Breaking news technology
Vietnam says bloggers' case 'distorted'
5:20am Vietnam's detention of three online writers has been "intentionally exaggerated and distorted," the foreign affairs ministry spokeswoman has said.
$100M-plus broadband map runs into cost questions
PETER SVENSSON AND JOELLE TESSLER 2:50am The national stimulus package passed by Congress in February may have been too enthusiastic about spending money on one particular project: figuring out where broadband Internet access is available and how fast it is.
Al-Qaida Web sites down ahead of 9/11 anniversary
A U.S.-based group monitoring militant Web sites said Friday that jihadist forums have been experiencing technical problems on the eve of Sept. 11, finally going offline a day before the 8th anniversary of the al-Qaida attack on the U.S.
US court throws out damages award against Microsoft
A US appeals court on Friday threw out a damages award of 358 million US dollars against Microsoft in a patent infringement case filed by French telecom firm Alcatel-Lucent.
Twitter keeps it simple with new terms of service
Twitter Inc. keeps it simple, even when it comes to updating the legalese in its terms of service.
Google's search box gets bigger
Google just got bigger. Not the company, but the search box on its home page, that is.
Hacker pleads guilty in massive credit card theft
The man accused of orchestrating the largest credit card theft in US history pleaded guilty on Friday to charges in two other cases that could put him behind bars for up to 25 years.
Twitter opening up to advertising
Twitter, the micro-blogging platform which has attracted tens of millions of users but has yet to make money, has changed its terms to potentially open up the free service to advertisers.
Verdict spares Microsoft $358M in patent damages
JESSICA MINTZ A federal appeals court said Friday that Microsoft Corp. does not have to pay Alcatel-Lucent $358 million for patent infringement because of problems with how the damages were calculated.
Hacker pleads guilty to huge theft of card numbers
DENISE LAVOIE A computer hacker who was once a federal informant and was a driving force behind one of the largest cases of identity theft in U.S. history pleaded guilty Friday in a deal with prosecutors that will send him to prison for up to 25 years.
Spanish security firm detects 'swine flu' computer virus
Cyber criminals are taking advantage of swine flu fears with e-mails promising news on the illness which then infect computers with a virus, a Spanish computer security firm warned Friday.
US videogame sales down for sixth month in a row
US sales of videogame hardware and software fell 16 percent in August to 908.72 million US dollars, the sixth straight monthly decline, according to the NPD Group.
Chef Rocco cooks with a little help from his fans
MICHAEL HILL Twitter and Facebook are helping Rocco DiSpirito write his new cookbook.
Rossellini makes a `Porno' with Web short films
DAVID GERMAIN Isabella Rossellini has established herself as the world's most prominent porn artist specializing in the lusty behavior of bugs, barnacles, shrimp and starfish.
US video game sales slide in August for 6th month
BARBARA ORTUTAY Video games sales declined in August for the sixth straight month, following what analysts called a disappointing showing from the latest "Madden" game.
Journalism watchdog calls for Cuba blogger freedom
PAUL HAVEN A U.S.-based journalist watchdog group called Thursday for an end to what it described as "systemic harassment" of bloggers and independent journalists in Cuba, and urged the international community to step up its lobbying on the bloggers' behalf.
AT&T; launches an online video site like Hulu
AT&T; Inc. on Thursday unveiled a Web site that offers free access to TV shows and movies.
E-mail glitch says NY senators taking years off
Need your New York senator? The automated e-mail responses for many of them over the holiday weekend told constituents they'd get right back to them when they return to the office _ in a couple of years.
Facebook to let users tag friends in status posts
Facebook will soon let users "tag" their friends in their posts, similar to how they already can with photos.
Motorola unveils Cliq, the Android-powered smartphone
Motorola has unveiled its first smartphone powered by Google's Android software, a device called the "Cliq" that the US handset maker hopes will help turn around its flagging fortunes.
E-book release delayed for Kennedy memoir
HILLEL ITALIE E-book fans will have to wait for a download of Sen. Ted Kennedy's memoir.
Motorola, in need of hit, shows off Android phone
RACHEL METZ Struggling phone maker Motorola unveiled its first device using Google's Android system Thursday, banking on it to power features that will attract consumers looking to use their phones to connect with friends, family and colleagues.
US Copyright Office concerned by Google book settlement
The head of the US Copyright Office added her voice Thursday to the chorus of concern over the proposed legal settlement that would allow Google to scan and sell millions of books online.
20 governors back prison cell phone jamming bill
Twenty governors have signed a letter to support legislation in Congress to allow states to jam contraband cell phones in prisons.
Panasonic offers changes in Sanyo takeover: EU
Japanese high-tech giant Panasonic has offered concessions to head off concerns about its takeover of struggling smaller rival Sanyo, EU competition officials said on Thursday.
Sprint Nextel lowers mobile-to-mobile pricing
DAVID TWIDDY Intensifying competition in wireless pricing, Sprint Nextel Corp. will offer unlimited domestic calls to other mobile phones regardless of the recipient's service provider.
DNA pioneer appeals for cuts to criminal database
JILL LAWLESS Like so many great discoveries, it was an accident.
'Old Farmer's Almanac' still spots cold in Web age
RUSSELL CONTRERAS Doris Smith Mills often comes across past editions of the "Old Farmer's Almanac" lying around her family's 110-year-old Westport, Mass., farm. She believes previous Smiths read it for entertainment and its yearly weather predictions to ready for New England's fickle climate changes.
Appeals court upholds Kan. pharmacist's conviction
ROXANA HEGEMAN An appeals court panel upheld on Wednesday the conviction of a pharmacist for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription drugs through a Wichita-based Internet pharmacy.
China moves to control online music industry
MARIANNE BARRIAUX China has announced that all songs posted on music websites must receive prior approval and foreign lyrics must be translated into Chinese, in a new push to control online content.
