- Mozilla released the latest version of its Firefox internet browser, warming up a battle between competing browsers that is dramatically increasing the speed with which web pages are viewed. The 3.5 version of the Firefox software was released to the public on Tuesday, with a capability of loading web pages more than twice as fast as its 3.0 predecessor, thanks to advances in JavaScript, the scripting language.
- The Chinese government backed away from its Wednesday deadline for new computers sold in the country to come equipped with Green Dam/Youth escort, an internet filter ostensibly aimed at pornography sites that also blocks users from reaching some Web pages devoted to politically sensitive topics. While authorities said they would continue to move forward with the initiative, computer companies were encouraged and said strong domestic opposition and international pressure might shelve the harsh controls for good.
- Global Gaming Factory, a Swedish software company, said it had agreed a $7.7m deal to buy The Pirate Bay, the free file-sharing website at the centre of a notorious court case. The four men running the website were sentenced to a year in jail and fines of $3.6m in April, after being sued by music and film companies for allowing people to illegally download copyrighted content.
- The chipmaker Broadcom has raised its hostile bid for Emulex by nearly 20 per cent, from $9.25 to $11 per share. It said this was the best offer it intended to make to shareholders and gave them till July 14 to respond. Emulex said its board was reviewing the offer.
- The stock market debut of software company LogMeIn became the latest tech IPO to win a strong following on Wall Street, as its shares were reported to have been priced at $16, the top end of the indicated range. The company, whose software for logging in to PCs remotely over the internet rivals Citrix, raised nearly $107m.
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