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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2009

Windows 7 is released

Microsoft Corp. finally got its chance to reboot its reputation Thursday, launching a new edition of Windows that it hopes will encourage more PC buyers to get back into stores.

Some retailers opened at midnight to give customers an early shot at buying a new PC or the new software. An upgrade disc starts at $120.

Amazon's Kindle goes PC

Trying to get more people to buy its electronic books, Amazon.com Inc. said Thursday that it will release a free application called "Kindle for PC" in November that will let consumers buy, download and read Kindle books on a Windows-based PC, regardless of whether they own a Kindle.

Kindle owners can also see any notes or highlights made on the e-reader.

Profit soars at Amazon.com

Amazon.com Inc. says its third-quarter profit soared 62 percent, showing that consumers are comfortable opening their wallets to the online retailer despite the still-shaky economy. Amazon said Thursday it earned $199 million, or 45 cents a share. This far exceeded the 30 cents a share expected by analysts. Revenue climbed 28 percent to $5.45 billion.

FCC wades into Internet issues
Federal regulators took an important step Thursday toward prohibiting broadband providers from favoring or discriminating against certain kinds of Internet traffic.

The Federal Communications Commission voted to begin writing so-called "network neutrality" regulations to prevent phone and cable companies from abusing their control over broadband access.

Netflix adds to earnings, subscribers

DVD-by-mail pioneer Netflix Inc. posted net income of $30 million, or 52 cents a share in the third quarter. That was up 48 percent from the same time a year ago. The company said it added 510,000 subscribers during its traditionally sluggish season.

Revenue climbed 24 percent to $423 million.

Nokia suing Apple over patents

Global mobile phone giant Nokia is taking its competition against iPhone maker Apple to court, filing a suit that claims the Cupertino, Calif.-based company is violating 10 of its wireless technology patents.

The Finnish company said the violations "relate to technologies fundamental to making devices." Nokia claims the patent infringements are tied to GSM, 3G WCDMA and wireless LAN standards.

A wire report

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