Sesame Street's next chapter: Elmo talks back

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• Sesame Street's next chapter: Elmo talks back
• Yahoo closes $7.6 billion deal with Alibaba Group
• Free speech, religion clash over anti-Muslim film
• Researchers find link between BPA and obesity in children
• Russian asteroid crater revealed to be filled with over $1 quadrillion of diamonds
• Meet the World's First Gesture Control TV Box
• Free speech, religion clash over anti-Muslim film
• Messaging apps show mobile Internet's rise in Asia
• German watchdog warns of Internet Explorer breach
• Google goes low-tech to unleash Nigeria potential
• Three Android smartphone alternatives to rival the iPhone 5
• Tech lobbying powerhouse set to open doors in Washington
• Google ending its $25 gift card promotion for the Nexus 7 on September 30th
• Microsoft urges customers to download new security tool after discovering major IE9 vulnerability
• Calif. man arrested for ESPN post on killing kids
• Netflix iPhone app updated to make discovering new content even easier [video]
• ASUS aims high with Windows 8 tablet pricing
• Comcast begins testing data caps in two cities
• UK spy agency tests Britons' cyber skills
• Apple partner says new Maps app in iOS 6 is terrible [updated]
• Apple partner says new Maps app in iOS 6 is terrible
• Meet the World's First Gesture Control TV Box
• Apple closes above $700 for first time
• Hey, Sexy Sailors: Navy Cadets Do 'Gangnam Style' [VIDEO]
• Google Play adds 600 Fox movies and TV shows
• Why Did a Jobs Site Acquire a $20 Million Tech Aggregator?
• Sesame Street's next chapter: Elmo talks back
• Consumer groups to fight AT&T FaceTime restrictions
• Amazon to close fashion website endless.com
• Just the Cans That Soda Comes in Might Be Making Us Fat
• NFL Star Uses Facebook to Announce 'South Park' Appearance
• Three Android smartphone alternatives to rival the iPhone 5
• Apple computers top customer satisfaction survey
• iPhone 5 Impresses Early Reviewers: Review Roundup
• A look at how some IPO stocks have fared
• Microsoft slows dividend growth
• Microsoft working on original ‘interactive video’ programming for Xbox Live
• Prices of Facebook stock since long-awaited IPO
• New Twitter: How to Unite Your Avatar and Header Image [VIDEO]

Sesame Street's next chapter: Elmo talks back Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:18 PM PDT Elmo, Big Bird and the rest of the "Sesame Street" crew have always talked to kids. Now, they'll try to have a two-way conversation with their pint-sized audience using Kinect, the motion and voice-sensing controller created by Microsoft.

Yahoo closes $7.6 billion deal with Alibaba Group Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:21 PM PDT Yahoo has completed a long-awaited $7.6 billion deal with China's Alibaba Group, generating a windfall that could help ease the pain of Yahoo shareholders who have endured the company's foibles during the past few years.

Free speech, religion clash over anti-Muslim film Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:31 PM PDT While the man behind an anti-Islam movie that ignited violence across the Middle East would likely face swift punishment in his native Egypt for making the film, in America the government is in the thorny position of protecting his free speech rights and looking out for his safety even while condemning his message.

Researchers find link between BPA and obesity in children Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:34 PM PDT Obesity is a major topic of research these days, especially as it impacts children. The latest findings are that high levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in products from paper receipts to canned foods, may be related to … Continue reading →

Russian asteroid crater revealed to be filled with over $1 quadrillion of diamonds Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:30 PM PDT Call it the Soviet Union's most valuable cold war secret. This past weekend, Russia declassified the existence of what could very well be the richest diamond field in existence, located in the depths of a 62-mile diameter asteroid crater known … Continue reading →

Meet the World's First Gesture Control TV Box Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:05 PM PDT You've misplaced your remote before and have felt too lazy to get up in search of it. What if you could simply switch channels with a wave of your hand?

Free speech, religion clash over anti-Muslim film Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:31 PM PDT While the man behind an anti-Islam movie that ignited violence across the Middle East would likely face swift punishment in his native Egypt for making the film, in America the government is in the thorny position of protecting his free speech rights and looking out for his safety even while condemning his message.

Messaging apps show mobile Internet's rise in Asia Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:32 AM PDT A handful of smartphone apps that began as basic instant messaging services have amassed several hundred million users in Asia in just a couple of years, mounting a challenge to the popularity of online hangouts such as Facebook as they branch into games, e-commerce, celebrity news and other areas.

German watchdog warns of Internet Explorer breach Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:25 AM PDT The German government agency overseeing IT safety is warning of a security breach in Microsoft's Internet Explorer and recommending people use other browsers until the problem is fixed.

Google goes low-tech to unleash Nigeria potential Posted: 18 Sep 2012 10:07 AM PDT Despite all its cutting-edge technology, Google Inc. has turned to the humble text message to break into Nigeria's booming economy.

Three Android smartphone alternatives to rival the iPhone 5 Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:58 PM PDT Android and Apple don't get along, and their ongoing war for consumers gets heated this time of year when smartphone debuts become as synonymous with summertime as Hollywood blockbusters. Five years after the arrival of the very first iPhone, Apple has improved its flagship device. But that time also gave competitors time to catch up, and some pundits see the iPhone 5 as a clear sign that Apple is beginning to follow the leader instead of set the bar for design and functionality. But in the end, it's the consumer's opinion that matters. ...

Tech lobbying powerhouse set to open doors in Washington Posted: 18 Sep 2012 09:04 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google, Amazon.com, eBay, Facebook and other Internet companies have formed a lobbying group called The Internet Association to tackle regulatory and political issues in Washington, D.C., and it is due to kick off on Wednesday. It will lobby on issues such as allocation of visas for engineers and matters of privacy and piracy, said the group's president Michael Beckerman, a former advisor to Fred Upton, the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee. Other members include Expedia, LinkedIn, Monster Worldwide, Yahoo! and Zynga. ...

Google ending its $25 gift card promotion for the Nexus 7 on September 30th Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:30 PM PDT When Google (GOOG) launched the Nexus 7 tablet earlier this year, the company offered early adopters a $25 credit to its Play store along with each purchase. The Internet giant on Tuesday reminded users on Twitter that the promotion will run for a few more weeks until it expires on September 30th. The redeemed credit will be available for use on apps, books, movies, TV shows, magazines, games and music in the Play store until September 2013, at which time all remaining funds will be lost. The Nexus 7 is available directly from Google and select retailers in 8GB and 16GB models for $199 and $249, respectively. Read [Twitter] Read [Google Play]

Microsoft urges customers to download new security tool after discovering major IE9 vulnerability Posted: 18 Sep 2012 07:15 PM PDT Following the discovery of a security flaw that affects hundreds of millions of Internet Explorer users, Microsoft (MSFT) is now urging customers to download new security software as an interim measure until it can fix the problem. The software giant revealed late Monday that a newly discovered exploit in its Internet Explorer Web browser can enable an attacker to take control of a victim's computer. In an effort to buy time, Microsoft is now advising customers to download a security tool until the company can patch the bug. The software is known as the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit, or EMET, and is available for free on Microsoft's website. The company has also recommended that customers adjust various Windows security settings to

Calif. man arrested for ESPN post on killing kids Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:24 PM PDT A California man accused of posting comments on ESPN's website saying he was watching kids and wouldn't mind killing them was in jail Tuesday on $1 million bail after he was arrested for investigation of making terrorist threats, authorities said.

Netflix iPhone app updated to make discovering new content even easier [video] Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:10 PM PDT Netflix (NFLX) announced on Tuesday that its iPhone and iPod touch app received a major update that brings over its UI and experience from the company's tablet apps. Marketed as "more immersive" than the previous version, the new Netflix app features more titles and galleries on single screens and "personalized rows filled with movie and TV recommendations" to make finding new content and enjoying old favorites easier than ever. Other appreciated tweaks include a "browse menu" that reveals lists of smartly categorized genres galleries, universal search throughout the app and a new bar at the top of the screen that lets users continue watching where they left off. For a full walk-through of the guide, check out the video below with

ASUS aims high with Windows 8 tablet pricing Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:25 PM PDT Earlier this week, Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer announced the first pricing details for the company's Windows 8 tablet. The Surface tablet will sell for between $300 and $700-$800 depending on the features and operating system — Windows RT or Windows 8 Pro. Ballmer noted that Microsoft wasn't looking to compete with Google (GOOG) and Amazon (AMZN) in the low-price market, although other manufacturers may. According to an alleged product roadmap obtained by ZDNet, ASUS' (2357) tablets will be even more expensive than Microsoft's devices. The Taiwanese manufacturer is planning to launch three new Windows 8 tablets this holiday season for $599, $799 and $1,299, respectively. The cheapest of the three, the Vivo Tab RT, is equipped with a 10.1-inch

Comcast begins testing data caps in two cities Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:40 PM PDT The days of Comcast (CMCSA) customers living high on the hog with unlimited bandwidth are coming to an end. While the company briefly suspended its use of data caps earlier this spring, Ars Technica now reports that Comcast is testing out new bandwidth cap policies in Tuscon, Arizona and Nashville, Tennessee that start at 300GB per month. Ars says Comcast is experimenting with implementing a flat 300GB cap plan in Nashville while offering several plans than range from 300GB to 600GB in Tuscon. Comcast indicated that it intends to run trials of these plans for at least the next few months before it brings them to other markets. Read

UK spy agency tests Britons' cyber skills Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:10 PM PDT LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's largest spy service, losing cyber specialists to better-paying private employers, unveiled an online security competition open to all Britons on Wednesday to identify future espionage recruits and raise awareness of cyber attacks. The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) said those aged 16 or over and not already working in cyber security could apply to test their ability to guard a computer network but only 150 contestants at most would be eventually allowed to compete. ...

Apple partner says new Maps app in iOS 6 is terrible [updated] Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:05 PM PDT In the latest version of Apple's (AAPL) mobile operating system, the company has replaced Google Maps with its own service. Initial previews of the feature were critical and most agreed that Apple had a long way to go if it was looking to dethrone Google (GOOG). Business Insider spoke with Waze CEO Noam Bardin about the iPhone's new turn-by-turn directions, and the executive offered little praise. Waze, along with TomTom and some other companies, provides traffic information for the new mapping service, although Bardin's comments suggest that Apple is relying predominantly on TomTom. "Apple went out and partnered with the weakest player," he said. "They're now coming out with the lowest, weakest data set and they're competing against Google, which

Apple partner says new Maps app in iOS 6 is terrible Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:05 PM PDT In the latest version of Apple's (AAPL) mobile operating system, the company has replaced Google Maps with its own service. Initial previews of the feature were critical and most agreed that Apple had a long way to go if it was looking to dethrone Google (GOOG). Business Insider spoke with Waze CEO Noam Bardin about the iPhone's new turn-by-turn directions, and the executive offered little praise. Waze, along with TomTom and some other companies, provides traffic information for the new mapping service, although Bardin's comments suggest that Apple is relying predominantly on TomTom. "Apple went out and partnered with the weakest player," he said. "They're now coming out with the lowest, weakest data set and they're competing against Google, which

Meet the World's First Gesture Control TV Box Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:05 PM PDT You've misplaced your remote before and have felt too lazy to get up in search of it. What if you could simply switch channels with a wave of your hand?

Apple closes above $700 for first time Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:52 PM PDT Apple's stock closed above $700 for the first time on Tuesday, the day after it announced that orders for its iPhone 5 topped 2 million in the first 24 hours.

Hey, Sexy Sailors: Navy Cadets Do 'Gangnam Style' [VIDEO] Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:40 PM PDT So you thought "Gangnam Style" was over when K-pop star PSY popped up to perform it on the Today Show? Perhaps you felt it was played out once the song passed 100 million YouTube views, inspired a SNL spoof, or after it got mashed up with "Call Me Maybe"?

Google Play adds 600 Fox movies and TV shows Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:30 PM PDT Google's (GOOG) entertainment ecosystem for Android is about to get a big boost thanks to a new deal to bring additional movies and TV shows to the catalog. Google revealed on Thursday that its new partnership with Twentieth Century Fox will bring more than 600 movies and TV shows to Google Play in the U.S. Google was particularly proud to tout the fact that Google Play will get the high-definition release of Prometheus on Tuesday, three weeks before its release on Blu-ray, DVD and video-on-demand. "We're now working with all six of the major film studios and many independent studios to bring you the best new releases and your favorite classics to rent or own," wrote Jonathan Zepp, Manager of TV & Film

Why Did a Jobs Site Acquire a $20 Million Tech Aggregator? Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:21 PM PDT Dice, a site for job listings in the tech industry, has acquired tech news aggregator Slashdot and two other sites from Geeknet Inc. for $20 million in cash.

Sesame Street's next chapter: Elmo talks back Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:18 PM PDT Elmo, Big Bird and the rest of the "Sesame Street" crew have always talked to kids. Now, they'll try to have a two-way conversation with their pint-sized audience using Kinect, the motion and voice-sensing controller created by Microsoft.

Consumer groups to fight AT&T FaceTime restrictions Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:15 PM PDT NEW YORK (Reuters) - Three public interest groups plan to file a formal complaint accusing AT&T Inc of violating U.S. Internet rules if the wireless service provider goes ahead with a plan to limit use of Apple Inc's FaceTime application to certain customers. The groups -- Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute -- gave AT&T notice in a letter on Tuesday that they plan to file a formal complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, unless the No. 2 U.S. mobile provider changes its policy. ...

Amazon to close fashion website endless.com Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:13 PM PDT SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is closing its fashion website endless.com as the world's largest Internet retailer focuses on a new, upgraded apparel and accessories section of its main website. On September 27, endless.com will become part of Amazon.com/Fashion, according to a statement on the front page of endless.com on Tuesday. Endless.com was launched in 2007, specializing mainly in women's shoes and handbags. Starting next week, endless.com said customers will be able to buy shoes, handbags, jewelry and watches from more brands from Amazon's main website, along with apparel. ...

Just the Cans That Soda Comes in Might Be Making Us Fat Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:09 PM PDT Discovered: BPA causes concern; thin people often less healthy than fat peers; Neandertals accessorized with feathers; baby boys shouldn't be given pacifiers.

NFL Star Uses Facebook to Announce 'South Park' Appearance Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley found a fun way to share news of an upcoming South Park appearance with his fans late Monday night: He posted an image of his cartoon self hanging out with the show's main characters on Facebook.

Three Android smartphone alternatives to rival the iPhone 5 Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:58 PM PDT Android and Apple don't get along, and their ongoing war for consumers gets heated this time of year when smartphone debuts become as synonymous with summertime as Hollywood blockbusters. Five years after the arrival of the very first iPhone, Apple has improved its flagship device. But that time also gave competitors time to catch up, and some pundits see the iPhone 5 as a clear sign that Apple is beginning to follow the leader instead of set the bar for design and functionality. But in the end, it's the consumer's opinion that matters. ...

Apple computers top customer satisfaction survey Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:55 PM PDT Well look at that… it's another consumer survey showing that Apple (AAPL) customers are the most satisfied by a significant margin. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index has released its latest survey of personal computer users and has found that Apple customers are more satisfied than any other PC customers, as they rated their experience with Apple computers at an 86 on a 100-point scale. For perspective, consider that Dell (DELL) was the only other PC manufacturer to even score above 80 in the survey as HP (HPQ), Acer and Toshiba (TOSBF) all scored 79 or below. [Via 9to5Mac] Read

iPhone 5 Impresses Early Reviewers: Review Roundup Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:33 PM PDT The iPhone 5 is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 21. A few lucky reviewers, however, have already gotten the chance to spend a few days with the device and craft their reviews of the latest-generation of the iconic smartphone.

A look at how some IPO stocks have fared Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Facebook's public debut was the most anticipated tech IPO since Google went public in August 2004. But the stock has lost much of its value since it began trading in mid-May.

Microsoft slows dividend growth Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:29 PM PDT SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp raised its dividend by 15 percent on Tuesday, marking a slowdown in the growth in payouts to investors after a year marked by a downturn in computer sales and a large write-off for a failed acquisition. The world's largest software company said it will start paying shareholders 23 cents per share each quarter from December, up from 20 cents. That is the seventh increase since it started paying a regular quarterly dividend in 2004, but is smaller than the 25 percent and 23 percent increases the two previous years. ...

Microsoft working on original ‘interactive video’ programming for Xbox Live Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:20 PM PDT With 40 million users on Xbox Live, Microsoft (MSFT) is reportedly preparing to create original video programming to be distributed on the Xbox 360, according to a report from The New York Times.  The report states that Microsoft has hired ex-CBS TV executive Nancy Tellem to "oversee a Microsoft production studio based in Los Angeles that will create both traditional 'linear' programming and interactive programming that fuses video and gamelike content." It's not immediately clear what the latter would be like, but something along 1 vs. 100 comes to mind. It's also possible "video and gamelike content" could be referring to the company's upcoming SmartGlass initiative that will use tablets and smartphones as secondary screens alongside TV content. As it stands now, Xbox Live only delivers videos

Prices of Facebook stock since long-awaited IPO Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:19 PM PDT Facebook's stock has been down on 48 trading days, up on 35 and unchanged on two since its initial public offering.

New Twitter: How to Unite Your Avatar and Header Image [VIDEO] Posted: 18 Sep 2012 02:11 PM PDT [More from Mashable: What Twitter's New Apps Mean For Developers]

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