Microsoft's search growth inches forward in June
Microsoft showed the most positive growth among the top five search engines in June, possibly due its recently launched "cashback" search program.
The Redmond company introduced its new program in late May, which rewards users of Live Search with rebates on product purchases.
Hackers unlock newest iPhone software, but 3G model still tied to AT&T
The group of hackers known as the "iPhone Dev Team" has struck once again, providing an update to its iPhone unlocking tool that works with Apple's new 2.0 software release.
Jailbreaking (making it possible to install un-sanctioned apps) and SIM-unlocking is supported for the first generation iPhone, while iPod touches can also be jailbroken. While the iPhone 3G is also supported in the new release, at this time it is only to jailbreak the device. No SIM-unlock is available, which means it must still be used on AT&T or whatever network Apple has partnered with internationally.
Rural wireless carriers seek the return of spectrum caps
Tired of watching major players such as AT&T and Verizon encroach on their territory, a group of smaller providers are petitioning the FCC to bring back limits on the amount of spectrum a carrier can hold.
The complaint was brought by the Rural Telecommunications Group, which represents the interest of regional wireless operators with less than 100,000 subscribers. Its members include carriers serving so-called secondary and tertiary markets -- representing both independent carriers and those associated with rural telephone companies.
Vista users greeted with an unexpected surprise: MobileMe
While they may have no intention of ever signing up for the service, Windows users are finding an unexpected addition to their Control Panels.
A link for "MobileMe Preferences" has begun appearing at the bottom of the Control Panel screens of those who have installed the latest Apple iTunes software -- according to one user, without any notification at all.
SK brushes off Sprint investment rumors
While SK Telecom has officially denied it would take a controlling stake in any US mobile carrier, it is still looking at business opportunities here.
The Korean telecommunications firm made the comments in a filing with the Korean stock exchange on Thursday. Reports had earlier suggested that it was considering buying out Sprint Nextel.
EU set to take action against mobile phone service scams
With an ever-increasing number of sites on the web offering ringtones, wallpapers, and games, there is also an increasing number scamming consumers. The European Commission is attempting to address that.
The government has launched a bloc-wide "sweep," where the member states simultaneously check Web pages for breaches of consumer law. The mobile services sweep took place between June 2 and 6.
YouTorrent relaunches with focus on legal downloads
One of the fastest-growing new BitTorrent sites said late Wednesday that it had relaunched its search engine, indexing nearly six terabytes of legal content.
In April, the site made the decision to go legal and stop indexing sites such as The Pirate Bay and isoHunt, which do not prune their databases of pirated content. YouTube has only been online since January, but the company said at the switch it averaged over 10 million unique users a month.
Google tweaks its use of contacts in Gmail's address book
Responding to user complaints over clutter in its address books, Google said it would partition the contacts it automatically adds to its users lists, into a separate area.
The feature in Google's Gmail Web pages that allows users to quickly enter e-mail addresses by only typing in the first few characters, is perceived to be helpful by some. However, typically when a user adds the address to enable auto-completion, it also adds a entry to the main address book.
Apple computer sales seen surging in US, Acer also strong
While the company has yet to make a mark among worldwide computer shipments in either major survey of the PC industry, it continued to show impressive strength stateside. But Acer is #3 or #4, depending on whom you ask.
In the Gartner survey, the company gained two percentage points of market share year-over-year to end the second quarter of 2008 with 8.5 percent of the market and a little under 1.4 million units shipped, good enough for third.
Reports: SK Telecom, Sprint may be looking at a partnership
The two cellular companies are said to be in talks over a possible partnership to co-develop new services and handsets, media reports indicate.
This morning, CNBC reported that SK Telecom was interested in purchasing Sprint Nextel outright, however financial analysts quickly discounted the story saying the Korean cellular provider would likely not be able to swing such a deal. This was furthered by reporting by Reuters news wire and The Wall Street Journal, which seemed to indicate the talks centered around a partnership instead. A minority investment in Sprint also seems possible.
Details emerge on Psystar suit, Apple wants recall
Apple is not only suing Psystar to stop them from selling Mac clones, but is asking the courts to order that the Florida-based company recall all of the systems sold to customers.
The 16-page complaint argues that Psystar's actions were meant to damage Apple, as well as confuse the public. In addition, the continued sales of Open Computers would financially hurt the company.
ISuppli: Apple only spends $174 to build each iPhone 3G
Apple was able to cut its costs by 23 percent over the first generation iPhone, and also increase its profit margins at the same time while lowering the price for consumers, according to finalized numbers released yesterday by iSuppli.
With an estimated bill of materials of $174 per unit -- taking into account a $50 charge for IP royalties -- Apple's profit margins for its iPhone 3G, according to iSuppli estimates, are in the neighborhood of 55 percent -- far higher than other manufacturers, which typically swallow much of their profits in order to ship more phones.
Apple comes clean on MobileMe problems, marketing
In an e-mail to customers, Apple admitted it had problems with its MobileMe launch last week, and is prepared to compensate them for lost time. Marketing of the service is also set to change.
"We have recently completed the transition from .Mac to MobileMe. Unfortunately, it was a lot rockier than we had hoped," Apple said in an e-mail to customers.
Apple to face off against Psystar in court
After three months of silence following the release of the Mac clone by Psystar in April, the Cupertino company sued the company over copyright infringement.
The suit was filed July 3 in the US District Court for the district of Northern California, San Francisco. Initial filings for the case are due in October, while a case management conference is scheduled for October 22, court documents indicate. Judge James Larson has been assigned to the case.
EU looks to address cross-border texting charges
Frustrated by lack of action among Europe's cellular carriers, the European Commission said Tuesday it would move to mandate lower prices for intra-European texting.
An average of €0.29 ($0.46 USD) is charged for messages, virtually unchanged since February when the EC first asked for a voluntary price drop at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Ed's Bio
Ed Oswald is a freelance journalist from the Reading, PA area. Although he has written across a variety of subjects, Ed’s passion and focus has been on technology and gadgets. His work regularly appears on tech news sites BetaNews, PCWorld, and Technologizer, and has been syndicated to eWeek, Time’s Techland blog, VentureBeat and the New York Times.
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