More time spent on Facebook than Google: comScore (AFP)

AFP - US Web surfers spent more time on Facebook than on Google sites in August, the first time the social network has surpassed the Internet titan, online tracking firm comScore said Friday.

Fiji government, opposition settle online censorship row (AFP)

AFP - Fiji's main opposition Labour Party said Friday it had resolved a stand-off with the nation's military government over whether it needed to submit online statements for vetting before publication.

Mozambique blocked text messaging after riots: report (AFP)

AFP - Mozambique's telecom authority ordered cell phone operators to block all text messages, after a viral campaign sparked riots last week, independent media said Friday.

'Halo: Reach' aims to grab gamers again (AP)

AP - Since fans lined up at midnight nearly three years ago for the release of the last "Halo" video game, a recession struck the economy, President Barack Obama took office and "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" became the best-selling shooter game of all time. When the prequel "Halo: Reach" debuts Sept. 14, it will land on a very different world.

Apple releases slew of printer driver updates (Macworld.com)

Macworld.com - Apple has released over half a dozen printer and scanner driver updates for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users. These updates are focused primarily on brands that cater to business and enterprise users.

Nokia appoints Microsoft executive as new CEO (AFP)

AFP - The world's largest mobile phone maker Nokia on Friday named a new software-savvy chief executive from Microsoft to help it battle slumping profits and an eroding market share in the smartphone segment.

Xbox 360 Powers Ahead, but Sun Setting on Wii? (PC World)

PC World - August 2010 video game sales slumped an unsettling 10 points, a decline led by a softening handheld market and a drop off in demand for Nintendo products. Both Microsoft and Sony managed gains in year-on-year console unit sales, though the Xbox 360 led the PlayStation 3 by over 100,000 units.

Chemicals, electronics to be accepted for disposal in Titusville

TITUSVILLE -- Titusville area residents can dispose of old household chemicals and electronics at the Titusville Opportunity Park on Sept. 18. Cleaning supplies, paint, pool chemicals, plus old computers, stereos, televisions and VCRs will be accepted and properly discarded.

Revolutionize your vacation with TransPerfect TransImage (Appolicious)

Appolicious - TransPerfect has just launched TransPerfect TransImage, the iPhone app for, yes, translating. (Fun fact: TransPerfect was founded in an NYU dorm room by two business students, and is now one of the largest translation companies in the world!) The app, powered by Google Translate, can translate text from photographs or via manual input. So, let's say you're at a restaurant in Germany and you don't speak or read German. ...

US widens probe of HP bribery allegations (AP)

AP - U.S. investigators have widened their probe of alleged kickbacks paid to Russian authorities by employees of a Hewlett-Packard Co. subsidiary in Germany.

Nokia dumps CEO, turns to Microsoft exec (AP)

AP - Nokia Corp. is replacing CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo with top Microsoft executive Stephen Elop as the world's top handset maker aims to regain lost ground in the fiercely competitive smartphone market.

"Here You Have" Virus Demonstrates Need to Improve Malware Security (PC World)

PC World - A worm known affectionately as "Here You Have" based on the subject line of the infected e-mail used to propagate it has quickly spread into a global malware attack. The efficacy of the simple, and poorly worded e-mail luring users to click on a malicious link demonstrates why we need a whole new approach to malware defense.

FarmVille vs. Real Farms [INFOGRAPHIC] (Mashable)

Mashable - With all those millions of Facebook and iPhone users tending to virtual crops and sharing them with friends, have you ever wondered how their toils stack up against actual real-life farmers? How does our output of digital (and decidedly less tasty) tomatoes compare with our worldwide production of real tomatoes?

Google Instant Is Cool, But Check Out YouTube Instant (Mashable)

Mashable - You've heard of Google Instant, well, how about YouTube Instant? Yes, this is a novelty toy built by a college student (Feross Aboukhadijeh of Stanford University), but it's a pretty fun way to pass a lazy Friday morning.

Nokia Names Microsoft's Elop as New CEO (PC World)

PC World - Nokia has named Stephen Elop, president of Microsoft's business software group, to become its new CEO effective from later this month.

Recycle electronics at Crossroads event

An electronics recycling event is planned for Tuesday at Crossroads Center.

Electronics disposal service looks to make city greener

More than a truckload's worth of old and non-functional electronics were recycled Aug. 4 in the city hall parking lot. Allen residents helped make the city a little greener this month at the city's quarterly electronic waste collection in the city hall parking lot Aug. 4.

Adobe Responds to Apple's New Rules (Mashable)

Mashable - Yesterday, seemingly out of the blue, Apple issued a statement saying it will ease up restrictions for development tools used to create iOS party apps. Now, Adobe has reacted with a statement of its own, calling Apple's decision "great news for developers."

EBay wins a round in court against Craigslist (AP)

AP - In a skirmish between two Internet heavy hitters with a tangled relationship, eBay Inc. has convinced a court that it was wronged by antitakeover moves adopted by Craigslist after eBay started encroaching on its online classifieds turf in the U.S.

'Frustration-free packaging' slow to catch on (Ben Patterson)

Ben Patterson - Just the other day, I got bitten by one of those hard plastic clamshell cases that retailers still seem to love. Even with a pair of heavy-duty scissors, it took me several minutes to pry the stubborn thing open, and as I sawed away, a jagged piece of plastic tore at my finger and gave me a good scratch. At least I didn’t bleed on my newly purchased USB hard drive (this time).

Hurd's Oracle gig: Is Ellison perk or problem? (AP)

AP - As co-president at Oracle Corp., ousted Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd will have to adapt to a new role playing second fiddle to one of Silicon Valley's most domineering bosses — Larry Ellison.

US videogame sales continue downward slide (AFP)

AFP - US videogame sales slid again in August as the industry hoped that hot titles and new motion-sensing controllers due out in coming months would reverse its fortunes.

Wilson Electronics Sleek Pumps Up Cell Phone Reception

The Wilson Electronics Sleek provides an affordable means of improving cell signal reception for people who make lots of calls while driving. Mobile phone - Science and Technology - Cell Phones - Cell Phones and Driving - Business

Apple opens up on iOS app review guidelines, relaxes development restrictions (Ben Patterson)

Ben Patterson - Apple’s criteria for approving or rejecting a given iPhone or iPad app have long been a perplexing, maddening mystery to developers — but now Apple is abruptly making public its once-secret iOS app review guidelines. Among the highlights: No content that’s "over the line," nothing "cobbled together in a few days," and above all, "We don't need any more Fart apps."

Fact or Fiction? Top 8 Linux Myths Debunked (PC World)

PC World - If the idea of using Linux in your business is one that makes you nervous, chances are you've fallen prey to one or more of the many myths out there that are frequently disseminated by competing vendors such as Microsoft. After all, each Linux user means one less sale for such companies, so they have a powerful motivation to spread such FUD.

A Minute With: Milla Jovovich in "Resident Evil" (Reuters)

Reuters - Actress Milla Jovovich returns to movie theaters with "Resident Evil: Afterlife," the fourth installment of the successful video game-to-film horror franchise -- only this time she is in 3D.

Sony PlayStation Turns 15 (PC Magazine)

PC Magazine - Would you like to feel old? The PlayStation gaming console celebrated its 15th birthday Thursday, and Sony published a trip down memory lane to celebrate.

Arrow Electronics acquires Shared Tech

Electronics and computer products distributor Arrow Electronics Inc. said Thursday it has completed its acquisition of Shared Technologies Inc.

Microsoft Suspends Xbox Gamer For Living in Fort Gay (PC World)

PC World - You've just signed up for Xbox LIVE. You're entering your personal information, and when you get to the city and state fields, you tap in 'Intercourse, Pennsylvania'. A couple days later you get an email from Microsoft notifying you that your account's been suspended. Why? Because you violated the online gaming service's code of conduct by using a term with overtly sexual connotations.

"Resident Evil" movie uses 3D to engage viewers (Reuters)

Reuters - Video gamers are used to immersing themselves into virtual worlds so filmmakers turning video games into movies are aiming to keep them as involved, by adding 3D.

Quick Hit football video game gets NFL makeover (AP)

AP - Thursday marks the kickoff of the 2010 NFL season, and along with it, a renewed interest in fantasy leagues and video games that let Monday-morning quarterbacks feel as if they're part of the action.

Microsoft's Xbox ready for bigger battle in Japan (AP)

AP - Battling its Japanese gaming rivals on their home turf hasn't been easy for Microsoft Corp. Its Xbox 360 game console runs a distant third in sales here behind Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 console and Nintendo Co.'s Wii.

Shanda Games 2Q net income drops 16 percent (AP)

AP - Shanda Games Ltd., a Shanghai-based online game company, said Wednesday its second-quarter net income fell 16 percent as revenue from both casual and multiplayer games declined.

Military bans video game that 'kills' US troops (AP)

AP - Military bases across the U.S. have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

China Electronics Adds New Products for Mideast PRC Rural Markets

China Electronics Holdings, Inc. , one of rural China's major U.S.-listed retailers of household appliances and consumer electronics, announced that it has added to its list of exclusive distribution contracts with new products from Beijing-based Tongfang for the Lu'an area. Â "Manufacturers like Tongfang recognize the value of our brand and distribution reach," said China Electronics Chairman ...

Microsoft Apologizes to Fort Gay Gamer (PC Magazine)

PC Magazine - In 1932, for reasons that are apparently now entirely forgotten, Cassville, WV, changed its name to Fort Gay. Unfortunately for a resident there, Microsoft suspended an Xbox Live gamer after he listed the town as his location on the service, declaring it offensive.

Summary Box: Gamer from Fort Gay blocked by Xbox (AP)

AP - OOPS: Microsoft Corp. had to apologize to a small West Virginia town and a 26-year-old gamer after suspending him from its Xbox Live service for listing his location as Fort Gay — a name the company considered offensive.

Xbox blocks W.Va. gamer over town's name: Fort Gay (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. and the chief rules enforcer for Xbox Live are apologizing to a small West Virginia town and a 26-year-old gamer accused of violating the online gaming service's code of conduct by publicly declaring he's from Fort Gay — a name the company considered offensive.

Gamer suspended over name of W.Va. town: Fort Gay (AP)

AP - Microsoft Corp. and the chief rules enforcer for Xbox Live are apologizing to a small West Virginia town and a 26-year-old gamer accused of violating the online gaming service's code of conduct by publicly declaring he's from Fort Gay — a name the company considered offensive.

Review: 'R.U.S.E.' brings war strategy to consoles (AP)

AP - Video-game wars, like those in "Halo" or "Call of Duty," are usually seen from the grunt's-eye view.

Electronics collection/recycling event set

An electronics collection and recycling event sponsored by Shred Monster Inc., of Columbus, will be held from 4-6 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at the northwest corner of U.S. Highway 81 and 48th Avenue.

Microsoft to launch Kinect in Japan in November (AFP)

AFP - Microsoft's long-awaited Kinect motion-sensing system for the Xbox 360 videogame console will hit the Japanese market in November, the company said Wednesday, as competition in the sector heats up.

PlayStation Move Takes on Stuff, Stuff Shrugs (PC World)

PC World - It's silly season again, and I don't mean the upcoming midterms. Just the looming release of a bunch of new video game stuff, accompanied by crescendoing raves and jeers.

Microsoft Announces $400 Xbox 360 250GB Kinect Bundle (PC Magazine)

PC Magazine - Microsoft on Wednesday announced a new Kinect bundle that includes the Xbox 360 250GB and a Kinect game for $399.99.

Electronics Expo takes over landmark site in Wayne, but keeps a fountain

Electronics Expo has open the first electronics store in North Jersey to be designed for the 3D era.

Samsung Electronics Says China's 3 Mobile Carriers to Sell Galaxy S Phone

Samsung Electronics Co. will sell its Galaxy S smartphone in China through three Chinese mobile phone carriers. The phone will be offered by China Telecom Corp., China Mobile Ltd. and China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd., according to statement from Samsung today.

Electronics expo in the pipeline

The 2010 Electronics Manufacturing Exposition China Forum will be held in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Oct 21. The forum is organized by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and Suzhou International Expo Center.

Jack Thompson Tries to Block 'Medal of Honor' Game (PC Magazine)

PC Magazine - Jack Thompson, a disbarred lawyer who has vocally decried violence in video games, said he will try to stop the release of Electronic Arts' upcoming video game, "Medal of Honor Limited Edition". Thompson has sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urging him to stop the game's release.