Online campaigning comes into its own in French vote
A five-minute video called the "Human Bomb" played an unlikely backstage role in the French election victory of Nicolas Sarkozy, demonstrating the muscular, new role of online campaigning in a country where paid political advertising on television is banned.

Military seeks ideas from technology start-ups
The Defense Department is using some of the nation's top technology investors to help it find innovations by tiny start-up companies, which have not traditionally been a part of the military's vast supply chain.

Apple wrestles music industry over online sales
As talks between Apple and major recording companies take shape this month, Apple has opened the door to higher prices for music on iTunes as long as songs are sold without the technology designed to stop unauthorized copying.

Read all about it: "Old" media is hot again
Analysts say the companies are attractive in part because many of their customers are other businesses.
- Reuters said to get takeover approach from Thomson

Murdoch practices his art of seduction, again
Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp. said it intended to buy The Wall Street Journal and the rest of Dow Jones, has a long history of making soothing noises on the run-up to a deal.
- In bid for icon, Murdoch may have eye on posterity

Media companies have appeal if linked to Wall Street
The fact that many of the customers of The Wall Street Journal and Reuters are other businesses, rather than consumers, appeals to investors, analysts say.
- Read all about it: "Old" media is hot again

Dell joins software alliance with Microsoft and Novell
The computer maker has agreed to work with Microsoft and Novell in an alliance formed by the rival software makers last year to make it easier for the Windows operating system and the increasingly popular Linux system to work together, the companies said.

Television's move to the smallest screen is slow to convince advertisers
While short, multi-episode cellphone series are growing in popularity, the lucrative return prevalent in other entertainment segments has not been matched.

In Italy, it's harder than it looks to trash reality TV
Are reality shows tailor-made for the Italian psyche?

3-D printers take aim at the home market
Three-dimensional printers, seen in industrial design shops for about a decade, are becoming cheaper, putting them in reach of small offices and even homes this year.

Advertisers start to use custom cellphones
Sonopia, a new company, offers affinity plans to any company, charitable group or hobby club that wants to get its message out on U.S. cellphones.