Antitrust: Commission fines Microsoft for non-compliance with browser choice commitments  —  European Commission  —  The European Commission has imposed a €561 million fine on Microsoft for failing to comply with its commitments to offer users a browser choice screen enabling them to easily choose their preferred web browser.

Exclusive: Apple's Cook, music mogul Iovine discuss new music service  —  (Reuters) - Apple Inc has held talks with Beats Electronics LLC, the audio technology firm co-founded by influential hip-hop producer Dr Dre and music mogul Jimmy Iovine, on a potential partnership involving Beats …

Samsung-Sharp Deal Could Reshape Tech Alliances  —  South Korea's Samsung Electronics is in talks to invest about $107 million in struggling Japanese electronics firm Sharp Corp. , a deal that not only highlights Korea's ascendancy over Japan as a global electronics giant, but could well reshape alliances in the competitive industry.

Facebook Will Launch Content-Specific News Feeds, Bigger Photos And Ads On Thursday  —  At a big press event on Thursday, Facebook plans to launch new ways to filter the news feed.  These include a Photos feed of Facebook and Instagram photos, as well as a revamped Music feed of what friends …

HTC Reports Lowest Sales Since Jan 2010, Worst Revenue Decline In 4 Months, As February Sales Fell 44% To $384M  —  The new HTC One unveiled last month is increasingly feeling like last-chance saloon for the troubled Taiwan handset maker.  Today HTC noted that its sales for the month …

The new $99 Roku 3: Overhauled interface, faster chip, and private listening mode (hands-on)  —  CNET Editors' Take  —  Roku is turning up the heat in the battle of the living room streaming boxes, announcing today its newest flagship model, the Roku 3 ($99).

Why Google Thinks Two Music Subscription Services Are Better Than None  —  Alrighty.  Time to start sorting out what Google is up to with music.  And why it thinks it may make sense to launch two different music subscription services.  —  Spoiler alert!  No one outside of a handful of Googlers really knows.

Apple Launches $1099 21.5-Inch iMac With 3.3 GHz Dual-Core i3 Processor for Educational Institutions  —  Apple appears to have quietly introduced an updated version of its low-end 21.5-inch iMac for educational institutions, taking advantage of a cheaper dual-core Intel Core i3 processor …

Microsoft Offers Price Breaks  —  Discounts on Windows 8 and Office Designed to Spur More Touch-Screen Laptops  —  Microsoft Corp. has recently been offering price breaks on its Windows 8 and Office software to help spur the development of small, touch-enabled laptop computers, people familiar with the situation said.

Google Play celebrates first birthday with week of free downloads and discounts  —  It's already been a year since the Android Market was renamed Google Play, and the folks in Mountain View are offering up a boatload of free party favors throughout the week to celebrate.

News Corp. Has a Tablet for Schools  —  For nearly two years, Joel I. Klein helped Rupert Murdoch and News Corporation weather a phone-hacking scandal at the company's British tabloids with the promise that he would eventually be able to return to the role the company hired him for …

Valve readies prototype Steam Box video game console  —  Gabe Newell is being given Bafta's highest accolade at the 2013 awards  —  Valve expects to offer prototypes of its upcoming video games console for testing within four months time.  —  The firm's chief executive Gabe Newell revealed …

Disqus releases exclusive Windows Phone app, no plans for iPhone or Android  —  Looks like Windows Phone today has scored one today as we're the first to get a new, official app from Disqus (disqus.com).  —  For those of you who don't know, Disqus powers the commenting system on many websites and blogs …

Samsung will stop sale of Windows RT tablets in Germany due to weak demand, according to reports  —  We already know that Samsung was too timid (or maybe too sensible) to launch its Windows RT-based ATIV Tab hybrid in the US, but now it appears the manufacturer is having doubts about European demand too.

Why I switched from iPhone to Android  —  About a month and a half ago, I walked into an AT&T Store, handed over my iPhone 4S, and asked to be switched from my unlimited iPhone data plan to a new LTE data plan.  —  I bought the first-generation iPhone and I bought it early …

Why the Galaxy S4 won't be shedding its plastic roots  —  Samsung will likely stick to a design aesthetic that has worked in the past, despite its rivals opting to use metal and other premium-feeling materials.  —  As great an all-around smartphone as the Galaxy S III is …

Intel Capital makes a big bet on Android with investment in Bluestacks (exclusive)  —  Add Intel Capital to the growing list of companies eager to work with Bluestacks.  —  Intel has invested an undisclosed amount in the startup, BlueStacks told VentureBeat today.