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Intel cancels Taiwan forum due to economy

Production isn't the only thing being scaled back at Intel because of the world economy. The world's largest chipmaker will cancel its developer conference in Taiwan this year and scale back the one in Beijing.

The Intel Developer Forum in Taiwan typically takes place in October, while China IDF is in April. The IDF in the United States in September will not be affected, Intel said Monday. The Beijing IDF will be shortened to a one-day event. It is typically two days.

Intel uses the IDF to launch many of its products and technologies.

"It's the … Read more

Will TED 2009 heal the Davos depression?

These days, conferences are thankful for not having the word "economic" in their names. Yet the difference between the World Economic Forum in Davos, which, according to most accounts, was a pretty somber affair ("how did we get into this mess?"), and the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference in Long Beach, Calif., is not just a semantic one.

While both venues summon an elite group of thinkers and doers, TED is decidedly more optimistic. "The Great Unveiling" is this year's theme, and so far, the program has lived up to its promise: Bill Gates unleashed mosquitoes, … Read more

CNET News Daily Podcast: What 'econo-lypse?' This start-up isn't blinking

Flypaper may not be the typical tech start-up in that it actually has been able to get a couple of rounds of funding. But like most other young companies, Flypaper faces the same problems as other new technology companies. We speak with founder Don Pierson for his perspective on how start-ups can best ride out the rough patches before the economy stabilizes. Listen now: Download today's podcast

Today's stories:

Intel files $50 million suit against insurer

In Davos, talk of linking clean tech and economy

More details surface on Google's alleged GDrive

White House expands use of search-blocking code… Read more

YouTube, Facebook founders: We'll endure

It's rare that you get Chad Hurley, co-founder of the Google-owned YouTube, and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, on a panel together. But they were on Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and we tuned in via Webcast.

Not surprisingly, neither Hurley nor Zuckerberg dropped any bombs. They've been trained in the ways of the Force, after all. But here's what they said in response to the panel's final question for them: where do they see their companies being in five years?

Also not surprisingly, both founders expressed confidence that, yes, their companies … Read more

In Davos, talk of linking clean tech and economy

The World Economic Forum calculates that $515 billion in yearly investment is required between now and 2030 to transition the world to cleaner sources of energy production.

At its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum released a report (click for PDF) on Thursday urging policy makers to make clean-technology incentives and investments part of government stimulus plans to revive flagging economies.

Economists who authored the report said alternative-energy technologies have the potential to address two pressing global problems--energy security and climate change--while generating good financial returns.

"It is essential that this stimulus also build our capacity … Read more

Mark Zuckerberg's sentiment engine?

It's sort of cute, really: blogger Robert Scoble went on a nice snowy stroll with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg while the two were in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. Of course, he wrote about it.

Most of what Scoble wrote about his conversation with the young CEO is either information that was out there already or tidbits like the fact that Zuckerberg was teaming up with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to work the coat check at the World Economic Forum's annual Women's Dinner (aww!), but there was one fairly interesting part: apparently, Facebook … Read more

Dude, Putin is so not getting a Dell

Many have by now learned that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is a bit, uh, prickly. But Michael Dell found out first hand at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

During the opening of the show, Putin gave a wide-ranging, 40-minute speech. When it came time for questions, Dell asked "How can we help" you with your country's IT infrastructure, according to a report in Fortune.

Putin immediately rebuffed the PC company's founder. "We don't need your help. We are not invalids. We don't have limited mental capacity," Putin … Read more

How to get your Davos fix on the Web

In case your invitation to the exclusive World Economic Forum got lost in the mail, you can stop feeling so down about it. The closed-doors event in Davos, Switzerland, has loosened up a bit, thanks to the Web and the whole "transparency" thing that's been trendy for the past few years.

Besides, you can bet a few people will be blogging photos from their iPhones anyway.

This year, the World Economic Forum, which runs Wednesday through Sunday, has chosen to take advantage of just about every kind of social-media app you can imagine.

Broadcasts of many of … Read more

Stay in touch with fellow Ubuntu aficionados

Users of the Linux-based operating system Ubuntu can get quick access to its community forum with this free Firefox add-on.

The options that come with Ubuntu Forums Menu are few, and they simply give you the choice of displaying the links as a toolbar or accessing options in your context menu. A shortcut button would have been a more convenient option. But either way, another menu opens with quick links that take you to the forum's home page and subscribed threads. From the menu, you can also select from a list of support categories, various community discussions, and go … Read more