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Give Us Comments, Not Votes, Says Facebook December 05, 2012 Facebook has elaborated on the changes it wants to make to its Data Use Policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. This new explanation is in response to the user feedback it has received thus far on a proposal it made late last month. The crux of its proposed change is to scrap its user voting system and replace it with high-quality feedback instead.

Europe Joins Free Internet Chorus November 30, 2012 The European Union announced on Friday that it would oppose attempts to increase regulation of the Internet at a United Nations conference that will take place next week in Dubai. This move comes as some countries have called for tighter rules on Web service providers and phone operators. The International Telecommunication Union, an agency within the United Nations, is hosting the event.

AT&T's Wide-Lens View of the Wireless Industry November 30, 2012 Earlier this week, I attended the industry analyst meeting for AT&T Mobility in Atlanta, where the discussion encompassed where the company came from, where it is today, and where it is heading tomorrow. I found the content both valuable and enlightening for customers, investors -- and of course, analysts.

Shore Up Before the Next Disaster Strikes November 29, 2012 From time to time, we receive stark reminders of just how delicate our IT systems really are. Disaster preparation has risen to the top of the to-do list at many companies, thanks to the wrath of Hurricane Sandy several weeks ago. How can we maximize our chances of keeping communications open and data safe? I will present two relatively new ideas you should consider.

Fur Flies Over Autonomy's Alleged Cooked Books November 28, 2012 There's apparently little inclination to wait for the legal system to establish who wronged whom with respect to the allegations that Autonomy committed accounting sleight of hand prior to being acquired by HP. Both HP and the erstwhile head of Autonomy are making their claims and counterclaims public. Mike Lynch, founder of Autonomy, came out swinging in an open letter to HP's board of directors.

Google Stirs Up Resistance to UN Internet Regulation November 26, 2012 Google is adding its voice to a chorus of opposition to a proposal to update the International Telecommunication Union treaty in a way that could give governments more power to restrict the flow of information online. Next week, members of the ITU -- the UN organization that oversees international communication policy -- will gather in Dubai for the World Conference on International Telecommunications.

The Thanksgiving Holiday vs. Holiday Shopping Tug-of-War November 21, 2012 Stick a fork in the sacrosanctity of Thanksgiving -- it is done. A number of retailers, most famously Walmart, will be opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day, on the premise that they will be scooping up sales from consumers too eager to wait for Black Friday. Whether that is true or whether so-called Gray Thursday will cannibalize sales meant for Black Friday and Cyber Monday is yet to be determined.

Finding the Real Deals on Black Friday November 21, 2012 Take a laptop or smartphone in addition to blankets and chairs if you're looking for a spot in the tent cities springing up outside your local big box store this week. Smartphone-driven on-the-fly research is proving to make it easier this year to find Black Friday deals on TVs, tablets and other merchandise.

Brick-and-Mortar's Showrooming Scourge November 20, 2012 How can classic retail, the brick-and-mortar physical stores dotting our neighborhoods, compete with the likes of Amazon and Zappos? Can real-world retail survive e-commerce? And if it can, what's the trick? How do retailers intend to meet this growing threat? We're now seeing something insidious that threatens the very heart of brick-and-mortar retail: showrooming.

Walmart Employees Strike Over Scrooge-Like Policies as Black Friday Looms November 19, 2012 Some of Walmart's employees are taking aim at a major soft spot for any retailer: Black Friday, the most important shopping day of the year. A union-backed coalition called "Making Change at Wal-Mart" is organizing strikes this week, culminating on Friday, to protest the company's working conditions.

Senate Tosses Cybersecurity Ball to Obama's Court November 15, 2012 Well, that was fast. About 24 hours after Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would move to bring the once-failed Cybersecurity Act of 2012 to the Senate floor for a vote, its opponents shot it down again. Reid's procedural motion to move the bill forward was rejected 51-47 on Wednesday.

Microsoft's Sinofsky Episode: Reading Between the Lines November 15, 2012 The plot thickened in the Microsoft saga involving Steven Sinofsky as the former head of Windows took to the blogosphere to set the record straight on rumors he attempted to make a power grab. Among the questions now being debated is whether Sinofsky initiated discussions about merging the Windows and Windows Phone divisions.

Apple Stores Make Tidy Profits, but They Don't Need To November 15, 2012 As the news hits that -- yet again -- Apple retail stores produce far more sales per square foot than any other retailer, including Tiffany's, the piece I most often see missing is the most important: Apple's retail sales success is a side effect, not the goal.

Microsoft, Motorola FRAND Clash Goes to Trial November 14, 2012 A Microsoft lawsuit against Motorola Mobility went to trial on Tuesday in Judge James Robart's U.S. District Court of Western Washington's courtroom. The case is focused on allegations made two years ago by Microsoft that Motorola Mobility demanded unreasonable royalty rates for its patented wireless and video standards standards-essential technologies.

Speculation Sizzles Over Sinofsky's Sudden Bolt November 13, 2012 Microsoft said Monday that Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky will leave the company. Julie Larson-Green has been promoted to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering, and Tami Reller will assume responsibility for the business of Windows while retaining her role as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer.

AV Pioneer McAfee Covering Tracks in Murder Drama November 13, 2012 John McAfee, founder of the eponymous antivirus software company, is wanted in Belize in connection with the murder of American Gregory Faull. The San Pedro police department is said to be actively searching for McAfee, who has gone missing. This episode is focusing a very public spotlight on the downward, highly destructive spiral McAfee reportedly has been on for years.

Walmart to Crash Thanksgiving With Early Black Friday Deals November 10, 2012 Walmart is opening its doors on Thanksgiving Day at 8 p.m. local time. To persuade shoppers who may be digesting the biggest meal of the year to leave the comfort of their sofas, the retailer is offering door-busting specials at specific time slots. An HDTV for less than $400 is definitely a head-turning bargain, but is it enough to get shoppers to interrupt a family holiday?

FTC May Hobble Google's Motorola Patent-Defense Strategy November 02, 2012 U.S. Federal Trade Commission staff have recommended that Google should be sued for antitrust violations, and a majority of the agency's five commissioners appear inclined to do so, according to a report citing anonymous sources. The staff recommendations were made last month; however, they are not likely to be published until after the presidential election.

Dotcom Suits Up for Another Round in File-Sharing Wars November 01, 2012 Alleged digital pirate and German Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom on Thursday announced plans for Mega, a service that would replace his shut down file-sharing website Megaupload. The new Mega -- besides dropping a few letters form the name of the service -- will reportedly avoid any dealings with the United States.

Social Sites Encourage Political Punditry October 22, 2012 Social media has become a channel through which many Americans participate in politics. Sixty-six percent of social media users -- or 39 percent of all American adults -- have engaged in some form of civic or political activity via social media, suggests a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.