Google uses site ad to apologize for offensive image of Michelle Obama in image search results

Google apologizes for offensive first lady image

UN defends removal of poster critical of censorship in China at Internet conference

UN defends removal of China poster at Net event

US officials say 2 former Madoff computer programmers arrested for falsifying records

Ex-Madoff computer programmers arrested

NEW YORK — Two former computer programmers for Bernard Madoff’s investment firm were arrested Friday on charges they helped cover up the disgraced money manager’s massive fraud for more than 15 years.

Supreme Court considers what inventions are too abstract to be eligible for patent protection

High court considers what can qualify for a patent

If OK’d, new NJ panel would review, vote on development plans that impact Dismal Swamp area

NJ towns move to preserve area, limit developments

Court documents say slain NJ priest spoke about firing suspect over criminal background check

Records: Slain NJ priest discussed firing suspect

Los Angeles approves $7.2 million plan to tap Google for e-mail and other Web services

Los Angeles OKs plan to use Google Web services

Sun Microsystems slashing up to 3,000 jobs, 10 percent of staff, as it awaits Oracle takeover

SAN FRANCISCO — Sun Microsystems Inc. plans to eliminate up to 3,000 jobs, or 10 percent of its worldwide work force, as it awaits a takeover by Oracle Corp., a deal being held up by antitrust regulators in Europe.

PepsiCo’s iPhone app for Amp energy draws online ire for stereotyping women

MILWAUKEE — PepsiCo Inc. is facing criticism for an iPhone application that promises to help men “score” with two dozen stereotypes of women by giving users pickup lines and a scoreboard to keep track of their conquests.

Comcast tries pop-up alerts to warn Internet users of PC infections in possibly risky tactic

PHILADELPHIA — Comcast Corp. wants to enlist its customers in a fight against a huge problem for Internet providers — the armies of infected personal computers, known as “botnets,” that suck up bandwidth by sending spam and facilitating cybercrime.

AP, News Corp bosses tell search engines and bloggers that it is time to pay up

BEIJING — The message from some of the world’s leading news providers at the first Beijing international media summit was clear: It’s time to demand payment for online use of content.

Verizon Wireless, Google team up to develop new Android smart phones, tackle iPhone challenge

NEW YORK — Verizon Wireless and Google Inc. are teaming up to tackle the challenge posed by the iPhone, saying they will collaborate closely to create wireless devices that use Google’s software.

As US faces growing cyberthreats, everyday users must learn to block the digital doorways

WASHINGTON — When swine flu broke out, the government revved up a massive information campaign centered on three words: Wash your hands.

Cisco uses immense cash hoard to buy Norwegian video-conferencing firm Tandberg for $3 billion

NEW YORK — Cisco Systems Inc. tapped its immense cash hoard and announced a deal Thursday to buy Norway’s Tandberg ASA for $3 billion in a bid to dominate the global market for videoconferencing equipment.

Cisco agrees to buy Norwegian video-conferencing firm Tandberg for $3 billion

NEW YORK — Cisco Systems Inc. tapped its immense cash hoard and announced a deal Thursday to buy Norway’s Tandberg ASA for $3 billion in a bid to dominate the global market for videoconferencing equipment.

Review: 10 ways to save on calling costs, at home and on the go

NEW YORK — 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.

RI judge tosses $388 million patent infringement verdict against Microsoft

SEATTLE — 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.

InfoSpace names independent investor Braden Kelly to its board of directors

BELLEVUE, Wash. — InfoSpace Inc. said Monday it has named independent investor Braden Kelly to its board, bringing the total number of directors to nine.

Review: Google Voice enables cheap calling and texting, though it requires many keystrokes

LOS ANGELES — Google Inc. gives away a lot of good stuff for free.

Google China confident despite loss of former boss; Lee launches $115 million technology fund

BEIJING — The new managers of Google Inc.’s China arm expressed confidence Monday the business can grow despite the departure of the high-profile executive credited with expanding its share of the competitive Chinese market.

Calif. software mogul Tom Siebel broke ribs, legs in elephant attack during Tanzania safari

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Silicon Valley billionaire Tom Siebel says he’s recovering from broken ribs and legs after an elephant charged at him and a tour guide in the Serengeti a month ago.

The 4 projects developed by Singularity University’s first class of students

The four projects developed by students at Singularity University this summer:

Antitrust watchdog probing Google Italy after Italian newspaper publishers complain

ROME — Italy’s antitrust watchdog is investigating allegations by Italian newspapers that Google Italy is discriminating against newspapers that don’t want their content linked on Google’s news site by dropping them from its search engine.

Ownership of Unix copyright headed to trial; appellate court reverses Novell’s ownership

DENVER — The fate of ownership of the Unix computer operating system is heading to trial after a federal appeals court reversed a judge’s decision that granted the copyright to Novell Inc.

Homeland warns officials about fake e-mails coming from DHS intelligence division

WASHINGTON — Some e-mails purporting to be from the Homeland Security Department’s intelligence division were fake and contained malicious software.

Man charged with stealing 130M credit card numbers in record identity theft

WASHINGTON — A former government informant known online as “soupnazi” stole information from 130 million credit and debit card accounts in what federal prosecutors are calling the largest case of identity theft yet.

Australian charged with infecting 3,000 computers with virus that captures banking data

ADELAIDE, Australia — A 20-year-old Australian man has been charged with infecting more than 3,000 computers around the world with a virus designed to capture banking and credit card data, police said Thursday.

Texas judge OKs patent judgment against Microsoft, tells it to stop selling Word in 60 days

SEATTLE — A federal judge in Texas has ordered Microsoft Corp. to stop selling some versions of its Word software in the U.S. within two months.

Judge issues preliminary injunction barring RealNetworks from selling DVD copying technology

LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has barred RealNetworks Inc. from selling a device that allows consumers to copy DVDs to their computer hard drives, pending a full trial.