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AP Technology NewsBrief at 5:30 p.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) $1.3B award against SAP overturned in Oracle caseSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ A federal judge has thrown out a $1.3 billion jury verdict against German business software maker SAP AG, slamming the penalty as "grossly excessive" and dealing an unexpected setback to SAP's Silicon Valley rival Oracle Corp. The ruling Thursday is a surprising twist in a landmark intellectual property case. Mobile shopping: More buzz than buy so farNEW YORK (AP) _ When it comes to mobile shopping, so far there's more buzz than buy. As the number of people who use iPhones and other smartphones grows, companies selling everything from hardware to high fashion are touting all the new applications they're rolling out that enable shoppers to do anything from check a store's inventory while in the dressing room to order prescriptions. Apple blasted for alleged pollution by suppliersSHANGHAI (AP) _ Apple is defending itself against a fresh barrage of criticism from Chinese environmental activists over alleged pollution by the manufacturers who make its iconic iPhones, iPads and other products. In a report issued Wednesday, a group of nongovernmental organizations accused the technology giant of violating its own corporate responsibility standards by using suppliers it said its investigations found are violating the law and endangering public health by discharging heavy metals and other toxins. Exposed: Uncensored WikiLeaks cables posted to WebLONDON (AP) _ Uncensored copies of WikiLeaks' massive tome of U.S. State Department cables circulated freely Thursday across the Internet, leaving a whole new batch of U.S. sources vulnerable to embarrassment and potential retribution. The United States, meanwhile, denied ever cooperating with the anti-secrecy group, and blasted Wikileaks for allegedly threatening national security and the safety of confidential informants. Hacker gets 6-year sentence for 'sextortion' caseLOS ANGELES (AP) _ A Southern California man was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday for infiltrating computers belonging to women and teenage girls where he found sexually explicit photos and threatening to put them online unless they provided him with more. In sentencing Luis Mijangos, 32, of Santa Ana, U.S. District Judge George King called the crimes a form of cyber-terrorism and warned other hackers they will meet stiff penalties for ruining people's lives. Woman sues Microsoft over mobile location trackingSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Microsoft Corp. is being sued by a Michigan woman who alleges the world's largest software maker illegally tracks people whose mobile devices run its Windows Phone 7 operating software. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Seattle by Rebecca Cousineau. She notes that Microsoft tells users they can turn off location tracking, which is a feature in the camera application on phones running Windows Phone 7. But she claims the software keeps tracking users' locations even after they turn off the feature. AT&T gearing up for rare antitrust fight with DOJSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ The Justice Department's rejection of AT&T's proposed purchase of T-Mobile USA will test new federal guidelines on challenging mergers and the companies' resolve in forming the nation's largest wireless carrier. A courtroom battle is likely and could wring out information that the companies would prefer to keep private. Still, AT&T Inc. has a big incentive to fight: If the deal is called off, the company has to pay a $3 billion breakup fee and surrender some of its unused spectrum for wireless communications. Government sues to block AT&T, T-Mobile mergerWASHINGTON (AP) _ The Justice Department took the unusual step Wednesday to try to block AT&T's $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA, arguing that the proposed merger would lead to higher wireless prices, less innovation and fewer choices for consumers. Now AT&T, the nation's No. 2 wireless carrier, and No. 4 T-Mobile are plotting a legal response to challenge federal regulators. Even with low prices, T-Mobile customers fleeNEW YORK (AP) _ The Justice Department's move to block AT&T Inc. from buying T-Mobile USA is motivated by the desire to keep a low-priced competitor in the game. But that's a game T-Mobile is losing. Despite low prices and a peppy pitchwoman in a polka-dot dress, T-Mobile customers have been fleeing to other carriers in the last year and a half. Redbox's golden opportunity: higher Netflix pricesSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Netflix is giving Redbox a golden opportunity to gain some ground. Beginning Thursday, Netflix, the largest U.S. video subscription service, will hit its nearly 25 million U.S subscribers with rate increases of as much as 60 percent. The sticker shock is expected to make Redbox, which rents DVDs for $1 per day through kiosks, even more enticing to movie lovers. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |