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My So-Called Social Super Bowl

Lauren Goode in Social on February 6 at 4:19 pm PT

Last night, I took a rare break from social media and opted for a real-time, real-life Super Bowl instead. And somehow … I saw the same game everyone else did.

A Look at Walmart’s Plans for Making Commerce High-Tech (Video)

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 3 at 6:00 am PT

Walmart is typically associated with its everyday low prices, not with technology. But the mega-retailer is trying to change that by building a tech center just south of San Francisco.

Visa Places Bet on New Approach to Payments With Rare Investment in TrialPay

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 31 at 7:00 am PT

Visa, Greylock’s Reid Hoffman and others are pouring $40 million into TrialPay, which helps companies like Facebook, Gap and Fandango increase sales through the use of incentives.

News Byte

Nintendo to Bring Online Game Network, NFC to New Wii

Lauren Goode in Commerce on January 27 at 1:19 pm PT

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata told investors today that the Wii U, the company’s long-awaited successor to the Wii gaming console, will come equipped with NFC capabilities that will be used to transfer gaming data and will open the potential for micropayments through the gaming system. Satoru also said the company was readying an online game network for the Wii U system, citing lessons learned from the tepid launch of the 3DS.

Can We Say Damage Control? Amazon Talks Up Its Role in the Success of Independent Businesses.

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on December 29, 2011 at 2:30 pm PT

Amazon is not all about squashing the little guy, or at least that is what it wants you to believe this holiday season.

Verizon Introduces “Convenience Fee” for Some Online, Phone Payments

Lauren Goode in Commerce on December 29, 2011 at 1:33 pm PT

There are still plenty of ways to avoid that $2 charge, however.

GoGo Goes for IPO

Lauren Goode in News on December 23, 2011 at 8:57 am PT

Stock symbol? You guessed it: GOGO.

The Cost of Online Giving

Ruthie Ackerman, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in Voices on December 17, 2011 at 3:59 pm PT

Donating to a charity online may be costlier than you think.

News Byte

More Internet Heavy Hitters Speak Out in SOPA Saga

Lauren Goode in News on December 15, 2011 at 8:53 am PT

In an open letter to Congress this morning, a group of prominent Internet engineers has spoken out against the Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which are under consideration in the House and Senate. The group argues that censorship of Internet infrastructure will cause network errors and security problems, and points to China and Iran as examples. The letter comes on the heels of yesterday’s opposition in an Open Letter to Washington from other tech heavyweights, including Sergey Brin, Jerry Yang, Reid Hoffman and Jack Dorsey.