Microsoft puts its 'signature' on PCs

The "Microsoft Signature" PCs that are being sold at Microsoft's retail and online stores contain a bunch of extra Windows Live software, but also feature something rarely found on a PC--a clean desktop.
(Credit: Microsoft)

Although Microsoft isn't making its own PCs, the software maker is taking an active role in customizing just what goes on the computers it sells through its online and retail stores.

In its new role as PC retailer, Microsoft is loading computers with

Facebook awarded $711 million in spam lawsuit

Facebook was awarded $711 million in a judgment Thursday against self-described "spam king" Sanford Wallace.

Judge Jeremy Fogel of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California granted Facebook's application for a default judgment against Wallace for violating the Can-Spam Act, which bans "false and misleading" marketing e-mails.

Intel seeks new 'microserver' standard

SAN FRANCISCO--In September, Intel introduced its back-to-the-future idea of tiny "microservers." Now the company wants to make the design into a standard others can use, too.

The chipmaker will offer its design specification to the Server System Infrastructure Forum by the end of the year, said Jason Waxman,

Yahoo, Microsoft need more time to ink pact

Why would anything between Microsoft and Yahoo go quickly?

After months of awkward teenage romance, the two companies finally announced that they had reached a deal in July.

However, the two sides are apparently still working out the terms of what they agreed to in the "binding letter agreement" reached in July. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, Yahoo said it and Microsoft need more time to iron out a definitive accord.

Bank Trojan botnet targets Facebook users

On the heels of one fake Facebook e-mail scam, a researcher warned on Wednesday of another such campaign in which users of the popular social network are being tricked into revealing their passwords and downloading a Trojan that steals financial data.

Amazon PayPhrase Tries to Make Paying Online Easier

Amazon.com is trying to take some pain out of the process of buying stuff online. I’m not sure that the new service it is introducing tonight, PayPhrase, accomplishes that, but it may be an important building block for the future of Amazon’s fledgling subsidiary, Amazon Payments.

Operator of ‘Private’ Web Sales Is Acquired

The idea of holding private sales of premium merchandise on the Web suddenly seems to be in vogue.
GSI Commerce, which manages the Web sites for major retailers like Toys “R” Us and Zales, announced on Tuesday that it was buying Retail Convergence, operator of the Web site Rue La La, in a deal valued at as much as $350 million.

Google releases Android 2.0 SDK

As Verizon Wireless prepares to unveil its new Motorola Droid smartphone tomorrow, Google today released the SDK for the much-anticipated 2.0 update to the operating system. Code-named Eclair, Android 2.0 offers a number of feature improvements and interface tweaks. As expected, we will get multitouch support (yay!), but Google has some surprises up its sleeve. Here are the highlights that users should see.

Google Voice ‘Lite’ — No New Number Required

Google Voice, the Swiss Army knife telecommunications service that unifies multiple phone lines, transcribes voice mails, blocks telemarketers, makes cheap phone calls and more, has gotten plenty of buzz. But signing up for Google Voice comes with a hefty price: It requires people to get a new phone number.

Now Google is hoping to lure more

Droid or Not, Verizon Still Wants the iPhone

It seems that Ivan Seidenberg thinks Steve Jobs has a thick skin.

Even though the wireless unit of Verizon Communications started an aggressive ad campaign for its new Droid handset that directly challenges the iPhone, Mr. Seidenberg, Verizon’s chief executive, said he would be delighted to sell Apple’s smartphone.

“We obviously would be interested at any point in the future that they would be interested in having us as a partner,” Mr. Seidenberg said in a conference call Monday to discuss Verizon’s third-quarter earnings. “This is a decision that is exclusively in Apple’s court.”

Makers of Online Games in China Look Overseas

SHANGHAI — Armed with cash from recent listings, Chinese online game makers are gearing up to play in Western markets, challenging the industry’s leaders, Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard, on their home turf.

Having prospered at home, companies like Changyou and Shanda Games want to join China’s export machine by sending their wares abroad.