WSJ.com: What's News Technology

ESPN Plays Up Web for Live Sports

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:24:18 EST

In a high-profile push to make money from online video, sports broadcaster ESPN is putting new muscle into a Web site that shows live events for paying subscribers.

I Spy...a Market For Kids

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:06:08 EST

New toys, like the remote-controlled Spy Video Trakr, act like surveillance gear as a generation of 'technology natives' channels its inner Nancy Drew.

Game Makers Push Beyond Christmas

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:03:15 EST

Videogame publishers are set to release more than a dozen major titles in coming months as the companies attempt to spark demand outside the crowded holiday season and reverse an industry-wide sales slump.

Google Adds 'Buzz' to Gmail

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:46:22 EST

Google launched a new service to bring social updates such as photos and Web links into Gmail and some Google mobile products, in a challenge to Facebook and other sites where people go to check up on their friends.

Micron to Buy Numonyx in $1.27 Billion Stock Deal

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:35:03 EST

Micron Technology said it will pay about $1.27 billion in stock to acquire Numonyx, a spinoff from Intel and STMicroelectronics that adds new varieties of memory chips to Micron's portfolio.

Facebook Gets Another Facelift

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:53:49 EST

Facebook on Thursday began rolling out a new design to its more than 350 million users, with various tweaks to encourage people to use the popular social network in new ways.

Baidu Posts 48% Jump in Profit

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:09:24 EST

While Google explores whether it can continue to do business in China, the country's biggest Internet player, Baidu, posted quarterly results that showed how quickly Web use and online advertising is growing in China.

Amazon Likes Amazon Stock

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:07:49 EST

Amazon increased its repurchase allowance to $2 billion. The company only spent $100 million on buybacks in the depths of the market.

EA Narrows Loss, Gives Weak Outlook

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:29:20 EST

Electronic Arts posted a smaller loss in the holiday quarter, despite a 25% drop in sales, but the company issued a weak outlook for the current quarter. Shares tumbled.

Google Lowers Nexus Termination Fee

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:35:25 EST

Google reduced the $350 fee it charges customers who drop its new Nexus One phone early to $150, following an inquiry from federal regulators.

Showdown at Infineon Tests German Governance

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:59:31 EST

A group of shareholders are challenging the nomination of Klaus Wucherer, a longtime supervisory board member at Infineon Technlogies, to become chairman of the supervisory board.

Revenue Rises at IAC

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:31:02 EST

IAC, the parent of Ask.com and Match.com, reported a quarterly loss but revenue rose for the first time since 2008.

SAP Chairman Sees Co-CEOs for Long Term

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:01:32 EST

Chairman Hasso Plattner said the German software giant will be headed by dual executives for the long term, a day after CEO Apotheker was pushed aside.

Rhapsody to Be Spun Off

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:12:12 EST

RealNetworks and Viacom plan to spin off their Rhapsody music-subscription joint venture into a new corporation.

IBM Seeks Edge With New Chips

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:42:09 EST

IBM says its Power7 chip is four times faster than its predecessor, hoping this will extend the computer giant's edge in the market for midrange servers.

FairPoint Files Bankruptcy Plan

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:09:17 EST

The phone company's debt would be cut by nearly two-thirds under its reorganization plan filed Monday. Secured creditors would get new stock amounting to a 92% stake.

Xerox Chief Closes ACS Deal

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:46:46 EST

Xerox's Ursula Burns said her company will keep doing acquisitions, but not as large as the recent $5.6 billion takeover of business process outsourcing firm Affiliated Computer Services.

Nokia Defends Against Fraud

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:28:59 EST

Nokia said it will "vigorously" defend itself against allegations of securities fraud after a class-action complaint was filed in New York.

Amazon Settles E-Book Dispute

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:31:18 EST

Amazon and Macmillan reached an agreement on e-book pricing, a pact that may serve as a model with other publishing companies. Amazon resumed selling Macmillan titles.

SAP Chief Quits; Co-CEOs Step In

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:56:34 EST

The chief executive of SAP resigned after the German software company declined to renew his contract. Two co-CEOs will succeed Leo Apotheker.

Beijing Touts Bust of Hacker Ring

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:14:55 EST

China heralded a major bust of computer hackers to underscore its pledge to help enhance global online security.

T-Mobile USA Owner Weighs IPO

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:46:33 EST

T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom is exploring an IPO or spinoff of the business, the fourth-largest U.S. wireless carrier.

U.S. Wary of Google Book Pact

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:41:44 EST

The U.S. Department of Justice expressed concerns about a revised legal settlement that Google struck with authors and publishers to make millions of books available online.

SEC Drops Case Against Ex-Broadcom Executives

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:30:30 EST

The regulator said it will not pursue a civil action against four of the company's former executives for allegations of securities fraud.

Hachette Enters E-Book Fray

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:06:49 EST

Hachette Book Group said it wants all retailers to price electronic books the way Apple plans to, essentially taking sides with Macmillan in a dispute with Amazon.

Sanyo Deal Hits Panasonic Results

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:29:54 EST

The electronics company said the $4.5 billion acquisition will reduce full-year profit, as it causes the company to shift its focus to batteries and solar panels.

NSA Helps Google Probe Attack

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:32:46 EST

Officials at the National Security Agency have been working with Google to investigate the cyber attacks that Google believes originated in China.

Cost Cutting Pays Off at Sony

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:16:40 EST

The electronics giant posted a sharp rise in profit from a restructuring and strong sales of its PlayStation 3 game console.

Corning Sees Strong LCD Demand in China

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:11:13 EST

Corning sees another year of strong growth in sales of LCD televisions and plans to boost its investment and hiring in China, an emerging hub for flat-panel manufacturing and a driving force in demand for TVs.

Comcast, NBC Executives Defend Merger

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:05:35 EST

Lawmakers questioned the impact on consumers from Comcast's proposed deal to acquire control of NBC Universal, although they didn't suggest regulators should reject the deal.

Lenovo's PC Shipments Jump

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:32:27 EST

The computer maker swung to a quarterly profit helped by robust sales in its rapidly expanding home market, after it changed its strategy to focus on China.

Tech Spending Bounces Back

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:28:58 EST

Business spending on technology is returning as the economy mends, pumping new life into suppliers such as Cisco, though it has been slower to reach other sectors.

France T él écom's Chief Sets Goals

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:24:24 EST

France Télécom's designated chief, Stéphane Richard, plans to focus on employee morale when he takes the helm next month.

Hynix Stake Sale Faces Cloud

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:24:41 EST

The arrests of several executives, including one from Hynix Semiconductor, on suspicion of stealing chip-making technology from a bigger rival threatens to cast a cloud over creditors' efforts to sell down a stake in Hynix, analysts say.

Vodafone Posts Revenue Growth, Lifts Outlook

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:16:06 EST

Vodafone said revenue grew 10% in its fiscal third quarter as data revenue surged amid rising demand for smart phones, while service revenue in Europe showed some signs of stabilization.

Pushing to Bring TV to the Internet

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:05:04 EST

A small start-up is trying to do what many in Hollywood and Silicon Valley have so far been unable to do: take Internet video from its YouTube origins to a full-fledged television service with dozens of channels.

Hitachi Posts Sharp Recovery

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:43:30 EST

Hitachi said it returned to the black in its fiscal third quarter and it named a new president to spearhead growth in its infrastructure-related business.

Monster to Acquire Rival HotJobs

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:25:55 EST

Monster Worldwide agreed to buy rival online job-search company HotJobs from Yahoo for $225 million in cash.

AOL Ekes Out Profit as Ad Sales Fall

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:04:47 EST

AOL eked out a small fourth-quarter profit, but sharp subscription declines and an uncertain advertising environment underscored the challenges ahead for the newly independent company.

AOL Set to Expand in Silicon Valley

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:55:30 EST

Even as it lays off a third of its total work force, or 2,300 employees, the company is increasing its Bay Area staff from 300 people to as many as 600 this year.

Chip Executives Arrested in South Korea

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:55:26 EST

Prosecutors arrested two executives at Applied Materials and an executive at Hynix Semiconductor on suspicion of stealing chip-making technology from Samsung Electronics.

Sharp Swings Back to Profit on TV Sales Surge

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:37:59 EST

Sharp said resurgent sales of liquid crystal display televisions helped it to bounce back into profit in its fiscal third quarter, following large losses a year earlier in the trough of the global recession.

U.K. Seeks Review of Mobile Venture

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:29:40 EST

Britain's competition watchdog said it wants to review the proposed plan by Deutsche Telekom and France Télécom to merge their U.K. wireless operations over concerns it will significantly threaten competition.

Italy to Extend TV Rules to Web

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:06:13 EST

A government draft decree, expected to take effect early this month, would force sites such as Google's YouTube to operate more like traditional TV broadcasters within Italian borders.

Ad Displays That Can Scan Age And Gender

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:55:19 EST

If you are sensitive about your age, beware: Digital ad displays may soon be able to figure out whether you should be shopping at Hot Topic Inc. or Macy's Inc.

Textbook Firms Ink E-Deals For iPad

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:59:58 EST

Educational publishers struck a deal with software firm ScrollMotion to adapt their textbooks for the electronic page.

Google Plans Store for Business Software

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:29:02 EST

Google is preparing to launch a store selling online business software that integrates with its Web services, enlisting software developers in its battle against Microsoft.