Business Tech

Google's deal with Twitter is paying off.

Google announced the fruits of its earlier deal with the microblogging site, showing off how it has decided to present real-time Internet content within search results.

Google will build a section called "latest results" into the regular Google search results page that automatically refreshes Internet content from sources like Twitter. A demonstration showed off how a search for "Obama" would bring up tweets, Web pages, and other Internet content related to the president as it was generated. At the Web 2.0 conference in October, Google struck a deal with Twitter to get access to the service's "firehose" of tweets.
•  Google hopes to turn the river into a canal

Days after Google announced its plan for integrating content from sources such as Twitter and blogs, Yahoo launched its own feature to integrate tweets into search results. Microsoft already displays Twitter results for queries placed on its Bing search engine, although they are displayed on a separate page that is not directly integrated into the main search results.

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For AOL and Yahoo, it's deja vu all over again

With AOL's spin-off from Time Warner becoming official, the once-iconic media company finds itself face to face with old foe Yahoo as both try to resurrect media empires.
•  AOL's first day: We want to believe

Google's glad to dance to Vevo's tune

The Web titan's role in helping to build Vevo, the long-awaited music-video service, is yet another peace offering to the content industry.
•  Vevo CEO confirms it's all about business
•  Bono, Lady Gaga, Schmidt at Vevo bash (photos)

Intel shifts focus to laptop graphics technology

After scrapping the initial Larrabee processor, the chip giant will focus on graphics technology for laptops.
•  Ghosts of projects past haunt Intel graphics chip

Facebook details new privacy settings

All Facebook users will soon be required to configure their privacy settings, though the company encourages people to keep some information public.
•  Facebook's new privacy system: Pros and cons
•  How to fix Facebook's new privacy settings
•  Study: Facebook users willingly give out data
•  Facebook forms safety advisory board
•  Facebook in Vietnam: Social-networking blues

Apple confirms acquisition of music site Lala

Apple acknowledges that it has purchased the struggling streaming service but declined to comment on reports that Lala was bought for very little money.
•  Did Apple pay $80 million or $17 million for Lala?

AT&T considers incentives to curb heavy data usage

Wireless chief Ralph de la Vega says AT&T may consider alternatives to curb heavy wireless data usage.

CrunchPad reborn as JooJoo

Chandra Rathakrishnan, the chief executive of former TechCrunch partner Fusion Garage, reveals plans to proceed with release of new Web-browsing tablet.
•  Hands-on with the JooJoo
•  JooJoo first look (photos)
•  TechCrunch files suit over CrunchPad

Virgin Galactic unveils rocket plane thrill ride

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic finally unveils SpaceShipTwo, a commercial rocket plane designed to launch space tourists on the ultimate thrill ride--a suborbital flight into space.
•  Virgin Galactic unveils sub-orbital spacecraft (photos)

Also of note
•  Google debuts news story experiment
•  With draft standard, 3D Web closer to reality
•  Seagate enters solid-state drive market

A cable giant becomes an entertainment star, while a search giant gets into the DNS business and a software titan becomes map maker.

Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, is buying a controlling stake in the TV network and movie studio NBC Universal in a deal valued at $37 billion. The deal will make Comcast a major media player with several very profitable cable channels, including USA, CNBC, MSNBC, and Bravo. It will also have control over NBC's broadcast networks and TV stations, its film studio, and its amusement parks.

The deal is likely to be scrutinized by government regulators, namely the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission. A marriage between the nation's largest cable and Internet service provider and one of the nation's three broadcast TV stations could ignite old fights over media ownership, a la carte billing, retransmission consent, and cable prices.
•  Can Comcast-NBC play nice with Hulu?

Google wants to unclog Net's DNS plumbing

The Net giant, ever eager for a faster Internet, debuts its Google Public DNS service. With it, Google could become even more central to the Net.

Microsoft Bing Maps Beta adds much richer images

New enhancements for Bing Maps include a Silverlight-powered Web application that brings very detailed satellite and street-level imagery to Bing, along with other tweaks.
• Bing Maps Beta: Cool, but limited
• Google Earth peers into California's eco-future

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ComScore: So far, online holiday sales are up

Company releases metrics for Cyber Monday and the holiday season to date. And like statistics from other research firms, the numbers are heartening for retailers.
• Study: Cyber Monday sees strong gains
• Cyber Monday bargain hunters out earlier
• Tools for creating holiday-shopping lists
• Study: Sites to bring in billions in holiday donations

In nod to media, Google News policy limited

Google's "First Click Free" policy allowed Google News and search users to discover news articles behind paywalls, but it was easy to abuse. Now, there are limits.

Fake CDC vaccine e-mail leads to malware

AppRiver warns of scammers preying on public interest in the H1N1 vaccine through an e-mail purporting to come from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Microsoft: November security updates are fine

AT&T gives up on Verizon ad lawsuit

AT&T has dismissed its lawsuit against Verizon Wireless for running advertisements it claimed confused customers about its 3G network.
• Verizon nixes holiday ads to continue AT&T-bashing

Microsoft actively urges IE 6 users to upgrade

A shopping video and eBay promotion are part of Microsoft's effort to give IE 6 users a reason to upgrade. The company also is trying to move corporate customers away.
• Dell brings Chrome OS to its Netbook
• Latest Firefox beta gets file-handling feature

Barnes & Noble Nook to hit stores later than expected

B&N says it will have the e-readers in some stores on December 7, a week later than expected, because the company is prioritizing delivery to customers who preordered.
• Spring Design Nook injunction denied, but battle's still on

Psystar ceases sales of Mac clones

Following a settlement agreement with Apple, Psystar's Mac OS-loaded hardware is no longer available on its site.

Michael Jackson tops Google, Yahoo search in 2009

That No. 1 ranking should come as no surprise. Web traffic surged on word of the singer's death in June--so much that Google initially suspected an attack.

Google hosts energy experts amid climate talks

Next week, the international community plans to discuss climate change and green energy, and U.S. energy experts kicked things off at Google's offices.

Also of note

• Google runs a fade pattern on home page
• Mark Zuckerberg's grand missive: The translation
• Defense Dept. pulls software over privacy issues

It was a busy week in the worlds of browsers and operating systems, as Google proved--with its unveiling of the browser-based Chrome OS--that the two are colliding.

Imagine a computer experience that's much like TV: flip a switch and it's on. That was the vision conveyed by Google Vice President of Product Marketing Sundar Pichai Thursday as he offered the public its first look at Chrome OS, the new operating system based on the company's Chrome browser.

Chrome OS eliminates the boot loader and optimizes the kernel so that all the services that normally load with an OS start-up don't load until they are needed, Pichai explained.

Although Chrome OS is a year away from release, Google released the source code for the project on Thursday. It also relayed, through it's demo of the OS, a bit about how it thinks the Netbook should evolve. For one thing, Google plans to develop a detailed specification of hardware components that Chrome OS Netbook makers must adhere to in order to use the operating system.

"We really want software to understand the underlying hardware," Pichai said.

The Chrome OS unveiling came on the heels of sneak previews from Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles. Among those was the release of an Office 2010 beta, with new features such as a mechanism for connecting Outlook to social networks.

The software giant announced plans for the formal launch of Windows Azure, the cloud-based operating system that lets developers write programs that run on servers in Microsoft's data centers. It will be in production for all users starting January 1.

And Microsoft showed it's serious about building a competitive browser with the first glimpses of technology in Internet Explorer 9.

Not to be forgotten in the browser wars, Firefox maker The Mozilla Foundation, reported revenue grew 5 percent to $79 million in 2008. The organization also noted that it's not interested in building a Firefox OS.

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Feds: Top e-tailers profit from billion-dollar Web scam

An investigation by a Senate subcommittee says millions of Americans were "tricked" into signing up for online membership clubs and were betrayed by many Web retailers.

AT&T loses first legal battle against Verizon ads

A federal judge has denied AT&T's request to force Verizon Wireless to stop running advertisements comparing the operators' 3G wireless networks.

AOL: We need to fire 2,500 'volunteers'

Layoff program begins December 4, just before spinoff from Time Warner. AOL says cuts will drop its annual operating expenses by $300 million.
• Nokia to lay off up to 330 R&D staffers
• AOL to sell MapQuest, maybe to Microsoft?
• AOL to spin off Dec. 9, begin trading Dec. 10

Antitrust concerns linger in Google Books deal

Opponents of Google Books settlement say the search giant will still have exclusive rights to digitize orphaned out-of-print works.
• Judge sets February hearing for new Google Books deal

Modern Warfare 2 tops entertainment industry, not just games

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was one of this year's most anticipated titles, but Activision figures now estimate that its launch was even bigger than expected.

Ballmer: Windows 7 selling like hotcakes

At Microsoft's shareholder meeting, the CEO says the OS has sold twice as fast in its early days as any prior version of Windows. He also takes a few shots at Apple.

Computer glitch slows U.S. air travel

A computer glitch causes flight delays and cancellations Thursday morning, but the FAA says that its main flight processing system is now back up and running.

Consumers to plug into home energy displays?

Dozens of companies are prepping tech to help consumers find ways to save energy, but it's hard to say which approach will stick.
• Photos: Home energy displays show you the juice
• California approves efficiency mandate for TVs

Also of note
•  IBM: Computing rivaling human brain may be ready by 2019
•  Paul Allen diagnosed with cancer
•  The 411 on early-termination fees (FAQ)
•  Al Gore: Our next power grid will be like the Net
•  Next year's Flip will do Wi-Fi

In a bit of a Thanksgiving appetizer, many companies were beefing up their structures by--as one of my colleagues put it--gobbling up other companies.

The biggest deal was announced by Hewlett-Packard, which plans to acquire 3Com, maker of network switching and routing products. The deal is valued at $2.7 billion, or $7.90 per share. HP says the purchase is intended to boost its networking business, particularly in China, where most of 3Com's business is focused.

The 3Com deal is the most recent in a string of enterprise-related acquisitions HP has made in the past year, including most recently file serving software maker Ibrix. HP wants to be a leader in providing customers with an integrated stack of computing technology ranging from servers and storage at the foundation all the way up to services.

Other deals

EA picks up Playfish for social gaming push

Electronic Arts makes some serious waves in the social gaming by acquiring Playfish for $275 million in cash and $25 million in equity.
•  A new set of rules for social games

Google to acquire AdMob for $750 million

Mobile advertising is AdMob's specialty, and the deal gives Google a technology inroad into a fast-growing segment of online advertising.
•  With AdMob, Google seeks mobile-ad advantage

Logitech buys video-conferencing firm LifeSize

Acquisition puts the maker of Webcams and other peripherals into the video-conferencing market.

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Intel to pay AMD $1.25 billion in antitrust settlement

AMD drops its litigation while Intel agrees to "abide by" a long list of prohibitions. And renewed patent cross-license agreement frees AMD to spin off chip manufacturing.
•  What Intel just bought for $1.25 billion: Less risk
•  AMD-Intel deal: No big change for consumers
•  AMD: Our claims about Intel have been 'ratified'

Windows 7 use continues to climb

It now makes up 4 percent of Web-accessing computers, a mark that took Windows Vista nearly seven months to reach.
•  Microsoft pulls Windows 7 download tool
•  Microsoft probing Windows 7 zero-day hole

Microsoft bans 1 million Xbox Live players

Players who were caught modifying their consoles to play pirated games have been booted from the popular service.
•  Craigslist brimming with banned, 'modded' Xboxes

Google hopes to remake programming with Go

A Unix co-creator is among those behind a language Google hopes will speed computers and programming. Today, Go becomes open-source software.
•  Google hopes Go will give a browser boost

Research: Twitter has yet to grow into valuation

Company is worth significantly less than $1 billion, one company surmises. That's in part because the effectiveness of its possible business plan is still up in the air.
•  Judge bans Twitter from court
•  Twitter issues mulligan on new 'retweet' feature
•  Mint makes Twitter an investor hub

Microsoft denies Windows 7 is based on Mac OS

Following comments from a U.K. Microsoft executive that Windows 7 was designed to create "a Mac Look," a company blog post distances itself from his words.
•  Microsoft exec: Mac OS inspired Windows 7

Verizon tests sending RIAA copyright notices

The No. 2 phone company, known for its reluctance to intervene in antipiracy cases, has struck an agreement to forward copyright notices on behalf of the music industry.
•  Even in media mecca, plenty are willing to pirate
•  Former RIAA chief tries to save Qtrax image

Expert says Adobe Flash policy is risky

Adobe Flash Player allows arbitrary content to access applications without permission, says researcher at Foreground Security.

As alternative energy grows, NIMBY turns green

With more renewable energy projects trying to come online, the country grapples with the balance between local land use and a national push for clean energy.
•  Students pitch green businesses for greenbacks

Also of note
•  Bill Gates' home tour on charity auction block
•  U.S. Army orders bridges made of recycled plastic
•  Facebook status update saves man from jail

It looks as though Microsoft may have a winner in Windows 7, at least in comparison to Vista.

The software giant saw relatively strong early adoption of Windows 7 in the 10 days since its official launch. According to Net Applications, more than 3 percent of PCs accessing the Web in the past two days have been doing so using the new operating system. Usage of the operating system has been growing strong in recent days, though Windows 7 already accounted for 2 percent of global Web traffic in the days ahead of its formal launch.

Judging by its initial sales, Windows 7 is certainly proving more popular than Vista. Microsoft sold 234 percent more boxed editions of Windows 7 than it did Vista in the initial releases of both products, according to research released by NPD Group.

In actual dollars, Windows 7 has also been more successful than Vista. However, early discounts on pre-sales copies and a lack of a promotional boost behind Windows 7 Ultimate led to revenues only 82 percent greater than those of Vista.
•  Windows 7 upgrade version: The dos and don'ts
•  FAQ: Buying the right Windows 7 upgrade
•  Microsoft Windows 7 vs. Apple Snow Leopard

More headlines

New York antitrust suit accuses Intel of bribery

Intel used payments to keep computer makers from selling systems with AMD chips, according to New York's attorney general. It's a new front in an old Intel war.
•  N.Y. lawsuit details Intel's 'largesse' toward Dell

T-Mobile experiencing widespread outage

The cellular carrier acknowledges problems affecting both its voice and data networks.
•  T-Mobile users still reeling from outage
•  T-Mobile says software error behind outage

AT&T vs. Verizon: There's a lawyer for that

AT&T is suing Verizon Wireless over its "There's a Map for That" ad campaign, stating that it misleads consumers about AT&T's network coverage.

Corporate bank accounts targeted in online fraud

Small and medium-size businesses, governments, and school districts are targets of online bank fraud involving malicious e-mails, key loggers, and money mules, FBI says.
•  Phishing, worms spike this year, say Microsoft and McAfee
•  New Trojan encrypts files but leaves no ransom note
•  Hacker breaks into jailbroken iPhones, asks for $7

Barnes & Noble hit with suit over Nook

A Cupertino, Calif.-based start-up claims the bookseller misappropriated its trade secrets in its design of a similar e-reader.
•  Spring Design seeks injunction barring Nook sales

Microsoft gives the MSN butterfly a makeover

It's given a new look to both its home page and the MSN butterfly logo. The main page now has just half as many links, with more videos and photos.
•  Microsoft to fix holes in Windows, Office

Mozilla: Firefox 3.6 won't be late

The first beta of Firefox 3.6 may have crossed the finish line weeks late, but Mozilla says the final version should still be done this year.
•  Firefox gets a quick fix
•  Firefox gains Windows 7 features

Lack of global climate deal won't crush green tech

No matter what happens in Copenhagen next month, green-tech companies say industry and national governments will drive investment in the near term, an analysis shows.
•  Waste Management squeezes fuel from landfills
•  LA changing its glow for more efficiency
•  PetroAlgae signs deal with Indian Oil

Mac game: Art project or malware?

Is the Lose/Lose game a legitimate art project, or should it be flagged as malware because it deletes files?

Virtual goods: Duping the masses?

When is ad not an ad? When it's an offer for something other than what you think you are signing up for.
•  After onstage spat, Offerpal replaces CEO
•  Offerpal Media mess gets stickier

Beatles copyright case down a legal rabbit hole

BlueBeat is streaming Beatles recordings for free and selling them for 25 cents apiece, claiming that they aren't the original recordings and therefore aren't copyright-protected.
•  Beatles catalog comes to USB
•  No Doubt says 'no' to Band Hero depiction

Also of note
•  An unofficial way to 'dislike' things on Facebook
•  Best Buy to launch branded movie download service
•  Wi-Fi-free iPhone officially lands in China

Verizon Wireless customers will soon be able to get their hands on the much-anticipated Google Android phone called the Droid.

Verizon and Motorola officially unveiled the device, which, like most smartphones of its class, will cost $199 with a two-year contract. And it will be available to consumers starting November 6.

The device offers voice-activated search that allows users to speak a query, and the Google-powered search engine delivers Web results or device-native results such as stored contacts, music, and photos. The voice search also works with the new turn-by-turn directions for Google Maps. It allows users to view geographic information, such as My Maps, Wikipedia entries, and transit lines on the map.

•  Can the Droid save Motorola?
•  MLB uses World Series to warm up Android app
•  Is the Motorola Droid ugly?
•  Google Android resource guide

More headlines

Microsoft puts its 'signature' on PCs

In its online and retail stores, Microsoft is selling computers loaded with all of its online software, including its Windows Live, Zune, and Security Essentials products.
•  Students find problems with Windows 7 upgrade
•  Windows 7 is an all-ages show
•  Results of the Windows 7 upgrade poll

Yahoo, Microsoft need more time to ink pact

Yahoo says in a regulatory filing that the companies have agreed to extend the deadline by which they will have a definitive agreement.

Former AMD chief linked to Galleon case

Hector Ruiz, the former CEO and chairman of Advanced Micro Devices, has been linked to the insider-trading case.
•  Contradictions stalk former AMD chief

Cisco to buy cloud security firm for $183 million

Cisco Systems plans to buy a Web-based security software company called ScanSafe, marking the third announced acquisition this month.
•  Cisco revs its acquisition engine

Facebook spells out updated privacy policy

After continued scrutiny from privacy advocates, Facebook has explained the difference between deleting and deactivating accounts.
•  Facebook woos developers with a road map
•  Pandora now shares with Facebook, Twitter
•  Facebook's 'share' buttons: Now with numbers
•  Bank Trojan botnet targets Facebook users
•  Fake Facebook e-mail contains Trojan

Twitter investor: 'We didn't need the money'

Although the company hasn't put a long-term revenue strategy in place, one of its backers says Twitter didn't raise $100 million last month out of a need for cash.
•  Why Hollywood needs to hear more about Twitter
•  Twitter users warned about new phishing attack
•  Kaspersky tool detects malware in Twitter links

Analyst: Chip recovery under way

Revenue from chip sales is expected to rise in the fourth quarter. Still, iSuppli adds a good dose of caution to its report.
•  Netbooks boost graphics chip shipments

Google Voice now (kinda) works with your number

Google is giving users of its Voice service a way to forward missed cell phone calls to its free voice mail service while retaining their usual cell phone number.
•  Hands-on: Google Voice's new voice mail service

White House Web site makes open-source move

The open-source Drupal package now is used to power WhiteHouse.gov. But please don't conflate open source and open governance.

Bill Gates casts self as 'impatient optimist'

In a speech on global health, Bill and Melinda Gates tout some successes but also call for more action to nearly halve the number of childhood deaths worldwide within 15 years.

Also of note

•  Apple delivers Apple TV 3.0 software
•  Yahoo planning Santa Clara campus
•  Microsoft pulls plug on 'Family Guy' special

Two of the Web's biggest search giants are making friends with social networks.

Microsoft is bringing real-time search results from Facebook and Twitter to its Bing search engine thanks to two partnerships. The Twitter partnership, which will bring all real-time public tweets to Bing, went live in beta on Wednesday at Bing.com/twitter.

The Facebook deal, which will access all information shared publicly on the social network, will arrive "at a later date," Microsoft said. It's all part of Bing's strategy to harness "the emerging hot area of real-time information."

In a deal announced just hours after Microsoft debuted integration of "tweets" into Bing, Google said it would also be indexing real-time Twitter messages in search results. Google has "reached an agreement," but the search results have not gone live like Microsoft's have on Bing. Reports started to surface earlier this month that Twitter was in separate talks with both Google and Microsoft.

Uncharacteristically for Microsoft, the new Twitter search feature on Bing went live shortly after the announcement. Here's how Twitterized Bing works for users so far.
•  Study: Twitter users young, wireless, on other social sites
•  Twitter hits 5 billion tweets
•  Eight billion minutes spent on Facebook daily
•  Web 2.0 Summit: Where tech worlds collide

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Windows 7: Microsoft's touchy-feely launch

A subdued launch left enthusiasts with plenty of time to get hands-on with all the new PCs--well, all but that Dell Adamo that everyone wanted to get their hands on.
•  Windows 7 born from Vista's frustrations
•  Windows 7 default user account control worries experts
•  Windows 7 security in pictures
•  Microsoft's Windows 7 launch: Deals, deals, deals
•  HP, Best Buy team on Windows 7 'home makeover'
•  CNET's Windows 7 coverage

Apple unveils redesigned MacBooks, new iMacs

Apple revamped its desktop and laptop lines, dramatically redesigning the iMac all-in-one and MacBook laptop, and also adding a few updates to its Mac Mini line of small-scale desktops.
•  Apple: Best Mac, iPhone quarterly sales ever

Barnes & Noble debuts its Nook

The bookseller launches its Kindle rival at an event at the Chelsea Piers. As expected, the e-reader has a dual-screen display and will sell for $259.
•  Is Barnes & Noble's Nook a Kindle killer?
•  Internet Archive's BookServer could 'dominate' Amazon

FCC sets Internet regulation in motion

Federal Communications Commission votes unanimously to gather data that will be used to determine regulations to keep the Net open.
•  Telco lobbyists don't mind some Net neutrality regs
•  AT&T enlists employees to oppose Net neutrality
•  Verizon CEO slams Net neutrality
•  Google, Verizon Wireless find common ground on Net neutrality
•  Net neutrality still faces political, legal hurdles

Another Facebook redesign: Birthdays are important

Leaked document shows some of Facebook's plan for a minor home page redesign that addresses some of the concerns members raised the last time the company did a big design overhaul.
•  Facebook COO: No PayPal killer, ad network--yet
•  Facebook's Gift Shop gets down to business

News Corp. digital chief: MySpace 'kind of stopped'

As the social site attempts a turnaround, the parent company's chief digital officer talked about how it lost its way. Whether it'll be able to get back on top is less clear.
•  MySpace blasts out new music features
•  MySpace takes one small step in the right direction

Utilities vow to prep infrastructure for plug-in cars

Utilities say they need to invest in infrastructure to ease the transition of plug-in electric vehicles with incentives for off-peak charging and charging stations in public places.
•  Investor: Green tech vital to U.S. competitiveness
•  Toyota looks to electric car business

Also of note
•  Nokia sues Apple over wireless patents
•  France adopts antipiracy three-strikes law
•  Judge: Craigslist not liable for prostitution ads

A massive data outage for Sidekick handheld users has become a massive PR headache for Microsoft and carrier T-Mobile.

A massive data outage in Microsoft's Danger unit left many T-Mobile Sidekick users without access to their calendar, address book, and other key data. However, things got even worse as Microsoft said in a statement that data not recovered thus far may be permanently lost. Microsoft and T-Mobile have not said how many of the roughly 800,000 Sidekick customers have lost data.

T-Mobile USA has, at least temporarily, stopped selling all models of the device as the company continues to investigate the recent problems.

T-Mobile later said that it may yet be able to recover Sidekick users' information. Those who do suffer permanent data loss will get a $100 "customer appreciation card" good toward T-Mobile service or products.

Not surprisingly, a number of lawsuits have been filed, including two in federal court in Northern California that allege both negligence and false claims on the part of Microsoft and T-Mobile.
•  Sidekick's lesson: We learn by failing
•  Unanswered questions loom large in Sidekick fiasco
•  Sidekick users share their horror stories
•  Deaf users sound off on Sidekick outage
•  Microsoft: We've recovered most Sidekick data
•  With outage, Sidekick service loses its footing

Microsoft wasn't alone in suffering high-profile data headaches:

Facebook database outage cut off about 150,000

A downed Facebook database left a small but vocal percentage of its userbase without access to the social network for as long as 10 days.
•  Growth of Facebook leaves MySpace in dust

Apple acknowledges Snow Leopard data loss issue

The company says it is aware of a problem related to guest account log-ins that "occurs only in extremely rare cases," and it does not yet have a fix for it.

Google's Postini suffers prolonged e-mail delays

Service was disrupted for a better portion of a day on some of Google's Postini e-mail security service, with customers reporting significant delays in e-mail delivery.

More headlines

Google revenue, profits increase

The search giant isn't growing as strongly as it was a year ago, but it beats revenue expectations amid signs the ad economy is getting stronger, and CEO Eric Schmidt says he believes the worst is over.
•  Levinson quits Google's board
•  Business as usual in search market share

Intel earnings beat Wall Street predictions

The chipmaker's third-quarter revenue comes in at $9.4 billion, beating analysts' expectations, which hovered at just more than $9 billion.
•  Intel CEO remarks on Netbooks, Windows 7
•  Intel, AMD feud over evidence in antitrust case

Critical Windows 7 holes fixed in record Patch Tuesday

Microsoft stitches up a pair of Windows 7 holes, along with fixing up zero-day flaws in SMB and IIS offerings.
•  Adobe fixes 28 holes in Reader and Acrobat
•  Internet breaks in Sweden after DNS maintenance error

Microsoft wants multicore boost from Windows 7

The new operating system should be able to make better use of modern multicore chips--in part through changes to adapt Windows to big servers.
•  Using Windows 7 to 'Elevate Miami'
•  Microsoft taps the 'Family Guy' to sell Windows 7

Financier Soros to invest $1 billion in clean tech

George Soros will invest $1 billion on clean-energy technology, and he plans to provide $10 million a year over the next 10 years for the newly created Climate Policy Initiative.
•  Where the clean-tech jobs are

Amazon offers same-day delivery to select cities

Online retailer upgrades its shipping options in time for the holiday season, also expanding its Saturday delivery options. Pricing may benefit Prime subscribers most.
•  Samsung delivers Blockbuster, Amazon on-demand video

Also of note

•  New Wi-Fi spec challenges Bluetooth
•  Cisco to buy mobile specialist Starent for $2.9 billion
•  Steve Jobs bests Zuckerberg on teens' fave list

Two years after Google announced Android, phone manufacturers are launching devices with the mobile operating system, and carriers are lining up to sell them.

In the past couple of months, nine devices using Google's mobile operating system have been announced. The pipeline is full of more Android devices, some that are confirmed and some that are still rumored to be in development.

U.S. wireless operators are also jumping on the Google Android bandwagon. Up to now, T-Mobile USA, the smallest of the four nationwide carriers, had been the only U.S. wireless operator to offer Android devices. But T-Mobile won't be alone for much longer. Starting next week, Sprint Nextel will introduce the HTC Hero, its first Android phone. Verizon Wireless will get two Google Android phones in the coming weeks. Even AT&T is expected to have a Google Android phone soon.

More headlines

Adobe pushes Flash video on mobile devices

Adobe garners the support of Google, Palm, and Motorola for its new Flash software for smartphones, smartbooks, Netbooks, and other mobile devices.
•  Adobe tries keeping Flash in Web vanguard
•  Adobe Flash apps come to iPhone--sort of
•  Adobe spells out iPhone apps limitations

AT&T to allow VoIP iPhone apps on 3G network

AT&T and Apple clear the way for iPhone users to begin using VoIP apps on its wireless network.
•  Vonage app available for iPhone, BlackBerry
•  Telus, Bell to get the iPhone in Canada

Microsoft introduces 'Starter' version of Office

Ad-supported, limited-feature version of Office will come preloaded on certain new PCs to take the place of Microsoft Works.

Google: Computer memory flakier than expected

After studying most of its servers for more than two years, Google finds that computer memory failures are much more common than expected and debunks some other myths.

Amazon goes global with new Kindle

The new edition of the e-book reader that can wirelessly download books in more than 100 countries. Also: a price cut for U.S. consumers.
•  B&N e-book reader reportedly in the works

Did Viacom find smoking gun in YouTube case?

YouTube's internal e-mails indicate employees and managers knew about copyright content, sources say, but chose to leave the material on the site. What are the DMCA ramifications?
•  Schmidt: We paid $1 billion premium for YouTube

IBM Research jumps into genetic sequencing

Big Blue hopes its electronic automation technology will give people and their doctors individual genetic records for less than $1,000.

FTC to bloggers: Fess up or pay up

A fine of up to $11,000 awaits bloggers who don't reveal paid reviews or free products, in the first revision to the FTC's disclosure guidelines in three decades.
•  Yes, new FTC guidelines extend to Facebook fan pages

Facebook's mounting customer service crisis

It's unclear how many members still can't access their accounts after Facebook acknowledged a database issue, but one thing's for sure: the ones locked out are steaming mad.
•  Something is clogging the Twitter stream!

At Ceatec 2009, a starring role for 3D

The long-awaited 3D technology may finally be on its way to the living room--and it could also be headed to the operating room.
•  Full coverage of Ceatec

Also of note

•  Phished or not, leaked passwords show lazy habits
•  RealNetworks set to file appeal in RealDVD case
•  Lego devotees flock to Seattle