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AP Technology NewsBrief at 7:40 p.m. EDT
[March 29, 2010]

AP Technology NewsBrief at 7:40 p.m. EDT


(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) IPad could be Kindle's first big threat in e-booksSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Amazon.com, which has dominated the young but fast-growing electronic book market for the past few years with the Kindle, could get its biggest threat Saturday, when Apple releases its iPad multimedia tablet. The Kindle starts at $259 and is designed mainly for reading text on a gray-and-black screen. The iPad starts at $499, but with the higher price comes more functions: a color touch screen for downloading books from Apple's new iBookstore, surfing the Web, playing videos and games and more.



NYC judge: DNA isolated in genes can't be patentedNEW YORK (AP) _ In a ruling with potentially far-reaching implications for the patenting of human genes, a judge on Monday struck down a company's patents on two genes linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet challenging whether anyone can hold patents on human genes was expected to have broad implications for the biotechnology industry and genetics-based medical research.

US concerned by Australian Internet filter planCANBERRA, Australia (AP) _ The United States has raised concerns with Australia about the impact of a proposed Internet filter that would place restrictions on Web content, an official said Monday. The concerns of Australia's most important security ally further undermine plans that would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among the world's democracies.


Google CEO's compensation for 2009 falls 52 pctSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ The total compensation of Google Inc. CEO Eric Schmidt fell 52 percent last year as the Internet search leader cut back on its employee perquisites to help lift its profits during the recession. Schmidt's 2009 package totaled $245,322, down from 508,764 in 2008, according to documents filed Monday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Specter pushes for stronger federal privacy lawsPHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Broadening wiretap laws to include videotaped surveillance could either safeguard privacy or thwart efforts to recover stolen property, a U.S. senator was told Monday at a hearing not far from a school that's being sued for trying to find missing laptops by activating their webcams. Sen. Arlen Specter, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said at a field hearing of a Senate subcommittee that he believes existing wiretap and video-voyeurism statutes do not adequately address concerns in an era marked by the widespread use of cell-phone, laptop and surveillance cameras.

AP Exclusive: `Smart' meters have security holesSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Computer-security researchers say new "smart" meters that are designed to help deliver electricity more efficiently also have flaws that could let hackers tamper with the power grid in previously impossible ways. At the very least, the vulnerabilities open the door for attackers to jack up strangers' power bills. These flaws also could get hackers a key step closer to exploiting one of the most dangerous capabilities of the new technology, which is the ability to remotely turn someone else's power on and off.

Apple pushes back shipping of new iPad pre-ordersApple Inc.'s iPad tablet computer hits U.S. shelves on Saturday, but fans who want the new touch-screen gadget shipped directly to them must wait a week. The company began taking preorders for the iPad on March 12, promising to get the device to eager buyers by its store launch date of April 3rd. Customers who placed pre-orders by March 27 will receive the device by that date, where Saturday delivery is available, but Apple said Sunday that new pre-orders won't be shipped out until April 12.

AT&T will take $1B non-cash charge for health careNEW YORK (AP) _ AT&T Inc. will take a $1 billion non-cash accounting charge in the first quarter because of the health care overhaul and may cut benefits it offers to current and retired workers. The charge is the largest disclosed so far. Earlier this week, AK Steel Corp., Caterpillar Inc., Deere & Co. and Valero Energy announced similar accounting charges, saying the health care law that President Barack Obama signed Tuesday will raise their expenses. On Friday, 3M Co. said it will also take a charge of $85 million to $90 million.

Big-time hacker from Miami sentenced in 3rd caseBOSTON (AP) _ For the second time in as many days, a computer hacker accused of one of the largest-ever thefts of credit and debit card numbers stood before a federal judge and apologized for his actions. "I have violated the sanctity of millions of individuals around the United States," said Albert Gonzalez, in pleading for lenience. "I'm guilty of the crimes ... I accept full responsibility for my actions." NY town angry over Net slurs at suicide victimWEST ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) _ A community reeling from the suicide of a popular high school senior turned its sorrow to outrage Friday over a practice known as "trolling," in which derogatory, hurtful comments are posted online against a person. In this instance, a tribute site created for Alexis Pilkington, 17, of West Islip High School was the target of insulting messages after her death.

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