World Tech Update, April 13, 2012
World Tech Update
World Tech Update
The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and 5 book publishers for alleged e-book price fixing. The EFF will head to court on Friday to push the federal government to create a process where Megaupload users can retrieve their files. Apple publicly acknowledged a malware campaign call Flashback. A Maryland bill is awaiting approval that would prohibit employers from requesting access to employee and job seeker social media pages.
Facebook announced it will buy the photo-sharing app Instagram for 1 billion dollars. Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile are teaming up with the U.S. FCC to combat phone theft. Sony expects its net loss to be more than double what it estimated 2 months ago for the fiscal year ending March 31. HP announced it will add a series of open source-based cloud services.
Yahoo plans to layoff 2,000 workers. Android users finally have access the social photo app Instagram. Finland’s Rovio is capitalizing on its Angry Birds success and plans to build more of a story around the game.
Europe’s competition regulator has launched two antitrust investigations into Motorola Mobility. Samsung has delayed its Galaxy Tab 2 family until the end of April. Google is responsible for misleading and deceptive ads an Australian court ruled. The Pal-V one flying car took to the skies this week in the Netherlands.
Coming up on this week's World Tech Update the European Commission gets tough on cybercrime, Amazon's Kindle Touch 3G readies for launch, Dell abandons US smartphones, Tokyo subway riders can use their phones, robots take over Boston and a new website connects babysitters and parents.
Amazon's Kindle Touch 3G e-reader will start shipping with free internet access on April 27. The European Commission will get tough on cybercrime, but won't target illegal file-sharing. Flat panel TV shipments are projected to drop for the first time on an annual basis this year. UrbanSitters.com connects parents looking for caretakers in a number of cities across the US.
World Tech Update
HP announced the merger of its Imaging and Printing Group and its Personal Systems Group. Apple has denied overheating concerns on the new iPad, saying the product operates well within thermal specifications. IBM unveiled packages of services and software to help organizations analyze their data for profit and improved efficiency. Google's Chrome browser overtook Internet Explorer, all versions combined, to become the number one browser for a single day over the weekend
Intel hopes to gain traction in the smart TV market with a new chip for TVs and set top boxes. Samsung received the largest ever fine Monday from South Koreas Fair Trade Commission, US$356,000, for obstructing an investigation into deception pricing. Microsoft will wrap up Windows 8 this summer and launch it in October, according to Bloomberg. Developer interest in Android is slowly eroding
Coming up on World Tech Update this week Yahoo sues Facebook over patens, Japan marks the one year anniversary of deadly natural disasters, Sony's touchscreen smartphone doesn't need to be touched, GM and NASA show a robotic glove and a Fraunhofer robot sketches Cebit show goers.
The Byte – Yahoo vs. Facebook, Twitter buys, K-glove helps RSI, Microsoft’s next gen cam
The Byte - Tsunami anniversary, iPad sold out, new CTO, Microsoft research
Apple hits 25 billion downloads in its App Store. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner kicks of its U.S. tour in Boston. NASA plans to auction of software patents to promote the use of NASA technology.
As Mobile World Congress kicks off in Barcelona Nokia introduces a smartphone with a 38 megapixel camera and Intel continues to push its mobile stragegy.
Coming up on World Tech Update this week, a round up of our favorite robots.
Megaupload founder receives bail. Dell's 4Q earnings impacted. SMS revenue decline. Google Maps launches Latitude Leaderboard.
Coming up on World Tech Update this week Apple will debut its next iPad, the FBI wants to mine data from social networks, a Yahoo shareholder challenges board picks, US and Europe approve Google-Motorola deal and President Obama launches marshmallows.
Apple's iPad 3 will debut on March 7 and could support US LTE data networks. Yahoo faces a board challenge from a shareholder who rejected the proposed candidates and suggested his own. Android lost smartphone marketshare for the first time as Apple had a great fourth quarter. CERN's Large Hadron Collider is shifting into high gear.
The Byte, Feb. 14, 2012 The European Commission and US Department of Justice approved Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility. Hard disk drive prices will remain unusually high until 2014 due to flooding in Thailand. A humanoid robot named Jennifer shoots and scores on the ice. Sony Smart Sockets can control power consumption by appliance, user or power source.