A quick rundown of the top stories we're following as we head into the holiday weekend, including: New Google search UI gets colorful, and Buffalo seems to have won the race to be first to ship a USB 3.0 drive.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Crude Michelle Obama image dumped by site owner
New Google search UI brings color, search options
Buffalo ships first USB 3.0 hard drive
Clearwire raises another $920 million
Mozilla issues near-final Thunderbird 3
In today's podcast: Google will start tracking TiVo viewing data to help advertisers see how commercials get seen in the day of the DVR; four days after the CERN particle accelerator was turned back on, it's making quick progress; Intel overhauls its Atom processor for Netbooks; AT&T follows Verizon's lead with mobile broadband plans; and more of today's top tech news.
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CERN particle accelerator sees first collisions
HP reports in-line earnings, raises 2010 outlook
Google to track TiVo viewing habits
Major Intel chip upgrade coming to Netbooks
AT&T offers prepaid wireless broadband
It appears that Rupert Murdoch was serious about wanting to remove his company's media properties, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, Fox News, and Hulu, from the Google search index. Murdoch's News Corp. has reportedly initiated discussions with Microsoft over a plan to have the media company's Web content essentially delisted from the world's largest search engine, Google, but included on Microsoft's Bing, in exchange for payment from Microsoft. Microsoft has reportedly approached other media giants about having their content removed from Google search results as well.
CNET is preparing an update on this development and we'll have more news later today.
Also on the podcast: No app store apologies from Apple; a dangerous, if rare, iPhone worm; "smartbooks" to take on netbooks; and editors begin to leave Wikipedia.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Report: Microsoft may help News Corp. delist sites
Schiller: No apologies for App Store approval process
Another iPhone worm, but this one is serious
E-tailers snagged in marketing 'scam' blame customers
Will the 'smartbook' be a better Netbook?
Dell Mini 3i smartphone ready for China launch
It's been a bad week for Nokia's research and development division, which had more than 300 of its staff laid off this week. The news was a little better for Skype, which detached from its eBay owners and netted a $2.75 billion valuation. Also, Facebook's video hosting is now the third most popular video hosting site on the Web, though it still lags far behind leader YouTube. Hear more about these stories and others in today's episode.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Nokia to lay off up to 330 R&D staffers
eBay sets Skype loose at $2.75 billion valuation
Facebook becomes third most popular video site
Twitter's geotagging API goes live
Cisco launches iPhone security app
Town to photograph every car that enters and leaves
Today, Google released the source code for its Chrome OS project and gave the public the first real look at how the new operating system for Netbooks will work. CNET reporter Tom Krazit calls in from Google headquarters to give us the scoop.
Also in today's podcast: a computer glitch at the FAA caused nationwide flight cancellations and delays; Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says Windows 7 is selling better than any previous version of Windows; and AOL looks to shed about 2,500 workers and its MapQuest division.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Google releases Chrome OS source code
Computer glitch slows U.S. air travel
Ballmer: Windows 7 selling like hotcakes
AOL: We need to fire 2,500 'volunteers'
AOL to sell MapQuest, maybe to Microsoft?
Yahoo adds photos, tweets to news search
A leading IBM researcher says computers capable of mimicking the human brain's power and efficiency could be just a decade away. CNET News reporter Daniel Terdiman talks about the findings.
Plus, Hulu inks its first major music label deal, the Office 2010 beta goes public, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 breaks even more records than we originally thought.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Modern Warfare 2 tops entertainment industry, not just games
Who makes the most reliable laptops?
Carriers to sell majority of mobile devices by '13
Hulu lands first music label deal
Google set to promote Chrome extensions
Eight years after merging with Time Warner, AOL has finally been given a date for when it's being spun off to once again be its own company. We also talk about clean coal in China, the next versions of Adobe's Flash and AIR platforms, as well as the news that Microsoft's next version of Internet Explorer isn't quite ready for a public peek just yet.
Two small housekeeping notes: Thanks to everyone who wrote in last week to provide feedback on the CNET News Podcast. It's much appreciated. Also, there was a problem with Monday's episode making it to places like iTunes and other podcasting grabbers. In case it hasn't shown up yet, try refreshing the feed in whatever podcasting software you're using.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
AOL to spin off Dec. 9, begin trading Dec. 10
Survey: Third of teens text while driving
T-Mobile resumes Sidekick sales
Antitrust concerns linger in Google Books deal
Adobe releases new Flash, AIR betas
Paul Allen diagnosed with cancer
Supercomputers are in the news again. First Microsoft has a new version of its Excel program that can tear spreadsheets that used to take weeks to calculate, down into a few hours. Then we've got results released early Monday that unveil which company gets to claim its supercomputer as the fastest among the top 500 in the world.
We also get CNET News senior writer Greg Sandoval on the phone to talk about what's going on with Hulu, and why it may soon cost you money to watch your favorite TV shows and movies on the popular site.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Judge rules for Apple in Psystar case
'Jaguar' supercomputer races past 'Roadrunner'
Cisco boosts bid for Tandberg to $3.41 billion
Microsoft testing Excel for supercomputers
iPhone app developer quits over approval process
In today's podcast: Dell makes its entry into the smartphone category official with the Dell Mini 3, Verizon Communications starts warning music pirates, Advanced Micro Devices' rough road is just beginning, and Office 2010 leaks early online.
Please take this short survey to help us make this podcast even better.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Dell unveils Android-based Mini 3 smartphone
Verizon tests sendding RIAA copyright notices
With $1.25 billion, can AMD finally compete?
In the wake of Thursday's announcement of a $1.25 billion settlement in the long-running disputes between Intel and AMD, CNET News reporter Stephen Shankland talks about whether the hatchet is finally buried, and who (if anyone) is emerging a winner.
And please take this (very) short survey to help us make the podcast more of what you're looking for.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Intel to pay AMD $1.25 billion in antitrust settlement
Universities reject Kindle over inaccessibility for the blind
Yes, it's coming: The Boxee Box
Apple ranks 3rd in smartphones, nipping at RIMs heels
Expert says Adobe Flash policy is risky
NASA launches Web resource for 2012 predictions
Twitter issues mulligan on new 'retweet' feature
Rafe Needleman is editor of CNET's Webware. He's been covering technology since 1988, and has interviewed thousands of tech execs. He blogs at 
Leslie Katz is senior editor of CNET News' Crave blog, which focuses on gadgets, games, and all other digital distractions.
Erica Ogg keeps up on the latest consumer electronics and PC goings-on as chief correspondent for CNET News' Crave blog.
Jennifer Guevin is assistant managing editor for CNET News and focuses on science and green tech.
Josh Lowensohn writes for Webware.com, CNET's blog about Web applications and
services. 
