Techmeme: Chip executive outlook reveals bleak times ahead (Dean Takahashi/VentureBeat)

9:35 AM ET, December 19, 2011

Top Items:

Bradley Horowitz / The Official Google Blog:

Google+: A few big improvements before the New Year — Today we're pleased to announce a goodie basket full of Google+ features and functionality for you to unpack and enjoy over the holidays. Some of these were on nearly everyone's wishlist... and some we hope will be welcome surprises.

Discussion: TechCrunch, 9to5Google, Softpedia News, WebProNews, Lifehacker, The Next Web, Marketing Pilgrim, SocialTimes.com, SlashGear and Electronista

T.C. Sottek / The Verge:
Google+ adds Circles volume slider, updates notifications, Pages, and photos

Discussion: The Next Web

Wall Street Journal:

Apple Plots Its TV Assault — Apple Inc. is moving forward with its assault on television, following up on the ambitions of its late co-founder, Steve Jobs. — In recent weeks, Apple executives have discussed their vision for the future of TV with media executives at several large companies …

Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:
WSJ: Apple discussing voice-powered TV, enhanced AirPlay, iCloud DVR service

Discussion: T3 News

Nick Bilton / Bits:

Wearing Your Computer on Your Sleeve — Technology often has a way of fixing the problems it creates. Here's one that needs solving. — The invention of the smartphone has created a world where millions of people stroll through life constantly staring into a mobile device, like Narcissus at the edge of a pond.

Discussion: 9to5Mac, MacRumors, Softpedia News, PhoneArena, SlashGear, MacNN and iClarified

Shaji Mathew / Bloomberg:

Prince Alwaleed Invests $300M in Twitter — Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the largest individual investor in Citigroup Inc. (C), and his Kingdom Holding Co. (KINGDOM) invested $300 million to buy a “strategic stake” in microblogging service Twitter Inc. — “The investment was the result …

Florian Mueller / FOSS Patents:

British Telecom sues Google over six U.S. patents allegedly infringed by Android and various Google services — After Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, and eBay, British Telecommunications plc (commonly referred to as “British Telecom” or simply “BT") has just become the fifth large publicly-traded company …

Reuters:

Apple supplier Pegatron says small explosion at Shanghai plant — (Reuters) - Apple Inc supplier Pegatron said a small explosion at its subsidiary in Shanghai, China had injured some workers but would not have a big impact on production. — Pegatron said in a statement released early …

Discussion: Computerworld, TechEye, AppleInsider, PadGadget, M.I.C. Gadget, SlashGear, Engadget, Gizmodo UK, Electronista, CNET News, Apple Fan Site, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, Softpedia News, The Register, DigiTimes, PhoneArena and The Next Web

Joe Schneider / Bloomberg:

Facebook Lawsuit Against Ads ‘Liked’ by Friends Can Proceed, Judge Rules — Facebook Inc., the world's most used social-networking service, can be sued by people who claim showing advertisements that their friends apparently like violates a California law regarding commercial endorsements.

Discussion: CNET News, Marketing Land, Between the Lines Blog, Inquirer, Marketing Pilgrim and WebProNews

Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:

Chip executive outlook reveals bleak times ahead — Semiconductor industry executives worry that profits and revenue are sinking and they don't plan to hire as many people as they did a year ago. — That's not particularly encouraging, as the semiconductor industry …

Discussion: eWeek and Gartner

Reuters:

Could RIM's survival mean abandoning the BlackBerry? — (Reuters) - It might seem like corporate heresy but an increasing number of technology investors and experts are asking whether Research in Motion (RIM.TO)(RIMM.O) needs to ditch its BlackBerry handset business to survive.

Discussion: GigaOM, Mark Evans Tech, brian s hall and asymco

Jon Russell / The Next Web:

Facebook introduces private messages between business pages and fans — Facebook has begun introducing a new feature which allows business pages to receive private messages from their fans on the social network. — The new communications option, which has appeared for Asia-based admins only so far …

Wall Street Journal:

AT&T Talks to Sell T-Mobile Assets Go Cold — Talks on asset sales intended to help AT&T Inc. win approval for its acquisition of T-Mobile USA have gone cold, according to people familiar with the matter, the strongest sign yet that AT&T may abandon the $39 billion deal.

Discussion: The Register, Gizmodo, The Verge, Electronista and MobileBurn.com

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