Top technology news headlines

• 

  Embracing Firefox 3.6's new-tab ethos

  A change to how the new browser positions new tabs is subtle but good, especially as browsers rise in importance. But more work is needed in tab switching.
  • Browser battles go on and on

  Read full story
• 

  Beyond big batteries
  for energy utilities

  The latest smart-grid programs give alternative storage tech, from compressed air to flywheels, a shot at proving themselves at utility scale.
  • Eyeing smart-grid standards
  • Gore: Grid should be like Net

  Read full story

• New Google search UI brings color, search options

  Search results user interface being tested highlights different options in eye-catching color, a nod to rivals trying to dent its lead with presentation improvements.

  (Posted in Relevant Results by Tom Krazit)

• Site owner dumps crude Michelle Obama image

  An offensive caricature of Michelle Obama that was the top Google Image Search result for her name has been removed by the site owner, and is therefore dropping from search results.

  (Posted in Relevant Results by Tom Krazit)

• Buffalo ships first USB 3.0 hard drive

  Using the latest Universal Serial Bus technology, the new drive can push data at least three times faster than a USB 2.0 drive.

  (Posted in Crave by Lance Whitney)

• Mozilla issues near-final Thunderbird 3

  The new e-mail software adds an archive option, improves search, and aims to ease some tasks. Also: Mozilla wants 3.1 sooner rather than later.

  (Posted in Deep Tech by Stephen Shankland)

• 3G wireless still holds promise

  The next generation of 4G wireless may get all the headlines, but advanced 3G technology will likely dominate services for the next few years.
  • Clearwire raises $920 million

  (Posted in Signal Strength by Marguerite Reardon)

• Who's looking out for online shoppers?

  A long-running marketing ploy now under federal investigation has raised questions about why it was allowed to go on for nearly a decade.

  (Posted in Media Maverick by Greg Sandoval)

• Top 10 Internet moments of the decade

  The folks behind the Webby Awards hail the iPhone, Twitter, and Craigslist as stirring some of the most influential developments of the decade. We offer some picks of our own.

  (Posted in Digital Media by Lance Whitney)

• Confidential 9/11 pager messages disclosed

  Glimpse into events of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks comes from pager messages that have been anonymously published on WikiLeaks.org.

  (Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)

• Ericsson wins Nortel's North American GSM unit

  The Swedish communications giant gets the GSM operations for $70 million in cash. It had already acquired Nortel's CDMA and LTE business in North America.
  • Ciena buys Nortel's Metro Ethernet business

  (Posted in Wireless by Lance Whitney)

• Apple to Psystar: Don't try any Black Friday sales

  In the latest step in the intellectual property case, Apple calls for a permanent injunction against Psystar's Mac clone operations.

  (Posted in Apple by John Paczkowski, AllThingsD)

• Independent Skype set for exec shake-up

  Skype's chief operating officer is leaving the newly independent Internet phone company.
  (From The New York Times)

• California unveils draft cap-and-trade rules

  The state is in the vanguard of addressing climate change, especially in light of slow national action and setbacks for global talks coming up in Copenhagen.

  (Posted in Green Tech by Reuters)

• Facebook changes stock structure: IPO coming?

  The social network has converted all existing shareholders' stock to the more powerful Class B; it'll go back to Class A if they sell it during an IPO. But the company says it still doesn't have IPO plans set.

  (Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)
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