Latest Technology News

The newest MacBooks and MacBook Pros are Apple's first devices with the Mini DisplayPort as their standard video out. But owners are discovering that display port comes with an extra added bonus, which they may not have asked for.

High definition content protection (HDCP) is being used to protect iTunes video purchases from being played through anything but direct Mini DisplayPort connections.

On the eve of availability from Verizon Wireless of the BlackBerry Storm, AT&T -- the exclusive provider of Apple's iPhone in the US -- has announced a Windows Mobile-based phone from LG with a now-familiar profile.

Korean phone maker LG Electronics today bore out industry rumors about internal development of an "iPhone killer." But in an unusual twist, the Windows Mobile-based Incite phone will be available through AT&T, the company which is also the exclusive wireless service provider for Apple's iPhone in the US.

One must take one's good news where one can, and HP on Tuesday announced that other than some currency-related unpleasantness, the company's outlook for fourth quarter and for 2009 isn't bad.

The company, whose fourth quarter earnings call was already scheduled for Monday, said that it expects to report revenue of $33.6 billion and profits of $1.03/share excluding certain acquisition-related after-tax adjustments. (HP completed its acquisition of EDS back in August.) That's a 19% year-over-year increase... until you factor in currency fluctuations.

While the official first day of the New Xbox Experience (NXE) is November 19, users who applied for the preview program are already seeing their updated Xbox interface, new sections, and the Netflix Instant queue with exclusive HD content.

Microsoft unveiled the changes to the Xbox this summer at E3, showing off the ability for users to create custom animated avatars through which to chat or host "Live Parties" where connected users can share games, movies, and photos with up to seven people simultaneously. It also announced that user-developed games would be available in addition to new casual MMOs in "Live Primetime," which was later delayed.

After what some saw as a "delay," Google's highly anticipated voice search feature for iPhone got posted to Apple's App Store last night. So far, reactions among early users appear largely favorable, despite a few miscues from Google.

To the potential enjoyment of many iPhone users, Apple's App Store last night added a new update to Google's mobile application which allows for hands-free searches by letting people "speak" their questions to Google's search servers.

In one of the world's longest-running and most reliably even stalemates, a federal judge in Santa Ana may actually have scored Broadcom a blow against rival Qualcomm that could draw a little blood, in the form of back royalties.

Last January, US District Court Judge James Selna imposed an injunction against the sale of Qualcomm-brand chips in the US, using technologies that were already found in 2006 to have infringed upon intellectual property held by arch-rival Broadcom. But in an act of graciousness that's typical in such cases, Judge Selna stayed his own injunction, on the condition that while some orders for Qualcomm chips were already in shipment and could not be stopped without perhaps a naval blockade, Qualcomm pay Broadcom 4.5% royalties on those sales in progress.

In a surprise correction of information BetaNews received at PDC 2008 last month, a Microsoft spokesperson now says its forthcoming Office Web apps with Office 14 will run on platforms other than Windows.

Exact details of how this feat will take place have not been completely ironed out at present. However, cross-platform execution is apparently a principal goal of Office Web applications. This statement from a Microsoft spokesperson to BetaNews last night corroborates a Channel 10 blog post by an independent contributor to Microsoft, and a Gregg Keizer Computerworld report that followed.

On-demand video service Vudu has released its second generation player, and this time it's not targeting the average set-top box consumer, it's targeting the high-end media consumer with its rackmount XL2 HD streamer.

Vudu debuted last year with a $399 set top box that allows its users to stream movies on demand for between 99¢ and $2.99 each, or to download them to the unit's hard drive for between $4.99 and $14.99. In competition mostly with AppleTV in the subscriptionless, on-demand streaming market, Vudu differentiated itself by focusing on HD content, and by being the only mainstream connected set-top-box to offer adult content.

In a last-minute trade that leaves Microsoft without its lead-off pitcher, Major League Baseball announced this morning it has signed a two-year deal with Adobe that will mean its online video app moves back to Flash.

It was Bill Gates himself who, in the spring of 2007, demonstrated Major League Baseball's use of Silverlight as an example of its worthiness to go toe-to-toe against Adobe Flash, and become at least equally as ubiquitous among online video platforms. But now, Microsoft is about to lose one of its most prominent partners in the race for equal status, as MLB's Advanced Media division (MLBAM) announced it has signed a two-year deal with Adobe.

As a way to aid applications in becoming more noticeable, Facebook is now offering an official "verification badge" for select developers. To become a "select developer," there's a fee attached.

Facebook's applications platform has over 20,000 apps listed, and for developers, getting your app noticed and picked up by users is a difficult task. Similar to the way music discovery site PureVolume lets artists buy premium listings, Facebook is now offering developers an official "verification badge," for a fee of $375 per submitted applications.

Need a firewall freshener? Tuesday marks Check Point Software's 15th anniversary, and to celebrate, it's offering free copies of Check Point ZoneAlarm Pro 2009 to all comers.

Check Point's anniversary promotion runs from 9:00 am EST today until 9:00 am on Wednesday, and includes a one-year license for one PC running Windows XP or Vista. The company will also offer an assortment of discounts on ZoneAlarm Antivirus, ZoneAlarm Pro, and ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite.

As the shopping season approaches, mobile providers are starting to sweeten the deal for subscribers and new buyers, with late fall and holiday deals are popping up all around.

Alltel subscribers in the market for a new handset this season are getting a little extra in their stockings, as the company announced one-month trial offers for several subscription services. Buyers of new "feature phones" -- LGs, Samsungs or any of several Motorola models -- can pick up a free month of Alltel Navigation or XM Radio Mobile, which otherwise costs $9.99/month and $7.99/month respectively. Those getting a new BlackBerry or HTC smartphone can choose either of Alltel's current GPS navigation services, Alltel Navigation or TeleNav. Both list for $9.99/month.

"i will be participating in the search for my successor, and i will continue as ceo until the board selects a new ceo," reads a memo to Yahoo employees from the man who this morning is flying the white flag.

As first reported by Kara Swisher in The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang has agreed to resign his executive post, though will remain on-board with the company as "Chief Yahoo" -- whatever that will mean post-transition.

Although its CEO claims no knowledge of the event, and other Microsoft execs raised opposition, Microsoft dropped a key requirement for "Vista Capable" PCs at Intel's request in 2006, according to e-mails now unsealed by a federal judge.

In a lawsuit charging deceptive marketing around Windows Vista, a chain of e-mails now unsealed by a federal court judge suggests that, under pressure from Intel, Microsoft relaxed its standards for "Vista Capable" PCs, enraging its partner Hewlett-Packard. Meanwhile, Microsoft has sought to excuse company CEO Steve Ballmer from testifying in the case.

There's a list of features which have historically pertained to Intel processors -- a list that's now smaller today than ever before. It's the list of features AMD has and Intel doesn't, leaving AMD at a widening disadvantage.

Prior to his having left AMD last year, marketing chief Henri Richard told BetaNews he believed that neither AMD nor Intel would ever enjoy a wide margin of performance advantage again in their histories. Instead, one would always be leap-frogging over the other -- five percent here, three percent there. And that process would end up being good for the consumer.