National News: Technology

Associated Press: National News: Technology

1 hour, 53 minutes ago

(AP) Hundreds of feet beneath Earth's surface, a few seasoned cave explorers venture where no human has set foot. Their headlamps illuminate mud-covered walls, gypsum crystals and mineral deposits.The real attraction, though, is under their shoes.A massive formation that resembles a white river spans the cave's floor. A closer examination reveals ...

South Korea's Hynix to close US chip plant

3 hours, 53 minutes ago

(AP) Hynix Semiconductor Inc., the world's second-largest memory chip manufacturer, said Thursday it will close its only U.S. factory amid changes in production standards and steep price declines buffeting the industry.Hynix said in a statement that production at the facility in Eugene, Oregon, would cease by the end of September.Park Seong-ae, ...

Unknown disease killing off Florida's state tree

4 hours, 11 minutes ago

(AP) The sabal palm, Florida's state tree, is under attack by a microscopic killer that has scientists stumped. An unknown but growing number of sabal palms in the Tampa Bay area have died from a mysterious disease that researchers are struggling to identify. Even after scientists pinpoint the disease _ and ...

South Korea's Hynix to close US chip plant

4 hours, 53 minutes ago

Sony opens up e-book Reader to other booksellers

5 hours, 20 minutes ago

(AP) With the market for electronic books still relatively sleepy, Sony Corp. is trying a new tack: untethering the latest model of its e-book reading device from its own online bookstore.On Thursday, Sony will provide a software update to the Reader, a thin slab with a 6-inch screen, so the device ...

Facebook to help some programmers, punish others

6 hours, 20 minutes ago

(AP) Facebook Inc. is introducing more tools to help the software applications fueling the online hangout's popularity and is promising to intensify its efforts to weed out programs that violate its rules for protecting users' privacy.Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's precocious chief executive, outlined on Wednesday the steps in a programmers' conference that ...

Amazon shrugs off high gas prices, weak economy

6 hours, 20 minutes ago

(AP) Amazon.com Inc. doesn't seem to be bothered by high gas prices or the sputtering U.S. economy.On Wednesday, the Internet retailer reported second-quarter earnings that more than doubled and easily topped analysts' expectations. It also raised its full-year revenue projections.The Seattle-based company's shares jumped $6.04, or 8.6 percent, to $76.58 in ...

SKorea's Hynix to close US chip plant

7 hours, 20 minutes ago

Microsoft exec who led Yahoo buyout team to leave

9 hours, 41 minutes ago

(AP) Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said Kevin Johnson, the executive in charge of its Windows and Web operations and an instrumental player in the company's failed $47.5 billion bid to buy Yahoo Inc., is leaving the company.After a short transition, Johnson will step into the role of chief executive officer at ...

Top online, Windows exec to depart Microsoft

11 hours, 11 minutes ago

(AP) Microsoft Corp. says the executive in charge of its Windows and Web operations is leaving the company.Kevin Johnson was president of Microsoft's platforms and services division, which was responsible for Internet Explorer, the Windows operating system and the Windows Live programs, including Web e-mail and instant messaging. The division also ...

Netflix shuts movie financing arm to focus on core

11 hours, 41 minutes ago

(AP) The movie-rental service Netflix Inc. is closing a small unit that finances independent movies, partly to avoid competing with Hollywood studios with which it partners for DVD and Internet distribution.The financial impact on the company will be small, and only four out of about 400 employees are losing their jobs.But ...

Summary Box: Study sees online banking flaws

11 hours, 41 minutes ago

(AP) INCREASING RISKS: A new study finds that online banking customers are more vulnerable to fraud when their banks' Web sites have design flaws that teach bad surfing habits.WIDESPREAD DANGERS: University of Michigan researchers found such design flaws in 76 percent of the 214 U.S. financial institution Web sites they studied. ...

Qualcomm shares soar as Nokia trial delayed

11 hours, 41 minutes ago

(AP) Chip maker Qualcomm Inc. delayed the release of its fiscal third-quarter results Wednesday after a Delaware judge postponed the start of a trial pitting the company against mobile handset maker Nokia Corp. in a dispute over licensing fees.Qualcomm gave no explanation for rescheduling its conference call to discuss the results ...

Nokia, Qualcomm settle long-running dispute

11 hours, 41 minutes ago

(AP) Nokia Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. say they have agreed to settle a high-stakes licensing dispute and end a series of legal battles that has spanned several continents.The wireless industry heavyweights said Wednesday that they struck a 15-year licensing deal that gives Nokia rights to a wide portfolio of Qualcomm's patents. ...

Amazon profit doubles, beats estimates

11 hours, 41 minutes ago

(AP) Amazon.com Inc. showed that it wasn't being hurt by economic weakness and high fuel prices, reporting Wednesday that its second-quarter profits more than doubled and surpassed analyst expectations. The Internet retailer also raised full-year revenue projections.Sales were strong in several sections of Amazon's massive marketplace.For the quarter that ended June ...