trade

Samsung probed for allegedly bashing rival HTC online

The Taiwanese Fair Trade Commission has reportedly launched an investigation into Samsung on allegations that the phone-maker was paying students to post negative online comments about HTC devices, according to AFP. HTC is one of Samsung's most staunch rivals.

Supposedly, the South Korean tech giant hired students to both write the inflammatory comments about HTC products and also recommend Samsung cell phones. The commission says that this type of behavior is akin to false advertising. According to AFP, the Fair Trade Commission spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said, "The case was set up last week after we received complaints." … Read more

IRS doesn't believe in warrants for e-mail

CNET Update gets worked up over warrants:

The Internal Revenue Service has documents suggesting that it doesn't need a search warrant to access e-mail or private messages on Facebook and Twitter. CNET's Declan McCullagh has the story looking into the privacy guideline at the IRS that goes against what many lawmakers have argued.

Today's tech roundup also looks into the user data stolen from Vudu's offices, and T-Mobile's push for converts with an iPhone trade-in promotion.

Watch CNET Update in the video above, and subscribe to the podcast via the links below.

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Ahead of iPhone 5 launch, T-Mobile touts trade-in program

T-Mobile is cranking up the hype for its iPhone 5 launch on Friday.

The carrier added another incentive to hop on its bandwagon, extending its trade-in program to include older iPhones from other carriers. In exchange, customers can avoid putting money down for a new iPhone 5, as well as get a reduced monthly rate.

It is clear T-Mobile is excited to offer the iPhone, a key product that's been missing from its lineup as virtually every other carrier -- big and small -- began offering it. T-Mobile is hopeful that Apple's iconic device can reverse years of … Read more

Startup raises $500K to create Bitcoin trading platform

Bitcoin got a boost of confidence of sorts today from a group of investors interested in creating a trading platform for the virtual currency phenom.

The decentralized peer-to-peer currency traded as high as $240 per Bitcoin today before closing at $233, up nearly $45 for the day, according to Mt. Gox, the world's largest Bitcoin exchange. Overall, Bitcoin has appreciated more than 1,500 percent since January, a meteoric rise that observers credit largely to financial uncertainty in Europe and nascent investor curiosity.

Coinsetter is hoping to capitalize on that interest with the launch of a Forex trading platform … Read more

Hate robocalls? FTC hopes these guys have an answer

If there's one Washington topic of conversation that's guaranteed to win plaudits from both sides of the partisan aisle, it's what to do about robocalls.

Despite rules banning most commercial robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission still receives tens of thousands of consumer complaints each month. Indeed on a Web page it operates, the FTC acknowledges that current laws have not stopped companies from "using autodialers that can send out thousands of phone calls every minute for an incredibly low cost."

So if Uncle Sam can't do it alone, the thinking is: turn to the … Read more

Judge won't dismiss insider-trading suit against Mark Cuban

A Federal judge decided today that a five-year-old lawsuit accusing tech mogul Mark Cuban of insider-trading is going to trial, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit in 2008 against Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and former Yahoo and Broadcast.com executive, for allegedly relying on confidential information when he sold his stake in search engine Mamma.com and avoided a $750,000 loss.

Cuban has stated in the past that he has done nothing wrong, saying, "The government's claims are false and they will be proven to be so."

Judge … Read more

Staples: Snag $400 by swapping old gadget for Windows 8 device

Staples in dangling a $400 trade-in deal to steer customers toward Windows 8 devices.

How does it work? The retailer's "Trade up to touch" Web page explains the process.

You first have to buy a Windows 8 touch device from Staples. It can be an all-in-one PC, a notebook, or a tablet, but it must be one of the qualifying items on the retailer's list. The list includes all-in-ones from Hewlett-Packard and Dell, laptops from Lenovo and Asus, and the various flavors of Microsoft's Surface RT and Pro tablets.

You then identify the device that … Read more

Get the most cash for your used electronics with Flipsy

Selling or trading in your older used electronics for some fast cash is quick and convenient. You don't have to deal with pesky eBay fees, or haggle over the final sales price with a stranger on Craiglist. Sites like Amazon Trade-In, eBay Instant Sale, and Gazelle all make it easy to send in a used item. You mark the condition of your item, ship it off, let the company inspect it, and wait for the cash to show up in your PayPal or Amazon account. I rounded up five trade-in sites here if you're interested in reading more … Read more

FTC plans mobile security event for June 4

The Federal Trade Commission said today that it will convene a one-day event on security-related "threats to mobile devices."

The event, to be held on June 4 in the agency's Washington, D.C., conference center, will be the latest in a series of similar events that have focused on topics including online data collection and advertising. It's open to the public.

An announcement posted on the FTC's Web site says the event will likely include discussions of "emerging mobile security threats and trends, security challenges in the mobile environment and infrastructure, potential solutions to … Read more