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AP Technology NewsBrief at 8:59 a.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) DirecTV grows 2Q net income by 29 percentEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) _ Satellite TV provider DirecTV Group Inc. said Thursday that its net income in the second quarter increased 29 percent as its subscriber base grew, especially in Latin America. But the company added far fewer subscribers in the U.S. than it has in previous quarters _ 26,000 compared with 100,000 in the same period a year ago. Its shares fell 3 percent in premarket trading. Sony portable not ready by Christmas in US, EuropeTOKYO (AP) _ Sony's next-generation portable game machine, the PlayStation Vita, won't be available in the U.S. or Europe in time for Christmas _ a crucial sales period for game console makers. Expectations had been high the machine would be ready worldwide for the year-end holiday shopping season. Sony earlier promised a "phased global rollout" starting late this year. Rebooting the PC industry: Tablets force a shiftSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) _ The personal computer industry needs a jumpstart _ and it's counting on a rescue from emerging markets and a late-to-the-party push into tablet computers. The U.S. and European PC markets have entered a dangerous new phase: Fewer people are buying new PCs because of economic anxiety, market saturation and the rise of seductive new gadgets such as Apple's iPad. More signs of strain are expected as PC makers and their component suppliers begin to disclose quarterly earnings this week. Insulin pumps, monitors vulnerable to hackingLAS VEGAS (AP) _ Even the human bloodstream isn't safe from computer hackers. A security researcher who is diabetic has identified flaws that could allow an attacker to remotely control insulin pumps and alter the readouts of blood-sugar monitors. As a result, diabetics could get too much or too little insulin, a hormone they need for proper metabolism. Activision Blizzard 2Q earnings rise 53 percentNEW YORK (AP) _ Video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. said Wednesday that its second-quarter net income grew 53 percent, boosted by strong demand for digital offerings such as downloadable content for its popular "Call of Duty" games. Activision earned $335 million, or 29 cents per share, in the April-June period. That's up 53 percent from $219 million, or 17 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier. Review: Acer media-center PC has built-in touchpadNEW YORK (AP) _ Flat-panel TVs and PCs go great together _ the PC gets a giant screen, and the TV gets access to tons of online video. But getting the two together in an elegant way has been difficult. PC makers haven't shown much interest in making computers that work really well when controlled from the couch. Report: Global cyberattack under way for 5 yearsNEW YORK (AP) _ A computer security firm says cybercriminals have spent at least the past five years targeting more than 70 government entities, nonprofit groups and corporations around the world to steal troves of data. McAfee Inc. said in a report Wednesday that the attacks have targeted a broad range of organizations, including the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee and companies mostly in the United States. Hulu jumps into original programming with SpurlockLOS ANGELES (AP) _ Hulu, the online video service that primarily shows reruns from major broadcasters, is getting into the business of original programming. In the first of several projects, the company teamed up with Morgan Spurlock, the documentary maker who criticized McDonald's and fast-food lifestyles in "Super Size Me." They are creating "A Day in the Life" _ six half-hour episodes where filmmakers follow around famous people such as billionaire Richard Branson. New touch-screen BlackBerrys being launchedNEW YORK (AP) _ Research In Motion Ltd. on Wednesday unveiled five new BlackBerry phones with touch screens, as it hopes to revive the line's dwindling appeal in the face of competition from the iPhone and Android smartphones. The new phones had been expected earlier this year, but were delayed. Though the company is profitable and seeing growing sales, it is increasingly seen as a has-been that missed the chance to parlay the BlackBerry's popularity as a corporate email device into mass-market dominance. SKorea fines Apple over iPhone data collectionSEOUL, South Korea (AP) _ South Korea's communications regulator fined Apple's local operation 3 million won ($2,830) for what it says is the illegal collection of iPhone user location information. The Korea Communications Commission announced Wednesday in a statement it has ordered Apple Korea to pay the fine for violating the country's location information laws. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |