Wall Street Journal Tech News Briefing

Microsoft and News Corp. discuss a Web pact ... Wal-Mart.com is flexing its muscles ... you can trade in unwanted gadgets for cash ... and Wikipedia is losing volunteers. Jim Chesko has those stories and more.

It's too late to order another reader for Christmas. Google's adding speech recognition to YouTube. Cutting prices on some smartphones.

It's too late to order another reader for Christmas. Google's adding speech recognition to YouTube. Cutting prices on some smartphones.

Dell's quarterly profit plunges ... Intuit's forecast disappoints ... Microsoft says Windows 7 is selling well ... and we'll tell you about the 12 (online) scams of Christmas. Jim Chesko has those stories and more.

Major job cuts coming at AOL. Google's "Chrome" operating system's still a year away. Trouble with a router crashes an FAA computer system.

Sony's e-book reader might not get there in time for the holidays ... Dell earnings are in the spotlight today ... Congress is taking a closer look at high-tech advertising ... and the FBI thinks terrorists are exploring cyber attacks. Jim Chesko has ...

Fed mulls rules and fees to spur net access. Choosing your own computer for work. Solar panel makers look for local ties.

The FCC today will lay out the case for expanding broadband Internet service, which could mean higher charges for phone customers ... MySpace may buy online music service Imeem ... and we look at some of this holiday season's hot gadget gifts. Jim Chesko ...

Bing continues to gain search market share. Applied Materials is buying Semitool. Stickups and burglaries are on the rise at work.

Google and Univision strike a deal ... the date is set for Time Warner's AOL spinoff ... Vonage dials up a settlement with regulators ... and there's an iPhone app that, when used with a car-alarm system, can remotely start your vehicle. Jim Chesko has ...

Cisco raises its offer for Tandberg. Hacking calculators, just for the fun of it. Protecting all that info on your mobile phone.

Dell is launching a smart phone in China and Brazil ... Cisco increases its bid for Norway's Tandberg ... the EU says it has an "open mind" about the Oracle-Sun deal ... and we'll tell you how the Web can help you get the most of out of your ...

Switzerland has a beef with Google. An international cable merger is in the works. Technology may be coming to your morning shower.

Smart-phone sales jump ... iPhone apps take root as a cottage industry ... Blockbuster's loss widens ... Intel and AMD settle their legal disputes ... and the new Call of Duty video game is a record-setter. Jim Chesko has those stories and more.

Intel settles with AMD for 1-1/4 billion dollars. Hewlett Packard's buying 3Com. The hottest new videogame.

HP is buying 3Com for about $2.7 billion ... Motorola is exploring the sale of its big set-top box unit ... AMD predicts solid growth in the the chip market in 2010 ... and who needs TV to be entertained? Jim Chesko has those stories and more.

Videogame sales are likely to see another drop. Microsoft bans a million Xbox players. Apple emerges as Nintendo's game rival.

The Obama Administration plans on speeding up the process of handing out broadband stimulus grants, Adobe's cutting jobs and a look at Nintendo's latest competition. Tom Ortuso has those stories and more.

The Sun/Oracle deal hits a speed bump in Europe. Clearwire will raise more than 1-1/2 billion dollars. Google's holiday gift to Flyers.