Facebook To Reveal “Home On Android” Sources Say Is A Modified OS On HTC At 4/4 Event  —  Facebook just invited press to an event at its headquarters on April 4th to “Come See Our New Home On Android”.  Sources tell us it will be a modified version of the Android operating system …

New Windows 8 hardware specs hint at 7-inch tablets and a Microsoft Reader  —  Summary: A quiet change in the logo requirements for new Windows 8 devices allows Microsoft's hardware partners to build new devices that would compete with popular 7- and 8-inch tablets like the iPad Mini, Kindle Fire HD, and Google Nexus 7.

Actually, Amazon Paid About $150 Million for Goodreads  —  According to sources, Amazon paid about $150 million for Goodreads, the popular books recommendation service.  But that number could close in on $200 million, if certain performance metrics are met.

Japan's NEC in talks to sell mobile phone unit to Lenovo: source  —  (Reuters) - Japan's NEC Corp is in talks to sell its struggling mobile phone unit to its personal computer venture partner Lenovo Group Ltd, a source familiar with the discussions said, confirming media reports of the negotiations.

Vine launches Web embeds, updates iOS app to share others' videos via Twitter and Facebook  —  Twitter has updated its Vine video service today so that users can embed both their own six-second shorts and those created by other users anywhere on the Internet.

State-Owned Chinese Film Studio Sues Apple  —  Shanghai Animation Film Studio claims the Cupertino-based tech giant sold its films in the iTunes store without proper permission.  —  A State-owned Chinese animation studio has filed suit against Apple in a Beijing court …

OUYA available at retail on June 4 for $99  —  The Android-powered $99 OUYA game console becomes available at retail on June 4th — a date which was revealed this week during the Game Developers Conference.  OUYA's calling June 4th its “official launch date,” despite Kickstarter backers receiving units starting this month.

Watch out, internet: Dave Winer is back in the business of making blogging tools  —  He may not have the same kind of public profile as the teenaged founder who sold his company to Yahoo for $30 million, or the founders of hot apps like SnapChat or Instagram, but Dave Winer has done a lot …

Password denied: when will Apple get serious about security?  —  Customers need some real talk about how data is kept and accessed  —  Last Friday, The Verge revealed the existence of a dead-simple URL-based hack that allowed anyone to reset your Apple ID password with just your email address and date of birth.

Google shows interest in ASM.js, Mozilla's plan for fast Web apps  —  A Chrome programmer seeks support for a new Mozilla technology to bridge the C and JavaScript languages — even though Google has competing ideas.  —  At least some at Google want to embrace a Mozilla-backed project …

Bitcoin May Be the Global Economy's Last Safe Haven  —  One of the oddest bits of news to emerge from the economic collapse of Cyprus is a corresponding rise in the value of Bitcoin, the Internet's favorite, media-friendly, anarchist crypto-currency.  In Spain, Google (GOOG) searches for “Bitcoin” and downloads of Bitcoin apps soared.

Why Google's 'We Won't Sue' Patent Pledge May Actually Suggest A Greater Proclivity To Sue Over Patents  —  Google is getting some attention today for taking an official pledge that it won't initiate patent lawsuits over open source software on certain patents:

eBay projects global commerce volume will be worth $300 billion in 2015  —  Summary: The online auction giant has set a major goal to more than double its total commerce and payment volume targets within the next two years.  —  eBay revealed a handful of multi-billion dollar goals it plans …