Innovation | GlobalPost

Facebook buys 750 patents from IBM to build defense against Yahoo!

Luke BrowneMarch 23, 2012 12:07

The patents – which cover software, networking and other technologies – will substantially increase the size of Facebook’s intellectual property portfolio, which includes 56 issued patents and 503 US patent applications.

MIT scientists develop way of controlling aircraft with hand signals

Alexander BesantMarch 15, 2012 15:39

Scientists at MIT have discovered a way to control unmanned drones taxiing on runways using hand gestures.

New computer chip seeks to create an "internet of things"

Alexander BesantMarch 13, 2012 19:11

The Flycatcher, a new computer chip from a UK firm, will be capable of connecting traffic lights, parking meters and possibly even forests in the future.

Plunging smartphone sales lose Nokia $1.6 billion

Luke BrowneJanuary 26, 2012 12:27

Nokia launched its first two Windows-based smartphones, the Lumia 800 and Lumia 710, in October, which it hopes will enable it to gain ground on competitors like Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android-based phones.

Google faces backlash over changes to privacy settings

Luke BrowneJanuary 25, 2012 13:05

The changes have removed several of the legal hurdles the firm faced due to having more than 70 different privacy policies across its email, video, social-networking and other services; however, users cannot opt out of the policy.

Apple earnings: quarterly profits hit record territory thanks to soaring iPhone sales

Luke BrowneJanuary 25, 2012 11:55

The leap was largely due to US consumers snapping up near-unprecedented numbers of iPhones and iPads, with the introduction of the iPhone 4S helping Apple more than double its iPhone sales over the holidays.

Facebook to give away $6.5 million of free ads to help start-ups and small firms

Luke BrowneJanuary 24, 2012 14:50

50,000 small firms across the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy will receive up to $130 each of ad credits to use on Facebook’s site as part of the company’s Ad Boost program.

Steve Jobs action figure pulled after legal threats

Luke BrowneJanuary 17, 2012 12:55

Hong Kong-based In Icons says it has “decided to completely stop the offer, production and sale of the Steve Jobs figurine out of our heartfelt sensitivity to the feelings of the Jobs family.”

Wikipedia blackout: Founder Jimmy Wales defends decision

Luke BrowneJanuary 17, 2012 11:28

Visitors to the site will encounter an open letter urging them to contact Congress to protest against the anti-piracy laws, which critics say are too broad, reaching outside US jurisdiction and imposing unfair burdens on websites to check that none of the material they host infringes copyright.