Internet & Media

Megaupload settles copyright suit with porn studio

Megaupload lives to fight another day.

The Internet file-storage business accused of helping millions around the world to store pirated videos, music, and software, has settled a copyright suit filed against it in January by Perfect 10, a porn studio with a long history of accusing tech companies of copyright violations.

Terms of the settlement weren't disclosed and representatives from the two companies did not respond to CNET's requests for comment. Megaupload is the parent company of multiple services, such as Megaporn, MegaVideo and MegaPix.

In e-mail exchanges this year with CNET, the company confirmed that it is more

Motorola Xoom 2: Second time's the charm?

Motorola is hitting the market with all new Xoom tablets.

Dubbed the Xoom 2, the new Android tablets will make their debut this month for consumers in the U.K. and Ireland. The tablets come in two flavors--a traditional 10-inch Xoom 2 with built-in options for business users and an 8.2-inch Xoom 2 Media Edition.

Both tablets are powered by dual-core 1.2 GHz processors, run Android 3.2 Honeycomb, and offer Wi-Fi connectivity. The displays are strengthened with Corning's Gorilla glass and come with a special splash-guard coating designed to make them more durable and stain resistant.

Motorola is certainly crossing its fingers with the Xoom 2, hoping for better results than the original Xoom has delivered. Launched in February, the Xoom got off to a slow start, with some analysts estimating that the company likely sold around 100,000 tablets during the initial couple of months.

The situation certainly hasn't improved over time.

Apple still testing, teasing with iTunes Match

Apple missed a self-imposed deadline for launching iTunes Match, but the company apparently is inching closer to a release.

The beta of iTunes 10.5.1 was updated yesterday, and Apple wrote: "iTunes Match is also now available for testing on Apple TV." While this means that only developers are getting a chance to take Match out for a spin, the Match option was also appearing for some regular users--although they're unable to access the feature.

MacRumors was first to report this story.

Match is a service that enables iTunes users to access the songs in their music libraries more

Competition and a weak economy plague cable TV

Cable TV is not dead, but its audience isn't growing either.

Cable operators all over the country have been steadily and slowly losing TV subscribers quarter after quarter. A year ago, some people wondered if Internet TV services like Netflix and Hulu were attracting so-called cord cutters. But Craig Moffett, an analyst with Sanford Bernstein, thinks there are other forces at work.

Increased competition from satellite and phone companies offering TV service is the main reason that cable operators are losing TV subscribers. But the sluggish economy is also contributing to the malaise.

"The category itself isn't growing, more

Facebook co-founder leads $7 million round in ShopSavvy

Up until today's $7 million round of funding, mobile shopping app maker ShopSavvy had bootstrapped and survived on its own revenue (more on that later) since its inception in 2008. This was the first app to scan barcodes to search online and local retailers for the best prices.

The round was led by Eduardo Saverin, Facebook co-founder and private investor. Saverin, who wasn't made available for comment, also joins the company's board.

"People have wanted to buy the company or invest, but it took us awhile to find the guy who really understood what we wanted to more

Amazon launches free e-book borrowing for Prime members

In an interesting twist on e-book lending that's sure to rile competitors, Amazon has launched the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, which allows Amazon Prime members to check out up to one e-book a month for free with no due date.

Amazon didn't put an exact figure on the number of books that will be part of the new program, but says that it's "over 5,000" and includes more than "100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers." Not surprisingly, we found a number of Amazon-published e-books on the list.

Facebook claimant accuses Zuckerberg of destroying e-mails

Paul Ceglia, the man who claims he is owed half of Facebook, has asked that co-founder Mark Zuckerberg be sanctioned for allegedly deleting e-mails that describe their partnership.

Ceglia said in papers filed yesterday in a federal court in Buffalo, N.Y., that Zuckerberg destroyed messages from his Harvard University e-mail account after receiving a litigation hold on it contents, according to a Bloomberg report. He also sought a court order to prevent Facebook and Zuckerberg from disputing the authenticity of Ceglia's purported e-mail correspondence.

Ceglia claimed in a lawsuit filed last year against Facebook and its CEO that more

Angie's List sets IPO price, seeks to raise $114.3M

Angie's List, a consumer review site where people rate everything from doctors to tree services, disclosed today in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it will seek to raise $114.3 million in an initial public offering.

The company, based in Indianapolis, plans to offer 8.8 million shares for $11 to $13 apiece. It's aiming to go public before Thanksgiving and will list on the Nasdaq under the symbol ANGI.

Angie's List was launched in 1995 by Angie Hicks. Its focus was on home services, but the service has expanded into more

Shop 'til you drag and drop: Digital Folio raises $1.2M

Digital Folio today announced $1.2 million in funding that it will use to expand its comparison shopping technology and go after the crowded market.

That level of funding isn't going to grab headlines (oops, it just did) but price comparison engines are powerful and steady money makers. Look at the success of PriceGrabber.com, Nextag.com, Shopathome.com, Shopzilla.com, Pronto.com, ShopLocal.com, etc.

Founded this year and fresh out of beta, Denver-based Digital Folio lets shoppers drag and drop items from major retailers, including Amazon.com and Target, into one shopping list. Prices for the items more

Groupon expected to go public Friday

Daily deals giant Groupon is on track to set its IPO pricing tomorrow and release shares to the public on Friday, according to news reports and analysts.

Groupon has filed with regulators to sell 30 million shares at $16 to $18 per share. The Chicago-based company is seeking to raise $540 million and a valuation of $11.4 billion. It's still unclear whether Groupon's underwriters will raise its offering price, AllThingsD is reporting.

Groupon declined CNET's request for comment on the IPO timing.

Earlier this year Groupon was valued at $20 billion and on track to move more