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AP Technology NewsBrief at 10:55 a.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Judge: Hacking inquiry to start soon as possibleLONDON (AP) _ The British judge leading an inquiry into the phone hacking and police bribery scandal rocking Britain's media, police and politics says its work will begin as soon as possible. Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Lord Justice Brian Leveson to head the investigation Wednesday. Netflix raises rates, irks subscribersSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Netflix has provoked the ire of some of its 23 million subscribers by raising its prices by as much as 60 percent for those who want to rent DVDs by mail and watch video on the Internet. The company is separating the two options so that subscribers who want both will have to buy separate plans totaling at least $16 per month. Netflix Inc. had been bundling both options in a single package, available for as low as $10 per month. Google social net is about preserving leadershipNEW YORK (AP) _ Google didn't build its new Plus service simply to have an online hangout like Facebook. Rather, Google's new social-networking endeavor is about trying to gain valuable insights into people's lives and relationships. This could help the company do a better job of targeting ads so that advertisers would pay more and have less reason to spend their money on Facebook. EA to pay $750M for PopCap GamesSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Electronic Arts Inc. said Tuesday that it will buy PopCap Games for at least $750 million in a bid to snag a larger piece of the rapidly growing market for games on cell phones and social networks. The video game publisher also said that its fiscal first-quarter results will be better than it anticipated but issued a second-quarter forecast below analyst estimates, saying expenses from the purchase will weigh down its results for the July-September period. Its shares fell more than 3 percent in extended trading. FCC seeks to crack down on phone bill mystery feesWASHINGTON (AP) _ Federal regulators are proposing new rules to make it easier for consumers to detect and challenge mystery fees on their phone bills. The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to seek public comments on the proposed rules, which are intended to crack down on the practice of "cramming." Cramming is the illegal placement of unauthorized fees on a consumer's phone bill _ either by the phone company or an outside party. BlackBerry maker sees challenges in phone launchTORONTO (AP) _ BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd.'s co-CEO told shareholders Tuesday that the company is facing challenges as it moves toward what it calls its biggest product launch yet. At RIM's annual meeting Tuesday, Jim Balsillie cited delays in releasing the company's new operating system. But he said seven new BlackBerry smartphones will run the advanced system in the coming months, enabling RIM to stay on track to meet its financial guidance for the year. EU court sees responsibilities of online retailersBRUSSELS (AP) _ Online retailers like eBay Inc. can be held responsible for the infringement of trademarks by goods they sell, Europe's top court said Tuesday. National courts can order online retailers to stop trademark infringement and prevent similar incidents in the future, the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice said. Indonesian workers end strike at biggest gold mineTIMIKA, Indonesia (AP) _ Thousands of workers at one of the world's biggest gold and copper mines started returning to work Wednesday, ending a nearly two-week strike that brought operations to a standstill. Union chief Sudiro, who goes by only one name, said the decision was made after Freeport-McMoRan's management agreed to reinstate six fired labor leaders and reopen negotiations about wages and benefits on July 20. Facebook teams with Time Warner to fight bulliesSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Facebook and Time Warner are ganging up on bullies to address a problem that torments millions of children and young adults. The partnership announced Tuesday calls for Facebook and Time Warner to use their clout to raise awareness about bullying and encourage more people to report the abuses when they see them. Challenge to Groupon's model with trio of dealsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Groupon's online coupons save people cash, but they're not always great deals for merchants. Some businesses complain that bargain hunters rarely return after scoring a cheap meal or massage. A new site called LevelUp believes it has a way for restaurants, nail salons and other local businesses to keep people coming back. To drum up repeat business, the company offers consumers a series of three deals, each better than the one before. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |