Google responds to Apple v. Samsung verdict: most claims 'don't relate' to ‘core Android’  —  In the wake of Friday's $1.049 billion jury verdict, Apple and Samsung quickly released statements to the press — but one company that remained conspicuously silent was Google.

Samsung unveils Galaxy Player 5.8, pockets everywhere brace for impact  —  We hope you wear baggy pants, because you're going to want big pockets to carry Samsung's giant new jukebox.  The Galaxy Player 5.8 is dominated by its namesake 5.8-inch, 960 x 540 LCD — a screen that makes …

Confirmed: IAC Has Bought About.com From The New York Times For $300M In Cash  —  Update: The news has now been confirmed.  The $300 million acquisition price includes About.com, ConsumerSearch.com and CalorieCount.com and the deal will close in the next several weeks.  Full release below.

Darpa Has Seen the Future of Computing ... And It's Analog  —  By definition, a computer is a machine that processes and stores data as ones and zeroes.  But the U.S. Department of Defense wants to tear up that definition and start from scratch.  Through its Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency …

Apple Stock Opens At New Record High Of $680 At A $637B Market Cap After Samsung Patent Win  —  Hear that?  It's the sound of corks popping as Apple's stock price rocketed to new highs.  Following Apple's landmark victory against Samsung late Friday night, the company's stock price …

Surprise!  VMware will join OpenStack  —  Just in time for VMworld, VMware is about to join the OpenStack Foundation as a Gold member, along with Intel and NEC, according to a post on the OpenStack Foundation Wiki.  The applications for membership are on the agenda of the August 28 OpenStack Foundation meeting.

Book Reviewers for Hire Meet a Demand for Online Raves  —  TODD RUTHERFORD was 7 years old when he first understood the nature of supply and demand.  He was with a bunch of other boys, one of whom showed off a copy of Playboy to giggles and intense interest.

AOL Is About To Give Away $1.1 Billion To Shareholders  —  AOL is going to buy back $600 million worth of stock and also issue a dividend of $5.15 per share, the company just announced in a press release.  —  The money is from AOL's $1 billion patent sale to Microsoft earlier this year.

FCC eyes tax on Internet service  —  The Federal Communications Commission is eyeing a proposal to tax broadband Internet service.  —  The move would funnel money to the Connect America Fund, a subsidy the agency created last year to expand Internet access.  —  The FCC issued a request for comments on the proposal in April.