IN THE NEWS: MIAMI (AP) — Microsoft is opening a state-of-the-art training facility in Miami, its first within the United States.
The tech giant already has some 100 innovation centers in 80 countries worldwide in countries like Uganda and Greece. These centers aim to help governments, academic institutions, community leaders and startups better use technology to innovate and develop more collaborative learning — with the goal of spurring economic development. Microsoft Vice President Sanket Akerkar says the company looked at Miami as a great hub for tech in the Southern United States.
Microsoft is working with city and county officials to open the center next month. It will be housed at the new downtown, entrepreneurial institute Venture Hive. The Hive already serves as an incubator and accelerator for some 35 companies from around the globe.
IN THE NEWS: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Apple and Samsung are suing each other in courts and trade offices around the world, each making claims that the other copied patented mobile device features.
The companies’ most-recent legal tussle all but concluded on Friday, when a California jury found that Samsung copied some of Apple’s smartphone features. The panel also concluded that Apple illegally used one of Samsung’s patents in creating the iPhone 4 and 5.
All told, the jury awarded Samsung $158,400 and Apple $119 million, far less than the $2.2 billion the company sought.
Jurors were ordered to return to court Monday to continue deliberations on a minor matter that could result in a higher award for Apple.
IN THE NEWS: BEIJING (AP) — Sina Corp., a popular Chinese Internet portal operator, says regulators have fined it $815,000 for allowing “unhealthy and indecent content” on its websites.
The penalties against Sina come amid an official crackdown that also has resulted in some microblogs being shut down and some Internet users punished on charges of spreading rumors.
Sina said regulators also revoked two of its licenses for Internet publication and online transmission of audio-visual programs.
China has the world’s biggest population of Internet users, with more than 600 million people online. The ruling Communist Party encourages Internet use for business and education but tries to block access to material considered obscene or subversive.
Sina said it was evaluating the impact of the penalties on its business operations.
ON THE WEB: UNDATED (AP) — The Smithsonian Institution is venturing into online education with a new deal to provide content for digital courses in history, science, culture and the arts.
The museum and research complex is announcing an agreement Monday with the Chantilly, Virginia-based education group The Great Courses. The 10-year deal begins with 12 courses scheduled for release this fall. The courses are targeted at college-educated lifelong learners.
The first course, entitled “Experiencing America,” involves a tour through American history based on artifacts, such as Abraham Lincoln
Other courses about the universe, the industrial revolution and Italy.
IN STORES: WASHINGTON (AP) — New this week on video-game shelves: Mario takes a break from rescuing princesses and hits the links in “Mario Golf: World Tour” for the Nintendo 3DS. … Also on the 3DS, Nintendo’s adorable pink puffball returns in “Kirby: Triple Deluxe.” … And PlayStation 4 owners can finally get in on the baseball season with Sony’s “MLB 14: The Show.”
