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AP Technology NewsBrief at 7:01 p.m. EST
(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Google apologizes for offensive first lady imageSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Google Inc. is apologizing for an offensive image of the first lady that appears at the top of the list when users search for pictures of Michelle Obama on its site. A text ad placed above the image is titled "Offensive Search Results." Users who click on the ad are directed to a letter from Google that explains its results "can include disturbing content, even from innocuous queries" but that Google doesn't endorse content on these Web sites.
Microsoft says cost-cutting CFO to step downSEATTLE (AP) _ Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday said its chief financial officer is departing at the end of the year and will be replaced by the man now responsible for the books at the division that produces Microsoft Office and other business programs. CFO Chris Liddell led an effort this year to slice $3 billion in costs at Microsoft after it became clear the technology sector would not be immune from the effects of the economic meltdown. The plan included Microsoft's first mass layoffs, wage freezes as well as cuts to employee travel and other expenses.
Senators press EU to speed its Oracle-Sun probeSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ U.S. senators are pressuring European antitrust regulators to hurry their investigation of Oracle Corp.'s proposed acquisition of Sun Microsystems Inc., citing Sun's "precarious" financial condition and fears about more layoffs at the struggling computing company. A group of 59 senators outlined the concerns in a letter Tuesday to the European Commission, which has held up the $7.4 billion deal over worries that Oracle would be too dominant in the market for database software.
Rare economic espionage case ends in jury deadlockSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Two men accused of the rare charge of economic espionage against the U.S. have been acquitted on two counts, but they could face a retrial on three other counts on which a jury deadlocked. Lan Lee and Yuefei Ge were the first defendants to go to a jury trial on a charge of economic espionage, which alleges that someone stole trade secrets from a U.S. company with the intent to benefit a foreign government. Their case was being heard in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif.
Facebook creates dual-class structure, but no IPONEW YORK (AP) _ Facebook has created a dual-class stock structure designed to give founder Mark Zuckerberg and other existing shareholders control over the company. The move could be seen as laying the groundwork for an initial public offering, though the social network said Tuesday it had no plans to go public "at this time."
Google documents Iraqi museum treasuresBAGHDAD (AP) _ Google is documenting Iraq's national museum and will post photographs of its ancient treasures on the Internet early next year, Google chief Eric Schmidt announced Tuesday. The museum was ransacked in the chaotic aftermath of Saddam Hussein's ouster in April 2003, and only reopened to visitors early this year. Schmidt, who toured the museum with U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill on Tuesday, said it was important for the world to see Iraq's rich heritage and contribution to world culture.
HP profit jumps on cost cuts, new market expansionSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Hewlett-Packard Co.'s cost-cutting and push into new markets is helping soften the blow from weakness in the company's mainstay businesses. HP on Monday reported big revenue declines in four of its main divisions _ PCs, servers, software and printers _ in the latest quarter. A bright spot was technology services, a division HP beefed up last year with the $13.9 billion acquisition of Electronic Data Systems and which posted better profits. HP is eliminating 24,600 jobs as part of that takeover.
Joost assets bought by online ad company AdconionNEW YORK (AP) _ The struggling online video startup Joost, begun with much fanfare by the creators of Skype and Kazaa, has been sold to an online advertising company. Adconion Media Group said Tuesday it bought Joost assets for an undisclosed sum. These include the technology behind Joost's video platform and the Joost trademark.
EU drops Qualcomm antitrust probeBRUSSELS (AP) _ European Union antitrust regulators on Tuesday dropped a monopoly abuse probe into wireless chip maker Qualcomm Inc. after mobile phone companies withdrew complaints about high royalty fees. Broadcom Corp., NEC Corp., Nokia Corp., LM Ericsson, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Texas Instruments Inc. backed off complaints they made in October 2005 that Qualcomm broke agreements among patent holders to keep costs at reasonable levels for key WCDMA patents used in third-generation phones.
Top 2 booksellers report losses, their shares fallNEW YORK (AP) _ Barnes & Noble Inc. and Borders Group Inc., the nation's two largest brick-and-mortar book sellers, both posted quarterly losses Thursday and forecast a difficult holiday season, saying competition from discount chains and online retailers is stiffening. Barnes & Noble, the larger of the two, also cut its forecast for annual profit, and shares of both retailers fell.
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