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AP Technology NewsBrief at 4:41 p.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Analysts see more growth ahead for AmazonSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Low prices, solid customer service and an increasing willingness by consumers to spend on discretionary items contributed to Amazon.com Inc.'s solid third quarter, and the growth should continue despite weakness elsewhere in retail. Amazon shares soared to an all-time high Friday after the Seattle-based online retailer stunned analysts and investors by reporting that third-quarter net income grew 68 percent _ a clear sign that consumers are spending on Amazon, even though the economy is still stuttering. Microsoft sales fall; cost cuts please investorsSEATTLE (AP) _ Consumers may be shopping for computers again, but Microsoft Corp. still needs businesses to start doing the same. Microsoft said Friday its revenue kept falling and its net income dropped 18 percent in the last quarter, partly because of the hesitation of businesses, which are more profitable for Microsoft than consumers are. Facebook tweaks home page based on feedbackNEW YORK (AP) _ Worried about missing a birth announcement, or details on what your portly uncle had for lunch? Facebook is tweaking its home page yet again in hopes of making it easier to find information. Among the latest changes is a list of items you might have missed during those rare moments spent away from the online hangout. Judge dismisses 'Adult Services' Craigslist suitCHICAGO (AP) _ A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit aimed at driving classified ads for prostitution off the Craigslist Web site. U.S. District Court Judge John Grady said not all postings on the Craigslist "Adult Services" section advertised prostitution and that other services could legitimately appear there. Netflix 3Q earnings rise 48 pct, but stock fallsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Netflix Inc. has been doing so well during the recession that it's getting tougher for the DVD-by-mail pioneer to live up to investors' lofty expectations. Following a familiar script, Netflix on Thursday delivered third-quarter earnings and revenue that exceeded estimates as it added another 510,000 subscribers during its traditionally sluggish season. Report: China building cyberwarfare capabilitiesWASHINGTON (AP) _ China is building its cyberwarfare capabilities and appears to be using the growing technical abilities to collect U.S. intelligence through a sophisticated and long-term computer attack campaign, according to an independent report. Released Thursday by a congressional advisory panel, the study found cases suggesting that China's elite hacker community has ties to the Beijing government, although there is little hard evidence. FCC votes to begin crafting `net neutrality' rulesWASHINGTON (AP) _ Federal regulators took an important step Thursday toward prohibiting broadband providers from favoring or discriminating against certain kinds of Internet traffic. Despite the concerns of the telecommunications industry and the agency's two Republicans, the Federal Communications Commission voted to begin writing so-called "network neutrality" regulations to prevent phone and cable companies from abusing their control over the market for broadband access. News Corp. exec sees Hulu charging fees for accessHulu, the free online video site where television shows and movies can be watched in their entirety, will start charging fees at some point, one of its owners said. Hulu has struggled to make money despite its popularity as an ad-supported site. News Corp., which co-owns the site with NBC Universal, Walt Disney Co. and Providence Equity Partners, said it hasn't decided what form the subscription model would take. Review: Motorola's Cliq is a snappy smart phoneSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Imagine how you'd feel if you peaked in middle school. That's pretty much what happened to cell phone maker Motorola Inc., which had a megahit in 2005 with its Razr handset but has since failed to fashion another that can approach its popularity. Now that the rest of the cell phone market has matured and feature-packed "smart" phones are becoming the choice of many consumers, Motorola hopes to entice people with the Cliq, its first phone that uses Google's Android software. T-Mobile began selling the Cliq ($200 with a two-year contract) to existing customers on Monday, and it will be available to all comers starting Nov. 2. Openings begin in Broadcom backdating caseSANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) _ A jury was set Friday to hear opening statements in the federal trial of former Broadcom Corp. Chief Financial Officer William Ruehle, who faces conspiracy and fraud charges in an alleged scheme to backdate stock options. Ruehle was indicted last year along with Broadcom co-founder Henry T. Nicholas III, who also faces separate drug charges. Both have pleaded not guilty. Nicholas will be tried after Ruehle in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana. (c) 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |