Tech News

PC World - Only two days left until Apple releases the first major upgrade to the iOS 4 mobile operating system on Wednesday, September 8. Apple lists a number of enhancements and features that will be added with iOS 4.1, but the things that make iOS 4.1 a critical update are buried in the Apple fine print.

Macworld.com - Mac users of personal finance software tend to fall into two categories—those who use Quicken, and those who hate Quicken with the red-hot passion of a thousand suns. No finance management alternative has yet captured the mindshare of the Mac market, but LittleFin Software steps up to the plate with the release of Chronicle 3.4. (Note: this Mac application is no relation to the Chronicle for iPad journal app.)

Macworld.com - Quincy Jones is a legendary record producer and composer responsible for producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller album as well as the hit charity song “We Are the World,” so when he gets behind an audio product, it probably deserves some attention. The product in question this time around is a new line of headphones by Harman AKG, which the company is releasing under its new Quincy Jones Signature Line.

Reuters - Nokia, the world's biggest cellphone maker by volume, will introduce new smartphone models next week at its annual media and industry event, aiming to assure investors the company is on track to recovery.

Macworld.com - If you’re one of those people who likes to keep their life organized (or, like me, one of those people who forget everything all the time), you may appreciate Apimac’s recently-announced release of a version of its iDatabase product that runs on OS X.

Mashable - Ad Age has obtained an internal Google document that highlights some of the biggest AdWords buyers for the month of June 2010, offering insight into how big brands are using Google and how much they are spending.

Digital Trends - Headphones used to be the realm of audio nerds and vinyl collectors, but the digital music revolution has brought headphones to the masses…and made the masses aware that most consumer headphones are pretty awful. Harman is the latest to jump on the celebrity-endorsed headphone bandwagon, but instead of banking on pop stars like Lady Gaga, Harmon is adding a touch of cool to the mix, announcing its Quincy Jones Signature Line of headphones by AKG.

Reuters - Wang Yong, a name little heard on the global business stage, has become boss of the world's biggest mobile telecom carrier, the most valuable coal producer and Asia's top oil refiner.

Digital Trends - Internet giant Google has proposed paying some $8.5 million to settle a lawsuit over privacy violations that occurred when it launched its Buzz social networking service earlier this year. Some 30 percent of the proposed settlement money would go towards legal fees associated with the case, $2,500 each would go to the seven Gmail users who brought the suit, and the remainder would be split amongst organizations that promote online privacy and privacy education. Google admits no wrongdoing in the settlement, which still must be approved by a judge.

PC World - One year after leaving his position as head of Google's China operations, Kai-Fu Lee is funding a dozen startups with his new company Innovation Works to seize on opportunities with China's booming Internet market.

Mashable - The new iPod touch - with Facetime, multitasking, and the Retina display - is so close to an iPhone that even Apple can sometimes get confused.

AP - Former Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Mark Hurd is in talks to take a top executive job at Oracle Corp., the database software maker run by his friend Larry Ellison, a person with direct knowledge of the discussions said Sunday.

AFP - Former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Mark Hurd, who resigned last month following a sex scandal, is in talks to join US software giant Oracle, the Wall Street Journal said on its website.

AP - East Asia is the world's electronics factory, yet unless they are Japanese, producers are largely anonymous. Now HTC Corp., a Taiwanese maker of smart phones, is moving out of the shadows and trying to establish its own brand name as it competes with Apple's iPhone.

AP - Craiglist's "adult services" section has been shut down in the U.S., but prostitution on the Internet is alive and well — even, quite possibly, on Craigslist.

AFP - Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez said winning the media watchdog IPI prize of World Press Freedom Hero is a "protective shield" that will help her break "the wall of censorship," she told AFP Sunday.

Reuters - A web page casting doubt on the religious credentials of the family of Egyptian presidential hopeful Mohamed ElBaradei has become the latest focus of an online battle for votes.

AP - East Asia is the world's electronics factory, yet unless they are Japanese, producers are largely anonymous. Now HTC Corp., a Taiwanese maker of smart phones, is moving out of the shadows and trying to establish its own brand name as it competes with Apple's iPhone.

Mashable - This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

AFP - Sally Harrison is developmentally disabled, but on Facebook the 35-year-old woman is just like anyone else.