Microsoft Corp. has developed technology for people to pay by the hour to use a computer in their own homes, similar to the way many people use pre-paid cards for cell phones.

The technology, called FlexGo, will be used as part of efforts to sell computers to lower-income consumers in developing countries, where Microsoft is eager to find new money-making opportunities but is battling software piracy and other barriers.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Nike Inc. and Apple Computer Inc. have teamed up to try to become a runner's best friend. 
 
The two companies announced Tuesday they are jointly developing a wireless system so some Nike shoes embedded with a sensor can communicate with Apple's iPod Nano music player to track a runner's performance and help choreograph songs to the moment.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Consumer advocates have some advice for the 26.5 million veterans whose personal information was stolen from the home of a Veterans Affairs employee: Don't panic.
 
 Identity theft may be a growing problem that affected 9.3 million Americans last year, according to Javelin Strategy and Research. But consumer advocates say a few precautions can lessen the chances of becoming a victim, even for people whose personal information has been stolen.

There is a new worm making the rounds, targeting the popular Yahoo Messenger application with the purpose of hijacking PCs and installing malicious software on them. 
 
Experts at FaceTime Security Labs discovered the worm two weeks ago using a "honeypot" trap set up to monitor the activity of viruses, Trojans, and other malicious software. 
 

Days Before Giant Video Game Expo Sony Shows Off Playstation 3

Amid the building excitement over the upcoming Electronic Enterainment Expo which begins Wednesday, Sony announced today that the Playstation 3 will be hitting store shelves in the United States on Nov. 17, just in time for the busy holiday shopping season.

AOL, Startups Emerge to Challenge MySpace, Which Has Soared to Second-Busiest Site on Web

NEW YORK — It's only natural for companies large and small to want to capture some of the social-networking magic of MySpace.com, a Web site that has risen out of nowhere to become the Internet's second busiest by successfully figuring out what teens and young adults want.
 

In the past, Windows Media Player has been called both unwieldy and unattractive by reviewers and consumers alike.
 
However, the new version of the software, set to be rolled out in its first public beta tomorrow with the debut of MTV's new Urge music service, has many singing its praises.

SAN FRANCISCO - Computer software makers launched a crackdown on illegal Internet sales of their products Tuesday by suing suspected pirates who have set up shop on the popular online auction site eBay Inc.

Usually fierce rivals Symantec Corp. and McAfee Inc. teamed up to kick off the crusade by targeting five different eBay sellers in three lawsuits filed Monday in a Los Angeles federal court.

Yahoo Inc. Overhauls Home Page As Battle for Web Traffic Intensifies

SAN FRANCISCO— Yahoo Inc.'s Web site unveiled a new look Tuesday as the Internet powerhouse strives to remain the world's most popular online destination and strengthen its advertising appeal.

NEW YORK - New York's Central Park and a number of other public spaces will become public Internet hubs starting this summer when the city's parks begin offering free wireless net access, the city government said. 
 

NEW YORK - News Corp.'s MySpace.com will begin selling episodes of Fox's "24" next week as part of a plan to turn the popular teen Web site into a business rivaling Yahoo Inc. and Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes, according to the Wall Street Journal.

MySpace, one of the fastest growing Web properties, will begin selling episodes of the show "24" for $1.99 per episode from seasons one and five, the report said.

With More and More Video Surging Across Internet, Compression Could Help Allay Congestion

CONCORD, Mass.— With more and more video surging across the Internet not just to computers but also televisions and handheld devices, something that could relieve the congestion or improve the quality would be a huge breakthrough.

That is inspiring multiple efforts to chase a long-sought and often unachieved goal of better compression, the trick of shrinking a movie, song, picture or other large file so that it can be whisked over the Internet without anyone noticing a difference.

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood has been tiptoeing its way toward letting consumers buy a movie online, burn it onto a DVD and watch it on a living-room TV. While the studios hesitate, the adult film industry is taking the leap.

Starting Monday, Vivid Entertainment says it will sell its adult films through the online movie service CinemaNow, allowing buyers to burn DVDs that will play on any screen, not just a computer.

LONDON - Nokia Corp. is adding the Google Talk application to a Nokia handheld Internet browsing device, in a move that could help boost the search company's reach in mobile communications.

Finland-based Nokia on Tuesday plans to announce that an upgraded version of its Internet Tablet device will come ready loaded with Google Inc.'s Talk service, which enables users to have voice conversations and exchange instant messages, according to a person familiar with the plans.
 

Nokia to Add Google Talk Application to Handheld Internet Browsing Device

LONDON — Nokia Corp. is adding the Google Talk application to a Nokia handheld Internet browsing device, in a move that could help boost the search company's reach in mobile communications.

 

Study Finds Using Female Screen Name Is More Likely to Elicit Sexually Explicit Messages

BALTIMORE — Next time you chat online, think twice about your screen name. A new study finds that using a female screen name like Cathy, Melissa or Stephanie is more likely to elicit threatening and sexually explicit messages.

 

Toshiba Introduces First Laptop Capable of Playing Next-Generation, High-Definition DVDs

LOS ANGELES — Toshiba has introduced the first laptop capable of playing next-generation, high-definition DVDs.

The Qosmio G35-AV650 supports the HD DVD format, which Toshiba helped develop, and also plays standard DVDs. Its dual drive can write data onto both standard DVDs and dual-layer discs, which can store twice as much information.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - A former Google Inc. advertiser sued Wednesday to block a proposed $90 million class-action settlement, arguing the amount grossly understates how much the online search engine leader has benefited from a ruse known as "click fraud."

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes Music Store started selling Fox Entertainment Group's programs Tuesday, adding such TV shows as the hit series "24" and classic episodes of "Lost in Space" to its growing video portfolio.

The distribution deal with News Corp.'s Fox introduces 16 more series to the popular online store, representing the platform's largest programming debut from a single network. Apple, which already sells shows from ABC, CBS and NBC, now offers over 90 television shows from more than 20 networks.

LOS ANGELES - Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday announced a cross-platform gaming service that integrates games played on cell phones, Xbox 360 consoles and the upcoming Windows Vista operating system.

The "Live Anywhere" service will be available as part of Windows Vista, Microsoft's next-generation PC operating system. The consumer version is scheduled for release early next year.

Last night's announcement at E3 that Sony will charge $499 (20GB) and $599 (60GB) for the PlayStation 3 consoles triggered a collective freak-out among many bloggers who said that's just too expensive.

After all, those prices are significantly higher than Microsoft's Xbox 360, priced at $299 and $399.

In its attempt to level the playing field with Google, Yahoo is launching an updated version of its web search advertising system. 
 

Microsoft Announces New Service That Integrates Games Played on Cell Phones, Xbox 360 Consoles

LOS ANGELES - Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates on Tuesday announced a cross-platform gaming service that integrates games played on cell phones, Xbox 360 consoles and the upcoming Windows Vista operating system.
 

Hewlett-Packard Unveils Laptops With Spiffier Designs As Well As More Powerful Processors

SAN JOSE — Following in the footsteps of rivals, Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's second-largest computer maker, unveiled laptops with spiffier designs as well as more powerful processors.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Intel Corp. on Monday plans to unveil a single brand name for a new generation of chips for laptop PCs and desktop machines, calling them the Core 2 Duo.

The company is counting on the chips, which are based on a new design, to regain market share lost to several high-performing chips made by competitor Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Intel's new architecture, dubbed "Core," delivers two processors on a single chip, driving better performance while consuming less power.