Stories by Heather Havenstein

Yahoo investor: Sell company to Microsoft for $22 a share

A Yahoo investor Thursday proposed that Yahoo sell itself to Microsoft for US$22 a share, according to a report from the Reuters news service. Yahoo was trading at $12.84 on Friday.

Geo-Eye satellite to be used by Google releases first image

Google Maps are about to get a lot sharper thanks to GeoEye-1, the world's highest resolution commercial satellite that was launched on September 6 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a rocket carrying the Google logo.

Yahoo debuts Web analytics tool

Yahoo this week began rolling out a beta version of a new Web Analytics tool that it says will provide up-to-date reports and graphs showing metrics like sales, page views and sources of traffic to Web site operators.

YouTube adds 'click-to-buy' for music, video games

YouTube this week is moving to step up its efforts to generate revenue by adding e-commerce links that let users buy music and video games from the site.

Open-source Wikia Search adds tool to customize results

Wikia Search, an open-source search tool launched early this year by Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, today opened its platform with a new application programming interface (API) that allows individuals or business to create interactive search results.

Google's Knol online encyclopedia launches debate forum

Google Tuesday launched the first of a series of debates on Knol -- its version of Wikipedia -- that aim to help voters during this election season by gathering expert opinions on a variety of economic issues.

Jobs heart attack post highlights citizen journalism perils

Friday's false report on CNN's iReport site that Apple CEO Steve Jobs had suffered a heart attack is a strong example of potential pitfalls posed by so-called citizen journalists.

Google lets users search like it's 2001

As part of Google's ongoing 10th anniversary celebration, the company is providing access to a 2001 version of the Google search index, allowing users to search the Web circa January 2001.

Google launches 'Google News for blogs'

Six years after Google launched Google News by applying its search technology to breaking news stories, the company has moved to apply its technology to a similar service to track new blog posts.

Zoho launches online market for business apps

Online application company Zoho Tuesday unveiled a new marketplace it says will allow users to buy and sell business applications and resell its Zoho Creator tool for building online database applications.

Britain's MI6 recruiting spies on Facebook, report says

Could the next James Bond be found on Facebook? Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, hopes so after launching a series of advertisements this month to recruit employees, according to a report in Britain's Guardian newspaper on Monday.

Microsoft unveils new Visual Studio version

Microsoft Monday unveiled the next version of its Visual Studio IDE, and detailed new features of its Visual Studio Team System (VSTS).

MySpace launches iTunes competitor with 5 million artists

Social network MySpace lobbed a shot across the bow of Apple iTunes last night with the launch of MySpace Music, a new site that offers free on-demand music streaming along with MP3 downloads for sale to US users.

MySpace, Facebook show tools to ward off child predators

MySpace is using technology to analyze whether potential users trying to sign up for the social network may be registered sex offenders, the company's chief security officer said Wednesday.

Yahoo aims to squelch advertiser angst over Google deal

Yahoo Tuesday announced that it is forming a Digital Advisory Council to help answer questions about its proposed search advertising deal with Google and other online ad issues. The council will include executives from firms that advertise on Google's Web pages.