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NYT > Technology, 9:09:25 AM.

Hewlett-Packard Acquires E.D.S.. The $13.9 billion deal for Electronic Data Systems will make H.P. the second-largest player behind I.B.M., and is H.P.’s largest acquisition since it acquired Compaq.

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 9:09:20 AM.

Finally! Movies on my PC the same day they're on DVD.. Apple's deal with major entertainment studios shortens the wait to download movies.

At MIT, low-tech inventions with a high impact. The school's basement D-Lab exports simple solutions to the developing world.

Apple Hot News, 9:09:11 AM.

HBO programming now available on iTunes. HBO and Apple today announced that customers can now purchase and download critically acclaimed HBO shows ╉ including such Emmy Award-winning programs as The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Deadwood, and Rome ╉ from iTunes. ╲Weâ•˙re very excited to make these legendary HBO programs available on the iTunes Store,╡ said Henry McGee, president of HBO Video.

Apple Executives to Showcase OS X Development Platforms at WWDC. On Monday, June 9, a team of Apple executives led by CEO Steve Jobs will kick off the companyâ•˙s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) with a keynote address, Apple today announced. The keynote showcases two revolutionary development platforms: Mac OS X Leopard and OS X iPhone, the worldâ•˙s most advanced mobile operating system.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 9:09:02 AM.

Blu-ray interactivity enlivens 'Sleeping Beauty' (USATODAY.com). USATODAY.com - Disney wants to awaken sales of the Blu-ray Disc format, and the studio knows it'll take more than a kiss to get the job done. In October, Disney will release its first animated classic on the high-definition video format, Sleeping Beauty, with high-tech viewing options not possible with DVD.

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 8:09:08 AM.

Taking the fire out of farming in Africa. Organic methods, distinct from traditional 'slash and burn' agriculture, holds hope of curbing deforestation and boosting food security

A 10-year timeout for global warming, study says. The German research effort is one of the first to attempt 10-year climate forecasts.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 7:09:26 AM.

Pioneer to End Plasma Display Production (PC World). PC World - Japan's Pioneer plans to end production of plasma display panels as part of a restructuring program to return its operations...

Microsoft Eyes 40 Percent of Smartphone Market by 2012 (PC World). PC World - Microsoft is aiming to capture 40 percent of the smartphone market with Windows Mobile by the year 2012, an executive said...

Microsoft Faces Another Interoperability Complaint in Europe (PC World). PC World - Microsoft's reluctance to make its Office suite interoperable with competing products has prompted a British government agency...

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 7:09:24 AM.

Finally! Movies on my PC the same day they're on DVD.. Apple's deal with major entertainment studios shortens the wait to download movies.

At MIT, low-tech inventions with a high impact. The school's basement D-Lab exports simple solutions to the developing world.

BBC News | Technology | UK Edition, 7:09:10 AM.

Virtual telescope opens night sky. Microsoft launches a free tool that allows amateur star-gazers to explore the universe from their computers.

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 5:09:17 AM.

Taking the fire out of farming in Africa. Organic methods, distinct from traditional 'slash and burn' agriculture, holds hope of curbing deforestation and boosting food security

A 10-year timeout for global warming, study says. The German research effort is one of the first to attempt 10-year climate forecasts.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 4:09:17 AM.

Microsoft to bring back Visual Basic in Office for Mac (Macworld.com). Macworld.com - Microsoft on Tuesday announced it would restore support for Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to Microsoft Office for Mac, a direct result of complaints from users about the removal of the suite's cross-platform automation functionality.

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 4:09:13 AM.

Finally! Movies on my PC the same day they're on DVD.. Apple's deal with major entertainment studios shortens the wait to download movies.

At MIT, low-tech inventions with a high impact. The school's basement D-Lab exports simple solutions to the developing world.

Technology Review Feed - Tech Review Top Stories, 1:09:25 AM.

Smoothing Out Nano Edges. A new method melts away tiny defects in nanostructures.

Next-Generation Diagnostics. A startup can detect tiny traces of cancer markers in blood samples.

Returning to the Moon. New technologies on NASA's next lunar spacecraft will collect information to make human exploration safer.

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 1:09:20 AM.

Taking the fire out of farming in Africa. Organic methods, distinct from traditional 'slash and burn' agriculture, holds hope of curbing deforestation and boosting food security

A 10-year timeout for global warming, study says. The German research effort is one of the first to attempt 10-year climate forecasts.

BBC News | Technology | UK Edition, 1:09:12 AM.

Google helps the web to go social. The search giant Google is the latest company to launch a service aimed at making the web more social.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 1:09:09 AM.

Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope blasts off (AP). AP - Microsoft Corp. launched its WorldWide Telescope late Monday, bringing the free Web-based program for zooming around the universe to a broad audience.

Today in Literature, 12:09:18 AM.

Chasing Bruce Chatwin. On this day in 1940 Bruce Chatwin was born. With five genre-bending books in a dozen years (and two posthumous collections of prose pieces), Chatwin is regarded by some as one of the most important writers in the last part of the twentieth century. Many who knew him describe a compelling and enigmatic personality, one "easily lost in a din of bright lights and colours, incessant chatter and a crowded address book where Jackie Onassis is listed next to an Oryx herder.

NYT > Technology, 12:09:18 AM.

HBO Shows May Sell on iTunes for $1.99+. The higher pricing for some HBO shows is a departure for Apple which for years has insisted on standard pricing for digital downloads, at $1.99.

Gates Foundation Names New Chief. A Microsoft executive has been named the new chief executive of the largest foundation in the world, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Bits: Google Wants to Help Web Sites Make New Friends. Google Friend Connect lets small Web sites offer social networking features by tapping into the existing systems run by AOL, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and others.

Losses at XM and Sirius as They Pursue a Merger. Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, the pay radio stations that are seeking to merge, both reported solid gains in subscribers on Monday although both also posted quarterly losses.

Charter Lowers Quarterly Loss. Charter Communications, the cable TV provider, said Monday it narrowed its first-quarter loss on a 13 percent increase in average revenue per user and a rise in subscribers.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 12:09:08 AM.

Google offers to imbue all websites with social networking (AFP).

AFP - Google has set out to enable all websites, free of charge, to be imbued with common social networking features as the Internet evolves toward becoming a giant community along the lines of MySpace or Facebook.

Microsoft software gives free tours of space (Reuters). Reuters - Any Star Trek fan knows that space travel is not always easy, but Microsoft Corp wants to make traveling the "final frontier" as simple as turning on your computer.

Online network puts health front and center (Reuters). Reuters - NBC Universal said Monday that it is forming the Digital Health Network, a group of Web sites that will distribute health-focused videos produced by the network.

Nokia Phone Maps Will Get Webbed Feet (PC World). PC World - Nokia is extending its mobile navigation system to the Web via its Ovi.com site, where people will be able to save map...

Wired: Science, 10:09:49 PM.

New Spider Species Named After Neil Young. Fandom takes many forms, and some are truly creepy. An East Carolina University biologist names a species of trapdoor spider after his favorite rock star.

McCain Breaks From Bush on Climate Change, Calls for Mandatory Caps. Sen. John McCain throws his support behind the idea of placing mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. He calls for the United States to lower its emissions to "at least 60 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050."

May 13, 1637: Cardinal Richelieu Makes His Point.

1637: Perhaps weary of watching dinner guests picking their teeth with the points of their daggers, Cardinal Richelieu orders the blades of his dinnerware to be ground down and rounded off. Et voilà, the modern dinner knife is born.

Prior to Richelieu's flash of inspiration (or simple revulsion at bad manners), diners typically used hunting daggers to spear their morsels, which were then conveyed to the mouth by hand or with the help of a spoon. The fork, the implement that really revolutionized chowing down, had existed since biblical times. Despite its utility, however, the fork remained a relative rarity in the West until the 17th century, even among the French royals that Richelieu served with unswerving devotion.

Richelieu's knives became the rage among the court and soon everyone who was anyone in France had a set. The dinner knife became commonplace throughout France after Louis XIV -- who, like most kings, had his own reasons for not wanting sharp blades and pointed tips around -- decreed its universality. Soon afterward, the dinner knife found its way throughout continental Europe to England and, eventually, the American colonies.

It's fitting that the table knife helped refine table manners at the French court. If the French didn't invent good manners (and they didn't: the ancient Egyptians instituted a code of behavior during the Fifth Dynasty), they at least gave the world étiquette, the five-franc word that's synonymous with refined behavior.

Cardinal Richelieu, of course, was more than a simple cutler. As Louis XIII's chief minister, he was no stranger to using sharp implements to influence geopolitical events.

His policies transformed France into a powerful state, bringing it into direct conflict with the House of Hapsburg and the Holy Roman emperors. Allying Catholic France with the Protestant Swedes in the Thirty Years' War, Richelieu looked on as sword-wielding mercenaries laid waste the tiny neighboring German states, helping fuel the grudges that set the stage for modern European history.

(Source: Various)

David Byrne Converts Building Into Giant Instrument. Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne turns New York City's Battery Maritime Building into a full-size musical installation that will empower visitors to make music off the building itself.

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse. Your earthquake preparedness kit is well-stocked, but are you ready for a zombie apocalypse? Make sure you have what it takes to repel an undead army should one appear on your doorstep. Follow our guide and submit your own tips on Wired's How-To Wiki.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 9:10:57 PM.

HP in talks to buy EDS, for reported $12B to $13B (AP).

AP - Hewlett-Packard Co. is negotiating to buy technology services provider Electronic Data Systems Corp. in a deal that could help the world's largest personal computer maker snap up more data management and consulting contracts.

HBO seen selling shows on Apple's iTunes (Reuters).

Reuters - Time Warner Inc's HBO cable network is expected to start selling shows on Apple Inc's iTunes digital entertainment service, with flexible pricing, sources familiar with the discussions said on Monday.

Disney to create lab to test ads for ABC, ESPN (AP). AP - Will people remember three-second video ads on their mobile phones? Do high-definition commercials on big screens get people's hearts racing more than other pitches? Is the sports ticker crawl distracting or does it add value to the 30-second TV spot?

RIM's 'Bold' Assault On Upgraded iPhone Adds 3G, GPS, Tunes (Investor's Business Daily). Investor's Business Daily - Shares of Research In Motion hit an all-time high on Monday as the company unveiled a new cell phone it hopes will dissuade business customers from buying Apple's upgraded iPhone.

SOA Software buys LogicLibrary (InfoWorld). InfoWorld - Matching up critical components in the SOA space, SOA Software, which provides SOA governance automation, said Monday it has acquired SOA repository and governance vendor LogicLibrary.

HP in talks to buy EDS to compete with IBM (Reuters).

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co is in talks to buy technology outsourcing company Electronic Data Systems Corp for $12 billion to $13 billion in a deal which would vault it to a close second to IBM in technology services.

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 9:09:34 PM.

Finally! Movies on my PC the same day they're on DVD.. Apple's deal with major entertainment studios shortens the wait to download movies.

At MIT, low-tech inventions with a high impact. The school's basement D-Lab exports simple solutions to the developing world.

Taking the fire out of farming in Africa. Organic methods, distinct from traditional 'slash and burn' agriculture, holds hope of curbing deforestation and boosting food security

A 10-year timeout for global warming, study says. The German research effort is one of the first to attempt 10-year climate forecasts.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 8:09:34 PM.

Chile probes data theft and posting by hacker (AP). AP - A prosecutor was appointed Monday to investigate how a computer hacker accessed government data for 6 million Chileans and posted it to the Internet.

Sun to Clarify JavaFX Open-source Plan Later This Year (PC World). PC World - While Sun executives have said that JavaFX, the company's nascent rich Internet application (RIA) development product family...

Microsoft readies service packs for dev tools (InfoWorld). InfoWorld - Microsoft released Monday beta versions of separate service packs for the Visual Studio 2008 software development platform and the accompanying .Net Framework 3.5, a Microsoft official said in a blog.

Wired: Science, 7:11:06 PM.

International Hackers Indicted for Sniffing Credit Cards from Dave & Buster's. Three alleged hackers have been indicted in the United States and are accused of siphoning credit card information from customers at a national restaurant chain, Dave and Buster's. The data was purloined as the customers paid for their meals. One of the accused had millions of of stolen credit card numbers in his possession, most unrelated to the restaurant chain, when arrested in July.

Wind Could Power 20 Percent of U.S. Grid by 2030. A new 248-page report from the Department of Energy suggests that, with the right conditions, wind could power 20 percent of U.S. homes, businesses and factories by 2030.

PC World Editor to Step Down, Start Own Venture. PC World editor in chief Harry McCracken announced his resignation in a blog post today. After June 2, he will be starting a new product reviews site, McCracken told Wired.com's Epicenter blog.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 7:10:25 PM.

Dish Network's 1Q profit up 65 pct amid slowdown (AP). AP - Dish Network reported a 65 percent increase in first-quarter net income even though new subscribers to its satellite TV service plunged.

HBO seen selling shows on Apple's iTunes: sources (Reuters).

Reuters - Time Warner Inc's HBO cable network is expected to start selling shows on Apple Inc's iTunes digital entertainment service, with flexible pricing, sources familiar with the discussions said on Monday.

Three Charged in Dave & Buster's Hacking Job (PC World). PC World - It may not have been the greatest hack ever, but police say the malicious software sneaked onto restaurant chain Dave &...

Christian Science Monitor | UNKNOWN, 6:10:53 PM.

More signs of trouble for corn. A sluggish spring could mean a disappointing harvest on top of already-high corn prices.

Now it's easier to play green. Parents who want nontoxic toys for their kids are finding more choices.

Wired: Science, 6:09:51 PM.

Apple: iPhone Sold Out Online in U.S., Britain. Online stores are bereft of inventory, Apple says, a sure sign that stocks are being reduced ahead of the launch of the next-generation iPhone.

Renault Will Bring EVs to America -- By Way of Israel. Renault joins Silicon Valley startup Project Better Place in unveiling the car that may electrify Israel's vehicle fleet. It's just the start. The French automaker promises to bring EVs to the United States by 2010.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 6:09:37 PM.

Google Friend Connect Turns Web Sites Into Social Networks (NewsFactor). NewsFactor - Social networks provide powerful mechanisms for connecting people and information, but their benefits are limited to those who sign up with one service or another. For example, a Facebook user can't use her content or friends on LinkedIn or any other network.

Clear Channel in settlement talks, trial delayed (Reuters).

Reuters - Talks are underway to settle a dispute over financing the $20 billion leveraged buyout of U.S. radio operator Clear Channel Communications Inc, the company said in a statement on Monday.

Windows XP SP3 Woes Especially Affect AMD Systems (NewsFactor). NewsFactor - Users who thought the Windows XP operating system would be more reliable than its younger sibling Vista are being buffeted by reports that the latest update for XP, Service Pack 3, has its own problems.

HP in talks to buy EDS to compete with IBM (Reuters).

Reuters - Hewlett-Packard Co is in talks to buy technology outsourcing company Electronic Data Systems Corp for $12 billion to $13 billion, seeking to better compete with the top computer services company, IBM.

'Boom Blox,' 'Echochrome' offer pure fun (AP). AP - For hardcore gamers, controlling a video-game character is second nature. You use one joystick to run, use another stick to look around, press the right trigger to shoot and use various buttons to open doors, take cover or talk to other characters.

BBC News | Technology | UK Edition, 5:10:27 PM.

EDS shares up on HP buyout report. Shares in EDS rise by 28% on reports that it is close to being taken over by Hewlett-Packard.

Wired: Science, 5:10:13 PM.

Wired.com's WiiWare Launch Guide. Wondering what WiiWare to buy? Read Wired.com's full impressions of all the titles that launched with Nintendo's new games-on-demand service.

Bot Bartenders Sling Drinks at Roboexotica USA. : Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Aficionados of alcohol and androids alike celebrated the first stateside gathering of cocktail-serving robots this weekend at Roboexotica.

Patrons delighted in drink-making droids that ranged from a fire-spewing drink warmer, a fully automated mind-reading mixologist and a shot-pouring conveyor belt built entirely from Legos.

"You have liquor, fire and robots," said Johannes Grentfurthner, Roboexotica organizer and member of art collective monochrom in Austria. "How could we go wrong?"

The annual gathering of booze-pouring robots is usually held in Vienna, Austria. To celebrate its approaching 10-year anniversary, organizers threw a San Francisco satellite event.

Though the U.S. event was slightly smaller than its Viennese counterpart, the barbots landed with a booze-fueled bang.

Left: Artists, engineers and automatons gathered in downtown San Francisco on Saturday night for a high-tech brand of mixology. Crafted for fun as much as function, barbots kept serving at the booze-fueled bash as long as partygoers could ask for another: Roboexotica's bartenders don't have a clock-out time. : Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

Robogames founder David Calkins eyes his homespun creation, a bartending bot named Chapek as he whips up a martini. Designed to prepare and serve four different cocktails, Chapek is equally famous for delivering cheeky one-liners and having a drinking problem. During one demonstration, instead of serving a bar patron a freshly mixed cocktail, Chapek malfunctioned and downed it himself. "He's a greedy bastard," Calkins said.

For partygoers who've overindulged, the Breathalyzer Genie was on hand to dole out handy advice like "Switch to fancy water," and "Did you bring your skates?" Kinetic artist Chris Palmer let us in on a little secret: The bot is a Breathalyzer in name only. "It doesn't actually measure blood-alcohol count," he revealed. Tipsy patrons rest their drink in the genie's hand, blow into the machine's nose, triggering the machine to dispense a fortune. Palmer elected to forgo practicality in favor of fun: "There were too many sanitation issues," he said.

Once you have your drink in hand, it's time to make a toast. That's where Daniel Fabry's "cheersing" machine comes it. Fabry, a monochrom member and media teacher in Austria, spliced together 20 clips of actors toasting from well-known films like The Shining and Once Upon a Time in America. The computer is outfitted with a special theremin, so as guests lift their glass toward the screen, the activity sets the looped footage in motion, and the actors onscreen lift their glasses.

Simon Davalos brought El Espanol Borracho to serve Spanish coffee, a potent mixture of Kahlua, coffee and high-proof alcohol like Bacardi 151 Proof Rum. After pumping the liquors into a mug, the machine ignites a high-pressure stream of fuel, engulfing the cup in fire for several seconds. "It packs a bit of a punch," Davalos said as the contraption blazed a steady stream of fire. Her contraption warmed the cocktail before serving.

Bay Area-based videogame designer Anthony Fudd displays his Shot Bot, a fully automated system that serves shots of sake and vodka. Select your spirit and the machine pumps out the liquor into a Dixie cup before sending it down a conveyor belt. Made entirely from Legos and operated using the geeky toy company's Mindstorm software, the Shot Bot can also sling any two-ingredient drink. Though Fudd was having problems getting the conveyor belt to function properly, the crowd didn't seem to mind: The automated shot-pouring feature worked without a hitch.

: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

Not all of the bots at Roboexotica serve booze -- some, like the Alcotron, just facilitate the drinking process. A modified version of Russian roulette, partygoers pick a color to bet on, and set the electronic wheel in motion. Depending on where the spinner lands, patrons either get their drinks free, half-priced or at an inflated rate.

Can't decide what you'd like to drink? The Mind-Reading Martini Maker will do the work for you. The neurofeedback machine collects EEG brain scans and mixes drinks based on the output. The more Alpha brainwaves the machine reads, the drier the martini. And the drinks are neither shaken nor stirred: The contraption filters gin through a sieve of ice to cool the booze. Roboexotica organizer and Shifz member Magnus Wurzer operates the setup while Melissa Steele sits in as a test subject.

Chassis, an automated keg on wheels, zoomed around the show, serving thirsty patrons beer throughout the night. Controlled by a wireless remote, Chassis also cracked jokes, insulted and flirted with guests -- thanks to a mic setup. Monochron member Daniel Fabry gets a fresh refill of Sierra Nevada from Chassis, as the bot's sculptor, Al Honig, looks on.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 5:09:07 PM.

Google joins effort to make more Web sites more sociable (AP). AP - The effort to make it easier for Web surfers to connect with their friends is attracting a crowd.

Sprint affiliate sues to block Clearwire deal (AP). AP - An affiliate of Sprint Nextel Corp., iPCS Inc., said Monday it is seeking to block Sprint from forming a wireless broadband company with Clearwire Corp.

Webcam, Remote Access Nab Mac Laptop Thieves (NewsFactor). NewsFactor - A webcam and Apple's .Mac subscription service resulted in the arrest of two thieves and the recovery of Kait Dupalga's Mac laptop. Dupalga, an employee at the Apple Store in White Plains, N.Y., lost her Mac when thieves broke into an apartment she shares with two roommates. The thieves took the computer along with televisions, DVDs, iPods, a box of liquor, and even a set of car rims.

Sprint Nextel 1Q deficit widens, fewer subscribers (AP). AP - Sprint Nextel Corp.'s Dan Hesse had little good news to share Monday on the eve of addressing his first shareholder meeting as chief executive of the troubled wireless carrier.

Next generation of business software could get more fun (AP). AP - Once upon a time, people bonded with their co-workers on office softball teams and traded gossip at the watercooler.

Despite Grand Theft Auto, Nintendo Leads Game Sales (NewsFactor). NewsFactor - With all the hubbub over Grand Theft Auto IV, the video-game world is anxious to learn how the blockbuster game really impacted industry sales. NPD Group's monthly sales data is expected later this week, but some analysts have issued predictions ahead of the curve.

Apple Hot News, 4:09:45 PM.

Quick Tip of the Week: Taking advantage of .Mac Sync. Using .Mac sync in Mac OS X Leopard, you can synchronize most of your personal data ╉ including contacts, bookmarks, iCal events, Dock items, Dashboard widgets and more ╉ among the multiple Macs you use at work and home. In fact, .Mac Sync even lets you add your iPhone to the mix. Find out how by watching the latest Quick Tip of the Week.

The Chronicle: Wired Campus Blog, 4:09:41 PM.

ABC News to Open 5 University News Bureaus.

ABC News will open five on-campus, multimedia news bureaus in the fall.

How a Lawsuit Over Electronic Reserves Could Affect Colleges.

Laura N. Gassaway, a law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who thinks a lawsuit against Georgia State University’s electronic reserve system has implications for other colleges.

NYT > Technology, 4:09:39 PM.

H.P. Said to Be Close to Buying E.D.S.. H.P. is close to a deal to acquire Electronic Data Systems Corporation, the operator of corporate computer systems, for $12 billion to $13 billion, according to people with knowledge of the talks.

Bits: Why Yelp Works. Jeremy Stoppelman, Yelp’s chief executive, said the Web site has catered to the small group of people who made reviewing a hobby and also saw it as a way to make new friends.

Wired: Science, 4:09:18 PM.

Researchers Create First Genetically Modified Human Embryo. Researchers at Cornell University genetically modified a human embryo in a "proof of concept" experiment in 2007, a British paper is reporting. The experiment prompts questions about what sorts of genetic modifications scientists can ethically undertake.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 4:09:13 PM.

Report: HP nearing deal to buy EDS for $12B to $13B (AP). AP - Personal computer and printer maker Hewlett-Packard reportedly is nearing a deal to buy information technology services provider Electronic Data Systems for between $12 billion and $13 billion.

Apple to launch iPhone in four Asian regions (Reuters).

Reuters - Apple Inc has signed deals to bring the iPhone to four Asian countries later this year, which should help the company surpass its sales goal of 10 million units by the end of 2008.

Wired: Science, 3:09:50 PM.

Air Force Colonel Wants to Build a Military Botnet. The U.S. military ponders creating its own zombie army to flood enemies with junk packets. Can Air Force phishing attacks and 4-19 scams be far behind?

Free Music Studio Means No More Excuses. Hobnox is offering a deep audio tool that really ought to get you off Guitar Hero and turn you into a Guitar Hero. It's a little bit techie, and it's written in Java, but there really isn't anything out there like it. So, now that the recording studio price is zero dollars, will that get you off the couch?

NYT > Technology, 3:09:15 PM.

Gates Foundation Names New Chief Executive. Jeff Raikes, formerly president of the Microsoft Corporation’s business division, will replace Patty Stonesifer, another former Microsoft executive.

The Lede: Text Messaging vs. Space Transmissions. A space scientist has concluded that sending a text message costs at least four times as much as transmitting scientific data from the Hubble telescope.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 3:09:09 PM.

MIT students show power of open cell phone systems (AP).

AP - What do you want your cell phone to be able to do?

Apple: iPhone sold out in US, UK (AP). AP - Apple Inc. says its online stores in the U.S. and U.K. are sold out of the iPhone, a sign supplies are being winnowed ahead of the launch of the device's next generation that will feature faster Internet surfing speeds.

NYT > Technology, 2:09:18 PM.

Sprint Nextel Posts Loss and Offers Gloomy Outlook. The wireless carrier said that its lackluster performance would continue in the coming quarters as it fights to keep customers and struggles with a merger that has not lived up to its promise.

Yahoo! News: Technology News, 2:09:06 PM.

AMD Introduces Energy-Efficient Server Chips (NewsFactor). NewsFactor - Advanced Micro Devices has taken the wraps off its first energy-efficient x86 server chips featuring four processing cores and a low 55-watt thermal envelope. The five new Opteron HE processors for blade and rack systems are all targeted at the enterprise data center, noted Randy Allen, AMD's server and workstation division manager.

Gates Foundation to announce new CEO at 10 a.m. PT (AP). AP - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest charitable foundation, plans to announce its new CEO on Monday.

HBO seen selling shows on Apple's iTunes: source (Reuters). Reuters - Time Warner Inc's HBO cable network is expected to start selling shows on Apple Inc's iTunes digital entertainment service, with flexible pricing, a source familiar with the discussions said on Monday.

Sprint's loss widens, sees slow improvement (Reuters).

Reuters - Sprint Nextel Corp , the No. 3 U.S. wireless service provider, said on Monday it may seek changes to its credit agreements, raising questions about how long it will take to turn around the business.

Social-networking sites work to turn users into profits (USATODAY.com). USATODAY.com - SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook, MySpace and other social-networking sites have been the rage of the tech industry for more than a year. Following investments by Microsoft and News Corp., the companies are valued in the billions of dollars and are considered blueprints for how to build a website. Yet a deeper question lingers: How are they going to consistently produce profits to match their soaring valuations?

Wired: Science, 1:09:26 PM.

Source: Apple, HBO Content Deal Imminent.

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Apple is close to announcing it has signed a deal to sell HBO programs and movies on the iTunes website, according to HBO employees involved in executing the agreement.

The deal marks the first time that Apple has agreed to a separate price structure for a content provider, one of the employees said.

The HBO insiders said that the new service would be launched and announced simultaneously, most likely in a week or two.

Details of the agreement are not yet known, but it is clear that HBO was able to secure better terms from Apple than other content providers, they said.

One possibility is that HBO programming will have a higher retail price than the flat $1.99 fee Apple currently charges for video content; another is that HBO will receive a larger cut of the same flat rate than other iTunes content providers receive.

Apple and HBO spokespeople did not return calls for comment on the deal.

NBC pulled its programming from iTunes last summer after Apple refused to charge more than $1.99 for that network's shows. In May, NBC struck a deal with Microsoft to sell its shows on the Zune website.

The HBO-Apple agreement is a strategic coup for both companies. Apple is trying to increase sales and awareness of its new Apple TV, a device that allows viewers to rent movies and buy content from your television. HBO wants to profit from its archive by letting fans buy old episodes of shows like Deadwood and The Larry Sanders Show.

The terms of this new deal could open a Pandora's box for iTunes. With the advent of pricing variation, movie studios and musicians will want to charge more for their big hits. Apple could be pressured to accept variable pricing for other content, a change it has resisted in the past.

HBO started an online download service earlier this year. It lets HBO subscribers watch 400 hours of programming a month and stream HBO's main channel. The service, called HBO on Broadband, is currently being tested in Wisconsin and will soon spread to other markets.

The deal with Apple is a more dramatic move for HBO, since the broadband service only allows current HBO subscribers to access the content. Selling through iTunes would let HBO tap everyone else.

In the past, HBO has been notoriously slow to offer content through new media, and the deal with Apple is a result of pressure from HBO's parent company, Time Warner, according to HBO employees.

Jeff Bewkes took over as Time Warner C.E.O. from Dick Parsons late last year.

"We should have done this a long time ago," said an HBO insider.

NYT > Technology, 1:09:18 PM.

New BlackBerry Doubles Screen Resolution. R.I.M. introduced its first major new BlackBerry model in more than a year: the Bold, a high-end model that further demonstrates the company’s desire to make tools for both work and play.