L.A. Times - Technology News

Say goodbye to rattle and hum

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Sunda family and their Orange County Speaker repair business have been making beautiful music together since 1968.

The way we listen to music has changed dramatically in the last 15 years -- earbuds instead of headphones, digital tracks instead of cuts on vinyl. But the basic design of an audio speaker, says Eric Sunda of Orange County Speaker, is the same as it was a century ago.

IPhone sales in China are nothing to call home about

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Only 5,000 of the Apple phones have sold since the Oct. 30 launch. High prices and a lack of Wi-Fi capability are blamed, especially with a thriving gray market in iPhones.

Apple Inc.'s iPhone has been a ringing success wherever it has been launched. But in China few are picking up the buzz.

Windows 7 tops Vista in early consumer sales by more than 200%

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Aggressive pricing and relatively positive reviews are key factors. But the discounts and specials may have crimped Microsoft's revenue from the product.

It wasn't a high bar, but Windows 7 cleared it.

Activision posts profit despite small drop in video game sales

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Quarterly earnings are $15 million, or 1 cent a share, compared with a loss of 8 cents a share in the year-earlier period. Revenue declines 1% to $703 million.

Activision Blizzard Inc., the world's largest video game company, posted a third-quarter profit, but sales slipped slightly as consumers continued to keep close tabs on spending.

Google's new Dashboard service lets users see what personal data are on file

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The Dashboard is the Internet search giant's response to questions about how it uses information about consumers.

Google Inc. on Thursday unveiled a new Web page that allows users to better see which of their data are being stored by the Internet search giant.

No Doubt sues Activision over use in Band Hero game

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The rock group says the Santa Monica video game maker went far beyond agreed-upon uses of members' likenesses in Band Hero, including manipulating them to perform songs popularized by other acts.

Rock band No Doubt has filed a real-world lawsuit over its virtual role in the just-released Band Hero edition of the Guitar Hero video game series, contending that the game has "transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act," singing dozens of songs the group neither wrote, popularized nor approved for use in the game.

Halfpipe champion Shaun White takes gamers to the virtual slopes

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, a sequel to the Olympic gold medalist's first video game, arrives on shelves Sunday. In a Q & A, White talks about how he got into the sport.

Shaun White used to battle with his older brother Jesse for control over the family's PlayStation game console while the two grew up near San Diego. Now, at 23, the Olympic gold medalist in men's halfpipe stars in his second video game, Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, set to hit shelves Sunday.

Best Buy launching digital movie service with CinemaNow

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The service would be integrated into most devices the electronics chain sells that can be connected to the Internet.

One of the nation's biggest sellers of DVDs is making a leap into movie downloading.

Microsoft and OpenX in deal to boost their online ad businesses

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

The software giant will use its clout to refer larger corporate clients to the Pasadena firm, which operates one of the nation's largest independent Web advertising networks.

Microsoft Corp. and OpenX Technologies Inc., a Pasadena-based Web advertising start-up, have struck a deal that would enable both companies to expand the reach of their online ad businesses.

From the video screen to the hard court

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Video games allow NBA players to work on improving their own real-life skills. The avatars never get tired -- and their moves often leave quite an impression.

The NBA player was only 2 inches tall, but he left quite an impression on Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley.