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Twitter: Porn pop-up problem fixed

The Twitter homepage on Sept. 3, 2010. Twitter came under attack today as hackers exploited a security flaw to wreak havoc on the microblogging service. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

Twitter has fixed a security flaw on its popular social media website after a cyber attack earlier on Tuesday sent some users to Japanese porn websites.

Twitter, which allows users to broadcast short messages of 140 characters or fewer, was flooded with tweets by users who complained on the homepage under such topic headings as ”Twitter got hacked.” Get the full story »

Ban on texting by haz-mat haulers proposed

Targeting distractions behind the wheel, the Obama administration proposed Tuesday to bar truck drivers from sending text messages while hauling hazardous materials.

The requirements would complement separate rules being finalized by the Transportation Department that prohibit commercial bus and truck drivers from sending text messages on the job and restrict train operators from using cell phones and mobile devices on duty. Get the full story »

Apple said to be developing a smaller iPad

From Bloomberg News | Analysts at Rodman & Renshaw say Apple is working on an iPad with a smaller, 7-inch screen to compete with the more compact tablet computers on the way from competitors. The current iPad has a 9.7-inch screen.

Verizon names McAdam COO, likely next CEO

Lowell C. McAdam. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Verizon Communications said on Monday it named Lowell McAdam its president and chief operating officer, setting the veteran executive up as the successor to Chief Executive Ivan Seidenberg.

McAdam, currently chief executive of Verizon Wireless, a venture of Verizon and Vodafone Group Plc, will take up his new role October 1. Get the full story »

Motorola scoops up location-based software firm

Motorola Inc. said Thursday it has acquired a company that develops location-based software for smartphone devices.

Terms of the deal with Aloqa GmbH, which has offices in Munich, Germany and Palo Alto, Calif., were not disclosed. Aloqa makes a mobile phone application that delivers content to a device based on where its owner is located. A person might receive discounts on local businesses or information about nearby events, Motorola said. Get the full story »

Playstation 3 to play 3-D movies, games

Sony’s PlayStation 3 game console will work as a Blu-ray disc player for 3-D movies and music videos, not just 3-D games, with a software update download starting Sept. 21.

The free-of-charge update for movies and other content had been promised for later this year. But the date is being moved up to ride on the momentum of 3-D popularity, Sony executive Hiroshi Kawano said at the Tokyo Game Show Thursday.

Internet Explorer 9 launched

A screen shot of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 9.

Microsoft Corp. released the latest version of its Web browser, saying that it would work at faster speeds, deliver better graphics and be less obtrusive to users.

Internet Explorer 9, unlike previous versions and many competing browsers, pushes itself into the background.

“People go to the Web for site, not the browser,” said Dean Hachamovitch, general manager for IE, at a press event in San Francisco. “Today Web sites are boxed in, the box is the browser.” Get the full story »

IBM to help small businesses compete for contracts

Tech giant IBM said Tuesday it will set up a website at supplier-connection.net early next year with a single, standard application for small companies to bid on contracts at AT&T Inc., Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., Pfizer Inc. and UPS Inc. That means small businesses won’t have to invest the time and money in preparing multiple bids.

Hershey in dispute over iPhone chocolate milk app

The Hershey Co. is asking a federal judge to decide whether its iPhone application to make virtual chocolate milk violates another company’s copyright. The Pennsylvania chocolate maker has filed a federal complaint asking for a judgment in its legal dispute with Las Vegas-based software developer Hottrix LLC. Get the full story »

Wal-Mart introduces branded wireless plan

Wal-Mart is introducing the first cell phone plan that uses the chain’s own branding, further demonstrating its clout in getting special deals from wireless carriers.

Apple to end free iPhone case program Sept. 30

Apple Inc. said on Friday it will end its free iPhone case giveaway at the end of September, saying the antenna problem was smaller than the company originally thought.

However, Apple said it wanted to continue to provide a free case to the “small percentage of iPhone 4 users” who need one.

Apple announced in July it would provide free iPhone 4 cases to those who requested one, after some users reported reception problems when they handled the smartphone in a certain way. Get the full story »

Report puts Android at No. 2 this year

Google Inc.’s Android software will become the world’s second most popular operating system for cell phones this year, leapfrogging offerings from Microsoft Corp., Research in Motion and Apple Inc., according to a new report.

By 2014 Android will account for nearly 30 percent of all cell-phone operating system sales, according to research firm Gartner, putting it in position to challenge Nokia Corp.’s Symbian,  the top mobile operating system for years. Get the full story »

Apple eases app restrictions; Adobe shares jump

Apple Inc. is easing restrictions for building iPhone and iPad applications, a move that should allow for the use of third-party tools such as Adobe Systems’ Flash software and could ease the tension between the two companies.

Shares of Adobe surged over 12 percent at mid-afternoon on Nasdaq Thursday, after Apple announced the changes.

Apple’s about-face follows a high-profile spat with Adobe last spring that saw Steve Jobs sharply criticize Flash technology. Get the full story »

AT&T puts $350M into Illinois wireless upgrades

AT&T said it has invested nearly $350 million in its wireless network in the first half of 2010 to improve customer service in Illinois.

It’s part of an capital investment of nearly $700 million in AT&T’s wireless and wireline networks in Illinois in the first six months of the year. Get the full story »

Sources: Justice Dept. probing Google deal with ITA

The U.S. Justice Department is looking into allegations that Google Inc’s  purchase of airline ticketing firm ITA Software Inc will cost rivals access to data they need to compete with the search giant as it moves into the travel market, sources familiar with the probe said. Get the full story »