It's not just for short, tight Web videos anymore. LG Mobile's popular Viewty handset has just become the first mobile phone to be certified for recording video using DivX compression.

The list of DivX certified devices continues to grow, but the list of mobile phones is still decidedly brief. The other handsets certified to support DivX, both made by Samsung -- the SGH-F500 and SGH-F508 -- only support DivX playback.

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Vizio fell to third place in holiday quarter LCD TV shipments, while Sony jumped from fourth to first.

It marks the first time that the Japanese electronics maker has ever been on the top of the list in DisplaySearch's quarterly survey. The firm said that its lead was built upon its top showings in the 40-44", 45-49" and 50-54" categories.

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Although the report does not specify a specific partner, it is being viewed as an important strategic move in Google's fight for market share against Baidu.

Three global music companies will be represented, as well as dozens of smaller players. Universal is said to be confirmed to join the effort, and talks are ongoing with EMI and Sony BMG. Warner is said to also be interested, but it appears that there have been no solid talks, according to sources.

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While digital revenues were up 41 percent from last year, Warner Music's overall profits dropped 45 percent and revenues remained stagnant.

Digital music now accounts for 14% of Warner Music Group's total revenue, showing the continuing move by consumers from physical to digital formats. However, this also means the company is making far less money selling music.

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The Contacts feature in Microsoft Outlook 2007 gets a huge overhaul, with a new version released this morning that includes a Business Contact Manager. But that new feature will be an option, and for some, a costly upgrade.

Since it was introduced as part of Exchange 5.5, Microsoft Outlook has had the ability to record contacts on a simple database stored on the client's system. As time went on, that contacts list was shared with Windows...for better or worse. But the contacts system has essentially been a flat-file database, not a relational one. So while you could group contacts according to company, you couldn't exactly use that list as a way to maintain information that pertains to those contacts.

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CBS looks to strengthen its already substantial advertising network by adding text message ads to its portfolio.

While most associate CBS with its namesake television network, it already had a decently sized billboard advertising network. When Viacom and CBS split, the company received the advertising arm that was part of Viacom, which also was a player in the billboard space.

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Amazon this week began offering Microsoft's HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 for only $79.99, but those wanting to take advantage of the deal may be too late, as the online retailer is currently sold out.

The $80 price tag follows a price cut in early December that made the drive available for just $129. It's not clear if the deal was a one-time offering from Amazon, or whether other retailers will follow suit. Making it all the more enticing, Amazon's 6 free HD DVD deal is also applicable to the Xbox 360 add-on.

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In spite of Google's annual revenue growth of 52%, many Wall Street analysts are now advising their clients to hold off on buying Google stock. Has Microsoft's bid for Yahoo made that much of a dent, or are there other factors at play?

"We think that the first cracks may be starting to appear in Google's hyper-growth story," Jeff Lindsay, a financial analyst at Sanford Bernstein, reportedly wrote in a note to clients at the end of last week.

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Today, MySQL rolled out a new hosting program that offers the company's top-of-the-line software and tools, plus 24-hour support, to partners. With Sun's acqusition of MySQL already under way, is this the start of something bigger?

When Sun announced its acquisition of open source software producer MySQL AB last month, many observers predicted that Sun would optimize the open source database to compete more closely with Oracle, Microsoft and IBM. Today, in a move that could be perceived as a first step in that direction, MySQL launched a new hosting partner program that could position it better against its three major enterprise database competitors: Oracle, Microsoft, and IBM.

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In an announcement late Tuesday, Adobe said it is promoting its current senior vice president and chief software architect, Kevin Lynch, to what appears to be a new post with higher level of seniority.

Kevin Lynch was the Chief Software Architect of Adobe Systems, having joined the company through its 2005 acquisition of Macromedia, where he was seen as the co-creator of the Dreamweaver Web site development environment. Now it appears he'll be taking on new responsibilities there.

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Microsoft has announced a new "green" wireless mouse, with such environmentally-minded features as...an on/off switch.

The Redmond company is gently marketing its new Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 today as being environmentally friendly due to its six-month battery life. This, according to Microsoft, will amount to an 80% reduction in battery consumption over a three-year period

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China's government backpedaled slightly from its earlier policy concerning video sites, now saying that existing sites can continue to operate.

China's initial law seemed to suggest that it was going to block any foreign Internet video site that the government didn't control, alarming free speech supporters. Now it seems as if the government is slightly backing down.

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A third component could be key to an effective Yahoo / Microsoft merger could be an enterprise search solutions provider whose crown jewel is now part of Yahoo, but whose core business will soon be part of Microsoft, says an IDC report.

A panel of 13 IDC analysts led by research VP Susan Feldman coalesced all day and into the night on Friday, eventually producing a document touting the benefits not just of #3 online search provider Microsoft acquiring #2 provider Yahoo, but also continuing with its plans announced last month to acquire Fast Search & Transfer, the producer of dedicated search applications for enterprises.

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Two of the four undersea cables that provide data to much of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia which were severed late last week are now undergoing repair.

Reuters reported today that FALCON, the third of the cables to be cut on Friday evening, is currently being repaired. FLAG telecom's repair team was at first delayed in Abu Dhabi, UAE due to untoward weather, but has since managed to lay anchor at the break site despite what the group called "extreme weather conditions."

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Graphics card producer NVidia confirmed late yesterday it is purchasing Ageia Technologies, the first producer of so-called "physics processors" for 3D gamers, for an undisclosed amount.

Ageia Technologies is best known for its PhysX processor, which is supported by popular games such as Gears of War, the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series, and Unreal Tournament 3. Working under NVidia's wing will help the company properly implement PhysX into future product launches, which should result in a broader target market.

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