TMCnet News
AP Technology NewsBrief at 7:12 a.m. EST(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sony launches music streaming serviceTOKYO (AP) _ Sony Corp. on Wednesday launched a music streaming service in a bid to boost sales of its consumer electronics and break Apple's dominance of the online music business. The Japanese company's "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is a cloud computing-based, digital music service that does not involve downloading tracks like Apple's iTunes, which started in 2001. Hurd in the crosshairs: SEC probe seen as limitedSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ A federal probe of Mark Hurd's hasty resignation as Hewlett-Packard Co.'s CEO touches on some of the biggest names in technology. Yet the potential damage to Hurd, HP or his current employer, Oracle Corp., is likely limited, legal experts say, because the allegations against him are narrow and their underlying facts are murky. Divided FCC adopts rules to protect Web trafficWASHINGTON (AP) _ Federal regulators adopted new rules Tuesday to keep the companies that control the Internet's pipelines from restricting what their customers do online or blocking competing services, including online calling applications and Web video. The vote by the Federal Communications Commission was 3-2 and quickly came under attack from the commission's two Republicans, who said the rules would discourage investments in broadband. Prominent Republicans in Congress vowed to work to overturn them. Muve service includes unlimited music downloadsNEW YORK (AP) _ Recording companies fed up with people illegally downloading music have a possible solution: Add the cost of music to monthly phone bills. Mobile phone operator Cricket Communications Inc. will introduce a new unlimited plan entitling people to talk, surf the Web, send text messages, stream video _ and download music _ to their hearts' content. The service, dubbed Muve Music, is the first of its kind in the U.S. Craigslist removes global adult services listingsHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Craigslist has confirmed that it removed its controversial adult services section from its international sites, Connecticut's attorney general said Tuesday, four months after it did the same for its U.S. sites. The U.S. move in September came under pressure from officials, including Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, over whether Craigslist was adequately policing illegal ads. Robot waiters in China never lose patienceJINAN, China (AP) _ Service with a smile also comes with an electronic voice at the Dalu Robot restaurant, where the hotpot meals are not as famous yet as the staff who never lose their patience and never take tips. The restaurant, which opened this month in Jinan in northern Shandong province, is touted as China's first robot hotpot eatery where robots resembling Star Wars droids circle the room carrying trays of food in a conveyor belt-like system. Activision targets EA in $400 million lawsuitLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Activision Blizzard Inc., the video game maker behind the smash-hit shooter "Call of Duty: Black Ops," on Tuesday added a new target in its lawsuit against two former executives: rival Electronic Arts Inc. Activision also put a price tag on its claim for the first time, seeking $400 million. The amended complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court is the latest salvo in a legal shootout that began when Jason West and Vince Zampella sued Activision for $36 million in March, claiming Activision fired them to avoid paying royalties for their work on the "Call of Duty" franchise. 'Smurfs' Village' adds warning about SmurfberriesNEW YORK (AP) _ The publisher of the popular "The Smurfs' Village" game for the iPhone and iPad has added a warning that virtual items such as "Smurfberries" cost real money _ as much as $100 with just two taps on the screen. An Associated Press story earlier this month revealed how easy it is for kids to buy such virtual items and have them billed to their parents without their knowledge. Like many other free games, "Smurfs' Village" makes money by selling the virtual goods to advance play. Adobe 4Q earnings beat Street, as does outlookNEW YORK (AP) _ Software maker Adobe Systems Inc. on Monday posted earnings for its latest quarter that exceeded analyst expectations, and it provided a rosy outlook. Investors pumped the stock up by $1.57, or 5.4 percent, to $30.75 in extended trading, after the release of the results. Foursquare location service adds comment, photosSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Foursquare, a popular location-sharing service for smart phones, is now letting you upload a photo of that tasty burger you're about to bite into. You can also let your friend know, through a comment on his recent check-in at a bar around the corner, that you'll meet him when you're done chowing down. Photos that you upload with check-ins will only be viewable by your friends on Foursquare and other social networks with which you share your Foursquare data. Those could include Facebook and Twitter. (c) 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |