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Internet news, in-depth analysis, trends and more

Google abandons big, black drop-down menu

Google has begun replacing the chunky, black drop-down menu of services it launched in November as part of an effort to integrate Google+ across its whole platform.
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Iran blocks access to some outside websites, services

The Iranian government has severed some citizens' connections to secure websites and services, including Twitter and Google's Gmail, according to reports by Iranians and network experts.

FCC map: Large areas lack mobile broadband

Large portions of the western half of the U.S. do not have access to 3G or faster mobile broadband service, according to a new map released by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.

Most social net users are kind, Pew survey finds

A majority of U.S. social networking users say their fellow users mostly kind, and that the sites make them feel good about themselves.

Business owner sentenced for E-Rate fraud

The former owner of two Illinois technology companies was sentenced to 30 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to defraud a U.S. Federal Communications Commission program to help schools and libraries in poor areas connect to the Internet, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Website operator pleads guilty to terrorist threats

The founder of several Muslim jihad websites has pleaded guilty to three charges related to making online threats, including threatening the writers of the television show "South Park," the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Oracle buying Taleo for $1.9B in direct hit at SAP

Oracle is buying cloud-based talent management and employee recruitment software vendor Taleo for roughly $1.9 billion, the company announced Thursday. The move comes shortly after SAP's move to acquire SuccessFactors, a close competitor of Taleo, for $3.4 billion in a deal that has yet to close.

Google's GDrive Reportedly To Launch As Dropbox-rival 'Drive'

Google's long-rumored GDrive that would let you upload and store files to its servers and be able to access them from anywhere you have an Internet connection may finally be close to launching in the coming weeks as a more cheaply priced Dropbox rival.

Web-based counseling -- Telepsychiatry -- is taking off

Telemedicine has been around since the 1990s, but psychiatrists say it's increasingly used to treat remote patients as technology and security improves, and prices drop.

EPIC sues FTC over Google privacy plan

The Electronic Privacy Information Center has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission to force the agency to take action against Google over planned changes in collecting personal data.

The timeline's time has come

Facebook's Timeline feature will soon be imposed on all the social network's users. Columnist Mike Elgan expects to see an increased use of timeline-like interfaces in all kinds of applications because they work the way people think -- and people like them.

Use Facebook Timeline to Promote Your Business

Facebook is beginning to push out its new Timeline layout to all 850 million user profiles this week. Business pages on Facebook aren't affected (at least not yet), but your company can take advantage of this shift.

Flexing NoSQL: MongoDB in review

MongoDB shines with broad programming language support, SQL-like queries, and out-of-the-box scaling

5 ways to secure your Facebook profile in a post-Timeline world

The new Timeline layout introduces some changes that may mean you're suddenly sharing more than you should. Here's how to lock down Facebook without going overboard.

Image gallery: 5 online backup services keep your data safe

Backing up can be easier if you send your data to the cloud. We look at 5 of the most well-known online backup services to see how they compare.

5 online backup services keep your data safe

Backing up can be easier if you send your data to the cloud. We look at five of the best-known online backup services to see how they compare.

Social makes the Super Bowl more super

The Super Bowl has always been a social event. What's different now is that social media and the Internet have turned geography and proximity into nonfactors.

Send Faxes From the Web: Three Services Tested

Though you might be tempted to ditch your office fax machine, you probably have to send out at least a few faxes every year. Windows lets you fax from the OS itself; but it requires you to use a landline that your small business may not want tied up, and it lacks security and mobile features that your business may need.

Ira Winkler: Is Google evil? The jury is out

Google's changes to its privacy policy should have been expected. It's what any corporation intent on maximizing value would do. But does that make it right?

Software That Does It All

A computer is only as useful as the software you run on it, so you should keep your PC's software current--and not necessarily with the latest version of a program that's getting long in the tooth. Sometimes, switching to a new application can help you speed up your work or make your system more efficient.