Top technology news headlines

• 

  Where clean tech
  and coal meet

  GreatPoint Energy is one of few green-tech start-ups with "steel in the ground," testing a method for turning coal into cleaner-burning natural gas.
  • Photos: Inside GreatPoint

  Read full story
• 

  Microsoft's search must begin in Redmond

  After five years and hundreds of millions of dollars, the software maker still hasn't convinced its own employees to be big users of its search product.

  Read full story

• Microsoft to start pushing IE 8 browser

  The software maker says those who are running older versions of Internet Explorer and have Windows' automatic-update feature on will start getting the browser update next week.

  (Posted in Beyond Binary by Ina Fried)

• Report: Carriers 'pass' on forthcoming Dell handset

  An industry analyst says Dell's handset will be sold by retailers, since many carriers have shown little interest in the features to be included in the upcoming hinted-about phone.
  • VC Breyer named to Dell board
  • Palm, Sprint to launch Pre early as May?
  • Dell faces hurdles in luxury laptop push

  (Posted in Crave by Erica Ogg)

• Study: Camera market slump to hit SLRs, too

  Since most people in the market already have a compact camera, sales growth of SLRs has looked relatively good. Now the recession is having an effect, IDC says.

  (Posted in Underexposed by Stephen Shankland)

• OpenSecrets lets users download data for free

  The Center for Responsive Politics is making its archives of campaign financing data available for users to download for free.

  (Posted in Politics and Law by Stephanie Condon)

• Parsing the nuances of Windows 7 decisions

  Survey shows that 84 percent of IT pros don't plan to upgrade to Windows 7 in the next year, but it pays to take a closer look at the numbers.

  (Posted in Microsoft by Larry Dignan)

• Yahoo shares up on news of Microsoft ad deal talks

  Stock is up nearly 8 percent in morning trading, following reports that the struggling Internet search pioneer is in preliminary talks for an advertising agreement with its former suitor.
  • Microsoft, Discovery in online-advertising deal

  (Posted in Digital Media by Dawn Kawamoto)

• A123Systems receives $69 million from GE, others

  Clean-tech company gets an investment from General Electric and other investors as it seeks to expand its lithium ion battery operations.

  (Posted in Green Tech by Dawn Kawamoto)

• Analyst: Apple ordered flash for 32GB iPhone

  Apple reportedly places a sizable order with Samsung for 8Gb and 16Gb NAND flash chips, with the majority of the chips expected to be applied toward building a new smartphone model.

  (Posted in Apple by Dawn Kawamoto)

• Is the U.S. communications network secure?

  AT&T's recent service outage in California has some people wondering just how secure the U.S. communications infrastructure is.

  (Posted in Wireless by Marguerite Reardon)

• The YouTube presidency

  Having recognized the power of the Google site during the presidential campaign, Obama now maintains a staff devoted to new media.
  (From The New York Times)

• Google opens update software to scrutiny

  By releasing the Google Update software as open-source software, Google opens to allay concerns about what, exactly, the program is up to when it phones home.

  (Posted in Business Tech by Stephen Shankland)

• Hyperlocal news stepping up to the plate?

  Ultrafocused local news sites have been around for quite some time now. But, as a New York Times story highlights, they may be in for their moment in the sun as newspapers falter.
  • Mandate for papers, advertisers: Innovate or die

  (Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)

• Microsoft, Discovery in online-advertising deal

  Discovery Channel show "Deadliest Catch" will be promoted in a one-day campaign spanning Microsoft's Web, mobile, and video game businesses.
  (From Reuters)

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