The New York Times - Technology

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• White House Seeks to Clarify F.B.I. Powers vis-à-vis E-Mail
  The administration asked Congress to give the F.B.I. clear authority to obtain records related to the context of Internet-based communications without first getting a warrant.
  
  
  
  
• Justice Joins Suit Accusing Oracle of Fraud
  In a civil suit, the department said Oracle failed its contractual duty to give the government the same discounts it gave commercial customers.
  
  
  
  
• Gates Assails WikiLeaks Over Release of Reports
  The defense secretary said the breach had endangered lives and damaged the ability of others to trust the U.S.
  
  
  
  
• So You Don't Really Have to Say Goodbye
  An engineer turned stay-at-home mom came up with the idea of a pocket recorder on which you can record messages to send with your child on the school bus.
  
  
  
  
• Waiting for a Facebook I.P.O.? Keep Waiting
  For anyone chomping at the bit to get their hands on a piece of a public Facebook, the wait may have grown a little longer.
  
  
  
  
• App Smart Extra: Augmented Travel Guides
  WorkSnug Pro and MTrip are travel guide iPhone apps that use augmented reality to pull in more information.
  
  
  
  
• D.I.Y. Detroit: A Hands-On Approach to Fixing the Auto Industry
  TechShop, a chain of D.I.Y. clubs, plans to open a new shop in Detroit with Ford's help.
  
  
  
  
• The Way We Live Now: I Tweet, Therefore I Am
  Are Twitter posts an expression of who we are — or are they changing who we are?
  
  
  
  
• There's a Coaster for That App
  Three sets of iPhone Apps Coasters are now available to make your coffee table look like a giant iPad.
  
  
  
  
• Google Search Engine Is Blocked in China
  Google said it was the first time the site had been blocked since March.
  
  
  
  
• Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists Are Feeling Glum
  Confidence among venture capitalists in Silicon Valley weakened in the second quarter, according to a new industry report, as concerns over financing, the economy and new regulations added to an already tough working environment.
  
  
  
  
• Advertising: Barnes & Noble Plans Big Push for Nook E-Reader
  In-house boutiques are Barnes & Noble’s latest front in the battle with Amazon over their competing e-reader devices.
  
  
  
  
• Sony Leads a Comeback for Japan’s Electronics Giants
  Sony raised its forecast after swinging to a profit, and Sharp and Panasonic posted profits, too.
  
  
  
  
• Motorola’s Profit Beats Estimates
  Strong demand for a line of smartphones using Google’s Android operating system helped sales.
  
  
  
  
• Two Internet Gambling Operators, PartyGaming and Bwin, to Merge
  As governments in Europe and the United States relax the rules on online gambling, the companies anticipate the opening up of new markets.
  
  
  
  
• How Fast Can a Cloud Run?
  A new tool tracks the speed at which cloud services from Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com run, and then displays their worldwide performance.
  
  
  
  
• Bits Pics: Looking Inside Apple's New Trackpad
  The Web site ifixit took apart Apple's Magic Trackpad showing a detailed view of what is under the hood of this new mouse replacement.
  
  
  
  
• State of the Art: Nuance Tweaks Its Dictation Software, Wringing Out Errors
  The company Nuance offers a new version of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, proving that even near-monopolies like to tinker with their products.
  
  
  
  
• Congress Is Rethinking Its Ban on Internet Gambling
  Under pressure to find new revenue sources, Congress is reconsidering legalizing, and taxing, Internet gambling.
  
  
  
  
• Video Technology Added at New Meadowlands Stadium
  The New Meadowlands Stadium will give fans free smart-phone applications and enhanced video.
  
  
  
  
• Telefónica Wins Full Control of Brazil Phone Venture
  The $9.75 billion deal should end a dispute between Telefónica and Portugal Telecom over their joint cellphone operation in Brazil.
  
  
  
  
• Monitoring Elderly Parents
  New technologies can help adult children keep track of their aging parents.
  
  
  
  
• Kindle Cost Cut to $139 as Price War Begins
  Amazon.com, the maker of the Kindle e-reader, is introducing two new smaller, lighter versions with high-contrast screens and crisper text.
  
  
  
  
• Advertising: Fox Uses Previews to Give ‘Lone Star’ Wide Exposure
  A new television series will be seen by Vanity Fair readers, cruise line passengers, hotel guests and iPad owners before its network premiere.
  
  
  
  
• App Smart: Seeing the World Through Phone Apps Like Goggles and Layar
  The apps work best when analyzing bar codes, labels and other inanimate objects that are easily found in images on the Web.
  
  
  
  
• Learning a Language From an Expert on the Web
  The Internet is changing the way many people learn languages. Books, tapes and CDs are being replaced by e-mail, video chats and social networks.
  
  
  
  
• Corning’s Income Soars 49% on Strong Glass Sales
  Strong sales of its glass for flat-panel televisions, computers and mobile devices helped profit rise 49 percent in the second quarter.
  
  
  
  
• Sprint Nextel Reports Gain in Subscribers
  Despite the overall gain in customers, the wireless phone provider posted a quarterly loss because of tax issues.
  
  
  
  
• Multimedia E-Books, Adorned With Video Extras
  Like DVDs, electronic books for the iPad are now being loaded with extras, including video clips that are integrated with text.