit City told Blockbuster can't finance an acquisition
The company's financial adviser says Blockbuster doesn't have the proper funding to complete a proposed takeover.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

Microsoft starts pushing out Vista SP1
The software maker says the Windows update will start going out today to those with automatic updates turned on, but cautions that it may take time for all to get it.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

Samsung supporters riot in support of former chairman
At a news conference held by the company's former top lawyer, protesters burn photos of him, apparently angry he snitched out the former chairman who resigned over charges of tax evasion.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

Tuesday, April 22

special featureEarth Day 2008: Your green resource
 Find out which companies, products, and services are worth paying attention to, and how to green your life without breaking the bank.
• Earth Day ride to JFK
• Photos: NASA's top 10 views of Earth
Ex-Googlers launching stealth social search
A former product lead of Google News is quietly working on a new service called Mechanical Zoo, begun with the help of two other Google refugees.
• Google start-ups and the law of threes
Photobucket shares API, matches Flickr
Photo-sharing site opens up to let ordinary coders write apps. Now, as with rival Flickr, all comers will get access.
• Full Web 2.0 Expo coverage

MIT says it wants a solar 'revolution'
A $10 million grant will go toward innovations in solar power conversion and storage, and in using sunlight to make hydrogen.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)
• Hot kilowatts: Infinia, Stirling Energy, eSolar get money

Photos: Plastic by the numbers
Numbers on plastic products help to sort recyclables. But the messages on plastic bottles and other containers don't tell the whole story.
• Plastic made from pig urine

Intel Mash Maker: Mash-ups for the masses
The free browser extension enables users to customize Web pages through widgets. Tech-savvy people and JavaScript developers can create their own mash-ups.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Microsoft sees big jump in Trojan downloaders
Latest security report from Redmond says Trojan downloaders based on e-mail scams rose 300 percent in the second half of last year.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Apple looks toward iPhone chat app
A patent application surfaces that details Apple's work toward an instant-messaging feature for a portable gadget with a touch-screen display.
(Posted in News Blog by Jonathan Skillings)

Sony BMG joins Nokia's unlimited music service
Nokia customers get access to any Sony BMG song for a year, and they get to keep the songs forever. Is this the music model of the future?
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Video: Tuesday QuickCast, 1st edition
Here's what's happening: Ex-Googlers are working on a stealth social-search start-up, Yahoo reports its first-quarter earnings, and Photobucket goes public with its API.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Samsung chairman steps down
Lee Kun-Hee, who led Samsung for 20 years, is giving up his position at the company amid tax fraud accusations, according to Reuters.
(Posted in News Blog by Jennifer Guevin)

Big week in Microsoft-Yahoo battle
Software giant has set a Saturday deadline for Yahoo to get serious if it wants to avoid a proxy fight. Also, both companies report earnings this week.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
• Yahoo to serve up Q1 financials; what's in it for Microsoft?

BayTSP to test filtering at YouTube, other sites
Online file-sharing sleuth will test new fingerprinting technology at sites that focus on user-generated video.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Monday, April 21

special feature The Webware 100
More than 1.9 million votes decided this year's favorite Web 2.0 apps. At the top of the 100: sites including DeviantArt, Friendster, and MySpace.
• Web 2.0 Expo: Full coverage

NBC News powers election site on MySpace
Now playing on the social network: political programming from NBC News and MSNBC.com, which happen to compete with MySpace parent company News Corp.'s Fox News.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Big week in Microsoft-Yahoo battle
Software giant has set a Saturday deadline for Yahoo to get serious if it wants to avoid a proxy fight. Also, both companies report earnings this week.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)
• Yahoo to serve up Q1 financials; what's in it for Microsoft?

Is Twitter so addictive that we can't live without it? Don't believe the hype
Co-founders Biz Stone and Evan Williams know that online fads come and go. Like everybody else, an alternative is always lurking one click away.
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

Legal injunction bars Dish Network from selling four models of DVRs
Following its loss to TiVo in a patent dispute, Dish amends earlier statement that the outcome would not affect its products.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

Hacker redirects Obama's Web site to Clinton's
Visitors to section of Obama's site got redirected to Clinton's site over the weekend after someone exploited cross-site scripting vulnerability.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Forrester: Social networking means business, big business
A report from the market research firm says that company spending on "Enterprise 2.0" applications is on the rise, and that nearly half of that will go to business social networking.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Hardy Heron reflects Ubuntu Linux ambitions
The Hardy Heron version, due Thursday, is Canonical's best shot yet at making a business of Ubuntu Linux. But CEO Shuttleworth seems happy to keep on subsidizing it.
(Posted in Underexposed by Stephen Shankland)

Cellulosic ethanol to surpass corn...in 14 years
Everyone loves cellulosic ethanol, but it's still in the experimental stage. One enzyme maker predicts it will take a decade and a half to get there.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)

Apple releases Aperture plug-in programming kit
Third-party programmers now can get started creating plug-ins for the company's Aperture software for editing and cataloging photos.
(Posted in Underexposed by Stephen Shankland)

Republicans ramp up pressure for H-1B increase
They urge Democratic leaders to schedule vote on heightened cap within the next few months. Democrats say they're "committed" to granting that request, but timeline is unclear.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

Sunday, April 20

Twitter hiccups through a semi-outage
Weekend Twitterers have been reporting messages not going out to the world. The company points to some maintenance work as the root cause, and says it's working on a fix.
(Posted in News Blog by Jonathan Skillings)

Britannica makes content free with widgets, registration
Venerable encyclopedia publisher is staging its comeback--at least for its brand--with free online access for Web publishers, a Twitter stream, and blog-friendly widgets.
(Posted in News Blog by Zoë Slocum)

Speculation mounts over Six Apart acquisition
Company behind blogging platforms TypePad, Movable Type, and Vox has made a "significant" purchase yet to be announced, according to TechCrunch's Michael Arrington.
(Posted in News Blog by Zoë Slocum)

VC investors show signs of constraint
Spending on information technology and media, however, has risen over the past year, according to research from Ernst & Young and Dow Jones' VentureSource.
(Posted in News Blog by Zoë Slocum)

Week in video: Wii will rock you
CNET News.com's Kara Tsuboi brings you the latest on the Nintendo Wii, as well as an interview with an indie video game developer with a WiiWare contract.

Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including the BMW M3 Coupe and 2008 Audi R8.

Friday, April 18

Payment politics in Psystar saga
The Mac clone maker lost its payment processor because of a sudden rush of orders and because it wasn't clear on exactly what it was selling.
• Photos: Send in the Mac clones

Researcher: Wii and iPhone browsers could allow phishing
University of California researchers say electronic gadgets' embedded browsers, which often strip out security features, could allow phishers to compromise users.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)
• PayPal considers blocking browsers

NBC Universal to embed marketing messages in online shows
Television network of GE and Vivendi plans to collaborate with advertisers to create online programs with commercial products built into the story lines.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

iPhones being sold at loss in Europe?
Steep price cuts on the iPhone in the U.K. and Germany this week might mean those carriers have little choice but to incur losses in order to dump inventory ahead of a 3G iPhone launch.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

Mono project takes Silverlight step closer to Adobe AIR
Moonlight desklets let developers write "standalone Silverlight" applications with Mono. It's a limited equivalent of Adobe AIR, says Mono chief.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Video: Friday QuickCast, 2nd edition
Shares of Google are up; a Silicon Valley congressman proposes a new auction of unused radio spectrum; and there may soon be a subscription service for Microsoft Office.
(Posted on CNET TV)
Find more stories in: Trademarks, Earnings, Mac OS

New Zappos: Shoes--and gadgets to boot
Online shoe seller preps a new look as its gets ready to grow beyond its core business with new categories like electronics and cosmetics.
(Posted in News Blog by Margaret Kane)

Cyberprotests planned in support of China
Various groups are rallying supporters online for real-world and Internet protests of allegedly anti-Chinese media on Saturday. Attack on CNN.com is reportedly planned.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)

Big Apple schools refuse Macs over Wi-Fi flaw
New York City schools are holding off on accepting further Mac shipments until the company fixes a Wi-Fi problem apparently related to Mac OS X Leopard.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

Take-Two rebuffs latest offer from EA
While extending its deadline for acquiring the Grand Theft Auto maker's shares, Electronic Arts lops a bit off of its offering price. Take-Two says no thanks.
(Posted in News Blog by Jonathan Skillings)

Thursday, April 17

complete coverage More rumblings on Microhoo
Microsoft shares could handle bigger Yahoo bid, analyst says. Plus: hidden buyout costs and Yahoogle progress.
• Google, Microsoft do health care

With a nod to the Valley, CBS Interactive shuffles management
The division's head, Quincy Smith, has his roots in Silicon Valley investment banking. Now, he's bringing the big-media brand to the Bay Area.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Google, AOL execs: Opting out of targeted ads OK by us
As advocacy groups agitate for stiffer privacy rules for online advertisers, companies' chief privacy officers say they support better technological ways of escaping Web tracking.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

Free service puts novel spin on books
BookMooch will have the inventory equivalent of the book-industry's largest wholesaler. Where's all that stuff? In your house.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Microsoft woos hobbyist developers
Company is trying to boost interest in noncommercial software development around Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 and Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition.
Find more stories in: Programming , Microsoft

TripIt nabs $5.1 million from old-school travel powerbroker
Travel upstart raises millions from Sabre Holdings and German investment group European Founders Fund. Must be room for some online innovation in the business.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Gold-plated support comes to Amazon Web Services
It's no longer just about tiny Web start-ups. Amazon.com's premium-support offering is aimed at businesses used to around-the-clock support.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Analyst: Microsoft shares could handle 10 percent bump in Yahoo bid
Microsoft investors, says Brent Thill of Citigroup Global Markets, apparently are focused only on the Yahoo deal and are ignoring Redmond's strong underlying fundamentals.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)
• Google and Yahoo looking good?
• A hidden Yahoo acquisition cost for Microsoft

Google tweaked search 450 times in 2007
The company's search quality chief shares details about how to keep results as useful as possible. The job apparently requires constantly rejiggering Google's search algorithm.
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)

As expected, Buzznet inks a major music label deal
Universal Music Group's catalog will be available to the pop-culture community, and the label's artists will have a deeper presence on Buzznet blogs.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Google and Microsoft: Your next health care partner?
Google and Microsoft are just some of the corporate titans who are changing the landscape of how consumers control their health records, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

Wednesday, April 16

Senator: Let's monitor P2P for illegal files
Democrat wants more police to be trained to use software developed by an agent who specializes in child pornography searches.

NBC pines for iTunes, sans pirates
NBC Universal, which pulled its TV content from the service last year, implies it wants Apple to play stronger defense when it comes to content.

Apple plugs security holes in Safari on Mac, PC
Company releases Safari 3.1.1, which fixes security holes in the browser running on Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OS X machines.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Microsoft 1, blogosphere 0
When is a video so bad that it's actually good? An uber-lame Microsoft internal video making the rounds turns out to have been a spoof.
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

PC shipment growth slow in U.S., healthy everywhere else
Notebooks continue to drive PC growth and Dell continues its comeback, according to IDC's quarterly report.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)
• Mac shipments outpace market in Q1

Pirate Bay launches uncensored blogging site
BitTorrent tracking site The Pirate Bay launches blogging service where writers won't be censored.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills

Is the PC upgrade cycle dead?
The Earth still revolves around the sun, but the PC upgrade cycle is becoming less predictable.
(Posted in News Blog by Michael Kanellos)

Investor puts up $2.6 million to tinker with tidal power in U.S.
The only bad thing about tidal power is that it's largely experimental at the moment. But that could change.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)

IBM posts strong first quarter
Big Blue exceeds Wall Street estimates, citing strong performances in its global tech and business services units. CEO says, "We feel good about the rest of the year."
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

eBay earnings up significantly in Q1
Company attributes strong quarter to global business classifieds, growth at its Skype and PayPal units, and "net transaction revenues" from Marketplaces.
(Posted in News Blog by Daniel Terdiman)

Bad news for Microsoft, good news for Apple and Intel
Popular Mechanics writes comparative review of a MacBook and a PC notebook running Vista. Its verdict is somewhat in line with Apple's "I'm a Mac" campaign.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)

Symantec warns of attempts to target Windows hole
Security firm says it has seen attempts to exploit vulnerability in Windows that was patched last week and expects other attempts to be successful.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Tuesday, April 15

Adios, tax-free Internet shopping?
Pro-tax politicians and an allied lobbying group are hoping to persuade Congress to let states impose new fees on Web and mail-order sales.
• Toward an iTunes tax

Leopard PC maker back on its feet
Psystar is once again selling its "Open Computer" with Mac OS X and might be girding to do battle with Apple and the court system.

Beware the 'whaling' e-mail that includes your company info
Phishing e-mail looks like it's from the U.S. District Court and includes your company information, but is designed to lure you to click on a link that will download malicious software.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Transmission supplier sues Tesla
Magna alleges Tesla Motors failed to pay for transmission work and is seeking $5.6 million in damages. The Tesla Roadster is a great car for getting to and from the courthouse.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)
• Tesla sues competitor over design ideas

Director Liman awaits Web equivalent of 'Swingers'
At NAB 2008 conference, Doug Liman, who directed Bourne Identity and Swingers, says Web still hasn't produced much compelling content. But he expects that to change.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Motley Crue to release single on 'Rock Band'
Rock 'n' roll bad boys will become the first group to release a new single through the popular music game.
(From Reuters)
Find more stories in: Games, Music

Sun update on MySQL integration: Peachy keen
At the first big MySQL developer gathering since the acquisition, Sun's brass says everything's so far going according to plan.
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

Third-world lessons for recycling phones
Nokia research team has been from Brazil to Iran to learn how developing countries deal with their mobile technology.
(Posted in Green Tech by Carl-Gustav Linden)
• Cash in trash: RecycleBank gets hefty funding
• Study: E-waste recycling poisons people with heavy metals

The biofuel factor in rising food prices
Biofuel gets a bad rap when it comes to the surging cost of food around the globe. It's just one small part of a larger problem.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)
• Where to grow biofuel crops

Video: Tuesday QuickCast, 2nd edition
Here's what's happening: A look at what's to blame for the rising cost of food; Nintendo gears up for its Wii download service; and Google Earth offers a new snail's-eye view.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Search start-up made up of ex-Googlers raises $25 million
A trio of former Googlers are working on next-generation search to outdo the industry giant. Join the club.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Before Salesforce.com-Google lovefest came Zoho dalliance
CEO says Web application company Zoho rejected an acquisition offer from Salesforce.com after a failed integration with AppExchange.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Monday, April 14

Broadcaster show tunes into changes
From NAB: HP and DreamWorks unveil color display tech, while Microsoft touts gains for Silverlight. Plus: Adobe sets sights on video quality.

Microsoft shakes up emerging market unit
Anoop Gupta takes the helm, longtime Windows executive Will Poole will retire this fall, and Orlando Ayala takes a new role inside the company's sales organization.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

Gmail cookie stolen via Google Spreadsheets
A security researcher says obtaining one cookie could have compromised all Google services in a new Internet Explorer cross-site scripting attack.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)

More carriers, handset makers endorse LTE
Nokia, Ericsson, NEC, and others say they'll join the Long Term Evolution framework for the next-generation wireless network.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

Yahoo moving to new Web-crawler software
Slurp 3.0, a new generation of the Internet company's indexing software, aims to scour the World Wide Web's content.
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)

Google App Engine meets Amazon EC2
A programmer has got Google App Engine up and running atop Amazon's EC2 cloud computing infrastructure. Sort of. Let the cross-coding games begin!
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)

Eric Schmidt joins Marc Benioff in an assault on the old guard
In a dinner theater setting at the Four Seasons in San Francisco, the two executives rolled out Salesforce for Google Apps. Schmidt says the clouds are beginning to merge.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)

Researcher: Misunderstandings surround RFID in use today
In particular, the general public doesn't get how RFID technology works within e-passports and credit cards, which could create unnecessary risk.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)

Cubans line up for first cell phone services
With restrictions easing in the country, Cubans buy services previously available only to government officials and foreigners.
(From Reuters)
Find more stories in: Latin America, Cell phones, Cellular

Citizen news site under fire for proposed ad-policy changes
Helium.com, a hub for citizen journalists and writers, draws heat for saying it wants to reward only its more active participants.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

IBM: Faster, not hotter, 32-nanometer chips coming
Big Blue is claiming higher chip performance--but not higher operating temperatures--using next-generation 32-nanometer chip-manufacturing technology.
(Posted in Nanotech: The Circuits Blog by Brooke Crothers)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Sunday, April 13

HP strikes chord with Mini-Note PC
The computing giant looks to make its mark on the trendy mini-notebook market by aiming narrowly.
• Photos: HP Mini-Note
• Review: HP Mini-Note

Doerr: Clean tech needs more money
At the MIT Energy Conference, famed venture capitalist says "green-tech boom" is happening too slowly to address global energy challenges.
• MIT, Fraunhofer form energy research center

The physics of baseball
A scientist explains the sweet spot on a bat and why the curveball curves.
• Photos: Baseball science
• Video: The A's talk physics

Podcast: Making sense of the Microhoo drama

 Crave: This week in laptops

 Ferret out Windows' system info hiding places

 Blowing up batteries--for your safety

 Use Google Maps to find Google data centers

 Spyware Horror Story: Toxic Wine

 Taking PCs apart--and sending them back to school

 Video: Debating the future of enterprise software

FCC to look into firms' use of customer data
Commission enforcement bureau is expected to recommend rejecting cable operators' complaint over Verizon's techniques in retaining customers.
(From Reuters)
Find more stories in: Cable, Telephony, Federal government, Privacy , Verizon Communications, Comcast, Time Warner

How Google's App Engine stacks up with Amazon's EC2
ZDNet's Dion Hinchcliffe compares Amazon's approach to providing infrastructure services with Google's, and Garett Rogers looks at pros and cons of entrusting applications to Google's cloud.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)

Aging jet fleets an added strain on U.S. airlines
Maintenance issues that inevitably arise are likely to worsen as the industry's jets grow older and its finances weaken.
• Photos: When good airplanes go bad
(From The New York Times)
Find more stories in: Aerospace, Flaws

Microsoft ready to 'Mesh it up'
At an April 24 event in San Francisco, Redmond plans to offer more details on its Live Mesh service, which synchronizes data between a number of different devices.
(Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

Saturday, April 12

Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including the "taut" Porsche 911, two Sony Walkmen, and the HP Mini-Note.

Weekend QuickCast
Watch Brian Cooley test-drive the sleek 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet. Learn about the physics of baseball. And finally, get the latest on the Yahooglesoftspace buyout drama.

full coverageMicrosoft's big bid for Yahoo
What Yahoo has, Microsoft wants. The software giant is offering a hefty acquisition price, but Yahoo says it's not enough.
• Yahoo board to pull all-nighter? Nope
• L'affaire Yahoo is tres banale to Madison Ave.

When it comes to IT, groupthink gets you only so far
If you believe online advertising is going to be Microsoft's savior, you're missing the boat--big time. When it comes to Windows' future, there's a lot more to this story.
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

Gore's RSA talk updates 'Inconvenient Truth'
As he closed this year's RSA 2008, former vice president and Nobel Laureate Al Gore redoubled his efforts to warn the planet about global warming.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)
• Press barred from Gore's RSA speech

The Masters swings for rich Web coverage
Augusta National, partnering with IBM, is bringing a rich online experience for The Masters to golf lovers, with video streams of Amen Corner, and of holes 15 and 16.
(Posted in The Web Services Report by Harrison Hoffman)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Friday, April 11

phpBB 3.0.1 Released
The phpBB Team announced today April 11th the availability of the phpBB 3.0.1 package. This version has seen numerous stability fixes, performance tweaks and general bugs fixed. Additionally two minor security-related bugs were fixs.

photosAt Eco-marathon, a race to burn less fuel
 A California racetrack this weekend plays host to dozens of school-built vehicles vying to travel hundred of miles on very, very little gas.

Patent problems: Not so serious?
Tech companies are arguably convincing Congress that it should revamp U.S. patent law, but other industries and small-time inventors will suffer, attorneys say.

complete coverageCrunch time comes for Microhoo
Yahoo's board is set to debate various options for cutting a deal with Microsoft, AOL, or Google.
• Yahoogle? Microspace?
• Visual guide to Microhoo saga

Video: Friday QuickCast, 2nd Edition
Here's what's happening: AMD's Phil Hester resigns from CTO spot; Yahoo's board is meeting to discuss the company's future; and big tech companies stand accused of overstating patent problems.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Study: In Texas, wind power beats natural gas
It's windy deep in the heart of Texas. Installing wind power is a better deal than more natural gas plants, according to new research.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)

Sun shows off its proximity communication silicon
Getting rid of the tiny wires inside computers would greatly improve performance. Sun Microsystems wants to do that with proximity communication, but it will take time.
(Posted in News Blog by Michael Kanellos)

Just how targeted can that targeted ad be?
A trade group representing ad networks like Tacoda and DoubleClick finalizes guidelines to prevent targeting ads toward "sensitive" topics like medical history and sexual orientation.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

AMD's Phil Hester out, no replacement named
Hester oversaw tech direction after being named to the CTO post in 2005, meaning he was at least partially responsible for the much-maligned Barcelona server processor.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

Canada blocks sale of satellite company to U.S.
The government in Ottawa has put its foot down over the potential transfer of ownership of Radarsat2, which tracks ship traffic in the Arctic.
(Posted in News Blog by Marguerite Reardon)

Agilewaves dashboard displays green building's health
As part of the science curriculum at a California elementary school, the tool lets students and facilities managers visualize the impact of solar array and "living roof."
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

Analyst: Yahoo-AOL merger is a viable option
A deal that combines Yahoo and AOL could rival Microsoft's unsolicited buyout bid for Yahoo, provided that AOL retains its Google search deal, Charles Di Bona reports.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

Georgia patients' records exposed on Web for weeks
Records of as many as 71,000 adults and children inadvertently posted by a company administering health benefits.
(From The New York Times)
Find more stories in: Identity theft, Database management

PDAs to track Olympic VIPs in Beijing
The EventTrack lets users send a message to transport organizers for pickup and drop-off, and also helps Chinese authorities keep track of guests.
(From ZDNet Australia)
Find more stories in: China, Handhelds

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Thursday, April 10

complete coverage Microhoo: New moves come fast and furious
In a few short hours comes news of AOL and News Corp. getting in on the action, along with a new Google twist.
• Yahoo taps Google for ads
• Redmond rings Google alarm
• Microsoft, News Corp. join up?
• Yahoo and AOL in talks?
• A Shakespearean drama

Buzznet: Don't call it a social network
There are profiles, friend lists, and photo-sharing, but Buzznet's CEO says he wants his company to be a big-media player, not the next MySpace. Is there a difference?

FCC greenlights text message emergency alert system
There's plenty of red tape ahead, but when the program is finalized, participating carriers' customers will get text messages to warn them of nearby tornadoes or missing children.
(Posted in News Blog by Caroline McCarthy)

In Yahoo-Microsoft buyout brawl, a flurry of punches
In a few short hours comes news of AOL and News Corp. getting in on the action, along with a new Google twist.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)
• Complete Microhoo coverage

At RSA, what's old is new again
The security industry, still struggling with basic problems such as compliance, identity, and data security, is going back to the drawing board.
(Posted in News Blog by Jon Oltsik)
• Complete RSA 2008 coverage

Live-video service Ustream.tv gets $11.1 million
Existing investors Labrador Ventures and The Band of Angels team up with the DCM venture capital firm to bring in the start-up's Series A round.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Blockbuster eyes streaming to TVs
Home video rental giant is developing a set-top device based on Movielink. How will it match up with Apple TV?
(From Reuters)
Find more stories in: TVs, Movies/films , Blockbuster, Apple

Google Enterprise biz launches 'Solutions Marketplace'
Google Solutions Marketplace is a catalog listing third-party applications for Google Apps and its enterprise search appliance.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

First Intel Centrino 2 notebook debuts Down Under
The mobile Centrino 2 processor isn't due until later this quarter, but Australia-based Pioneer Computers is already making its sales pitch.
(Posted in Nanotech: The Circuits Blog)

Echo Boom hackers: Shame
See how one security researcher uses features of social networks and Web 2.0 technology to shut down the operations of youthful miscreants.(Day 3 of a series.)
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)
• Day 2: Echo Boom hackers play a dangerous game
• Day 1: Meet the Echo Boom hackers

Video: Thursday QuickCast, 1st edition
Here's what's happening: CNET's Robert Vamosi continues his series on Echo Boom-generation hackers. Plus: Have social networks already become unhip?
(Posted in CNET TV)

MySpaceTV inks international distribution deal
ShineReveille International will offer MySpace shows, such as Quarterlife and Roommates to broadcasters across the globe.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Wednesday, April 09

Echo Boom hackers: A dangerous game
Computing miscreants today are starting young, and they could end up messing with the wrong people online.
• Full RSA 2008 coverage
• Video: Microsoft's Internet security strategy

SlingCatcher delayed--again
The home set-top box that moves TV content from the Web to the TV and from set to set within a home has its release date moved back even further.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

S.F. almost outwits the Olympic torch Twitterati
In a switcheroo that threw off protesters and put Twitter and text-message alert systems to the test, city officials took the Olympic torch relay on a far different route than was planned.
(Posted in News Blog by Michelle Meyers)

Photos: Installing Charles Babbage's masterpiece
One of only two full-scale difference engines in the world is installed at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., where it will soon be on public display.

Verizon sues Time Warner Cable over advertising
Phone company says TV ads causing "immediate and irreparable harm" by attacking the quality and reliability of its network, according to the suit.
Find more stories in: Advertising, Cable, Video, Lawsuits

Does streaming lift music sales?
Last.fm claims that since it launched its on-demand streaming service, CD and download sales have spiked 119 percent. Does this mean good news for the start-up?
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Symantec to buy AppStream
Security firm Symantec signs agreement to acquire AppStream, whose technology it is using in its Software Virtualization Solution Pro.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Amazon.com feels bad you bought an HD DVD player, so here's $50
The online retailer offers a store credit for every HD DVD player bought before February 23, when Toshiba said it would stop making the devices.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

FBI: Lieberman campaign, not hackers, caused 2006 Web site crash
Just before being defeated in the primary by antiwar Democrat Ned Lamont, the Connecticut senator's Web site went offline. The cause: a flub by his own sys admin, FBI says.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

Details trickle out on Nokia's answer to iPhone
The Nokia Tube will be available later this year, and will use some sort of touch-screen interface, along with a GPS chip that supports geotagging.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Tuesday, April 08

special coverage Blanketing security at RSA 2008
Conference gets rolling with looks to the future from Symantec's John Thompson and Microsoft's Craig Mundie.
• Microsoft's message: Trust us
• Meet the Echo Boom hackers

The seeds of change in rural Colombia
Caught between armed groups and the government, the town of Corinto aims to change its lot, using computers to educate farmers.

Sites on the hook for user content?
For more than a decade, Web site operators have enjoyed a broad legal shield against lawsuits filed over material posted by their users. Recent court rulings may change that.

Don't get burned by Windows Update

 Crave: Details on Toshiba's new Satellites

 Report: Open-source databases on the rise

 Google revs up App Engine

 Does Microsoft really 'undervalue' Yahoo?

 New MacBook design in store this year?

 Podcast: Jerry Yang, meet Luca Brasi

 Borders of Computing: Bogota

Smart-grid investment heats up
Money is flowing to smaller companies that do networking over the power grid or have advanced metering technology as utilities seek tools for energy efficiency.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

Microsoft issues five critical security patches
As part of Patch Tuesday, the software giant releases security bulletins that address vulnerabilities in Windows, Microsoft Office, and IE.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

As expected, next year's H-1B visa limit met
Immigration officials say they've received more than enough petitions for the some 85,000 visas up for grabs. Now they'll do a random lottery to pick who gets them.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

Richrelevance nabs $4.2 million for shopping-referral tech
Greylock Partners and Tugboat Ventures invest in recommendation upstart from former Amazon executive.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Apple ships Final Cut Server
The company's product for streamlining filmmaking finally goes on sale after a lengthy delay.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)
• Apple issues QuickTime updates

Big ISPs back plan to wire low-income Americans
AT&T, Verizon, the cable industry, and others team up with state and local governments and a nonprofit group with goal of bringing broadband to 500,000 more homes by 2010.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

IBM launches mashups for business portfolio
Mashup tools are aimed at both corporate users and IT pros, with the goal of breaking up the application logjam in business.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Funai to distribute Philips TVs in U.S., Canada
The Japanese electronics maker will pay a royalty to sell televisions under the Philips and Magnavox brand names.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

Symantec CEO Thompson talks ID management, the future
At RSA 2008, John Thompson stresses the need for businesses to become content-aware;just guarding the corporate perimeter isn't enough any more.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Monday, April 07

Does Microsoft really 'undervalue' Yahoo?
Microsoft threatened to pay less, but Yahoo says it's worth more. What do independent voices say?
• Can Yang dance with the heavyweight champ?
• Yahoo: Microsoft still 'undervalues' us

More glitches for Citigroup Web site
In second malfunction to a Citigroup site in a week, credit customers are unable to access their accounts Monday. Company calls the problem temporary.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

'The Sims Online' is officially reborn as 'EA Land'
For EA, the new virtual world is another attempt to get into the market that has now been well established by 'Second Life,' There.com, and others.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)

Lost your luggage? RFID tags could help
Alien Technology says improved radio frequency identification tag set to hit market in July could lead to less lost baggage and counterfeit products.
(Posted in News Blog by Hanna Sistek)

Dungeons & Dragons fourth edition, online tools just around corner
The brand-new D&D Insider will allow players to run campaigns with their friends across the Internet without having to own all the iconic books.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)

Tideway draws $27 million for IT automation
European investor Scottish Equity Partners buoys the software company with millions and joins previous VCs like Accel Partners and Esther Dyson.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Adobe combines PC and mobile groups
Company continues to consolidate business units following 2005 acquisition of Macromedia.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Europeans to search engines: Delete user data sooner
Concerned about privacy incursions, advisory body releases new guidelines that take aim at major search engines' practice of logging users' IP addresses and search queries.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

AMD cutting 10 percent of workforce
About 1,650 jobs will be lost as company presses to get its business profitable this year. The first quarter, with lower-than-expected revenue, was no help.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

Google Earth gets 'New York Times' news
A new layer in the Google Earth software shows headlines related to the region you're visiting with the geographic software.
(Posted in News Blog by Stephen Shankland)

Eco Amazon rival brings in millions
Better World Books raises $4.5 million from social entrepreneurship investor to branch out into publishing, book rentals, and international do-gooding.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Sunday, April 06

Homeland Security blinks on Real ID
Americans will face no new hassles when using their drivers licenses to enter federal buildings or fly on planes starting May 11.
• Spy satellite office to launch

Joost said ready to rein in global ambitions, focus on U.S. market
The video start-up is preparing for "a major retrenchment" and realigning staff, according to The Sunday Times.
(Posted in Coop's Corner by Charles Cooper)

Microsoft gives Yahoo three weeks to do a deal
The software giant threatens to launch a proxy fight to unseat Yahoo's board, or take its case straight to Yahoo investors should no deal be reached.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)
• Microhoo: Ballmer takes off his gloves
• Ballmer's letter to Yahoo board: 'Now is the time'
• Forget Yahoo, Salesforce.com still remains the better fit

Saturday, April 05

Apple picking on NYC green living trademark
Just as we were enjoying a reprieve from Apple trademark cases, a new one arises with the computer maker challenging the Big Apple's GreeNYC logo.
(Posted in News Blog by Michelle Meyers)

Photos: Top 10 reviews of the week
Here are CNET Reviews' 10 favorite items from the past week, including the Intel Classmate PC, Falcon Northwest FragBox 2, and a charger for wireless PS3 controllers.

CNET News QuickCast, weekend edition
Here's what's happening: Classmate PC unveiled; Google Android partners frustrated by lack of details; and what to expect from MySpace music.
(Posted on CNET TV)

China allows access to English Wikipedia
Authorities have lifted a block on the English-language version of online encyclopedia, but politically sensitive topics such as Tibet and Tiananmen Square are still off limits.
(From Reuters)
Find more stories in: China, Wikis, Business ethics

Is Google bringing Bigtable out of the closet?
Google may begin the first phase of becoming an infrastructure provider for external developers by exposing its Bigtable data storage system as a Web service.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)

Meshing with NY blog brethren, both real and fake
Love him or hate him, Gawker Media videographer and prankster Richard Blakeley knows how to get people to come out to a party.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Microsoft producing series of Web shows
Software giant is diving into the production of Web-only shows, saying they will be natural advertising vehicles.
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

Friday, April 04

photos Atom chip breeds wee gadgets
Intel shows off its tiny new processor and some mobile Internet devices designed to use it, from the likes of Asus, Lenovo, and LG.
• A gadget win for Linux
• Roundup: IDF Shanghai

Republican proposes legal shield for political bloggers
A Texas congressman fears rules shielding political blogging from campaign-finance laws could be changed and wants Congress to enshrine a legal shield in federal law.
(Posted in News Blog by Anne Broache)

Couple sue Google for invading privacy with Street View
Lawsuit claims Google Street View invades privacy of Pittsburgh couple because it shows images of their home located on a clearly marked private road.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Former Linuxcare company closes shop
Levanta could not hold on and wait for the data center automation market to ripen around it, says source.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

U.K. armed forces recruit backseat driver tech
In-vehicle sensor will record driving maneuvers and tell military drivers where they are going wrong, as part of 6-month trial to improve road safety.
(By Nick Heath of Silicon.com)

Adobe drops unpopular online Photoshop terms
Under new Photoshop Express terms of use, Adobe no longer is permitted to use your photos for any purpose it wants.
(Posted in Underexposed by Stephen Shankland)

Wind power push in the doldrums
Developers of wind power parks face a shortage of turbines, and the picture isn't likely to change anytime soon.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)

Flixster brings in millions to boost movie-ratings network
Levanta could not hold on and wait for the data center automation market to ripen around it, says source.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

iPhone shortage eases as Germans get a bargain
Apple is starting to get iPhones back into its U.S. retail stores, and T-Mobile has slashed the price of the 8GB iPhone in Germany ahead of an expected 3G launch.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit

Friday QuickCast, 2nd edition
Bill Gates offers a big tease; is faster wireless on tap? The new energy shortage--and no, it's not about oil; and Madonna loves her BlackBerry--a lot!
(Showing on CNET TV)

Briefly: Video game firm THQ sees buying opportunities

Plus: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations...

Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Thursday, April 03

VCs counting options in flagging economy
Venture capitalists may still be sitting on a war chest, but new reports show VC-backed deals and IPOs on the downslide. What's today's investor to do?
• VCs pick Web 2.0 over biotech

Intel's CEO doubles his compensation in 2007
Despite the big boost, the chipmaker's compensation committee says that Paul Otellini's "total compensation was still significantly below the 65th percentile (among the peer group)."
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)

Dell: Layoffs bigger than expected
Job terminations won't be limited to the 8,800 layoffs originally announced last year, as the computer maker seeks to cut costs.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Yahoo Music exec leaves for start-up
Ian Rogers' new company, Topspin Media, is a venture-funded initiative that aims to "help independent artists make a living."
(Posted in News Blog by Margaret Kane)
• Will former Google exec help save the music industry?

Video: Thursday QuickCast, 1st edition
Here's what's happening: Adobe offers up Photoshop CS4--for Windows only; tech conferences are facing new Web challenges; and venture capitalists grapple with a slow economy.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Intel tempts with pre-production solid-state drives
Chipmaker uses its developer forum to show off solid-state drives that will ship later this year, while an Intel fellow describes his "addiction" to the drives.
(Posted in Nanotech: The Circuits Blog by Brooke Crothers)

From wireless pioneer, memories of a milestone cell phone call
Martin Cooper tells of his landmark 1973 call from a portable phone as big as a walkie-talkie. Also: Arlene Harris on the Jitterbug phone.
(Posted in News Blog by Leslie Katz)
• Me ditching Motorola phone is the least of the company's worries

Energy-efficient smart grids on the cheap?
Consumers are eager for electricity usage information at home, preferably on thermostat-like devices. But the best interface for smart grids is still unclear.
(Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

Logitech's 3DConnexion lets 'Second Life' users mouse around
Last year, Linden Lab's virtual world took its code open-source; now, a hardware manufacturer has used that to make its mice compatible with SL.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Energy Star electronics ratings get corporate boost
The EPA's Energy Star program and the industry-backed Climate Savers program are teaming up to promote and develop more efficient PCs, servers, and power supplies.
(Posted in Green Tech by Elsa Wenzel)

Americans prefer energy fix to cancer cure: poll
Nationwide survey comes as U.S. gasoline prices rocket to new highs. But pollster says emotional issues such as global warming are also a factor.
(From Reuters)
Find more stories in: Environment and Energy, Oil

Briefly: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations

Plus: Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

India: No intention of banning the BlackBerry...

Wednesday, April 02

Challenges coming to Open XML vote?
Charges of irregularities in voting mean the die may not be cast after all. Microsoft expects IBM to push others to appeal.

Yahoo tries smarter mobile search
The Web giant unveils version 2.0 of OneSearch, featuring more diverse results and voice-enabled queries. Google beware?
• Full CTIA coverage
• Video: Samsung Instinct
• Video: LG enV(2)

Details emerge on Lenovo's Atom-based handheld
At the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai, the device first seen at CES is outed as the IdeaPad U8 mobile Internet device.
(Posted in News Blog by Erica Ogg)

Despite rumors, upstart VideoEgg has plenty of life left
The company is discontinuing its video-uploading service and scaling back its hosting service to focus on its brand-advertising business, CEO says.
(Posted in News Blog by Greg Sandoval)

Content-tracking software gets $12 million cash infusion
Attributor, whose software helps publishers like AP and Reuters track down digital thieves of their content, raises money to bolster its technology and sales operations.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Video: Wednesday QuickCast, 2nd edition
Here's what's happening: Microsoft to offer XP to low-end systems; the House debates Internet gambling; and new products are coming out that can display your home energy usage.
(Posted in CNET TV)

Apple unlikely to get up and Atom
Intel's latest chip is a big step forward for the company, but Apple has enough on its plate without designing around Atom's low-power-but-not-low-enough specs.
(Posted in One More Thing by Tom Krazit)

Canon loses SLR share, as Nikon surges
For 2007, Canon kept its top-dog status in compact and SLR camera shipments. But Nikon gained major ground in the strategic SLR market, says IDC.
(Posted in Underexposed by Stephen Shankland)

How PARC sees printers boosting clean tech
Researchers at PARC, famed for its computing innovations, say printers and copiers have a lot to offer on the eco-tech front.
Photos: PARC prints green tech
Find more stories in: Printers, Environment and Energy, R&D, Solar energy

Creative Commons gains $4 million grant, loses CEO Lessig
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation pledges funds to the copyright-reform group over the next five years as Lawrence Lessig resigns to focus on his new Change Congress project.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

Intel's Live Large vision for mobile phones
The Carry Small Live Large plan focuses on sensors and is one of the company's "four or five big bets" for upcoming tech trends.
(From ZDNet Australia)
• IDF: Intel trots out wireless chips, discusses eight cores)
Find more stories in: Mobile/wireless, Consumer hardware , Intel

iPhone users: Think young and rich, not different
Rubicon Consulting's survey of 460 iPhone users in the U.S. surfaced the obvious. iPhone users are young (half under 30), tech savvy and more well-heeled than the average American.
(Posted in Outside the Lines by Dan Farber)
• Study gives insight into iPhone users

Briefly: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations

Plus: Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

India: No intention of banning the BlackBerry...

Tuesday, April 01

photos How data centers are cooling down
Some Silicon Valley hotbeds of high-volume computing are learning to chill, one server at a time.

Google's CIO leaving search giant
Google Chief Information Officer Douglas Merrill is leaving Google to become president of EMI's digital unit, sources say.
(Posted in News Blog by Elinor Mills)

Are mix tape sites on solid legal ground?
Can Muxtape, Mixwit, and others withstand the kind of scrutiny that the RIAA is sure to cast on them?
(Posted in Geek Gestalt by Daniel Terdiman)

Microsoft-Yahoo following the DOJ sundial?
Microsoft's efforts to acquire Yahoo may come under increasing pressure this month, as time ticks away to get the deal past regulators, before Bush leaves office.
(Posted in News Blog by Dawn Kawamoto)
• Microsoft's big bid for Yahoo

Zenn, EEStor detail plans for highway-capable electric car
The CityZenn will hit a top speed of 80 miles per hour--but more importantly, it will be rechargeable in five minutes.
(Posted in Green Tech by Michael Kanellos)

Mobile operators avoid potential regulation
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says he will dismiss Skype's petition asking the agency to force mobile operators to open their networks, due to steps the industry has already taken.
(Posted in News Blog by Marguerite Reardon)

Sun close to buying Intel would-be competitor Montalvo
Chip designer Montalvo has been casting about for a buyer, and it looks like Sun is the one.
(Posted in News Blog by Michael Kanellos)

Office Open XML is an ISO standard: Now what?
Microsoft confirms Open XML has gained ISO ratification. Looking ahead, expect scrutiny of the standards process and minimal change in the marketplace.
(Posted in News Blog by Martin LaMonica)

Venture roundup: Reality Digital, Razz newly flush with cash
Online media ventures secure millions in new rounds of funding. Here are several deals from the last day.
(Posted in News Blog by Stefanie Olsen)

Photos: How data centers are cooling down
Some Silicon Valley hotbeds of high-volume computing are learning to chill, one server at a time.

Teenage bot herder pleads guilty in New Zealand
Considering Owen Thor Walker's age and cooperation with authorities, the judge is expected to recommend home detention or community service instead of jail time.
(Posted in Defense in Depth by Robert Vamosi)

Briefly: Sprint pay incentives aim to slow cancellations

Plus: Electronic Arts CFO to leave company...

Royal pardon frees Moroccan Facebook user...

Samsung to spend $1.4 billion to upgrade chip lines...

India: No intention of banning the BlackBerry...