AFP - More American consumers are leaving their cars at home and shopping online for the holidays in the face of high fuel costs, giving an extra boost to Internet shopping, analysts say.

TechWeb - Opera Software updates its Windows browser to plug a critical security hole involving Macromedia's Flash media player.

TechWeb - Researchers say the estimated value of the components is $310. The retail price: $300. Microsoft may be looking to make up the loss by selling add-on products and services.

TechWeb - LG Electronics says major consumer electronic retailers have started selling an LG digital video recorder with Microsoft Corp.'s cable program guide.

TechWeb - Tivo's pending patent is for a personal video recorder (PVR) that recognizes viewer preferences through an RFID chip embedded in clothing, jewelry or 'inserted somewhere [in] the user's body.'

TechWeb - The U.S. digital satellite radio market is expected to grow from 12 million installed units this year to 55 million units in 2010, according to a new report.

TechWeb - Representatives from the most prominent browser makers -- including Microsoft and Mozilla -- recently gathered to discuss ways to make it clearer to users which Web sites are safe and which are fake.

TechWeb - The worldwide server market grew at an 8.1 percent year-over-year rate in the third quarter paced by Microsoft Windows and Linux servers who continue to battle each other for customers, IDC says.

KHAN BANI SAAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Newly fitted with the latest communications equipment, a U.S.-Iraqi coordination office north of Baghdad was ready to connect with similar facilities all over the country at the touch of a button.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Nintendo Co. Ltd. 7974.OS said its first-half operating profit plunged 51 percent as sluggish GameCube sales outweighed currency-related gains, but it kept its forecast for the full year.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The runaway success of its ultra-slim Razr cellphone has given Motorola Inc. an edge over key rivals Nokia and Samsung Electronics, but the gap could narrow in 2006 as Samsung unveils a slew of copycat thin designs.

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish mobile equipment maker Nokia NOK1V.HE has won a $141 million mobile network expansion deal in North India with state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, it said in a statement on Thursday.

PC World - Microsoft, Yahoo, and Zimbra betas Preview Web mail's new desktop-like interface.

Reuters - European Union lawmakers have voted to keep details of all EU-wide telephone calls and Internet use for six months to a year to help combat terrorism and serious crime.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hollywood screenwriter Randall Jahnson hinted at his historian alter ego with his work on 'The Doors' and 'The Mask of Zorro.' He therefore made the most of his first foray into the Wild West of video games with Activision's Western adventure, 'Gun.'

Reuters - An European Union parliament committee voted on Thursday to keep details of all EU-wide telephone calls and Internet use for six months to a year to help combat terrorism and serious crime.

AP - Profit at Nintendo Co., which makes Super Mario video games and GameBoy Advance handheld machines, slipped 21 percent for the fiscal first half fell on year because of slumping sales of consoles and game software.

Reuters - The cost of building a Microsoft Corp. Xbox 360 video game console is nearly 40 percent higher than the retail price, technology and microchip research company iSuppli said on Wednesday.

AFP - Nokia, the world's biggest mobile phone maker, has won a contract to expand the network of India's leading telecommunications company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

FT.com - When Australia's Telstra (NYSE:TLS) last week unveiled a plan to create Hong Kong's largest mobile phone company through a merger with a local rival, it was an announcement the territory's wireless market had been awaiting for years.

AP - Police have launched citywide sting operations aimed at shutting down producers and sellers of counterfeit music, movies and software, in the latest clampdown on rampant piracy that threatens Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization.

MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Vivendi Universal EAUG.PA stepped up pressure on regulators on Thursday, urging them to determine the rules that will govern the embryonic market of TV on mobile phones and the frequencies used for the new service.

AFP - Nintendo has announced that a slump in both game console and software sales sent its net profit down 21 percent in the first half to September.

AP - Nokia Corp. will expand mobile networks for BSNL in northern India, in a deal valued at $140 million, the world's largest mobile phone maker said Thursday.

AP - Profit at Nintendo Co., which makes Super Mario video games and GameBoy Advance handheld machines, slipped 21 percent in the company's fiscal first half because of slumping sales of consoles and game software.

AFP - EU lawmakers voted to allow police greater access to telephone and Internet data, but the proposed measures fall far short of a tough European anti-terror package Britain is seeking.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Hitachi Ltd. 6501.T said on Friday that it would set up a joint venture this month with MasterCard International Inc., Australia's Keycorp Ltd. KYC.AX and a U.S. venture capital firm to promote advanced smart cards.