Sector Snap: Selling Hits Technology Shares

A broad sell-off hit technology shares Thursday as the broader market fell and disappointing news from chip maker Qualcomm Corp. and Motorola Inc. rippled through the sector.

A pared sales forecast from Qualcomm and weak handset shipments at Motorola hit "a market that definitely has a downward bias over macroeconomic concerns," said Broadpoint AmTech analyst Doug Freedman in a note to investors.

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Ballmer Defends Microsoft as China Plays up Gates' Comments

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer defended the company's presence in China in a message on Wednesday, after Chinese media seized on a statement by Bill Gates about Chinese Web censorship being "very limited."

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Google vs. China: Microsoft's Ballmer weighs in (again)

Wednesday, at Microsoft's Worldwide Public Safety Symposium in Redmond, CEO Steve Ballmer avoided talking about the ongoing dispute between Google and China and the questions it has risen about Chinese censorship. Shortly thereafter, however, Microsoft posted a letter from Ballmer addressing just that issue.

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Google graduates social stalking tool

Search sniffs out friends and family stuff

Google's social network stalking aid has graduated from the company's experimental Labs site to prime-time on Google.com.

In the next few days, with its Social Search tool, Google will let English-language users scour for publicly-available content produced by friends and online contacts.

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What's the Apple iPad's Killer App?

Can the iPad replace my iPod? No, because I already ditched my iPod. I listen to all of my music on my Palm Pre. Besides, it isn't like you can bring the iPad to the gym. What about GPS? Again, I use my phone. Can it replace my phone? Not really. Although, the iPad does support Bluetooth and with an unlimited data plan…wait, it still uses AT&T. Never mind.

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Qualcomm, Motorola drag down the market

Shares of Qualcomm and Motorola fell to multi-month lows Thursday, sparking a broad-based stock selloff, after both companies issued disappointing outlooks.

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'Thor' To Be More Science Than Fantasy, Says Marvel Studios President

Fans that are worried about how the fantasy world of "Thor" and the high-tech reality of "Iron Man" will reconcile with one another, it turns out that there's nothing to fear — according to Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, "Thor" is more scientific in nature than you might initially think.

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