WRAL Tech Wire

Apple: N.C. data center to use all renewable energy

Targeted by Greenpeace International over its energy consumption, Apple says its 500,000- square-foot data center in Maiden, N.C., will be powered entirely by renewable sources by the end of the year. North Carolina Utilities Commission, meanwhile, approves Apple's request to build a solar farm at the facility.

Apple's site plan for N.C. data center, renewable energy

HP may lay off as many as 25,000 workers

Hewlett-Packard Co. is considering cutting as many as 25,000 jobs, or 8 percent of its workforce, to reduce costs and help the company contend with ebbing demand for computers and services, people briefed on the plans tell Bloomberg news.

Google seeks to smarten up searches with 'Knowledge Graph'

An information warehouse, which Google calls a "Knowledge Graph," is an attempt by the Internet's dominant search engine to provide answers as quickly and concisely as possible so users don't have to sift through a hodgepodge of Web links displayed on the main results page.

A sample of Google's "Knowledge Graph"

iPhones bigger?; Cisco battle; Lenovo's India surge; Fab likes Pinterest; Groupon boost

Inside the Bulldog Blog: Bigger iPhone screens may be coming; is Cisco CEO purging rivals?; Lenovo No. 1 in India; Fab dumps Google+; Group profits boost shares.

Warren Buffett keeps adding to stake in IBM

Big Blue blog: Berkshire Hathaway adds another 500,000 IBM shares to its holdings, according to an SEC filing.

Aaron Sorkin to write, direct movie about Steve Jobs

The screenwriter won an Academy Award for his adaptation of "The Social Network," the film that chronicled the early years of Facebook Inc. under founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Apple's new, thinner MacBooks feature HD screens, faster startup

The MacBook Pro machines, to be unveiled at Apple's annual developers conference starting June 11, also will feature high-definition screens like those on the iPhone and iPad, as well as flash memory to cut startup times and extend battery life, sources tell Bloomberg news.

Customers say service improving at top 3 wireless providers

The American Customer Satisfaction Index puts Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless within two points of each other on a 100-point scale of customer satisfaction. That's the smallest spread since the survey started looking at all four companies in 2005.

If disaster strikes, Homeland Security certifies AT&T is ready

The communications giant is the first company to receive Department of Homeland Security certification for disaster preparedness. AT&T practices five times a year for a variety of emergencies.

AT&T disaster exercise in Atlanta.

Software deals, acquisitions crucial to IBM 'Roadmap'

Big Blue blog: Look for IBM to focus on acquisitions, product launches and resource investments in pursit of growth initiatives to achieve 2015 revenue goals, research firm says.

Charting IBM software growth

Valley buying frenzy; Apple's new maps; Apple co-founder wants Facebook shares; Linux creator hits GitHub; LightSquare woes

In the Bulldog blog: A frenzy of buying startups is driving up valuations for emerging companies; Apple is dumping Google Maps, report says; Apple's co-founder will buy Facebook shares regardless of price; Linus Torvalds doesn't care for GitHub - he invented Git; LightSquared nears bankruptcy.

Check this: Remembering IBM Deep Blue's chess victory

Big Blue blog: Friday marked the 15th anniversary of IBM chess-playing supercomputer Deep Blue's historic victory over a human champ. An IBM scientist recalls the challenges of the project.

Cree, Lutron introduce lighting control and delivery system

Cree and Lutron Electronics said this week that they have a solution for the growing demand for energy-efficient LED lighting solutions that meet today's stringent energy and building codes.

Digital 'wallets' proliferate at cellphone show

Cash, coins and credit cards are so 20th century. At least, that's the opinion of the electronics manufacturers, phone companies, banks and credit card issuers that expect cellphones to be the main way consumers pay for purchases in the not-so-distant future.

Latest news on Bing, Google, TV, BlackBerry, e-commerce

Bing redesign has social focus; Google report says search results protected by First Amendment; TV stations explore broadcasting to phone, tablets; BlackBerry 7 smartphones get DoD approval; Online sales per user continue to climb in North America