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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Microsoft restores transfer rights for retail Office 2013 copies  —  Summary: As part of its shift to a subscription model, Microsoft introduced a controversial “no transfer” restriction with Office 2013.  Now, after an intense outcry from customers, the company has reversed course and agreed …

Google-Apple Valuation Gap Widest Since 2005 on Ads  —  Google Inc. (GOOG)'s prospects haven't looked so promising to investors relative to Apple Inc. (AAPL) since before the iPhone was introduced.  —  Google's shares, which climbed to a record yesterday, are now trading at 25 times profit …

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.

Nokia wants Instagram for Windows Phone, piles pressure on with #2InstaWithLove  —  Nokia desperately wants Instagram for Windows Phone and it's proving that this week.  The Finnish company has just released #2InstaWithLove, a new Windows Phone app for Lumia devices that's specifically designed …

Ferrari outs 949HP LaFerrari hybrid, gives FF drivers iPad minis and Siri (video)  —  Everyone knew Ferrari was cooking up its first hybrid, and that it would be very quick when it was pegged as an Enzo successor.  Still, we didn't quite expect the sledgehammer that is the LaFerrari.

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 …

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 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 …

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 Windows 8 Price Breaks to Spur Touch-Screen Laptops  —  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 …

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.