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AP Technology NewsBrief at 8:17 a.m. EST(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) RIM to launch new BlackBerry software Jan. 30.TORONTO (AP) _ BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion says it will hold a launch event for its much-delayed new BlackBerry 10 smartphones on Jan. 30. The Canadian company said Monday details on the smartphones and their availability will be announced at the event. RIM will unveil both a touchscreen and keyboard version. Toyota tests cars that communicate with each otherSUSONO, Japan (AP) _ Toyota Motor Corp. is testing car safety systems that allow vehicles to communicate with each other and with the roads they are on in a just completed facility in Japan the size of three baseball stadiums. The cars at the Intelligent Transport System site receive information from sensors and transmitters installed on the streets to minimize the risk of accidents in situations such as missing a red traffic light, cars advancing from blind spots and pedestrians crossing the street. The system also tests cars that transmit such information to each other. Singles Day: China's online shopping holidayBEIJING (AP) _ Lei Shujie, a designer in Shanghai, piled up a wish list for the quirky holiday dubbed "Singles Day" that has grown into China's _ and possibly the world's _ busiest online shopping day. Clothes, a pillow, a cabinet to give a friend _ Lei put off buying until Sunday, when retailers promised discounts of up to 70 percent. "The prices are irresistible," she said. Taiwan's HTC settles patent disputes with AppleTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) _ HTC Corp. and Apple Inc. have settled their outstanding patent disputes. In a joint statement Sunday, the two companies said they also signed a 10-year license agreement that will extend to current and future patents held by one another. Telecom Italia confirms tycoon interest in stakeROME (AP) _ Telecom Italia shares rose 6 percent after the former monopoly confirmed that an Egyptian tycoon has expressed interest in investing in the Italian company. The company said Monday that management was reviewing the offer by Naguib Sawiris, formerly the chairman and controlling stakeholder of Wind Telecom SpA, to buy Telecom Italia shares, and did not comment on the merits. It said in a statement requested by the stock market watchdog Consob that the investment could help the company grow. Google's services unable to reach much of ChinaMOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) _ Google says its search engine and other Internet services have been cut off from much of China just as the country's ruling party picks new leaders. Data posted on Google's website shows its services in China became largely inaccessible beginning around 1 a.m. PST Friday. That would be about 5 p.m. Friday in Beijing. Pentagon moves to silence SEALs about missionsWASHINGTON (AP) _ The military is cracking down on special operations troops who share knowledge of their secret missions for profit, punishing seven Navy SEALs, including one involved in the mission to get Osama bin Laden, who moonlighted as advisers on a combat video game. Current and former SEALs, including the author of a tell-all book on the bin Laden raid, complain they're getting mixed messages from the military, which likes to see itself on big and small screens on its own terms. Groupon revenue growth slows in 3Q, stock downNEW YORK (AP) _ Groupon Inc., the No. 1 online deals service, failed to show investors on Thursday that its business is growing as quickly as they would like, as it was hurt by what it called "continued challenges" from the economic weakness in Europe. The company booked a small loss in the third quarter as higher revenue wasn't enough to make up for stock compensation and other expenses. Though revenue grew by nearly a third, it was below Wall Street's expectations. The Chicago-based company's stock fell sharply in after-hours trading following the announcement, indicating that it'll likely open at its lowest level ever when regular trading starts on Friday. Time Warner Cable to auto-credit for Sandy outagesNEW YORK (AP) _ Time Warner Cable, one of the two big cable companies in the New York area, says it will automatically credit customers for outages caused by Superstorm Sandy. Time Warner Cable Inc. says it will post credits to all customers in the hardest-hit parts of its service area. 'NBA 2K13' tops video games titles in OctoberNEW YORK (AP) _ U.S. retail sales of new video game hardware, software and accessories fell 25 percent in October, marking the 11th straight month of declining sales for physical game products, according to a report from NPD Group. Many gamers are waiting for big holiday releases such as Activision's "Call of Duty: Black Ops II." (c) 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |