WSJ.com: What's News Technology

Microsoft Releases Fuller Windows 8 Test Version

Thu, 31 May 2012 15:55:43 EDT

Microsoft rolled out a near-complete version of its new operating system Windows 8, a step in the effort to reboot its flagship software for an era dominated by mobile gadgets.

Oracle CEO Preps Cloud Services

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:21:24 EDT

Oracle's Larry Ellison said the business software giant will release an extensive collection of tools based on the Internet "cloud" in about a week, as the company strives to maintain its edge.

RIM's Next Move? Stay, Share or Sell

Thu, 31 May 2012 09:30:02 EDT

Research In Motion's rookie chief executive is now racing the clock to stem its quickly weakening smartphone business—or come up with options to save the BlackBerry maker.

Samsung Launches Galaxy S3 in India

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:36:32 EDT

South Korea's Samsung Electronics, which launched the latest version of its Galaxy S series in India Thursday, said it aims to grab a 60% share of the country's smartphone market this year.

Leap to Sell Prepaid iPhone

Thu, 31 May 2012 17:13:44 EDT

Leap Wireless will start selling Apple's iPhone, making it the first prepaid carrier to offer the popular device in the U.S.

Hedge Fund Pushes BMC Sale

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:58:04 EDT

Hedge fund Elliott Management renewed its demand for BMC Software to sell itself, with a presentation making the case for a sale and listing potential acquirers.

H-P, Oracle Head to 'Divorce' Court

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:56:09 EDT

H-P and Oracle are heading to a trial some have likened to 'divorce court,' where the once cozy tech rivals air their grievances.

Car Battery Start-Ups Fizzle

Thu, 31 May 2012 11:32:44 EDT

A $1 billion Department of Energy effort to bootstrap advanced battery production for electric cars has led to idle factories and a budding shake out amid doubts the surplus capacity soon will be absorbed.

After Facebook, Kayak IPO Stalls

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:13:55 EDT

Kayak Software Corp. slowed its march to the stock market in one of the clearest examples yet of the fallout from Facebook Inc.'s tumultuous initial public offering.

Canada's CGI to Buy IT Rival Logica

Thu, 31 May 2012 15:42:52 EDT

Canadian information-technology services provider CGI agreed to buy embattled Anglo-Dutch rival Logica for $2.6 billion as it seeks to expand its global footprint.

Parsing the Facebook Fallout

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:28:19 EDT

Many Silicon Valley veterans said Facebook's bungled IPO stemmed from rare miscalculations and unusual circumstances, and not a fundamental change in sentiment that might bode ill for the funding or public offering plans of other start-ups.

Facebook IPO Facts, Fiction and Flops

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:53:21 EDT

It is time to point out some of the blame, misconceptions and wrong-headed analysis that have emerged in the wake of Facebook's ISPO (aka incredible shrinking public offering). Maybe the biggest miss is this: Facebook was a big bomb.

Newer, Speedier Networks Don't Always Top Forbearers

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:21:49 EDT

In a world of hyper-connectivity and streams of information that the Internet and the cloud offer, do 19th century (or even earlier) business documents still make sense?

Screens Get a Place at the Restaurant Table

Thu, 31 May 2012 13:37:53 EDT

A growing number of restaurants are using or testing small, interactive computer screens at the table. Diners can see glossy pictures of food, order menu items, and pay a check without a waiter.

Boot Camp Helps Scientists Pitch Research

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:19:41 EDT

A program at Stanford University aims to teach scientists and engineers how to turn their knowledge into technology that could build companies and ultimately create jobs.

Amazon May End Up Sharing California Tax

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:53:51 EDT

Amazon is bringing jobs to many states. But two California cities--San Bernadino and Patterson—are pondering whether they might wind up handing part of the tax windfall right back to the company.

Aereo Defends TV Service

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:07:42 EDT

TV startup Aereo argued in court that its streaming service doesn't violate copyright law as it is similar to a DVR. Broadcasters counter that the technology infringes copyright by creating a public copy of TV shows.

U.S. Firms Challenge Web-Oversight Proposals

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:00:57 EDT

AT&T, Google, Microsoft and Intel are among the companies backing a U.S. effort to block a United Nations agency from extending its regulatory powers to the Internet.

Thai Conviction Worries Web Users

Thu, 31 May 2012 01:09:00 EDT

A Thai court has sentenced a local webmaster to an eight-month suspended sentence for failing to act quickly enough to remove Internet posts deemed insulting to Thailand's royalty.

Apple Gears Up for New Products

Wed, 30 May 2012 21:01:18 EDT

Tim Cook said Apple has "intense interest" in TV, and said the company wants to move as much manufacturing to the U.S. as possible.

Tech Firms Scour College Campuses for Talent

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:23:37 EDT

Companies are wooing the best engineering and computer science students with equity, fat salaries—and free food.

Sony Rejects Online-Only Console

Thu, 31 May 2012 03:49:16 EDT

Sony considered but rejected a download-only scheme for its next videogame console, opting to include optical disk drives.

Silicon Valley Moves North

Wed, 30 May 2012 20:00:55 EDT

When it comes to high-tech jobs, San Francisco is catching up with the San Jose area.

Groupon Looks Beyond Coupons

Wed, 30 May 2012 21:03:08 EDT

Groupon's best deal may not be a deal after all, but instead technology.

The Marketing Behind Celebrity Tweets

Wed, 30 May 2012 00:15:06 EDT

These days, most social-media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have departments dedicated to creating partnerships with celebrities as a way to boost traffic and sell ads.

Google Wins Copyright Decision

Wed, 30 May 2012 05:37:40 EDT

Google won a round in its long-running copyright war, as a French court dismissed claims from French television channel TF1 that Google should be liable for TF1 programs that appeared on Google's YouTube video website.

Investors Bet on Facebook Fall

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:27:24 EDT

Facebook shares continued their downward slide and investors placed largely negative bets as options trading in the stock began.

Olympus, Ex-CEO Settle Lawsuit

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:57:55 EDT

Olympus and former CEO Michael Woodford settled his unfair-dismissal lawsuit, ending a dispute between the Japanese camera maker and the man who helped expose its effort to hide $1.5 billion in investment losses.

Prospects Dim for BlackBerry Maker

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:32:52 EDT

Research In Motion warned its business is deteriorating and will likely lose money for the second straight quarter, underscoring the uphill battle to turn around its flagging BlackBerry smartphone business.

Networks Built on Milliseconds

Wed, 30 May 2012 12:24:55 EDT

Trading firms, angling for even a split-second advantage over rivals, are rushing to build chains of microwave dishes to provide higher-speed links between financial markets in Chicago and New York.

China Microblog Site Regulates Talk

Tue, 29 May 2012 18:53:35 EDT

Users of China's most popular Twitter-like microblogging service, Sina Weibo, questioned the merits of its parent company's latest measure to regulate discussion on its site amid an uncertain political environment.

Can Robots Debone a Chicken?

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:40:32 EDT

Engineers from Japan to Holland have been trying for decades to create a robot that can replace human workers performing the repetitive task of making precise cuts to remove the valuable breast meat from chickens.

Panasonic Considers Staff Cuts

Tue, 29 May 2012 19:03:44 EDT

Panasonic is considering cutting staff at its headquarters in Osaka, Japan, as the struggling electronics giant tries to streamline its business after posting a record loss last fiscal year.

Samsung's iPhone Rival Hits Europe

Wed, 30 May 2012 01:33:34 EDT

Samsung's new flagship smartphone went on sale Tuesday in 28 European and Middle Eastern countries, as the cellphone giant upgraded its high-end device to compete with rival Apple iPhone.

MagicJack 'Puts' Money on the Line

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:28:23 EDT

Tech firm MagicJack VocalTec made a big bet on its shares last quarter, one that ended up providing a fifth of the company's profit. But a turn south in its stock price would have walloped earnings.

Virus Infects PCs in Iran, Mideast

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:49:57 EDT

Thousands of computers in Iran belonging to government agencies and private companies have been infected with a sophisticated virus, dubbed Flame, in the latest cyberwarfare against the Islamic Republic.

Mastering the Finer Points of American Slang

Wed, 30 May 2012 08:28:14 EDT

Texting, email and social networks have generated a tidal wave of new slang and abbreviations in English.

Mind-Controlled Games Become Reality

Tue, 29 May 2012 15:49:56 EDT

Picture this: You put on a headset and relax your mind. Soon you begin controlling an object with your thoughts. Several companies are now bringing this technology to life with affordable headsets that determine a person's state of mind.

Super Malware Targets Middle East

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:45:20 EDT

Computer malware described as "the most sophisticated cyberweapon yet unleashed" has been uncovered in computers in the Middle East and may have infected machines in Europe, writes Ben Rooney.

BodyMedia Secures Venture-Capital Funds

Mon, 28 May 2012 22:47:26 EDT

Pittsburgh-based BodyMedia has attracted $12 million in venture-capital funding for a weight-loss aid, an armband that measures how many calories the wearer burns throughout the day.

A New Stage for Apple's Tim Cook

Tue, 29 May 2012 19:33:42 EDT

Apple CEO Tim Cook steps into a new spotlight Tuesday, when he will make his first appearance at D: All Things Digital, a gathering of technology celebrities.

Lenovo Looks to Brazil for Growth

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:56:43 EDT

PC maker Lenovo Group has set its sights on Brazil as it looks to expand its market share outside of China.

RIM Loses Its Top Lawyer

Mon, 28 May 2012 14:31:46 EDT

Research In Motion's top lawyer is leaving, the company's second high-level departure in the past week.

Harnessing Strength Of Online Gambling

Mon, 28 May 2012 03:55:42 EDT

As more customers embrace tablet and smartphone apps, Paddy Power, Europe's biggest gambling company, is fighting to stay ahead of the competition.

Li Weighs Bid to Buy ING Unit

Mon, 28 May 2012 21:12:29 EDT

Richard Li, owner of Hong Kong's dominant fixed-line telecom company, has emerged as a prospective buyer of ING's Asian life-insurance business.

Aveva Sees China Growth

Tue, 29 May 2012 07:33:03 EDT

Aveva, a provider of engineering data and design IT systems, expects to generate significant extra growth in China following a restructuring of its operations there.

Renesas Plans Jog the Memory

Mon, 28 May 2012 06:07:05 EDT

Restructuring, losses and bailouts. The latest story from Japanese chip maker Renesas Electronics Corp. is a familiar tale for the nation's semiconductor industry. But this chip narrative could have a better outcome.

Renesas Disputes Reports

Mon, 28 May 2012 11:24:03 EDT

Japan's Renesas Electronics said it will outsource more chip production to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing but called media reports of a drastic restructuring "sensational."

Amazon, Publisher Settle Digital Books Dispute

Fri, 25 May 2012 18:53:09 EDT

Amazon.com and the Independent Publishers Group resolved a dispute over the sale of digital books.

Essar, Loop Founders Get Bail

Fri, 25 May 2012 07:59:07 EDT

An Indian court granted anticipatory bail to the founders of Essar group and Loop group while charging them with criminal conspiracy in the high-profile case of alleged rigging of a 2008 sale of telecom licenses and bandwidth.

Yahoo Jumps Into Browser Wars

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:16:52 EDT

Despite all the issues at Yahoo the company still managed to unveil a new product, its own Internet browser, dubbed Axis. Yahoo will go up against market leading browsers from Microsoft and Google.

Diller, TV Networks Head for Showdown

Fri, 25 May 2012 08:50:35 EDT

Major TV networks' efforts to shut down the Aereo video-streaming service will be tested in federal court next week. The service has financial backing from Barry Diller,.

Facebook Releases Instagram Clone

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:47:40 EDT

Facebook introduced an internally-developed photo-sharing app, called Camera, just a month after agreeing to purchase start-up Instagram for $1 billion.

Alibaba Privatization Moves Forward

Fri, 25 May 2012 01:30:38 EDT

Minority shareholders of Alibaba.com Ltd. on Friday voted in favor of a proposal by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to take the Hong Kong-listed online trading unit private.

H-P's Software and Tear

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:41:30 EDT

Hewlett-Packard shares look cheap. But it's hard to get excited about owning them.

SpaceX Craft Rehearses Docking Moves

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:03:08 EDT

SpaceX's unmanned spacecraft successfully completed a series of maneuvers around the international space station, clearing the last major hurdle before a historic docking attempt planned for Friday.

Start-Ups Vie in Managing Devices

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:18:53 EDT

A new wave of start-ups are trying to take away BlackBerry maker Research in Motion's business of helping companies manage mobile devices.

H-P Shows Age With Layoffs

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:54:09 EDT

H-P plans to lay off 27,000 employees. The tech giant also said its quarterly profit slumped 31% amid relatively flat revenue in its PC business and lower printing sales.

Ad-Skipping Device Heads to Court

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:37:55 EDT

Dish Network is seeking a court's review of its ad-skipping DVR. Shortly afterwards, three of the broadcasters, Fox, NBC and CBS, filed separate suits against Dish, accusing it of violating copyright.

Fate of BlackBerry's Messaging Tool in Doubt

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:23:44 EDT

Doubt surrounds RIM's instant-messaging service as world-wide sales of BlackBerrys falter and RIM softens efforts to leverage the messaging tool.

New Departure Hits RIM

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:08:13 EDT

Research In Motion said its London-based executive vice president for sales, Patrick Spence, is stepping down—the latest departure in a string of high-level exits at the BlackBerry maker.

Zynga Defends Acquisition

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:13:50 EDT

Zynga is trying to provide some answers for its controversial acquisition of "Draw Something," a mobile game that was released only six weeks earlier and has since lost popularity.

Dell Shares Tumble

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:51:01 EDT

Dell tumbled 18% after its quarterly report raised questions about the strength of computer sales and tech spending. H-P and Microsoft slumped.