Top technology news headlines

• 

  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.

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  The yogurt makers of tech: Gadgets to avoid

  From the new Flipshare TV to USB missile launchers, don't buy these one-trick ponies--unless you like gizmos that gather dust.

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• Hardware for Gmail: The 'Gboard' keyboard

  Gmail's got desktop hardware now, though not from Google. The Gboard is a new Gmail-centric keyboard with colored shortcut keys that let you zip around your in-box.

  (Posted in Web Crawler by Josh Lowensohn)

• Defense Dept. pulls software over privacy issues

  EPIC complaint alleging privacy issues with Echometrix parental control software prompts Defense Department online store to pull the product.

  (Posted in InSecurity Complex by Elinor Mills)

• Sony unveils online plan for recovery

  The company says it will create an online network that pipes its films, music, games and other content to its TVs, Walkmans and PlayStation game machines.
  (From The New York Times)

• Can Comcast-NBC play nice with Hulu?

  With the advent of the media joint venture, Hulu's development may have just hit a wall. Plus, Netflix and iTunes could be competing with a major supplier.
  • Comcast, NBC Universal forge $37 billion venture

  (Posted in Media Maverick by Greg Sandoval)

• Microsoft's Bing goes down

  In what could be a blow to Bing's image, the main Microsoft search site goes down.

  (Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

• Friendster gets a face-lift, looks for love?

  The social network has long since fallen from favor in the U.S. Its redesign places its focus more squarely in Asia, where the youth market has stuck with it.

  (Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

• Facebook notifies members about Beacon settlement

  The terms of the settlement were announced in September, but per a court order Facebook has had to send out an e-mail to explain it to users who were members at the time its Beacon advertising program was active.

  (Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

• Microsoft to plug critical IE hole

  Patch Tuesday will see fixes for 12 vulnerabilities in IE, Windows, and Office, three of which are critical.

  (Posted in InSecurity Complex by Elinor Mills)

• California gives green light for space-based solar

  Utility PG&E and aerospace start-up Solaren plan to generate 200 megawatts worth of base load power from satellites equipped with solar panels in space.

  (Posted in Green Tech by Martin LaMonica)

• Bing's iPhone plans (and more)

  Bowing to reality, Microsoft is working on a Bing app for the iPhone, though Redmond won't say when it'll be ready or just which features it will have.
  • Bing Maps Beta: Cool, but limited
  • Video: Mapping with Bing

  (Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

• Panasonic to invest $1 billion in green tech

  Panasonic president reveals plan to shift core business, developing existing interests in green technologies and offering energy-saving solutions for the home, according to a Bloomberg interview.

  (Posted in Planetary Gear by Candace Lombardi)

• Time shows off tablet-size version of Sports Illustrated

  Publisher is showing off a digital version of Sports Illustrated as the company gets ready for the Apple tablet. You know, the tablet that Apple doesn't acknowledge exists.

  (Posted in Apple by Jim Dalrymple)

• For 2010, IDC predicts an Apple iPad and battles in the cloud

  Technology research firm trots out its crystal ball. Among its tech predictions for 2010: Apple brings out a tablet computer, Netbooks move upscale, and IBM buys Juniper Networks.
  (From The New York Times)

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