Editor’s Note: Related tickers: Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) (NYSE:PBR), China Mobile Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:CHL), NTT Docomo Inc (ADR) (NYSE:DCM)
Judge orders Apple to modify e-book contracts (DelawareOnline)
Looking to force Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to obey antitrust laws, a judge on Friday ordered the technology giant to modify contracts with publishers to prevent electronic book price fixing and said she will appoint an external compliance monitor to review the company’s antitrust policies and training. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote’s 17-page order came nearly two months after she concluded that Apple Inc. used the popularity of its iTunes store to conspire with publishers to raise e-book prices in 2010. Cote gave the Department of Justice less than it requested but still left it pleased.
U.S. spied on Google in Brazil and state oil company Petrobras (DailyMail)
The U.S. government tapped into computer networks of companies including Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) and Brazilian state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) (NYSE:PBR), according to leaked U.S. documents aired by Globo, Brazil’s biggest television network. A week after it broadcast a report that the U.S. National Security Agency spied on the presidents of Brazil and Mexico, Globo said the agency had also spied on major companies. It showed slides from an NSA presentation, dated May 2012, that it said was used to show new agents how to spy on private computer networks.
Microsoft’s Xbox music streaming service to launch on iOS, Android (LATimes)
Xbox Music, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)‘s entry into the ever-expanding music-streaming industry, will introduce applications for Android and iOS devices and allow free streaming on the Web, the company said Sunday. Microsoft launched Xbox Music about a year ago, and it’s currently available through Xbox 360 consoles, a Windows 8 app and a version that lets subscribers stream through Web browsers. A subscription to the service, which allows access to some 30 million songs, costs about $10 a month or $100 a year.
Samsung more timely than Apple in smartwatch race (Rep-AM)
Samsung unveiled its highly anticipated digital wristwatch Wednesday, beating Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to what could become this year’s must-have holiday gift item. So-called smartwatches, which can perform tasks such as displaying email and Twitter messages on a device worn around the wrist, have been around for several years but have failed so far to inspire great interest among ordinary consumers. But with smartphone behemoths Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) joining the fray and Google pushing its Google Glass gadget experts see a chance of wearable computers breaking into the mainstream.
Google Made New Offer to Settle EU Antitrust Probe, Almunia Says (BusinessWeek)
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) gave European Union regulators a new proposal to settle an almost three-year-old EU antitrust probe into the way it operates its search services. “We received new proposals from Google in the previous week,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in an interview with Bloomberg Television yesterday in Cernobbio, Italy. “If we are satisfied with the new proposals, we can advance toward an agreed solution in the coming months.” Google’s previous offer to label its branded search services and show links to rival specialized search services was rejected by Almunia in July. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) rivals, including Microsoft Corp. (MSFT:US), have urged the EU to seek tougher concessions from the Mountain View, California-based company.
Apple launches iRadio (CNBC)
