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Laura Sydell Laura Sydell is the Digital Culture Correspondent for the NPR's All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Weekend Edition and NPR.org.
Laura Sydell
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Laura Sydell

Media

TV on the Internet: Networks Spread Strategy

The big networks are rolling out their new seasons this week — and not just on TV. They are also presenting their new shows, and some old favorites, on the Internet. NBC is allowing free downloads, with restrictions, of its shows — it streamed the first episode of the new season of Friday Night Lights on Yahoo before it was broadcast.

TV on the Internet: Networks Spread Strategy

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Business

Amazon to Enter Music-Download Business

Amazon.com launches a much anticipated music-download site. The Internet music store will sell songs for 89 cents to 99 cents. It will be possible to play the music on every available player from the iPod to the Zune.

Amazon to Enter Music-Download Business

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Media

Firms Abandon Online Subscription Plans

The New York Times has cancelled its online subscription service "Times Select." Rupert Murdoch says The Wall Street Journal may follow suit. And a music download service now allows users to get music for free after they watch an ad. The message many companies are learning? People expect the Web to be free.

Firms Abandon Online Subscription Plans

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Causes

America's Car Culture Clashes with Climate Change

For the last century, Americans have had a love affair with their cars. Americans drive bigger cars than any other country. And, even if they're currently trendy, fuel-efficient cars still don't sell as well in the United States as elsewhere. Can America change?

America's Car Culture Clashes with Climate Change

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Technology

Unable to Agree, NBC and iTunes Part Ways

NBC Universal announced that it will let its contract with Apple's iTunes store lapse at the end of the year. The two companies have been unable to come to an agreement on prices. NBC Universal is the biggest supplier of digital video at iTunes, selling hit shows like The Office and Heroes.

Unable to Agree, NBC and iTunes Part Ways

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Games & Humor

Microsoft Banks on 'Halo 3' to Boost XBOX Sales

Halo 3 is one of the most-anticipated video games of the year. It's exclusively for Microsoft's XBOX 360 console, and it's aimed squarely at hardcore gamers, but Microsoft and its competitors — Sony and Nintendo — are also trying to appeal to younger kids and families.

Microsoft Banks on 'Halo 3' to Boost XBOX Sales

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Remembrances

Murray's Edgy Art Masked Deeper Struggle

Elizabeth Murray, the renowned painter who died this week at 66, focused many of her colorful paintings on domestic objects — but they had an edge. Many of her works, often painted with bold, primary colors, reflected a long struggle in the art world.

Murray's Edgy Art Masked Deeper Struggle

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Arts & Life

Getty Museum Strikes Deal to Surrender Antiquities

The Getty Museum will return 40 artifacts that the Italian government says were looted. The deal allows the Getty — the wealthiest U.S. arts institution, with an endowment of over $5 billion — to keep one key sculpture, a limestone-and-marble Aphrodite, until 2010.

Getty Museum Strikes Deal to Surrender Antiquities

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Media

FCC Approves New Rules for Airwaves Auction

The Federal Communications Commission announces new rules that are meant to give consumers greater choice when it comes to their cell phones and wireless devices following an airwaves auction that must take place no later than Jan. 28, 2008.

FCC Approves New Rules for Airwaves Auction

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Technology

Wireless Auction to Change Cell Phone Pay Structure

The Federal Communications Commission has approved rules that will clear the way for the opening of the most important airwaves auction to date. The event will affect the pay structure on cell phones and other mobile devices.

Wireless Auction to Change Cell Phone Pay Structure

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National

FCC Takes Up Wireless Licensing

The Federal Communications Commission votes Tuesday on the rules governing wireless licenses. The decisions they make could radically alter the U.S. cell phone industry, changing the kinds of cell phones you can use and what kinds of software you have on them.

FCC Takes Up Wireless Licensing

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Technology

Groups Urge FCC to Open Wireless Networks

The FCC is being urged to ease the way for open, flexible cell-phone networks when it sets the rules for an upcoming auction of the wireless spectrum. Advocates say that requiring winning bidders to open their networks to all devices would lead to an explosion of innovation.

Groups Urge FCC to Open Wireless Networks

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Digital Life

Electronics Expo Exposes New Spielberg Game

Electronic Entertainment Expo is the big annual event for the video game industry. Announcements at the conference included a fitness game for the Nintendo Wii, a redesign for the Sony handheld, and a few leaked details about upcoming Steven Spielberg video games.

Electronics Expo Exposes New Spielberg Game

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Technology

Yahoo Struggles to Chip Into Google's Act

Yahoo claims 500 million users around the world at a time when Internet advertising revenues are growing industry-wide. But Yahoo isn't doing anywhere near as well as Google. Recent management shakeups are part of Yahoo's struggle to capitalize on its big user base.

Yahoo Struggles to Chip Into Google's Act

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