Friday Tech News

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In a case with implications for the freedom to blog, a San Jose judge tentatively ruled Thursday that Apple Computer can force three online publishers to surrender the names of confidential sources who disclosed information about the company's upcoming products. Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg refused to extend to the Web sites a protection that shields journalists from revealing the names of unidentified sources or turning over unpublished material.

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Atlanta-based ChoicePoint provides consumer data services to insurance companies, other businesses and government agencies. Going forward, it will only sell personal information if the data is neeeded for one of three general reasons: to support consumer-driven transactions necessary to maintain relationships such as those with insurers or employers, or to provide consumers access to their own data; to provide authentication or fraud-prevention tools to large, accredited corporate customers where consumers have existing relationships; or to assist federal, state and local government and criminal justice agencies.

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Judge Robert Payne of the U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va., dismissed all of Rambus's remaining patent claims in the case, representatives of the companies said. Rambus general counsel John Danforth said in a statement that Rambus feels it has "a strong case on appeal."

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Currently, Mercury is visible about 45 minutes after sunset, very near to the horizon, just to the south (left) of due west. Yet, if your sky is clear and there are no tall obstructions to your view (like trees or buildings) you should have no trouble in seeing it as a very bright "star" shining with just a trace of a yellowish-orange tinge.

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In September, two of India's largest bike manufacturers will come out with bikes equipped with the company's AH300 motor, which will run for 35 kilometers (21.75 miles) on a single charge and run at a top speed of 25kph (16 mph). Billionaire Sir Richard Branson auctioned off the first two prototype bikes at a charity event in 2004.