tech Buzz

NEW YORK (AP) -- Authorities in China have approved Google Inc.'s bid to buy phone maker Motorola Mobility, clearing the way for the $12.5 billion deal to close early next week.... - Associated Press - 7 Reads

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- It was one of the best places in the western United States to watch the annular solar eclipse, and people drove for days just to get to this dusty stretch west of Albuquerque.... - Associated Press - 7 Reads

Flush with cash and drunk with power after its $100 billion IPO, Facebook could be caught secretly brainwashing millions of new users into signing up (mind-control hoodies, anyone?) -- and still I might not quit the world's largest social network. - CNN - 6 Reads

Douglas Rushkoff says the European Commission and the FTC are challenging the company's monopoly. The outcome could spur techonological evolution--and that's better for the consumer - CNN - 16 Reads

A UC Berkeley freshman has turned his dorm room into a technological wonderland. CNN's Dan Simon reports. - CNN - 12 Reads

Staring cool and collected at his target, 27-year-old Adam Montoya is on a mission to annihilate his enemies. While his commentary helps to mute the sound of whizzing bullets, a few ra-tat-tat ripples manage to sporadically seep out. It's not too long before he's seen through his mission with effortless precision. Another game conquered and another day's worth of work behind him. Hello everyone, his name is SeaNanners. And for those who love games and YouTube, one might argue he has the dream job. - CNN - 15 Reads

In some ways it doesn't matter that we're pushing buttons with our fingers instead of our thoughts. We have become just as dependent on networked devices that live in our pockets and colorful rubber cases, rather than our skulls. - CNN - 13 Reads

Buying a home video game console may soon become a lot more like buying a cell phone, according to a new report suggesting Microsoft is planning to offer a subsidized, $99 bundle including a 4GB Xbox 360 and Kinect sensor to anyone who commits to two years of a new, $15 monthly online service package. - CNN - 4 Reads

Aaron Sorkin, the celebrated screenwriter whose punchy dialogue propelled TV's "The West Wing" and the Facebook movie "The Social Network," will write and direct an upcoming film on the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. - CNN - 3 Reads

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc canceled thousands of stock options and stock units awarded to its chief business officer earlier this month and said it would instead pay him $8 million in cash. - Reuters - 12 Reads