This Day in Tech: Hacking laptop batteries; Tesla to reveal Model X electric SUV

Too busy to keep up with the tech news? Here are some of the more interesting stories from CNET for Thursday, August 4.

• A security researcher at Black Hat says it possible to hack laptop batteries using malicious software. While old versions of MacBook Pro have batteries that are replaceable, the newer laptops like the MacBook Air do not. The researcher didn't try this but says it's possible to overheat a battery and start a fire by sending commands to the battery controller.

• Ahead of budget and schedule, Tesla announcesplans to show off its Model X electric SUV in December. The seven-seater won't go into production until 2013.

• In related news, Nissan Leaf batteries can plug into your home and power it in the event of a blackout.

• Microsoft responds to Google's jabs over the patent wars. Tweet for tweet and blog entry to blog entry, the patent war continues. And now Google is up next to fight back.

• LinkedIn posts profits, according to its first ever earnings report as a public company, while Wall Street stocks take a plunge.

• Green-tech start-ups need to hook up with corporate partners, so they can scale their green products. Venture capital in green start-ups have begun to drop, but corporations are acquiring start-ups. For the entrepreneurs, getting into corporate hands opens doors and opportunities--and perhaps the manufacturing infrastructure they need to bring their product to market. But governments and alternative sources of funding are available.

• You can sit on the round balls to try to stop slouching, but technology can help you. Researchers develop a Webcam that can train you to sit better.

• Apple isn't going to allow fake stores to keep cropping up, according to a new lawsuit filed by the company.

• Groupon acquires Obtiva, the largest Ruby on Rails software firm in Chicago, according to Groupon's blog.

• With Foxconn replacing workers with more than a million robots, CNET asks the editor of The Robot Report about tips on investing in robot companies. The industry is small now, with the industrial robotics industry worth $5 billion. But service robots are expected to be worth $50 billion by 2020.