baltimoresun.com - Technology

Microsoft veteran to head foundation

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A top ranking executive from Bill Gates' inner circle at Microsoft will become the next chief executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Jeff Raikes, 49, will succeed Patty Stonesifer as head of the world's largest philanthropy, managing a $37 billion endowment, $3 billion a year in grants, and ambitious goals such as eradicating malaria and developing a vaccine to prevent AIDS. Raikes spent 27 years at Microsoft, longer than anyone besides Gates and Chief Executive Steven A. Ballmer. He follows Stonesifer as a Microsoft veteran with close connections to the Gates family stepping in to help run the philanthropy.

Apple: iPhone sold out in U.S., U.K.

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:34:00 -0400

Apple Inc. said today its online stores in the U.S. and U.K. are sold out of the iPhone, a sign supplies are being winnowed ahead of the launch of the device's next generation featuring faster Internet surfing speeds.

Scanning the world's books, one page at a time

Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In a dimly lit back room on the second level of the University of Michigan library's book-shelving department, Courtney Mitchel helped a giant desktop machine digest a rare, centuries-old Bible.

Digital converter quality uneven

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Many factors will affect reception for antenna users

F or months I've been urging readers who get their TV service the old fashioned way - over the air, with an antenna - to apply for a pair of government coupons. Each provides $40 toward a converter that will keep an analog TV working when the nation's broadcasters switch to digital transmissions on Feb. 17, 2009.

Icahn raises stake in Motorola to 7.6%

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Billionaire investor Carl C. Icahn reported increasing his stake in Motorola Inc. to 7.6 percent from 6.4 percent in a filing yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Icahn now owns about 172.2 million shares, or a 7.6 percent stake, based on 2.26 billion shares outstanding as of March 14.

Microsoft overture to Facebook reported

Thu, 8 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Microsoft Corp.'s bankers approached Facebook Inc. about taking over the social-networking site, an attempt to build on its $240 million investment last year, The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. The companies aren't in active discussions now, the newspaper said, citing a person familiar with the talks. Microsoft has previously expressed interest in buying Facebook, the Journal said.

Communications: Verizon joins group building cable

Wed, 7 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone company, joined a group of 16 companies building an undersea fiber-optic cable between Europe, the Middle East and India. The 9,323-mile cable will be finished in 2010 at a cost of more than $700 million, the New York-based company said yesterday.

Yahoo falls as deal fades

Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Shares dip 15%, but some say Microsoft will renew offer

Yahoo Inc.'s stock took a beating yesterday after Microsoft Corp. withdrew its $47.5 billion takeover bid, but the punishment wasn't as severe as many analysts anticipated because investors suspect the rivals eventually will renew their mating dance.

Microsoft's Yahoo move, oil prices shake market

Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Wall Street pulled back yesterday after Microsoft Corp.'s decision to withdraw its bid for Yahoo Inc. and as oil prices rose to a record of more than $120 a barrel.

Earnings: Qiagen profit rises after buying Digene

Tue, 6 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Qiagen NV, the Dutch maker of tools for medical research, said first-quarter profit rose 2 percent after it accelerated the integration of Gaithersburg's Digene Corp., a maker of genetic tests purchased last year. Net income increased to $20.3 million from $19.9 million a year earlier, Qiagen said yesterday. Sales rose 62 percent to $207.1 million.