Hong Kong newspaper takes gamble on free distribution
The Standard ended its cover price of 6 Hong Kong dollars and distributed 120,000 copies, triple its usual press run

Intel still holds edge in chip war, but AMD isn't giving in
Intel raised its sales forecast after taking business in the high-end computer market away from its main rival, Advanced Micro Devices. AMD announced faster chips to help it catch up in the race.

Tech in Brief: Security official seeks limit on 'bomb' searches
Also, Total access to rugby.

Roaming iPhone fees can be a huge shock
When Neil Dingman recently went on a vacation to Europe, he took his iPhone with him and though he only used it a handful of times he was charged $852.31.

Warner Bros. shifts tactics in producing Web programs
The studio will finance most projects itself and line up advertisers to recoup costs.

Spanish 'granny' dissects past and present on blog
María Amelia López's blog is a meandering chronicle of old age sprinkled with vivid reminiscence and her take on contemporary life.

All sides await verdict in Microsoft-EU case
Nine years after it began, Microsoft's legal battle with Europe's competition regulator will reach a climax next week with a ruling as eagerly awaited as almost any in European legal history.

Software piracy charges said to be used against Kremlin critics
The Russian police are raiding offices of dissident groups and publications, as well as businesses, accusing them of using pirated computer software.

Start-up claims to measure effectiveness of broadcast ads
A California company recruits volunteers to carry special cellphones that monitor exposure to commercials.

News organizations boycott Rugby World Cup events as photo feud intensifies
Leading international news organizations boycotted preliminary events on Thursday for the Rugby World Cup in a worsening feud over the use of online photographs.
- Rugby World Cup has France enthralled

Can Michael Dell refocus his namesake?
Over the last few years, Dell, once the gold standard among PC makers, has simply overlooked major growth trends in personal computing.

Social networking sites take notice of seniors
Technology entrepreneurs are starting new social networking sites designed for their parents and grandparents.

HP expands cellphone offerings while bolstering iPAQ line
Besides introducing the two new phones, HP also introduced several new laptop and desktop computers and a high-performance gaming PC, as well as new personal digital assistants, or handheld computers.

Tech in brief: U.S. regulators warned on 'Net neutrality' rules
Also: Dutch agency clears iTunes; Nokia under investigation; ITV cleared to charge more for ads; Publicis buys Phonevalley; Mecom buys Dutch publisher

Apple offers $100 credit to disgruntled iPhone buyers
The Apple chief executive, Steve Jobs, apologized to customers who bought the iPhone shortly before he cut its price by $200.

Are books passé? Web giants envision the next chapter
Two new offerings this fall — including an electronic book reader from Amazon.com — will test if consumers are ready to leave the paper book behind.

The hunt for gotta-have-it gadgets
First adopters willing to pay a premium for the exotic notebook computers, cellphones and tech toys can turn to businesses that specialize in finding objects that are not sold in the United States.

High-speed video store in the living room
Vudu's new $400 movie box, to be available at month's end, offers a choice of nearly 5,000 films.

Gadgets of the Week
Aimed at people who treat their PCs like hot rods, these machines are markedly customizable, set up for fast gut-switching upgrades without tools.

Security official seeks limit on 'bomb' searches

Internet searches for bomb-making instructions should be blocked in the European Union, the EU's top security official said Monday.

Internet providers should also prevent access to any site giving instructions on how to make a bomb, Franco Frattini, the EU justice and security commissioner, said.

The EU is to make this proposal to member states early in November as part of a series of anti-terrorism proposals.

Total access to rugby

A coalition of 40 media companies hammered out a final agreement with rugby authorities that allows them to use an unlimited amount of videotape material from nonmatch events for the world cup competition taking place in France.

The group staged a two-day boycott of rugby events last week in a feud over restrictions for online photographs and video material when rugby authorities sought to limit the use of videotape and images.

CAPGEMINI will begin recommending Google's online suite of office software to its corporate customers. The partnership represents the first time one of the world's top technology consulting services has embraced Google's software bundle, which includes e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets and calendar management.

VODAFONE will offer 14 new third-generation phones and provide Britain access to a new music download service. Vodafone will offer devices from Nokia, Research In Motion and Samsung. The company will also offer four so-called 2.5G cellphones. The download service, Omniphone MusicStation, will offer one million songs.

TELEFóNICA said that it would contest a €151.9 million, or $209 million, fine imposed by European Union regulators for abusing its dominance in broadband Internet access in Spain. Telefónica said its pricing policies were approved by the local phone regulator and in line with other European countries.

MEDIATEK, the biggest semiconductor designer in Taiwan, will buy Analog Devices' mobile phone chip business for $350 million in cash. The companies' boards approved the offer and the deal may be completed by year-end, Mediatek said Analog's phone-chip business generated about $230 million in revenue last year.

SKYPE said a virus that sends a fake chat message to users might infect the receiver's computer if the user clicks on a Web link. A computer virus called "w32/Ramex.A" is affecting users of Skype for Windows, Skype said.

YAHOO'S largest shareholder, Capital Research & Management, said that it had raised its stake in the Internet media company to 11 percent from 7.6 percent.

APPLE sold its millionth iPhone less than three months after the device's introduction, the company said. The company said it took almost two years to sell one million iPods.