US-TECH Summary
Microsoft cuts 800 jobs, completes layoff plan
SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp <MSFT.O> said on Wednesday it is cutting a further 800 jobs across its operations, on top of 5,000 jobs already eliminated under a plan to reduce costs that was announced in January. A spokesman for the world's largest software firm said the latest job cuts are spread across the company's global operations, but about 200 are in and around its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
Beatles remasters heading to USB
LONDON - The Beatles remasters are coming out on a limited-edition apple-shaped USB drive in time for Christmas, marking the first time the Fab Four's catalog has officially been sold as digital files separate from the CDs. The USB version of all the albums will be released on December 7 in the U.K. and December 8 in North America. The USB is available for pre-order at the online Beatles store, priced at $279.99.
Rockers No Doubt sue Activision over "Band Hero"
LOS ANGELES - Rock band No Doubt sued video game publisher Activision Blizzard Inc <ATVI.O> over the use of their likeness on its new "Band Hero" product, accusing the company of turning the rockers into a virtual karaoke act. No Doubt and Activision had a contract allowing the company to use the band members in the game, but Activision, which is based in Santa Monica, California, went beyond the agreement by allowing gamers to use avatars of the band performing songs from other rock groups, the lawsuit states.
Intel hit by NY antitrust suit, kickbacks alleged
NEW YORK - Intel Corp was sued by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who accused the world's largest chipmaker of threatening computer makers and paying billions of dollars in kickbacks to maintain its market dominance. The lawsuit accuses Intel <INTC.O> of violating state and federal antitrust law through a "systematic worldwide campaign" of bullying and coercion to monopolize the market for personal computer chips, at the expense of rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc <AMD.N>.
Playfish sees social games as industry driver
LONDON - The video games sector has yet to gain from a downturn where consumers stay home to play, but social games creator Playfish says the industry is just beginning a new growth spurt. The company that invented Pet Society, Restaurant City and Who Has The Biggest Brain? -- games played by tens of millions on sites such as Facebook and MySpace -- believes the $50 billion industry has many more converts to win.
Microsoft to set up cloud research center in Taiwan
TAIPEI - Microsoft Corp.<MSFT.O> and Taiwan's economics ministry said they plan to set up a research center on the island by next year, in the software company's first Asian foray into the budding cloud computing industry. Cloud computing -- the hosting and storage of services and data on remote centralized computers, is expected to cut costs and has quickly become the sector's buzzword. Many of the world's largest technology companies have jumped on the bandwagon.
Yahoo teams with OneRiot on real-time search
SAN FRANCISCO - Yahoo Inc <YHOO.O>, looking to match rivals in providing up-to-the-minute Internet search results, is running tests with several real-time search partners, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Among the companies providing real-time results to Yahoo on a trial basis is OneRiot, whose data will be available initially to about 10 percent of Yahoo's users, said a person familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak about the deal and asked for anonymity.
Best Buy plans movie download service with Sonic
NEW YORK - Best Buy Co Inc <BBY.N> plans to start an online service that allows consumers to buy, rent and download movies and television shows, the electronics retailer said on Tuesday. The system, based on Sonic Solutions' <SNIC.O> Roxio CinemaNow service, would be built into devices sold at its stores, including television sets, portable media players, computers, mobile phones and other devices from a variety of manufacturers.
China bureaucratic war over online Warcraft heats up
BEIJING , which had told Chinese online game firm NetEase.com <NTES.O> not to operate the latest version of Activision Blizzard's <ATVI.O> World of Warcraft, the Chinese-language Economic Information Daily said on Wednesday.
AT&T sues Verizon Wireless over 3G ads
NEW YORK - AT&T Inc <T.N> is suing Verizon Wireless in an effort to stop its bigger mobile rival from using "misleading" coverage maps in advertisements that AT&T says are causing it to lose "incalculable market share." According to the lawsuit which AT&T filed in Atlanta federal court, a recently launched ad campaign shows maps with white spaces that mislead consumers into thinking AT&T has no network coverage outside of areas where it offers high-speed mobile services, known as third-generation or 3G.