Microsoft boosts dividend for first time in 2 years, returning more cash to shareholders

Microsoft raises dividend 23 percent to 16 cents

REDMOND, Wash. – Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday it is raising its quarterly dividend for the first time in two years in a move that will return more of the software maker’s nearly $37 billion cash hoard to its shareholders.
The increase signals Microsoft is feeling more confident that the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Microsoft boosts dividend for first time in 2 years, returning more cash to shareholders.

Summary Box: Top eBay e-commerce executive leaves, company to look outside for replacement

Summary Box: Top eBay e-commerce executive leaves

WHO’S LEAVING: Lorrie Norrington, president of eBay Marketplaces. The business is eBay’s largest and includes its namesake auction website and other e-commerce sites.
HER ROLES AT EBAY: Norrington started at eBay in 2005, when eBay bought Shopping.com, a comparison-shopping company that had just named her CEO. She was named president … Original source on Gaea Times at : Summary Box: Top eBay e-commerce executive leaves, company to look outside for replacement.

Internet marketer Webloyalty to pay $5.2 million to settle NY complaints about sales tactics

Internet marketer Webloyalty settles NY complaints

NEW YORK – An Internet marketing company has agreed to pay $5.2 million to settle complaints that it duped consumers into signing up for discount clubs with tough-to-notice monthly fees.
Webloyalty.com, based in Norwalk, Conn., also has agreed to give some of its customers refunds and permanently abandon some of its … Read more : Internet marketer Webloyalty to pay $5.2 million to settle NY complaints about sales tactics.

Carriers’ plans to introduce 4G wireless at a glance

The state of 4G wireless at a glance
This is a summary of how U.S. wireless carriers are dealing with the transition to fourth-generation, or 4G, network technology, which promises faster data speeds:

- Sprint Nextel Corp. subsidiary Clearwire Corp. already has a 4G network up and running, and Sprint started selling the first compatible phone this … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Carriers’ plans to introduce 4G wireless at a glance.

News Corp. digital exec Miller: MySpace’s dramatic October overhaul may turn some people off

Exec: MySpace redesign may lose users initially

LOS ANGELES – The MySpace redesign set to launch in mid-October may be so jarring that the social networking site could lose members at first.
That’s according to Jon Miller, the chief digital officer of MySpace parent company News Corp.
Miller says the overhaul marks a “full swing of the bat.” … Read : News Corp. digital exec Miller: MySpace’s dramatic October overhaul may turn some people off.

All over the map: AT&T selling satellite-enabled smart phone, for total coverage of the US

AT&T selling satellite-enabled smart phone

NEW YORK – AT&T Inc. has weathered plenty of complaints about spotty cell phone coverage. On Tuesday, it began selling its first phone that includes a backstop for AT&T’s own network, over a satellite. That means blanket coverage of the U.S., even in the wilderness or hundreds of miles offshore.
The new …. Source article  : All over the map: AT&T selling satellite-enabled smart phone, for total coverage of the US.

Federal Communications Commission to give schools more flexibility in using Internet subsidies

FCC to expand use of Internet subsidies in schools

WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission wants to get more bang from the federal dollars that subsidize Internet access in schools and libraries by lifting some of the restrictions that come with the funds.
The FCC plans to let schools open their doors to the public after hours …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Federal Communications Commission to give schools more flexibility in using Internet subsidies.

Adobe 3rd-quarter net income soars 69 percent but shares fall after outlook disappoints

Adobe 3Q net income soars, outlook disappoints

NEW YORK – Adobe Systems Inc. posted a 69 percent jump in quarterly net income Tuesday but its shares tumbled after the software company said its revenue in the current quarter would be less than what Wall Street expected.
Analysts cautioned investors not to read too much about the broader … Original source on Gaea Times at : Adobe 3rd-quarter net income soars 69 percent but shares fall after outlook disappoints.

Executive in charge of eBay’s largest division leaves, company to look outside for replacement

Top eBay e-commerce executive steps down
SAN FRANCISCO – One of eBay’s top executives is stepping down, leaving a void in the e-commerce company’s largest division, which includes the namesake auction website.

Lorrie Norrington, the president of eBay Marketplaces, is leaving for personal reasons, eBay Inc. said Tuesday. EBay said it will look outside the company for … Read more >>>.

Intel’s experiment: buy the PC, then pay a bit more to unleash its full power

Intel’s test: buy the PC, then pay for more speed

SAN FRANCISCO – What if you bought a house and were told there’s a secret rooftop deck you’ll have to pay extra to access? If you’re shopping for a personal computer this holiday season, you might get that kind of proposition from an unlikely source: Intel … Read more : Intel’s experiment: buy the PC, then pay a bit more to unleash its full power.

EU aims to comply with WTO ruling in dispute over monitors, cable boxes with US, Japan, Taiwan

EU aims to comply with WTO ruling on tech tariffs

GENEVA – The European Union signaled Tuesday that it was prepared to scrap tariffs on billions dollars (euros) worth of high-tech exports from the United States, Japan and Taiwan, which were ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization last month.
Brussels could have filed an appeal by …. Original article  : EU aims to comply with WTO ruling in dispute over monitors, cable boxes with US, Japan, Taiwan.

MetroPCS fires up cutting-edge 4G wireless network, beating Verizon Wireless

MetroPCS fires up cutting-edge wireless network

NEW YORK – MetroPCS Communications Inc., a regional cell phone company that mainly caters to low-income customers, on Tuesday became the first U.S. carrier to use a new network technology that provides faster data access and is expected to become the industry standard.
MetroPCS, which has 7.6 million subscribers, turned on … Read more »»».

US appeals court revives SEC insider-trading lawsuit against Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban

Court revives SEC’s lawsuit vs Mark Cuban
DALLAS – A federal appeals court revived the Securities and Exchange Commission’s insider-trading lawsuit against Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on Tuesday, saying it was “plausible” he knew he was not supposed to sell stock in a company to avoid a loss after receiving confidential information.

The case was sent … Read more : US appeals court revives SEC insider-trading lawsuit against Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Obama administration urges states, law enforcement to crack down on driver distraction

Summit calls for reduction in distracted driving

WASHINGTON – Making sure drivers keep their eyes on the road will require a network of tough laws, enforcement by police and personal responsibility, the government said Tuesday.
Obama administration officials said during a second summit on distracted driving that it had made progress in pushing states to target drivers …. Read the original article  : here.

17 Year Old Girl was Awarded $33,000 after Suing Her School for Searching Her Cell Phone

A schoolgirl at Northeast Pennsylvania who was initially suspended for keeping obscene pic in her cell phone, sued her school authorities for invading her privacy and has won $33000 in the landmark lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania settled the lawsuit and announced on Sept 15th that that the school authorities denied …. Original article  : 17 Year Old Girl was Awarded $33,000 after Suing Her School for Searching Her Cell Phone.

Nigeria: French oil giant Total warns proposed oil bill will hurt foreign investment

Nigeria: Total warns oil bill will hurt industry

LAGOS, Nigeria – The managing director for French oil major Total SA’s Nigerian operation says a proposed federal law to overhaul the nation’s oil industry will hurt foreign investment.
Managing director Guy Maurice said Tuesday that the possibility of lawmakers passing the Petroleum Industry Bill had slowed investment in … Read more »».

Want Kim Kardashian to follow you on Twitter? With charity auction, it can happen for a price

Charity auction lets you buy celeb Twitter friends

SAN FRANCISCO – If you’ve ever wished celebrities like actress Demi Moore or skateboarder Tony Hawk would follow you on short-messaging site Twitter, now’s your chance – but you’ll have to cough up some cash for the privilege.
EBay Inc. is hosting a charity auction called TwitChange, through which …. Read the original article  : Want Kim Kardashian to follow you on Twitter? With charity auction, it can happen for a price.

Electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors to open store in Paris next week

Tesla Motors to open store in Paris next week

NEW YORK – Tesla Motors Inc. will open a store in Paris next week in time for the city’s biannual motor show.
The electric vehicle maker said Tuesday that the store will serve customers in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“The Paris store provides an immediate, highly visible presence … Read more : Electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors to open store in Paris next week.

China launches first simulated cross-border air strike as part of Central Asian drills

China launches first cross-border air strike drill

BEIJING – China has launched its first-ever cross-border simulated air strike as part of joint drills with Russia, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian States, state media reported Tuesday.
Six Chinese planes, including four bombers and two fighter jets, crossed from China into Kazakhstan as part of the mock mission, Xinhua … Read more »».

Twitter hack opens popups, makes mischief for unwitting Web users

Twitter hack opens popups, causes havoc
NEW YORK – A new way to cause mischief is spreading through short-messaging service Twitter as mysterious “tweets” of blocked-out text propagate themselves and cause popup windows to open.

The hack spreading Tuesday morning is extra nefarious because the tweets activate without being clicked on – it’s enough for Web surfers …. Read the original article  : Twitter hack opens popups, makes mischief for unwitting Web users.