Tech news from around the web:
Facebook is planning to launch its long-anticipated music service next month with Spotify, MOG and Rdio as three of the company’s partners, Mashable reports. Even though users will be able to listen to music on Facebook.com, the social network will not directly host or stream any of the music, relying instead on its partners to provide the content. Read more
Android patent war hurts Gemalto
The disruption suffered by companies in the recent spate of technology patent wars became apparent last week when Gemalto, the French smartcard company, revealed a €13.5m shortfall in its patents revenue, following a dispute with makers of Android smartphones.
The Paris-based company launched a suit against Google, Motorola, HTC and Samsung last October, alledging that they had used Gemalto’s smartcard technology in Android devices without a licence. Read more
Tim Cook reassures Apple employees
This internal email was sent by Tim Cook to all Apple employees early on Thursday morning, reassuring them that the company “is not going to change”.
Below is the full text of the e-mail:
Team:
I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.
Tech news from around the web:
A group of some 27,000 South Koreans is suing Apple for $26m for what they claim are privacy violations from the collection of iPhone user location information, AP reports in The Washington Post. Each person in the suit is seeking Won1m ($932) in damages from Apple and its South Korean unit to “protect privacy” rights. Read more
Icann CEO Beckstrom to step down
Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers chief executive Rod Beckstrom said late on Tuesday that he would leave the most central job in internet governance when his contract expires in July. Read more
FCC probing San Francisco wireless shutdown
The US Federal Communications Commission said on Monday it was investigating a controversial decision by a San Francisco regional transit authority to shut down wireless phone transmissions last week. Read more
No charges for blogger over Apple prototype
California authorities said on Thursday that they won’t file criminal charges against a Gawker Media technology blogger who paid $5,000 last year for what turned out to be an Apple employee’s test version of the iPhone 4. Read more
I felt a bit of a simpleton for loving the kickstand on the HTC Evo 4G more than many of its far more sophisticated features, but such love is more justified with the new Motorola Photon.
You see, rather than just propping up the device to watch video on an airline tray table, this 4G Android smartphone has an “intelligent” kickstand, which means it can do rather more.
Tech news from around the web:
Google’s Android operating system now claims the largest share of the US consumer smartphone market with 39 per cent, according to June figures from market researchers Nielsen. Apple’s iOS is in second place with 28 per cent, while RIM Blackberry is at 20 per cent. Apple, however, is the top smartphone manufacturer in the US. HTC, meanwhile, holds a 14 per cent share of the market. Read more
Majority of South Koreans’ data exposed
South Korean regulators said they are investigating the most massive loss of user data ever in the most wired country on earth. Read more
| About this blog | Blog guide |
Richard Waters has headed the FT's San Francisco bureau since 2002 and covers Google and Microsoft, among other things. A former New York bureau chief for the FT, he is intrigued by Silicon Valley's unique financial and business culture, and is looking forward to covering his second Tech Bust.
Chris Nuttall has been online and messing around with computers for more than 20 years and since 2004 has reported from the FT's San Francisco bureau on semiconductors, video games, consumer electronics and all things interwebby.
Maija Palmer has been writing about technology for the FT since 1999 and is fascinated by cybercrime, privacy and all the other issues of the information society. Based in London, she covers European tech companies and hopes that they won't all get acquired by American rivals.
Robin Kwong is the FT's technology, media and telecoms page editor in London. Formerly he was the Taipei correspondent and wrote about the companies that manufacture the vast majority of the world's computers and gadgets. He is interested in the intricacies of the technology supply chain and how China is increasingly changing the tech landscape.
Tim Bradshaw is the FT's digital media correspondent, and has just moved from London to join our team in San Francisco. He has covered start-ups such as Twitter and Spotify, as well as the online ambitions of more established media companies, such as the BBC iPlayer. He also covers the advertising, marketing and video-game industries. Tim has been writing about technology, business and finance since 2003.
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