|
AP Technology NewsBrief at 5:15 p.m. EDT
(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dramatized ads weave plot lines around productLOS ANGELES (AP) _ In television's latest quest to discourage viewers from skipping ads, actors from NBC and ABC shows are appearing in character in commercials to interact with products in parallel story lines. This new kind of commercial further blurs the line between program and advertisement and comes as traditional product placements within shows, an early response to fast-forwarding, have become common.
Review: 10 ways to save on calling costsNEW YORK (AP) _ The cost of making phone calls has been dropping rapidly in the last few years. If you want take full advantage of that, you'll need to try some new things, because the phone companies aren't going to thrust savings on you. Here are 10 tips on how to cut the cost of your phone service. ___
Work begins on national e-health record networkKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) _ Dr. James E. Sanders is a big believer of switching patient records from old paper files to sophisticated computer databases. The electronic medical records system at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Kansas City Medical Center gives Sanders and his staff almost immediate access to medical histories, allowing them to seamlessly treat veterans from other states. But when patients aren't in the VA's system, it could mean hours or days before doctors have crucial information to properly care for patients.
US to share Internet review amid worldwide growthNEW YORK (AP) _ As Internet use expands worldwide, the United States said Wednesday it will give other governments and the private sector a greater oversight role in an organization whose decisions affect how computers relay traffic such as e-mail and Twitter posts. The move comes after European regulators and other critics have said the U.S. government could wield too much influence over a system used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Those critics have complained, among other things, about the slow rollout of Internet addresses in languages other than English.
Sirius XM passing $2 royalty fees to subscribersListeners of Sirius XM Radio Inc. are getting $2 fees added to their monthly satellite radio bills, in what's effectively a price increase for consumers. Sirius XM, whose talk show celebrities include Howard Stern, is passing along performance royalty fees paid to singers, musicians and recording companies.
Govt calls distracted driving an 'epidemic'WASHINGTON (AP) _ Driving while distracted is a growing peril in a nation reluctant to put down its cell phones and handheld devices even behind the wheel, the Obama administration declared on Wednesday. Officials said Congress and the public must team up to reduce the danger. Opening a two-day meeting to find ways to reduce drivers' use of mobile devices, the Transportation Department reported that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million were injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction. That includes drivers talking on cell phones and texting.
T-Mobile to sell Motorola Android phone Oct. 19NEW YORK (AP) _ T-Mobile USA plans to start selling the first phone from Motorola that uses Google's software on Oct. 19. The Motorola Cliq will cost $200 with a two-year contract, T-Mobile said. Buyers who aren't already T-Mobile customers will have to wait until Nov. 2.
AT&T to sell satellite phone from TerreStarNEW YORK (AP) _ AT&T Inc. plans to sell a satellite phone from TerreStar Corp. that can place calls even in the deep wilderness or at sea, the carrier said Wednesday. The TerreStar Genus phone, due in the first quarter of next year, will have all the features of a standard "smart" phone, including a touch screen, "QWERTY" keyboard, and the ability to use AT&T's ground-based wireless network. But it also will be able to connect to a TerreStar satellite for service in parts of North America where the cellular network doesn't reach, or when cell towers have been knocked out by disasters like hurricanes.
RI judge tosses patent verdict against MicrosoftSEATTLE (AP) _ A federal judge in Rhode Island threw out a $388 million patent infringement jury verdict against Microsoft Corp., the latest move in a six-year legal skirmish. In April, a jury found that the world's largest software maker had infringed on a patent owned by Uniloc Inc.
YouTube says Warner Music videos back in monthsLOS ANGELES (AP) _ YouTube said Tuesday that music videos from Warner Music Group Corp. will return to the video site in the coming months after a nine-month dispute over splitting ad revenue. Most of the catalog of videos from artists such as Madonna, Metallica and Green Day will be available for free viewing by the end of the year.
(c) 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
[ InfoTech Spotlight's Homepage ]
|
