Google Print, the new search engine that allows consumers to search the content of books online, could help touch off an important shift in the balance of power between companies that produce books and those that sell them, publishing executives said here on Thursday.

For anyone who loves listening to the wide variety of internet audio programming, but can't always listen to their favorite shows when they're scheduled or take the time to download them manually, help has arrived. Known as podcasting, the technology is a new take on syndicated content feeds like RSS and Atom. But instead of pushing text from blogs and news sites to various content aggregators like FeedDemon and Bloglines, podcasting sends audio content directly to an iPod or other MP3 player.

Google has launched a beta test to let U.S. mobile phone and handheld device users tap into its search results via the short message service (SMS) platform. Users send queries to universal short code GOOGL or 46645 and receive results on their phones. The service, dubbed Google SMS, returns directory information about local businesses via Google Local and provides price comparison information through Froogle.com. It also lets users search for residential phone numbers, dictionary definitions and Web search results snippets. Google SMS also does calculations, area code look-ups and ZIP code look-ups.

Children as young as two are the target audience of a new software that will enable toddlers to both surf and send e-mails safely without help from their parents. The software is described by its developer as a "children's own operating system" and is aimed at two- to 12-year-olds.

David Hailey says he didn't know much about blogs before he flipped on his office computer one late September morning and watched hate mail flood into his inbox. Author of a report claiming that the controversial CBS News Texas Air National Guard memos could have been produced on a typewriter, the Utah State University associate professor of technical communications didn't know he had become fodder for vigilant political blogs and discussion boards. To liberals, the report was proof that CBS was in the clear -- making it another claim for conservatives to debunk.

Hope and cynicism sparred to a draw on Tuesday at the glitzy opening banquet of the Web 2.0 conference here, as serial entrepreneur and reality TV show host Mark Cuban took the stage to talk about what's next for the 10-year-old Internet revolution.

The piracy-battered music industry said Thursday it will sue British, French and Austrian music fans for the first time as it intensifies its legal crackdown on Internet song-swappers.

Vice President Dick Cheney probably did not intend to direct millions of television viewers to a Web site calling for President Bush's defeat but that's what a slip of the domain achieved. Anyone who heeded Cheney's advice and clicked on "factcheck.com" on Wednesday morning was redirected to the site of anti-Bush billionaire investor George Soros that had a banner message saying "Why we must not reelect President Bush."

People are being warned about a scam e-mail which uses the US presidential poll to con them out of their money. A junk e-mail invites people to dial a premium rate number to express their support for President George W Bush or rival John Kerry.

A survey of 3,000 adults found that online research led to $180.7 billion in offline retail sales, 70% more than the $106.5 billion in direct online consumer spending, The Dieringer Group said today in its latest American Interactive Consumer Survey. "The data confirm that the Internet's role as a consumer product information utility is much larger than its role as a direct selling medium," says senior consultant Thomas E. Miller.