Technology Report: Exclusive: Google CEO's inner circle: Meet the L Team

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	12/16/2011
Good afternoon A months-long delay in Research in Motion's new BlackBerrys and a dreary quarterly report sent RIM shares tumbling again on Friday and pushed some analysts to sound the death knell for the mobile device that once defined the industry. Zynga shares opened as much as 10 percent above their offer price on Friday but then rolled back below the IPO price, showing that investors were still concerned about its dependence on Facebook and its growth prospects and that demand for hot tech IPOs may be waning. The news has not deterred the creators of "Angry Birds," who are said to be considering a stock market flotation in Hong Kong. Staying with the creator of "FarmVille", tech editor Peter Lauria, social media editor Anthony DeRosa and reporter Liana Baker spill the secrets to Zynga's addictive gaming platforms. Finally, TechNewsWorld is reporting that the U.S. Patent Office has granted Google a patent that covers the way in which cars could transfer from human-driver mode to autonomous-driving mode. Google has already conducted many driverless-car experiments, claiming it's logged 200,000 miles of driver-free travel. LATEST NEWS Exclusive: Google CEO's inner circle: Meet the L Team December 16, 2011 03:37 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The most powerful group at Google Inc used to be known simply as "The OC," short for operating committee. Now, it goes by a more telling name: "L Team," short for Larry's Team. | Full Article Galaxy and iPhone to top smartphone holiday sales December 16, 2011 08:11 AM ET HELSINKI (Reuters) - Apple's long-awaited iPhone 4S and Samsung Electronics' fresh, broad offering are likely to stand out in this holiday season's smartphone sales which will otherwise be clouded by global economic uncertainty. | Full Article Exclusive: Made in Texas: Apple's A5 iPhone chip December 16, 2011 03:35 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc is famous for relying on low-cost Asian manufacturers to both source and assemble its popular gadgets, but the consumer device giant recently started receiving a critical component in its iPad and iPhones from closer to home - Texas. | Full Article Wall Street flat as Europe worries cut into gains December 16, 2011 02:52 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks were little changed in volatile trading on Friday as a warning by Fitch it may cut ratings on some European nations offset gains in growth-related shares. | Full Article Fitch says comprehensive euro zone deal "beyond reach" December 16, 2011 03:36 PM ET ROME/BERLIN (Reuters) - Credit rating agency Fitch told the euro zone on Friday it thinks a comprehensive solution to the bloc's debt crisis is beyond reach, as it put an number of the bloc's economies including Italy on watch for potential downgrades. | Full Article BUSINESS NEWS SEC sues former top Fannie, Freddie executives December 16, 2011 03:02 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Six former top executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were sued by U.S. regulators on charges of misleading investors about the mortgage finance companies' exposure to risky home loans in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis. | Full Article Layoffs hit Soros investment company December 16, 2011 02:06 PM ET BOSTON (Reuters) - Soros Fund Management, the investment company of billionaire George Soros, has laid off a handful of analysts and portfolio managers in recent months. | Full Article Inflation eases, creates space for Fed stimulus December 16, 2011 01:28 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer prices were flat in November as Americans paid less for cars and gasoline, a further sign of a cooldown in inflation that could give the Federal Reserve more room to help a still weak economy. | Full Article Lawmakers wrangle over extending payroll tax cut December 16, 2011 02:18 PM ET WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers struggled on Friday to agree to a deal on payroll tax relief for 160 million Americans after a roller-coaster week of brinkmanship again laid bare the partisan divide that has gridlocked the Congress all year. | Full Article U.S. withdrawal in Iraq rolls into final act December 16, 2011 02:20 PM ET BAGHDAD (Reuters) - American soldiers signed over their last military base to Iraqi officials on Friday with the U.S. troop pullout drawing to an swift end nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. | Full Article U.S. TOP NEWS Suspected WikiLeaks source Manning appears in court Barry Bonds gets 2 years probation in steroids probe States to weigh in on basic health coverage How watching football was nearly the death of a fan "Whatever" deemed most annoying word: poll RELATED VIDEO Tax Cheats Are Cheating You Mark Who? 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