[April 17, 2008]

AP Technology NewsBrief at 9:17 a.m. EDT

(AP Online Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) EBay CEO sees more change ahead after profitable 1st quarterSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ More change is in store at eBay, its CEO said after the online auction company reported its profit climbed 22 percent in the first quarter despite anger from its sellers over fee and feedback adjustments. "I anticipate a year that's going to be a fairly vocal year because I think we are going to make a number of changes," Chief Executive John Donahoe told The Associated Press Wednesday, adding that the company could have handled concerns better.

China defends anti-piracy effortsBEIJING (AP) _ Officials defended China's efforts to stop rampant copying of movies and other goods, saying Thursday that 4,322 people were convicted of product piracy last year and promising special efforts to protect Olympics-related trademarks. China is the world's biggest source of illegally copied goods and trade groups say violations are growing despite increased penalties and repeated crackdowns. The illicit trade is fueling tensions with Washington, which has filed a World Trade Organization case over Beijing's failure to stamp it out.

New music video Web site features major label artistsLOS ANGELES (AP) _ A company backed by investors including Will Smith and major record labels has launched a new Web site offering 10,000 free, high-definition music videos. Universal Music Group announced Wednesday that it has joined EMI and Sony BMG in backing Santa Monica-based PluggedIn.

New data reveal online video views are soaringLAS VEGAS (AP) _ New data released Wednesday show online views of videos soared 66 percent in the U.S. in February from a year earlier, with TV networks grabbing just a pittance of those eyeballs. The numbers from comScore Inc. had executives buzzing at the National Association of Broadcasters annual meeting in Las Vegas because they are searching for ways to drive viewers to their Web sites and TV channels.

Dell expanding China presence via large retailersDALLAS (AP) _ Dell Inc. will expand its presence in China by selling desktop and notebook computers at Suning, the country's second-largest electronics chain, and doubling the number of Gome stores that carry Dell machines. Those moves, plus selling PCs through several smaller retailers in China, will put Dell products on the shelves of more than 12,000 stores worldwide.

Google adapts copyright-ID technology for child-porn fightNEW YORK (AP) _ The fight against child pornography is getting an assist from technology designed by Google Inc. to help identify copyright-protected clips on its YouTube video-sharing site. Four Google employees used their "20 percent time" _ during which the company encourages them to pursue unofficial, out-of-the-box projects _ to customize the copyright software for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's program for identifying children in sexually explicit photos and video.

Pittsburgh museum to open robot exhibitionPITTSBURGH (AP) _ How robots act, think and sense the world around them will be the focus of an upcoming exhibit billed as the largest and most comprehensive nationwide on robotics. The Carnegie Science Center plans to open a robotics exhibition next spring called roboworld that will encompass an array of mechanized devices, including a welder that's been modified to pick up basketballs and shoot them through a hoop.

Most computer users repeat passwords, at their perilSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Using the same password for multiple Web pages is the Internet-era equivalent of having the same key for your home, car and bank safe-deposit box. Even though a universal password is like gold for cyber crooks because they can use it to steal all of a person's sensitive data at once, nearly half the Internet users queried in a new survey said they use just one password for all their online accounts.

AT&T to donate $100M to help keep kids in high schoolNEW YORK (AP) _ AT&T Inc. will donate $100 million over four years to programs aimed at boosting high-school graduation rates, Chief Executive Randall Stephenson is to announce Thursday. "Far too many students are dropping out of high school in this country _ one every 26 seconds _ creating a serious threat to our nation's global economic leadership," Stephenson said in a statement ahead of a speech at the Economic Club of Chicago on Thursday.

Copyright ? 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Discussions: