In today's podcast: Twitter's search deals come up big for the Web start-up, Yelp says "no thanks" to Google, a former Microsoftie tackles General Motors' financial situation, and brand new chips from Intel mean a raft of new Netbooks.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Microsoft CFO heads to new post at GM
Maine to consider cancer warnings on cell phones
Is there anything Google can't or won't buy? After several acquisitions already this year, the company is reportedly closing out 2009 by negotiating a purchase of Yelp, the business reviews site, for $500 million. Also in today's podcast: Complaints to the FTC over Facebook privacy rules, Google loses a big copyright case in France, and consumer electronics companies cross their fingers for Avatar's successful release this weekend.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Google said talking buyout with Yelp
CE industry hopes 'Avatar' is a hit
FTC may enter latest Facebook privacy debacle
Google loses French copyright case
A resolution in Microsoft's long antitrust battle with the European Union, Intel gets sued by the FTC, and an arrest is made in the copyright infringement case of the "Wolverine" movie. Get those stories and more in today's edition of the daily news podcast.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
EU ends antitrust case against Microsoft IE
Microsoft's Smith: EU deal opens new chapter
FTC sues Intel over 'anticompetitive tactics'
FBI makes arrest in 'Wolverine' uploading case
Apple wins permanent injunction against Psystar
The past few days have been good for Google. First it was a hot new Google-branded cell phone, followed up shortly thereafter by a new link-shortening service. This may seem like a very common feature these days with services like Bit.ly, but keep in mind that Google's big business is ads. The more it knows about where people are going on the Internet, the more advertising power it wields.
We also lead today's podcast with a developing story about a potential code ripoff of Plurk.com by Microsoft's MSN site in China.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Microsoft pulls China site amid code-theft charges
Google gets into the URL-shrinking biz with Goo.gl
Smartphone share of cell phone sales set to soar
Inside the Google phone: A 'snappy' chip
Does Twitter mean business with 'Contributors' test?
Australia moves toward mandatory ISP filtering
Symantec confirms zero-day Acrobat, Reader attack
Over the weekend word leaked out that Google was launching a new Android phone, and more importantly, that it was doing it independent of any carrier--putting the search company potentially in competition with T-Mobile, Verizon, and other carriers that sell their own Google phones.
How the phone may eventually be sold, and by whom, is a story that's still developing. One of the first people outside Google to see this phone is CNET podcast producer Jason Howell, who got a glimpse of it on Friday, and who joins us in the studio for the newscast.
In other news: Toyota to make a plug-in Prius, AOL may sell ICQ, the European Commission warms to Oracle's acquisition of Sun, and playing Guitar Hero on Christmas lights.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Google phone looks 'supersharp'
Toyota to sell 'affordable' plug-in hybrids in '11
Report: Russian investor in talks to buy ICQ
Oracle pledges to play well with MySQL
2009 holiday sales online: $19.9 billion and counting
Apple apologizes for iMac delays
After being accused of using 10 Nokia patents without paying the proper licensing fees, Apple has turned the tables on Nokia. Apple filed a suit of its own on Friday alleging that Nokia is using 13 of Apple's iPhone-relating technologies without permission. It is currently awaiting a U.S. District Court judge in Delaware to sort this whole mess out.
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Apple files countersuit against Nokia
WiGig group finalizes new wireless standard
Microsoft buys data center software firm Opalis
Neilsen: More seniors becoming Web regulars
AT&T may consider offering incentives to entice smartphone users to reduce their demand for bandwidth. CNET reporter Maggie Reardon joins the podcast with more.
That, and other headlines of the day, on Thursday's CNET News Daily Podcast.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Yahoo joins the real-time search parade
Heartland data breach lawsuit dismissed
Microsoft to buy Sentillion for health care software
GE wins $1.4 billion wind farm contract
Google.org unveils deforestation monitor
Nokia to close its two U.S. flagship stores
Facebook users will soon be required to actively set their privacy settings on the social network, while getting much more granular control over who can see individual pieces of content they post; Apple is reportedly pitching its upcoming tablet to the publishing industry in preparation for a spring launch; and Mozilla readies mobile Firefox and launches Thunderbird 3.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Microsoft plugs zero-day IE hole
Facebook details new privacy settings
Apple pitching tablet to publishing industry
First Mobile Firefox enters home stretch
Monday night's big news was that hard drive maker Seagate is dipping its feet into the solid state storage market. The company is limiting its first efforts to the server market with a 200GB drive, which means you won't find one in this year's holiday gift basket. However, if things go well we could see consumer models sometime next year.
We also talk Google's Chrome browser coming to Mac and Linux, a new fast track for green patent applications, and the unveiling of Virgin Galactic's crazy looking spaceship that will take people out of this world for a mere $200,000 Earth dollars.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Seagate enters solid-state drive market
Intel shifts focus to laptop graphics technology
Patent Office puts green tech on fast track
Offline Gmail access now a full-fledged feature
Google brings Chrome beta to Mac, Linux
Nielsen: Viewers watching video content all over the place
AT&T iPhone app collects complaints about poor service
Over the weekend Apple confirmed it had in fact picked up music service Lala, an acquisition that could drastically change the company's iTunes business and product offerings. It remains to be seen what parts of Lala's technology and services Apple chooses to integrate into its own.
We also get CNET writer and copy editor Jeff Sparkman in the studio to talk about his recent foray into the world of creating customized dress shirts online, a process he says has been made easier by playing video games. Find out more about the service he checked out, and how involved it was.
Listen now: Download today's podcastToday's stories:
Apple confirms acquisition of music site Lala
Google Favorite Places coming to window near you
Study: Facebook users willingly give out data
Google backtracks on EtherPad closure
Amazon to open bricks-and-mortar stores?
Youth using phones to harass and spy on partners
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. 
